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The annual Seidenberg Innovation Awards celebrate Seidenberg's continued advancement in STEM education and access, and honors top companies and individuals who leverage technology to deliver lasting business and social value to their communities.

The 2021 honorees were Eileen Mahoney ’83, executive vice president and chief information officer at PVH; Sigal Zarmi, international chief information officer and global head of transformation at Morgan Stanley; and Josh Silverman, chief executive officer at Etsy.

Event proceeds help to prepare the next generation of industry leaders, innovators, and professionals. We'd like to thank all who supported the events, especially our sponsors.

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Planning Commencement is no easy feat even in the best of times, but this year’s event posed significant challenges. Social distancing and mask requirements, the availability of venues that were now being used as vaccination sites, and the restrictions related to travel were difficult hurdles to clear, but the Commencement team, with support from faculty, staff, and University administration, was able to create a truly special and memorable graduation season for the Class of 2021.

This year’s annual Commencement season included in-person celebrations that were later incorporated into the virtual ceremonies.

Nearly one thousand members of the Class of 2021 returned to campus—some for the first time all year—to take part in our in-person celebrations, where they were able to walk across the stage and have their names called. Surrounded by friends and faculty, students were able to have their moment in the sun, even if it was a private, graduates-only affair.

“What truly makes this day and this milestone special, is the grit and hard work that got you here,” said New York State Attorney General Letitia James.

“I knew it was going to be important to capture the stage walks for the family and friends that were unable to attend,” said Connor Morgan ’21. “I really wanted to up the ante of this year’s virtual ceremonies because the Class of 2021 really deserved something special.”

Not only was Connor a graduate this year, but he was also the mastermind behind the production of the virtual ceremonies that were streamed online to nearly 25,000 viewers. Connor is the owner of 18 Mile Media, a full-service video production agency that really took off after he started working with the University on video projects as a first-year student.

For three days in May, Connor and the 18 Mile Media team filmed hundreds of ���ҹ����� soon-to-be grads as they donned their academic regalia and strutted their stuff across the stages in Pleasantville and at Pier 17 in New York City. That footage was then incorporated into the larger ceremony videos so that the folks at home could see their grad’s moment.

On May 17, thousands of ���ҹ����� Community members (plus tons of friends and families) were able to revel in the conferral of degrees via an interactive YouTube live stream held by each respective school, and more than 25,000 people from around the globe have watched since.

“What truly makes this day and this milestone special, is the grit and hard work that got you here,” said New York State Attorney General Letitia James, JD, as she addressed the graduates in New York City. “Today represents the culmination of so many moments that occurred over hundreds of days spanning many years.”

Hats off to the grads.

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The advantages of a ���ҹ����� education extend well beyond the value of your degree. Especially if you’re an alumnus looking to build a professional network and connect with like-minded, motivated individuals.

Have you earned your undergraduate degree within the last 10 years? Looking to forge a deeper connection to your alma mater? Consider becoming involved in the ���ҹ����� Alumni Office's Graduates of the Last Decade program, or GOLD, a network exclusively designed for recent graduates to take advantage of the many opportunities our robust alumni network has to offer. Whether it’s professional and social networking events, opportunities to pay it forward and mentor a current student, skill-building webinars, and much more, GOLD has got you covered.

Thinking about joining? If you graduated between 2011–2021, you’re automatically a member!

Through GOLD and the ���ҹ����� Alumni Association—a space aimed toward building community, celebrating ���ҹ�����, and sharing innovative ideas to move the University forward—your decision to become a ���ҹ����� Setter will continue to pay dividends for decades to come.

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In March, ���ҹ����� named S. Brian Jones, an award-winning and well-respected artist, writer, and arts educator, as its new assistant dean for diversity and equity in the arts.

The position has a number of responsibilities including administrative oversight of programming; supervising the ���ҹ����� Storytelling for Equity and Inclusion Fellowship; and fundraising for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts, among other responsibilities. The position is made possible through a grant from The Edmond de Rothschild Family Philanthropy.

In announcing the appointment of Jones to this newly created position at the Dyson College of Arts and Science, President Marvin Krislov cited Jones’ unique background as an artist, educator, and advocate for diversity, equity, and social justice.

“���ҹ����� is fully committed to being a supportive and inclusive community for all of our hard-working and ambitious students," said Krislov. "S. Brian Jones brings the ideal background to ensure we live up to that commitment as our first-ever assistant dean for diversity and equity in the arts. I'm excited to see what he does at ���ҹ�����, and I thank The Edmond de Rothschild Family Philanthropy for supporting this new role.”

Jones began his professional career at Delaware Theatre Company (DTC), where he worked as teacher-in-residence and summer arts program director. While there, Jones was instrumental in starting the Playwriting in Prison program at Ferris School for Boys and New Castle County Detention Center for youth, a program that received Bravo’s Excellence in Arts Education Award.

Prior to DTC, Jones worked at La Jolla Playhouse where he served as an instructor for the Teen Summer Program and was the teacher-in-residence at “The Place,” a high school for homeless, runaway, and transitional teens. He has also worked at a number of other widely respected theater programs in New York and California. Jones holds a master’s degree in applied theater from the City University of New York and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations with a minor in theatre and business management from Rhode Island College.

