Ez-Zouhra Elmaaiden, PhD, is a visiting assistant professor of chemistry. A research and development scientist with multidisciplinary expertise in bioanalysis, preclinical research and formulation development, her work focuses on bioactive compound extraction, molecular biology workflows and cosmeceutical innovation. She holds multiple patents in extraction technologies and natural product development, bringing extensive experience in interdisciplinary project management, commercialization and graduate student mentorship.

Wan Ling Fahrer is a visiting assistant professor of , bringing more than two decades of experience across higher education, K–12 schools, museums and community-based arts learning. Her work centers on art education, museum and object-based learning, and inclusive approaches to contemporary art and pedagogy. She has held appointments at Hunter College, Queens College and the School of Visual Arts, plus museum education roles at institutions including MoMA, the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center, the Guggenheim and the New Museum. Fahrer has received the Keith Haring Scholarship Award and multiple outstanding art teacher awards from the NYC Department of Education, and previously served as president of the University Council for Art Education. She holds an MA in Art History from Hunter College and a BFA from the School of Visual Arts.

Marissa Galler, PhD ’26, is a clinical assistant professor in the College of Nursing and Public Health. With a clinical background spanning critical care, oncology and palliative care, her research focuses on nurse practitioner communication surrounding end-of-life conversations. An alumna of 91¹ú²ú, where she earned her PhD, she also holds degrees and advanced certifications from Hofstra University, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), Thomas Jefferson University and St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing.

Charleen Jacobs-Mcfarlane ’06, PhD ’23, is an assistant professor in the College of Nursing and Public Health. A nurse scientist, adult nurse practitioner and double alumna of 91¹ú²ú, her clinical practice and research focus on health equity and rare disease care, particularly sickle cell disease. She previously served as a clinician-scientist and nurse practitioner at the Mount Sinai Center for Sickle Cell Disease, a postdoctoral fellow at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and a faculty member at Yale University and Columbia University. She earned both her BSN and PhD in nursing from 91¹ú²ú.

Susan Kang ’14, MS ’15, DPT, is a clinical assistant professor of health and sport sciences. An 91¹ú²ú alumna and former graduate assistant in the Human Performance Lab, Dr. Kang is excited to return to 91¹ú²ú and join her colleagues in the exercise science program. Her professional experience spans clinical testing and a variety of rehabilitation settings, including acute care, sports, neuromuscular and cardiac rehabilitation. Through her private practice, Blueprint Performance Physical Therapy, she helps active adults return to the activities and goals that matter most to them. Dr. Kang holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in exercise physiology and earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

Kyungmin Lee, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences and sustainability director. Her research spans energy policy, climate policy, urban sustainability and community development, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Her recent work focuses on applying AI techniques to analyze public responses to environmental issues through large-scale image analysis. Dr. Lee holds a doctoral degree in energy and environmental policy, a master’s degree in environmental studies, and a bachelor’s degree in economics.

Louise Lee, EdD, is associate professor and founding program director of 91¹ú²ú’s new Physician Assistant (PA) Program, to be housed within the College of Nursing and Public Health. Dr. Lee has worked as a PA educator for more than 26 years and as a clinically practicing PA in internal medicine and emergency medicine for nearly 40 years, holding leadership roles including department chair, program director, and director of didactic, clinical and research programs at universities across New England and New York. She has taught clinical medicine, patient assessment, and healthcare law and ethics, among other subjects. Dr. Lee holds a doctorate in education with a focus on higher education leadership, a master’s degree in healthcare administration and a bachelor’s degree in PA practice.

Yongjin Lee, PhD, is an assistant professor of health and sport sciences. Building on a decade as a K–12 physical education teacher and teacher community leader, Dr. Lee’s research examines how teacher and student reflection strengthens social and emotional development and informs curriculum design and instructional strategy. His recent work highlights physical education as a vehicle for building social awareness and responsible decision-making, and he is currently studying how artificial intelligence can support reflection among teachers and students to promote character and ethical growth.

