New Faculty-Led Campus Initiatives

In January 2023, Hofstra University issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) process for academic proposals, and the path forward. 

There were 78 proposals submitted by March 27th.  The Strategic Directions Steering Committee (SDSC) reviewed the proposals and presented them on May 2nd. The proposals have been read and meetings were held with the SDSC to hear their general reflections on the proposals and the process, and the academic deans to discuss the process.

The proposals selected to move forward now are:

• 4 Credit/4 Course Model: Reigniting the Conversationc (New Title: Task Force on Curricular Innovation)
• Art, Design, and Technology
• BA in Human Factors and Usability Studies
• Hofstra-Feinstein Cancer Education Program
• A Diverse and Inclusive Learning Community for All: Cluster Hire Initiative Focused on Research and Teaching Pertaining to US Minorities Underrepresented in Higher Education
• A Proposal for Community Engagement And Recruitment at The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
• Computer Science + Social Science Degree(s)
• Faculty in Residence Expansion
• Division of Natural Sciences Cluster Hire for Data Science
• Renewable Energy Broadcasting (WRHU Goes Green!)

Read about the proposals below:

4 Credit/4 Course Model: Reigniting the Conversation
New Title: Task Force on Curricular Innovation

• Warren Frisina, Dean, Rabinowitz Honors College
• Daniel Seabold, Chair, Associate Professor, Mathematics, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Hofstra University will engage in discussion on how to approach and evolve curriculum to include g deeper more engaging courses, improved retention and graduation rates, and increased time for faculty research. With EAB and Mckinsey & Company reporting that post-covid students arrive in college with unfinished learning, heightened anxieties and underdeveloped social skills, it seems crucial that Hofstra explore whether new strategies will enable us to better enroll and retain these students for the full four years (2022). In a just released report conducted by Gallup and the Lumina foundation, students cited “emotional stress” as one of the primary barriers to enrolling or continuing in higher education. Hofstra University will appoint a new task force, with representatives from HCLAS, all of the professional schools, and senior administrators to be charged with reviewing opportunities and changes with respect to curriculum that may make sense for Hofstra students and faculty.

Art, Design, and Technology

• Edward Segal, Associate Professor, Engineering, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Lynn Albers, Assistant Professor, Engineering, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Jim Lee, Professor, Fine Arts, Design, Art History, School of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Karen Albert, Director, Hofstra University Museum of Art*
  (as Karen has now retired, Alexandra Giordano, Director, Hofstra University Museum of Art has led the Museum’s role in this effort)

The goal of this project is to develop new opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and the broader community to work at the intersection of art, design, and technology. Hofstra will be able to become a leader and develop new opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and the broader community to work at the intersection of art, design, and technology, by making strategic investments that leverage existing strengths in our faculty, our staff, and our campus.  Proposed activities include:

• An annual maker-in-residence and/or artist-in-residence
• A “campus as gallery” identity to accompany “campus as arboretum” and “campus as lab”
• The maker space in the new Center for Science and Innovation
• Research and design funding in the form of standalone funding and as matching grants for smaller arts, architecture, and design grants. In the long term, we imagine developing courses at the intersection of art, design, and technology that will coordinate with the support received in the short term.

BA in Human Factors and Usability Studies

• Salvador Rojas-Murillo, Assistant Professor, Engineering, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Elisabeth Ploran, Chair, Associate Professor, Psychology, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Lisa DeTora, Associate Professor, Writing Studies and Rhetoric, School of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Hofstra has a unique opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary Human Factors and Usability Studies (UX) to serve a growing profession that supports technology innovation and web design. Since the pandemic more services have moved online and investment in virtual reality and artificial intelligence has increased. Additionally, web accessibility for people with disabilities is one of the major areas of concern for the Department of Justice. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. To address these concerns, companies require individuals with a unique skill set combining computer science, engineering, psychology, and design. a unique combination of courses in Computer Science, Engineering, Psychology, Writing Studies, Rhetoric, Sociology, and Fine Arts, to create a degree that combines technical background with knowledge of human behavior and testing methodologies. Currently no program at Hofstra or its local competitors combines those elements into a single program of study.

