Navigating U.S. Immigration: Policy Updates and Campus Resources
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Stay up to date on recent immigration policy changes and their potential impact on the Adelphi community.
University leaders will be joined by immigration legal experts, community advocacy groups, and mental health professionals to discuss the various aspects of changing federal immigration policies and Adelphi’s protocols for addressing any direct impacts on students, faculty, and staff.
Speaker Bios
Wendy Badala, PDSO, RO
Executive Director, International Services
Wendy Badala, MA ’20, serves as the Executive Director of International Services at Adelphi University, where she is the primary Designated School Official (DSO) and Responsible Officer (RO). In this role, she oversees university-wide compliance with federal regulations for international students and scholars across all campus locations. With more than 20 years of experience in international education and immigration advisement, Wendy is a dedicated leader committed to supporting global student success. She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and has extensive training in federal immigration policies and procedures.
Sentwali Bakari
Vice President for Student Affairs and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Dr. Bakari is the Vice President for Student Affairs and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, and is a direct report and member of the President’s Executive Leadership team. Prior to Adelphi University, Dr. Bakari served as the Vice-Chancellor for Student Success at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Dean of Students and Senior Student Affairs Officer at Drake University, and Dean of Students for the Semester at Sea, Institute for Shipboard Education.
Dr. Bakari completed his PhD in College Student Personnel Administration and Leadership from the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Bakari received the International Education Administrators Fulbright Scholar Award to the United Kingdom in 2013, participated in an African-American faculty delegation to Israel in 2012, and co-led faculty/staff-directed travel courses to Egypt, Turkey, Spain, and Morocco.
Dr. Bakari has presented at national and regional conferences such as the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA), National Association of Student Affairs Administration (NASPA), Association of International Educators (NASFA), National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE), and served for many years as a Co-Lead Facilitator for the LeaderShape Institute. Dr. Bakari studied abroad as an undergraduate student in Copenhagen, Denmark, and returned to Copenhagen, Denmark, to coach and play basketball. Dr. Bakari enjoys photography, jazz, soul and Latin music, and outdoor music festivals.
Veronica Cardenas Esq.
Immigration Attorney
Founder of Humanigration
Veronica Cardenas, Esq. Founder of Humanigration, is an immigration attorney who served as an Assistant Chief Counsel with the Department of Homeland Security from 2010 to 2023. There, she worked as counsel for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and was an immigration law instructor for incoming agents and officers at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). She now runs her own practice, Cardenas Immigration Law, where she focuses on advocating for immigrant rights. Veronica is also the founder of Humanigration, a platform dedicated to mentoring and teaching new lawyers the intricacies of immigration law. Through her work, she is committed to fostering a more compassionate and informed approach to navigating the immigration system.
James Francis
Executive Director, Public Safety and Transportation
James Francis Jr., serves as the Executive Director of Public Safety and Security at Adelphi University, having begun his role in January 2024. Before joining Adelphi, James held the position of Lieutenant and Deputy Director of Public Safety at Baruch College, where he managed patrol operations and emergency response efforts. James is deeply passionate about fostering a safe and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors alike, focusing on proactive crime prevention initiatives and community engagement. He believes in the power of collaboration, working closely with both the University and local law enforcement to strengthen safety protocols and emergency preparedness. Above all, James is committed to building a culture of trust and safety, encouraging open dialogue, mentoring his team and the community, and ensuring that everyone feels heard, valued and prepared.
Maria Zoco, MD, MPH
Community Programs Director, Central American Refugee Center (CARECEN)
Maria Zoco, MD, MPH, obtained her Bachelor’s in Medicine and Surgery at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, and a Master of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the Director of Community Programs at CARECEN, overseeing all the educational and social programs of the organization. Maria’s work focuses on advancing equity, particularly for historically marginalized populations. Maria enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and running.
Joaniko Kohchi, MPhil, LCSW, IECMH-E ®
Director of the Institute for Parenting, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology
Joaniko Kohchi, MPhil, LCSW, IECMH-E ® is the Director of the Institute for Parenting and Postgraduate Programs in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy at Adelphi University, where she enjoys teaching and supervising graduate and postgraduate students as well as clinicians in the community. She is an endorsed Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor Ⓡ with clinical, academic, and nonprofit experience spanning several regions of the United States. Her clinical work focuses on children and families who have survived traumatic events, whether personal, local, regional, or national. She is a trainer of various evidence-based interventions and approaches, and supports best-practice standards through supervision and consultation. Ms. Kohchi frequently provides training and consultation in reflective supervision for community organizations as well as for professional collectives. She continues to serve as a volunteer and officer on nonprofit initiatives locally and internationally.
Need More Information?
Learn about your rights, available resources, and where to find support.
This event is hosted by International and Immigration Task Force and International Services.
For more information, please contact Wendy Badala at wbadala@adelphi.edu or by phone at 516.877.4378.