Tell that to , the two-time All-American and National Champion midfielder, who was , picked by the Philadelphia Waterdogs.

Or ask , the hard-throwing right-hander who led all Division II pitchers in strikeouts per nine innings and received All-America honors before signing this summer with the Houston Astros. He is now living his childhood dream of playing pro ball, pitching for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers of the Carolina League.

Lewis and Carver aren’t just occupying roster spots. They’re thriving.

Lewis delivered exactly the kind of professional debut scouts dream about: a behind-the-back shot against the Boston Cannons, part of a two-goal night that set the tone for a rookie season spent chasing a title with the league’s best regular-season team.

Carver has “carved” out a bullpen role for the Woodpeckers, the Astros’ Single-A affiliate, continuing to rack up strikeouts, fanning seven batters over his first 4.2 innings in the minors.

While both Panthers are on their way, the path they took to get there was not a straight line. Both credit Adelphi—and the outstanding guidance and support they received from their coaches—for providing the map to success.

Speed, Setback and a Second Chance

For Lewis, the breakthrough didn’t come easily.

A hamstring injury derailed the start of his senior season, and for a while, he wasn’t sure his draft stock would recover. “There goes your speed,” he said, describing how the injury took away the very tool that defined his game.

Head Coach leaned on a familiar analogy to keep him grounded, comparing Lewis’s recovery to Samson regaining his strength as his hair grew back. It stuck.

While he didn’t really feel like he was playing like himself again until the National Championship game in May, Lewis got a call on draft night in April that he’d been selected 29th overall by the Waterdogs, the team he grew up rooting for.

Coach Purdie says that resilience was always part of Lewis’s appeal. He points to Lewis’s incredible work ethic—a level of dedication that drove him to watch game film on bus rides home and organize players-only sessions just to keep the offense sharp—as the thing that separates him from other players.

“He wanted every practice to be perfect so we could be perfect on game day,” Coach Purdie said, crediting Lewis as the heartbeat of Adelphi’s back-to-back national championship runs in 2024 and 2025.

Taming His Fastball, Transforming His Career

Carver’s transformation was less about overcoming injury and more about rebuilding from scratch.

When first-year head coach arrived at Adelphi in the summer of 2025, he inherited a pitcher who threw in the mid-90s but couldn’t consistently find the strike zone. Coach Gaffney’s fix was simple: Commit to locating a glove-side fastball and trust it, even after shaky outings.

Carver bought in completely. “He was as coachable a player as I’ve ever had,” Coach Gaffney said, recalling how the same fastball command that once eluded Carver became the foundation for his standout 2026 season.

The turning point, in Coach Gaffney’s memory, came against a scout-heavy crowd for a Franklin Pierce matchup, when Carver outdueled a Power 4 transfer from Kansas State and served notice that his stuff played against anyone.

Weeks later, after going undrafted, .

Carver thinks it couldn’t have happened without the mentoring he got from Coach Gaffney. “He’s always looked out for me,” he said in a . “He’s always wanted the best for me. He’s always had such a huge belief in me.”

It was a life-changing experience for Carver. “I really don’t see a life that I’m living where I’m not talking to Coach Gaffney,” he said.

The Journey Continues

Both are adjusting to life as professionals while still leaning on the lessons that got them there.

Lewis is chasing a PLL title in Philadelphia while starting a master’s degree in health education back at Adelphi, supported by a highly competitive (only up to 126 students are awarded each year). He is also helping coach the men’s lacrosse team.

Carver is learning the rhythms of daily professional life in Fayetteville, applying the same routines and resilience that Coach Gaffney and his staff drilled into him during a season that transformed his career.

Different sports, different journeys, but the same story: Adelphi didn’t just prepare Lewis and Carver to compete. It taught them how to believe they belonged. It’s a lesson that’s taken them far, and has a good chance of taking them even further.

The post Panthers in the Pros: Kyle Lewis ’26 and John Carver ’26 appeared first on ������Ƶ.

Defining What “Aging Well” Means

Invited participants were asked to think beyond longevity as simply the number of years a person lives or the physical strength of one’s body. The conversation focused on the quality of those years and whether people can remain healthy, independent, connected and supported as they age. The morning began with a brief audience reflection, where participants were asked to write one word that captured what “aging well” meant to them. Some of the participant responses included “independence,” “health,” “family,” “support,” “energy,” “happiness,” “quality” and “fulfillment.” The activity offered an early reminder that aging well means different things to different people, while also revealing common themes around health, connection and quality of life.

