It begins with Kyungmin Lee, PhD, the inaugural director of sustainability in the Office of Sustainability and assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences. 鈥淢y role is to bring students, faculty and staff together to advance sustainability initiatives across the campus at 麻豆传媒映画,鈥� Dr. Lee said.

At the heart of 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 push for sustainability is (STARS). Managed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), STARS is a framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.

鈥淧articipating in STARS is an opportunity to bring our existing efforts together and establish a sustainability direction for future work,鈥� Dr. Lee said. 鈥淲e want to recognize what our campus community has already accomplished and make it more visible.鈥�

Measuring What Matters: The STARS Initiative

As a STARS participant, 麻豆传媒映画 will gather data on various aspects of campus life, including academics, food and dining, buildings and grounds, and more, and earn points toward a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum rating.

The STARS initiative will involve the entire campus. “Students can help collect and analyze the data, and brainstorm and propose possible sustainability projects,鈥� Dr. Lee said. 鈥淔aculty can support these projects with students so they can be implemented on campus, and staff can bring knowledge about how the University operates and what is feasible to implement on campus.”

STARS data collection and sustainability projects will be coordinated and reported by the Sustainability Task Force, while Sustainability Fellows will brainstorm and carry out the actual projects.

麻豆传媒映画 junior Laurel Owen and first-year student Mahan Nanandhan have already signed on to assist with data collection.

鈥淔or now, we鈥檙e learning how to collect data for the STARS reporting system,鈥� said Nanandhan, an environmental studies major. 鈥淭hey updated it recently from version 2.0 to 3.0, so it鈥檚 a whole process, but we鈥檙e getting there.鈥�

For Owen, also an environmental studies major, the work is personal. 鈥淚鈥檓 a huge nature lover,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was raised to respect the natural world, and I wanted to channel that into action.鈥�

Beyond the rating itself, Dr. Lee sees STARS as a way to connect to efforts already happening across campus. “People may already be doing sustainability work in different departments, but without knowing who is doing what,鈥� Dr. Lee said. 鈥淭his process will give us a reason to connect with each other across departments, share information and identify opportunities to work on sustainability initiatives together.”

New Ways to Live and Learn Green

To integrate sustainability into campus life and the academic curriculum, 麻豆传媒映画 is developing a new Living and Learning Community and a first-year seminar focused on sustainability.

The Living and Learning Community will bring together a group of students to live on campus in the same dorm hallway. “The idea is to have a group of students with shared interests and cohort them so they feel a sense of community,鈥� said Aaren Freeman, PhD, professor of biology and chair of environmental studies and sciences.

Students will decide what sustainability practices and activities they want to undertake, and 麻豆传媒映画 will provide support. 鈥淚f they want to compost, we鈥檒l provide the materials,鈥� Dr. Freeman said. Students can also participate in cleanups, invasive species removal and other projects that interest them.

Meanwhile, the first-year seminar, themed Into the Wild and taught by two environmental studies faculty members, will emphasize campus sustainability through field trips and classroom learning. Students have the opportunity to shape the course. 鈥淭he professors have academic freedom to teach the class how they want, but we’re all working together on this,鈥� Dr. Freeman said. 鈥淭here’s a lot of room for modification and feedback along the way.”

Both initiatives are set to begin in Fall 2027.

Students Leading the Charge

In addition to assisting with STARS data collection, 麻豆传媒映画 students are shaping the campus sustainability efforts.

Owen, president of the , a student club that coordinates volunteer sustainability opportunities in the community, attended the first STARS workshop with other members of the EAC. There, they presented their list of demands to improve sustainability on campus. Many of those demands will form the foundation of future STARS projects.

Nanandhan, who also attended the workshop, plans to go to law school so he can help draft and implement environmental policy. “I want to make an impact,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don’t want to just sit by and watch people run things and leave some of us out. I want everyone to feel heard.鈥�

For Owen, the stakes reach well beyond 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 campus. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about thinking about the future of the planet and of humanity, and doing our part so generations after us will have an earth to live on that鈥檚 sustainable,鈥� she said.

Interested in becoming involved with STARS? Contact us at sustainability@adelphi.edu.

Learn more about sustainability at 麻豆传媒映画.

