The Leadership for Educational Achievement Foundation (LEAF) announced that Dr. Laura Seinfeld, dean of the Long Island University School of Education, was unanimously voted as the newest member of its board of directors. Dr. Seinfeld has decades of experience at all levels of education and will provide valuable insight to further LEAF’s mission of supporting superintendent and school district leadership development.
NSF Grant Awarded to Computer Science Professor
The National Science Foundation’s Office of Advance Cyberinfrastructure awarded a grant to Dr. Christopher League, associate professor of computer science, to collaborate with researchers at the University of New Mexico on improving tools to help astronomers and other scientists build and test software pipelines that run on CPU/GPU clusters and enable acquisition and analysis of high-throughput data from scientific instruments such as radio telescopes. The grant awarded to LIU will support Dr. League and up to two students over three years of research.
Skilled Community Journalist Earns Editor Role
The Ridgefield Press, one of the oldest community newspapers in Connecticut, announced that Alyssa Seidman ’17 will serve as its new editor. Seidman brings with her several years of hyperlocal journalism experience as a former editor and reporter for the Herald Community Newspapers and a co-editor-in-chief of the LIU Post campus newspaper, The Pioneer.
Where Americans Stand on Re-Opening the Country as CDC Announces New Guidelines for Fully Vaccinated People
BROOKVILLE, NY, April 28, 2021 – Results of a newly released Long Island University Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling and Analysis national poll reveal where Americans stand on re-opening the country while the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces new guidelines for fully vaccinated people.
PDF Format – Includes sample and methodology detail
NEW CDC GUIDELINES FOR FULLY VACCINATED AMERICANS
On Tuesday, April 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced new guidelines for fully vaccinated Americans on recommended outdoor activities to safely resume without masks. The CDC now recommends that fully vaccinated people can resume activities without masks such as walking, running, or biking outdoors with members of your household; attending a small, outdoor gathering with fully vaccinated family and friends; attending a small, outdoor gathering with fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people; and dining at an outdoor restaurant with friends from multiple households. The CDC states that masks should still be worn by fully vaccinated people when attending a crowded, outdoor event, like a live performance, parade, or sporting event.
WHERE AMERICANS STAND ON RE-OPENING THE COUNTRY FOR FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE

Americans were asked, if they were vaccinated, would they feel safe in day-to-day activities as the country begins to re-open. At or nearly 6 out of 10 American respondents said that if vaccinated, they would feel safe socializing at a beach, park, or pool (61%), dining out in restaurants (58%), and attending gatherings of more than 10 people (57%). Half of American respondents said they would feel safe using air travel if they were vaccinated, and 45% said they would feel safe working out in gyms or fitness facilities. Only one third of American respondents said they would feel safe attending full-capacity stadium events (33%) if vaccinated.
METHODOLOGY
This Long Island University Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling, and Analysis online poll was conducted through SurveyMonkey from April 6 – 7, 2021 among a national sample of 1,582 adults ages 18 and up. Respondents for this survey were selected from over 2.5 million people who take surveys on the SurveyMonkey platform each day. Data for this week have been weighted for age and gender using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to reflect the demographic composition of the United States. The modeled error estimate for this survey is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
ABOUT THE LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY STEVEN S. HORNSTEIN CENTER FOR POLICY, POLLING, AND ANALYSIS
The Long Island University Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling, and Analysis conducts independent polling, empirical research, and analysis on a wide range of public issues. Our studies inform the public and policy makers about critical issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the world. Visit liu.edu/Hornstein for more information and results from this national poll.
ABOUT LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY
Long Island University, founded in 1926, continues to redefine higher education, providing high quality academic instruction by world-class faculty. Recognized by Forbes for its emphasis on experiential learning and by the Brookings Institution for its “value added” to student outcomes, LIU offers over 250 degree programs, with a network of 270,000 alumni that includes industry leaders and entrepreneurs across the globe. Visit liu.edu for more information.
LIU Honored for Vaccine Distribution Efforts
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and the Nassau County Department of Health awarded Long Island University with a citation recognizing its service to the community for hosting a COVID-19 vaccination center on campus. Since February 12, the vaccination center at LIU has helped thousands of New Yorkers get vaccinated while students and faculty of the School of Health Professions and Nursing have gained valuable hands-on experience by volunteering to administer the vaccines.
Women’s Tennis Wins Fourth Straight Conference Title
The Long Island University women’s tennis team continued its dominance in the Northeast Conference by earning its fourth straight conference championship. The Sharks defeated Bryant University in the title meet to cap off an undefeated season and clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Junior Sofiya Kuzina was crowned NEC Tournament MVP and named to the All-Tournament team along with her teammates Valentina Dancenco and Victoria Erechtchenko.
