Ramapo Magazine Fall 2014

Winter 2014

RAMAPO COLLEGE MAGAZINE

from the office of the president PETER P. MERCER, Ph.D.

We certainly have much to celebrate in the 2014-2015 academic year.

Let’s start with the Class of 2018. We received the most applications ever in our history, approximately 6,700! It is an indication that more people are coming to realize what we know – Ramapo’s rigorous academic environment, grounded in the liberal arts and our interdisciplinary approach, has a lot to offer. Our small-size, emphasis on individual relationships and supportive environment make Ramapo an excellent match and value for those seeking a challenge and solid preparation in and outside the classroom.

This interest among applicants yielded our largest freshmen class, with 980 members of the Class of 2018. We remain committed to the hallmarks of a Ramapo College education, including our small class size and faculty who are, first and foremost, teachers and mentors. The incoming class includes students from 20 counties in New Jersey, nine states and seven countries. In addition, the academic profile increased again this year and about 30 percent of our incoming class are from underrepresented segments of the population.

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Our alumni and benefactors are among our best ambassadors for sharing with others what is best about Ramapo.

While others pursued university status, we made a strategic decision some years ago to strengthen our identity as a small liberal arts college. Our aim is to remain near our current size at the undergraduate level. We will pursue growth in targeted areas at the master’s level, where there is market demand, and we can draw on our already developed competencies and expertise.

To this end, this fall, we launched our Master’s in Special Education program and exceeded our enrollment goals. Also, our Master’s in Social Work program will begin in the fall of 2015.

Our alumni and benefactors are among our best ambassadors for sharing with others what is best about Ramapo. Thank you for your ongoing support and best wishes for a happy and healthy new year.

Sincerely,

Peter P. Mercer, Ph.D. President, Ramapo College of New Jersey

contents COLLEGE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Peter P. Mercer, Ph.D. President Beth E. Barnett, Ed.D. Provost Cathleen Davey Vice President for Institutional Advancement Maria Krupin Vice President for Administration and Finance Michael C. Tripodi Vice President and General Counsel BOARD OF TRUSTEES George C. Ruotolo, Jr. Chair BOARD OF GOVERNORS Frances K. Hackett ’80 Chair Carolyn Merkel ’78 Alumni Association Board, Chair Audrey Newman ’93 Friends of Ramapo, Chair

RAMAPO MAGAZINE STAFF Cathleen Davey Editor-in-Chief

First-year student Alison Kreimer is welcomed by President Peter P. Mercer at the Arching Ceremony.

The Class of 2018 is the largest freshman class in Ramapo College’s history.

FEATURES

p. 2

Jonathan Demme took place on campus in the fall. Demme donated

Stephen J. Hudik Executive Editor Mary Cicitta Managing Editor Carolyn Herring Photo Editor Contributing Writers Brian Aberback Christopher Hann Stephen J. Hudik This magazine can be made available upon request in alternate media. Requests should be directed to: 201.684.7611 Alumni contact and change of address: Rayna Wendell at 201.684.7115 Student Relations contact: Melissa Van Der Wall at 201.684.7591

A Sense of Place: An exhibit of Haitian art from the collection of director

additional works to the College’s permanent collection. p. 4

Two Haitian students who left their earthquake-stricken country in 2011 for Ramapo College reflect on their upcoming graduation.

p. 6

Striking the Right Note: Ramapo senior Todd Stecher studied music in Cambridge in the fall as part of an exchange program between Ramapo College and Anglia Ruskin University in England.

p. 10

Faculty Profile: Christian Reich pursues research into the neurophysiological bases of learning and memory.

DEPARTMENTS

p. 12

College News

p. 20

Class Notes and Profiles

Ramapo Magazine is produced by the Office of Communications and Public Relations.

Cover Photo: Todd Stecher ’15

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A Sense of Place Jonathan Demme to Donate Some Works from Exhibit to Ramapo

Jonathan Demme was already an Academy Award-winning director when he arrived on the Ramapo College campus in 1994 as a visiting artist. Over the ensuing two decades, Demme would secure his place among the leading filmmakers of his day, known for creating critically and commercially successful feature films with A-list Hollywood stars as well as documentaries that indulge his passions for music, politics, and activism. Along the way, Demme would become one of the world’s foremost collectors of Haitian art, a passion that’s helped nurture a longstanding collaboration with Ramapo.

