• Funded By: New York State Education Department
• Grant Type: State
• Current Cycle: 2021-2025 (refunded 2025-2030)
• Award Amount: $1,200,000 (to be updated)
• Funded Since: 2016
• Project Investigator: Mary Kusenda, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology
• Project Coordinator: Stella Pinzon-Goon
• Administrative Assistant: Morgan Johnson
• Internal Partners: School of Arts and Sciences, Barbara H. Hagan School of Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Education and Human Services, School of Business, Office of Research, Scholarship, and Graduate Studies, Division of Student Affairs, Career Center, Office of Mission Integration and Inclusion, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

CSTEP aims to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups who are pursuing professional licensure and careers in mathematics, science, technology and health-related fields.

Impacts:

• Since 2016, CSTEP at Molloy University has served 571 students, averaging 167 per year.
• The program includes several activities geared toward reaching its goals for the STEM population, including:
  • Annual Cornerstone Program, an academic preparation with a review of math, chemistry, biology, and executive functioning offered to incoming freshmen.
  • Interview, Linkedin profile, and resume workshops
  • Panel discussions featuring alumni and other professionals in certain industries
  • Mentoring program
• CSTEP students are also given research opportunities. In 2024, 5 students presented their research at professional conferences, and 26 students began their participation in the summer research assistantship program, overseen by faculty.
• Two CSTEP alumni have been accepted into the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) Post-bac Traineeship.  
• Each year, CSTEP students take a survey regarding their time in the CSTEP program. According to the fall 2024 survey, 96% of students reported that they see the program as a true aid in meeting their career goals.

CSTEP Program

• Funded By: U.S. Department of Education
• Grant Type: Federal
• Current Cycle: 2020-2025 (renewal pending)
• Amount: $1,349,955
• Funded Since: 2001
• Project Supervisor: Ketia Brown, Director of the St. Thomas Aquinas Program
• Program Director: Willie Everett
• Internal Partners: Barbara H. Hagan School of Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Education and Human Services, School of Business, School of Arts and Sciences, Admissions, Registrar, Bursar, Financial Aid, Athletics, Tutoring Center, Writing Center, Career Center, Student Counseling Center, Office of Institutional Research & Data Analytics, Center for Access and Disability, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs                             

 

About:

The TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program is dedicated to empowering first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities to achieve their academic goals. Through personalized support, including academic advising, tutoring, financial literacy, and career guidance, SSS fosters a supportive environment that enhances student retention, graduation rates, and successful transfer from two-year to four-year institutions. By addressing the unique challenges faced by these students, SSS aims to create equitable opportunities for postsecondary success. 

 

Impacts:

• From 2020 through 2023, TRIO was able to provide academic services and support to 480 students (duplicated count as students stay in the program year after year);  who fit the demographic requirements (160/year).
• The three major goals of the grant are student persistence, students remaining in good academic standing, and students successfully obtaining a bachelor’s degree. From 2020 through 2023, the program has exceeded its stated goals in all three categories:
  • Persistence: Goal - 70%; actual attained rate - 88%
  • Good Academic Standing: Goal - 85%; actual attained rate - 96%
  • Bachelor's Degree: Goal - 50%; actual attained rate - 70%

TRIO Program

Enhancing Supports and Services for Students With Disabilities for Postsecondary Success (SWDPS)

• Funded By: New York State Education Department
• Grant Type: State
• Current Cycle: 2025-2026
• Amount: $17,261
• Funded Since: 2022

 

RVC Blue Speaks

• Funded By: RVC Blue Speaks
• Grant Type: Foundation
• Current Cycle: 2025-2026
• Amount: $5,000
• Funded Since: 2025

 

CONNECT Key Personnel:

• Cari Rose-Tomo, Director, Center for Access and Disability, Mission Integration and Inclusion 
• Susan Alimonti, Communication Sciences & Disorders, School of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Dr. Audra Cerruto, Graduate Education - School of Education and Human Services 
• Dr. Jenny LaMonica, Art Department  - School of Arts and Sciences  
• Dr. Erin Reilly, Communication Sciences and Disorders - School of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Dr. Jaime Vitrano, Psychology - School of Arts and Sciences
• Leigh Weilandics, Center for Access & Disability - Mission Integration and Inclusion    
• Lou Cino, Consultant; Continuing Education and Professional Studies
• Cheryl Gitlitz, Social Worker - Consultant