“We are delighted to welcome S. Brian Jones to Dyson College and the ���ҹ����� community and we are grateful for the generous support from The Edmond de Rothschild Family Philanthropy for helping to make that happen,” said Tresmaine R. Grimes, PhD, dean, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education. “He brings a wealth of experience to this newly created position that will serve him well as he embarks upon coordinating the many diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives already on campus, as well as those that will be developed by ���ҹ�����’s newly established Barry M. and Jackie Gosin Center for Equity and Inclusion.”

���ҹ����� in February established the Gosin Center, which was made possible by a donation from the Gosins, that supports ongoing efforts at ���ҹ����� in anti-racism and equity; expands work to elevate job placement and entrepreneurship among Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) students; and enhances academic scholarship in these areas.

“I am privileged and honored to be joining ���ҹ�����, an institution committed to being on the forefront of providing opportunities for underserved and underrepresented communities, with a sound understanding that diversity and equity not only have a place in our society, they are, in fact, the seeds which one day will save it.”

���ҹ����� has always been a beacon for historically underrepresented and first-generation college students as they seek a brighter future.The ���ҹ����� Community is vibrantly diverse and inclusive, with ethnic, gender, and economic diversity that sets it apart from most other institutions in higher education. A majority of ���ҹ�����’s student body identify as BIPOC, close to 30 percent of ���ҹ����� students are from low-income families eligible for Pell grants, and close to 40 percent identify as the first in their family to go to college.

“At ���ҹ�����, we are always striving to create opportunities for students that will pay dividends over a lifetime,” said ���ҹ����� Provost Vanya Quiñones, PhD. “The appointment of S. Brian Jones complements so many of our other diversity and equity initiatives; all aimed to help us envision a more inclusive future and ultimately serve our students for the better. We’re pleased to welcome S. Brian to the ���ҹ����� Community and look forward to furthering our mission of Opportunitas �ٴDz���ٳ���.”

Regarding his appointment, Jones said: “I am privileged and honored to be joining ���ҹ�����, an institution committed to being on the forefront of providing opportunities for underserved and underrepresented communities, with a sound understanding that diversity and equity not only have a place in our society, they are, in fact, the seeds which one day will save it.”

Tune in, ���ҹ�����U, because Ashvin Kapoor ’24 is going live. He’s the brains behind The Ashvin Show, a radio program dedicated to making people laugh during a tumultuous time in history. This is one future talk show host to watch (and listen)!

Ashvin Kapoor ’24 has an important job: he’s using his comedic talents (not to mention business skill) to make people laugh during an unprecedented time of loss and loneliness. Through his brand new radio program, , he’s not only bringing people together, but also challenging his audience to think critically. “It's something I’ve been working on for years,” says Ashvin. There have been a few iterations of his work including a YouTube channel before he switched gears at ���ҹ�����. “Using radio as my medium has allowed me to explore different avenues such as music and interviews.”

He’s interviewed several ���ҹ����� students already, where he expertly finds the heart of their stories to share with the community. “My favorite moment was probably when I was interviewing my good friend Taylor,” Ashvin explained. The segment was about how his friend performed while having a speech impediment. “It was just such an interesting story, and I was so happy that not only was I able to hear it, but through my show, I was able to broadcast their perspective to my audience.”

“My goal is to make performing my career and be able to spread my message and my comedy,” he said.

It’s that level of passion that truly makes Ashvin’s choice of arts and entertainment management the perfect fit in terms of a major. He actually first heard about ���ҹ����� and its course offerings from his parents—both ���ҹ����� alumni. Small world! “To this day, I think it’s the craziest thing that the same school my parents went to almost 20 years ago had the exact major I was looking for,” Ashvin told us. “I am so glad I ended up here because the arts and entertainment major is so focused and different from others.”

As he looks to the future, Ashvin hopes to one day transition his radio show to an in-person venue—live audience, live talk show, the works. “My goal is to make performing my career and be able to spread my message and my comedy,” he said. “Through comedy, I believe we are able to make others feel better, which is why I perform: to make others feel better just like other performers have done for me.”

Of course, he had a few words of wisdom for any aspiring ���ҹ����� performers looking to launch their own brand, too. “Something I wish I knew was to not perform for the accolades, but to perform for yourself,” Ashvin said. “You are your own brand—not anyone else’s. Make sure you perform for yourself.” He also reminded any would-be artists that it took Kanye four albums before he created his best work. “Don’t sweat it.” No truer words were spoken.

You can catch The Ashvin Show . Be sure to tune in and tell him we sent you! Maybe we’ll even hear your story featured on the airwaves next.

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���ҹ����� is charging into the future.

We’ve made it through the pandemic. We’re building a bold new vision to move us forward. We’re planning new buildings and up-to-date new living, learning, and community spaces. And we’re creating a new look and feel for the University’s brand.

A university is always changing, but this feels like an especially pivotal moment.

