Every Voice

Dear Adelphi Community,

As Thanksgiving approaches and November comes to a close, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the vibrant and inclusive community we continue to build at Adelphi.

This month has been a meaningful time to reflect, connect, and celebrate our diversity and shared humanity. I’m grateful for a community that actively created and participated in so many opportunities to reaffirm our care for one another’s lived experiences.

Our Veterans Day ceremony—to thank those who serve our nation
Our Interfaith and Mindfulness Center’s "Peace in Oneself, Peace in the World" event, Collective Liberation: A Conversation and Q&A with Palestinian and Israeli Peace Activists—to remind us of the transformative potential of dialogue and shared hope.
International Education Week—to deepen our understanding of the global experiences that enrich our campus.
Our Libraries’ Diversity Council event, Indigenous Lands—to learn more about Indigenous identity, culture and the unceded lands of Indigenous peoples.
A Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil during Transgender Awareness Week—to honor transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming community members who were lost to acts of violence and hatred.
Two more Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Healing Circles for our students and our faculty and staff—to continue having small-group, powerful conversations about others’ perspectives and experiences.

Below, this month’s edition of Every Voice also honors First Generation College Celebration Day (Nov. 8) by highlighting two of our first-generation student leaders, Joe Sawma and Candace Garwood. These outstanding Panthers remind us that their voices, dreams and achievements enrich Adelphi.

I am grateful that our community is committed to the important values of connection, inclusivity and care embedded in Goal 2 of Momentum 2. As a new year approaches, let’s continue to foster an environment—and a world—where everyone feels valued and can thrive.

I wish you peace in your hearts and homes this season. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.

Candice Garwood, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, is one of Adelphi’s first-generation students committed to being a model student and campus leader. She is a Levermore Global Scholar (LGS) and the current president of the LGS Student Leadership Council. An international studies major, Candice was named Adelphi’s seventh consecutive Newman Civic Fellow in 2024 for her commitment to social responsibility and driving meaningful change. She has organized donation drives for women in recovery, mentored students in Jamaica and at Adelphi, participated in the Willumstad Winning Edge program and was a Jaggar Community Fellow.

Joe Sawma, an international student from Lebanon and the first in his family to attend college, was Adelphi’s sixth Newman Civic Fellow in 2023. A biology major and Levermore Global Scholar, Joe is president of Adelphi’s Student Government Association (SGA), a former secretary for the LGS Student Leadership Council, and a member of the Equitable Adelphi Action Team. Determined to leave an indelible mark on our campus community, Joe launched the “A Meal for Me, A Meal for You” program to redistribute unused dining funds to the Panther Pantry. He was named Outstanding First-Year Student in 2022 and a Jaggar Community Fellow.

— The Adelphi Giving Room collected 241 items of gently used clothing and non-perishable goods to support community members in need.
— 101 students collected more than 2,100 cans of food as 15 teams competed to build the largest can castles, all to be donated to community members in need.
— Students volunteered to help assemble 130 care kits with essential toiletries and hygiene items for a local shelter.
— 10 community members joined Mary Pat Beirne of Long Island Cares, to learn more about the local food bank and how they can help fight food insecurity in our region.

Support Resources For Our Community's Wellbeing

— Student Counseling Center: Comprehensive mental health, preventative and educational services to any Adelphi student. Call 516.877.3646 or email scc@adelphi.edu.
— Employee Assistance Program: Free to all employees regardless of coverage. Call 877.622.4327 or visit or visit MyCigna.com (Employer ID: adelphi)

— Interfaith Center: A welcoming space for individuals of any faith seeking spiritual support.
— Mindfulness Center: A quiet space for students, faculty and staff to meditate, and reflect.
— Multicultural Center: An inclusive and affirming space open to all community members.

DEIB Open Office Hours
To meet with R. Sentwali Bakari, PhD, vice president for student affairs and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, contact Cathy Harrison, executive assistant and office manager, at charrison@adelphi.edu for an appointment.

To meet with Chotsani Williams West, EdD, MA ’07, assistant vice president of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, contact Charlene Mayers, executive assistant and project coordinator, at cmayers@adelphi.edu for an appointment.