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We鈥檝e all heard of the Bermuda Triangle鈥攖hat part of the Atlantic best known for sensationalized myths about aliens, wormholes and the lost city of Atlantis. But zoom out a little, and you鈥檒l learn that this patch of ocean is just one part of the Sargasso Sea, which holds mysteries of its own.

The Sargasso Sea is a 2-million-square-mile region of the North Atlantic Ocean bounded by four circulating ocean currents, creating calm, warm and highly saline waters covered by dense mats of free-floating brown macroalgae known as Sargassum, which lend this patch of sea its name. This microalgae forms a floating tropical rainforest that provides food and refuge for ocean life from fish to sea turtles鈥攁nd serves as the exclusive breeding ground for the enigma that is the American eel.

鈥淎merican eels have a cool life history,鈥� said Andrea Ward, PhD, vice provost for research and libraries. 鈥淭hey reproduce in the Sargasso Sea and then migrate thousands of miles into rivers all along the east coast of the U.S. and Canada, where they can stay in fresh water for many years until they return to the Sargasso Sea to reproduce and die.鈥� Because it takes place in this deep sea location, no one has ever directly witnessed the eel mating process, and as yet, eels have not been bred in captivity.

Young eels drift thousands of miles on ocean currents as transparent, leaf-shaped larvae before transforming into tiny 鈥済lass eels鈥� and making their way to the freshwater rivers, streams and estuaries of eastern North America, where they spend the majority of their lives鈥攕ometimes decades鈥攇rowing slowly into yellow eels and eventually the darker adult 鈥渟ilver eels.鈥� Capable of breathing through their skin and even wriggling overland through wet grass to reach new waterways, American eels are remarkably adaptable, yet their populations have declined sharply in recent decades.

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鈥淩apid expansion in biotechnology, health technology, corporate sustainability and data analytics has driven high demand for employees with backgrounds that an education in biology delivers far beyond traditional academic or clinical roles,鈥� said Matthias Foellmer, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Biology.

麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 curriculum ensures a broad education in several core areas of biology, including genetics, evolution, ecology, physiology, developmental biology, molecular biology and cell biology. Students enrolled in the undergraduate and graduate program also get hands-on research opportunities, receiving training in qualitative analysis using advanced state-of-the-art methods and applying the scientific method.

鈥淲e prepare our students for today鈥檚 careers in the biological and medical professions, but also offer several transferable skills which makes our students suitable candidates for employment opportunities in a wide variety of fields,鈥� Dr. Foellmer said.

These three alumni prove just how versatile a biology degree can be.

Put a Science Mind to Work in the Courtroom

When Hira Javed 鈥�16, MS 鈥�18, JD, enrolled at 麻豆传媒映画 for the BS in Biology program, she was set on becoming a pediatric neurologist. But while volunteering at a hospital during grad school鈥攁lso at 麻豆传媒映画鈥攕he met a nurse practitioner who had switched to advocating for patients鈥� rights. 鈥淪he started fighting on the legal side for her patients, and I thought that sounded awesome,鈥� Javed says. That chance encounter led her to explore a legal career鈥攁nd ultimately swap the MCAT for the LSAT.

An 麻豆传媒映画 professor helped her identify her legal specialty, pointing her toward patent law, something she鈥檇 never considered before. 鈥淭hey said to me, 鈥業f you want to go to law school and you still really love science, have you considered patent law?鈥欌�� she recalls. 鈥淭hat was definitely a pivotal moment in my career.鈥�

After earning her law degree, Javed joined a Washington, D.C., law firm, where she practiced patent litigation and privacy law. Her biology background proved more useful than expected. 鈥淪tudying biology helped me become very detail oriented, and to use the analytical side of my brain,鈥� she says. All of those hours she spent sifting through dense scientific papers at 麻豆传媒映画 translated directly to legal work, too, teaching her to zero in on the key pieces of data methodically rather than getting lost in the details.

In April 2026, Javed took her career a step further, accepting a clerkship with a magistrate judge in the Southern District of Florida. 鈥淲hen you take a step back and realize you鈥檙e helping move justice forward, it鈥檚 a really powerful feeling,鈥� she says.

