Jill Guzzardo ’04 was appointed to the administration at Nassau BOCES Children’s Readiness Center. Her wealth of experience includes roles as a special education teacher, unit coordinator, administrator of New York State Alternative Assessments, and specialized training in the treatment and education of autistic and related communication handicapped children.

Detective Ryan Durham ’07 was assigned to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office in New Jersey, where he will serve as a member of the agency’s Grand Jury Unit. Durham’s law enforcement career includes twice receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the Gloucester County Police Academy, and twice receiving the New Jersey College & University Public Safety Association Meritorious Service Award.

Freshman James Johnston, sophomores Bryce Cockrell and Drew Witham, and graduate student Nunzio Crowley all finished as champions of their weight classes at the 2021 Wilkes Invitational. Their dominant performances led the Sharks to a first-place finish in the tournament.

Paul Severino ’96 was promoted to president of Intelligent Product Solutions, an award-winning product design and development firm. Severino co-founded the company in 2007, serving as executive vice president and chief operating officer while expanding across North America and international markets.

Liliana Ruiz ’95 was chosen by Rochester Mayor Malik Evans to serve as director of special projects. Her impressive background in government and communications includes positions at Hearst Magazines and Rochester City Hall, while also serving on the boards of Roc City Skate Park, Rochester Youth Sports Foundation, Borinquen Dance Theatre, and the 7th Judicial District Advisory Board.

Paola Ochoa ’15 was selected by Stamford Public Schools as the assistant principal of Dolan Middle School, where she previously taught Spanish to seventh and eighth grade students. Ochoa’s diverse experience also includes roles as a department head of school counseling and bilingual school counselor for English language learners.

Giovanni Savarese ’98, head coach of Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers, led his team to its second Western Conference Championship and MLS Cup berth in the past four seasons. He also won the MLS is Back Tournament with the Timbers in 2020, and previously coached the New York Cosmos to three championships in the North American Soccer League. Savarese scored 50 goals as an All-American striker for LIU.

Susan McKeon ’86, ’96 was named chief financial officer by the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Her 30-year tenure at the Brookhaven lab includes senior leadership roles overseeing a $700-million plus annual budget and as the laboratory’s business operations officer.

Internationally-recognized plant biologist and LIU Professor Jeanmaire Molina was interviewed by National Geographic about the Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower, threatened by habitat destruction and illegal harvest. Molina earned acclaim for her 2014 discovery that the parasitic flower lacks the gene for photosynthesis.