Long Island University has received a $2 million gift from the 2007 Forbes Entrepreneur of the Year Clint Severson and Conni Ahart for the new College of Veterinary Medicine. The donation will establish the Veterinary Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Management Center, which will support LIU Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students with interest in clinic management, and veterinary concept/product development. The Center will offer students Veterinary Entrepreneurship and Management scholarships and fellowships.

Dr. Yafeng Xia, Professor of History, delivered a guest lecture at Yale University’s international conference “The End of the Cold War: Continuity and Change 30 Years Later.” Other speakers included professors from Princeton University, Columbia University, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University.

Dr. Louis Parascandola, Professor of English, led students on an unforgettable hands-on learning excursion to Salem, Massachusetts. The group toured the birthplace of iconic American author Nathaniel Hawthorne and the Witch House, the lone remaining building from the infamous Salem Witch Trials in 1692.

Beth Shaw (BS in Business, ’92) president and founder of YogaFit Training Systems, published her fourth book, Healing Trauma with Yoga- Go From Surviving to Thriving with Mind-Body Techniques. The book serves as a practical guide to understanding and healing the origins and effects of trauma. It provides valuable, innovative tools to assist in addressing and working through anxiety, depression and PTSD as well as other trauma-related health challenges.

The LAX Sports Network featured Eric Wolf, head coach of the LIU men’s lacrosse team. The 10-minute interview highlighted the Sharks inaugural Division I schedule, including a home game against the St. John’s University Red Storm and a road matchup versus the University of Massachusetts Minutemen.

Led by Dr. Kathleen Feeley, Professor of Education and Founding Director of LIU’s Center for Community Inclusion (CCI), CCI was awarded three contracts from the New York State Education Department’s Office of Special Education Programs. The five-year projects include the Long Island Regional Partnership Center, the Long Island Early Childhood Family and Community Engagement Center and the Long Island School-Age Family and Community Engagement Center. Since CCI’s inception in 2008, Dr. Kathleen Feeley and her dedicated team at CCI have brought the University over $19 million in external awards.

Jacqueline Maguire, MS in Criminal Justice ’99, was named the special agent in charge of the Criminal Division of the FBI’s New York Field Office. After 9/11, Maguire served as the lead agent for the investigation into the five hijackers of American Airlines Flight 77. She received the 2006 Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security and the 2009 Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service.

Hilary Lorenz, Associate Professor of Art and Media Arts, is a finalist for New York City’s Percent for Art Program commission at PS 206 in Queens. The program commissions site-specific, permanent, public artworks for City-owned properties. Lorenz is also an artist-in-residence on Governors Island by invitation of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

The Sharks made a splash on Early Signing Day, one of college football’s most anticipated days of the year. Eleven student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent to play for Long Island University. Headlining the class is running back Jaden Alfano-St. John, winner of the 2019 Carl A. Hansen award, given to the top all-around player in Suffolk County.