magazine - new york institute of technology€¦ · magazine spring 2009 volume 7 number 2...

M A G A Z I N Ewww.nyi t .edu

S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 ■ V O L U M E 7 ■ N U M B E R 2

Vol7No2_cov.qxd 3/16/09 11:20 PM

Where’s YourCareer Going?

NYIT’s Office of Career Services canhelp you refine your career plansand put you in touch with topemployers. Our professional careercounselors can help you succeednow and in the future.

• Access NYIT’s Career Net atwww.nyit.edu/cs

• Find employment opportunities worldwide

• Attend professional development workshops

• Take an online assessment test

• Post resumés and cover letters

For more information or to schedule anappointment, call 516.686.7527,

212.261.1537, or e-mail [email protected].

NYIT’s Office of Career Services is a member of theNational Association of Colleges and Employers.

Vol7No2_002-Career Services2.qxd 3/17/09 3:08 PM

FEATU R ES16 ■ SILICON GRADS

Bill Zerella (B.S. ’78), Anthony Gioeli(B.S. ’88), Michael Klein (M.B.A. ’87),and Art Klein (B.S. ’76) find success inthe center of the high-tech industry.

1 4 ■ ENGINEERINGA VISION

Nada Marie Assaf-Anid, Ph.D., joinsNYIT as the new dean of the School ofEngineering and Computing Sciences.

Spring 2009 ■ MAGAZINE ■ www.nyit.edu ■ 3

C O N T E N T S S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 ■ V O L . 7 N O . 2M AG A Z I N E

www.nyi t .edu

CAM PUS BUZZ

6 ■ U.S. Secretary of Education Visits NYIT-Abu Dhabi

Margaret Spellings hails NYIT as a“trailblazer” in global higher education.

7 ■ Students Spend a Day at the Markets

Visits to financial landmarks allow students to learn how their educationtranslates into the real world.

10 ■ Out of the Blue, NYIT Dean Furthers Staph Treatment

Chukuka Enwemeka, Ph.D., discovers a new method for stomping the “super-bug” bacteria.

SCOREBOARD

26 ■ The Bears of Summer

Don Cooper, Allen Watson, and RayGiannelli (B.S. ’96) share their storiesabout life in Major League Baseball.

ALUM N I NOTES

30 ■ Graduates on the GoNYIT alumni around the world sharetheir stories and accomplishments.

32 ■ Alumni SpotlightAllison Baver (M.B.A. ’07) will skate forthe gold at the XXI Winter Olympics.

2 2 ■ TEACHING THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

NYIT celebrates its legacy in China as it expands its academic degree programs,student exchange opportunities, and alumni outreach efforts.

DEPARTM ENTS

4 ■ President’s NoteNYIT defines the teaching curve as itembraces technology’s role in our world.

42 ■ Guest ColumnGlenn Calafati (B.S. ’98) discusses howNYIT gave him the mindset to pursue acareer that’s been full of opportunities.

COVE

R:M

ICHA

EL V

IGG

IANO

(DES

IGN)

; ANG

ELA

MAR

SHAL

L (M

.A.’0

6), F

ARAN

AK F

ARHA

NG, J

AMES

REY

NOLD

S, R

ON

KUNA

TEER

ACHA

DALA

I (PH

OTO

GRA

PHY)

Vol7No2_003-toc 7.qxd 3/17/09 7:01 PM Page 1

PR ES IDENT’SNOTE EDWARD GU I L IANO, PH.D .

4 ■ www.nyit.edu ■ MAGAZINE ■ Spring 2009

A November 2008 study, Livingand Learning with New Media, con-ducted by the MacArthur Foundation,notes that “to stay relevant in the21st century, educational institutionsneed to keep pace with the rapidchanges introduced by digitalmedia.” This technology-fueledworld, add the researchers, is creat-ing vast opportunities for youngpeople to explore their interests,develop skills that will prove usefullater in life, and invent new ways toexpress themselves.

Our undergraduates are indeedsurrounded by a breadth of technologyand information that they incorpo-rate seamlessly into their worlds. The data stream that flows throughthe consciousness of today’s studentsempowers them to learn and work inways that were unthinkable even 10years ago. Digital traffic lanes alsoafford us quicker, more efficient waysto create new methodologies ofteaching. Educational barriers thatwere once rigid and constrictive arenow engaging and boundless.

Clearly, NYIT has always been aleader in recognizing the role thattechnology plays in our world. Sincethe 1950s, our students have beentaught to incorporate technologyinto their careers. Today, this is ofthe utmost importance, especiallywhen you consider that students arepreparing for careers that do noteven exist today. By learning how toadapt to new technologies, they willdefine these new vocations with the

skills and knowledge they bringwith them. Their careers will bea continuing learning process.

But we do more than empha-size the technology in our name.We embrace it—from our distributed learning centers thatlink NYIT students around theworld, to new degree programsthat focus on emerging technolo-gies and industries, to giving ourstudents the latest classroomtools, such as robotic patients and3-D motion capture studios.

Our technology focus hasgiven us an understanding of howinterconnected the world is andhow knowledge and appreciationof diverse cultures, methodolo-gies, and approaches are valuabletools in the highly competitiveglobal marketplace. We under-stand the need to think from aworldly perspective. Employersof the fastest-growing industries puta premium on a skilled workforcewith a global mindset, and graduatesmust keep up with the “brain race.”

The good news is that we areattracting a high caliber of studentseach year, as shown by grade pointaverages and test scores. Our com-petitive programs in the health professions, for example, receivemore qualified applicants than theycan ever accept—our physician assistant’s program receives morethan 1,000 applications for 52 available seats, and our osteopathicmedical school received many more

applications last year than any otheryear in its history.

All of these elements add up to anNYIT that is on the right track tobecoming a model 21st-century university. We will continue to pro-duce global citizens who can competein today’s marketplace, redefine thenotion of a classroom without bor-ders, and promote the free-flowingexchange of ideas among our campuses

throughout the world. As NYIT students earn their degrees withinthis platform, our campuses aroundthe world will become idea centerswhere commerce, culture, intellectu-alism, and academics congregate andwhere we meet to work on new waysof improving our society. Truly, aworthy investment.

I encourage you to join us on thisjourney. ■

Sincerely,

Edward Guiliano, Ph.D.President

N TODAY’S WORLD, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO SUPPORT

INITIATIVES THAT WILL LEAD TO A BETTER TOMORROW. INVESTMENTS IN

KEY SECTORS, SUCH AS HIGHER EDUCATION, CONTINUALLY REAP DIVIDENDS.

NYIT ALUMNI, MANY OF WHOM ARE FEATURED IN THIS MAGAZINE, ARE PROOF OF

THIS CONCEPT, SERVING AS INNOVATORS AND LEADERS IN HEALTH CARE,

COMMUNICATIONS, ARCHITECTURE, EDUCATION, AND COMPUTER SCIENCE.

Defining the Teaching Curve

CRAI

G W

ALLA

CE D

ALE

I

Vol7No2_004-Presidents 4.qxd 3/17/09 3:47 PM

NYIT’s Partners Fund supports groundbreaking

research that has led to:

Did YouKnow?

Support NYIT’s Partners Fund and help change the world.Go to www.nyit.edu/partnersfund to make your gift today.

State-of-the-art computer animationthat will provide entertainment forfuture generations

Discoveries in solarpower and new forms of sustainable energy

Advanced treatment for patientswith Parkinson’s disease

The design of a crew module insideNASA’s new Orion spacecraft

Vol7No2_005-Partners Fund 3.qxd 3/17/09 3:09 PM

CAM P U SB U Z Z


Students, faculty, and staff atNYIT-Abu Dhabi had the chanceto interact with one of the lead-

ing voices in 21st-century global education when Margaret Spellings,the secretary of education under theGeorge W. Bush Administration, visitedthe university’s United Arab Emiratescampus on Nov. 3, 2008.

Speaking to a group of 170 that alsoincluded guests from the business, educational, and government sectors,Spellings described how NYIT students“are blessed with enormous opportuni-ties: a world of information at your fingertips; an economy that moves asfast as you can think; a society thatincreasingly rewards effort and merit,and shuns discrimination and corrup-tion … and an education that gives youthe tools to improve your circumstancesand the lives of those around you—awonderful gift, a treasure.” She encour-aged the students to use their educationto tackle today’s environmental, medical,and economic challenges by “improvingwhat exists and creating what has neverexisted before.”

NYIT has offered degree programsin Abu Dhabi since 2005 and, in 2007,became the first American universityin the U.A.E. licensed by the Ministryof Education and Scientific Research.

Secretary Spellings is the first speakerin NYIT’s ongoing Presidential LectureSeries to present at a venue outside ofthe United States. She joins a roster of distinguished leaders from the business, government, and academiccommunities, including Microsoft’sBill Gates and Jonathan Miller, former

chief executive officer of AOL. During her visit, Secretary Spellings

was the guest of honor at a dinnerhosted by Edward Guiliano, Ph.D.,president of NYIT, and His ExcellencySheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan,the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UnitedArab Emirates.

“The Secretary’s plan of action forhigher education targets improvingeducational accessibility, affordability,and accountability throughout theworld,” said President Guiliano. “As part of this, she sees global collaboration and the utilization oftechnology as key to empowering students everywhere.”

“By working together, we can setboth a course for the future and anexample for today,” Secretary Spellingstold attendees. “We have nothing tolose, and a world to gain.” ■

Edward Guiliano, Ph.D., president of NYIT, and U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings tourthe NYIT-Abu Dhabi campus prior to her presentation as part of NYIT’s Presidential Lecture Series.

Secretary Spellings chats with NYIT students in the interior design computer lab (left) as shereviews their projects. During her Nov. 3 visit to NYIT-Abu Dhabi, Secretary Spellings cited NYIT as a “trailblazer” in global higher education.

NYIT-Abu Dhabi WelcomesU.S. Secretary of Education

Vol7No2_006-13-Campus buzz 8.qxd 3/17/09 5:03 PM


MICHAEL SCHIAVETTA(M.A. ’07)

[email protected]

BEN ARCURISports Information Director

[email protected]

CONTRIBUTORS BOBBIE DELL’AQUILODirector, Editorial Services

[email protected]

LORI KAMEN (M.A. ’05)Communications Manager

[email protected]

SCOTT LIU, PH.D.LORRAINE TODISCO

DAVID MCKAY WILSONAMY WU

Contributing Writers

MICHAEL VIGGIANODesign

NYIT Magazine is published by

New York Institute of Technology

Northern Boulevard P.O. Box 8000

Old Westbury, NY 11568-8000

Visit us at www.nyit.eduor call 800.345.NYIT

The publication is distributed to

alumni, parents, friends, and

faculty and staff members of NYIT

(circulation: 60,000).

Copyright © 2009 NYIT

Reproduction in whole or

in part is prohibited without

written permission.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Please send subscription requests

and change-of-address

correspondence to

[email protected] or

call 516.686.7800.

M AG A Z I N Ewww.nyi t .edu

For NYIT graduate business studentYu Ze Ang, “A Day on Wall Street”wasn’t just a field trip; it was a glimpse

into the future of his financial career.Along with 19 other NYIT students

(pictured above), Ang gained access tosome of the world’s most venerable finan-cial institutions as part of a day-long pro-gram organized by NYIT’s Officeof Alumni Relations in partnershipwith the School of Management.Stops during the Nov. 20, 2008,Day on Wall Street event includedthe Federal Reserve Bank of NewYork, the Museum of AmericanFinance, the American StockExchange, and lunch with NYITalumni who work at leading financial firms.

At each location, students hadthe chance to interact directly withWall Street executives and learnhow an NYIT business educationtranslates into the real world ofglobal finance.

“It is one thing to learn about theseplaces in the classroom but an entirely different experience to meet and talk withthose individuals who actually work in thefinancial district, and who can give us a better idea of how important their jobs andthese organizations are to the economy,”said Ang, who plans to graduate this Maywith a Master of Business Administration in management.

A Day on Government AvenueWall Street wasn’t the only place where

theory met practice for NYIT students.Finance professors Ali Al Farden, SamyNathan Garas, and Moade Shoebeita ofNYIT-Bahrain took a group to visit theBahrain Stock Exchange (BSE) onGovernment Avenue in Manama last fall

to meet Abdul Hamid Abdul Ghaffar, headof financial analysis and research, and RanyaBaqer, administrator of public relations andmarketing. The BSE officials presented adetailed history of the exchange and its con-tribution to the Bahrain economy. Studentsalso visited the trading room and witnessedfirst-hand how stockbrokers impact themarket by getting in touch with their clientsto execute real-time trades. ■

Students Spend a Day at the Markets

As part of their NYIT business education, students in Bahrain(above) interacted with global financial leaders.


CAM PU SB U Z Z


NYIT has been fortunate to find severalexperienced executives to fill key roles inits administration. Here are some newmembers of the NYIT community:

Marc Warner joined NYIT inSeptember 2008 as vice president forcommunications and marketing. Hisresponsibilities include leadingNYIT’s global integrated marketinginitiatives and guiding the university’saward-winning communications,marketing, public relations, andadvertising efforts.

“We are delighted that Marc hasjoined our university during thistransformative time,” said PresidentGuiliano. “His extensive talent andsuccessful track record, especiallywith branding and new media, willopen up new channels of communica-tion to help us better serve our students and more effectively deliverour key messages.”

Warner has more than 15 years ofexperience in new media, marketing,interactive advertising, and brandmanagement. He most recently servedas director of advertising and brandmanagement at Emblem Health (theparent company of HIP Health Planof New York and Global HealthIncorporated), where he spearheadedthe development and launch of thecompany’s brand architecture. Earlier,he was a senior producer at a premierNew York City interactive advertisingagency and a corporate liaison for anindependent film and video productioncompany. Warner received a master offine arts degree in film and televisionfrom New York University TischGraduate School of the Arts and abachelor’s degree from HarvardUniversity, where he received theprestigious Clive Hoffman MediaScholarship in Journalism.

In the fall of 2008, Laura Schranzwas named director of foundationand corporate relations, responsiblefor leading NYIT’s philanthropicoutreach efforts. Schranz brings

to NYIT more than 15 years of expe-rience in fundraising and government,public, and community relations.Most recently, she served as directorof grants and government relations at The Resource Group Inc. in Hol-brook, N.Y.

“Her diverse experience will bebeneficial in helping to advanceNYIT’s mission through philanthropy,

strategic partnerships, and communityengagement,” said Cynthia Gorman,NYIT’s vice president for develop-ment. Schranz earned her bachelor’sdegree from the State University ofNew York at Stony Brook and internedat Common Cause, a nonpartisan,nonprofit political advocacy organiza-tion based in Washington, D.C.

Julie Fratrik joined NYIT inNovember 2008 as director of thenew Center for Global AcademicExchange. In this role, she willdevelop and implement internationalprograms for students wanting tostudy at NYIT in New York, as well

as those in New York interested in pursuing their education at NYIT’scampuses in China and the MiddleEast. Her debut efforts included afive-week summer program atNYIT’s Manhattan campus in whichstudents can take one or two M.B.A.courses, supplemented by visits toWall Street and cultural excursions.

“The merits and experiences of aglobal education are invaluable,”said Fratrik, “not only to a student’spersonal and professional growth,but to the advancement of dialogand mutual understanding aroundthe world.” The former coordinatorof international programs at theNew School for Social Research,she is also a New York Cares volun-teer at the Yorkville Common food pantry in her East Harlem,N.Y., neighborhood.

