Hofstra University

Faculty Affairs

The Faculty Affairs page at Hofstra University supports faculty success through resources that offer guidance on appointments, promotions, tenure, evaluations, and policies. It also provides professional development, mentoring, and tools to enhance faculty contributions in teaching, research, and service.

Our Mission is to...

Promote Faculty Success

We facilitate and support recruitment, retention, belonging and growth for all faculty. Our office champions opportunities that help faculty excel in their teaching, research, and service roles.

Our Primary Responsibilty is to...

Serve as a Principal Resource for Faculty

We are dedicated to providing clear, comprehensive information about academic appointments, promotion, tenure, evaluation, special leaves, and academic policies and procedures to ensure alignment with Hofstra University standards.

Our office supports a wide range of services, such as:

Professional Development Programs
Tenure and Promotion Guidance
Faculty Mentoring
Policy and Procedure Management

Comila Shahani-Denning, PhD
Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

Alison Zorn, MSEd
Manager of Academic Affairs

Nicole Finocchio, BA
Administrative Assistant

Faculty Resources

Smiling professor holding books in a library

Professional Development

Learn about various initiatives to support your career.

Learn About Professional Development

Tenure and Promotion

Learn how to prepare for tenure and promotion.

Learn about tenure and promotion

Faculty Statutes and Policies

Learn about more resources for faculty.

Learn about Faculty Statutes and Policies

Teaching and Learning

Learn about classroom and curriculum support and available library resources.

Learn about Teaching and Learning

Professor interacting with a group of students in a lab

Research Scholarship and Activities

Learn about grants, funding opportunities, and related research activities.

Learn about Research Scholarship and Activities

Professor teaching a class in front of a smart board

Technology

Learn about EdTech’s offerings and Hofstra’s IT policies and available services.

Learn about Technology

Equity & Inclusion

Learn about E&I policies, resource groups, workshops, and EthicsPoint.

Learn about Equity & Inclusion

Hofstra Community and Services

Learn about Hofstra’s campus community, services, and shared governance.

Learn about Hofstra Community and Services

Adjunct Specific Resources

Learn about resources for adjunct faculty.

Learn about adjunct resources

Aerial short of Hofstra University campus

Leaves

Learn about the leaves process and how to apply.

Learn about Leaves

Provost’s Office Faculty Awards

The Stessin Prize recognizes junior faculty for their scholarly efforts.
Learn about the Stessin Prize, eligibility requirements, and recent recipients.

Lawrence A. Stessin Prize for Outstanding Scholarly Publication
Each year the University awards the Lawrence A. Stessin Prize for Outstanding Scholarly Publication. This prize was established in the 1984/85 academic year to reward the scholarly efforts of junior faculty. Hofstra University congratulates the recipients of the 2023-2024 Stessin Prize:

Nicholas J. Merna, PhD
Associate Professor of Engineering
Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
Gorbenko, N., Rinaldi, G., Sanchez, A., & Merna, N. (2023). Small-caliber vascular grafts engineered from decellularized leaves and cross-linked gelatin. Tissue Engineering Part A, 29(13-14), 397-409.

Daniel P. Miller, PhD
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Cao, R., Rossdeutcher, R.B., Zhong, Y., Shen, Y., Miller, D.P., Sobiech, T.A., Wu, X., Sánchez Buitrago, L., Ramcharan, K., Gutay, M.I., Figueria, M.F., Luthra, P., Zurek, E., Szyperski, T., Button, B., Shao, Z., Gong, B. Aromatic pentaamide macrocycles bind anions with high affinity for transport across biomembranes. Nature Chemistry 15, 1559–1568 (2023).

