Key Takeaways

• Adelphi’s Willumstad School of Business placed 120 students in internships in the 2025-2026 academic year.
• About 85% of internship positions are paid—ranging from minimum wage up to $30/hour for accounting students.
• Willumstad students have interned at major employers including KPMG, PwC, Morgan Stanley, NBC, and Universal.
• Beyond technical skills, internships build critical thinking and interpersonal skills—and teach students how to use AI responsibly in professional settings.

Why Internships Matter More Than Ever

“Gaining that hands-on experience separates a student from everyone else, and really sets them up for success,” said John Marimuthu, internship director for the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business. “You become more marketable when you have the ability to showcase what you’ve done somewhere else.” In his position, Marimuthu serves as a matchmaker between employers and students, curating a database of companies with a positive track record of employing Adelphi students, and coaching students through every step of the application process.

By the Numbers: Internship Outcomes at Willumstad

Marimuthu helped to place 120 students in internships in just the most recent academic year. Accounting students have worked for the likes of KPMG and PwC; finance students have interned at Morgan Stanley; and communications students have worked at NBC and Universal—to name just a few of the dozens of companies employing Willumstad undergrads. In a unique partnership, some students have even gone to Croatia to work with marketing firm Atlantic Grupa, conducting market research for major hotel and restaurant brands across Europe. Closer to home, interns have worked with Long Island hair salon chain Willows Cove, helping design and execute a social media strategy.

Some 85 percent of the positions are paid, Marimuthu says, many for minimum wage, but some for significantly higher—starting at $17/hour for management students and up to $30/hour for accounting students. In their positions, students are often getting their hands dirty, working on projects directly related to company priorities. “Working on projects in the classroom is totally different than applying those skills in the real world,” says Raghida Abdallah Yassine, PhD, assistant professor of management at Willumstad. “We give them basics, but it’s not customized specifically to a company’s needs.” In addition to practical techniques, they are also learning critical thinking and how to interact personally with colleagues, Dr. Yassine said. “When you do an internship, it’s not just technical skills, but also softer skills that get enhanced.”

Importantly, she said, they also learn how to use—and not use—AI in the workplace. “We keep telling them, don’t over-rely on AI, you still have to use your thinking skills,” said Dr. Yassine. “In an internship, you realize the effect of that, when you are in a meeting and you can’t say, ‘Wait a minute, let me see what AI can tell me.’ You have to interact and come up with a solution in real time.”

Real Student Success Stories

Those interpersonal dynamics have been the biggest takeaway for senior finance major Matias Hoyos, who interned at an infrastructure company in Colombia after his first year and at Quantum Strategy Partners, a small private credit firm on Wall Street, for the last two summers. “Working directly with clients has taught me how to communicate clearly, ask the right questions and adjust my approach depending on a person or situation,” said Hoyos, who has already secured an internship this fall with Flynn Zito Capital Management.

Recent graduate Kyle Stephenson ’26 worked last spring as a marketing intern for The Garden City Hotel in Garden City, New York, helping create and schedule social media content for hotel and on-site restaurants. “The value of an internship cannot be overstated,” he said. “It provides real-world experience that prepares students for the workplace in the way the classroom cannot.” He should know—after graduation, the hotel offered him a full-time job.

Expert Tips for Landing an Internship

For students interested in internships during their time at Adelphi, Marimuthu offers the following advice:

Start Early

The time to prepare your résumé and cover letter is well in advance of applying for your first internship. Marimuthu’s office introduces students to the Willumstad Winning Edge program as early as their first year to create a standardized résumé and cover letter that can be adapted to different positions.

Take Assistance From AI

Marimuthu encourages students to run their résumé and cover letter through ChatGPT or Gemini to help polish them. He also helps them tailor their approaches to positions based on what AI applicant screening software is looking for. “If the job description has the word ‘professionalism’ three times, then the résumé needs to say that as well,” he said. “Through little tips and tricks like this, we’ve been able to show students how to leverage AI to their advantage.”

Interview Prep Is Key

Oftentimes, said Marimuthu, it’s the intangible qualities that come out in an interview that tip the balance in an applicant’s favor. The internship office offers students mock interviews to practice how to present themselves both professionally and personably. “So many times I’ve heard from hiring managers that the reason they went with someone is because of their personality,” Marimuthu said. “They want to know that the student is going to fit in.”

In addition to that practical advice, Marimuthu and his colleagues—alongside Adelphi’s Center for Career and Professional Development—offer students career guidance and coaching, helping them discover the kind of jobs they can get with their degree. “Those are some of the best conversations we have, because it goes beyond just ‘I need to get my résumé done,’ to looking at ‘This is what I’m interested in, share with me what I’m not seeing yet.’”

