The College of the Arts and Communication Spotlight Digital Publication (Winter 2020 Issue)

WINTER 2020

Artists Mendi + Keith Obadike. Photo by Sean Carroll/WATS:ON? Festival Book of Light (sound and light live performance at Carnegie Mellon University). 2019. Courtesy of Obadike Studio Robin Schwartz’s cover image for The New York Times

INSIDE :

Jennifer Alfaro James Blasi Nick Dimichino Dr. Karen Demsey

Dr. Lisa Pike Keith Obadike Jonte Silver Kathleen Nipal

Adele Merlino Steve Rittler Johnathan Blake Lauren D’Imperio

Artists Mendi + Keith Obadike. Photo by Sean Carroll/ WATS:ON? Festival Anyanwu (sound and fabric installation at Carnegie Mellon University). 2019. Courtesy of Obadike Studio

From the Dean’s Office:

Welcome to another addition of “Spotlight,” the digital publication of the College of the Arts and Communication. While the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on our campus as well as the world, is and continues to be the story of our current time — our faculty, students and staff worked diligently and safely, successfully completing and delivering the outstanding academic and cultural programs of William Paterson University, under extremely challenging circumstances.

The accomplishments highlighted in this issue are indeed a triumph to be celebrated — and perhaps in so doing, they will help us through a global emergency that continues to affect the lives of us all, with profound sacrifices and personal loss. We hope with a true sincerity of purpose that this issue provides you with a brief and well-deserved respite through the experiences and milestones of our faculty, students, alumni and staff.

On campus, virtually and from around the globe, they continue to be agents of change in our society in the creation of a better world in which to live, work and play, through a collective humanity that is inherent and is the soul of the arts.

Jennifer Alfaro

January Student of the Month Department of Communication

Hurricane Maria relief efforts in Vieques.

What inspires you?

What is your major and when will you graduate?

I majored in Broadcast Journalism & my last semester was Fall 2019.

I’m a first-generation college student and the child of two Salvadoran refugees turned citizens. My parents’ strength and hustle inspire me to never give up on my dreams.

Luckily, I also have supportive family and friends who keep me grounded and inspired to be the best me.

Tell us about your experience in Vieques and Toronto?

As a transfer student, I was terrified of transitioning from County College to a University. Thanks to an introductory Communications class and CommFest, I was introduced to my home: Brave New Radio. Being surrounded by creative minds and enthusiastic people made me look forward to coming to school. I bounced off ideas with those I encountered, whether it was a professor or a student.

I was one of 10 students who had the opportunity to travel to Vieques as a Civic Engagement course. This was the third trip WP students took as we helped in Hurricane Maria recovery efforts.

There, we assisted in beach clean ups as well as learned more about our sister-station, Radio Vieques. Thanks to this trip, I was chosen to represent Brave New Radio at the 20th Annual Convention of the Media Ecology Association in Toronto alongside Dr. Ramos, Dr. Peck, and Tiernan Doyle, Communication student. We shared our Vieques’ experiences and gave a presentation on the importance of HAM radio communications.

Were you a member of any on-campus club(s)?

Tell us about your SiriusXM internship?

I was the Music Coordinator and radio host at Brave New Radio.

I was blessed with the opportunity to intern as a Music Programming Coordinator during the Fall semester of 2019. I worked diligently with the Latin and Hip-Hop departments, assisting in editing interviews, selecting songs for different channels, recording live performances, and more. Working in an environment where everyone is passionate about music and has amazing work ethic made my love for what I do that much stronger.

I didn’t take this experience for granted and used every moment to my advantage.

What do you like most about William Paterson University’s Department of Communication?

What career advice have you received from WP professors?

Dr. Ramos and Dr. Peck have helped me find my passion.

We connected during trips to Vieques, Puerto Rico and Toronto. They saw my potential and constantly pushed me to use my talents, like editing audio, which lead to the curation of “Vieques Life,” a podcast which is due to air on WVQR Radio Vieques 90.1 FM. This podcast is one of the reasons I obtained an internship at SiriusXM.

Pictured from left to right: Jennifer Alfaro, Tiernan Doyle, Communication student, Dr. Peck and Dr. Ramos at the 20th Annual Convention of the Media Ecology Association in Toronto.

Professor James Blasi

January Adjunct of the Month Department of Art How long have you been an adjunct professor at William Paterson University?

Upon the completion of my Master of Fine Arts Degree at William Paterson in 2012, I joined the Department of Art for the Fall Semester.

What course(s) do you teach?

My courses vary; I teach digital media and design courses. Classes range from Digital Methods, An Introduction to Digital Literacy, Publication Design, to more advanced classes such as Illustration Fine Art and Design and Graduate Thesis.

Alfaro, at her SiriusXM internship.

What’s your favorite course to teach and why?

My formal undergraduate training was in Fine Art at the University of the Arts, in Philadelphia. I enjoy exploring with students how the core disciplines of drawing and painting can be expressed in today’s digital environment. William Paterson’s Illustration Fine Art and Design class provides students with the opportunity to visually problem solve complex ideas through written text. These solutions span the traditional and digital materials list, from pen and ink to digital animation.

What inspires you?

Music and fine and performance art. Today’s art world is certainly interdisciplinary; inspiration comes from many directions.

What have you learned from a student or students while teaching at William Paterson University?

After years of working as an Art Director for various publications, students hunger for learning new things is always a reminder to not lose that in myself as an artist. No matter what your experiences in life, there is always a different way to think about something, and more to learn.

What does Will.Power. mean to you?

One of the things I enjoy about teaching at William Paterson University is that the student body is culturally and economically diverse. The power of a quality education is when an institution can provide the opportunity for an open flow of ideas for advancement. William Paterson does that extremely well.

What career advice would you give to WP students?

Be open to the road ahead: your next opportunity or creative experience may be on the side of the road.

