Molloy University School of Arts & Sciences

Calling all Arts & Sciences Students & Alumni! Our annual Student-Alumni Art Exhibition titled “An Artists Journey” is returning this Fall in October! All Arts & Sciences students & alumni, regardless of major are able to share their artistic talents and submit artwork for consideration to be featured in the show. Be on the lookout for the submission details and deadlines coming later this August!

🎨🖌️We can’t wait to share our talented Arts & Sciences student/alumni artwork with the Molloy Community!

Our Art department faculty, Rosa Berland and Gina Minielli recently returned from an inspirational educational experience. They both joined an international cohort of fellows at the 2026 Italian Diaspora Studies Summer Seminar in Rome, hosted by the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute (CUNY) in partnership with Università degli Studi Roma Tre. Rosa Berland advanced research for her forthcoming book on Italian diasporic art, while Gina Minielli developed her documentary film on the Italian diasporic experience.

The summer 2026 art exhibition entitled Joys of Summer, curated by Dr. Hwa Young Caruso, Professor of Art, presents twenty selected works from the Molloy University Permanent Art Collection. Though varied in medium and aesthetic sensibility from realism to abstraction, these works share a common spirit, united by the pleasures of summer. Together, they offer an imaginative journey through the summer season.

Curating Joys of Summer by Dr. Caruso provided student interns in a gallery learning lab with an invaluable opportunity to access, review, and document Molloy University’s permanent art collection. The artworks represent a significant cultural and educational resource. The exhibition is on view in the Molloy University Kellenberg Art Gallery, in Rockville Centre NY, June through September 2026.

Last week we welcomed high school students on campus for our Lights, Camera, Action summer academy where students had the opportunity to dive into the world of storytelling and production through one of two exciting tracks: TV Studio Workshop or Theatre Arts. Participants developed their skills both on and off camera and collaborated on an original production. Inspired by the classic tale of The 3 Little Pigs, their fresh take was a campus horror/comedy called “Fresh Meet or Fresh Meat”.

Under the guidance of Professors Tom Kenny, Alyssa Rosand and Production Assistant, Annelisa Milano (Communications), as well as Melissa Firlit (Molloy/CAP21 Musical Theatre) students learned acting and on‑camera performance techniques, as well as the essentials of producing, directing, filming and editing.

Congratulations to School of Arts & Sciences Biology alums, Alana Giordano ‘22, Katherine Hickey ‘22 , and Priscilla Detweiler ‘22 , on becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine through the LECOM Early Acceptance Program (EAP) which is open for applications for our incoming and current Biology students.

While at Molloy, these three new Doctors collaborated on a research article entitled, Atelocollagen Added to Hyaluronan Matrix is an Appropriate 3D Culture Model of Inflammation-Induced Osteoarthritis which was published in the Journal of Young Investigators.

We’re so proud of your years of dedication and hard work whose foundation began here at Molloy University and concluded this year at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Alana will begin her medical residency in Internal Medicine at Medical Center Boston, Katherine’s residency is in Psychiatry at Zucker SOM Hofstra/Northwell/Mather in Port Jefferson, NY and Priscilla was placed at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.

Congratulations to our Molloy/LECOM graduates.

Dr. Jennifer Scuro of our Philosophy department attended The Feminist Miscarriage Project conference titled; New Directions in Miscarriage Research: Intersectional, Interdisciplinary and Full-Spectrum Perspectives held at Loughborough University this month. https://feministmiscarriageproject.org/conference

The conference held an advanced sneak-preview screening of Adventures in Miscarriage (feature-length documentary to be released in 2027), including Q&A discussion with the film-maker Cheryl Furjanic and feminist philosopher Dr. Jen Scuro. Panels featuring Dr. Scuro’s graphic novel entitled; Graphic Autoethnography: Narrating Pregnancy Loss were also displayed during the conference. QR code pictured connects to Dr. Scuro’s exhibition statement. Content warning: Contains graphic illustrations of pregnancy loss.

