College and School Happenings
Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences
Winter Festival
The annual Winter Festival concert will be held on Monday, December 11, at 7:30 p.m., in Dreyfuss Theater, Dreyfuss Building, at the Florham Campus.
The event will feature performances of popular, seasonal and concert music by music faculty members Kevin Brown, bass; Allen Cohen, piano; Mariana Karpatova, voice; Abraham Ovadia, guitar; Jane Seaman, voice; Peter Toth, piano; Elżbieta Winnicki, violin; the FDU Chorus; and the FDU Band.
Tickets are $5 and free for FDU students. For information email Allen Cohen at alcmusic@fdu.edu.
On the Main Stage
Upcoming 2024 School of the Arts productions include “A New Play,” by Stacie Lents, theater and director, theater arts (Flor), which will run from February 29 to March 3; and the musical “9 to 5,” from April 18 to April 21. For information go to FDU Theater Season.
The school ended its fall season with the musical “A Class Act,” based on the book by Linda Kline and Lonny Price, which tells the story of Ed Kleban, the songwriter and lyricist best known for his work on “A Chorus Line,” and his successes, failures and struggles. It ran from Thursday, December 7, through Sunday, December 10, at the Dreyfuss Theater, Dreyfuss Building.
Cynthia Thole Loewus, musical theater (Flor), directed and choreographed the production; with musical direction by Allen Cohen, music (Flor); set design by John Ehrenberg, theater production manager, School of the Arts (Flor); lighting design by Cameron Filepas, lighting designer for theater/dance/opera; costume design by Susanne Houstle, set/costume designer for stage/film; and sound design by Matt Feeney, sound designer/engineer.
Hispanic Center Exhibit
In celebration of Latin culture, the Hispanic Center and the School of the Arts are cosponsoring a Hispanic Center Exhibit that will run through April 15, 2024, at the Hispanic Center Office, Fourth Floor, Robison Hall, on the Metropolitan Campus. Exhibit hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. (The office will be closed from Friday, December 22, through Monday, January 1, 2024.) An opening reception was held on November 16.
The exhibit features works by students from the Metropolitan and Florham campuses. Students in the Introduction to Digital Media class taught by Katherine Solis, Becton College (Metro), designed posters celebrating Hispanic traditions. The artists include Lukas Ahrer, Sarah Alsuwailem, Hunter D’Amato, Manuel Fadljevic, Olu Gbadebo, Massimo Guiseppe, Luke Russo, Anieah Smith, Mahamadou Sumareh, Chien-Chih Tseng and Jacob Warren.
Students in the Creative Imagery with Photoshop class taught by Janet O’Neil, graphic design and director, graphic design program (Flor), designed posters highlighting the achievements of select Latin musical celebrities. The artists include Sophia Beltran, Caitlin Bieri, Rocco Dicosmo, Payton Diorio, Jim Kalka and Priscilla Malo.
In addition, Yelena Aronson, computer graphics (Metro), asked her graphic design students Diego Diaz and Evelyn Ochoa, both of Hispanic descent, to submit their creative portfolios for the exhibit.
The exhibit is free and open to the public. For information contact Ruth Soto, administrative assistant, Hispanic Center (Metro), at rnsoto@fdu.edu.
Biology Seminar
The department of biological sciences held a free seminar on December 7 at the Metropolitan Campus. Manisha Dixit, postdoctoral research associate, New York University, spoke about the “Skeletal Response to Insulin in the Naturally Occurring Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Mouse Model.”
Banned Books’ Authors Speak Out
The School of Humanities and the Alison Storipan Fund hosted a panel discussion on “Censorship in LGBTQ+ Children’s Books” at the Florham Campus in November.
Panelists included FDU alumni and faculty members whose works — young adult and children’s books — were banned. They included Briana McDonald, MFA’17 (Flor), adviser, Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, and author, Pepper’s Rules for Secret Sleuthing and Galaxy Jones and the Space Pirates; Nicole Melleby, MFA’16 (Flor), creative writing and author, The House on Sunrise Lagoon Series and Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine; and Eliot Schrefer, creative writing and author, Queer Ducks (And Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality. Kathryn Douglas, English (Flor), served as moderator.
Silberman College of Business
MBA at The Park
Silberman College will offer high-quality, curated business education programs on the Berkeley Heights, N.J., campus of The Park, a collegiate-inspired corporate campus with human-centric design and a holistic approach to work and well-being. This collaboration will give The Park’s tenants, as well as its future residents the opportunity to earn an FDU MBA and/or customized business certificates.
According to James Almeida, dean, Silberman College, “The FDU MBA program delivered at The Park enables these learners to level-up their skills and open new opportunities for promotion and growth, while also maintaining their work-family life balance.” FDU will offer members of The Park campus community looking a preferred partner tuition rate with an aim to increase the affordability of earning an MBA or a certificate in specific business disciplines.
