A P U B L I C A T I O N O F B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E F O R A L U M N I A N D F R I E N D S O N T H E G R E E N S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E FA C E S C H A L L E N G E S H E A D O N L O O K I N G F O R W A R D
Over these critical months, we have been blessed with witnessing tremendous support for our mission and legacy as New Jersey’s only Predominantly Black Institution (PBI), Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Minority Serving Institution (MSI). Read our feature story for all the details. You’ll learn how making the bold decision to navigate our financial hurdles publicly with complete transparency has steered Bloomfield onto a more promising financial footing Our plan was a far cry from the norm We put out a public plea for help, understanding it was a risky decision that could lead prospective students to not enroll and that some of our students, out of fear, might transfer to other schools. But, we felt it was important to be totally honest with our community that the College would not be able to remain open for the 2022 23 academic year if we did not find a partner Beyond our interest in being transparent, the strategic decision to go public opened up numerous new conversations with other institutions in search of synergies that might bring us together and allow Bloomfield to continue its academic mission In all, Bloomfield College connected with some 30 institutions.
As noted in our feature, Montclair State University quickly rose to the top and was selected for continuing dialogue for planning toward a permanent relationship In the spring of 2022, a financial support agreement was forged with Montclair State University that permitted Bloomfield to happily announce that we will remain open through at least the 2022 23 academic year to grad
“Over these critical months, we have been blessed with witnessing tremendous support for our mission and legacy as New Jersey’s only Predominantly Black Institution (PBI), Hispanic Ser ving Institution (HSI) and Minority Ser ving Institution (MSI).”
This year has been a year like no other; filled with significant challenges for Bloomfield College Proudly, we are facing them head on, and I write this with inherent hope in my heart
A YEAR
exciting new option for students with interest in the broad based discipline of sociology is timely for learning how to make a differ ence in this growing and fast changing, in demand career. We are admitting students into the new major and look forward to the im pact this degree will have on society As well, our entire campus community is exceedingly thrilled with the work of our new Bloomfield College Alumni Association (BCAA) leadership The BCAA executive team has been very busy hosting numerous events in collaboration with student centered campus units to establish networking opportunities between alumni and current students At these well thought out events, alumni are eagerly sharing their career and life experiences with a focus on the steps students need to take now, while still students, to plan for their future It has truly been exciting to watch our alumni engage with our students I look forward to what is planned for connecting them during the upcoming academic year.
B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E / S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 1 Marcheta P Evans, Ph D P R E S I D E N T B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E uate our Class of 2023 Since then, our two institutions have been working together to earnestly chip away at the many complexities involved in establishing a permanent relationship. This work is an ticipated to continue over several months, and as key progress is made, we will keep our Bloomfield College family informed Meanwhile at Bloomfield College, it is business as usual During this past year, the College completed its Middle States Self Study, and engaged with the Middle States team as we neared the last leg of the accreditation process. In addition to working on successfully managing our financial challenges, Bloomfield College will also be working toward “Making Assessment an Institutional Affair ” The Office of Institutional Effectiveness is leading this important effort to enculturate assessment, evaluation and continuous improvement initiatives within the scope of the College’s Strategic Plan to further strengthen our institution, starting at the department level and mov ing to an institutional level. I am also very excited to highlight that, for the third year in a row, Bloomfield College was highlighted in the U S News & World Report Best Colleges listing of Top National Liberal Arts Colleges, ranking highest in the state of New Jersey in the 2022 Social Mo bility category (no 27 nationally); the Campus Ethnic Diversity cat egory (no. 25 nationally); and the Economic Diversity category (highest in the Northeast and no. 13 nationally) among 223 na tional liberal arts institutions In addition, Bloomfield College was named no 7 in New Jersey in the publisher’s first ever Undergrad uate Nursing Programs category And, for the fourth year in a row, The Princeton Review has named Bloomfield College a top under graduate school for Game Design These accomplishments have a tremendous impact on students’ lives and the BC community, and I congratulate everyone on the key roles you each played in the Col lege receiving each of these outstanding external validations!
Sincerely,
In closing, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to our trustees, donors, faculty and staff, alumni, and students who have remained steadfast in their dedication to Bloomfield College To gether, we are making a transformative difference in the lives of our students and for the generations that follow This culminates in in spired and improved communities wherever our alumni eventually work, volunteer and call home. What’s more, we know that many of our graduates remain and work in New Jersey after earning their degrees, thus Bloomfield alumni are perpetual contributors to an improved economy for our state These are just some of the reasons why continuing to graduate Bloomfield students is important to us all! Thank you for your great support. And, please continue to be well!
P R E S I D E N T ’ S L E T T E R
In April, the Bloomfield College Board of Trustees approved a new Bachelor of Arts degree program in Criminology and Social Justice This innovative program focusing on criminology and how it applies in achieving racial, gender, environmental and institutional justice locally and globally is scheduled to launch this fall. This
Make An Impact Help future Bloomfield College alumni achieve their dreams. Securely make your gift online at bloomfield edu/giving or send a check to the Office of Institutional Advancement 68 Oakland Avenue, Bloomfield, N J 07003 4 C O N T E N T S F E A T U R E A P U B L I C A T I O N O F B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E F O R A L U M N I A N D F R I E N D S O N T H E G R E E N S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 P r e s i d e n t ’ s L e t t e r C a m p u s N e w s r o o m National and state rankings, student spotlights, faculty in the news, and Stories of Newark E v e n t s Giving Day and the College’s 149th Commencement A t h l e t i c s D o n o r S p o t l i g h t C l a s s N o t e s P a s s a g e s S E C T I O N S 1 8 15 18 19 21 24 B l o o m f i e l d C o l l e g e F a c e s C h a l l e n g e s H e a d O n From the onset, transparency was key A C o l l e g e D e g r e e f o r S o c i a l M o b i l i t y President Evans pens a moving testament to the life changing power of attending a Minority Serving Institution 12 2 B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E / S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 on the cover: Cover: Valerie Barnave '22
President MARCHETA P EVANS, PH D Vice President for Institutional Advancement SARAH LACZ, MBA Director of College Communications ROSA MULRYAN, M A Director for Advancement Services ALEX RUCANDO Director for Advancement PATRICK A VERA, LSW Office Manager JONI FRASCATI Bloomfield College Board of Trustees, 2022 2023 VERNON M ENDO, CHAIR JOANNE MARREN, ESQ , VICE CHAIR MAUREEN C GRANT, PH D , SECRETARY MELISSA BASTAN NICHOLAS CARLOZZI, PH D JACQUELINE COLGAN MARY DELAMIELLEURE STEPHEN A GLASSER SANDRA L GONZALEZ, ESQ NEIL N JASEY, ESQ JAMES LEE JR , M D CRAIG B LINDSAY ’76 ALISA C NORRIS JOHN PANAGAKIS ’85 SANFORD B PRATER GEORGE A PRUITT, PH D GLENN M REITER, ESQ STEVEN M ROSE, ED D LARRY I SILLS ADRIAN A SHELBY, LL D H’98 ADEBOLA A TAIWO ’09 HANK UBEROI EMERITI BERNARD S BERKOWITZ, ESQ JOHN J DELUCCA 66 JAMES R GILLEN CAROLYN ROBERSON GLYNN 69 ROSEMARY T IVERSEN JAMES C KELLOGG (IN MEMORIAM) NANCY L LANE (IN MEMORIAM) L DONALD LATORRE (IN MEMORIAM) MARTIN MCKERROW LL D H’15 P HENRY MUELLER, H’91 (IN MEMORIAM) PETER A OLSON (IN MEMORIAM) DR RICHARD A POLLACK H 99 (IN MEMORIAM) ALICE W PRICE (IN MEMORIAM) 9 7 3 7 4 8 9 0 0 0 / e x t 1 2 9 3 w w w b l o o m f i e l d e d u On The Green is published by the Office of Institutional Advancement 68 Oakland Avenue, Bloomfield, N J 07003 Authors: Rosa Mulryan, Alicia Cook, Gladstone Harris, Kessler PR Photography: Roy Groething, Bloomfield College Marketing, Gladstone Harris, Rich Formicola, Island Photography, Rosa Mulryan and Laura Nova Design: Eric Miller + Associates Printing: Garrison Printing Company BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E / S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 3
4 B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E / S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 L O O K I N G
“It is imperative,” Dr. Evans told the campus community, “for the College to find a viable pathway that will allow us to continue educating current and prospective students many of whom have been historically excluded from higher education so they may realize their dreams of earning a college degree and advancing socioeconomically ”
Dr Evans then unveiled an unconventional plan, one that evolved through discussions and vetting with the College’s Board of Trustees and administrative leadership team
She explained: Holding the Town Hall was but one of the first steps she was to implement as part of a bold strategy. Bloomfield College was going to announce the College’s precarious situation publicly: Be transparent. Be open. Be forthright.
