Get involved now with these four service outings happening in January and February.

1. Help Provide School Supplies for Neighborhood Children

Monday, January 27, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Lowenstein Center, Room 1004

Join your fellow Rams on the Lincoln Center campus to wrap school supply care packages for neighborhood children. Participants can also include personal notes of affirmation.

2. Create Food Packages for Senior Citizens in Need

Saturday, January 25, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
239 West 49th Street

Fordham’s commitment to the Broadway community goes beyond excellence onstage and behind the scenes. This month, the University is joining Encore Community Services—a Catholic Charity partner just a short subway ride from the Lincoln Center campus—to create food parcels that will support neighborhood seniors in need, many of whom worked in the performing arts. Since 1977, Encore has provided seniors with a range of services to help them live independent and dignified lives in the midtown Times Square and Clinton communities. For this reason, and its focus on initiatives such as “aging gracefully through the arts,” Encore has earned a reputation as “Broadway’s Longest Running Act of Loving Care.”

This event is sponsored by the Office of Alumni Relations, as part of its For and With Others Volunteer Day, but it’s open to the entire University community.

3. Fight Food Insecurity in the Bronx

Friday, January 31, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
St. Ignatius Middle School

Wednesday, February 12, 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
McShane Campus Center Entrance

Among the issues affecting New Yorkers daily, food insecurity is one of the most pressing. According to the New York State Department of Health, about one in four New Yorkers report that they do not have sufficient access to food.

Two upcoming events give the Fordham community an opportunity to promote food security in its own backyard. Students and other volunteers will gather to make up to 200 meal packs for community fridges, and conclude the day with a brief Ignatian reflection. The first of these events will happen alongside students at St. Ignatius Middle School in the Bronx. The second will take place at the McShane Campus Center.

Both events are offered through Fordham’s Department of Mission Integration and Ministry, which is rooted in the Jesuit tradition of balancing reflection and action, a practice developed by St. Ignatius Loyola, the 16th-century founder of the Jesuits.

4. Connect with Those Experiencing Houselessness

Sunday, February 23, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Meet in the Lowenstein Center Lobby

Volunteers will join forces with students enrolled in the Philosophical Ethics course at the Lincoln Center campus and visit Xavier Mission, a nonprofit organization in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. Together they will share in conversation and serve a hot meal to people experiencing houselessness in New York City. Attendees will take the brief subway trip together, with MetroCards provided.

This experience is presented by Fordham’s Center for Community Engaged Learning, which connects Fordham with dozens of local and global partners to provide students with opportunities for experiential learning, research, and civic engagement.

Take a look at some of Schwalbenberg’s most eclectic possessions in the second installment of our What’s on My Desk series, where we highlight interesting objects displayed by professors in their offices. 

A Goodbye Gift from the People of Micronesia

Schwalbenberg’s office is home to dozens of trinkets and souvenirs from his travels and those of his students. Among them is a model of an ocean-going canoe—a goodbye gift from the people of Micronesia, where he worked for three years. Also pictured here are cups from a state fair in Minnesota, where his great-great-grandfather settled after immigrating from Germany.

A Photo with the President of the Philippines

Among the mementos is a framed photo of Schwalbenberg hooding Benigno S. Aquino III, the 15th president of the Philippines, when he received an honorary doctorate from Fordham in 2011.

A Photo of Ms. Schwalbenberg

Schwalbenberg also has a framed photo of his wife, Alma, whom he met thanks to Jesuits in the Philippines. “I was teaching at Ateneo de Manila University, and some of the Jesuits there introduced me to her family. At the time, I was studying at Columbia. Her family told me that she was studying at Fordham. They arranged an introduction. She told me she wanted to learn how to ice skate, so I took her ice skating, but she actually had no interest in learning how to ice skate. That was just a ploy,” Schwalbenberg said, chuckling.

The Dorothy Marinucci Bell

Hot Sauce from New Orleans for President Tetlow

Sitting on his desk are two brand-new bottles of cajun hot sauce from Tulane University. At a graduate school fair for returned Peace Corps volunteers, a Tulane recruiter gifted Schwalbenberg the hot sauce to celebrate Fordham’s president, Tania Tetlow, who grew up in Louisiana and both studied and worked at Tulane. “I was thinking I should give it to her,” said Schwalbenberg, who is not a fan of hot sauce himself. When asked if he could handle spice, he answered, “Probably not.”

