Faculty, Staff — Update, In Memoriam, Welcome Spring 2024
Update
Louai Rahal, administrative science (Van), presented on “Understanding the Limitations of MOOCs [Massive Open Online Courses] to Effectively Use Them in Training” at the American Society of Public Administration conference in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 16. It is a study that he and Paulette Laubsch, public administration and academic coordinator, public/global affairs (Metro), are currently working on. Rahal’s essay, “Kant’s Conception of Freedom,” was posted in February on the Daily Philosophy website, which aims to make philosophy more accessible to the public. The site has contributions from philosophy professors and notable philosophers worldwide. Also, his academic article, “(Mis)representations of Kant’s moral theory in applied ethics textbooks; emphasis on universalizability, absence of autonomy,” was published in December by the International Journal of Ethics Education.
Ian Mercer, management (Metro), hosted a three-part Power Skills Workshop for Silberman College of Business’s Professional Development Program this spring. The series of events focused on leadership, teamwork and decision-making development. These included an escape-room experience at the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, N.J., on March 27; a speaker panel at the Florham Campus on April 3; and gaming stations and team debriefs on both the Metropolitan and Florham campuses on April 17.
President Michael Avaltroni; Benjamin Freer, psychology and director, psychology/counseling (Metro), and cofounder, Center for Empathy Research and Training; and Anastasia Rivkin, pharmacy practice and dean, pharmacy/health sciences (Flor), were among the New Jersey INNOVATE100 leaders who will be honored and celebrated on Tuesday, May 14, at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. The inaugural INNOVATE100 initiative, which honors accomplished professionals from various sectors important to New Jersey’s robust economy and strong community, is designed to highlight and elevate the state’s finest innovation leaders and to showcase collaboration within companies and among organizations. The initiative was spearheaded by James Barrood, founder/CEO of Innovation+, who was the former executive director of FDU’s Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurship. To see the complete list of honorees go to “NJ Innovate100 Leaders to be Recognized May 14.”
In March, David Landau, film (Flor), led an in-person workshop on “Multi-camera Cinematography” at the Student Filmmakers Headquarters in New York City.
Uchenna Baker, vice president for student affairs/dean of students/Division III athletics administration, was one of the panelists at the Rise & Thrive Women’s Leadership Summit held at the Florham Campus on March 27. She was part of the Breaking Barriers Building Bridges discussion on “Unveiling the Tapestry of Women’s Leadership in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.”
Kara Alaimo, communication and deputy chair, communication (Metro), spoke about her book, Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls — And How We Can Take It Back, in a conversation with Madison Malone Kircher, reporter for The New York Times Styles section; an episode of the Fair Media Council’s Fast Chat podcast; an episode of the Community & Technology show; and at the Annenberg School for Communication in Philadelphia, Pa.; and at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Fla. She was also a guest speaker at two events held in Washington, D.C., in March: at Busboys and Poets, where she talked with Patty Mecheal, CEO at HealthEnabled, senior associate faculty at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and award-winning author of The Antidotes: Pollution Solution; and at Politics and Prose, where Alaimo discussed her book with Patrice Harris, chief health and medical editor at Everyday Health and former president of the American Medical Association. In April, she moderated a conversation with Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author, as part of YWCA Princeton’s Stand Against Racism Event. Alaimo also wrote the following op-eds: “Women’s Social Media Posts Get Ignored While Men’s Are Amplified — Here’s What To Do About It” and “Dove Just Pledged Not to Use AI Models. It’s Helpful, But Not Enough” (forbes.com); “Social media can be toxic for women. Here’s how to change that” (Los Angeles Times); and “For many women, social media is ‘IRL.’ Here’s why that’s dangerous,” “Why a woman like Nikki Haley could be president of the United States, “I can’t believe Ron DeSantis is right about this, but he is,” “This harmful trend is so much more than a ‘youthful transgression’” and “Why memes about Mommy and wine are no joke” (cnn.com).
James Almeida, entrepreneurship (Flor) and dean, Silberman College, and Omer Topaloglu, marketing and deputy chair, marketing/information systems/decision sciences (Metro), attended the Peace Islands Institute Annual Ramadan Friendship Dinner on April 3 at the Chart House in Weehawken, N.J. The theme of this year’s event was “Peaceful Coexistence.”
