Hofstra Campus Conversations

In this special commencement edition of Hofstra Campus Conversations , President Susan Poser sits down with members of the Class of 2026 to reflect on their journeys, accomplishments, and what lies ahead. Just days before graduation, these students share how their Hofstra experiences, both in and out of the classroom, have shaped their ambitions and perspectives. From exploring sustainability in t...

In this episode of Hofstra Campus Conversations , President Susan Poser sits down with Michael Roberge, new Chair of Hofstra’s Board of Trustees and a distinguished alumnus. From his beginnings as a first-generation college student to his leadership as former CEO and current Chairman of MFS Investment Management, Roberge reflects on the experiences that shaped his career and his commitment to givi...

In this episode of Hofstra Campus Conversations , President Susan Poser sits down with Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr. to spotlight a milestone moment for the university: the 30th Annual Hofstra Gala, which uniquely honors Hofstra Athletics as a whole. Cole reflects on his decades-long career in collegiate athletics and highlights a remarkable year for Hofstra, featuring cha...

In this episode of Hofstra Campus Conversations , President Susan Poser sits down with Laine Norton, Hofstra’s newly appointed Senior Vice President of Development and Alumni Affairs, to discuss the power of philanthropy and its role in shaping the university’s future. Norton shares her journey from journalism to advancement, highlighting how storytelling and relationship-building are at the heart...

In this episode of Hofstra Campus Conversations , Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Charles Riordan sits down with Dr. Ayana Allen-Handy, the newly appointed dean of Hofstra’s School of Education, to explore her journey, research, and vision for the future. From her beginnings as a first-grade teacher to her leadership in higher education, Dr. Allen-Handy shares how unexpe...

In this episode of Campus Conversations , Provost Charlie Riordan speaks with Christine Cotton, Hofstra’s new Senior Director of Continuing Education. Cotton shares her journey in higher education and her vision for expanding access to lifelong learning opportunities across Long Island and beyond. Their discussion highlights Hofstra’s commitment to community engagement through youth academies, sum...

In this episode of Campus Conversations , Provost Charlie Riordan speaks with Dr. Colleen Fitzgerald, Hofstra’s new Senior Vice Provost for Research and Creative Activities. Dr. Fitzgerald shares her unique path from linguistics and Native American language preservation to research leadership at the National Science Foundation and major universities. She discusses Hofstra’s recent designation as a...

n this episode of Campus Conversations , President Susan Poser speaks with Dr. Rhonda Garelick, founding director of Hofstra’s new Institute for Public Humanities and the Arts. Dr. Garelick shares her interdisciplinary journey as a scholar, journalist, and author, and discusses how the institute is fostering collaboration across fields, connecting Hofstra to New York City’s cultural networks, and...

Provost Charlie Riordan sits down with Dr. Jonathan Miles-Watson, Hofstra’s new Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Professional Programs. With a career spanning three continents and more than two decades in higher education, Dr. Miles-Watson shares his journey from Manchester to Hofstra, the lessons learned from global academic systems, and his vision for graduate and professional education wit...

In this episode of Campus Conversations , Provost Charlie Riordan speaks with Dr. Kristy Loewenstein, the newly appointed Dean of the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Dean Loewenstein shares her journey from psychiatric nurse to academic leader and outlines her vision for the school’s future. Their discussion explores interprofessional education, the vital partn...

In this episode of Campus Conversations , President Susan Poser welcomes Tim Doyle, Hofstra’s new Senior Vice President for Financial Affairs and Treasurer. Doyle shares his remarkable journey from military service and financial services to higher education leadership, and discusses his vision for advancing Hofstra’s strategic plan, Hofstra 100 . From strategic investments in student success and o...

In this episode of Campus Conversations , Provost Charlie Reardon sits down with Mitchell Kase, Hofstra’s new Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, and Assessment. Together, they explore how the reimagined center will strengthen faculty development, advance student success, and foster innovation across disciplines. From classroom design and inclusive pedagogy to th...