The ‘You’ve Got Five Minutes’ Timer

In front of his chair is an hourglass reserved for students. “I give my students a hard time. When they come in and say, ‘I only need a minute to talk to you,’ I say, ‘OK, you’ve got five minutes,’” Schwalbenberg said, while turning over the hourglass. “They usually stay beyond that.”

Schwalbenberg I and Schwalbenberg II

His most unique possession is a life-sized cardboard cutout of himself, a birthday gift from former IPED students. “Sometimes I put it in people’s offices and scare them,” Schwalbenberg admitted. 

Behind the two Schwalbenbergs is a world map that encapsulates his decades spent traveling, teaching, conducting research, and attending conferences, as well as the diversity of countries that his students hail from. 

His favorite country is Micronesia — the first place that felt like home outside of the U.S. He spent three years on an island in the middle of the western Pacific Ocean, teaching at a high school and studying the relationship between his two homes. “They adopted me,” joked Schwalbenberg, who lived in Micronesia in his 20s. 

The IPED Program

Schwalbenberg’s students in the IPED master’s program prepare for careers improving food security, education, and gender disparities abroad. For undergraduates, Fordham offers a major in international political economy. 

International experience is important for students, said Schwalbenberg. “We think they are going to be better people for that, having a deeper understanding of how other people live. We hope it makes them better professionals in whatever career they choose.” 

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

1. MLK Day 2025

Join the Museum of the Moving Image in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday with inspiring talks, tours, a documentary screening, and more. Plus, enjoy free museum admission every Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m.

Jan. 17 through Jan. 20; Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria, New York 

2. Astronomy: The Winter Sky

Who says you can’t see the stars in the city? Clear winter nights offer the perfect canvas for stargazing. Let the Urban Park Rangers be your guide as you bundle up and enjoy the pretty skies filled with stars, planets, and all the cosmic wonders—right in the Bronx. 

Jan. 18, 6 – 7:30 p.m.; Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx

3. Under the Radar Festival

Discover bold and boundary-pushing performances at Under the Radar, New York City’s premier festival for experimental theater. Held in more than 30 venues across the city, the festival celebrates creativity, equity, and collaboration with over a dozen groundbreaking productions from visionary artists from across the globe. 

Through Jan. 19; Various locations 

4. MoonGARDEN Installation

Step into an illuminated world where storytelling, public art, and mesmerizing light installations come together to create an unforgettable experience. Grab a few friends and enjoy a night of inspiration and exploration.

Through February; Fulton Street & Seaport Square, Manhattan 

5. Ice Skating at Bryant Park 

Lace up your skates and enjoy free ice skating at Bryant Park. Whether you’re an ice skating pro or just starting out, the rink is the perfect spot for some winter fun. Don’t have skates? No worries—rentals are available on site (for a fee)! 

Through March 2, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Bryant Park, Manhattan 

He worked for over 30 years in network engineering, spending his early career at AT&T and MetLife before joining Fordham seven years ago.

Longtime colleague Cesar Nau, Fordham’s director of infrastructure services, remembers him as a calming presence in stressful moments. Network engineers at Fordham need to be able to fix all manner of outages, he said, including ones that pose safety threats, such as when the fire alarm system stops communicating with the fire department. Even in scenarios that required an immediate resolution, he remained cool-headed.

“Tony just knew how to bring everybody back down to earth,” said Nau. “While everybody is running around like headless chickens, he was always that even-keeled individual that took down his notes, got his thoughts together, and executed. He helped me tons in those types of scenarios in the sense that I would see him being so calm and he calmed me down all the time. And he just had this respectfulness about him and politeness that I personally admired. You don’t see that often anymore, unfortunately.”

Anand Padmanabhan, vice president and chief information officer at Fordham, said, “Tony was a dedicated and valued employee and great team member. His positive attitude inspired and elevated everyone around him. He will be sorely missed.”

He was also a valued player on the Fordham Bombers, the University’s interdepartmental softball team. Its former captain, Cloud Systems Analyst Ariel Cofresi, called him “a great team player, willing to play any position. Tony was very youthful at heart and didn’t let his age affect him on the field.”

