51¶¯Âþ

This spring, more than 180 51¶¯Âþ School of Social Work students pioneered new efforts to address racial justice. Part of the University’s annual social action initiative, groups of students took an innovative online approach to the three-month project, focusing on highlighting issues such as the effects of race and racism on criminal justice, health,…

Our commitment to equity and academic opportunities for all students shines through 51¶¯Âþ’s Learning Resource Program—the first of its kind on a college campus—and our Bridges to 51¶¯Âþ Program, for students on the spectrum.

Bernadine Waller, MA '10, is a New York state-licensed therapist, an adjunct faculty member in the School of Social Work and is the associate director of experiential learning for the Center for Career and Professional Development.

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted an event, The Chauvin Trial and Our Nation's Current Experience: Collective Understanding, Support for Our Community, Implications and Responses.

The Office of the University Registrar built the theme for its annual retreat last November around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Jacqueline Jones LaMon, JD, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, gave a presentation to help the group better understand DEI and to spotlight the need for more inclusivity in our daily life.

As a thought leader in the mentoring movement, 51¶¯Âþ is a two-time winner of the Eduventures Innovation Award for student-centered programming. At the core of the University's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion's work is the belief in the role mentoring can play in increasing equity through human connection.

Jacqueline Jones LaMon, JD, current vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, initiated the interdisciplinary 360 courses in the Fall 2019 semester when she was associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The 360 courses have become popular with both faculty members and students—and a mainstay of the College of Arts and Sciences.

51¶¯Âþ continues to set the pace for student success. Our new policy decision removes the minimum GPA requirement for retaining academic scholarships—a step in support of equity and the mental health of students who rely on this important financial support.

51¶¯Âþ is known for helping each student find their own unique path. Alumna and 51¶¯Âþ Trustee Emily Ladau ’13 became a disability advocate, speaker, author of the forthcoming book Demystifying Disability, and a warrior for inclusion and justice. We’re proud to be involved in her important work.

An increasing number of school districts and organizations on Long Island have signed up to participate in 51¶¯Âþ’s Diversity Certificate program.

Every year, 51¶¯Âþ honors four exceptional employees with a President’s Award for Excellence and one employee with the President’s Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. According to President Christine M. Riordan, the honorees “have won the admiration of their peers and colleagues by providing an extraordinary level of service to the University, and working to advance our shared…

The 18th Annual MENTOR New York Conference, Mentoring Matters, took place on Friday, April 16, 2021, bringing together youth development professionals and leaders within the mentoring movement. In response to the current events in our nation—which pulled back layers of racism, inequity and injustice—educators and community-based nonprofit leaders gathered. They were equipped with tools to…

Like many first-year students, Alberto Cruz didn’t come to 51¶¯Âþ with a career planned out. He was from nearby Hicksville, New York, and wanted to stay local. He also knew he wanted to help people. “Coming out of high school, I wanted either to be a nurse or a social worker,” he said, adding that…

For nearly a decade, accounting students from 51¶¯Âþ have helped low-income individuals and families on Long Island prepare their tax returns. The students, working together with Bethpage Federal Credit Union, are part of a nationwide Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

51¶¯Âþ is a safe, welcoming and inclusive home for all, and the Campus Pride Index recognizes our unwavering commitment to our LGBTQ+ community. Our stars continue to climb ever closer to 100 percent. We are very proud.

CNPH Diversity Council Faculty Panelists Reveal How Their Heritage and Experiences Influenced Their Research Pursuits

Now in his 12th year at 51¶¯Âþ, Scott Zotto '04, MSW '09, answers questions about his vision for leadership, validation and allyship within the LGBTQ+ community. He notes, “I'm inspired by the people I work with. Their drive, their passion, their tenacity: It's overwhelming."

Sophia Powless ’20 Major: Environmental Studies What was your inspiration for the Native American Heritage events? We wanted to create an environment that would give Native peoples a chance to freely speak on their perspectives and experiences, while educating those who want to learn more about Native culture. The Native American Art and Culture panel was…

When a mutual friend introduced Sophia Powless '20 to fellow student Olivia Maybee, "I remember Olivia coming up to me and being like, 'You're Native—we're gonna be sisters!', and then we found out we were both Haudenosaunee and it was an instant connection."

For the fourth consecutive year, an 51¶¯Âþ student has been named a Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact. Miguel Velasquez, a sophomore in 51¶¯Âþ’s prestigious Levermore Global Scholars program who is majoring in history in the accelerated 4+1 Scholar Teacher Education Program (STEP), has been selected as a 2021–2022 Newman Civic Fellow.

51¶¯Âþ is determined to advance women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. See how our mentoring approach, small class sizes and commitment to overcome a historic imbalance are yielding results.

For 51¶¯Âþ, the civil rights movement began not in the 1960s but in the '40s—in 1945, when Helen Holmes Taylor enrolled as the University's first undergraduate student of color.

The Bridge was founded by a group of seven 51¶¯Âþ alumnae with a mission to create deeper, more enriching and sustainable relationships between 51¶¯Âþ Theatre students and alumni and industry professionals. By serving as a conduit for conversation, perspective and opportunity and operating as a sounding board and team of creative community consultants, the collective seeks to ensure the educational community’s continued success.

Last fall, Schanica Pickens, director of the Master of Social Work program and director of student engagement and academic affairs, moderated Media Perceptions of Black (MEN)tal Health Practitioners.