Meet Your Professors

Robyn Cooper received her MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2012. Robyn has more than ten years of teaching experience and has taught across Long Island at Long Island University (C.W. Post,) SUNY Suffolk Community College, and the Nassau County Museum of Art. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at Adelphi University, sits on the Education Committee at the Heckscher Museum of Art, and has recently opened Protégé Art Studio, where she teaches online art classes and workshops. Robyn has also worked in college admissions doing portfolio reviews for several years. She has experience working in acrylic, oil and gouache paint, in addition to drawing, college, and digital media. Her work has been exhibited throughout the country in shows at Kehler Liddell Gallery CT, Gross McCleaf Gallery PA, R. Dixon Gallery NY, and uBe Art in Berkley, CA. Her work is in several private collections including a private collection at The Hershey Trust in Hershey, PA. Robyn currently lives and works in Long Island, NY.

Business and Entrepreneurship

Before joining Adelphi University’s faculty in 2002, Professor Colacicco was a C-suite level executive and entrepreneur for major corporations and start-up companies for more than 30 years holding positions as Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Executive Officer. He consistently illustrated the leadership abilities required to successfully implement the interrelationships of all operating functions including Marketing, Operations, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Finance, and Administration.

Professor Colacicco received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with a minor in Economics and an MBA in Management from St. John’s University. He is on the Board of several organizations and, for the past two years, was a member of the Executive Committee of Adelphi’s Chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

Joe has taught courses in Entrepreneurship, Business and Society,  Organizational Behavior, Leadership and Innovation in Complex Systems, Strategic Management, Procurement and Global Sourcing, and  International Marketing.

Communications and Critical Thinking

Erin Truesdell, M.Ed, holds a Master’s in Education from Molloy College and is certified in Special Education. With a background in teaching, she has been a key member of Adelphi University’s Learning Resource Program for the past 8 years. Erin has also taught writing classes at Adelphi for the last 6 years, with a focus on guiding students in research and academic inquiry. Her dedication to teaching and learning fuels her passion for helping students excel in their educational journeys.

Computer Science and Coding

Liam Owens has been teaching at Adelphi in different capacities for the past seven years. He is also a proud Alumni of Adelphi; Go Panthers! Liam has taught courses such as, but not limited to, Discrete Structures, Intro to Video Game Programming, Intro to Computer Programming, and others. He also teaches similar topics to middle/high school students for Adelphi’s College Science Advancement Program (CSTEP) and Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP). Additionally, Liam formerly worked with a wide range of neurodiverse learners at the Student Access Office as an Assistive Technology/508 Compliance Specialist. Regarding teaching, he likes to create a teaching environment that guides and prepares students on a path of self-advocacy and independence and have course material connect to real-world expectations to transition their newly learned skills into their future careers.

Creative Writing Workshop

Laura LaVacca is a Senior Adjunct Instructor of English at Adelphi University. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing & Secondary Education and an M.A. in American Literature, both from Hofstra University. She also works at various other campuses on Long island, including Nassau Community College and Hofstra University where she teaches creative and professional writing courses.

Digital Media Production: Filmmaking and TV

Professor Cory Poccia is an esteemed figure in the realms of entertainment and entrepreneurship. Serving as the Founder and CEO of Mainstream Entertainment Group Inc., Professor Poccia has established a forward-thinking enterprise that provides comprehensive entertainment services nationwide. His leadership and proficiency in communications and marketing have been acknowledged with numerous accolades, such as the Communicator Awards and the Intercontinental Championship Award from World Wrestling Entertainment for exemplary post-production endeavors.

Commencing his illustrious career alongside Academy Award® recipient Scott Rudin, Professor Poccia further honed his expertise during his tenure with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). There, he was pivotal in orchestrating the “Road to Wrestlemania” series. In 2008, his journey led him to Cision, a premier PR firm located in New York City. While there, he spearheaded the production of remarkable television content, collaborating with influential figures like Oprah Winfrey, Clive Davis, and major establishments like Viacom.

Driven by his visionary mindset, Professor Poccia initiated Mainstream Entertainment Group Inc., translating his aspirations into a tangible enterprise. Under his guidance, Mainstream has evolved as a dominant force in the entertainment sector, encompassing endeavors such as feature film production, television advertising, and conceptual innovation. Mainstream boasts collaborations with eminent brands and organizations like UFC, Goya Foods, LEGO, Porsche, Sony Pictures, and the Ronald McDonald House.

Introduction to Nursing as a Career and Profession

Patricia Ford Garofalo, MS, RN, is an adjunct professor in the College of Nursing and Public Health at Adelphi University. She earned her master’s degree in nursing administration, a postmaster’ s in nursing education from Adelphi University, her baccalaureate degree from the University of Delaware, and a certificate in simulation development and training from Drexel University. She has had numerous leadership roles in clinical nursing and hospital administration, and is a former administrator for faculty development in simulation. Her research interests include healthcare simulation, improving nursing education with technology, and improving medication calculation. She is a member of the Alpha Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, and the adjunct representative of the American Association of University Professor
at Adelphi University. Patricia is the recipient of the Adelphi’s Professor of the Year Award 2023, and The Daisy Award for exceptional faculty also in 2023. Professor Garofalo is committed to excellence and is a strong supporter of students and faculty.