 Internal Partners:

• Center for Access and Disability (Access), Housing and Residence Life, Career Center, Tutoring Services, Health Services, Office of Continuing Education and Professional Studies, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

Molloy CONNECT - Originally an initiative for a summertime college-based transition program for students identifying as neurodivergent - the aim was that with support, the students would be able to participate in the full college experience while maintaining academic success. In the fall of 2024, the multidisciplinary team began the inaugural full-year CONNECT.

NYSED SWDPS - The purpose of this grant is to help degree-granting colleges and universities in NYS to enhance the supports and services they provide to their enrolled students with disabilities. This grant program does not provide direct aid to students, but rather, it provides funding to eligible colleges and universities so they can expand their existing supports for students with disabilities. 

RVC Blue Speaks - This local nonprofit is a coalition of like-minded community members, government officials, business owners and makers-of-change, who are laser-focused on helping families affected by autism. They have generously provided the CONNECT program with funding to support neurodivergent students, many of whom are on the autism spectrum.

 

Impacts:

• Student engagement with the Center for Access and Disability deepened as a result of CONNECT, with increased use of the access lounge and sensory room. This use led to students socializing in a way previously unobserved, and in some cases grades improved.
• The summer CONNECT program, which aims to help transition neurodivergent students from high school into college, has increased college readiness in students and increased socialization.

 

Quotes:

• "One of the main things I can take away ​from this program is how to understand being​ neurodivergent, and how I can be myself despite​ being different from the average person. We also​ learned to be our authentic selves….Being yourself​ makes you happier, and I’m excited to start this next​ chapter of my life being so."​ - Student participant
• "This small group of young strangers became friends. The environment created by the CONNECT team gave the students a safe space to open up to one another...There was no pressure, no judgment and no one excluded. It was amazing. . . giving our kids a chance to have many of the “typical” social experiences college students share each day. In addition...I was able to see what supports [my son] needed to be most successful in a college setting. This insight allowed me to offer whatever guidance and assistance [my son] needed to be most organized, successful, and independent." - Parent of a student participant

Molloy CONNECT

• Funded By: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 
• Grant Type: Federal
• Current Cycle: 2022-2025
• Amount: $306,000
• Funded Since: 2016
• Project Director: Talita Ferrara, EdD, Senior Director of Health and Wellness
• Project Coordinator: Tiare Martinez
• Internal Partners: Division of Student Affairs: Student Counseling Center, Public Safety, Molloy Violence Prevention, Residence Life, Student Health Services; Academic Support Services, Office of Mission Integration and Inclusion, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

The #HearIAM campaign is a program designed to promote suicide and depression awareness and prevention within the Molloy Community. #HearIAM aims to dispel preconceived notions about suicide risk and treatment and increase help seeking behavior.

 

Impacts:

• Training programs were instituted for students and campus personnel, called “gatekeeper training.” Due to these trainings, the number of students seeking campus counseling increased.
• The work of the grant led to the creation of a written policy regarding what to do if a student, faculty, or staff member has been approached by someone who states or indicates intent to harm themselves. This policy is distributed to the community annually.
• "FreshCheck" is an annual event funded through the grant that creates an approachable and hopeful atmosphere where students are encouraged to engage in dialogue about mental health, and helps to build a bridge between students and the mental health resources available on campus, in the community, and nationally.
• These efforts have increased students' awareness of mental health support, improved campus response to at-risk students, and enriched awareness of stigmatized issues. 

#HearIAM Campaign

• Funded By: U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women
• Grant Type: Federal
• Current Cycle: 2024-2027
• Amount: $400,000
• Funded Since: 2018
• Project Supervisor: Karl Koeppel, EdD, Dean of Students
• Project Director: Shannon Pontrelli 
• Internal Partners: Division of Student Affairs: Student Counseling Center, Public Safety, Health Services, Residence Life, Athletics; academic schools and departments, Office of Human Resources, Office of Mission Integration and Inclusion, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs 

 

About:

This grant supports counseling and training as well as the formation and maintenance of a Molloy Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT) focused on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DVDSAS). The MVP law enforcement partners are Rockville Centre Police Department, Nassau County Police Department, and Nassau DA's Office; and community partners include the Hispanic Counseling Center.