As the first-ever NYIT Director ofAlumni Relations for China, Pei(Peggy) Wu joined the Office ofDevelopment and Alumni Relationsjust in time to coordinate NYIT’salumni celebrations in China thisApril. She will be integral in bring-ing together a substantial base ofalumni and will develop special out-reach initiatives, including marketingand networking events. Wu will alsofurther define ways in which NYITalumni can support the university’songoing undergraduate and graduateprograms in China—as mentors,financial supporters, and employers.

A New York graduate of NYIT’sM.B.A. program, she received a bachelor’s degree in broadcastingfrom Beijing CommunicationsUniversity. Wu has served in variousmanagerial roles in the import-exportindustry and as an award-winningnews reporter in Guizhou, China.

“I am excited to be able to furtherNYIT’s programs in China,” saidWu. “I look forward to meeting manyof our Chinese alumni at our eventsin April 2009, and developing strongrelationships with them.” ■

NYIT Welcomes New Faces

Vice President for Communications andMarketing Marc Warner will direct NYIT’sglobal integrated marketing efforts.

JEFF

WEI

NER



GREEN TIDINGS TO ALLNYIT has updated several of its

print communications using eco-friendly materials. In doing so, itmade significant inroads to its goalof becoming a sustainable 21st-century university. The 2008-2009catalogs were printed on a newstock of paper that is 100 percentpost-consumer waste. This savedan estimated 117 trees, 106 million BTUs, 50,438 gallons ofwater, 17,499 pounds of green-house gases, and 5,641 pounds of solid waste. The results are certified by the Forest StewardshipCouncil and verify NYIT’s responsi-ble use of forest resources.

In addition, the new ink used toprint this issue of NYIT Magazinecontains a minimum of 20 percent,by weight, of renewable resources.

The Office of the Bursar, mean-while, is no longer issuing paperstatements; students may nowaccess their bills, tax forms, andpayment plans online.

Read more about NYIT’s sustain-ability initiatives in the Fall 2008issue of NYIT Magazine.

ADDED DEGREE OF SECURITYNYIT’s School of Management

has added a Management ofInformation Systems (M.I.S.)Security concentration to itsMaster of Business Administrationprogram. The new program bene-fits from NYIT’s longstanding relationship with the InformationSystems Audit and ControlAssociation, the premier globalM.I.S. security organization.

BABY BOOM, BABY BUSTOn Sept. 18, 2008, NYIT’s Old

Westbury campus provided theforum for a discussion about thechallenges and opportunities ofsuburban aging when it hosted itsfirst annual aging and society con-ference, “Baby Boom, Baby Bust:Is Suburbia Ready For The AgeWave?” Organized by NYIT’sCenter for Gerontology and

(continued on page 10)

IN BRIEF

Students Collaborate on a

‘Shore Thing’NYIT architecture students, along

with peers from Cornell University,Carnegie Mellon University, and

Politecnico di Milano (Milan, Italy), workedwith the American Institute of ArchitectsRegional/Urban Design Assistance Team inthe fall 2008 semester on a comprehensiveplan to develop Staten Island’s (N.Y.)waterfront. The area comprises one of thelargest underutilized waterfronts in theUnited States and is home to the largestsupply of vacant land in New York City.

The Staten Island Chamber ofCommerce’s survey, It’s a Shore Thing, provided a framework for the group as theystudied the area, met with community members, and prepared designs for theborough. A team of NYIT architectureprofessors supervised the students’ partici-pation in this multidisciplinary project,which included developing strategies tofoster sustainable, cultural, economic, andresidential development.

“The waterfront seems to have gotten lostin time,” said NYIT student Gail Gambariniin an interview with the Staten Island Advance.“It has this huge history, but it seems to havegotten disconnected somehow.”

In December, the team presented theirdesigns to community members and architec-ture professionals, as well as planning officialsfrom the Staten Island Borough President’sOffice, who will develop a waterfront strategyinspired by the NYIT student designs. ■

Funding the Future NYIT is pleased to announcethat Peter J. Romano (B.Arch.’76) and his wife, Jane, haveestablished an endowedscholarship fund to supportthe School of Architecture and Design. Pictured are(from left): Judith DiMaio, dean of the School ofArchitecture and Design,Romano, and NYIT studentsNisha Prasad, Matt Wasnewsky,and Lukas Argyros. ■

NYIT architecture students were called upon to helpredevelop Staten Island’s underutilized waterfront.

JEFF

WEI

NER



CAM PU SB U Z Z

Chukuka S. Enwemeka, Ph.D.,dean of the School of HealthProfessions, Behavioral, and

Life Sciences, along with NYITresearchers, has just published findingson a new treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).The research showed that exposingMRSA to safe levels of blue lighteffectively eradicates two commonstrains of the infection.

MRSA is considered a “superbug”because of its resistance to antibiotictreatments. An important and increas-ingly public health threat, it is respon-sible for more than 94,000 seriousinfections and 19,000 deaths annuallyaround the world, according to anAmerican Medical Association report.At present, fewer than 5 percent ofMRSA strains are susceptible to

penicillin, while approximately 40 to 50 percent of these types of staphinfections have developed resistance to newer, semisynthetic antibiotics, suchas methicillin.

The NYIT research team—whichincluded Deborah Williams, SombiriK. Enwemeka, Steve Hollosi, andDavid Yens—tested one strain repre-sentative of MRSA found most oftenin hospitals and another representativeof the strains found in the communityat large. Approximately 100 seconds’worth of exposure to blue light usinga process called photo-irradiationkilled about 30 percent of MRSA in

the laboratory cultures. Longer doseswere more effective, although it tookabout 10 times more exposure to kill off 80 percent of the MRSA inculture dishes. The effectiveness ofblue light in vitro suggests that itshould also be effective in humancases of MRSA infection.

“It is inspiring that an inexpensive,naturally visible wavelength of lightcan eradicate two common strains ofMRSA,” says Enwemeka. “Developingstrategies that are capable of destroy-ing MRSA, using mechanisms thatwould not lead to further antibioticresistance, is timely and important for us and our patients.” The studyfollows prior research conducted byEnwemeka’s team, which found thatMRSA died when exposed to bluelight that included part of the ultra-violet (UV) spectrum. Health profes-sionals prefer not to expose patientsto potentially harmful UV rays,underscoring the significance of thenew research.

Enwemeka’s study was published inthe April 2009 issue of Photomedicineand Laser Surgery, and the researchwas funded by Dynatronics Corp.,which manufactures the blue lightdevice used in the study. ■

Out of the Blue, NYIT DeanFurthers Staph Treatment

(continued from page 9)

Geriatrics, the conference broughttogether national and regionalexperts from the educational, government, and business sectorsto share solutions regarding energy,housing, transportation, health care,and other services for the elderly.

UNDERSTANDING CHINA’SROLE IN A WORLD ECONOMY

NYIT partnered with Long IslandUniversity to address the global economic crisis and its impact onChina at a conference held on Feb.23. More than 200 guests attendedthe event, during which experts discussed the country’s economicchallenges. President Guilianodelivered the opening remarks, and featured speakers includedNYIT School of Management pro-fessors Paul Kutasovic, Ph.D., andScott Liu, Ph.D., Professor YeWeihua from Jiangxi University ofEconomics and Finance in China,and Professor Yuko Arayama fromNagoya University in Japan.

STUDENTS DESIGN A LEGACY“Unique,” “experimental,” and

“exciting” were some of the wordsused to describe the winningdesigns in NYIT’s Legacy Rowcompetition, which challenged students to address architectural,structural, functional, artistic, cultural, and environmental issues in designing the processional lead-ing to NYIT’s de Seversky Center atthe Old Westbury campus. Twoteams tied for first prize ($5,000):Adriana Collazo, Anne MariePorcaro, and Matt Wasnewsky; and Radoslaw Wakulik and YuriyVasendin. The third prize ($1,000)was awarded to Wei Tzu Yu. FormerNYIT trustee Michael S. Puntillo,who funded the contest, served asa judge along with NYIT communitymembers Harriet Arnone, Ph.D.,vice president for planning andassessment, Francis Coiro, directorof design and construction, TrusteeRory Cutaia (B.S. ’82), Roger Smith(B.Arch. ’78), and Robert Rizzuto,director of dining services.

IN BRIEF

“IT IS INSPIRING THAT AN

INEXPENSIVE, NATURALLY VISIBLE

WAVELENGTH OF LIGHT CAN

ERADICATE TWO COMMON

STRAINS OF MRSA.”

-CHUKUKA S. ENWEMEKA, PH.D.

JEFF

WEI

NER


The NYIT Alumni Federation proudly announces inCircle, our new online networking

site exclusively for NYIT graduates.

■ Stay in touch with friends and reconnect with classmates■ Submit news about yourself for publication in NYIT Magazine

■ Search for career opportunities and post your resumé■ Upload and share photos

■ Join online discussions■ Meet and network with NYIT alumni

around the world

nyit.affi nitycircles.com

Search for career opportunities and post your resumé

Join Our

Circle of Friends!

Vol7No2_011-inCircle.indd 11 3/17/09 9:58:17 AM

NYIT will unveil the first of its solar carports thisApril as part of its “One

Spot, One Car, One Commute”solar plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (S-PHEV) project. The initiative’soverall goal is to ascertain the technical and economic viability of supplementing fossil fuel with renewable energy in the trans-portation sector, specifically as it relates to commuters in largemetropolitan areas.

“Recognizing that the cheapenergy paradigm has waned, we arecontributing to the definition of anew energy infrastructure that useslocal resources to address localdemands,” said Daniel Rapka (M.S. ’07), program manager forthe S-PHEV project and an

instructor in NYIT’s Department ofMechanical Engineering.

NYIT’s carport project includesstructures outfitted with photo-voltaic modules in exterior parkinglots, which are ideal for solar powergeneration, said Rapka. Throughthese carports, energy is convertedto power the PHEVs. The ultimateobjective is to transition the publicto accepting electric vehicles thatrun solely on batteries, eliminatingthe need for fossil fuels altogether.

He estimates that a single 200-square-foot parking space can collect

enough solar energy on an annualbasis (3000 to 4000 kWh AC) toenable a PHEV to drive the typicaldaily New York metro commute of24 miles roundtrip. NYIT’s PHEVfleet includes two converted ToyotaPriuses that are equipped withonboard equipment that transmitsGPS and other data to NYIT labs todetermine fuel efficiency.

The PHEV’s advantage over stan-dard hybrid vehicles is that they canbe charged from an external electri-cal source. In addition, the vehiclesutilize a “blended” travel mode thatcombines electric and gasoline toproduce fuel efficiency of up to 100 miles per gallon. When travel-ing on pure electrical power, nogasoline is consumed, and, hence, no carbon is emitted.

Even if PHEVsaren’t charging,the solar powergenerated by thecarports can bediverted to alocal power grid. In the nearfuture, a processcalled Vehicle toGrid (V2G) willallow PHEVs tobe a resource forthe grid.

“During theday, while carsare parked inlots, the vehicle’sbatteries can

serve as a large energy storage devicelinked to the grid,” said Rapka.

NYIT hopes to identify a scalablestrategy so that carports can beadapted to parking lots of any size.In addition, researchers will analyzethe economic merit of the vehicle-to-grid strategy, as well as proposemethods to improve its viability.

All of this adds up to “an eco-friendly trip to work,” said Rapka.“Even if only a quarter of registeredvehicles in our test area are PHEV,fuel consumption and emissions canbe reduced by 35 percent.” ■

CAM PU SB U Z Z

Charge ’Er Up


NYIT’s ComputerGraphics Pioneer

Ed Catmull, leader of the “digital dream team” at

NYIT’s Computer GraphicsLaboratory in the 1970s,received the Academy of MotionPicture Arts and Sciences’ 2008Gordon E. Sawyer Award for lifetime technical contributionsand leadership in the field ofcomputer graphics in the motionpicture industry. Catmull, who ispresident of Walt Disney andPixar Animation Studios, receivedthe award at the academy’sScientific and Technical AwardsPresentations on Feb. 7 and wasrecognized during the Feb. 22worldwide live broadcast of the81st Annual Academy Awards.Catmull received the NYITPresident’s Medal for Arts andTechnology in August 2001. ■

And the OscarGoes to …

MAR

K RA

LSTO

N/AF

P/G

ETTY

IMAG

ES

NYIT’s first solar carport will be unveiled this April in Central Islip, N.Y.


Call it thinking outside the box whilestanding inside one. In an effort to raise

awareness about human trafficking, NYITadvertising design students stood in cratesthey built, while others bound themselvestogether as they handed out flyers to pedes-trians along the perimeter of Central ParkWest in the fall of 2008. The studentsadopted the “guerrilla advertising” tacticsas an inexpensive and imaginative approachto promoting their cause. ■


Guerillas in the Midst

During the fall 2008 semester,the U.S. presidential electionwas the focus of the first New

York-Amman distributed learningcourse at NYIT. The undergraduateclass, American Government andPolitics, included 10 students atNYIT’s New York campuses taught byNYIT Vice President for GlobalAcademic Programs William CyrusReed, Ph.D., and 20 students inAmman taught by Dean of StudentsOmar Imady, Ph.D. The students andfaculty met virtually on five Saturdays(mornings in the United States andevenings in Jordan) through NYIT’sdistributed learning labs (supplementedby e-mail chats) to enjoy lively discus-sion and debate while studying the U.S.political system.

“The best class we had was an openand candid discussion about the majorissues facing the Obama administration,”said Reed. That experience evolved intothe creation of five project groups, eachcomprising members from both campuses.Each group worked together to write ajoint paper and deliver a presentation onone particular issue the new administra-tion would face.

“They learned the joys of jointresponsibilities,” which often were notchallenges based on distance but ratheron perspectives and individual differ-

ences, Reed says. “Teamwork and partnering were important experiences,and they underscored different per-spectives between the two campusesand within each campus.”

Greg O’Connor, a fourth-year archi-tecture student at NYIT-Old Westbury,said he particularly benefited from

getting the opinions of Middle East students on the conflicts in Iraq andAfghanistan. “I enjoyed hearing what the students in Amman had to say,” heexplained, “because I had never clearlyheard a point of view from a civilian inthe middle of events that were takingplace in the Middle East.” ■

By The

NumbersBy The

Numbers

1 in 20Approximate number of students

accepted into the physician’sassistant program each year

7Number of NYIT academic

colleges and schools

27Average age of graduate students

in the fall 2008 semester

200%Growth in number of faculty

and staff who were recognizedfor their scholarly and creative

works at NYIT’s 2008 Scholars Reception.

500Number of career wins for NYIT

Lacrosse Head Coach Jack Kaley(as of March 2, 2009)

$28 milAmount of NYIT scholarships and

financial aid offered in 2008

NYIT ClassesGo the Distance

“TEAMWORK AND PARTNERING

WERE IMPORTANT

EXPERIENCES, AND THEY UNDER-

SCORED DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

BETWEEN THE TWO CAMPUSES

AND WITHIN EACH CAMPUS.”

–WM. CYRUS REED, PH.D.


For nearly three decades, Nada Marie Assaf-Anid, Ph.D., hascultivated a reputation for understanding the role of engi-neering and science in a global society. Her distinguished aca-demic career includes an appointment at John CabotUniversity, an American liberal arts university in Rome, as

well as serving as department chair and graduate program direc-tor at Manhattan College in New York. Now she joins NYIT asthe dean of the School of Engineering and Computing Sciences.

Born in Lebanon, Anid earned her engineering degree from theRoyal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1980, afterwhich she lectured at the American University of Beirut. In 1988,she moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., and earned her Ph.D. at theUniversity of Michigan. NYIT Magazine posed some questions tothe dean:

What attracted you to NYIT?NYIT has a great reputation for promoting forward-thinking

ideas and innovative technologies, and I strongly agree with itscareer- and applications-oriented mission. I also noticed thechanges at the Manhattan campus in the past few years and aftermeeting the academic leadership and faculty of NYIT, I felt thatit is a place of new possibilities for me.

