Announcement of Staffing Changes

Dear members of the Adelphi community,

Thank you so much for your warm and gracious welcome as well as for your very important feedback and participation in my 100-Day Listening Tour. I have been inspired by the thoughtful comments I have received both through the online submission form as well as at our first dialogue series event.

As we work together to shape the University’s future, I have made two important staffing changes in the Office of the President that I want to share with you. I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Maggie Yoon Grafer ’98, M.A. ’08, as senior director of strategic engagement and advisor to the president. Many of you have worked with Maggie during her 18-year career here at the University. As senior director, she will be joining the Executive Leadership Team and will coordinate projects and priorities for my office. She will also work with me and the University’s senior leadership on the best ways to position the institution with civic and business leadership, including regional Long Island entities, as well as our presence in the greater New York metro region and on national issues of relevance. I hope you will join me in congratulating Maggie on her new position.

In addition, Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation Danny McCabe will now be reporting directly to me and will join the President’s Cabinet. Our Division II intercollegiate program, with its focus on student athletes, is central to Adelphi, and it is common for a president to directly oversee an institution’s athletic program. Since joining Adelphi in 2013, Danny has overseen impressive accomplishments at the conference and national level. Recent accolades include the back-to-back defense of the women’s lacrosse national title, winning of the Northeast-10 President’s Cup in 2014 and taking second place 2015, as well as receipt of several NCAA Division II accolades.

Beyond the Office of the President, I have asked Senior Vice President and Treasurer Timothy Burton to provide leadership for our public safety and campus transportation operations. Therefore, Assistant Vice President for Public Safety and Campus Transportation Eugene Palma will now report to Tim, who has already been central to the management of our emergency responses and state of preparedness.

Please join me in congratulating Maggie and recognizing Danny and Gene.

All the best,

Christine M. Riordan, Ph.D.
President