 

Impacts:

• Created a Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT), which now includes 56 members, with seven subcommittees.
• Created and support MVP Ambassador program engaging 10-20 undergraduate students each semester in education and advocacy programming. which includes opportunities for campus-wide engagement and reinforces campus-wide partnerships.
• Bystander and consent training at new student orientation and in the First Year Experience course, which educates hundreds of new Molloy first year students each year. Following presentations, students have reported they are more likely to intervene when observing signs of DVDVSAS.
• Training is also provided to CCRT members, public safety officers, and MVP ambassadors. As a result, CCRT members have reported strengthened communication and collaboration across campus and with external stakeholders, and reporting of DVDVSAS on campus has also increased, indicating student awareness.
• A campus climate survey on DVDSAS topics in 2024 reported that 96% of students are aware of the MVP program and its resources, and generally indicated a positive outlook on campus safety and Molloy’s ability to respond to these issues.

MVP Program

• Funded By: Health and Human Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) American Rescue Plan Act (ARP)
• Grant Type: Federal
• Current Cycle: 2021-2025
• Amount: $1,176,724
• Funded Since: 2021 (renewal pending)
• Project Director: Laura Kestemberg, PhD, Associate Professor, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Project Coordinator: Nicole Lara
• Internal Partners: School of Education and Human Services - Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Barbara H. Hagan School of Nursing and Health Sciences - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

The purpose of C5 is to increase the supply of behavioral health professionals, with a special focus on knowledge and understanding of children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth at risk for behavioral health disorders.

The C5 project specifically aims to achieve this through service to medically underserved populations in Metro New York counties, and it places particular focus on children, youth, and teens.

 

Impacts:

• In this fourth year of the program, clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) students and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) students in their final year of study will have received $10,000 internship stipends to work in a variety of interprofessional settings with predominately medically underserved populations.
• By the end of Year 4 (June 2025), the program will have awarded $730,000 to a total of 73 CMHC and PMHNP students.
• Partnered with four local school districts (Hempstead, Baldwin, Freeport, Hicksville) to create innovative programming such as:
  • Developing a specialized program that targets youth at-risk who are struggling with high absenteeism, behavioral concerns, and academic difficulties
  • A Family Fun Day event where clinical-mental health counseling (CMHC) students worked directly with children
  • An annual HRSA workshop series for student participants that addresses the goals of the grant, which include:
    • addressing environmental conditions that contribute to gaps in the delivery of mental health services to children, youth, and families
    • addressing the gaps in service to immigrant populations in NY
    • incorporating evidence-based practices and treatment models to address trauma- related mental health issues

HRSA BHWET Grant

• Funded By: New York State Education Department
• Grant Type: State
• Current Cycle: 2023-2028
• Amount: $687,500
• Funded Since: 2017
• Principal Investigator: Carrie McDermott Goldman, EdD, Associate Professor & Coordinator of Graduate and Post-Graduate TESOL & Bilingual Programs
• Internal Partners: School of Education and Human Services, Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

The current CR-ITI-BE/TESOL grant puts Molloy in partnership with 9 Long Island school districts to provide 100 teachers professional learning opportunities leading to TESOL certification and/or the bilingual extension to meet the needs of the steadily growing populations of multilingual learners (MLLs) throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.           

 

 Impacts of Prior Cycles:

• The 2018-2023 funded program:100% of the 100 teachers from 10 participating school districts who participated completed the TESOL certification and 7 went on to complete the Bilingual Extension.
• The 2014-2017 funded program: Served 60 teachers from 6 districts over 3 years.
• With better prepared teachers, students have greater educational advantages, and this means closer working relations with districts whose populations are significantly Latinx.
• Over 1,600 teachers (from 2021-2023) participated in additional cohorts from a range of districts throughout New York State.