Vol7No2_014-15-Nada 6.qxd 3/17/09 4:41 PM


As dean, what is your vision for the school,and how do you plan to reach out to NYIT alumni?

I have read NYIT’s 2030 strategic plan,which states that “NYIT’s School ofEngineering and Computing Scienceswill change the face of engineering edu-cation.” My own vision is to fulfill thefaculty and students’ aspirations and tobe the face and advocate of the school.My goal is to create a sense of communityand of renewed pride through a multi-pronged approach that will include alumniand community outreach, fundraising,research, marketing, global programs,and interdisciplinary activities.

NYIT students have distinguished them-selves in sustainable energy initiatives, suchas the Solar Decathlon. Are you planning toinitiate more green energy programs?

Definitely. We have to think strategi-cally and adapt to the times. Globally,sustainability is a responsibility shared byall nations. Engineering and computerscience students need to be part of thiscollective responsibility. Locally, wemust educate a new generation of engi-neers ready to meet our national needs.My first initiative will be to propose acenter for engineering education—high-lighting innovative technologies in theareas of energy and sustainability—inpartnership with the private sector andgovernment entities. I also plan to createprofessional development certificateprograms in sustainability.

As a woman in a stereotypically male-dominated field, how do you plan to serve as a role model to young women interested inscience and engineering programs?

There is nothing more rewarding thanwhen a student or a colleague—male orfemale—tells me I am a role model andinspiration. Conveying my passion aboutwhat I do is the key, whether it is figur-ing out which microalgae species yieldsthe largest amount of oil, what methodproduces the highest ethanol yield fromglucose fermentation, finding out thebest way to capture carbon dioxide froma flue gas stack, or releasing hydrogengas from a hydride mineral.

Do you have any specific ideas on how tobring more female students into this field?

Having two daughters and having beena professor to waves of female students hastaught me a lot about how girls think andlearn. I have also read a number of schol-arly studies and reports on girls and howthey relate to science, math, engineering,

and technology. Some girls are intimidatedby these fields; they like people over computer screens and prefer professionsthat have an impact on people’s everydaylives. In addition, they are more responsiveto what’s alive than what’s inert. Girls areresponsive to collaborative and experien-tial teaching methods. When engineeringis presented to girls as a field for “cool”people … where support and mentoring is provided, where most decisions aremade by a group of people … when it ispresented as a lucrative profession and its societal impacts are highlighted, girls become interested and may considerit as a career.

How to actually bring more femalesinto engineering starts with educatingparents, teachers, high school guidancecounselors, and potential female students.Funding to attract more girls into engineering abounds through theNational Girls Collaborative Project andnumerous other groups. I plan onresearching programs applicable toNYIT so that such an initiative can befunded through external grants.

Why did you become a teacher?Being a teacher is the finest profession

there is because of the immeasurable satisfaction that students provide.Teaching also offers endless opportunitiesfor longlasting friendships, creativity, and inspiration.

What motivates you? How do you motivateother people?

Challenge motivates me. The possibil-ity of imparting change motivates me.The ability of leading by example moti-vates me. I motivate other people by setting a goal, and by engaging them andempowering them to reach it.

What is the biggest myth about engineers?The biggest myth about engineering is

that it’s too difficult. Also, sometimesengineers are perceived as loners.

What word best describes you?Passionate.

What are your hobbies? Favorite movie?Favorite book? Favorite food?

My hobbies are going to museumsand the theater, going to classical musicconcerts and recitals, and traveling inthe United States and Europe. Myfavorite movie is The English Patient, myfavorite book is Les Contemplations byVictor Hugo, and my favorite food isFrench cuisine. ■

A Dean’s To-Do ListDean Anid’s plans for the School ofEngineering and Computing Sciencesare far-reaching and include:

■ An outreach initiative to engage alumniand advisory boards in supportingNYIT via jobs, internships, studentrecruiting, and mentoring.

■ Fundraising from alumni, foundations,and corporations in support of specificprojects and initiatives, such as scholar-ships that attract the best students to NYIT campuses worldwide.

■ Community outreach through programsand synergies with surrounding institu-tions and corporations. Examples inManhattan could be Fordham Law andpossible synergies between engineer-ing and law, or Lincoln Center and possible programs between engineer-ing and art. Other examples are thecreation of professional programs tosuit the demands of the surroundingcommunity and corporations.

■ An outreach to high schools and middle schools through workshops forteachers and college counselors, summer camps, and programs that will create a greater awareness aboutengineering in general, and engineer-ing at NYIT in particular.

■ Marketing efforts, as well as increasedfaculty and student research and schol-arship, conference participation, andinvolvement in leadership positions inprestigious local and national profes-sional organizations.

■ A boost in faculty grant activity andnon-tuition revenue.

■ The creation of a support system thatalerts faculty to grant opportunities andassists them in reaching their potential.

■ A boost in collaboration and resourcesharing between faculty in the Schoolof Engineering and Computing Sciencesand other NYIT academic departments,as well as between the university andneighboring institutions.

■ A boost in student support systems,as well as more extracurricular activi-ties for resident and commuter students.

■ An enhancement of global programsand bridging those with NYIT’s NewYork programs through virtual, experien-tial learning or group projects performedby students in different locations orthrough student exchange.

CHRI

STO

PHER

APP

OLD

T

Vol7No2_014-15-Nada 6.qxd 3/17/09 4:41 PM

Vol7No2_016-21-Silicon 10.qxd 3/17/09 4:21 PM

“It’s all about taking risks,”says Bill Zerella (B.S. ’78). “If you risk and fail,you are still considered a success. In SiliconValley, you can wear that as a badge of honor.”

The NYIT alumnus smiles as he reflects onthis unique corner of Earth surroundingCalifornia’s Santa Clara Valley, whose name issynonymous with all things high-tech. Here, inSilicon Valley, is where the world of tomorrowstarts its day.

From William Shockley’s invention of thefirst transistor in 1953 to the Internet boom ofthe 1990s to Steve Jobs’ introduction of theiPhone in 2006, Silicon Valley has always beenthe launch pad for technologies that define theworld we live in today. High-profile companiesthat call this area home include Google, Apple,Hewlett-Packard, eBay, and Yahoo! How theyachieved their fame and fortunes can be tracedto one simple fact about life in the valley.

“There is a unique ecosystem here that sup-ports venture capitalism,” says Bill. Built withinthe DNA of Silicon Valley are the strands thatsupport the little startups that could: legal andaccounting firms tailored for early-stage busi-nesses; a highly skilled labor force that comprisesthe world’s top engineers and tech visionaries;and, of course, the cavernous pockets ofinvestors looking to fund the next big thing.

“Other places around the world have tried toreplicate this environment, but only with lim-ited success,” says Bill. In Silicon Valley, yourvalue is not based on where you come from orwho you are, but rather on what you’ve accom-plished since your arrival. Entrepreneurshipand taking risks are all part of the game. Andfailure is just another way of saying “try again.”

Bill is the chief financial officer of San Jose,Calif.-based Force10 Networks, a globaltelecommunications provider that recentlymerged with Turin Networks (where he hadserved as CFO for nearly three years). Thecombined entity delivers data center network-ing equipment, wireless backhaul services, andCarrier Ethernet solutions to more than 1,300corporate customers worldwide. Its servicesare also deployed at five of the top wirelessnetwork providers in the United States, as wellas 11 of the top 17 broadband Internet serviceproviders.

In addition, Force10’s merger with Turinresulted in an installed base of $1.2 billion ofcompany equipment around the world. “Halfof the Internet traffic in the United States willflow over our networks,” says Bill.

His role as CFO, he says, “keeps him busy.”But those who know him best also know thatBill is a man who enjoys a challenge. His father,a hard-working middle-class plumber whoworked for the Port Authority of New York,dropped out of school in the eighth grade. It

was a decision he would not let his son make.“He understood the value of education,”

says Bill, who holds degrees from NYIT and New York University. “As it turns out, hewas right.”

Bill’s need to improve his worth througheducation blends well within an industry whereinformation, knowledge, and the willingness totake risks are the catalysts of success.

“Bill was always driven by an entrepreneur-ial spirit,” says childhood friend Joe Ambroso(B.S. ’78), who serves as chief financial officer

of New York-based real estate brokerageRemax Metro and president of executivesearch firm Lucern Partners Group. He recallsgrowing up with Bill in Babylon, N.Y., wherethey took the same classes in high school andeven chose to attend NYIT together to earnbachelor’s degrees in accounting.

After getting his degree, Bill worked for several firms, including Anorad, a manufacturerof high-precision motion control equipment,which gave him his first exposure to the techindustry. In 1993, he moved to Baltimore, Md.,to work for G-Tech, a transaction processingfirm that focuses on the lottery and gamingindustries. Four years later, amid the dot-comcraze of the mid- to late 1990s, Bill headed toSilicon Valley to work for a startup.

From a business standpoint, it was a cultureshock for the native Long Islander.

“The business culture in Silicon Valley ismuch different than New York,” says Bill.


Bill Zerella (B.S. ’78) and his wife, Nancy (along withClover and Waffle), at their home in Los Gatos, Calif.

NYITalumni

talk aboutlife in thecenter ofthe techuniverse

By Michael Schiavetta

(M.A. ’07)

Photos by Martin Klimek/Getty Images


“There is less of a class system, eventhough the wealth is staggering.” And,not surprisingly, professionals in thisregion are more likely to immerse theircareers and personal lives into an increas-ingly digital culture, and consequentlyare more attuned to emerging trends. Inparticular, two sectors of the tech indus-try are poised for sharp growth.

“The whole world is going wireless,”says Bill, noting that this sector ispredicted to grow from $400 millionto $5 billion over the next fiveyears. Another hot segment isgreen technology. A February2009 report by the Silicon ValleyCommunity Foundation andJoint Venture: Silicon ValleyNetwork noted that green techjobs grew 23 percent from 2005 to2007. And despite the global eco-nomic downturn, venture capitalinvestments in 2008 for the SiliconValley green tech industry grew 94percent over the previous year.

Although he works in the heart of thetech universe, Bill is not a lover of alltechnology. Like many parents, he couldlive without text messaging and videogames. And he has grave concerns aboutdigital security in a world where hackersstole the personal information of nearly10 million Americans in 2008 alone.

Nevertheless, he remains a strong advo-cate of the Internet, which he describes asbeing as important to the modern world asthe invention of the first integrated circuit. “It’s just incredible how the wholeworld is so connected.”

Sometimes, though, Bill enjoys unplug-ging himself from work to spend time withhis wife of 25 years, Nancy, an interiordesigner, and their two children, Matthewand Emily. Together, they visit the areassurrounding Silicon Valley, including picturesque Napa Valley and the SanFrancisco Bay Area.

“The geography is just so beautiful,”says Bill.

On a spring day in 1996,the brand new director of business devel-opment for Xircom, Anthony Gioeli(B.S. ’88), asked his boss for his firstassignment.

“You figure it out,” said the chief oper-ating officer. Anthony did just that, andin the process, the modem and Ethernetcard manufacturer saw its revenuesincrease by $200 million.

Five years later, on his first day as CEOof AirPrime, Anthony found himselfleading a company that was $20 million

in debt, facing twolawsuits, and had $2 million inpayments

due in two days. Not an easy way to starta new job, but he managed to resolve allthree issues in five months, thanks tosmart negotiations with creditors and adiligent effort to secure financing.

It seems as if the Brooklyn, N.Y.,native has always had a knack for identi-fying the right recipe for success. Perhapsthat was a skill he developed at a youngage making pizza in his father’s restaurantin Jamaica, Queens, or as a teenager wholoved tackling math problems.

After earning a scholarship, Anthonyenrolled in the engineering program atNYIT’s Manhattan campus and then

switched to Old Westbury for itsmore suburban campus life.

Throughout his education, hetook advantage of flexible courseschedules—working days atIBM designing power grids withother NYIT students as part of a

work-study program and, in hissenior year, at Pfizer, where he

developed databases that calculated efficiencies in its Brooklyn pill factory.

After earning his bachelor’s degree inengineering, Anthony worked for AT&Tand Compaq before accepting the

role of director of busi-ness development atXircom. He movedto the West Coast in

2000 with his wife,Monica, a general med-

ical practitioner, and their two children,Francesco and Stephanie. Despite his$200 million “contribution” to Xircom, heleft the company to move to Silicon Valleyand jump into the startup world.

“I wanted to prove to myself that mysuccess wasn’t just a fluke,” he says.

That brought him to AirPrime and even-tually to Atrua Technologies in Campbell,Calif., where he has served as president andCEO since 2003. The consumer-basedcompany manufactures fingerprint IDtechnology for use in cell phones andonline identification. A secondary productline includes a resistive rubber technologyused in miniature joysticks.

Anthony’s ultimate goal is to turn themobile phone into the 21st-century wallet. For many consumers, mobilephones are already an extension of them-selves, allowing them to perform taskssuch as Web surfing, listening to music,and playing movies and video games (notto mention phone calls once in a while). In the next few years, Anthony says,online banking, financial transactions,and other confidential operations

An avid fan of Italiansoccer (his favorite

team is Inter Milan),Anthony Gioeli (B.S. ’88)

has coached boys andgirls youth soccer foreight years.

18 ■ www.nyit.edu ■ MAGAZINE

The business culture

in silicon valley is

much different than

new york.”

-Bill Zerella (B.S. ’78)


through these portable devices willbecome commonplace.

Naturally, there is the issue of security,especially since people are more likely tolose their cell phones than their laptops.“As these devices become more crucial toour everyday lives, privacy issues arevital,” says Anthony. “However, newsecurity methods cannot compromiseease of use. Everyone from soccer momsto scientists needs to understand how touse them.”

In Japan, consumers already make purchases at stores by waving their cellphones in front of an electronic readerthat scans credit card information. This isnot surprising, says Anthony, since thecountry’s large commuter workforcerelies much more on mobile technologyto perform everyday tasks.

And then there is the business side. InJapan, one carrier—NTT DoCoMo—controls more than half the Japanese cellphone market. Not so in America, wheremanufacturers, carriers, retailers, andcredit card companies would all own apiece of the pie. It’s not a situation likelyto find a quick solution, but Anthonybelieves it will ultimately sort itself out.

For now, his company’s biggest marketis in China, where Anthony opened anoffice in 2006. Atrua’s fingerprint ID tech-nology is the perfect fit in a marketplacethat includes more than 100,000 cellphone designers and marketers all lookingfor ways to differentiate their products.

“We’re truly a global company,” saysAnthony. Which is good for business,because no matter what country you are in today, “people don’t forget theircell phones.”

Michael Klein (M.B.A. ’87)recalls a meeting of the American MedicalAssociation in 2000 when governmentofficials were discussing where to allocatefunds for medicare payments to newtechnologies. The problem, Michaelnotes, was that the room was filled witholder men who apportioned significantlymore money to prostate cancer than tobreast cancer.

“It was an injustice,” he says.That moment inspired Michael to find

new ways to help the millions who sufferfrom breast cancer, the second-leadingcause of death for women. Today, as thepresident and CEO of Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Xoft Inc., he has pioneered a safeand effective radiation therapy that hasrevolutionized patient care, particularly inthe area of women’s oncology care.

“We can now deliver radiation therapyanywhere in the world, including the samemedical centers where patients get regulartreatment,” says Michael. Xoft’s AxxentElectronic Brachytherapy System irradi-ates cancerous tissue by using a specialballoon that contains “the world’s smallestx-ray tube by a factor of 100.” After theballoon is inserted into the breast cavity, acurative (non-radioactive) dose of ionizingradiation is deployed.

