Eight of the 22 new Adelphi faculty members (clockwise, starting at upper left): Benjamin Serby, PhD; Sabena Thomas, PhD; Beth Counselman-Carpenter, PhD ’14; Felicia Fret, MS; Jason Rosas, MS; Rachell Pierre-Louis, PsyD; Susan Farella-Busch, PhD; and Christopher Barnes, PhD.

This fall, we are joined by 22 new faculty members spanning all our schools and colleges and our University Libraries. Our mission to transform lives is enriched by their unique expertise and contributions.

Since 2017, when it adopted new hiring procedures requiring active recruitment of scholars of color, Adelphi has increasingly added to the diversity of its faculty. This fall, the University welcomed one of its most diverse groups of new faculty members. The hires reflect Adelphi’s commitment not only to academic excellence, diversity and equity, but to the success of its increasingly diverse student body.

“Adelphi is delighted to welcome 22 new faculty members to our community this fall,” said Christopher Storm, PhD, the University’s new provost and executive vice president. “Among them, 18 percent are Asian, 18 percent are Hispanic/Latinx, and 18 percent are Black, which is a result of our University’s commitment to hiring a diverse and highly qualified faculty.

“This cohort brings a breadth of scholarly interests and backgrounds to our University and will contribute in powerful ways to disciplinary and interdisciplinary scholarship and creative works,” Provost Storm added. “While they may just be beginning their journeys at Adelphi, we know they each will soon be contributing to our institution’s reputation for exceptional cultural and intellectual diversity.”

The College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education and Health Sciences welcomed the largest number of new faculty members, with five joining their respective faculties. The Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology and the College of Nursing and Public Health each welcomed three new instructors, while the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business and the School of Social Work each added two to their rosters. The Honors College and University Libraries both added one new faculty member.

2021–2022 New Faculty

College of Arts and Sciences

Kevin Liang, PhD, is an assistant professor of physics. He received his doctorate in optics from the University of Rochester and comes to Adelphi from that university, where he was a postdoctoral associate and guest lecturer.

Adaobi Mofunanya, PhD, is an adjunct faculty in biology. She received her doctorate in molecular genetics from Stony Brook University and was previously an adjunct professor and lecturer at Adelphi.

Nicholas Palmisano, PhD, is a lecturer in biology. He earned his doctorate in biology at Stony Brook University and served as a postdoctoral research fellow and part-time lecturer there.

Natalia Prado-Oviedo, PhD, is an assistant professor of biology who received her doctorate in environmental science and public policy from George Mason University. She was an adjunct professor at Adelphi and a postdoctoral research fellow at the Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

Nathan Ross, PhD, is a lecturer in General Studies who earned a doctorate in philosophy from DePaul University. He joins the faculty from Adelphi’s Faculty Center for Professional Excellence, where he was assistant director.

Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology

Susan Farella-Busch, PhD, is a lecturer in clinical psychology. She received her doctorate in psychology with a specialization in clinical neuropsychology from The Graduate Center, City University of New York. She was previously a senior adjunct faculty member at Derner.

Christy A. Mulligan, PsyD, is a visiting assistant professor who received her doctorate in school psychology from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She previously served as an adjunct professor at William Paterson University and Long Island University.

Rachell Pierre-Louis, PsyD, is a lecturer in school psychology. She received her doctorate in that subject from Fairleigh Dickinson University and comes to Adelphi from Farmingdale State College, where she was an adjunct professor. She was also a school psychologist in the Uniondale Union Free School District on Long Island.

College of Education and Health Sciences

Stephanie Boggs, MFA, is an assistant professor of art education. Previously an adjunct assistant professor at the New York City College of Technology, City University of New York, she received her masters from The Actor’s Studio program at The New School and is completing her EdD in art education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Sladjana Lukic, PhD, is an assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders. She received her doctorate in communication sciences and disorders and cognitive science from Northwestern University. Previously, she was an instructor at San Francisco State University and a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine’s Memory and Aging Center.

Kristie L. Lynch, EdD, is an assistant professor of physical education who received her doctorate in health education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She comes to Adelphi from Manhattanville College, where she was an assistant professor.

Chris Mellor, PhD, is an assistant professor of physical education. He earned his doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of New Mexico, where he was a graduate teaching and research assistant in the Department of Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences.

Jason Rosas, MS, is an assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders. A licensed speech-language pathologist, he received his master’s in the subject from Teachers College, Columbia University, and is completing his PhD in speech-language-hearing sciences at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. He previously served as a lecturer at Long Island University.

College of Nursing and Public Health

Camelle Charles, PhD, is an assistant professor in adult health. She earned her doctorate in nursing from Molloy College and was previously an adjunct faculty member at Adelphi.

Mary Hickey, MSN ’94, EdD, is an associate dean and associate professor of nursing. She received her doctorate from Dowling College and was a clinical professor and coordinator of the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program at the City University of New York , Hunter Bellevue School of Nursing.

Sabena Thomas, PhD, is an assistant professor of public health. She received her doctorate in public health sciences, social and behavioral science, from the West Virginia University School of Public Health. Previously, she was an assistant professor at the State University of New York at Potsdam.

Robert B. Willumstad School of Business

Felisha Fret, MS, is an assistant professor of accounting and law. She has her masters in taxation from Hofstra University and was president of FNV Accounting Services.

Raghida Abdallah Yassine, PhD, is an assistant professor of management. She received her doctorate in human resource development from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was a visiting assistant professor at the American University of Beirut.

School of Social Work

Beth Counselman-Carpenter, PhD ’14, is an associate professor of social work. She received her doctorate in social work from Adelphi, and comes to the University from Southern Connecticut State University, where she was an associate professor.

Yiqi Zhu, PhD, is an assistant professor who earned her doctorate in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She was an instructor at that university before coming to Adelphi.

University Libraries

Christopher Barnes, PhD, is an assistant professor and digital publishing librarian. He earned his doctorate in English language and literature from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He comes to Adelphi from Franklin & Marshall College, where he was scholarly communications librarian.

Honors College

Benjamin Serby, PhD, is a visiting assistant professor. He received his doctorate in United States history from Columbia University, where he was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Center for American Studies and an adjunct lecturer in American history.

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