Molloy CR-ITI

• Funded By: National Science Foundation - Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM)
• Grant Type: Federal
• Current Cycle: 2018-2026 (renewal funding through 2031; see new grant highlights section above.)
• Amount: $650,000
• Funded Since: 2018
• Principal Investigator: Maureen Sanz, PhD, Professor of Biology and Director, Faculty Development Center
• Co-Principal Investigators: Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science: Jodi Evans, PhD, Noelle Cutter, PhD, John Tanacredi, PhD, Manyiu Tse, PhD
• Internal Partners: School of Arts and Sciences, Career Center, Tutoring Services, Writing Center, Financial Aid, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs 

 

About:

Molloy’s ASPIRE Program supports scholarships for academically talented low-income students and to study and implement a program of activities that support their recruitment, retention and graduation in STEM.

 Impacts:

• ASPIRE to Careers in Science has and is continuing to prepare STEM graduates to pursue graduate studies or enter the STEM workforce, contributing to national goals for STEM education:
  • The program has met its stated objective of identifying and enrolling 20 eligible students.
  • Cohort I maintained 10 students, six graduated in four years with a B.S. in biology, and four others graduated in five years.
  • Cohort II maintained ten students, three graduated in four years with a B.S. in biology, and six others in five years, four of them with a B.S. in biology and two with a B.S. in environmental science. The remaining two are still in the program, with one graduating with a B.S. in biology in May 2025 and the other on target to graduate with their B.S. in May 2026.
• ASPIRE scholars received up to $10,000 annually in scholarship support, reducing financial burden.
• Participants’ post-graduate paths have included: entry-level basic laboratory positions, clinical pursuits, graduate or research studies, and some non-science fields of employment.

 

Participant Quotes:

• “[The research series in the ASPIRE program] …played a big part of me getting a job in the lab [at a] pharmaceutical company in Riverhead.”
• “Because I was able to rely on research early on, I was able to get the job I have now working in the laboratory. I work as a pipette technician and help do the sample for COVID.”
• “When I first started at Molloy, I wanted to be a PA. But now I [have] realized other opportunities [are available]. [My professors] showed me that there are other lab jobs I can do and continue my research somewhere that can be helpful to others in the future.”
• “I am definitely interested in clinical research [after graduation and the ASPIRE program]. I am also looking into becoming a medical technologist to further my time in the lab and be able to have more experience [in areas] like PCR testing. I want to be a licensed technologist so I can do clinical research and have more hands-on experience in the lab.”

• Funded By: National Grid Foundation
• Grant Type: Foundation
• Current Cycle: 2025-2026
• Amount: $35,000
• Funded Since: 2011
• Internal Partners: Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies, Sustainability Institute, School of Education and Human Services, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

Molloy’s Teaching Green Institutes (TGI), held each summer, are designed to train middle school and high school teachers in environmental issues through graduate, credit-based coursework and field experience, providing suggestions on incorporating environmentally focused curricula into their classrooms.
 

Impacts:

• To date, over 400 teachers have participated in one or more institutes, learning new ways to teach sustainability in their classrooms. The vast majority of these teachers receive scholarship funds from National Grid Foundation to allay the cost of participation.
• Each year, most if not all participants report that their classroom teaching will change or be influenced by what was learned in the institutes.
  
  

Participant Quotes:

• “When teaching about renewable energy, we can have hands-on activities to use rather than just relying on diagrams and videos.”
• “Every year is a new opportunity to look at nature and the world differently. As times change and all of society becomes more environmentally aware, students have come to expect to hear more about sustainability.”
• “I have been wanting to go on field trips that coincide with my topics, and these trips [part of the course experience] would be perfect to align with the topics I teach.”

Teaching Green Institutes

• Funded By: Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
• Grant Type: Foundation
• Current Cycle: 2025
• Amount: $1,125,000
• Funded Since: 2023
• Project Director: Angie Malone, Director of Clinical Services
• Project Coordinator: Karim French
• Internal Partners: Barbara H. Hagan School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies, School of Education and Human Services - Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

This healthcare workforce development program aims to promote education, job opportunities, job growth, and career satisfaction in health-related fields and address health disparities by lifting people up through new career paths, promotions, and supports to address burnout, aiding retention.