To read more go to “FDU’s Silberman College of Business to Offer MBA Program at The Park.”
Puerto Rico 2024
Sixteen Silberman College students will be participating in a service-learning visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico, from January 14 to January 18, 2024. Silberman College has collaborated with Hilton Hotel and Resorts in making this opportunity available to its students. The students will be accompanied by Mary Sakin, executive director of placement/outreach/alumni relations; Melissa Quinn, manager of social media, Silberman College; and Sandy Holder, advising counselor for undergraduate programs, Business Students Academic Support (all Flor).
Highlights of this visit will include a tour of old San Juan and several service-learning activities, including one with the Scuba Dogs Society, an organization dedicated to conservation and environmental education in Puerto Rico.
The accommodation, transportation and some of the food during the visit have been made possible by generous support from the Hilton Hotel group and members of the Silberman College Advisory Board. The students will be responsible for their breakfasts and lunches.
For information contact Mary Sakin at sakinm@fdu.edu.
SNAS Annual Academic Conference
The Second Society of North American Scholars (SNAS) Interdisciplinary Research Conference was held at the Florham Campus in October.
Several FDU faculty members participated in the conference, which was co-organized by Silberman College. Omer Topaloglu, marketing and deputy chair, marketing/information systems/decision sciences (Metro), who is the founding president of the SNAS as well as the conference’s program chair, did the welcome remarks; Scott Behson, management (Metro), presented on “Towards a ‘Place and Choice’ Model of Post-Pandemic Workplace Configurations”; Vladimir Zwass, distinguished emeritus, computer science/management information systems (Metro), led a special session on “The Roles of the Top-tier Journals and How to Aim at Publication; Benjamin Rifkin, Russian and interim University provost/senior vice president for academic affairs, gave the closing remarks; and Gary Darden, history and chair, social sciences/history (Flor), led attendees on an official tour of Hennessy Hall.
Other faculty members at the event were Vijay Sampath, accounting (Metro), who was on the organization committee; and conference participants Oden Groth, digital marketing/information systems (Metro); Eun-Jeong Ko, entrepreneurship (Flor); Neelu Sinha, computer science (Flor); and Daniel Wischnevsky, management (Metro) and associate dean, Silberman College. James Almeida, entrepreneurship (Flor) and dean, Silberman College, received an Appreciation Award from the SNAS for his support.
International School of Hospitality, Sports, and Tourism Management
Sport management students are invited to join Sport in Britain, a weeklong, study-abroad course in England from May 21 to 28, 2024. Equivalent to three credits, the trip will be part of the students’ spring 2024 semester curriculum (SPAD4000 International Sports Administration for undergraduates and MSA6630 Global Sports for graduates).
During the trip, students will have the opportunity to visit multiple stadiums (with locker room access); the University of Cambridge, Twickenham Stadium (Rugby); Arsenal Football Club; and Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, among others. Each student will be billed $1,650 and will receive a $500 grant. The final cost is $1,150 and does not include airfare.
For inquiries contact Jong-Chae “JC” Kim, sport management and director, sport management (Metro), at jckim1@fdu.edu.
Henry P. Becton School of Nursing and Allied Health
Continuing Education Programs Launched
The School of Nursing and Allied Health (SNAH) has launched its Continuing Education Programs with its inaugural offering: Basic Health Assessment (RN Refresher) Course. This online, four-week course helps participants — including registered nurses (RNs) — develop basic health-assessment skills prior to starting an advanced health-assessment course or before transitioning to a career where these skills are required.
The course will run from Wednesday, December 20, through Monday, January 15, 2024. The total cost is $785, which includes a materials fee of $210. Online registration is open. For more information go to SNAH Continuing Education Programs.
Virtual Information Sessions
Information sessions on a variety of nursing and allied health programs will be held via Zoom through March.
- Nurse Practitioner MSN (Advanced Practice RN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs — noon–1 p.m. (select Tuesdays): December 19; January 2, 16 and 30; February 13 and 27
- RN to BSN Completion — noon–1 p.m. (select Thursdays): January 4, February 1 and March 7
- Allied Health Programs — 1–2 p.m. (select Thursdays): January 4, February 1 and March 7
For inquiries email SNAH@fdu.edu. For Zoom links go to SNAH Information Sessions.
School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Spring Open House, Info Session
The School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will be holding an in-person open house and a virtual information session on Saturday, February 3, 2024.
