Class Notes

Summer 2007

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| 1949 - 1969 | 1970 - 1979 | 1980 - 1989 | 1990 - 1999 | 2000 - Present | New Arrivals/Marriages | In Memoriam |

2000

Adam Bernard (B.A.) of Fairfield, CT, is currently a celebrity journalist who was featured as one of four speakers at Hofstra’s Pulse Magazine launch party in spring 2006. He has placed 35 articles in more than half a dozen major magazines, including XXL, Soak, Foam, Elemental, metro.pop, Death and Taxes, and Beyond Race...Craig “Speedy” Claxton (B.A.) of Hempstead, NY, agreed to a contract with the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. Last season he played for the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets and finished second in voting for the league’s “Sixth Man Award”...John Davi (B.B.A.) of Whitestone, NY, is currently a senior member of Merrill Lynch’s global equitylinked strategy group. He focuses on equity-linked products, including futures, options, exchange traded funds, indexation, portfolio/algorithmic trading, and structured products...Tara (B.B.A.) and Thomas Edwards (B.B.A.) of Raleigh, NC, bought their first house, a beautiful four-bedroom home in Wakefield Plantation, North Carolina...Claudia Gabel (M.A.) of New York, NY, recently published her first novel, In or Out, a series for teens published in conjunction with Scholastic, Inc...Samantha Simone (B.A., M.S.Ed. ’04) of Garden City, NY, and Hasan Ibrahim were married on June 30. Samantha is a second grade teacher at Public School 19 in Manhattan...Bram Weber (J.D.) of New York, NY, was recently named a recipient of Long Island Business News’ 40 Under 40 Award. He is a partner at Weber Law Group LLP...

2001

Thomas Albano, Jr. (B.B.A.) of Seaford, NY, and Maria Mascitti were married on June 24, 2006. Thomas was promoted to audit manager at KPMG LLP in Melville, NY...Siela Bynoe (B.A.) of Westbury, NY, is the new executive director at the Huntington Housing Authority (HHA), which is an independent public corporation established by state law to provide federally financed public housing for low-income residents in Huntington...Steven Cisternas (B.A.) of Staten Island, NY, graduated from Howard University College of Dentistry in May 2006 with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). He is completing a one year residency in general dentistry at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in Bronx, NY...Danielle Dellilo (B.A.) of Franklin Square, NY, is currently the assistant dean of admission at Hofstra University for the NJ and PA territories, and is continuously involved with the ALS Association as the entertainment chair for the Long Island Walk to D’Feet ALS. She is also the MC of Hofstra’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball and is one of the main DJs for Radio Disney NY. She became engaged to Luigi Berardi in February 2007... Ryan Griffiths (B.A.) of Suffern, NY, recently became engaged to Cpt. Philip J. Grosso of the Pershing Rifles, Class of 2000...Joyce Guirand (B.A.) of Briarwood, NY, is a recent graduate of the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is currently a medical resident in the Class of 2009 at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine/Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program in Queens, New York...Thalia Latouche (B.S.) and Stephen Gooden (M.A.) of Pine Hill, NJ, were married in Freeport, NY, on June 10, 2006. Thalia is a Class of 2008 D.O. candidate at UMDNJ – School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, NJ, and Stephen is an account manager at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA... Lauren Ruderman (B.A.) of Great Neck, NY, was married on November 19, 2006...Alison Saylor (B.B.A.) of Collegeville, PA, married Jason Saylor in May 2005, and they recently purchased a house...