Keynote: Brain Health and the Whole Life Course

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Anderson, who spoke from his experience as an internationally recognized leader in stroke and brain health. His presentation focused on brain health, longevity and the importance of protecting brain health across the whole life course.

After the keynote session, the forum moved from evidence to implementation through an expert dialogue moderated by Chris Macey, director of advocacy and patient support at the . The panel brought together Socrates Kakoulides, MD, cardiologist and chief imaging officer at in Miami, Florida; Nicola Anderson, business leader at ; Jan van der Merwe, global project lead of the and co-founder of; and Alan Cooper, PhD ’95, clinical associate professor of management at Adelphi. Together, the speakers examined why, even when much is already known about prevention and brain health, large-scale implementation remains difficult. Their discussion highlighted that successful aging should not be addressed by medicine alone, but depends on how clinicians, institutions, policymakers, business leaders, communities and individuals work together.

A central part of the day was the Sense-Making Workshop, led by Dr. Proios and doctoral candidate Myrto Pyrrou. The workshop discussions pointed to several practical concerns that participants felt were shaping the experience of aging. In the health systems group, participants emphasized the need for better care pathways, continuity of care and more integrated services, especially in a healthcare system that can often feel disconnected. The prevention group raised issues such as access to healthy food, sedentary lifestyles and the need to make prevention more realistic in everyday life. The business and policy group focused on incentives, socioeconomic gaps, community knowledge and the challenge of building a stronger culture of prevention across sectors.

Leadership Workshop: Creating the Biggest Possibility

In the afternoon, the forum shifted from diagnosis to possibility through a leadership workshop titled “Creating the Biggest Possibility.” Participants were invited to think about the future they want to create, the leadership required to make it real and the milestones that could move this vision forward. Reflections from the session touched on stronger community ties, more accessible health and wellness services, reduced loneliness and a greater recognition of older adults’ knowledge and contribution.

Feedback collected from participants was all positive and attendees expressed appreciation for both the content of the day and the opportunity to take part in meaningful, cross-sector dialogue. Special thanks were extended to ������Ƶ staff members Stacey Barbato, director of operations; Barbara Clemens, administrative assistant; Kerry Scalere, administrative assistant; and Jessica Mannhaupt, coordinator of communications and outreach, as well as to the panelists, all participants and volunteers Liz Bethlio and Taylor Slicklein.

Looking Ahead

Successful aging is not only a health issue, but also a leadership challenge. Supporting longer, healthier and more connected lives will require collaboration across disciplines, institutions and generations. Each participant left with a certificate of completion for promoting brain health and longevity.

The post Adelphi Hosts Leadership Forum on Successful Aging and Longevity appeared first on ������Ƶ.

“I want to inspire people to take charge of their own lives and make the world a better place.”

That’s how Afra Masud describes her purpose. It’s a purpose that has guided her experience as a student leader at Adelphi, a podcaster and writer, and as a successful nominee for a prestigious from Campus Compact.

As one of this year’s fellows, she will be able to connect with other student leaders from colleges and universities across the country. She’ll attend an in-person Convening of Fellows, take part in virtual events and work with a mentor to further develop her leadership skills. She’ll also have opportunities to present or publish work through Campus Compact.

For Masud, the fellowship is “an opportunity to learn more about the world and connect with like-minded individuals who want to change the world for the better. I’m looking forward to the many leadership opportunities that come with the program.”

Masud gets around campus in an electric wheelchair, undeterred by the rare genetic disorder osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, which causes her bones to deform and break easily. “My disability has never been a problem for me academically,” she said. “But socially, physically and emotionally, it has always been a struggle. Despite all of this, I’ve never seen my disability as a burden or an obstacle. It’s one of my many superpowers.

“It motivates me to make the world a better place, and reminds me to take care of myself and others,” she added. “Ultimately, my disability is the reason I’m able to do so much. It gives me perspective, hope, courage and a lot of empathy.”

A Voice for the Silenced

The Queens native’s journey as a Panther is fueled by her inherent understanding of others that she has gained through her own experience as a Muslim woman in a wheelchair. She started her podcast drama, The Ugly Princess, in order to be a “voice for those of us who have been silenced and to speak for the voiceless,” she has said.

