The College of the Arts and Communication Spotlight Digital Publication (Spring/Summer 2020 Issue)

SPRING/ SUMMER

2020

Title: The Fall from My Grace Model: Amanda Givens Hair: Samantha Velling Makeup: Liz Villavizar Designer: LaQuoshia Boyce Accessories: TNM Treasures Stylist: Fashionwidower Photographer & Art Director: Michael Rhone Creative Direction: Fashionwidower

SPOTLIGHT SPRING / SUMMER 2020 1

2 SPRING / SUMMER 2020 SPOTLIGHT

Spring/Summer 2020

CONTENTS 1 2 3 4 5

Front Cover

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April Spotlights

Inside Front Cover Contents Dean’s Message Message from Dr. Lauren Fowler-Calisto Featuring Juan Giraldo, Dr. Lauren Fowler-Calisto, John Conlow, and

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Maya Harris

May Spotlights Featuring Dr. Kyung-Hyan (Angie)

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EILEEN FOTI

Yoo, Michael Rhone, Dr. Carl Patrick Bolleia, and Kaeli Brady

14

June Spotlights Featuring Denise Bellog, Michael Rees, Allison McKenzie, and Xavier Bonilla

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July Spotlights Featuring David Kirk Philp, Eileen Foti, Sebastian Escobar, and

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Alexa Chavarria

August Spotlights Featuring Dr. Robert Quicke,

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XAVIER BONILLA

24

KAITLYN FERRARO

Dr. Anna Keiserman, Kaitlyn Ferraro, and Chance Smith

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College Wide Highlights College of the Arts and Communication: Office of the Dean

(Left) Model: Courtney Rone, Makeup & Hair: Samantha V, Designer: Jayodon Powell, Accessories: TNM Treasures, Stylist: Fashionwidower, Photographer & Art Director: Michael Rhone, Creative Direction: Fashionwidower

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DR. LAUREN FOWLER-CALISTO SPOTLIGHT SPRING / SUMMER 2020 3

Dean’s Message: S

taying connected is just one way we have been able to continue to move forward during this unprecedented time of social distancing, isolation and economic uncertainty. We move forward in spite of these roadblocks. And we continue to create.

This edition of Spotlight has two ever present themes - innovation in times of difficulty, particularly COVID-19, and momentum forward to pursue excellence, as well as one’s dreams and passions, while helping the community. You will read the stories of faculty and students alike who have braved this time to create something positive - a physical object, a virtual experience or a positive feeling among peoples known or unknown.

We CONNECT. We CONTINUE. We CREATE. 4 SPRING / SUMMER 2020 SPOTLIGHT

You will also note the familiar interplay in our learning environment - faculty teaching students, students who have left to learn new things out in the world, and then return to support our faculty and share their industry experience and life lessons with our students. For William Paterson, and the College of the Arts and Communication in particular, this is our life cycle. Connection. And this connection extends to our College Advisory Board, made up of mostly alumni as well as friends of our university and college. In an upcoming mini Spotlight, you will meet our Advisory Board Chair Colin Ungaro, '75 and learn more about how and why he stays connected to us.

Until our next publication, we hope you enjoy learning about the triumphs of the members of our community, even in the face of adversity. We connect. We continue. We create.

Sincerely,

Loretta Mc Laughlin Vignier

Message from Dr. Lauren Fowler-Calisto Dear Colleagues,

W

elcome to Fall 2020 in the year of extraordinary teaching, support, and creativity. Those of us in the College of the Arts and Communication are no strangers to these virtues. This year, however, we have been stretched and challenged in ways we never thought possible a year ago. If you had asked me even seven months ago that I would be teaching our WP choirs virtually and stepping into the role of Dean’s Fellow and Assistant to the Dean, I would probably have responded, “In what universe?” Yet, here we are: working together as a team of dedicated professionals committed to the art of pedagogy in ways that have stretched us to our limits without breaking, while also finding unusual and thoughtful ways to engage our students.

As we work furiously to find our way through these ever-changing circumstances, I wanted to let you know that I am here to help you and our students. Our Interim Dean’s shoes are difficult to fill, but I am looking forward to doing my best in assisting you with student concerns of any kind. And when I don’t have the answer for you, we will work together as a team to find ways to support our students as they navigate these ever-shifting sands.

Please feel free to contact me via email at fowlercalistol@wpunj.edu when needed. And if a phone call is warranted, please reach out to my campus phone at (973) 720-2406.

Thank you for your patience as we work through the challenges and successes of the 2020–2021 academic year together.

Sincerely,

Lauren Fowler-Calisto

SPOTLIGHT SPRING / SUMMER 2020 5

Juan Giraldo

April Adjunct of the Month Department of Art You are a William Paterson University graduate; how does it feel to teach at your alma mater?

I graduated from William Paterson in 2009; I did not imagine myself in this role. It has been very rewarding to give back to the University, especially the Art Department.

What was your major and how long have you been an adjunct professor at William Paterson University?

I was a BFA major while at William Paterson with a concentration in Photography. I have been an adjunct professor at William Paterson since the Spring semester of 2019 and began teaching the Summer of 2019.

What course(s) do you teach and what course is your favorite to teach?

This semester, I’m teaching Photo 1, Photo 2 & Advanced Photography Projects. That is a tough question - I think they all are rewarding in various ways. Photo 1 is fantastic because as an instructor you are providing students with the basic tools that are instrumental for the medium. In Photo 2, you get to help students begin to think long term in their photo pursuits and begin to have a serious dialogue about photos and the medium at large.

As for Advanced Photo Projects, it’s a privilege to help the students who have committed to the medium and pursue it as the art form they have chosen for themselves. However, if I had to choose, it would be Advanced Photo Projects; I enjoy the discourse that we have about their projects.

Tell us about any projects that you’re working on.

At the moment, I continue to work on my East 17th Street body of work; it focuses on my parent’s home life.