Through this variety of approaches, the internship office has developed a solid track record of placing students with companies during their time at Adelphi, which in turn has helped them after graduation get one step closer to their dream job.

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According to Anagnostis P. Agelarakis, PhD, a professor in the ������Ƶ Department of History, “These are not ancient questions. They are human questions.”

When director Christopher Nolan set his lens on Homer’s The Odyssey, he both created a spectacle around a story about the human condition and reignited a conversation about epic storytelling.

“What Nolan accomplishes is extraordinary,” says Dr. Agelarakis, who teaches in Adelphi’s College of Arts and Sciences. “He returned Homer’s voice to the center of the public conversation. Millions of people who may have never opened The Odyssey are suddenly engaging with questions that have endured for nearly 3,000 years. In my opinion, that is the greatest success of the film.”

Professor Agelarakis and his team’s facial reconstruction of the High Priestess of Dorian Eleutherna. The Dorian Greeks settled Crete following the destruction of the Minoan-Mycenaean palaces by the Sea Peoples, an upheaval referenced by Odysseus in the film.

A More Human Perspective on The Odyssey

As a bioarchaeologist and physical anthropologist who has led field research across the Mediterranean for more than three decades, Dr. Agelarakis has a distinct point of view when it comes to the film. Where others might focus on the mythic heroism, he’s zoned in on the reality of the ancient time period.

“For decades I have studied the skeletal remains of ancient men and women, soldiers and civilians, priests and children. I have examined the evidence left by warfare, disease, healing, ritual and everyday life in the ancient Mediterranean.

“When I watch Odysseus returning from Troy, I do not simply see a legendary hero. I see a man burdened by war. I see someone struggling with loss, responsibility, memory, leadership and the consequences of victory.”

In his research examining human skeletal remains from the Bronze and Iron Ages, Dr. Agelarakis analyzes evidence of traumatic injury, field surgery and physical stress. He notes that Nolan’s depiction captures the raw impact of war on both body and psyche.

“The film grounds Odysseus as a thinking human being dealing with the trauma, guilt and real consequences of war.”

Lessons of War in The Odyssey

He also notes about the film, “I was reminded that the ancient Greeks understood victory in a remarkably sophisticated way. The fall of Troy represents military success. Yet it also unleashes suffering. Odysseus spends years wandering before finally reaching home. The victorious warrior discovers that winning a war does not necessarily restore peace.”

“That insight is profoundly modern,” he explains.

“One of the film’s most important messages is its implicit warning about war itself. Odysseus comes to recognize that violence rarely ends where it begins. The destruction of Troy does not conclude the story. It begins another one. Every generation should remember that lesson.”

An Epic Story, Told Through Cinema

Beyond the history, Dr. Agelarakis highlights the unique power of film as a visual and immersive medium. Nolan’s narrative choices—such as explicitly showing the claustrophobia inside the Trojan Horse or jumping across time periods—help bring to life the epic storytelling for modern viewers.

“Cinematography provides a kinesiology—a sense of motion and physical reality—that isn’t always fully captured when simply reading the text,” says Dr. Agelarakis. “It provides a visual hook that invites viewers to ask deeper historical questions: How did these people actually live? How did they move, fight and survive?”

Professor Agelarakis (left) and a colleague examining artifacts from the Homeric era at the Museum of Ancient Eleutherna, Greece

The Film’s Role in Classroom Discussions

At Adelphi, Dr. Agelarakis plans on using the film’s momentum as an educational tool. In his course Theogony, Myth and Ritual, which he will teach this upcoming fall in an Honors College seminar, the movie will act as a springboard for students to critically think by debating primary source texts and cross-examining interpretations.

Rather than viewing cinematic adaptation as a replacement for reading, Dr. Agelarakis sees film as an entry point that prompts students to seek out original sources. The broader impact is clear; sales of Homer’s Odyssey surged by 76 percent in the United States, year over year.

Ultimately, the discourse surrounding Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey proves that classical studies remain valuable in understanding modern life. By confronting timeless questions of power, responsibility, ethics and human mortality, students can use the film to learn how to evaluate media critically.

“When you have multiple voices from students discussing this, we gain deeper understanding,” says Dr. Agelarakis. “It encourages students to open the book, read the primary source and use their own minds as independent thinkers.”

“Many students today encounter Greek civilization only through fragments. They know isolated myths or famous quotations, but rarely experience the epic narratives that shaped Western civilization. Nolan’s film may encourage many of them to discover Homer for themselves.”

“This is an incredible advertisement for classical education, and also for the real protagonist of this film—Homer.”