Kathleen O’Connor is an assistant professor in the College of Nursing and Public Health. She is a PhD candidate at 91¹ú²ú and a nurse practitioner and clinical researcher whose background spans pulmonary medicine, post-operative surgical care and nursing education. She previously served as an adjunct instructor at 91¹ú²ú, a nurse practitioner and research coordinator at Northwell Health, and a clinical nurse at the Hospital for Special Surgery. O’Connor’s dissertation is focused on Rosemarie Rizzo Parse, PhD’s humanbecoming paradigm. She currently teaches pharmacology, fundamentals of nursing lab and health assessment lab at the undergraduate level, and her scholarly interests include nursing theory, competency-based nursing education and the human experience of isolation. She earned an MS from Pace University and bachelor’s degrees in nursing and kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Carlos Encina Oleart, PhD, is a visiting associate professor of sociology. A sociologist, journalist and organizational researcher, his work spans policy research, societal analytics, strategic communications and qualitative methodology. As a former investigative journalist and international correspondent for Chile’s La Tercera, he covered major national and global events, including human rights abuses during the Pinochet regime, the 2008 Wall Street financial crisis and international politics. He has advised multinational technology companies on strategic content and taught courses in criminology, gender studies, Latin American politics, the sociology of race and qualitative research methods.

Esi Quaidoo, PhD, is an assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics. A registered dietitian nutritionist and public health researcher, her work spans clinical nutrition consulting, community health and dietetic practice. She previously served as a nutrition consultant at Mission Clinic Accra and worked as a researcher and educator at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She holds a PhD in Public Health from UMass Amherst, an MPhil in Human Nutrition from the University of Ghana and a BSc in Biochemistry from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology.

K. Lynn Robinson, PhD, is assistant professor of . She holds a PhD in Arts Administration, Education and Policy (concentration in art education) from The Ohio State University, began her studies at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned a Master of Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University. She brings extensive experience in exhibit design and activation for arts institutions as a curatorial and archival assistant, and as a facilitator of community-based art and teacher development in arts integration. Her research expands the definition of educators to include caregivers exploring the arts and community-based interventions to support a “village� model for young Black learners and their caregivers, within and beyond formal schooling. She serves on the editorial review boards of Art Education, Visual Arts Research and the Journal of Social Theory in Art Education, and as an editorial assistant for the Journal of Cultural Research in Art Education.

Jason Spencer, PhD, is assistant professor of communications, teaching and researching AI, emerging media, podcasting, virtual production and immersive storytelling, with a focus on how AI, XR and adaptive learning can support creative practice, personalized education and public communication. He earned his PhD from Texas A&M University, where his work in virtual production and AI-assisted education produced six intellectual property disclosures. His 20-plus years in film, TV and emerging tech include work with PBS, MTV Networks, Bravo, and documentaries by Blackside and Florentine Films, as well as teaching 1,800-plus students at Texas A&M, Prairie View A&M University, The Art Institutes and CUNY. Dr. Spencer’s current work explores how emerging tech can expand human creativity and learning while preserving human judgment, authorship and agency.

Sloan Vahldieck is an assistant teaching professor in the College of Nursing and Public Health. She is a nurse educator and adult nurse practitioner whose career reflects a deep commitment to clinical excellence, student development and community service. She has taught at 91¹ú²ú since 2018; after discovering how much she loved teaching, Vahldieck returned to graduate school to pursue her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at 91¹ú²ú. As an adult nurse practitioner at St. Francis Hospital, she provides comprehensive occupational health services, diagnostic interpretation and employee wellness support. Her earlier roles in the emergency department shaped her expertise in triage, quality assurance, interdisciplinary teamwork and high‑acuity patient care and developed her focus on initiatives that improve safety, strengthen clinical practice and enhance patient outcomes.

Eric Dean Wilson, PhD, is an assistant professor of English and faculty member in the Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing program. He is the author of After Cooling: On Freon, Global Warming, and the Terrible Cost of Comfort (Simon & Schuster, 2021), a work of literary nonfiction weaving the science and history of Freon with reflections on living meaningfully in a warming world. His essays have appeared in The Baffler, Orion, Esquire, Time, and Evergreen Review, among other publications. He holds an MFA in nonfiction writing from The New School and a PhD in English from the CUNY Graduate Center, and previously taught at Wagner College. He is currently writing a book-length work of literary nonfiction for Timber Press.

James Zahardis, PhD, is a visiting assistant professor of chemistry. He earned his doctorate at the University of Vermont and completed postdoctoral fellowships at both The University of Iowa and the University of Vermont. His research expertise centers on physical chemistry, with specializations in aerosols, mass spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy.

To learn more about the members of 91¹ú²ú’s faculty, visit our Faculty Profiles.