Masud’s short story “Our Fallen Stars” was published this year in issue. “I wrote about a girl who was named after a star [because] her parents wanted a child who would illuminate the world,” she explained. “This is what a voice can do. Armed with education and love, I aspire to do just that.”

A Campus Leader, a Global Scholar

Masud also met the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult at the Writers & Readers Festival.

From the start at Adelphi, she has exhibited a commitment to leadership, community engagement and service, and academic excellence as a sociology major and psychology minor.

“Sociology and psychology are fields about people—how our world works and who we become as individuals are explained in many ways through both fields of study,” she explained.

“One thing that fascinates me the most is what makes a human being so complex and multifaceted,” she added. “This combination has allowed me to get more answers and find more questions about this topic.”

While she has presented the results of a research project on societal reactions to people with antisocial personality disorders and psychopathy at Adelphi’s Scholarship and Creative Works Conference, she also explores arts such as filmmaking, sculpture and storytelling.

A student leader, Masud is the secretary of Adelphi’s Levermore Global Scholars (LGS) program, which prepares students for leadership roles as global thinkers.

“The thing I value most about LGS is the way it has enriched my college experience,” she said. “The classes that I took for the program have truly changed my life and the way I think about the world. It’s a great experience and a big key to why I love my journey as a Panther so far.”

She has also worked at Adelphi’s Innovation Center as an ambassador supporting fellow students’ academic success, and has served as an Office of University Admissions event assistant.

Looking Ahead to a Career Helping Others

“Adelphi has taught me a lot about independence and what it means to act on your own values and morals,” Masud said. “I’ve done many things that I never thought I would do before, and I’ve learned how to do many things by myself that I didn’t know how to do two years ago. I believe that I have become more grounded and more able to appreciate the world that I live in.”

It’s a world full of possibilities. “I want to do many things after I graduate,” she said. “I want to go to grad school and become a psychologist. I want to give TED talks. I want to write books about humans and how we make our own world without really realizing it.”

As a Newman Civic Fellow, Masud will be well on her way to honing the leadership skills that will help her meet those goals—now and in the years ahead.

The post Speaking for the Voiceless: Afra Masud, Our 2026–2027 Newman Civic Fellow appeared first on ������Ƶ.

Moving Beyond “Check-the-Box” Corporate Responsibility

Both Ledecky and McCarthy have witnessed the role of corporate responsibility change dramatically in recent years. What was once often treated as philanthropy—or worse, a public relations exercise—has become a test of an organization’s values and leadership. McCarthy cautioned against companies that simply “check the box,” recalling one organization that touted a $1 million charitable initiative to plant saplings in the Amazon rainforest, then spent a whopping $25 million promoting the effort. The imbalance, he suggested, illustrates the difference between meaningful action and marketing.

Ledecky sees an even greater responsibility for sports organizations, whose growing visibility gives them a powerful platform. A team can strengthen its community while also building a profitable organization. As McCarthy put it, “Doing well and doing good are not mutually exclusive.”

The distinction, both men argued, lies in whether social responsibility sits on the sidelines or becomes part of how an organization operates every day. For the Islanders, that commitment is built into the rhythm of the season. Take “” as an example. At each home game, a nonprofit organization is given the opportunity to raise funds and share its mission.

Sustaining this commitment is essential. Ledecky rejected a “one-and-done” approach to community engagement, sharing the story of Colin Moon, the son of a fallen firefighter. The Islanders have taken Moon under their wing, welcoming him back each year to the owners’ box for his birthday. Relationships like these, Ledecky suggested, are what make ownership meaningful. “It’s satisfying to have the resources, venue and platform to do good in the community,” he said.

Why Ethical Leadership Matters

Embedding the values of corporate social responsibility into an organization requires leaders willing to protect them—particularly when short-term pressures pull in another direction. McCarthy framed leadership in simple terms: “When you’re a CEO or you’re a leader, you have the power to serve.” Ledecky described that responsibility as stewardship, noting that team owners are temporary caretakers of institutions that belong, in a larger sense, to their communities. He recalled how former Islanders owner Charles Wang carefully considered who would be the right steward of the franchise when selecting its next ownership group—a responsibility Ledecky hopes to carry forward one day.

The Future of Corporate Social Responsibility

Looking ahead, both speakers pointed toward a model of corporate responsibility that is more authentic and more deeply integrated into organizational strategy. One-time gestures and well-publicized donations will carry less weight than measurable impact and long-term relationships. For organizations with significant visibility, that also means using their platforms more intentionally, creating opportunities to turn awareness into action.

