Executive Team

Dr. Bernard Luskin

Chief Executive Officer and Senior Provost

bernard.luskin@tourow.edu
Dr. Bernard Luskin is CEO, Senior Provost and Professor of Psychology and Education at Touro University Worldwide. Bernie Luskin is founding Chancellor of Jones International University, the first accredited fully web based university, founding president of Coastline Community College and president of Orange Coast College. He has taught at Claremont Graduate University, UCLA, Pepperdine University, Fielding Graduate University and the University of Southern California. In corporate life, he served as President and CEO of Philips Interactive Media and Philips Education and Reference Publishing. Dr. Luskin is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and School Psychologist. He received the 2011 American Psychological Association (APA) Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions to the field of Media Psychology and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Irish Government and European Commission for contributions to media and education.

John Smolarski

Chief Financial Officer

john.smolarski@tourow.edu
John Smolarski is Touro University Worldwide’s Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining the TUW team he was a certified public accountant and senior accounting and financial technology executive with a Fortune 50 company. In finance, Mr. Smolarski served as the Chief Accounting Officer for Countrywide Financial Corporation’s loan origination divisions.

Alisa Weinstein

Chief Marketing Officer and Director of Enrollment Management, HR

alisa.weinstein@tourow.edu
Alisa is TUW’s Chief Marketing Officer and Director of Enrollment Management, Human Resources. She started as a journalist working for ABC news as a reporter/Anchor in Memphis, Tennessee and received the Associated Press Award for “Best Live Coverage.” She transitioned her on camera career as an executive and later teamed up with the founder of Lorimar and Chairman of Warner Bros to run Lightforce Entertainment, an entertainment production company. Alisa holds a B.A in communications from USC and is a Masters candidate at TUW.

Jack Kushnatsian

Chief Technology Officer and Director of Production Services

jack.kushnatsian@tourow.edu
Jack Kushnatsian is the Chief Technology Officer and Director of Production Services for Touro University Worldwide. He graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology. Jack also holds multiple certifications in the IT field including those from Microsoft and CompTIA. He is currently enrolled in the Masters Degree program at TUW.

Dr. Esther Lowy

Dean, Touro College Los Angeles

tourola@tourow.edu
Esther Lowy, PhD is the founding Dean of Touro College Los Angeles. Dr. Lowy received her doctorate from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University and her MBA from UCLA., Dr. Lowy has served as president of Metropolitan Venture Capital Company and a director of various insurance and real estate companies. Dr. Lowy is the mother of eight wonderful children, all of whom have studied in programs given by Touro College.

Dr. Michael Hamlin

Director of Research and Assessment

michaelh@tourow.edu
Michael Hamlin has worked and taught in the areas of academic affairs, educational technology and human factors at a number of universities including the University of Washington, Pepperdine University and Loyola Marymount University. Dr. Hamlin has been active in teaching and research and has written and presented numerous papers in the areas of informatics, online education and educational technology and his research projects have received $1,000,000 in sponsored support.

Laurie Jacobs

Director of Student Services

laurie.jacobs@tourow.edu
Laurie Jacobs began her career working on the pioneering airline in-flight programs – at that time the beginning of new concepts in marketing and merchandising. Moving to Los Angeles, she continued her work in marketing, public relations and publicity in the music industry. She worked for ten years at Philips Interactive Media as Executive Assistant managing all manner of corporate and media activities.

Program Chairs and Faculty

Gregory F. Zerovnik EMBA, PhD

Director of Business Programs

greg.zerovnik@tourow.edu

Dr. Toni Thomas Luskin

Lead Faculty, Media and Communications Psychology

toni.luskin@tourow.edu
Dr. Luskin holds a Master of Arts Degree in Human & Organizational Development and a Ph.D. degree in Media Studies from Fielding Graduate University. She is an experienced media producer; writer and on-camera host whose credits include programs for the BBC, American Public Television, cable television networks and numerous private interests. Dr. Luskin serves on the board of directors of The American Film Institute Associates and participates in activities of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Jane Kagon, JD

Lead Faculty, Media and Communications Program

jane.kagon@tourow.edu
Jane Kagon, JD, was a long term Hollywood production and development executive, working as Vice President of Production for Michael Douglas, at Fox Studios among other Hollywood Majors, as well has having been an independent film producer and a writer for animated children’s series (Disney), serious games (McGraw Hill Interactive) and sci-fi web series (The IdeaLab). Jane did her undergraduate degree in English at Mills College and UC Berkeley and received her JD from Loyola Law School.

James Hirsen

Faculty, Touro University Worldwide

James Hirsen is a New York Times bestselling author, commentator, news analyst and law professor. Sought after for his expertise on current events and cultural matters, Hirsen has appeared on The O’Reilly Factor, Scarborough Country, and numerous other television programs. Hirsen teaches at Touro University Worldwide, Trinity Law School and Biola University. He is admitted to practice in the California and Washington, D.C. Bar Associations, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of International Trade.

Paul Wright

Faculty, Touro University Worldwide

An English Barrister and California Attorney. In 1990 he formed Paul J. Wright & Associates, a law firm specializing in domestic and international transactional and litigation matters. In 2001 he was appointed as a Special Master by the State Bar of California and in 2002 was appointed Judge Pro Tempore by the Los Angeles Superior Court. He currently serves as the Chairman of the British American Business Council Los Angeles.

Deborah Waters, MD

Professor, Touro University Worldwide

Dr. Waters completed her Bachelor’s degree in biology and MD degree at The University of California. She is currently completing her Ph.D dissertation at Fielding Graduate University while continuing to work as the Chief Medical Doctor on the Navajo Reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico. Her particular area of interest is to develop effective media campaigns aimed at lowering epidemic levels of diabetes (Type 2 DM) among 10 – 13 year old Native Americans. She also works on children’s needs in sports medicine and family needs of Native Americans. Dr. Waters has served as the Chief Medical Officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee and has worked with numerous teams including the Los Angeles Lakers. She served as the first female team physician at Penn State University and has worked with several notable athletes guiding them physically and mentally back to health; she even gave Mike Tyson his first Olympic Boxing team physical. In 2010, she personally accompanied the women’s basketball team to the Olympic Games in Beijing. Waters has also served as team physician for the Native American Olympic Boxing Team and the U.S. Airforce Boxing Team.