Help Migraine Patients Reclaim Their Lives

Monika Mikolajczak 鈥�17, MD, still thinks of the fruit flies she cared for as a biology undergrad at 麻豆传媒映画. Practically every morning for nearly two years, she came into the lab to prepare fly food and count the flies for a mitochondrial research project鈥攚ork that eventually contributed to a published paper. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have had that opportunity if I鈥檇 gone to a school with much larger classrooms,鈥� Dr. Mikolajczak noted. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy to get into a lab and do research鈥攖here鈥檚 a lot of funding that goes into it, and not everyone wants students involved with their research.鈥�

That experience in the lab also honed the critical-thinking skills she relies on as a headache medicine fellow at Mount Sinai. 鈥淢y biology education taught me to think through evidence and avoid jumping to conclusions,鈥� she said.

Her path to that fellowship wasn鈥檛 a straight one. While becoming a physician was always a calling, she pursued other early ambitions, including physical therapy and, before that, shark research. But it was during her four-year neurology residency at Northwell Health that she found her calling. During rounds with a mentor in her second year, she watched a nerve block bring near-immediate relief to a migraine patient in the emergency room. 鈥淎nyone with migraines knows how terrible the emergency room can be鈥攖here鈥檚 a lot of light and noise, it鈥檚 not a fun place to be. So if you end up in the emergency room with a migraine, you鈥檙e desperate at that point,鈥� Dr. Mikolajczak said. 鈥淛ust helping him regain his function and be able to leave the emergency room feeling better was so rewarding.鈥�

Turn a Study Abroad Trip Into a Dream Career

When Candice Marcos 鈥�12, MS 鈥�14, MA 鈥�16, started her undergraduate biology degree at 麻豆传媒映画, she had her sights set on medical school. Looking for ways to stand out as an applicant, she signed up for a three-week study abroad trip to Australia focused on environmental science. What she found there changed everything. Snorkeling and conducting field research in the water, she came home with a new direction. 鈥淎fter that, I decided I wanted to be in the field of marine biology,鈥� she says.

Now, Marcos is head of education at Shark Reef Aquarium in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she uses her biology degree every day. In particular, her experience researching marine animals while a grad student at 麻豆传媒映画 helped her understand these creatures, knowledge she regularly shares with visitors to the aquarium. Her six-year stint as a science teacher in Nevada also equipped her with the skills to develop education programs that resonate with visitors, as well as provide professional development for her staff members.

鈥淢y career combines my two worlds鈥攂iology and education,鈥� Marcos says. 鈥淚 teach important animal conservation concepts while getting up close to the animals.鈥�

She stresses that her dream job wouldn鈥檛 have happened without a willingness to say yes鈥攅ven to opportunities that seemed unrelated. Case in point: a part-time dental assistant role she almost left off her r茅sum茅 turned out to be one of the things that set her apart from other candidates for her current role. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to take the side quest because you鈥檙e still gaining skills,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 better to try something and know for a fact that it鈥檚 not for you, than to not try it and always wonder 鈥榃hat if?鈥欌��

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Javed passed the bar examination in 2021 and began her career in private practice at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP, an internationally recognized intellectual property law firm. During four and a half years with the firm, she worked on patent, privacy and other litigation matters. She also provided pro bono legal services, extending her impact into other areas of the law such as criminal defense.

Her commitment to service has also included membership on the leadership board of Gifts for the Homeless, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit. There, she supported outreach for an annual clothing drive that distributes gently used items to shelters throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, and participated in the organization鈥檚 Law Firm Battle of the Bands fundraiser as the lead singer for her firm鈥檚 band, 鈥淩edacted!鈥�.

Javed recently entered public service as a federal judicial law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, a position that allows her to experience law and litigation from the court鈥檚 perspective. 麻豆传媒映画 celebrates her as a 2026 10 Under 10 honoree for the persistence and intellectual curiosity behind her legal career, as well as her commitment to using her skills in service to colleagues, clients and neighbors.

