We can help with that. Last month, we gathered food and drink recommendations near Lincoln Center, and this month, we asked Rose Hill faculty and staff to share their top spots near campus. They did not disappoint! Read on to discover Fordham’s favorite places to eat and drink in the neighborhood.  

But first, do you have recommendations of your own to share? Use this form to tell us where you like to grab lunch or an after-work drink and we will add your recommendations to the list.

1. Zero Otto Nove, 2357 Arthur Ave

Zero Otto Nove’s pizzas are made in the Sorrento style, with a thin, crispy crust and a soft, saucy center. Kirsten Swinth, professor of history, says it’s the perfect place for an outing with the family. She likes to order the “La Riccardo” pizza, which has smoked mozzarella, pancetta, and basil on top of a butternut squash puree.

2. DeLillo Pastry Shop, 610 E 187th St.

It wouldn’t be a trip to Arthur Avenue without some Italian pastries, and Swinth says DeLillo Pastry Shop is a great option for a coffee and an after-dinner treat. She says the pignoli cookies are her favorite, but her family loves the cannoli. 

The family-owned pasticceria is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year, so they must be doing something right.

3. Gino’s Pastry Shop, 580 E 187th St.

Gino’s Pastry Shop is another neighborhood favorite for Italian baked goods, and one that’s been around for over 60 years. Ahead of the Easter holiday, Gino’s sells a distinctly Sicilian treat that you won’t find in many places: edible lamb figurines made out of marzipan. 

Year round, you can order a fantastic cannoli, cookie, or sfogliatelle. That’s what makes it a favorite for Summer Lily Egan, communications officer at Fordham’s International Institute of Humanitarian Affairs. 

Egan is also a fan of Morrone Pastry Shop, which makes a special seasonal Easter egg bread, as well as Bronx Beer Hall inside the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, where she recently organized a happy hour for faculty and staff.

4. NYBG’s Pine Tree Café, 2900 Southern Blvd.

For Professor Keri Walsh, who teaches English literature and Irish studies, the Pine Tree Café within the New York Botanic Garden is a springtime oasis right in Fordham’s backyard. 

“I like to meet colleagues, students, or visitors to campus there for a cup of tea or cappuccino and then a walk through the garden in any season, but especially spring and fall,” Walsh said. 

She recommends checking out the farmer’s market when it’s open, especially the Boogie Down Bronx Honey stall. 

Best of all, admission to the garden is free with a Fordham ID.

5. Teitel Brothers, 2372 Arthur Ave. 

Teitel Brothers is a great example of the New York City melting pot: The Teitels are a Jewish family who immigrated from Austria and then opened the Italian grocer on Arthur Avenue in 1915. The small shop is known for its wide selection of Italian imports, from prosciutto and Parmesan, to olives, pastas, and tomato sauces. 

It’s also a business with a Fordham connection. Mike Teitel, FCRH ’80, is the third-generation co-owner. “I’ve come full circle. I love working here and meeting the students. It’s like a homecoming,” he told Fordham Now.

6. Antonio’s Trattoria, 2370 Belmont Ave. 

Antonio’s Trattoria prides itself on “authentic Italian food cooked with love, approved by Nonna,” according to its website. Palma Salerno, department administrator for the Computer and Information Science program, couldn’t agree more. 

Antonio’s has “incredible food made with locally sourced ingredients,” Salerno said. For example, the ravioli comes from Borgatti’s, a 90-year-old business with a Fordham connection: Christopher Mario Borgatti, who has worked at the 90-year-old business that’s been in his family for generations, is a 2019 alumnus.

7. Johnson’s Bar-B-Q, 790 E 163rd St. 

Mark Naison, professor of African American studies and history, says his favorite spot to eat near campus is about two miles away in the Morrisania section of the Bronx: Johnson’s Bar-B-Q, a family owned restaurant that’s been serving take-out soul food since 1954. 

“It’s so good that my Rose Hill students who’ve been there often take their friends and roommates,” Naison said. 

The owner, Dwayne Johnson, is the son of the late founders, Pauline and James Johnson. “He’s incredibly welcoming and loves having Fordham students and staff come there because he went to high school with Denzel Washington,” Naison said.

Ninety-four percent of undergraduates in the Class of 2024 were employed, enrolled in continuing education, or doing volunteer or military service six months after earning their degrees, according to Fordham’s Office of Institutional Research, which compiles this information each year. The “landed rate,” as it’s called, rose five percentage points from 2023, an increase largely driven by a jump in the arts and sciences rate—from 85% to 93% year over year. 

Tracking Graduate Success

Fordham’s commitment to its students continues after commencement; the University’s Career Center follows up with recent arts and sciences graduates, sending surveys, checking in on their plans, and offering help to those who need it. The Gabelli School’s Personal and Professional Development Center follows up with recent Gabelli School graduates, and works with students on career readiness extensively throughout their undergraduate years.