Hofstra-Feinstein Cancer Education Program
New Title: Feinstein@Hofstra Medical Research Residencies

• John F. DeCarlo, Adjunct Associate Professor, Writing Studies and Rhetoric, School of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Scott T. Lefurgy, Professor, Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Yousef Al-Abed, Professor, Molecular Medicine and Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Co-Director and Professor, Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research

To forge new inter-institutional bonds between Hofstra and the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, we propose the Hofstra-Feinstein Cancer Education Program—to inspire and educate the greater Hofstra community about the impacts of cancer and highlight cutting-edge advances—led by a cohort of six Feinstein researchers (investigators, postdocs, etc.) during six half-day residencies on the Hofstra campus. Feinstein researchers will engage Hofstra students as guest speakers in a new undergraduate course, Perspectives on Cancer, and the broader community with a series of public talks and panels, Conversations on Cancer.

A Diverse and Inclusive Learning Community for All: Cluster Hire Initiative Focused on Research and Teaching Pertaining to US Minorities Underrepresented in Higher Education

• Amy Baehr, Chair, Professor, Philosophy, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Ann Burlein, Professor, Religion, Program Director, Women’s Studies, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Julie Byrne, Chair, Professor, Religion, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Sally Charnow, Chair, Professor, History, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Lisa Dresner, Associate Professor, Writing Studies and Rhetoric, Program Director, LGBTQ Studies, School of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Brenda Elsey, Professor, History, Program Co-Director, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Warren Frisina, Dean, Rabinowitz Honors College
• Tammy Gales, Professor, Comparative Literature, Languages, and Linguistics, Director of Research Institute for Forensic Linguistics, School of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Liena Gurevich, Associate Professor, Sociology, Program Director, Criminology, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Veronica Lippencott, Adjunct Associate Professor, Global Studies and Geography, Program Director, Africana Studies, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Zaibis Muñoz-Isme, Assistant Vice President, Student Enrollment, Engagement, and Success
• Tomeka Robinson, Associate Dean, Rabinowitz Honors College
• Craig Rustici, Professor, English, Program Director, Disability Studies, School of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Benita Sampedro, Professor, Romance Languages and Literatures Program Co-Director, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, School of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Johanna Shih, Chair, Associate Professor, Sociology, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Santiago Slabodsky, Professor, Religion, Program Director, Jewish Studies, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Karyn Valerius, Chair, Associate Professor, English, School of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Julie Yindra, Director, Student Access Services

To support the core academic mission of teaching and research, and to remain competitive in the landscape of tuition-driven private northeastern universities, Hofstra must transform into a truly diverse and inclusive learning community for all. Student success and faculty excellence both depend on it. To those ends, we propose a cluster hire initiative focused on research and teaching pertaining to US minorities underrepresented in higher education (Black, Latine, Native). a three-year initiative, publicized and coordinated by the Office of the Provost, to hire thematic cohorts of four new faculty members per year. This well-publicized cluster hire initiative itself, as well as the resulting addition of an array of new faculty members across departments, will signal that Hofstra has a transformative vision for its R2 future, raise the excellence levels of faculty teaching and research, attract demographically diverse students, and enrich all students with resources that help them persist and graduate.

A Proposal for Community Engagement And Recruitment at The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication

• Cornell Craig, Chief Diversity Officer, Office of Equity and Inclusion
• Mark Lukasiewicz, Dean, The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
• Mario Murillo, Professor, Radio, Television, Film, Vice Dean, The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
• Roosevelt Smith, Dean, New Opportunities at Hofstra
• Deysi Aguilar, Associate Dean, New Opportunities at Hofstra
• Aisha Wilson-Carter, Associate Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion

Hofstra University will pilot cooperative partnership between The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication (LHSC) and Uniondale High School. In cooperation with the Provost’s office and the faculty of the LHSC, a limited number of LHSC courses will be designated for a cohort of Uniondale students to take for college credit while in High School.. Current students in the LHSC would serve as program mentors for high school students enrolled in the program. The LHSC classes for Uniondale students will be taught between the hours of 3:45 pm and 6:00pm, one day per week, to enable full participation. Uniondale will provide bus transportation to its students. In addition, Hofstra University will explore its’ ability to offer a limited number of scholarships to be awarded among program participants to support their ability to enroll at Hofstra as undergraduate students.