Member of 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚

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Oslo, Norway
Major: Finance

鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to developing my interests within finance and exploring where that may take me professionally, while continuing to develop as a tennis player. I鈥檓 proud of the results I鈥檝e achieved in tennis over the years, including winning the Norwegian U19 National Championship in mixed doubles, but especially of the consistency and hard work behind them. I chose 麻豆传媒映画 because it was important to me to find a university where I could get a great education while also being a part of a strong tennis team. I also really liked the welcoming atmosphere at 麻豆传媒映画, and it felt like the right fit for me both academically and athletically.鈥�

Jackson Clark

Matthews, North Carolina
Major: Business, Three-Year Track
Honors College

鈥淚 hope to become a lawyer, but I chose my major because of my interest in business and the opportunity to earn that degree in the accelerated three-year track. I came to 麻豆传媒映画 because of its amazing location, strong faculty and opportunities like the Alternative Summer Break, which I was able to attend in August. I wanted to go to a school in or near a big city like New York, and the three-year program and other grants made that financially possible for me.鈥�

Rebecca Golin

Brooklyn, New York
Major: Biochemistry with a minor in mathematics

鈥淚 am planning on a medical career, so I chose 麻豆传媒映画 for its supportive community, strong scientific opportunities and Early Assurance pathway to medical school that will allow me to grow as both a researcher and future physician. I have already conducted cancer research, where I discovered how mathematics and genomic data can help answer complex questions about disease and ultimately improve patient care.鈥�

Zion Hines

Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Major: Dance

鈥淚 want to be able to dance professionally, and my ultimate goal is to own a dance studio so that I can teach choreography, inspiring dancers of all ages. I am grateful to have accomplished as much as I have so far in my dance career. I received a 2025 New Jersey Governor鈥檚 Award for Arts Education, an honor given to high school students, and I have had the opportunity to choreograph and perform a solo titled Inner Thoughts along with five other talented recipients. I am excited to be at 麻豆传媒映画. When I auditioned for the dance program last winter, it felt like such a genuine and supportive community. I like the small classes, too, which will allow me to get to know my professors and be able to get any help or advice whenever I need it.鈥�

Ashlyn Ho

La Crescenta, California
Major: Biology

鈥淚 want to become a dentist, and I chose 麻豆传媒映画 because of its Early Assurance 4+4 program, which gives me a direct path to the LECOM School of Dental Medicine. 麻豆传媒映画 also gives me the chance to work closely with my professors. I really enjoy playing the piano, too, and performed at Carnegie Hall as a first-prize winner in the Elite International Music Competition.鈥�

Arina Kamenetska

Kharkiv, Ukraine
Major: Theatre
Honors College/Levermore Global Scholars Program

鈥淢y goal is to build a career as an actress in both theater and film. I also hope to create international theater projects that bring together actors and artists from different countries and cultures. I am especially proud to have received a Jonathan Larson Scholarship from 麻豆传媒映画. I chose 麻豆传媒映画 because of the people. During my audition with Professor Margaret Lally and Professor Thomas Schrider, I immediately felt that I had found my community and my people. They made me feel that 麻豆传媒映画 was a place where I would truly belong, and I could see how much the professors genuinely care about their students and want to help them grow.鈥�

Karina Kumar

South Richmond Hills, Queens, New York
Major: English, Scholar Teacher Education Program (STEP) 鈥� Adolescent Education
Levermore Global Scholars Program

鈥淢y goal is to become a teacher who can truly make an impact in students鈥� lives. I will strive to shape young minds in the lens of today鈥檚 society and always fight against injustices in education, making my classroom truly accessible to all students. I am particularly interested in finding ways to reach students beyond the textbooks. 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 commitment to diversity, equity and global learning reflects the educator I aspire to become.”

Mia Leggio

Seaford, New York
Major: Sport Management
Honors College/

鈥淪ports are really important to me, and I am proud to be following in the footsteps of my sister, Alexandra, who played lacrosse for 麻豆传媒映画. I chose 麻豆传媒映画 because of its strong academics, women鈥檚 soccer program and close-knit community. I am also proud to be a certified EMT because that allows me to make a difference by helping others during very tough times.鈥�

Anya Patel

New Hyde Park, New York
Major: Biology
Levermore Global Scholars Program

鈥淢y goal is to pursue a career in orthodontics and provide compassionate, culturally aware care to diverse communities. Majoring in biology and participating in the Levermore Global Scholars program will help me reach that goal, allowing me to combine my passion for science with my interest in people, cultures and global perspectives. As someone with both Indian and Kenyan heritage, I believe that understanding and respecting different backgrounds is essential to connecting with others and providing compassionate healthcare. I chose 麻豆传媒映画 because of its close-knit community and the opportunity to pursue my goals in the healthcare field in an environment where I feel supported and encouraged to grow.鈥�

