Date: Nov 24, 2010

Hofstra University School of Education, Health and Human Services Announces the Opening of the Center for Scholarship, Development and Outreach.

Center will promote scholarship and outreach to schools and communities on Long Island

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY - Hofstra University's School of Education, Health and Human Services is launching the Center for Scholarship, Development and Outreach (CSDO).  Through a collaboration of the faculty at Hofstra, CSDO will serve as a central hub for innovation, scholarly research and technical assistance for school districts, health organizations and community groups.

The Center will foster a commitment to community engagement, and provide resources, training and support to community partners.  The Center will also support faculty research by providing access to essential data, information on local and national trends on the federal, state and local levels and technical assistance in support of grant development.

Just a few of the program initiatives the center hopes to establish immediately include a financial literacy center that will serve as a resource for the local community to engage them in an educational dialogue about financial literacy and provide information and professional development to school districts, students and parents about the mortgage crisis and other personal financial management concerns.  Next Generation Learning (Gates Proposal), another initiative of the center will incorporate intelligent use of technology to develop innovative learning models and individualized education pathways.  A third project, Problem Based Learning in Algebra: Gateway to STEM Careers, seeks to empower mathematical thinking of underserved minority students and to increase their opportunities for STEM careers.

The director of the Center for Scholarship, Development and Outreach, Edward J. Zero brings to this new initiative 37 years of administrative experience, knowledge and experience in project development, an understanding of the needs of Long Island schools, a working knowledge of the New York State Education Department and a track record of success in building collaborative relationships.  He comes to Hofstra after having served as district superintendent/executive officer of Eastern Suffolk BOCES.

 "Education, health and human services are necessarily bound to each other if a community is to grow and flourish," said Zero.  "However, all too often in academia health and education are considered separate disciplines with separate goals and programs. The new Center aims to encourage a local, regional and national dialogue on how schools, health organizations and human services can work together in support of learning, wellness and life skills." 

The Center for Scholarship, Development and Outreach is housed in Hagedorn Hall, home of the School of Education, Health and Human Services.  For more information about the center, visit www.hofstra.edu/CSDO or contact Edward J. Zero at 516-463-7341 or edward.j.zero@hofstra.edu

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution of higher education where more than 12,000 full and part-time students choose from undergraduate and graduate offerings in liberal arts and sciences, business, engineering, communication, education, health and human services, honors studies, a School of Law and the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine.  With a small average class size (22 students) and low student-teacher ratio (14-1), the University also provides excellent facilities with state-of-the-art technology, extensive library resources and internship programs that match students' interests and abilities with appropriate companies and organizations.  The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.  Located in Nassau County, New York, on over 240 acres, the University is less than an hour from midtown Manhattan.

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