Chief Troubleshooter at Home

His wife, Barbara, grew up in the same Morris Park area of the Bronx as her husband. After they were married in 1988, they moved to Westchester and raised their two girls, Dana and Aimee. Caring, thoughtful, kind, patient, and loving are the words the family used to describe Tony, who Barbara said was actively involved in all phases of their children’s lives. Their daughters played many sports, and he helped to coach their soccer, basketball, softball, and swim teams.

He also had a creative side and enjoyed working with his hands. Calligraphy was a favorite pastime of his, as was building models and computers. He passed along his love of art to his daughters, taught them how to draw, and encouraged his eldest, Dana, to pursue a career in design. He was also passionate about history, space, military aircraft, and science. He bonded with his youngest, Aimee, over her biology courses and passion for public health. A true New Yorker, he also loved the New York Yankees, and food. “He absolutely loved sharing a big dinner with family and enjoyed home-cooked meals,” said Barbara.

She also fondly recalled how he applied his problem-solving skills at home.

“He loved troubleshooting. It was one of his favorite words. If he had to fix a light bulb, he would say let me troubleshoot that!” she laughed. 

In addition to his wife, daughters, and his daughters’ partners, Tony is survived by his sister, Anna. His family welcomes everyone whose lives he touched to join them in honoring his memory. A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, Dec. 15  from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Edwards-Dowdle Funeral Home in Dobbs Ferry, New York. The funeral will take place on Monday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. at the Sharon Gardens Cemetery in Valhalla, New York. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the American Diabetes Association or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The iconic Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan is making a stop at the Rose Hill campus Sunday, Nov. 24. This event is free and open to the community, offering holiday cheer and free photos with Santa for kids of all ages. 

Sit beside Santa on his festive throne and capture the moment in digital and print photos. You can have your photo printed as a postcard, then add a holiday message and drop it in the “Magic Mailbox” for free delivery to your family and friends. 

The event will feature a charitable merchandise store with holiday-themed apparel designed by members of the Boys & Girls Club. All proceeds will go to the organization. 

And what’s a Coca-Cola event without a beverage? Guests can enjoy complimentary Coca-Cola products to sip on while soaking in the festive atmosphere.

Mark your calendars and don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the season and get your free picture with Santa. Bring your friends, family, and your holiday spirit!

Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan will be at Fordham’s Rose Hill campus in the Bronx on Nov. 24 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Below, take a look at some of Knobel’s most fascinating possessions in the first installment of our What’s on Your Desk? series, where we highlight interesting objects and keepsakes displayed by professors in their offices.

‘The Mets Deserve Their Little Corner of Fordham’

Knobel has a “Mets shrine” on her bookshelf, home to bobbleheads, a replica of Shea Stadium, and more. “The Bronx is Yankees country, but I feel like the Mets deserve their little corner of Fordham,” said Knobel. “I made my peace with the Yankees, thanks to people like Michael Kay, as well as Justin Shackil and Ryan Ruocco, who were in my very first class I taught at Fordham. I’m so happy for their success.”

(Future) Taekwondo Master Knobel

Knobel is a third-degree black belt in taekwondo who proudly displays her first and second degree black belts in her office. “I’m scheduled to go up for my fourth-degree black belt in June, which is the first rank of mastery. People at my taekwondo school will have to call me Master Knobel. I will be the first woman at my school to make master, so that’s super exciting,” she said.

An Autograph from the Last Leader of the Soviet Union

Knobel cherishes her autographed photo of Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union. “This was a 40th birthday present from a friend at CBS who knew that I admired Gorbachev greatly. I wrote my dissertation about Gorbachev and how he used the press as a strategic tool in governing. That’s why I started going to Russia. I actually fell in love with a Russian journalist on my first trip, and then eventually moved there,” said Knobel, who served as the Moscow bureau chief at CBS News for seven years.

Advice to an Afghan President on How Not to Get Assassinated

Pinned to a bulletin board behind her desk are press passes from her 20-year career as a journalist, including passes for the Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan and a U.S. presidential visit to Russia. Beside her own press passes are her son’s. “When I was a foreign correspondent, my son needed an accreditation card as a member of my family to enter the country,” she said. “You can see him growing up in those little cards.” 

There are also photos of Knobel with former colleagues, including Scott Pelley and Bill Owens from CBS News—and even well-known political figures. “That’s Hamid Karzai, back when he was president of Afghanistan, and our team interviewing him in 2002,” Knobel said, pointing to a group photo. “We gave him advice on how to not get assassinated.”