Name 3 adjectives that best describe your William Paterson University teaching experience?

Interactive, challenging, and satisfying.

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

I’m working on a figurative series of everyday working people in casein paint, which is a fast-drying medium that will enable me to work quicker.

Nick Dimichino

January Alumni of the Month Department of Communication Were you impacted by any professors in the Department of Communication?

When did you graduate and what was your major?

I graduated with a Communication degree in 2009, with a focus in Journalism and Public Relations. My goal was to be a writer, ideally covering sports. Spoiler: that never came close to happening.

How did the Department of Communication prepare you for your career?

Like most students, I spent the first few years of college completing prerequisite courses, trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was always a strong writer, with the ability to churn out long or short-form copy quickly and easily on a variety of topics. It’s one of the few reasons I had the opportunity to go to college in the first place.

Committing to a career in writing was the perfect forcing mechanism to refine and build on the rudimentary skills I had. I didn’t know it at the time, but writing is a necessary skill almost entirely regardless of where your career takes you. From email to Slack to proposals or presentations, being a strong writer is an unassuming super power. Having shaped that skill during my years in school has been an invaluable benefit every single day. Today, I write everything from Tweets to Instagram posts to long-form plans, proposals, or strategies on any given day. Writing has allowed me to be nimble across different disciplines, shaping my career as I adopt new and greater responsibilities.

What advice would you offer to current William Paterson University students in the College of the Arts & Communication?

Stay curious. School doesn’t end when you graduate. Frankly, you’ll still be clueless when you graduate. In my case, the social media marketing industry — the industry I now work in — didn’t exist when I was in college. All of the expertise and knowledge I have today, I learned on the job. You have to be a student of your profession and a student of life.

Be bold. Everyone has some sense of imposter syndrome, so being confident in your convictions will drive you forward, earning the respect of clients, colleagues, superiors, etc.

Keep in mind, however, that there’s a really fine line between being confident and being a jerk. Part of your job in life is to figure out where that line is and dance right next to it without ever crossing it.

Two professors come to mind: Professor Lorra Brown and Professor Tina Lesher. Professor Brown taught work ethic and drive without even realizing it. Just the way she carried herself was motivating — she made you want to do better. Then, you know, she taught me the ins and outs of a completely new industry I’d never heard of. It was also helpful that she climbed to the top of that industry before her career in teaching. That real-world experience was apparent and inspiring. Then there was Professor Lesher.

She was the technical copy editor none of us realized we needed. She pushed us, and at times was absolutely brutal.

She demanded perfection. It’s something I didn’t realize in the moment, but at 20 years old, that kind of discipline was critically important. I’m actually nervous she’s reading this right now, with a red pen, eviscerating me.

Where do you work and what projects are you working on?

After bouncing around in agency land for about 6 years, I got a job leading social media at Square in 2015. Square is the company that invented the credit card reader that plugs into your phone (and the iPad stand that spins around for your tip and signature at a coffee shop). The main responsibilities for my team are to represent the brand across our official social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), telling stories about our products, our sellers, and our company. I’ve done a lot in my 4 years to earn the trust of leadership and other teams within the organization, giving me the ability to branch out and gain experience in other areas. This has come to life in many different areas, like brand-building, crisis planning, photo and video production, and more. The project I’m most proud of is a story I helped conceptualize, shoot, and produce about the business owners and entrepreneurs rebuilding Downtown Flint: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=wx2ibiV5zkc.

Have you received any awards/recognition for your work?

A bunch of the work I’ve done has been recognized in the media. This year, I was fortunate enough to be named to Adweek’s Creative 100 for my work at Square, like Forged in Flint and the time I kinda went viral.

Dr. Karen Demsey January Faculty of the Month Department of Music Briefly tell us about yourself.

I began teaching at William Paterson University in 1992.

Prior to that, I taught flute, music history and ear training for twelve years at the University of Maine, where I was also the university’s Chair of the Department of Music.

What led you to pursue your career path?

Music has always been a passion of mine. From a very early age, I knew I wanted to teach and perform music. I grew up in Rochester, NY, home of the Eastman School of Music, considered one of the top music schools in the country. I took weekly lessons at Eastman (grades 5th -12th). While in high school, I knew that I would pursue Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees in music.

What courses do you teach?

I teach flute, music history courses, Performance Seminar, Analytical Techniques, a graduate seminar and I direct the WP Flute Ensemble. I’m also the Coordinator of Woodwind Studies and Classical Performance Studies.

What’s your favorite course(s) to teach and why?

That is similar to the question, which one of your children do you love the most! I will say that flute and music history have long been two loves of mine.

What have you learned from a student or students while teaching at William Paterson University?

I’m constantly learning from my students. As I see my students tackle challenges and resolve them, I learn new ways of guiding my students through the process. Music teachers and performers are lifelong learners by definition; I’m happy to say!

What’s the best thing about teaching?

Seeing my students develop, evolve, and thrive – that’s the ultimate reward of teaching. It’s tremendously fulfilling to be a part of that process.

What inspires you?

The perseverance and dedication of my students - often when juggling outside jobs and family obligations.

What does Will.Power. mean to you?

It means coming to William Paterson University with the will to work hard and the drive to reach goals. It also means William Paterson University gives students the opportunity to discover that knowledge is power: the power to direct your life and reach your goals.

What career advice would you give to WP students?

First, take full advantage of all of the resources that the university has to offer; your time at WP is relatively short, so soak it up like a sponge! Get to know your professors, your fellow students and the many opportunities offered to students. Second, when you begin your professional life, say yes to everything, even if you’re asked to do something you’ve never done before. The person asking does not necessarily think you are an expert, but that person sees qualities in you - energy, passion, enthusiasm, responsibility, reliability, a work ethic - that shows you will “do your homework” and figure out how to do what is being asked. This is the time to try everything, since you never know where it will take you in your professional life.