 

Impacts:

• In 2024-2025, 166 students have been awarded Healthcare Workforce Development Mother Cabrini Health Foundation scholarships, with 95 enrolled in degree programs and 71 pursuing certificate programs in pharmacy technology, addiction counseling, medical billing, and medical assisting. Several of our degree students applied when they were unable to register for the next semester's courses because of a balance due on their account and risked not completing their degree without the grant-funded scholarship.
• Offered all scholarship recipients personalized one-on-one job coaching, focusing on resume building, job search strategies, interview skills, and career growth planning.
• Launched a new service offering virtual workshops led by Molloy's mental health counseling faculty and students, and through this reached 50 healthcare workers from hospitals, FQHCs, hospices, and home care providers, providing them with essential coping mechanisms and resources for navigating the post-pandemic landscape.

 

Participant Quotes:

• "Aside from paying for school, this scholarship would benefit me by lowering the amount of hours I need to work throughout my studies. Having the opportunity to focus more on my studies while not worrying about picking up extra shifts to pay for tuition will improve my overall health."
• "If I was awarded the scholarship, it would take off a financial burden for me at this point in my life. Mainly I would be so grateful for the help, and I would be steps closer to accomplishing my goal of becoming a Certified Coding Specialist. After I complete my C.C.S. courseload, I plan to get a higher paying job in the medical coding field.”
• “My goals in obtaining an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling are both to foster a career by which I significantly improve the quality of life of others while also pursuing financial stability and personal fulfillment."

MHCF Healthcare Workforce Development

• Funded By: National Science Foundation
• Grant Type: Federal
• Current Cycle: 2018-2026
• Amount: $1,450,000
• Funded Since: 2018
• Principal Investigator: Audrey Cohan, EdD, Senior Dean for Research, Scholarship, and Graduate Studies
• Co-Principal Investigators: School of Arts and Sciences: Jodi Evans, PhD, Chair of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science Department and Professor of Biology; John Tanacredi, PhD, Professor of Earth & Environmental Sciences; Deborah Upton, EdD, Associate Professor of Mathematics
• Other Key Personnel: Fran Wisnewski, EdD, Associate Professor, School of Education and Human Services, and Director, Undergraduate and Combined Degree Education Programs; Maureen Sanz, PhD, Professor of Biology and Director of the Faculty Professional Center
• Internal Partners: Office of Research, Scholarship, and Graduate Studies, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Education and Human Services, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs
• External Partner: Nassau Community College 

 

About:

The Noyce Ambassador Program prepares STEM teachers to work in high-needs middle and secondary schools, grades 7-12. The grant provides scholarships (up to $22,000 junior year and $24,530 senior year) and academic support for undergraduate students who wish to teach at the high school level in underserved communities. Each scholar has to complete a teaching commitment of two years for each year they accept the scholarship. The program's overall goal is to recruit, graduate, and certify 18 STEM teachers.

 

Impacts:

• With the program's overall goal to recruit, graduate, and certify 18 STEM teachers, it has just recruited its 18^th student.
• One student has completed her teaching commitment for the Noyce Ambassadors Program. She has taught for 4 years in a high-needs school in New York City and shared that the Noyce scholarship program benefited her in multiple ways. 
• Another student came to Molloy from Queensborough Community College and completed her undergraduate degree in earth science and adolescent education. The student earned a master's degree from the American Museum of Natural History through an earth science fellowship program for college graduates who want to become science teachers. She currently holds a teaching position at Copiague Middle School, recently assuming the role of research teacher. For the middle school science fair, she asked Dr. Cohan, Dr. Suter, and Dr. Wisnewski to be judges, and they thoroughly enjoyed seeing her in her position as a teacher, role model, and mentor.
• A Noyce Ambassador, a senior in the adolescent math education program, participates in the Partnership for Global Justice Fellowship at the Sustainability Institute. 

Noyce Ambassador Program

• Funded By: Health Resources and Services Administration
• Grant Type: Federal
• Current Cycle: 2024-2025
• Funded Since: 2006
• Total Amount, All Years: $1,205,011
• Project Supervisor: Marcia Gardner, PhD, RN, CPNP, CPN, ANEF, Dean, Barbara H. Hagan School of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Internal Partners:  Barbara H. Hagan School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Financial Aid, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

The Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) seeks to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide by providing low interest loans for individuals studying to be nurse faculty and loan cancellation at up to 85% for those who then go on to work as faculty for at least four years. 

