Adelphi’s Two Museums Program Attracts Universities from Afar to Join Its Mission to Combat Hate
Launched in 2023, Adelphi University Professor David Machlis and Hi-Tech Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Lee Maschler launched the Two Museums Program to promote understanding among Adelphi students. The award-winning program has now expanded to include students and leaders from other universities.
For the 2025 Two Museums program, Adelphi students were joined by students from four other universities to visit Washington, D.C., for an expanded three-day educational program. This included visits to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Here, students from Adelphi, Harvard, Virginia State, George Mason, and Towson, as well as Adelphi faculty members and administrators, pose in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
The Two Museums program Launched in 2023 to promote understanding among Adelphi students, the award-winning program has now expanded to include students and leaders from other universities
When David Machlis, PhD, was granted the inaugural President’s Humanitarian Award in 2021 at Adelphi, he said, “If it motivates me to get more deeply involved in combating racism, antisemitism and all forms of hatred, then I graciously accept.” Less than two years later, he launched the Two Museums Program to do just that.
After receiving national recognition by winning an Eduventures Innovation Award, Two Museums just completed its 2025 trip—but with some significant enhancements. The inaugural trip in 2023 brought together a group of Adelphi students for a two-day visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
The program’s mission is to fight bias and hatred, and promoting inclusion and belonging is Adelphi’s core commitment. Two Museums are presented by the Adelphi University Division of Student Affairs. The Adelphi University Robert B. Willumstad School of Business Council of Community Inclusion and Belonging (CCIB), in affiliation with the International March of the Living. It was fully funded by private donations raised by Dr. Machlis, associate professor of finance and economics in the Willumstad School.
“Every day, we read about another act of racism, antisemitism or another form of hatred…Two Museums Program is based on the belief that remembering and learning from the past will ensure a better future for all humankind.” – Dr. Machlis during the program orientation.
Two Museums: a wider range of participants
IIn 2025, Two Museums Program brought together students from five different universities, including Harvard. The experience also spanned three days instead of two, giving students more time to visit the museums and attend presentations by scholars of racism and antisemitism.
“I’ve seen the pain that discrimination causes in my own community, and I’ve felt the sting of being judged for my identity, But I’ve also seen how learning about others’ experiences can change minds, including my own. Understanding the roots of hatred—whether against Black, Jewish or any marginalized community—can be a step toward breaking those cycles of prejudice.”” – Participant, Two Museums Program, 2025.
This year’s programming included testimony from the Holocaust survivor Emanuel Mandel and a talk by George Mason University faculty member LaNitra Berger, PhD, on the coalition and friendship between Jewish and African American communities during the Civil Rights Movement.
Other notable presenters included Mark R. Ginsburg, PhD, president of Towson University; Steven Katz, PhD, senior education adviser at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; and Adelphi faculty members and administrators, including senior adjunct professor of management Joseph Celentano, MBA ’04, who played a key role in launching the Two Museums Program.
Two Museums also welcomed Adelphi alumni to attend a dinner and evening seminars where they could connect with other attendees and meet with Sentwali Bakari, PhD, vice president for Student Affairs.
Raising the bar for future programs
Dr. Machlis plans to grow the program by recruiting college students from across the country, including those working as interns in Congress. He continues to collaborate with professors at other major universities, including those in the Washington, D.C., area, to expand the program’s reach and offerings. Dr. Machlis is also developing a partnership with the United Negro College Fund, which provides funding to 37 leading historically Black colleges and universities.
Finally, he looks forward to sharing footage from this year’s event, captured by an award-winning videographer, to serve as a benchmark for future programs and as inspiration for the Adelphi community.
“In a world increasingly marked by division and misunderstanding, I believe that embracing our differences is not just a moral imperative but a necessary step towards a lasting change,” one student participant said.
“The Two Museums Program offers an amazing opportunity to deepen my understanding of historical contexts and to enhance my leadership skills in promoting unity both on and off campus.”
Two Museums Program Washington D.C. Intern Scholarship Applications Due June 1, 2026
Ready to apply for this year’s program? Applications are due by June 1, 2026. Click below to apply.