6 SPRING / SUMMER 2020 SPOTLIGHT

(Bottom-Right) Mom

by Juan Giraldo (Bottom-Left) Dad

by Juan Giraldo

“LIFE

begins now.”

Dr. Lauren Fowler-Calisto April Faculty of the Month Department of Music

What’s the best thing about teaching?

Every single day I get to go to work where I create great music with students and a dedicated and collaborative faculty who also love their work. I don’t know many professions where that circumstance occurs. Every day is different, bringing new challenges, and new ideas. William Paterson is the most exciting university position I have held among many.

What inspires you?

First, my students and second, the most inspiring and collaborative music faculty I have experienced in my career.

I gave up a tenured, associate professorship at another university to come to William Paterson for this very reason.

What career advice would you give to WP students?

Life begins now. Not when we graduate, start our first adult job, perform our first big professional gig, or find our partners. I wish someone had shared that with me as an undergraduate - that life is what is happening now and

not twenty years from now. Explore, live, love, experiment, plan, TRAVEL overseas as much as possible, and yes, work hard. You should always live every single day as if it were your last. In our “new normal,” under the shadow of COVID-19, this philosophy takes on special meaning for us all.

Please tell us about any projects that you’re working on and any awards that you’ve received.

I have recently been selected as the new Artistic Director of the New Jersey Choral Society for its 2020-21 season and the Director for the Fall 2020 Wisconsin Mixed High School Honors Choir. Both of these appointments are “brass ring” moments for me, having worked for thirty-three years to attain this level of professional recognition in the field of choral conducting. However, my greatest accomplishment and joy will always lie with teaching my own students.

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John Conlow

April Student of the Month Department of Communication What is your major and when will you graduate?

My major is Communication with a focus in Media Production. I also have a minor in Journalism and Public Relations. I will graduate in Spring 2021.

Tell us about your work.

I’ve been a part of the TV Club since freshmen year; I usually work as a crew member on each show. During my sophomore year, I became a staff writer for our student paper, The Beacon. While working for the newspaper, I’ve held the following positions: Copy Editor and Opinion Editor. I’m also a part of the WP Society of Professional Journalists, the WP swim team and I’m a videography intern in the Dean’s Office – College of the Arts & Communication.

What professors in the Department of Communication have impacted you?

“

My confidence has been built at William Paterson.

”

Professor Barretta got me to love journalism. Professor Williams inspired me with my work with his great critiques and projects. Professor Birge is a tough professor but she helps me with many things in journalism.

Professor Hirshon is a great professor, who knows a lot about journalism and Al Clarke has helped me excel in the TV field by putting me in new positions.

What are some of the most important things that you’ve learned at William Paterson University?

My confidence has been built at WP. I’ve learned so much from professors: to continue to work on things that I do and it shows in my work. I also learned to create connections with professors because those connections will be great future assets.

8 SPRING / SUMMER 2020 SPOTLIGHT

Maya Harris

April Alumni of the Month Department of Communication When did you graduate and what was your major?

I graduated in 2017 and my major was Broadcast Journalism.

Tell us about your podcast, That Moment When.

It’s a bi-weekly, interview podcast that was formed with the belief that we are shaped by the moments we experience - good and bad. Each episode highlights a phenomenal person of color who works in tech, the arts, community activism, business, and entrepreneurship.

What made you want to create a podcast?

I’ve always had a curious spirit and a love of storytelling and I think that’s what drew me to creative writing and eventually Broadcast Journalism. There’s something beautiful about using your voice to tell a story and as a woman of color, people have tried to silence my voice. That’s exactly what I experienced during my time as a co-host for a small NYC-based radio station in college. I was the only female on-air personality and when I tried to create room

for more women to join the space, I was constantly met with pushback from the founders. So, I decided to close that chapter of my life and find other ways for me to use my voice to help tell the stories of others who may have been silenced as well. That’s how That Moment When was born. I enjoy having autonomy over my podcast. I chose the guests, the topics, the flow of my show and I love it.

Were there any WP professors who had an impact on you?

Al Clarke! He always inspired me to go after any ideas that I had and he genuinely cares about the wellbeing of his students. My minor was Africana World Studies and Dr. Danielle Wallace was one of, if not, my favorite professor.

She showed her students tough love and she was fair.

Unfortunately, we grow up in school systems that don’t always value or properly teach Black History and Dr. Wallace made sure we left her class with a strong knowledge of our history. She taught me so many valuable lessons in and out of the classroom and I still hold onto those values.

Photo Credit: @nyanzad_

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“

Understand the value of quality over quantity.

”

Do they show sympathy and support in the messages? Another key trend is the increasing demand for digital/ social media analytics. Understanding the analytics and knowing how to apply the findings to design and measure projects/campaigns are getting more important. The last trend for this year is social media wellness.

This has become an essential part of consumer engagement. Understand the value of quality over quantity.

Companies should focus on creating content people find worthy to read instead of just constantly posting unnecessary content.

You’ve created the Social Media Lab. What is it?

Dr. Kyung-Hyan (Angie) Yoo May Faculty of the Month Department of Communication

How long have you taught at WP & what courses do you currently teach?

I’ve been teaching at WP for 10 years. I am currently teaching COMM 3580 Digital & Social Media Communication, PCOM 6270 Introduction to Research, and PCOM 7300 Master Project.

As a specialist in social media and digital communication, what are some key trends that students should become familiar with?

With the current pandemic, online crisis communication has become significantly important. I would recommend that communication students follow their favorite brands’ websites and social media platforms to see and analyze the brands’ responses to COVID-19. Did they give timely responses to their stakeholders? Are their messages clear?

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The WP Social Media Lab is a new innovative space for students and faculty to conduct digital/social media research and to learn digital/social media skills. I’m currently working on launching this new lab. I hope it can foster cutting-edge research and offer education and training in social media communication (reporting, content creation & management, and analytics) for students to hone their social media skills.

What projects are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on several research projects. I recently submitted a book chapter that discussed trust in user-generated content.