Alex Sinha, JD, PhD
Associate Professor of Law
Maurice A. Deane School of Law
Alex Sinha, The End of Government Speech, 44 ;Cardozo L. Rev. 1899 (2023).
Dr. Stessin joined the Hofstra University faculty as a Professor of Management in 1958 and served continuously until his retirement in 1973. After graduation from the Columbia University School of Journalism, he worked at the New York Times and as a columnist and associate editor of Forbes Magazine. Dr. Stessin also published in a wide range of scholarly and academic media. During his lifetime and as part of his will, Dr. Stessin made substantial contributions to our University. His contribution to the endowment fund, which led to the establishment of the Stessin Prize, came with the expressed wish that the earnings from that gift be used as an incentive and reward for junior faculty who publish the results of their scholarly work.

Eligibility of Individuals
All full-time tenure-track Instructors, all full-time tenure-track Assistant Professors, all full-time tenure-track Associate Professors, and all Law School contract faculty and Physician Assistant clinical faculty in their first five years of employment at the time the work is published are eligible. Tenure designates are considered tenure track. Tenured faculty are ineligible. An individual must be employed by the University during the selection process and the work must indicate that the author is affiliated with Hofstra University.

Types of Publication
Books, monographs, journal articles and similar publications that appeared in print in calendar year prior to the award (e.g., 2020 for those awarded in the 2020/2021 academic year) are eligible. Reprints of oral presentations are excluded. The published work must identify the author as a Hofstra faculty member.

Selection Process
Each school, college, and the Library will establish a review committee of three tenured faculty members, not eligible for the award, who will review all submissions from their constituency. Each committee will rank their recommendations, recommend up to two publications, and forward those submissions to their respective Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Offices will submit their recommendation packets electronically to the Provost’s Office at provostawards@hofstra.edu for review by the Provost's Advisory Council, which will select the recipients of the awards.

For the timetable for the 2024-2025 academic year, please e-mail provostawards@hofstra.edu

Lawrence A. Stessin Prize for Outstanding Scholarly Publication
The recipients of previous years are listed below:

