Dean's Advisory Board

• LORI AMES
• CHRISTOPHER M. BISSONNETTE
• CALANDRA BRANCH
• DELILAH BUITRON
• ANITA CHINKES-RATNER
• THOMAS CRAIG
• RASHAN "SHAWN" DAVIS
• ROBERT D'ESPOSITO
• FRANCINE DIERNA GREENBERG
• CHRISTOPHER DOUGÉ
• EVELYN HARRISON
• MICHAEL HERSHFIELD
• JON KAIMAN
• LARRY KEIGWIN

• MICHELLE F. LAMENDOLA-ESSEL
• STEVE LAVNER
• JACQUELINE LICALZI
• ENDRI MANI
• STEVEN MARKOWITZ
• CARLO MASSARO
• KRISTEN MULLARKEY KELLEY
• JACQUELINE L. MURPHY
• LOURDES PAREDES
• AMANDA E. PRESTON
• DINA ROSAS
• MICHELLE SAKHAI
• RONALD SHINDEL
• MITCH WEXLER

Lori Ames, who has been involved in book publishing and book publicity since the early eighties, grew up on Long Island, where she still resides. She founded ThePRFreelancer Inc. in 2010, and specializes in publicity, marketing, and public relations for nonfiction book authors.

After receiving her degree from Hofstra University in 1979, she began her publicity career at a boutique agency in Manhattan. After more than three years with the agency, Lori joined William Morrow, where she remained for six years, advancing to the position of publicity director. During her tenure with William Morrow, she worked with such authors as David Halberstam, John Irving, Gail Godwin, Richard Bach, and Tina Turner.

Returning to the boutique agency in 1991, she was named vice president a year later, and rose quickly to executive vice president, helping run the day-to-day business, overseeing all publicity campaigns, and working on strategic planning to stay on top of new media while driving clients' books to the country's bestseller lists. She left the agency in 2010 to care for her son who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, and start her own entrepreneurial journey.

In addition to serving on the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Advisory Board, Lori does pro bono public relations work for the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation and the Michael Magro Foundation. She has also contributed to books on women's entrepreneurship and overcoming adversity, and is regularly interviewed about book publicity and entrepreneurship.

Chris is the Director of Human Resources for Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) with over 20 years’ experience in a variety of roles in all aspects of human resources, labor relations, talent acquisition, compensation, wellness, and diversity, equity & inclusion. Chris has worked at leading U.S law firms as an employment litigator and counseling Fortune 500 companies, in senior in-house counsel positions, and various human resources leadership roles. Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is 150 years old and the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra, a Fortune 500 company. Sempra is an energy infrastructure company focused on connecting millions through the power of people, ideas and innovation. Sempra’s 20,000+ employees pride themselves on being part of a leader in the energy industry, serving more than 40 million consumers in North America. Sempra is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Chris was formerly the Director of Labor Relations and Wellness, where he was also the Company’s chief negotiator. Before that role, Chris was the Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Law. Chris was also Senior Counsel for Labor and Employment with Sempra Energy. Before joining Sempra, Chris was a senior associate in the Los Angeles office of Paul Hastings LLP, specializing in employment litigation (including class action and complex wage/hour litigation) traditional labor law, and advice and counsel to employers in a variety of industries. Chris began his career as an associate at Jackson Lewis. Chris is a graduate of Hofstra University (B.A. 1994) and Northeastern University School of Law (J.D. 1999). He is admitted to practice in federal and state court in California, Massachusetts and Maine. He is also admitted to practice before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Chris served in the U.S. Army Reserves and New York Army National Guard.

Chris holds a certification as a Senior Certified Professional (SCP) through the Society for Human Resources Professionals (SHRM). Chris serves on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Women Warriors and the Corporate Circle for the Center Theatre Group, one of the largest theatre companies in the nation, staging productions at the Mark Taper Forum, the Ahmanson Theatre and the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

Calandra Y. Branch, MBA, FACHE is a Senior Director of Network Operations at the Mount Sinai Health System, where she is responsible for all Mount Sinai Doctors' practices in Nassau County. In addition to her official role, she is a faculty member for the Leading From Within leadership development program, and member of the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Advisory Committee. An advocate for mentoring, she is part of several mentoring programs within the Mount Sinai System. She is also a member of Mount Sinai's Black Women Leader's Connect Employee Resource Group, helping to mentor and empower Black female colleagues and affect the advancement of diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Calandra holds a Master of Business Administration from Adelphi University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Hofstra University, where she is the Immediate Past President of the Black/Hispanic Alumni Association, member of the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing Advisory Board, member of the School of Health Professions and Human Services Alumni Association, and member of the Dean's Advisory Board for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She is board certified in healthcare management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a Board Member-at-Large, All Territories of Healthcare Leaders of New York, and a member of the National Association of Health Service Executives.

