Lester Owens ’79, senior executive vice president and head of operations for Wells Fargo & Company, was appointed as chair of the RWJBarnabas Health Board of Trustees. Owens is a founding member of the board who previously served as vice chair and a member of its Audit, Compliance, Compensation, Nominating and Governance, as well as Racism and Social Justice Committees.
Georgia Governor Appoints Pharmacy Alumna to Health Care Team
Despina Dalton ’83 was appointed by Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp as a member of the newly created Healthcare Workforce Commission tasked with addressing the challenges of hiring and retaining health care workers. Dalton serves as the Vice President of Medical Affairs for Wellstar Douglas Hospital in Douglasville, Georgia.
Sharks Earn NEC’s Highest Academic Honors
Seven LIU athletic teams and four student-athletes earned top academic recognition from the Northeast Conference during the 2021-22 season. Baseball, men’s cross country, football, men’s tennis, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving earned the NEC Team GPA Award. Men’s soccer goalkeeper Demetri Skoumbakis, track and field sprinter Laurie Hauet, women’s basketball guard Shyla Sanford and epée fencer Grace Scura earned the NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award.
Palmer School Launches Digitized Robert Moses Collection
Students at the Palmer School of Library and Information Science digitized a treasure trove of historical documents from the era when Robert Moses developed Long Island’s state parks and parkways. The Robert Moses Collection was featured in Newsday and is now available to the public for the first time by visiting the New York State Archives website.
LIU Honored as a National College of Distinction
The University is recognized as a 2022-2023 College of Distinction for the seventh consecutive year for its focus on engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community, and successful outcomes. LIU is further recognized as a New York College of Distinction, a Best Business College, a Best Education College, and a Best Nursing College.
Rod Strickland Hired as Men’s Head Basketball Coach
Brooklyn, NY, (June 30, 2022): Rod Strickland, the NBA executive, All-NBA point guard and member of the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame, was named men’s head basketball coach of the Long Island University Sharks today. Strickland joins LIU from the NBA G League, the National Basketball Association’s official minor league, where he served as director of the professional path program since 2018.
New York City Basketball Legend Brings NBA Player Development and Recruitment Expertise to Further Elevate the LIU Sharks
“Rod Strickland has a demonstrated eye for recruiting and developing student-athletes and we are confident he will elevate Long Island University’s winning tradition to even greater heights,” said Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline.
In his role with the G League, Strickland evaluated, educated and mentored top high school prospects in the professional path initiative to prepare them for a career in the NBA. He served as a player and coach relations manager and program director of G League Ignite, a selective team of the most elite NBA prospects. He is eager to use his proven track record of recruitment and player development to bring top national talent to Long Island University and build a perennial Division I contender with the Sharks.
“Developing young players on and off the court has always aligned with my passion while I was playing and after retiring from the NBA,” Strickland said. “I am appreciative to Long Island University for the opportunity to become a head coach at home, in New York City. The Sharks are going to be a competing program for top athletes who not only want to take their game to the next level but prepare for success.”
Strickland, a Bronx native, was a three-time All-American with three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and was selected in the first round of the 1988 NBA Draft by his hometown New York Knicks. He enjoyed a 17-year NBA career in which he scored over 14,000 points and recorded nearly 8,000 assists while playing for nine franchises. During the 1997-98 season, he led the league in assists per game and was named second-team All-NBA. He ranked top 10 in assists per game in seven seasons and ranks 13th all-time in career assists.
Strickland retired from the NBA in 2005 and began his post-playing career as a director of basketball operations at the University of Memphis. He served in an administrative role at the University of Kentucky under Coach John Calipari, and as an assistant coach at the University of South Florida.
“Rod has done a tremendous job as program director for NBA G League Ignite, from leading our recruiting efforts to aiding in the development of our young players, including six NBA Draft picks in the last two seasons,” said Shareef Abdur-Rahim, President of the NBA G League. “We wish him the best with Long Island University. LIU is getting an amazing person and great basketball man.”
Long Island University is a two-time national champion and seven-time conference champion in Division I men’s basketball. Its national championship teams were led by Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Coach Clair Bee and point guard Ossie Schectman, who is credited with scoring the first basket in NBA history with the New York Knicks in 1946.
About Long Island University
Long Island University, founded in 1926, continues to redefine higher education, providing high quality academic instruction by world-class faculty. Recognized by Forbes for its emphasis on experiential learning and by the Brookings Institution for its “value added” to student outcomes, LIU has a network of over 285,000 alumni, including industry leaders and entrepreneurs around the globe. Visit liu.edu for more information.
Sharks Defend Title as Top-Performing Athletic Program
Long Island University won the Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup for the second straight year, recognizing the best athletic program in the Northeast Conference. The Sharks earned the most points of any winning program in conference history and claimed both the Men’s and Women’s Commissioner’s Cups, becoming the first university to sweep the three awards since 2011.
