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 91ąú˛ú, 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 91ąú˛ú, 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 91ąú˛ú.

Susan Kang ’14, MS ’15, DPT, is a clinical assistant professor of health and sport sciences. An 91ąú˛ú alumna and former graduate assistant in the Human Performance Lab, Dr. Kang is excited to return to 91ąú˛ú 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 91ąú˛ú’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 91ąú˛ú 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 91ąú˛ú, 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 91ąú˛ú since 2018; after discovering how much she loved teaching, Vahldieck returned to graduate school to pursue her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at 91ąú˛ú. 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 91ąú˛ú’s faculty, visit our Faculty Profiles.

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That transformation became the foundation of his career. After graduation, Culkin spoke at the opening of 91ąú˛ú’s sensory room about autism, self-acceptance and the importance of Bridges. There he met Julian Maha, MD, founder of KultureCity, a nonprofit dedicated to accessibility and inclusion for people with invisible disabilities. Culkin joined the organization while working in clinical cancer research, eventually leaving the laboratory to make disability inclusion his full-time work in 2024.

As KultureCity’s partnerships manager, Culkin develops educational programs, leads community-learning webinars and visits certified locations to help organizations serve neurodiverse guests effectively. He builds partnerships with schools, hospitals, first responders, arenas, cultural institutions and other community organizations. He has also helped make major public events—including the Super Bowl, World Series, the Governors Ball Music Festival and the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration—more accessible for people with invisible disabilities.

Culkin serves on the board of RVC Blue Speaks, which provides scholarships for neurodiverse students, including Bridges students, and competes in marathons and triathlons to raise funds for KultureCity.

Adelphi honors Culkin for turning self-acceptance into advocacy and building a more accessible world where neurodivergent people can participate fully and confidently.

Member of 91ąú˛ú’s

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The Peru experience inspired a sustained commitment to service, while peer tutoring revealed a love of teaching and mentorship. After graduating from 91ąú˛ú, Dr. Jabour earned her dental degree from the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine and completed a general practice residency at Stony Brook University Hospital, where she served as chief resident. She later spent two years as a volunteer clinical assistant professor at Stony Brook, mentoring and educating future dentists.

Now a general dentist in Suffolk County, Dr. Jabour brings a decade of study, training and service to caring for her community. Her volunteer work has reached communities locally, nationally and internationally, and the principle connecting every part of her career is integrity: maintaining the patient’s needs and dignity at the center of care, even amid the pace and pressures of professional life.

Adelphi recognizes Dr. Jabour for using her clinical expertise to serve others, developing future healthcare professionals and carrying the lessons of study abroad and peer mentorship into a life of principled community care.

Member of 91ąú˛ú’s

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In anatomy and pharmacology courses, she built the scientific knowledge she relies on in clinical practice today.

After graduation, Young joined Cohen Children’s Medical Center, where she has spent nearly eight years caring for critically ill infants and supporting their families. She now serves on both the neonatal intensive care unit team and the pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, team. ECMO temporarily performs the work of a patient’s heart and lungs, and the children who require it are often among the most critically ill patients in the hospital.

Young considers it a privilege to earn families’ trust during some of the most difficult days of their lives. She takes particular pride in her ability to explain what is happening, calm parents’ fears, and offer relief amid medical uncertainty. That steady, compassionate presence is as central to her nursing practice as her specialized clinical knowledge.

Adelphi celebrates Young as a 2026 10 Under 10 honoree for bringing skill, composure and humanity to the highest-stakes moments of pediatric care—and for embodying the science and compassion at the heart of an 91ąú˛ú nursing education.

Member of 91ąú˛ú’s

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He made the opportunity his own as a finance student in the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, an Honors College scholar, a saxophonist in the Jazz Ensemble, and a tutor in the Learning and Writing Center.

Jacobson graduated at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and began his career remotely as a financial analyst at Northwell Health. While learning a new job from home, he returned to 91ąú˛ú for an accelerated MS in business analytics, gaining skills in programming, data analysis and modeling that he continues to use in his work. He advanced to senior analyst after three years and was subsequently promoted to supervisor.

Today, as supervisor, corporate finance, at Northwell, Jacobson performs financial modeling and analytics related to insurance reimbursement across Northwell’s hospitals. He interprets contracts, analyzes data and helps the health system understand the financial implications of reimbursement arrangements. As a supervisor, he also trains and develops newer analysts—drawing directly on the individualized approach he learned as a peer tutor in 91ąú˛ú’s Learning and Writing Center tutor. He finds particular satisfaction in seeing his team members master new skills, complete important projects and present successfully to senior leaders.

Jacobson continues to make space for the interests and relationships that enriched his 91ąú˛ú experience, including regularly returning to 91ąú˛ú to perform with the Jazz Ensemble.

Adelphi honors Jacobson for his rapid professional growth, his investment in others’ success and his enduring engagement with the University community.

Member of 91ąú˛ú’s

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An internship at Random House during the summer before her senior year clarified her path. After graduation, DeBois joined Random House Children’s Books as a marketing assistant and has continued to grow with the company. She now serves as assistant director, licensed marketing, overseeing campaigns for licensed publishing programs and collaborating with partners including Disney, Sesame Street and Nickelodeon to connect young readers with beloved characters and stories.

DeBois has also become a published children’s author of Little Golden Books featuring properties from Nickelodeon, Star Wars, Marvel and Sesame Street.

Her career began taking shape on campus in another important way. During four years as an 91ąú˛ú Admissions Ambassador, DeBois learned the power of branding and authentic storytelling while helping prospective students envision their own futures at the University. She remains close to friends she met at 91ąú˛ú, including through a shared book club.

