Long Island Education Briefs: February 16, 2007

Long Island Business News, Feb 16, 2007 by Claude Solnik

Dr. Lucia Cepriano

Acting provost, Farmingdale State College

Not every provost has had a rich and long career in research and instruction, but Cepriano has risen through the research and teaching ranks to land this administrative post. The former assistant professor of biology once served as associate dean of Farmingdale's School of Arts and Sciences and in 2005 was promoted to assistant provost (she became acting provost in January). As she takes the post, Farmingdale finds itself on a roll: Admission applications have increased 25 percent and enrollment is up more than 6 percent in the last two years.

Carol Hankin

Superintendent, Syosset Central School District

Hankin is one reason why Long Island is known for its strong public schools. For more than 15 years, she's led the 10 schools of this K-12, 6,690-student, 1,400-employee district, which includes nine bargaining units and a $155 million budget. Under her watch, SCSD has earned both Blue Ribbon School of Excellence accolades from the U.S. Dept. of Education and top Moody's Investor Services ratings, thanks in part to partnerships Hankin has initiated with the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic and various NYC museums.

Lynne Adair Kramer

Supervisor of the Court Observation Program, Touro Law Center

Touro moved physically closer to the courts with its new campus in Central Islip, but Kramer already specialized in bringing courts and the college together. She runs a program in which students polish skills through mock cases - in real courts, with real judges presiding. Kramer had been an adjunct faculty member for 15 years before taking over this innovative program. An attorney with a background in matrimonial and family law, she also is a former president of the Suffolk County Bar Association.

Edward J. Maggio

Director, Center for Security and Disaster Response, New York Institute of Technology

In addition to his post as assistant professor of criminal justice, Maggio last year launched NYIT's Center for Security and Disaster Response. He works with various volunteer organizations and professional groups in search of security training and resources; Maggio and the center recently co-hosted the fifth-annual Long Island Street Gang Conference. Last summer, he completed advanced counterterrorism training in Israel with members of the Israeli National Police Force and the Israeli military.

Richard A. Rotanz

Special advisor to the provost, Emergency Management Academic Programs, Adelphi University

Rotanz educates others on how to deal with disasters based on his own experiences. He is the former commissioner of Nassau County's Office of Emergency Management and a former deputy commissioner of the New York City Office of Emergency Management. All told, he has more than 30 years' experience in fire protection, rescue tactics, hazardous materials incidents and planning for natural, civil and technological hazards, including terrorism. In 2004, he helped Adelphi develop a graduate certificate program in emergency management.