Dyson College of Arts and Sciences

D Y S O N Y E A R I N R E V I E W • 2 0 1 8 – 2 0 1 9 26 News & Notes Joseph Morreale, PhD, professor and chair of the Economics Department in New York City, was awarded the title of Distinguished Professor, Pace University's highest faculty honor, in recognition of a sustained record of extraordinary research, teaching, and service. Professors Meghana Nayak (L) PhD, Political Science, and Ross Robak (R) PhD, Psychology, both received a Kenan Award for Teaching Excellence. The honor recognizes exemplary teaching. Nayak received the honor in New York City, and Robak was recognized in Pleasantville. Faculty Awards SETTER STORIES Alumni Jacklynn Egger '14, Biology, was promoted to translational research project coordinator in the Druckenmiller Center for Lung Cancer Research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Matthew Federman '97, Media, Communications, and Visual Arts, co-created the CBS action-adventure television series Blood and Treasure. Maral Javadifar '12, Biology, was announced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' assistant strength and conditioning coach. Javadifar, along with Lori Locust, assistant defensive line coach, are the first full- time female coaches in franchise history, and the Buccaneers now become the first NFL team with two female coaches on staff. Jesse James Keitel '15, Acting, was named in OUT magazine's OUT 100: 2018. Last year, Keitel appeared in the Netflix film Alex Strangelove and on the TV Land series Younger. Joshua Kennedy '16, Film and Screen Studies, had the first theatrical release of his new feature film House of the Gorgon, starring cult horror movie icons from the '60s to the '70s. Michael Kopy '96, Liberal Studies, has been selected as director of emergency management for the office of Governor Andrew Cuomo. Sheila Leary '89, Literature and Communications, joined Provident Bank as senior vice president, Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering compliance director. Hilary Leavitt '10, Theater Arts; Film and Screen Studies, signed a producing deal with Hulu to develop and produce new programming. Charles Fall '14, Master of Public Administration, was elected the first Muslim and African-American to represent Staten Island in the New York State Assembly. Fall (D) grew up in the district that he represents. His parents immigrated from Guinea, West Africa. Gerald Olvera '18, Liberal Studies, enrolled in Pace's student veteran program and took classes in digital media that sparked his interest in video production. Olvera was selected for an 18-month Sgro Fellowship for Veterans at A&E Networks that covers all of global and technical operations, from post-production to engineering. Andrea Stewart-Cousins '86, Master of Public Administration '08, made New York State history in November. After winning reelection, she was confirmed as the first African-American female—indeed the first female—State Senate Majority Leader. "We're so proud of Senator Stewart-Cousins for all her hard work, drive, and great accomplishments," said Pace President Marvin Krislov in a public statement of congratulations. Stewart-Cousins (D), who grew up in New York City public housing, earned her undergraduate degree in journalism at Pace as a nontraditional student. She has represented parts of Westchester County in the New York State Senate since 2006.

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