MIDDLE STATES COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION

COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS

Hofstra University’s Self-Study is guided by a university-wide organizational structure designed to support inclusive, mission-centered inquiry and alignment with Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) expectations. Reflecting the priorities of Hofstra 100, this structure brings together more than 70 academic, administrative, and student support leaders from across the institution. The Steering Committee and Working Groups are intentionally composed to ensure broad representation, clear coordination, and effective use of evidence throughout the Self-Study process.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee provides overall leadership for the Self-Study by coordinating the work of the Working Groups, ensuring analytical rigor and evidence-based inquiry, supporting group effectiveness, and aligning the Self-Study with institutional priorities.

Co-Chairs

Eva Badowska, Dean, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Co-Chair
Comila Shahani-Denning, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Co-Chair

Members

Elfreda V. Blue, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs
Cornell Craig, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
Jessica Eads, Senior Vice President for Student Enrollment, Engagement, and Success
Christopher H. Eliot, President of University Senate
Paul Fritz, Speaker of the Faculty
Linda Galler, Max Schmertz Distinguished Professor of Law
Amir Gandomi, Associate Professor of Information Systems and Business Analytics, Frank G. Zarb School of Business
Mitchell S. Kase, Executive Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Assessment
Jacklyn Kuehn, Senior Associate Dean, School of Health Sciences
Lorrie McAllister, Dean, Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library
Jonathan Miles-Watson, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Professional Programs
Tim Murray, Associate Director, Physical Plant
Jean Peden Christodoulou, Vice President & Chief of Staff
Mark Pelham, Director of Institutional Research, Institutional Research & Strategic Analysis
Sina Rabbany, Dean, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
Lisa M. Rosen, Senior Associate Provost, Institutional Research & Strategic Analysis
Grant Saff, Chair, Chairs Caucus
Suzanne Shane, Deputy General Counsel
S. Stavros Valenti, Vice Provost for Accreditation and Assessment, ALO
Kathleen A. Wallace, Chair of University Senate Planning and Budget Committee
Chanda Washington, Associate to the President for Government and Community Affairs
Jesse Webster, Chief Information Officer for Information Technology Services

Working Groups

Each Working Group is organized around one MSCHE Standard (I–VII), consistent with Hofstra’s choice of a Standards-Based Approach. This structure ensures comprehensive institutional assessment and supports clear alignment with existing policies, practices, and data systems.

Each Working Group has developed broad, analytical Lines of Inquiry that tie the assigned Standard to Hofstra’s institutional priorities (interdisciplinarity, student success, organizational agility, and community engagement).

Co-Chairs

Amir Gandomi, Associate Professor of Information Systems and Business Analytics, Zarb
Chanda Washington, Associate to the President for Government and Community Affairs

Members

Cornell Craig, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
Linda Galler, Max Schmertz Distinguished Professor of Law
Jacklyn Kuehn, Senior Associate Dean, School of Health Sciences
Tim Murray, Associate Director, Physical Plant
Mark Pelham, Director of Institutional Research, Institutional Research & Strategic Analysis
Sina Rabbany, Dean, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
Grant Saff, Chair, Chairs Caucus
Suzanne Shane, Deputy General Counsel

Co-Chairs

Paul Fritz, Speaker of the Faculty
Jesse Webster, Chief Information Officer for Information Technology Services

Members

Chermele Christy, Dean of Students
Terry Coniglio, Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Warren Frisina, Dean, Rabinowitz Honors College
Ibraheem Karaye, Associate Professor of Population Health, School of Health Sciences
Kevin Nolan, Professor of Psychology, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Suzanne Shane, Deputy General Counsel

Co-Chairs

Elfreda V. Blue, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs
Jonathan Miles-Watson, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Professional Programs

Members

Meshack Achore, Assistant Professor, Department of Population Health, School of Health Sciences
William Caniano, Associate Professor, Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library
Christopher Dippel, Associate Professor, Department of Drama and Dance, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
George Giuliani, Chair, Dept of Specialized Programs in Education, School of Education
Thomas Jennings, Education Technology
Dominique Outlaw, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, Frank G. Zarb School of Business
Richard Puerzer, Chair, Engineering, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
Roosevelt Smith, Dean, New Opportunities at Hofstra Scholars Program
Kristin Weingartner, Vice Dean for Strategic Initiatives, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Co-Chairs

