CIRCLING THE WATERS AROUND LONG ISLAND, THE SHARKS HAVE LIU SWIMMING INTO UNCHARTED WATERS WITHIN NCAA DIVISION I ATHLETICS

Few creatures on earth can compare with the majestic ferocity
of sharks. Nothing provokes fear and marvel like the sight of a dorsal fin cutting through the water just above the surface. This remarkable predator will carry the tradition and legacy of Long Island University into the competitive waters of national prominence.

LIU students and alumni made history this spring by choosing the Shark as the mascot of the University’s expanded NCAA Division I program, which united the Brooklyn and Post campuses. The vote made LIU the first NCAA Division I program on the East Coast to make the Shark its mascot.

The Shark was selected as the favorite mascot from among three finalists by a vote of LIU students and alumni. The voting window opened in April and closed in May, with the Shark beating its competitors, the Eagle and the Falcon.

The selection is fitting for the University, with campuses located on Long Island and surrounded by the waters of the Long Island Sound and Atlantic Ocean, where these iconic animals swim. Moreover, sharks embody strength, resolve and brilliance — qualities that represent the spirit of LIU and the individuals who comprise the University.

The future is bright and exciting, yet the transition inevitably brings bittersweet sentiments for many alumni who proudly cheered and competed as Blackbirds and Pioneers. The Sharks will honor the legacy built by those individuals. The foundation of excellence and tradition allows current and future teams to advance the accomplished tradition already in place.

In LIU’s history, its teams have combined for 23 national championships, 218 conference titles, and 376 All-Americans. The University’s new colors are blue and gold — chosen to honor and unite the traditions of both LIU campuses.

“The athletic program will help givevthe school national attention for our academics,” said alumni association president Bob Jahelka (Accounting, ’84). “LIU has gone through a lot of changes, but still it’s always going to be our school.”

Few alumni have made greater contributions to LIU’s football prestige than Jahelka and perhaps no one exhibits more school pride — he is in the school’s athletics hall of fame and named several of his businesses after the University.

Having played in plenty of big games as a student at LIU, Jahelka gushed
enthusiasm after the atmosphere at the inaugural Division I football game. “It was an unbelievable environment,” he said, “It was like homecoming. And that’s what it’s going to be like almost every weekend. It’s really quite amazing.”

The new mascot is already bringing unprecedented national exposure to the University’s Division I athletics program. The Sharks are practically regulars on ESPN these days. In soccer, freshman forward Papa Ndoye’s spectacular bicycle kick against Columbia University scored the #1 spot on the network’s Top Ten Plays.

Two weeks later, senior running back Tim Marinan appeared on Monday Night Football’s popular C’Mon Man! segment for his clever use of an official as a lead blocker against Bryant University. The game was originally broadcasted live on ESPN3, as was the team’s game against Wagner College.

This summer the football team announced future road games against the West Virginia University Mountaineers and the Miami University RedHawks in 2021 and the University of Toledo Rockets in 2022. Later this year, the men’s basketball team will travel to Lubbock, Texas to play Texas Tech University. The Red Raiders made the Final Four and played in the national championship game last season.

“I’m excited about new opportunities for our athletics,” said Athletic Director Dr. Bill Martinov. “We will grow as a Division I program and continue to recruit exceptional student-athletes.”

Meanwhile, Newsday highlighted the LIU women’s ice hockey team, the first ever on Long Island. Over homecoming weekend, the team battled the defending national champion University of Wisconsin Badgers at Nassau Coliseum.

“We are bringing NCAA Division I hockey to New York City, and I’m so incredibly thankful to LIU Athletics for the confidence and trust that they have shown in me to serve as LIU’s first ever women’s hockey coach,” said head coach Rob Morgan, who has previously coached for professional teams in Canada and China, along with Yale University. “I believe I can take my experiences from along the way and collectively we can lay a foundation and build a championship program.”