94% of 2024 graduates found jobs and meaningful opportunities within six months of earning their degrees.

According to Career Center Director Annette McLaughlin, the University was able to track down 87% of the 2,115 students who graduated in 2024—an exceptionally high “knowledge rate.” In 2023, the average knowledge rate for American universities was about 55%. 

“ The Career Center and Gabelli’s Personal and Professional Development Center take it very seriously to get as close as possible to knowing where every single student ends up,” said McLaughlin. “We’re proactively reaching out to find out who’s still seeking and why, as well as how we can help them get over the finish line.”

Helping Students Become Career-Ready

As for the eight-point jump in the arts and sciences landed rate, McLaughlin attributes it to a number of efforts that have been rolling out for several years, including partnerships with arts and sciences faculty to bring Career Center staff into their classrooms; working with student “career ambassadors” to connect the student body with Career Center resources; bringing students and alumni together for mentorship; and a one-credit career exploration course that helps students become career-ready. 

According to McLaughlin, even the most highly engaged students can need some help making the shift from college to career. 

“ Many students who do very well academically may not have focused on, ‘What next?’” she said. “We create opportunities for them to catch up.”

Health Careers and Med School

About 8% of 2024 arts and sciences graduates, or 56 alumni, entered the health care field, an industry that’s projected to grow much faster than average over the next decade. Many of these students landed job titles like medical scribe, research assistant, or lab technician, which are often a step before medical school, McLaughlin said.  

This was the case for 2024 graduate Sophie Epstein, who studied neuroscience and sociology at Fordham and is now a clinical research assistant at Mount Sinai. She says her well-rounded undergraduate education prepared her for her job, as well as for her successful medical school application. 

“ Sociology exposed me to the structural factors that might affect how someone interacts with the health care system differently than what I see in a textbook,” Epstein said. “It was a great way to prepare to address those differences so I can best treat everyone as a doctor.” 

Blending Research with Clinical Work

At Mount Sinai, Epstein is researching how different socioeconomic factors—like race, income, insurance status, or zip code—impact patients’ recoveries after surgery for a brain tumor. She’ll be starting medical school at Stony Brook in the fall, pursuing both her M.D. and a Ph.D. 

This dual track will allow Epstein to train as a doctor while also building on her research skills, a passion she developed during her time at Fordham in the chemistry lab of  professor Nick Sawyer, Ph.D. Epstein is interested in researching drugs so she can not only provide care, but also discover treatments.  

“ If I want to be a neurologist and treat patients with Alzheimer’s, I want to also be looking for a drug that treats Alzheimer’s,” Epstein said. “It feels like the perfect way to do the most I can for patients.”

Paving the Way to Better Cancer Treatments

Christian Chung and Michael Kong, both natural science majors, have been studying the gene BRCA2 in a lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering. The gene produces proteins that repair damaged DNA, which is why people who inherit mutations in BRCA genes are prone to cancer. 

Kong, a junior, is researching how cells can continue to live and replicate when missing the gene. Chung, a senior, is examining how different changes to BRCA2 affect a cell’s ability to repair itself, as well as its sensitivity to certain chemotherapy treatments. 

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering apply the lab’s findings to improve cancer treatments for their patients. “Essentially, we’re feeding our data to the clinicians for them to optimize their therapies,” said Kong. “By understanding the mechanism behind how the cell develops, we can modify the therapy to better treat specific cases of breast cancer.” 

Documenting the Shifting Landscape of the West

Alison Kulak, a senior studying visual arts with a minor in environmental studies, traveled to Idaho to document the relationship between humans and nature through photography. For the fair, she compiled her images into an exhibit,“Natura Es Perpetua (Let Nature Be Perpetual): A Visual Examination of Human-Environment Interaction in the Northwest United States.” She also created a photography book as part of the project.

“I wanted to explore the respectful, give-and-take relationship people have with the land out west,” Kulak said, noting that she also wanted to capture the ways that relationship is changing due to raw materials extraction and industrial animal operations. Her photos feature subjects like windswept prairie grass with a lonely grain silo in the distance, ranchers riding horseback before a mountain range, and crowded cattle feedlots. 

Insights from an Indigenous Island Culture  

For her research project, senior Katrina Martinez Luna traveled to Batanes, a remote island group north of the mainland Philippines where the majority of the population are Indigenous Ivatan people. 

Luna, an international political economy major who grew up in the Philippines herself, wanted to understand why the Ivatan have higher standards of living and less food insecurity and poverty than many Indigenous groups. 