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

I’m artistic director of an octet, UpTown Flutes. We perform regularly and we’ve made four albums, three of them in the state-of-the-art studios at WP. We’re in the planning stages of our fifth album, a special one for us, since we’ll collaborate with internationally known composer and flutist, Valerie Coleman, founder of Imani Winds. In recent years, she has worked with WP music students on two separate occasions and performed on the Midday Artists Series. She has written two compositions for UpTown Flutes and will record them with us.

In the area of research, I spent two and a half weeks in Paris and the UK in June of 2019, at the Paris Conservatoire and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. On this trip, I continued my research of innovative and creative teaching. I observed classes, lessons, and rehearsals, as well as interviewing students, faculty, and administration. Thanks to WP French faculty, member Madhuri Mukherjee, who generously tutored me in French on a weekly basis for the entire Spring 2019 semester, I was able to talk about my research and conduct interviews in French at the Paris Conservatoire. This was greatly appreciated by my French colleagues! While in Birmingham, I was interviewed for a podcast on the subject of my research.

Over the past several years, I’ve visited several institutions in the US, UK, and EU, including NYU, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Nebraska, the Music and Arts Conservatory in Vienna, the Paris Conservatoire, and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK. I’ve presented my research at conferences in the U.S. and Europe, and I’m in the process of writing a book about my observations. It’s been fascinating and inspiring, and it has profoundly changed the way I teach, which benefits my students.

Keith Obadike

February Faculty of the Month Department of Communication

What have you learned from a student or students while teaching at William Paterson University?

A great deal! The real gift of teaching is all that you (as professor) learn while in the classroom.

While I work to impart useful information about aesthetics, research methods, and production techniques, I am constantly learning about emerging scenes and artists from my students.

What’s the best thing about teaching?

Briefly tell us about yourself.

I’m a professor in the Communication Department. I teach courses related to media production with a focus on audio.

I’m also a musician and artist; I make public art installations, media art and musical works with my wife and partner, Mendi Obadike.

What led you to pursue your career path?

I currently do a lot of my work in museums, galleries, universities and public spaces, but that is not how I began.

I grew up playing in bands and working in studios in Nashville, TN. At the same time, I got into basic computer programming. I had a stint working in New York Hip-Hop at MCA Records during the Golden Age of Hip-Hop. I learned a lot about the expressive potential of sound and began to combine that with my interest in images and technology. I started making art/music for exhibitions and the internet.

I went back to school and studied art at a great HBCU, North Carolina Central University, and grad school at Yale University in sound design. The varied nature of my creative work made our Communication Department a great place for me to teach.

What courses do you teach?

I teach all of our audio related courses and a few general media production courses. I am particularly excited about a new podcast coming out of my Advanced Audio Production class. We’ve had a few guest artists, from folks involved with creative radio and music to sound design.

What’s your favorite course to teach and why?

My favorite course is one that I originally designed when I joined the faculty. The course is called Sound as a Medium. It has evolved over the years, but it essentially is a survey course that covers a century of aural aesthetics.

We look at everything from early phonograph recordings and electronic music to Hollywood sound scores and contemporary sound art.

What I enjoy most is watching people evolve and grow in real-time. It is great to see a student take up a new idea and run with it. It is a nice reminder that we all have this potential.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by culture broadly. The arts, science, math, history, and politics. All of these things make its way into my projects and classroom.

What does Will.Power. mean to you?

My colleagues and I try to model a thoughtful determination and commitment to excellence. We see that quality and nurture it in our students.

What career advice would you give to WP students?

My general career advice is for students to 1) use their time in college to work hard and pursue excellence in at least one professional or creative thing, but to remain extremely open minded about where this skill/interest might take them. 2) Prepare to be lifelong learners after university. Stay in touch with your professors and ask them for resources for self-directed study after graduation. 3) Be open to traveling in order to find unique career opportunities.

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

Over the years, we’ve received awards like the Rockefeller New Media Arts Fellowship, Pick-Laudati Award for Digital Art, a Louis Comfort Tiffany Biennial Award and many commissions from museums like the Whitney Museum of American Art and the White Chapel Gallery in London. We just completed two projects: an outdoor sound and light show entitled, Book of Light, and sound installation, entitled Anyanwu. Both of these projects were commissioned by Carnegie Mellon University for its Wats On Arts Festival.

We also just debuted a musical suite, using text by poet Audre Lorde, entitled In the Mouth of This Dragon, commissioned by The Vera List Center for Art and Politics at The New School.

Dr. Lisa Pike

February Adjunct of the Month Department of Music How long have you been an adjunct professor at William Paterson University?

Since 2003.

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

I teach Studio Horn, Understanding Music and Music Fundamentals. My favorite is individual horn instruction.

What inspires you?

Nature.

“ALWAYS LISTEN, BE CURIOUS, OVERLY PREPARED AND APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE YOU MEET AT EACH STAGE OF YOUR LIFE.”

What have you learned from a student or students while teaching at William Paterson University?

From my music students, I’ve learned that they enjoy a musical challenge and that they are enthusiastic to explore new musical possibilities. I’m always happy to learn that they really enjoy collaborating with the faculty and value the educational offerings afforded by William Paterson University.

What career advice would you give WP students?

Always listen, be curious, overly prepared and appreciate the people you meet at each stage of your life.

Use 3 words/phrases that best describe your William Paterson University teaching experience?

Supportive peers, diversity and communication.

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

I’m performing in a number of contemporary music ensembles which present works of living composers. The Atlantic Chamber Players is premiering a number of new works written expressly for our ensemble. In addition, I’m a member of North/South Consonance, in which each year, I present a concert series in Manhattan mainly specializing in the music of South America but including contemporary composers from around the world.