Ledecky also sees service becoming increasingly valuable at the individual level. His advice to students was straightforward: Find an organization “near and dear to your heart” and get involved. In a stack of 50 résumés, he said, the candidate who has stepped outside of themselves to serve others stands apart.

������Ƶ’s Legacy of Social Responsibility

������Ƶ has long turned out graduates with the skills needed to thrive professionally. Notably, these students place high value on being active, engaged citizens—making their mark within their organizations, their communities and the world at large. This is the result of a deliberate commitment to social responsibility and ethical leadership that is organically woven into the very fabric of how the University teaches, leads and serves.

At the ������Ƶ Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, the conversation around ethics is hardly new. Since the school’s founding in 1964, ethical practices have been a cornerstone of its approach to business education. In recent years, expectations of corporations have shifted, and so, too, has the conversation—expanding into a broader, more intentional focus on corporate social responsibility and the role organizations play in strengthening communities.

In 2003, a gift from the late Amy Hagedorn ’05 (Hon.) and the late Horace Hagedorn ’01 (Hon.), founder of Miracle-Gro, was used to establish the annual Hagedorn Lecture Series on Corporate Social Responsibility. Since then, the series has brought prominent leaders to ������Ƶ to examine how businesses can balance the push and pull of profit and purpose.

The post Beyond “Checking the Box”: Islanders Owner Jon Ledecky Shares What Real Corporate Responsibility Looks Like appeared first on ������Ƶ.

This annual, prestigious award is a measure of an institution’s individual programs and initiatives that significantly advance core values of student and employee mental health and well-being through programs, initiatives and other campus priorities deserving of this national recognition.

Adelphi will be featured, along with 37 other selected colleges, in the September 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine.

“The culture of care we have built at Adelphi goes far beyond academic and professional development—it requires fostering a community that recognizes the mental health challenges students face and actively supports them at every level,” said ������Ƶ President Michael Balboni ’81, JD. “This proud honor from Insight Into Academia reflects the ongoing work and dedication of our care teams to provide accessible mental health resources and wellness initiatives, which will continue to be a focus on our campus.”

Expanding Campus Mental Health and Student Wellness Services

Insight Into Academia magazine selected Adelphi because of its leadership in providing outlets for rest, well-being and self-care, including the University’s Mindfulness Center. Opened in 2022, the center not only provides a quiet refuge on campus for all community members, it also offers programming such as guided meditation, yoga classes and annual wellness retreats. The center also serves as a training ground for the Keys to Well-Being Certificate for employees.

Adelphi offers comprehensive counseling services for students navigating psychological, behavioral or learning challenges at all campus locations. Support is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with both scheduled appointments and walk-in crisis counseling. Offerings include individual and group therapy, substance education, wellness workshops and resource referrals.

The Achan Family Interfaith Center supports spiritual life at Adelphi by creating spaces for worship, fellowship and open dialogue across different traditions. The center fosters an inclusive campus community where students can explore their values, share their religious practices and connect with peers.

“We know that institutions are not always recognized for their dedication to and prioritizing mental health and well-being services and support for their students and employees,” says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. “We are proud to honor the colleges and universities who are standouts as the need for these resources continues to grow substantially.”

For more information about the 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award, visit .

About Adelphi: A modern metropolitan university with a personalized approach to higher learning

������Ƶ, New York, is a highly awarded, nationally ranked, powerfully connected doctoral research university dedicated to transforming students’ lives through small classes with world-class faculty, hands-on learning and innovative ways to support academic and career success. U.S. News & World Report named Adelphi a 2026 Best National University, Best College for Veterans and Top Performer in Social Mobility. In addition, Forbes has ranked Adelphi the top private university on Long Island for three past three years.

Adelphi serves more than 7,300 students at its beautiful main campus in Garden City, New York—just 23 miles from New York City’s cultural and internship opportunities—and at dynamic learning hubs in Manhattan, the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County, as well as online.

More than 125,000 alumni Adelphi graduates have gained the skills to thrive professionally as active, engaged citizens, making their mark on the University, their communities and the world.

The post Adelphi Wins National Excellence Award for Student Mental Health Initiatives appeared first on ������Ƶ.

The Knicks’ championship run was magical. What was it like for you?