A career mentor and public speaker on leadership, Calandra is a Certified John C. Maxwell leadership coach, trainer and speaker, and hosts the Lessons in Leadership podcast, which explores various topics around leadership development, mentoring and coaching. She has offered guest lectures at Cornell University, Pace University and her own alma mater, Hofstra University. She also served as an Adjunct Instructor of Leadership, Professionalism and Ethics in Healthcare for the Master of Health Administration program of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is an Adjunct Instructor for the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies.

Delilah Buitrón Arrebola "Delilah Muse" is a native Texan from Laredo. She received a BA in Theatre and Television Communications from Hofstra University. Upon graduation, Delilah moved to Spain, where she studied Spanish Classical and Flamenco at the Isabel Quintero Conservatory as well as at the internationally acclaimed Amor de Dios school of Flamenco. Delilah has since performed in Mexico City's production and tour of Carmen and The Dallas Opera's production of La Vida Breve under the direction of Maria Benitez, as well as portrayed the Cuban Salsa legend "La Lupe" in Martice Enterprise's musical production of La Lupe: My Life, My Destiny. Other Dallas theater credits include her portrayal of Gerarda in SMU's production of La Discreta Enamorada, Shakespeare Dallas' musical production of A Midsummers Night's Dream and As You Like It. She has been seen in Ochre House productions Ex Voto: The Immaculate Conceptions of Frida Kahlo, MEAN, and Cicerone and was featured in the Dallas Flamenco Festival and Ochre House Theater's productions of Perro y Sangre, El Conde Drácula, Buñuel Descending, and Picasso: Matador de Målaga. Delilah received a 2013 Dallas Observer Mastermind Award for excellence in artistic endeavors. Delilah is the artistic director of The Dallas Flamenco Festival and co-founder of the 501c3 art nonprofit The Flame Foundation.

As Executive Vice President of Creative Music Strategy, Anita Chinkes Ratner leads music strategy across Paramount's iconic brands including BET, CBS, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, Paramount+, Pluto TV, Showtime and VH1.

Anita collaborates with show creators and music creators to execute the sound that defines the content. She drives promotion initiatives that amplify music stories within the shows and has produced numerous soundtracks and singles. Her group handles music supervision and music services with a focus on original music creation, and oversees music strategy for award-winning programming across a wide variety of genres including Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, The Real World, Emily in Paris, The L Word Generation Q, Drag Race, Beavis and Butt-Head, The Challenge, Yo! MTV Raps, and Yellowstone.

Respected for her passion and efforts to increase representation for women and POC within the music created for Paramount content and beyond, Anita leads music creation for Viacom Originals, and she is the founder of the MTV Entertainment Group First Time Composers program. Anita uses her voice and time to support music-focused nonprofits and mentorship programs, including She is the Music, Girls Make Beats, BYXX, Earth Girl. She currently serves on the Dean's Advisory Board for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Hofstra University.

Anita received a BA in Sociology from Hofstra University. Prior to her current position, she served in other roles including as SVP of Global Music and Media Licensing for MTV Networks, and VP of Rights and Clearances for MTV. Anita has worked as a freelance Music Supervisor and Music Consultant on numerous film, tv and artist projects. Discovering music and artists, new and old, is one of the things that she enjoys most about her role at Paramount.

Thomas Craig is the Vice President of Global Planning, Allocation and Operations for Marc Jacobs, a subsidiary of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Since joining Marc Jacobs in 2016, Thomas has been involved in all parts of Supply Chain, Demand and Supply Planning within the thriving business. With a strong analytical background, Thomas has been involved in Inventory and Financial Planning and Buying for Club Monaco, C Wonder, Barnes & Noble and Bed, Bath & Beyond. He graduated from Hofstra in 2006 with a BA in Economics. A native Long Islander, Thomas now resides in New York City.

Rashan "Shawn" Davis is district executive at the Brooklyn/Queens area of Santander Bank. He is actively involved in a variety of organizations in the NY metropolitan area. Shawn grew up in Queens, NY, and currently resides on Long Island with his family. He is a member of the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, The Black Employee Network at Santander, and the Eastern Garden City Property Owners' Association. Shawn serves as a deacon at Sheepgate Assembly in Baldwin, NY. He is also on the advisory board of the Bridge Street Development Corporation. Shawn has worked in the financial services field for over 20 years; most recently, his responsibilities include overseeing 15 branches in Brooklyn and Queens.