Faculty and staff members of the FDU community were the panelists at the virtual event “University Woman: Conversations About Life and Work,” which was held as part of Women’s History Month. The panelists discussed how they have grown, advanced and moved up in their careers. They were June Cho, associate director of career services (Van); Lissette Garcia, executive director, Educational Opportunity Fund (Metro); Otito Iwuchukwu, pharmaceutical sciences (Flor); and Salma Noor, computer science (Van); and Florham Campus undergraduate student Tracy Osawe.
“10 Tips to Get the Survey Monkey off your Back,” an article by Peter Woolley, political science (Flor) and founding director, public/global affairs, was published in the March 2024 issue of New Jersey Municipalities, the magazine of the New Jersey League of Municipalities. On March 7, he appeared on News 12 before and after President Biden’s State of the Union address to provide context and commentary. Woolley moderated the FDU Gubernatorial Conversations series, which featured prospective candidates to New Jersey Governor’s race in 2025, at the Florham Campus. Previous guests included Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Congressman Josh Gottheimer.
President Michael Avaltroni was a featured guest at an in-person networking and a ChamberCast interactive podcast by the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce on April 23 at Bell Works in Holmdel, N.J. He spoke about FDU’s new partnership with Bell Works, the intersection of higher education and business and the challenges currently facing higher education. He was the inaugural guest at Drew University’s expert special-guest series in management courses, where he shared tips on his own leadership style that has helped him achieve success. On April 9, he was a panelist at a discussion on “Star Lessons in Leadership: Fireside Chat with Graduate Alum University Presidents” at Princeton University, where he received his MS and PhD degrees. Shirley Tilghman, president emerita of Princeton University, moderated the discussion about leadership and the challenges and opportunities facing higher education at this moment. The event was part of the university’s 2024 GradFUTURES Forum: Building Clarity, Confidence, and Connections. Avaltroni also wrote an article, “Adapt or die: 3 ways to transform your institution in a changing landscape,” that was posted on universitybusiness.com on April 4.
Fiona Gladstone, human geography (Metro), contributed to a study (“Self-governance mediates small-scale fishing strategies, vulnerability and adaptive response”) featured in the January 2024 issue of Global Environmental Change. Spearheaded by Timothy Frawley, sea grant fellow, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and researchers from Duke University, Stanford University and the University of Maine, the study delved into how fishers local to Northwest Mexico respond to challenges posed by climate change. Gladstone leads a related study in Baja, Calif., under revision at Ecology and Society. To read more go to “Study Shines Light on Climate Change Adaptation in Northwest Mexican Fisheries.”
In celebration of Pride Month in April, several faculty members organized, moderated and/or presented at various in-person and virtual events spearheaded by the FDU Planning Committee for LGBTQIA+ Heritage Celebrations. Among them were Jarrett Bachman, hotel/restaurant/tourism management and associate director, International School of Hospitality, Sports, and Tourism Management (Van); Matthieu Boyd, literature and chair, School of Humanities (Flor); Kathryn Douglas, rhetoric/composition (Flor); Madelyn Ferrans, law; Robert Houle, history (Flor); Vaniah Howell, animation (Flor); April Patrick, literature and University director, honors programs (Flor); and John Schiemann, government/politics (Flor). Nandita Ghosh, literature (Flor), served as overall coordinator of Pride Month.
Bradford Hurlbut, senior associate vice president/director of athletics (Metro), announced a new partnership with Peak Sports MGMT, a sponsorship/advertising and event management firm in Allen, Texas. Peak Sports MGMT will oversee multimedia rights and enhance the FDU Knights athletics brand through venue signage, program advertising, digital and web content, game sponsorship and special events, among other opportunities. Hurlbut also announced the opening of the Panos Fueling Station in the Rothman Lobby of the Bogota Savings Bank Center. Named in honor of Catherine Panos, BS’90 (Metro), a former women’s basketball student-athlete, who died in 2022, the station will provide athletes with nutritious snacks and beverages.
