Information for Alumni

Selvena N Brooks-Powers ’10, is entering her fourth term in the New York City Council after winning a special election as the first under the Rank Choice Voting model in 2021, representing the 31st District in Southeast Queens. She is the Majority Whip and Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Yujia Zhu '22, has been invited to join the official Forbes Nonprofit Council in recognition of her remarkable contributions to philanthropy and social impact as the founder, creator and executive director of FASSLING.AI, a pioneering social enterprise. Yujia is the first graduate from the NYU SPS Executive Coaching and Organizational Consulting (ECOC) program to receive this honor.

Steven Kunes ’78, Comedy writer Steven Kunes didn’t think it was so funny to find himself starting over at age 60, nor was there any Hollywood ending in sight. Discovered at 26 by TV legend Norman Lear, and following three decades in network television, Kunes had a noteworthy self-destruction that found him homeless and forced to rethink, and redefine, the term Square One. Now 65, Mr. Kunes currently produces "Over My Dead Body," an original comedy series that features interviews with important figures from our history and culture — without mentioning they just happen to be dead. The authenticity and candidness of this speaker will inspire anybody starting over later in life.

• Congratulations to Erica Hicks Anderson '12, Carmella Glover '19, and Myles Worthington '14 who were recently named in PRWeek's 40 Under 40 list. This accolade highlights their exceptional achievements and contributions to the field of Public Relations and Corporate Communications. As graduates of the Public Relations & Corporate Communications Program at NYU SPS, we’re proud of their continued success and impact in their industry.

Javier Morgado ’10, was inducted into the prestigious Silver Circle honor society by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at the national News Emmy Awards. In June, the New York City Council honored Javi with a proclamation for his “outstanding contributions to journalism, the arts and the LGBTQ+ community.” Javi is a veteran, four-time Emmy award-winning executive producer who spent the last 25 years of his career at CNN and NBC News.

Malika Harrison '17, has been hired to serve as the first president and CEO of MENTOR’s newest statewide affiliate, MENTOR Florida. MENTOR champions expanding quality and quantity mentorships for young people in collaboration with 24 affiliates across the United States and aims to drive equity and close the mentoring gap.

Channon Lucas '11, just completed her fifth year as chief administrative officer at the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. MCHF has invested over $800 million in health care and social determinants of health grants in its first 5 years. Channon is celebrating being recognized on Crain's 40 under 40 list in November for her work in starting up what is the largest healthcare foundation in New York State. She detailed this experience when she was featured on the "We Are For Good" Podcast in February. She is looking forward to the release of the foundation's upcoming film "Our Larger Community" which will share the importance of the non-profits in New York State providing resources to the immigrant/migrant populations this March.

Nathan Andres ’04, a global HR executive, coach, and wellbeing leader, recently published his first book, Your REAL Life Get Authentic, Be Resilient, Make it Count. The book, which hit Amazon bestseller status, draws on The REAL Model and promotes authenticity and resilience for wellbeing, mental health, and joy.

Neptali Martinez ’08, is publishing his first book titled, CoachAbility: Are you in the state or condition to be coached? It presents real case scenarios on executive and career coaching.

Shayna (Priluck) Bergman ’08, is celebrating the one-year anniversary of her Executive & Leadership Coaching practice: Shayna Bergman Coaching. She specializes in partnering with parents who want to achieve more success with less stress, helping them uncover their true potential while balancing personal life and impact.

Stefani Bralock McCoy ’19 and Nyasha Bralock McCoy ’05, celebrated their marriage in Central Park on November 11, 2022. Stefani and Nyasha’s career has been rooted in social impact and racial justice since graduation. All guests who witnessed their ceremony also attended NYU. "It was a alumni celebration of love."

Kiran Nasir Gore, SPS ’04, GAL ’06, who focuses her legal practice on international dispute resolution and public international law, has co-edited and co-authored a new book, The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties in Investor-State Disputes: History, Evolution, and Future (published by Wolters Kluwer). The book is the first consolidated analysis of how the ‘treaty on treaties’ has informed the interpretation, application and development of international investment law and the resolution of investor-State disputes.

