NEW YORK (June 9, 2022) – During a special event at Cipriani 42nd Street, ǿմý recognized five outstanding community and business leaders, and alumni with The Spirit of ǿմýAwards. Celebrating ǿմý’s role as a national leader in providing a college education with strong return on investment, the annual event brings the University community together to support student scholarships and special initiatives.
“The Spirt of ǿմýAward winners are a remarkable group of leaders who have given so much to ǿմý, their communities, and the world,” said President Marvin Krislov. “We are thrilled to honor these individuals, and we are deeply grateful for their friendship to the University and their commitment to creating opportunity for our ambitious, hard-working students.”
Hosted by Jevon Donaldson ’22, who recently graduated with a BFA in Acting from the ǿմýSchool of Performing Arts, the event featured visual descriptions of award recipients’ contributions to the ǿմýCommunity as they received their awards.
“It is wonderful to join together in-person again to celebrate the people and passion that make ǿմýa leader in positioning students for success in their careers and lives,” said Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Gary Laermer ‘80. “The commitment of those exhibiting the Spirit of ǿմýto supporting the next generation of community and business leaders deserves our recognition and gratitude.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Barry M. Gosin, Chief Executive Officer of Newmark Group Inc., and ǿմý Trustee, whose longtime support and recent generous commitment provided for the establishment of The Barry M. and Jackie Gosin Center for Equity and Inclusion. Established in 2021, the Center supports ongoing efforts at ǿմýin anti-racism and equity, expands work to elevate job placement and entrepreneurship among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students, and enhances academic scholarship in these areas.
Donna Murphy ’82, Global Chief Executive Officer Havas Health & You, and ǿմý Trustee, received the Leader in Management Award. Donna Murphy, and her team, built Havas Health & You into the largest health and wellness communications network in the world. She now leads 5,000 employees around the world at more than 80 multidiscipline health-focused marketing agencies in over 70 countries and remains devoted to charitable endeavors.
ǿմý Trustee and former Special Counsel at Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP Susan S. Wallach was presented with the Impact Award. Wallach serves as Chair of the Development, Alumni Relations and Public Affairs Committee of the Board and in addition to donating her time and talent, Susan S. Wallach has generously supported University initiatives and awards grants related to education, youth, the arts, health and Jewish causes through the Susan S & Kenneth Wallach Foundation.
The Lubin Alumni Achievement Award was presented to Ashu Rathor ’01, who is a Partner at EY serving as Global Tax Leader for EY’s Global Delivery Services (GDS). Rathor, who serves on the Advisory Board of Lubin School of Business, introduced EY’s Young Tax Professional of the Year program in GDS for the first time in 2018, offering high potential students a platform to be recognized and associated with EY before the start of their careers.
Professor of Information Technology in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems Li-Chiou Chen, PhD received the Homer and Charles ǿմýFaculty Award. Professor Chen, PhD, who joined ǿմý in 2004, serves as Executive Director of Cybersecurity Programs at Seidenberg and has secured multi-million-dollar federal grants to support University programs for cybersecurity research and education. Since 2010 she has led the Scholarship for Service: CyberCorps program at ǿմýthrough the National Science Foundation which positions alumni to work in cybersecurity at various government agencies.
Honorees, alumni, friends and donors have raised in excess of $1.2 million to support the ǿմýmission and students.
ǿմý has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success as a result of its unique program that combines rigorous academics and real-world experiences. ǿմýis ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides. From its beginnings as an accounting school in 1906, ǿմýhas grown to three campuses, enrolling 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 150 majors and programs, across a range of disciplines: arts, sciences, business, health care, technology, law, education, and more. The university also has one of the most competitive performing arts programs in the country. ǿմýhas a signature, newly renovated campus in New York City, located in the heart of vibrant Lower Manhattan, next to Wall Street and City Hall, and two campuses in Westchester County, New York: a 200-acre picturesque Pleasantville Campus and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at ǿմý’s Land Use Law Center recently hosted the 24th Annual Alfred B. DelBello Land Use and Sustainable Development Conference, continuing its long-standing tradition of convening leaders in land use, environmental law, and public policy to address the challenges and opportunities facing communities today.
Following a national search, ǿմý has announced the appointment of Alison Carr-Chellman, Ph.D., as its next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. She will begin her tenure on January 20, 2026.
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at ǿմý, in partnership with the North America Committee of the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations (CGA-NA), proudly hosted a special New York Arbitration Week program, titled “Greener Arbitration: Insights from the Next Generation of Legal Scholarship.”