 

Impacts:

• 42 students, one master's and 41 doctoral students, have participated in Molloy's Nurse Faculty Loan Program as of 2025; greater majority of participants obtained faculty positions in higher education and received loan forgiveness.

 

• Funded By: Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
• Grant Type: Foundation
• Current Cycle: 2025-2027
• Amount: $2,325,000
• Funded Since: 2021
• Project Director: Angie Malone, Director, Clinical Services
• Project Coordinator: Lori Giarratano
• Internal Partners: Barbara H. Hagan School of Nursing and Health Sciences: Nursing, Communication Sciences and Disorders; School of Education and Human Services: Education, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Social Work; School of Arts and Sciences: Music Therapy; Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

This grant supports the Molloy Community Care Mobile Health Clinic, allowing the multidisciplinary team (nursing, communication sciences and disorders, education, clinical mental health counseling, social work, and music therapy) to continue providing services to historically marginalized members of local communities as well as scholarships to students working as part of service teams.

 

Impacts:

• Since 2021, Molloy students, with faculty supervision, have provided free health and wellness services to more than 8,000 children and adults in Nassau and Suffolk counties. In 2024, provided services to 3,326 unique individuals at 79 locations including community health fairs, community-based organizations, churches, schools, libraries, unstably housed programs and more. Each discipline adjusted the services offered based on the population (e.g., children, seniors, languages spoken, theme). Molloy students were exposed to the reality of health inequities and the importance of providing tailored care to meet the needs of communities served. They performed tasks such as:
  • Medical screenings (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes)
  • Speech/language and hearing screenings
  • Mental health counseling
  • Delivering virtual social-emotional (SEL) programs
  • Music therapy sessions
  • Case management, resource and referral

 

Student and Community Participant Quotes:

• “Therapy has helped me to understand me better and be a better mother. I want to change my life, that is why I like attending the psychoeducational groups.” – Mental health services client
• “During the Shinnecock Nation event, I was able to recognize how important it is for nurses to have an understanding of other cultures and their perspective on health.” - Nursing student
• “My favorite part of the [Mobile Clinic] project was going to different communities and engaging with community members and helping them get connected with services they need.” – Social work student

Mobile Clinic

• Funded By: Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
• Grant Type: Foundation
• Current Cycle: 2025
• Amount: $175,000
• Funded Since: 2023
• Project Director: Angie Malone, Director, Clinical Services
• Project Coordinator: Karim French 
• Internal Partners: School of Business, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

The professional development and community capacity building program exists to support healthy communities by offering capacity building opportunities enhancing skills and expertise of area professionals and nonprofit organizations in providing need-based services and programs to underserved populations.

 

Impacts:

• In 2024, the project exceeded the goals to reach at least 100 organizations, have at least 40 of them participate in training, 20 participate in networking events, and offer 7 individualized, hands-on intensive clinics.
• Seventy-one people attended the spring conference and fall webinars averaged 40 attendees. 
• Hands-on intensive clinics were offered for nonprofit organizations. Eight teams supporting seven organizations were created. The organizations that worked with our capstone-like teams were provided with a final report with recommendations at the end of the semester. 
• Students were chosen based on financial need and interest in working with nonprofits. In the spring 12 students and 9 recent alumni worked on this project and were able to showcase their outcomes at the April 2024 conference. Seven additional students supported the fall client projects.

 

Nonprofit Participant Quotes:

• “It has been a pleasure working with the Molloy School of Business team on brainstorming the best way the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation grant can be utilized to help our moms in the program. Not only was the team open to our suggestions but they showed a real passion for the work we do in the community to support at-risk and vulnerable birthing populations in Nassau County. Through extensive research they were able to purchase items for birth kits that will be distributed to moms in our Black Moms Support Circles starting in March. We appreciate your commitment, support and dedication to the Women's Diversity Network and look forward to working with you in the future.” - The Women’s Diversity Network
• “I’m thrilled to send glowing feedback to and about the Molloy School of Business team as they worked with COPE on board development strategies. The Molloy School of Business team members were attentive and responsive and the ideas they presented will be helpful. Specifically, we received compelling, professional deliverables with actionable, insightful recommendations which will be shared with the COPE board’s executive committee members as well.” - COPE Foundation

