Celebrating Faculty Scholars

Allison Eichler| April 17, 2025

On April 10, NYIT de Seversky Mansion on the Long Island campus served as the backdrop for the annual Faculty Scholars Reception, bringing faculty and staff together to celebrate one another’s academic accomplishments.

Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling Robert Alexander, Ph.D., explains his research, “Experience is not a reliable indicator of perceptual expertise.”

The event commends the university’s full-time and adjunct faculty and staff for their scholarly and creative achievements completed during the previous calendar year in any of the six New York Tech schools’ or colleges’ academic fields. Qualifying achievements include receiving a grant, publishing original research articles in a nationally recognized peer-reviewed journal or book, and obtaining a patent, among others.

“To incorporate scholarship and research into what we do, and to the extent that we do this, is what I think enriches our lives as academic practitioners,” said New York Tech President Henry C. Foley, Ph.D., in his welcoming remarks. “Keep doing more and find others who want to do it. Mentor them, encourage them, and bring them along.”

Exhibited projects ranged in topics from anti-ableism in psychology and olfactory issues in autism spectrum disorder to genetic variants triggering prostate cancer and ethnic predispositions to helping the homeless. Submitted and exhibited scholarly work featured posters, videos, books, and photographs. The displays of graphs, equations, models, and statistics served as a testament to New York Tech’s goal to achieve R2 status as a doctoral university with high research activity.

This event, organized and managed by the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (OSPAR), is an annual opportunity to see, hear, and appreciate the breadth and depth of scholarship at the university. During fiscal year 2024, millions of dollars in grants were awarded to research initiatives at New York Tech.

Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies Yennie Armand exhibited her research, “The Relationship Between Obesity and Health Literacy of Cardiovascular Disease in Migrants,” at the Faculty Scholars Reception.

By the numbers:

$12.5 million awarded in grants
54 awards received
52 percent of grants awarded from federal sources
42 percent of grants awarded from state sources
6 percent of grants awarded from other sources
Eight awards were granted to first-time investigators

“Today we recognize the diverse research efforts of our faculty and staff,” said Vice Provost for Research Jared Littman, Ph.D., in his address to attendees. “Research is not just about publishing papers or securing grants. It’s about asking the hard questions. It’s about the passion to explore, experiment, and innovate.”