Launched in 2023 to promote understanding among Adelphi students, the award-winning program has now expanded to include students and leaders from four other universities.
When David Machlis, PhD, was granted the inaugural President’s Humanitarian Award in 2021 at Adelphi, he said, “If it motivates me to get more deeply involved in combating racism, antisemitism and all forms of hatred, then I graciously accept.” Less than two years later, he launched the Two Museums Program to do just that.
After receiving national recognition by winning an Eduventures Innovation Award, Two Museums just completed its 2025 trip—but with some significant enhancements. The inaugural trip in 2023 brought a group of students from Adelphi together for a two-day trip to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
This year, the program expanded to include students from four other universities, additional programming and an optional 3-credit course.
This expansion illustrates the program’s mission to fight bias and hatred and Adelphi’s core commitment to promoting diversity and understanding. Two Museums is presented by the Adelphi University Division of Student Affairs and the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Council in affiliation with the International March of the Living. It was fully funded by private donations raised by Dr. Machlis, associate professor of finance and economics in the Willumstad School.
“Every day, we read about another act of racism, antisemitism or another form of hatred,” Dr. Machlis said at the program orientation. “Two Museums is based on the belief that remembering and learning from the past will ensure a better future for all humankind.”
Two Museums—a wider range of participants
This year’s Two Museums Program brought together students from five different universities, including Harvard. The experience also spanned three days instead of two, giving students more time to visit the museums and attend presentations by scholars of racism and antisemitism.
“I’ve seen the pain that discrimination causes in my own community, and I’ve felt the sting of being judged for my identity,” said one student participant. “But I’ve also seen how learning about others’ experiences can change minds, including my own. Understanding the roots of hatred—whether against Black, Jewish or any marginalized community—can be a step toward breaking those cycles of prejudice.”
This year’s programming included testimony from the Holocaust survivor Emanuel Mandel and a talk by George Mason University faculty member LaNitra Berger, PhD, on the coalition and friendship between Jewish and African American communities during the Civil Rights Movement.
Other notable presenters included Mark R. Ginsburg, PhD, president of Towson University; Steven Katz, PhD, senior education adviser at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; and Adelphi faculty members and administrators, including senior adjunct professor of management Joseph Celentano, MBA ’04, who played a key role in launching the Two Museums Program.
Two Museums also welcomed Adelphi alumni to attend a dinner and evening seminars where they could connect with other attendees and meet with Sentwali Bakari, PhD, vice president for student affairs and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Launching a 3-credit course
To complement the immersive experience, Dr. Machlis developed an optional 3-credit course for students participating in the program. The course was taught by Raghida Yassine, PhD, assistant professor in the Willumstad School of Business, and Fabian Burrell, coordinator for programming and community engagement in the Department of African, Black and Caribbean Studies.
The course included the two full days of seminars that were part of the trip programming, along with six films that Dr. Machlis produced and commissioned specifically for this purpose. Students who didn’t take the course still earned a certificate in ethical leadership from Adelphi.
Raising the bar for future programs
Next year, Dr. Machlis plans to grow the program by recruiting college students from across the country, including those working as interns in Congress. He continues to collaborate with professors at other major universities, including those in the Washington, D.C., area, to expand the program’s reach and offerings. Dr. Machlis is also developing a partnership with the United Negro College Fund, which provides funding to 37 leading historically Black colleges and universities.
Finally, he looks forward to sharing footage from this year’s event, captured by an award-winning videographer, which will help provide a benchmark for future programs and inspiration for the Adelphi community.
“In a world increasingly marked by division and misunderstanding, I believe that embracing our differences is not just a moral imperative but a necessary step towards a lasting change,” one student participant said. “The Two Museums Program offers an amazing opportunity to deepen my understanding of historical contexts and to enhance my leadership skills in promoting unity both on and off campus.”