The Harold Mabern Memorial Scholarship Raises Close to $50,000 The sudden loss of iconic pianist Harold Mabern continues to reverberate through the halls of William Paterson University’s preeminent Jazz Studies program, where he taught for 39 years leaving an indelible mark in the Department of Music, while profoundly affecting the lives of students, alumni and fellow faculty.

In recognition of a true humanitarian and jazz legend, the WP community responded to Harold’s passing through their generous support of the Harold Mabern Memorial Scholarship. In just a matter of weeks, close to $40,000 was raised in his memory. In addition to this outpouring of generosity, two of Mabern’s most well-known WP alumni, saxophonist Eric Alexander and drummer Joe Farnsworth, were joined by a new WP faculty member, pianist Mike LeDonne and a host of WP alumni and faculty in a tribute to the late piano master at the Shea Center which filled with so many fans, celebrating the life of Harold Mabern.

The success of the concert moved the fund to close to $50,000. Harold’s legacy will continue as a result of the WP community, who knew and loved him as a pillar on the faculty of the Jazz Studies program.

Jonte Silver

February Alumni of the Month Department of Art

Tell us about the mural that you helped to create in Paterson.

The mural that I worked on last summer was for the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Park in Paterson. I teamed up with a few other artists and we completed the mural within 2 weeks. We agreed on designing a scene that would display aspects of Dr. King’s legacy, such as hope, happiness and peace. The mural is across the street from one of the last churches that Dr. King visited in Paterson before he was assassinated. Furthermore, this mural adds to the historical value of Paterson as well as the sense of community within the city. To say the least, I’m honored to have been a part of this special project.

Tell us about your current projects.

Currently, I’m working on projects for my grad assistantship in the university’s Office of Student Transitions as well as personal projects. In my grad assistantship position, I design the office’s promotional and branding materials and update the office’s website and social media accounts. For my personal work, I’m working on a series based around black identity. This is a theme that I’m constantly exploring and drawing inspiration from; so, I plan on creating a body of work that reflects my ideas and creativity.

When did you graduate?

I graduated in May 2018 as a BFA major.

What advice would you offer to students in the Department of Art? Challenge yourself creatively and be receptive to constructive criticism during class critiques. It’s really important to listen to what your peers and professors have to say about your work because someone may offer a beneficial idea or solution.

What have you learned at William Paterson University that’s been beneficial to you?

The most important thing that I’ve learned was the power of networking. I realized that when I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and talked to other students and faculty.

I started to find common interests and build genuine connections.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by human nature the most. I pay very close attention to the way, we, as humans, treat ourselves, our families, our friends and strangers. I also like to examine how we navigate through different components of our lives, such as love, religion, spirituality and death.

Jonte co-created this mural, which is in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park in Paterson, N.J.

Kathleen Nipal

February Student of the Month Department of Art

ALLOW YOURSELF TO STUMBLE. IT’S OKAY TO FAIL; YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE ALWAYS GETTING BACK UP.

What is your major and when will you graduate?

My major is in Fine Art with a concentration in Graphic Design, and I’ll be graduating in May 2020.

able learning experience. You can view more of my work on my website: www.kathleennipal.com.

What’s the most important thing that you’ve learned at William Paterson University?

What were your favorite classes in the Department of Art? I really enjoyed Print and Media Design with Professor Jablonski and Web Design I with Professor Razzore. I feel like both of these classes had some of the most fun and interesting projects to work on, like designing a cookbook from front to back and building my own personal portfolio website. The latter especially has been helpful to me now that I’ve been needing to send out my work to other companies.

Have any Art professors been influential to you?

Professor DeLaura is probably one of the most honest and knowledgeable graphic design professors here. She always sets such high expectations for you that you can’t help but take it as a challenge to give every project 100%. I really believe she brings out the best in her students. Also, Professor Anreus has always been one of the most supportive professors I’ve had and I’m very grateful for the guidance he’s given me.

What can you tell us about your work?

I do all types of graphic design, from magazine layouts to social media graphics to packaging to even mobile ads. I’m a pretty flexible designer, so with me, usually anything goes.

This past Fall semester, I had the opportunity to work as the graphic design intern in the Office of the Dean – College of the Arts & Communication. I designed the two most recent issues of the college’s digital publication, Spotlight, and working on them was such a valu-

Perseverance. College is not easy, believe me, and it’s not always for everyone. I’ve had a pretty rough go at it, but now that I’m almost at the finish line, I’m extremely thankful for all the opportunities that William Paterson University has given me. The classes I’ve taken here equipped me with the tools and skills I needed to gain internship experience and create artwork that I could be proud of. I never thought that I could be an artist, much less a graphic designer, but I knew it was what I wanted to be and did my best to never lose sight of it. So, believe in yourself. Allow yourself to stumble. It’s okay to fail; you just have to make sure you’re always getting back up.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan on working at either a design studio in the city or working in-house at a larger company. I’d also be open to freelancing opportunities as well.

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Adele Merlino

March Adjunct of the Month Department of Communication

Steve Rittler

March Faculty of the Month Department of Art

Briefly tell us about yourself.

I’m a multi-time award-winning and New York Emmy nominated producer with over 20 years of experience in local TV news and media production in NYC and I’ve been an adjunct professor at the university for over seven years.

I’ve produced programs profiling some of the greatest chefs in New York in addition to producing award shows. I was also a long-time Assignment Editor, Field Producer and Writer for WWOR-TV/ FOX 5 NY and WPIX-11 Morning Show and the News at Ten. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, a Masters in Instructional Technology and I’m writing my Ph.D. dissertation at Notre Dame of Maryland University.

What led you to pursue your career path?

I loved journalism! I also loved science; initially, I was a Chemistry major. I studied print Journalism along with Media Production and English at CUNY Brooklyn College.

What courses do you teach?

