New Environmental Studies Major Offered

Beginning in fall 2022, 蘑菇APP will offer a new Environmental Studies major.聽 Environmental studies is a growing field with many job opportunities.

Regina Alvarez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology, said that students can opt for one of two tracks 鈥� a science track or a general track.  鈥淪tudents who do the science track can go to graduate school, can do research, or they can get technical jobs in the environmental field,鈥� she said.  Students who take the general track would be more interested in working with government policies, or being an environmental consultant, an activist, a lobbyist, or an educator. 

Students in both tracks will earn a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies degree. 聽For more information about the Environmental Studies program, click here.

July 28, 2022

President Zelenskyy Awarded Honorary Degree at Commencement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zekenskyy was awarded an honorary degree in absentia during the 68th Dominican College Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 15.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was awarded an honorary degree in absentia during the 68th Dominican College Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 15.聽 Dominican College is among about 30 colleges and universities throughout the United States conferring on Zelenskyy an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in recognition of his extraordinary leadership, courage, sense of justice, and his willingness to possibly lose his life in the effort to defend freedom.聽

鈥淧resident Zelenskyy has displayed such inspiring and courageous leadership in the face of unimaginable horror, as Russia launches a relentless and unprovoked attack against his country.  He has risen to the challenge and has been the right leader for this moment in history,鈥� said Dominican College President Sr. Mary Eileen O鈥橞rien, O.P., Ph.D. 鈥淏ecause of this, Dominican College is among the institutions of higher learning recognizing the exceptional dedication of President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people by awarding him an honorary degree.鈥�

The Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate of Sloatsburg, who are members of a congregation founded in 1892 in Zhuzel, Ukraine, will also be honored at the Commencement.  Since the Russian attack on Ukraine, the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in the United States have been raising money and sending medical supplies to members of the congregation located in Ukraine and Poland to help the Ukrainian people.  Dominican College will recognize the admirable service of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Sloatsburg by awarding them the 2022 Veritas Medal.   

May 9, 2022

United Nations Official Delivers Commencement Address

Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee delivered the Commencement Address at Dominican College’s 68th Commencement Ceremony.

A United Nations official with a distinguished career of more than 30 years in international relations and diplomacy delivered the Commencement Address at Dominican College鈥檚 68th Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 15, at 12 noon.  Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee serves as Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO).  This latest appointment follows impressive diplomatic posts in Moscow, Geneva, Tel Aviv, South Africa, New York, and Washington, D.C.

During the Commencement Ceremony at Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY,  Pobee received the honorary degree of  Doctor of Humanities in recognition of her extraordinary career in international relations and diplomacy, her steadfast dedication to furthering peace and security, her tireless advocacy for education and human rights, and her passionate support of women and youth,

Of her many posts, Pobee considers her appointment as Ghana鈥檚 first woman Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2015 to 2020 to be the highlight of her career. In this position, she had various special assignments, including serving as Vice-President of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Co-Facilitator of the high-level meeting on Financing for Development 2019, Chair of the African Group of Ambassadors in New York, Chair of the New York Group of Friends of the African-Women Leaders Network, and Co-Chair of the Group of Friends on Gender Parity at the United Nations. 

Pobee鈥檚 interest in international relations and diplomacy was first sparked as a high school student in Cape Coast, Ghana, when she joined a school club called the Ghana United Nations Students Association (GUNSA).  The students discussed world issues and took part in mock UN General Assembly sessions and Security Council sessions.  It was then that she began to closely follow the anti-apartheid struggle of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and human rights and economic development issues.  Pobee was also a member of the Red Cross Society and Sunday School Club in high school and spent many weekends providing first aid services and teaching bible studies to children in local communities. At that young age, she realized how fortunate she was to be attending one of the best schools in the country and decided to be mindful of the needs around her and to serve others. 

A graduate of the University of Ghana, Pobee also holds a master鈥檚 degree in Development Studies with a specialization in Women and Development from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague. In addition, she has diplomas in Public Administration and Multilateral Diplomacy from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and the Geneva Institute of International Studies.

April 21, 2022

True Black History Museum Comes to Dominican College

Students visited the traveling True Black History Museum in the Granito Center extension in celebration of Black History Month.

The True Black History Museum, which shows visitors a snapshot of the history of African-Americans through photos, videos, and artifacts, came to Dominican College on February 16, 2022.    

Janay Craft, Director of Operations for the museum, said that the idea of the traveling museum is to bring the museum to the people.  鈥淭he goals are two things:  to preserve the history of black people and to show that African Americans do have value.  Those are the two main principles.鈥�

Craft said she received a lot of positive feedback from the Dominican College students who visited the museum set up in the Granito Center extension.  Dominican College sponsored the True Black History Museum visit in celebration of Black History Month.    

