Dominican College President Elected to Council of Independent Colleges Board

Photo of Sr. Mary Eileen O'Brien outdoors on the campus of Dominican College

Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien, O.P., Ph.D.., President of Dominican College, was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the Council of Independent Colleges.

Sr. Mary Eileen O鈥橞rien, O.P., Ph.D., President of Dominican College, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), based in Washington, D.C.

The CIC is a national association of independent colleges and universities dedicated to supporting college and university leadership; advancing institutional excellence; and enhancing public understanding of private higher education鈥檚 contributions to society.

鈥淭he wisdom and dedication of the members of the Board of Directors ensure that CIC continues to address the issues of greatest importance to its member colleges and universities,鈥� said CIC President Richard Ekman. 鈥淲e are grateful to these busy and distinguished individuals for their generous service to independent higher education through CIC鈥檚 Board of Directors.

Sr. Mary Eileen is one of seven presidents of colleges and universities across the country who were newly elected to the CIC Board of Directors.

February 8, 2021

Hospital CEOs Discuss COVID Vaccine at Palisades Institute Forum

Montefiore Nyack Hospital CEO Dr. Mark Geller assured those participating in a Palisades Institute forum on COVID-19 that the rapid development of the vaccines should not be a concern.聽 He stressed that聽 research and development about coronaviruses and Messenger RNA have been going on for years.聽 What was speeded up, Dr. Geller explained, was production of a vaccine that was targeted to this particular virus.聽 Dr. Geller cautioned against waiting to get a vaccine or trying to get one vaccine over the other.聽 He said both vaccines are safe and effective.

鈥淲hen and if a vaccine is available to you 鈥� take it.聽 Don鈥檛 ask which one it is 鈥� take it,鈥� said Dr. Geller. 鈥淭he sooner we get to 80% vaccination of the community, the sooner we will return to normalcy — 聽in the economy, in our personal lives — until we get to that place of what is called herd immunity,鈥�

Bon Secours Charity Health System CEO Dr. Mary Leahy also participated in the January 14, 2021 Zoom forum.聽 鈥淢asks work. Social distancing works.聽 We believe the vaccine works and if we are just patient and continue to do those things we will be in a far better place by the end of this year,鈥� she said. 鈥滲ut we all have to do this together.鈥澛� Both Dr. Geller and Dr. Leahy expect the availability of the vaccine to increase in the near future.

About 125 people participated in the Palisades Institute forum, “Defining the Future:聽 The Impact of COVID-19 on Rockland County’s Healthcare System.”

January 14, 2021

TD Bank Supports Student Success Program

Kennee Torres is one of the students who benefited from the TD Bank grant by receiving a new laptop to use for schoolwork.

The TD Bank Charitable Foundation has awarded Dominican College a $5,000 grant to support its Student Success Program.聽 Students in the program who need laptops to do schoolwork are able to access them through this grant.

Kennee Torres, a junior communication studies student, is among the students who received a new laptop.聽 He is using it to do schoolwork and log into his classes remotely.聽 鈥淚t benefits me in a lot of ways,鈥� he said.聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 much easier than having to use my cell phone.鈥�

The Student Success Program provides regular enrichment labs and a 鈥淩eCharge鈥� class that educates students on effective study habits, notetaking, time management, and personal finance.聽 The additional structure and support put students on a path to improved academic performance.

December 18, 2020

College VP Joins Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. Advisory Board

Joseph Valenti, Dominican College Vice President for Institutional Advancement, has joined the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. (HVEDC) Advisory Board of Directors.

The Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. (HVEDC) announced on November 17, 2020 that Dominican College Vice President for Institutional Advancement Joseph Valenti has joined the HVEDC Advisory Board of Directors.

Mike Oates, President & CEO of HVEDC, said, 鈥淒eveloping a partnership with local educational institutions is important to grow the regional economy. We look forward to further developing a relationship with Joe and his team at Dominican College to help create and prepare a developed workforce that will keep skilled workers living and employed in the Hudson Valley.”

HVEDC is the leading economic development agency for the seven-county region of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan counties. The public-private partnership markets the region as a prime business location to corporate executives, site selection consultants, and real estate brokers.

Valenti said he looked forward to working with the HVEDC Board and has long admired their leadership skills and dedication to the betterment of the greater Hudson Valley community.

December 4, 2020

Forum Held on Doing Business in the Age of COVID-19

The four business leaders who shared advice at the forum “Defining the Future: The Shifting Business Landscape of the Lower Hudson Valley Region due to COVID-19” include Walter Goldman (top photo) Howard Hellman, Hal Roth, and Rob Mayer (left to right).