Through 15 interviews with locals, she uncovered one possible explanation: self-determination. The Ivatan have a lot of freedom to make decisions about land use, resources, and governance independently. They’ve used that freedom to apply deeply held cultural values around mutual cooperation and sharing, raising the quality of life for everyone, Luna said. 

“They have a really strong network of grassroots cooperatives and associations,” said Luna. “They make sure that everyone is able to bring home a fair wage.”

She hopes her research can serve as a caution to governments as they consider new laws that may restrict Indigenous rights. 

Learn more about the 2025 ARS Nova participants and their projects.  

Clerkin serves as the director of climate resilience research and innovation at the International Rescue Committee, an organization that delivers humanitarian aid to people in acute political and economic crises across the globe. Her experiences with JVC, and later with Fordham’s Graduate Program in International Political Economy and Development (IPED), helped solidify her interest in humanitarian work, and ultimately her passion for supporting agricultural communities grappling with the effects of climate change. 

A Finance Major Turned Jesuit Volunteer 

Clerkin graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2010—a couple of years into the Great Recession—with a degree in finance. Rather than entering the dismal job market, she chose to join JVC. She served as a caseworker at a homeless shelter in Hartford, Connecticut, helping people apply for food stamps and housing. It was a “wet shelter,” meaning they didn’t turn away people with criminal histories or active addictions. 

Though she realized direct service work wasn’t for her, the experience was transformative for Clerkin. “It was a big year of growth for me. I learned  a lot of lessons in radical compassion and empathy for populations that often get dismissed and ignored,” she said. 

Fordham’s IPED Program: A Natural Next Step

Next, Clerkin entered the IPED program at Fordham, a natural choice considering her father, grandfather, and uncle all attended the University. 

In keeping with the Jesuit tradition of being “men and women for others,” Fordham has a close connection with JVC: 304 Fordham undergraduates have volunteered with JVC since 1977, and at least one Fordham alum has volunteered every year since, including four who are currently volunteering, the group said. Another 15 students who earned their undergraduate degrees at other universities also joined JVC after earning a graduate degree from Fordham’s IPED program.

A Clinton Foundation Internship

While in IPED, Clerkin was most interested in clean energy programs. But during her first job after graduate school with the Clinton Foundation, she worked on an agricultural project with a small team in Rwanda, Malawi, and Tanzania and “fell in love” with agriculture. 

Even then, Clerkin was hearing from local farmers about shifting weather patterns and changes in crops. “Farmers, especially in countries that are bearing a higher burden of the climate crisis, are the canaries in the mine shaft,” she said. “ The bad part about that analogy is that the canary dies.” 

Building Global Climate Resilience

Clerkin has since turned that experience into a calling. As director of climate resilience at the International Rescue Committee, she helps farmers find strategies to adapt to climate change. One of her current projects in Syria helps farmers test and develop wheat seed varieties that are more drought and heat resistant, which could help mitigate the region’s ongoing famines. 

“ Climate resilience is integral to food systems, especially in rural communities where agriculture is the backbone of the economy,” she said.  “We’re committed to building resilience in these protracted crisis settings that are also bearing the highest burden of the climate crisis.” 

Manhattan’s Glasshouse venue was buzzing with pride on Monday evening as 800 Fordham donors, alumni, and scholars gathered for the Fordham Founder’s Dinner. They had much to celebrate: The dinner raised more than $2.5 million for the Fordham Founder’s Undergraduate Scholarship Fund and commemorated the successful conclusion of the University’s fundraising campaign, Cura Personalis | For Every Fordham Student.

“This night is so much fun. We toast each other, we celebrate Fordham, we pray together and we laugh,” said University President Tania Tetlow. Fordham gives students the skills they need to matter to the world, she said, shouting out the alumni in the room as “proof” that it works. “So for all of you who came tonight, thank you.”

The annual Founder’s Dinner recognizes an exceptional group of students, the Fordham Founder’s Scholars, as well as the generous donors who make their studies possible. Three benefactors—Henry S. Miller, FCRH ’68, PAR; Cathy E. Minehan; and David M. Tanen, LAW ’96—were presented with the Fordham Founder’s Award in honor of their personal accomplishments and unwavering support of the University.

A Night of Celebration and Gratitude

His Eminence Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, who received an honorary doctorate from the University in 2012 and a Founder’s Award in 2016, delivered the evening’s invocation. Next, Alexa Carmona, FCRH ’26, sang the national anthem, while members of the joint service Color Guard of Fordham’s Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC posted the colors.

“Fordham is proud of its 177-year military legacy,” the announcer said, noting that the University “is home to more than 500 military-connected students, including veterans, veteran dependents, and future leaders in our ROTC programs.”

Armando Nuñez, GABELLI ’82, chair of Fordham’s Board of Trustees, then gave a brief introduction.

