The New York State Legislature voted to appoint Felicia Thomas-Williams ’96 as Long Island’s representative on the New York State Board of Regents, the governing body responsible for the general supervision of all educational activities within the state. Thomas-Williams previously served for nine years as a special education teacher and 11 years as a principal in the largest school district on Long Island, the Brentwood School District, before retiring in 2024.

LIU beat Villanova in a 10-7 win that began with a dominating performance by starting pitcher Garrett Yawn. Yawn pitched five and a third perfect innings and kept the Wildcats scoreless through six. He picked up the win, pitching seven innings with three strikeouts while allowing just three runs, three hits, and one walk.

Six LIU gymnasts earned first- and second-team All-Tournament honors as the Sharks concluded their season with a 194.000 performance at the 2025 EAGL Championships in Philadelphia. Ellorie Cane’s outstanding performance on the beam earned a 9.800 and secured her a spot on the EAGL All-Tournament first team. Ella Barrington, Kaira Cartwright, Haleigh Welch, Caroline Kliewer, and Danyella Holmes each earned a second-team All-Tournament selection.

Mark Regan’s seven-point performance in LIU‘s 14-9 win over Detroit Mercy earned him NEC Player of the Week honors, propelling the Sharks to their seventh-straight win on Saturday. Regan played a role in half of LIU‘s goals as the Sharks improved to 4-0 at home and 2-0 in NEC play.

The men’s volleyball team hosted the New York City Police Department Men’s Finest to campus for a scrimmage. The two teams spent the morning in competitive play, leading to exciting moves on both sides. There was a strong sense of camaraderie in the building, as the two teams competed, laughed and got to know each other.

Junior Mo Elsayed won a gold medal and claimed the NCAA Division I collegiate fencing championship in the men’s epee, defeating Henry Lawson of Harvard University 12-11. The medal is Elsayed’s second at an NCAA championship, having also taken bronze in 2023. Last summer he won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, representing Egypt in the individual men’s epee competition.

Neil J. Moore ’97, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals Queens, was recognized on the “Queens Power 100” list for 2025. The annual rankings highlight accomplished leaders across a range of industries who have shaped the lives of New Yorkers in Queens and beyond. Moore served as President and CEO of University of Maryland Capital Region Health and has also held leadership roles at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, Kings County, and other NYC Health + Hospitals facilities.

The latest book from political science professor Simon Sheppard ranked as the No. 1 new release on Amazon.com in four categories: History of Renaissance Europe, Medieval Military History, Religious Intolerance, and Turkey History. The book, Crescent Dawn: The Rise of the Ottoman Empire and the Making of the Modern Age, arguing that the western struggle against the Ottomans constituted the first truly world war.

Fashion Merchandising and Management students completed a successful study abroad trip to Barcelona, Spain. During the 10-day trip and semester-long engaged learning experience, the students prepared and presented a Business Consulting Plan to the Barcelona-based Circular Fashion company Coleo. The experience was further informed by visits to Mango headquarters, Pronovias Design studios and warehouse, the 180-year-old iconic fashion store Santa Eulalia, and the pineapple-leaf fiber textile company Pinatex. Students also received a private tour of the Picasso Museum and visited all of the Gaudi sites.