2023-2024
Alex Sinha
Daniel Miller
Nicholas Merna

2022-2023
Matthew Smylie
Salvador Rojas-Murillo

2021-2022
Jianchen Shan
Daphna Motro

2020-2021
Shu Yang
Maria Sanmartin
Kara Jaremko

2019-2020
Chanapong Rojanaworarit
Roche deGuzman
Jase Bernhardt

2018-2019
Amir Gandomi
Russell Chun
Benjamin Burrington

2017-2018
Jingsi Christina Wu
Valeria Luiselli
Lian Duan

2016-2017
Danyang Li
Kristopher Lotier
Kara Alaimo

2015-2016
John Vaccaro
Veronika Ilyuk
Adam Durst

2014-2015
Francesca Cassio
Na Wang
Emily Mundorff and Scott Lefurgy

2013-2014
Christopher W. Niedt
Irina D. Manta

2012-2013
Vimala PasupathiEnglish
Ashira Ostrow

2011-2012
Brenda J. Elsey
Christopher H. Eliot

2010-2011
Rose Cuison Villazor
David Woolwine
Richard T. Wilson

2009-2010
Timothy Daniels
Habib M. Ammari

2008-2009
I. Bennett Capers
Stephanie Cobb

2007-2008
Ronald Colombo
Behailu Mammo

2006-2007
Georgina Martorella
Jason Williams

2005-2006
Sally Charnow
Zilkia Janer

2004-2005
Tugba Cayirli
Julian Ku

2003-2004
Alafair S. Burke
Zuyan Zhou

2002-2003
Cindy Rosenthal
Daniel Ismailescu
Alafair S. Burke

2001-2002
Edwin Scott Fruehwald
Simon Doubleday
Daniel Seabold

2000-2001
Prithwi Raj Subramaniam
Mark Anson-Cartwright

1999-2000
Grant Hayden
Jacques Berlinerblau
Stanislao Pugliese

1998-1999
Chandler Carter
Meena Bose

1997-1998
Peter Spiro
Ben A. Heller

1996-1997
Mark Movsesian
Linda McClain
Meral Binbasioglu

1995-1996
Susan M. Yohn
David A. Powell

1994-1995
Leslie S. Siskin
Laura Otis
Patricia S. Mann

1993-1994
Neil H. Donahue
Eric M. Freedman

1992-1993
Lynn M. Mulkey
Douglas Brinkley

1991-1992
David Cassidy
Dana Brand

1990-1991
Douglas Colbert
Janet L. Miller
David A. Powell

1989-1990
Terry F. Godlove
Steven R. Costenoble

1988-1989
Estelle Weinstein
J. Stephen Russell

1987‑1988
Douglas Colbert
Lee Zimmerman

1986‑1987
Charles Smith
Marc L. Silver
Robert A. Baruch Bush

1985‑1986
Elena Cevallos
Joann Krieg
Robert Guttmann

1984‑1985
Ehsan Nikbakht
Stefan Waner

Each year our students help select a faculty member from each school and college to receive the Teacher of the Year award.
Learn more about the award and recent recipients.

Teacher of the Year Award
Each spring, Hofstra’s students help select the faculty members from each school and college who will receive the annual Teacher of the Year awards. The faculty members selected receive an engraved plaque, recognition in the commencement program, and a monetary award.

Hofstra University congratulates the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year recipients:

Maurice A. Deane School of Law
Theo Liebmann, JD
Clinical Professor of Law and Executive Director of the Monroe H. Freedman Institute for the Study of Legal Ethics

Zucker School of Medicine
First 100 Weeks:
Zeinab Nassrallah, PhD
Assistant Professor of Science Education

Second 100 Weeks:
Preetha Kurian, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
Mauro Caputi, PhD
Associate Professor of Engineering

Zarb School of Business
Ralph Polimeni, PhD
The Chaykin Endowed Chair in Accounting and Professor of Accounting

School of Health Sciences
Ibraheem Karaye, MD, DrPH
Assistant Professor of Population Health

Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
George Nicholas, MFA
Associate Professor of Radio, Television, Film

Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences:
School of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts:
Christopher Dippel, MSEd, MFA
Associate Professor of Drama and Dance

Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs:
Katrina Sims, PhD
Assistant Professor of History

School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics:
Kevin Bisceglia, PhD
Associate Professor of Chemistry

Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies
Gina Pontrelli, DHSc, PA-C
Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies

In March, students are invited to vote online for the faculty they feel are most deserving of recognition as distinguished teachers. All faculty members who have taught a minimum of three (3) full years at Hofstra are eligible for the Teacher of the Year award. A faculty member who receives the award will be removed from the ballot for the following four (4) years (i.e., excluded for one four-year academic cycle). Once back on the ballot, the faculty member would be eligible for the Teacher of the Year Award after three (3) additional years. Following this procedure, both potential first time and past Teacher of the Year recipients are treated equally.

Teacher of the Year Award
The recipients of previous years are listed below:

2022-2023
Julie Byrne, Religion
Alan D. Flurkey, Specialized Programs in Education
Andrew M. Forman, Marketing, International Business and Legal Studies
Brian McFadden, Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations
James J. Sample, Law
Jessica R. Santangelo, Biology
Martine Hackett, Population Health
Steven D. Smith, Comparative Literature, Languages, and Linguistics
Xiang Fu, Computer Science
Donna Willenbrock, Nursing
Joanne Willey, Medical School 1st 100 weeks
Gainosuke “Gai” Sugiyama, Medical School 2nd 100 weeks

2021-2022
Mark Niles, Law
Joel Stern, Medicine
Syed Ahmad, Medicine
Gretchen Ostheimer, Computer Science
Yi Chin Lin, Information Systems & Business Analytics
Susan DeMetropolis, Speech-Language Hearing Sciences
Carol Fletcher, Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations
Eustace Thompson, Specialized Programs in Education
Kelly McMasters, English
Ann Burlein, Religion
Kara Jaremko, Chemistry
Amy Roberts, PA Studies
Mary Lemp, Nursing

2019-2020
Kevin McElroy, Law
Edward Segal, Engineering
Sharon Phillips, Health Professions
Stephen J. Hernandez, Specialized Programs in Education
John Krapp, Comparative Literature, Languages & Linguistics
Meena Bose, Political Science
Behailu Mammo, Mathematics
Russell Harbaugh, Radio, Television, Film
Glen Vogel, Accounting, & Taxation
Robert Hill, Medicine
Gainosuke Sugiyama, Medicine