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“We are delighted that The Princeton Review has once again recognized our MBA program among the nation’s best,” said MaryAnne Hyland, PhD, dean of the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business. “Grounded in student feedback, this recognition highlights the strength of our community and the dedication and hard work of our faculty, staff and students.”

Adelphi’s Willumstad School of Business stands out through several core differentiators designed for today’s dynamic workforce:

• Flexible and Accelerated Formats: Students can customize their trajectory through full-time, part-time or online options, with accelerated pathways that allow completion in as few as 12 to 24 months.
• In-Demand Specializations: The curriculum connects foundational management theory with real-world applications in high-growth fields, offering specialized tracks in Business Analytics, Finance and .
• Collaborative Problem-Solving: Dedicated days where student teams synthesize cross-course MBA learning to address real-world business scenarios
• New York City Connection: Adelphi’s new Manhattan Center, located on Fifth Avenue, connects graduate students directly to top-tier financial, healthcare and corporate networks through mentorship, industry guest speakers and executive networking.

Learn more about ������Ƶ’s graduate business programs.

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A 75-Year Legacy on Campus

Hitting a 75th anniversary isn’t just a fun milestone—it’s a testament to student grit.

Launching right after World War II, The Delphian quickly became the heart of campus conversation. Whenever history unfolded, Adelphi communications, history and political science majors were on the front lines, documenting everything from cafeteria menus to major national turning points like the Vietnam War protests, the Civil Rights Movement, Watergate and the COVID-19 pandemic.

While earlier publications existed—like the Adelphi College Fortnightly (1921–1946) and the Adelphi Guidon (1946–1951)—it was The Delphian that truly took root, growing from a scrappy four-page weekly paper into an award-winning newsroom.

In its very first issue, the inaugural student editors issued a bold call to action that still drives the team today:

“Take notice, Adelphi, and give your representative voice all your backing. The Delphian is new, but most of all, the year is new. What better time is there to get those dingy scowls off our faces and ‘do something’?”

Today, The Delphian is winning recognition—including three awards in 2025 from the Press Club of Long Island, and many others over the years, including Best College Newspaper and Best College Reporter.

Time Travel in the Campus Archives

How did past generations handle absolute chaos? In the spring of 2026, Professor Maria Cristina Zaccarini, PhD, took students from her sophomore history deep into the archives at Swirbul Library to find out.

Heading down the stairs and into the stacks, students cracked open old issues of The Delphian from the 1960s and 1970s, analyzing how past Panthers reacted to the Vietnam War, the political earthquake of Watergate and the fight for gender equality.

“Adelphi was ahead of the curve in many ways with the free speech movement and protesting the Vietnam War,” Dr. Zaccarini explained. “There were incredible insights that made you understand the mindset of the entire community, just like our newspaper today helps us understand who we are right now.”

Launching Real Careers (and Bestselling Authors)

Joining the Delphian team isn’t just an extracurricular—it’s a hands-on career accelerator. You learn how to ask tough questions, connect with people of all kinds, meet real deadlines and lead teams.

Consider Alice Hoffman ’73, ’02 (Hon.). Before she became the New York Times bestselling author of the hit novel Practical Magic, she was sitting in the Delphian newsroom developing her writing voice.

Liza Burby, senior adjunct at Adelphi and faculty adviser for The Delphian from 2013 to 2025, emphasizes that student journalism pushes people out of their comfort zones in the best way possible, preparing them for their careers.

“Having to come up with article ideas, figure out how to get the information you need to tell the story, and then being able to either interview someone on the phone or across a table—those are skills that a lot of people are really hesitant to pursue,” she said.

Professor of communications Paul Thaler, PhD, who preceded Burby as advisor to the paper, sees work on the paper as a powerful rite of passage for students.

“As a student-journalist, you are an active witness to events and also a commentator to ongoing matters of importance on campus, with the power to heighten the collective consciousness of the University,” he said. “In short, a student writing for The Delphian now wears the badge of a journalist—and that is an empowering feeling.”

That culture of mentorship creates a chain reaction where experienced editors help train the newest writers on campus.

“I’ve grown so much as a writer,” said Arpan Josan, a recent editor-in-chief who will graduate in December 2026. “It has challenged me to create meaningful articles and engage with different topics. As an editor, I’ve been able to help younger writers develop their skills while sharpening my own.

The Next Page

The Delphian is not standing still. Current faculty adviser Suzanne Valenza and the student staff are focused on leveling up their digital footprint.

“Our goal is to make the absolute go-to spot for campus news,” Valenza said. “We are building a strong staff with regular meetings in our redesigned office—a space where students can hang out, swap story ideas, debate current events or just kick back with friends.”

Alumni and current students are also invited to celebrate 75 years of student voices at a special anniversary event on October 17 as part of Spirit Weekend.

