Open Doors

For Tanya Levy-Odom ’90, it started almost before the ink was dry on her diploma.
For Robert Bernstein ’55, it began more than 45 years after he tossed his cap and doffed his gown.

Levy-Odom and Bernstein share more than memories of Memorial Hall. Despite their differences in years, backgrounds and life experiences, each has found that giving their time to support the growth of Hofstra and its students is a rewarding experience all around.

They aren’t alone. More and more graduates are discovering one of Hofstra’s great and growing strengths: our doors are always open – both ways. Every year, men and women leave with freshly minted degrees, ready to face the challenges ahead. As they say goodbye, these new grads rub shoulders with alumni who re-enter, in person or in spirit, to give something back.

“Commencement isn’t about endings,” said Alan J. Kelly, vice president for development and alumni affairs. “It reminds students that they are beginning a lifelong relationship with their alma mater. As much as we need the financial support of our alumni, we also value the time, wisdom and old-fashioned moral support they have to offer. That’s why we’re redesigning our volunteer programs and finding new ways to get alumni involved in things that interest them and that benefit our students and the University as a whole.”

Even before Levy-Odom graduated with a B.B.A., Deanna Hunter, former director of Hofstra’s CSTEP program, made it clear that she expected Levy-Odom and her fellow students to return and share their “real-world” experiences. (CSTEP is a state-sponsored program designed to encourage minority students in the sciences and technology.)

“Deanna was my mentor in school, and one of the founding members of the Black/Hispanic Alumni Association,” noted Levy-Odom, who now serves as that organization’s president. “She kept BHAA alive through some lean years, until we developed a core group who could carry the torch forward. It was Deanna who recruited us to come back and participate in panel discussions for the benefit of CSTEP students, to help them learn about what they could expect after graduation and how to prepare themselves. And although we’ve grown to the point where we can provide scholarships to minority students and offer expanded networking opportunities to alumni, that central idea of sharing our time to help the next group of students has remained strong.”

Indeed, Levy-Odom has a great deal to share. As a financial analyst and vice president at Alliance Growth Equities, the Brooklyn resident has achieved the kind of success many young Hofstra students hope to realize. She noted that a number of minority college students might be the first in their families to pursue a degree, and might not have a relative who can offer advice about how to have a successful college career. That is one reason why she has passionately championed the launch of a new mentoring initiative in partnership with Hofstra’s Career Center.

“We’re starting this spring by matching five to 10 students with mentors who share common majors and career paths,” said Levy- Odom. “They will keep in touch throughout the semester and, hopefully, long afterward. Mentors will be able to give them advice about managing their time, staying focused and grooming themselves for entry into the workplace. If the program proves successful – and I believe it will – we hope to expand it in the fall. It’s a great way for alums to get involved, and it means a lot to the students to know there are people behind them, cheering them on.”

Speaking of cheering, what would a sporting event be without fans to fill the seats? Unimaginable, as far as Bob Bernstein is concerned. After seven years on the board of directors, he was recently elected president of Hofstra’s athletic booster organization, the Hofstra Pride Club. The Pride Club not only works to build attendance at games, but also raises money (nearly $1 million in 2007) to help support Hofstra’s athletic programs, and helps ensure that Hofstra’s student-athletes maintain solid academic records as well. Bernstein can be found at sporting events year-round, vocally supporting the teams and actively recruiting new Pride Club members. But his own athletic pride was put to the test when he was a student in the early 1950s.

“I was a sportswriter for The Chronicle, but I decided to go out for wrestling,” he recalled, chuckling. “I gave it my all, but after a couple of weeks, the coach, Brick Stone, took me aside and said, ‘you know, Bob, I really think you should stick to writing.’”

Although Bernstein followed Coach Stone’s advice in college and became The Chronicle’s sports editor, he dropped his journalistic pursuits after earning a B.A. in history, which was followed by master’s degrees in education and history from Columbia University. His illustrious teaching career carried him to Paris’ American School and, eventually, to The Wheatley School in East Williston. While at Wheatley, he was named Teacher of the Year, and later earned the Outstanding Educator Award from Cornell University. While his teaching career kept him busy, it wasn’t until 2001, sometime after his retirement, that Bernstein began getting more involved in Hofstra alumni activities. In addition to his work with the Pride Club, Bernstein is now chair of the Nassau County Alumni Chapter, vice president of Hofstra’s Veterans Club, and second vice president of the Alumni Organization’s Executive Council. In 2007 he received the Executive Council Member of the Year Award.

“I got involved right around the time [President Emeritus] Jim Shuart retired,” Bernstein said. “I had always respected his vision and appreciated his hard work, and I was proud of the University’s growth. When I heard Stuart Rabinowitz’s inauguration speech, I was impressed with his determination to strengthen Hofstra’s academic programs, and I wanted to be a part of making it happen. As a retired teacher, I might not be able to donate as much money as some alumni, but I can give my time to help the University continue to grow. There is so much happening at Hofstra, from being chosen to host one of the 2008 presidential debates to starting up a medical school. Just being involved – getting to know a number of students and coaches, feeling the energy and having a front-row seat to the incredible changes taking place – is well worth the effort.”