Pfizer Payroll Director Recognized for Frontline Work
Rita Ademu-John ‘92, payroll director for Pfizer, was recognized in a profile by PAYTECH Magazine for the crucial role her department has played during the pandemic. While dedicated scientists at Pfizer worked to develop a vaccine that would save countless lives, Ademu-John and her payroll team supported their work and allowed them to focus on their crucial tasks. Ademu-John has worked in the payroll department at Pfizer since 1980 and is praised for her unsurpassed expertise in the field.
Conservation Expert Joins Leading Non-Profit
The Waitt Institute, a leading non-profit ocean conservation organization, appointed planning and policy specialist John Weber ‘92 as its new Marine Spatial Planning Director. With more than 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions to further ocean conservation and spatial planning for communities, Weber is seen as a global expert in the field and will help develop spatial planning processes for the nine Waitt Institute sites across the world.
Accomplished Educator Appointed Superintendent
The Mount Pleasant School District announced that Peter Giarrizzo ’96 has been appointed as the next superintendent. Giarrizzo joins Mount Pleasant after previously serving as superintendent of North Shore Public Schools and Pelham Public Schools during the past decade, and holding various leadership positions in special education and instructional services in schools districts throughout New York.
Long Island University Hornstein Center National Poll: What Americans Think of the Recovering Economy
BROOKVILLE, NY, April 21, 2021 – Results of a newly released Long Island University Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling and Analysis national poll reveal that half of Americans believe the recovering economy is a result of the federal government’s COVID-19 stimulus aid package, while 32% of Americans believe that the increased deficit will cause an economic downturn over time.
PDF Format – Includes sample and methodology detail
RECOVERING ECONOMY
The U.S. economy shows signs of recovery in the midst of the pandemic as COVID-19 vaccinations rise and federal stimulus checks are spent in the United States. The U.S. Department of Commerce released information through the Census Bureau report on April 15 that retail and food services sales were 9.8% higher than the previous month. A U.S. Labor Department report on April 15 showed that unemployment lines were improving with 200,000 less U.S. workers filing for initial unemployment benefits. A Federal Reserve report on April 15 revealed that industrial production, a key performance indicator of the American economy, increased 1.4% last month as measured by factory and utility output.
IS THE RECOVERING ECONOMY DUE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S COVID-19 STIMULUS AID PACKAGE?
50% OF AMERICANS SAID YES
Americans were asked if they believe the federal government’s COVID-19 stimulus aid package will boost economic growth. Half of the respondents (50%) said yes. Political views made a difference as 65% of Democrats that responded said yes, while 40% of Republicans and 41% of independents that responded said yes.
WILL AN INCREASED DEFICIT FROM THE STIMULUS AID PACKAGE CAUSE AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN OVER TIME?
32% OF AMERICANS SAID YES
Respondents were also asked if they believe an increased deficit from the COVID-19 stimulus aid package will cause an economic downturn. Approximately one third of respondents (32%) said yes. Political views played a factor as 20% of Democrats that responded said yes; 53% of Republicans and 30% of independents that responded said yes.
HOW DID AMERICANS SPEND THEIR $1,400 STIMULUS CHECK?
34% SAID MORTGAGE, RENT, FOOD, CAR, CREDIT CARD EXPENSES
23% SAID SAVING IT
Americans were asked how they are using their $1,400 stimulus check as part of the federal government’s COVID-19 stimulus aid package in America. The most common response was on mortgage, rent, food, car, and credit card expenses (34%). In second place, 23% of respondents said they were saving it. Other responses included other expenses (17%), unsure/no answer (6%), and charity (2%). 17% of the respondents reported that they did not receive a stimulus check. Americans who had the highest response rate of saving it were aged 18 to 29 (29%). 47% of respondents said the $1,400 stimulus check amount should have been more, 15% said less, and 38% said just right.
METHODOLOGY
This Long Island University Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling, and Analysis online poll was conducted through SurveyMonkey from April 6 – 7, 2021 among a national sample of 1,582 adults ages 18 and up. Respondents for this survey were selected from over 2.5 million people who take surveys on the SurveyMonkey platform each day. Data for this week have been weighted for age and gender using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to reflect the demographic composition of the United States. The modeled error estimate for this survey is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
ABOUT THE LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY STEVEN S. HORNSTEIN CENTER FOR POLICY, POLLING, AND ANALYSIS
The Long Island University Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling, and Analysis conducts independent polling, empirical research, and analysis on a wide range of public issues. Our studies inform the public and policy makers about critical issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the world. Visit liu.edu/Hornstein for more information and results from this national poll.
ABOUT LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY
Long Island University, founded in 1926, continues to redefine higher education, providing high quality academic instruction by world-class faculty. Recognized by Forbes for its emphasis on experiential learning and by the Brookings Institution for its “value added” to student outcomes, LIU offers over 250 degree programs, with a network of 270,000 alumni that includes industry leaders and entrepreneurs across the globe. Visit liu.edu for more information.