“One difference between this therapyand conventional techniques is that thistakes one week whereas the others takesix to eight weeks,” he explains. In addi-tion, the Axxent system’s concentratedradiation dose rapidly dissipates after hit-ting the targeted cancer. Therefore,shielded rooms are not required and, inmany cases, the spouse can actually bein the treatment room with the clinician and patient. Sincethe miniaturized x-ray

source stops at pre-planned incrementswithin the breast cavity, radiation is pre-cisely delivered while reducing exposure

to healthy tissue.The technology is now used in more

than 70 hospitals, says Michael, and thehardware used to perform the treatmentcan be transported in small vehicles tohundreds of medical treatment facilities.The company expects to triple its installedbase in 2009.

Michael’s path to success in SiliconValley started at home in Baldwin, N.Y.The son of Russian-Jewish immigrants, hewas taught at a young age to embrace

Anthony moved to Silicon Valley in 2000 withhis wife, Nancy, and their two children.

Michael Klein(M.B.A. ’87)moved to theWest Coast in1996 to work

in the medicaltechnology field.

He and his wife,Linda, have three

children: David,Andrew, and

Zach.

The miniatured x-ray source used in Xoft’s Axxentsystem is the result of a $100 million investment.

PHO

TO C

OUR

TESY

OF

XOFT

INC.


opportunity. His father, a hairdresser,“made sure his son got the entrepreneur-ial spirit,” says Michael, who knew at 18that he wanted to be a CEO. “I took onevery job I could.”

After teaching high school social studiesin his hometown and training executivesat General Electric, in the mid-1980sMichael looked to find an industry thathad growth potential and limited foreigncompetition. Health care was an obviouschoice, given that the U.S. population isliving longer due to improvements in science and medicine. But before he couldfulfill his dreams of sitting at the CEO’sdesk, he attended NYIT to pursue hismaster’s degree in business administration.

“What I liked about NYIT was that theprofessors were working professionals,”says Michael. “I could tap into them tosolve my own real-world business issues.”

After graduation, he worked for medicalsupplier Beckton-Dickinson and thenheaded to the West Coast in 1996 to workfor Varian, a leading producer of radiationoncology equipment, and then for R2Technology, a breast cancer detectioncompany. In 2004, he joined Xoft andsince then has enjoyed seeing his producthelp thousands of women.

In fact, the Axxent system has been sucha success that it is now used in colon, rectal, and endometrial cancer treatments.In February, it was approved for use inskin cancers. On the horizon: expandingthe therapy to lung, brain, prostate, head,and spinal treatments and offering theAxxent technology to a larger interna-tional community later this year.

The technology garnered a 2008 R&DMagazine R&D 100 Award and took tophonors. The accolade recognizes signifi-cant technological achievements andproducts that leapfrog current technology.“It’s been hard to keep up with thedemand,” says Michael.

20 ■ www.nyit.edu ■ MAGAZINE

Michael was joined by his six-week-old son,David, at NYIT’s commencement in 1987.


after three decades of making his mark in the telecommunica-tions industry, Art Klein (B.S. ’76) finallydecided to follow in his sons’ footsteps …and into show business.

The executive producer’s latest movie,Nobel Son, was released on DVD inMarch. Starring Alan Rickman, MarySteenburgen, and Bill Pullman, the darkcomedy tells the story of an arrogant, self-absorbed chemistry professor (Rickman)who wins a Nobel Prize and later learnsthat his son has been kidnapped and ran-somed for the $2 million in prize money.The father refuses to part with his win-nings, setting the stage for betrayal,revenge, and a healthy dose of family dysfunction.

Another film, Bottle Shock, starring AlanRickman, Bill Pullman, Chris Pine, andEliza Dushku, premiered at the 2008Sundance Film Festival and has receivedpositive reviews from critics. Rolling Stonecalled the film “hugely entertaining” and“a winner.” The movie is based on a truestory about “The Judgment of Paris,” a 1976 competition that marked a turningpoint in the wine industry as Frenchjudges rated California wines better than their French counterparts. “Thisevent,” says Art, “is what put Napa Valleyon the map.”

From his home in Danville, Calif.,which overlooks the luxurious Falls GolfCourse at Blackhawk, the tech industryveteran explains how he was able to transition from Silicon Valley to inde-pendent film.

“The skills I used in the tech industry,especially as it relates to young startupcompanies and developing exit strategies,is not much different than how I approachindependent films,” says Art. Due dili-gence, budgets, scheduling, and knowing

your investors are all part of the samebusiness mindset he had while serving in various executive positions at tech com-panies for three decades.

That career began in 1976. After earn-ing his NYIT bachelor’s degree in busi-ness administration, the Queens, N.Y.,native worked in the sales department atRCA. After several years, he left to handlesales for Cylix Communications, where he helped boost revenues to $16 millionover four years.

In 1985, Art became vice president ofsales at Vitalink Communications, whichassisted broadcast companies in settingup satellite networks. During his timewith Vitalink, he oversaw the satelliteprovider’s transformation into an Ethernetbridge business until his departure in1993. “I began talking with people aboutbuilding Ethernet portals using multi-protocol routers,” says Art. “We had the

ability to extend localarea network [LAN]connections over awide area networkusing terrestrial cir-cuits. This allowedEthernet to Ethernetconnections to appearon the same network.”

Throughout the1990s, Art worked formore tech companies,including Atlantec andAssured Access Tech-nologies (the latter hefounded with a groupof engineers). Later,he was recruited by

venture capitalists to serve as presidentand CEO of ipVerse, a voice over Internetprotocol provider.

After retiring in 2001, Art got involvedwith producing independent movies following a conversation with his son,Hal, a film actor in Los Angeles. Thiseventually led to his involvement in theproduction of The Marilyn HotchkissBallroom Dancing and Charm School, star-ring Marisa Tomei, John Goodman, andRobert Carlyse.

Since the debut of Marilyn Hotchkiss in2005, Art has gone on to produce otherfilms, including Killer Movie, a spoof ofreality TV shows gone bad; Jack and theBeanstalk, a live-action TV movie thatstars Katey Sagal, Gilbert Gottfried, and Christopher Lloyd; and Lily’s Light, a children’s musical.

It’s been an interesting journey for theNYIT graduate turned independent filmproducer, who still keeps in contact withthe tech industry through his investmentsin several firms. If you ask Art, he’d prob-ably say that working in the movie biz wasnot on his list of career goals when hestarted out in the sales department ofRCA’s New York offices. But with twosons in the motion picture industry, per-haps it was just a matter of time (his otherson, Scott, works as a studio executive forSony Entertainment).

One thing is certain: life is good inSilicon Valley, where he and Sally, his wifeof 38 years, have lived since 1989.

“If nothing else, you can’t beat theweather,” says the native New Yorker.“Though it took me 20 years to find aplace that made decent pizza.” ■


Art is the executive producer of Bottle Shock, which stars Alan Rickman(above). The film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Tech veteran turned indepedent film producer Art Klein (B.S. ’76) and his son, Hal, a Los Angeles film actor, at Art’s home in Danville, Calif. Born in New York, Art moved to Silicon Valley in 1989.

PHO

TO C

OUR

TESY

OF

UNCL

AIM

ED F

REIG

HT P

RODU

CTIO

NS


Amid the electric pulse of Broadway in NewYork City, NYIT student Lin “Lynn” Yangets her first taste of the Big Apple while

immersing herself in a truly international busi-ness education.

On the other side of the world, 325 under-graduates continue their first year at NYIT inNanjing, China. Also on the continent, inShenzen and Nanchang, more than 200 NYITM.B.A. candidates are earning an NYIT M.B.A.in a program run in conjunction with the JiangxiUniversity of Finance and Economics (JUFE).

In New York, Yan continues her studies as part ofNYIT’s double-degree master’s program withShanghai’s Tongji University. The programincludes a master’s degree in business administra-tion or a human resources management fromNYIT and a master’s degree in enterprise manage-ment from Tongji. She believes that two degreesfrom two universities—one in the United States andthe other in China—will sharpen her competitiveedge, especially in this global economic downturn.

“International education is important. It is onething to read something in a textbook, and anotherthing to actually experience it,” she says.

To Yan, one of a select number of NYIT students who continue their education in theUnited States, one of the double-degree pro-gram’s biggest perks is learning through culturalimmersion. When not in class, she grabs everyopportunity to practice English in the big cityby visiting museums, malls, and the theater, and

now considers Barnes & Noble one of herfavorite hangouts.

“NYIT is located right on Broadway in themost developed area of New York, so I have a lotof opportunity to practice English,” she says.

A China Strategy, A Global PictureChina programs are an important part of the

big picture at NYIT as it evolves into a majorplayer in international higher education. “Forinstitutions, you need to identify your strengthsand fight for a niche market,” says Scott Liu,Ph.D., professor of management. “Internationaleducation is also a way to develop NYIT’s competitive edge.”


NYIT’s M.B.A. graduates in China work at some ofthe country’s top firms andgovernment agencies.

Teaching the Best of

NYIT celebrates its legacy in China and continues its transformationinto a global player in higher education. By Amy Wu

Vol7No2_020-23-China 9.qxd 3/17/09 4:26 PM

NYIT’s foray in bringing high-qualityAmerican education and the NYIT degree toChina began in 1998 when Liu helped launch theM.B.A. program. NYIT also established an exec-utive management program with TsinghuaUniversity in Beijing in 2007—the same year itopened the first-ever American undergraduatecampus in China in collaboration with NanjingUniversity of Posts and Telecommunications(NUPT) to 325 students.

The NYIT-NUPT program in Nanjing is significant in many ways. “There was no physicalNYIT campus in China before this, and that sym-bolizes a very big leap for us,” says Roger Yu, deanof the College of Arts and Sciences. “Within theChinese population, there is a high demand for an

American-style education, especially at the under-graduate level. They have the idea that anAmerican degree leads to a better life, a bettereducation,” he says. “The physical presence is veryimportant to Chinese education.”

In addition, NYIT students from New York par-ticipate in summer study abroad programs in archi-tecture, interior design, and communication arts—and have worked on projects such as redesigning awaterfront in Shanghai and filming a documentaryon preparations for the 2008 Olympics.

“I feel the greatest challenge is to introduce students to a culture that is more than 5,000 yearsold,” says Michele Bertomen, associate professorof architecture. Because developing nations suchas China are playing a greater role in the world’s


“International education

is important. It is one

thing to read something

in a textbook, and

another thing to actually

experience it.”

-Lin Yan, NYIT student


economy, she adds, the need for NYITstudents to experience a global educationis vital. “We have much to learn from theChinese, and they from us.”

Trial and Error … and Adventure

Building a program, let alone a campus,in another country often involves a laby-rinth of red tape and complex culturalchallenges, and NYIT has braved this witha sense of adventure. Creating global pro-grams in China required blending two curriculums, two cultures, two styles oflearning, and two continents, all whileadhering to the rules and regulations of thepartner schools and their governments.

Yu, a native of China, has a clearunderstanding of the country’s landscapeand how to navigate some of the road-blocks. As early as 2005, for example, hebegan discussions with several potentialpartners to develop an undergraduateNYIT campus in China. Two years later,NYIT-Nanjing was born.

Today, more and more students inChina are exposed to U.S. education, and“as we open the door to the Chinese pop-ulation, more students and parents real-ize the difference between the educationsystems,” Yu adds.

After getting the green light from theChinese government to establish NYIT-Nanjing, one of the greatest challenges wasfinding faculty members willing and able totravel on short notice. For some professors,teaching in China was an education itself ina foreign culture.

Professor Gary Stephens was in that ini-tial group, and has taught English atNYIT-Nanjing for two fall semesters.“The professor is very much a respectedfigure in China,” says Stephens, who foundthat Chinese students are much quieter inclass and tend to ask fewer questions thantheir American counterparts.

“Inherent in American education isdeveloping one’s own ideas, sharingthem, and becoming involved in analyti-cal and critical thinking,” explainsStephens. “This is a direct contrast to thetraditional Chinese path of memoriza-tion.” In order to get the NYIT-Nanjingstudents to sample the U.S. style, heassigned them personal essays that wereshared with the class.

“I received several lovely personalessays in that first semester,” he recalls.

Nearly two years into the program,NYIT continues to tweak the curricula.For example, professors must pack theircourses into the Chinese semester sys-tem of 12 weeks. And even schedulingclasses can be a cultural difference.“The Chinese prize a system that isfairly set, while in America we prizeflexibility,” says James H. Nolt, dean ofNYIT-Nanjing.

A big part of making the program workis communication and compromise. Noltworks closely with his Chinese counter-part at NUPT to ensure programs arerun smoothly.

Despite the occasional bumps in theroad, Stephens says he is hooked onChina and cannot wait until he returns to

teach in Nanjing for the fall 2009 semes-ter. “One of my great pleasures is thefriendships I have with students,” he says.

Global GainsNYIT’s success in China can be

attributed to several advantages: arriv-ing early on the scene of this emergingeducational market, a longstandingcommitment from Edward Guiliano,Ph.D., president and former provost ofNYIT, and a select group of full-timefaculty members who are native Chineseand have been instrumental in pullingthe programs together.

One of them is Liu, who arrived atNYIT in 1997 with a goal of helping tobring American education to China. “Irealized there was opportunity inAmerican education, and I developed a program to bring it to the Chinese,” he says.

In 1998, NYIT launched its M.B.A.program at JUFE with some 50 students. The program has since gradu-ated nearly 700 students, many of whomattribute their professional success totheir unique American degree. Onegraduate, Jing Xie (M.B.A. ’06), ownerof business management consulting firmHonghao Zhitian Consulting Co., hasbeen ranked as one of the top 10 execu-tives in China by www.execunet.cn. Shesays, “I went to NYIT because of itseducational model. Many courses aretaught by professors from NYIT’s NewYork campuses, and that helps develop aglobal perspective.”

This initial global expansion paved the


Tong Lei and Lin Yan (from left) join fellow Chinese students at NYIT-Manhattan. Seated is ProfessorSizong Wu, dean of the School of Economics and Management at Tongji University, which partnerswith NYIT to offer a double-degree program for graduate students in China and New York.

NYIT students in New York travel to China as partof their undergraduate and graduate education.

JAM

ES R

EYNO

LDS

JOHN

RO

LEKE


way for the establishment of NYIT cam-puses in Vancouver, Canada; Amman,Jordan; Manama, Bahrain; and Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates. In 2006, the Officeof Global Academic Programs was estab-lished and a year later, Wm. Cyrus Reed,Ph.D., joined NYIT as its vice president towork with the university’s deans onexpanding international programs andNYIT’s global footprint, as well as ensur-ing academic quality and integrity.

NYIT’s overall 2030 strategic plan callsfor it to become a major internationalplayer. “As a 21st-century university, weare playing a leading role in the global-ization process,” says Reed. “We aredoing everything we can to ensure all ofour students are prepared for this newglobal marketplace.”

In that plan, China is a major focus. “Itis the fastest-growing education marketin the world, and naturally we shouldlook to China, as we feel there is a lot ofroom for expansion,” says Nolt.

Nolt and Yu are both instrumental inbringing NYIT’s undergraduate pro-grams in China to life. Just like at NYIT’sother global campuses, the curriculummirrors the one taught to their counter-parts in the United States.

“We take the show on the road andbring education to them,” explains Reed.

“I ❤ New York”Even with programs in Canada, the

Middle East, and China, NYIT offersone of the best perks for any global student—a campus in Manhattan. “Thisis a city that is full of surprises and differ-ent cultures,” says Tong “Tony” Lei,another student in the double-degreemaster’s program with Tongji University.He was surprised by how open Americanprofessors were with their students.

