Hofstra Magazine

A Letter from President Stuart Rabinowitz

In this year’s President’s Report to our alumni and friends, we look back at 2009, thank our donors and recognize our faculty. 2009 certainly was an eventful year, full of challenges, opportunities, great programs and changes. In this letter, I invite you to look forward, toward one of the most exciting times in Hofstra’s history.

By the time you receive this issue, we will know if our new School of Medicine in partnership with North Shore-LIJ Health System has received preliminary approval from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and can begin recruiting its first class of 40 medical students. In our history, there is no event more significant. Not only are we among the vanguard of excellent universities starting new and innovative medical schools, but we launch this school with a full partner, the North Shore-LIJ Health System – a renowned, respected network of university and community hospitals, care facilities, community health centers, and a world-famous research facility, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

Hundreds of scholars, scientists and physicians have devoted thousands of hours over the past two years, designing an innovative curriculum that changes the way medical education is delivered. Among these individuals are many faculty from other areas of our University. Thanks to the vision and experience of Dr. Lawrence Smith, dean of the School of Medicine, and his team, we are witness to the creation of a new kind of medical school, and it is very exciting to watch. Soon we will share the details with you, our alumni and our community, and I’m certain you will find that this new curriculum ensures a superior medical education.

In many ways, the launch of the new School of Medicine is not an end in itself, but the beginning of many new initiatives. Hofstra has always excelled in the arts and social sciences, in communication and business, in law, in education and human services, but our science departments, while excellent, have been small. To continue to enhance our academic reputation, and to take the next step in academic excellence, we are creating more opportunities in the sciences and in research.

We are about to launch a master’s program in medical physics, and our Physician Assistant Studies Program is now very competitive. Over the next few years, we will expand our vision, and plan to create a school of public health and explore the creation of a nursing program, among other health and science programs. We also plan to expand our excellent engineering program into a school of engineering. Bringing our faculty together with the physicians and scientists at North Shore-LIJ allows us to plan for new and needed advanced degree programs.

In February I announced the appointment of two respected and experienced academic administrators to lead two of our schools. Dr. Patrick J. Socci, currently associate dean of the College of Business Administration at Fordham University, was named dean of the Frank G. Zarb School of Business. Dr. Socci brings a unique and valuable combination of scholarly achievement, business expertise and educational administration background to the position of dean. His experiences and strengths will help position the Zarb School of Business for future growth and continued success.

A few days later, Evan W. Cornog was named dean of the School of Communication. Dr. Cornog was most recently associate dean at the Columbia University School of Journalism. Dr. Cornog is an accomplished academic leader and a working journalist who continues to write for a wide range of publications with national and international reach. His deep and varied experiences make him the ideal person to help the University’s School of Communication navigate the dynamic, dramatic changes facing the media industry.

I want to thank Salvatore Sodano, current dean of the Frank G. Zarb School of Business, who will continue to work in University administration, and Cliff Jernigan, interim dean of the School of Communication, who will remain as associate dean. Both have been excellent leaders.

Our new deans will begin during the summer, and will work with faculty, students and administrators in further enhancing the academic offerings and national reputations of both schools.

In the midst of great academic changes, we are preparing to celebrate the University’s 75th anniversary. For more than a year, an active committee of faculty, students, alumni and administrators have been planning a yearlong celebration that is, in equal parts, fun, thought-provoking, nostalgic, scholarly and historic. The 2010-2011 series of events, “75 Years: Pride and Purpose,” begins September 23 (the first day of classes in 1935) with a formal academic convocation and a birthday cake celebration. We then continue with a three-day celebration that combines Alumni Reunions, Homecoming and Family Weekend.

Hofstra’s 75th anniversary is our opportunity to come together, share our experiences, tell our stories, and remember how the University, its faculty and students made a difference in all of our lives. Over the course of the year, we hope to engage thousands of members of our community, as well as the community that surrounds us in Hempstead, Uniondale and throughout Long Island, in programs and events that are sure to be memorable.

Most of all, we celebrate the 75th anniversary because even in the midst of these uncertain economic times, the future of Hofstra University has never been brighter. We have always been a community that took bold and decisive action in creating new and innovative programs. We celebrate not only a dynamic history, but the promise of an even greater future. I hope you will join us for some of our many exciting events in the months to come.

Sincerely,

Stuart Rabinowitz
President