Long Island University adds another prominent television show to its extensive filmography portfolio. LIU hosted the cast and crew of HBO’s new original series Mrs. Fletcher on the Post campus. The production team utilized numerous spaces on the 330-acre campus, including Graham Hall and the Great Lawn. Starring Kathryn Hahn, the show is a dual coming-of-age story that follows the lives of Eve Fletcher, an empty-nest mother, and her college freshman son. Other hit television shows to film at LIU include: Crashing, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Madame Secretary, The Blacklist and Royal Pains.

LIU alumnus Gregory Cioffi (BS in Childhood Education ’09, MS in Adolescence Education, MA in Theatre ’13) played a featured role as a mobster in The Irishman, one of the most anticipated movies of the year. Set in Pennsylvania during the 1950’s, the film depicts notorious organized crime figures Jimmy Hoffa, Frank Sheeran and Russell Bufalino. Directed by Martin Scorsese, The Irishman stars Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. Cioffi has experience in the genre from a previous role in AMC’s “The Making of the Mob.” Additionally, he played the lead role of Marc Riou in Silenced, which won Best Long Island Film at the 2016 Long Island International Film Expo.

LIU alumnus Seph Rodney (BA in English, ’97), senior editor and writer for Hyperallergic, gave a guest lecture on art criticism at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His talk, entitled “The Language of Art Criticism: What Can Words Do?” discussed the function of art criticism and the power of compelling storytelling. In addition to his work for Hyperallergic, Rodney has also written for CNN Op-ed pages, American Craft magazine and NBC Universal. His book, The Personalization of the Museum Visit, was published by Routledge in May. Rodney is also a frequent guest on the podcast “The American Age.”

Long Island University held a panel discussion featuring three professors from the Brooklyn campus who are nationally recognized experts in their respective fields. The trio included Dr. Alex More, Associate Professor and Director of the Honors College, Dr. Jennifer Rauch, Professor of Journalism & Communication Studies and Dr. Yafeng Xia, Professor of History. Discussion topics included the current state of the media, climate change and power shifts in world politics since 1989. Allan Nosoff, Editor-In-Chief of the student newspaper, moderated the event, entitled “Dual Perspectives and Multiple Lenses: Environment, Politics, and Media.”

Heather Butts, JD, MPH, Co-Director of LIU’s Honors College on the Post Campus, published her second book, entitled Healing Civil War Veterans in New York and Washington, D.C. Using her erudite knowledge in the field, Butts chronicles those who fought, healed and suffered from PTSD long after the end of the Civil War. The book examines key figures from the era, including Frederick Douglass, Medal of Honor winner Mary Edwards Walker, Clara Barton and others who were instrumental in supporting healthcare for soldiers and medical workers. Butts’ first book, African American Medicine in Washington, D.C.: Healing the Capital During the Civil War Era, was published in 2014.

Editors from LIU’s student newspaper attended the National College Media Convention in Washington D.C. Held at the regal Grand Hyatt hotel, the annual multi-day event gathers journalism students from top collegiate-media programs across the country. Students learn from industry experts and collaborate with one another through more than 275 educational sessions. This year’s keynote speakers included Marty Baron, executive editor of The Washington Post, Nina Totenberg, legal-affairs correspondent for National Public Radio and Abby Phillip, White House correspondent for CNN.

Dr. Telvis Rich, Associate Professor at LIU’s Department of Social Work, is the new Chair of Diversity for the North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW). The NACSW provides free and discounted services and resources to members. In the new role, Rich will continue to promote diversity, engagement and inclusion among association members while strengthening relationships between social work programs and the NACSW. Additionally, Rich serves as the program coordinator for the Bachelor of Science in Social Workers (BSSW) degree on the Brooklyn campus.

The LIU men’s soccer team, the defending Northeastern Conference (NEC) champions, completed the 2019 season with a deep playoff run in the NEC tournament en route to the championship match. The Sharks finished as runner-up, following a 4-0 rout of the Bryant University Bulldogs in the semifinal match. More accolades followed when three team members garnered all-NEC honors. Freshman Papa Ndoye won Rookie of the Year, in addition to making first team all-NEC and the all-rookie team, while senior Kyle Parish made the all-NEC second team and freshman Keanu Tuart made the all-rookie team.

LIU students were part of the live studio audience for ABC’s “The View,” one of television’s most popular daytime talk shows. The University’s Employer & Alumni Engagement team facilitated the opportunity as part of the LIU’s “Day in the City Series.” After the show, the students received a private, backstage tour. Members of the production team discussed potential career paths with the students and gave them tips on landing a position in the television industry. Created in 1997 by Barbara Walters, “The View” features Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Paula Faris and Sara Haines.

LIU alumnus Roey Hershkovitz (BFA in Broadcasting, ’00) is the new Vice President at Capitol Studios, the iconic recording studio located in Hollywood’s landmark Capitol Tower. Prior to accepting the role, Hershkovitz spent nearly 20 years with the “Conan” franchise. He began as an intern in 1999 on NBC’s “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” and was elevated to Music Booker for TBS’ “Conan” in 2017. Throughout his tenure, Hershkovitz promoted new and developing talent to late-night viewers and booked top-tier acts like U2, Pearl Jam, Bon Jovi, Coldplay, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, The Lumineers and Childish Gambino, among others. Additionally, he has co-produced multiple episodes of NBC’s “The Office.”