• In sociology, Professor Mervin F. Verbit has joined Touro as deputy chair of the Sociology Department for Touro College. Well-known in the Jewish community, he is teaching at the Lander College for Women. His special areas of interest are the sociology of religion, contemporary Jewry and research methodology. Dr. Verbit comes to Touro from Brooklyn College of The City University of New York (CUNY), where he was a professor of sociology and director of the CUNY/Brooklyn College Program for Study in Israel. He has held visiting appointments at Bar Ilan University, Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, Yeshiva University, and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
• Also in sociology, Assistant Professor Joyce Robbins has joined the faculty at the New York School of Career and Applied Studies (NYSCAS). Dr. Robbins, who received her Ph.D. from Columbia University and her master’s from Tel Aviv University, wrote her master’s thesis on Israeli women soldiers and the politics of “non-military” roles in the 1950’s. Her research interests include political sociology, social theory, the welfare state, economic sociology and cultural sociology.
• In psychology, Associate Professor Dr. Alan M. Perry has joined the faculty to teach at Lander College for Men. Prior to joining Touro he worked as deputy director of mental health services on Rikers Island, and as director of psychological services at Kings County Hospital Center. He has worked for three decades as a consultant, psychologist, rehabilitation counselor and clinical instructor in a variety of settings, including hospitals, mental health centers, and schools. Dr. Perry received a Ph.D. in psychology from Fordham University and a master’s in clinical psychology from Long Island University.
• Also in psychology, Assistant Professor Rebecca Soffer is teaching at Lander College of Arts & Sciences – Flatbush, in the Women’s Division. Dr. Soffer is a two-time graduate of Yeshiva University: in 2005 she obtained her Ph.D. in developmental psychology and in 2002 earned a master’s in psychology. She also has a master’s in special education from Adelphi University. Dr. Soffer brings to Touro extensive teaching experience, including at the pre-school, high school and college levels. She has worked privately as a developmental interventionist and as a developmental evaluator/research associate at the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities in Staten Island, New York.
• A third addition in psychology is Instructor Princess Coombs, who obtained her bachelor’s in human services at Touro College in 1991 (summa cum laude) and has returned to teach at NYSCAS. She obtained a master’s in social work from Columbia University with a concentration in clinical practice in hospital and community mental health. For the past several years she has had a private practice and also provided case management and psychotherapy to seniors and homebound patients through the Visiting Nurse Service of New York.
• In biology, Professor Robert S. Bressler has signed on as chairman of the Biology Department at Lander College of Arts & Sciences – Flatbush. Dr. Bressler joins Touro from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, where he was a professor of anatomy and previously served as chairman of the Anatomy Department and dean of Basic Sciences. He has also taught at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, CUNY, and the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. He obtained his Ph.D. and master of science degrees from New York University.
• To help broaden Touro’s offerings in political science, Assistant Professor Thomas Rozinski has been brought on board to teach constitutional law, political theory and American government. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Rozinski is teaching primarily at Lander College of Arts and Sciences – Flatbush, but is also teaching one course at Lander College for Men. Rozinski brings to Touro a broad background in academia, government service and legal practice. He previously taught at the University of Michigan, Harvard University, Yeshiva University and Baruch College. He also served New York City as general counsel to two city agencies and was a partner in a New York City law firm.
• Instructor Gena Bardwell is teaching communications at NYSCAS, bringing to Touro her teaching experience and expertise in fundamentals of speech, English as a second language, public speaking, writing and grammar. She previously taught at Rutgers University, where she obtained a master of fine arts, as well as the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies and Touro College. Most recently, Ms. Bardwell worked as director of special events at the New York Historical Society.
• Assistant Professor Ian Probstein was appointed to teach English at NYSCAS. He earned his Ph.D. in comparative literature from the Russian State University for the Humanities in Moscow, and a master’s in English and comparative literature from the CUNY Graduate Center. Dr. Probstein is the author of seven books of poetry in Russian, one in English, and more than 100 articles and essays. He has also compiled and/or edited more than 20 books and anthologies of poetry. His translations are included in major anthologies of poetry and on the Internet.
• Michael Rear has been brought on as an assistant professor to teach political science at the Women’s Division of The Lander College of Arts & Sciences – Flatbush and Lander College for Women. He has previously taught American politics, comparative politics, international and Middle East politics, political science, history and other courses at Hofstra University and the New York Institute of Technology, and worked as a research assistant at The Ralph Bunche Institute on the United Nations. He obtained his Ph.D. and master’s degree in political science at CUNY, with his dissertation titled: “Between Empire and State-Building: Ethnic Conflict, U.N. Intervention, and the Post-Colonial State After the Cold War.”
• Lacey Shaw, Jr., an expert in African-American history, is teaching political science as an instructor at NYSCAS. Shaw previously taught history at Touro College, as well as social studies in a public school in Brooklyn and American studies, world civilization and African-American history at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn. He is the author of three books, including most recently “Revisiting the American Past,” published by Pearson Publishers, 2005. Dr. Shaw obtained a Doctor of Philosophy at New York University in American history and a master’s at Morgan State University in Baltimore.
• Also teaching at NYSCAS will be Associate Professor Mohammed S. Chowdhury, an expert in business management, marketing and economics who previously taught at Monroe College in the Bronx, as well as at Touro, Central Michigan University and in the New York City public schools. Originally from Bangladesh, Dr. Chowdhury has published a variety of journal articles and monographs as well as a college textbook. He obtained his doctorate in business administration from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and his master’s at Brooklyn College of CUNY.