It’s a homecoming for generations of writers, photographers and designers who left their mark on campus—and proof that student voices at Adelphi continue to shape the future.

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Today, Stephen Shore, EdD, is a clinical associate professor in the Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences and has added a new honor to a long and successful career in neurodivergence advocacy: a 2026 Emmy Award.

The longtime educator, author and international speaker received the award for his work as technical advisor on the PBS KIDS breakout animated series, Carl the Collector. The show, about a raccoon on the autism spectrum and his friends, won the 2026 award for Outstanding Public Service Initiative at the 4th Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in New York.

The show has drawn accolades for presenting autism as a different—not disordered—way of being.

Adelphi is already a national leader in educating students on the spectrum. Bridges to Adelphi, a program for neurodivergent students, won the for Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice and Related from the National Association of Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) in 2022 and 2023.

The inscription on Dr. Shore’s Emmy Award reads “2026 Children’s and Family Emmy Awards/Outstanding Public Service Initiative/Carl the Collector/PBS Kids/Stephen Shore, Series Advisor”

An Emmy for Getting Autism Right

Dr. Shore’s role as technical adviser meant he reviewed every story, script and stage of animation to ensure that Carl the Collector portrays autism accurately while showcasing the strengths of these individuals in a way that resonates with children, parents and educators.

“My job was to comment on how Carl and the other characters might react or communicate in any situation,” he said.

The result is a show that critics have praised for its commitment to authentic representation of neurodivergence because the series is crafted by a team that includes neurodiverse writers, animators and advisers.

Dr. Shore was a key part of the team because he brings not only academic expertise but also lived experience to Carl the Collector: He is on the spectrum himself. Able to take apart intricate watches and reassemble them at a young age, his parents recognized unique talents amid his challenges.

That personal history shapes his insistence that autism be framed as a “different rather than disordered way of being,” and it propels his career as a nationally known expert and author on neurodivergence; he has written extensively, presented in 59 countries, and uses both the classroom and the screen to model what authentic representation and true inclusion can look like.

An Emmy to Call His Own

Dr. Shore originally assumed the Emmy recognition belonged purely to the series. “My thought was that the Emmy was awarded to the show, and we all got to share in the Emmy, and that was great,” he recalled. Then, in May, a large box arrived at his home.

Inside was an Emmy statue with his own name on it, honoring his individual contribution.

“It made me very proud,” he said. “I’m so pleased that others have found my experiences and what I have to say about them to be worthy of inclusion and on such a massive and grand scale.”

A Warmhearted World for Kids—and Adults

Carl the Collector follows Carl, a logical young raccoon on the autism spectrum who loves amassing meticulous collections of everything from rare leaves to unique bottle caps. Carl uses his extraordinary attention to detail to help his neurodivergent and neurotypical friends solve everyday dilemmas. Alongside his best friend, Sheldon the beaver, and Lotta, a talented neurodivergent and artistic fox, Carl learns to navigate big emotions and unexpected changes in plans within a supportive community that celebrates everyone’s unique traits.

Beneath the visual charm is a clear purpose: acceptance. “Everybody helps each other out,” Dr. Shore said. “Sometimes there are misunderstandings, but they all work out in those 11 minutes and four seconds and seven hundredths of a second.”

From “Institutionalization” to Institutions of Honor

The Emmy resonates deeply against the backdrop of Dr. Shore’s childhood. As he notes in his autobiographical presentations, professionals wanted to admit him to an institution. His parents declined.

“Perhaps, in a way, those diagnosing professionals were correct, and that I needed to be in an institution,” he notes wryly. “An institution of higher education.”

Now, he adds with a smile, he’s also part of the “institution called the Emmy Awards.”

Bringing Carl Into the Classroom—and Beyond

Dr. Shore’s involvement with Carl the Collector is tightly woven into his education classes at Adelphi and his advocacy work. During production, final episodes were embargoed until broadcast, but once released, he said he “went wild” incorporating them into his Special Education (Teaching Students With Disabilities) classes and presentations. For his students, Carl the Collector is a case study in authentic representation. For conference audiences of educators and clinicians, it’s a model of how media can portray autism with accuracy, warmth and respect.

Production on a second season of Carl is currently up in the air due to funding shortages at PBS, Dr. Shore said, although other organizations have expressed interest in sponsoring the show. “When we get the green light … we open those toolboxes, fire up all the engines and get going again.”

Until then, the Emmy on the shelf is a tangible reminder of how far he—and the broader understanding of autism—have come.

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Students spotted a rare cassowary—the world’s most dangerous bird—in the Daintree Rainforest. The cassowary, although normally shy, can stand up to six feet tall and attack with dagger-like claws.

