New Academic Year Brings New Faculty

In keeping with its tradition of officially welcoming new and recently hired faculty prior to the start of the new academic year, members of the New York Tech community gathered at NYIT de Seversky Mansion on August 27. The reception on the Long Island campus was the final event in a two-day orientation for the newest faculty, facilitated by the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). 

“You’re joining New York Tech at an exciting time. As we continue our journey toward achieving R2 status, we welcome our newest faculty, who represent a variety of areas where we seek to further build our research strengths, and each one of you will play a vital role in helping to drive our institution forward,” said Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Balentine, D.O.

The new faculty bring to the university research and scholarship in areas ranging from arithmetic combinatorics to machine learning and particle and nuclear physics, from consumer behavior and sustainable coastal construction to maternal mental health and architectural visualization methods, among many other areas of expertise.

“As New York Tech welcomes new faculty members, we expand not only our academic community but also enrich and broaden the research experiences available to our students,” President Henry C. Foley, Ph.D., noted. “These scholars bring new perspectives, innovative ideas, and a focused commitment to fostering intellectual growth. Their contributions will not only advance their respective fields but also inspire our next generation of doers, makers, innovators, and healers.”

During orientation, held on the New York City campus on August 26 and the Long Island campus on August 27, new faculty were introduced to the university’s strategic priorities, learned how the CTL can support their teaching and career development, learned about New York Tech students, through both data and various scenario presentations, as well as about the multi-pronged support for scholarship that is available. The highlight of the two days was a student-faculty panel about what faculty do in their classes to enhance student learning and increase their sense of belonging. A networking forum to meet staff from across the university and opportunities to speak with colleagues about various facets of New York Tech were also on the agenda. 

New faculty for the 2024-2025 academic year include:  

College of Arts and Sciences

• Saman Bastami, Visiting Assistant Professor, Physics
• Derek Graf, Visiting Assistant Professor, Humanities
• Alana Hatley, Teaching Assistant Professor, Humanities
• Fanita Henderson, Assistant Professor, School Counseling
• Hwi Lee, Assistant Professor, Mathematics
• Zachary McGuirk, Visiting Assistant Professor, Mathematics
• Amol Patwardhan, Visiting Assistant Professor, Physics
• Henry Ruiz, Assistant Professor, Biological and Chemical Sciences
• Hesham Tawfeek, Research Associate Professor, Biological and Chemical Sciences
• Gennady Yassiyevich, Teaching Assistant Professor, Mathematics

College of Engineering and Computing Sciences

• Mamtaj Akter, Assistant Professor, Computer Science
• Karrer Alghazali, Assistant Professor, Bioengineering/Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Feng Han, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
• Ryan Duke, Teaching Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Yan Hong, Visiting Assistant Professor, Computer Science
• Steven Zanganeh, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering (January 2024 start)

College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Kinsey Cornick, Assistant Professor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
• Adam Hurst, Assistant Professor, Clinical Specialties
• Deborah Whitson, Assistant Professor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

School of Architecture and Design

• John Bermudez, Visiting Assistant Professor, Architecture
• Ezio Blasetti, Assistant Professor, Architecture
• Matias del Campo, Associate Professor, Architecture
• Di (Lyla) Wu, Teaching Assistant Professor, Interior Design

School of Health Professions

• Victoria Cuomo, Instructor, Nursing
• Noura El Habbal, Teaching Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
• Matthew Masciandaro, Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy

School of Management

Sahel (Sally) Zaboli, Assistant Professor, Management and Marketing