Gabriel Blinder ’18 was named a “Top 10 Impactful and Influential Trendsetters of 2024” by E! News. Blinder is the CEO of Critical Sports and Entertainment, a pioneering representation agency in New York, and serves as a manager for several high-profile boxers and MMA fighters. He was recently certified by the NBA and WNBA Players Associations.

New York State Assemblyman Michael Durso visited the Post campus to moderate a simulated lobbying day for Nurse Practitioner students. The students received in-person feedback and coaching on their “elevator pitch” speeches as they advocated for members of their profession and the patients they serve.

Ryan Herold ’18 is joining the Tazran Lab at the University of California San Diego as a post-doctoral scholar, following the completion of his Doctor of Philosophy in Organic Chemistry at the University of Oxford. Herold was awarded Oxford’s prestigious Clarendon Scholarship in 2019 after earning his B.S. in Molecular Biology at LIU.

LIU announced that Cross Country Head Coach Stormie Charles has been named Director of Track and Field/Cross Country, overseeing all six programs. Joining Charles on the Track Field staff are Associate Head Coach Yvonne Harrison and Assistant Head Coach Kervin Morgan. Harrison previously as LIU‘s women’s cross-country head coach as well as an assistant coach with both the men’s and women’s track and field programs. Morgan is an Olympian and former LIU track team captain.

Long Island University recognized graduates during the 2024 Commencement Ceremonies on the Post and Brooklyn campuses. The distinguished guest speaker at Post was Dr. Andrew Maccabe, CEO of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). The distinguished guest speaker in Brooklyn was Joseph Kaupp, co-founder and CEO of Bainbridge Health, a burgeoning enterprise software startup that serves over 100 adult and pediatric hospitals across the country.

Jamie Krents, President of Verve, Verve Forecast, and Impulse! Records, spoke with students in the Artist Management course at the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment. Owned by Universal Music Group, Verve Records is home to the world’s largest jazz catalogue. In his two decades with the label, Krents has worked with Jon Batiste, Diana Krall, Samara Joy, Kurt Vile, Blake Mills, Brandee Younger and Arooj Aftab.

Emma Mörtl and Lisa Schröfl of the women’s hockey team represented their home country of Austria during the 2024 Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship. Mörtl and Schröfl, both sophomores at LIU, led Team Austria to a fourth-place finish in the tournament.

The American Library Association (ALA) Council announced the election of Dr. Corinthia Price ’11 to its Executive Board. Price currently serves as a member of the New York State Board of Regents Advisory Council on Libraries and the NewYork State Education Department Interdisciplinary Content Advisory Panel.

Ben Belfield, the reigning NEC Coach of the Year and men’s golf head coach, has been named the Director of Golf and will oversee both the men’s and women’s golf programs at LIU. During his five years at LIU, Belfield has led the Sharks to two team NEC Championships, one individual championship, and two NCAA Regional appearances.

A panel of school district superintendents met with Dean’s Scholars from the College of Education, Information & Technology to share their insights from decades of professional experience in public education. Panel participants included: Dr. Timothy Eagen of Kings Park SD, Dr. Patrick Harrigan of Half Hollow Hills SD, Dr. Lorna Lewis of Malvern SD, Dr. Mary O’Meara of Plainview-Old Bethpage SD, and Dr. Whitney Smith, Director of Instructional Technology and Assessment of Mineola SD.