MHCF Nonprofit Capacity Building

• Funded By: New York Community Trust - Horace and Amy Hagedorn Fund
• Grant Type: Foundation
• Current Cycle: 2024-2025
• Amount: $132,951
• Funded Since: 1998 (by different funders)
• Project Director: Sarah Shin, Director, Office of Experiential Learning and Community Engagement
• Project Coordinator: Wendy Espinosa
• Internal Partners: Office of Experiential Learning and Community Engagement, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

The Rising Star Camp is a community-based collaboration between local school districts and Molloy University. The program offers Molloy students an opportunity to work directly with NYS certified teachers and the participating children, rising 5^th graders. University students are assigned to designated children and spend the summer as a mentor, coach, or teacher in areas of academics, creative arts, sports and off-campus trips. In turn, the camp serves as a place for children to thrive and learn with their peers.

 

Impacts:

• The children who participate get to meet and interact with other students from participating school districts, and many have reported that this has made the transition to middle and high school smoother.
• Elementary students build strong relationships with their mentors. Initially shy or reserved students become more confident as they form bonds, and by the end of the program, both elementary and college students display noticeable improvements in their communication skills and overall confidence.
• The program’s focus on academics is evident in the measurable growth seen in students. Pre-and post-assessments of literacy and math skills revealed improvement, reflecting the effectiveness of the camp’s academic structure.

 Quotes from parents of young participants:

• “My oldest daughter attended this program three years ago and [my other child] attended this year. She was so happy to a part of the program, spoke so highly of her mentors and the friends she made. This program is very impactful to our community and I hope it continues.”
• “My daughter loved the program. She has never been to a summer camp before & so her first experience has been so memorable for her. It has really helped her on her journey of becoming more independent as a future 5th grader.”
• “This is a great program. My son always has a smile on his face when talking about his day at Rising Star Summer Camp.”

 

Quotes from Molloy student mentors:

• “My love for teaching has strengthened. I have learned from watching other teachers and even felt as part of the teaching experience through my peers. Overall I think this program has definitely improved my teaching philosophy.”
• “[Rising Star] was one the first times that I had a job working with kids other than volunteering. It helped solidify that I want to work as a pediatric nurse.”
• “[The program transformed my] confidence, definitely. [I believe] more in my abilities, even in the face of failure, and pushing through regardless to try my best.”

Rising Star

• Funded By: New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and through Cameron Engineering, an IMEG Company
• Grant Type: State
• Current Cycle: 2021-2025
• Amount: $270,000
• Funded Since: 2016
• Project Director: Neal Lewis, Director, Molloy Office for Community and Government Affairs
• Internal Partners: Sustainability Institute, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

About:

Molloy’s Sustainability Institute (SI), in partnership with Cameron Engineering, an IMEG Company, and under a contract with NYSERDA, coordinates the Clean Energy Communities (CEC) program on Long Island. The CEC program aims to create a healthy and sustainable environment by investing in future-focused clean energy solutions for their community. Through this program, SI staff provide technical assistance to local governments on Long Island to help them prioritize and complete specific energy efficiency and renewable energy measures that reduce energy bills, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and help foster a green economy in the region. Completing those actions provides the communities points in the program that make them eligible for grants to implement more clean energy actions.

 

Impacts:

• The 45 Long Island counties, towns, and villages participating in the CEC program have completed 223 High Impact Actions, 33 have been designated as Clean Energy Communities, and 6 have advanced designation.
• SI continues to host trainings on enforcing energy construction codes for town and village building inspectors and code officers, as well as trainings for local government leaders to get to know the CEC program and help them strategize the best way to leverage for their communities.

SI - Clean Energy Communities

• Funded By: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and through Cameron Engineering, an IMEG Company
• Grant Type: State
• Current Cycle: 2025-2028
• Amount: $60,000
• Funded Since: 2022
• Project Director: Neal Lewis, Director, Molloy Office for Community and Government Affairs
• Internal Partners: Sustainability Institute, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

The CSC program encourages local governments to plan for climate change and mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainability Institute staff provides technical assistance to local governments to help them engage in the program. 