“For many Chinese students, it is verydifferent when they see that, in America,professors want students to challengethem,” says Lei.

He is getting a crash course in real-lifehuman resources through his NYIT fieldtrips to companies such as Sesame Streetand organizations such as the EqualEmployment Opportunity Commission.He’s also soaking up the sights and soundsof New York, including the museums, the malls, and Central Park. And he is nowthe proud owner of a New York State driver’s license.

“It’s another kind of life,” says Lei,whose plan is to gain experiencethrough an internship in the United

States and then return to China, wherehe will build his career at a multinationalcompany.

“NYIT gives me a lot of exposure tothe U.S. working environment,” saysLei. Every semester, he returns to hishometown in mainland China, wherehis family and friends continue to sup-port him.

“At first, they thought I might not survive here, but now I’m gaining confi-dence, and they are very proud.”

Looking to the FutureBased on the success of its China pro-

grams, NYIT looks at the next 10 yearsas a time for continued expansion andeducational opportunities for its studentsthroughout the world, says Reed.

In April, the university announced thelaunch of an alumni chapter in China,which boasts 700 graduates from theNYIT China M.B.A. program, many ofwhom work in senior executive positionsat some of the country’s top firms and

government agencies. This chapter willstrengthen NYIT’s ties with its alumni inChina, offering them additional network-ing opportunities and other benefits.

The ultimate goal of the NYIT-Nanjing undergraduate campus is to haveroughly 3,000 to 4,000 students over thenext several years, says Yu. In addition, theuniversity hopes to open a second under-graduate campus with a partner universityin southern China. At the same time,NYIT is looking to expand the number of

academic majors offered throughout thecountry. Plans also include more opportu-nities for students to study in China andfor students from China to study atNYIT’s other campuses.

As proof that the latter is already happening, 20 students at NYIT-Manhattan launched the Chinese Stu-dent Association in the spring 2009semester. “It is important for Americanand Chinese students to recognize thebeauty in each other’s culture and history,”says staff advisor Bruce Baek. The stu-dent organization is planning visits tocultural landmarks in New York, includ-ing the Statue of Liberty, as well asBoston and Washington, D.C.

And a new wave of students fromChina will have the benefit and help ofpioneers such as Yan. Nearly a year afterarriving in America, she can clearly spotthe differences and similarities betweenthe two cultures—from the frank andopen exchanges between American pro-fessors and their students, to the neon

shine of Broadway, which rekindlesmemories of home.

“Times Square is similar to NanjingRoad in Shanghai,” she laughs. “It’sanother Shanghai in America.” ■

Amy Wu is a freelance journalist based inNew York City. Her work has appeared inthe New York Times, the Wall StreetJournal, and Time magazine. In addition,she spent five years working as a reporter inHong Kong.


Yang Zhen, NUPT President and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee (standing, left) andPresident Guiliano celebrate the official opening of NYIT’s Nanjing campus in October 2007.


S C O R E B OAR D

The

Once a pitcher for the NYIT Bears, Don Cooper has served as a coach in theChicago White Sox system for more than 20 years. In 2002, he became

the major league team’s head pitching coach and, in 2005, celebratedwith his players when they became the World Series champions.


RO

N V

ES

ELY

/MLB

PH

OT

OS

Vol7No2_026-29-Scoreboard 9.qxd 3/17/09 5:30 PM

nce upon a spring day in 1975, NYIT freshman DonCooper pitched a complete game to defeat an AdelphiUniversity team of older, more experienced players.

It was a victory he will remember for the rest of his life—amoment, he says, when “I knew I was going to play pro ball.”

Thirty years later, Don, now the Chicago White Sox pitchingcoach, celebrated with his players when they ended an 88-yeardrought to become the 2005 World Series champions. “I fulfilled my childhood dreams,” he recalls. The next year, theNYIT grad was welcomed back to his alma mater and given an honorary doctorate degree at the university’s 45th annualcommencement.

Those lucky enough to have experienced the thrill of staringdown a 90-mile per hour fastball will tell you that what yousee across nine innings is not all there is in the life of a profes-sional baseball player. But along with the intense pressure,physical training, and mental discipline needed to succeedcomes the incredible sense of self-accomplishment and admiration among fans worldwide.

Allen Watson and Ray Giannelli (B.S. ’96) join Don asNYIT alumni who have lived and breathed the world of MajorLeague Baseball. As a pitcher for several baseball teams, includingthe New York Yankees and the New York Mets, Allen has enjoyedhis share of memorable moments, including three appearances inthe 1999 American League Championship Series.

“It was an incredible time,” says Allen, owner of the sports barTriple Play, in Queens, N.Y. As a pitcher on the Yanks, he recalls,“Every time we went out there, we thought we were going towin. We didn’t think anyone could beat us.”

Ray’s baseball career spans 10 years across several teams,though he actually rejected his first offer to join the big leagues.“During my junior year [at NYIT], I was drafted by theBaltimore Orioles but did not sign,” he says. “I instead chose tofinish my degree.” It was a gutsy move, but one that paid off.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in marketing, Ray signedwith the Toronto Blue Jays and posted big numbers in theminor leagues, including a tremendous 1989 season in whichhe hit .301 with 18 home runs and 85 RBIs for the MyrtleBeach Blue Jays. In that same year, he was ranked in the topfive of every offensive category for third basemen in theSouth Atlantic league.

Ray recalls the moment he got called up to the majors in1991. “At first, I thought they were talking about a promo-tional game,” he says. “ ‘Nope,’ they said, ‘pack your bags.’ ”


By Michael Schiavetta (M.A. ’07)

of Summer

PH

OT

O C

OU

RT

ES

YO

F U

PP

ER

DE

CK

PH

OT

O C

OU

RT

ES

YO

F T

OP

PS


S C O R E B OAR D

He made his major league debut onMay 4 and lined a single in his firstat-bat against the Kansas City Royals.Though he was sent back to theminors later that season, Ray returnedto the majors to play alongside Allenon the 1995 St. Louis Cardinals.

Allen, who was drafted in 1991 bythe Cards, is quick to note that gettingto the majors is not for the timid.“Everyone around the world playsbaseball,” he says. “The competition isfierce.” One key to success, accordingto Allen, lies in the mental focus onebrings to the game.

Don agrees. With a baseball careerthat spans more than three decades,including more than 20 years as aWhite Sox coach, he knows what separates the good player from thegreat. “Baseball is such a wonderfulgame because you don’t need to be thefastest or the tallest,” he says. “You needto use your brain. The players who arementally strongest are the best.”

The rewards that come with main-taining a strong mental focus, addsDon, are worth it. The former Yankeerecalls the day in 1985 when he firstput on the legendary pinstripe uniform.“Something would have been missing

in my baseball career [if I hadn’t playedfor the Yankees],” he says. As a pitcher,he got the chance to work for managersYogi Berra and Billy Martin, as well asplay alongside Don Mattingly, RonGuidry, Willie Randolph, and DaveWinfield. “It ended way too soon,” says Don.

Some baseball players have memo-rable experiences off the field as well—both good and bad. Allen recalls whenhe flew to Florida to play the Marlinsand figured it would be a good oppor-tunity to catch up with family mem-bers who lived in the area. When it

came time for the Cardinals pitcher todrive from their home to the game atJoe Robbie Stadium in Miami Gardens,there was only one problem.

“We drove around in circles,” saysAllen, who was scheduled to be thestarting pitcher that day. After finallyfiguring out how to get to the stadium,Allen tried to explain to the securityguards who he was. They didn’t buy it,so Allen sneaked in, made it to thelocker room, and got dressed only to run into his manager, Joe Torre,minutes before the first pitch.

“You’re not starting,” was all thatTorre said.

Allen eventually got to the moundthat day as a reliever, and gave up thewinning run to the other team. Then,says Allen, he got lost again drivingback to his family’s home.

It was an incident, he says, thatTorre joked about when the two werereunited on the 1999 Yankees. Inaddition to Torre, Allen continues toremain in touch with former team-mates, including Derek Jeter, whoworks with the NYIT grad as part of the Yankee shortstop’s Turn 2Foundation to promote programs thatteach children and young adults aboutthe dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Don, too, is active in educatingyoung people and regularly returns tohis alma mater to teach baseball clinicswith Bob Hirschfield, head coach ofthe NYIT Bears. He also serves as amentor to help kids build their confi-dence and self-esteem.

Growing up, Don says, he knewsomeday he would become a teacher.Not surprisingly, his favorite subjectsat NYIT were sociology and psychology.“That really interested me, learningwhat motivates people,” he says. “Thatis essential for coaching and managing.”

After his final season in 1997, Rayalso returned to his alma mater toserve as an NYIT baseball coach from1999 to 2008. He is grateful to CoachHirschfield for giving him the disciplineand skills he needed as a player to com-pete in the big leagues.

“He’s a tough guy,” says Ray. “But Ihave a lot of respect for him. He makesyou grow up real fast, so when I wentto pro ball, it was an easy transition.”

Ray now handles sales for the HarryKrantz Company, a Long Island, N.Y.-based distributor of electronic compo-nents. He still keeps in touch with hisformer NYIT teammates and visits theOld Westbury campus to impart hiswisdom to student-athletes.

In addition to playing alongsideAllen on the ’95 Cards, Ray recalls abrush with another NYIT grad in theminor leagues, when he played a gameagainst the Sarasota White Sox. Thepitching coach for the other team, ofcourse, was Don.

“Everyone knew him and praisedhim,” says Ray. “He’s one of the best.” ■

Don Cooper and Bob Hirschfield, head coach of the NYIT Bears, inside Recreation Hall at theOld Westbury campus. For nearly 30 years, Don has returned to his alma mater to share his expertise with high school coaches, as well as the next generation of professional ball players.




PARENTS ENJOY A NIGHT OUT ON THE BEARS

The Department of IntercollegiateAthletics and Recreation hosted morethan 100 children during the secondannual Night Out on the Bears on Dec. 5,2008, at NYIT-Old Westbury. The eventoffered parents from the local communityan opportunity to enjoy an evening outwhile NYIT student-athletes and staffcared for their children in a safe, healthy,and fun-filled environment—entirely free of charge.

Awarded an NCAA Division II andNational Association of CollegiateMarketing Administrators CommunityEngagement Award in 2007, the eventexpanded in 2008 to include more participants and new activities, includinga healthy dinner catered by NYIT’sDepartment of Food Services, light-heartednutrition lessons, and literature onhealthy eating from NYIT’s Departmentof Clinical Nutrition. Also new this yearwas a creativity session presented by theStudent Union of Contemporary Artists.

“The development and continuedgrowth of our engagement initiativesstrengthen our relationship with membersof the NYIT community,” said Director ofAthletics Clyde Doughty Jr. (B.S. ’81,M.S. ’96, M.P.S. ’98). “I am very apprecia-tive of the hard work and effort put forthby our student-athletes, coaches, andstaff in making this event a success.”

CONFERENCE BOUNDNYIT’s baseball team has been selected

as an associate member of the Great WestConference for the 2009-2010 academicyear. The Bears, who have spent the lasteight seasons participating in Division IIndependent Baseball Tournament, will joina conference for the first time since 2001when they played as part of the New YorkState Baseball Conference.

“Being an associate member of theGreat West Conference will allow us to once again play for a conferencechampionship,” said head coach BobHirschfield. “With some new opponentson the way, we look forward to giving our fans and alumni new opportunities tocheer for the Bears.” ■

NYIT men’s lacrosse head coach Jack Kaleywas named the Division II 2008 FieldTurf

Lacrosse Coach of the Year for the secondtime in his coaching career. Kaley last won theaward in 2006 after he led the Bears to theirthird national championship in 2005. Last sea-son, Kaley was the only coach in all threeNCAA divisions to win the FieldTurf LacrosseCoach of the Year and be named the UnitedStates Intercollegiate Lacrosse AssociationCoach of the Year within a division.

Kaley and the Bears captured the 2008Division II national championship with a 16-11win over Le Moyne. Under Kaley, the lacrosseprogram has won four national championships,including three in the past six years, hasappeared in the national championship gamesix times, and has recorded the best winningpercentage in Division I and II lacrosse. ■

Senior Bryant Lassiteretched his name intothe NYIT record books

when he became the Bears’all-time leading hoops scorerwith 1,923 points, surpassingthe previous record of 1,849points set by Pat Tunstead in2003-2004. Lassiter alsoearned ECC Second-TeamAll-Conference honors.

The men’s basketball team finished the 2008-2009 regular season with a 13-15overall record and an 8-10record in the East CoastConference, advancing to the ECC tournament as theseventh seed before losing toBridgeport in the semifinals. ■

NYIT’s Jack Kaley Named FieldTurfLacrosse Coach of the Year

Lassiter Nets RecordSPORTS BRIEFS

Senior Bryant Lassiter finishedhis NYIT athletic career with a

record-setting 1,923 points.


| 1960s |Life keeps getting sweeter for Jim

Geoghan (B.F.A. ’69). As executiveproducer and co-creator of the DisneyChannel hit show, The Suite Life ofZack and Cody, Jim has breathed newlife into his creation by putting someof the cast on a boat and renamingthe show The Suite Life on Deck, nowin its second year. Nominated for an

Emmy in 2006 and 2007 for BestChildren’s Program, The Suite Life isthe top-rated scripted show on cableTV and is in the top 10 shows down-loaded each week on the Internet.Not to be cast as just a TV guy, Jimhas also been busy on the theatricalfront. Dramatists Play Service pub-lished his comedy, UG-The CavemanMusical, and Samuel French Inc. is set

to publish his play, Two Gentlemen ofCorona, this spring. Jim lives with hiswife, Annie, a veteran stage, screen,and television actress who is now abusy acting coach, in Hollywood,Calif. Their daughter, Genevieve, is afreshman at the University ofSouthern California and is followingin her dad’s footsteps as a film andcreative writing major.

| 1970s |Steve Zazenski (B.F.A. ’71) has

been making the world a more colorfulplace for more than three decades.The award-winning artist is bestknown for his traditional landscapes,inspired by New England, BucksCounty, Pa, and the Caribbean. Hehas also developed “A Logical Approachto Watercolors,” a series of classes and

workshops in which he gives demon-strations to both public and private art associations. Steve lives with hiswife of 37 years, Kathy, in BucksCounty, Pa.

William Bauman (B.S. ’73) has beennamed senior vice president and generalmanager of Computer Associate’s (CA)India technology center in Hyderabad,India, where he is responsible forexpanding the company’s engineering,marketing, and business developmentsectors. Prior to this position, Williamserved as senior vice president and general manger of CA’s workloadautomation business unit.

Nevio Carcich (B.F.A. ’75) is aself-employed designer and artistwhose work has been exhibited atStone Junction Station in Warwick,N.Y., and at the Edward HopperHouse Art Center in Nyack, N.Y., as well as in Unije, Croatia. Neviolives with his wife, Ursula, in NorthBergen, N.J.

For Daisy Exposito-Ulla (B.F.A.’75), knowing how to reach theHispanic community has been para-mount to her livelihood. As co-ownerof D Exposito and Partners, anHispanic marketing and communica-tions agency in New York City, Daisybrings more than three decades ofexperience to her firm. She began hercareer as creative director of Young &Rubicam’s The Bravo Group—one ofthe largest Hispanic ad agencies in thecountry—and from 1981 to 2004served as Bravo’s chairperson andCEO. She is a past recipient of theInternational Center’s Award ofExcellence, the Carvel Immigrant ofthe Year Award, and the BusinessAward by the Manhattan Chamber ofCommerce. Daisy was also named2002 Advertising Executive of the Yearby Hispanicad.com.