February 17, 2022

College Launches New Public Health Informatics & Technology (PHIT) Programs

PHIT Program Manager Carrie Boericke

Beginning in fall 2022, Dominican College students will be able to study the interesting and expanding field of Public Health Informatics and Technology (PHIT).  PHIT is a multi-disciplinary field applying data science skills to solve complex health care issues and to improve public health outcomes.  The College will offer a PHIT concentration in both the Health Sciences major and the Information Technology major, a PHIT minor, and a post-baccalaureate certificate program for adults.

The College鈥檚 Health Sciences program and the IT program in the Business Administration Division have teamed up to lead the PHIT Force. 鈥淭his is a terrific opportunity to expand career options for Dominican College graduates,鈥� said PHIT Program Manager Carrie Boericke.  鈥淏ecoming a public health informaticist will open up paths that are literally just coming into view on the horizon 鈥� both in private and public sector institutions.  Data skills will be key to success and social mobility for today鈥檚 students.鈥�

The PHIT program at Dominican College is funded through a $1.9 million PHIT Workforce Program grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). Dominican College was one of only 10 higher education institutions nationwide to receive this funding.  The grant aims to strengthen U.S. public health information technology efforts, improve COVID-19 data collection, and increase the diversity of the public health IT workforce.

Dominican College鈥檚 PHIT courses will begin with an introduction to PHIT, including a discussion of career options and case studies of how it can be used to address health disparities in communities.  Students will then hone data and project skills in an emergency response role-play exercise, simulating a public health emergency. All PHIT Force students will have a paid internship to cap off their studies, recognizing that employers are looking for real-world experience in job applicants. 

A consortium has been developed to help administer the program. The consortium, which may expand, now includes Bon Secours Charity Health System, CorEvitas, Cornerstone Family Healthcare, Mount Sinai Health System, EmpiRx Health, and the New York State Department of Health. Consortium members will provide internship opportunities and feedback to keep the curriculum relevant for evolving employer requirements.聽

Prospective students interested in learning more about the PHIT Force program at Dominican College should email Assistant Professor Carrie Boericke at carrie.boericke@duny.edu. 

February 3, 2022

Outlook on the Economy Delivers Mixed News

Jason Bram delivered the annual Outlook on the Economy on
January 20, 2022 via Zoom.

During Dominican College鈥檚 annual Outlook on the Economy forum, community members heard how the pandemic鈥檚 effect on the economy was much different than the typical recession.  

Jason Bram, a Research Officer with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, spoke via Zoom during the January 20, 2022 forum.  鈥淲hen things plunged in March and April 2020, I think a lot of economists thought that it would look like a recession, that is that you would have this drop off, and then have this very, very gradual recovery like you had in 2009-2010 up until now,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut what in fact you saw, was a very, very quick snap back. 鈥�

Bram said employment has continued to rebound briskly across the metro region, housing markets have been exceptionally strong, and office markets have been exceptionally weak.  In addition, he said businesses reported widespread price escalation amidst supply disruptions and labor shortages, but remain optimistic about the outlook.

Bram鈥檚 research focuses on the U.S. economy, with a primary emphasis on the Federal Reserve鈥檚 Second District, which includes New York State, northern New Jersey, and southwestern Connecticut, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

January 24, 2022

Athletic Training Professor Honored Posthumously by State Organization

Shown left to right: Ray Flores, President of NYSATA, Jenna’s husband Leland Hach, and Jim Crawley.

Beloved Athletic Training Professor Jenna Tacinelli-Hach was honored posthumously by the New York State Athletic Trainers鈥� Association (NYSATA) on January 8, 2022.  Hach鈥檚 husband, Leland, accepted the Kent Scriber Recognition Award on her behalf.  The award honored Jenna’s contributions to the athletic training profession.  Leland said the recognition meant a great deal to her family.

鈥淭o know the appreciation that her students and peers have for her is humbling,鈥� he said.  鈥淭hose of you who know Jenna well know that she would have probably not been overly excited about receiving the recognition. She may have even recommended others more deserving.  She definitely would have accepted the award by speaking at 10,000 words a minute.  For someone who loved being in front of a class, she shied away from the spotlight in general.  I don鈥檛 think the impact that she has had on the world in general, or the ATA world specifically, can ever be truly quantified.鈥�

The award was presented at the NYSATA meeting at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut.  Jenna passed away on August 26, 2021, after a lengthy and courageous battle with brain cancer.  She was the Coordinator of Clinical Education for the former Athletic Training Education Program at the College for nine years.