“We have so much to celebrate tonight,” said Nuñez. He noted that Fordham had surpassed its fundraising goals for the Cura Personalis campaign, which concluded in the fall, raising over $370 million to enhance the student experience, increase financial aid, and more. “We are so incredibly proud of our talented students and so appreciative of our generous donors,” Nuñez said. 

Watch Nuñez’s full speech.

Speaking on behalf of the 48 Founder’s Scholars, Yves Andradas, FCLC ’25, expressed gratitude for the donors to the scholarship fund for opening the doors to a Fordham education for students like him.

“Every donor in this room plays a significant role in making my dream … a reality. So on behalf of all the students who were graced enough to be named Founder’s Scholars, our gratitude stretches far and wide,” said Andradas, who is studying philosophy and theology. “If hearing it from me isn’t enough, let my immigrant Haitian parents tell you they are so grateful not to have a college tuition bill at their doorstep every semester.” 

Watch Andradas’ full speech.

Helping the Next One in Line 

While accepting his award, Henry Miller shared words of wisdom from country music star Tim McGraw. 

“When you get where you’re going, don’t forget to turn back around and help the next one in line,” said Miller, quoting from McGraw’s song “Humble and Kind.” 

It was an appropriate sentiment from Miller, who attended Fordham on scholarships and then went on to build an extraordinarily successful career in business. He has since served on Fordham’s Board of Trustees and given generously to the University to support the Jewish studies program, athletics, scholarships, and more. 

Miller went on to share heartfelt advice with the scholars and attendees that touched on six key principles: philanthropy, integrity, respect, hard work, talent, and sense of humor.

Watch Miller’s full speech.

Cathy Minehan, who made history as the first female president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, discussed her late husband, E. Gerald Corrigan, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and proud Fordham alumnus, benefactor, and trustee. 

“Jerry credited Fordham with preparing him for the economic and theoretical challenges he faced in his career, but way more importantly, for the strong public service thread of Fordham’s Jesuit education,” said Minehan. “I have been honored to continue Jerry’s legacy of generosity in supporting Fordham students.” 

Watch Minehan’s full speech.

David Tanen, a biotech entrepreneur whose generosity has greatly impacted the Fordham School of Law, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to contribute and urged others to follow suit. “I encourage everyone to uphold the values Fordham represents and support the community that has given us so much,” said Tanen, who has supported scholarships, professional programs, and more at the Law School.

Watch Tanen’s full speech.

Tetlow, addressing the Founder’s Scholars, echoed donors’ remarks and encouraged students to pay it forward when they can. 

“You have no idea how happy it makes us to do for you what others did for us. We hope that one day, years from now, you get a chance to invest in other young people and that, at that moment, you’ll remember this magical night,” said Tetlow. 

Watch Tetlow’s full speech.

Looking Toward the Future 

Founder’s Scholar Hiba Haloui, GABELLI ’25, one of the student emcees during the second half of the evening, offered a brief reflection on the close of the Cura Personalis campaign.

“The impact of this campaign and every Fordham donor was felt by every Fordham student,” Haloui said, before sharing that the Founder’s scholarship was the “cornerstone” of her journey from Morocco to New York.

Founder’s Scholar Noah Khalil, GABELLI ’25, introduced a video featuring student reflections in celebration of the close of the Cura Personalis campaign. He expressed gratitude to the evening’s donors.

“The Fordham Founder’s Scholarship is an immense blessing, not only for its financial support, but mainly for what it symbolizes,” said Khalil. “It’s a representation of your belief in our ability and potential to achieve more than we ever thought possible.”

In her closing remarks, President Tetlow sketched out a bright future for the University, made possible by the ongoing support of Fordham’s community. 

She highlighted the recent announcement of a $100 million donation from trustees emeriti and former Founder’s honorees Maurice and Carolyn Cunniffe—the largest gift in the University’s history—which will pave the way for a cutting-edge science facility and the expansion of STEM degree programs. 

Tetlow said Fordham will set itself apart by not only teaching technical skills, but by giving students the ethical foundation to wield emerging technologies like AI for the greater good. 

“For almost two centuries we’ve transformed lives as Ignatius taught us. And thanks to all of you, we will keep doing that for centuries to come,” said Tetlow. “The great philosopher Archimedes said, ‘Give me a fulcrum and I shall move the world.’ Fordham is that fulcrum and all of you have used it to move the world tonight.” 

The video below, shown at the dinner, was created to celebrate the close of the Cura Personalis campaign. It is a gift of thanks from our students to our donors:

Before we dive in, we want to hear your recommendations as well! Share your favorite spots using this form and we’ll add them to the list.

Here are six recommendations for noontime nibbles and happy hour hangouts near the Lincoln Center campus, from Fordham faculty and staff: 

1. Kashkaval Gardens , 852 9th Ave.

A staple of the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood since 1997, Kashkaval Gardens comes recommended by both Associate Professor of Theology John Seitz and DAUR’s Rachel Kartinger, associate director of young alumni and student engagement. 

