Biology Professor Awarded National Science Foundation Research Grant

Biology Professor Bernadette Connors, Ph.D., has been awarded a $166,042 research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Biology Professor Bernadette Connors, Ph.D., has been awarded a research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).  The two-year, $166,042 grant (award #1950018) will enable her to take a year-long sabbatical to work at the Bioinformatics Lab at the University of Massachusetts–Amherst.  Connors said she will be working with world-renowned computational biologist Li-jun Ma, Ph.D.

“I will be spending next year’s sabbatical with her and her research team to understand how to analyze genomic data with different sequencing technologies,” said Connors.  “I will synthesize that work such that when I come back to Dominican College I can utilize that technology with our students and our undergraduate researchers.”

In addition to furthering her research of microbial communities in Hudson River Valley freshwater streams, Connors said the grant will fund new equipment for Dominican College’s laboratories and provide stipends for two undergraduate research students at the College.  The grant from NSF’s Division of Environmental Biology is awarded to scientists who have accrued meaningful data about environmental issues and challenges faced in the U.S., but who need financial support to synthesize their work.

April 24, 2020

New Pre-Athletic Training Track in Health Sciences to Start in Fall 2020

Dominican College’s Health Sciences Program will include a new pre-athletic training concentration beginning in fall 2020.  The New York State Education Department has approved the change to the Bachelor of Science in the Health Sciences degree.

“Many of our students are interested in careers in fields related to professional sports.  Currently, we have a sports management concentration within the business management major,” said Academic Dean Thomas Nowak, Ph.D. “The pre-athletic training track in the health sciences provides an exciting second option for students who want to be involved with sports as a career – even possibly on the professional level.”

Other tracks in the Health Sciences Program include pre-occupational therapy, pre-physical therapy, and a general track.  The new pre-athletic training concentration will allow students interested in a master’s degree in athletic training to complete all the prerequisites needed.  Across the nation, the professional degree required to become a certified athletic trainer is changing from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s degree based on guidelines from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.

November 22, 2019

Criminal Justice Students Participate in Police Boot Camp

Joe Nyce Parrello spoke to criminal justice students about how to promote better police community relations within our schools and in the streets.

Criminal justice students who are considering a career in law enforcement took part in the College’s first Police Boot Camp on October 3, 2019 in the Hennessy Center.  Motivational speaker and Harrison Police Officer Joe Nyce Parrello administered the Cooper physical fitness test to the aspiring police officers and encouraged the students to become officers only if they are doing it for the right reasons – to make a difference and to help people.

“Being a police officer is an amazing job.  You have the opportunity to affect the lives of thousands of people over the course of your career,”  he said.  “But it’s also a very dangerous job and a very tough job.  Right now it is not easy to be a police officer in the United States.”

Parrello believes that individual police officers can be part of the solution by always treating others with respect and by building relationships in the community.  He is a cousin of Tara Parrello, Ph.D., Coordinator of the Criminal Justice Program.

October 9, 2019

Student Accepted into Selective Princeton University Program

Junior Stephanie Moncayo has been accepted into Princeton University’s Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Scholars Program.

Junior Stefanie Moncayo has been accepted into Princeton University’s Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Scholars Program.  The highly competitive and selective program provides talented potential graduate students with a preview of the opportunities at Princeton University during four days in October.  Moncayo said she will be staying with a graduate host to experience life on the Princeton campus.

“I will also be presenting research that I’m working on at Dominican College,” said Moncayo. “The graduate students will present their work as well, and I will have the opportunity to meet professors in the program. “

Moncayo has a double major in biology and math with a minor in chemistry.  She said she is thankful that Dominican College professors in the science and math departments prepared her to be accepted into such a prestigious program.

September 4, 2019

College Hosts Regional History Conference

Dr. Michael Decker, Executive Director of Phi Alpha Theta, (left) with History Professor Christoper Libertini, at the Phi Alpha Theta New York-New Jersey Regional Undergraduate History Conference.

Dominican College hosted the Phi Alpha Theta New York-New Jersey Regional Undergraduate History Conference on Saturday, April 27, 2019 in the Prusmack Center.  Phi Alpha Theta is a national history honor society.