 

Impacts:

• In Nassau and Suffolk, 32 communities have registered in the program by adopting the Climate Smart Pledge, and nine are Certified Climate Smart Communities, eight Bronze Certified and one Silver Certified. 

 

SI - Climate Smart Communities

• Funded by: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) through Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County
• Grant Type: State
• Current Cycle: 2023-2027
• Amount: $42,000
• Funded since: 2023 
• Project Director: Neal Lewis, Director, Molloy Office for Community and Government Affairs
• Internal Partners: Sustainability Institute (SI), Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

In partnership with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County and under a contract with NYSERDA, the Sustainability Institute works along with multiple organizations in the Long Island Clean Energy Hub program to promote the many clean energy programs and incentives available to residents and businesses. A particular emphasis is placed on ensuring residents of disadvantaged communities benefit from these programs both by saving money on energy and through job opportunities in the green economy. The role of SI on the Clean Energy Hub team is to provide outreach to and communication with local governments and to coordinate with Clean Energy Communities efforts on Long Island.

 

Impacts:

• In 2024,  as part of Molloy's work with the Clean Energy Hub, SI offered two webinars to officials from Long Island counties, towns, and villages to educate them about how to run community campaigns to encourage their residents to adopt clean energy measures such as electric vehicles, heat pumps, and community solar.
• The webinars had an attendance of over 40, and several community campaigns were initiated by local governments as a result.

 

Sustainability Institute/Clean Energy Hub

• Funded By: National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) - Research Grant in the Arts
• Grant Type: Federal
• Current Cycle: 2021-2025
• Amount: $90,000
• Funded Since: 2021
• Project Director: John Carpente, PhD, Professor, Music Therapy and Founder & Director, The Rebecca Center for Music Therapy
• Key Personnel: Molloy Team: Music Therapists - Diana Abourafeh, Jill Mullholland and Michael Kelliher, MS; Hia Datta, PhD, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Director of Communication Sciences and Disorders; Research assistants: Danielle Visingardi and Gabriela Espinal-Santiago 
• Internal Partners: Rebecca Center for Music Therapy, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs
• External co-PI: Devin Casenhiser, PhD, Professor and Program Director in Speech Pathology
•  University of Tennessee Health and Science Center

 

About:

The Rebecca Center received a prestigious research grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to study the impact of improvisational music therapy on the neurological functioning of autistic children ages 7–9. The study is titled Improving Neurological Functioning in Autistic Children through Music.

 

Impacts:

• The study has made a significant impact by providing music opportunities and making music experiences accessible to autistic children.
• The grant enabled the delivery of free music therapy services, as well as free evaluations and EEG scans for participants.
• Additionally, many children who participated in the study expressed a desire to continue with music therapy and enrolled in clinical services at the Rebecca Center.
• This initiative has not only advanced research but also expanded access to music therapy, enriching the lives of autistic children through meaningful music experiences.

Rebecca Center for Music Therapy

• Funded By: New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)
• Grant Type: State
• Current Cycle: 2024-2025
• Amount: $10,000
• Funded Since: 2021 ($25,000) and 2024 ($25,000)
• Project Director: Angelo Fabroni, Artistic Director, Madison Theatre at Molloy University
• Project Coordinator: Matt Gibbons, General Manager
• Internal Partners: Madison Theatre, Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

About:

Molloy has received its third NYSCA Support for Organizations grant to provide funds to help the operation of Madison Theatre. The money goes towards supporting things such as artist fees including directors, actors, scenic, lighting, and costume designers; marketing and advertising productions, and other operating expenses like sound, lighting, and scenic equipment.

 

Impacts:

• In the 2024 award year, Madison Theatre was able to use the funds toward two shows, Sweet Charity and the Molloy University Christmas Celebration.
• These shows had a combined ten performances, bringing over 1,700 audience members to the theatre. The funds allowed Madison to employ over 100 artists, including directors, designers, musicians and performers. 
• This grant also made it possible to offer reduced ticket pricing to those from low-income communities, senior groups, and those from a partnering organization for people with disabilities.
• With this valuable NYSCA funding, Madison Theatre supported those working in the arts as well as were able to make the arts accessible to people from all walks of life.

 

Madison Theatre at Molloy University