I presently teach COMM 2260 Video Field Production and Editing, COMM 1190 Survey in Communication but have also taught several sections of TV Studio Production and one Advanced TV Studio Production.

What’s your favorite course(s) to teach and why?

My favorite courses to teach are video production and TV Studio production because they give students a real taste of reality. TV Studio, in particular, I see students getting that adrenaline rush with every production and that’s how it really is in the TV production world.

What have you learned from a student or students while teaching at William Paterson University?

Attitude is everything! No matter your background or education, if you want to achieve academically and professionally you can do it! It’s about self-belief and mindset and that’s how success starts!

What career advice would you give to WP students?

Any student who has been in any of my courses will know this answer: Get that internship!

It’s your foot in the door and the place to showcase what you’ve learned here and take advantage of the work you produce in Hamilton Hall. It can and will help you get places.

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

I am always working on something. Recently, I produced several videos for the NYC Sergeant’s Benevolent Association. As a freelancer, I created and produced a food/ culture series of about 12 episodes for the Archdiocese of Brooklyn & Queens, which got some media attention on the FOX 5 Morning Show with Rosanna Scotto.

Briefly tell us about yourself.

I’m from a blue-collar family, descendants of immigrants from Ireland and Germany and am the youngest of five children. I grew up in the Philadelphia area, where my father was a steelworker and my mother was a textile worker. I graduated from Bristol Jr./Sr. High School and received a BFA in Illustration with an Animation minor from the Philadelphia College of Art/University of the Arts and an MFA in Computer Graphics/Animation from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. I’m an artist, an educator, a musician, and a proud member of the American Federation of Teachers.

What led you to pursue your career path?

I was the first in my family to attend a four-year college; my parents and siblings were skeptical about me studying art. Although they were not initially encouraging in my pursuit of higher education and couldn’t help pay tuition, they were supportive in other ways by letting me stay in their home (I was a commuter and couch surfer) and feeding me (not an insignificant expense for me)!

Since childhood, I’d always wanted to be an animator, but by the time I went to college, I was convinced there was no future in animation in the United States; at the time, animation wasn’t taken seriously as an art form and was relegated to poorly executed entertainment for children. During my undergraduate studies, I luckily discovered that animation was alive and well outside of bad Saturday-morning cartoons. I met people who were bringing VHS and Beta tapes back from Japan of untranslated, incredibly executed animated shows and films, such as Laputa (Castle in the Sky) and Nausicaa, by Hayao Miyazaki. Then Walt Disney Studios, where I would later work, released The Little Mermaid in my sophomore year of college. The Simpsons was achieving popularity on TV, and the first animated Batman series was beginning to air. This all pulled me back into animation.

What courses do you teach?

I teach 3D Computer Graphics II: Animation, 3D Character Animation, Advanced Character Animation, Dynamic Figure Drawing, Sequential Art: Graphic Novel, and BFA Thesis I & II, and I have taught Visual Storytelling and Storyboarding, 3D Computer Graphics I: Modeling, and Cell Animation I & II.

What have you learned from a student or students while teaching at William Paterson University?

I’ve learned that students who want to pursue an artistic discipline will somehow find a way to do it, if they are given the opportunity to do so, no matter what else they are dealing with in their life. It’s up to us and their teachers, to provide a safe, stable environment in which they can learn and create. Whether by providing them with needed technology, an open forum to discuss their ideas, thoughtful critiques, or simply a clean and organized area to work in, if we clear the way for them, they’ll move forward to the best of their ability.

What’s the best thing about teaching?

Giving back to the community and having a positive influence on students’ lives. I was fortunate to have teachers who were interested in me enough to help me get to where I am today. I didn’t do it alone, and I want to pay it forward with some interest. I try to look at my time as a student in terms of what I received, what I was missing, and what would have been useful to me, and I base my classroom instruction accordingly. I feel I am providing a public service through helping others get to where they wish to go in their careers.

What inspires you?

Human persistence, generosity, friendliness, and fellowship. Everyday heroism like this really inspires me because it takes true strength. I hope to live up to these aspirations each day.

What does Will.Power. mean to you?

What’s your favorite course(s) to teach and why?

I like to teach classes that involve drawing, using an ancient technology rather than a digital one. It breaks up the students’ (and my) reliance on digital platforms, which may seem unusual for someone who teaches a technology-dominated subject, but it takes students back to the root of the animation discipline, which is drawing. It’s important that animation students commit to drawing as a discipline, since it’s the basic analytical tool of any artist; regardless of whatever kind of animation they choose to focus on, whether digital 3D, 2D cell-style or stop-motion.

I’ve always seen that studying drawing makes students better animators. Storyboarding and production design are indispensable parts of any animation project and they start with drawing as well.

DON’T LET ANYBODY TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN’T DO SOMETHING. BE CONFIDENT, BUT ALWAYS TEMPER THAT SELF-BELIEF WITH HUMILITY; MANY MORE PEOPLE WILL APPRECIATE AND REWARD YOUR KINDNESS THAN WILL DERIDE YOU OR MAKE YOU REGRET IT.

Wow. See what I wrote in the fifth question above. I would add to that a spirit of responsibility toward your fellow human beings and your community, as well as a general spirit of inclusiveness and goodwill toward all.

What career advice would you give to WP students?

Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do something. Be confident, but always temper that self-belief with humility; many more people will appreciate and reward your kindness than will deride you or make you regret it. Being a professional artist requires a lot of persistence and resilience. You have to develop a thick skin and not take criticism personally. You’ll get out of your career what you put into it, so you need to work hard to move forward.