A Message from ‘The Most Trusted Man in America’

Knobel also has an autographed photo of revered American journalist Walter Cronkite. “It would be fascinating to talk with him today about the importance of objectivity,” she said. “In the Cronkite years, TV news didn’t tell people what to think—but what to think about. Not all news does that anymore.”

An Emmy for Covering a Hostage Crisis in Russia

Knobel earned an Emmy for her role as a producer in CBS News’s coverage of the 2002 Moscow theater siege, where nearly 1,000 people were taken hostage by terrorists. 

“As a producer, you’re aiding the correspondent, looking at the script and making suggestions, talking to the cameraman and editor to make sure they’re getting all the pictures that they need, and putting it together in a way that makes sense to a viewer who doesn’t know a lot about Russia or this hostage situation,” said Knobel. “I remember sitting in a car, two blocks away from where this was going on, and feeling so powerless to help those people inside, but trying to make sure that whatever we reported was accurate and fair.”

A Miniature Burqa for a Barbie Doll

At first glance, a blue cloth sitting atop a stack of plastic cups doesn’t seem unique. But it’s actually a burqa for Barbie dolls—a keepsake from Knobel’s reporting trip to Afghanistan. 

“It’s a reminder to me of how different our world is, yet the same. Everyone plays with dolls and dresses them in their native clothing,” said Knobel. “To me, all of my work as a teacher and a journalist has essentially been about bringing understanding to the world. It’s a representation of how journalism is the coolest job in the world.”

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

1. Self-Care City Scavenger Hunt

Lately, self-care has been top of mind for all of us. Try a fresh approach to personal wellness with this self-guided scavenger hunt! With fun, interactive tasks, you’ll explore essential areas of wellness—physical, emotional, and spiritual. It’s the perfect way to recharge before the holiday rush. Do it solo, or bring a few friends along!

Multiple dates in November, 1 – 5 p.m.; 1950 Lafayette Avenue, The Bronx

2. Canstruction 2024

As we look for ways to give thanks and give back this Thanksgiving season, Canstruction is the perfect place to start. The event raises awareness of food insecurity by showcasing sculptures made entirely from canned food, created by architects, engineers, and volunteers across 100 cities. Visitors can view these works of “CanArt” and contribute non-perishable items. At the exhibit’s end, all food is donated to local food banks, helping to feed those in need during the holiday season. 

Through, Nov. 11, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; 230 Vesey Street, Manhattan 

3. A Celebration of Hip-Hop

Did you know November is Hip-Hop History Month? What better way to celebrate than at an exclusive event for the soon-to-be-open Hip Hop Museum! Join co-founder Rocky Bucano as he takes you through the genre’s journey from its birthplace in the Bronx to the worldwide stage. He’ll share stories of hip-hop’s roots and impact, and talk about the museum’s mission to honor and preserve this legacy in a vibrant new space opening in 2025.

Thursday, Nov. 21, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.; The National Arts Club, Manhattan 

4. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

It’s a New York City rite of passage—everyone’s got to experience it at least once! Whether you’re braving the crowds on 5th Avenue Thanksgiving morning or watching from the cozy comfort of your couch with a cup of coffee, don’t miss the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Thursday, Nov. 28, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Starting on West 77th Street and Central Park West

5. Bronx Holiday Market

Holiday treats, one-of-a-kind gifts, and a festive atmosphere—we can’t think of a better way to kick off the holiday season! Be sure to check out the Bronx Holiday Market right outside our Rose Hill campus to celebrate the season and support some local artists. It’ll be a day filled with handmade treasures, seasonal flavors, and festive fun for the whole family!

Saturday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m.; Fordham Plaza, The Bronx

The 11 new items include antiquities from Roman Spain—a fascinating and under-studied area of the ancient Mediterranean basin, according to the museum’s curator, Jennifer Udell. There are also new pieces of Greek and Roman sculpture from the Brooklyn Museum.

A Welcoming Space for All  

Udell said the museum has attracted some “regulars”—students who stop by often and help out around the space. Some have even helped to install the objects, getting the rare opportunity to unbox and arrange pieces of pottery and glass created by human hands thousands of years ago. 