Dr. Robert F. D'Esposito's career in medicine began nearly 50 years ago with an internship at Nassau Hospital (Winthrop Hospital), now known as NYU Langone on Long Island.

Robert not only continued his practice at Winthrop, but extended his experience, expertise, and caring to support his peers in the medical community as well as in the education of medical students and the local school community. His hospital appointments also included Northwell Health in Manhasset, New York.

Hofstra University provided the backdrop for achieving his premedical Bachelor of Arts in Biology. He earned his medical degree from the University of Padova, Italy, in 1971. He became an attending physician in 1977, following residencies with the departments of General Surgery and Urology at Winthrop University Hospital, and Bellevue Hospital in NYC.

Robert taught for 15 years as an associate clinical professor at Stony Brook Medical School, teaching third-year medical students in their clinical rotation in Urology at Winthrop University Hospital. He was acting vice chief of the Department of Urology at Winthrop.

Extensive medical community involvement is demonstrated by Robert's past and present affiliations with a variety of organizations. This includes his prior service as chairman of the Winthrop Laser Safety Committee, as well as his service on the Surgical Review and Quality Assurance Committees. He continued to serve his peers as vice president (1990-1994) and president (1994-1997) of the Medical Staff Organization.

Robert, a board certified urologist, serves as a Fellow of The American College of Surgeons, the New York Medical Society and as trustee of The Nassau Academy of Medicine. He is a past president and past governor of the American College of Surgeons, where he has been active in the Brooklyn and Long Island chapters. Robert served as a member of the Board of Directors and past chairman of Scientific and Continuing Education of the American College of Surgeons. He served as president of the Nassau Academy of Medicine and the Nassau County Medical Society. Robert continues to serve as trustee to both societies.

He served as a member of various societies, including the American Fertility Society, American Urology Association, and Society of Clinical Urologists. Robert is past first vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police, New York Surgeons Lodge #3.

As medical director for the Garden City School District, Robert had served as a physician involved both in various health issues as well as an on-site medical doctor for the school district's sporting events from 1977 through 2009. He had been active in lecturing, research studies, and publishing. For many years, Robert was a participating urologist of Prostate Awareness Week on Long Island.

In 2007, he received the Medical Staff Lifetime Achievement Award from Winthrop University Hospital. Robert was honored by Hofstra University in October 2009 for his continued involvement with Hofstra University alumni.

Robert received the Physicians Award for Healthcare Heroes in 2009. Dr. D'E, as he's fondly known, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Nassau Surgical Society in 2018. He was humbled to receive the prestigious Joseph N. Cunningham Jr., MD, FACS Mentorship Award in 2018 for his fidelity in educating a generation of surgeons. The Nassau Surgical Society presented him with the Distinguished Service Award in 2018.

Dr. Robert D'Esposito recently retired from his private practice, Urological Surgeons of Long Island, division of Optum, located in Garden City, New York. He does however continue to offer medical legal consultations.

Francine Dierna Greenberg graduated from Hofstra University with a BA in English, and began her 30-year career on Wall Street with Execution Services Inc. (ESI).

Currently a managing director at Cowen and Company LLC, Francine is head of the Plan Sponsor Client Service Group charged with administering the commission recapture programs of over 1,000 plan sponsor clients, which include pension funds, Taft Hartleys, mutual fund companies, municipalities, corporations, foundations, and endowments, as well as managing the sub advisor participation for these funds.

Prior to her current role at Cowen, Francine spent most of her career as an institutional sales trader at Convergex, which was acquired by Cowen in 2017. In addition to the equity trading and relationship management of institutional accounts, she managed a trading unit and led several key firm initiatives. Francine holds several security licenses, and was a member of the Security Traders Association of New York. She supports many Wall Street philanthropic causes.

Among her undergraduate activities at Hofstra, Francine was a founding member of the Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma. She currently resides on Long Island with her husband, two daughters, and spoiled Shih Tzu.

Christopher Douge is an Associate Director at Moody's Analytics -- a leading provider of financial data and analytical software. Christopher has passions in both the private and public sectors, and spends his spare time working closely with youth-based nonprofit organizations like America Needs You and Rising Leaders. As a Brooklyn native and a child of Haitian immigrants, he understands the challenges that first-generation Americans face and wants to be a resource to those in similar situations to help them develop a strong network.

Christopher attended Hofstra University between the years of 2007 and 2011, where he majored in political science and minored in sociology and economics. During his time at Hofstra University, he interned for various community-based organizations and worked closely on the campaign finance team for then Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice. After graduating from Hofstra University, Christopher soon found himself working as a community organizer at New York City's Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), an oversight agency that investigates wrongdoings against NYC police officers. He taught workshops to targeted audiences about their rights and how to properly and legally interact with police officers during altercations (particularly during the time of the controversial "stop and frisk" policy). In the private sector, Christopher worked at a real estate brokerage and a real estate data and analytics firm in various research and analytical roles before joining Moody's Analytics in 2016.