Led by biology and environmental studies and sciences faculty Aaren Freeman, PhD, Matthias Foellmer, PhD, and Elizabeth Buccheri, PhD, the group embarked on a two-week, hands-on expedition across Australia’s wild ecosystems—earning 2 course credits while having the trip of a lifetime.

Marine Ecology, Biology Research and Snorkeling

The adventure started long before takeoff. During the spring semester, students prepped by learning about marine ecology, practicing their snorkeling skills (with two students even getting SCUBA certified), and drafting their own research plans.

Then came the real world.

“Some had cogent plans, but when they arrived and put their faces in the water, what we thought would be there just wasn’t there,” Dr. Freeman recalled. “Adapting to the differences between planning a research project and the reality of conducting that research was an important field experience take-home academic lesson.”

(From left) Adelphi students Chelsea Javier, Ryan Will and Audrey Cozine after a day of scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef. Students spent up to two hours a day in the water, observing coral atolls and marine wildlife.

Sharks, Giant Spiders and “Indiana Jones” Moments

Base camp for the marine portion of the trip was the Heron Island Research Station, right in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Students spent up to two hours a day in the water, swimming alongside sharks, stingrays and skates.

Adelphi student John DelCarpine enjoys a gondola high above a eucalyptus forest.

They also witnessed firsthand the harsh impact of climate change and coral bleaching on the 1,400-mile-long Great Barrier Reef—a sobering reminder of the planet’s fragility.

On this visit, Dr. Freeman, was pleasantly surprised at the corals’ resilience. “I remain hopeful,” he said. “But I’m not Pollyanna, the reefs aren’t really doing fine.”

When the group explored the ancient Daintree Rainforest, things were even wilder:

• The Cassowary: Students spotted the notoriously elusive—and notoriously powerful—cassowary, officially ranked by the Library of Congress as the world’s most dangerous bird.
• The Spiders: Guided by Dr. Foellmer (a terrestrial biologist and insect expert), the team navigated terrain packed with massive arachnids. “I had many interactions with big hairy spiders about the size of my hand,” Dr. Freeman recalled. “One web ended up on my back —with a four-inch spider on it—and made me feel like Indiana Jones. Yet, these spiders were harmless.”
• Canopy Views: The crew even hit the hinterlands, riding a gondola high above the canopy of a eucalyptus forest.

Beyond the Lab: Deep Diving Into Culture

It wasn’t all data collection and dodging wildlife. The group spent half a day in Mossman Gorge led by an Aboriginal guide, learning about sacred forests, traditional medicines and ancient toolmaking. Stops in Cairns and Brisbane introduced students to Australia’s vibrant city life and its incredible, Asia-influenced food scene.

For Dr. Buccheri, this kind of trip is full circle. She actually went on Adelphi’s 2017 Australia trip as an undergrad, which inspired her to move to Australia, earn her master’s and PhD in reef ecology, and eventually return to Adelphi to teach.

Dining alfresco in the Daintree Rainforest, the world’s oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest.

Expert Faculty as Australia Guides

Students benefitted not only from their professors’ individual scientific expertise, but also from their experience and knowledge of Australia and the climate change challenges facing its ecologically diverse reefs and rainforests, reflecting Adelphi’s commitment to sustainability.

“Each of us has our own area of expertise,” explained Dr. Freeman, a marine ecologist and chair of the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences. In 2010, he and Dr. Foellmer, a terrestrial biologist and chair of the Department of Biology, took the first group of Adelphi students to Australia. This year’s was their sixth such trip.

According to Dr. Freeman, Dr. Buccheri’s experience as a student on Adelphi’s 2017 Australian alternative break trip was life-changing, as it inspired her to gain expertise in reef ecology and reproductive biology by earning master’s and doctoral degrees in Australia. She is now an adjunct professor in environmental studies and sciences . “She’s a great success story,” he said.

Front left: Professor Matthais Foellmer, PhD, one of three professors serving as a guide, photographs wildlife along the Daintree River.

Next Australian Trek: 2028

For these 13 biology students, the trip was a massive eye-opener. As one student put it: “It will leave such an amazing impact on your life. You’ll want to go back as soon as you get home.”

Dr. Freeman and the department are already planning their next Australian trek for 2028. The Great Barrier Reef, the Milky Way in a clear night sky and a few friendly sharks are waiting.

Students and their Adelphi professors gather at sunset after a day of exploring coral atolls around Heron Island Research Station.

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As an executive function coach in ������Ƶ’s Learning Resource Program, with my colleague Erin Truesdell, a senior clinical educator and adjunct professor, I have a unique approach to helping first-year students navigate their initial steps on campus. Together, we guide them to find inspiration with the help of a canine professor named Echo.