Last month, we said farewell to the brave and bold Class of 2021. We’re getting ready to welcome the Class of 2025 this fall—and we’re on track for record-setting enrollment numbers. We’ll be moving back to fully in-person learning and living, counting down till we once again have bustling residence halls and vibrant campuses.

We’re finalizing our new Strategic Plan, which will guide ���ҹ����� as we renew our commitment to being the premiere outcomes-focused institution in the New York region, preparing our students for lifelong success as leaders and changemakers.

We’re building our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion into everything we do, and we’re ensuring our new Strategic Plan reflects that priority.

We’re marching ahead with our campus transformations, planning for 15 Beekman Street and new, state-of-the-art spaces for our performing and creative arts in New York City, a new Healthcare Hub for training our College of Health Professions students in Pleasantville, and much more.

Of course, change also means that some things come to an end. After 28 years leading—and revolutionizing—what was once the Leinhard School of Nursing and since 2010 has been the College of Health Professions, Dean Harriet Feldman is stepping down from her role. We’re incredibly appreciative of all she has done for ���ҹ�����.

Change is coming to the Board of Trustees, too. On July 1, Trustee Rob Sands, an alumnus of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, will become our new board chair. He takes the role after my eight-year term comes to an end. I’ve enjoyed serving ���ҹ�����, and I look forward to supporting Rob as I remain a trustee.

Marvin and I are both proud of how well our University fared through the pandemic. That success was thanks to the hard work and commitment of everyone in our ���ҹ����� Community. Now, we’re building on that success to build a strong and thriving future. We’ll continue to do what we’ve always done: create life-changing opportunities for our students.

Onward,

Marvin Krislov
President

Mark M. Besca ’81
Chairman of the
Board of Trustees

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After nearly two years of research; evaluation; drafting; and input from ���ҹ����� students, faculty, staff, and alumni, ���ҹ����� has created a new brand platform, and with it, a new expression of what it means to be part of the ���ҹ����� Community. In partnership with our branding agency, Mindpower, we’ve created a new branding platform with the following objectives:

• To develop a distinctive, compelling, and cohesive brand identity;
• Provide a platform that supports the overall goals of the University; and
• Enhance consistency of messaging throughout your time at ���ҹ�����, from prospective student to current student to alumni.

The brand strategy, borne out of the research, is to solidify and advance ���ҹ�����’s position as a leader in creating opportunity through its strong academics, exceptional experiential learning offerings, and dedicated advising. The new branding platform empowers ���ҹ����� to communicate these messages while celebrating the strong shared sense of optimism and ‘can-do’ spirit within our community.

Our new wordmark is a highly visible aspect of the branding initiative—you’ve likely already started to see this new wordmark replace the old “swoosh” logo. Simple and straightforward, the new ���ҹ����� wordmark is bold, optimistic, simple, and unembellished.

In addition to the wordmark, we’ve begun introducing new messaging and visual designs within our new brand platform, including new web design (you're in it right now!), videos, banners, and signs. You’ll also see new stories about students, faculty, and alumni using this new design, not to mention updated emails and much more. This is an exciting time to be part of the ���ҹ����� Community!

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A ���ҹ����� film class—made up of 20 graduate and undergraduate students from around the country—was set to embark on a trip to Paris, France, last spring to produce a documentary on urban beekeeping and spotlight the rooftop bees that survived the historic Cathedral of Notre Dame fire.

Passports were secured. Tickets were booked. And all of the groundwork and arduous pre-production work, including setting up interviews and securing location approvals, were complete for a week-long shoot overseas. For many of these students, it would be a working Spring Break unlike most others.

But that was March 2020.

Weeks prior to the scheduled departure, the global pandemic ensured all international travel came to a halt, and the University, like most others around the world, immediately pivoted to remote learning.

The disappointment was real. The frustration palpable. But it was also short-lived, as these filmmakers—known as the ���ҹ�����Docs Team—knew the show must go on.

Professor Maria Luskay, EDd, whose “Producing the Documentary” course is part of the Department of Media, Communications, and Visual Arts on ���ҹ�����’s Pleasantville Campus, is a highly-regarded program, garnering over 34 prestigious film festival awards to date. (She’s been teaching the class for more than 20 years.)

“The experience I had was invaluable,” said Austin Braun, a graduate student. “We had a special experience. We learned how to produce a film online. We learned that we can make a powerful film with all of the technology we have… It’s the future of filmmaking.”

Professor Luskay (also the showrunner, or director), assisted by Professor Lou Guarneri, scrambled and came up with “Plan Bee.” They dispatched this group of budding filmmakers to beekeepers closer to home—New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

Now, roughly a year after the initial setback and long after their class had ended, the ���ҹ�����Doc Team’s film premiered on April 22, 2021—Earth Day.

“The experience I had was invaluable,” said Austin Braun, a graduate student from Stockholm, New Jersey. “We had a special experience. We learned how to produce a film online. We learned that we can make a powerful film with all of the technology we have… It’s the future of filmmaking.”

While it may very well be a sign of things to come in the industry, getting there was no small accomplishment. In addition to finding new locations to film and experts to speak with over the summer, the class had to learn how to edit together while working remotely across the region.

“We worked our tails off,” Braun added. “Through hard work and determination, we got it done.”