NYU SILVER'S ROCKLAND COUNTY CAMPUS CELEBRATES OPENING OF THE CARA HAEFNER STUDENT LOUNGE

On February 24, 2020, NYU Silver's Rockland County Campus cut the ribbon on a new student lounge, dedicated to the memory of alumna Cara Dawn Haefner (MSW '14).

The lounge was made possible by a gift from Haefner's parents, Laurie and Ralph, and a donation of space by St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC), where NYU Silver's Rockland County Campus has been based since 1982.

Located down the hall from NYU Silver's administrative offices on the second floor of STAC's Maguire Hall, The Cara Haefner Student Lounge contains comfortable seating, a bookshelf, a refrigerator, microwave, and hot beverage station.

STAC's CFO Joseph Donini and Provost Dr. Robert Murray joined the Haefners and NYU Silver Rockland Campus Coordinator Dr. Aminda Heckman as well as students, faculty, staff, and alumni in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Dr. Heckman said the while Haefner graduated prior to her arrival at the campus in 2017, she has come to know how beloved Haefner was by her classmates and how close the school and the core values of social work were to her heart. “I am extremely happy that Cara's memory will live here with us,” said Heckman. “I am grateful to the Haefners and STAC for making possible this space in her honor where students can relax, eat, and congregate.”

Mr. Donini said “NYU Silver has been incorporated into the fabric of STAC. When this idea for this lounge brought to us, we thought it was wonderful. Having this space will have a tremendous impact on students and that is what it is all about.”

After Mr. Donini’s remarks, Dr. Heckman presented the Haefners with a framed replica of their daughter’s diploma next to a picture taken of her on her graduation day.

The ceremony concluded with the Haefners cutting the ribbon and attendees flooding in to see the new space, which will be enjoyed by MSW students for years to come.