Computer Science + Social Science Degree(s)

• Constantine Alexandrakis, Chair, Associate Professor, Economics, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Amy Baehr, Chair, Professor, Philosophy, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Meena Bose, Professor, Political Science, Executive Dean, Public Policy and Public Service Programs Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Sally Charnow, Professor, History, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Craig Dalton, Associate Professor, Global Studies and Geography, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Anthony Dardis, Professor, Philosophy, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Simona Doboli, Professor, Computer Science, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Paul Fritz, Associate Professor, Political Science, Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The continued advancement of digital technologies has transformed the world. But the way these new technologies work and how we use them has created many new societal challenges, some of which we are not very well prepared to address. a new CS+Social Science degree program(s). Such a program would leverage the existing strengths of Computer Science and the Social Science departments at Hofstra in a focused way that should attract students as well as meaningfully prepare them for future careers and spur new interdisciplinary teaching and research avenues for faculty.

Faculty in Residence Expansion

• Warren Frisina, Dean, Rabinowitz Honors College
• Beth McGuire, Executive Director Campus Living, Residence Life
• Zaibis Muñoz-Isme, Assistant Vice President, Student Enrollment, Engagement, and Success
• Russ Smith, Director of Residential Education and First-Generation Success Initiatives, Residence Life
• Novia Ramsay, Director of Residential Operations, Residence Life

To extend the impact of Hofstra’s successful Faculty in Residence (FiR) program, Hofstra University will explore ways to expanding from one FiR in the Netherlands to serve additional students. This is a natural next step based largely on the success of Hofstra’s Netherlands program, but also on an awareness that FiR’s are increasingly used by peer and aspirational schools as tools for improving academic success and increasing retention by promoting a greater sense of belonging among residential students.

Division of Natural Sciences Cluster Hire for Data Science

• Christina Lacey, Professor, Chair, Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Maureen Krause, Professor, Chair, Biology, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• William Nirode, Professor, Chair, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Sylvia Silberger, Associate Professor, Mathematics, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

As the first theme selected for the cluster hire initiative, the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics and Astronomy within HCLAS will conduct a multidisciplinary cluster hire in the computational and data sciences supported by a new high-performance computer cluster. The hires will expand our research capabilities into new and growing fields that rely on the use of big data and computational approaches to ask relevant questions in the natural sciences. The cluster hires will provide exciting collaborative opportunities for faculty and student research and complement the existing MS in Data Science program. A Natural Sciences cluster hire, with a focus on advancing diversity, equity and inclusion through multidisciplinary computational and big data science, will expand our research capabilities, provide new avenues for research collaborations, and enhance Hofstra’s diversity and ability to serve and enrich students.

Renewable Energy Broadcasting (WRHU Goes Green!)

• Andrew Gladdening, Chief Engineer, WRHU Radio Hofstra, The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
• J. Bret Bennington, Professor, Chair, Geology, Environment and Sustainability, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• John Mullen, General Manager, WRHU Radio Hofstra, The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
• Mario Murillo, Professor, Radio, Television, Film, Vice Dean, The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
• Richard Puerzer, Associate Professor, Engineering, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Edward Currie, Associate Professor, Engineering, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Lynn Albers, Assistant Professor, Engineering, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
• David Burghardt, Professor, Engineering, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
• D. Elliot Williams, Assistant Professor, Engineering, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science

Hofstra University will engage students in designing Hofstra University’s first renewable energy generation complex, proposed to be installed on the roof of Constitution Hall. The green energy produced will power the broadcasts of WRHU, Radio Hofstra University, which operates Hofstra’s FM radio station on 88.7FM out of transmission facilities on the 13th floor. Hofstra will explore the installation of solar panels and wind turbine generators 200’ feet above sea level, which may be seen for miles around, creating a visible demonstration of Hofstra’s investment into renewable energy. The electricity generated from this new complex could directly power WRHU’s FM transmission center, making Hofstra’s FM radio station the first solar and wind powered college radio station in the USA. This would provide a unique marketing angle for Hofstra, WRHU and the LHSC and would also create advertising, marketing, and fundraising opportunities via WRHU’s strategic partnerships with the New York Islanders, New York State Association of Broadcasters, National Association of Broadcasters, Marconi foundation, Society of Broadcast Engineers, and other high profile broadcasting entities throughout the region. Besides providing engineering and sustainability students with a real-world case study in planning and designing a renewable energy facility.