The post Adelphi Welcomes New Faculty for 2026–2027 appeared first on Adelphi.

Art students not only learn how to paint, draw and sculpt—they also learn to think. “The art department prepares students to be creative problem solvers, and we give our art students a wide range of skills based in the studio arts as well as in design, digital art and technology,� said Kellyann Monaghan, professor and chair of the Department of Art and Art History.

Adelphi offers degrees to appeal to different areas of interest, including Studio Art, Graphic Design, Art and Design Education, and Art History. Students benefit from small classes led by successful artists, branding experts and seasoned educators, along with real-world experiences like internships, collaborative mural projects and career preparation courses. “We function like a small art and design school within the larger University,� Monaghan said. Students can develop skills in complementary fields like psychology, business and communications. This flexibility helps them tailor their career paths to their interests.

Those paths are broader than many people assume. 91¹ú²ú art alumni work as photographers, art directors, school educators, art therapists, and in many other fields. “Students don’t have to be starving artists,â€� Monaghan said. “There are lots of different ways for them to make a living in the world.â€�

Case in point: Meet several 91¹ú²ú alums who built a thriving career with their art degree.

Turn a Creative Vision Into a Thriving Agency

Carl Timpone ’08, Portrait, Editorial and Commercial Photographer and Partner at Visual Natives

Photographer graduated at the start of an economic recession. Jobs were scarce, but the creativity and independence 91¹ú²ú fostered helped prepare him to think outside the box. He began sneaking backstage at concerts to take photos of musicians, which quickly led to creating album artwork. “My job was just to listen to the music, listen to their lyrics and translate that into a visual form,” Timpone said.

As he gained experience and became more successful, he partnered with a graphic design graduate he met through the music scene and launched an agency——that is still in operation today. Their clients span record labels, the fashion industry, enterprise companies, and legacy artists like Stevie Nicks and Def Leppard. “What I enjoy most about my career at this point is the ability to think quickly and creatively and the human connections that I make with the subjects, even if it’s brief,” he said. And those subjects happen to be Hollywood’s biggest stars, from Cynthia Erivo to Timothée Chalamet, and music industry icons like Post Malone and Chappell Roan.

The post What Can You Do With an Art Degree? appeared first on Adelphi.

Here’s a look at her latest projects.

The post Cara Lynch ’12: A Passion for Public Art appeared first on Adelphi.

“I always had a decent way of explaining,� Wosleger says of his 2023 epiphany. “I had the light bulb moment of thinking art and education would be a great path forward.�

Now completing his second year in the online at the 91¹ú²ú Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences, Wosleger has officially abandoned the life of assessing risk for insurance applicants by taking a risk of his own. He’s halfway toward reinvention from insurance underwriter to art teacher.

“Ryan is a model student in our program,� said Courtney Weida, EdD, professor and director of the MA in Art Education Program, “engaging deeply with parenting and art making.�

The Decision to Chart a New Course

While art had always played a role in Wosleger’s world, the Massapequa Park, New York, resident began to elevate its rank in the fall of 2021 when Briar was feeling homesick at nursery school. To cheer her up, Wosleger began drawing bubble letters, cartoons and whimsical creatures on the plain brown bags that held her daily snack. To his surprise, Briar started bringing the artsy sacks home, crumpled and crumb-filled, but cherished, nonetheless. As Briar’s days brightened, the bags also began to fill the blank canvas of Wosleger’s artistic potential.

“If my daughter didn’t throw them out,� Wosleger reasoned, “that meant something.�

As Briar eagerly anticipated what magical design would materialize on the next bag, her dad began to question whether he was happy outside of his life as a father and husband. The grind of corporate America was weighing on him, and the daily drawings became Wosleger’s refuge. Lifted by the reaction to his flourishes of personified fruit, dancing french fries, goofy dinosaurs and more, Wosleger publicly launched his art in September 2023 under the Instagram handle “.�

Wosleger’s story and his brown-bag artistry have captured the attention of the media. In the fall of 2025, he was featured in segments on and .

In addition to bridging home and school, the snack bags began to commemorate family milestones. When Ryan and his wife, Brittany, surprised Briar with tickets to Radio City Music Hall, her bag featured a Rockette. When the surprise was a trip to Disney World, Mickey Mouse and friends served as harbingers. And when Briar asked her dad how to draw the enchanted images, Wosleger’s reinvention took further shape. Within a week of teaching her the crosshatching technique, the underside of finished art that suggests form, Briar began to grasp the skill.