January 19, 2022

Men鈥檚 Basketball Team Ranked #1 in East Region Media Poll

The 2021-2022 Men’s Basketball Team.

The Dominican College men鈥檚 basketball team has been ranked #1 in the Division II Sports Information Directors Association (D2SIOA) East Region Media Poll, announced on January 17, 2022.

At the time of the poll, the Chargers had a 10-2 record.  The Chargers have held the top spot in the East Region Media Poll since the Week 3 poll.  Dominican College has defeated three of the teams in the top ten with victories over #2 St. Thomas Aquinas College, #6 University of New Haven, and #9 Adelphi University.

January 18, 2022

Athletic Training Alumni Inducted into Alumni Hall of Achievement聽

Christine Friel, Frank Alexander, and Yen Pam were inducted into the Alumni Hall of Achievement.

In a tribute to the former Athletic Training Program at Dominican College, three athletic training alumni were inducted into the Alumni Hall of Achievement on November 14, 2021.聽 The new inductees are:聽 Christine Friel 鈥�10, for Excellence; Frank Alexander 鈥�10, for Leadership; and Yen Pham 鈥�17, for Service.聽 The former head of the Athletic Training Program Jim Crawley, presided over the ceremony.聽 Crawley is now an Assistant Professor in the Health Sciences program.

Christine Friel 鈥�10, for Excellence

Christine Friel is the Assistant Director of Sports Medicine at the College of Mt. St. Vincent.聽 Prior to that, she worked at Long Island University in Brooklyn as an Assistant Professor and Associate Head Athletic Trainer. 聽Friel helped oversee athletic training coverage for 26 athletic teams.

鈥淭he best advice that I have received was to pay it forward.聽 Having the opportunity to teach students and mentor graduate assistants that have crossed my path has been my favorite experience so far,鈥� she said.

At Dominican College, Friel was a gifted student, a member of the Athletic Training Honor Society, and took part in clinical work at the United States Academy at West Point.聽 After graduation, she earned a Master of Science in Advanced Athletic Training and Sports Science from LIU and earned the Dean鈥檚 Award for Clinic Excellence in Athletic Training.

During the award ceremony, Friel credited her parents with teaching her to 鈥渨ork hard, always show up, and get the job done with the best effort possible.鈥�

Frank Alexander 鈥�10,聽 for Leadership

Frank Alexander remembers being a young boy meeting former Yankees pitcher David Cone.聽 When he told Cone he wanted to be a Yankee when he grew up, Cone suggested he have a back-up plan as well.

鈥淪o my fall-back plan was to be a New York Yankee and then figure out how I could stay around baseball.聽 Athletic Training really held the key to that door for me,鈥� said Alexander.聽 Now he feels fortunate to do what he does every day. .

Alexander is the athletic trainer and physician extender for Dr. Christopher Ahmad of Columbia University Medical Center鈥檚 Orthopedic Department.聽 He works with Dr. Ahmad in his roles as team physician for the New York Yankees, New York Boulders, and the New York Football Club.

Alexander said earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree at Dominican College was an important stepping stone in his career.聽 He also earned a master鈥檚 degree in kinesiology from A.T. Still University in Mesa, AZ.

Alexander co-authored a book several years ago with Dr. Ahmad called 鈥淯nderstanding Tommy John Surgery and How to Avoid It.鈥澛� The book is geared toward children in fifth grade and older.

Yen Pham 鈥�17, for Service

Yen Pham was recently promoted to Head Athletic Trainer for the Westchester Knicks of the G League.聽 The G League is the National Basketball Association鈥檚 official minor league basketball organization.

At Dominican College, Pham was a talented and dedicated student who was focused on her studies and learning new skills.聽 Pham served as president of the Iota Tau Alpha Athletic Training Education Honor Society and graduated cum laude. Upon graduation, Pham was hired by the Westchester Knicks to serve as Assistant Athletic Trainer after having done clinical work with the organization.

Like the other speakers, Pham recognized the heartbreaking absence of Jenna Tacinelli-Hach at the ceremony.聽 Hach passed away after a lengthy battle with brain cancer in August 2021.聽 鈥淚 got the Service Award, when it really it really should be the Jenna Award,鈥� said Pham. 鈥淪he gave everything she had to the program.聽 I wouldn鈥檛 be here without her and Jim.鈥�

Pham has continued to give her time and talents to Dominican College, and has mentored more than ten students since graduating.

