Adelphi isn’t just a university; it’s a powerful force for change, extending far beyond the Garden City campus. It’s a place where dedicated alumni, armed with their skills and passion, answer the call to give back, actively shaping the health of the communities they serve.
Adelphi alumni are improving the lives of their neighbors in schools, clinics, hospitals, child centers, research laboratories, and both business and nonprofit organizations—leaving an indelible mark on our world.
In these pages, we celebrate extraordinary endeavors and profound achievements of Adelphi’s leaders and alumni, showcasing the countless ways our university is building stronger, healthier communities across our region, our nation and the globe.
Leaders in Healing and Caregiving
A Nationally Ranked College of Nursing and Public Health
As many patients have reported over the years, there is something special about an Adelphi nurse. The level of preparation, precision and skill—infused with empathy, patience and thoughtfulness—sets them apart in any healthcare setting. Their strong reputation is reflected in this College’s exceptional national rankings:
- College Factual: #4 in the nation
- Niche.com: #5 in New York State
- U.S. News & World Report: 2025 Best Nursing School
Thanks to Adelphi’s world-class undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, graduates of the College of Nursing and Public Health (CNPH), well over 300 each year, are making a profound impact in this critical field of care.
Going Beyond the Classroom
It’s not surprising that CNPH faculty are accomplished researchers, enthusiastic teachers and tireless advocates for healthcare issues. Among them is Clinical Assistant Professor Daniel Mcweeney ’07, DNP, a nursing faculty member who still dons scrubs to work in the emergency department at NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island (formerly NYU Winthrop Hospital). Jennifer McIntosh, PhD ’21, MS ’24, is an Adelphi adjunct faculty member and researcher who earned her PhD in nursing from Adelphi and returned to complete the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner graduate program in December. She noted that her doctoral dissertation, focused on nursing and caring for those with mental illness, was sparked by her experiences in hospital emergency departments and inpatient behavioral health units.
Leaders in the Business of Healthcare
Leonard Achan ’99, trustee and president and CEO of LiveOnNY, a nonprofit organization committed to helping people in the New York City area live on through organ and tissue donation
Adelphi graduates also excel on the business side of the healthcare field. Leonard Achan ’99 began his transformative career as a nursing student at Adelphi, became the president of the Innovation Institute at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City after serving in several other c-suite roles across hospitals in Manhattan, and is now president and CEO of LiveOnNY, the federally designated Organ Procurement Organization for the New York metro region.
Achan was the first nurse appointed to the Adelphi University Board of Trustees and he established the Leonard Achan Sr. Scholarship in 2017, for students pursuing health sciences degrees, and the Sozia “Gigi” Levine Scholarship in 2025, for students pursuing the field of mental health counseling.
Adelphi’s Executive Fellows Program, designed to engage and leverage the expertise of accomplished industry leaders in mentoring and guiding current students, boasts notable alumni. These include Clifford Friedman, MBA ’87, who is the managing director and head of Northwell Health Strategic Venture Group, and infectious disease doctor Pranay Sinha ’09, MD—a former 10 Under 10 honoree who credits his Honors College humanities courses with much of his professional success. He is currently working nationally and internationally to cure tuberculosis.
Creating New Pathways
To ensure multiple pathways to healthcare careers for Adelphi students, the Early Assurance and Joint Degree Programs accelerate the journey for future healthcare professionals. These combined programs offer direct paths to prestigious graduate programs at any of nine partner universities around New York state. “These programs offer Adelphi students the opportunity to move smoothly into rewarding careers in dentistry, medicine, optometry, podiatry, physical therapy, veterinary medicine or pharmaceutical sciences,” noted David Oroza, director of the Office of Pre-Professional Advising and Fellowships.
Championing Mental Health and Helping People Live Happier Lives
Two Landmark Schools, Dedicated to Changing Lives for the Better
For more than 70 years, Adelphi has been at the forefront of social work education. Our School of Social Work (SSW) trains students who go on to transform families, organizations and communities. The Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology has been recognized as a center for psychoanalytic thought and a leading contributor to the practice of psychotherapy for more than 50 years.
Both have been making a powerful impact on communities in the greater New York area through groundbreaking programs and services.
Adelphi’s School of Social Work: A Distinguished 70-Year History of Social Justice
The Adelphi University School of Social Work delivers real-world impact on our communities.