The conference attracted students from eight area colleges and universities to present their papers.  In addition to the three Dominican College presenters, there was also participation of students from  Adelphi University, Georgian Court University, Marist College, Mercy College, SUNY-Albany, SUNY-New Paltz, SUNY-Plattsburgh, and West Point.

“An event like this is a great reminder that the liberal arts–and history in particular–are still very popular among students.  It was truly gratifying to see so many students overflowing with passion to share their historical research and to listen to the research of other undergraduates,” said History Professor Christopher Libertini. “Dominican College proved to be an ideal venue to host such an event with its central location to so many area colleges and universities and its proximity to some of New York’s important historical sites dating back to colonial times.”

Students at the conference heard from keynote speaker Dr. Michael Decker, Executive Director of Phi Alpha Theta.  Preceding the conference, there was a free walking tour of Old Tappan.

April 29, 2019

Director of the Bronx Zoo Speaks at the College

The Director of the Bronx Zoo, Jim Breheny, spoke at Dominican College about the Zoo’s efforts to nurture the regrowth of endangered species and their habitats.

The Director of the Bronx Zoo, Jim Breheny, spoke at Dominican College as part of the 2019 Honor’s Lyceum and Science Seminar Series on March 27, 2019.  Breheny also serves as Executive Vice President of the Wildlife Conservation Society and is featured in Animal Planet’s hit docuseries “The Zoo.”

Assistant Professor of Biology Emma C. Sarro, PhD, said Breheny’s presentation focused on the work that the Bronx Zoo and its collaborators have done to nurture the regrowth of endangered species and their habitats.  “Jim provided several heart-warming examples of how some of our most precious animals are getting another chance to flourish in their own habitat, due to the research and work by the staff at the Zoo,” said Dr. Sarro. “Our students left the seminar with a greater appreciation for the mission of the Zoo and many students stayed after the talk to meet Jim and continue the conversation.”

Breheny explained that helping endangered species is done partly through the education and awareness that the Zoo brings to its visitors. He said a lot of work is done out in the field and behind the scenes as well.  Breheny’s presentation took place in the Lawrence Room of Casey Hall.

March 28, 2019

High School Students Attend STEM Camp at College

Dominican College junior Tahinah Lamour (left) is shown here mentoring Spring Valley High School students to help them extract DNA from water samples collected in local ponds.

Twelve Rockland high school students are attending a 3-week science camp at the College this summer.  The experience is called RISE (Research Immersion in Science and Ecology) and is being held on campus from July 22 through August 10.  The program is free and was funded through a generous grant from Orange and Rockland Utilities.

“The program is important because it’s exposing high school students to the sciences and they are doing hands-on projects that they may not have the opportunity to do somewhere else,” said Biology Professor Regina Alvarez.

The students are taking samples of the Sparkill Creek and local ponds and using microbiology and chemistry to analyze the samples in the College laboratories.  The students are also studying the biodiversity of the area with botanical and ecological surveys. In addition to the three College professors working with the students, five Dominican College students are working as mentors with the high school students.  On Friday, August 10, the high school students will present their findings during a ceremony in the Lawrence Room in Rosary Hall at 7 p.m.  Family and friends are invited to attend.

August 1, 2018

College Offers New Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Degree

Dominican College will begin offering a new undergraduate degree this fall – a Bachelor of Science in the Health Sciences.  The College recently received approval to begin offering the new degree from the New York State Education Department.   This degree furthers Dominican College’s long tradition of providing top-notch educational programs, particularly in the fields of healthcare.

Students who study Health Sciences can pursue degrees in a number of Allied Health professions, such as Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), Athletic Training, Speech-Language Pathology, or Physician Assistant.

Director of the Allied Health Division Pamela Story, OTD, OTR/L, said there are three tracks offered within the new Health Sciences Program.  “We have two tracks specifically designated as pre-professional tracks – one for OT and one for PT,” said Story.  “There is a third general track that has a lot of flexibility in it and a lot of space for electives.” The students in the third track can use the electives to take pre-requisites for graduate studies in other fields such as speech-language pathology or athletic training.

