February 3, 2026
The Drew Forum Presents: Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling
As a courtesy to the artists and for the uninterrupted enjoyment of your fellow patrons, please turn off all electronic devices. No portion of this performance may be photographed, recorded, filmed, taped, broadcast or mechanically reproduced without the written consent of the Artist and/or the Presenter. Mayo Performing Arts Center is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Program subject to change.
Moderated
by Hilary L. Link, PhD Drew University President
This event is generously sponsored by the Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation.
The Drew Forum Presents: Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, and Ron Darling
Gary Cohen
Gary Cohen is SportsNet New Yorkʼs play-by-play announcer for all SNY produced Mets telecasts. He has called more than 2,500 games for the network since its launch in 2006. Cohen also contributes to SNYʼs Mets pre-and postgame shows and Mets Hot Stove. Prior to joining SNY, Cohen was a member of the Metsʼ radio team for 17 seasons.
In addition to his work with SNY, Cohen has been the radio voice for Seton Hall University basketball since 2003 and does the NCAA basketball Tournament for Westwood One radio.
Previously Cohen has done play-by-play on major league baseball broadcasts for CBS Radio from 1991-1997, and for ESPN Radio since 1998. Cohen has also served as the play-by-play announcer for the NCAA Basketball Tournament for CBS Radio as well as the radio voice of St. Johnʼs University basketball from 19952002. Cohen has also done play-by-play for Rangers games, as well as served as the menʼs and womenʼs hockey play-byplay announcer at the 1992, 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics for CBS Radio.
Before coming to the Mets, Cohen broadcast minor league baseball for the Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA) of the International League (1987-1988), the Durham Bulls of the Class-A Carolina League (1986) and Spartanburg Spinners (A) of the South Atlantic League (1983-1984).
Cohen was recently inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame for his three decades of work in sports broadcasting.
A graduate of Columbia University, Cohen resides in Connecticut with his wife Lynn.
Keith Hernandez
Keith Hernandez joined SNY in 2006 and is the networkʼs Mets game analyst - working over 100 telecasts each season. In addition to his work on SNY’s award-winning Mets game broadcasts, Hernandez contributes to SNYʼs Mets pre- and post-game shows and Mets Hot Stove.
Prior to joining SNY, Hernandez served as a Mets game analyst for MSG Networks and as a baseball analyst for the networkʼs Major League Baseball post-season playoff coverage, including the Subway World Series between the Yankees and Mets. Hernandez has won three Emmy Awards for best “Sports Analyst” for his work on SNY in 2009, 2012, and 2015.
Hernandezʼs Major League Baseball career began in 1974 with the St. Louis Cardinals where he quickly rose to the upper echelon in the League. In 1979, his .344 batting average led the majors and he shared National League MVP honors with Willie Stargell. He joined the New York Mets in 1983 and was instrumental in turning the team around, becoming a cornerstone of the 1986 World Series Championship squad. In addition to being named the first captain in Mets history, Hernandez earned a record 11 consecutive Gold Glove awards from 1978-1988 as a first baseman, batted over .300 in six different seasons, and finished with a lifetime .296 batting average and a career on-base percentage of .384. His career spanned 17 seasons, ending in 1990 with the Cleveland Indians.
Hernandez has been inducted into both the Rawlings Gold Glove Hall of Fame and the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the New York Mets Hall of Fame and in 2022 he
was honored by the Mets by having his number, 17, retired.
Hernandez was born in San Francisco, Calif. Hernandez splits time between homes in Sag Harbor and Florida.
Ron Darling
Ron Darling joined SNY in 2006 and is a game analyst for the networkʼs award-winning Mets game broadcasts. In addition to his 100 games in the SNY booth, Darling also contributes to SNYʼs Mets pre- and post-game shows, and Mets Hot Stove. Darling won an Emmy Award for best “Sports Analyst” in his first season with SNY then again in 2011, 2017 and 2022.
In addition to his work at SNY, Darling is an offseason studio analyst for The MLB Network and a game analyst for Turner Sportsʼ MLB regular season and postseason coverage.
Prior to joining SNY, Darling served as the color commentator for the Washington Nationals on Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) for the 2005 season, where he called 150 games. Prior to working at MASN, Ron served as an on-air analyst for Fox Sports Net.
Darling spent nine seasons as a starting pitcher for the New York Mets and was a key member of their 1986 World Championship and 1988 Division Champion teams. He also has the distinction of being the first Mets pitcher to be awarded the Gold Glove Award. After a short stint with the Montreal Expos, the All-Star pitcher finished his career spending five seasons with the Oakland Athletics.
Darling has been inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame, New York State Baseball Hall of Fame, and most recently the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
In addition to his work on SNY, Darling is on the Board of Directors for the Diabetes Research Institute.
Darling was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and attended Yale University where he was a two-time All-American – leading the Bulldogs to two Ivy League titles. He currently resides with his family in Connecticut.
Hilary L. Link
Hilary L. Link, Ph.D., was named Drew University’s 15th president on July 1, 2023. Since arriving at Drew, President Link has spearheaded a number of initiatives to drive the institution forward. Several months into President Link’s tenure, she announced plans to develop an innovation-forward Strategic Vision and Direction for the University.
Drew has added a number of new programs under President Link, all geared toward responding to student interest and job market trends. Through an innovative partnership with Bloomboard paraprofessionals receive on-the-job bachelor’s degrees in elementary education helping to address the teacher shortage in New Jersey. Pathways for students to earn their bachelor’s degree in three years were also developed with a seamless transition to Drew’s graduate schools.
Drew’s reputation has continued to grow under President Link. The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly have placed Drew among the top liberal arts schools in the country, ranking the University higher and higher on their annual lists and highlighting the return on investment of a Drew degree.
President Link comes to Drew from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA,
The Drew Forum Presents: Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, and Ron Darling
where she served as its first female president from 2019 to 2022. She successfully saw Allegheny College over the finish line to become one of the first 10 U.S. colleges to achieve carbon neutrality and guided the college through the COVID-19 pandemic while managing demographic, enrollment and financial challenges facing institutions of higher education across the country.
Over more than 20 years of experience, she’s energetically built programs with the faculty and increased resources, while providing students with a crossdisciplinary path for preparing students to think critically, communicate creatively and question everything. Recognized as a multidisciplinary scholar and globalist, President Link was dean of Temple University Rome and previously served as vice provost at Barnard College of Columbia University.
She began her career in higher education as director of scholar programs at
Douglas Murray
New York University. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Stanford University and both her master’s degree and doctorate in Italian language and literature at Yale University.
The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation
The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation was established in 1983 by New Brunswick philanthropist Irving Laurie. The Foundation supports a variety of projects across broad issue areas.
About the Drew Forum
For 30 years, the Drew Forum speaker series has welcomed world-renowned guests to Drew University and local communities. From past and future presidents and vice presidents, to leaders of state and policy, to Pulitzer Prize-winning historians and journalists, to comedians and astrophysicists, to newscasters and podcasters, each year the Drew Forum cedes the stage to unique perspectives, thought leaders, and changemakers.
APRIL 20, 2026
Bestselling author and journalist Douglas Murray has dedicated much of the past few years to reporting from the frontlines in Ukraine and Gaza. Murray discusses the strategic and moral imperatives for the West to secure victories in both wars, highlighting the broader implications for global stability and democracy. Beyond his war reporting, Murray offers his perspective on the recent wave of campus protests in the U.S. and shares his insights on recent and upcoming elections, discussing the key issues at stake and their potential impact on the country’s future.
