The College of Education, Information and Technology (CEIT) hosted its annual Superintendent Career Panel for education students. The two-hour session was moderated by Deans Scholars, who led a thoughtful discussion with superintendents from Manhasset, Garden City, Kings Park, and Harborfields School Districts. The panel shared valuable insights from their own experiences and provided a glimpse into the leadership and decision-making processes behind Long Island’s public schools.
Brendan Riley Named Head Men’s Ice Hockey Coach
Long Island University has named Brendan Riley the head coach of the men’s ice hockey program. Riley, who joins LIU after four seasons on the coaching staff at American International College, will serve as the second head coach in program history. He helped lead AIC to Atlantic Hockey Association regular season and tournament championships in 2022.
UniWorld Group Founder Honored on Brooklyn Campus
Long Island University named the Pratt Building’s First Floor Hallway in honor of UniWorld Group Founder and Chairman, and former LIU Board of Trustee member, Emeritus Byron Lewis ’53 and his remarkable career. Dubbed the “original king of Black media” by the New York Times, Lewis founded the advertising agency UniWorld Group in 1969 and went on to secure an array of high-profile clients, including Mars Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, AT&T and Ford Motor Company.
PBS Picks Up Film Professor’s New Documentary
PBS will be airing film professor Susan Zeig’s documentary “Rooted in Oakland: A Community School Takes Shape,” which tells the story of the transformation of Fremont High School in East Oakland, California. The film will also be screened at several national conferences, including the California Community Schools Convention in Los Angeles, the Institute for Educational Leadership Conference and the National Equity Project 30th Anniversary Conference.
Business School Dean Speaks at International Event in Vietnam
School of Business Dean Graziela Fusaro spoke at the “Upskilling Vietnam: STEM Study for Students and Workforce” event in Vietnam, sharing her insights with aspiring students considering future careers in STEM-related industries. The event was hosted at the National Innovation Centre in partnership with the US Embassy in Vietnam and Study Group, a global leader in international education prep.
Screenwriting Alum Selected for DreamWorks Fellowship
DreamWorks Animation named Brett Wolfe ’23 one of 16 fellows across the nation for the 2025 DreamWorks Animation LAUNCH Fellowship program. The program offers eight weeks of personal mentorship from DreamWorks professionals, workshops on the art and business of animation, and speaker series covering the TV and feature animation pipeline. Wolfe, who studied screenwriting at LIU, has earned an award from the Kennedy Center and was recently recognized by the International Screenwriters’ Association.
Women’s LAX Advances to NEC Tournament
With an 11-9 victory over Stonehill, the LIU Women’s LAX team and reigning NEC champions, clinched their spot in the NEC women’s lacrosse tournament. Goalkeeper Mylie Norton earned her eighth win of the season after stopping three shots as the Sharks clinched a spot in the NEC Tournament for the fifth straight season.
Healthcare Executive Elevated to SVP
Marina Rodina ’01 was named Senior Vice President of Business Development at Meadows Behavioral Healthcare (MBH), a leader in trauma, addiction, and mental health treatment. Rodina has over two decades of experience in sales and behavioral healthcare leadership, most recently serving as Vice President of Business Development at Acadia Healthcare.
Veterinary Professor Examines Destructive Parasite’s Drug Resistance
Umer Chaudhry, Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine, co-authored research examining Diminazene, a drug frequently used to treat the parasite Trypanosoma Evansi. Resistance to the drug presents an emerging threat in grazing livestock, resulting in huge economic losses. The study, published in the journal Animals, aimed to develop a high-throughput strategy based on molecular approaches to improve the understanding of Diminazene resistance in Trypanosoma Evansi.
Baseball Coach Makes History with 200th Win
Baseball Head Coach Dan Pirillo ’08 achieved a major milestone with his 200th career victory at LIU, leading the Sharks to a 2-0 win over Mercyhurst. In his eighth season of his alma mater, Pirillo has guided LIU to three Northeast Conference Championships and was named Coach of the Year in 2022.