College and School Happenings November 2024

Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences

WAMFest 2024

As in previous years, FDU’s Words and Music Festival (WAMFest) will be celebrating creativity in music, art and the written word. This year’s event will be held on Wednesday, December 4, and on Thursday, December 5, at the Florham Campus.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Wednesday, December 4

  • Kafka’s Metamorphosis: The Musical! With Puppets!
    Dreyfuss Theater, Dreyfuss Building — 2:30 p.m.
    Hilarious and edgy reimagining of Franz Kafka’s classic tale (Adult content; viewer discretion advised)
    Books/lyrics by Matt Chiorini; music by Matt Chiorini and Travis Newton
    Directed by Alan Muraoka, Emmy Award-winning director/actor/producer known for his work on “Sesame Street”
  • Live Demonstration of Virtual-reality Game, Metamorphosis
    Dreyfuss Theater, Dreyfuss Building — 3:30 p.m.
    Corbin Chase, CEO, Black Sun Productions, offers a firsthand look at a reinvention of this award-winning PC game.
  • The Platform, presented by Arts By the People
    Hassan Orangerie, Monninger Center for Learning and Research
    7 p.m. — What Love Is: Book One
    Sneak peek at collaboration of poems and art with poems by David Daniel, creative writing and director, MA in creative writing/literature for educators, and art by George Cochrane, fine arts/studio arts
    7:30 p.m. — The Art of Writing
    Exploring the theme of love with Paul Rabinowitz, Becton College (Flor); author/screenwriter/photographer; and founder, ARTS By The People
    8 p.m. — Open Mic
    Hosted by ARTS By The People
    Students showcase their poetry and prose (sign-ups begin at 7:45 p.m.)
    Slots are limited to one piece or four minutes
    For information email info@artsbythepeople.org.

Thursday, December 5

  • Kafka’s Metamorphosis: The Musical! With Puppets!
    Dreyfuss Theater, Dreyfuss Building — 7:30 p.m.
    Hilarious and edgy reimagining of Franz Kafka’s classic tale (Adult content; viewer discretion advised)
    Books/lyrics by Matt Chiorini; music by Matt Chiorini and Travis Newton
    Directed by Alan Muraoka, Emmy Award-winning director/actor/producer known for his work on “Sesame Street”
  • Live Demonstration of Virtual-reality Game, Metamorphosis
    Dreyfuss Theater, Dreyfuss Building — 8:30 p.m.
    Corbin Chase, CEO, Black Sun Productions, offers a firsthand look at a reinvention of this award-winning PC game.

Admission is free to all events, but reservations are necessary. To reserve tickets and for more information go to WAMFest 2024.

This year’s festival has been made possible by funding from Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of National Endowment for the Arts, and through the support of FDU Trustee Robert Pures, BS’67 (Flor), and his wife, Patricia.

Home — in Art and Writings

In celebration of International Education Week, an exhibit titled “Home,” which explores the idea of home through art and text, will be on display at the Hispanic Center, Fourth Floor, Robison Hall, Metropolitan Campus, starting on Thursday, November 21. The exhibit is a collaboration among the Hispanic Center, the Center for First-Generation Scholars and the Programs in English for Academic and Professional Success. Its opening reception will be held on Thursday, December 5, from 3 to 5 p.m., at the Hispanic Center.

Artwork that will be part of the exhibit include, from left, “Poppy Field” by Liz Rodriguez; “Portrait in Blue” by Samantha Lago; “La Catedral” by Litzy Duran; and “Paraiso” by Erick Vialet.

Participating students will showcase their artwork and read excerpts of their writing as they relate to the concept of home. Among the students whose works will be on display are Sophia Almonte, Terrence Brown, Jayda Castro, Scott Cedillo, Madison Dollard, Litzy Duran, Johnathan Gomez, Emily Hernandez, Denzel Jeter, Samantha Lago, Danna Prado, Liz Rodriguez, Homero Rojas, Jara Stapleton, Ayane Ushimaru, Erick Vialet, Brianna Wang and Madelyn Webb.