2002

Paul Antonik (B.A.) of Greenwich, CT, competed in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston in October, which is the world’s largest two-day rowing event. He competes with the New York Athletic Club and won a national championship in 2004 in a double scull. He added his second national title in 2005 as part of an intermediate eight-man team. Paul is trying to secure funding from sponsors so that he will eventually be able to train full time...Louise Gehres (B.A.) of Scottsdale, AZ, relocated to Scottsdale in late 2005 and is working as a real estate paralegal specializing in both residential and commercial developments in the Phoenix metropolitan area...Jed Morey (M.B.A.) of Glen Cove, NY, received the 2006 Hofstra University Young Alumnus Award, given to alumni who, within 10 years of graduation from the University, have significant accomplishments in their professional life or rendered distinguished service to the University. Jed is currently chief operating officer of The Morey Organization and oversees the financial health and growth strategy of the entire company...Carlos Perez (M.S.) of Lake Ronkonkoma, NY, has been a teacher in the Uniondale schools for the past five years and has also been the assistant music director at Madison Square Garden for the past seven years. Carlos was married in October 2005...Ayumu Shimada (B.S.) of San Salvador, El Salvador, was assigned to El Salvador after applying to the Japanese equivalent of the U.S. Peace Corps, called the Japanese Overseas Cooperation. He is currently a video production instructor at a local NGO...

2003

Christopher Arena (B.S.) of Somerset, NJ, has joined the U.S. Marine Corps and is a planner for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) Command Element. He returned to the United States in May 2006 after being deployed to the Middle East and is currently stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He plans to pursue an M.A. in international relations and a J.D. in May 2008...Hana Dandona (B.S.) of North Babylon, NY, is a physician’s assistant in an OB/GYN practice. She married Christopher Dandona in July 2006...David Miller (B.A.) of Montville, NJ, is pursuing a master’s degree in education at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is planning a July 2007 wedding with Tara Lynn Wozniak...Bahiya Muhammad (B.B.A.) of Jamaica, NY, was married on February 19, 2005, and has a beautiful baby girl, Maisah Badiya, who was born on January 26, 2006. Bahiya has started her own business, New Essence Insurance Brokerage, LLC...Tracy Nemiroff (B.B.A.) of Basking Ridge, NJ, recently earned a Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law in Hamden, CT...Sam Saltzman (B.A.) of Chicago, IL, is recording an album in Atlanta and will be joining the band Jackson Sneed...Bryan Vetell (B.A.) of Brooklyn, NY, is a professional fighter in the International Fight League (IFL), which consists of a mixture of wrestling, Brazilian wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu...Matt Wyman (B.A.) of Hoboken, NJ, and Wien Lou were married on September 18, 2006. They met during Matt’s travels abroad through work...Andrea Zullo (B.A.) of Alexandria, VA, is a senior paralegal in a Washington, D.C., law firm that represents building owners who preserve Section 8 housing with HUD. She became engaged in July 2006 to Anthony Annibale and plans to be married in October 2007 in New York...

2004

Katie DiPerrio (B.A) and Justin Bloom (B.B.A) of Norwalk, CT, were married on June 25...Fran Kalafer (honorary alumna) of Hicksville, NY, has retired as the Hofstra Volleyball head coach after 25 years with the Pride... Tara Payne (B.B.A.) of Rockville, MD, graduated from the University of Maryland College Park with a master of education degree in May 2006. She now teaches pre-algebra in Montgomery County, MD...Alisa Ann Ricciardi (B.A.) of Searingtown, NY, and current Hofstra Professor of Sociology Daniel John Boudon were recently engaged and celebrated a June 2, 2007, wedding... Gordon Tepper (M.S.Ed.) of Long Beach, NY, was named public relations coordinator for Marcum & Kliegman LLP...Ajaya Williams (B.S.) of Brooklyn, NY, completed a master’s degree in sports management at Florida State University. She recently obtained an assistant athletic training position at Columbia University, working with women’s field hockey as well as the men and women’s tennis teams...