Jen Moulton, PhD, SPS ’03, STEINHARDT ’05, Assistant Director of Training in Mental Health Services, has been selected by Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD) as a 2022 Harriett Copher Haynes Award winner.
    This award program offers scholarships to attend the AUCCCD annual conference to talented mental health professionals of diverse identities who aspire to become counseling center directors. “Jen is a dynamic, mission-driver leader who is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for both students and staff, and to improving the way our agency delivers mental health services. UHS and UW-Madison are fortunate to have Jen’s leadership and expertise,” says Dr. Sarah Nolan, director of Mental Health Services at University Health Services.
    Jen joined MHS as a doctoral intern in 2013, stayed on to complete her postdoctoral fellowship in 2014, and was hired as a staff psychologist in 2015. Jen was quickly identified as having strong leadership skills and promoted to Group Therapy Coordinator in 2016 in which she expanded an already robust groups program. Having long been identified as a leader at the agency, Jen was promoted to Assistant Director of Training in 2019.
    The award is named after Harriett Copher Haynes, BSN, MS, PhD, worked at the University of Minnesota Counseling & Consulting Services for 40 years (1971-2011) and served as Director for 15 of those years (1992-2007). Haynes served as a leader, mentor, role model and consultant for the university community, addressing issues of diversity, sexism, racism, responding to students in crisis, gender-based violence, mediation, crisis response, multicultural curriculum development, and managing organizational change.
“Jen has had a significant impact on many facets of Mental Health Services during her time at UHS,” says Jake Baggott, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Health & Wellbeing and Executive Director of UHS. “This recognition speaks volumes about Jen’s accomplishments and her potential as a leader in college counseling.”

• Alexandra Clare '15, of the Center for Global Affairs, has been named a 2021 NYU Alumni Changemaker. She is the CEO and Co-founder of Re:Coded, a nonprofit that uses a blend of immersive courses, mentorship, and career support services. The organization has equipped over 600 youth in Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey, and Yemen—many who are refugees—with the skills to pursue careers in software development and UX design.
• Division of Programs in Business alumnus, Samuel Chapper '13 was recognized as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the technology industry in the U.S., by the Hispanic Information Technology Executive Council (HITEC) 100.
• Denise Cui '15, of the Division of Programs in Business, received the 2021 PRSA-NY 15 Under 35 Award.
• Tisch Institute for Global Sport alumna and 2020 NYU SPS Distinguished Alumna Award recipient, Keia Clarke '06, is the Schack Institute's 2021 National Symposium of Women in Real Estate featured speaker.
• Deanna Masselli '14, alumna of the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies, is the newest Resident Artist with 2nd Street Art.

• Narrative magazine has chosen Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies' Alex Bernstein '14 as one of their 30 Below 30 New and Emerging Writers of 2021.
• Center for Global Affairs alumna and former CGA alumni board president, Katherine J. Evans '08, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2021.
• Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies alumnus, Britton T. Burdick '15, started a new role as Communications Director for Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-1).
• Alumnus of the Division of Programs in Business, Roland Pugh '14, started working with NYC Health and Hospitals in July in a consultant position that resulted from the pandemic and the need for consistent professional photography and patient storytelling: His most recent project is to create a searchable digital asset management system for all creative digital assets.

• Tom Feng '20, graduate of the Tisch Institute for Global Sport, was at the Tokyo Olympics serving as an alternate for the US Table Tennis team.
• Tisch Institute alumna and five-time Olympic medalist, Nastia Liukin '16, covered the Olympics as an NBC commentator in Tokyo.
• Schack alumna, Karen Ramos '02, was featured in the Commercial Mortgage Alert as the new RELA National Chair.
• Annie Scranton '18, alumna of the Division of Programs in Business, wrote an article for BusinessLive on how the future of Media Relations is through Thought Leadership.
• Hillary Olsen '92, of the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies has been nominated for three Emmys: Outstanding Competition Program, Nailed It! and Top Chef, and for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction Or Reality Series, Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen
• Ken Druckerman '93, of the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies has been nominated for an Emmy for his work in Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special, Framing Britney Spears (The New York Times Presents).
• Division of Programs in Business alumna, Sena Pottackal '20, attended the Disability:IN Annual Conference, and as a person with sight loss, wrote about how we can raise the bar to create equitable events that provide inclusive and accessible experiences for people with disabilities.