Adelphi recognizes DeBois for building a creative career that brings books to young audiences and for using stories to help people find connection, possibility and joy.

Member of 91ąú˛ú’s

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After graduation, Berlin worked as a paralegal in family and matrimonial law before enrolling at New York Law School with a clear interest in mental health and disability law. She interned with several organizations serving people with disabilities and participated in the school’s Civil Rights and Disability Justice Clinic. She graduated magna cum laude, served on the New York Law School Law Review, joined the Dean’s Leadership Council and received the Alvin J. Bronstein Civil Rights and Social Justice Award.

Berlin began her legal career as a Wilf Public Interest Legal Fellow with Disability Rights New York (DRNY), a New York Law School-funded postgraduate program that places recent graduates with social justice organizations. Now serving as a staff attorney at the agency—New York state’s federally designated protection and advocacy system—she represents individuals with mental illness in matters involving employment, special education and access to public accommodations. She also monitors facilities for abuse and neglect and contributes to federal class action litigation, including a recent settlement intended to improve community-based mental health services for an estimated 200,000 Medicaid-eligible children statewide.

Adelphi honors Berlin for challenging inequitable systems while empowering individual clients with the knowledge and confidence to advocate for themselves.

Member of 91ąú˛ú’s

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Faculty members Professor Robert Siegfried, PhD; Professor Lee Stemkoski, PhD; Assistant Teaching Professor Kristin Pepper; and Kees Leune, PhD, associate professor and chair of mathematics and computer science, helped Erica build both technical confidence and a collaborative approach to learning.

Erica graduated with departmental honors as a computer science major. While working on their degree, they held student worker positions at Swirbul Library, the Office of Information Technology and in the Mathematics and Computer Science department. They also interned with the Village of Garden City.

Soon after graduation, Erica was selected for the Microsoft Research Data Science Summer School, a program serving students from diverse, nontraditional and underrepresented backgrounds in STEM. Their team studied customer loyalty using public data and presented its findings at Microsoft Research New York and national diversity-in-computing conferences. Erica then returned to 91ąú˛ú to support the University’s analytics and data-visualization work before earning an MS in computer science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Erica joined The Walt Disney Company first through internships in data science, management science and data engineering and has been with the company full time since early 2020. As a senior data engineer, they partner across product and decision-science teams to define data needs, build pipelines and support the infrastructure that informs decisions throughout the company.

Erica also creates opportunities for others in technology. They were a technologist representative of Disney at the Grace Hopper Celebration in 2019 and, since 2024, have helped lead the Disney Data & Analytics Women Award experience, which brings four women in analytics to the company’s annual conference to present research and build professional relationships.

Adelphi recognizes Erica for technical leadership, career achievement, and sustained work to widen access and belonging in computing and analytics.

Member of 91ąú˛ú’s

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He found both—and a community of people and everyday experiences that helped shape his values, relationships and sense of self.

After 91ąú˛ú, Jordan set his sights on becoming a psychologist and pursued clinical and research experience wherever curiosity led him. He cold-emailed people and institutions, volunteered and created opportunities for himself in rehabilitation clinics, county jails, memory care units and suicide hotlines on his path to a clinical psychology doctoral program.

Jordan recently completed his doctoral internship with Lehigh University’s Counseling & Psychological Services and now works at Formal Therapy, a New York City private practice, at the intersection of mental health and athletic performance. He helps athletes and other high performers examine their experiences, navigate the pressures of competition and daily life, and better understand themselves.

Jordan brings firsthand insight to that work through his own career as an elite marathoner. He began running as an outlet during a stressful period, gradually building his mileage before entering—and winning—his first marathon. He went on to compete at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, race the New York City Marathon three times, and complete both the Boston and Chicago marathons. He now aspires to compete in the marathon at the 2028 Olympic Games and provide psychological and performance services to Olympic athletes.

Of all these accomplishments, Jordan is proudest of his commitment to staying true to himself.

Adelphi celebrates Jordan as a 2026 10 Under 10 honoree for uniting clinical insight, athletic excellence and an uncommon willingness to persevere—giving himself and the people he serves another chance to grow.

Member of 91ąú˛ú’s

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Through mentors in the Honors College and Department of Dance, particularly history professor Anagnostis Agelarakis, PhD, she discovered those interests could strengthen one another. An 91ąú˛ú field school in Crete, Greece, introduced her to osteology, bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology, while a study abroad experience at the London Contemporary Dance School led her to the city where she would pursue graduate study.

Davidson earned an MSc with distinction in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology from University College London, where she is currently a PhD Candidate. Her research has developed into a broader examination of decision-making, cognitive bias and professional standards in forensic science. Her work has included nearly 20 first-authored conference presentations, invited lectures at institutions including Oxford University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and service on a recovery team searching in Sicily for the remains of a missing World War II pilot. She has also analyzed ancestral human remains for the National Museum of Natural History’s Repatriation Office at the Smithsonian Institution and consulted on cold cases and possible wrongful convictions across several states.

Today, Davidson is an assistant teaching professor of forensic science at Loyola University Maryland. She teaches and mentors undergraduate and graduate students, conducts award-winning research, and serves on a national task group that develops standards to improve forensic science reliability. A recent study she led examined how transcripts can bias listeners’ interpretations of poor-quality audio and informed a post-conviction appeal.

Adelphi recognizes Davidson for advancing the rigor and fairness of forensic science while bringing compassion, ethics and interdisciplinary thinking to her students, her research and the justice system.

Member of 91ąú˛ú’s

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