Khyati Joshi, multicultural education (Metro), will be coaching a cohort of New Jersey public school teachers — each awarded with a Teach Asian American Stories (TAAS) Fellowship — for their commitment to teaching Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history. Over a 10- to 12-month period, the TAAS Fellows will be trained to become facilitators who can provide professional development in teaching AAPI history and make contributions to fellow educators. Joshi is cofounder of the Institute for Teaching Diversity and Social Justice.
April Patrick, literature and University director, honors programs (Flor), spoke about her new book, Women’s Health in Britain and America: Texts and Contexts, at The Book House in Millburn, N.J., in March. Specific narratives from her new book were also discussed at a panel discussion held on March 27 at the Florham Campus in celebration of Women’s History Month. Published by Springer Nature in December 2023, Patrick’s book is a collection of more than 100 narratives written by and for women between 1750 and 1950 about a variety of topics: medical approaches to pregnancy and childbirth, contraception and abortion and breast and gynecological cancers.
Marion McClary, biological sciences and chair, biological sciences (Metro), will be presenting on “Barnacles: Their Unseen Behavior” at the 21st Annual Ocean Fun Days on Saturday, May 18, at the Island Beach State Park in Seaside Park, N.J.; and on Sunday, May 19, at the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium in Sandy Hook, N.J. FDU is a member of the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, with McClary serving as its representative.
Fernanda Zaganelli, administrative science (Van), presented a student workshop on “Know About Your Eyes and Electronic Devices” at the Vancouver Campus on February 28.
On April 7, Nicole Melleby, MFA’16 (Flor), Becton College (Flor), joined a panel of middle-grade writers at Books of Wonder in New York City, to talk about her new book, Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine. Published by Algonquin Young Readers on April 2, the book has received rave reviews. According to Booklist, “Melleby’s latest is a tearjerker with heart — a triumphant exploration of lesbianism, extended family and miscarriage from the eyes of a young, would-be sibling.” In addition, Algonquin Young Readers has acquired the world rights to Poppy’s Question, a picture book by Melleby. The book, with illustrations by Forest Burdett, will be published in 2025.
Annie Rohan, nursing and dean, nursing/allied health (Metro), was a panelist at an Ovid® Synthesis webinar in February. Wolters Kluwer, global provider of professional information, software solutions and services for clinicians, accountants and lawyers among others, and FDU’s School of Nursing and Allied Health worked together to modify Ovid Synthesis software into an AI-proof academic tool where nursing/healthcare students can develop and research EBP [evidence-based practice] competencies.
Florham Campus faculty and staff members who mentored honors program students during their senior thesis projects were Joseph Agugliaro, biology; Robert Barrows, chemistry; Justin Bogart, inorganic chemistry; Raymond Capozzi, Silberman College; John Cinco, graphic design; Deirdre Collier, accounting; Michael DeStefano, biological sciences; David Grand, creative writing; Karin Hamilton, management/entrepreneurship; Vaniah Howell, animation; Melissa Ingala, microbiology; Eun-Jeong Ko, entrepreneurship; Stacie Lents, theater and director, theater; Howard Libov, film, chair of School of the Arts and director, MFA in film; Patricia Melloy, biology; Kathalyn Messano, education; Elise Morton, biology; Harald Parzer, biology; Minna Proctor, creative writing and director, MFA in creative writing; Meghan Sacks, criminology and graduate program director, criminology/criminal justice; James Salierno, biology; Thomas Smock, Becton College; and Guolong Zhu, chemistry. Andrew Rose, creative writing and librarian (Wrox), also mentored a Florham Campus student.
Athos Vardouniotis, Petrocelli Center (Metro), and Emory Osmani, art/criminal justice student, codirected “Greek Story Theatre,” a comedic adaptation of The Odyssey, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone, in April. It was presented by The University Players, the student theater group at the Metropolitan Campus. Marie Roberts, fine arts (Metro), and Vardouniotis are the group’s faculty advisers.
Florham Campus biology faculty members Elise Morton and Harald Parzer together with alumna Emma Dougherty, BS’23 (Flor), a medical student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pa., co-presented a biology seminar on “Artificial Light at Night Affects the Timing of Roosting by Chimney Swifts” via Zoom on March 21.