Michael Secko

Centerport, New York
Majors: Environmental Science and History with Certificate in Museum Studies
Honors College

鈥淏y majoring in two fields while earning a certificate in another, I am hoping to build a career that brings all of those worlds together. Whether it is working at a museum, a national park or an environmental agency, my goal is to find ways to connect our natural environment with human history. I have always been fascinated by how the past and the environment shape each other. I want to find innovative ways to preserve both our history and our planet. Choosing 麻豆传媒映画 was an easy decision for me. From the moment I stepped on campus, it just felt right. It is also extra special because my grandparents earned both their undergraduate and 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 degrees here, so it feels like home in more ways than one.鈥�

Justin Smiley-Carter

Jamaica, Queens, New York
Major: Ethics and Public Policy
Honors College/Levermore Global Scholars Program

鈥淚 served as secretary-general at a Model UN conference that created a welcoming outlet for students across South Queens and Long Island to explore diplomacy. I plan to attend law school, with the goal of eventually using my experience to create opportunities for younger students in marginalized communities and inspire them to pursue a career in law. I chose 麻豆传媒映画 because it鈥檚 where I can really challenge myself academically, and because the Honors College and Levermore Global Scholars program allow me to explore my interests beyond the classroom while preparing me to reach my goals.鈥�

Louis Spillane

Auckland, New Zealand
Major: Finance

鈥淢y goal is to build a career in finance while continuing to pursue my passion for football. Football has been a huge part of my life. I was honored to represent New Zealand as a member of the U17 National Team that qualified for the U17 World Cup. Wearing the New Zealand fern, singing the national anthem and seeing my family in the stands made it an experience I鈥檒l never forget. It was a moment where years of hard work and sacrifice came together. I look forward to competing at 麻豆传媒映画 while building a strong foundation for my future in finance. I hope to combine the discipline, leadership and competitive mindset I have developed through football with my passion for finance and create a successful career that allows me to pursue both interests.鈥�

Wyatt Yim

Fresh Meadows, Queens, New York
Major: Nursing

鈥淚 want to be working as a traveling nurse to explore the world more, then later on become a certified registered nurse anesthetist. I would like to visit all 50 states and, as a proud Eagle Scout, all the national parks. I chose 麻豆传媒映画 for its small and beautiful campus, and I began my 麻豆传媒映画 experience by joining the First-Year Community Action Program (FCAP). It gave me the opportunity to do some volunteer work before the start of classes while meeting new people and helping the community.鈥�

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Students spotted a rare cassowary鈥攖he world鈥檚 most dangerous bird鈥攊n the Daintree Rainforest. The cassowary, although normally shy, can stand up to six feet tall and attack with dagger-like claws.

Led by biology and environmental studies and sciences faculty Aaren Freeman, PhD, Matthias Foellmer, PhD, and Elizabeth Buccheri, PhD, the group embarked on a two-week, hands-on expedition across Australia鈥檚 wild ecosystems鈥攅arning 2 course credits while having the trip of a lifetime.

Marine Ecology, Biology Research and Snorkeling

The adventure started long before takeoff. During the spring semester, students prepped by learning about marine ecology, practicing their snorkeling skills (with two students even getting SCUBA certified), and drafting their own research plans.

Then came the real world.

鈥淪ome had cogent plans, but when they arrived and put their faces in the water, what we thought would be there just wasn鈥檛 there,鈥� Dr. Freeman recalled. 鈥淎dapting to the differences between planning a research project and the reality of conducting that research was an important field experience take-home academic lesson.鈥�

(From left) 麻豆传媒映画 students Chelsea Javier, Ryan Will and Audrey Cozine after a day of scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef. Students spent up to two hours a day in the water, observing coral atolls and marine wildlife.

Sharks, Giant Spiders and 鈥淚ndiana Jones鈥� Moments

Base camp for the marine portion of the trip was the Heron Island Research Station, right in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Students spent up to two hours a day in the water, swimming alongside sharks, stingrays and skates.