• 2021 Undergraduate Convocation Speaker and graduate of the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies, John Gargano, Jr. '21, was featured by President Obama on Facebook and Instagram, highlighting his impressive story and incredible accomplishments.
• Jay Cornforth '92 of the Schack Institute has been named chief executive officer and co-chief investment officer of a new logistics properties strategy, Bridge Investment Group.
• Division of Programs in Business alumna, Julia Fisher (Sahin) '14, was elected to the Board of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) New Jersey Chapter. She also serves on the Executive Committee and is Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committee.
• Division of Programs in Business alumnus, Samuel Chapper '13, participated as a panelist in the "The Power of Oracle ERG Allies" event organized by Oracle Professional Asian Leadership to celebrate the power of allyship and discuss the importance of building greater equity and continual support.
• Edward Barger '18, Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies alumnus, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2021 with a Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics.
• Matthew Gaeta '17 of the Tisch Institute for Global Sport, was named to Crain’s New York Business “20 in their 20s” 2021 list, highlighting the new wave of top business leaders in NYC.
• Division of Programs in Business alumna, Valentina Martinez '17, and her colleagues at Taboola became a public company and are now trading under the Nasdaq stock exchange. She was featured on the 7-story digital billboard on the Nasdaq Tower overlooking Times Square.
• Division of Programs in Business alumna, Roksolana Sheverack '21, was featured in The Ukrainian Weekly. She detailed her journey as an immigrant to the US from Ukraine at the age of 10, and her path to earning the MS in Management and Systems from the Division of Programs in Business.

• Division of Programs in Business alumna, Jacqueline Pezzillo '12, was named by Ragan and PR Daily as a Top Women in Communications Honoree, Class of 2021.
• Kody Christiansen '20, alumnus of the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies made the 2020-2021 Dean's list at Harvard University.
• Tisch Institute alumni, Aneesh Ahuja '18 and Sebastian Milo '21 were named to Front Office Sports Rising 25 Award, Class of 2021 - one of the most competitive and prestigious awards in sports business. Former Rising 25 winners have gone on to start companies, lead departments, and shape the industry as we know it.
• Sena Pottackal '20 Division of Programs in Business alumna and 2020 graduate student convocation speaker, was named to the NYU Alumni Association Board of Directors.
• Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies alumnus, John Gargano, Jr. '21, was the 2021 undergraduate student convocation speaker and was interviewed by NY1 about his amazing story and his time at SPS.
• Schack Institute alumna, Viviana Addo '19, has launched her real estate company, and a new podcast named Growing Cities.
• Kenneth Holley '19, alumnus of the Division of Programs in Business, was selected as the National Black MBA Association’s (NBMBAA) Spotlight Member for the month of May for his consistent exemplification of NBMBAA's mission and vision.

• Division of Programs in Business alumna, Sabrina Ewing '11, joined the SPS Dean's Advisory Board. Sabrina is Abbott’s newly appointed Global CIO and Vice President of Business and Technology Services overseeing a $1B + IT portfolio and has over 20 years' experience in the global technology innovation sector.
• Sena Pottackal '20, graduate of the Division of Programs in Business, shared her insights into working at Current Global where she is able to continue her work in advocacy and supports Accessible By Design, the agency’s commitment to ensure every piece of content created, curated, and published by itself and its clients will be accessible to audiences of all abilities.
• Emily Nadal '20 of the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies is a reporter for The Mott Haven Herald/Hunts Point Express and wrote an article on capping the Cross-Bronx Expressway. She also appeared on the radio speaking with Gary Axelbank on The Bronx Buzz show.
• Schack Institute of Real Estate alumnus, Jackson Stith '04, appeared on the Real Estate Syndication Show and explained how to craft equity liquidity solutions for Limited Partners and General Partners in existing real estate deals.
• Division of Programs in Business alumnae Annie Scranton '18 and Laura Zahody '19 discussed the power and impact of a formal education in marketing and public relations with faculty and students at the Department of Integrated Marketing and Communications.
• SPS Advisory Board member and Center for Publishing alumna, Kim Castro '08, interviewed Senator Mazie Hirono about her immigrant story, her life of public service and advocating for the AAPI community. Just before the interview, the Senate passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which she co-authored.
• Adrian Cardenas '15 of the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies is in the final round of selection for both the NYU Production Lab slate and Film Independent’s Screenwriting Lab for his film, El Cuento de la Ballena / The Story of the Whale.

• Selvena Brooks-Powers '11, alumna of the Center for Global Affairs, won the special election for New York City Council District 31 in Queens - NYC’s first ranked-choice vote count.
• Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies alumna, Sofia Sondervan '93, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Film (Live Action) for her work on The Letter Room.
• Schack alumnus and co-founder of Urban Cowboy, Lyon Porter '11, was included in a Condé Nast Traveler article with Ian Schrager about design and hospitality post COVID.
• Center for Global Affairs alumna, Leslie Archambeault '16, was named to Apolitical's 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy.
• Center for Global Affairs' Akira Barclay '14 and Division of Programs in Business' Lourdes Olvera-Marshall '17 spoke at the NYU BeTogether Alumni Conference, which set out with the goal to challenge the NYU community to come together to build, grow, and reimagine where we want to go as a community, as we continue to address the execrable legacies of racism and structural inequities.
• Center for Global Affairs alumna, DeLaine Mayer '18, had her first piece published in The Hill, "Recycling is an outdated solution — it's time for a circular economy".

• Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies alumnus, and 2019 SPS Distinguished Young Alumnus Award recipient, Marlon Peterson '15, completed his book, Bird Uncaged: An Abolitionist's Freedom Song.
• Managing Partner at GroupM and Division of Programs in Business alumna, LaToya Christian '13, participated in Claritas' Black Consumer Market Fireside Chat to celebrate Black History Month and discuss the Black consumer market and why there's a disconnect between total U.S. ad spend vs. annual spend on Black focused media.
• Global Industry Relations and Intelligence Lead at Facebook, Sylvia Zhou '14 of the Division of Programs in Business, joined the Board of Directors of the Asian American Advertising Federation.
• Erin Knox '18 from the Tisch Institute for Global Sport was highlighted by the LA Clippers in celebration of Women’s History Month for her work as Coordinator for their Partnership Marketing.
• At the Center for Global Affairs' Alumni Homecoming event, Channon Lucas '11 interviewed former US Ambassador to the UN and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Samantha Power.

• Division of Programs in Business alumnus, Aditya Kashyap '16, was designated as a Global Shaper for the World Economic Forum. The Global Shapers Community is a network of young individuals dedicated to driving dialogue, action, and change.
• Marc Bell '89, member of the NYU Board of Trustees, NYU Langone Medical Center Board of Overseers, and NYU Stern Center for Real Estate Finance Research Advisory Board, is now bringing his insights and expertise to the Schack Institute Advisory Board.
• Center for Publishing alumna and SPS Advisory Board member, Kim Castro '08, recently moderated a panel about how children’s hospitals have responded and innovated during COVID-19, as part of a virtual event series from U.S. News & World Report, Healthcare of Tomorrow.
• Center for Global Affairs alumna, Rebecca Schwartz '13, with her mother and NYU Steinhardt alumna Dr. Joni Schwartz '85, co-authored a new, research based, autoethnography, Learning to Disclose: A Journey of Transracial Adoption, about race and blended families.
• Nadir Settles '11, alumnus from the Schack Institute of Real Estate, was featured on the cover of the Commercial Observer
• Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies aluma, Mary Wilson '01, a founding member of the Supremes, the legendary Motown group, passed away.

• 866 is a NYC restaurant known for its Taiwanese comfort food. Tisch Center of Hospitality alumnus, Eric Sze '15 along with fellow restaruant co-founder and NYU Steinhardt alumnus, Andy Chuang '17, were named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 2021 list.  886 was one of the first restaurants in NYC to set-up a meal donation system for frontline healthcare workers during the pandemic.
• Division of Programs in Business alumna, Annie Scranton '18, and Founder of the award-winning PR firm based in NYC, Pace Public Relations, has officially launched its podcast, "The PR Pace", where she breaks down the biggest news stories of the week through a PR lens.
• Katharine Lau '11 of the Tisch Center of Hospitality is the CEO and Co-founder of the new modern, tech-enabled, storage solution company, Stuf.
• Division of Programs in Business, Lourdes Olvera-Marshall, Esq. '17, was featured in Vanidades, in the magazine's 60th anniversary issue.
• Schack Institute of Real Estate alumnus, Lyon Porter's '11 Urban Cowboy Lodge has been featured in Purewow as the perfect NYC winter escape.
• Recent Tisch Institute for Global Sport alumna, René Rismondo '18, who works for the Major League Baseball Players Association, was quoted in the Sports Illustrated article titled "'I Feel Like It's Me' What Kim Ng's ascent means to the women of baseball".
• Chief People Officer at Deloitte Global, Jonathan Dunne '14 alumnus of the Division of Programs in Business published an article, "There Really Is Power in Positive Thinking".
• Meg Grasmick '20, alumna of the Division of Programs in Business, has announced the pre-launch of her personal growth book, Always Arising. This timely read explores what it means to lead a fulfilling life, and how to find solace in an isolated world.
• Tisch Institute alumnus, Matthew Gaeta '17, was recently named "Sports Agent of the Year" for 2020 by the sports media outlet PGSports.