The latest chapter in the partnership is a Kresge Foundation Gallery exhibit of 70 works from Demme’s voluminous holdings at Ramapo this fall. A Sense of Place: Cap-Haitien Paintings from the

Collection of Jonathan Demme, which opened in September and ran through November 21, featured many self-taught artists from northern Haiti, among them Senéque Obin, the brother of Philomé Obin, widely considered the leader of the Cap-Haitien school.

“It became the easiest genre of Haitian art to identify,” Demme told

The Record of Hackensack. “Nowhere else in Haiti did the painters attack their images in such starkly well-organized compositions.”

The exhibit is the fourth to be staged at Ramapo consisting exclusively or primarily of works from Demme’s collection. A 2007 show, also at the Kresge Gallery, focused on the painters and sculptors—among them Philomé Obin, Georges Liautaud, and Hector Alfred Gabriel, Mass Five O’Clock in the Morning, oil on Masonite, 16 x 16 inches, collection of Jonathan Demme.

Sénèque Obin, Les produits d’Haiti, oil on Masonite, 23 x 29 inches, collection of Jonathan Demme.

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Ramapo College Magazine Winter 2014

Visitors view the paintings from A Sense of Place exhibit.

Hyppolite, long regarded as a Haitian master—who emerged from the Centre d’Art, the celebrated school founded in the capital of Port Au Prince in 1944. Hyppolite, a former shoemaker and Vodou priest, began painting late in his life, inspired to create art, or so he believed, by the spirits. The New

York Times called that exhibit “a rare and affirmative statement of a remarkable artistic tradition.”

The works that comprise A

Sense of Place portray images of religion, battle, colonial oppression and everyday Haitian life. Collectively, they reflect

Director Jonathan Demme with Roselaure Charles ’15

Demme’s long fascination with the Cap-Haitien school. Demme was one of the show’s curators.

documentarian, producing three concert films featuring Neil

The paintings are notable not only for their vibrant primary colors

Young and another with the Talking Heads. His documentary

but for the directness of the messages they deliver. There are

about Jimmy Carter chronicled the former president’s

scenes of markets and schoolyards and a wedding. There is also

contentious book tour following the publication of Palestine:

Alexis Patrick’s Church and State Ignore the Grievances of the

Peace Not Apartheid. Demme has made several documentaries

Haitian People, an unambiguous indictment of former President

in Haiti, including Haiti Dreams of Democracy, which he began

Jean Bertrand Aristide, who was forced from office in 2004. Sydney

filming just a few months after his first visit to the island

Jenkins, the director of art galleries at Ramapo, said many of the

nation, in 1986.

paintings in A Sense of Place have never been shown publicly.

Demme often seems drawn to scenes of conflict. He first came to Ramapo while in the early stages of filming The Agronomist, a documentary about the Haitian journalist and activist Jean Léopold Dominique. Demme had already filmed several interviews with Dominique, but Demme put the project on hold following Dominique’s assassination in 1995. The film was finally released, to great acclaim, in 2002.

Demme is perhaps best known for his Oscar-winning feature

It’s so terrific having this ongoing relationship...I am thrilled to have the opportunity of donating several of these works.”

— Jonathan Demme

In the intervening years, he’s returned to Haiti many

films Philadelphia and Silence of the Lambs, for which he was

times, often in search of more paintings. Demme donated

named Best Director in 1992. But he’s also been a prolific

20 pieces from A Sense of Place to Ramapo. (He previously

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gave the College a Hyppolite.) Among the notable donations

sidebar on Selden Rodman), considered the largest compilation of

are J. Jean’s Marche, a colorful market scene, and Sénèque

its kind among American academic institutions.

Obin’s Les Produits d’Haiti (The Fruits of Haiti), a harvest scene that shows, in the background, the 200-year-old mountaintop fortress known as Citadelle Laferrière, an icon of the Haitian

For Demme, the exhibit represents the latest chapter in a collaboration now entering its third decade.

“It’s so terrific having this ongoing relationship with Ramapo

slave rebellion. This recent gift expands the College’s renowned

College,” Demme told The Record, “and I am thrilled to have the

collection of more than 500 works of Haitian art (see related

opportunity of donating several of these works.”