F O R W A R D BLOOMFIELDCOLLEGEFACESCHALLENGESHEADON continued on page 6
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On October 19, 2021, on what was to become a pivotal day in the history of Bloomfield College, President Marcheta P. Evans held a Town Hall gathering of students, faculty and staff to share unsettling College news. She had been preparing for days how she would impart the most difficult professional news she had ever needed to deliver to a community of people for whom she cared deeply The news: Without major philanthropic support and/or a partnership with another like minded higher education institution, Bloomfield College might be unable to complete the 2022 2023 academic year Like many small, private higher education institutions, Bloomfield College has experienced a multi year decline in enrollment that has brought significant financial challenges. The pandemic exacerbated the problem and accelerated its impact Several years of budget mitigation measures had helped but, even before Fall 2021, it was clear belt tightening was not going to resolve the financial concerns
One higher ed commenter compared the College’s bold approach to the hockey strategy of, “pulling the goalie,” where a team facing a likely loss replaces its goalie with an additional offensive hoping to score a tying or winning goal “It’s a desperation move, ” wrote Matt Reed of Inside Higher Ed, “but it can work.”
From the onset, Dr. Evans, the Bloomfield College Board of Trustees and the College’s leadership team contended that transparency was key Once these stakeholders were all on board with proceeding with a public announcement, the leadership team went to great lengths to develop a multi layered communications plan to apprise students and their families, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, accreditors, regulators, lenders, bondholders, vendors and elected officials Many received personal calls or emails from President Evans and her team It was understood that media coverage surrounding the announcement might attract the attention of a potential collaborator. To ensure maximum exposure and reach, in conjunction with an embargoed news release, Dr Evans granted an interview with Inside Higher Ed one of the country ’ s most respected and well read higher education journals The embargo time of the news release was set to end shortly after the College’s Town Hall meeting so that internal constituencies would be informed first, and it was simultaneously posted on the Bloomfield website along with an initial FAQ about the announcement Once the news broke, Dr Evans further participated in a high number of print and broadcast media interviews across a two week period to speak about the desire to preserve Bloomfield’s important mission and legacy, and to invite potential partners to take a closer look at what Bloomfield has to offer As a result of that transparency, expert planning, and clear commitment to Bloomfield’s mission, the response was exceedingly positive with many constituencies, the media and members of the public expressing earnest support. Not only did the public want to see Bloomfield College remain open, they wanted the private institution with a public mission to thrive
A Neighbor Answers the Call For Bloomfield College, pulling the goalie worked Dozens of colleges, universities and institutions from across the country contacted Bloomfield College to explore a partnership Among the suitors was Montclair State University, whose campus sits just five miles from Bloomfield. Montclair State University President Jonathan Koppell and his administrative team visited Bloomfield College several times and were impressed with the students, faculty and staff, and the campus itself For Dr Evans, her team and the Bloomfield Board of Trustees, the feeling was mutual: Montclair State University stood out as an ideal partner “The missions of both of our institutions are closely aligned,” Dr. Evans told the College community at a second Town Hall held on March 23, 2022. “Montclair’s commitment to minority and traditionally underserved student populations, and the breadth of its academic, athletic and arts offerings align with Bloomfield’s long held mission, making it a particularly good fit for our community ”
Importantly, Montclair State University agreed to provide financial support to Bloomfield, if needed, to ensure the College would remain open through the 2022 2023 academic year while the two institutions work toward forging a permanent relationship In a March email addressed to the “Bloomfield College Family,” Dr Evans was cautiously optimistic She stated, “While a number of details about the nature and structure of a long term agreement between Bloomfield and Montclair need to be worked out, the important message is that, during the 2022 23 academic year, Bloomfield College will conduct classes, engage in NCAA sporting events and all traditional activities, and hold commencement for the next class of Bloomfield graduates in May 2023 ”
President Koppell, who was introduced to the broader Bloomfield College community at the March Town Hall, echoed President Evans’ enthusiasm “I’m very excited about the opportunities of this collaboration. I look forward to working closely with President Evans to craft a continued from page 5
But Dr. Evans and her leadership team knew Bloomfield was different The College’s reputation for quality academics is well known, and its proximity to New York City with steps away access to mass transportation places it in a premier location Its treasured “Bloomfield Lift,” which stems from its recognition as a top U S college for helping low income students enter the middle and upper classes, powerfully resonates with the student population, many of whom hail from surrounding and nearby neighborhoods such as Newark, East Orange, Paterson and Irvington Bloomfield’s distinction as the only four year institution in New Jersey to be recognized by the U S Department of Education as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI), Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and Minority Serving Institution (MSI) also sets it apart. National and state rankings that further tout the College’s attributes affirmed the admirable character of the College Most notably, Bloomfield’s ranking in the U S News & World Report 2022 Best Colleges listing of Top National Liberal Arts Colleges as highest in New Jersey and no 27 nationally for social mobility, gave credence to the institution’s compelling student outcomes What’s more, decision makers at the College believed that Bloomfield’s mission and focus on providing higher education access to many Black and Hispanic and first generation, low income students would connect favorably with leaders of other institutions The College also believed that donors and alumni would help provide short term stability, and that the close knit College community would rally behind the effort Putting the Plan in Motion
Developing the Plan
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The plan was risky, one that few, if any, officials at colleges in similar circumstances had tried “The strategy was unorthodox, yet one I proudly supported and have been working with my administrative colleagues to implement for months,” said Kevin Cavanagh, Vice President for Enrollment Management “It is no secret that college and university officials typically avoid publicly announcing financial difficulties, wary of delivering a self fulfilling prophecy where high school seniors don’t apply, accepted students enroll elsewhere, existing students transfer, and donors pocket their checkbooks in short, accelerating the institution’s demise.”
Students, of course, have been at the center of all planning A joint news release distributed by both institutions, stated, in part, “Bloomfield and Montclair envision a future relationship that would support Bloomfield’s mission and ensure that the Bloomfield legacy and name will continue, while building upon the strengths of both institutions and enhancing academic and other opportunities for current and future students at both campuses ”
The Bloomfield Montclair plan is largely a new strategy with no pre written guidebook In serving as Bloomfield College’s 17th president, President Evans’ roadmap has led the institution to construct new pathways designed to improve Bloomfield’s financial footing
Go Bloomfield! Go team! Go Bears! n
On April 18, Presidents Evans and Koppell co facilitated a listening session on the Bloomfield campus to hear directly from Bloomfield students This opportunity for students to interact with President Koppell in a smaller, more intimate setting was well received. The duo explained that it would take many months for the two institutions to hammer out the agreement that will govern the potential partnership Officials must address issues ranging from academic programs and standards, athletics, student scholarships and financial aid, to employment and staffing, administrative roles and responsibilities, admissions standards and many other elements along with their granular details.