2018-2019
Alexander Pelaez, Information Systems & Business Analytics
Alexander H. Pesch, Engineering
Israel Schwartz, Health Professions
Amy J. Catalano, Teaching, Learning & Technology
James W. Lee, Fine Arts, Design, Art History
Paul B. Fritz, Political Science
Elisabeth J. Ploran, Psychology
Mary K. Banahan, Physician Assistant Studies
Jingsi Christina Wu, Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations
Ronald Colombo, Law
David Elkowitz, Medicine
Roya R. Samuels, Medicine

2017-2018
Edward Coffield, Health Professions
Brenda J. Elsey, History
Jeffrey J. Froh, Psychology
Tammy A. Gales, Comparative Literature, Languages, and Linguistics,
Carlo A. Gennarelli, Radio, Television, Film
Tatiana Gordon, Teaching, Learning and Technology, Education, HCLAS
Richard J. Puerzer, Engineering
Anoop Rai, Finance
James Sample, Law
Christine Zammit, Physician Assistant Studies
Zeinab Nassrallah, Medicine
Edward S. Wind, Medicine

2016-2017
David M. Henderson, Drama/Dance
Joseph F. Peyronnin, Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations
Carole Ferrand, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
Krishnan Pillaipakkamnatt, Computer Science
Andrew Spieler, Finance Department
Carina Loscalzo, Physician Assistant Studies
J. Herbie DiFonzo, Law
Joanne Willey, Medicine
Jill Rabin, Medicine

2015-2016
Miriam Albert, Law
Andrew Spieldenner, Rhetoric
Janet Lenaghan, Management and Entrepreneurship
Gloria Lodato Wilson, Specialized Programs in Education
Wing Kwong, Engineering
Jeffrey Morosoff, Journalism, Media Studies and Public Relations
Martine Hackett, Health Professions
Mark L’Eplattenier, Physician Assistant Studies
John N.H. Stern, Medicine
R. Ellen Pearlman, Medicine

2014-2015
Peter Gershon, Radio, Television, Film
Alan Singer, Teacher Education Programs
David Rooney, Engineering
Doron Milstein, Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences
Michael Barnes, Psychology
Stuart Bass, Accounting, Taxation and Legal Studies in Business
Kevin McElroy, Legal Writing
Joseph Weiner, Medicine
Syed Ahmad, Medicine

2013-2014
Ellen T. Frisina, Journalism, Media Studies and Public Relations
Mauro J. Caputi, Engineering
Sarah A. Novak, Psychology
Holly J. Seirup, Counseling and Mental Health Professions
Katie M. Sell, Health Studies and Kinesiology
Elizabeth K. Venuti, Accounting, Taxation and Legal Studies in Business
James J. Sample, Law
William Rennie, School of Medicine

2012-2013
Mary Ann Allison, Journalism, Media Studies and Public Relations
Xiang Fu, Computer Science
Robert P. Guttmann, Economics
Corinne M. Kyriacou, Health Professions
Maureen O. Murphy, Teaching, Literacy and Leadership
Glen M. Vogel, Accounting, Taxation and Legal Studies in Business
Juliana Campagna, Law
Dr. David E. Elkowitz, Department of Science Education and Pathology and Laboratory
Medicine

2011-2012
Charles McMellon, Marketing and International Business
Susan Yohn, History
Kristal Zook, Journalism, Media Studies and Public Relations
Judith Kaufman, Teaching, Literacy and Leadership
James Sample, Law

2010-2011
Benny Barak, Marketing and International Business
Robert Papper, Journalism, Media Studies, Public Relations
Laurie Johnson, Counseling, Research, Special Education, Rehabilitation
Bhaswati Sengupta, Economics
Elizabeth Glazer, Law