Graduation within Grasp for Haitian Scholarship Students Roselaure Charles and Clifford Denis left their homes in Haiti in 2011, about 18 months after an earthquake had devastated the already impoverished nation. They were bound for Ramapo College, with their educational expenses covered. It was an opportunity that would have been unthinkable just two years Roselaure Charles ’15 and Clifford Denis ’15 are looking forward to earning their degrees in May.

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Ramapo College Magazine Winter 2014

earlier. Leaving behind their families, they carried with them all manner of anxiety—about the language barrier, about the cultural differences and about the educational rigors that awaited them.

What they were not prepared for were the New Jersey winters.

“The weather,” Charles says, “was challenging. I was not used to this cold weather.”

“The winters,” Denis says, “made it really hard for me to adapt.”

But adapt they did. This spring, Charles and Denis are scheduled to graduate with the class of 2015, their college educations made possible by a group of Ramapo employees who, in the wake of the earthquake, vowed to provide scholarships for Haitian students.

Four years later, the group’s core members—Ed Eloi, a native Haitian, the operations manager at the Berrie Center, and professors Shalom Gorewitz, Warner Wada, and Lisa Lutter—continue those efforts. They have already raised nearly $80,000 to cover the students’ room, board, book, and transportation costs, and these days they’re striving to raise an additional $8,000 to $10,000 to cover the students’ spring semester fees.

President Peter P. Mercer agreed

to provide institutional aid. The primary benefactor has been the Rose Foundation of Haiti, which has contributed $20,000.

Meanwhile, Denis, an engineering physics major, and Charles, a digital filmmaking major, look to the future.

Denis hopes to enroll in graduate school to study computer engineering.

“It feels really great to be so close to obtaining a degree.”

— Clifford Denis ’15

Charles wants to become a documentary filmmaker.

“It feels really great to be so close to obtaining a degree,” Denis said. “Yet I’m already feeling sad that I will not be seeing all the friends I have made in these wonderful four years.”

Nearly five years after the earthquake, both students said they want to see Haiti continue to make progress.

“It has been so long since basic human needs have been satisfied for the whole Haitian population,” Denis said. “I am just hoping that we can start distributing basic necessities like water and electricity without interruption.”

“I hope to see a better Haiti one day,” Charles added. “That’s why I will go back to participate in the future of my beloved country.”

Students, staff and faculty held fundraising events around campus to benefit victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

The Ramapo Chorale performed at a concert to raise funds.

Rodman Gift Created Legacy He was a child of privilege who came to champion the artists living in the poorest country in the western hemisphere. It was due largely to the work of the late poet, cultural critic and art scholar Selden Rodman that Ramapo College came to possess the largest collection of Haitian art found at any academic institution in the United States.

Rodman was a prolific writer, the author of more than 40 books. Haiti was perhaps his most constant muse. He first visited the country in 1934. He bought his first piece of figurative folk art there four years later, for $25. Among his books were Haiti: The Black Republic, The Miracle of Haitian Art, and Where Art is Joy, the volume credited with generating widespread interest in Haitian art, including the celebrated Centre d’Art, where, following World War II, Rodman served as co-director.

In recent years, Ramapo has loaned works from the Rodman collection to major museums for traveling exhibitions, including the Studio Museum in Harlem and El Museo del Barrio in New York City, the Perez Art Museum in Miami and the Art Museum of the Americas in Washington, D.C. In the early 1980s, Rodman, who lived in Oakland, New Jersey, not far from the Ramapo campus, began the discussions with George Potter, then Ramapo’s president, that led to Rodman’s first donation of art, much of it from Haiti. The Selden Rodman Gallery of Popular Arts of the Americas, in the College’s B Wing, opened in 2001, a year before Rodman died at the age of 93.

Selden Rodman with Philomé Obin in Cap-Haitien circa 1965.

Articles in this section by Christopher Hann and Stephen J. Hudik

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Music Exchange Program Hits the Right Notes

T

he School of Contemporary Arts Music Exchange Program with Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, U.K., is hitting all the right notes with Ramapo College of New Jersey music faculty and students.