Four business leaders shared advice on how to survive and thrive during COVID-19 during a Palisades Institute Forum via Zoom on November 10, 2020.

Although businesses are dealing with health concerns and financial hardships, Walter Goldman of Goldkap Consulting Group in Suffern, NY, said there is a silver lining.聽 鈥淔rom a business perspective, these are very exciting times,” he said.聽 “And I know when I say that, people are surprised by it, but the reality is that business entrepreneurs and business executives kind of thrive on disruption. They thrive on disruption.聽 They thrive on a changing marketing environment, which obviously there is.鈥�

Goldman鈥檚 advice was to adapt to the new environment, innovate with bold initiatives and new services,听 and look for efficiencies.聽 The others business leaders who took part in the discussion, 鈥淒efining the Future: The Shifting Business Landscape of the Lower Hudson Valley Region due to COVID-19鈥� 聽included Howard Hellman of All Bright Electric in West Nyack, NY; Rob Mayer of Autopro in Spring Valley, NY; and Hal Roth of All Recycling, in Newburgh, NY.

November 10, 2020

Biology Students Get Career Advice From Regeneron Scientists

Regeneron scientists gave students career advice on Zoom as part of the Regeneron Day for Doing Good.

Scientists who work at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. shared their educational background and career paths with Dominican College biology students during a Zoom panel discussion on Monday, October 26, 2020.

The advice from Lyndon Mitnaul, Ph.D., Senior Director, Research Program Management at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., was to be exposed to a lot of different careers so the students could find where they would 鈥渇it鈥� best. 聽聽Mitnaul told the students he had a 鈥渢ake-home lesson鈥� for them.聽 鈥淢ake your future where you can make a difference.聽 I think that鈥檚 really the take-home,鈥� he said.聽 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of opportunity where you can play a role if you are interested in drug discovery and development.聽 You just need to find out where you can make that difference.鈥�

The panel discussions with students are part of Regeneron鈥檚 Day for Doing Good project where Regeneron employees volunteer in the local community.聽 Volunteer New York! and the Dominican College Career Development Center coordinated the event.

October 27, 2020

Student Wins National Scholarship

Bruno Garcia ’21 is one of 20 students nationwide to be awarded the HACU Miller Lite National Scholarship.

Senior Bruno Garcia has been awarded the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Miller Lite National Scholarship.聽 Garcia is one of just 20 students nationwide to receive the award.

鈥淭he world has been significantly changing.聽 The unpredictable times challenge us to believe in a brighter future.聽 After four months of uncertainty, faith, and high expectations, I am thrilled to receive the National Miller Lite Scholarship,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淚 would like thank HACU and MillerCoors Company for supporting Latin-American communities across more than 500 colleges and universities.鈥�

HACU champions Hispanic success in higher education.聽 Garcia is an honors business major and a soccer player.聽 He has earned a 3.92 GPA, is Senior Class President, and the Founder and President of Dominican College鈥檚 International Students Association.

 

October 9, 2020

NYC Planner Headlines Palisades Institute Forum

Carolyn Grossman Meagher, NYC Director of Regional Planning, spoke at the Palisades Institute Zoom forum on October 6, 2020.

The Palisades Institute tackled the issue of regional planning at its latest Zoom forum on October 6, 2020.聽 Carolyn Grossman Meagher, NYC Director of Regional Planning, presented 鈥淥ne Region: Building a Stronger and Fairer Future鈥� to local business leaders.聽 Meagher discussed the OneNYC campaign that encourages the city to reach out to its neighbors so that the whole region can thrive.

During the forum, Meagher stressed that local decisions in communities, businesses, and organizations really matter and affect the entire region.聽 鈥淚 think of the phrase, 鈥榯hink regionally, act locally,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淪o much of what we聽 think about are how these systems play out, and how we protect our immigrant worker population, and how we train them for new jobs, how we attract new populations, and retain them and think about where they may live. All of this comes down to the very local granular decisions that are made in each municipality.鈥�

Those local decisions include zoning, investments, and workforce development. 聽Planning is difficult, she admitted, with so much uncertainty brought on by the pandemic.

Also speaking at the forum were: 聽John O鈥機onnor, Technology Infrastructure Operations Manager, Bloomberg, Orangeburg, NY; Greg Stanton, VP, IRG Realty Advisors & GM, NY Center for Innovation, Pearl River, NY; Jeremy Schulman, Director, Rockland County Economic Development & Tourism; and聽Chris D鈥橝mbrese, Executive Director, Adult Education, Rockland BOCES.

