Elisabeth (Betsy) Kim is an Associate Professor of Organizational Leadership at Lehman College and the coordinator of the Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, Development and Change (EDOL). Previously, she was an Assistant Professor of Education and Leadership at California State University, Monterey Bay where she also coordinated the Master of Arts in Education program. She holds a PhD in Education Policy from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests include culturally responsive education and leadership, bilingual education policy, and equitable access to postsecondary education. She taught first grade at PS 161 in Harlem as part of the New York City Teaching Fellows program and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic, where she focused her work in the areas of youth development and education.

• Ph.D., Teachers College, Columbia University
• M.A., Columbia University
• Ed.M., Teachers College, Columbia University
• M.S., City College, CUNY
• B.A., Barnard College

Dr. Suri is a counselor educator, a licensed clinician, and an approved clinical supervisor. Her work bridges mental health, technology, and higher education. Dr. Suri has extensive clinical experience, having worked with diverse populations across various settings, including individual and group therapy, private practice, and mental health outreach on college campuses. Her teaching and supervision reflect her commitment to training the next generation of counselors. Dr. Suri's scholarly interests center on the experiences of marginalized students in higher education, the role of social media and emerging technologies in identity development, the immigrant experience, community-based participatory research, and culturally responsive clinical supervision. Dr. Suri is passionate about counselor education, and she continues to mentor and support students and recent graduates through her teaching, supervision, and advocacy.

• Ph.D., University of New Mexico
• M.S., Long Island University
• B.A., University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Benjamin D. Scherrer, Assistant Professor of Childhood Education at Lehman College, earned his PhD from University of Massachusetts Amherst where he was a WEB Du Bois Fellow. He recently taught at SUNY Oswego as Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and at Vassar College as Visiting Lecturer of Political Ecology. His research examines social and ecological relationships with land, water, and patterns of flooding. More broadly, Dr. Scherrer has published on critical topics related to international education, curriculum design, climate change in education, and the coloniality of education in the US and the Global South/Majority.

• Ph.D., University of Massachusetts at Amherst
• M.Ed., Harvard University
• B.S., Western Washington University

Dr. Benazir Meera is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Sciences and Recreation at Lehman College – CUNY. Her interdisciplinary training and research focus on promoting health equity and improving the quality of life for individuals aging with and into disability, particularly those from underserved and underrepresented communities. Before joining Lehman College, Dr. Meera was a Postdoctoral Associate in the Geriatric Health Services Research Lab at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she also earned her Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a specialization in Motor Control and Behavior. She holds an M.S. in Global Sports Management from Seoul National University and a B.E. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, India. Her research explores the design, implementation, and evaluation of community-based and non-pharmacological interventions, including physical activity programs, adaptive horseback riding, and technology-supported health behavior change tools. Dr. Meera specializes in mixed methods and community-based participatory approaches to advance inclusive health promotion strategies. She has led and contributed to several grant-funded projects, and her work is published in leading journals across aging, disability, and physical activity sciences. Dr. Meera is committed to mentoring future scholars and practitioners and aligns closely with the mission of advancing inclusive and community-engaged kinesiology. Her work is recognized nationally through invited talks, presentations, and media features. Outside academia, she is an avid runner, enjoys music and dancing, and spends most of her downtime with her golden retriever, Jelly. Dr. Meera is also a former athlete of the Indian National Short Track Speed Skating team.

• Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
• D.T.M., Seoul National University
• B.E., Visvesvaraya Technological University

Bibiane D. Sykes, MSN, RN, EdD(c) is joining Lehman College as a Lecturer/Simulation in the Department of Nursing. She is a nurse educator, leader, and scholar with more than 20 years of experience spanning clinical practice, higher education, and curriculum innovation. A doctoral candidate at Teachers College, Columbia University, she earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing Education from Mercy University. Her dissertation explores simulation-based learning in nursing education, reflecting her commitment to advancing innovative teaching methods. Widely recognized for her leadership in health equity, mentorship, and community engagement, Ms. Sykes has led impactful educational initiatives and global health projects that empower nurses and improve care in underserved communities worldwide.