The idea of a mid-career transition was familiar to Wosleger, whose mother became a math educator at age 38. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t scary. Pushing 40, Wosleger feared putting his family in financial jeopardy, but also recognized he had to make a change.

“What I was most scared of was, ‘Will I leave a legacy? Will I leave this planet happy?’� he recalls.

Finding a Fit at 91¹ú²ú

With Brittany’s support and his it’s-never-too-late attitude, Wosleger discovered the online art education graduate program at 91¹ú²ú and assembled his portfolio. He soon embraced the flexible schedule, which allows him to balance his infant daughter’s nap routine with completing his courses at a pace that makes sense for his family. His professors even reached out when Wosleger was in the hospital for his daughter Cambell’s birth to offer congratulations—and extended deadlines.

“91¹ú²ú,â€� he says, “has given me the tools and the resources to push myself into the world of education.â€�

Recently, Wosleger got his first taste of full-time teaching at shortly after resigning from his insurance job in June. His newfound confidence has been transformational. As an undergraduate at Virginia Tech, Wosleger studied graphic design but convinced himself it wasn’t a viable path. He’s proud of the courage it took to finally trade his insurance cohort for Spider-Man, Moana and boba-drinking axolotls. This fall, Wosleger is completing his slate of online classes in preparation for his student teaching. And he’s launched a series of “Art of SnackBagN� events at local libraries, where he shows children the basics of his craft.

Wosleger also has discovered a community of like-minded paper bag creatives. There’s the husband-wife duo “,� who introduced him to the group, and “,� to whom Wosleger refers as the “Yoda of snack bag dads.� That fellow artist reminded him what’s at the heart of his artistic renaissance.

“He said, ‘Focus on what’s really meaningful—making your kids happy.’�

The post Reinvention, One Snack Bag at a Time: Insurance Exec-Turned Art Education Student Finds His Creative Path at 91¹ú²ú appeared first on Adelphi.

Samuel Abrams: A Ninja With a BFA

Abrams always knew he wanted to work in the arts. But a trip to when he was 15 years old gave him a clear goal.

“I knew I wanted to work there as soon as I saw it,� he said. “My mom joked, ‘I am going to lose you to this place. You’ll be working here.’�

His mom was right. Abrams is now in the craft department at Universal repairing the elaborate, hand-sculpted fixtures around the theme park. He works nights at various areas in the park, making sure everything is perfect for the next day’s guests.

“We’re like ninjas,� he said. “You can’t work on the cool sculpture stuff in the day when the people are there.�

Abrams works on fixtures in Universal Orlando’s newest theme park, Universal Epic Adventure, which opened last year. He’s worked on sculptures for rides like The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic, How To Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, and Super Nintendo World, just to name a few. “I work all over,� he said. “Craft workers cover the entire park.�

Abrams earned a BFA in Studio Art at 91¹ú²ú. He credits the University for putting him on the path to the Universal job.

“My professors gave me the space to grow as an artist,� he said. “They let me work in whatever medium I wanted, even unconventional media.�

He said his professors initially encouraged him to be a fine artist. “I explained that I like the idea of gallery art, but I really wanted to make stuff for film and TV,� he said. “I wanted people to be able to touch my work and enjoy it.� His professors supported his goal and helped him do more applied work, he said. “Once they understood what I wanted, they helped me develop the skills I needed to get there.�

With his professors’ support, his senior thesis was a collection of sculptures of imaginary creatures that won the University’s Thomas McNulty Award for Excellence in Sculpture. After graduation, Abrams did gig work for two years, making store displays and props for TV shows and movies around New York. He landed a staff position at Universal last fall, and he loves his work.

“This is my dream job,â€� he said. “If 91¹ú²ú didn’t let me have the freedom to do what I wanted, I wouldn’t have gotten the position I have now,â€� Abrams said.

His mom doesn’t mind that, as she predicted, her son went to Florida to work at Universal. “I get her free tickets to the park whenever she comes down to visit, so she forgives me,� Abrams explained.

Daniel Hickey: “Learning to be independent and teach myself�

Hickey is a technical designer for , where he works on the Zombies and Warzone modes of the popular video game Call of Duty. His mission there includes general programming and design work on quests in the game’s Zombies mode and on the seasonal updates of the Warzone mode.

