Faculty Tenures, Promotions for 2025–2026
As New York Tech prepares for the 2025–2026 academic year, several faculty members have been recognized for their outstanding teaching, scholarship, service, and commitment to the university and its students through tenure and promotions approved at the May meeting of the Board of Trustees.
“It is a privilege to recognize these educators and scholars for their achievements and commitment to our students,” says Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Francine Glazer, Ph.D. “On behalf of our students, we applaud their contributions in our classrooms, labs, and beyond to deliver the best possible education and student experiences at New York Tech.”
The following tenures and/or promotions become effective on September 1, 2025:
College of Arts and Sciences
- Daniel Cinotti, Ph.D., promotion to professor
- Nayoung Kim, Ph.D., tenure and promotion to associate professor
College of Engineering and Computing Sciences
- Arman Bonakdarpour, Ph.D., promotion to associate professor (Vancouver)
- Jerry Cheng, Ph.D., tenure and promotion to associate professor
- Paolo Gasti, Ph.D., promotion to professor
- Yongjian Gu, Ph.D., promotion to adjunct professor
- Fang Li, Ph.D., promotion to professor
- Yunlong Shao, Ph.D., promotion to associate professor (Vancouver)
College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Joerg Leheste, Ph.D., promotion to professor
- To Shan Li, D.O., promotion to professor (Jonesboro)
- Donna-Marie McMahon, D.O., promotion to professor
- Lillian Niwagaba, Ph.D., promotion to associate professor
- Gonzalo Otazu, Ph.D.,promotion to associate professor
- Anu Raj, Psy.D., promotion to associate professor
- Milan Toma, Ph.D., promotion to associate professor
- Haotian Zhao, M.D., promotion to professor
- Yingtao (Jerry) Zhao, Ph.D., promotion to associate professor
School of Architecture and Design
- Alessandro Melis, Ph.D., tenure
- Sung (Kevin) Park, M.F.A., tenure and promotion to associate professor
School of Health Professions
- Jaclyn Cotgreave, Ph.D., tenure and promotion to associate professor
- Lori Hochman, Ph.D., tenure and promotion to associate professor
- Jessica Varghese, Ph.D., tenure and promotion to associate professor
School of Management
- Joshua Bienstock, J.D., promotion to professor
- Sinan Caykoylu, Ph.D., promotion to professor (Vancouver)
- Shaya Sheikh, Ph.D., promotion to professor
More News

New Academic Year Welcomes New Faculty
New York Tech welcomes new and recently hired faculty to the university for the new academic year.

Intern Insight: Nini Lobzhanidze
Interior design student Nini Lobzhanidze spent four months interning at TPG Architecture, an experience that reaffirmed her desire to pursue a career in the field.

President Balentine Named to LIBN Influencers List
Long Island Business News recognized President Jerry Balentine, D.O., in its coverage of prominent local leaders in education.

Using OMM to Fight MMA Head Injuries
With a background in mixed martial arts (MMA), Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Jayme Mancini, D.O., Ph.D., is combining her two interests to study how osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) can help mixed martial artists recover from head injuries.

Aspiring D.O.s Receive White Coats
The College of Osteopathic Medicine welcomed the Class of 2029 at events in Arkansas and Long Island, where future osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) celebrated the start of their medical education.

A Powerful Design Partner
Across the School of Architecture and Design, students are learning to use artificial intelligence through a hands-on, real-world approach.