The aim of the Palisades Institute of Dominican College is to encourage leaders in business, government, and not-for-profit agencies to integrate the concepts of leadership, quality, and ethics to achieve long-term success.

 

October 6, 2020

New York Medical College Partners with Dominican College

photo of New York Medical College campus.

New York Medical College in Vallhalla, NY has partnered with Dominican College to provide early acceptance to several master’s programs.

(NYMC) School of Health Sciences and Practice (SHSP) in Valhalla, NY聽 has partnered with Dominican College to provide early acceptance programs into the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Master of Science (M.S.), and programs at NYMC鈥檚 SHSP.

Through the agreement, NYMC and Dominican College will work to identify undergraduate students with interest and aptitude for public health and provide guidance to the students during the application process. The partnership is effective for the fall 2020 semester and will begin accepting students for 2021 spring and summer programs. NYMC offers M.P.H. programs in ,听,听,听 as well as an M.S. in .

鈥淎s an institution, we are committed to preparing students to become tomorrow鈥檚 leaders in the field of public health by providing them with the right tools and resources to excel,鈥� said Robert W. Amler, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the School of Health Sciences and Practice and vice president for government affairs. 鈥淭his partnership with Dominican College allows us to welcome exceptional students, passionate about improving the health of individuals and communities, and further prepare them for a career in this field through our Master鈥檚 programs.鈥�

To be considered for acceptance, undergraduate students must contact and work with Dominican College鈥檚 advisory committee or the NYMC SHSP Admissions Office. All applications will be submitted through SOPHAS.org and must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicants must have an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above, with no grades below C on their official transcript
  • A supportive recommendation from an advisor of Dominican College or on behalf of the Advisory Committee
  • A supportive recommendation from a Dominican College faculty member or work supervisor
  • For those seeking admission into the Epidemiology or Biostatistics program, applicants must have a strong quantitative background
  • Applicants must exhibit strong academic and professional readiness
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required

鈥淒ominican College has built an impressive reputation in the health fields,鈥� said Brian G. Fernandes, vice president for enrollment management at Dominican College. 鈥淭his new partnership with New York Medical College is a wonderful opportunity for our students who want to further their education and prepare for a career in the field of public health at a well-respected institution of higher education.鈥�

Student interested in the early acceptance program with Dominican College should contact director of recruitment Nick Sekkas, M.S., at nsekkas@nymc.edu or 914-594-4759 for further information.

About New York Medical College

Founded in 1860, New York Medical College (NYMC) is one of the oldest and largest health sciences colleges in the country, with nearly 1,500 students and 330 residents and clinical fellows, more than 2,600 faculty members and 23,500 living alumni. The College, which joined the Touro College and University System in 2011, is located in Westchester County, New York, and offers degrees from the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences, the School of Health Sciences and Practice, the Touro College of Dental Medicine at NYMC and the Touro College School of Health Sciences鈥� nursing program at NYMC. NYMC provides a wide variety of clinical training opportunities for students, residents, and practitioners.

September 23, 2020

New York Medical College Partners with Dominican College

photo of New York Medical College campus.

New York Medical College in Vallhalla, NY has partnered with Dominican College to provide early acceptance to several master’s programs.

(NYMC) School of Health Sciences and Practice (SHSP) in Valhalla, NY聽 has partnered with Dominican College to provide early acceptance programs into the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Master of Science (M.S.), and programs at NYMC鈥檚 SHSP.

Through the agreement, NYMC and Dominican College will work to identify undergraduate students with interest and aptitude for public health and provide guidance to the students during the application process. The partnership is effective for the fall 2020 semester and will begin accepting students for 2021 spring and summer programs. NYMC offers M.P.H. programs in ,听,听,听 as well as an M.S. in .

鈥淎s an institution, we are committed to preparing students to become tomorrow鈥檚 leaders in the field of public health by providing them with the right tools and resources to excel,鈥� said Robert W. Amler, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the School of Health Sciences and Practice and vice president for government affairs. 鈥淭his partnership with Dominican College allows us to welcome exceptional students, passionate about improving the health of individuals and communities, and further prepare them for a career in this field through our Master鈥檚 programs.鈥�

To be considered for acceptance, undergraduate students must contact and work with Dominican College鈥檚 advisory committee or the NYMC SHSP Admissions Office. All applications will be submitted through SOPHAS.org and must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicants must have an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above, with no grades below C on their official transcript
  • A supportive recommendation from an advisor of Dominican College or on behalf of the Advisory Committee
  • A supportive recommendation from a Dominican College faculty member or work supervisor
  • For those seeking admission into the Epidemiology or Biostatistics program, applicants must have a strong quantitative background
  • Applicants must exhibit strong academic and professional readiness
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required

鈥淒ominican College has built an impressive reputation in the health fields,鈥� said Brian G. Fernandes, vice president for enrollment management at Dominican College. 鈥淭his new partnership with New York Medical College is a wonderful opportunity for our students who want to further their education and prepare for a career in the field of public health at a well-respected institution of higher education.鈥�

Student interested in the early acceptance program with Dominican College should contact director of recruitment Nick Sekkas, M.S., at nsekkas@nymc.edu or 914-594-4759 for further information.