“This is the job I always wanted,� he said. “I always wanted to be in the game industry, and I always wanted to be at the center of it all.�

High Moon Studios wasn’t the first step in his career, though. Graduating from 91¹ú²ú at the height of the pandemic, he got together with two friends to work on games and build their résumés. It paid off, helping him land a contract to work as a programmer and designer on Postal 4: No Regrets, the first-shooter game from Running With Scissors.

“That was a fun time, because I’m very, very locked in and focused on the action of video games,” Hickey said. “Anything to do with player combat is where I want to be in the driver’s seat of design and programming-wise.â€� Then he spent 10 months working for Mob Games on its Poppy Playtime game. All the indie work gave him a résumé that helped him land the job at High Moon, he said.

That same energy and drive had pushed Hickey to transfer to 91¹ú²ú from the New York City College of Technology to take advantage of the University’s new minor in video game design. Hickey majored in information systems, and said the program was solid preparation for being a game developer. “It’s a blend of business operation and computer science,â€� he said.

The skills he learned in the program have made him better able to work in the highly collaborative atmosphere of game development, where programmers, artists, sound designers and other teams work together to create the final product. “I learned to communicate with everybody, which helps us work smoothly,� he said.

Hickey said he was able to get the personal attention at 91¹ú²ú that he needed to succeed. “The school let me get close to all of my professors,â€� he said. “Honestly, I wasn’t the best student. I only saw school as a formality; I just wanted to make games.â€� His professors helped him channel his desire for hands-on experience and encouraged his entrepreneurial streak by pointing him toward clubs and independent studies.

Taking his professor’s advice, he dove into extracurricular activities. He got an internship with the , which runs esports tournaments, and founded Adelphi’s Esports club. He did so well in the internship that his boss recommended him for a position as a student ambassador for Unity Technologies, which connected him with game creators around the world. He became president of the campus chapter of the , turning the club into a group where students could work together on projects in the game development lab on campus. And he was a teaching assistant for Professor Lee Stemkoski, PhD’s video game course in 91¹ú²ú’s Pre-College Program.

One of the most important lessons he learned at 91¹ú²ú? “Dr. Stemkoski encouraged me to be independent and teach myself,â€� he said. “That’s a skill that keeps you learning for your entire life, even when you are out of school.â€�

The post How Two 91¹ú²ú Grads Landed Creative Dream Jobs After College appeared first on Adelphi.

Located inside Swirbul Library, the Center doesn’t feel like your usual classroom—it’s a flexible space designed to meet the needs of all students. The Center supports hands-on projects, research and creative work while offering opportunities to engage with leading-edge technologies in its key focus areas: artificial intelligence, extended reality and digital studies. Some students come to experiment with cutting-edge technology, while others arrive seeking a space to think differently and connect across disciplines.

“The mission of the Innovation Center is to empower the University community via interdisciplinary thinking and leading-edge technology in order to take on the challenges of our ever-changing world,� said Lee Stemkoski, PhD, director of the Innovation Center and professor and associate chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. “We inspire, support and showcase innovative and interdisciplinary activities within the University and in cooperation with industry and community partners.�

That mission comes to life every day—making the Innovation Center one of the most dynamic spots on campus.

A Place for All Majors to Gather

For Katelyn Schwab ’25, who majored in psychology and minored in social work, the Innovation Center wasn’t an obvious destination. She first walked in while reporting a story for The Delphian, 91¹ú²ú’s student newspaper. That one assignment led her to a campus job and eventually a deeper connection to the Center.

“As a psychology major, I wasn’t sure if I’d feel like I fit in at a space that seemed focused on tech and innovation. But when I got there, I immediately felt accepted,� Schwab said. It was one of the few places on campus where your major didn’t matter. That sense of inclusion and creative freedom really drew me in.�

Schwab said the Center gave her confidence and leadership skills she plans to carry into her future career in counseling. “It felt alive and personal in a way that traditional classroom learning rarely does,� she said.

A “Third Space� for Big Ideas

Ovundah Okene Jr., an interdisciplinary major in mathematics, art and computer science, describes the Center as a “third space�—somewhere between home and the classroom.

“It’s an ambient space like a coffee shop,� Okene said. “Ultimately the atmosphere is calm and inviting for all regardless of majors.�

One moment in particular that stuck with him was watching high school students tackle wildfire prediction during a hackathon in which they came up with a database model to track vegetation and forecast fire paths. “The determination in their eyes to complete their work in the time crunch, high-pressure event was inspiring,� Okune said.