As clichéd as it sounds, it was emotional and incredible for many reasons. After the final buzzer went off, I couldn’t help but think back to when I was a freshman in high school, when I knew I wanted to become an athletic trainer, and to my journey from Adelphi as an exercise science major all the way to the ultimate mountaintop—an NBA championship. It also made me look back at the support my friends and family have given me. They know firsthand how many birthdays, weddings and major life moments that I have missed since I started working in the NBA in 2016, and they have been so gracious throughout the years. Reflecting on all of that made me immensely grateful.

Were you part of the ticker-tape parade?

I was! It was truly the most magical hour and a half of my life. To see hundreds and thousands of people along the route was insane and intense in the best way possible. From the people on the street, to the folks within the buildings releasing shredded paper from floors above, to workers in the rafters of construction sites and people climbing the street signs and lights, it was nothing that I have seen before! It was incredible, something that I will remember for a long, long time.

How did you celebrate the championship?

I celebrated with my co-workers and our significant others and families in the back of the locker room after the game. It was an incredible two-and-a-half-hour display of pure joy and it was amazing to celebrate that moment with your co-workers who went through the grind of the longest season in NBA history with you, and your loved ones who have also experienced all of the ups and downs of the season with you.

The players were obviously under a lot of pressure during the playoffs. Did the pressure grow for you in each round?

Not really, to be honest. During times of pressure, I like to lean on routine. This has remained the same since . Stick to your routine, expect the unexpected, remain calm during times of adversity and figure out a solution when problems arise, and everything will be fine. I focused on what I always do as a trainer—help manage player injuries, create and establish injury prevention plans for the players assigned to me, and assist in the day-to-day operations of the athletic training room.

You had a quick cameo appearance on TV that eagle-eyed viewers might have noticed during Game One of the Finals. Did you hear from people who saw you?

Yes I did [laughing]. All my friends and family from back home in Hawaii and along the East Coast texted me to let me know that they saw me. It put a smile on my face and reminds me of how lucky I am to have a great support system.

Tell us about your journey from Adelphi to the Knicks. How did your experience as a trainer with the Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals help you this year?

My journey from Adelphi to the Knicks has been a long one. After I graduated with an exercise science degree from Adelphi [now within the Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences], I went on to earn my master’s degree in athletic training from Division I schools in California.

I started my professional career in college athletics, which set the foundation of my athletic training skills and management. I then moved into professional basketball as the head athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Lakers’ minor league team, the Los Angeles D-Fenders/South Bay Lakers [now the Coachella Valley Lakers].

Three years later, I received my “call up” to the NBA in 2019 and started working for the Dallas Mavericks as the assistant athletic trainer. In my fifth year with the team, we ended up going to the NBA Finals. Sadly, we lost to the Boston Celtics in five games, but it was a very eye-opening experience. Getting so close but falling short of your goal fuels you to get to the Finals even more. And if you are lucky enough to get there, you know what to expect when it comes to the media madness and the heightened feeling in the locker room and arena; everything becomes a little more familiar and not so new to you.

I took that previous Finals experience and applied it this past season. I was able to help my co-workers and other players by letting them know what to expect when it came to the Finals. The schedule is different than in any other series, so having that previous experience truly helped me remain calm and focused.

This is something of an on-court interview kind of question, but what did winning an NBA championship mean to you?

Winning an NBA championship means to me the culmination of all of my hard work and sacrifice that I have put in over the last 13 years. You think back on the times where you weren’t making a lot of money, working 14 hours a day, seven days a week with no days off in sight for months, and you say to yourself, “It was all worth the struggle.” Because the feeling of winning an NBA championship is something that money can’t buy.

How did your degree in exercise science at Adelphi prepare you for this experience?

It helped me understand the demands of the body during exercise and what it does physiologically, hormonally and scientifically to the individual or athlete. The part of exercise science that I truly enjoyed during my time at Adelphi was learning about the heart, reading an ECG and being able to understand what is happening physiologically at the Human Performance Lab.

What would you say to other exercise science majors who are reading this article?

I would say to really explore the various career paths open to you while you’re majoring in exercise science and decide whether you will need to pursue a master’s degree or doctorate. From there, make sure you do your research on the programs that you want to apply to, paying attention to the connections or affiliations that professors have access to and may share with you. It is true what they say: “It’s all about who you know and sometimes not what you know” when entering the job market.

Most important, be true to yourself, and always do the right thing. I have learned that in life and in my career. If I make sure that I do the right thing, it usually results in fewer issues and better results.