I’m also analyzing the data collected to understand the credibility of online reviews and I plan to design a research project to examine tourism organizations’ online crisis communication during COVID-19.

Photo credits: Michael Rhone

Michael Rhone

You’re a photographer and graphic designer, what inspires you?

May Alumni of the Month Department of Art What was your major and when did you graduate?

I graduated in 2017 with a major in Fine Arts with a focus in Graphic Design.

What WP professors from the Department of Art were instrumental to you?

Professor Angela DeLaura Professor Thomas Uhlein.

and

Professor DeLaura encouraged me to trust my instincts. She always said that I would get it right the first shot, then screw it up by the time I am done fine tuning and caressing the work.

Over time, I was able to find balance, and today, this advice of trusting my intuition is something I heavily rely on. She also allowed me space to be creative in my own way.

I’m inspired first by me. I am big on self-improvement and I’m always looking for ways that I can do better – “only the best is good enough.” After that, I think I am inspired by the art of other artists that I haven’t done anything like yet (things that I find appealing and fit my style). I’m very particular in what I like, but when I see it, I know it. I also take inspiration from art forms/techniques that I may not be able to do yet or at all - things I can learn from. If there’s nothing to learn from, I lose interest quickly. To learn more about my work, visit www. michaeldiangelo.com.

“

Do what you love.

Monetize your passions.

”

Now we flip to the opposite side of the coin – Professor Uhlein. There was freedom, but within a set of rules. He liked things done a certain way, and at first you might find it annoying, but when it’s all said and done, you get it. I think his teachings reigned me in and taught me to understand why things are done the way they are. He was big on refining work to perfection and I didn’t mind because I am a perfectionist. My approach to anything relating to typography is heavily influenced by the principles he taught us.

I think these two professors were the yin and yang of my design personality.

They gave me tools that I needed, with which, I believe I was able to find balance and myself.

What career advice would you provide to students majoring in Art? Two pieces of advice: 1. Do what you love.

2. Monetize your passions.

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Dr. Carl Patrick Bolleia May Adjunct of the Month Department of Music

As a WP alumnus, how does it feel to teach in the Music Department and be May’s Adjunct of the Month?

It is quite exhilarating actually - to teach where you graduated - especially your undergraduate (BM ’08 Music Education).

There was such a camaraderie and energy in Shea; an incredible sense of discovery, excitement and collaboration pervaded interactions between and among faculty and students. Our students, in their ideas and diversity, inspire me constantly and enable me to teach creatively. I had always hoped to one day teach here. To be able to do so is the joy of my life. One is vested personally, in a unique way, when teaching at your alma mater. It is an honor to be featured this month!

You appeared in a special quarantine edition of WQXR’s Midday Masterpieces at The Greene Space with colleagues from The Juilliard School’s Historical Performance Program. How was that experience?

Sensational and wild. It is a thrill to be in the diploma program at The Juilliard School for post-doctoral studies, as well as performing on WQXR. This is the most renowned conservatory in the world and the largest classical media market. To have been accepted into the program and then showcased is really a dream come true. It is all the more so, having grown up in this area. My career, which I like to think of as still in its advent, is living proof that a degree from William Paterson can take you to the greatest of places!

(Top) Photo credit: Karjaka Studios (Bottom) Photo credit: Vicky Lee Photography

What advice would you offer students pursuing a degree in Music?

The most important thing is to love it for the sake of itself. Then strive for musical excellence and maintain an intellectual curiosity. There is no substitute for being a great musician - musicianship, sight-reading, technique, etc. cannot be faked. Encountering the repertoire has got to be a joy. There will be competition, set-backs and days when you don’t feel motivated. It is important to remember that we are human and can always start again. Taking care of yourself is incredibly important: mentally, spiritually, physically, etc.

“

Our students, in their ideas and diversity, inspire me constantly and enable me to teach creatively.

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”

What projects are you working on?

I have several video projects in the works of keyboard/ piano music, from piano, harpsichord, organ and clavichord, written over the past 700 years. Much of it is multi- media in scope, in collaboration with dance, animation, videography, etc. I also collaborate with living composers, to champion the music of our time and premiere pieces they write for me.

Last year, I premiered Let It Shine for solo piano at Carnegie Hall, written by the legendary American composer, Frederic Rzewski. This year, I have an exciting harpsichord piece being written for me by the illustrious and legendary pianist and composer, (and personal hero) Stephen Houg.

Kaeli Brady

May Student of the Month Department of Art What is your major and when will you graduate?

My major is Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design and Interactive Media. I plan to graduate in May 2021.

Have there been any Art professors that have impacted you?

Professor James Blasi was one of my first professors when I transferred to William Paterson in Spring 2018 and since then, I’ve had a class with him every semester: Digital Methods, Intro to Publication Design, and Print and Media. He has lots of knowledge and has done professional work as a graphic designer, which he teaches in all of his classes. With every class, I learn something new from him, whether it be some new function in Adobe InDesign or how to talk with clients. He has impacted my style as a graphic designer and has made me find a love for publication design.

Describe your style of art.

I have two styles of art since I consider myself an interdisciplinary artist: graphic design and fine art. With my graphic design work, I enjoy working in publication design from magazines,

brochures, etc. Within that, I like to work with a limited color palette, usually blacks, whites, and 1-3 different colors. With my fine art, I enjoy working with mixed media artwork.

My favorite combination is combining oil paint with photo collage. With my paintings, I have a refined color palette, usually repeating the colors of magenta, reds, and pinks.

What internships and/or clubs are you part of?

In the Spring 2020 semester, I started an internship with the University’s College of Arts and Communication as the Graphic Design intern. My position involves creating graphics for social media and I design the College’s digital publication, Spotlight.

I am also a part of the Photography Club, where we take photographs at some school events, do photoshoots to learn new techniques, and have speakers who come in to teach their professional work. It’s a great club, which teaches beginners to advanced digital photography.

Images by Kaeli Brady.

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Denise Bellog

June Adjunct of the Month Department of Communication How long have you been teaching at William Paterson University?