For our newest students, I think walking onto campus for the first time causes the same uncertainty that a dog feels when it steps into an unfamiliar dog park. The environment is overwhelming, the social dynamics are entirely new, and everyone is trying to figure out exactly where they fit in. Finding your footing in this transition requires adaptability, resilience and, above all, a willingness to connect.

When you break it down, the skills required to understand a canine companion are identical to the executive functioning skills first-year students need to thrive on a college campus:

• Reading the Room (Nonverbal Cues): Dogs communicate almost entirely through posture, energy and subtle micro-expressions. Similarly, walking into a lecture hall, a bustling dorm lounge or a professor’s office requires new students to develop a keen sense of situational awareness and social attunement.
• Building Trust Over Time: A dog does not offer its trust overnight; earning it requires consistency, patience and clear boundaries. Navigating early college friendships and professional relationships with faculty follows this exact same trajectory.
• Co-Regulation and Stress Management: The human-canine bond is famous for its biological benefits—lowering cortisol levels while boosting oxytocin. We leverage this behavioral concept to teach students how to manage the intense anxiety of their first semester, using the grounding nature of the human-animal bond as a framework for active self-care.

Launching a First-Year Seminar on the Human-Canine Connection

The human-canine bond has real biological benefits; it lowers cortisol levels and boosts oxytocin.

Inspired by the many lessons Echo has taught us, we took our approach to a new academic level and launched a first-year seminar dedicated to the human-canine connection.

This course is one of 46 engaging first-year seminar options at Adelphi—ranging from Becoming Human and The Psychology of Happiness to The Politics of Immigration. These seminars offer a vital space for students to explore new ideas and engage in dialogue with professors and peers, and most students must complete one to graduate. The first-year seminar is part of Adelphi’s general education requirements, or PATH (Preparation, Awareness, Transformation, Hands-On Learning).

Bringing this particular course to life is Echo, a gentle and beautiful black Labrador retriever. Echo’s presence completely transforms the traditionally rigid college classroom into a warm, low-stress sanctuary. For an anxious first-year student, walking into a room and being greeted by a calm, accepting dog instantly lowers defenses. The dog acts as a living, breathing teaching assistant, offering students a real-time lesson in emotional co-regulation and providing a comforting touch of home just when the student needs it most.

Executive Functioning on Both Ends of the Leash

Echo is a welcome sight around campus; here she is at a fund-raising event for the Panther Pantry.

In our course, we teach students that training or understanding a dog demands working memory, emotional control, cognitive flexibility and sustained attention—the very definition of executive functioning in humans and canines alike.

The co-evolution of humans and dogs is a master class in behavioral adaptation. For thousands of years, two completely different species have learned to read each other’s body language, build trust from scratch and form mutually beneficial partnerships. By analyzing how dogs and humans successfully formed one of history’s greatest partnerships, and watching those dynamics play out with Echo in the classroom, students learn how to take active control of their own schedules, emotional health and social lives.

For New Students, a Lesson From Echo

According to executive function coach Tullo, “Echo’s presence completely transforms the traditionally rigid college classroom into a warm, low-stress sanctuary.”

Ultimately, this first-year seminar is a reminder to our newest students that the journey of higher education is not a path they have to walk alone. Success in college—much like building a bond with a trusted companion—does not happen overnight. It is built in the small, quiet moments of patience, open communication and the courage to reach out to someone new.

So as you navigate your own way through these unfamiliar hallways, remember the lesson Echo teaches us every single day: Hold your head high, stay calm, earn the trust of your new friends and never underestimate the power of a strong connection.

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“This recognition affirms Adelphi’s standard of excellence, proving why we remain a top choice for students and their families,” said Michael Balboni ’81, JD, president of ������Ƶ. “Students who earn a degree from Adelphi land jobs with high salaries and high potential for growth as a result of the mentorship, connections and real-world learning experiences we provide.”

Money’s rigorous annual Best Colleges selection process analyzes data from more than 700 four-year institutions nationwide, evaluating them across three pillars:

1. quality of education (30 percent)
2. affordability (40 percent)
3. student outcomes (30 percent)

To determine its final star ratings, the publication weighs 25 critical data points, with a heavy emphasis on net price of a degree, value-added graduation rates, average student debt upon graduation and long-term alumni earnings. Unlike traditional rankings, Money’s methodology focuses entirely on practical value, highlighting universities that deliver a measurable return on investment for their students.

and learn more about the .

To discover what makes an Adelphi degree so valuable, learn more about Adelphi’s rankings, accolades and awards.

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The two award winners embody Adelphi’s commitment to scholarship, service and global citizenship. They also reflect the University’s commitment to helping students gain access to experiences that transform lives. Both worked with Adelphi’s Office of Prestigious Awards and Fellowships to navigate the application process, secure effective letters of recommendation and prepare for interviews.