Christopher Douge also holds a master's degree in public policy from Queens College. He is also an avid runner and most recently ran the 50th anniversary of the NYC Marathon.

Evelyn is the Senior Vice President & Chief Clinical Operations Officer at IVERIC Bio Inc. and a member of their Executive Leadership Team. Prior to joining IVERIC Bio (formerly Ophthotech Corporation) in 2007, she was with Eyetech Pharmaceuticals Inc., where she held the positions of Vice President and Senior Vice President of Clinical Research and Development. While at Eyetech, Evelyn played a key role in the development and approval of Macugen (pegaptanib sodium) for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration.

Evelyn has more than 30 years of management, clinical research, and development experience in the biotech industry. Her career started at Hoffmann-LaRoche, where she held several positions in clinical development, and was responsible for the development and implementation of strategic programs for Roche's oncology franchise. Evelyn has worked on all phases of global clinical trials in multiple therapeutic areas such as ophthalmology, bone marrow transplantation, organ transplantation, and virology.

Evelyn holds a BA degree in Biology from Hofstra University and an MBA from Manhattan College.

Michael Hershfield is the SVP of Data Strategy & Insights at Havas Life - a leading creative and marketing agency specializing in the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical space. In his role, Michael is shaping the direction of the agency's data capabilities. His client portfolio includes the world's largest pharmaceutical companies that rely on Michael's expertise to show how brands should be leveraging data to drive creativity and create engaging customer experiences. Prior to this role, Michael led the Data Strategy practice at Ogilvy where he worked to position the company as a leader in the digital marketing space by leveraging data analytics and insights.

Beyond Havas, Michael has been active in the startup space working with multiple companies in the media and gaming industries. Michael currently sits on the board and acts as a strategic advisor to Alpha 212, one of the world's largest Connected TV gaming developers.

Michael received a bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Hofstra University. He is currently active on campus as an advisor to the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, an organization he founded as an undergraduate, and serves on the Dean's Advisory Board for Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He has been recognized as one of the "Top Business Leaders, Under 30" by Westchester Magazine and 914 Inc. for his work. Michael lives in Westchester County, NY with his wife, whom he met at Hofstra, and their daughter.

Jon Kaiman is presently Deputy County Executive of Suffolk County, one of the largest counties by population in the United States serving 1.5 million residents and overseeing a $4 billion annual budget.

He formerly served as the North Hempstead Town Supervisor; Chairman of the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority (NIFA); Administrator and Special Advisor to Governor Cuomo on Superstorm Sandy Relief; and as a Nassau County District Court Judge.

Kaiman is an attorney who lives in Great Neck with his wife Kim and three children. 

Education:
Hofstra University BA
Hofstra Law JD
Harvard University MPA

Larry Keigwin is a native New Yorker, choreographer, and curator who has danced his way from the Metropolitan Opera to Broadway and back. Keigwin is the Artistic Director of KEIGWIN + COMPANY, which is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2023. He has created 30 works for his dance company, in addition to the large-scale community project, Bolero, which has been commissioned in 16 cities nationwide. Commissions include Paul Taylor Dance Company, Royal New Zealand Ballet, The Martha Graham Dance Company, among others. His work in musical theater includes off-Broadway’s Rent, for which he received the 2011 Joe A. Callaway Award. In 2013, Keigwin choreographed Broadway’s If/Then. Throughout 20/21, Keigwin created acclaimed virtual works for The Juilliard School, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Works & Process at the Guggenheim, and more. Keigwin is the Director of Dance and a co-founder of the Green Box Arts Festival in Green Mountain Falls, CO and is also the Dance Editor of ArtDesk magazine. He is on the Board of Hudson River Park Friends and a Trustee of the Kirkpatrick Family Fund. Larry and his husband, Chris Keesee, live on the Upper East Side with their three dogs.

Dr. Michelle Lamendola-Essel is the Director of Clinical Operations for the Clinical Science Core of the RECOVER Initiative, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program created to inform the treatment and prevention of the long-term effects resulting from acute COVID-19 infection. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience and Behavior from Stony Brook University, Master of Science in Biology with a concentration in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Hofstra University, and Doctorate in Global Health from A.T. Still University. Michelle is licensed as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist through the NY State Department of Education and holds Board Certification in Molecular Biology through the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Prior to her current position within the RECOVER Initiative, Michelle has held progressive leadership roles throughout her career including Clinical Research Manager, Senior Project Portfolio Manager and Manager of Laboratory Operations for Molecular Genetics, Genomics and Pathology. With over 16 years experience in leadership, operations, and clinical research, Michelle has had the opportunity to support Phase I-III trials, develop multiple clinical assays for health screening and cancer detection and establish new molecular diagnostic and genomics laboratories across Long Island and Manhattan.