Investing in the Next Generation of Social Workers
Alumna Molly Dyson-Schwery, MSW ’14, is just one example of the many Adelphi graduates who help to strengthen the communities in which they live. Through her work with the Dyson Foundation, Dyson-Schwery is helping social work students in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley achieve lifetime goals with scholarship support.
(From left) Molly Dyson-Schwery , MSW ’14, and recent graduate Olivia Smith, MSW ’25. Smith received a life-changing scholarship to attend Adelphi’s Hudson Valley Center.
Dyson-Schwery understands the unique challenges individuals, such as veterans, adults returning to school or individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, face. Scholarships are life-changing for these students, enabling them to earn their master’s degree in social work and begin a meaningful career that improves the lives of residents in their local communities.
Dyson-Schwery notes, “The Dyson Foundation is committed to improving the lives of Mid-Hudson Valley community members. We support Adelphi’s School of Social Work with scholarship grants because we believe the school is providing a valuable educational resource, as well as a mental health resource, to the community through its student social workers and well-educated social work graduates.”
The Dyson Foundation also partners with Adelphi University’s Center for Nonprofit Leadership, providing scholarships and grants to individuals working in nonprofits throughout the region, further strengthening social services within the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Derner School of Psychology: Improving Mental Health in Our Communities
Derner’s mission for mental health goes far beyond campus walls.
The Derner Hempstead Child Clinic (DHCC) is a school-based, University-run community clinic that was developed in 2015 to offer mental health services to children and families in the underserved neighboring community of Hempstead, New York. Co-founded by Francine Conway, PhD ’99, and Catherine Holder, PhD ’17, and currently under the direction of clinical supervisor Nicole Daisy-Etienne, PhD ’05, the Hempstead Clinic not only provides care to children who otherwise would have limited access to psychotherapy; it also offers training to Derner doctoral-level students. Generous Derner graduate alumni, including Sally Keller, MA ’96, PhD ’01, proved their dedication to the clinic by providing emergency funding when a key grant was discontinued.
Another Derner community program is the Institute for Parenting. The institute helps ensure the mental health and well-being of young children and developing families.
Two Exceptional Schools, Working Together for the Health of Children
Adelphi’s Interdisciplinary Education and Training Experience (IDEATE) program was launched in 2021 using a $1.92 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The objective was to create a “bridge” between social work students and nursing students to provide both medical and behavioral healthcare for children— rather than one or the other. IDEATE won the prestigious 2023 John L. Blackburn Award from the American Association of University Administrators. Only one university a year receives this national honor. The program is led by Chrisann Newransky, PhD, an SSW associate professor, and her colleagues. “We’re sending our graduates out to be innovators in these jobs,” Dr. Newransky said. “That’s the Adelphi way.”
The Institute for Adolescent Trauma Treatment and Training, which began in 2013 through the School of Social Work, has become a national leader in treating trauma. The institute provides free workshops to help children and families recover from the often lifelong side effects of trauma on mental health. Clinicians are working with refugee children, families experiencing homelessness, and youth with alcohol and substance use problems.
Building Healthier Communities for All
Igniting Potential: Bridges to Adelphi and the Learning Resource Program Inspire Unprecedented Student Success
Adelphi is building a world where every unique mind has the chance to shine.
Adelphi’s Learning Resource Program, established in 1979, is one of the first academic support programs in the nation for students with learning differences. Brian McGovern ’87, MSW ’90, CEO of the North Jersey Community Research Initiative and a member of the President’s Advisory Council, shared his gratitude. “The Learning Resource Program is an incredibly warm and welcoming space for students with learning disabilities who are facing unique challenges. It helped launch my successful career.” McGovern gives back by providing two annual scholarships for students in the program.
Launched in 2014, Bridges to Adelphi offers transformative academic, social and vocational support for students on the spectrum.
These programs are national models, championing equity and access to higher education for talented neurodivergent students.
A Sanctuary of Serenity: The Sensory Room
In 2018, Adelphi unveiled the nation’s first university sensory room. This calming refuge helps students with sensory needs alleviate hyperstimulation, enabling them to focus.
