University Business Covers Grizzly Cupboard Launch Strategy

Oct 22, 2020

For nearly a decade, the issue of food insecurity has been spotlighted on college campuses, according to a University Business article, but “New York Institute of Technology leaders, acting on a food insecurity crisis for students, took smart steps to launch their Grizzly Cupboards on Manhattan, Long Island sites.”

The article carries the title “How one NY university opened 2 food pantries in a pandemic” and offers a look into the strategy for the Grizzly Cupboard food pantry and a new partnership with Stop & Shop, as well as guidance that other institutions can follow to establish such programs.

Tiffani Blake, assistant provost for student engagement and development, became aware of food insecurity on campus shortly after joining New York Tech last summer.  With a team of stakeholders, a committee formed to begin to address the issue.    

According to the article, “The pantry does more than get food to students. It is part of a larger initiative called Bear Bytes that is addressing the ‘holistic wellbeing of students’ through education programs. According to Blake, the overall program provides a confidential and ‘stigma-free environment essential for students to reach their highest personal and academic potential.’”

The food pantry launch also received coverage in InnovateLI and Long Island Business News.  

 

Cohn Offers Guidance on Making Informed Purchase Decisions

Oct 17, 2020

Marketing Professor Deborah Y. Cohn shared insight about what one can do to make more informed purchase decisions. “In general, consumers should gather information before they make a purchase and carefully weigh the value of the features and benefits of the brand. The more expensive the product is, the more information they need to gather,” she says. Cohn’s comments appear on CreditDonkey.com, a personal finance website.

As for reasons to make a purchase, Cohn says that consumers “need to examine their own reasons for wanting the product, what need is it fulfilling (functional and psychological), and then select criteria to evaluate the brands.” And the role of marketers in the process? “Marketers can help consumers through the maze of decision making by providing information about their brand and being trustworthy,” she added.

 

News Outlets Cover Kirk Marketing Research

Oct 13, 2020

Research published in the Journal of Marketing and co-authored by Colleen P. Kirk, D.P.S., associate professor of marketing, appeared in several online news outlets. As seen in ScienceDaily and Phys.org, the behavioral marketing study, titled Caring for the Commons: Using Psychological Ownership to Enhance Stewardship Behavior for Public Goods, aims to help solve the “tragedy of the commons,” the idea that when goods or resources are shared by many owners they are subject to abuse or neglect. Kirk notes that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic more Americans have spent their free time in outdoor spaces such as parks, beaches, and nature trails, highlighting the need for individual stewardship of these shared environments.

"Maintaining the natural environment is a pressing issue facing our planet, and has become more challenging during the pandemic as park services are reduced while the number of people spending time outside has increased," says Kirk.

The research was also featured in The Conversation.

 

Stout Shares Neuroscience Expertise on Podcast

Oct 11, 2020

Randy Stout, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical science at NYITCOM and director of the Center for Biomedical Innovation, shared his neuroscience expertise and views on the Curious Jones Podcast. In the interview, Stout discussed brain function, supplementation, sleep, head trauma, and even touched on the possibility of simulation theory. 

 

Park Comments on Apple’s iOS 14 in Debugger

Oct 08, 2020

A Debugger column about the new customization features on Apple’s iOS 14 highlights expert and user opinions alike regarding the amount of control people can exert over their screens. According to the article, customization options are long overdue and most users have some degree of personal preference about how they want their technology to look and function.

Assistant Professor Kevin Park, an expert in UX/UI, notes that “ it’s possible that the growing demands from young people may have influenced Apple’s decision to introduce more customization into its latest iOS” and adds that this can make the phone faster and more efficient for divergent use cases.  However, in commenting on the level of difficulty associated with app icon changes, Park says of Apple, “I don’t think they’re fully there yet… they’re still testing this in wider public release.”