“Our office was delighted to work with these Fulbright awardees,” said Nicole Rudolph, PhD, director of the Office of Prestigious Awards and Fellowships and associate dean for student engagement. “Each brought a true passion for international education and global connection to the application process, and we are so pleased that the U.S. Fulbright Committee recognized their potential by granting them English Teaching Assistantships.”

Applying for the fellowship can be just as valuable as receiving one, according to Dean Rudolph. “Applying for a nationally competitive award is a wonderful way for students to think deeply about their objectives, priorities and values,” she said. “Students tell us that the application process itself helped them to clarify their life goals, improve their written and oral communication, and refine their time management skills.”

Julia Carpio’s Leap to Greece

For Julia Carpio ’25, MA ’26, who received her MA in Childhood Education and Advanced Certificate in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) in May, winning a prestigious Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship award was the culmination of a lifelong dream.

A self-described “shy, quiet and reserved” child, Carpio first found her path to teaching thanks to a kindergarten teacher who made her feel like she could achieve anything. Combined with the inspiration of her mother, a high school Spanish teacher, education was in Carpio’s blood. “Our (Adelphi) professors tell us all the time that teaching is a calling, it’s not a job—you have to have a true passion for it,” she said.

That calling will soon take her to an elementary school in Athens, Greece, where she’ll spend a year teaching English to students. The Fulbright program’s focus on multilingual education and cultural exchange matched the path she was already on. “I really wanted to dive into teaching and get as much as I could out of multilingual education,” she said.

Carpio can point to specific moments—and people—who nudged her from dream to decision. One was a , led by Mary Jean McCarthy, clinical associate professor in the Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences. “That was where I fell in love with multilingual education and learning from educators from different parts of the world,” she recalled.

McCarthy connected Carpio with Professor Clara Vaz Bauler, PhD, professor in the School of Education who became an anchor for her Fulbright ambitions. Daryl M. Gordon, PhD, who is also a professor in the School of Education, and Priya Wadhera, PhD, professor and interim director of the Office of Prestigious Awards and Fellowships last year, helped with her application. Shannon Harrison, director of Adelphi’s Center for International Education, first mentioned Fulbright to Carpio and walked her through options for teaching abroad. “So many people helped me get here,” Carpio said.

She chose Greece deliberately. Many Fulbright placements only put scholars in schools part time, but the Athens program puts Carpio in the classroom five days a week and some Saturdays. “I want to be 100 percent part of the staff,” she explained.

Carpio’s hopes for the year abroad are practical. “I want to walk away as a more effective educator,” she said. She wants to watch how Greek teachers structure lessons, what questions they ask, how they respond to multilingual students—and then carry those insights into whatever classroom she steps into next.

Long term, she sees Fulbright as the first in a series of international chapters in her life. She wants to keep teaching abroad and eventually pursue a PhD in international and comparative education.

Hussein Ali Rifath: Making a Difference in Madrid

By the time Hussein Ali Rifath ’26 learned he’d been selected for a Fulbright, he’d spent four years at Adelphi growing into the kind of person who sees scholarship as service.

“It’s been a journey of growth for me,” said Rifath, who served as president of the Class of 2026 and president of Adelphi’s Student Government Association. This fall, he will travel to Spain to help public school students sharpen their English, engage with global issues and see America in a new light.

“We’re being citizen diplomats,” he says of himself and his fellow Fulbright recipients. “We’re not just working as educators; we’re advancing our foreign relations abroad.”

For Rifath, his Fulbright sits at the intersection of everything that’s been on his mind as he graduates: America’s role in the world, the power of education and a personal desire to serve.

“I feel like now, more than ever, it’s important for Americans to get involved,” he said.

He’s especially aware that many students abroad only know the United States through politics and headlines. His goal is “to give a nuanced view, to show that we have two sides to our political spectrum, like every country. I want to give people a more comprehensive message about what America is, what we stand for. I want them to see us as a vibrant, welcoming society that not only cherishes them but also cherishes the human bonds which unite us across the world.”

In Madrid, Rifath will work with two programs that bring global awareness into local schools. “I’ll help students articulate themselves in English and speak about pressing issues across the world—like climate change and international relations,” he explained.

Rifath credits two Adelphi faculty members with helping him win a Fulbright: Ignacio Arellano-Torres, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and Dr. Vaz Bauler, the education professor who also inspired Julia Carpio. “They helped me discover my passion for learning language,” he said.

Fulbright is just one chapter in Rifath’s plan for a life centered on service. “Long term, I see myself joining the military,” he says, which he sees as a way to serve his community and country. “Through it all, my goal is to get involved in ways that benefit the community.”