One such student is senior Grace Monteith. When the museum reopened in 2022 after the pandemic, she helped with the reinstallation. “The unpacking was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. Dr. Udell took a picture of me and it’s everywhere on my social media. It’s the coolest,” she said. 

First-Hand Encounters with Antiquities

The museum is a teaching collection that creates unique experiential learning opportunities. Professors in several academic departments bring their classes to the museum, and Udell herself teaches courses in museum studies and other subjects. Like business students who gain experience on the Gabelli School trading floors, students who take a museum studies class with Udell get to work with the objects, make decisions about how they’re presented, and curate a group exhibit at the end of the semester. 

One group of students, Udell’s interns for this semester, are at work on an interactive new development: a mobile app through Bloomberg Connects that will offer museum visitors a guided tour of the collection. They’re putting together audio and video content that will provide historical context and highlight points of interest. 

Udell says the tour will not just be for art history students. The app will have information about theatrical masks for theater majors, ancient glass objects for those interested in organic chemistry, and even something for students studying finance. “We have a cuneiform tablet that’s a receipt for a bundle of reeds. It’s not crypto, but it is ancient economies,” she said. 

New Wonders with Each Visit 

For senior Ryan Moore, visiting the museum never gets old. “Every time I come I notice something new that I’ve never seen before,” said Moore, who helped to reinstall the objects for the reopening in 2022. He pointed to a case he’d helped to arrange, noting the way a sculpture’s wings parted to create the perfect opening through which the object in the background could be seen unobstructed. 

“That’s an arrangement I happened on by chance,” he said. “It’s something I’m still proud of to this day.”  

Establishing a multifaith ministry at a Jesuit university is an important move, said Father Judge. It reflects the changing makeup of the University community.

“I think last spring’s protests on campus showed us the need for dialogue and the need to know one another better, and that’s not simply in a religious sense,” he said. “That’s also in a cultural sense and in looking at different worldviews and different issues that are important to us.” 

Father Judge comes to Fordham with years of on-campus experience: He first arrived at the Rose Hill campus in the mid-1980s as a Jesuit scholastic to study English and philosophy, and has since worked in leadership roles at a number of Jesuit secondary schools including Fordham Prep. We spoke to him about the work of Campus Ministry and why you don’t need to be religious to seek out the department’s services.

What does the director of Campus Ministry do?

The Office of Campus Ministry at Fordham exists to serve the religious and spiritual needs of our students and our faculty and staff. We have about 12 people on staff, and they range from the music director in the University Church; to the directors of religious life for Catholics, Jews, and Muslims; to people who do spiritual direction; to people who run service programs. And then we have a bunch of student interns who help them do all that. Our goal is to make a lot of things available to people so that they continue their religious observance while they’re away from home, but also we give them outlets for developing and deepening their spirituality and finding opportunities to learn through service work.

You have said you believe that Jesuit spirituality can animate everything we do at Fordham. Could you explain what you mean?

A keystone of Ignatian spirituality is…that God is to be found in all things. So I think that’s why Jesuits historically have been missionaries and historically why Ignatius was drawn to the big cities where there’s lots going on and lots of people coming together. There are opportunities for us to find God in new arrangements and new places and new ways. I think that’s at the heart of what we do as a university.

For a student at Fordham who is not religious, what does Campus Ministry offer?

For anybody, we offer a willing ear. There are always pastoral crises, whether or not you think you need a pastoral response to them. People have family members who’ll get ill…They have relationships that go sour, they have goals they’re trying to figure out. So we try always to be a willing ear, whether that’s from a religious perspective or just a listening perspective.

What programming are you most excited about this year?

I think what I’m really excited about is looking at how Jewish life and Muslim life start functioning on campus. It’s been fun finding non-Christian spaces for them to worship in and learning about those things ourselves. We just built our first sukkah on the Rose Hill campus for [the Jewish]Feast of Sukkot, so that’s been a lot of fun. The department itself is engaged in a strategic planning process to look at how this multifaith ministry changes us and how it changes … the programs we offer. I’m very grateful that Fordham has the resources and the will to make this kind of investment in our students. 

Campus Ministry Events and Service Opportunities:

For upcoming Campus Ministry events at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center, and to volunteer with community partners, visit the department website here. You can also follow Campus Ministry on Instagram and on LinkedIn for events and news.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. 