With the decisive action taken to go public with the College’s financial challenges, Bloomfield boldly went against the traditional strategy, pulled its goalie, and may well have good reason to be optimistic about its future In June, Governor Murphy and members of the New Jersey legislature demonstrated their support of the innovative collaboration between Bloomfield and Montclair with a $12 5 million appropriation to Bloomfield to support the College as it works to advance this potential historic partnership.
strategic relationship that could serve as a national model of innovation That’s what I think this collaboration is about two institutions coming together to forge a new model What that new model will ultimately look like is TBD,” Dr Koppell said The reality is, a collaboration between two higher education institutions is a complex and lengthy process, requiring the participation, oversight and approval of state and federal regulatory agencies, accreditors, elected officials, faculty and staff unions, and others
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With the decisive action taken to go public with the College’s financial challenges, Bloomfield boldly went against the traditional strategy, pulled its goalie, and may well have good reason to be optimistic about its future.
8 B L O O M F E L D C O L L E G E / S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 CAMPUSNEWSROOM
The Princeton Review chose the schools based on its 2021 survey of adminis trators at 150 institutions across the U S and abroad offering game design courses, majors, or degree programs The survey collected information in four areas: academ ics, faculty, technology and career prospects The company analyzed more than 40 survey data points to tally the rankings Information on the methodology may be viewed on The Princeton Review website.
GAME DESIGN PROGRAM
“The supportive and inspiring community we have at CAT [Creative Arts & Technology] makes this recognition possible,” said Assistant Professor and Coordi nator of Game Development GJ Lee. “Our dedicated faculty and staff collaborate to enrich our program and challenge our students ”
Bloomfield College’s Bachelor of Arts in Game Design within the Division of Creative Arts & Technology is a practice oriented program focused on core principles, concepts, methodologies and skills that are reinforced through the creation of hands on projects Many courses also involve students working on collaborative team based projects that mimic real world game development environments Theoretical knowl edge and practical methods converge within these environments to provide students with the experience they need to truly understand and overcome the complexities involved in making games “We enthusiastically recommend Bloomfield College to students considering a career in this burgeoning field,” said Rob Franek, Editor in Chief for The Princeton Review. “Together with the other exceptional schools on our 2022 list…their facilities are state of the art, and their alumni include many of the industry’s most successful artists, designers, developers, and entrepreneurs ”
Read
“Continued recognition by The Princeton Review is a great acknowledgment of the quality of our game design program, the innovative work of faculty such as Professor Lee, and the accomplishments of our talented students,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Michael Palladino, Ph D “We are honored to receive this recognition ”
Bloomfield College has been recognized among the 2021 rankings of the “Best Prelicensure Bachelor of Science (BSN) Programs in New Jersey” by Nursing School Almanac Specifically, Bloomfield College’s Frances M McLaughlin Division of Nursing was ranked #4 in the state.
FRANCES M. MCLAUGHLIN DIVISION OF NURSING
“Bloomfield College nursing graduates consistently place well in the NCLEX RN exam with a 94 percent licensure exam pass rate, ” said Ismat F Mikky, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN, Chairperson and Professor of Nursing in the College’s Frances M McLaughlin Division of Nursing “The excellence of our well prepared nursing candidates is recognized by numerous, prestigious nursing program ranking organi zations, as well as by the health care employers where our graduates work ” Bloomfield College’s Frances M McLaughlin Division of Nursing, which offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and an RN to BSN Accelerated Degree program for Registered Nurses (RNs), is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
For the fourth year in a row, The Princeton Review named Bloomfield College a top undergraduate school for Game Design The accolade was announced in its 13th annual ranking list, “Top 50 Undergraduate Schools for Game Design for 2022 ” Bloomfield College is ranked highest in New Jersey and #37 nationally among undergraduate schools offering programs in game design
Nursing Schools Almanac, whose mission is to provide aspiring nurses a detailed, comprehensive and analytical resource for selecting their future nursing school, uses several years of data to calculate each school’s NCLEX pass rate among first time test takers, plus additional valued criteria, to develop its annual rankings of the best nursing schools in the country
Game Design and Nursing Earn High Marks on State Rankings the story about the Division of Nursing faculty hero on page 10
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The Intercollegiate Broadcasting System, Inc. announced in March that Tyra Brooks ’22 won first place in the IBS 2022 Media Awards for Best Video Commercial/Promotion for her WBCR radio submission entitled “Music Matters.” The award was announced on March 5, 2022 following the weeklong virtual IBS 82nd Annual Conference.
T Y R A B R O O K S ’ 2 2 S I A N I S M I T H ’ 2 2 D E S T I N Y K I N G ’ 2 2
The Bloomfield College WBCR radio sta tion was a finalist in two additional IBS categories in the national competition Siani Smith ’22 was a finalist for “The Impact of Vice President Kamala Harris on Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority” in two cat egories: Best Campus/Community News and Best Video News Report
WBCR Station Coordinator Doug Doyle said, “I’m so proud of Tyra for producing this out standing nationally recognized short video that also aired on WBCR. Winning this extremely compet itive category is truly an amazing accomplishment Congratulations also goes out to Siani for joining Tyra as a finalist this year Both students were final ists last year. Siani grabbed first place honors last year for her sports report Kudos go out to all the Bloomfield College students and faculty who sup port WBCR ” WBCR is Bloomfield College’s internet non commercial and educational radio station It is stu dent operated and funded by the College’s Communication Program as a laboratory to train communication students and others interested in radio operation and management The mission of the station is to provide the College and larger com munity with a format that is varied and informative and includes, but is not limited to, music, news and educational programs
Student Spotlights
“Destiny’s research looked at variable stars whose brightness varies periodically as they ex pand and contract with the goal to refine the method of measuring cosmic distances Accurate galactic distances and recession speeds ultimately help scientists to determine more precisely the ex pansion of the universe To my knowledge, this is the first time a Bloomfield College student has won a NCUR award, for certain in the sciences,” said Nicolaides. “Also, being published in a refer eed publication as an undergraduate student is quite an achievement. We are very proud of Des tiny, and know that she will continue to innovate and impress us as she pursues graduate studies in the future ”
The 2022 conference, held virtually, attracted more than 3,200 students, faculty and administra tors from across the globe, from all higher educa tion institution types and from across all disciplines More than 2,500 students presented their research through posters, live oral presentations, visual arts and performances.
“I heard about the conference from Professor Nicolaides, and he encouraged me to submit the application abstract and later the video for the com petition, the first steps in the process, ” said King, who hails from Gloucester County “It was several more months before I learned I was a finalist Dur ing the conference’s award ceremony, I finally learned that I was one of the two winners in the di vision of physics and astronomy I am thrilled that my hard work has been recognized to have value, and I am very grateful to all who helped me along the way ”
In communicating with King about her re search submission, the CUR Executive Council wrote, “Your submission underwent a rigorous re view by experts in your discipline, so you should be very proud of this accomplishment! Your ab stract demonstrates a unique contribution to your field of study, and we are glad to offer you the op portunity to present your work to your peers, fac ulty, and staff from all over the nation.”