Michelle is an active member of various professional societies, including the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). She also holds a seat on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Research Administration, serves as a reviewer for various scientific journals, and is a member of the ASCP Test Utilization and Implementation Advisory Board. In 2022, Michelle was elected to the ASCP Council of Laboratory Professionals.

Steve Lavner is Senior Vice President of Talent Acquisition for Edelman, a global communications firm. Since 2020, Steve has served as a thought leader and subject matter expert for talent within B2B, DXI (Edelman's Data & Intelligence Group) and Edelman's Technology practice. Currently, he serves as the Head of Talent Acquisition for Edelman Smithfield, Edelman's global financial communications firm.

Steve earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Hofstra University. Immediately after graduation, he joined the off-Broadway cast of Grandma Sylvia's Funeral as Marky Grossman at the Soho Playhouse. He remained in the cast until the show closed in 1998. Through the late '90s into the aughts, Steve formed two bands, Zipthunk! and Lisa Jackson and Girl Friday with fellow Hofstra alum Fred Berman. Lisa Jackson and Girl Friday would tour the states and open for acts such as Pat Benatar, The Psychedelic Furs, and The Motels. After 2 years of auditioning, temp work, and other odd jobs (Bugs Bunny at the 1998 Goodwill Games), Steve began his second career/day job as a researcher for Heidrick & Struggles, a global executive search firm, within its financial service practice. In 2002, he landed the role of LeFou in the Broadway production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

Although his time on Broadway fulfilled a childhood dream, Steve realized he preferred an office to a stage and went full force into the recruitment world. In 2005, he was hired by the executive search firm CTPartners. There, he spent five years serving as a research associate, and later a recruiter on senior-level searches within Retail, Financial Services, Healthcare, and Software. In 2011, he left CTPartners to take on a more senior role at Diversified Search, adding Media, Not-for-Profit, and Higher Education to his experience. In 2014, he was recruited to join MediaLink, a media advisory firm, where he ultimately served as one of two Vice Presidents within its executive search practice. At MediaLink, Steve led senior-level marketing, revenue, and product searches for both Fortune 100 companies and earlier stage startups.

Although Steve is no longer acting, he hasn't given up performing completely. You might catch him playing guitar or piano at your local pub. Steve lives in Massapequa with his wife, Melissa, and their two ginger boys, Sullivan and Paxton.

Jacqueline LiCalzi is a Managing Director, Global Head of Regulatory Relations, and a member of the Firm's Management Committee. She is also the firm's senior point of contact with the Federal Reserve for its supervisory program. She is also Chair of Morgan Stanley's Political Action Committee.

Ms. LiCalzi is the Executive Sponsor of Morgan Stanley's LGBT employee network and is on the Senior Leaders Advisory Council for the Firm's Institute for Inclusion. She was one of the recipients of the Firm's John J. Mack Leadership Award. Ms. LiCalzi was a member of the Executive Committee of SIFMA's Compliance and Legal Society, and co-chair of its Diversity Committee, for a decade. She is also the recipient of SIFMA's inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advocate Award.

Ms. LiCalzi joined Morgan Stanley in 2006 from Credit Suisse where she was the Counsel to the Global Head of Compliance. Prior to that, she was an in-house litigator at UBS Financial Services/PaineWebber, and a Litigation Associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell, following a clerkship for a federal district judge in the Southern District of New York.

Ms. LiCalzi earned her JD from Fordham University School of Law, and a BA from Hofstra University (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Woman of the Year). She is a member of the Board of Directors of TDF (fka Theatre Development Fund), and of the Peconic Land Trust. She is also a member of the Advisory Boards of both Women in Leadership and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for Hofstra.

Endri Mani is the Head of Asset Tokenization and Principal Technologist at RBC Capital Markets. With a strong background in machine learning, Endri has held roles ranging from Quantitative Analyst to Director of Machine Learning & AI. Endri holds a Master of Science in Engineering from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics from Hofstra University.