Joseph Mitrani (B.F.A. ’75), ownerof Unique Furniture in Green Brook,N.J., has opened a second furnitureshowroom, Urban Living, in Somerville,N.J. “I come from a long line of retail-ers,” he says. “They understood the psy-chology of people.” Established in 1992,Unique Furniture is a complete designshowroom displaying European-inspired

ALU M N I N OTE S


LI NEWS TONIGHT CELEBRATES SILVER ANNIVERSARY

Faculty and staff members joined alumni and friends of NYIT’s award-winning, student-produced LI News Tonight news program at an Oct. 17, 2008, reception to celebrate the program’s 25th anniversary. LI News Tonight, which airs weeknights at 7 p.m. onCablevision-Channel 29 (New York), has helped launch the careers of numerous local andnational news personalities. Pictured (from left) are: Michael DelGuidice (B.F.A. ’84, M.A.’86), WNBC photographer; Patti Ann Browne (M.A. ’89), Fox News Channel anchor; KenEckhardt, LI News Tonight anchor and news director; Carol Pack (B.F.A. ’86, M.A. ’87), LI News Tonight assignment manager and chief correspondent; Brian Kenny (B.F.A. ’85),ESPN sportscaster; and Ellen Levy Ryan (M.A. ’88), Chyron Corporation product manager.The reception took place at NYIT’s de Seversky center at the Old Westbury campus. ■

STAN

BLA

NCHA

RD

Vol7No2_030-41-alumni notes 13.qxd 3/17/09 5:34 PM

WALK WITH U S, AROU N D TH E G LOB E

Some universities promote their reputations for graduat-ing individuals who make a difference. NYIT alumnichoose the challenges and paths that change the

world in the same collaborative, entrepreneurial spirit as theuniversity where they earned their degrees.

One of my favorite historic figures, the French philosopherAlbert Camus, once said, “Don’t walk behind me; I may notlead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walkbeside me, and be my friend.” This exemplifies the relation-ship that NYIT alumni feel for their alma mater, for their fellow graduates, and for the world at large as they deal with the many challenges and opportunities that face us as a global society.

A signature trait of NYIT alumni throughout the years hasbeen their contributions to the development of breakthroughtechnologies across a wide variety of disciplines, such asarchitecture, computer science, education, engineering,management, media, health care, and telecommunications. It comes as no surprise that we continue to draw upon our graduates’ knowledge to serve as mentors to NYITstudents, as well as invite them to help enhance our academic programs to ensure they meet the needs oftoday’s marketplace.

I am pleased to announcethat April 2009 marks the 10th anniversary of our M.B.A.programs in China. As part ofhonoring our legacy, we will celebrate with a series of inaugural events that will serveto establish Alumni Federationchapters in Nanchang, Beijing,Shenzhen, and Shanghai. Theseevents represent yet anothermilestone in NYIT’s evolution asa 21st-century global institution.

As always, I encourage youto reconnect with NYIT if you have not done so and to con-tribute to helping our students in any way you can. In thesedifficult times, the first impulse might be to turn inward andfocus solely on immediate concerns. This has never been thestyle of NYIT or its alumni. Perhaps Camus said it best: “Werefuse to despair of mankind. Without having the unreason-able ambition to save men, we still want to serve them.” ■

Joe FortineDirector of Alumni Relations

CHRI

STO

PHER

APP

OLD

T

furniture, as well as carpeting, area rugs,flooring, lighting, and accessories. UrbanLiving, which will be managed byJoseph’s daughter and nephew, offerscontemporary and classic designs.

Curtis Brunson (B.S. ’76) is executive vice president for corporatestrategy and development at L-3Communications, the sixth largestdefense contractor in the United States.

You probably don’t recognize hername, but Harriet Schapiro Mauro(B.F.A. ’77) has been entertaining youfor more than 30 years. She is a talentproducer for television shows and liveevents, including the Tony, DaytimeEmmy, Golden Globe, and soap operaawards shows. She is currently involvedwith Who Do You Think You Are? TheNBC/BBC series features celebritieswho trace and and revisit their roots.Harriet lives with her husband of 28 years and their 16-year-old son inLos Angeles.

Bill Zeman (B.S. ’77, M.B.A. ’82)is now an accredited professional asdesignated by the United States GreenBuilding Council, Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design. Heprovides technical consulting servicesin the design, evaluation, and construc-tion of building mechanical systems.Bill also volunteers his time andexpertise at the Half Hollow HillsSchool District. He resides in DixHills, N.Y., with his wife, Rosemary.Their daughter, Stephanie, is pursuinga career in health sciences.

Joan O’Connor (M.P.S. ’79) is alicensed mental health counselor whohas worked in NYIT’s Office ofCounseling and Wellness Services since1981. She says, “I truly love workingwith the students and being a part of the NYIT community, as corny as thatmay sound.” Joan is married with two children. “In my free time, I like to playgolf, cook, and spend time with my

family and friends.” She also bleeds blueas a diehard New York Rangers fan.

| 1980s |Thomas S. Ricci (B.Arch. ’80) is

executive vice president with ThomasProperties Group Inc., a real estatecompany that owns and managesproperties throughout the UnitedStates. Previously, he served as seniorvice president of the company, as wellas vice president of planning and entitlements at Maguire ThomasPartners’ Playa Capital Company division. Early in his career, Thomaswas a captain in the U.S. Air Force,where he participated in the planning,design, and construction of medicalfacilities in the United States andabroad. He and his wife, Amy, live inPalos Verdes Estates, Calif.

Jerry Romano (B.F.A. ’80) is a salesexecutive for GlobeCast America, ➤➤


C O M P I L E D BY LO R R A I N E TO D I S C O l t o d i s c o @ n y i t . e d u


which serves broadcasters world-wide through its satellite network. Heis also chairman of the New YorkEmmy Awards, as well as executiveproducer of the program (Jerry alsoserves on the national committee forthe Emmys). He lives in Sea Cliff,N.Y., with his wife of 21 years, Carole,and their two sons, Alex and Jonathan.

After 40 years in the U.S. Army,retired General Vincent Capasso,Ph.D., (M.P.S. ’81) now serves in theU.S. Department of Defense as part ofthe Multinational Security TransitionCommand in Baghdad. He is therecipient of the U.S. Gold Medal forVolunteer Service, the New York StateDefense of Liberty Medal with WorldTrade Center Device, and the NYITBrett Kaufman Memorial AlumniAward for Volunteerism. One ofVincent’s favorite NYIT memories iswhen he applied for a criminal justicescholarship and was interviewed by theuniversity’s former president, MatthewSchure, Ph.D. “As the interview pro-gressed, we realized that we had gradu-ated high school together in New YorkCity. We have remained good friendsever since.” Vincent says he is gratefulthat he has a career that has allowedhim to travel around the world andimmerse himself in different cultures.He and his wife, Diane, have threedaughters and five grandchildren.

Architect Daniel Meehan (B.S. ’81)is now in charge of the New Jerseyarchitectural group at architectural andengineering firm H2M. Daniel hasworked there since 1998 and assists thecompany’s New York clients in manag-ing all aspects of architectural and plan-ning projects. Daniel also teaches archi-tecture technology and constructionmanagement at Farmingdale StateCollege on Long Island, N.Y. Licensedto practice in New York, Pennsylvania,and New Jersey, he is a member of theAmerican Institute of Architects and theConstruction Specifications Institute.

Carmen Schuller (B.S. ’82) hasbeen named one of America’s TopDentists by the Consumers’ ResearchCouncil of America in Washington,D.C. The selection process is based on a point system that measures educa-tion, years in practice, affiliations with

ALU M N I NOTES

JAM

IE S

QUI

RE/G

ETTY

IMAG

ES


➤➤

ALLISON BAVER (M.B.A. ’07)

| ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT |

GRADUATE ON ICE U.S. champion speed skater Allison Baver is currently training for the XXIOlympic Winter Games to be held in Vancouver. “I always had the goal of being in theOlympics and winning a medal.” In 2002 and 2006, she qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team,and, in 2007, she won the U.S. Short Track Championship. Allison currently holds more WorldCup championship medals (12) than any other female short track speed skater in U.S. history.

MODEL SKATER Allison signed with Wilhelmina Models’ athlete division in the fall of 2008.

CHAMPIONING GOOD CAUSES In 2008, Allison took the advice of her sister, Crystal, andencouraged her teammates to join her in creating an adopt-a-family program to help others in need. She is also establishing a foundation that teaches children about the principles ofOlympic competition and how to incorporate athletics into a successful and happy life.

DETERMINED SPIRIT Life for an Olympic athlete isn’t all trophies and cereal boxes. Oneinjury left Allison with nearly 50 stitches on her face, and another collision put her in a wheel-chair. In both cases, she found the strength to compete again and achieve even greater success. In February 2009, Allison broke her leg when another skater collided with her duringthe Ladies 1,500-meter A final at the International Skating Union World Cup in Bulgaria.Despite this latest setback, she is determined to train even harder. “I always look forward andnever lose faith in believing what’s possible.”

DEFINITION OF SUCCESS “Success is determined not only by whether or not I accomplishmy goal, but by what others think of my character in that effort. It’s also about knowing I triedmy absolute best.”

EDUCATION ON THE GO Allison chose NYIT because its online courses were the perfect fitto match the hectic pace of her career.

LAST BOOK READ The Lance Armstrong Performance Program by Lance Armstrong andChris Carmichael

DOWNTIME? WHAT DOWNTIME? When she’s not reaching speeds of 35 miles per hour onthe ice, Allison enjoys shopping, hiking, movies, yoga, and dancing. However, with her intensetraining schedule, “I never get to do most of these things!”


professional associations, and boardcertifications.

Stephanie Giorlando (D.O. ’83)has been practicing physical medicineand rehabilitation in northern Virginiasince 1987 after completing her resi-dency at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Shehas been married to her husband, Bill,since 1989. They are the proud parentsof nine-year-old Stephen. “I amamazed at the growth of NYIT, andam really proud to have it as my almamater,” says Stephanie. “I hope all myclassmates are doing well in theircareers and in their personal lives.”

Jo Anne Meekins (B.S. ’83) is aprocedure writer for Healthfirst, a healthinsurance company servicing New YorkCity and Long Island. In April 2008, her book, On Solid Ground: InspirationalPoetry for All Occasions, was published byAuthor House.

Evan Goldenberg (B.Arch. ’84) isthe owner and chief architect of DesignBuild Consultants Inc., a Connecticut-based architecture and interior designfirm that specializes in residential struc-tures and interiors, wine cellars, andrestaurants. The firm, founded in 1990,is now a multimillion-dollar enterprise.

Robert M. Manashi (B.T. ’84) ispresident of Flight Vehicles ConsultingInc. and Southridge Steel Inc., bothbased in California.

Robert Allan Markovits (B.Arch.’84) has been appointed to a three-yearterm at the Toronto office of theImmigration and Refugee Board ofCanada. Previously, Robert served as aproject architect and in-house designerat several firms.

Ronald S. Litman (D.O. ’85) hasbeen promoted to professor of anesthe-siology and pediatrics at the Universityof Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Roland Laird (M.S. ’86) is the authorof Still I Rise: A Graphic History of AfricanAmericans, as well as the co-founder ofPosro Media in Trenton, N.J., a com-pany that produces multimedia materialsthat promote African American historyand culture.

Yunah Hong (M.A. ’87) is a NewYork-based filmmaker whose latestdocumentary, Between the Lines: Asian-American Women’s Poetry, was screenedin January at the David M. Kennedy

ANDERS COHEN (D.O. ’97)



CURRENT POSITION Chief of neurosurgery and spine surgery at Brooklyn Hospital Center,where he specializes in minimally invasive treatments. He is also assistant professor of neurosurgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center and a frequent lecturer at international conferences. Anders was the first New York City physician to perform the extreme lateralinterbody fusion and Trans1 procedures to treat the lumbar spine.

BEST PART OF MY DAY “There is no greater satisfaction than the gratitude of a happy patient.”

A FRIENDSHIP FORGED During his NYCOM orientation, Anders met another student,Richard Jadick (D.O. ’97), who today serves as a surgeon and commander in the U.S. Navy.The two became great friends and were very involved in student government, as well asimproving the quality of life for NYIT students.

DEFINITION OF SUCCESS “Finding a job that doesn’t require you to set an alarm clock.”

FAVORITE FLICK “Slumdog Millionaire, which reminded me of City of God, another classic.”

LAST BOOK READ Armageddon in Retrospect by Kurt Vonnegut

SPINAL CHORDS Anders won’t operate without music in the background. “Sometimes I letthe patient pick the artist off my iPod.”

➤➤

JEFF

WEI

NER


Center for International Studies atBrigham Young University in Provo,Utah. Yunah is now working onDangerous to Know: Anna May Wong, afeature-length documentary about theChinese-American film star and stageactress of the 1920s and 1930s.

Joseph Lancia (D.O. ’87), a psychi-atrist who runs a private practice inupstate New York, is a clinical assistantprofessor at the University of RochesterMedical Center’s Department ofPsychiatry. In addition, he teaches psychotherapy and transpersonal psychiatry and is a distinguished fellowof the American Psychiatric Assoc-iation. Joseph also conducts equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) atWindhorse Farm LLC in Hilton, N.Y.

Scott Neher (B.S. ’87, M.A. ’96)has worn many entrepreneurial hatsduring his career. He began buying

properties in the 1980s and has continued to operate a series of realestate companies over the years,including Earth Investors Group,Worldcom Title Company, and EarthMedia Inc., the publishing companyfor Elements magazine. In addition,Scott donates his time to several com-munity organizations on Long Islandand is an active member of variouslocal business associations.

Daniel Panessa (B.S. ’87, M.S.’01) is vice president of human resourcesat Slomin’s Inc. in Hicksville, N.Y.Daniel thanks NYIT for providing thevision and inspiration for his career.

Leonard Goffe (B.S. ’88) isdirector of advertising and marketingat Realty Advisors International Inc.,a full-service real estate firm head-quartered in West Palm Beach, Fla.For the past 15 years, Leonard has

been involved in public relations,advertising, and marketing in theNew York, Florida, and Washington,D.C., areas.

Michael Edbauer (D.O. ’88) isvice president of medical affairs forthe Catholic Western New YorkIndependent Practice Association(IPA) in Buffalo, N.Y., a partnershipbetween the Catholic Health Systemand almost 800 physicians. He is also vice president of medical affairsfor the Catholic Health Primary Care Division and McAuley SetonHome Care.

Brad Casiano (B.S. ’89) provideselectronic trading solutions atBloomberg L.P., a global provider offinancial data, news, and analytics.Previously, Brad served as a fixedincome trader and sales manager at J.P.Morgan Chase. In his free time, Brad

ALU M N I NOTES


➤➤


CURRENT POSITION President of the Center for the ShanghaiInternational Arts Festival, the largest and only statewide event ofits type in China.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• As director and chief editor of Shanghai Oriental Radio,Shenglai created several well-received programs. As aresult, he received the Distinguished Contribution Awardfrom the China Radio and Television Association; theChinese Distinguished People Award from the InternationalFestivals and Events Association (twice); and was namedamong the top 10 newsmakers by the China Times.

• Launched the Association of Asian Performing Arts Festivaland served as its vice chairman.

• Member of the Chinese Writer’s Association and the authorof several books. Shenglai is writing a new book based onhis visits to more than 40 countries.

FAVORITE NYIT MEMORY “I really enjoyed the discussions withprofessors and classmates.”

DEFINITION OF SUCCESS “When efforts are widely recognizedand appreciated by society.”

