About Us

Educate '08: Dialogue, Democracy and the ’08 Debates, is an unprecedented educational effort that will engage not only students and faculty but also the public in a year-long series of conferences, events and lectures about the 2008 election, politics and presidential history.

The hundreds of events, lectures and initiatives that make up Educate '08 have been organized by faculty, administrators, students, alumni and interested community members, in several active committees.

Educate '08 academic committee

Dr. Herman Berliner, Provost and Senior Vice President, Steering Committee Chair
Dr. Rosanna Perotti, Associate Professor of Political Science, Director
Natalie Datlof, Director, Hofstra Cultural Center, Director
Dr. Meena Bose, Peter S. Kalikow Chair in Presidential Studies, Committee Chair
Melissa Kane Connolly, Vice President, University Relations, Committee Chair
Dr. Sybil DelGaudio, Dean, School of Communication, Committee Chair

Dr. Cynthia Bogard, Associate Professor of Sociology, Director, Center for Civic Engagement
Sandra Johnson, Vice President, Student Affairs
Richard Guardino, Vice President, Business Development
Dr. Liora Schmelkin, Senior Vice Provost
Nora Demleitner, Dean, School of Law
Dr. Bernard J. Firestone, Dean, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dr. Warren Frisina, Dean, Honors College
Dr. Maureen Murphy, Interim Dean, School of Education and Allied Human Services
Dr. Daniel Rubey, Dean, Library
Salvatore Sodano, Dean, Frank G. Zarb School of Business
Dr. Paula Uruburu, Director, School for University Studies
Dr. Steven Costenoble, Associate Provost
Sofia Kakoulidis, Associate Provost
Dr. Jayne Brownell, Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs
Athelene Collins, Associate Director, Hofstra Cultural Center
Lawrence Levy, Executive Director, National Center for Suburban Studies

Educate '08 student programming committee

Chaired by Dr. Jayne Brownell, Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs
Patrick McDonald, ’08, Student Chair, Classics and Latin, SGA Parliamentarian
Stephanie Caruso, ’09, Film, SGA Secretary
Jacqueline Crawford, ’11, Marketing, Civic Engagement House Co-President
Carlos M. Cruz, ’10, Political Science/History, SGA Appropriations Chair
Robin Doublebower, ’09, Economics/Russian and Political Science, SGA Senator
Sammy Gergis, Assistant Dean, University Advisement
Ryan Greene, Director, Multicultural and International Student Programs
Tyler GreenPope, ‘11, Broadcast Journalist, Resident Student Association Representative
Ashley Kowal, ’10, Marketing, SGA Ethics and Conduct Chair
Kate Legnetti, ’09, Political Science/History and International Affairs, SGA Vice President
Francesca Mari, ’09, Public Relations/ Fine Arts
Akeem Mellis, ’10, Print Journalism and Political Science, Chair of Academic Affairs committee
Christopher Muller, Director, Residential Living Learning Communities
Stephen Pellegrino, ’10, Television/Radio and History, Civic Engagement House Resident Assistant
Kimberly Rhyan, Assistant Director, Student Leadership and Activities

Educate '08 community advisory committee

Chaired by Melissa Kane Connolly, Vice President, University Relations
Alan J. Kelly, Vice President, Development and Alumni Relations
Sergio Argueta, Executive Director, S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc.
Linda Armyn, Bethpage Federal Credit Union
Patricia Barragato, Farrel Fritz, P.C.
Chris Bastardi, Director of Public Affairs & Communications, Office of NYS Senator Kemp Hannon
Dr. Jack Bierwith, Superintendent, Herricks School District
Richard M. Bivone, President, Nassau County Council of Chamber of Commerce; President, RMB Drafting and Electrical Inspectors
Laurie Bloom, Director of Marketing & Communications, Rivkin Radler, LLP
Dr. Meena Bose, Peter S. Kalikow Chair in Presidential Studies
Dr. Jayne Brownell, Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs
David Chauvin, Zimmerman Edelson, Inc.
Dr. Constance Clark, Superintendent of Schools, Westbury Public Schools
Diane Cohen, Executive Director, Long Island Fund for Women and Girls
Tara Conry, Hofstra Alumna
Kristin Cosover-Kanzer, Freelance Producer
Bert Cunningham, Cunningham Strategic Communications
Robin Doublebower, community member
Emily Frankel, Chief of Staff for Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel
Simone Freeman, President, Hofstra University Political Science Alumni Organization
Lisa Giunta, Hofstra Alumna
Tyler Greenpope, student
Richard Guardino, Vice President, Business Development Center
Christopher Hahn, President, United Way of Long Island
Senator Kemp Hannon, New York State Senator
Henry Holley, The Holley Group
Kathleen Hunker, Hofstra Alumna
The Honorable Jon Kaiman, Supervisor, Town of North Hempstead
Thomas Killeen, Partner, Farrell Fritz, P.C.
Suzanne LeBlanc, Executive Director, The Long Island Children's Museum
Lawrence Levy, Executive Director, National Center for Suburban Studies
Andrea Libresco, Associate Professor, Curriculum & Teaching, Hofstra University
Dr. William Lloyd, Superintendent of Uniondale Schools
Terry Lynam, Vice President of Public Relations, North Shore-LIJ Health System
Jorge Martinez, President, BCM Solutions
Patrick McDonald, student
Assemblyman Thomas McKevitt, 17th District, Nassau County
Stephen Pelligrino, student
Dr. Rosanna Perotti, Associate Professor, Political Science
Cliff Richner, Richner Communications
Victoria Roberts, Hofstra Alumna, community member
Dr. Herb Rosenbaum, Emeritus Professor of Political Science
Robert Saltzman, Senior Director for Alumni Relations
Peter Schmitt, Minority Leader, Nassau County Legislature
Ilene Schuss, Planning and Events Coordinator, Hofstra University Nassau Alumni Chapter
Robert Troiano, Project Grad of Long Island
Jeanine Uttaro, Zimmerman Edelson, Inc.
Dave Widmer, President, Long Island Radio Group

Debate steering committee

M. Patricia Adamski, Senior Vice President for Planning and Administration, co-chair
Dolores Fredrich, Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, co-chair

Joseph Barkwill, Vice President, Operations
Dr. Herman Berliner, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Larry Bloom, consultant
Edward Bracht, Director of Public Safety
Melissa Kane Connolly, Vice President, University Relations
Sandra Johnson, Vice President, Student Affairs
Robert Juckiewicz, Vice President, Information Technology