Dominican College offers a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.  Most students in those advanced programs earned their undergraduate degrees at other institutions.  Students earning the new B.S. in Health Sciences degree at Dominican College may now decide to apply for the OT and PT graduate programs at Dominican College as well.

For more information about the new Health Sciences Program, please contact our office of Admissions at admissions@duny.edu or 1-866-4DC-INFO.

July 13, 2018

Seniors Present Their Research Projects

Kraigen Rasalla was one of the presenters at the Senior Scholars’ Presentations. His project was entitled “Social Media’s Influence on Professional Sports Branding.”

Seniors in our Liberal Arts program presented their research projects on Thursday, April 26, in the Lawrence Room of Rosary Hall.  The students explained the results of their capstone projects to fellow students, faculty, and administrators.  Dr. Mark Meachem, Director of the Arts & Sciences Division,  said the students have been working on these projects throughout the year.

“Students had the opportunity to go through the entire process of a research project – from developing the idea and a method, to then implementing it, dealing with the results, and finally being able to understand and explain the results, “ he said.

About 30 liberal arts research projects were on display  — with some students working together on a topic.  Dr. Meachem said the projects help prepare students for a career or graduate level work

In the classical sense, Artes Liberales refers to the essential education focused on general skills (artes) that every free person (liberales) needed to know in order to contribute meaningfully to their community and society.  The liberal arts, in modern times and at Dominican College, includes a study focused on the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences.

April 26, 2018

Students Investigate Mock Crime Scene

Students collected evidence at a mock crime scene outside of the Granito Center on February 21, 2018 as part of a Criminal Investigations Class.

Students taking a Criminal Investigations course were busy on February 20, 2018 investigating a mock crime scene outside the Granito Center. The mock crime scene included a car with two gunshot victims and a missing driver.   Adjunct Professor William Barbara, who also serves as Chief of Patrol of the Rockland Sheriff’s Department, said the students were all acting as investigators.

“The students will photograph the scene, sketch the scene, gather the evidence, collect the evidence, lift the fingerprints and do the interviews of all the witnesses,” he said.

Chief Barbera said that he teaches the students interview and interrogation techniques as part of his course.  After processing the crime scene, the students interview a suspect and try to get a confession.

For more information about Dominican College’s Criminal Justice Program, please click here:  https://dc.edu/academic-divisions/division-social-sciences/568-2/

February 21, 2018

Parents of “The Man with the Red Bandanna” Speak with Education Students

Professor Diane DiSpagna presented Alison and Jefferson Crowther with a study guide for a biography about their son. The study guide was written by students in DiSpagna’s Literacy class.

Education students who read about the 9-11 hero known as “the man with the red bandanna” met for more than two hours with his parents to discuss Welles Remy Crowther’s incredible life.  Welles is credited with rescuing 18 people from the World Trade Center on 9-11, while wearing his signature red bandanna.  His parents, Jefferson and Alison, have traveled all over the country sharing his story.  Alison said she enjoyed the discussion on December 14, 2107, with students in Professor Diane DiSpagna’s Literacy Class.  The students had read a biography about Welles called “The Red Bandanna” by Tom Rinaldi.

“To me, it’s the most wonderful thing to see these young people inspired by Welles, embraced and excited by his story and them wanting to share it,“ said Alison.  “And these are future teachers who developed from what I see is a beautiful study guide.”

The students presented the Crowthers with a study guide they wrote for the “The Red Bandana” for grades 4 through 12.  The guide includes suggested classroom activities and comprehension questions for teachers to use when assigning this book.

December 15, 2017

College Partners with Rockland Center for the Arts

Executive Director of RoCA Daly Flanagan in the outdoor Sculpture Park at RoCA in West Nyack.

Dominican College and the Rockland Center for the Arts (RoCA) have teamed up to offer art courses this fall at the center in West Nyack.  RoCA Executive Director Daly Flanagan stressed that students who take classes at RoCA will be exposed to the art exhibits on display at the center. 

“It’s like full immersion,” she said. “You are not just going to a classroom in your college, but you will be passing artists and art every time that you come here. “

Flanagan said students will also get free studio time, which will allow them to develop as an artist independently. Dominican College will offer two classes at RoCA in fall, Introduction to Art and Ceramics. 

 

 

 

August 10, 2017