FAVORITE MOVIES Vita è bella, La, On Golden Pond, TheUnbearable Lightness of Being, and Gloomy Sunday

HOBBIES Writing, photography, travel, and tennis.

SHENGLAI CHEN (M.B.A. ’02)



Share your news with alumni in NYIT Magazine! Tell us about your engagement, marriage, children, career, hobbies, and your latest and greatest accomplishments.

Name: Spouse’s name:

Year of graduation: Degree: Major:

Address: New address? Yes No

City: State: ZIP:

Home phone: Work phone: E-mail:

Job title: Employer:

Company address:

News you wish to share:

Please send to: NYIT Magazine, New York Institute of Technology, Northern Boulevard, P.O. Box 8000, Old Westbury, NY 11568-8000, Attn: Michael Schiavetta

E-mail stories and photos to [email protected] or fax them to 516.686.7980. Submissions will be edited for clarity and space. Photos should be 300 dpi in JPG or TIF format.

Tell Us a STORY

coordinates fundraising programs forchildren with cancer and enjoys playingsoccer and golf. He has been married for14 years and has three children.

Photographer Carol Hartman(B.F.A. ’89) has had her work exhibitedat the Robert Raushenberg Gallery inFort Meyers, Fla., and has a permanentexhibit of 20 prints owned by Bay Titlein Cape Coral, Fla. She notes that muchof her photography consists of placesand things we pass every day, but neverstop to admire for their beauty.

Sunita Holzer (M.S. ’89) is an exec-utive with the Chubb Group ofInsurance Companies. She was recentlyhonored by the National Council forResearch on Women and received theOutstanding Making a Difference forWomen Award for her substantial con-tributions toward helping other women.Sunita has held managerial positions atGE Capital, American Express, andAmerican International Group. She isalso a member of Chubb’s Women ofColor Advisory Council and serves onthe board for Jersey Battered Women’sService Inc.

| 1990s |Deanna M. Del Prete (D.O. ’90) is

an obstetrician with Women’s Health-care of New England at NorwalkHospital, in Norwalk, Conn. She com-pleted an osteopathic internship at theMethodist Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.,after which she became the chief resi-dent for obstetrics and gynecology atMount Sinai Hospital in Hartford,Conn. Deanna is board-certified and acontributor to the American Journal ofObstetrics and Gynecology.

Richard Dibble, Ph.D., (M.B.A.’90) is happiest when dealing with“human capital.” As the executive direc-tor for NYIT’s Center for HumanResource Studies, he is a professor ofhuman resource management and servesas faculty advisor to the NYIT chapterof the Society for Human ResourceManagement. In addition, Richard is amember of the Suffolk County (NewYork) Public Employment RelationsBoard and chair of the Youth Council atthe Town of Hempstead WorkforceInvestment Board. Richard is married toJosephine Estrada (M.S. ’00), and has

two daughters, Cristina and Diana(B.S. ’03).

National Renewables CooperativeOrganization (NRCO) has selectedAmadou Fall (B.S. ’91) as its chiefexecutive officer. NRCO, a new organi-zation formed by power supply coopera-tives located across the United States,facilitates the development and deploy-ment of renewable energy resources.Amadou has nearly two decades of experience in the energy industry.

Anthony Baffo (B.P.S. ’92, M.B.A.’03) has come full circle—he serves asgeneral manager of NYIT’s de SeverskyCenter at the Old Westbury campus,the very place he worked as a waiter 21years ago. His other gigs included man-aging restaurants at Rockefeller Centerfor Restaurant Associates and generalmanager of Papa Razzi restaurant inWestbury, N.Y. In addition, Anthonyhas assisted in creating the room serviceprograms for patients at St. FrancisHospital in Roslyn, N.Y., and has servedas an adjunct professor in NYIT’s hospitality management program. Hehas been married to his high school ➤➤



Grads Energize Each Otherand Their Industry

Just out of college, Philip Andreas(B.T. ’79, M.B.A. ’86), WernerSchweiger (M.S. ’87), and

Lawrence Gelbein (B.T. ’81) beganworking together at the Long IslandLighting Company (LILCO) in the early1980s. More than a quarter centurylater, they’re still together, as top exec-utives at NSTAR, a publicly regulatedutility company that delivers electricityand natural gas to customers in east-ern and central Massachusetts.

Werner, the utility company’s seniorvice president of operations, overseesits gas and electric systems, as well asits engineering, metering, and fleetoperations.

Philip is vice president for gas oper-ations and heads up a unit that deliversenvironmentally friendly natural gas to300,000 customers.

Lawrence is vice president of electri-cal engineering, responsible for a high-tech transmission and distribution systemfor more than one million customers.

“We all started off as entry-levelengineers and worked closely togetherat LILCO,” says Lawrence, who nowresides in Needham, Mass. He, likePhilip, reports to Werner. “Today, weare still working together, and thatclose bond remains.”

During the 1990s, the three engi-neers collaborated on a groundbreakingresearch project at LILCO’s Hicksville,N.Y., lab developed with GeneralElectric. The invention earned them ajoint patent and dramatically improvedthe utility’s response to power out-ages. Before their system was inplace, a downed tree might snap apower line and disrupt service forthousands of homeowners in an areauntil the bucket truck arrived to find thetrouble spot and make the repairs.The system they devised relies on“smart sensors” that relay informationabout the problem to a central com-puter system, which analyzes the

damage, opens switches to isolate theoutage, and then dispatches repaircrews to the damaged line.

“The sensors detect what section isdamaged, isolate that faulty connection,and restore electricity to the remainingcustomers,” says Lawrence. “It was anearly version of a smart grid—we wereahead of our time.”

In early 2002, Werner was recruitedby NSTAR, and Lawrence and Philipmoved north to Massachusetts laterthat year. “We’ve managed to accom-plish quite a bit over the years,” saysWerner, who lives in Franklin, Mass. A New York City native and Mets fan,he now hangs a photo of Fenway Parkin his NSTAR office in deference toBeantown’s beloved Red Sox.

NSTAR, the largest Massachusetts-based electric and gas utility, wasformed in 1999 from the merger ofBoston Edison, CommonwealthElectric, Commonwealth Gas, andCambridge Electric. In the late 1990s,all Massachusetts utilities wereordered to divest themselves of theirelectric generating plants, leaving com-panies like NSTAR to transmit anddeliver power through their grid. And,with policymakers concerned aboutconserving energy, engineers aredeveloping smart grids that provideconsumers with real-time informationabout energy usage.

State policies to combat global warm-ing, meanwhile, have utilities looking foralternative sources of energy that rely onrenewable resources. Massachusettswants renewable energy—solar, wind,biomass, landfill gas, or fuel cells thatuse renewable fuels—to comprise 15percent of a utility’s portfolio by 2020.NSTAR’s portfolio is already about 5percent renewable, slightly higher thanits 2009 target of 4 percent.

“A standard has been set,” saysWerner, who earned his master’sdegree in energy management at NYIT

while working at LILCO and takingclasses on the weekends. “The chal-lenge is finding the resources and figuring how those resources becomeavailable to us between now and then.”

As executives in publicly regulatedutilities, they also face a steady streamof rules.

Philip, as head of NSTAR’s gas opera-tions, is preparing for new federal regula-tions aimed at improving the reliabilityand safety of gas distribution mains thatrun under neighborhood streets, like theones NSTAR maintains in dozens ofMassachusetts communities. Philip sayshis team will do an assessment of thegas distribution system as part of collab-oration on an industry-wide program.

“We’ll work with our peer utilitiesfrom the Northeast Gas Association todevelop a template, share information,and develop strategies and plans on alower cost than we could do ourselves,”says Philip, who earned his NYIT M.B.A.after taking evening classes for nearlyfive years. “From there, each companywill then customize its plan.”

After graduation, Philip maintained arelationship with NYIT, collaboratingwith Edward Kafrissen, Ph.D., professorof electrical engineering and one of hismentors during his undergraduatedays. While at LILCO, the two workedtogether with truck manufacturer Altecto design a robotic arm. The armshelped electric linemen make repairswhen they were working alone withhigh-voltage wires in a bucket truck.Several prototypes were built and testedin the field.

Kafrissen has seen Philip’s develop-ment into what he calls “a classic manager,” and says, “He’s an incrediblestrategic thinker. He has the ability tothink three steps ahead.”

Those traits have served Philip wellthroughout his career and have consis-tently benefited NSTAR during hisnearly seven years there. Having been

By David McKay Wilson

ALU M N I NOTES



brought onboard as head of the com-pany’s electric division, he helped navigate NSTAR through many of thechanges that took place in the earlyyears of the restructured electricindustry in Massachusetts.

“Though there are many operationaldifferences between electric and gasdistribution companies, each requireseffective long-range strategizing forcontinued success,” says Philip.“There is an ongoing need to adapt tochanging environments so it’s criticalfor managers to accurately assessfuture challenges and opportunities.”

The business relationship shared byPhilip, Werner, and Lawrence hasevolved into a team approach thateffectively advances NSTAR’s corpo-rate goals. Having worked closelytogether for more than 25 years, eachis intimately familiar with the strengthsthat the others bring to the process.Even now, with Lawrence heading thecompany’s electrical engineering areaand Philip in charge of gas operations,there continues to be a sharing ofideas and strategies that contributes tothe overall success of the operationsunit that is overseen by Werner.

“I’ve come to depend on the cohe-sion that exists throughout my organi-zation,” says Werner. “Having the com-bined experience of Phil and Larry aspart of that team gives me the kind ofconfidence that comes from more than25 years together in the industry.”

Looking ahead, NSTAR will continueto focus on meeting customer needs inthe cleanest, most efficient way possible.And, as they have been in the past, thesethree NYIT grads will be at the forefrontof their industry, drawing on their educa-tion and experience to design and imple-ment sustainable energy technologies forthe future. ■

David McKay Wilson is a New York-based freelance journalist and frequentcontributor to the New York Times.“There is an ongoing need to adapt to

changing environments so it’s criticalfor managers to accurately assessfuture challenges and opportunities.”

–Philip Andreas (B.T. ’79, M.B.A. ’86)

Philip Andreas (B.T. ’79, M.B.A. ’86),Werner Schweiger (M.S. ’87), andLawrence Gelbein (B.T. ’81)


sweetheart, Laura, for 15 years andhas three children.

Dianne Baumert-Moyik (M.A.’92) is manager of communicationsand civic affairs at Northrop GrummanCorporation, Integrated SystemsEastern Region, where she is respon-sible for developing and executingcommunications and marketing cam-paigns to support the company’s goalsand objectives. Dianne is also theowner of Baumert PR & Design Inc.,a firm that represents the NassauCounty Detectives Association Inc., as well as the September 11th FamiliesAssociation and its 9/11 TributeCenter program.

Christopher Bockstael (B.Arch.’94) is associate principal at full-service design and master planningfirm Svigals + Partners in NewHaven, Conn. He has 15 years ofarchitecture and project managementexperience, and has overseen morethan 50 projects since joining the firmin 2004. Christopher is a member ofthe American Institute of Architectsand the International Interior DesignAssociation, and has won severalawards for design excellence. He lives in New Haven, Conn.

Aaron Cohen (B.S. ’94) is manag-ing partner at Cohen & Papera, LLC,a full-service law firm with offices inFlorida and New York.

From publishing lullaby CDs, to volunteering as a speaker for theAdvertising Educational Foundation,to teaching advertising classes atNYIT, Lisa Colantuono (B.S. ’94,M.A. ’98) somehow finds the time fora full-time career as managing partnerof AAR Partners, a New York-basedsearch consultant company with officesin nine countries. Her prior experienceincludes serving as senior media plan-ner for global clients at Young &Rubicam and directing communicationsfor the Make-A-Wish Foundation ofMetro New York.

Nick Gabriel (D.O. ’94) is thedirector of bariatric surgery andadvanced laporoscopic surgery at St.Catherine’s of Siena Medical Centerin Smithtown, N.Y.

In today’s economy, every managerwould be wise to read Right to the Point

ALU M N I NOTES


➤➤

Rejoin the Pack!The NYIT Bears Den, which includes graduates and friends of the

Department of Athletics and Recreation, is asking all former sports alumni to contact us so we can invite you to our next event. Call

516.686.7522 or e-mail [email protected] to get back on the team!


by Robert Micera (M.S. ’94). Thebook discusses the benefits of becom-ing one’s own boss and how to inspireemployees. Robert is the director ofhuman resources at Margolin, Winer& Evens, an accounting and businessadvisory firm based in Garden City, N.Y.

Susan Magyar (B.S. ’95) is campusdean at Westwood College-SouthCampus in Denver, Colo. She is amember of the Project ManagementInstitute, National Business EducatorsAssociation, American ManagementAssociation, and the Association forCareer and Technical Education.

Kidney specialist Rachel Colvin(D.O. ’96) has joined the HorizonFamily Medical Group in Goshen,N.Y. In addition, she serves as medicaldirector of the Regional KidneyCenter in Harriman, N.Y., and theWeiss Renal Center in Suffern, N.Y.Rachel is board-certified in nephrologyand internal medicine. She performedher residency in internal medicine atNorth Shore University Hospital inNew York and was the assistant chiefresident at the post-doctoral level atMemorial Sloan Kettering CancerCenter Hospital.

Surgeon Salomon Kramer (D.O.’96) has joined the medical staff atRome Memorial Hospital in New York,where he specializes in advancedlaparoscopic procedures. He says, “I take a holistic approach to medicine by communicating with patients andtaking time to learn about the wholeperson.” Salomon practiced in Texasfor four years, was chief intern atMillcreek Community Hospital inErie, Pa., and completed his residencytraining at Cuyahoga Falls GeneralHospital in Ohio.

Christy Lamagna (M.A. ’97) lives inNew Jersey and is president of StrategicMeetings & Events, a company thathosts corporate programs worldwide.With more than 16 years of industryexperience, she has worked on eventsranging in size from 250,000 attendeesto more intimate business meetings.

Edward Klein (D.O. ’98) has been named a 2008 Health Care Heroby Hudson Valley Life magazine. Hepractices family medicine in OrangeCounty, N.Y.

Adam Goldstein (D.O. ’98) is thedirector of minimally invasive surgeryfor Virtua Health Systems located inVoorhees, N.J.

James-Herve Sabin (B. Arch. ’98)is general director of the Rural HaitiProject, a U.S.-based youth leadershiporganization that runs civic, social, andintellectual development programs forlow-income and at-risk children inrural areas of Haiti.

Victor Taranto (D.O. ’98) hasbeen recognized in the CambridgeWho’s Who Executive, Professional, andEntrepreneurial Registry for his dedica-tion to the health care field. He is aspecialist in general and laparoscopicsurgery and has had his own privatepractice for 25 years. Victor is a mem-ber of the American OsteopathicAssociation, the American MedicalAssociation, the American College ofOsteopathic Surgeons, and the Societyfor Laparoendoscopic Surgeons.

Peter Barry (D.O. ’99) has receivedthe Attending Physician of the YearAward from the New Jersey Hospiceand Palliative Care Organization. Heruns an internal medicine practice inClark, N.J., and is board-certified bythe American Osteopathic Board of

Internal Medicine. In addition, Peterhas served as attending physician atnearby Homeside Hospice.