Kartiganer recommends bringing a few friends to the cozy spot known for their Mediterranean tapas and sharing the 4-dip sampler and the kale salad. “I am not a big kale person but this salad has converted me,” she said.

2. Alfie’s Kitchen & Craft Beer Bar, 800 9th Ave.

According to Daniel Marcus-toll, adjunct professor at Fordham’s School of Law, Alfie’s is the perfect spot for end-of-semester celebrations.

Specializing in craft beer, cocktails, and “elevated comfort food,” Alfie’s has happy hour specials that run until 7 p.m., seven days a week. 

For a midday break, try the $20 lunch deal, which includes a burger, fries, and a beer.

3. Kung Fu Little, 811 8th Ave.

Kung Fu Little is a short subway ride from campus, but according to Holly Curtis, Fordham’s assistant provost for corporate relations, it’s well worth the trip (or, a delivery order). 

This fast, casual Midtown spot specializes in steamed buns, soup dumplings, and ramen made with fresh hand-pulled noodles.

4. The Independent Cafe, 61 W 62nd St.

Inside the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center is the Independent Cafe, which sells reasonably priced sandwiches and coffee drinks that are, admittedly, similar to the offerings of other cafes nearby. 

But what is unique about this spot are the free live performances you can sometimes catch from one of the cafe tables. That’s what makes it a favorite for Sharif Mowlabocus, associate professor in the Department of Communication and Media Studies.

5. Breads Bakery, 1890 Broadway

Breads Bakery offers fresh-baked breads, pastries, sandwiches, salads, and espresso drinks. According to Audrey Gilbert, director of marketing strategy, the spinach and feta burekas are unforgettable. 

Gilbert says she’s also a big fan of the chocolate babka, which was once named the Best Babka in New York by New York Magazine.

6. Burrito Box, 885 9th Ave.

Sometimes you just need some Mexican food. When those moments arise at work, Polly Kaplan, associate director of academic affairs and academic records, turns to Burrito Box. 

The hole-in-the-wall shop just two blocks from campus has been serving standard Tex-Mex faire in the neighborhood for over 20 years, including many vegetarian options.

Bonus Picks

Tartinery, 10 Columbus Circle, Third Floor: On the upper level of the Shops at Columbus building is an outpost of Tartinery, a French cafe-bar known for its open-faced sandwiches, pastries, and coffee. For Sarah Gambito, professor of creative writing, the stand-out menu item is the warm goat cheese salad, which includes bacon, pine nuts, and toast. 

The Greek Kitchen, 889 10th Ave.: For a quick lunch or a meal before a Lincoln Center performance, Linda Loschiavo, Director of Libraries, heads here for the fresh, well-prepared food. She recommends the grilled chicken platter, the keftedes (pan-fried meatballs), and their traditional Greek salad. As a bonus, Loschiavo says their large portions make it easy to share dishes with colleagues.

Justino’s Pizza, 881 10th Ave.: Patricia Rodriguez, Director of Operations and Events at the Graduate School of Social Service, is a big fan of the consistently flavorful food and dependable delivery at Justino’s. Their pizza is excellent, she said, and they have the best meatball parm hero on a toasted garlic roll.

“Regina is an inspiring role model who will show our graduates what it looks like to live out our Jesuit values,” said Fordham President Tania Tetlow. “Her remarkable talent, strong work ethic, and unwavering commitment to justice make her the ideal speaker for our commencement ceremony. We’re thrilled to honor her.” 

Road to Hollywood

Hall has appeared in numerous hit films, including The Best Man, Love and Basketball, the Scary Movie franchise, Girls Trip, The Hate U Give, Master, and will be in the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson movie, One Battle After Another.

But a Hollywood career wasn’t always her plan. Born in Washington D.C., Hall graduated from Fordham in 1992 with a degree in English. She was inspired to pursue acting after a personal tragedy—her father died unexpectedly of a stroke while she was in grad school studying journalism. 

“When you’re young, you don’t necessarily realize life’s brevity,” Hall told The LA Times. “It wasn’t like I didn’t want to do journalism. It was more like, you live once, life is short.”

Hall started taking acting classes and auditioning, and soon she was landing roles. 

Awards and Accolades 

Hall has appeared in many popular television series, including Ally McBeal; Law & Order: Los Angeles; Black-ish; Insecure; Nine Perfect Strangers; and Black Monday, which she co-produced. In 2022 she appeared in Peacock’s The Best Man: The Final Chapters, based on the popular Best Man film franchise. 