FDU Trustee S. “Skippy” Weinstein, BS’62 (Ruth), received the Distinguished Attorney Award during the second annual networking event hosted by the FDU Prelaw Program held on April 16 at the Florham Campus. Weinstein is of counsel at Britcher, Leone & Sergio, LLC, in Morristown, N.J.
On March 7, Kenneth Sammond, college writing (Flor), hosted a discussion at the Florham Campus about environmental justice titled “Equal Protection, Equal Partners” with Kandyce Perry, director, Office of Environmental Justice, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Metropolitan Campus faculty and staff members who mentored honors program students during their senior thesis projects were Scott Behson, management; David Chun, psychology/counseling; Lisa-Ann Kelly, nursing; Mihaela Leonida, chemistry and preprofessional studies/graduate school adviser; Marion McClary, biological sciences and chair, biological sciences; Robert McGrath, psychology; Eleni Mylonas, college writing; Elizabeth Panuccio, criminal justice, interim associate dean, Becton College, and deputy chair, criminology/criminal justice; Samuel Raphalides, political science/history and director, Global Scholars Program; Sarah Schaaf, psychology/counseling; Miriam Singer, education; Melissa Slavin, psychology; Gregory Tortoriello, psychology; Marjorie West-Lawrence, nursing; Harvey Winters, biological sciences (Metro);
Harvey Hix, Becton College (Flor), was chosen as a featured poet on Poetry Daily for his book, Bored in Arcane Cursive Under Lodgepole Bark. His poem, “Always and only from material.,” was also posted.
The School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences held its Annual Student and Faculty Recognition Award Ceremony via Zoom on May 2. Among the winners were Florham Campus faculty members Andrea Cole, social work and director of field education, Master of Social Work program, who was named Faculty Researcher of the Year; and Jamie Farley, physician assistant (PA) studies and academic director, PA program, who was chosen Faculty Member of the Year.
“Enhancing Youth Wellbeing Through Character Development,” an article by Robert McGrath, psychology (Metro), was posted on diplomaticcourier.com in April.
Minna Proctor, creative writing and director, MFA in creative writing (Flor), moderated a discussion with Sejal Shah, author of How to Make Your Mother Cry, at an event hosted by the Asian American Writers’ Workshop on April 30 at McNally Jackson Books Seaport in New York City.
Christina Carlson, campus director, academic advising/student support services (Flor); Charles Celestin, assistant director, Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), counselor and financial aid coordinator (Flor); Danielle DeNigris, psychology (Flor); and Michelle Kramisen, learning disabilities specialist, Regional Center for Learning Disabilities (Metro), received the EOF Champion Award during the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) 50th Annual EOF Awards Ceremony and Graduation Celebration in April. The award is presented to University educators who have provided exceptional service to the EOF Program and its students. EOF Championship Award recipients are selected by the EOF staff and students. In addition, Carlson, DeNigris and Kramisen received honorary membership to the Epsilon Omega Sigma Honor Society for their outstanding support to the EOF program.
Daniel Cassino, government/politics and executive director, FDU Poll (Flor), wrote an article/book review about The Witch of New York: The Trials of Polly Bodine and the Cursed Birth of Tabloid Justice, a true-crime book by Alex Hortis. Cassino’s article, “The Witch of New York argues that the good old days of journalism were not so good,” was posted on the reality blurred blog.
Among the recipients of this year’s Maddy Awards, which is spearheaded by the Florham Campus Student Government Association, were Kenneth Betz, economics (Flor), Faculty Member of the Year; and Caitlin Reilly, campus life coordinator, first-year experiences/special projects (Flor), Staff Member of the Year.