In this episode of Campus Conversations , Hofstra University President Susan Poser sits down with Jason King, Hofstra’s new Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel. Jason shares highlights from his career in public service and higher education, his journey from Texas to Long Island, and his vision for supporting Hofstra’s ambitious Hofstra 100 strategic plan. From navigating co...

Hofstra President Susan Poser and VP of Marketing and Communications Terry Coniglio discuss Hofstra’s bold new brand identity, logo, and strategic vision. Discover the story behind the brand promise "Momentum," the design process, and how the rebrand reflects Hofstra’s future in academics, athletics, and community engagement.

Hofstra President Susan Poser and Provost Charlie Riordan welcome students, faculty, and staff back to campus and preview the annual Presidential Symposium . This year’s theme, “The Beauty of…” , showcases faculty passion across disciplines—from computer science and global trade to art therapy, law, and the sciences. The conversation also highlights the upcoming State of the University address , f...

In this special commencement episode of Hofstra Campus Conversations , President Susan Poser sits down with several remarkable members of the Class of 2025 to reflect on their time at Hofstra University. From student government and sports broadcasting to research, investment banking, and comedy writing, these students share their stories, challenges, proudest moments, and hopes for the future. It’...

President Susan Poser welcomes Heather Cohen, a Hofstra alumna, renowned talent agent, and a 2025 undergraduate commencement speaker. Heather shares her journey from student broadcaster to becoming president of The Weiss Agency, representing influential voices in radio, podcasting, and streaming. Discover how her experiences at Hofstra shaped her career, instilled leadership values, and inspired a...

In this episode of  Hofstra Campus Conversations , Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Charlie Riordan is joined by Suzanne Pike , Associate Provost for Academic Support and Global Initiatives, and Cassie Larson , Director of Study Abroad, for a deep dive into Hofstra’s study abroad programs. Together, they explore how students can expand their academic, cultural, and personal h...

In this special episode of  Hofstra Campus Conversations , President Susan Poser sits down with Don Schaeffer , Chair of the Hofstra University Board of Trustees and 2025 Gala Honoree, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, philanthropy, creativity, and community.

In this episode, President Susan Poser speaks with Dean Mark Lukasiewicz and Associate Dean Adria Marlowe from the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication about one of Hofstra’s most exciting new academic offerings—the Hofstra LA Semester, an immersive semester-long program that places students in the heart of Hollywood, where they live, study, and intern with top professionals in film, televisio...

Join  Provost Charlie Riordan  as he explores Hofstra’s recent R2 research designation and its impact on faculty and students. Featuring  Dr. Luciana Santoferrara  (Biology) and  Dr. Ehsan Nikbakht  (Finance), this episode delves into groundbreaking research on microbial ecology, risk assessment in finance, and the power of undergraduate research. Discover how Hofstra’s faculty are shaping their f...

In this episode of Hofstra Campus Conversations , Provost Charlie Riordan speaks with Dean Lorrie McAllister of the Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library to discuss how the library supports student success, faculty scholarly excellence and community engagement. They highlight the alignment between the library’s priorities and Hofstra’s strategic plan, Hofstra100. Dean McAllister explains the library’s...

In this episode of Hofstra Campus Conversations, President Susan Poser speaks with Dean Janet Lenaghan of the Zarb School of Business about an exciting new partnership between Hofstra University and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory—the Bioscience Business Innovation Program (BBIP). This groundbreaking initiative equips scientists with essential business and entrepreneurial skills, fostering interdisc...

In this episode of Hofstra Campus Conversations, Hofstra University President Susan Poser and Provost Charlie Riordan discuss a major milestone: Hofstra’s recent achievement of R2 research status under the Carnegie Classification. They explore what this designation means for the university, how it enhances research opportunities for students and faculty, and the strategic investments fueling Hofst...

Provost Charlie Riordan sits down with Jesse Webster, Hofstra’s chief information officer, to discuss Organizational Agility, the fourth goal of Hofstra 100 . Read about the Fourth Goal: https://www.hofstra.edu/strategic-plan/goal-four.html