• For three members of the La Poll family of Los Altos, California, attending the SPS Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies (DAUS) has become a family tradition. Within the last decade, each has pursued her academic journey at DAUS, but, in what is a reversal from the usual custom, daughters Katarina '15 and Kelly '16 enrolled at SPS first, with their mother, Myla '21, following in their footsteps.
• Tisch Institute's Matthew Gaeta '17 was named to Sports Business Journal's “30 Under 30: New Voices” 2020 list; highlighting the new wave of leaders in sports business.
• Kimberly Castro '08, Center for Publishing alumna and Editor and Chief Content Officer of US News & World Report, recently interviewed Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, about the massive impact COVID-19 has had on the US population, the news of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and the ways to keep each other safe from COVID-19 infection during the upcoming holiday season.
• During the 53rd Annual Conference on Capital Markets in Real Estate, Robert S. Blumenthal moderated a lively discussion on the outlook for New York City with esteemed real estate business leaders including Schack alumnus Scott Rechler '90, Chairman & CEO of RXR Realty.
• The NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference was held this year as a series of highly informative panel discussions. A special alumni panel was moderated by professor Sean Hennessey and featured alumni John Paulsen '09, Steen Petri '03, and Evan Weiss '03 as they discussed industry trends, decisions, operations, and safety-related enhancements.
• Eli Nachmany '17, alumnus of the Tisch Institute, recently spoke with Tisch Institute students, Polina Manis '21 and Ben Schleider '21 to discuss his career and his work spearheading the publication of a special edition of the Journal on Congress's consideration of legislation concerning NCAA student-athlete name, image, and likeness compensation.
• Dilek Tas '20, Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies alumna, has been named a 2021 Rangel International Affairs Fellow from the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program.
• Center for Publishing alumna, Kenrya Rankin '07 recently authored a column for HealthCentral featuring an interview with Regina Davis Moss, Associate Executive Director of Public Health Policy & Practice at the American Public Health Association, about racism as a public health crisis.
• Evan Weiss '03 of the Tisch Center of Hospitality participated in the recent United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) virtual conference spotlighting the Middle East and Israel.

• Three alumni were honored at the 2020 SPS Dean's Awards:
  • Distinguished Alumna Award: Keia Clarke '06 (Tisch Institute)
  • Distinguished Public Service Award: Casey Rotter '09 (Center for Global Affairs)
  • Distinguished Young Alumnus Award: Aditya Kashyap '16 (Division of Programs in Business)
• Center for Global Affairs alumnus, John Paterakis '09, has been nominated for a 2020 Tony as a Producer of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.
• Adina David '15 of the Schack Institute of Real Estate was recently named one of EG’s 2020 Rising Stars, noting her as one of the sector's brightest, most ambitious young people.
• Center for Global Affairs alumnus, Grant Fox '11, was recently featured in the NYU Alumni Magazine for his work developing solutions to personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages and other COVID-related crises.
• Craig Pinto '10, '14 set his fourth Guinness World Record by making 149 field goals in one hour, while raising money for the Celiac Disease Foundation.
• Malika Harrison '17, Division of Programs in Business alumna and the Director of Social Responsibility for the Orlando Magic, was selected to Orlando Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 for her work in the Central Florida community.
• Schack Institute of Real Estate alumnus, Michael Landy '03, has been re-elected as a member of Nareit's 2021 Advisory Board of Governors. This will mark his fourth year as a member of the board.
• Emily Nadal '20 of the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies and former SPS Dean's Scholar, recently published an article in Bklyner, "Giving Birth During Pandemic: East Flatbush Moms Dream Of Homebirth, Try To Make The Best Of It", discussing the impact COVID-19 has had on expecting mothers.
• Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies alumna, Sharon Harris '04, has been appointed the first Global Chief Marketing Officer with Jellyfish, a digital partner to the world's leading brands.

• Lili Nikolova '13 has been honored as one of the 2020 NYU Alumni Changemakers, a recognition that was launched in 2018 to recognize a select group of NYU alumni whose accomplishments help build a better world. Lili is the Project Director, Counter Human Trafficking, Northeast Nigeria at Heartland Alliance International, recognized for her work advancing human rights and providing comprehensive services for marginalized groups and victims of severe human rights violations—torture, gender-based violence, and human trafficking—and helps them recover and start new lives.
• Akira Barclay '12, Center for Global Affairs alumna and Founder of Fresh Philanthropy, hosted a SPS webinar discussion to explore ways to harness the true power of collective giving by acknowledging and understanding the pivotal role of Black-led giving circles.
• Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies alumna, Katarina La Poll '15, recently won Blood Tree Literature's 2020 Chimera Hybrid Contest for her poetry that was also turned into a tiny visual piece.
• Amy Ganz '19 of the Division of Applied Undergraduate Study was accepted at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and has started the online Communications@Syracuse master's program.