McNair Scholar Destiny King ’22 was recognized as a Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) award winner at the organization’s 2022 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) for her presentation in the natural and physical sci ences entitled Twinkle, Twinkle, Variable Star, How I Wonder How Far You Are. King, an Honors Program student, gradu ated with a biology degree from Bloomfield in May. She was mentored by Professor of Physics Demetris Nicolaides, Ph.D. from the College’s Division of Natural Science and Mathematics, and together they sought to “make a scholarly or artistic contri bution to knowledge,” the goal of undergraduate student research as defined by the Council The award, two years in the making, followed co pub lication of the research in a refereed publication, the Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (JAAVS0)
Nursing Faculty Saves a Life in the Sky
Beloved Frances M. McLaughlin Division of Nursing Professor Lori Ann Palmieri, MSN, RN recently helped save a life while on a flight to Arizona. A woman had started having seizure like activity and went into cardiac arrest Palmieri rushed over and helped transfer the woman from her seat to the aisle floor, checking her carotid pulse while a cardiologist who was on board checked her femoral pulse As the young woman turned blue, the team of healthcare professionals began CPR
“We continued CPR for about 90 seconds, still without a pulse. As we alternated on chest compressions, the cardiologist and I set up the au tomated external defibrillator (AED) that had been brought over to us As I was doing chest compres sions, she suddenly started to move and opened her eyes, so a shock was not advised by the AED,” said Palmieri. “It was a miracle because less than five percent of CPR done outside of a hospital ends in the survival of the individual. She was very lucky that she had two healthcare professionals on the plane who were able to trade off between operating the AED and giving CPR ”
For her heroism in the sky, American Airlines gave Palmieri 25,000 miles and a letter of appreciation Sev eral weeks later, Your New Jersey, Essex News Daily and other news and social media outlets highlighted Palmieri’s important role as a nurse in this story
“Fourteen students from New Jersey colleges and universities were selected for the ASAP program I am thrilled two of those cohort members represented Bloomfield College,” said McNair Scholars Program Director Beverly Fields. “We are very proud of La Tina and Tori for their exceptional academic performance, and for receiving these competitive life changing internship awards ”
L A T I N A L G R A H A M ’ 2 3 T O R I A S I E G L E R ’ 2 4 Tw o B l o o m f i e l d C o l l e g e s t u d e n t s r e s i d e d a t P r i n c e t o n U n i v e r s i t y t h i s s u m m e r a s p a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h e 2 0 2 2 A s p i r i n g S c h o l a r s a n d P r o f e s s i o n a l s P r o g r a m .
Two Bloomfield College students resided at Princeton University this summer as participants in the 2022 Aspiring Scholars and Professionals (ASAP) program. The nine week, paid, summer institute ran June 6 to August 5, 2022, and provided professional development and research methods workshops designed to support students in their daily internship work and prepare them for their professional lives after college La Tina L Graham ’23, a psychology major and McNair Scholar/TRIO SSS student, and Tori A Seigler ’24, a sociology major and EOF/TRIO SSS student, each received a $3,125 stipend and housing at Princeton University during the internship. The student scholars were paired with a Princeton faculty or staff member for a research or professional internship, and gained access to a research or professional development portfolio of up to $1,000 to offset costs for supplies or activities related to their internship placement.
“I am so grateful to have been at the right place at the right time to help save a life,” she said
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The ASAP opportunity continues through the 2022/2023 academic year with various program activities, and newly appointed mentors back on the Bloomfield campus Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies Laura Hill, Ph D , will serve as Seigler’s home campus mentor while TRIO Student Support Services Director and Humanities Lecturer Christina Dilkes, M.A., will mentor Graham. Through these mentorships, the students will also engage in an academic year research experience or professional internship at Bloomfield College As Home Campus Mentors, Hill and Dilkes were designated as Princeton University Emma Bloomberg Center for Access & Opportunity Fellows In this way, ASAP Home Campus Mentors build their own academic and professional networks, and gain access to funds to put toward their own research or professional development while serving as points of connection between their institutions and the ASAP program at Princeton
According to Palmieri, the pilot of the Ameri can Airlines plane made an emergency landing in Oklahoma City where EMTs were at the ready to greet the woman whose subsequent diagnosis was spontaneous cardiac arrest of unknown origin.
“Bloomfield College’s continual recognition as an institutional leader in creating social mobility opportunities and outcomes for our students af firms the commitment of our dedicated faculty and staff who teach and mentor our bright and hard working students who go on to become life long learners well equipped to make a positive im pact in their communities,” said Marcheta P Evans, Ph D , president of Bloomfield College
“The College’s Nursing program accolade is an endorsement of the distinctive academic quality of learning that students experience in the Frances M. McLaughlin Division of Nursing,” said Evans. Rankings —
The Campus Ethnic Diversity ranking meas ures how likely each student is to encounter under graduates from racial and ethnic groups different from their own, excluding international students (colleges do not report each international student’s ethnicity separately) Studies show diversity on college campuses improves intellectual and cultural engagement among students and faculty
U.S. News & World Report I B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E / S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 11 “ T h e C o l l e g e ’s N u r s i n g P r o g r a m a c c o l a d e i s a n e n d o r s e m e n t o f t h e d i s t i n c t i v e a c a d e m i c q u a l i t y o f l e a r n i n g t h a t s t u d e n t s e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e F r a n c e s M . M c L a u g h l i n D i v i s i o n o f N u r s i n g . ” P R E S I D E N T M A R C H E T A P E V A N S
In Fall 2021, Bloomfield College was recognized as a top college in the U S News & World Report 2022 Best Colleges rankings in several na tional and state categories
The Economic Diversity ranking recognizes schools with the largest percentages of undergrad uates receiving federal Pell grants, highlighting the best available gauge of an institution’s relative commitment to educational access for all
The College was highlighted in the U S News & World Report 2022 Best Colleges listings of Top National Liberal Arts Colleges, rank ing highest in the state of New Jersey in the Social Mobility category (#27 nationally); the Campus Ethnic Diversity category (and #25 nationally); and the Economic Diversity category (highest in the Northeast and #13 nationally) among 223 na tional liberal arts institutions.
The Social Mobility ranking measures how well schools graduated large proportions of eco nomically and educationally disadvantaged federal Pell Grant student recipients Federal Pell Grants are typically awarded to students whose adjusted gross family incomes are under $50,000 (though most recipients have a total family income of below $20,000). The ranking also included an assessment of student indebtedness
“The new recognitions in the ethnic diversity and economic diversity categories tell the story of the success of the diverse student populations Bloomfield serves within the state of New Jersey and nationally,” said President Evans
In addition, Bloomfield College’s Frances M McLaughlin Division of Nursing was named by U S News & World Report 2022 Best Colleges rankings as #7 in New Jersey in the publisher’s first ever Undergraduate Nursing Programs category.