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

Several years ago, I received the first memorial Rick Barry Distinguished Service Award from NYC ACM SIGGRAPH for my work volunteering on the board of directors of this computer-graphics organization. This honor was very meaningful to me because Rick had been my former chair, colleague, and longtime friend from Pratt Institute. As for my current projects, I’m working on a 3D-animated-film about a hard-boiled detective who also happens to be a rabbit, the preproduction of which has been in the works for a long time. I’ll complete this film while on sabbatical next year. I also happen to be the bass player and singer in a post-punk rock band called The Penultimate, which I’m very excited about. We’ve just released our first EP, Electric City, and are heading into the recording studio this spring for our first album.

Remembering Jazz Giant Jimmy Heath (1926-2020)

By: Dr. David Demsey, Coordinator of Jazz Studies

W

e in the Music Department are all so very lucky that saxophonist, composer and educator Jimmy Heath was a presence on our campus for nearly two decades before he died on January 19 of this year. He was the annual Artist In Residence for our Summer Jazz Workshop for high school students each July for ten years (succeeding the great Dr. Billy Taylor in that role), and he performed during the school year with the university’s jazz students as a guest soloist with the William Paterson Jazz Orchestra on numerous occasions. These concerts featured his soprano and tenor saxophone solos where every note was meaningful, his own memorable compositions and arrangements, and his conducting. And what a dancer he was! When our band hit the right groove on one of his tunes, our Shea audiences can attest that his onstage moves were absolutely magnetic. Jimmy stood at only 5’3,” but he was a giant in so many ways.

Heath’s career spans an unbelievable eight decades, from his 1940s work as a young bandleader and active player in the thriving Philadelphia music scene that included his childhood friends John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Ray Bryant, and others. His own big band featured the iconic Charlie Parker as a guest soloist, and he soon received the best mentorship as a member of bebop pioneer Dizzy Gillespie’s band for years. His saxophone virtuosity was matched by his compositional prowess: his original tune Gingerbread Boy was recorded by Miles Davis, and other Heath compositions have also become jazz standards, such as A Sound for Sore Ears and Gemini, combining hip, modern harmonies that keep jazz musicians challenged and smiling with unstoppable rhythmic grooves that communicate to any audience.

Heath was the middle brother of three major jazz musicians.

His elder, respected bassist Percy Heath, died in 2005, the youngest, ebullient drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath, has been on hundreds of major jazz recordings and his outrageous sense of humor has been a fixture of Jimmy’s Quintet at Shea Auditorium each summer, a group which in recent years also included William Paterson alumnus trumpeter Freddie Hendrix.

Heath also had a long career as a teacher, serving as the jazz studies director at Queens College for over 20 years, and presenting masterclasses and workshops worldwide.

On countless occasions in our rehearsals, he showed us his uncanny ability to instantly “diagnose” a student’s level of development, determine the perfect next steps in their development, and help them get to that next level. All of this happened with love, humor and unflagging energy that created a relaxed, happy atmosphere that invited good music-making and improvisation.

Whether he was in the presence of fellow jazz legends, with a group of young and inexperienced high school students, or leading our big band of more advanced college musicians, he treated everyone exactly the same – with warmth, dignity and an unmatched level of joyous good humor. One summer, he coached my high school student ensemble as they rehearsed one of his own compositions – then, he played that same piece with his own band onstage that night, and dedicated the performance to my students. The students were in heaven, and so was their teacher. Years later, some of them still talk about that life memory, and I will never forget it either.

Whenever he and his wonderful wife Mona were with us, as much as I treasured Jimmy’s hours with our students, I confess that one of my favorite parts of the experience was me happily driving them to or from their home in Queens, a beautiful spot on the bluffs overlooking LaGuardia Airport and the stadium of the New York Mets. Our conversations were incredible, sometimes hilarious jazz history lessons.

I always wished these drives could be longer – I can’t remember any other situation when I actually hoped for a traffic jam! Jimmy gave me the same feeling that he communicated to decades of students, here at WP and everywhere: that I was not only in the presence of a central figure in jazz and American music history, but that we at William Paterson were making a contribution to that history ourselves through our own teaching and music. I feel especially honored to be one of the many individuals in Jimmy Heath’s life who received a special nickname: in Heath’s world, and in his phone messages and references about me to others in jazz, I am “Three-D.” Jimmy Heath will be greatly missed here at William Paterson. His 93 years were most certainly a life well-lived, but we all wanted more! I feel very fortunate that we were a part of his world and his music through his joyous presence with our faculty and generations of our students.

His music and his teaching will always be a part of our curriculum and Jazz Program.

Johnathan Blake March Alumni of the Month Department of Music

When did you graduate and what was your major?

I graduated in 1999 and my major was Jazz Performance.

What advice would you offer to current William Paterson University students pursuing a musical career?

Study the many facets of music. Nowadays, it’s becoming more difficult to make a living by only performing, so you want to be able to wear different hats i.e. composing music, understanding music production and the music business as well as developing your social skills to be able to give master classes, workshops, and/or lectures on music.

What have you learned at William Paterson University that’s been beneficial to you and have there been any professors who had an impact on you?

One of the most valuable lessons I learned at the university was that natural talent would only take me so far. Don’t just rely on that. Study and work hard to become a more complete musician. Professor Rufus Reid spoke those words to me in one of my juries and I never forgot that. He definitely had a huge impact on me at William Paterson and he continues to do so to this day.

You’re a Grammy nominated drummer and composer, who has appeared on over 50 albums. What inspires you and what do you enjoy most about composing music?

some of his original material. I always enjoyed his quintet he had in the late 90’s with Steve Nelson, Steve Wilson then later Chris Potter, Robin Eubanks, and Billy Kilson then later Nate Smith. By me doing my homework, when we finally went into the studio and started recording, Dave remarked about how playing with me was like putting on an old jacket that still fits perfectly. That statement really made my whole day.

Name some of your favorite artists that you’ve had the opportunity to work with.