2009-2010
Ralph S. Polimeni, Accounting, Taxation, and Legal Studies in Business
Geoffrey Roth, Journalism, Media Studies and Public Relations
Mary McDonald, Curriculum and Teaching
Ralph Acampora, Philosophy
Alafair Burke, Law

2008-2009
Robert Leonard, Comparative Literature and Language
Mary Anne Trasciatti, Speech Communication, Rhetoric & Performance Studies
Ahmet Karagozoglu, Finance
Bruce Torff, Curriculum and Teaching
Mitchell Gans, Law

2007-2008
Doron Milstein, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
Victoria Geyer, Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations
William James, Marketing and International Business
Jacqueline Grennon Brooks, Curriculum & Teaching
Grant Hayden, Law

2006-2007
David Green, Political Science
Robert Licata, Journalism, Media Studies and Public Relations
Stuart Bass, Accounting, Taxation and Legal Studies in Business
Maureen Miletta, Curriculum and Teaching
Bennett Capers, Law

2005-2006
John Morrissey, Biology
Esther Fusco, Curriculum and Teaching
Elizabeth Venuti, Accounting/Taxation/Legal Studies in Business
Dennis Mazzocco, Audio/Video/Film
Mark Movsesian, Law
Eric Freedman, Law

2004-2005
Michael Barnes, Psychology
Andrea Libresco, Curriculum and Teaching
Andrew Spieler, Finance
Carol Fletcher, Journalism/Mass Media Studies
David Pushkin, Undergraduate Instruction
Mitchell Gans, Law

2003-2004
Peter Gershon, Audio/Video/Film
Daniel Sciarra, CRSR
Benny Barak, Marketing and International Business
Warren Mintz, New College/School for University Studies
Robert Guttmann, Economics/Geography

2002-2003
Charles F. Levinthal, Psychology (HCLAS)
Ellen Frisina, Journalism/Mass Media (Communication)
Alan J. Singer, Curriculum and Teaching (Education)
John Krapp, SUS (New College/SUS)
Ronald H. Silverman, Law
Janet A. Lenaghan, Mgmt, Entr, Gen Bus (Business)

2001-2002
Rosebud Elijah, Curriculum and Teaching

2000-2001
Richard Jones, Accounting, Taxation, Business Law

1999-2000
Robert W. Greene, Journalism/Mass Media Studies

1997-1998
Michael O’Loughlin, Administration and Policy Studies and Reading

1996-1997
Stuart L. Bass, Business Law

1995-1996
Frank G. Bowe, Counseling, Research, Special Education and Rehabilitation

1994-1995
Janice Koch, Curriculum and Teaching

1993-1994
Gene Pressel, Speech Arts and Sciences

1992-1993
Maureen Miletta, Curriculum and Teaching

1991-1992
Robert Marose, Bus. Info. Sys & Q.M.

1990-1991
Paula Uruburu, English

1989-1990
Eugene Maccarone, Chemistry

1988-1989
Robert Guttman, Economics

1987-1988
Thomas Parsons, Computer Science

1986-1987
Bernard Firestone, Political Science

1985-1986
Robert Braun, Accounting

1984-1985
Michael Barnes, Psychology

1983-1984
Walter Rosenthal, Marketing

1982-1983
Jack Salzman, English

1981-1982
Jack Yurkiewicz, Bus. Comp. Info. Sys & Q.M.

1980-1981
Kenneth Cooperman, Marketing

1979-1980
Bruce Meyer, Accounting

1978-1979
Robert Katz, Accounting

1977-1978
Ralph Polimeni, Accounting

1976-1977
Ralph Zalma, Special Education

1975-1976
Rosalie Stillwell, Biology

1974-1975
Oliver Niehouse, Management/Marketing & Q.M.