Kathleen Stein-Smith, languages (Metro), made several presentations in March: “French chez nous – French Language Advocacy in New Hampshire and Beyond” at the New Hampshire Association of World Language Teachers, in Meredith, N.H.; “Language Advocacy – Celebrating Heritage and World Languages in the Classroom and Beyond” at Central States 2024 in Minneapolis, Minn., and at the Southern Conference on Language Teaching 2024 in Atlanta, Ga. In January, she presented at the Northern New Jersey Mensa’s BLAST 2024 Regional Gathering in Newark, N.J., on “The Northern New Jersey French Conversation Group — Bringing Mensans Together (and Having Fun) Through French.” She also wrote the following articles that have been published: “Reflections on Multilingualism and Implications for International Education, Review of: Conversations on Bilingualism,” in the Global Studies Literature Review; “The Significance of the French and Francophone Presence in North America in French Language Learning and Advocacy in the United States,” in the Theory and Practice in Language Studies journal; “Valuing Local Forms of French,” in Language Magazine; and “The Future of French — The Role of Soft Power in French Language Learning and Use: Advocacy and Partnerships,” in the International Journal of Language and Linguistics. In February, she attended and participated in this year’s Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (NECTFL) held in New York City.
“Still,” a play by Lia Romeo, Becton College (Flor), is on stage at the DR2 Theatre in New York City until Saturday, May 18. Presented by Colt Coeur, “Still is directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt, director, choreographer and founding artistic director of Colt Coeur. It stars Tony Award nominee Jayne Atkinson and Emmy Award nominee Tim Daly, who have praised Romeo for her latest play. Atkinson said, “Lia Romeo has written a play that I feel I’ve waited for my whole life. What an honor!” According to Daly, “this play is funny, moving, thought provoking and endlessly surprising and as an actor and for an audience that’s an exciting combination of elements.”
Sunhee Yoon, Becton College (Metro), and director, Invisible Room Project 2023–2024, co-organized and cocurated “My Invisible Room,” a joint student art exhibit with Sangmyung University in Seoul, South Korea. The exhibit, which focuses on the post-Covid era, features paintings, sculptures, installations and multimedia works that explore themes of loneliness, resilience, community and hope. The exhibit and opening reception were held at the Metropolitan Campus in April. It will be on display from May 13 to June 3 at Sangmyung University. The exhibit was also organized by Sejeoung Lee, director, Hongji Art Research Center, Sangmyung University; and curated by Juweon Kim, art/independent curator, Sangmyung University; and Bomi Hong, art/artist, Sangmyung University.
Alan Roth, BA’80 (Ruth), Becton College (Flor), was featured in the March article “Screenwriter Alan Roth Discusses His Approach to Adapting Books for Film,” on Journalism Online.
Tiffany Walker, University director of student wellness services (Metro), announced that a partnership with Avidon Health will give FDU students access to EngagementRx, a new and free digital health coaching platform. EngagementRx will provide students access to several wellness modules on topics such as sleep hygiene, stress management, substance use and diet and nutrition. Students use their FDU email address to access the online library.
Justin Connolly, sports information director, athletics (Flor), was featured in the article “Happy World Down Syndrome Day — A Story About Friendship.” During his senior season with the Misericordia Cougars football team, Connolly developed a friendship with Patrick Cleary, an employee in the Misericordia athletics and facilities departments who has Down Syndrome. Initially bonding over their interest for professional wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment, they have maintained their friendship through regular phone calls.
Julie Kalabalik-Hoganson, pharmacy practice and chair, pharmacy practice (Flor), was a guest speaker at a virtual information session about the doctor of pharmacy program on April 11. The event was hosted by the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the Pre-Health Professionals Club.
Ronald Lin, Becton College (Flor), is part of Columbia University’s inaugural MPA in Global Leadership cohort under its School of International and Public Affairs. He is the founder and CEO of Linbright Consulting Group, LLC, with headquarters in Upper Saddle River, N.J., and in Shanghai, China.
In the news …
Jennifer Sipila, communication, vice provost for academic affairs and executive director, lifelong learning (Metro), and Benjamin Rifkin, University provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, were quoted in the April Jersey’s Best article “Changing what it means to be a traditional student.”
Michael Lever, hotel/restaurant/tourism management (Van), was quoted in the article “‘The Yukon is a little metal,’ a slogan to boost tourism out of season,” which was posted on thetimeshub.in.
Patrick Scarpello, head men’s lacrosse coach, athletics (Flor), “‘We got this!’ Rare cancer disrupts NJ teen’s life, but writing songs helps him cope,” posted on msn.com.