That same spirit of exploration and persistence pushed Okune to rethink his own path. What began as curiosity soon became transformation. “I was following the will of my parents and was going to be a doctor,� he said. “My time at the Innovation Center made me see that one day I could also make a fine professor or a game developer … I’m glad I stumbled into Professor Stemkoski’s office that day.�

Turning Passion into Action

For Christopher Sciortino ’25, a computer science major now pursuing his master’s degree at 91¹ú²ú, the Innovation Center became the perfect place to share his passion for video game design.

“I hosted an interactive video game design workshop at the Innovation Center. It went so well, I ended up hosting part two of the workshop,� Sciortino said. “The Innovation Center provided the support and community to help me share my knowledge.

Those workshops not only connected him with other students who share his interest in gaming and artificial intelligence, but also improved his own skills. “The Center has opened my eyes to how many different disciplines utilize the different technologies we showcase at the Center,� Sciortino said.

Preparing for Future Careers

What makes the Innovation Center stand out, students say, is that it prepares them for more than just the next exam. Whether it’s learning how to collaborate or finding the courage to chase a new career path—the lessons go beyond the classroom.

“The Innovation Center is a special place,� Sciortino said. “I see it as the hub for innovation, collaboration and growth for both students and professors.�

Okene put it simply: “It’s my home away from home.�

And for Schwab, it’s proof that innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about people. “It’s one of the few places on campus that breaks down barriers between majors and encourages everyone to work together. It makes 91¹ú²ú feel more connected, more creative and more human,â€� she said. “If you’re curious, creative or just looking for somewhere to belong, you’ll find your place here.â€�

The post Students Find Community and Creativity at 91¹ú²ú’s Innovation Center appeared first on Adelphi.

Theater Tech With the Pros

Riley Oberting

Riley Oberting, now a senior double majoring in theatre technology and design and graphic design, got the opportunity to learn about sound design and lighting from professionals at the , the O’Neill is the country’s preeminent organization dedicated to the development of new works and new voices for the stage. He attended workshops and master classes and job shadowed sound designers.

The opportunity came about as a result of his work for 91¹ú²ú’s Department of Theatre. For 2023 and 2024, Oberting was awarded first place for his sound design at the . His win this year for his sound design for the 91¹ú²ú production of Men on Boats earned him a fellowship at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.

Oberting said his experience at the O’Neill “has allowed me to expand my knowledge past what is taught at 91¹ú²ú [as well as] my professional network before I’ve even graduated … [and] has truly changed my perspective on theatrical and live sound and made me love it even more.â€�

Getting Political in D.C.

Vanessa Desrosiers

Vanessa Desrosiers, now an 91¹ú²ú senior, is majoring in political science and minoring in cybersecurity. She is on the pre-law studies track and is planning to take the LSAT and apply to law schools. This summer, she got an inside look at the workings of a public relations defense lobbying firm, , in Arlington, Virginia.

Her day as a research analyst intern at The Potomac Advocates consisted of calling and drafting emails to congressional offices, collecting National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and appropriations forms for clients, cyber reports, going to congressional hearings and drafting reports, working on the federal defense budget, and attending networking events, where she met a lot of people in the defense industry.

She said she had always hoped for an opportunity such as this one to come around. “This was a period of growth that I never expected but [was] so happy I got to experience,� Desrosiers said. Her long-term goal is to become a lawyer and then start her own nonprofit for immigrant kids.

Houston, We Have a Competition

Christopher Sciortino

Christopher Sciortino is an 91¹ú²ú senior studying computer science with a minor in mathematics. He has a passion for game development and a love of programming. When Kevin Liang, PhD, assistant professor of physics, put forth the idea of competing in a NASA competition presented to university students in the United States, Sciortino and six other students accepted the challenge. The students were asked to take one of NASA’s IPs (intellectual property) and come up with some type of invention with it. Not only does this require a business and marketing plan, but also writing skills, technical skills and teamwork. After presenting in front of NASA-appointed judges, they would determine a winning team and runner-up to be sent to California to the AMES Research Center to further continue their business.

Sciortino’s team came up with a mobile carbon capture device to reduce emissions from trucks. They were accepted and invited to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to present their idea.