LIU’S COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE JOINS EXCLUSIVE COMPANY AS ONE OF JUST FOUR ACCREDITED FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES OF VETERINARY MEDICINE IN THE NORTHEAST

For nearly 100 years, Long Island University has built and maintained a reputation for
providing solutions before any other institution. The University is home to the nation’s
first school of professional accountancy, Brooklyn’s first college of pharmacy, the prestigious
George Polk Awards in the field of journalism and LIU’s unique Global College, which
offers the only accredited four-year bachelor’s degree program of its kind in the world.

Another historic and unprecedented achievement became official this fall with the approval
of Long Island University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (LIU-CVM) – the first in the New
York metropolitan area and only the fourth in the Northeast, joining the University of
Pennsylvania, Cornell University and Tufts University.

LIU-CVM received a Letter of Reasonable Assurance from the American Veterinary Medical
Association’s Council on Education (AVMA-COE). Receipt of the letter enables the University
to commence accepting applications for students who will begin the Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine (DVM) program in Fall 2020.

“We are extremely proud that LIU’s new College of Veterinary Medicine has met the high
standards of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education,” President
Kimberly R. Cline said. “The launch of our veterinary school further elevates LIU as we clearly
continue on our path to status as a nationally recognized teaching and research institution.”

Last May, LIU was awarded $12 million by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo — as part of New York
State’s investment in transformational health care initiatives — to help establish Long Island
as a biotechnology research corridor.

“Opening the first veterinary college in the New York metropolitan area will help transform
the region and further contribute to Long Island’s life-sciences research corridor as well as
its economic health by creating jobs,” said Kevin Law, president and CEO of the Long Island
Association.

LIU-CVM has secured partnerships with more than 50 affiliates, including primary care and
specialty clinics, zoos, research laboratories, and animal shelters in order to enable DVM
students to gain real world experience in surgery, diagnostic support, intensive care, and
other areas critical for successful veterinary practice.

“LIU-CVM faculty, selected based on their strong reputation as scholars and educators,
are prepared to offer the highest quality education to the next generation of globally
competent, practice-ready and entrepreneurial veterinarians,” said LIU-CVM’s Dean and
award-winning educator, Dr. Carmen Fuentealba.

LIU-CVM’s world-class faculty will offer hands-on learning experiences through a unique
distributed education model featuring supervised clinical experiences throughout the first
four years of veterinary education.

“We are gratified that LIU will provide students and faculty the opportunity to lead
and advance veterinary medicine,” said Dr. Randy Burd, LIU’s Senior Vice President for
Academic Affairs.

At full enrollment, the veterinary college will serve 400 students, with 100 in each
graduating class.

LIU’S UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENT IN RENOVATING THE BROOKLYN CAMPUS SERVES AS A HARBINGER FOR THE UNIVERSITY’S ASCENDING REPUTATION

New York City, like few places on earth, blends the contemporary and historical to create an iconic aesthetic that enchants and allures the world’s best and brightest. Thus, it is fitting that the University’s urban campus, located in the heart of downtown Brooklyn, maintains a similar appeal.

For nearly a century, the prodigious edifice marking the northeast corner of Flatbush and Dekalb has marked the borough’s dynamic culture. Originally the Paramount Theatre, which drew sold out crowds for concerts featuring the era’s finest performers — such as Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Chuck Berry and Ray Charles — the Rococo-style building now marks the home of Long Island University. In addition to restoring the renowned venue, LIU is committed to building and sustaining premier facilities, in order to enable the continued flourishing of academics, athletics, research and student life.

This fall, the University broke ground on a major campus development project in partnership with RXR Realty, one of New York City’s largest real estate owners, investors, operators and developers. The project will enhance LIU’s student and community experience at the Brooklyn campus, including new academic spaces, a state-of-the-art athletic field, fitness and wellness facilities, a parking garage, a 34-story residential building with 30% of units dedicated as affordable, and on-site campus and streetscape improvements.

