HOFSTRA COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

Mark Bibi is a retired lawyer who practiced corporate law for almost 40 years. He began his career as a mergers & acquisitions attorney at the NYC law firms of Sullivan & Cromwell and Schulte Roth & Zabel, after which he served as General Counsel of several life sciences companies including Inotiv, Envigo, Life Sciences Research and Unilab.

Mark graduated from Hofstra as a history major in 1980 Magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa and from Columbia law school in 1985. He is a former chair of the HCLAS Dean’s Advisory Board and has established three endowed scholarships at Hofstra. Mark lives with his wife in Manhattan.

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.

Julie Booth is a senior marketing and strategy executive with more than 20 years of experience across financial services, media, entertainment, and cultural institutions. She has held leadership roles at Citi, SiriusXM, CBS, AMC Networks, Billboard, Current TV and Nine West Group, where she led brand, content, and social media strategies that drove revenue, audience growth, cultural relevance, and long-term brand equity.

Throughout her career, Julie has built ground-up marketing and communication programs, partnered closely with creators, talent, and cross-functional teams, and translated complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives rooted in storytelling and the arts. Her experience spans regulated financial institutions, media networks, and mission-driven organizations, giving her a unique perspective on leadership, creativity, and strategic growth.

A graduate of Hofstra with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Literature, Julie is honored to serve as an Advisory Board member to support Hofstra’s continued commitment in education, innovation, and creative excellence.

Calandra Y. Branch, MBA, FACHE is a Senior Director of Network Operations at the Mount Sinai Health System. An advocate for mentoring, she is part of several mentoring programs within the Mount Sinai System, and 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 former President of the Black/Hispanic Alumni Association, member of the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing Advisory Board, member of the School of Health Sciences 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, and a member of Healthcare Leaders of New York.

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

As EVP of Creative Music Strategy at Paramount. Anita Chinkes Ratner oversees music for the Paramount cable brands and streaming services including BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV and Paramount+. She is the lead creative executive for original score and songs, for music releases and soundtracks, for the hiring of composers and music supervisors and for in-house music supervision. Anita also leads Paramount’s music publishing businesses and music services across cable, streaming and CBS.

She has successfully leveraged her distinctive blend of creative, business, and operational vision to execute unique creative, build great teams, boost revenue and innovate business opportunities for Paramount. Anita is passionate in her efforts to increase authenticity in the music created for Paramount content and is committed to supporting the next generations looking to launch their careers in film and tv music. She is the founder of MTV Entertainment Group’s First Time Composers program, which provides music creators of all backgrounds access to resources, education, and industry connections.

Prior to Paramount, Anita was a freelance Music Supervisor and Music Consultant on numerous film, tv and artist projects. She proudly serves on the HCLAS Dean’s Advisory Board and on the Advisory Council for Hofstra’s Music Business program. Anita received a BA in Sociology from Hofstra University. Discovering music artists, new and old, is one of the things that she enjoys most about her role.

Justin leads Gecko’s expansion efforts in the Middle East and North Africa. Prior to joining Gecko, Justin was the Global Head of Sales at Authentic8, where he oversaw 600% growth during his tenure. Justin is a seasoned executive with a proven track record of bringing exceptional growth and solving an organization’s hardest problems. Having overseen holistic go-to market teams inclusive of Sales Development, Sales, Success, Support, Deployment and Government Relations, Justin brings exceptional leadership to the Gecko Team. Justin holds a bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University in New York and a Master’s Degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

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.

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 35 year career on Wall Street with Execution Services Inc. (ESI).

Currently a managing director at TD Cowen, 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, Francine spent most of her career as an institutional sales trader at Convergex, which was acquired 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 securities 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, their mini Bernadoodle and has two young adult daughters.

Christopher Douge is a 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 President of the New York State Tax Appeals Tribunal serving as one of the three Tax Appeals Tribunal Commissioners based out of Albany, New York. As President of the Tribunal, he oversees the administration of the NYS Division of Tax Appeals as well. Kaiman was appointed by Governor Hochul and confirmed by the NYS State Senate in June of 2024. Kaiman recently concluded a seven-year stint as 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.

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. Ms. LiCalzi leads the day to day activities of the Enterprise Regulatory Oversight Committee and is a member of the Firm’s Risk Committee and Global Franchise Committee. Also reporting into Ms. LiCalzi are the Global Conflicts Office, Environmental and Social Risk Management, and the New Product Approval Process. Further, she is 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 is a recipient of the Firm’s John J. Mack Leadership Award. Ms. LiCalzi is also on the Board of Directors of SIFMA and Chair of its Legal & Compliance Committee; she previously was a decade-long member of the Executive Committee of SIFMA’s Compliance and Legal Society, and co-chair of its Diversity Committee. She is 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 at Hofstra for both Women in Leadership and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and a recipient of Hofstra’s Alumni Achievement Award.