National
To read the original article, please visit pres outlook.org/2022/01/a college degree for social mobility/ Upward socioeconomic mobility is something that many families count on when sending their children to college Their expectation is that earning a college degree will ensure the next generation will be economically better off than their parents and grandparents This promise of upward social mobility is deeply rooted in the American psyche, especially for first generation college students and families of color who represent historically underserved populations in higher education This was the case for me. I dared to dream, and after a long career as a faculty member and administrator in academia, I now serve as the first Black and female president of Bloomfield College, the state ’ s only four year Minority Serving Institution (MSI) that is also a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) and Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) In serving as the College’s 17th president, I have felt such pride in the commitment of our dedicated faculty and staff who teach and mentor our amazing students. Important bonds are formed that enable students to progress and plan for life post graduation As an MSI, our day to day operations at Bloomfield College are responsive to the specific needs of the students we serve Small class sizes make it easier for students to ask questions and receive responses during the lesson rather than waiting for an appointment during faculty office hours Such interactive participation increases student engagement, learning and retention. Because MSIs like Bloomfield have a smaller enrollment, there is also an increased opportunity for students to step into leadership positions In these experiential roles, aspiring professionals can learn and practice the essential skills that will get them noticed and promoted in the workplace
These are just some of the important reasons why my husband and I chose to send five of our six children to MSIs What my grandparents, family and friends knew from personal experience has only more recently been statistically proven. As reported by the 2017 Equality of Opportunity Project and the 2018 American Council on Education Brief, upward mobility rates differ among MSI graduates and those who attended non MSIs The findings show that, compared with non MSI schools, four year MSIs boost more than double the number of students from the lowest income quintile to the top income quintile
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There is power in a Bloomfield College degree. Our student population is comprised of mainly Black and brown students (82 percent) and approximately 71
SOCIALMOBILITY
A C O L L E G E D E G R E E F O R
An edited excerpt from an article published by Presbyterian Outlook, written by Marcheta P Evans, Ph D
Students receive highly personalized attention both inside and outside the classroom for the same or below the direct cost of a public institution. There are no extra fees added to tuition and 96 percent of students receive grants and/or scholarship support
B L O O M F E L D C O L L E G E / S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 13 B l o o m f i e l d C o l l e g e P r e s i d e n t M a r c h e t a P E v a n s , P h D , w a s t h e r e c i p i e n t o f t h e “ E x c e l l e n c e i n E d u c a t i o n Aw a r d ” f r o m t h e S u b u r b a n E s s e x C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e a t i t s a w a r d s b a n q u e t h e l d M a r c h 4 , 2 0 2 2 a t T h e C h a n d e l i e r, i n B e l l e v i l l e , N e w J e r s e y C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ,
Daring to Dr eam
Social mobility requires a lot of work on the part of our college and our students, many of whom work several part time jobs while studying for their degrees Yet Bloomfield’s Presbyterian roots and dedication to equality create a strong and supportive community where students each write their own story I constantly stand in awe of their grit and dedication to advancing their lives to reach their personal and professional goals This is but one of the reasons why we remain steadfast in strategically planning to best support Bloomfield students to lead in a rapidly changing and expanding, global environment
Encouraging and motivating students to dare to dream beyond what they have previously known is what we do every day at Bloomfield College Our students and alumni exemplify how the power of a Bloomfield College degree reverberates through their lives and advances the social and economic mobility of the many generations that follow This extraordinary impact is what a Bloomfield College degree provides for individuals and communities. This is what we call the “Bloomfield Lift!”
The challenges for our students are real, but so are the opportunities Govern ments, philanthropists and corporations are all beginning to address the need for racial and economic equity like never before. Higher education is one of the strongest means we have for inspiring dreams and, now, there is a broader understanding that aspirations are socially embedded and that background matters.
percent of students are eligible for Pell Grants (a federal scholarship awarded to students with exceptional financial need). Not only must our students navigate how to afford a college education, but they often also struggle with meeting basic needs due to food and housing insecurity, family health and economic obligations, lack of access to technology and more Many of these challenges have, of course, been exacerbated by the pandemic Bloomfield is dedicated to serving and empowering low income and first generation students who have been historically marginalized in their ability to pursue higher education. As part of this commitment, the College maintains the lowest full time tuition rate for any private four year college or university in New Jersey
The result is economic mobility for students and families created by well paying, life changing jobs
I am encouraged to see many of the most powerful and influential companies in America renewing their commitment to racial equity, pledging to hire greater numbers of Black and other minority talent with an emphasis in growing the number of minorities in corporate positions It is colleges like ours and our students and graduates who are primed to help corporate America truly execute its commitment to racial and economic equity n
Encouraging and motivating students to dare to dream beyond what they have previously known is what we do ever y day at Bloomfield College Our students and alumni exemplify how the power of a Bloomfield College degree reverberates through their lives and advances the social and economic mobility of the many generations that follow.
Yet there is still so much more work to be done to improve access. It alarms me that a clear path to a college degree is still systemically out of reach for many in communities of color Studies show a divide in educational opportunities and outcomes between high and low income students, pointing to a wide range of economic, health, social and education policies that continue to systemically keep poorer Americans from engaging with the options that are proven to transform economic circumstances
“The Bloomfield College community has immersed themselves in this uplifting project to tell stories of Newark using storytelling, photography, and now public art and involved students in every aspect of the produc tion,” added McCook “I want to thank all who have been involved from day one and know that there is much more to come. ” This July, NJCH advised Bloomfield that it will provide continuing support for this project with an additional $5,000 in seed money to be used over the next six month period
The Bloomfield College community has immersed themselves in this uplifting project to tell stories of Newark using stor y telling, photography, and now public art and involved students in ever y aspect of the production.”
Thanks to the grant and a dedicated advisory group, the College was poised to take the lead in developing additional supportive oral history proj ects to document past and current struggles for racial equality in Newark
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The Stories of Newark project is supported by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) through the American Rescue Plan Act
B l o o m f i e l d C o l l e g e a n d N e w a r k C A M P U S N E W S R O O M p h o t o c o u r t e s y o f L a u r a N o v a
One such project was the Stories of Newark Opening that was held on the Bloomfield College campus on April 27, 2022 This exciting project added new visual components to telling the stories of Newark. Led by faculty and students in the Bloomfield College Division of the Humanities with support from the Division of Creative Arts and Technology, the Center for Student Leadership and Engagement (CSLE) and the Bloomfield College Library, the well attended event attracted more than 100 attendees, both from within and outside the campus
The connection between Newark and Bloomfield College is undeniable. The campus sits just minutes from New Jersey’s largest city, a city many of the College’s students, faculty, staff and alumni consider “home.” In fact, the College began as the German Theological School founded by the Presbytery of Newark in 1868, and the Frances M McLaughlin Division of Nursing at the College also had its beginnings in Newark as the Presbyterian Hospital Training School for Nurses Given the historical and logistical connection between the College and Newark, the two have collaborated on a number of initiatives over the years, including being a founding member of the Newark City of Learning Col laborative (NCLC) and teaming up with the Newark Board of Education Last fall, a new initiative brought the city and the College together when Bloomfield College became the recipient of a $15,000 COVID 19 Response Grant through the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) for the project that has come to be known as Stories of Newark The collaborative, community based project is intended to shed much needed light on the city of Newark and its environs during this unprecedented time by creating a multi modal, digital repository of histories and stories of “Newarkers” that focus on racial justice for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
What came together was a marriage between the Newark Photo Walk work of Chrystofer Davis ’15, the design work of student artist Hugo Gon zalez ’22 and the interviewing expertise of broadcast journalism major Tyra Brooks ’22, among others Soon, Photoville, a New York based non profit organization known for amplifying visual storytellers by working to promote a wider understanding and increased access to the art of photography for all, was brought in and the final project emerged. The communal aspect of this project has brought many additional re sources together. The Bloomfield College Alumni Association (BCAA) spon sored a photo contest with prizes to further support the project WBGO Public Radio developed a special podcast series covering the oral histories being uncovered Dante Plummer ’22, composed the music for the intro duction of each episode of the four episode podcast, which also featured music by Nicholas Bryant ’23 and friend of the College Jamel Johnson BC Underground Magazine focused on Newark in its Spring 2022 issue. And, specifically for the Stories of Newark Opening, Gourmet Dining, LLC worked hand in hand with the project coordinators to research and offer Newark themed foods at the event
“I have been buoyed by the tremendous support for this project by members of our community,” said Assistant Professor of Writing and Writing Intensive Coordinator Nora McCook, Ph.D. “When I put out a call on cam pus to check on interest, a pool of individuals from faculty to students to alumni stepped forward and responded. “We soon established an advisory group and those members especially through the leadership of Professor Laura Nova moved to the visual aspects of storytelling ”
Initial grant partners included WBGO, Newark’s jazz radio station, The Newark Public Library, and The Council for Independent Colleges (CIC) Legacies of American Slavery project which seeks to establish national centers of research, inquiry, and public programming dedicated to understanding the complex legacies of slavery in the United States Through Bloomfield College’s designation as an Institutional Affiliate of the Legacies of American Slavery project, monetary resources, support and guidance are available for the Stories of Newark project
All Giving Day donations were allocated to the Bloomfield College Scholarship Fund, which directly benefits students
E V E N T S
GIVING DAY O EVENTS
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On April 21, Bloomfield College held its fourth annual Bloomfield College Giving Day, a community driven event that receives support from trustees, alumni, faculty, staff and friends The College surpassed its original fundraising goal of $25,000, and raised over $48,000 “When Bloomfield announced we faced significant challenges this year, our community and friends responded,” said Sarah Lacz, Vice President for Institutional Advancement “We are grateful for this support and your unity with the College Most importantly, your generosity showed our amazing students that you believe in them and their dreams.”