Hall is known for her versatility as an actress, standing out for both her comedic chops and dramatic range. BET called her performance in the megachurch dark comedy Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul a “masterclass in subtle comedy and emotional depth.” She was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and an NAACP Image Award for the performance. 

For her role in the 2018 dramedy Support the Girls, in which Hall plays the manager of a sports bar, she became the first Black woman to win the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress. She has also been honored with the Women’s Image Network Awards for Best Supporting Actress, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, and more. 

In 2022, Hall hosted the 94th Academy Awards with Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes. It was the first time in history three women hosted the ceremony. 

Hall’s production company, Rh Negative, is currently developing projects on the scripted and unscripted sides of television as well as film.

Faith and Advocacy 

Throughout her life, Hall has maintained a strong connection with faith. She attended a Catholic high school before Fordham, and as an adult she’s drawn spiritual inspiration from Christianity along with Buddhism, Hinduism, and other faiths. 

“I’ve always had a relationship with God,” Hall told The Cut in 2022. “A deep and sometimes complex relationship with God has carried me through my difficult times.”

One such difficult time came in 2006 when her mother was diagnosed with scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disorder. Hall became an advocate for scleroderma research, and she now serves on the Board of Directors for the Scleroderma Research Foundation. 

Hall has also been involved with organizations including the American Red Cross, the Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Smiles for Speech, Solutions Project, and Just Like My Child. 

“Regina’s dedication to advocacy embodies the principles we hold dear at Fordham,” said President Tetlow. “We can’t wait to welcome her back to campus.”

“The commitment from the Mother Cabrini Foundation to this program over the years has enabled us to serve hundreds of people,” said James Stabler-Havener, director of Fordham’s Institute of American Language and Culture, which houses the Community ESL program. He added that they’ve been able to double the program’s capacity since the Mother Cabrini Health foundation started funding it in 2019. The foundation also renewed a separate grant geared toward addressing the mental health needs of underserved communities of the Bronx.

The heart of the program is its English language classes, held at the Rose Hill campus and St. Francis of Assisi Church in Midtown Manhattan. The classes at the Rose Hill campus can draw more than 150 community members per week. The program is a six-hour weekly commitment, and it produces results, Stabler-Havener said.

“We assess our students from semester to semester and we have outstanding outcomes,” he said. “We’re really proud of the progress they make.” 

Empowering Latina Leaders

One group of participants that Stabler-Havener is especially proud of are those in the Values and Faith-Based Leadership Program, a unique bilingual leadership course made up primarily of Latinas from the Bronx. 

The women are selected for the program because they’re already demonstrating leadership in the community, with many of them volunteering with local churches and service organizations. Participants come from all educational backgrounds, from advanced degree holders to those who haven’t completed high school. During the 10-month program, they receive free laptops and learn to give presentations, use digital organization tools, and plan and implement their own projects in the community. 

“Instead of someone like me coming into the neighborhood and saying, ‘What do migrants need,’ [the participants]do a needs assessment, coordinate the purchasing, do all the project planning and logistics. From conceptualization, organization, to implementation, and then a reflection process at the end, it’s really a full project planning and program evaluation skillset,” Stabler-Havener said. 

The goal is to empower the women to develop their leadership skills and put them to use in practical ways. 

“It has been an experience I never thought I would have; first for being a Latina woman, and then for being a mother with three children. I thought that at my age there was no opportunity to continue studying,” said Julia Ocampo, a recent participant. 

Ocampo worked on a project that delivered free hygiene kits to migrants. She says she’s proud of what the group was able to accomplish. “For us it is a great achievement to be able to help alleviate some of the bad experiences migrants go through on the way to get to this country,” she said. 

According to Valerie Torres, who teaches the program, many participants are, like Ocampo, deeply grateful for the opportunity. “The first time I take my students into campus they are in awe. Tears are often shed,” said Torres. “They are already leaders and some at first do not realize it. They have such a desire to learn and improve their communities.”

About the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation 

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation has provided funding for Fordham’s Community ESL program since 2019. Named for Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, the patron saint of immigrants, the foundation offers grants to community organizations in New York City that support the health and wellbeing of immigrant communities and other vulnerable populations. 

University President Tania Tetlow said Fordham is well poised to nurture the next generation of leaders in STEM. 

“For centuries, the Jesuits have been world-class scientists and mathematicians, always connecting those fields to what it means to be fully human. Fordham will stand out for integrating science and technology with ethics, humanities, and our other strengths in the professions,” Tetlow said.

The envisioned building is a 200,000+ gross-square-foot facility that will bring together a range of STEM disciplines, and will feature wet and dry teaching labs, research space, classrooms, and student lounges, with a large, open green space in front. It will be located along Southern Blvd. on the Rose Hill campus’ eastern edge across from the New York Botanical Garden, replacing existing surface parking to create a vibrant gateway at the intersection of Xavier Way and Matteo Ricci Circle.