1973-1974
Ruth Priogozy, English

1972-1973
David Cernic, Philosophy

1971-1972
Stanley Brodwin, English

1970-1971
Ignacio Gotz, Foundations of Education

1969-1970
Edwin Dunbaugh, History

1968-1969
Robert Myron, Art History

1967-1968
Bertram Brettschneider, Philosophy

1966-1967
Lynn Turgeon, Economics

1965-1966
Michael D'Innocenzo, History

1964-1965
William Hull, English

1963-1964
Frank Wekerle, Philosophy

1962-1963
Howard Siegman, Drama

1961-1962
Edward Chalfant, English

1960-1961
Herbert Rosenbaum, Political Science

1959-1960
Geoffrey B. Charlesworth, Mathematics

This award honors a faculty member who has significantly impacted our students and community.
Learn more about the award and recent recipients.

Mentor of the Year Award
The Mentor of the Year Award honors a faculty member who has been nominated by students for:

Providing guidance from idea to project development on research or a creative project.
Demonstrating mentorship above and beyond general expectations.
Establishing a track record for involving mentees and other students in professional
Having a significant life-changing impact on mentees and other students in the Hofstra
University community.

Hofstra University congratulates the 2023-2024 Mentor of the Year:
Craig Dalton, PhD
Associate Professor of Global Studies and Geography
Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Find previous recipients of the Mentor of the Year Award here.

Faculty who have an outstanding record of scholarship and research are recognized.
Learn more about the award and recent recipients.

Researcher of the Year Award

The Researcher of the Year Award honors faculty members who have demonstrated an outstanding record of scholarship and research achievement of uncommon distinction.

Hofstra University congratulates the 2023-2024 Researcher of the Year Award recipients:

Ehsan Nikbakht, DBA
The C.V. Starr Distinguished Professor of Finance and International Financial Services and Professor of Finance
Frank G. Zarb School of Business

Luciana Santoferrara, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biology
School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The recipients of previous years are listed below:

2022-2023
Simon Doubleday
Nicholas Merna

Each semester a faculty member presents a lecture in their area of specialization.
Learn about the lecture and the application process.

In 1981, the University inaugurated the annual Hofstra University Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series. The lecture is typically scheduled midsemester during Common Hour.

All full-time Hofstra faculty members who have not received the award in the four years prior to their application are eligible to apply. Note that while a lecture is the standard format, fine arts faculty may opt to have a performance or exhibit followed by a discussion. The lecture is the fruit of original thought and research on a topic both representative of the faculty member's specialization and likely to attract and hold the interest of a wide, diverse audience. It is expected that this lecture will not have previously been delivered to the Hofstra community.

Calls for submission are sent out approximately six months prior to each lecture with specific application guidelines. We encourage your participation.

For more information about the upcoming lecture and previous year’s recipients, click here.

This grant supports a faculty’s research or curricular innovation regarding diversity.
Learn about the grant.

Faculty Diversity Research and Curriculum Development and LGBTQ+ Research Initiative Grant
The Faculty Diversity Research and Curriculum Development Grants are awarded in support of research or curricular innovation regarding diversity. These grants are designed to encourage research and curriculum development on issues of diversity by faculty in any discipline. The LGBTQ+ Research Initiative Grants are awarded to faculty engaged in research or creative work on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex people and allies on Hofstra’s campus and/or in the suburbs.

For more information about project abstracts and lecture, click here.

2024-2025
Stacie Dee
Carolyn Dudek
Genevieve Weber

2023-2024
Nichole Lopez and Donna Willenbrock
Mun Yee Kwan

2022-2023
Michael Cassara
Theresa McGinnis

2021-2022
Scott Lefurgy and Emily Mundorff
Cong Liu
Sabrina G. Sobel
Gina Pontrelli and Amy Roberts
Russ Smith
Donna Willenbrock and Mary Lemp

2020-2021
Erin Reilly
Nicholas Salter

2019-2020
Andrea Nerlich and Alicia Bosley
SM Rodriguez
Genevieve Weber

2018-2019
Amy Catalano
Martine Hackett
Aashish Kumar

2017-2018
Craig Burnett
Sharryn Kasmir
SM Rodriguez
Jingsi Wu

2016-2017
Amy Catalano
Jessica Holzer
Theresa McGinnis
Karyn Valerius