“We’re thrilled to provide a platform for these talented students to express their stories and experiences through their art and words,” said Irene Oujo, communications/English and executive director, Hispanic Center (Metro). “The concept of home holds different meanings for everyone, and this exhibit provides a space for those voices to be heard.”

“Home” will run until April 30, 2025. Regular exhibit hours are Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information email Irene Oujo at oujo@fdu.edu.

Winter Festival

The annual Winter Festival concert will be held on Monday, December 9, at 7:30 p.m., in Dreyfuss Theater, Dreyfuss Building, at the Florham Campus.

The event will feature performances of a wide variety of classical, popular and seasonal music by music faculty members Kevin Brown, bass; Allen Cohen, piano; Meagan Lee Hodson, voice; Mariana Karpatova, voice; Abraham Ovadia, guitar; Peter Toth, piano; and Elzbieta Winnicki, violin, with the FDU Chorus; FDU Chamber Choir; and the FDU Band.

Tickets are $5 and free for FDU faculty, staff and students. For information email Allen Cohen at alcmusic@fdu.edu.

Spring Theater

The School of the Arts will be staging the comedy “Stop Kiss” and the musical “Cinderella” at the Florham Campus this spring.

“Stop Kiss” will be staged from Thursday, February 27, through Monday, March 3, at the Barn Theater. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday; plus a special late-night performance at 10 p.m. on Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The play has been described by Variety magazine as “a poignant and funny play about the ways, both sudden and slow, that lives can change irrevocably.” After Callie meets Sara, the two unexpectedly fall in love. The women’s first kiss transforms their lives in a way they could never have anticipated. The play explores the domino effect of societal expectations, prejudice, homophobia, and, above all, love. “Stop Kiss” is an all-student production — from the director and designers to the cast.

“Cinderella,” a new Broadway adaptation of the classic musical featuring music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, will be staged at the Dreyfuss Theater, Dreyfuss Building, from Friday, April 4, to Sunday, April 6; and from Friday, April 11, to Sunday, April 13. It will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Based on the new book by Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane, the production is a contemporary take on the classic tale featuring Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most beloved songs such as “In My Own Little Corner” and Ten Minutes Ago” along with Beane’s up-to-date, hilarious and romantic libretto. Patrick Polsin, theater, will direct the production with choreography by Cynthia Thole Loewus, musical theater/dance; musical direction by Allen Cohen, music (all Flor); and set design by Maiko Chii, set and costume designer/owner, Clear Box Productions, LLC, Queens, N.Y.

Ticket prices are $15 for the general public, $10 senior citizens 65+ and $5 FDU community and students. It is highly recommended that tickets be purchased online in advance because performances sell out quickly. When available, a limited number of tickets may be sold at the door. For information go to FDU Theater Season.

Biology Seminar

The department of biological sciences will host a free seminar on Thursday, December 5, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in Room 1170, Dickinson Hall, Metropolitan Campus.

Kavitha Govindasamy, assistant teaching professor, biological sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J., will speak about “Tales of Malarial Protein Kinases.” For information call 201-692-2391.

Silberman College of Business

FDUPitch 2025

FDUPitch, a business-idea competition for all FDU undergraduate students, will be accepting early submissions until Sunday, November 24. Students whose ideas are selected will be paired with mentors who will provide them with feedback to refine their pitches. Graduate students can compete if they have at least one undergraduate student in their team.

Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis. Final deadline is on February 19, 2025. The student/team who wins will compete in the UPitchNJ statewide competition to be held in April 2025.

For details about the competition and submission guidelines go to FDUPitch Business Idea Competition or contact Eun-Jeong “EJ” Ko, entrepreneurship (Flor), at eko@fdu.edu.

Florida Service-learning Trip

Silberman College students are invited to join a service-learning trip to Tampa, Fla., from January 5 to 8, 2025. This is the college’s second service-learning trip in collaboration with Hilton Hotel and Resorts. Last year, the group traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The students will be accompanied by Paige Soltano, director of placement/outreach, Silberman College; and Maureen Kieff, quantitative analysis (both Metro).

All Silberman College students are invited to apply but only 16 students will have the opportunity to give back to the community, help with hurricane-relief efforts and learn from Hilton professionals.

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.

