The Student Life Council convened on March 26 in the McShane Campus Center. The topic of discussion was the hiring of Elizabeth “Liz” Fanelli, Fordham’s new Title IX Coordinator, as well as the new STEM center, which Fordham recently announced alongside a $100 million donation from Maurice Cunniffe, FCRH ’54, and Carolyn Dursi Cunniffe, Ph.D., GSAS ’71. This sum was the largest single donation in Fordham’s history and will further expose students to rising careers in STEM.
Fanelli was appointed Title IX Coordinator on Jan. 27, following an extensive career working for the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office and then Ramapo College, New Jersey. Approximately 20 members of the Student Life Council were present at the meeting.
“I have been in Title IX for over eight years, but my career started as a prosecutor for the City of New York, working with child abuse sex crimes,” said Fanelli.
Fanelli said that from the start of her career, she wanted to play a role in trying to avoid these types of crimes, both in the public sector and in education. She also worked in preventing class discrimination in her prior employment and is excited to focus specifically on the Title IX department.
“When I first started in this role at Ramapo, I had a different view of Title IX than I have now, coming from a prosecutor’s office, reporting, and filing a complaint to get measures of justice,” Fanelli said. “Eight years in, I feel much differently, and what I think is most important is that students feel comfortable coming to me to get the accommodations they need to survive the experiences they have had, continuing going to class, building relationships, and getting to graduation. Any type of gender-based violence and discrimination can derail that,” Fanelli said.
Fanelli looks forward to hearing about what programs may be helpful for students, ensuring Rose Hill has a comfortable culture on campus.
“I think our CARE programs are important, and how often we utilize them,” said Dana Kien, Student Life Council chair, in response to Fanelli’s remarks. Being a mandated reporter, Kien noted how preventative programs help to ensure other mandated reporters have the advice they need to conduct their jobs properly.
“Big picture, I’m not looking to make too many changes, rather working on improving what we already have,” said Fanelli. “We’re looking to hire an assistant dean who will be handling training, doing the conduct piece of it, so there is going to be some reorganization of the Title IX office.”
Fanelli is in the process of expanding the Title IX office and described how once she has a full team in place, they will know which changes to enact, working to enhance the community’s awareness of specific issues and provide resources of support to anyone who may need to file a report.
Judith Jones, Ph.D., chair of the Faculty Senate and Student Experience Committee, asked if there were specific things faculty members should be aware of to continue being supportive of Title IX’s mission. “I think it is important to emphasize faculty’s role as mandated reporters, and I do find this sometimes causes confusion on what to report or how to report it,” Jones said.
Fanelli said she is available to chat over the phone and is willing to consult with faculty to determine whether or not something must be reported whenever they need help.
“Our mission as Catholics and Jesuits should not be affected by anything happening politically, and that’s how I am operating, and if I need to do something differently, then I will, but right now, I am operating as I always have,” Fanelli said when elaborating on her job position. “I am here to support people, and that is my job.” She emphasized her availability outside of the meeting for members of the committee and the broader Fordham community.
The discussion pivoted to the recent donation for the integrated science center at Rose Hill.
“We see there is currently a huge investment in science, it has been for a long time, largely in research and development in science,” said Dr. Robert Beer, assistant dean for Pre-Health Professions Advising.
Beer noted how the university has already responded to these national changes, expanding the computer science and chemistry programs. He also unveiled that the university will be introducing a minor in public health in the fall of 2025 and the Physician Assistant Master’s program, which is set to launch in January of 2027. A director has already been hired for the Physician Assistant program at the Westchester campus.
“When you upgrade facilities, you can enhance the faculty and form more strategic external partnerships,” saidBeer. “At that point, we can expand to new forms of research, which can generally benefit the institution at large.”
“It will be a 200,000 square foot facility, with common space, in the current open-parking lot area, and will contain classrooms, research labs, and makerspace areas,” he said. Beer also said that this is a next-generation view on STEM, developing careers of health, ecological and computer sciences, as well as collaborating with the School of Law.
Students are encouraged to contact Beer if they have inquiries about the STEM center, which he will forward to the Office of the Provost.
Stephanie Sheehan, assistant director of Residential Life for Leadership Development & Training, delivered the Monthly Intoxication Transports Update, as requested by the Executive Board, which cited 63 transports and 14 refused medical assistance.