I’ve been teaching here since 2001.

What course do you teach?

I teach Experiencing Theater and I love it!

What career advice would you offer to your students?

I encourage my theater students to keep the FIRE of curiosity and imagination burning bright!

Discuss your partnership with Paterson’s Rosa Parks High School of Fine & Performing Arts?

A truly noteworthy experience came when I was asked to develop, launch, and teach a new learning community during the 2018 Fall semester. The Educating the Imagination learning community was a cohort of Freshman Education majors that explored Theater & Arts’ learning experiences both on and off campus. My students collaborated with Rosa Parks High School students on activities that would strengthen their playwrighting and performance skills.

This community also saw and critiqued two WP Theater shows, experienced a theatrical children’s show in Shea Center with the high school students and viewed the art exhibit, Women’s Rights are Human Rights at the Ben Shahn Gallery.

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Michael Rees

June Faculty of the Month Department of Art

How long have you taught at WP & what courses do you currently teach?

I joined the faculty at William Paterson in 2008, so I’ve been here 12 years. I teach Sculpture and Digital Media, graduate classes, and I run the Center for New Art. Describe your creative process as an artist?

Making art is where I live in my mind. It is the thing that sustains me emotionally and from which I can live in this world. Art is a way of being. Despite our difficulties, there has never been a better time to be alive. There are so many new opportunities for knowledge, expression, and livelihood.

We are free to be inspired by such a grand range of things and to join them together in unanticipated ways. So much is emerging in this time. I am inspired by other artists, who are friends and their strength to continue and persist. I love reading about consciousness and the brain, particularly enjoying a Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind by Anaka Harris. Lately, I’m particularly interested in drawing, probably because I’ve been shut in at home. I’ve been exploring new technologies for drawing, firstly, using Procreate on the iPad but also the VR drawing program, Gravity Sketch on Oculus. The potential of VR is only beginning - this field is only just the beginning.

In an effort to assist with COVID-19 safety measures, you along with a WP alum and a Montclair State University colleague are producing face masks. How many have you produced and where are you distributing the masks?

I woke up on March 23rd and realized, I need to do something in whatever way I can. I began by making a Facebook page with the intent to vet appropriate designs and connect the various constituencies that are within ear shot of that page. I connected with Ian Kerr and Saskia Morozov in Montclair who had a well-developed organization in Montclair Design Week with solid connections to the local hospitals and we set about participating in a team of volunteers doing all the logistical planning and execution to identify good designs and the people who would receive the products we made. I worked very hard in the beginning to identify designs that were easy to make. One

of our graduate student alums, Brian Sandilands, was also instrumental in identifying face shield designs that could be manufactured easily. Ian and his community took the design and refined it further and produced close to 25,000 of these face shields and delivered them to local hospitals.

We also activated our 3D print lab and printed a couple thousand face mask back straps that relieve the pressure on the ears of people that have to wear those masks all day.

This couldn’t have happened without the tireless help of Frida De Myr (formerly Feride Demircan Comen) who has been able to make regular trips to the lab to set up builds and separate the parts when they come off. Also, adjunct faculty and graduate art alumnus, David D’Ostillio, helped out primarily with logistical things as he has two sons at home for whom he is the daily caretaker. Those were the people that could volunteer and they did an amazing job.

I’m grateful to have been able to help, even only just a little. Thanks also to the William Paterson Administration, especially Provost Joshua Powers, legal counsel Laura Hertzog, as well as our Dean, Daryl Moore and Associate Dean Loretta Mc Laughlin Vignier for working out the details of allowing us access to the lab.

Are you currently working on any other projects?

I think we’re all trying to imagine the world we’re going to be living in for the rest of 2020 and beyond. Most of my public projects are currently on hold. So, I’ve been investing my studio time in exploration. It’s hard to beat the process of engaging the world through reading, writing, and drawing.

Anyone that’s taken a class with me knows that I require just this activity around every assignment assembled into a source book. I can tell you, I’m working on my source book.

Some links to recent interviews that I’ve done include: About the PPE maker project: https://youtu.be/sTMUUFAKlEw About my journey with cancer the year before: https://www.survivornet.com/articles/adding-his-voice-tothe-chorus-artist-and-cancer-survivor-michael-rees-getsbehind-hpv-vaccine-awareness/ https://www.survivornet.com/articles/why-not-turn-itinto-some-kind-of-adventure-survivor-and-artist-michaelrees-shares-his-unique-outlook-on-facing-cancer/

“Art is a way of being.”

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Allison McKenzie

June Alumni of the Month Department of Music What was your major and when did you graduate?

I was enrolled in the Popular Music Studies program and I graduated in 2015.

What professors in the Department of Music were instrumental to you?

Professor Cecil Bridgewater and Professor Pete McGuinness were incredibly encouraging when it came to my original music and pushed me creatively. Even after I graduated, they continued to inspire me to keep creating and working towards furthering my musical career.

Can you recall one of your most memorable experiences performing at William Paterson University?

The first Pop Music showcase!

It was exciting because it was the first one and it was an event that was created and produced by the students of the program.

It’s so rewarding to see something come to fruition after you conceptualized it.

16 SPRING / SUMMER 2020 SPOTLIGHT

Allison performs with Big Beat at the Parsippany Presbyterian Church.

You’re a vocalist in a band called Big Beat that recently released an album. Explain the band’s creative process and list some of your favorite songs on the album.

Being a vocalist in Big Beat is something that I never saw coming for my musical career. I imagined that when I graduated, I would be a solo artist but something good happened at the first Big Beat band rehearsal and I’ve never looked back. It’s a wonderful feeling to collaborate with the arrangers and work within the band. We just released a cover of Thundercat’s Them Changes and that’s just one example of how special this group is.