Unlocking Life’s Doors: Empowering Independence Through Skill Development
Our Bridges students gain vital life skills. Our groundbreaking drivers’ education program with Gersh Drivers Ed, the first for neurodivergent college students on Long Island, provides invaluable freedom. In 2024, the Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA) launched its Adaptive Golf Initiative with Bridges. Additionally, Love Serving Autism teamed up with USTA Eastern for a tennis coaching event. These programs foster new connections, freedom and belonging.
All three programs are doorways to new connections, new freedom and a deeper sense of belonging.
A Parent’s Passion: Putting Career Success Within Reach
The dedication to Bridges extends far beyond our campus, championed by our families. Katy Cochrane Carey, parent of an Adelphi alumnus and chair of the Bridges to Adelphi Board of Advisors, and her husband, Greg Carey, a current University trustee, exemplify this commitment.
Katy Cochrane Carey, parent of a Bridges alumnus and chair of the Bridges to Adelphi Board of Advisors
The Bridges to Adelphi Board of Advisors was founded in 2024, comprising a powerful collective of alumni, parents and friends. The Board of Advisors is a force for good, providing unwavering support through advocacy, fundraising, program development and career guidance, all to ensure long-term student success and inclusion. The Careys generously funded $250,000 to spearhead an endowment for postgraduate career success, affectionately named “Bridges From Adelphi”—a true testament to their belief in our students’ career potential beyond graduation.
Others have joined our mission:
- Northwell Health, the largest healthcare system in New York, provides valuable summer internship opportunities to Bridges students.
- Next for Autism’s Next Connects mentoring program is pairing our neurodivergent students with alumni for career guidance and support.
- RVC Blue Speaks, in nearby Rockville Centre, offers scholarships for our neurodivergent students in the Bridges to Adelphi program.
Brilliant Minds, Bright Futures: Neurodiversity in Focus
Bridges students find role models on campus, like Stephen Shore, EdD, clinical associate professor and an adviser for PBS KIDS’ Carl the Collector, which celebrates neurodivergent potential. Sophie Breslow ’24, a summa cum laude graduate and current MSW candidate, credits Adelphi’s Learning Resource Program for her remarkable journey. She became a peer mentor, supporting other neurodivergent students.
Empowering Individuals With Disabilities to Enrich Our Communities
Trustee Works With Disabled Veterans
Nicholas K. Iadevaio Jr., MBA ’00, an Adelphi board of trustees member, has a deep passion for supporting U.S. veterans and military families. In his role at L’Oréal, he spearheads their veteran and military strategy, focusing on hiring, development, retention, supporting veteran-owned businesses and aiding homeless veterans. For more than 15 years, his organization has hosted “Have a Beautiful Day,” providing a day of beauty and care to military service members, veterans and their caregivers, ensuring they feel seen, celebrated and valued.
Honors College Alumna Fights for Disability Awareness
As an undergraduate student at Adelphi, Emily Ladau ’13, discovered her calling as an activist. She let her English professors know she wanted to write about the challenges facing those with disabilities. They supported her—and a disability rights star was born. Recognized with Adelphi’s 10 Under 10 Young Alumni and various leadership and diversity awards, Ladau is the founder of Words I Wheel By communications, author of Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally, and editor of Able News. A member of Adelphi’s board of trustees, she was invited to the White House in 2022 by President Joe Biden to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Building Healthier Communities Abroad
- Speech-language pathology graduate students and faculty traveled to Kingston, Jamaica, to work with residents of Mustard Seed Communities, a home for children with disabilities, providing much-needed services for individuals with communication disorders.
- Healthcare students participated in a Service Learning for Future Healthcare Professionals trip to the Dominican Republic, working directly with teachers, families and local children to provide educational opportunities.
- Adelphi students also engage in community building through alternative spring or winter break programs, changing lives in Tobago, Argentina, Portugal, Vietnam, Thailand, and many more areas.
Finding Her Future at Adelphi
“As soon as I rolled on campus, I immediately felt at home,” recalls Peri Finkelstein ’22, MBA ’23. She went on to found the Team Peri Foundation with her family, promoting disability awareness in the corporate, healthcare and academic sectors. Finkelstein, a 2024 10 Under 10 honoree, is the host of the Team Peri Step Out of Line podcast, and learned leadership as a Levermore Global Scholar at Adelphi. “The Levermore Global Scholars program taught me to think differently …. I saw my potential flash before me on how I could be a leader and create social change,” she said.
This story was featured in the 2025 Issue of the Adelphi University Magazine.