“When I said success stems from a good team, I meant it,� Sciortino said. “Not only did I work with amazing friends, but Dr. Liang was a crucial part of our success.� Although they didn’t win, Sciortino says he and his team learned a lot and made many great connections.

To Poland and Back

Faria Rahman Oyshi

Faria Rahman Oyshi is an international student and senior majoring in biochemistry Her love for cooking and baking led her into the field, where she now works in the stockroom and as a laboratory teaching assistant in the chemistry department. Recently, she had the opportunity to go abroad to Poland for her second consecutive summer, thanks to professor of chemistry Justyna Widera-Kalinoska, PhD’s and support from the College of Arts and Sciences Student Excellence Fund. During this trip, Oyshi conducted research at the University of Warsaw. This program allowed her not only to learn and execute research projects, but to learn about the scientific heritage of Poland. “For me, research has always been fun whilst also allowing me to contribute to the wellness of society and the environment,� Oyshi said.

The research project she joined focused on developing semiconductor electrode materials for photo-electrochemical water splitting, a field promising groundbreaking advancements in hydrogen fuel production. She had the opportunity to collaborate and strengthen her skills, allowing her to flourish and think outside the box.

“Conducting research in Poland for two consecutive summers not only allowed me to have hands-on experiences with advanced instrumentations and techniques, but also to shape and strengthen my research skills, building me as a competitive candidate for PhD programs and future research positions as a scientist.�

The post College of Arts and Sciences Students Go Out of the Classroom and Into the World appeared first on Adelphi.

We asked Cooper about her art and her inspiration for this meaningful project.

Tell us a bit about yourself as an artist and an art educator

I earned my Master of Fine Arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2012 and I’m actually an 91¹ú²ú alum! I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2009. I have been teaching for more than 10 years across Long Island and have been teaching at 91¹ú²ú in the Department of Art and Art History since 2014. In 2022, I started Protégé Art Studio, where I teach classes and workshops to adults. My goal is to make art more accessible to everyone. I am a painter and have experience working in acrylic, oil and gouache paint, in addition to drawing and digital media. I don’t think I can pick a favorite medium as it truly depends on what I’m working on at the moment. In my personal work, I am interested in exploring: family, relationships, the idea of home, community, love, loneliness, isolation, humor, sadness, happiness, food and gathering around the table.

What gave you the idea to start the To Robyn With Love project?

is a collaborative project that was derived from my need to feel more connected to those around me after the loss of my grandfather in 2015. Each postcard has an original pattern I designed that serves as a starting point for inspiration. Once complete, I ask for the piece to be titled, their connection to me recorded and then mailed back to me. When I receive each postcard, it reminds me that I’m never truly alone.

How do you decide on the pattern you will draw to begin each postcard project?

I took a lot of inspiration from coloring books, wallpaper designs, architecture and nature. I wanted them to each feel unique so participants could simply follow the pattern by coloring it in or create a completely new design right on top of the existing pattern.

Who was the first person you sent a postcard to and when? How many have you sent since that time and how do you choose who to send them to?

I think my family was the first to participate. They are the source of inspiration for what I do so it feels only right they get to be the ones to experience something first. I don’t have an exact number of how many I have sent but I would estimate hundreds. Anyone can participate! Some are from family and friends, others from friends of friends, people on social media and even an entire fourth-grade class. Participants’ ages range from 4 to 90 years old.

Do you have any favorite finished projects?

The ones my family did, especially my grandparents, are special to me but I honestly love all of them. It makes me realize how much community and love and support I have. You share your love with me by participating; I share mine back by painting a rock on top.

The post Patterns of Connection appeared first on Adelphi.

What is The Green House exhibit all about?

A greenhouse is a structure designed to nurture and cultivate. These paintings tell the story of a house that was green, that nurtured and cultivated me.

There is always an autobiographical component in my paintings. I often use objects as stand-ins for people. I believe objects tell stories, and spaces hold memories. With this body of work, I wanted to create a dialogue between spaces and objects. I wanted to bring the viewer up close. I wanted to see how and if our stories could intersect.

My childhood home or, as I fondly call it, The Vortex, was the source of many memories, joys and traumas. An outsider would call the green house a hoarder’s house, but to me it was a treasure chest that was filled with unsorted objects, collectibles and detritus.

After the death of my parents, I began the arduous task of emptying my family home and putting their life stories back in context. As I prepared to sell the house they lived in for 45 years, I decided to revisit this microcosmic universe in order to better understand small fragments of its complicated, tense beauty and power.