2005

Kassel Coover (B.A.) of Berwyn, PA, recently moved to Pennsylvania with her husband and currently works for the National Board of Medical Examiners in Philadelphia... Heather Dunham (M.B.A.) of Alexandria, VA, currently works for the federal government within the Department of Agriculture as an IT specialist for the food safety inspection service agency...Nicholas Fevola (B.A.) of New Hyde Park, NY, has been named a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholar. He will be studying at the University of Southern California...Carolyn Kurek (B.A.) of Wantagh, NY, is employed at Hachette Book Group in Manhattan as the assistant to the executive managing editor...Carinne Marino (B.B.A.) of Moriches, NY, has been working for the New York Jets for more than a year, and recently received a promotion to benefits and insurance coordinator. She is in charge of all human resource material for staff and players, and is responsible for processing player contracts...JoAnne Pitter (B.B.A.) of Warren, NJ, is currently working for Lehman Brothers in New York, NY, as an analyst...Philip Pretto (B.B.A) of Glen Cove, NY, is working for EKN Financial Services Inc. as a Series 7 and Series 63 licensed account executive...Jamie Stone (B.A.) of New York, NY, has been named account executive at RPR Marketing Communications, a public relations firm specializing in skin care and beauty...

2006

Brian Barry (M.A.) of Franklin Square, NY, is currently enrolled in his second master’s program at Hofstra University for the Master of Science in creative art therapy in the School of Education and Allied Human Services. He has also continued working in the movie industry since making his debut on “XFiles” in 1996 and has just finished shooting “I am Legend” with Will Smith, where he was featured as an evacuee. Brian is the executive director of the Luna School of Music/Long Island Creative Art Therapy Center in West Hempstead, New York...Gary Barth of Oyster Bay Cove, NY, received the 2006 Hofstra University Honorary Alumni Award in recognition of outstanding service to the University or Alumni Organization. He is currently a principal at the Greenwich Group, a boutique real estate investment bank...Nathifa Blanchfield (B.B.A.) of Bay Shore, NY, had her third child on July 2, 2006... Marques Colston (B.A.) of Harrisburg, PA, was chosen in the seventh round of the NFL draft to play with the New Orleans Saints. He led all rookies in receiving yards (1,038) and receiving touchdowns (eight)...Christopher De Bono (B.A.) of Washington, D.C., is currently pursuing a J.D. at George Washington Law School...Adrian Gauci (M.B.A.) of East Meadow, NY, was the first graduate from Hofstra University to be awarded the Frank G. Zarb International Business Scholarship in 2004, and recently earned an M.B.A. with distinction from Hofstra...Ayodele Ifebuzo (M.S.Ed.) of Far Rockaway, NY, started a new job with the New York State Pilgrim Psychiatric Center as a rehabilitation counselor... Jeff Kuprycz (B.A.) of Warren, MA, was recently named the newest technical director of BreakThru Radio (BTR), the Internet’s voice of the world’s best independent music...Joseph D. Monticciolo received the 2006 Hofstra University Honorary Alumni Award in recognition of outstanding service to the University or Alumni Organization. He retired from the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) as regional administrator/regional housing commissioner for its Region II, after having held various positions within the agency...Richard Pagliaro (B.A.) of Hazlet, NJ, was offered a job teaching 7th and 8th grade mathematics in March 2006 prior to graduation. He accepted this position and is currently teaching in Marlboro, NJ...Jordan Rao (M.B.A.) of Boca Raton, FL, recently joined Merrill Lynch as a financial adviser working with pro athletes, physicians and high net worth clients...John Spatola (B.B.A.) of New York, NY, is working in the equities division of Goldman Sachs in New York City...Tara Spencer (B.S.) of Massapequa, NY, is currently attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice, pursuing an M.S. in forensic science. She is also working at John Jay as an adjunct professor...Alexandra Stampoulis (B.S.Ed.) of North Babylon, NY, became engaged to Christopher Gogas in October...Jordan Wicker (B.S.) of Roslyn, NY, is a full-time student at New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY. He plans to graduate in 2010... Xue Yuan (M.S.Ed.) of Zibo City, China, currently runs a business in education consulting and plans to introduce more philosophies and theories in elementary education to Chinese education reform...

2007

Matthew Lorner (B.B.A.) of Malverne, NY, recently started his job at Northwestern Mutual in Commack and is trying to build his business...

| 1949 - 1969 | 1970 - 1979 | 1980 - 1989 | 1990 - 1999 | 2000 - Present | New Arrivals/Marriages | In Memoriam |