Faculty

Jessica Accurso-Salguero is an academic leader committed to transforming lives through access to academic excellence. She specializes in the student success landscape, including the transitional period between high school and college. A champion of faculty and students, she brings a wealth of experience in teaching and leading academic success programs, designing curricula, and implementing systems to help students succeed and navigate institutional hurdles.

Jessica holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration, leadership management, and policy from Seton Hall University. She received her M.A. in English and language literacy and higher education from New York University and her B.A. in English and Spanish secondary education from Montclair State University. Over the last 15 years she has taught in the K-12 system, at community colleges, and at four-year universities. She is a published author on several higher education topics and is a national speaker on student success initiatives. At Yeshiva University’s Katz School, she directs all undergraduate programs, including the AS in Management, the AA in Liberal Arts, and YU summer session.

Dr. Allen is a seasoned academic and business professional with over 20 years’ experience in business development, marketing, technology management, corporate training, and college instruction. His areas of expertise include marketing, business management, personal finance, computer technology, audio production and engineering, MS Office applications, and qualitative research. His current research interests include strategies for integrating and sustaining disruptive innovations in small businesses; transitional dilemmas of adopting distance learning in traditional colleges; and leveraging IT resources to gain competitive advantages.

Dr. Allen holds a Doctorate in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing, an M.S. in human resources management, a B.S. in organizational management, and an A.S. in electrical engineering. He teaches courses in management, marketing, finance, economics, computer applications, and algebra.

Dr. Derek Graf serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of English in the Katz Associate Programs at Yeshiva University. He received his PhD in Creative Writing and Literary Studies from the University of Kansas in 2020. He also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Oklahoma State University. His first poetry collection, Green Burial, won the 2021 Elixir Press Poetry Award for a First or Second Book of Poems and was published in 2023. His poems have appeared in The Journal, Meridian, and Verse Daily, among other journals. Dr. Graf also serves as Associate Poetry Editor for West Trade Review. His teaching and research interests include 20th century American fiction, specifically the works of Philip Roth, contemporary American poetics, and film theory and history.

John O’Malley spent over 35 years as a manager in the luxury retail sector in store operations and sales at Macy’s, Barneys, and Sakes Fifth Avenue. In addition, for over 25 years he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in business, marketing, and management at New York University’s School of Professional Studies. Now at Yeshiva University’s Katz School, he teaches courses in business management, strategy, ethics, and organizational behavior.

John holds an M.A. in Religion/Religious Studies from Fordham University and a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Long Island University.