“We’ve had nothing but fantastic feedback from our students about the program,” said Ben Neill, associate professor of Music Production and Industry, who oversees the program. The Anglia Ruskin students, he said, “have brought a similarly fresh perspective to Ramapo courses, engaging our students with ideas and music from a different, international point of view.”

The study abroad program, which began in the fall 2012 semester, accepts up to three students from each institution. Ramapo music majors in all four concentrations are eligible to apply: Music Production, Music Industry, Music Performance and Music Studies. Students’ financial aid agreements apply to their room and board in England.

At Anglia Ruskin, Ramapo students experience working in new recording facilities and take in different perspectives on recording technology, performance and other aspects of the music industry.

The similarity of the curricula in the two schools gives students many course options.

“Our music business courses dovetail with their courses,” Neill said. They have a popular music major that a lot of our students are interested in.”

The most appealing aspect of the program is cultural immersion.

The exchange program affords students from both institutions the unique and invaluable opportunity to fully experience what are arguably the leading international centers for the music and entertainment industries: London and New York City.

Matthew Wolckenhauer studied at Anglia Ruskin University in spring 2013.

ON SCENE IN LONDON Ramapo College of New Jersey student Todd Stecher was full of anticipation and excitement just weeks before hopping a plane to spend the fall 2014 semester in Cambridge, U.K., as part of Ramapo’s Music Student Exchange Program with Anglia Ruskin University.

“As soon as I heard about the program, I knew I wanted to study abroad there,” said Stecher ‘15. “When I looked at the list of music classes offered at Anglia Ruskin, it was easy to find classes I was interested in that also counted toward my 6

Ramapo College Magazine Winter 2014

degree.” Stecher will be graduating with a Music Major with concentrations in Music Production and Music Industry.

“I cannot describe my excitement to indulge into a completely different culture and university across the great pond,” Stecher said. “More than anything I am ready to take a new perspective on life, culture and academics from the experience that is only attained by studying abroad and stretching one’s comfort zone.”

In addition to looking forward to studying in Cambridge, Stecher can

already hear London calling. “My brother had just bought me a book for my birthday called “Waking Up In London” by Robert Ashton, which documents the author’s experiences at some of the underground music venues in London,” he said. “I plan on visiting a few of the venues.”

A Somers Point resident, Stecher plays guitar, bass and drums and is in a band called Mediseasin. Stecher characterizes the group’s music as an experimental style of rock that encompasses multiple influences.

“The U.K. music scene is very distinctive from the U.S. scene and it’s a great experience to be involved in a whole different musical world.”

— Ben Neill, associate professor of Music Production and Industry

Anglia Ruskin University

“Anglia Ruskin’s proximity to London is about the same distance as our proximity to New York City,” Neill said. “You’re a 45-minute train ride from absorbing these amazing musical cultures. The U.K. music scene is very distinctive from the U.S. scene and it’s a great experience to be involved in a whole different musical world. Our students get the experience of working in different studio settings and environments that they will be encountering throughout their careers.”

Ramapo participants in the exchange have high praise for the program. “Cambridge is such a great place to live and meet other student musicians and London is very culturally and musically diverse,” said Kelly Haggerty, who spent the Spring 2014 semester at Anglia Ruskin. “All the people who study abroad and brag about how it’s a life changing experience aren’t lying. (For more on

student experiences, see related sidebars).

The seeds of the program were planted when an Anglia Ruskin professor contacted Ramapo faculty. The professor was impressed with Ramapo’s music production course offerings. “He was interested in creating an exchange program based on our focus on contemporary music and music technology as well as our proximity to New York,” Neill said.

Ben Levy, director of International Education at Ramapo, said the academic and cultural enrichment experience students take in during study abroad programs cannot be overstated. “It’s no longer an option to not be involved with the greater world,” Levy said. “Students have to be more and more competitive when entering the workforce and having international experiences really will set them apart.”

– by Brian Aberback

“I cannot describe my excitement to indulge into a completely different culture and university across the great pond.”

— Todd Stecher

“Personally, I am a huge fan of world music and jazz, which is identifiable in our sound. I regularly listen to artists like Joao Gilberto, Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan, and American jazz artists like Cecil Taylor, Chico Hamilton and John Coltrane.”

After graduation, Stecher said he hopes

to continue performing with his band and home-record and produce music with the production skills he has learned at Ramapo. “Other avenues of music I have gained interest in include sound for film, sound design as well as composing scores,” he said.