Big Beat is a 19-piece R&B big band that is made up of a 13-piece horn section, rhythm section, conductor and myself on vocals. Recording was a huge undertaking to say the least. We recorded our debut album, Sounds Good, Feels Good at Lucky Penny Studios in West Caldwell, NJ. WP jazz professor Pete McGuinness produced these sessions. I also worked personally with vocalist Denise Renee at Horizon Studios in West Haven, CT to record vocals. Then, we raised $9,000 on Kickstarter to fund the album; we’re so thankful to everyone that backed this project. There’s a total of 9 songs on the album and my favorites are I Wanna Talk with You and Miss America (pssst, they’re songs I wrote). Our website is www. bigbeatbigband.com and my website is www. allymacmusic.com.

Xavier Bonilla

June Student of the Month Department of Music What’s your major and when will you graduate?

I majored in Music Education with a concentration in Flute Performance and K-12 Instrumental Music certification.

I also minored in Saxophone Performance and Spanish. I recently graduated in May 2020.

What led you to choose a Music major?

Being born into a family of musicians did not make it hard to know what my future career would be. With that being said, coming from a Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian household, music is a fundamental part to the culture. Being exposed to the cultural music (Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, etc.) inspired me to find out how this amazing “thing” worked.

In addition to this, as I was growing up watching movies like Star Wars and Jurassic Park, I became fascinated with orchestral scores/music and orchestras in general. I started my musical career in the 5th grade, where I first learned how to play flute. As I progressed through middle school and high school, I started taking private lessons and eventually picked up saxophone towards the end of my freshman year. I knew for sure I wanted to study and teach music. The teaching aspect came from having inspirational teachers, throughout various subject areas, that were not only influential in their teaching, but most of all, impactful in their mentoring. Knowing that most of these teachers were graduates of the William Paterson Education program and Music program influenced my decision to attend the university.

What instrument(s) do you play?

As a Flute major, I constantly play a rotation of instruments: Piccolo, C Flute, Alto Flute and Bass Flute. I also play Alto and Baritone Saxophone; I was a part of one of the Saxophone Quartets on campus.

“Music is a fundamental part to the culture.”

What inspires you?

I draw inspiration from all past and current teachers/ mentors who have shown me some of the best do’s and don’ts of the teaching field. I will say, most of my inspiration to become a teacher, came from a variety of teachers in high school, who were not only inspirational and impactful, but they were also relatable and personable. I hope to, at the very least, have the same impact on my future students the way my teachers have impacted me over the course of my educational studies. As a musician, I draw countless amounts of inspiration from my family/culture, my music ideals and from my many performing experiences.

SPOTLIGHT SPRING / SUMMER 2020 17

Tell us about the Music Biz 101 & More radio show & podcast.

Music Biz 101 & More is in its 6th season.

Every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on Brave New Radio, Dr. Steve Marcone, who just retired as coordinator of our Music & Entertainment Industries program after 34 years, and I interview guests from the music business. We’ve interviewed some major players, like RCA Records’ copresident Joe Riccitelli (also a WP alum), Justin Bieber/Arianna Grande’s manager Scooter Braun, Rob Light, who runs music for CAA, the largest booking agency in the world, and many more.

Every radio show becomes a podcast. We’re coming up on our 300th episode.

What projects are you working on?

David Kirk Philp

July Faculty of the Month Department of Music How long have you been teaching at WP? The Fall semester will start my 8th year as a full-time faculty member. This will be my second year coordinating the Popular Music Studies program and my first year coordinating the Music & Entertainment Industries major/ minor/MBA programs. I was an adjunct before that for a number of years. I’m also a WP alum and met my wife here when we were students. She says hello.

What are some of your favorite courses to teach and why?

I love teaching Personal Management in the Music & Entertainment Industry. It’s the Capstone course of our music business program and I get to channel my inner music biz nerd two times a week and try to convert students into fellow nerds. Once in a while, I’m successful.

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I manage an artist named Zach Matari who has a nice U.S. following. We’re trying to break him internationally.

He has a song called Yalla, which is Arabic for “Let’s go,” that he feels is empowering for his generation of Arab-Americans. I also manage Switch Mob, a band with a new song that was released in August. Steve Marcone and I are also getting ready to write the 7th edition of the book, Managing Your Band. I was hoping to play shortstop for the NY Mets this season, but it turns out they’re set there, so I’ll just watch the games instead.

Eileen Foti

July Adjunct of the Month Department of Art How long have you taught in the Art Department?

I began teaching Printmaking in 2013.

What’s the best thing about teaching Art? What I enjoy most is seeing the individuality of each student. I can give the same assignment to an entire class, but the completed images that show up on the wall for the critique are uniquely personal. Even the quietest students who rarely open their mouths in class can make really powerful visual statements.

Are there any projects that you’re working on?

During this COVID quarantine, I put my artwork aside.

Instead, I have cut out over 2,000 fabric rectangles to be used by a non-profit organization to make face masks for at-risk communities in New Jersey.

Do you have a favorite art piece that you’ve created? If so, what made it your favorite?

I was commissioned to make a piece of art for each of the five hospitals in the Atlantic Health System. I designed one specifically for each hospital, reflecting upon important medicinal plants that grow in each of the five distinct geographical regions of the country. I carved dozens of small linoleum blocks that depicted things that live and grow in the mountains, deserts, prairies, forests, and rainforests. I invited members from each of the hospitals’ communities to handprint these blocks, and I used those prints to create the borders around my paintings, which highlighted medicinal plants that have helped to sustain and heal people for centuries.

The Healing Mountain, 24”x36”, 2018.

Gouache paintings with gold leaf, collage and relief printing.

Photo Credit: Jess Talos SPOTLIGHT SPRING / SUMMER 2020 19

Sebastian Escobar

July Alumni of the Month Department of Communication What was your major & when did you graduate?

I graduated in May of 2015 with a BA in Communication, majoring in Broadcast Journalism.

What WP COMM professors were instrumental to you during your WP matriculation?

Dr. Rob Quicke, as the General Manager of the radio station, and as a professor, inspired me to always go big and do not shy away from trying something even if it may seem impossible at first. Due to him, I have had numerous global adventures and opportunities to grow and network within the radio industry. I still live by his motto: No Guts, No Glory.