 

Rothstein Op-ed Published in Fortune

Oct 05, 2020

An op-ed by Alex Rothstein, M.S., instructor and program coordinator, Exercise Science, B.S., degree program, was published in Fortune. Rothstein discusses the connection between obesity and COVID-19 risk factors, making the case for exercise as a preventative health and wellness measure. As he notes, Americans are starting to finally realize that staying fit isn’t just about looking good, it’s about strengthening the immune system and staving off serious health problems. This realization will also call for a new generation of highly trained exercise science professionals.

“Further transforming Americans’ relationship with exercise—and making it a critical component of their health and wellness plans—will also require the help of exercise science professionals,” Rothstein writes. “These individuals are trained to develop individualized wellness programs that consider people’s age, health, culture, and other factors that influence their ability to maintain a healthy routine.”

 

Harper Comments on President Trump's COVID-19 Test

Oct 02, 2020

Newsday interviewed New York Tech's Chief Medical Officer Brian Harper, M.D., on President Trump's positive COVID-19 test result. White House officials first announced that the president experienced mild COVID-19 symptoms, and was taken to a military hospital as a precautionary measure. However, Harper notes that because COVID-19 is still not well understood, no matter how mild one patient's symptoms may appear, the virus could infect another person's body much more severely. In light of this, he urged the public to take the virus seriously, and not make judgements based on another individual's case.

 

Gugliotti Comments on Physical Therapists' Role in Treating Gamers

Oct 01, 2020

Mark Gugliotti, D.P.T., associate professor of physical therapy, was featured in a story by the American Physical Therapy Association on the need for physical therapy intervention for competitive esports players. Gugliotti, who is also a healthcare professional in the Center for Esports Medicine, notes that the best defense against many of the debilitating conditions experienced by gamers would be a strong offense in preventive care and education.

Noting the common ailments the Center treats, he says, "We typically see presentations such as headaches, neck strain, and low back strain. We also encounter upper extremity peripheral nerve compressions [carpal tunnel syndrome], which can result in pain, tingling, numbness, and burning into the forearm, wrist, and hand."

The story also references a 2019 Center for Esports Medicine study published in the British Medical Journal.

 

Runner's World, MSN Quote Expert on Workout Headaches

Sep 28, 2020

As seen in Runner’s World and MSN.com, Joanne Donoghue, Ph.D., director of clinical research and associate professor at NYITCOM, explains the common phenomena of post-workout headaches. While many people have taken up running during the pandemic, some are finishing runs with a throbbing headache rather than a runner's high. Donoghue, who is an exercise physiologist, explains the reasons for these pesky workout-induced headaches and how runners may avoid them.

“Research shows that these headaches present with more of a pulsating feeling rather than a painful sharp pain,” says Donoghue. “However, they can become so uncomfortable that activity may have to be discontinued while occurring.” Aside from that throbbing sensation, they may also come with side effects like nausea, vomiting, double vision, and stiffness in the neck, she adds.

 

A Vaccine Doesn’t Mean the End of the Pandemic: Op-Ed in Business Insider

Sep 20, 2020

Distributing many millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses will pose challenges for the U.S. medical supply chain. From shortages of medical devices to logistical obstacles, the U.S. is unprepared — especially since the upcoming flu season will complicate the rollout of any such vaccine, writes Purushottam Meena, Ph.D., associate professor of operations management, in a Business Insider op-ed.

“Dismantling these roadblocks in the supply chain is the only way to end this pandemic,” he says. Stopping it will require an adequate number of flu vaccines, more supplies, closely monitored delivery, and more funding.

The U.S. government has contracted with private companies, helping expand manufacturing capacities; fostering more partnerships would alleviate vaccine supply chain roadblocks.  The government could also rethink how it allocates vaccines and heed historical uptake rates to prevent surpluses in some regions and shortages in others. 

“Developing an effective COVID-19 vaccine is merely the beginning of the end of this pandemic. To wipe out the virus, lawmakers need to address shortfalls in the vaccine supply chain,” Meena concludes.