• Ed.D., Teachers College, Columbia University
• M.S., Mercy University
• B.S., Mercy University

• Ed.D., Teachers College, Columbia University
• M.S., Lehman College, CUNY
• B.S., SUNY Brockport

Hugo Désiré Benjamin Bujon received his bachelor's degree in Lettres modernes and his master's degree in Littératures Comparées from Université Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris 3. He received his Ph.D. in Francophone Studies with a certificate in Psychoanalytic Studies from Emory University. Prior to joining Lehman as an Assistant Professor, he was a Postdoctoral Associate at the Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice at Rutgers University and a Visiting Assistant Professor at Oxford College of Emory University. He has taught French language courses on the French language every level, on surveys of French and Francophone cultures, on interdisciplinary global representations of Black childhood, on Africana Francophone literature and arts, an on self-representation in France’s banlieues. His research focuses on the writing and conceptualization of Black and postcolonial youth and childhood in West-Africa and the French banlieues (notably his native Seine-Saint-Denis). His articles and reviews have been published in Theory, Culture & Society, Éthiopiques, Imaginaries, and Lean. He is one of the core members of the Global Black Studies Workroom.

• Ph.D., Emory University
• M.A., Université Sorbonne Nouvelle – Paris 3
• B.A., Université Sorbonne Nouvelle – Paris 3

Dr. Andy Gold is a Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship dedicated to fostering innovation and social impact through interdisciplinary entrepreneurship education. Prior to joining Lehman College, Dr. Gold was a tenured Associate Professor at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida. Prior to entering higher education, he had a 12-year career on Wall Street and later founded five businesses. He has co-authored two books about the role of entrepreneurship education as a catalyst for equity and prosperity, and has published several articles on various entrepreneurship related topics. His research explores the effects of entrepreneurship education on developing self-efficacy, and a growth mindset. Dr. Gold holds a MS degree in International Management from Manhattanville University, and a PhD in Business Administration from Northcentral University. Dr, Gold was born and raised in New York City and is a proud product of the New York City Public School System.

• Ph.D., Northcentral University
• M.S., Manhattanville University
• B.A., State University of New York at Oswego

Dr. Jonathan Maitre is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Middle and High School Education (MHSE), School of Education, Lehman College, CUNY. Dr. Maitre earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics Education at Columbia University of New York. His scholarly interests include the history of mathematics education, teacher education curriculum, and textbooks. He is currently a reviewer for the Journal of Mathematics Education at Teachers College.Prior to becoming a faculty member at Lehman, Dr. Maitre worked as an adjunct lecturer for over two decades within the City University of New York (CUNY) and taught mathematics at the secondary level in New York City Public Schools.

• Ph.D., Columbia University
• M.Phil., Columbia University
• M.S., Long Island University
• M.A., Queens College, CUNY
• B.S., Medgar Evers College, CUNY

Lizette Aguilar, Ph.D, is an Assistant Professor of English education at Lehman College, the City University of New York (CUNY). Prior to joining Lehman, she was a dedicated public middle school teacher and educational leader for 25+ years. She taught English Language Arts and Social Studies. Her work as a school building and district leader was grounded in transformational and instructional leadership principles.

Dr. Aguilar’s research interests are examining the relationship between teacher and learner racialized identities, writing across the curriculum, and education history.

• Ph.D., CUNY Graduate Center
• M.Phil., CUNY Graduate Center
• M.Ed., Bank Street College of Education
• M.Ed., University of Massachusetts at Amherst
• B.A., Binghamton University

• M.A., Lehman College, CUNY
• B.S., Empire State University
• Adv. Dip., Amrita Institute of Computer Technology

• M.S., City College CUNY
• B.S., University of Belgrade

Dr. Pantalone holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Washington and an A.B. in Public Policy from Brown University. He completed his clinical training at the Seattle VA Medical Center and a postdoctoral fellowship at Hunter College.
Dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Lehman College, City University of New York. His work is aimed at preventing and treating HIV and addressing health disparities among sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals, focusing on the development and evaluation of culturally tailored behavioral interventions, as well as the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices. He has developed interventions that improve mental health outcomes, promote HIV-related health behaviors, and support individuals coping with identity-based discrimination.

• Ph.D., University of Washington
• A.B., Brown University