Dr. Bridget Maley is an assistant professor in Adelphi’s College of Nursing and Public Health with twenty-nine years of experience. Dr. Maley graduated from Catholic Medical Center School of Nursing with an Associate Degree, continued her education and graduated from The College of New Rochelle with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Dr. Maley received a Masters of Science in Nursing Education from Adelphi University and a PhD in Nursing from the CUNY Graduate Center. Dr. Maley is also a Certified Nurse Educator. Dr. Maley brings expertise to the College of Nursing and Public Health in the fields of maternal child, medical surgical, perioperative nursing, nurse educator, and community-based health care. Dr. Maley’s passion for nursing and nursing students is evidenced by role modeling a professional and caring demeanor. Dr. Maley believes that through these actions nursing students will be able to achieve their goal of becoming a Professional Registered Nurse.

Music Production and Sound Mixing

Justin Gunter is a percussionist, composer, and producer currently living and working in Brooklyn, NY. Justin studied Percussion Performance at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he earned a Bachelor of Music and an Artist Diploma. He has 15 years of experience as an educator and has taught students of all ages and abilities. As a performer, Justin has been lucky to work in a diverse range of projects as a freelance percussionist and as a composer/producer. Justin is passionate about the transformative effect that arts education can have on an individual and on a community and is excited to be a part of the Adelphi University community.

Pre-Law: Understanding the Bill of Rights

Gary Greaves is an Adjunct Instructor within the Political Science Department here at Adelphi University.

Professor Greaves holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology with a minor in History, and a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science covering American Politics and Political Theory. Professor Greaves is also a former competitive debater and public speaker in high school and undergrad.

He has worked as a Social Studies teacher at Nazareth Regional High School (his alma mater), a Senior Audit Analyst at the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, a Project Coordinator at the Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corporation (overseeing an economic development and anti-crime program in collaboration with the 101st NYPD precinct, the Queens County District District Attorney Office and the U.S Attorney Office, and a Project Manager at New York City’s Department of Small Business Services, focusing on economic development, business improvement districts, and workforce development.

Some of the institutions where Professor Greaves has taught include Medgar Evers College, CUNY; Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus; Guttman Community College, CUNY, and here at Adelphi. His focus is on civil rights and civil liberties, the United States Constitution, and communications.

Pre-Med: Microbiology, Nutrition, and Human Disease

Dr. Jonna Coombs is a Microbial Ecologist, which is a fancy way of saying that she studies microscopic organisms and their relationship with the world around them.

This includes the interaction of microbes with other organisms like human beings. Her research focus is bioremediation, which is the use of living organisms to “clean up” pollutants in the environment. Specifically, she looks at heavy metals such as zinc, cadmium and lead. Because heavy metals are elements on the periodic table, they cannot be broken down, but instead can be changed into less-toxic forms or locked into molecules that are not soluble in water. This can help to decontaminate polluted environments. Dr. Coombs had a B.S. in Biology from the University of Maine, and a Ph.D. from Penn State University. She joined the faculty at Adelphi University in 2005.

Psychology and Pop Culture

Chrissy Feeley-Mackin, Ph.D attended Le Moyne College where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology. She then attended Adelphi University for her Masters in General Psychology and later Walden University for her doctoral degree in Health Psychology. She also obtained her CASAC certificate from Cazenovia College. As a member of the Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University, Dr. Feeley-Mackin has strived for excellence in teaching and advisement for over 16 years, receiving the Adjunct of the Year in 2011, 2015, and 2017. Dr. Feeley-Mackin also oversees the undergraduate psychology internship program. She enjoys working with students in different capacities to help them along their path to their future careers. Additionally, Dr. Feeley-Mackin teaches at Farmingdale State College and Suffolk County Community College.

Quantum Engineering

Sean Bentley completed his BS (’95) and MS (’97) in electrical engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri S&T), and his PhD (’04) in optics at the University of Rochester. He joined Adelphi’s Department of Physics in 2003, being promoted to Associate Professor in 2009. He was awarded the 2013 Adelphi University Tenured Teaching Excellence Award, and the 2022 David Halliday and Robert Resnick Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching from the American Association of Physics Teachers, the top national prize for undergraduate physics teaching.  He has served on the governing bodies of both the physics honor society (Sigma Pi Sigma, including serving as Director from 2014-15) and the electrical engineering honor society (IEEE-HKN), as well as serving on the Editorial Board of IEEE-HKN The Bridge. His research is in the areas of quantum entanglement and nonlinear optics.

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Steven Cox, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. He teaches coursework in anatomy, physiology and neurology of the speech mechanism, speech and hearing science and voice disorders. His area of specialization centers on the human voice and voice disorders. He is particularly interested in voice and speech production and perception in individuals who are diagnosed and treated for laryngeal cancer, transgender voice, and quality of life issues faced by these populations.