Fordham’s broader STEM vision also includes expanding computer science programs at Lincoln Center, strategically repurposing book storage space (Quinn X), and increasing enrollment capacity for both graduate and undergraduate students. In addition, Fordham plans to launch a new full-time M.S. program in physician associate studies at the Westchester campus. 

“Mo and Carolyn’s extraordinary gift is a testament to the transformative power of investing in Fordham’s vision for STEM education and research that also lifts the rest of the University,” said Roger A. Milici Jr., vice president for development and university relations. “This is philanthropy at its best.”

Laying the Groundwork for Progress

Mo and Carolyn Cunniffe have been longtime supporters of the University. The couple made a $20 million gift in 2016 to establish the Maurice and Carolyn Cunniffe Presidential Scholars Program, which was the second-largest gift in Fordham’s history at the time. Their generosity has been recognized with the naming of Cunniffe House and the Carolyn Dursi Cunniffe Fountain on the Rose Hill campus.

Mo Cunniffe’s parents were Irish immigrants. He graduated from Fordham Prep and Fordham College with a degree in physics, followed by graduate studies in economics and finance at NYU. Mo had successful careers as a scientist, a consultant with McKinsey, an investment banker, and an entrepreneur. He served on Fordham’s Board of Trustees from 1995 to 2004, and then from 2005 to 2014. He is now a trustee emeritus. 

He expects the gift will help Fordham remain a “world-class university” by attracting talented students and teachers capable of solving the most pressing problems of our time. 

“The future seems to be in the AI arena … and the computer science arena,” Mo said. “Aren’t those the people most likely to change the world so that your great-great-grandchildren will live a better life than you did?”

Carolyn Dursi Cunniffe also served on Fordham’s Board and is a trustee emerita. She grew up in a family of eight with two brothers who graduated from Fordham. She studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and the University of Perugia and earned her masters and Ph.D. at Fordham in French literature. Carolyn had a successful career for many years as a vice president at Revlon then Chanel, and as a senior vice president at Cablevision. 

Carolyn said she believes it is vital for the school to offer a strong STEM curriculum and that investing in STEM education will offer students the opportunity for a well-rounded educational experience.

A World-Class Science Program for a World-Class University 

Expanding the sciences is a key priority for Fordham. Nearly half of college-bound high school students say they want to major in STEM fields, and STEM-related jobs are projected to grow significantly faster than non-STEM positions over the next decade. This gift will allow Fordham to invest in meeting the demand for STEM education, and to provide state-of-the-art facilities for teaching as well as research. Of the $30 billion the government dispersed for research and development in fiscal year 2023, approximately 95% went to STEM disciplines including the health sciences. 

“This gift opens up extraordinary possibilities for students and faculty, and allows us to scale our programs and move into areas in the sciences that haven’t even been developed yet, fields that may appear 10 years from now that we can’t even anticipate,” said University Provost Dennis Jacobs. “We’re all so grateful to Mo and Carolyn for their extraordinary generosity and their belief that Fordham can be one of the nation’s greatest institutions of higher learning.” 

Two prescient voices for the future of STEM at Fordham have been trustee Kim Bepler and her late husband, Steve Bepler, FCRH ’64, dedicated supporters of the University’s science programs for years, who established four science chairs and a super chair through major gifts. 

The Beplers funded the preliminary study to explore what was possible for the STEM expansion—a study that helped to inspire the Cunniffe’s giving. Now, seeing Steve’s vision for the sciences at Fordham come to life, Kim is thrilled. “My late husband believed a world-class university deserves a world-class science program,” she said. “I only wish he were here to see this. But he is in my heart, and I hope he’s proud.”

This cohort of Fordham Fulbrighters is currently abroad in the midst of the 10-month program, studying, teaching, and conducting research in 12 countries on four continents. In addition to their studies, they’re immersing themselves in the cultures of their host countries, which range from Taiwan, to Ghana, to the Slovak Republic. 

Fordham ranked in the top 30 among doctoral institutions for awards granted to students.

“This year’s record-breaking number of Fulbright awardees not only reflects the exceptional talent and dedication of Fordham’s students, but also underscores the University’s commitment to fostering global exchange and being ‘people for others,’” said Fordham President Tania Tetlow. “We are immensely proud of their achievement.” 

Wrap-Around Support for Students Seeking Scholarships

Fordham has dedicated staff to support students interested in opportunities like the Fulbright program through every step of the application process. 

According to Lorna Ronald, Ph.D., director of Fordham’s Office of Fellowship Advising, any U.S. citizen with an interest in cultural exchange can apply for a Fulbright—there is no GPA cutoff or “type” of student who is right for the program. She attributes the University’s high number of awardees to its Jesuit identity, which prioritizes a well-rounded curriculum and a global mentality. 