There are quite a number of them, but I would have to say Ms. Betty Carter, Jimmy Heath, James Moody, Roy Hargrove, Mulgrew Miller, James Williams, Harold Mabern, Michael Brecker, Clark Terry, Bob Berg, Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest), Tom Harrell, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Kenny Barron, Dave Holland, Ravi Coltrane, Rufus Reid, Russell Malone, Pharoah Sanders, Maria Schneider, Donny McCaslin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cassandra Wilson, Dave Kikoski, Boris Kozlov, David Virelles, Dezron Douglas, Ben Street, Mark Turner, Chris Potter, and Vincent Herring.

Are there artists that you haven’t worked with that you would like to work with?

I would love to have the opportunity to work with Wayne Shorter, Milton Nascimento, and Rosa Passos.

Tell us about your current projects.

My family inspires and motivates me the most – specifically, my two children. They’ve given me that kick in the pants that I needed to become a more complete musician.

One of the things I enjoy the most about composing is hearing how different musicians interpret, and breathe life into what’s on the page. I also enjoy being able to create something that uniquely represents my personality.

You collaborated with pianist Kenny Barron and bassist Dave Holland on their new album entitled Without Deception, briefly tell us about this process.

Being asked to be a part of this project was a dream come true. I’ve been a part of Kenny Barron’s trio and quintet for over a decade. It has truly been an honor and I’ve learned so much. Prior to this recording, I hadn’t played one note with Dave Holland. I’ve been a fan of his and his music for quite some time. So, the process for me was going back and listening to some of his recordings and listening to how he feels the time. I also wanted to refresh myself with

I have two projects that I’m very excited about. One is a trio project, which features bassist Linda Oh and saxophonist Chris Potter. We released a CD last year entitled, Trion, which was voted as one of Jazz Times Magazine's “Top 50 Albums of 2019.” In December of last year, I had the honor of performing at the world-renowned Village Vanguard as a leader for the first time. I’ve played there many times as a sideman, but never as a leader. I premiered my latest project called Pentad, which features some younger musicians, Immanuel Wilkins on alto saxophone, Joel Ross on vibraphone, David Virelles on piano and Dezron Douglas on bass. We went into the studio right after our successful run at the Vanguard and recorded the material. The new CD will be coming out this summer. My latest project has been made possible by world renowned photographers Jimmy and Dena Katz, who in January of 2018 launched Giant Step Arts, an innovative, artist-focused non-profit venture, which gives artists full creative freedom. For more information on my projects, visit http://www.johnathanblake.com.

What is your major and when will you graduate?

I’m majoring in Music Education, Classical Voice and I will graduate in 2021.

What is your favorite class and why?

Ah this is a tough one. I really enjoyed all of my classes (this is my last semester on campus before student teaching).

As far as performance ensembles, I love my private voice lessons with Dr. Herbert, as well as Chamber Choir with Dr. Fowler-Calisto. I love to sing and these two people have been incredible mentors to me during my short time at WP. With regard to classes, I LOVED Elementary Music Teaching Strategies with Professor Charsky. I would have a horrible day and I couldn’t wait to get to this class –all we did was sing and play music. Since I want to be an elementary music teacher, this class was right up my alley.

Please tell us about your band, Running Late.

Lauren D’Imperio March Student of the Month Department of Music

Running Late is a Pop/Rock/Alternative band from Madison, NJ. I’m the lead singer and there are six members in the band; half of the band either went to WP or go there now.

The band features brothers Mike Hall (bass guitar) and John Hall (saxophone), Noah Giglio (guitar/vocals) and WP alumni Ori Yekutiel (drums) and Trevor Davis (keyboard/vocals). We spent this summer writing a ton of new music and we’re set to release new music this year!

How has attending William Paterson University impacted your musical course?

Attending WP has made me a much more skilled musician, as well as a more impactful educator. Prior to deciding to come back to school, I was living the starving artist life: (PSA: it isn’t fun). I discovered by accident through a string of amazing opportunities and luck that I absolutely love being a teacher. There’s absolutely no reason why I can’t do it all. However, being a full-time student, while maintaining my career as a singer and also teaching private lessons have been the most challenging task. I often feel like I’m drowning but I keep telling myself it will get better and it will be worth it. I’m on track to student teach next semester and I’m so excited to get into the field and continue to build upon my legacy and make an impact on not only the people who hear my work, but also the children I get to teach on a regular basis. I’m grateful for the incredible Music Department we have here at WP. What venues have you performed in?

OOOOOOOH this is the fun part! Here we go: Carnegie Hall, The Theatre at MSG, NJPAC, The Stone Pony, PNC Bank Arts Center, The State Theater, Mayo Performing Arts Center, music festivals galore and too many bars, clubs and wedding halls to mention. I’ve also performed abroad: London, Salzburg, Vienna, Venice and Rome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA7Z7wJcHwg&feature=youtu.be

What are your future plans upon graduation?

To be honest, I’m not entirely sure. Part of me thinks I’ll just become a full-time music teacher in an elementary school and perform whenever I can, but part of me loves the freedom of my freelance career. I’m also a songwriter, I want to travel and work with new people. Music and singing will always be my life. The rest of it, I’m not too sure about.

FIVE THINGS

I Enjoyed in

By: Alyssa Robbins I’m a senior with a double major in Print & Broadcast Journalism. After graduation, I look forward to continuing my new job as a video editor at News 12 New Jersey. In celebration of World Radio Day, I traveled to Bologna, Italy with Dr. Quicke, Chair of the Department of Communication and Sebastian Escobar, Brave New Radio’s Station Manager.

Pizza: I was in Italy for six day and each day I ate pizza. Pictured is pizza from my first night; it was the best pizza during the entire trip! The interesting thing about the pizza is that it doesn’t come by the slice and I had to cut it with a knife and fork.

Ponte Vecchio in Florence: Everything here was beautiful; every view was different but just as amazing. This happened to be my favorite place in Florence.