“This is the largest campus improvement project at LIU Brooklyn since it was founded nearly a century ago,” President Cline said. “The new facilities and unprecedented investment in our University will advance excellence in scholarship, athletics, and academic research. Our Brooklyn campus is a prime destination for students across the U.S. and abroad. Our new expansion will further enhance the exceptional student experience at LIU.”

The project builds upon the University’s strategic plan of expanding and modernizing its current academic programs, provide affordable programs to its diverse student body, and address necessary maintenance improvements on its campus. In addition to the new facility, LIU will receive substantial financial resources that will be used for short- and long-term capital needs, and to continue to increase the University endowment to maintain LIU’s position as a best value institution.

“Brooklyn is the most vibrant and dynamic borough in New York City, and Long Island University is proud to call it home,” said Eric Krasnoff, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Our historic partnership with RXR to develop LIU’s Brooklyn campus not only strengthens our University, allowing unprecedented investment into our Strategic and Master Plans, it also enhances our commitment to Brooklyn and positions LIU for the future. I know that another 100 years is ahead of LIU as a foundation of this community.”

LIU’s leadership has made capital improvement efforts throughout the University, increased community engagement and doubled the four-year graduation rate. It has attracted impressive new faculty engaged in prestigious research in pharmaceuticals, nursing, and health sciences. Additionally, the school’s financial security has enabled LIU to hold tuition increases at two percent, less than half the national average, since 2014.

“LIU has been an anchor of downtown Brooklyn since 1926, and we are excited to help them build towards the future and educate the next generation of leaders,” said Scott Rechler, CEO and Chairman of RXR Realty. “These new facilities will help LIU continue to be a good neighbor to the Fort Greene community and advance its mission of academic excellence.”

THE THEODORE ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE AT LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY COMMEMORATES THE ENDURING LEGACY OF AMERICA’S 26TH PRESIDENT

In a time when political differences threaten to divide, a collective commemoration of
proud moments and figures in America’s history serve as potent amelioration for the
country. Few presidents are more beloved on both sides of the aisle than Teddy Roosevelt.

When he was only 42 years old, the charismatic Trust Buster assumed his post during a
tumultuous time at the turn of the century. President William McKinley had just been
assassinated and the expanding country needed courageous leadership and shrewd policy.
Roosevelt established national parks, orchestrated the Panama Canal’s construction and
won a Nobel Peace Prize.

The Theodore Roosevelt Institute (TRI) at Long Island University held a special centenary conference to celebrate the legacy of America’s 26th president. The event, held at Tilles Center,
recognized one hundred years since his passing.

National experts on Roosevelt shared scholarly insight on his charismatic personality,
forward-thinking policy and enduring influence. Speakers included: Karl Rove, Geoffrey
Cowan, Colombian Ambassador Francisco Santos, Historian Jorge Orlando Melo, Michelle
Krowl, Susan Sarna, Todd Brewster, Dr. Michael Cullinane and Tweed Roosevelt. The
three-day event also featured a film festival, breakout sessions and presentation of the
Roosevelt Medal to New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.

Among the talking points, the distinguished speakers covered:
• Roosevelt’s diplomacy and foreign policy
• Roosevelt as a master strategist
• Roosevelt as a reformer
• Roosevelt’s enduring influence on the American mind.

“TR was far-sighted enough that much of what he had to say then is just as relevant
today,” said Tweed Roosevelt, the president’s great-grandson, Chief Executive Officer of the
Theodore Roosevelt Association, and head of the Theodore Roosevelt Institute.

Tweed Roosevelt explains that one of the Institute’s goals is to show how Theodore
Roosevelt’s ideas can play a vital role in educating today’s youth on how to wrestle with
this country’s present challenges. The Institute serves as a dedicated source for educational
programs, lectures, research, public seminars, international scholars and conferences, focused
on highlighting Roosevelt’s extraordinary life and the ideals to which he was committed.

Theodore Roosevelt continues to fascinate Americans a century after his death, and his
legacy impacts us to this day. Long Island University is excited to honor him with this
centennial event.