“Our robust liberal arts curriculum prepares students to be strong thinkers and writers,” said Ronald. “Students get to know our incredible faculty, who help them dig deeply into their interests. And our mission prepares students to be ‘of the city, for the world.’” 

Teaching English in Colombia

Caroline Albacete, FCRH ’21, is one of the 15 Fordham awardees currently on her Fulbright year. She’s living in Colombia, where she’s teaching English language at la Universidad de Ibagué. When she’s not working, Albacete spends her time volunteering with an educational non-profit, hiking in nature, and traveling to other cities with friends. 

She has especially enjoyed getting to know the people in her host country. 

“The Colombians I’ve met are so open to learning and curious about the world around them. It’s inspirational,” said Albacete. “They’ve been incredibly friendly and generous with their time, and I hope that’s an attitude I’ll take with me when I return stateside.”

Before applying for the program, Albacete worked closely with Brenna Moore, chair of Fordham’s Theology Department, whom she met in the fall of 2019 through her honors class, Religion in the Modern World. Moore says she was “blown away” by Albacete’s gifts in reading, discussing, and writing about questions of faith and justice. 

“I think she is the only student I have ever had who is gifted in three languages and used them to expand the horizons of her scholarly research, and to work with real communities around the world,” Moore said of Albacete, who is fluent in Spanish and French. 

Albacete helped Moore with a research project, doing Spanish to English translation for undocumented mothers from Mexico for a book Moore co-authored, Mutuality in El Barrio. Later, Moore served as one of Albacete’s recommenders for her Fulbright application.

Albacete says Moore’s mentorship has been pivotal in her intellectual development and in her success. “Speaking with her during office hours always helped me refine my ideas,” said Albacete. “She is such an encouraging soul.” 

About the Fulbright Program

The Fulbright program was established in 1946 to give talented scholars of all backgrounds the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research internationally. Alumni of the Fulbright program include 44 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 90 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 82 MacArthur Fellows. 

Since the program’s inception, Fordham has produced hundreds of Fulbright students. This is the seventh time the University has been recognized as a top Fulbright producer. Two of this year’s awardees, Connie Ticho and Nate Johnson, earned Fulbright-John Lewis Fellowships, an award named for the late Civil Rights leader that supports scholars studying nonviolent movements across the globe. 

Jasmine just had her 18th birthday behind bars and now she’s facing an uncertain future. “I’m kind of on my own, and I don’t really know what to do,” she said on the first episode of “Roadmap for Change: Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice.” 

The new podcast from the Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice is co-produced by Keith Cruise, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Fordham and co-director of the center, which is a partnership among Fordham, the University of Connecticut Health Center, and other institutions. 

Through the podcast and the center’s other work, Cruise is on a mission to elevate the voices of young people like Jasmine, and to infuse trauma-informed care into the juvenile justice system. 

Creating a Trauma-Informed Juvenile Justice System

Stories like Jasmine’s are not uncommon in juvenile detention. On average, kids who come into contact with the justice system have experienced four traumatic life events, and according to a 2021 study, 23% of detained girls and 9% of detained boys meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. (The respective rates in the general population are just 8% and 2%.) 

The center is affiliated with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and is funded through the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It trains juvenile justice professionals across the country—like judges, lawyers, probation officers, and social workers—to understand and respond to the trauma they see every day while working with young people and their families. 

As a co-director, Cruise helps to manage the center’s work plan and develop training, information, and resources. He hopes to shift the conversation away from short-term punitive measures and toward deeper healing of youth and families while also promoting community safety. 

“When youth get arrested and charged in juvenile court, the focus tends to be on the behaviors they’ve engaged in and their level of aggression and acting out,” said Cruise. “We hope to raise awareness that behaviors are shaped by what a youth has experienced in the past … and if trauma can help to explain delinquent behaviors, that opens up new avenues for intervening.” 

To that end, Cruise said, the center supports universal screening for trauma for kids in the juvenile justice system, along with increased access to treatment, including grief therapy, which the center trains professionals to provide. 

“One of the most common traumatic events that youth experience in their lives is traumatic loss. They’ve lost a family member, a loved one, or a close friend, usually due to community violence, gang violence, or a violent crime that resulted in death,” Cruise said. 

Elevating the Voices of Adolescents and Their Families

Cruise hopes the podcast will amplify the experiences of adolescents like Jasmine so that everyone involved in the juvenile justice system can approach their work with greater understanding. 

“The stories from youth and families themselves are really important,” said Cruise. “Good trauma-informed care treats youth and families as the experts in their own life stories and co-collaborators in what they need to recover and heal. We need to learn from their voices and their experiences.”

Listen to “Roadmap for Change: Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice.”