Senior Todd Stecher

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Levy said that time and again students who have participated in study abroad programs tell him that hiring managers are most excited to talk with them about their exchange program experiences.

Ramapo will soon be able to offer its students, and those from Anglia Ruskin, a state-of-the-art new resource. The College has begun construction on a new Les Paul Studio — its namesake was a former longtime Mahwah resident who invented the solid body electric guitar, which gave rock-and-roll its sound.

The studio, which is scheduled to open in Spring 2015, will offer

a strong new incentive for Anglia Ruskin students to visit Ramapo, particularly those in the Creative Music Technology course, Neill said.

Neill said his immediate goal for the program is to expand the number of Ramapo students who participate. Six Ramapo students have attended Anglia Ruskin, while Ramapo has welcomed five U.K. students since the program’s inception.

“I would like to have three students from Ramapo going every semester, which is the maximum,” Neill said. “We need to get the word out more. It’s such an amazing opportunity.”

The Right Score Ramapo College of New Jersey co-ed Kelly Haggerty and Anglia Ruskin University student Reece Hughes have never met, but they have much in common through their participation in the Music Exchange Program between Ramapo and Anglia Ruskin in Cambridge, U.K. “I really enjoyed the exchange and would recommend it to anyone in the music program,” said Haggerty, a Glen Rock resident who participated in the program in the Spring 2014 semester.

“I met an amazing bunch of people, both classmates and lecturers, who I will never forget.”

— Reece Hughes

“Cambridge is such a great place to live and meet other student musicians,” Haggerty said. “All the people who study abroad and brag about how it’s a life changing experience aren’t lying.” Haggerty, a pianist, plans to graduate in Spring 2015 with a concentration in Music Industry. She said she hopes to become involved in music licensing and synchronization with a record label or publishing company. Synchronization refers to a

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Ramapo College Magazine Winter 2014

Students from Anglia Ruskin University with Ramapo’s Kelly Haggerty ’15 (far right)

process in which composers allow their copyrighted music to be used in films, television and other outlets.

Haggerty said she enjoyed exploring the London music scene. “London is very culturally diverse, and the music reflects that,” she said. “There are a lot of popular London-based artists originally from places like Nigeria and Ghana. They have their thing called “grime,” which is kind of like U.S. hiphop but with a distinctly London feel.

It’s lots of fun to see live.”

Likewise, Hughes said he had an amazing Spring 2013 semester at Ramapo. “I met an amazing bunch of people, both classmates and lecturers, who I will never forget,” Hughes said.

“I managed to play a few songs at a friend’s gig in Manhattan, which was crazy, and to play a set at the oncampus Indie Festival Day, which was also very memorable,” said Hughes, a singer-songwriter. He graduated from

Anglia Ruskin in 2014 with a degree in Popular Music.

Hughes was also effusive in his praise of Ramapo professors. “The experience that the lecturers had in the industry shone through, not only in their knowledge of music, be it theoretical, performance, business or technical, but with their empathy of the students’ position as young musicians looking toward their future.”

Reece Hughes

Articles in this section by Brian Aberback and Stephen J. Hudik

STUDY ABROAD DANIELLE CORCIONE ’15 Charles University/Council on International Education Exchange Prague, Czech Republic Summer 2014 Once I stepped off the plane of my first solo flight at Vaclav Havel International Airport, I was greeted by foreign words and familiar symbols.

For the next three weeks, I would share an apartment with another study abroad student and a local Charles University student.

I took two courses during my stay, Survival Czech Language and Contemporary Czech Culture, an excellent combination to compliment a new territory. As I learned new phrases to use in shops and restaurants, my anthropology professor showed the class different parts of the area through art, music, and literature.

Outside of the class,

I explored local culture through museums, galleries, statues, gardens, and architecture. For Building by the Prague Castle in Old Town, across the river instance, I visited the Tim Burton exhibition and Salvador Dali gallery in the Old Town Square.

On the other side of Vltava, the river that divides the city into New Town and Old Town, is the historic John Lennon Wall; in 1988, young Czechs used the wall to write graffiti, out of frustration over the communist regime.

On the weekends, I had the opportunity to travel around Europe. I traveled to Paris through the program’s intercultural excursion weekend on and independently to Copenhagen to visit family.