麻豆传媒映画 student John DelCarpine enjoys a gondola high above a eucalyptus forest.

They also witnessed firsthand the harsh impact of climate change and coral bleaching on the 1,400-mile-long Great Barrier Reef鈥攁 sobering reminder of the planet鈥檚 fragility.

On this visit, Dr. Freeman, was pleasantly surprised at the corals鈥� resilience. 鈥淚 remain hopeful,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 not Pollyanna, the reefs aren鈥檛 really doing fine.鈥�

When the group explored the ancient Daintree Rainforest, things were even wilder:

• The Cassowary: Students spotted the notoriously elusive鈥攁nd notoriously powerful鈥攃assowary, officially ranked by the Library of Congress as the world鈥檚 most dangerous bird.
• The Spiders: Guided by Dr. Foellmer (a terrestrial biologist and insect expert), the team navigated terrain packed with massive arachnids. 鈥淚 had many interactions with big hairy spiders about the size of my hand,鈥� Dr. Freeman recalled. 鈥淥ne web ended up on my back 鈥攚ith a four-inch spider on it鈥攁nd made me feel like Indiana Jones. Yet, these spiders were harmless.鈥�
• Canopy Views: The crew even hit the hinterlands, riding a gondola high above the canopy of a eucalyptus forest.

Beyond the Lab: Deep Diving Into Culture

It wasn鈥檛 all data collection and dodging wildlife. The group spent half a day in Mossman Gorge led by an Aboriginal guide, learning about sacred forests, traditional medicines and ancient toolmaking. Stops in Cairns and Brisbane introduced students to Australia鈥檚 vibrant city life and its incredible, Asia-influenced food scene.

For Dr. Buccheri, this kind of trip is full circle. She actually went on 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 2017 Australia trip as an undergrad, which inspired her to move to Australia, earn her 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 and PhD in reef ecology, and eventually return to 麻豆传媒映画 to teach.

Dining alfresco in the Daintree Rainforest, the world鈥檚 oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest.

Expert Faculty as Australia Guides

Students benefitted not only from their professors鈥� individual scientific expertise, but also from their experience and knowledge of Australia and the climate change challenges facing its ecologically diverse reefs and rainforests, reflecting 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 commitment to sustainability.

鈥淓ach of us has our own area of expertise,鈥� explained Dr. Freeman, a marine ecologist and chair of the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences. In 2010, he and Dr. Foellmer, a terrestrial biologist and chair of the Department of Biology, took the first group of 麻豆传媒映画 students to Australia. This year鈥檚 was their sixth such trip.

According to Dr. Freeman, Dr. Buccheri’s experience as a student on 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 2017 Australian alternative break trip was life-changing, as it inspired her to gain expertise in reef ecology and reproductive biology by earning 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in Australia. She is now an adjunct professor in environmental studies and sciences . 鈥淪he鈥檚 a great success story,鈥� he said.

Front left: Professor Matthais Foellmer, PhD, one of three professors serving as a guide, photographs wildlife along the Daintree River.

Next Australian Trek: 2028

For these 13 biology students, the trip was a massive eye-opener. As one student put it: 鈥淚t will leave such an amazing impact on your life. You鈥檒l want to go back as soon as you get home.鈥�

Dr. Freeman and the department are already planning their next Australian trek for 2028. The Great Barrier Reef, the Milky Way in a clear night sky and a few friendly sharks are waiting.

Students and their 麻豆传媒映画 professors gather at sunset after a day of exploring coral atolls around Heron Island Research Station.

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It was a day of transitions, and a happy one.

Interim President Christopher Storm, PhD, who will be returning to his job as provost on June 1 with new leadership responsibilities as senior executive vice president of academic affairs, expressed sincere thanks for the support he received over the past year.

President-Elect Michael Balboni 鈥�81, JD, enthusiastically greeted the graduating seniors as his 鈥渇ellow alumni鈥� and offered his success as an indication of how far an 麻豆传媒映画 degree can take them.

And the 1,165 members of the Class of 2026 closed the book on their undergraduate years and entered the next phase of their lives.

