Hofstra University

Hofstra School of Health Sciences students from the Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Exercise Physiology programs volunteered their time and expertise at the Special Olympics New York FUNfitness event last month, working side by side with clinical staff from Northwell Health. Under the direction of Anna Len, assistant professor of physical therapy, student teams conducted flexibility, strength, balance, and mobility screenings for athletes; provided individualized wellness and at-home exercise recommendations; and offered education and encouragement throughout the day.

Two Hofstra civil engineering students from the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science spent their summer in Eswatini, a small country in Southern Africa, where they helped build a pedestrian bridge, alongside students from other universities, as part of the international nonprofit Engineers in Action (EIA). The project, supported through the DeMatteis OverSEAS program, provided students with hands-on experience addressing infrastructure challenges in a resource-limited setting while engaging with the local community.

This summer, Physician Assistant (PA) students from the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies (SONPA) embarked on a service-learning trip to Guatemala with Global Medical Brigades, gaining invaluable experience while making a lasting impact in underserved communities.

Cloudy skies did not stop more than 230 Hofstra students from going out into the community early Saturday morning to garden at neighboring homes. The University's Annual Pride and Plant event connects students with local homeowners, who need help with yard work and planting.

Hofstra University presented its annual Service Week, March 18-20, 2025. The program offers Hofstra University students opportunities to participate in community service programs over spring break. For the first time, Service Week included an inaugural program to meet and work with residents of the Shinnecock Indian Nation in Southampton, Long Island. Organized by Anita Ellis, director of the Office of Commuting Student Services and Community Outreach, and Karen Torrence, director of the Shinnecock Senior Citizen Nutrition Program, students were matched with senior tribal members and helped around their homes with planting and weeding.

Six undergraduate nursing students, in their senior year, from the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies (SONPA) traveled to Washington, D.C., February 6, to participate in the 37th annual National Black Nurses Day on Capitol Hill. This year's event, titled "Reimagining Health Equity: Addressing Ongoing Threats to America's Well-Being," provided an opportunity for students to engage in discussions on legislative issues affecting the nursing profession, including workforce diversity, maternal mortality, artificial intelligence in health care, and economic wellness.

Four students from Hofstra University's Physician Assistant (PA) program spent their summer break giving back to those in need. They volunteered with Global Brigades in Panama, where they provided healthcare services to underserved communities.

Victoria Bowman, a nursing student at the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies, from Massapequa Park, NY, embarked on a transformative journey for her summer break - volunteering with Kenya Connect, an organization dedicated to educational empowerment and community development. For Bowman, this summer trip was more than just a volunteer opportunity; it was a culmination of lifelong values instilled by her family and enriched by her academic journey at Hofstra.

Hofstra Students Start the Fall Semester in Service Hofstra students from different majors, hometowns, and backgrounds started the fall semester in service to the local community. Several volunteer service days - from helping the food insecure to cleaning up area beaches - were offered to students as a chance to give back, get to know each other, and connect with their neighbors. Nearly 100 students have participated so far, with opportunities ongoing.

Matthew Adarichev '26 was honored with a President's Volunteer Service Award by the Long Island Volunteer Center (LIVC) for his community service, which exceeded 250 hours in 2023. He worked with several organizations, including the Mary Brennan INN in Hempstead, Friends of the Hempstead Plains, the North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center, and the Book Fairies, Inc.

Hofstra's School of Health Professions and Human Services held its 10th annual student film competition as part of National Public Health Week. Teams of students competed for best short video, addressing topics related to public health. Topics for the films included mental health, health literacy, community safety, reckless driving, and food insecurity.

In January 2024, an interdisciplinary team of students traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to explore the political, social, and financial influences on the social determinants of health on the island, networking with a diverse group of professionals to expand their knowledge beyond their studies in the classroom. This week, students who attended the trip abroad presented posters to share their experiences and their learnings as part of National Public Health Week activities hosted by Hofstra's School of Health Professions and Human Services.

Hofstra students from different majors, hometowns, and backgrounds, all spent part of their spring break giving back to the Long Island community. Three volunteer service days with distinct opportunities were offered to students who stayed in the area during their week off from classes.

Hofstra University graduate students in the Physician Assistant Studies program (PA) visited Alverta B. Gray Schultz (ABGS) Middle School in Hempstead, NY to speak to over 40 seventh graders about the negative effects of vaping and cigarettes. Several students visit schools in the Hempstead School District each semester to present health-related workshops to young people. Hofstra and Hempstead have been partnering on this program for nearly a decade, in which time approximately 20,000 Hempstead students have taken part in the program.

Graduate students in Hofstra University's Nurse Anesthesia Program at Hofstra, recognized the need to test their life-saving skills during a break in between classes. While driving to a coffee shop, the students turned down a residential street and noticed a cute dog. They then realized a man was lying on the sidewalk next to it, and he did not appear to be moving.

A recent alumnus with a passion for fighting the global human trafficking crisis and a junior who has mentored local high school students are the first recipients of Hofstra University's "Peace Fellowships." These awards were endowed in 2019 by longtime Hofstra professors and community activists Michael D'Innocenzo and Martin Melkonian. The hope of these faculty members was that the funds would give students the financial freedom to spend more time outside the classroom working on local and far-reaching community programs and projects.

Five students from the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University spent the summer mentoring aspiring filmmakers from Long Island and Queens high schools as part of the Documenting Diversity program. Documenting Diversity is an innovative initiative in which talented high school students pair up and examine their partner's culture through the art of documentary film-making, working under the guidance of Hofstra University student and faculty mentors.