On May 20, 2022, Bloomfield College held its 149th Commencement under a comfortable expansive tent on campus. The sun was shining as nearly 300 students and their family and friends heard inspiring remarks as degrees were conferred.
The Class of 2022 represented students who originated from or held citizenship in more than 15 coun tries, with more than half becoming first generation college graduates As the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees were conferred and tassels were moved from the right to the left distinguished guests, families, friends and graduates cheered exuberantly in celebration of this milestone event.
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The commencement ceremony included remarks from Chair of the Board of Trustees, Vernon M. Endo; College President, Marcheta P. Evans, Ph.D.; Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, Michael A. Palladino, Ph.D.; Alumni Association President, Maurice A. Lyle ’09; and the Class of 2022 valedictorian, Aditi Lamba ’22 The Invocation and Benediction were delivered by the College Chaplain, The Reverend Anita R Wright, M Div , Th M , D Min
149T H COMMENCEMENT
E V E N T S
Two nationally prominent and distinguished citizens received honorary degrees Mailissa “Bisa” Yamba Butler and The Honorable Jose L. Linares shared motivational remarks encouraging the students to not accept the word “impossible” and to work hard to continue to make their dreams come true
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Senator Cory Booker sent a video message to the Bloomfield College Class of 2022, asking for the graduates to show up “with eyes of hope and wonder.”
President Evans imparted a heartfelt message inviting students to pay it forward, to not forget those who supported them and to do the same for others that follow “Think about those people who helped you along the way…see those faces…part of your degree belongs to them,” Evans said. “I want you to thank them it took a village to get you to this moment bring life to the support you received be bold, be ex traordinary and continue to write your own story I know you will be successful ”
He encouraged the graduates to see the positive, stat ing, “I have learned that what is inside of you is more important than anything you encounter outside of you do what you can to add to the potential, to add to the promise, of the future…the world needs the best of you. ”
Linares, a retired judge and practicing attorney who broke ground as the first Hispanic to serve as Chief Judge of the United States District Court of New Jersey and as the first Cuban born District Court Chief in the United States, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D).
Yamba Butler, an award winning professional artist who has garnered national praise for creating fiber art recognized as historically significant in telling and celebrating the history of African Americans, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.).
18 B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E / S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 WOMEN’S BOWLING STAYING ON TRACK MEN’S TRACK & FIELD A T H L E T I C S Mar’Quel Davis ’22, Bloomfield College’s fastest male athlete to ever wear a track and field uniform, was honored after the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) 2022 men ’ s and women ’ s track and field championships. For the second year in a row, Davis was named the Men’s Track Athlete of the Year after winning both the 100m and 200m Dash Championships. He also set a new CACC record in the 200m dash with his personal best time of 21 42 seconds
The Bears played the Lions of HBCU Lincoln University, PA as part of the double header Classic that pit Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) teams against Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) teams just two days before the Thanksgiving holiday Unfortunately, the Bears fell to the Lions, 70 62 In advance of the games, Assistant Dean of Student Life/Director of Athletics Sheila Wooten, noted: “As New Jersey’s only four year Predominantly Black Institution (PBI), Bloomfield College’s participation in this athletic event marketed as a display of African American culture and an HBCU experience, is very meaningful to our athletic and academic community Playing in Harlem in this competition will be an amazing experience for our student athletes, the memories of which they will cherish throughout their lifetime ”
The women ’ s bowling team finished third for the first time in program history at the East Coast Conference (ECC) Championships in March. The Bears fought hard in the Semifinal Round of the tournament, falling 4 3 to the eventual ECC Champion, Wilming ton University, at the Coram Country Lanes facility in New York Bloomfield graduated one senior from the team, Victoria Johnson ’22, and will look to getting only stronger in the future after posting the most team wins in school history with 42. The team is also an All Academic Team which recognizes programs with a cumulative team GPA of 3 2 or higher, and seven of eight athletes were named to the All Academic National Team which recognizes student athletes who have attained a cumulative grade point average of 3 4 or higher Women’s Bowling Head Coach Brianna Balkin, who built the program from scratch at Bloomfield, said, “A pre season poll cast by coaches ranked the Bloomfield Women’s Bowling Team as 12th out of 13 intercollegiate teams We ended up beating the defending cham pion and runner up team from last year While our competing team coaches didn’t think Bloomfield should be there, our team was confident and knew we should be there ”
A star athlete, Davis has garnered a major conference award fol lowing each of the three CACC Championships he competed in (Track Rookie of the Year in 2019; no championship held in 2020; Track Ath lete of the Year in 2021 and 2022) Davis ran the fastest times in program history during his senior season, setting the school record in the 100m dash at the Temple Invitational on April 8, 2022 in a time of 10 45 seconds to go along with his program mark (21 42) in the 200m dash set at the CACC Championships on May 7, 2022 His time in the 100m was the second fastest in the East Region of NCAA Division II and third fastest in the 200m The recognition doesn’t stop there
Balkin, who took on the role of Head Coach in 2018 when the College established a women ’ s bowling team as part of its NCAA competitive sports offerings, also teaches middle school math and special education in the Bloomfield Township School District. “I have been so grateful for the opportunity to coach at the collegiate level, and I am thrilled to have devel oped a team that performs well both on the lanes and in the classroom,” said Balkin
HARLEM RENAISSANCE CLASSIC
Bloomfield College Basketball Coach/Assistant Director of Athletics Gerald Holmes, who is ranked among the top 50 basketball coaches in New Jersey, was equally honored and excited to have his team included in this prestigious event. “This event has some personal meaning for me. My father, as well as some uncles and aunts, grew up in Harlem during the times of the renaissance, so I am really looking forward to this experience as a whole,” stated Holmes just prior to the event.
Bloomfield College’s Jasmine Staten ’23 placed first in the 100m hurdles, setting a new personal best time of 13.74, shattering the school record and the CACC record Her previous personal record (PR) was 13.92 at the Larry Ellis Invitational at Princeton University, her first time under 14 seconds The biology major now has the fourth fastest time in NCAA Division II which qualified her for the NCAA National Championships in 2022.
WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD
The Bloomfield College Men’s Basketball Team competed in the inaugural 2021 Harlem Renaissance Classic on November 23 The “Hardwood Hoops in Harlem” event took place at the Nat Holman Fieldhouse located on the campus of City College of New York
The men ’ s track and field team earned the CACC Sportsmanship Award for 2022 the first time in program history an award voted on by conference coaches
Senior’s fortitude and business acumen brought him to Allied, first in Minnesota where he worked in sales, then to its Chicago location as Regional Sales Manager and eventually to New Jersey as National Sales Manager He later moved on to The Zinsser Company, a specialty paint primer and shellac company, from which he retired as its President and CEO after 25 years of service He also became an owner and CEO of Thibaut, Inc , a decorative wallpaper and fabrics company, which he and his team returned to growth and profitability after the company ’ s profits had taken a downward trend.
G
Once enrolled, Senior majored in business administration and economics, and soon became involved in various activities on campus He played interfraternity football, and served as Vice President of both Delta Phi Chi and the Interfraternity Council Later he would earn an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University, attending nights and weekends while working full time at what was then Allied Chemical (now Honeywell) in Morristown, New Jersey.
“I want to encourage others to give to Bloomfield College,” said Senior. “One only needs to listen to the student stories to see how bright they are, how hard working they are, and what a bright future they can have with the right support. This is why Linda and I are committed to continuing to provide vital scholarships for Bloomfield students.”