Steven Markowitz's professional career began in Washington, D.C., as economic advisor and then legislative assistant to Texas Congressman Bob Eckhardt, a leader in the House on consumer protection and environmental issues and a prominent member of the Commerce Committee. In 1973, Steve and his family moved to New York when he became head of government affairs for The Continental Croup, Inc. (formerly the Continental Can Company), a Fortune 100 corporation. During that time, he served on the boards or public affairs committees of many of the leading organizations linking government and business such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Business Roundtable and the Public Affairs Council.

In 1984, he founded MultiState Associates Inc., which has grown to become the nation's largest lobbying company. Steve served as chairman of MultiState Associates until 2013 when he stepped down and became an advisor to the company, retiring in 2019.

When Steve and his family moved to Great Neck in 1975, he immediately became involved in local community, religious, and political affairs. He is one of the longest serving members of the Great Neck Student Aid Fund and a past member of the Executive Committee of the Board of the Gold Coast Arts Center, and was a longtime member of the Board of Zoning Appeals of the Village of Great Neck. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Temple Israel of Great Neck for over 40 years and was temple president from 2001 to 2003. Steve has been the local Democratic Party leader for many years, and served as president of the Great Neck Democratic Club and a vice chairman of the Nassau County Democratic Committee.

Since 2003, a major focus of Steve's community activities has been the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. Founded almost 30 years ago by a small group of Holocaust survivors, the center, located in Glen Cove, has grown to become the major Long Island resource for the teaching of the history and lessons of the Holocaust. After serving on the Board of the center for a number of years, Steve was elected as the third chairman of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in 2012 and served in that role through August 2020. He currently serves on the Long Island boards of the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Community Relations Council.

In recent years Steve has developed a close relationship with Hofstra University where he serves on the Dean's Advisory Board of Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Public Policy and Public Service Programs External Advisory Council. In 2020 he was appointed by the County Executive as Commissioner of the Nassau County Civil Service Commission. More recently he was elected to the Board of the Viscardi Center, a preeminent school and training center for youngsters and adults with disabilities.

Steven Markowitz and his family have lived in Great Neck for 47 years. He attended Stuyvesant High School and did his undergraduate studies at Harpur College (now Binghamton University) and his graduate work in economics at George Washington University.

Steve and Trudy still live in the same home into which they moved in 1975 and are grateful to have their daughters, their sons-in-law, and their four grandchildren relatively close by.

Carlo Massaro earned his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Juris Doctorate from Hofstra University.

He is vice president, legal for PepsiCo's North American Beverages Division, and has held various roles within the law departments of PepsiCo Inc. and its largest bottler, The Pepsi Bottling Group, since 2000. Before joining the Pepsi system, Carlo practiced franchise law at Buchanan Ingersoll, PC in Washington, DC; and as a law student and after graduation, Carlo was a member of the in-house legal department of Sbarro Restaurants in Melville, NY.

In his current position, Carlo manages legal services supporting PepsiCo's U.S. Sales and Commercialization, Franchise, Strategic Alliance, Product Development, and Marketing Teams. He actively serves as a subject matter expert in a matrix organizational structure for the company's beverage distribution and franchise relationships, providing thought leadership and strategic guidance. He has authored and routinely presents live in-person training seminars to various functional teams designed to promote knowledge sharing of non-compete restrictions and minimize barriers to commercializing all new beverage products intended for distribution in the U.S.

From 2011 to 2015, Carlo created and implemented his vision of a law student internship program for the company's law department. The 10-week summer internship program provided first- and second-year law students with a unique mentorship experience and the opportunity to work closely with in-house attorneys in a variety of practice areas.

In addition to serving on the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Advisory Board, Carlo is an active alumnus of Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY, volunteering his time to participate in community volunteer events, present at Junior Career Night and alumni career building events, and provide individual mentoring.

A native of Long Island, Carlo's first language was Italian and he spent most of his childhood summers visiting Italy, including a short period of time when his family moved to Siena.

Kristen Kelley is the national project director for The Rube Goldberg Institute for Innovation and Creativity, a not-for-profit with a focus on STEM and STEAM education. For over 35 years, RGI has been hosting the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. A Rube Goldberg Machine accomplishes a simple task in the most complicated and funniest way possible using repurposed everyday objects and creative problem solving. Her goal is to inspire and enable students from every geographic and economic background to participate in the event. Her role covers all segments of the business; she is the company's social media manager, sales and marketing lead, and special event manager. She has been enjoying learning about engineering and working with students and educators.