Interested Silberman College students should apply through Suitable by Tuesday, November 26. Those accepted will pay $250 each to cover some of their meals and activities in Tampa. For information contact Paige Soltano at paigesoltano@fdu.edu.

Hall of Fame Gala Held

This year’s Silberman College Hall of Fame Gala, which was held on October 10 at the Florham Campus, raised $190,000 to support student scholarships.

Distinguished alumni who were honored at the event were Tom Evans, BS’77 (Ruth), retired senior partner/chief learning officer, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Nutley, N.J., commissioner; Shweta Ghuge, MA’10 (Flor), founder, StradIT, N.Y.C.; Arkady Smolyansky, BS’06 (Flor), senior vice president, CBRE, N.Y.C.; and Neil Koenig, BS’72 (Flor), president, EisnerAmper Advisory Group, LLC, N.Y.C., who was this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

To read more go to “Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: $190k raised from the Silberman College of Business 2024 Hall of Fame Gala.”

Peter Sammartino School of Education

A virtual Spring Admissions Information Session on the doctorate (EdD) in higher education will be held at 7 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 4. The graduate program offers flexible pathways within an online format and prepares students to use inquiry and data to make meaningful, sustainable and equitable change. The deadline for spring 2025 admissions is on Friday, December 20. Applicants can start in January 2025.

Registration is necessary. For information email Ashley Robinson, higher education (Metro), at a.robinson2@fdu.edu.

International School of Hospitality, Sports, and Tourism Management

Sport in Britain, a faculty-led study-abroad component for the sport management courses (SPAD4000 International Sports Administration or MSA6630 Global Sports) in the spring 2025 semester, will be held from May 20 to 27 in Wroxton College, England.

The group, led by Jong-Chae (J.C.) Kim, sport management and director, sport management (Metro), will visit a variety of sites such as the University of Cambridge, Twickenham Stadium; Arsenal Football Club; Manchester City Football Club; and the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum; the Palace of Westminster; Big Ben; and downtown London.

The cost is 3 credits for $1,170, inclusive of a $500 travel grant, but does not include airfare. For information contact Kim at jckim1@fdu.edu.

Henry P. Becton School of Nursing and Allied Health

Information sessions on a variety of nursing and allied health programs will be held via Zoom on select days in November, December and January.

For inquiries email SNAH@fdu.edu.

School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Research Happy Hours

Throughout the fall 2024 semester, the school’s Research Council composed of faculty from the pharmacy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, social work and public health programs, hosted presentations via Zoom on how faculty are implementing and conducting research.

An upcoming Research Happy Hour is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, from 1 to 2 p.m. EST. Allison Buckingham, public health (Flor), will speak about “‘Figure It Out or Starve’: The Impact of an Infant-formula Shortage on Prenatal Infant-feeding Intentions.”

Previous research topics and presenters/mentors (all Flor) included “Drug Hunters Update: How in silico compound libraries led to a collaborative drug design project,” by Kathleen Frey, pharmaceutical sciences and director of research, pharmacy/health sciences, and students; “Selectivity in Hydrophilic Interaction Chromatography (HLIC),” by pharmacy students Lindsey Ryan and David Muscatiello, under the mentorship of Yong Guo, pharmaceutical sciences and chair, pharmaceutical sciences; and “A Molecular Dynamic Study of the Impact of Water Content on Pre-nucleation Aggregates in Amorphous 2-Phenylamino Nicotinic Acid,” by pharmacy student Nihala Razack, under the mentorship of Arjun Kalra, pharmaceutical sciences.

Graduate Open Houses

Virtual open houses for the Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs will be held this December.

  • An MPH Open House will be held at 7 p.m. EST on Monday, December 2. Registration is necessary. For information email Andrea Brace, public health and director, MPH program (Flor), at a.brace@fdu.edu.
  • The MSW Open House is scheduled for Saturday, December 14, from 10 to 11 a.m. EST, and will include a program overview and a Q&A session with the MSW program director and faculty. Registration is necessary. For information email Zakia Clay, social work and director, MSW program (Flor), at zakiaclay@fdu.edu.