Commencement by the Numbers and Degrees

Just as it is every year, there was no 鈥渢ypical鈥� 麻豆传媒映画 graduate. Six bachelor鈥檚 degree recipients are 19 years old. The oldest is 59 and is one of six graduates who are in their 50s. Thirty-five are over 30 years old, many of whom earned degrees in fully online or hybrid programs designed for working adults from 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 College of Professional and Continuing Studies.

Diplomas were awarded in 51 different degree programs, reflecting the wide variety of academic and career interests of students in the Class of 2026.

The largest group of graduates were the 299 students who were awarded Bachelor of Science degrees in Nursing. 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 College of Nursing and Public Health is perennially ranked as a U.S. News & World Best College for Undergraduate Nursing Programs. It is also a U.S. News Best Nursing School for 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 degree and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs as well, and one of only 13 institutions designated as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing.

Psychology was the next-most-popular degree, with 85 graduates. U.S. News & World Report includes 麻豆传媒映画’s Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology in its rankings of Best Undergraduate Psychology Programs, Best Psychology Grad Schools and Best Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs.

Biology, a favorite major for premedical and preprofessional students, had the third-largest group of graduates, with 67 students earning their degrees. Rounding out the top five were two more programs in the healthcare and wellness fields鈥�health sciences, with 52 students earning their Bachelor of Science, and physical education, with 51 graduates.

Top-10 degrees also included accelerated nursing, management, computer science, marketing and finance.

Graduates From Near and Far

While most of this year鈥檚 graduates are from New York, members of the Class of 2026 came to 麻豆传媒映画 from 24 other states. Students from New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania were the largest out-of-state contingents.

The class also included 86 international students from 42 countries, including 10 from India, seven from Pakistan, five from Mongolia and five from Vietnam.

Hussein Ali Rifath, president of 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 Student Government Association, celebrated the global character of the Class of 2026 in his Commencement address. Rifath, whose family is from Bangladesh, congratulated the international students and the large number of graduates with backgrounds in other lands in a dozen languages. Rifath graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 average and a degree in political science and will spend next year in Spain on a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant scholarship.

A Valuable Degree

The experience of recent graduates shows that an 麻豆传媒映画 degree is a ticket to a well-paying job. In our most recent alumni survey, graduates of our Class of 2024 reported an average salary of $76,450. Ninety-two percent were employed, continuing their education or participating in an internship within one year of graduation.

The successful outcomes of 麻豆传媒映画 graduates have attracted national attention. Forbes, which bases its America鈥檚 Top Colleges rankings on the ability to produce successful, high-earning and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds, ranked 麻豆传媒映画 as the top private university on Long Island. So did The Wall Street Journal, whose rankings reflect how well colleges prepare their graduates for financial success.

Words to Live By

While this year鈥檚 graduates walked away with their degrees and their career plans, they also took along some advice from two 麻豆传媒映画 alumni whose careers prove their point.

President-Elect Balboni, who grew up in Garden City, rode his skateboard to campus on his first day at 麻豆传媒映画 with plans of going to medical school. Instead, he went to law school, became a litigator, a state legislator, a business executive and now a college president. What has that experience taught him?

鈥淵ou have no idea what the future will bring,鈥� he said. 鈥淟ife is not always going to be a straight line to where you鈥檙e going to wind up.鈥�

But he also gave listeners the key to his success. 鈥淢y career has always been a series of saying 鈥業鈥檒l try that.鈥欌��

Joseph W. Westphal 鈥�70, PhD, who received an honorary degree that day while also having the pleasure of seeing his granddaughter receive her 麻豆传媒映画 degree in nursing, echoed President-Elect Balboni鈥檚 message of life鈥檚 unpredictability and of opportunities taken advantage of.

After graduating from 麻豆传媒映画, he went to graduate school, became a professor and took academic leadership programs. 鈥淏ut it was government service that took me places I never imagined I would experience,鈥� he said, referring to diplomatic and high-level administrative appointments he received from Presidents Reagan, Clinton and Obama.

鈥淭he world belongs to those who are prepared not only to succeed, but to serve,鈥� he said, and he followed that with three challenges for graduates who want to follow that path:

鈥淭ake personal responsibility for your actions, your decisions and your impact.鈥�

鈥淏e honest and ethical, especially when it’s inconvenient.鈥�

鈥淏e thoughtful about where you can make the greatest difference.鈥�

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