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When arts patron and friend of the University Lee Steinberg made her generous bequest to Adelphi, it not only strengthened the future of the ������Ƶ Performing Arts Center—it shone a spotlight on the vibrancy of the arts at Adelphi.

“Lee Steinberg’s legacy gift reflects a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts,” said Thomas Kline, EdD, vice president of University advancement and external relations. “Her generosity strengthens not only our facilities, but the student experiences and creative opportunities that define Adelphi’s performing arts community.”

The $1.77 million gift supports immediate physical improvements at the Center as well as permanent, flexible funding for its ongoing capital, programming and operational needs. In recognition of her extraordinary generosity, the University has named the center’s Recital Hall in her honor—the Lee Steinberg Recital Hall.

The hall is one of the five state-of-the-art venues at the Center, along with the 500-seat Westermann Stage at the Concert Hall, the Olmsted Theatre, the Dance Theatre and the Black Box Theatre.

Adelphi’s Rich History in Theatre

Adelphi’s theatre, dance and music programs have produced generations of artists, none more illustrious than Jonathan Larson ’82, the late Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and composer of the iconic Broadway musical Rent. Larson majored in acting at Adelphi and began composing music for small student productions and cabarets, often writing about topics like AIDS, addiction and homophobia, which would later inform his renowned works.

“He came in like a spark plug,” said Nicholas Petron, MA ’70, retired professor and chair of the Department of Theatre. “My first impression was: ’Who is this guy?’ He was a firecracker.”

Larson’s legacy lives on at Adelphi through the $2 million Jonathan Larson Scholarship endowment, established by a bequest from the Larson Family Trust and a matching grant from the University. The endowment supports four annual scholarships for theatre students.

In 2015, Adelphi also launched the annual Larson Legacy Concert Series at Center to celebrate the next generation of musical theatre creators. It has featured performances by recipients of Jonathan Larson Grants from the American Theatre Wing and artists who’ve gone on to Broadway stardom, like Michael R. Jackson, who won a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award in 2021 for A Strange Loop.

Adelphi also hosts The Poole Family Broadway Series, generously sponsored by Mary Jane ’62 and Thomas Poole, which brings Broadway legends, cabaret stars and musical theater revues to the center.

Empowering the Next Generation of Excellence in Music and Dance

Theater isn’t alone at Adelphi as a pacesetter for university arts departments. The University’s dance department became one of the first established at a college in the United States when it was founded in 1938 by one of the leading lights of modern dance, Ruth St. Denis. Since then, it has been home to many prominent faculty members, including , Paul Taylor, Norman Walker, Carmen de Lavallade, Jack Cole and Hanya Holm.

In the music department, Pulitzer Prize-winning and Grammy-nominated composer , has been a professor since the early 2000s, nurturing new generations of musical talent while continuing to produce critically acclaimed oratorios. He was honored as one of only five University Professors at Adelphi in 2004.

“One of the great things about Adelphi is that it supports its faculty in its research—in my case, its creativity,” Dr. Moravec said. “I’m eternally indebted to Adelphi for facilitating all of the work that I’ve done in the 25 years that I’ve been here at Adelphi.”

A Donor’s Lifelong Commitment to the Arts in New York

Lee Steinberg’s gift, which was received from her estate in July 2025, reflected her wish to support arts programming and performance centers on Long Island as well as her lifetime commitment to cultural institutions throughout the greater New York region. Steinberg, who briefly served on Adelphi’s Performing Arts Council, died in 2021 at the age of 106 and was posthumously added as a member of Adelphi’s Million Dollar Roundtable, which recognizes our most generous donors, whose cumulative giving exceeds $1 million.

In accordance with Steinberg’s intent, the University has established two funds to support the ������Ƶ Performing Arts Center—the Lee Steinberg Performing Arts Center Capital Fund, for immediate physical improvements, and the Lee Steinberg Performing Arts Center Excellence Endowed Fund, to provide permanent, flexible support for the center’s ongoing capital, programming and operational needs. This generous gift reinforces Adelphi’s reputation as a preeminent leader in arts education and performance in our region.

Enhancements to Center will elevate the experience of student performers, faculty directors, guest artists and audience members. Several capital improvements have already been funded through an initial $500,000 allocation, including:

• A comprehensive refresh of the Olmsted Theatre, featuring new lighting, audience seating, carpeting, acoustic panels and painting, as well as the installation of a new digital sound mixing console
• Brighter lighting in the Center’s second-floor dance studios
• New house lights and work lights in the Concert Hall

Beginning in 2027, annual distributions from the endowment will ensure that the spotlight never fades—empowering generations of future artists to push creative boundaries and inspire the world from Adelphi’s stages.

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