Jessica Eads, Senior Vice President for Student Enrollment, Engagement, and Success
Lorrie McAllister, Dean, Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library

Members

Sharmeen Ahmed, Associate Dean of Students Monica Florio, Dean of Graduate Admission
Elisabeth Ploran, Associate Dean, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Brittany Rhoden, Title IX Coordinator for Student Issues
Steve Richman, Associate Vice President, Student Health, Wellbeing & Campus Support Services
Russ Smith, Senior Assistant Dean of Students and Director of First Gen Student Support and Engagement
Student Representative selected by the Student Government Association

Co-Chairs

Mitchell S. Kase, Executive Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Assessment
S. Stavros Valenti, Vice Provost for Accreditation and Assessment, ALO

Members

Deandria Allen, Coordinator of Outcomes Assessment and Affiliations, School of Health Sciences
Bret Bennington, Chair, General Education Outcomes Assessment Task Force, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Steven Costenoble, Senior Associate Dean, Academic Planning & Program Evaluation, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Amy Filadelfo, Analyst, Accreditation & Outcomes Assessment, Office of the Provost
Jennifer Kamph, Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Institutional Research & Strategic Analysis
Yi Chin Lin, Associate Professor, Info. Systems & Business Analytics, Frank G. Zarb School of Business
Carina Loscalzo, Vice Dean of the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies
Ariana Murphy, Assistant Dean for Accreditation and Assessment, School of Education
Mario Murillo, Vice Dean, Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
Ashira Ostrow, Professor of Law and Executive Director of The Wilbur F. Breslin Center for Real Estate Studies, Maurice A. Deane School of Law
Tomeka Robinson, Senior Associate Dean, Rabinowitz Honors College
Joanne Wiley, Chair of Science Education, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine

Co-Chairs

Lisa M. Rosen, Senior Associate Provost, Institutional Research & Strategic Analysis
Kathleen A. Wallace, Chair of Planning and Budget

Members

Rich Apollo, Vice Provost for Budget & Administration
Colleen Fitzgerald, Senior Vice Provost for Research and Creative Activities
Sally Glasser, Professor, Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library
Corinne Kyriacou, Vice Dean, School of Health Sciences
Christina Lacey, Chair, Physics and Astronomy, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Janet Lenaghan, Dean, Frank G. Zarb School of Business
David Malanga, University Budget Director
Tim Murray, Associate Director, Physical Plant
Nilla Park, Associate Dean, Financial Planning & Administration, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Jesse Webster, Chief Information Officer

Co-Chairs

Christopher H. Eliot, President of University Senate
Jean Peden Christodoulou, Vice President & Chief of Staff

Members

Meena Bose, Executive Dean for Public Policy & Public Service Programs, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Susan Catalano, Member, Board of Trustees
Denise Cunningham, Vice President for Human Resources & Chief Human Resources Officer
Jason King, Senior Vice President, Legal Affairs and General Counsel
Will Nirode, Professor of Chemistry, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Sev Randazzo, Assistant Dean of Students and Executive Director, Student Leadership & Engagement
Karyn Valerius, Associate Professor, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
SGA President (Currently Evelyn Quail), Student Government Association

Evidence Inventory Committee

This committee is designed to support all other Working Groups and be agile and highly focused on coordination and data management. The committee membership consists of three members, two Co-Chairs and one additional group member, and will report directly to the Self-Study Co-Chairs. This structure ensures streamlined decision-making and clear lines of accountability regarding the management of the University’s data assets.

Co-Chairs

Jacklyn Kuehn, Senior Associate Dean, School of Health Sciences
Mark Pelham, Director of Institutional Research, Institutional Research & Strategic Analysis

Member

S. Stavros Valenti, Vice Provost for Accreditation and Assessment, ALO