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.
Alumna Joins Nation’s Top 25 Women In Cyber Security
Mary Byrne, chief operating officer of Immuta, a leader in cloud data access control, is one of the top women in cyber security in America. Byrne is recognized by Software Report on its Top 25 Women in Cyber Security list for her decades of leadership at a wide range of technology companies in the data services sector.
Sharks Track & Field Champions Recognized for Excellence
Men’s and women’s outdoor track and field athletes left their mark on the Northeast Conference in 2022 with 17 All-Conference honorees across all events. Sprinter Tara Hernandez was named Most Outstanding Performer for winning four events at the conference championship meet and distance runner Elyas Ayyoub took home Most Outstanding Rookie for winning two events at the conference championship.
Planning Specialist to Lead Luxury Rental Development
Sean Sallie ’11 was appointed as director of planning and development for Heatherwood Luxury Rentals, one of the largest developers of apartment communities on Long Island. Sallie’s 20-year background in urban planning includes serving as the deputy commissioner for planning at the Nassau County Department of Public Works.
School Business Expert Appointed as Superintendent
Michael Fabiano ’09 was selected as the assistant superintendent for business for the Levittown Public School District. Fabiano served as assistant superintendent for business for the past 12 years in the Floral Park-Bellerose School District and is a past president of the executive board of the Nassau Association of School Business Officials.
NIH Grant Funds Groundbreaking Study on Substance Use
Dr. Victor Lushin, professor in the department of social work, earned a grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the social determinants of substance use disorder treatment outcomes among individuals on the autism spectrum. The study is the first in the U.S. to explore the epidemiology of substance use disorders in this potentially hidden at-risk population.
Long Island University’s Roosevelt School & The Society of Presidential Descendants Honor Doris Kearns Goodwin at Inaugural Gala
Brookville, NY, (June 8, 2022): The Roosevelt School and the Society of Presidential Descendants today announced they will host an inaugural gala, honoring Doris Kearns Goodwin, a leading presidential historian, Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times #1 best-selling author, for her career achievements.
The inaugural event will be held on June 11 at the LIU Post campus in Brookville. The schedule of events includes:
- Panel discussions led by the Society of Presidential Descendants entitled “Living in the White House,” featuring personal stories of the Descendants’ ancestors and reflections on their leadership.
- Symposium titled “What You Don’t Know About Theodore Roosevelt” on the personal life and legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt hosted by his great-grandson Tweed Roosevelt, president and co-founder of The Society of Presidential Descendants, and chairman and professor at The Roosevelt School.
“Long Island University is a national leader in presidential studies, service learning, and civic education,” said University President Kimberly R. Cline. “Our ambitious academic and research agenda provides opportunities for students to grow as thought leaders and innovators who will serve and inspire their communities.”
The Gala will take place inside the “White House Experience” at The Roosevelt School, featuring replicas of the executive mansion’s most famous rooms.
“The gala will be a unique opportunity for participants to hear personal stories direct from family members about their presidential ancestors,” said Tweed Roosevelt. “We are proud to honor Doris Kearns Goodwin and bring together such renowned leaders to educate and encourage students to shape the future of our country.”
For more information about the event, visit https://community.liu.edu/sopd_gala_2022.
The Society of Presidential Descendants includes direct descendants of one or more United States presidents who support the study of the presidency and advocate for civic engagement. The partnership between The Roosevelt School and Society of Presidential Descendants has garnered national recognition for:
- Founding National Civics Day, celebrated each year on October 27
- Awarding the prestigious Biennial Presidential Leadership Book Award in October 2021 to Ted Widmer, author of Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington
- Hosting members of the Society as distinguished lecturers during the Roosevelt Conference on Leadership and Service
The Roosevelt School includes the Theodore Roosevelt Institute, a nexus for public seminars, research, and educational programs to develop leaders and advance policy while promoting the legacy of President Roosevelt; the Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling, and Analysis, which conducts independent polling, empirical research, and analysis on a wide range of public issues; and the Global Service Institute, which brings together world leaders, dynamic thinkers and top analysts to empower service innovation and education for a sustainable world.
About Long Island University (LIU)
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.