The open house will be held from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the school (230 Park Avenue, Florham Park, N.J.). Attendees will learn about what makes an FDU degree distinct, meet with representatives from the doctor of pharmacy, doctor of occupational therapy and MS in physician assistant studies programs; attend Q&A panels; and tour the school’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Registration is necessary. For information contact Jennifer Strasle, associate director of admissions/financial aid, pharmacy/health sciences (Flor), at 973-443-81412 or email j.strasle@fdu.edu or go to FDU School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Spring Open House.
A virtual information session on the school’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program will be held at 9:30 a.m. It will include an overview of the program and a Q&A session with Zakia Clay, social work and MSW program director, and other faculty members. Registration is necessary. For information email Zakia Clay at zakiaclay@fdu.edu.
National PA Day Celebrated
In commemoration of National Physician Assistants (PA) Day in October, a group of students from the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’ PA studies program joined NBC’s “The Today Show” at the “PAs on the Plaza” event at Rockefeller Center, N.Y.C. They were accompanied by Chadwin Sandifer, executive associate dean, pharmacy/health sciences, and Ellen Mandel, physician assistant studies and director, PA program (both Flor).
To read more go to “FDU Students (And Their Signs) Celebrate PA Week on ‘The Today Show.’”
School of Psychology and Counseling
The Center for Empathy Research and Training (CERT), housed in the School of Psychology and Counseling, held two-day Empathy Trainings at the Metropolitan and Florham campuses in October and November. Participation was voluntary, and those who completed the training received a Certificate of Completion.
At the Florham Campus, the trainings were led by Amanda Zelinski, pharmaceutical sciences (Flor), and Benjamin Freer, psychology and director, psychology/counseling (Metro), and CERT cofounder. The Metropolitan Campus sessions were led by Lauren Elgin, IT business relationship manager, information resources/technology (Flor); and Scott Behson, management (Metro).
The CERT, through proven empathy training methods and applied psychological research, engages and teaches individuals and groups to become proactive change agents for societal transformation by preventing, mitigating and resolving aggressive behavior in the global communities where we teach, work and live. The specific goal of the CERT at FDU is to foster a culture and language of empathy that is consistent among leadership, faculty, staff and students.
For more information email EmpathyCenter@fdu.edu. Steven Dranoff is cofounder and director of CERT.
Clinical Psychology Receives Designation Again
The MS Clinical Psychopharmacology program was recently awarded five years of designation, the most that can be awarded, from American Psychological Association (APA). This is the third consecutive time the program was awarded the longest possible designation.
School of Public and Global Affairs
Faculty Colloquia
The School of Public and Global Affairs is hosting a monthly Faculty Colloquia via Zoom — on select Wednesdays at 1 p.m. EST — on a variety of topics.
Upcoming colloquia are “Is Early Polling Worth It?” with Peter Woolley, political science and founding director, public/global affairs (Metro/Flor), on December 13; “Desert Power: How Climate Change Will Impact Oil-rich Gulf States and the Rest of the World?” with William Zimmerle, public/global affairs (Metro), on February 14; “Beyond Silos: Advancing Integrated Oral Care,” with Abiola Adeniyi, health/human services (Van), on March 20; and “Believe It or Not: Does Distance to Grocery Stores Affect Obesity?” with Amirmohsen Behjat, health/human services (Van), on April 10.
Earlier in the fall, Chimezie Ozurumba, public administration (Metro), spoke about “The Economics of Mary Jane: Is Grass Really a Source of Green”; and Jaime Buenahora, comparative law (Metro), talked about “Latin America Is Imploding.”
The colloquia are free and open to the public. For information contact Peter Woolley at woolley@fdu.edu.
Fifth Annual Food Drive
The School of Public and Global Affairs, Feeding America and Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) are cosponsoring the Fifth Annual Virtual Holiday Food Drive, a virtual fundraiser benefitting Community FoodBank. Donations may be made until Friday, January 5, 2024.
Donors may fill a virtual shopping cart with meal packages ($25 Feed a Family, $50 Healthy Lifestyle Meal Kit, $100 Holiday in a Box or $250 Child Nutrition Program) at Fifth Annual Virtual Food Drive. Financial contributions may also be made. Checks can be mailed to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, 31 Evans Terminal, Hillside, N.J. 07205 (Attn.: FDU Holiday Food Drive).
To read more go to “School of Public and Global Affairs, Feeding America and Community FoodBank of New Jersey Launch 2023 Holiday Food Drive.”
Public and Global Affairs Open Houses
The School of Public and Global Affairs held open houses for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program, with a specialization in global transportation management, on December 5 and 7, and the new Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree and Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a specialization in healthcare management on December 6
The open houses were led by Christie Innes, assistant to the director, public/global affairs (Metro), and Christina Costa, program manager, Master of Healthcare Administration (Metro), for the MHA degree as well as the MPA degree with the healthcare management specialization.