While I originally thought this trip might satisfy my curiosity for travel prior to my departure, now, my wanderlust has grown. I hope to travel more in the near future, especially after graduation. I am truly grateful for the skills I’ve learned abroad to adapt to a foreign culture and learn a new language.

COLLEEN JONES ’15

Students may choose to study in approximately 60 countries.

h The most popular destinations are Spain, India, Italy, China and England.

h 37 students are studying abroad in the fall 2014 semester in eight countries.

h

University College Dublin Dublin, Ireland Summer 2014 Ireland is one of those countries where a postcard is unable to do it justice. The beautiful landscape filled with green rolling hills and vast amounts of sheep make for a breathtaking view. I was lucky to experience so much that Ireland had to offer during my two week study abroad program.

My study abroad experience at the University College of There are sheep everywhere in Ireland!

STUDY ABROAD FAST FACTS:

Colleen Jones and her classmates, Jessica Valla and Megan Minneci, all participated in the University College Dublin program in summer 2014.

Dublin’s Nursing Summer School was incredible!

I learned the differences between the Irish and the U.S. healthcare systems. The program consisted of outside lecturers from all different fields of healthcare throughout the different counties of Ireland. The school also provided us with a variety of activities that allowed us to see first-hand the Irish culture. My study abroad experience is something that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Not many people can say that they had the opportunity to live in another country and experience a different lifestyle, but I was fortunate to do so.

43 students are scheduled to study abroad in the spring 2015 semester in 14 countries.

h In FY 2014, students received more than $85,000 in scholarships to participate in study abroad programs.

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FACULTY PROFILE

Christian Reich

ince coming to Ramapo College in 2007, Christian Reich, assistant professor of psychology, has conducted extensive research, often in collaboration with students, on the neurophysiological bases of learning and memory. More specifically, Reich has investigated how the interaction of stress and the endocannabinoid system, which he refers to as “brain-made marijuana,” modulates behaviors differently in men and women.

The endocannabinoid system consists of lipids and receptors located in the brain. These components play a central role in many physiological functions such as pain sensation, mood and appetite.

“By understanding this relationship, we hope to provide insight into the neurobiological mechanisms involved in the onset of stress-related psychological disorders such as major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder,” Reich said.

Reich grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. As an undergraduate, he attended Elizabethtown College, majoring

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Ramapo College Magazine Winter 2014

in biology and minoring in psychology. He later earned

chronic stress,” Reich said. “This was one of the earliest

master’s and doctoral degrees in behavioral neuroscience

reports firmly establishing a sexual dimorphism in the

from the State University of New York at Binghamton. He

endocannabinoid system.”

spent five years as a post-doctoral fellow in the Department

Reich’s later studies, on the effects of chronic stress and

of Physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine

endocannabinoids on fear conditioning, were conducted at

in Baltimore.

Ramapo and included the participation of 15 undergraduate

After completing his Ph.D., Reich conducted research into

students. Their collective efforts resulted in the recent

the endocannabinoid system with Dr. Bradley Alger at the

publication of their work. The students presented the findings

University of Maryland School of Medicine. “Research over

at scientific conferences, including the annual conference

the past decade indicates that this ‘brain marijuana’ may be

of the North East Under/graduate Research Organization

extremely beneficial in regulating stress, anxiety, depressive,

for Neuroscience, or N.E.U.R.O.N. For his commitment to

ingestive behaviors as well as learning and memory,” Reich

undergraduate neuroscience research, Reich was awarded

said. “This is in stark contrast to the advertised harmful and

the Susan Tieman Faculty Mentorship Award at the 2011

dubious effects of ‘street’ marijuana use.”

In Alger’s lab, Reich observed that endocannabinoids disrupted theta rhythms in neurons from the rat hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in forming and processing memory. “Theta rhythms are behaviorally relevant, neurophysiological oscillations that correlate to different forms of learning and the onset of REM sleep,” Reich said.

Their research, Reich says, suggested the endocannabinoids serve two key functions: They dampen the physiological and behavioral response to fear and stressful

“Research over the past decade indicates that this ‘brain marijuana’ may be extremely beneficial in regulating stress, anxiety, depressive, ingestive behaviors as well as learning and memory.”