President Marcheta P Evans, Ph D , recognized the Seniors at a recent dinner, “Your generous spirit and monetary support to the Bloomfield College community has been transformative in the lives of our students We are so very grateful. The opportune timing of your gifts is also deeply appreciated during these unprecedented times while the College finds itself most in need of support Through your gifts, Bloomfield College is better positioned to continue to provide our amazing students with the highest quality education.”
“Graduating from Bloomfield gave me my start. I needed that credential to get to where I wanted to go The College gave me advantages I might not otherwise have had without my degree,” said Senior, who is known for his strong work ethic.
Giving back has always been top of mind for Robert Senior ’68. He and his wife Linda have been major philanthropic donors to Bloomfield College over the past 20 years, establishing a legacy while funding significant scholarships for students and much more.
Recipients of the Seniors’ generosity were also in attendance at the intimate dinner and were excited to meet their benefactors to personally acknowledge the significance of their gifts Several expressed how the scholarships the Seniors provided reduced their stress and have smoothed the pathway for attending graduate school. Emma Nicole Thies ’24 said, “I have always wanted to help others who are undergoing mental health challenges, and I know that to become a therapist, I will need to attend graduate school and possibly pursue my doctorate Your gifts will leave me with very little debt once I complete my undergraduate program, making it possible for me to finance my graduate studies I also know I am able to do better academically when I do not have to worry about how to pay for college.”
Linda
“I always worked,” said Senior, whose family did not have the financial means to send him to college “Before I entered my adult profession, I had many jobs over the years from landscaping, to waxing supermarket floors, to working at an automotive plant I also collected trash in Pompton Lakes where I grew up Working hard has been the foundation for what I have accomplished ” As he worked and saved to pay his way for college, Senior discerned he didn’t need to research many schools “Choosing Bloomfield was easy, ” he remembers. “It was close to home and affordable ”
“Over the years, I have been very impressed with the next generation of Bloomfield students and their stories They are moving, and very motivating to Linda and me, and we want to help them succeed They are hard working people who need help, and Linda and I feel good when we are able to provide important resources that students need,” said Senior The Seniors have provided direct educational funds for Bloomfield students through the Robert ’68 and Linda Senior Annual Scholarship as well as the Robert ’68 and Linda Senior Endowed Scholarship. They also contributed to the Franklin Street Residence Hall initiative for students to have access to the traditional college experience of residential life on campus.
The Seniors, who dated during their college years, have a deep sense of the importance of education. For more than 20 years, Linda Senior worked as a substitute teacher She holds a degree in elementary education from Kean University. Their two daughters are graduates of Loyola College. Helping others who cannot easily afford the luxury of a college education is a passion for the Seniors.
D O N O R S P O T L I G H T B O B ' 6 8 A N D L I N D A S E N I O R ( C E N T E R ) AT T E N D E D A N A P P R E C I AT I O N D I N N E R W I T H S C H O L A R S H I P S T U D E N T S
While Senior retired two years ago as its principal, the company remains “ near and dear” to the family as their daughter Stacy is the CMO in charge of marketing and branding.
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Donor ’68 and Senior
Spotlight: Bob
Lyle said, “My hope is that alumni can network with students and encour age them to take full advantage of the resources already available on campus as well as engage with the new programming that the BCAA puts into place. Our aim is to become a robust force on campus Our vision is to see the BCAA part ner with the College community to create opportunities and help current students take the necessary steps in planning for rewarding careers after college ”
The Alumni Homecoming & Reunion is on Saturday, October 1. Once a year we come together to celebrate the achievements of our great institution and the alumni who have graced its halls We hope you and your families can join the festivities. This year we will celebrate the milestone reunions of the classes of 1972, 1997 and 2012 Make plans to return to campus alongside your fellow alumni and register at www bloomfield edu/homecoming
Echoing Lyle’s sentiment, Daye said, “In working with basketball players and other students, I am in a position to encourage students to participate with the alumni association while creating a networking bridge for alumni to connect with students I also look forward to working with alumni to plan new activities that will encourage them to renew their interest in giving back to the school.”
Professionally, Lyle serves as a Financial Advisor at a Fortune 50 financial institution on Park Avenue in New York City where he is a member of the wealth management division He holds a B S in finance from Bloomfield College Daye, a former professional basketball player, is a career entrepreneur and serves as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Bloomfield College He holds a B A in human resources management and services from Bloomfield College and an MBA in athletic administration from Southern New Hampshire University
BCAA:
There is significant change going on in our world and the College is staying nimble in this fast moving environ ment. The BCAA is doing all we can to play a leading role in creating a pipeline to success for our students We NEED alumni to become involved and to give back to support current Bloomfield students This can be in the form of volunteering your time, or providing direct donations and other resources Even if your time in school was challenging, please con nect with the BCAA to ensure current students’ journeys to graduation are made easier. As Robert F. Kennedy said, “The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better ”
New Leadership
The new BCAA Board was elected in December 2021 and has swiftly moved forward with ambitious plans for numerous initiatives
S TAY C O N N E C T E D ! F a c e b o o k L i n k e d I n 20 B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E / S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 BCAA President Message: See You at Homecoming!
The BCAA amended its bylaws to establish an Emeritus Committee to advise the new executive committee.
Patricia Guillaume ’07: Chair/VP of Mentoring and Recruitment
Cassandra Bien Aime ’07: Chair/VP of Events
Our first order of business for the next academic year is helping our first year and returning students move into their residence halls during the last week of August!
On February 22, the BCAA hosted a well attended Student Meet & Greet session to introduce students to the new Alumni Board and Association mem bers Additional panel presentations providing career guidance and advice on how to chart an efficient path to graduation followed, including one specific to business students, and there are more planned for the fall semester
BCAA Executive Committee: Maurice Lyle ’09: President Gage Daye ’12: First Vice President and Chair of Committees
Sincerely, Maurice Lyle ‘09 BCAA President
The Bloomfield College Alumni Association (BCAA) had a very exciting year with the return of in person learning at the College and the revamping of the Alumni Association Executive Board We’re looking forward to an equally exciting 2022 23 academic year, and have a plethora of ways for alumni to become more involved with their alma mater
Maurice Lyle ’09 was elected BCAA president and Gage Daye ’12 was elected BCAA vice president Early on, the new leadership shared their intentions to engage alumni in discussions about how to create student centric connections between alumni and the student body
Dre’Shonda Williams ’13: Secretary/VP John Skowronski ’91: Treasurer BCAA Emeritus Committee
“I thought it was imperative that the BCAA tap into its experienced members for a number of pursuits the association will begin focusing on in the near future,” said Daye “The members of our Emeritus Committee have been an intricate part of reestablishing and assuring the function of the BCAA for more than 15 years The campus connections, individual contacts, as well as the knowledge they have are invaluable. We can learn and build upon what these alumni previously accomplished ” BCAA Emeritus Committee: John Delucca ’66 (trustee emeritus), Lisa Dews ’02, Mary Jessup ’03 and immediate past BCAA president John Murdock ’73 Reenergized
The BCAA’s newly defined focus has included collaborating with the Center for Academic Advising and Career Education (CAACE) to help students learn more about the varied career pathways that may be open to them within their majors
1950 ’ s 1960’s
Currently living in Georgetown, Texas.
1970 ’ s Daniel R Connell ’70 1980’s Dr Joyce F Conroy ’86
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Walter is delighted that the College is still serving the needs of local students He himself grew up in Bloomfield and is a graduate of Bloomfield High School He transferred to the College after going away
1957 John F. Morran ’57 married his Bronx neighbor hood sweetheart 64 years ago and are still best of friends They have two kids who earned master ’ s degrees from the University of Texas; four grandkids, all college grads, with one returning from Portugal on a Fulbright Award He’s been retired for 30 years, and has spent that time fishing, sailing and traveling.