The post For New York Knicks Athletic Trainer Heather Mau ’11, the NBA Championship Was a Thrilling Reward for Years of Hard Work appeared first on ������Ƶ.

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.

The post Leading the Arts: Landmark Donation Secures Adelphi’s Performing Arts Spotlight appeared first on ������Ƶ.

It is a reflection of his own multicultural, multidenominational family’s passion for philanthropy and community—and their deep, foundational belief that there is but one family of man.

A Multicultural Family Legacy

“I could tell you from being in healthcare my entire life, that we’re all the same. The more we could bring people together from different religions, cultures, and disciplines to show we are all exactly the same, the better the world will be,” Achan insisted. “It’s meaningful, peaceful, and it can heal a lot.”

Achan is proud that his wife, pediatric speech pathologist Kimberly Mayo-Achan and children Lenny III and Katherine, agreed to establish the Center. In fact, they collectively signed their generous donation letter.

He hopes that by representing his family’s own diverse cultural legacy, the Achan Family Interfaith Center “speaks to the generations before me and hopefully to the generations after me.”

A First Generation Student from the Inner City

For Achan, a son of immigrant parents and a self-described inner city youth from Queens, college was an aspiration, rather than an expectation. “Opening that acceptance letter from Adelphi was like a spark of light,” he recalled. “I never thought I might go to college—and Adelphi became a beacon for me.”

Enrolling in the College of Nursing and Public Health gave Achan his first glimpse of how he might achieve his dream of helping people in need.

After graduating, he continued his education by earning a master’s degree in advanced practice nursing and a business degree, as well.. His leadership in health care has been recognized with awards from Crain’s New York Business and Healthcare Leaders of New York.

Today, the ������Ƶ board of trustees’ secretary is president and CEO of , a nonprofit organ procurement organization, as well as the founding chairman of a digital health organization. He is also a generous benefactor to his alma mater.

An Interfaith Center for All

With their significant gift, Achan Family Interfaith Center shines as a beacon of light for the entire Adelphi community.

“This donation is going to allow students to have deeper, more meaningful experiences with one another,” promised Michael Hoffner, coordinator of ������Ƶ’s Mindfulness Center and Leonard Achan Family Interfaith Center.

According to Hoffner, the Center will enable students to attend retreats, and bring programs to campus that will connect them with their spiritual, faith and religious traditions—while fostering the sense of belonging and purpose that is at the heart of the college experience.

Gifts Honoring His Father, and His Grandmother, a Holocaust Survivor of Auschwitz

Supporting the campus Interfaith Center is not the Achan family’s first major gift. In 2017, the memory of Achan’s father, Leonard Achan, Sr., was honored by a .

In 2024, a second gift from Achan and his wife endowed a scholarship for future mental health counselors studying at the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology. The scholarship memorialize Kimberly Mayo-Achan’s grandmother, Zosia ‘GiGi’ Levine, a Jewish survivor of Auschwitz during the Holocaust, who went on to live a long, fulfilling life as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

When the family considered how they might address a deepening and challenging mental health crisis and shortage of mental health professionals, they were inspired by Gigi. Achan has described how “My family exists because she survived. Helping others create a legacy was the thought behind how we could be supportive.

“Helping even one person makes a difference.”

Fulfilling Dreams for Future Adelphi Students

According to Achan his role as an Adelphi trustee gives him a unique perspective. By remembering his own experience and dreams as a first-generation student, he recognizes how seemingly impossible student dreams will be fulfilled because of the foundation Adelphi provides. And he has committed himself to doing everything he can to help them realize their dreams.

“I feel blessed to give back to Adelphi and blessed to have a career in helping people,” he admitted. “Adelphi gave me a platform and opportunity that is the foundation of everything I do today in my community and with my family.”

He uses this platform as a trustee, to champion the goals of Adelphi’s strategic plan. By establishing the Achan Family Interfaith Center, he has directly supported the university’s commitment to its inclusive community.

This is, for him—and his family—the right time to create the Center. “When you look at our faculty and students and alumni, when you look at the contributions we are making to society and the world, it’s a moment to scale impact.”

Achan believes that as a place for the Adelphi community to embrace differences, discover commonality, and celebrate and explore individual faith and purpose, the Leonard Achan Family Interfaith Center is doing just that.

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For the third consecutive year, the stands atop the , and this time, the Panthers didn’t just win the NE10 Presidents Cup, the annual trophy given to the conference’s top all-around program. They made history doing it.