Do you have a favorite piece from this exhibit? What makes it your favorite?

This body of work was made during my semester-long sabbatical. All of these paintings are important to me and I love seeing them all together in the gallery. To me, they are in dialogue with one another. If I had to pick a favorite, I’d be torn between two paintings: Her Room With a View and Self Portrait.

Her Room With a View is a painting of a stained glass window in my childhood home. I made the panel to the exact dimensions of the window. I feel as if I get to keep that part of the house and take it with me wherever I go.

Self Portrait is a painting of a deflating balloon. I think this work is simultaneously humorous and melancholy. It speaks to how I felt in that green house. I was always positive and optimistic. I was a motivating force in the house. When tasked with emptying and selling the house, I felt heavy and burdened. I felt as if I was floating just above the floor hoping I wouldn’t crash to the ground.

What is your background as an artist, and how long have you taught at 91¹ú²ú?

I have been painting for almost 30 years. I am primarily a still life painter with an interest/obsession with trompe l’oeil painting—French for “deceives the eye,” this painting style creates a highly realistic illusion of three-dimensional space and objects on a two-dimensional surface.

I’ve been on the faculty of 91¹ú²ú’s Department of Art and Art History for 22 years. I specialize in teaching Foundations courses, Color Theory, and Painting, and I have led our study abroad program since 2008.

The post Faculty Artist Preserves Memories of Her Childhood Home in Trompe L’Oeil appeared first on Adelphi.

Now the 57-year-old museum is refreshing the way it represents itself—and it has hired David Pierce, assistant professor of art and art history at 91¹ú²ú, to help lead the process.

“I am consulting with them on creating a new brand guideline book and brand identity,” Pierce said.

Pierce spent this past summer in Hanoi working directly with the museum’s director of communications and staff members to develop designs for a new logo, signage, floor map, brochure and gift packaging.

New signage puts a smile on an imposing building

Housed in an 86-year-old colonial structure built as a boarding school for the daughters of French officials, the museum blends in with government buildings in its neighborhood. One

A design for the new museum brochure.

of Pierce’s first tasks was to help it stand out by designing colorful banners to hang on the building’s facade.

“They’re like the banners you see when you walk by MoMA [Museum of Modern Art] in New York City on any given day,” he said. “They keep the museum from looking like an office building. The banners make it look like a welcoming place you want to come to.”

He is also revising the museum’s red and gray palette, adding a range of playful colors to make everything from signs to gift shop tote bags feel more modern and lively.

“Red is the national color of Vietnam, so we kept that as the primary color,” he said. “But since color plays a massive role in communicating identity and mood, we’ll be adding colors like oranges and greens. The new branding will say, ‘This is a vibrant place where you can bring your family, or you can just wander in and feel welcome.’ ”

Pierce isn’t stopping there. He’s adding a second font to the museum’s style book to give signage and brochures a more contemporary appearance, and he’s proposed incorporating a pattern from the museum building’s traditional Vietnamese woodwork as a visual motif for use on signs, tote bags and the institution’s website. He is also redesigning the floor maps inside the museum to make it easier for visitors to find their way through the rambling building.

Pierce returned to the United States at the end of the summer and is continuing to work with the staff on many of the details. He will return to Hanoi to complete the project.

A history with Vietnam

Pierce’s stay in Vietnam this past summer was hardly his first. He had been there many times during his three years teaching graphic design in

The artist in his studio.

Hong Kong. A friend who works as a translator for the museum learned of the institution’s desire to redesign its signage and introduced Pierce to the museum’s director of design.

“I went to Hanoi to visit the museum and say hello,” Pierce said. “We sat down and started talking design. Then the conversation led to collaboration and this partnership grew from there.”

Pierce’s work with the museum is just one of his many projects. A designer, painter, filmmaker and animator, he has exhibited in Taiwan, Thailand, England, Italy and Israel, as well as extensively in galleries in New York City. His films, most recently the animated short Plausible Audio, have been selected for numerous festivals.

He is very satisfied with his collaboration with the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum.

“It’s been an amazing project,” he said, “and I’m excited that it’s going to help bring even more people into this gorgeous old building to see the incredible stuff the museum is doing.”

The post When a National Museum in Vietnam Needed a Makeover, It Called On an Expert From 91¹ú²ú appeared first on Adelphi.