聽A photo of the three inductees will hang in the lobby of the Prusmack Center along with other members of the Alumni Hall of Achievement.聽

November 30, 2021

Penn State Researcher Discusses Crisis Informatics at Dominican College

AnnMarie DelliPizzi-Citardi, Blair Hoplight, Andrea Tapia, and Chris Libertini prior to Tapia’s presentation about crisis informatics.

Students heard a fascinating description of how social media is changing emergency response from Penn State University researcher Andrea Tapia, Ph.D., on November 8, 2021.  Tapia is an Associate Dean for Research at Penn State鈥檚 College of Information Sciences and Technology.  She is also a Fulbright scholar, has worked with the United Nations and NASA, and is the sister of Dominican College Psychology Professor Blair Hoplight, Ph.D.

Tapia described how as a scholar of crisis informatics she and her team are working to build a system to help emergency responders gather information from social media.  鈥淲e are not trying to get rid of the 9-1-1 operators,鈥� she explained.  鈥淲e are trying to make sure that they have the best information possible at any moment.鈥�

Using a number of real-life examples, Tapia illustrated how bystanders to an emergency sometimes post videos or photos to social media instead of calling 9-1-1.  The system she is working on will gather that information for emergency responders.  Two hurdles she must overcome 鈥� identifying which social media posts come from bystanders and determining which ones are trustworthy.  Her advice to those who want to help in an emergency is  to call 9-1-1 first and  then turn on your geo-locator and use hashtags so your social media posts about the emergency can more easily be tracked.

Tapia鈥檚 presentation in the Fury Lecture Hall was part of the Sr. Michelle Nugent Lecture Series and was presented by the Dominican College Division of Social Sciences.

November 12, 2021

Charger Athletes Get Advice at Annual Basketball Tip-Off Dinner

The 2021-2022 Men’s Basketball Team with Guest Speaker Justin Kobay.

As the 2021-2022 basketball season kicked off, Charger athletes got words of advice on 鈥淲inning in Life On And Off The Court.鈥澛� At the annual Tip-Off Dinner, Guest Speaker Justin Kobay, CPA, Partner/Business Manager of LL Business Management, shared how he built a fulfilling and successful career as a business manager to music industry artists, producers, and executives.

After speaking with the players on the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball teams, Kobay had high praise for the athletes.聽 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 amazing. I think they are all very motivated, very focused, 聽and hopefully I gave them some insight on the big picture,鈥� he said.

The 2021-2022 Women’s Basketball Team with Guest Speaker Justin Kobay.

Among Kobay鈥檚 advice: it is never too late to do what you want,聽 figure out your strengths, always be yourself, and learn how to network.聽 LL Business Management is based in Lake Success, NY and has an office in Los Angeles.聽 Clients include Grammy-winning artist Lil Nas X, producer Timbaland, and musician Boots Riley.

The Tip-Off Dinner was held on November 4, 2021, at the Pearl River Elks Club.聽 聽In addition to Kobay, the athletes heard from Master of Ceremony and College Trustee Michael McLaughlin 鈥�89, 聽Men鈥檚 Basketball Coach Joseph Clinton, and Women鈥檚 Basketball Coach Bill Diener.

November 5, 2021

College Awarded $6.4 Million in Federal Grants

Dominican College has received two federal grants totaling $6.4 million from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).聽 These grants were secured to establish the STEM Opportunities for Hispanic and Low-Income Students (SOHLIS) Project and a Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program (PHIT Workforce Program) that both aim to increase the diversity of students entering these fields.

鈥淎s a Hispanic-serving institution, Dominican College is in a unique position to educate a diverse student body in high-demand fields and help contribute to a more diverse workforce,鈥� said Dominican College President Sr. Mary Eileen O鈥橞rien, O.P, Ph.D. 鈥淭hese federal grants will enable us to establish comprehensive STEM and public health informatics technology programs, which will both go a long way in increasing educational and career opportunities for our students.鈥�

Dominican College was awarded a $4.5 million, five-year grant from ED to develop the SOHLIS Project.聽 This project will establish student services and curricular programs to increase Dominican College鈥檚 STEM program enrollment, retention, degree completion, and career entry.聽 As part of this grant, Dominican College will partner with Rockland, Westchester, and Bergen Community Colleges to strengthen articulation agreements.

In addition, ONC awarded Dominican College a $1.9 million grant to develop and establish a PHIT Workforce Program which will include paid internships and career placement for students. The funds will be used to develop a proposal, to be submitted to the New York State Education Department for consideration and approval, for a PHIT concentration within the Health Sciences and/or Information Technology majors.聽 The PHIT Workforce Program is funded through the American Rescue Plan and aims to increase the number and diversity of students entering the field of public health informatics technology to improve public health reporting and address systematic health inequities.

October 5, 2021