President Michael Avaltroni was quoted in two ROI-NJ.com articles: “NJAI Summit attracts global audience — and retains its key attendees all day” and “FDU, Saint Peter’s proving not all Cinderellas lose their sparkle at midnight.”
Bradford Hurlbut, senior associate vice president/director of athletics (Metro), was quoted in the article “Ousted Cinderellas Still Cash In After March Madness Losses,” posted on sportico.com in March.
Peter Woolley, political science (Flor) and founding director, public/global affairs, appeared on CBS New York to comment on the New Jersey State primary (“Door now open for N.J. Rep. Andy Kim to win Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate”); was interviewed for the television show “Power & Politics” about the New Jersey Senate primary election to replace Senator Bob Menendez.; and was a guest in the April 28 episode of the My9 New Jersey Now public affairs show. He was quoted in the following articles in March: “Tammy Murphy dropping out appears to open door to N.J. Rep. Andy Kim to win Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate” on cbsnews.com; and “A closer look at New Jersey’s highly rated schools,” on wbgo.org. Woolley also was quoted in two articles about Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s appearance in the Gubernatorial Conversations series held at the Florham Campus in March, which Woolley hosted: “Baraka, in Talk at FDU, Says Being Mayor of Newark Has Prepped Him to Lead N.J.” (tapinto.net [Newark]); and “Baraka: Ballot reform ‘long overdue’” (insidernj.com). Woolley was mentioned in the article “Newark Mayor: New Jersey’s Big Education Lie” (njedreport.com).
Eleanor McGlinchey, psychology (Metro), was quoted in The Cleveland American article “Do you stay in bed after waking up? This is what science says about it” in February.
Opie Sardina, general manager/program director/on-air host, WFDU-FM (Metro), was quoted in the March article “Listeners take over WFDU-FM: ‘Mayor Pete’ Rustin just one of the many fans finding their groove via popular RetroRadio,” posted on thepressgroup.net.
Meghan Sacks, criminology and graduate program director, criminology/criminal justice (Flor), was interviewed for fox5ny.com on “Why women love True Crime.” Sacks and Amy Shlosberg, criminology and chair, criminology/criminal justice (Flor), cohost the podcast “Women and Crime.”
Kara Alaimo, communication and deputy chair, communication (Metro), was featured in the article “Beyond NYU: Writing to help women combat social media’s toxic impact,” published in the April 18 issue of Washington Square News, the student publication of New York University, where she used to write stories as an NYU undergrad. She was also quoted in the following articles: “Baby Botox: Why younger women are turning to preventative injections, NC doctors say” (newsobserver.com); “A Warning for Princetonians of All Ages: Social Media Can Be Harmful to Your Health” (tapinto.net [Princeton]); “Corporate Media Hate Anonymous Posts Because They Hate Free Speech” (thefederalist.com and CNM Newz); “Hate and Violence Toward Girls and Women in the Digital World” (Psychology Today); “Liberal professor says law signed by DeSantis should me ‘model for nation’” (christianpost.com); “A Left-Wing Professor Praised Ron DeSantis For One Reason No One Ever Saw Coming” (usanews.com); and “Anonymous users are dominating right-wing discussions online. They also spread false information” (apnews.com, oregonlive.com, borneobulletin.com, U.S. News & World Report, Los Angeles Times, Market Beat, Hartford Courant and bradfordera.com).
Anthony Minick, hotel/restaurant/tourism management (Flor), was quoted in the April USA Today article “Check out these solar eclipse deals and specials from NJ businesses.”
Jack Castleberry, head men’s basketball coach, athletics (Metro), was quoted in the March article “The son of a sportscaster, Jack Castleberry looks to make his own highlights at Fairleigh Dickinson,” posted on thecomeback.com.
