The Eta Lambda Chapter of the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars at CSI has inducted 15 faculty, staff, students, and an administrator.

The 14th Induction Ceremony, held on March 10, kicked off with greetings from Professor of Biology, Dr. Faiza Peetz, followed by remarks from Dr. Jane Marcus-Delgado, past President of the CSI Chapter, who introduced keynote speaker, Elizabeth Krawczun ‘14.

Krawczun, a former President of the CSI Alumni Association and a graduate of the College’s Verrazzano Honors Program, was named the 2014 CSI Salutatorian in recognition of her academic excellence and leadership. She is also a member of the CSI chapter of the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars.

During her time at CSI, Elizabeth focused her studies on global health initiatives, engaging deeply in research and service aimed at addressing health disparities. She was actively involved in leadership and community service activities, demonstrating a strong commitment to civic engagement and social responsibility.

She later earned a graduate degree in Medical Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, further advancing her academic and professional interests in global health, culture, and medical systems. In recent years, she completed an MBA at Baruch College to gain experience in navigating the intersection among patient care, technology and strategic operations planning. 

Elizabeth now works for Epic Systems, a company that develops software systems for electronic health records, where she is involved in the preparation, training, and implementation of these systems with Northwell Health. She plans to continue working in the health-tech field and address the implications of the use of AI in healthcare.

During the ceremony, PBD Governing Board Student Vice President Melvyn Noe Cruz Portillo announced the upcoming 40th Annual International Conference on June 1-2, 2026 at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. The conference will include a separate session specifically for students and this year’s theme is Celebrating 40 years of PBD: Advancing Global Knowledge and Learning. He encouraged the CSI community to present at the conference and especially feature presentations from undergraduate and graduate students. The deadline for submission of proposals is Friday, March 28, 2026. The CSI Chapter announced that it will sponsor two student chapter members for their registering fees; those interested should contact the chapter for details at PBD@csi.cuny.edu or www.phibetadelta.org.

Fellow Student Vice President Mariam Hanna also encouraged students to join the  Phi Beta Delta Global Exchange Society. The club works to promote cross-cultural academic exchange by organizing discussions, seminars, and collaborative projects that explore global perspectives and diverse viewpoints. 

The chapter also thanked CSI PBD members for remitting their membership dues and additional contributions in support of CSI students and the mission of the Eta Lambda chapter. Membership is $30 with half of the fee directly going to CSI student initiatives.

Those following were inducted into the Phi Beta Delta society.

Faculty: Assistant Professor Jong Gyu Park, Management;

Staff Christian Perticone, Center for Global Engagement;

Students: Melany Acatitla (Business Management); Gewil Daniella Allas (Biochemistry); Evelyn Bazan (Nursing); John Corrado (Sociology); Milton Crespo (Business); Zachary Lababneh (Finance & Marketing); Wing Lam Ng (Biology); Anayeli Lopez Jr. (Psychology); Aicha Mazhoud Richardson (Economics); Isabella Ndokaj (English Literature and Italian Studies); Miguel Padilla (Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology); Erina Qyrku (undeclared); and Samah Shalein, (Business Management).

Visit the full gallery below for photos from the induction ceremony (Photo credits: Steve White).

ABOUT ETA LAMBDA CHAPTER: 

The Eta Lambda chapter at the College of Staten Island held its first induction ceremony in 2011. It is the first chapter within The City University of New York system. CSI currently boasts 60 + members. The chapter is housed at the Center for Global Engagement, which supports comprehensive internationalization. The Center also organizes events and special programming throughout the year for the CSI community, as well as specialized customized short- and long-term programs for international guests.

The goals of the organization include the recognition of individual achievement in the area of international understanding; the advancement of international programming, research, and scholarly exchange; and the creation of a campus network linked to a network of members in chapters worldwide.

Eta Lambda Chapter board members:

Faiza Peetz (President)                                                Michelle Callahan (Secretary)

David Allen (Vice President)                                       Melanie Thompson (Treasurer)

Anita Romano (Past President)                                  Mariam Hanna (Student Vice President)   

Jane Marcus-Delgado (Past President)                     Melvyn Noe Cruz Portillo (Student Vice President)

Winnie Brophy (Chapter Coordinator)                       

Ex-Officio: Susan Sullivan, Alan Zimmerman

For more information on the CSI Eta Lambda Chapter of the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars and the upcoming international conference, visit their Website or email PBD@csi.cuny.edu.

By: Winnie Brophy