For alumni like Fort Lauderdale attorney David Scileppi ’96, helping to fill a stadium is less likely, though that doesn’t stop them from doing their best to catch a game. As South Florida Chapter chair, Scileppi presided over a number of chapter events, including one that took place at a local sports bar, where the bar owner promised the big screen television would be tuned to a Hofstra football game. He said, “For a lot of us, these events aren’t just about supporting the college, seeing some friends and having some fun. They are opportunities to network ... to help each other succeed. We have 3,500 Hofstra alumni here, and the more we can connect with each other and support each other, the more valuable a Hofstra degree becomes.”

Scileppi believes that along with a B.B.A. in accounting, he developed leadership skills and a passion for communication while serving as editor at The Chronicle. It served him well as a C.P.A. and auditor for Big Four accounting firm KPMG, where he dealt with numerous cable and entertainment industry clients. He went on to earn a master’s in mass communications and a J.D. at the University of Florida, and now is a corporate attorney focusing on securities, mergers and acquisitions at Gunster Yoakley, one of Florida’s largest and most prestigious law firms.

Recently selected as an “Up and Coming” attorney by Florida Trend magazine, Scileppi has long been active in the South Florida community. In addition to acting as an adviser and recruiter, he co-founded a nonprofit organization, Orbis, which sponsors numerous events for young professionals, many of which combine educational, recreational and charitable components.

Building an alumni organization with clout and heart also drives West Orange, New Jersey, resident Fred Davis ’85, a partner in Mitchell & Titus, LLP, the largest minority-controlled accounting firm in the United States and a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited. In addition to serving on the Alumni Organization’s Executive Council, being active in both the New York City and New Jersey Alumni Chapters and the Zarb School of Business Alumni, and as an alumnus of the Inter-Greek Council, Davis, too, believes strongly in the mission of the Black/Hispanic Alumni Association. Like friend and fellow Hofstra graduate Tanya Levy-Odom, he has served as the organization’s president, and continues to work to strengthen the bonds between Hofstra University and its successful minority alumni.

“My experiences as an undergraduate and coming up through the workforce helped me realize the value of the degree I had earned,” said Davis. “Hofstra is a great institution, but let’s face it: cost is a big issue, especially for minorities. There were too many young men and women who would attend for a year, but would have to drop out because they just didn’t have the financial resources or support. BHAA is committed to help them stick it out and get the funds they need to obtain their degree.”

Although BHAA raises enough funds each year to award five to 10 scholarships to committed minority students, Davis knows that money isn’t all that’s needed. That’s why he also encourages other black and Hispanic alumni to get involved by speaking with students, taking on mentoring roles and participating in events like Career Mentoring Day.

“We have to help make sure the people coming up understand what’s out there, and what they can achieve,” said Davis. “We have to keep them focused, passionate and enthusiastic about their futures. And we have to help each other as we climb upward toward our goals. That’s how we make being part of the Hofstra family meaningful.” Michelle Robey ’93 is justifiably proud of her role in strengthening those family ties among Suffolk County alumni. From an inaugural meeting in 2005 attended only by Robey and two other graduates, the newly re-formed Suffolk County Chapter has grown its active membership considerably. Currently serving as chapter president, she hopes to see the organization grow even stronger, both as a force to help support the University and as a means to build the kind of network other, more established chapters have developed. It is a challenge Robey is well-equipped to take on.

After graduating with a degree in accounting in 1993, Robey began working at the accounting firm KPMG, only to discover the profession just didn’t suit her temperament. She returned to Hofstra and earned an M.B.A. in finance. For 12 years she worked for Ajilon Finance as an executive recruiter for accounting and finance professionals. She is now a senior vice president for Solomon Page Executive Search Group and responsible for starting up that company’s Long Island operations. In her work Robey often comes in contact with Hofstra alumni, and is in a unique position to help both graduate and undergraduate students. Over the years, she has actively mentored many students, especially young women pursuing the M.B.A., and has conducted seminars on topics such as interviewing skills and resume writing. She also helps expose prospective students to the Hofstra experience. But she wanted to achieve more.

“Professionally, every time I can help a Hofstra graduate find a job, or help a fellow alum improve their position, it strengthens the whole Hofstra family,” said Robey. “But what I really want is for all of Hofstra’s Suffolk alumni to work together ... to open doors for each other. To me, that’s what building a network of active Hofstra alumni is all about: it’s a way to support the University’s growth and our own. That’s my goal. But I also want the Suffolk County Chapter to be whatever we all want it to be, and to achieve whatever we want to achieve. We have a huge number of alumni in Suffolk County – almost 18,000. Can you imagine what we can accomplish?”

Michelle Robey’s enthusiasm is mirrored by Hofstra Senior Director for Alumni Affairs Bob Saltzman. “Hofstra alumni can make a huge difference in the lives of future, current and former students, not to mention the University as a whole,” said Saltzman. “A stronger, more active alumni body leads directly to an increase in the value and prestige of their Hofstra degrees. The University can help organize and support their work, but it needs to be – and should be – driven by our graduates.

“We’re building new groups with similar backgrounds, like GOLD [Graduates of the Last Decade] and the Half Century Club, where alumni can get together and enjoy each other’s company. Involvement in alumni academic interest groups like the Zarb School of Business, the School of Education and Allied Human Services, and other programs and societies are great ways to make valuable connections and help the University. We’re also building programs so Hofstra alumni can support admissions and career networking efforts in their local communities.

“In the end, everyone has something to give – and something to gain – by being active members of Hofstra’s 115,000-strong body of alumni.”