Daniel Cassino, government/politics and executive director, FDU Poll (Flor), was a guest on in several shows: in the April 14 episode of New Jersey Now on My9 WWOR about New Jersey’s electoral future; on NJ Spotlight News where he talked about the latest FDU poll, where a majority of New Jerseyans voted to leave OPRA and public records access alone; and in the PIX11 Morning News episode where he talked about what’s next after Tammy Murphy suspended her Senate campaign. He was quoted in the following articles about FDU polls: “N.J. backs fee for electric vehicle owners, poll shows” (New Jersey Globe, wbgo.org and ROI-NJ); “NJ residents want transparency in government. That much is clear” (Burlington County Times and northjersey.com); “Lawmakers want to change N.J. records laws. ‘Nobody thinks this is a good idea,’ poll finds” and “Drivers are OK with $250 electric car fee, but say fix the roads!” (nj.com); “FDU: Voters Reject OPRA Overhaul,” “Menendez Gives Republicans Their Best Shot” and “FDU Poll: Kim leads Republicans in poll of Senate Election” (insidernj.com); “Legislature’s proposed OPRA changes are deeply unpopular, per FDU poll” and “FDU Poll Finds Kim with General Election Lead, But Menendez Could Cause Problems” (New Jersey Globe); “New poll: More than 80% of NJ wants transparency, public records left intact” (northjersey.com and aol.com); “81% of NJ voters oppose changes to Open Public Records Act” (njspotlightnews.org); “New poll shows more than 80% of NJ wants transparency and public records law left intact” (msn.com and nj.com); “Voters reject push to gut New Jersey’s public records law, poll says” (New Jersey Monitor and News from the States); and “FDU Poll finds strong support for EV fees” (NJBIZ).
Cassino also was quoted in the following articles: “‘Uncommitted’ movement to press Biden on Gaza lands in New Jersey” (New Jersey Monitor and njtoday.net); “At $19M, Gottheimer’s war chest can fund House race and a race for governor” (njspotlightnews.org); “Polls show substantial support for candidates like RFK Jr. How much of it is real?” (cnn.com); “Trump is Right to Worry About a Robert Kennedy Candidacy” (pjmedia.com); “Third-party candidates Surge in Polls, Disrupting Biden-Trump Race” (newsgpt.ai); “Abbreviated Pundit Roundup: ‘Losing all credibility’” (dailykos.com); and “Jack Is Back: Can Ciattarelli Overcome the Odds in Essex County?” (patch.com [Montclair]); “Bob Menendez is burning through cash as the New Jersey senator’s legal woes mount and fundraising plummets” (Philadelphia Inquirer); “Secret Cash Drawer and Voter Fraud: The Godfather of NJ Political Corruption” (New Jersey 101.5, catcountry1073.com and 943thepoint.com); and “Menendez name was once a gift for NJ representative. Now, a primary challenger eyes the prize.” (gothamist.com).
For links to Cassino quotes in articles about previous polls and political issues go to February and March.
In Memoriam
Robert Chell, emeritus, psychology (Flor), died on March 5 at the age of 81. He worked at FDU for 37 years, starting in the fall of 1968 and retiring in June 2005 as a professor of psychology and chair of the psychology department at the Florham Campus. He left a lasting impact on many students and on the field of industrial psychology. He used his academic experience to build a consulting practicing, working with such clients as Allied Signal. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Beverly. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s® Research Hospital.
Jason Scorza, vice provost for academic and international affairs, political science/philosophy and director, University Core, died on March 15 at the age of 55. He joined FDU in 1999. He held a variety of leadership roles at FDU including director of the School of Art and Media Studies; director of the School of English, Philosophy and Humanities; and director of the University’s CORE program. He helped organize many interdisciplinary conferences, symposia and events, including the biannual Holocaust Symposium at Wroxton College. In the last 15 years or so, he has been increasingly focused on global education, including both inbound and outbound study abroad and a variety of international educational experiences for FDU students, forging relationships with partners across the globe including in Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, Europe and the Caucasus Region. He won awards from the American Council on Education and the Fulbright Program, among others, and received grants from the U.S. State Department, the Banco Santander Foundation and the Walmart Foundation. He is survived by his wife, Beth; his father, Joe Scorza, and stepmom, Karen Hyman; his mother, Lucille Scorza; stepsister, Alison Johnson; and nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his stepsister, Melissa Hyman. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to WNYC, FDU’s Wroxton College or the Mohonk Preserve. A celebration of his life and work was held on April 3 at the Metropolitan Campus. Click here to view a recording of his memorial (use passcode 1V^T+ns9).