School of Psychology and Counseling

FDU, through the School of Psychology and Counseling, has participated in the Bergen County Higher Education Addiction Prevention (BC HEAP) Consortium. This was made possible by a five-year grant awarded to Children’s Aid and Family Services.

The grant, totaling $375,000 annually from the Substance Abuse Addiction Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will fund the consortium’s initiatives to develop and implement comprehensive strategies aimed at substance misuse prevention and mental health wellness among college students aged 17–25.

According to Benjamin Freer, psychology; director, psychology/counseling; and cofounder, Center for Empathy Research and Training (Metro), “We are excited to be part of this collaborative effort to strengthen the mental wellness and safety of our students. The grant provides us with the opportunity to actively engage our student body in prevention efforts while promoting a healthier, safer campus environment.”

To read more go to “FDU Proud to Partner in Bergen County Higher Education Addiction Prevention Consortium.”

School of Public and Global Affairs

Faculty Colloquium

As part of the school’s Faculty Colloquia Series, Hon. Jon Corzine, former New Jersey governor and U.S. senator, will speak about “Key Policies of the New Administration” at 1 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 11, via Zoom.

The colloquium is free and open to the public. For information contact Peter Woolley, political science (Flor), and founding director, public/global affairs, at woolley@fdu.edu.

NJ League of Municipalities Conference

The School of Public and Global Affairs joined the 109th Annual Conference of the New Jersey 2024 League of Municipalities, which will run until Thursday, November 21, at the Atlantic City (N.J.) Convention Center.

Paulette Laubsch, public administration, and academic coordinator, public/global affairs, and Christina Costa, program manager, Master of Healthcare Administration (both Metro), will represent the School of Public and Global Affairs and answer questions about the school’s various degree programs.

According to Costa, “this conference, which is the largest municipal gathering in the nation, provides extensive learning opportunities, meaningful face-to-face networking and a comprehensive showcase of the latest product innovations to New Jersey’s local government officials and professionals.”

MHA and MPA Open Houses

The school will be holding open houses for the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree, Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with specialization in healthcare management and the Certificate in Healthcare Management. They will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

  • Friday, December 6, In front of the Cafeteria, The Valley Hospital Dorothy B. Kraft Center, 15 Essex Road, Paramus, N.J.;
  • Thursday, December 12, Cafeteria, The Valley Hospital, 4 Valley Health Plaza, Paramus, N.J.; and
  • Tuesday, December 17, In front of the Cafeteria, Clara Maass Medical Center, One Clara Maass Drive, Belleville, N.J.

For information email Christina Costa, MHA program manager (Metro), at c.costa1@fdu.edu. She will be at open houses to answer questions and assist prospective students with their applications.

Sixth Annual Food Drive

The School of Public and Global Affairs, Feeding America and Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) are cosponsoring the Sixth Annual Virtual Holiday Food Drive, an online fundraiser benefitting CFBNJ. Donations may be made until January 4, 2025.

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 the Sixth 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).

For information contact Clark Gettinger, program manager for professional development/internship programs, public/global affairs (Metro), at cgettinger@fdu.edu, or Leah Galamba, community outreach specialist, CFBNJ, at lgalamba@cfbnj.org.

FDU Chiefs’ Circle

The School of Public and Global Affairs hosted the FDU Chiefs’ Circle Induction Ceremony and Reception on November 7 at the Florham Campus. The event celebrated and honored FDU alumni who have served as chiefs of police. Twenty police chiefs were inducted at the event, which also included a reception and a Color Guard performance. Theodore Stephens II, Essex (N.J.) County prosecutor, was the guest speaker.

For a complete list of alumni who are part of the FDU Chiefs Circle and to read about their accomplishments go to Chiefs Circle.

Wroxton College

As part of the INTER3430 Anatomy of Britain class, a panel session on British Society was held on October 2 at Wroxton College.

Among the panelists were Nicholas Baldwin, dean, Wroxton College; the Baroness Elizabeth Barker, member of the House of Lords and Liberal Democrat spokesperson on the Voluntary Sector and Social Enterprise; Melanie Henwood, health and social care consultant; Angela Morris, history/social policy (Wrox); and Mug Munn, former labor member of Parliament for Sheffield Heeley and international governance consultant.

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