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.

Over the 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 and in 2021 he was elected to the Board of the Viscardi Center, a preeminent school and training center for youngsters and adults with disabilities. More recently he was elected to the Board of the Long Island Children’s Museum.

Steven Markowitz 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.

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 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.

Patrick McHugh has more than 15 years of experience working on campaigns at all levels of the ballot. He is a co-founder and partner of Gambit Strategies, a digital advertising firm that specializes in persuading and mobilizing voters for Democratic campaigns and progressive organizations.

Previously, McHugh served as the executive director of Priorities USA, the leading super PAC (Political Action Committee) supporting former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, where he spearheaded the largest independent effort to win the White House. During the critical 2020 and 2018 election cycles, he led and championed Priorities USA’s innovative digital persuasion and mobilization programs that were the largest of any outside group in both parties since 2016. Under McHugh’s leadership, Priorities ran digital advertising programs in nearly 70 U.S. House, Senate, gubernatorial, and state legislative races, helping to win the majority in the House, flipping critical U.S. Senate seats, and taking back the governors’ mansions in several states.

Prior to leading Priorities USA, McHugh held senior roles at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and, the Democratic National Committee (DNC), as well as several campaigns. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hofstra University in 2006.

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. In 2022 Jacqueline established The Daniel L. Murphy Fund for Music Performance at Hofstra University.

Lourdes Paredes is the Chief AML Officer for the Wealth Management Division USA at UBS. In her role, she is responsible for providing subject matter advice and overall program oversight of the wealth management controls required to comply with local and global anti-money laundering laws and regulations. In addition, her team provides advice to the business with regard to potential financial crimes risk, which could be in connection with a customer or potential transaction. Lourdes leads an industry-leading team of financial crimes regulatory risk advisors, analysts, and other professionals who manage these programs and key initiatives across the Wealth Management lines of business.

Lourdes has over 23 years of international banking and legal experience. Prior to joining UBS in January 2019, she was a Managing Director and Head of Wholesale Financial Crimes Risk and Controls at Wells Fargo. Lourdes was also a Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer for Citibank’s Global AML Compliance division, and spent 14 years at Credit Suisse as Director and Head of Americas AML Compliance/Global AML Risk & Controls.

Lourdes holds a JD from New York Law School in New York City and a BA from Hofstra University on Long Island. She is a member of the SIFMA AML Committee. Lourdes and her family currently reside on Long Island.

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.

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.

Steve Salbu joined Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business in July 2006 as dean and the Stephen P. Zelnak chairholder, positions he held until July 2014. During his tenure as dean, numerous advancements were made, including substantial faculty growth; the endowment of numerous faculty chairs, professorships, scholarships, and fellowships; and the naming gift branding Scheller College.

After eight years as dean, Salbu elected to return to his research and focus on leading the Cecil B. Day Program in Business Ethics.

Prior to joining Scheller College, Salbu served as associate dean for graduate programs at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. He joined that school in 1990 and was named its Bobbie and Coulter R. Sublett Centennial Endowed Professor in 2000. He also served as director of the McCombs School Business Ethics Program and editor in chief of the American Business Law Journal.

Previously an editorial board member of Business Ethics Quarterly, Salbu has published extensively in the areas of business ethics and law. His articles have appeared in such journals as the American Business Law Journal, Business Ethics Quarterly, Business and Society Review, Boston University Law Review, Case Western Reserve Law Review, Chicago Journal of International Law, Columbia Business Law Review, Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, Cornell International Law Journal, Florida Law Review, Harvard Journal of Law and Technology, Harvard Journal on Legislation, Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, Hastings Law Journal, Indiana Law Journal, Journal of Business Ethics, Law and Policy in International Business, Michigan Journal of International Law, Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business, Rutgers Law Review, Securities Law Review, Tulane Law Review, University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Business Law, Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, Washington Law Review, Washington University Law Quarterly, Washington and Lee Law Review, Yale Journal on Regulation, and Yale Journal of International Law.