Walter W Pickut ’67
1967 Walter W Pickut ’67 graduated from Bloomfield College when degrees still read, “College and Semi nary ” He recently published his latest book, The First Counterspy (May 1, 2022 Lyons Press Amazon and Kindle), a true, never before told, WWII story reveal ing the FBI’s first ever anti Soviet spy case It is about the Soviets’ second highest espionage target after steal ing America’s atomic bomb secrets Walter says, “Yes terday’s history is a lens through which we can better understand today’s events. ”
Dickinson), a growing company in Murray Hill, and was able to rise up the company ranks to the Corpo rate Office as the Assistant Corporate Controller in a Fortune 500 Company After over 20 years of working at Bard, he left to take a job in Jersey City as the VP of Finance for Christ Hospital He became the President of Christ Hospital eight years later In 2000, the hospi tal merged with the Franciscan Health System of Jer sey City/Hoboken He retired after the merger and, in 2005, moved to Florida and presently lives in St. Au gustine. He worked as a realtor since that time, retiring this year
1972 Daniel R. Connell ’70 transferred to Bloomfield College, first taking evening classes, after enrolling for a while at Rider “My dad told me I needed to go back to college and get a degree,” he said. “He recommended I enroll at Bloomfield College and pay my own way and see how it goes ” Daniel got married in 1965, moved in with his parents and went back to school days, and graduated in 1970 with an accounting degree He had the “good fortune” of becoming employed at CR Bard, Inc (later acquired by Becton
1954 Rev. Edward Vanderhey ’54 is enjoying retirement at the Shell Point Retirement Community in Florida
1986 Dr. Joyce F. Conroy ’86 graduated with a B A in medical social work and then earned her master ’ s degree in liberal arts from Ramapo College and her Doctor of Letters at Drew University She worked for Newark Beth Israel and retired at 62 She has been the Director of the Roscoe Free Library in Roscoe, New York for the past 15 years. Additionally, she is the Historian for the Town of Rockland, New York, and is an EMT and officer on the Roscoe & Rockland Volunteer Ambulance Corps to school. “Small colleges deliver the goods! Three of us back in ’67, for example in the Biology Department alone scored in the 99th percentile on the GREs because of the close, personal commitments our professors made to every student’s success, ” he said “Some traditions never die That is one of the best ”
CLASSNOTES
“I have reflected on my life and very much real ize that if I had not had the opportunity to finish my education at Bloomfield College, I don’t really know where I would have ended up, ” he said “Fortunately, Bloomfield College took a chance on me, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me “
22 B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E / S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 2000 ’ s C L A S S N O T E S
1996
2010 Dr Desiree Brown Malta (nee: Williams Brown) ’10 founded the Beta Lambda Colony of the Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc., while at the College and exemplified lead ership as a resident advisor for three years As a student, she was a member and board member of several on campus organizations She majored in psychology and sociology at the College and continued her educational journey by earning her M A in public administration at Kean University and a master ’ s degree in educational philosophy at Walden University She recently earned her Ph D in education leadership policy and management at Walden University in San Antonio, Texas
1990 ’ s 2010 ’ s
2003 Gerard Bonsper ’03 is currently retired and living in the Philadel phia area.
Pamela James ’92
“I remember my days on the Bloomfield campus, where I created great memories and fomented lifetime friendships,” she said. “I hope this note inspires Bloomfield students to follow their dreams beyond their degree completion at this school and to become agents of social change that influence their communities for the best ”
Pamela James ’92 is an author, founder of Caterpillar Butterfly LLC, and creator of the children’s book The Orange and Ginger Soapy Shampoo, A Bubble’s Story She graduated with a B A in English communications from Bloomfield College and an M.S. in entertainment business from Full Sail University.
Dr. Desiree Brown Malta (nee: Williams Brown) ’10
2012 Bridgette J. Wallace ’12 went on to pursue her career in addiction counseling and obtained her professional license, CADC, to counsel She is also a Notary Public for the state of New Jersey She and her husband have known each other since the sec ond grade and now have two young children.
2013 Carla E. Campos ’13 and Ray Valentin ’11 will be celebrating their first wedding anniversary in front of their friends and family since they couldn’t have their initial wedding in person due to the pandemic Several of the guests will include alumni from Bloomfield College, specifically from the Modern Era Japanese Culture Club
Bridgette J Wallace ’12 Shakira Jones ’18 Carla E Campos ’13 and Ray Valentin ’11
Zaria Webb Stewar t ’18
B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E / S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 23
“My journey thus far included a bout with kidney disease,” she shared “I am pleased to an nounce I’ve received a kidney transplant in 2020!”
2018 Shakira Jones ’18 graduated with a BSN. Like most college students, she amassed student loan debt. While tackling the debt, she kept track of all the strategies that helped her along the way She compiled these tips into an e book in an effort to help other students “I submitted my book to a publishing company and the book is scheduled to launch this fall, along with my last student loan payment, ” she said. In addition to being an author, she is a school nurse at Irvington High School and owns a bath and body business called IKiralot Crafts LLC Her company handcrafts soaps, facial and body oils, body scrubs, facial powder masks, and hosts soap making classes
2018 Zaria Webb-Stewar t ’18 ventured down two different career paths. Three months after graduating, she became an educator and taught 5th and 6th grade At the same time, she began working toward her MSW and graduated in 2021 She now works as a counselor in a reentry facility for the Department of Corrections.
24 B L O O M F I E L D C O L L E G E / S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 P A S S A G E S Alumni & Friends Mr. Joseph L. Aiello (Former Faculty) Ms. Janice L. Bates ’81 Rev Dr Paul O Boger Sr ’62 (Former Trustee) Ms Marjorie J Cadorette ’86 Rev Dr Peter H Carey Jr ’75 Mr. Richard Cariss ’66 Mr Paul R Cataffo ’76 Mr Edward Catalano ’83 Ms Sheryl I Clifford ’85 Dr. D.F. Moore Craig , Esq. (Honorary Alum) Mr. Anthony E. Corbo ’82 Mr Thomas Denora ’91 Mr Maurice Eley ’80 Ms Lois W Erickson ’55 Mr. Luigi Furnari ’52 Mr Theodore Gee ’66 Mr Alexander Grant ’54 Ms Venetia Harper ’80 Mr Larry E Hayter ’87 Ms. Evelyn C. Hickman (Former Staff ) Mr Sean V Hughes ’00 Rev Dr Arthur L Jackson ’94 Mr Edwin M Jansen ’64 Mr. Joseph Knight ’50 Mr. Leonard Lamparello (Former Faculty) Ms Nancy L Lane (Emeritus Trustee) Ms Shamir Levine ’02 Mr Michelet Louis Baptiste ’02 Mr. Anthony Manochio ’61 Mr Robert E McCourt II ’73 Ms Mary A McLaughlin ’13 Mr Tuyetdung T Nguyen ’00 Mr. Peter A. Olson (Emeritus Trustee) Mr. Raymond R. Pallen ’59 Mr Albert E Pelham ’80 Mr Jason C Ranne ’12 Ms Tamequa J Robinson ’15 Mr. Joseph D. Salvia ’75 Mr Stephen Schwartz ’69 Mr Robert Search (Former Adjunct) Lt Col John F Smith , Jr ’80 Mrs Kathleen M Thompson ’72 Mrs. Virginia B. Thompson (Former Staff ) Mr Adam Wade (Former Adjunct) Ms Marie L Webb ’10 Mr Stanton M Weiss ’74 Mr. Richard Williams (Former Staff ) Mr. Ronald V. Wysocki ’66 Ms Diana M Yannotti ’75 Ms Donna M Zarro ’81
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