Welcome
The University welcomes new full-time and part-time employees who joined FDU as of May 1, 2024.
Welcome to Jamal Alsakran, lecturer, computer science (Van); Colleen Badalis, assistant softball coach, athletics (Flor); Laura Bancone, psychological counselor, Wellness Center (Flor); Franco Barragan, wellness coordinator, Wellness Center (Metro); Chermaine Black, grant research assistant, psychology/counseling (Metro); Jacquelyn Bonaparte, administrative coordinator for student affairs, nursing/allied health (Metro); Terrell Braithwaite, case manager, Dean of Students Office (Metro); America Carlough, academic adviser, academic advising/student support services (Flor); Jennifer Carr, head field hockey coach, athletics (Flor); Scott Chaleff, officer, public safety (Flor); Colleen Coppla, senior vice president for University advancement, University advancement (Metro); Roseanne Crisafi, academic coordinator, high school programs, Petrocelli Center for Continuing Studies (Metro); Ayana Dasilva, lecturer, social work/coordinator of field education, Master of Social Work program (Flor); Aimee Demarest, executive assistant to president, Office of the President (Flor); Paul Dunphy, research/instruction librarian, Metropolitan Campus Library (Metro); Zoran Dzunic, officer, public safety (Flor); Gina Ferdinandi, head strength/conditioning coach, athletics (Flor); Meghan Garry, academic adviser, academic advising/student support services (Metro); Fiona Gladstone, assistant professor, human geography (Metro); Anna Gracey, intake coordinator, Dean of Students Office (Flor); Arion Haase, institutional research analyst, institutional research/assessment (Van); Jaron Holmes, campus director of transfer student services, academic advising/student support services (Flor); Arpita Jain, admissions officer, admissions (Van); Thomas Jaworski, academic adviser, academic advising/student support services (Metro); Joseph Jennas, lecturer, nursing (Metro); Maria Krause, adult nurse practitioner/case manager, Wellness Center (Flor); Rhia Kumar, assistant director of marketing, housing/residence life (Metro); Derek Larson, associate professor, animation, and director of animation/video game animation programs (Flor); Carolyn Madill-Pasqua, administrative assistant, academic/disability support, Academic Support Center (Flor); Camila Mafla-Gonzalez, chemistry laboratory/instrumentation manager, chemistry/biochemistry/physics (Metro); Kate Martino, assistant women’s lacrosse coach, athletics (Flor); Krystal Mayers-Pagan, University assistant director of student health services, Wellness Center (Flor); Sincere McMillan, clinical assistant professor, nursing and director, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner track (Metro); Krissia Melgar, clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice (Flor); Alexandra Morgulis, academic adviser, academic advising/student support services (Metro); Louis Morrone, corporal, public safety (Flor); Valory Mulhall, coordinator of continuing education/certificate programs, Petrocelli Center for Continuing Studies (Metro); Michael Murphy, clinical assistant professor, physician assistant studies (Flor); Hannah Parkhouse, work-integrated learning program assistant, career services (Van); Doreen Patrone, administrative assistant, academic advising/student success, academic advising/student support services (Flor); Hector Perez, IT billing coordinator, telephone/voice services (Metro); Ricardo Pimentel, staff accountant, accounting (Metro); Brady Robin, officer, public safety (Flor); Genesis Sandoval, advisement counselor (bilingual), academic advising/student support services (Metro); Catherine “Opie” Sardina, general manager, WFDU-FM broadcast media (Metro); Kathleen Smith-Wenning, clinical assistant professor, nursing and director, allied health/respiratory care track (Metro); Peter Sylvester, academic adviser, academic advising/student support services (Flor); Elyse Travers, academic adviser, academic advising/student support services (Metro); Neriza Uy, human resources assistant, human resources (Van); Carolina Vilchez, lecturer, nursing (Metro); Shyea Wallace-Williams, senior enrollment services clerk, enrollment services (Flor); Ryan Williams, officer, public safety (Flor); Stephanie Young, honors/writing program coordinator, University honors program (Flor).