Dr. Diana Peck was another marvelous professor. As a student of her International Media class, she opened my eyes to a new concentration in media that I am greatly fascinated by today and hope to have a career in - that being world news. We’re living in an ever-more connected globalized society and for me, curating the important stories from around the world and how they are being reported is how I begin every one of my weekday mornings.

Lastly, Dr. Joanne Lee was another amazing professor to have. She helped me understand news literacy or determining the credibility of a news piece. With the emerging trend of “fake news” and propaganda, it’s now more important than ever to be able to disseminate fact from fiction. Dr. Lee’s class was instrumental in helping me develop that skill.

You helped with the Hurricane Maria relief efforts, please explain your experience in Vieques and how Brave New Radio helped.

I have had the humbling fortune of visiting Vieques, Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria as part of the Vieques Recovery Project. Headed by Dr. Lori Ramos and Dr. Diana Peck, myself as well as some students visited the island to originally assist with their community radio station, Radio Vieques. The point was to assist them in getting back up and running after Hurricane Maria took them off the air, as well as help with them with their programming and community outreach. Since then, the project transformed to multiple facets of help, like installing a HAM radio network so emergency personnel may easily communicate

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with each other when phone lines go down as well as a learning experience of civic engagement for students.

Describe your role at Brave New Radio.

I’m the Station Manager; I run the day to day operations: I recruit and mentor students and manage station budgets and marketing. Essentially, I am a Project Manager, and the radio station is my project. For us, ratings are not the end all be all, but I try my best to enhance the radio station in any way possible, either through brand marketing, onair content, or upgrades in equipment. Thankfully, our station has done very well. Since 2012, we were named Best College Radio Station in the Nation four times, Best in New Jersey two times, as well as winning the coveted 2018 Marconi Award for Non-Commercial Station. We’re also the founding station of College Radio Day and Vinylthon.

Personally, I was awarded Best On-Air College Radio Personality in the Country in 2015.

Alexa Chavarria

July Student of the Month Department of Communication What is your major and when will you graduate?

My major is Public Relations with a minor in Journalism. I will graduate in Spring 2021.

What student organizations and/or clubs are you a part of?

“Out of everything, I’ve learned that consistency is key. ”

I am the promotions director at Brave New Radio and a staff writer at The Beacon Newspaper, training to be Features Editor.

What are some of your favorite Communication classes?

I enjoy all my classes but so far, my favorite class is Case Studies because I had a great professor and it was interesting to have discussions about famous PR cases. Dr. Choi allowed us to review every detail for each case, which really helped me learn how to evaluate and think of solutions. My second favorite class was Media Ethics & Law with Dr. Hirshon because we were able to reflect on our own ethics and morals by discussing journalistic cases.

You are the Social Media intern in COAC’s Dean’s Office, explain your responsibilities and one key thing that you learned from the internship.

My internship position requires me to maintain the College’s social media pages by posting events and spotlight recognition for faculty, alumni and students, creating trends to encourage follower engagement and increasing the number of followers. Out of everything, I’ve learned that consistency is key. Being consistent makes all the difference when trying to promote a page. Followers enjoy following a page that is fun, informational and provides a lot of visuals.

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Dr. Robert Quicke

August Faculty of the Month Department of Communication How long have you worked at WP? I first came to WP in the Fall of 2007, so it’s been thirteen years so far!

You’re the founder of College Radio Day. What inspired you to create this day?

I wanted to create an event or day that really celebrates college radio as a medium. The aim of College Radio Day is to harness the combined listenership of hundreds of thousands of college radio listeners throughout the world and to celebrate the important contribution of college radio by uniting for this one day. College radio is one of the last remaining bastions of creative radio programming, free from the constrictions of having to be commercially viable, and a place where those involved in its programming believe passionately in its mission. College radio is the only free live medium brave enough to play unsigned, local, and independent artists on a regular basis. Indeed, many famous and successful bands today, owe their initial break to being played on college radio. Put simply, college radio is an important part of the media landscape because of its unique and fearless programming. We’ve had a lot of success with the event and this year, on October 2, 2020, will be our 10th annual event!

What led you to pursue a career in Communication?

From my early days as a student at Oxford University, I was involved with a group of students who wanted to launch the first student FM radio station in the UK. We were told it was impossible, but we would not take ‘no’ for an answer. It took a couple of years of badgering the British government, but our persistence paid off. And so, in 1997, I was the first student on the airwaves launching the Oxford Student Radio station and we created radio history in the process. After an experience like that, I have always loved the media and especially radio.

What are 2 of your most memorable experiences from working in Radio?

Ah, a difficult question to answer. First, spending the morning with Coldplay in 2012 and interviewing them for College Radio Day. I found that Chris Martin was incredibly grounded and friendly, and when I explained the importance of college radio, he really got on board and helped champion our cause. I’ve often found that to be

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the case, that once people understand the importance of college radio, they really value what we do. Second, standing on stage in Epcot, Florida, September 2018, accepting the Marconi Award for national Non-Commercial Radio Station of the Year was surreal. Before the awards banquet, we hardly knew anyone, but after we won that trophy, we were mobbed! At the after-show party, the name of WPSC and our remarkable story was on the lips of the great and the good. I’ll never forget what we all achieved that night!

Dr. Anna Keiserman

August Adjunct of the Month Department of Music How long have you been teaching in the Music Department & what courses do you teach?

I started working at WP in January 2018 as an accompanist for the Wind and Brass students, and in the Fall 2019-Spring 2020, I began teaching piano classes and Applied Minor Lessons.

What instrument(s) do you play and what led you to pursue music?

I started playing piano at the age of 5 and chose Piano Performance as my major in high school in Russia, Volgograd. Music was everywhere around me and my parents are musicians - my father is a conductor and my mother is a theory professor - the choice to pursue music felt very natural, even predetermined. At the age of 19, I moved to Moscow to study at a prestigious conservatory, the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music, where I received my Bachelor and Master degrees in Piano Performance, Collaborative Piano, Chamber Music and Piano Pedagogy.

