Annual Convocation Celebrates New Year, Tenures, Presidential Engagement Awardees

Photo: Amr Swid, Ph.D., Kiran Balagani, Ph.D., President Edward Guiliano, Ph.D., and Megan Siemers, assistant dean.

NYIT’s annual Convocation for faculty and staff on September 1, officially marking the beginning of the new academic year, featured the president’s state-of-the-institution address and the announcement of newly tenured faculty and Presidential Engagement Award winners.

During his address, NYIT President Edward Guiliano, Ph.D., told attendees, “Today, we collectively celebrate what should make us proud of NYIT.” He also shared updates on achievements in the past year, enrollment trends, infrastructure and technology upgrades, NYIT’s 2030 2.0 strategic plan, and more. He prefaced the announcement of newly tenured faculty by recognizing them for “outstanding teaching, scholarship, service, and commitment to exemplifying NYIT’s DNA.” 

The faculty members are:

• Youjeong Kim and Ana Petrovic, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Cecilia Dong, School of Engineering and Computing Sciences.
• Razan Hamed and Lisa Sparacino, School of Health Professions.
• Deborah Cohn, School of Management.

Following the Convocation address, NYIT Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Rahmat Shoureshi, Ph.D., led the presentation of the Presidential Engagement Awards.

“The exceptional work that we accomplish here, in teaching, in research, in service to our students, helps bolster NYIT’s reputation as an institution comprised of great thinkers, teachers, and mentors,” he said. “Each of us plays an important role, and now we’d like to recognize those whose work and passion stand out in engaging our students in a variety of ways over the past year.”

Award nominations were received on behalf of employees at all campuses and from the entire NYIT community, including students. The nominations were reviewed and the awardees selected by a committee of faculty and staff members.

• The award for Integration of Technology for Enhancement of Student Learning recognizes faculty members who have developed and used technology to enhance student learning in an academic program. James Simon, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, presented the award to Ana Petrovic, Ph.D., associate professor, Life Sciences.
• The award for Student Engagement in Research and Scholarship recognizes a faculty member who has actively engaged students in research and/or scholarship activities at NYIT.  Nada Marie Anid, Ph.D., dean of the School of Engineering and Computing Sciences, presented the award to Kiran Balagani, Ph.D., assistant professor, Computer Science.
• The award for Student Engagement in Global Education recognizes a faculty or staff member who has increased the engagement of global students in NYIT programs in New York and abroad.  Jess Boronico, Ph.D., dean of the School of Management, presented the award to Amr Swid, Ph.D., assistant professor, Management.
• The award for Student Engagement by Professional Staff recognizes a faculty or staff member who has developed and used innovative strategies to increase student engagement in extracurricular activities and/or service learning opportunities in and beyond the NYIT community. Ann Marie Klotz, Ed.D., dean for Campus Life, NYIT-Manhattan, presented the award to Megan Siemers, assistant dean, Campus Life, NYIT-Manhattan.