Her career began at ViacomCBS after an internship, and she was promptly hired into a full-time position after graduation. MTV Networks was her home for 18 years; the company provided personal and professional opportunities beyond comparison. As the MTVU distribution, marketing and affiliate relation sales manager, Kristen was responsible for the distribution and promotion of MTVU at colleges throughout the United States. MTVU, owned by ViacomCBS, was MTV's college channel broadcasting to nearly 700 schools. She traveled across the country to distribute MTVU programming to campuses, promote music on the channel, and advocate for student involvement with the company. Prior to MTVU, she was the executive assistant to the chairman and CEO of MTV Networks. Working in an environment filled with music, entertainment, influencers, and popular culture allowed for incredible exposure to areas that aligned with her passions.

Kristen graduated from Hofstra University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in English, History, and Psychology. After an inspiring internship, she embarked on a career in the media industry to pursue her passion for music and television. In 2005, she earned a Master of Arts in Media Studies and a Certificate in Media Management from The New School.

She is a founding board member of the ATX Television Festival, a yearly event that celebrates the television medium. She is the co-creator of Super Saturdays, a volunteer program for adult professionals that provides a safe place for New York City children to socialize and learn outside of school hours through the organization of team-building activities focused on music, art, and fitness.

Kristen is passionate about music and traveling the world. She lives in Greenwich, CT, with her husband and two sons and is excited about family adventures that the future holds.

Jacqueline earned her Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Performance from Hofstra University in 2013. After earning her degree, she had the opportunity to travel to Italy and Austria to pursue her craft. Currently, Jacqueline is a full-time realtor on Long Island. This year Jacqueline will be establishing the Daniel L. Murphy Fund for Music Performance at Hofstra University.

Amanda Preston is a trial and appellate lawyer based in the Miami office of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, a global law firm with 45 offices across 20 different countries. Amanda's litigation practice includes the defense and representation of medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers in personal injury and products liability cases. Amanda also maintains an active real estate, construction, and foreclosure practice. Additionally, she represents clients in contract, healthcare, and tortious disputes in both federal and state court. Amanda also maintains an active pro bono practice.

While in law school, Amanda was the executive editor of the University of Miami Inter-American Law Review and was a member of the University of Miami's Moot Court Board. Amanda was also an Intern and Fellow for the University of Miami Investor's Rights Clinic, which provides pro bono legal services to underserved and underrepresented investors in claims before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Amanda also participated in the Legal Services of Greater Miami's Tenants' Rights' Project as a Law Clerk.

While at Hofstra, Amanda majored in Political Science, and graduated with both Departmental and Latin Honors. Her Honors Thesis examined the efficacy of the U.S. War of Drugs using a Jamaican-based drug cartel as a case-study. Amanda was also a Fellow with the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE), organizing several on and off-campus events, and also working as part of the CCE's Grants Committee.

Dina is a native New Yorker and grew up in Elmont (home of the Belmont Stakes!). She started her teaching career on Long Island and in NYC Public Schools. Although she hoped to stay, Atlanta offered her an incredible opportunity she could not turn down. Dina is the Head of the Arts and a Music Teacher in the Secondary School of the Atlanta International School. She oversees a team of 10 Arts Educators, and helps the team to implement the mission and values of the school as well as ensures that the Arts curriculum meets the needs of all students in a community that aspires to develop the strongest 21st Century Learning Skills. Dina coaches the teachers on her team by planning professional development focused on inquiry-based teaching and learning which is at the forefront of the International Baccalaureate curriculum (AIS is a full IB school inclusive of the PYP, MYP and DP programs). Dina also plans and manages the Arts budget to ensure that students have engaging, globally and culturally relevant Arts experiences with the appropriate materials and resources. In addition to this leadership role, Dina teaches General Music to students in grades 6-8 as well as 3 Bands (Beginning, Middle School and High School). Dina's music education philosophy promotes music for all, embracing the unique differences each student brings into her classroom. This often means that her curriculum has momentum and is constantly growing to meet the needs and interests of the students each year.

Dina is passionate about curriculum development for Music and the Arts. Most recently Dina published units for the International Baccalaureate to use for their new MYP Arts guide which is shared with IB teachers all over the world. Dina also trains teachers around the United States and the world as a "Workshop Leader" for the MYP Arts component of the International Baccalaureate program. In 2019, Dina and her colleagues collaborated with Dr. Jennifer Snodgrass at the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University, participating in a study, sharing curriculum and teaching methods for her book, Teaching Music Theory: New Voices and Approaches, which was published in 2020. In 2019, Dina participated on the team that helped to revise the new MYP Arts Guide grading criterion descriptors which influenced the 2022 MYP Arts guide. Highlights of curriculum development experiences for Dina were completing professional development with The Silk Road Ensemble and Yo-Yo Ma through their Arts and Passion-Driven Learning workshop led by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and studying "creativity" with Tina Seelig at the Stanford University D-School, focusing on how creativity makes learning meaningful for all learners.