Dr. Gina M. Florio, Dean of our School of Arts & Sciences, was a featured guest on the award-winning podcast Many Voices, One Community (Episode 33), hosted by Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews. They recently sat down for a thoughtful conversation about education, leadership, mentorship, and the lasting impact of a liberal arts education. Dr. Florio reflected on her journey to a career in higher education, the mentors who shaped her path, and her commitment to helping students discover confidence, purpose, and direction.

They also discussed Molloy University’s commitment to service, community, ethical leadership and the changing needs of Long Island’s diverse student population. Through her passion for science, the arts, and student success, her story embodies the spirit of Many Voices, One Community — that education has the power to transform lives and strengthen our community.

You can check out the podcast here or at the link in our bio. //hmtcli.org/hmtv.

HigherEducation hmTvAtHMTC

Art as Research: Three of our Molloy Art Faculty worked with our Art students this Spring semester taking different approaches submitting their art as research in the Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference 2026 (MURC 2026)
Six art students mentored by Dr. Hwa Young Caruso, Professor of Art, applied their studio art making as a research project and submitted it for the MURC conference. This innovative form of expression combined research, creative art making, reflection and presentation skills. For two students, the fine art object-based research was part of their internships in the Molloy University Gallery where they helped to prepare for the Kellenberg Gallery Summer 2026 exhibition. Four students focused on their personal choices of themes such as landscape, self-portraits, and a 3D cityscape. Students were Julia Ferreira, “Fine Art Object Based Research for the Kellenberg Gallery” Tuana Yuksel, “Research on Joys of Summer Exhibition in the Kellenberg Gallery”, Martha Brooks, “Self Portrait: Scents That Trigger Memories”, Madison Manfredo, “Landscape: Seasons of Life”, Grace Passerello, “Self-Portrait: The Mind, The Body, The Spirit” and Rophnaica Desruisseaux, “Three-dimensional Diorama of a Tsunami-resistant Coastal Bridge and City.”
Dr. Jenny LaMonica had her students using the Kellenberg Art Gallery as a learning lab. Students selected works from the Molloy art collection, researched the history of their selections and curated an exhibition in the Kellenberg Gallery and Larini Room. Student curators were Melanie Arvanitis, Kristien Koppe, Nicoletta Esposito, Callie Todd, Vincent-Guida Feguson, and Renyia Tolliver.
Professor Rosa Berland had students create poster boards and 1 of her students presented in front of the entire group. Students were Patricia Suna Brito, MURC presentation on Eduardo Kingman on identity, art and labor and Faith Nenty, presentation at MURC on the intersection of identity and gender in the work of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun. An audience of students, parents, faculty mentors, and staff gathered in Hays theatre to view the creative artworks.

Dr. Hwa Young Caruso, Art Department, Professor of Art, represented Molloy University for a celebration of the AAPI Heritage Month 2026. The art exhibition entitled “AAPI 2026-Best of Both Worlds: AAPI Asian American Heritage Month”, was sponsored and hosted by The United Asian American Alliance (UAAA), President Lucie M. Kwon, Suffolk County Deputy District Attorney, Chair AAPI Board of Directors and Curator Joan Kim Suzuki from May 07-May 31, 2026 in the Cinema Arts Center, Huntington, New York.

Dr. Hwa Young Caruso received a “Certificate of Appreciation” from the United Asian American Alliance (UAAA), from President Lucie M. Kwon, a “New York State Assembly Citation” from Assemblyman Kwani B. O’ Pharrow, and a “New York State Assembly Citation” from Assemblyman Steve Stern. Congratulations Dr. Hwa Young Caruso!

🧑‍🎓Today is Commencement Day and we’re wishing the Class of 2026 all the best in their future! Congratulations to Molloy University Salutatorian, Grace Wilson ’26 from the School of Arts & Sciences. Grace is graduating with a B.A. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in both Philosophy and Theology & Religious Studies. 👏🎉Congrats to all the graduates! 🎓