While still in school and participating in international competitions and festivals, I began working as an accompanist and teacher at the age of 20, which deeply influenced my decision to pursue an academic career.

Perhaps, this quote from Rachmaninoff sums it up best: “Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.”

You, along with Dr. Karen Demsey, WP Music faculty member, & Darwin Cosme Sanchez, student, presented at the Puerto Rico Flute Symposium, which was held virtually in June. Can you tell us about this experience?

This would be one of those prime examples where I learned directly from my students - this time, in the realm of music entrepreneurship. I first met Darwin a couple years ago in the practice rooms of WP, when I was assigned to be his accompanist and coach. Besides his strong playing, I was greatly impressed by his entrepreneurial drive. In founding the Puerto Rico Summer Festival, his dream of creating an international festival became a reality. This year, together with Dr. Demsey, we had planned to partake in the festival in Puerto Rico but of course, with the current situation, the plans changed.

Instead of canceling, Darwin and his team worked hard to retool

the concept and created an online Flute Symposium, bringing together an incredible community of artists and generating many new connections. As part of the concert series, he and I performed a program entitled “American Mosaic,” presenting unique pieces by Mexican-America, American and Puerto Rican composers. It was an amazing experience to share music, listen to the masterclasses and presentations, and witness the participation from people all around the world.

Are there any projects that you’re currently working on?

I have a few things on the go! Currently, I am preparing works for solo piano by the Catalan composer, Jordi Cervelló, for a recording later this year in Barcelona, Spain.

I am also working on a project called The Jewish Legacy XX, featuring Jewish music of the Holocaust, written by Russian-Jewish Avant-Garde composers. In continuing the search for new ideas for collaboration, together with Sarah Davol and Andrea Herr, we have been exploring the exciting, if under-represented, repertoire for piano, oboe and bassoon. In addition, having all three of Schumann’s Sonatas in my repertoire has always been one of the items on my “bucket list,” which is why I am currently learning his Third Sonata! For more information on my work, visit my website: https://www.annakeiserman.com.

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Kaitlyn Ferraro

August Alumni of the Month Department of Art When did you graduate & what was your major?

I just graduated in May with a BFA in Photography.

What Art professor(s) were instrumental in your matriculation at WP? Did any provide any meaningful advice that you’ve utilized in your artwork?

This is a very hard question honestly. I had A LOT of professors that influenced me during my time at WP but the two who have always stuck with me are professors Robin Schwartz and Seth Bechtold, who both teach photography. Professor Schwartz majorly impacted how I produce work, one of her most influential pieces of advice was “watch my frame” when I photograph. Since then, I always pay attention to what I am fully capturing when I produce work. Professor Bechtold is also majorly influential to my work since he is the one who introduced me to the studio space and taught me how to use professional studio equipment. Without these two professors, my craft would absolutely NOT be on the level it is today. I owe them a lot.

You had your last semester and subsequently had a virtual graduation during COVID-19. How was that learning experience?

Having my final semester on campus cut short was definitely a difficult pill to swallow for me. WP is an amazing institution that has brought me so much that

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not attending anymore is something I will truly miss. That being said, it was much different than I expected but I feel like WP did all they could to make the end of the semester and graduation as special and as manageable as they could. Graduation was very special for me despite it not being in person, and I’m very excited to eventually get the chance to walk with all my friends and family watching.

Tell us about your work.

My photography work is about a lot of things. My main work revolves around the LGBTQ+ community which is a very vital part of my identity and something I hold proudly.

I consider myself an activist, so I love capturing things that speak for something bigger than my own work or just me as an artist. Looking at the bigger picture and influencing those around me is very important to me and my work. In this sense, my work becomes a small act of change that I feel one day could impact the world. My main project involving this mindset, Faces of the LGBTQ+, is an ongoing studio portrait series, which showcases the real-life faces of those living in the LGBTQ+ community. The main reason I started this project was due to the lack of actual representation for the LGBTQ+ community I saw in media and I wanted to give the community, especially the younger generation, real people to view who are exactly like them in hopes it will show them that you can live your life out and proud. My website is katefphotography.wixsite.com/mysite.

Chance Smith

August Student of the Month Department of Art What is your major and when will you graduate?

My major is Art Animation/Multimedia and I will graduate in 2021.

What are some of your favorite classes in the Art Department?

My favorite classes have been Photography 1 taught by Professor Juan Giraldo and Graphic Novel taught by Professor Steve Rittler. In both classes, I never felt like I was being taught information but rather I was gaining and honing my skills as an artist - skills that I could use not just in the context of these classes but also, in other classes and as a working artist.

You work as a graphic designer and photographer, what style of art do you like the most?

My favorite art medium is digital art; over the last three years at William Paterson University, I have learned and progressed so much and it’s very apparent in my digital art. Everything I have learned in Life Drawing to Photography have been implemented in my digital art.

What inspires you?

Recently, movies and TV shows have been impacting my style. I’ve realized when I watch new TV shows, I find myself noticing the art style and analyzing what I like and don’t like. So, I’ve been treating watching movies and TV shows like some form of work.

By using my creative/artistic eye, I can apply many things to my own art. To view my work, visit my website: https://smithc111.wixsite.com/website.

Faces of The LGBTQ+ by Kaitlyn Ferraro

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College-Wide Highlights Department of Communication student, Henry Voorhees, whose essay from Dr. Hirshon’s Media Law & Ethics class, was featured as June’s essay of the month by the AEJMC History Division. For more information, click on the link: https://journalism-history. org/2020/06/16/student-essay-henryvoorhees/

timesofisrael.com/portrait-of-an-artist-in-quarantine.

Department of Art students, Seoyoung (Sarah) Park and Tobi Edwards are award recipients of the Surface Design Association’s Outstanding Student Awards (see images on page 27).