• Division of Programs in Business alumna, Bettina Garibaldi '08, was recently named to the PRWeek 40 Under 40 Class of 2020. She is currently the SVP – Travel and Economic Development at Ketchum.
• Aaron Leonard '12, alumnus from the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies, will host a launch event for his book, Folk Singers & the Bureau. He will present his research and speak to Woody Guthrie specialist, Will Kaufman, on September 12.

• Andrew Avner '97 of the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies, has a debut Latinx middle grade novel entitled Toro (Black Rose Writing) set for release on September 17. It tells the story of Alicía Catalina Cortés, a Spanish cow who wants to run with the bulls in Pamplona. The audiobook is available now.
• Center for Publishing's Kenrya Rankin '07s upcoming book, ANTI RACISM: Powerful Voices, Inspiring Ideas will be released next month. This collection showcases passages from the writings or speeches of thinkers and activists in the anti-racist community. Partial proceeds to benefit The Movement for Black Lives Fund.
• Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies alumna, Alisson Wood '17, will release her memoir, BEING LOLITA, on August 6. Pre-order is available now.
• Chloe Demrovsky ’13, President and CEO of Disaster Recovery Institute International and adjunct instructor at the Center for Global Affairs was recently interviewed for the 'Five Questions' series on the impact of past disasters on education, and how previous lessons learned can help us as we navigate the COVID-19 crisis.

• Soraya Al-Olama '14, Natia Kvachadze '13, and Turab Saleem '06 participated in the "5 Questions with" series to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry in the UAE. See what your fellow alumni have been up to!
• Sponsored by Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation and President Michael Landy '03, the Summer 2020 REIT Leadership Series addresses key challenges facing REITs as they navigate our emergence from the pandemic, plan for the economic recovery, and craft strategies for the future. Sam Zell, Chairman, Equity Group Investment, spoke about his outlook on the economy, COVID-19, and real estate trends.

• Jerry Pi '07 has established The Jerry Pi Diversity Scholarship to offer support to graduate students who seek to pursue a degree and a career in the real estate industry from underrepresented demographic groups at the Schack Institute of Real Estate. The recently established scholarship is timely given the hardships faced by students during the 2020 economic downturn.

• Center for Applied Liberal Arts, Minxuan Sun '19, recently took on her first large-scale translation project, creating the English translation of the CCTV documentary Xu Zhimo and His Contemporaries, originally recorded in Chinese.
• Rusty Thompson '14 of the Center for Global Affairs celebrated one year at the Pentagon supporting the undersecretary of defense for intelligence (USD-I) Joe Kernan.
• Laila E. Dreidame '19 of the Center for Applied Liberal Arts' “Bringing your whole self to work: Arab or Muslim Welcome” was published on Medium.com, where she explores multiple experiences of what it means to be Arab or Muslim in workplaces across the US.

• On February 19, 2020, Hudson County NJ Freeholder Anthony Romano presented Veronica Manning '10 from the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies, with the 2020 Rhudell Snelling Sr. Award for Community Service for her outstanding work as the Executive Director of the Jubilee Center of Hoboken. The Jubilee Center is a nonprofit, academic enrichment after school program that mainly serves low income elementary and middle school children who reside in the Hoboken Housing Authority.
• A former professional hockey player turned top producing broker, designer, hotelier, restaurateur, and developer, Lyon Porter '11 of the Schack Institute of Real Estate has opened his latest Urban Cowboy Lodge in the Catskill Mountains! Urban Cowboy already has locations in Brooklyn and Nashville. His growing brand of boutique hotels includes The Dive Motel.
• Carol Lujan '19 of the Center for Applied Liberal Arts was the 2019 American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation (AFTI) Scholarship recipient, which allowed her to attend the 2019 American Translators Association (ATA) conference.
• Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies Reed Alexander '17 has launched a news site, The Pivot, covering the COVID-19 crisis. It reports on the societal changes that the international community is experiencing as a result of the pandemic.
• Center for Global Affairs Claire R. Thomas '08 was awarded a core Fulbright U.S. Scholar grant in Law. She will spend the 2020-2021 academic year in Guadalajara, Mexico at the host institution ITESO, Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara. She will focus on asylum-seekers who are left in limbo by changes in U.S. immigration policy and are now trapped in Mexico and will organize a training in Mexico for U.S. and Mexican lawyers to exchange ideas for best practices.