While at Hofstra, Dina studied Music Education as an undergrad and was actively involved on campus, playing in the Pep Band, being an RA and SRA as well as guiding new students as an Orientation Leader during the summers. As a graduate student, Dina studied Music Education and Wind Conducting and enjoyed staying involved with the campus as a graduate assistant in the Office of Admission where she managed the Pride Guide and tour program. Dina is an active Hofstra Basketball fan (buying the season subscription for tv) and stays involved with the Hofstra in Atlanta Alumni Chapter.

Michelle Sakhai is a contemporary artist who specializes in metal leaf oil paintings. Born in New York, Sakhai began painting at an early age. Her mixed heritage has shaped her as an artist. With both Persian and Japanese roots, her art derives influences from both cultures. Family trips to Japan initially exposed her to metal leaf and inspired her to become a pioneer in this medium.

Sakhai's paintings are exhibited in galleries around the world including Tokyo, Ibiza, Miami, and New York City. Her art remains in collections at the Montefiore Einstein Medical Center, Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, and University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. She recently published her first book titled 'Awakening', a compilation of 200 of her paintings.

Sakhai received her Bachelor's in Art History and Fine Arts from Hofstra University, and currently serves on the advisory board for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She received her Masters in Fine Arts from the Academy of Art University, and has studied internationally including d'Arts Plastique I Disseny (LLOTJA) in Spain. Additionally, she has taught art at the University of California, Berkeley.

Ron Shindel was the Most Outstanding Graduate of his 1996 Hofstra Class earning a BA in Liberal Arts with emphasis in English Literature, German Language, and History. He was graduated Summa Cum Laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He also attended certificate programs at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business; Texas A&M University Engineering Extension Service ("TEEX"); and the United States Army War College.

Ron rose through the ranks of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), is highly decorated, and retired as a Deputy Inspector. His last assignment was commanding officer of a special recovery group at Operation Ground Zero at the World Trade Center. Ron and his group performed duties at Operation Ground Zero for 141 consecutive days after the terrorist attack. He also held prior positions as the commanding officer of the Brooklyn North Task Force and the Mounted Unit (equestrian policing); and as the Executive Officer of the 73rd Precinct (Brownsville, Brooklyn) and the NYPD Police Academy. In the police officer rank, Ron served in the elite NYPD Highway Patrol and was certified as an Accident Investigator (fatal collisions) and a Breathalyzer Technician. He is a member of the NYPD Honor Legion.

Upon retirement, Ron held numerous executive positions, including Senior Vice President at the American Stock Exchange ("AMEX"), where he headed three departments: Security, Property Management, and Business Continuity; Chief Security Officer at the Lefrak Organization, a multi-state real estate owner/developer; and Managing Director at L&L Holding, a Manhattan-based real estate development firm.

Ron returned to law enforcement and is currently an Inspector with the Port Authority Police Department where he has held prior positions as the commanding officer of the police commands at the George Washington Bridge, the World Trade Center and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. He has also been the Executive Officer of Newark Airport, Teterboro Airport, and the New Jersey Marine Terminal. He currently holds the position as commanding officer of the PATH Subway System, a rail transportation system that runs from Newark, New Jersey, to Midtown Manhattan.

Ron is a member of numerous organizations, including Mensa, the New York Athletic Club, Squadron A, Gold's Dragoons, and the Union League Club. He has held numerous leadership positions at the Union League Club, including Chairman of Admissions, Governor on the Board of Governors, and he is currently the Chairman of Military Affairs. He is a United States Air Force veteran and an honorary member of the premier special forces assault helicopter unit--the United States Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), which is also known as the "Night Stalkers."

Ron is married to Sara, a fellow Hofstra alum (BBA and MBA), a former banker, and current attorney and General Counsel of a public company traded on the NASDAQ. Ron and Sara have three children: a daughter studying at Lehigh University, a son studying at Hofstra and also member of the Hofstra Wrestling Team, and a son a senior in high school. Ron and his family live in Nassau County.

Mitch Wexler is a partner with Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP (Fragomen Worldwide), the world's largest immigration service provider. He manages the firm's Los Angeles, Irvine, and San Diego, California offices. He has been practicing employment-based immigration law for 35 years.

Mitch represents employers from startup to Fortune 500 companies in managing their visa/immigration programs and foreign national portfolios. He also has a significant "Provate Client" practice assisting high net worth foreign nationals achieve their U.S. immigration objectives. Mitch is a specialist in immigration and nationality Law, certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization.

Mitch is a longtime member of the firm's national Executive Committee. He is also a frequent lecturer and teaches an annual module on business immigration law at the University of California, Irvine Law School.