New York Times Appoints Expert Health Care Editor
Patia Braithwaite ’12 was selected to serve as senior staff editor of New York Times Well, a section dedicated to healthy living. Braithwaite has spent more than 10 years writing about health and wellness as the health director for Well + Good, senior health editor for Self Magazine, health editor for Refinery 29, and freelance writer for the Washington Post and other outlets.
Leading Trial Attorney Joins Prestigious Law Firm
David A. Moreno, Jr. ’08 was appointed as a partner in the commercial litigation practice group and a member of the sports law team at Blank Rome LLP. His exceptional background includes prosecuting more than 1,200 cases as an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and representing high-profile athletes in both legal and management capacities.
Acclaimed Grammy Award-Winning Audio Engineer, Executive and Producer Gimel “Young Guru” Keaton Joins Long Island University’s Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment
New York, NY, (June 22, 2022): Long Island University today announced Grammy Award-winning audio engineer and producer Gimel “Young Guru” Keaton has joined the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment as Director of the Music Technology, Entrepreneurship & Production program.
Award-Winning and Chart-Topping Engineer Will Serve as Director of Music Technology, Entrepreneurship & Production Program
The Roc Nation School and Young Guru also announced a full-tuition scholarship to be awarded to one highly qualified student. Apply for the scholarship today by visiting apply.liu.edu/rn.
Keaton is an accomplished music producer, record executive, audio engineer and DJ who works with the music industry’s top artists, spanning from JAY-Z to Rihanna to Mariah Carey. He has garnered multiple Grammy nominations, and in 2019 Keaton won a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album for mixing the album Everything Is Love by The Carters.
Keaton co-founded and co-leads the label Jamla, which houses Grammy nominated and critically acclaimed lyricist Rapsody, and newcomers Reuben Vincent and Ian Kelly.
“Education is a valuable platform to show talented students how to navigate the music industry, preserve music history, and share their culture with the world,” Keaton said. “Joining the Roc Nation School is an incredible opportunity to offer my experience as a guide for up-and-coming artists and producers.”
Keaton previously served on the faculty of the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music as an artist-in-residence and has lectured at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Music and Emory University.
“The Roc Nation School is the premier destination for the next generation of professionals in the music industry who have the opportunity to learn directly from top executives and artists,” said Long Island University President Kimberly Cline. “We are thrilled to welcome Young Guru to the Roc Nation School’s leadership team. His decades of experience and expertise in the music business will be an incredible asset to the school.”
The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment offers undergraduate degrees in applied music; music technology, entrepreneurship and production; sports communication and marketing; and vocal performance. It also offers a BS, MS and PhD in sports management.
Keaton joins a growing roster of exceptional artists and industry elites such as super producer 9th Wonder, visiting professor and artist in residence at the Roc Nation School, who teaches courses in hip-hop history and the making of an album.
The Roc Nation School Speaker Series features nationally and internationally recognized speakers who are invited based on their expertise and accomplishments providing Roc Nation School students with incredible opportunities to interact with these global leaders. Recent speakers include:
- Andrew Gould: VP, Music Publishing, Roc Nation
- Adam Silver: NBA Commissioner
- Don Garber: MLS Commissioner
- Desiree Perez: CEO, Roc Nation
- Michael Rubin: Executive Chairman, Fanatics; 76ers Partner
- Keith Sheldon: President, Hard Rock
- Bernadette McGlade: Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner
- Jon Platt: CEO, Sony Music Publishing
- Adam Petrick: Global Director of Brand and Marketing, Puma
Roc Nation Hope Scholarships provide 25% of enrolled students with full tuition and individualized support and mentorship. The Roc Nation Hope Scholars are selected from a pool of academically competitive, first-time freshmen with the highest need.
International sportswear brand PUMA announced the establishment of the PUMA Hope Scholarship Fund for students in the Roc Nation school. Previous scholarship opportunities have also been sponsored by NBA Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball and artist Megan Thee Stallion.
About Roc Nation
Roc Nation, founded in 2008 by JAY-Z, has grown into the world’s preeminent entertainment company. Roc Nation works in every aspect of modern entertainment, with recording artists, producers, songwriters and more. Roc Nation’s client list includes some of the world’s most recognizable names: from Rihanna and J. Cole to Buju Banton and Snoh Aalegra. Roc Nation is a full-service organization, supporting a diverse roster of talent via artist management, music publishing, touring, production, strategic brand development and beyond. Roc Nation Sports was founded in 2013, bringing the organization’s full-service touch to athletes across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and global soccer including Todd Gurley, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Robinson Cano, Kevin De Bruyne and more.
About Long Island University
Long Island University, founded in 1926, is a leading research and teaching university that continues to redefine higher education by providing high-quality academic instruction by world-class faculty. Recognized by Forbes for its emphasis on experiential learning and by the Brookings Institution for its “value added” to student outcomes, LIU has a network of over 285,000 alumni, including industry leaders and entrepreneurs around the globe. Visit liu.edu for more information.