Rajiv Goswami (D.O. ’99) is anassistant professor of medicine at BaylorCollege of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

David R. Gotham Jr. (D.O. ’99)is a board-certified orthopedic traumasurgeon who runs a private practice in Sacramento, Calif. He is an assis-tant professor at the University ofCalifornia-Davis Medical Center,where he completed an orthopedictrauma fellowship, and is an activemember in the American OsteopathicAssociation. David and his wife,Rebecca, have two daughters, Jordanand Reagan.

| 2000s |The season is always in bloom for

Barbara Porter (B.S. ’00), who is thedirector of enterprise initiatives at1800flowers.com. She has also man-aged application development for thecompany’s e-commerce Web sites for eight years. Barbara is a certified project management professional and serves as the vice president ofmembership for the Information


| B i r t h s |Eric Jonah Sargent to Jennifer Cline Sargent (B.F.A. ’95, M.A. ’96)and Tom Sargent

| M a r r i a g e s |John J. Venetucci (B.S. ’81) to Siobhan KearnsThomas Scotto Jr. (B.Arch. ’02) to Marisa SorrentinoElizabeth Erin Smith (D.O. ’04) to Patrick Benjamin CassaliaJenny Morissette (M.A. ’07) to Thomas Meyer

| P a s s i n g s |Bernard Glickman (B.F.A. ’69)Doug Towey (B.F.A. ’72)Steven Siedenburg (B.S. ’73)James Walker Harris (M.S. ’74)Andrew Casey (B.F.A. ’85)Ken Dubin (B.S. ’88)Marshall Daniel Goldberg (B.S. ’92)Douglas Richman (M.B.A. ’06)Richard G. Griffin Jr., former director of library services (Old Westbury campus)

➤➤


Technology and Telecommuni-cations Specific Interest Group at theProject Management Institute. In addi-tion, she volunteers for her children’sschools, their sports leagues, and herchurch. Barbara has two children,Katie and P.J.

Atul Kukar (D.O. ’00) completedhis postgraduate training in internalmedicine at St. Luke’s-RooseveltHospital Center of Columbia UniversityCollege of Physicians and Surgeons inNew York City and was selected asone of the hospital’s chief medical residents. He was named Fellow ofthe Year by St. Luke’s in 2004 andwas nominated for the Arnold J. GoldFoundation–Resident Teacher Awardfrom the Columbia University Collegeof Physicians and Surgeons. Atul isboard-certified in internal medicine,nuclear cardiology, echocardiography,and cardiovascular medicine.

Jill Nicolini (B.F.A. ’00, M.A. ’03)is the traffic reporter for The CW11Morning News, where she also deliversher “Just Jill” feature reports and fillsin as entertainment anchor. She alsoworked as the arena announcer for

the New York Islanders and a trafficreporter at News 12 Long Island.During the 2008 holiday season, shetraveled to Iraq to report on NewYork Governor David Paterson’s visitwith U.S. troops.

Anne Rex-Torzok (D.O. ’01) joinedthe Cleveland Clinic’s Department ofOrthopedic Surgery in Ohio as a primary care sports medicine physician.The clinic, one of the top orthopedicprograms in the country, serves all of theprofessional sports teams in Cleveland,including the Indians, Cavaliers, andBrowns. Her husband, Thomas, workswith her as a chiropractor.

“I smile on the way to work, and Ismile on the way home,” says EdwinRobles (D.O. ’01) about his position atPenn State’s Milton S. Hershey MedicalCenter. He returned to his nativeLancaster County in Pennsylvania aftergraduating from NYCOM to establisha private practice in Elizabethtown.

Matthew Gilbert (B.S. ’02) is anApple-certified service technician atthe Lenox Square Apple Store inAtlanta, Ga. His far-reaching special-ties include server administration,

desktop management, media produc-tion, networks, Web design anddevelopment, and hardware and soft-ware support. Matt has also served asa manager and service technician forEverything Mac in Cape Coral, Fla.,and was the co-owner and operator ofCrave Computers. At NYIT, he wasthe graphics lab coordinator at theManhattan campus.

Engin Yalt (B.S. ’02, M.S. ’04)is a technology analyst at GoldmanSachs Asset Management (GSAM),where he oversees the sales informationmanagement system for mutual funds.Before joining GSAM, Engin was a consultant for IBM Global BusinessServices. He has also taught at NYITand lectured at Hofstra University.

Grace Han (B.Arch. ’03) is a registered architect in Texas and isemployed by Parkhill, Smith & Cooper,an engineering and architectural firm.

Celine Mathew (B.S. ’03, D.P.T.’05) has been recognized in theCambridge Who’s Who Executive,Professional, and Entrepreneurial Registryfor her dedication, leadership, andexcellence in healthcare. She is a resi-dent physician at Nassau UniversityMedical Center in East Meadow, N.Y.,where she specializes in physical medi-cine and rehabilitation. Celine’s patientsinclude those suffering from occupa-tional and sports injuries, brain injuries,chronic pain, joint diseases, and ampu-tations. She is also a member of theAmerican Medical Association, theAmerican Osteopathic Association, theNew York State Osteopathic MedicalSociety, and the American Academy ofPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation.Celine plans to specialize in sports orinterventional medicine after complet-ing her residency and fellowship.

Sridhar Ganda (D.O. ’04) joinedBassett Healthcare in Cooperstown,N.Y., as attending anesthesiologistand is a member of the AmericanMedical Association and theAmerican Osteopathic Association.

Michael F. Coney (B.S. ’05) ispresident and general manager for theAmericas at Acronis Inc., a globalstorage management and disasterrecovery software provider. He over-

ALU M N I NOTES


➤➤

TH E C LAS S C LOWN

HARL

EY L

. SCH

WAD

RON


sees sales and regional marketingactivities for the United States,Canada, and Latin America. Michaelhas held sales positions at MonsterWorldwide, VERITAS Software, andIngres Software.

Jan-Jilis (“JJ”) Van Delsen (M.B.A.’05) continues to prove the value ofhis NYIT degree. With more than 15 years of experience as a sales andmarketing professional, he has beenappointed as the United Kingdomsales director for Giunti Labs, a lead-ing online and mobile learning con-tent management solutions provider.Previously, he served as channeldevelopment director at Autodesk andsenior manager at Thomson NETg.

Shawn Dossie (B.S. ’05), an ensignin the U.S. Coast Guard, is the owner of DFX Information Technology, aninformation technology consulting firmfor private individuals, small- and medium-sized businesses, and munici-palities. Previously, he was a partner at eOverheadDoors LLC, an informa-tion technology manager at ChristieOverhead Doors, and a U.S. MarineCorps reservist in Iraq. Shawn is nowpursuing his M.B.A. from NYIT andexpects to graduate this year.

Serkan Ertekin (M.A. ’05) is leadanimator and artist at Smoke & Mirrors,a visual effects and post-productioncompany in New York City. Serkangot his start in the field as a graduateassistant in NYIT’s Department ofCommunication Arts. After graduation,he worked as an animator at SonyOnline Entertainment.

For nearly three years, AnubhavJindal (M.S. ’05) has been a technicalstaff member at Oracle Corporation,one of the world’s largest businesssoftware companies. As part of a

small, highly focused research anddevelopment team, he works on busi-ness intelligence and performancemanagement projects. Anubhav alsoserved as a software consultant atFidelity Investments.

Jamie A. Kofalt (M.B.A. ’05) isvice president of central services atUGI Utilities Inc., where she isresponsible for support services andcustomer accounting for its gas andelectric divisions.

Dipak Patel (D.O. ’06) is the chiefresident of family practice at PeninsulaHospital on Long Island, N.Y., and isthe recipient of the 2008 MerckOutstanding Resident of the Year award.

Sherina Gonzales (B.S. ’07) hasbeen named Short Sales Specialist ofthe Year by GHH Realty of Melville,N.Y. She is also assistant to the commissioner of the CommunityDevelopment Association in the Villageof Hempstead, N.Y.

Juan Carlos Melgarejo (B.P.S.’07) is café manager for Flik Inter-national and works in the New Yorkoffices of Cleary Gottlieb Steen &Hamilton LLP. He was featured in theJanuary 2009 issue of Food Manage-ment in which he discussed how Flik’sdining operations work with theCleary Gottlieb organization.

Manfred L. Ramos (D.O. ’07)has been recognized in the CambridgeWho’s Who Executive, Professional, andEntrepreneurial Registry for his dedicationto health care. He is a resident physicianspecializing in family medicine atLutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn,N.Y., and a member of the AmericanOsteopathic Association and the NewYork Osteopathic Medical Society.

Kyle Ensminger (M.B.A. ’08) ismanager of federal and commercialcontracts at Goodwill Business Services.Prior to this position, he was an accountexecutive at Geisinger Health Plan inDanville, Penn.

Siriwan Thienthong (M.B.A. ’08)is assistant public relations managerfor Novotel Suvarnabhumi AirportHotel in Bangkok, Thailand. Previously,Siriwan held positions at Hotel PlazaAthéneé and Café Lenorte, which arealso located in Bangkok. ■

OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Cynthia Gorman Vice President for Development

Joe Fortine Director of Alumni Relations

Julie McCaveraAssistant Director of Alumni Relations

Northern Boulevard, P.O. Box 8000 Old Westbury, NY 11568-8000

Phone: [email protected]

www.nyit.edu/alumni

ALUMNI FEDERATION EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

AND LONG ISLAND CHAPTERPresident Carol Ann Hasenstab (B.S. ’92)

1st Vice President Robert Maziarski (B.F.A. ’73) 2nd Vice President George Phillips

(B.F.A. ’01, M.A. ’02) Treasurer Kevin Hyms (M.B.A. ’86) Secretary Gary Teper (B.F.A. ’87, M.A. ’89)

NEW YORK CITY CHAPTER

President Alexander Soto (B.S. ’01) 1st Vice President Toros Tarpinyan (M.B.A. ’02)

2nd Vice President Radhika Mehta (M.B.A. ’02)

PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER

President Alan Clarke (B.S. ’68) 1st Vice President Richard Stefurak (B.S. ’82)

2nd Vice President Michael Cordovano (B.S. ’64)

NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER

President Hiroshi Morimoto (B.S. ’92) 1st Vice President Charles Giambalvo (B.S. ’78)

2nd Vice President Elizabeth Carter (M.B.A. ’97)

SOUTH FLORIDA CHAPTER

President Audrey Parrish (B.S. ’76)1st Vice President Shea Hunt (B.F.A. ’96)

2nd Vice President Rosemarie Edwards (B.P.S. ’86)

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER

President Kim McGraw (B.S. ’81) 1st Vice President Robert Kaczowka (B.A.R. ’87)

2nd Vice President Rocco Telese (B.S. ’77)

BAY AREA (SAN FRANCISCO) CHAPTER

President Meryl Dean (B.S. ’82) Vice President Kazys Shukis (B.T. ’75)

Secretary Darryl Wortham (B.T. ’88)

BAHRAIN CHAPTER

President Yasser Al-Saad (M.B.A. ’05) 1st Vice President Nouf Murad (M.B.A. ’05)

2nd Vice President Ahmad Fakhro (B.S. ’06)

M AG A Z I N Ewww.nyi t .edu


Share your news with fellow alumni. Send us information about your work,

family, hobbies, accomplishments, and things important to you. E-mail

[email protected] or drop us a line at NYIT Magazine, P.O. Box 8000, Old Westbury, NY 11568-8000.

C O NTACT U S C O NTACT U S


Eventually, I switched majors totelecommunications managementafter realizing the magni-tude of the shift we wereabout to experience … inhow we spoke, wrote, andeven thought. I rememberone NYIT class in whichwe discussed technologyand economics as drivingforces of the telecommuni-cations industry. Duringthat course, I picked up onthe concept of conver-gence—the merger ofvoice, video, and data,thanks to the Internet—andhow the cable industry ofthe 1990s was in the bestposition to challenge thetelecommunications jugger-naut that had existed fordecades at companies suchas AT&T.

After earning my NYITdegree, I continued towork in the telecommuni-cations industry. As the worldaround me became more connected,I found more opportunities. I start-ed at Optimum Lightpath, a divisionof Long Island, N.Y.-based Cable-vision Systems Corporation, in 2000as a network engineer, moving up tochief engineer. I continued climbingthe ladder for the past 11 years until

I reached my most recent positionas director of new product develop-

ment. With these new responsibili-ties, I now have the chance to par-ticipate in a creative environmentthat leverages my talents and myNYIT education.

I am proud to note that duringmy time at Optimum Lightpath, Ihave seen the company recognizedfor its innovation through several

industry awards, including Frost andSullivan’s Product of the Year“Direct Contributor” and its NorthAmerican Ethernet ServiceEmerging Company of the Yearawards, as well as a string of awardsfrom the Metro Ethernet Forumfrom 2006 to 2009. I am fortunateto live and breathe in an innovativeenvironment—just like the one Iwas introduced to by that coursecatalog so many years ago.

None of my success would havebeen possible without NYIT, whichset in motion an educational mindsetthat pointed me toward a career fullof opportunities. If you haven’t foundopportunity yourself yet, remember

that it usually doesn’t go knocking onjust anybody’s door. Sometimes, youneed to place yourself in its path andthen knock it over yourself. ■

Glenn Calafati is director of newproduct development at OptimumLightpath. He lives with his wife andthree children in Kings Park, N.Y.

G U ESTCOLU M N G LE N N CALAFAT I (B .S . ’98)

EMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH DIRECTION

YOU WANTED TO TAKE? I DO, AND, AS CORNY AS IT SOUNDS, I FOUND

IT IN THE NYIT UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG, RIGHT UNDER

“COMPUTER SCIENCE.” I ENROLLED IN NIGHT CLASSES AT THE OLD WESTBURY

CAMPUS WHILE WORKING FULL-TIME IN THE TELEPHONE INDUSTRY. AS PUBLIC

AWARENESS OF THE INTERNET GREW IN THE EARLY 1990S, I SAW FIRSTHAND THE

NEED FOR A MORE ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM. NYIT, TOO,

SAW THE WINDS OF CHANGE, YEARS BEFORE THE PROLIFERATION OF E-MAIL, WEB

SURFING, AND BROADBAND. I WAS ONLY TOO HAPPY TO BE STUDYING AT A

UNIVERSITY THAT ENVISIONED THE FUTURE AS I DID.

The Path of OpportunityC

HR

IST

OP

HE

R A

PP

OLD

T


R

“None of my successwould have beenpossible withoutNYIT, which set in motion an educational mindsetthat pointed metoward a career fullof opportunities.”

Vol7No2_042-Guest Column 5.qxd 3/17/09 4:28 PM

Visit nyit.bkstore.comto order the latest NYITapparel, including:

• Ties and scarves• Sweatshirts• T-shirts• Polo shirts• Baseball caps• Shorts

Order online or call 516.686.7584 or 212.261.1551All major credit cards acceptedInternational shipping available

Vol7No2_043-Bookstore.qxd 3/14/09 2:06 PM

New York Institute of TechnologyOffice of Alumni RelationsNorthern BoulevardP.O. Box 8000Old Westbury, NY 11568-8000

Non-Profit OrgU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit # 2664St. Cloud MN

RediscoverBecome an active member of the Alumni Federation andenjoy the benefits of staying connected to NYIT

Participate in your local chapter Alumni Federation chapters serve as volunteer centers for many alumni activities. Create programs to advance your professional growthwhile assisting graduates and students for years to come.

Make new contacts Networking and professional development events are the major focusof alumni activities. Attend reunions, programs, and workshops to enhance your career.

Mentor a future graduate Donate your time, experience, and knowledge to help NYITstudents. Participate in student e-mail discussions, visit classrooms, or facilitate projectsalongside NYIT professors and students.

Recruit new students No one speaks better of the NYIT experience than our alumni. Talkto prospective students and become an essential component of the recruitment process.

Become an ambassador NYIT alumni make the best delegates. Represent NYIT atevents around the world.

For more information, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 516.686.7800 or [email protected]

Vol7No2_044-Chapter ad2.qxd 3/17/09 3:11 PM

magazine - new york institute of technology€¦ · magazine spring 2009 volume 7 number 2...

Documents