Adelphi’s three-peat marks the first such accomplishment by any institution since 2009–2012, pushing the Panthers’ all-time Cup total to seven, third-most in conference history. On top of that, Adelphi also won the NE10 Founders Cup and Pioneers Cup as the best men’s and women’s programs, respectively. It is the second time Adelphi has swept those trophies in the three years they have been awarded.

Most telling, however, is what the Brown and Gold have done in the modern era: Since 2012–2013, no program has been more dominant, with Adelphi now claiming seven of the last 14 Presidents Cups.

A Dynasty Defined: Men’s Lacrosse Falls One Step Short of Immortality

For 14 consecutive weeks, the two-time defending national champion chased history, bidding to become the first three-peat in NCAA Division II history.

In near-identical fashion to in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Cats and University of Tampa once again needed extra time to settle the score, this time in a 12-11 loss at the University of Virginia’s Scott Stadium in Charlottesville.

The defeat stings, but the résumé endures. At 19-1, the Panthers were the first program to appear in three consecutive national title games since 2017–2019.

Goaltender led all of Division II with a 5.61 goals-against average and a .663 save percentage while limiting opponents to a nationwide-low 6.25 goals per game.

received the title of Lt. Raymond J. Enners Outstanding Player of the Year, the third consecutive season a Panther has claimed the honor, while also repeating as the Lt. J.G. Donald McLaughlin Jr. Outstanding Midfielder of the Year. Tomei attained an Ensign G. Markland Kelly Jr. Outstanding Goalie citation, and was named Long Pole Midfielder of the Year. and hold on to their honors from the 2025 season, being named the Lt. Col. JI Turnbull Outstanding Attackman and the William C. Schmeisser Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.

A Grand Slam in the Desert: Women’s Tennis Makes Program History

While the men’s lacrosse team was making its stand in Virginia, the was writing its own chapter in the NCAA Tournament in Surprise, Arizona.

Under ’18, MS ’21, herself a former NE10 Player of the Year for the very program she now leads, the Panthers posted a perfect 12-0 NE10 regular-season record, their first unblemished conference mark since ’26 was a Panther in 2015–2016, before claiming the NE10 Championship in dominant fashion at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the shadow of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The historic run culminated in the program’s first-ever appearance in the .

Fakas was coined as the NE10 Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year, and the ITA/Dunlop Coach of the Year for both the men’s and women’s programs, having guided her teams to a combined 33-12 record.

’26, who pushed the nationally fourth-ranked Emily Buchanan of Mississippi College to a first-set tiebreak in Adelphi’s debut at nationals, was named the ITA East Region Senior Player of the Year, adding to a decorated résumé that includes , , an NE10 Elite 24 Award and First Team NE10 All-Conference praise in both singles and doubles.

Men’s Tennis: Three’s Not a Crowd, It’s a Dynasty

The men’s tennis team became the NE10’s first three-time tournament champion since 2019, joining three other universities as the only programs in conference history to claim that distinction.

, MS ’26, was labeled the Vern Cox NE10 Player of the Year, the fourth-consecutive Panther to do so, while earned his second career NE10 Championship Most Outstanding Player honor.

Softball’s Remarkable Resurrection

In just her second season at the helm, Head Coach engineered one of the most impressive single-year turnarounds in recent program memory.

After a sub-.500 finish in 2025, the Panthers rebounded to go 37-23 overall with a 27-9 conference record, earning the No. 2 seed in the NE10 Championship, hosting an NCAA Tournament regional pod within the friendly confines of Janet L. Ficke Field, and .

“Carv”-ing Up the Opposition

A live fastball that sat in the 90s was just the beginning for fifth-year senior ’26.

Under the mentorship of first-year , the right-hander put together the finest season of his career in Garden City, going 7-1 with a 2.67 earned-run average to earn NE10 Pitcher of the Year honors, as well as draw some eyes from Major League scouts.

In doing so, Carver joined a short list of distinguished Cats to earn All-America recognition, following in the footsteps of T.J. Santiago ’17 (2017), Ed Baram ’19 (2019) and Dawson Montesa (2025) in bringing the conference’s top pitching honor back to Adelphi for the second time in as many years.

A Rising Tide

The NE10 Presidents Cup isn’t won by two or three programs alone. It is a collective achievement.