One of Guglielmo Marconi’s inventions: This specific invention was able to create an electric current, which as you can see, is the blue spark in between the metal balls.

Sunset at Monte Donato: This is a picture of the sunset from Bologna. One of Giovanni’s friends, Lorenzo, brought us to one of his favorite secret spots to watch the sunset. Giovanni is the reason we went to Italy; his father created Outside Radio for Giovanni’s love for radio after he came to William Paterson University for the summer youth program.

Replica of David: I wanted to see this statue because when I told my grandpa that I was going to Florence he got so excited for me. He said one of the best things there is the David Statue, so I went there because of him.

College Wide Highlights: Art student, Marcos Salazar, was accepted into this year’s Ink, Press, Repeat: National Juried Printmaking and Book Art Exhibition, juried by Ruth Lingen, master printer and director of Line Press Limited. The exhibition was on view in the university’s South Gallery until March 27, 2020.

Exhibition catalogue: http://bit.ly/IPR2020_catalogue Art professor Julie Nagle’s large installation Slumber Underground: Interspecies Burrow will be on view for a full year at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Professor Nagle is quoted in a New York Times’ review and a photo of her work is also included. Review: https://www.nytimes. com/…/childrens-museum-school-break.html Department of Communication students Ryan Sudol and Brandi Davis, won second and third place in a national essay contest run by the History Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

The History Division will publish their essays online: https:// journalism-history.org Other students who entered the contest include Destiny Duprey, Jesse Norman, Ashley Sawyer, and Henry Voorhees. Each of their essays will be published online as well.

Tonatiuh Vázquez Vilchis, MM in Jazz Studies/Arranging ’16, released an album entitled The Jazz Orchestra. Special guest artists include: Saxophonist Miguel Zenon, Bassist Eddie Gomez, Singer Manolo Mairena and Percussionist Guillermo Barron. The liner notes were written by Professor Pete McGuinness. The album can be downloaded on iTunes and Spotify.

Marcos Salazar, Naïve I Chased You Blinded by Petty Fantasy, 2018.

To celebrate World Radio Day, the Department of Communication’s Chair, Dr. Rob Quicke, alumnus and Brave New Radio station manager, Sebastian Escobar and Communication student, Alyssa Robbins had a live Brave New Radio broadcast from the Guglielmo Marconi Museum in Bologna, Italy on February 13, 2020.

This live broadcast was held in the same room where Guglielmo Marconi developed wireless telegraphy in 1895. To read more about this trip, click the link: https:// www.collegeradio.org/creating-radio-history-on-worldradio-day-2020 -broadcasting-live-from-marconishome-of-radio/?fbclid=IwAR3QQPOZUesboRQtc829o1 wI6_vnDU4NR_Uth5cwm7ImEigaL2eSr0Y-pM Wes Whitelock (guitarist), a senior from the Music Department’s jazz program, performed as an equal with some of the top musicians in the world, on a video produced

by Jazz at Lincoln Center and sent out across the globe. To watch the video, click the link: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=IjJbZetCvGww

Tonatiuh Vázquez Vilchis’s released album, The Jazz Orchestra.

The Dean’s List Recognition Ceremony The Dean’s List Recognition Ceremony was held on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. The keynote speaker was Alex Vicenzi, BFA ’09, MFA ’12. Vicenzi is the co-owner of YOUNGBUK Art Services in Brooklyn.

Photos By Chance Smith.

College News: Retirement: Professor James Brown, Department of Art Professor Elaine Lorenz, Department of Art Dr. Stephen Marcone, Department of Music Professor Deborah Frizzell, Department of Art, adjunct Departments: Dr. Robert Quicke has stepped down as Department of Communication Chair.

Dr. Matthew Crick is the new Department of Communication Chair.

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Music faculty member, Dr. Craig Davis (March 31, 2020). Professor Davis began his career at the University as an adjunct faculty member in the Music Department and was appointed tenure track Assistant Professor in September 1997. Professor Davis also served as the Director of Bands and Brass Coordinator for the Music Department, teaching instrumental conducting to undergraduate and graduate students. Our deepest sympathy is extended to Dr. Davis’ family and friends.

Message from the Incoming Dean: I begin my first message to you by acknowledging the many challenges we faced during the spring semester and the uncertainties that lie ahead of us as we manage our work, our studies and our daily lives during the continued global pandemic.

My hope is that you have used the summer months to re-engage with family and friends (with appropriate social distancing), gotten some much-needed rest, and are now re-emerging to greet the fall semester with renewed energy.

As you embarked upon your summer hiatus, I stepped into my new role as the Interim Dean of the College of the Arts and Communication. I want to acknowledge the leadership of Dean Daryl Joseph Moore during these last seven years.Thank you for your support, encouragement, and guidance and especially for showing concern and care.Your legacy will remain deeply inscribed in our hearts and we will take good care of all you have brought about for the college.

We can all expect the upcoming fall semester will be very different from prior years and together, we will face the challenges - some we can prepare for and others we will face if or when they present themselves. I have spent the summer months preparing for the return of our students as well as working with the college’s department chairs, division directors and university administration to lay the groundwork to support you upon your return to campus.

In the meantime, please enjoy reading this edition of Spotlight and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Loretta C. Mc Laughlin Vignier Interim Dean College of the Arts and Communication

College of the Arts and Communication Office of the Dean: Daryl Joseph Moore, Outgoing Dean Loretta Mc Laughlin Vignier, Interim Dean Lavene Gass, Marketing & Community Liaison Amy Nemery, Executive Staff Assistant Rosario Urena, Administrative Staff Assistant Kaeli Brady, Intern: Graphic Designer John Conlow, Intern: Videographer Jaylah Holmes, Intern: Videographer & Spotlight Host Alexa Chavarria, Intern: Social Media Chance Smith, Intern: Photographer

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

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