About New York Medical College

Founded in 1860, New York Medical College (NYMC) is one of the oldest and largest health sciences colleges in the country, with nearly 1,500 students and 330 residents and clinical fellows, more than 2,600 faculty members and 23,500 living alumni. The College, which joined the Touro College and University System in 2011, is located in Westchester County, New York, and offers degrees from the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences, the School of Health Sciences and Practice, the Touro College of Dental Medicine at NYMC and the Touro College School of Health Sciences鈥� nursing program at NYMC. NYMC provides a wide variety of clinical training opportunities for students, residents, and practitioners.

September 23, 2020

Students Package 10,000 Meals for the Hungry

Students packaged 10,000 rice and beans meals to be distributed to families in need on September 4, 2020.

Dominican College students packaged 10,000 non-perishable rice and beans meals for the hungry on September 4, 2020, by partnering with The Outreach Program on a service project called 鈥淔eed Your Soul.鈥�

Kathryn Strobel, Director of Community Engagement & Leadership Development, pointed out that the College鈥檚 first Day of Service took place during Hunger Action Month.聽 鈥淢any Americans don鈥檛 have access to sufficient, nourishing food.聽 I believe this activity is popular among our students because it feels good to put time into helping others, and to see the tangible result of 10,000 meals 鈥� knowing that will have a positive impact on thousands of people. This activity is proof that, when we work together, small actions can make a big difference.鈥�

Safety was a top priority during the service project. The food packaging was done in shifts with a maximum of 25 students in the gym at one time.聽 Students were required to wear masks and gloves.聽 In addition, surfaces were frequently disinfected.

The meals will be distributed to families in need by The Outreach Program and People to People.聽 Some of the meals will also be kept in the College鈥檚 food pantry for food insecure students.聽 The Outreach Program is a nonprofit organization focused on providing safe water, food, medical care, and education to children and those in need at home and abroad.

September 4, 2020

Students Welcomed Back to Campus

A student has their temperature taken.

All students had their temperature taken before moving into their residence halls. They are required to take their temperature and fill out an online screening form daily.

Dominican College welcomed students back to campus at the end of August following the COVID-19 outbreak and a move to remote learning in spring. The move came after a comprehensive, 32-page College Reopening Plan called 鈥淒ominican College 鈥� Moving Forward鈥� was submitted to New York State, outlining plans to reopen the College safely. The plan was the culmination of months of work by the Reopening Coordinating Committee, led by Chair Sr. Kathleen Sullivan, Chancellor for External Affairs, in conjunction with the President鈥檚 Cabinet.

The committee was guided by the following principles:

  • Dominican College will fulfill our mission and meet our standard of excellence.
  • The health and safety of our college community are both paramount. Protecting our students, faculty, and staff is the starting point for each decision.
  • We will be flexible and innovative in the face of evolving circumstances.
  • We will heed our responsibility to ensure the College鈥檚 financial strength and stability.

The plan sets forth requirements for students, faculty and staff to wear face masks and to complete an online screening questionnaire, including a temperature check, each day they plan to be on campus. 聽Additional protective measures include the presence of hand sanitizer at all entrances/exits and in high traffic areas, and frequent cleaning and disinfection of campus buildings.

Classrooms, the dining hall and offices throughout campus have been reconfigured and/or modified to allow for social distancing. In addition to face-to-face classes, students are able to take courses remotely with the hyflex and hybrid models of teaching. Furthermore, capacity in residence halls was reduced to ensure the health and safety of the College community.

Included in the plan is a Dominican Cares Pledge for students to commit to taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.聽 The pledge begins by stating, 鈥淒ominican College is a community of caring.聽 Now more than ever, it is imperative that we all share in the responsibility for keeping our community safe.聽 The conditions of the COVID-19 global pandemic require every one of us to commit to responsible actions and to being an accountable member of both the Charger and Dominican College community. 鈥�

Complete details of the reopening plan are available.

September 4, 2020