The Adelphi men’s and went a combined 17-0 against conference opponents, outscoring them 299-122. The women’s tennis team’s 12-0 regular season run complemented the men’s team, capturing three of the last four NE10 regular season championships.

volleyball program recorded its fourth consecutive 20-win season. And on the links, the , paired with runner-up finishes from the , , and at their respective NE10 Championships, ensured no points were left on the table.

The Panthers aren’t just winning. They’re redefining what sustained excellence looks like in NCAA Division II athletics.

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The residency of Dr. Banerjee, a distinguished management scholar and experienced academic leader, was sponsored by and affiliated with the prestigious Levermore Global Scholars program—a program for students interested in global study and leadership.

A Historic First for Adelphi

The opportunity to become a Fulbright Fellow was brought to Dr. Banerjee by Hanna Kim, PhD, professor and chair of the ������Ƶ Department of Anthropology and co-director of the Museum Studies Program. While honored, he initially hesitated due to his commitments at Ashoka University, where he was overseeing the commissioning of a new management school. “I wasn’t sure if I could get away for a whole semester,” he explained.

With strong support from his colleagues, Dr. Banerjee ultimately accepted the opportunity, adding that his motivation was “to try and understand the shifting sands in higher education that the U.S. is living through.” He felt that these insights would inform ideas and strategies to help build world-class global institutions in India.

As the first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence ever hosted by Adelphi, Dr. Banerjee’s appointment carries special significance. “It is a matter of great honor for me,” he said.

Advancing Adelphi’s Global Educational Initiatives

Dr. Banerjee was sponsored by and affiliated with the Levermore Global Scholars program and the College of Arts and Sciences. During his time here, he helped advance Adelphi’s global educational initiatives by collaborating with scholars and engaging with the campus and local community.

Throughout the semester, Dr. Banerjee delivered three different lectures to Adelphi students and faculty.

• Careers at the Edge of Change: Global Stories and Innovation in Emerging Markets provided insight into real-world business challenges, innovations and strategies.
• From Classrooms to Ecosystems: Time for Higher Education to Evolve in the Global Innovation Economy dove into how university education, particularly American higher education, looks to adapt to the rapidly evolving needs of global realities.
• Innovation Ecosystems Unlock Civilizational Potential: The Case of India explored how campuses, startups and cultural narratives transformed entrepreneurship for young Indians and why building impactful organizations is a powerful expression of ambition, purpose sand leadership in contemporary India.

By residing in an on-campus apartment and judging high school students at Adelphi’s annual Scholarship and Creative Works Conference, Dr. Banerjee gain firsthand insight into the American student experience.

Sponsored by Students With a Global Mindset: The Levermore Global Scholars

Adelphi students call the Levermore Global Scholars “an unconventional honors program.” And that’s really what it is. Levermore Global Scholars is an innovative academic community dedicated to preparing students to become leaders in a changing world and enhancing their global mindsets. It recognizes the importance of social responsibility and justice, civic participation, community engagement, global awareness and global activism.

Current students in this program are studying a core global studies curriculum alongside 37 different majors, including international studies, business, nursing, political science and biology. In addition to classroom studies, students participate in a variety of cocurricular and experiential learning activities, including cultural excursions to New York City, service projects and activities at the United Nations.

Most Levermore Scholars also participate in study abroad, as well as credit-bearing internships.

A Distinguished Academic Leader From India

Born in Kolkata, in the state of West Bengal, India, Dr. Banerjee has led a distinguished academic career. He earned both a PhD in economics and marketing science and a master’s degree in economics from Purdue University, as well as a BS in economics and mathematics and statistics from St. Xavier’s College in Kolkata. From his 18-year tenure at the prestigious Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad to his transformative roles as dean at Ahmedabad and Shiv Nadar universities—where he pioneered industry-academia collaborations—Dr. Banerjee has consistently elevated educational standards. He is currently the head of the Havells School of Management and Leadership at Ashoka University.

India and ������Ƶ: Deep Ties and Collaboration

Although his semester at Adelphi is over, Dr. Banerjee sees significant potential for further collaboration between Adelphi and institutions in India. He highlighted India’s growing importance in global higher education, fueled by a burgeoning student population eager to learn. “India has been the largest source of international students for Adelphi,” he observed, indicating that this creates a strong foundation for strategic partnerships. He also noted that Adelphi’s prime location in New York, combined with its thoughtfully designed and cost-effective programs, means that Indian student interest will only continue to expand.

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