Salbu has served as a visiting professor at several US business schools, including the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, and Indiana University. He has also taught extensively at international business schools and law schools, including London Business School, Rotterdam School of Management, IMADEC University in Vienna, the University of Edinburgh (joint business law program with the University of Texas), ITESM in Mexico City (joint EMBA program with the University of Texas), the University of Melbourne Law School (as honorary senior fellow), Copenhagen Business School, INCAE in Costa Rica, Helsinki School of Economics, Instituto de Empresa in Madrid, and the Melbourne Business School (as the inaugural Gourlay Visiting Endowed Professor of Business Ethics). In addition, Salbu has acted as a business consultant since the 1980s, working with many clients in a variety of areas, including business ethics, strategy, regulatory issues, medical ethics, and FDA regulatory policy.

A native of New York, Salbu holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hofstra University, a master’s degree in liberal studies from Dartmouth College, a law degree from the College of William and Mary, and master’s and doctoral degrees from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (organization and strategy). In 2014, Steve returned to the Scheller faculty as a full-time professor to focus on teaching, research and to head the Cecil B. Day Program for Business Ethics.

Kerry Sette, Vice President and Head of Consumer Insights & Research at Voya Financial, has significantly advanced the company’s strategic research since 2016. She oversees brand health, advertising communications, business strategy, product, thought leadership and customer experience research across all business lines and enterprise functions, enhancing engagement with stakeholders and optimizing go-to-market strategies.  Previously, Sette was the Executive Vice President and Group Research Director at Ogilvy (WPP), where she led North America’s global research practice, managing a diverse team of researchers and analysts spearheading initiatives like global brand architecture, brand equity and crisis management for Fortune 100 clients. At Hill Holliday (IPG), she directed agency research with a large team of analysts, researchers and brand planners that fueled award-winning marketing campaigns and major client initiatives, including the development of nationwide Verizon experience stores and multi-year sports sponsorships. Her research insights also led to the launch of groundbreaking products like the Merrill Edge retail investment product and the creation of campaigns such as “Working Wealth” for Smith Barney which spurred new conversations around “mass affluence.” Her innovative approach also led to the development of a proprietary agency tool, enhancing IPG’s competitive edge and winning new accounts across agencies. Earlier, as a Global Research Manager at an international consulting firm, Sette conducted and moderated research in over 20 countries, identifying opportunities that shaped strategic global acquisitions, brand promise, marketing / product strategies and diversity / employee engagement programs for Fortune 100 companies. She began her career at Young & Rubicam (WPP) as a Global Brand Research Supervisor, coordinating the world’s largest global brand study (BAV) in over 40 countries and adapting the model for new markets and product categories which were instrumental in building customer loyalty and winning new business.

A recognized speaker on consumer trends, innovation and diversity, Sette has been featured in forums like the DCIIA Academic Forum, EBRI and ESOMAR, with her insights published in Ad Age, Forbes, WSJ, NYT, Bloomberg Businessweek (globally) to name a few. She serves on the board of the National Down Syndrome Society and Hofstra University’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board. Sette holds a BA in Psychology from the State University of New York (Albany) and a Master of Arts in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Hofstra University, graduating with High Distinction.

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”); the United States Army War College National Security Seminar; and the Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Ron is a Deputy Chief of the Port Authority Police Department (“PAPD”) and the Commanding Officer of the police operations overseeing subordinate commanders of the PATH Subway System between New Jersey and New York; the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan; and the World Trade Center Campus.  He also serves with the United States Army as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (“SECARMY”) for New York (South) and in this position he is a bridge between the Army and the community in support of the goals and policies set forth by the SECARMY.

Ron holds board positions as director on the board of the Catholic Health System of Long Island and advisor for the United War Veterans Council, which supports war veterans and produces the annual New York City Veterans Day Parade.

Earlier in his career, Ron rose through the ranks of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) 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 that was assigned at the recovery site for 141 consecutive days after the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001.

In the years between serving with the NYPD and the PAPD, 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 is a member of numerous organizations, including Mensa; the New York Athletic Club; Squadron A; Gold’s Dragoons; and the Union League Club where he has held numerous leadership positions including Chairman of Admissions, Governor on the Board of Governors, and is the current Chairman of Military Affairs.

Ron is a United States Air Force/New York Air National Guard 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), an attorney and General Counsel of a public company traded on the NASDAQ.  Ron and Sara are the parents of three adult children: a daughter who graduated from Lehigh University and is currently enrolled in the MBA program at Hofstra; a son in his senior year at Hofstra and a member of the Hofstra Wrestling Team; and a son in his sophomore year at Bucknell University and a member of the Bucknell Wrestling Team.  Ron and his family reside 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 “Private 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.