Without access to the Power Art Center’s printmaking studio due to COVID-19, Michelle Krasowski, Department of Art student, took matters into her own hands. With guidance from a YouTube video and the help from her father, Michelle assembled her very own printmaking press in her garage.

The art pieces of Department of Art students: John Caro, Tekoa Criddell, and Nicol Lakomy were selected for the 2020 SIGGRAPH International Exhibition (see images on page 27).

Cristina de Gennaro, Department of Art adjunct professor, is the recipient of the 2020 Krasner Foundation Grant.

Image by Professor Cong, Department of Art.

Department of Art professor, Leslie Nobler, is featured in an article entitled, “Portrait of an artist in quarantine,” in NJ Jewish News. To read the article, click the link: https://njjewishnews.

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Department of Art professor, Lily Prince, was awarded the Pollock-Krasner Grant Award for her lifelong commitment and achievements in the field of painting. To read more about this, click on the link: https://www.wpunj.edu/ articles/news/2020-06-02/professor-lily-prince-awardedprestigious-pollock-krasner-grant/?fbclid=IwAR13qtxcJ3z ENzPL0J-Yoizlqn3Vjf2_bRH8nFM9ihI4dQfDvQtIiVK6Z1E.

Department of Art’s Professor Cong’s “Song of the Phoenix: Paper Money Delivered to the West” has entered the final selection and it has been exhibited at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing from July 25, 2020 - August 4, 2020. Then it will be permanently collected by the National Institute of Art of China.

Dr. Christopher Herbert, Department of Music professor, is featured on NPR for his research on the first known female composers in America and a forthcoming album of their reproduced works. Click the link for more information: h t t p s : / / w w w . n p r. o r g / s e c t i o n s / d e c e p t i v e c a d e n ce/2020/07/24/894685706/a-new-album-recreates-thework-of-the-first-known-women-composers-in-america

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College-Wide Highlights Continued: Department of Music’s faculty members Dr. Karen Demsey, Dr. Anna Keiserman, and Darwin Cosme Sanchez, student, presented at the Puerto Rico Flute Symposium, which was held virtually from June 7 -14. Darwin is the founder and codirector of the Puerto Rico Flute Symposium and the Puerto Rico Flute Festival, which started two years ago. Other friends of WP Music involved were Valerie Coleman and Anne Pollack. Dr. Demsey participated in a panel session with her colleague from Texas A&M Kingsville, Dr. Elizabeth Janzen. She also adjudicated a competition for young artists, ages 18-30. Darwin and Dr. Keiserman presented a recital on Saturday, June 13. There were numerous artists and presenters offering a wide variety of panel discussions, recitals, masterclasses and lectures. This was to be in Puerto Rico, but due to the pandemic, it was offered simultaneously on Zoom and Facebook Live. As a result, there were thousands of attendees from around the world. The mission of the symposium is “to enrich the flute and music communities through master classes, panel discussions, and performances, and to enhance the contributions made by people of color and other minorities in the music field.”

Michelle Krasowski, Department of Art student.

The Music Department’s Jazz Program’s successful pivot to online learning during COVID-19 is featured in DownBeat Magazine. To read the article, click on the link: https:// downbeat.com/digitaledition/2020/ DB20 _ 0 8/single _ page _view/6 0. html?fbclid=IwAR0kYBQJy8lVDsAeO PiY0lCUGg8T2MJHeV2ZYTwlvOBVrtf oKQKHVnqxyZw. Professor Bill Charlap, Music Department professor and Jazz Director, is featured in a New York Times’ article entitled ‘It’s a Risk for Everybody:’ Why a Jazz Pianist Chose to Perform. To read the article, click on the link: https:// www.nytimes.com/2020/07/20/arts/ music/bill-charlap-coronavirus.html?ac tion=click&module=Well&pgtype=Hom epage&section=Music Department of Music alumna, saxophonist/composer Roxy Coss, was awarded the first-place winner in the Jazz category of the International Songwriters Competition: https://www. songwritingcompetition.com/winners.

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During the COVID-19 outbreak, William Paterson’s music students, Brenna Moran and Caleb Vazquez, and faculty members Professor Warren Helms and Dr. Christopher Herbert organized a performance of You Will Be Found from the musical, Dear Evan Hansen, as a special project for the Opera Workshop course. This performance is dedicated to the memory of Kevin Leiva (1996-2020), brother of Chris Leiva (William Paterson’s Vocal Music Education student, Class of 2023). Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzU1NAF n9Rg&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2WG6jkQ9AgmAGXco TpcaG3wBc3n_tFjePxoyvXL3VBM38_LszVYb0CSb4.

For the 4th time, William Paterson University’s Music Business program is included in Billboard’s Top Music Business Schools in the nation: https://www.wpunj.edu/ articles/news/2020-05-01/billboard-magazine-williampaterson-university-top-music-business-school-2020/.

Wes Whitelock (guitarist), recent Department of Music graduate, performed with some of the top musicians in the world, on a video produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center and sent out across the globe: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=IjJbZetCvGw. Zach Matari, Music alumnus, released a new song in May entitled All the Wrong Places. He also won Best R&B Song in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for his track, Risk It All. To watch the video of All the Wrong Places, click the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5YYuuFMdJE

College of the Arts & Communication Office of the Dean: Daryl J. Moore, FRSA Loretta Mc Laughlin Vignier, Interim Dean Dr. Lauren Fowler-Calisto, Dean’s Fellow & Assistant to the Dean & Associate Professor, Department of Music Lavene Gass, Marketing & Community Liaison Amy Nemery, Executive Staff Assistant Rosario Urena, Administrative Staff Assistant Kaeli Brady, Intern: Graphic Designer Chance Smith, Intern: Photographer John Conlow, Intern: Videographer Jaylah Holmes, Intern: Videographer Alexa Chavarria, Intern: Social Media

Interviews & Edits by: Lavene Gass Layout Design by: Kaeli Brady To submit news, email Lavene Gass at gassl1@wpunj.edu.

SPOTLIGHT SPRING / SUMMER 2020 29

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