• Sylvia Zhou '14 from the Division of Programs in Business and Facebook's Global Industry Relations & Intelligence Lead, returned to campus to discuss her SPS experience as an international student, her professional trajectory, and advice on career success to an audience of over 100 alumni and students. As a surprise gift, a handful of guests were invited to attend a private industry mixer at Facebook’s Park Avenue offices. Zhou is responsible for driving Facebook’s industry relations and strategic partnerships globally.
• Rafael Hernández '17 from the Schack Institute accepted an Account Executive position with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s Office of Residential Care Facilities at HUD’s Region VI - Fort Worth, Texas Office. Rafael was recently an FHA Asset Manager at Walker & Dunlop in Needham, Massachusetts.
• Dolores Luna Kosydar '09 of the Tisch Center opened her travel agency, Lobby Boy Travel. Lobby Boy Travel, an independent travel agency of Tzell Travel Group, is a personalized luxury travel advisory that caters to those who are searching for the most authentic travel experiences.
• Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies alumna Malika Iman Stanley '05 has published her memoir, Intimate with the Ultimate and hosted a reading at Brooklyn College in honor of Black History Month.

February 2020

•  Normandy Real Estate Partners, David Welsh '97 of the Schack Institute, will be launching a new investment firm with partners, Finn Wentworth, and Giorgios Vlamis: Senlac Ridge Partners. It is an entrepreneurial PE firm targeting a broad range of investment opportunities spanning real estate and non-real estate assets and businesses.
• Allison Ditchek Adler '96 from the Division of Programs in Business, will receive the Nedivat Lev Award at the 2020 annual Yeshivat Frisch Dinner for her volunteer work at the school for close to a decade. She has been a member of the Frisch Parent Association since 2011 and served as the group’s co-president from 2015 to 2018.
• Rafael Hernández '17 from the Schack Institute accepted an Account Executive position with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s Office of Residential Care Facilities at HUD’s Region VI - Fort Worth, Texas Office. Rafael was recently an FHA Asset Manager at Walker & Dunlop in Needham, Massachusetts.
• Dolores Luna Kosydar '09 of the Tisch Center opened her travel agency, Lobby Boy Travel. Lobby Boy Travel, an independent travel agency of Tzell Travel Group, is a personalized luxury travel advisory that caters to those who are searching for the most authentic travel experiences.
• Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies alumna, Malika Iman Stanley '05 has published her memoir and hosted a reading at Brooklyn College in honor of Black History Month.

January 2020

•  NYU SPS alumni in Singapore met with Associate Dean of the Division of Programs in Business, Martin Ihrig at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Marina Bay on October 24. It was a wonderful night filled with good conversation with former classmates and learning about exciting SPS activity around the globe, while enjoying a drink in the suspended pods!
• Lillian Carrero '87, '89 from the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies self-published a variety of novels and short story collections including WLCDRS presenta… Telenovela Traiciones (Betrayal), Equilibria, Song Book: Lyrics and Stories, Ghost Stories: A Collection of Short Stories on Death and Dying, and Bored of Education or Help! Get Me Out of Here: What Every Parent and Taxpayer Needs to Know.
• Veronica Manning '10 who graduated from the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies is currently the Executive Director of The Jubilee Center, an after-school academic enrichment nonprofit in Hoboken, and has just received her Master's in Public Administration from NYU Wagner.
• Tisch Center of Hospitality's Jeremy L. Schulman '03 has been named Director of Economic Development & Tourism for the County of Rockland, NY.
• David J. Gallo '07 from the Schack Institute received the ERASE Racism Leadership Award at the June 11 Annual Benefit of the regional civil rights organization based on Long Island in New York.
• Center for Global Affairs alumnus John Paterakis '09 has been elected Chairman of Scouting in the borough of Manhattan. He presides over the "Big Apple District" within the Greater New York Councils of the Boy Scouts of America, which includes 44 Cub Scout packs, Scout troops, Venturing crews, and Sea Scout ships.
• Steven Avary '15 from the Center for Global Affairs was named President of the Board of Directors of Chamber Orchestra of New York.