1. Brooklyn Flea 

There’s nothing like a Sunday spent exploring a new borough! Head over to the Brooklyn Flea, located in the DUMBO neighborhood, directly under the Manhattan Bridge. It’s the perfect spot to get some iconic photos and check out a unique mix of vintage clothing, jewelry, art, furniture, and more from local artisans and designers.

Sunday, Oct. 6 through Dec., 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; DUMBO, Brooklyn

2. Soup Dumpling Festival 

As the fall weather settles in, there’s no better way to warm up than at the Soup Dumpling Festival! Hosted by the iconic, Michelin-recommended Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, it’s every foodie’s dream. Don’t miss out on the ultimate comfort food experience! 

Sunday, Oct. 6, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sixth Ave. between W 31st and W 32nd St., Manhattan 

3. Open House New York 

Unlock all the hidden wonders of NYC! For one weekend only, Open House New York offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at over 250 of the city’s most legendary spots. The Nitehawk Prospect Park Rooftop, the NYC Municipal Archives, and the Colossal Media Paint Shop are just a few of the places that you’ll get exclusive access to!

Friday, Oct. 18, through Sunday, Oct. 20; Various locations throughout New York City

4. Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade

Dogs in costumes. Do we have your attention? Bring your own pup to the 33rd Annual Tompkins Square Pet Parade or grab some friends to cheer on the furry contestants. It’s a paw-fect way to get into the Halloween spirit!

Monday, Oct. 21, 1 – 3 p.m.; Tompkins Square, Manhattan 

5. Bronx Halloween Parade

A spooky spectacle awaits you at the Bronx’s 39th Annual Halloween Parade! This year’s theme is zombie apocalypse, so round up your crew and dive into the fright-filled fun!

Saturday, Oct. 26, 12 – 3:30 p.m.; Westchester Avenue and Southern Boulevard, Bronx

She brings diverse experience to the role: She has been senior corporate counsel at the Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America and general counsel at the United Negro College Fund, in addition to the higher education roles she has held, most recently at Kansas State University.

Growing up in Brooklyn and in Rochester, New York, she spent lots of time with her grandmother, who taught at the Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, and university life continues to inspire her. “Being part of the institutions whose focus is preparing students to make the country and the world better,” she said, “is the greatest job ever.”

What drew you to Fordham?

Fordham’s Jesuit model of educating for justice, as well as some of the issues in higher education right now—in particular, last year’s Supreme Court decision on affirmative action and how that may impact enrollment, diversity, and scholarships. Because Fordham is in New York City, where every group in the world is represented, I think we can be a model for other institutions on how to adhere to the Supreme Court decision but also achieve diversity.

What are some higher education issues on the horizon that have a legal aspect?

Artificial intelligence is one—for instance, ensuring that a student’s application is not totally written by AI or a student taking an exam has not gotten the answers from AI. How do you use AI’s power versus having it supplant original thought? I think the biggest risk is trying to ban the technology. I don’t think you can truly ban it because it’s really in the general stream of commerce. I think you have to find a way to harness it as best you can.

Expressive activity is another one. I firmly believe in the First Amendment; the students are very passionate about issues, so how do you have that dialogue with students to share their rights with them? There’s a way to express your views that’s not deleterious to the learning environment.

Can you give a few points of pride from your career?

One example is helping to establish the Gates Millennium Scholars Program when I was with the United Negro College Fund, which works with the Gates Foundation to co-administer the program. It was a $1.6 billion effort to help 20,000 low-income students from underrepresented groups get a college education. The other is when I lobbied on Capitol Hill, also during my time at the United Negro College Fund, to help secure about $2.6 billion in mandatory funding for historically Black and minority-serving institutions in the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, passed in 2010.

Building collaborative and strategic teams—at Kansas State and other places—is something else I’m really proud of: creating space for dialogue and debate, being team-oriented, making sure the counsel’s office is accessible so we’re probing and thinking along with everyone else versus coming in like firefighters after a problem arises.

What do you like most about working as a lawyer in higher education?

Having that exposure to a diversity of important issues. You can go from contract to employment law to constitutional law to athletics. So many major legal issues that are being discussed, even before the Supreme Court, come from higher ed—Title IX, expressive activity and the First Amendment, and research and research security. And being a strategic partner with the leadership of an institution like Fordham is an incredible and rewarding experience. Like I said, for me it’s the greatest job ever!