• Corporate executive and Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies alumna Jyoti Chopra '89, has been named senior vice president, chief diversity and sustainability officer at Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International. In her new role, she will lead MGM’s social impact and sustainability efforts, which includes attaining key environmental sustainability goals by 2025. She will also oversee the MGM community engagement, diversity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability departments, including oversight of the MGM Resorts Foundation and Community Grant Fund and corporate giving program.
• Real estate investor David Hirsh '90 of the Schack Institute has been appointed to the Pace University Board of Trustees. He has also recently been named to the board of Domio, a technology start-up focused on the travel and hotel industries.

• Joanna Douglas '03 Head of Native Content for Popsugar, and NYU alumna, hosted SPS Center for Publishing students at their NYC office. Students were thrilled to have candid conversations with seven of the company's editors about the Popsugar brand, their jobs in digital media, workplace culture, and innovation.
• Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies alumna Lauren Greenberg '06, won a 2019 Emmy award! She was awarded as a Producer for "Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live From Liverpool" in the category of "Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)."
• Russel Wong '96 and Center for Publishing's Jillian Gatcheco '12 are two of the 2019 NYU Pan-Asia Conference's esteemed speakers. The conference is taking place in Singapore on October 12, 2019.
• Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies' Aaron Leonard '12 will discuss his upcoming book The Bureau & the Folksingers (Repeater, 2020) on Tuesday, November 5 at NYU's Tamiment Library.
• Center for Publishing's Sabrina Ricci '12 and her husband (and co-dinosaur podcaster) recently released their 250th episode of I Know Dino—featuring the Bone Wars, a period between the 1870s and 1890s, where two paleontologists, Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope, had a rivalry that eventually ruined them but also made dinosaurs mainstream.
• Schack Institute of Real Estate's Jerry Aversano '19 has joined Benefit Street Partners (BSP), a Franklin Templeton alternatives boutique, as director, real estate product specialist and head of business development.
• Center for Global Affairs' Ani Karapetyan '18 and Division of Programs in Business' Valentina Martinez '16 appeared on SPS Wasserman's October 10 Career Wellness Forum panel Career Wellness in the Workplace, Classroom, and Beyond discussing their professional experiences and how to enhance self assessment in order to navigate constant change.
• Another great night of networking at the SPS Fall Alumni Mixer, held on October 3 at the Royalton Hotel's Forty Four Lounge! It may have been chilly and rainy, but it was a perfect night to welcome fall and reconnect with friends. Over 75 SPS alumni came out and had some fun!

• Two of our amazing alumni ambassadors, Jefferson Gomez '19 and Val Misra '01 joined us at the 2019 Graduate Welcome & Orientation to answer our newest students' questions and speak with them about their time at SPS!
• On September 5, we were delighted to welcome over 100 alumni to our End of Summer Alumni Mixer at the Refinery Rooftop in NYC. Alumni had a wonderful time networking with faculty and friends while enjoying a stunning sunset and skyline views.
• Said Sabir Ibrahimi '18 and Marta Bautista Forcada '19, both Center for Global Affairs alumni, co-authored a piece titled “Some Lessons From Columbia’s Peacemaking Process for Afghanistan,” which was published by the Afghanistan Research & Evaluation Unit (AREU) and republished on the United Nations ReliefWeb.
• Center for Publishing's Andrea DeWerd '12, marketing director, Currency, Convergent, Crown Forum, and Image, New York City, was announced as one of five finalists of Publishers Weekly's Star Watch Award. This highly coveted award recognizes some of the most vibrant and talented future leaders in publishing and book-selling.

• Katie Krum '11, MS Integrated Marketing and SVP, Digital Innovation at Weber Shandwick, was just announced on the 40 under 40 PR Executives by PR Week. The list also includes other communications professionals who attended NYU.
• Alison Kwiatkowski '17, MS Real Estate, has been named Young Leader of the Year by Corenet, the Corporate Real Estate Organization, New York City Chapter.
• Carmella Glover '19, MS Public Relations and Corporate Communications, and 2019 graduate convocation speaker has recently accepted the position as Executive Director of the PRSA Foundation.
• SPS Alumni Ambassador, Amelia Mae Wolf ’13, keeps our DC alumni connections alive and strong by hosting regular meet ups! Pictured here with fellow CGA alums at Mission DuPont on July 23.
• SPS Alumni in China met with visiting SPS leadership at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel's Qi Bar in Shanghai on July 24. It was a wonderful night filled with networking, conversation with former classmates, and learning about exciting SPS activity in China!