— Christian Reich, assistant professor of psychology

stimuli, and they facilitate the extinction of aversive stimuli.

Reich was especially intrigued by observing that chronic stress decreased endocannabinoid signaling in the

N.E.U.R.O.N. conference and was inducted into the Ramapo

hippocampus of male rats. Given that women are diagnosed

College chapter of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars

with depression significantly more than men, Reich began a

as a Distinguished Member.

series of studies, funded by the National Institutes of Health,

“I am extremely proud of our lab’s accomplishments

to determine whether the endocannabinoid system was

during the past five years and our students’ efforts and

regulated differently by stress in male and female animals.

contributions have helped to make that happen as they

The studies, conducted with Dr. Margaret McCarthy at

demonstrate their desire to inquire and to learn more,” Reich

the University of Maryland School of Medicine, found that

said. “We have built a productive neuroscience lab.”

females possess significantly less hippocampal cannabinoid

Reich’s work with undergraduates has clearly made an

1 receptors compared to males. “These findings suggest

impact. In the past four years, nine of his research assistants

that the endocannabinoid system is preferentially organized

have been admitted to Ph.D. neuroscience programs.

in male and female animals to respond differentially to

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COLLEGE NEWS

Rigoberta Menchu

Charles Baxter

Benjamin Todd Jealous

Speakers Examine Societal Change and Literature Ramapo College welcomed a broad range of notable speakers to campus this fall including 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu, author Charles Baxter, and former NAACP president Benjamin Todd Jealous.

Rigoberta Menchu delivered an address entitled Student Engagement: Towards a Promising Future. She urged students to take steps to assist the disenfranchised and the less fortunate in society. Prior to her address, Menchu spoke to a summit of world leaders. Menchu won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work on behalf of indigenous peoples worldwide. A member of the Maya K’iche’ ethnic group in Guatemala, Menchu is a leading advocate of Indian rights and ethnic reconciliation.

Charles Baxter has published five novels, five collections of short stories and three collections of poems, among other works. His novel, The Feast of Love, was a finalist for the National Book Award. He has received the Cohen Award for best essay, the Gettysburg Review non-fiction prose award and the Lawrence Foundation award. He writes and teaches fiction at the University of Minnesota.

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Ramapo College Magazine Winter 2014

Baxter spoke to students at Ramapo about the craft and challenges of writing. He encouraged aspiring writers to persevere in their effort and also read from some of his works.

Visit ramapo.edu/news/campus-videos to view interviews with Rigoberta Menchu and Charles Baxter.

Jealous, who was the youngest president in the NAACP’s history, played a key role in enabling the organization to become the largest community-based nonpartisan voter registration operation in the country. Under his efforts, the NAACP fought to protect voting rights, ban the death penalty, outlaw racial profiling, secure marriage equality and end mass incarceration. He spoke to students about his own personal journey and outlined steps for students to achieve social transformation and to engage in service opportunities.

LEGACY SOCIETY The Eleventh Annual Legacy Society Dinner took place in October in the Trustees Pavilion.

The dinner honors and recognizes benefactors for the legacy they have established for our students and faculty.

Guests enjoyed a dinner catered by Ramapo College alumni and family chefs from various local restaurants including Matthew’s Italian in Clifton, Bon Giovanni in Ramsey, Pizzaiolo in Midland Park and Clementine Caterers in Wayne.

The event featured guest speaker Drew Nieporent, one of America’s most celebrated restaurateurs. Drew and his wife, Ann, served on the Ramapo College President’s Parents Council.

Their son, Andrew, graduated from Ramapo College in 2012.

(L-R): John Malmeister, Matthew Tyala, Steve Mimini, Drew Nieporent, Amy Hatzoglu, President Peter P. Mercer, Anthony Mazzola, Sam Mussa and David Pritchard

UPWARD BOUND MARKS MILESTONE Upward Bound, a federal program designed to provide opportunities for high school students to succeed in higher education, celebrated its 50th anniversary. Ramapo College has sponsored an Upward Bound Math Science program since 1995, working with students from Paterson, N.J. More than 400 high school students have participated in the program. All earned their high school degrees, and 60 enrolled in Ramapo.

The Math and Science Program features a six-week intensive summer academic program. Students take courses in laboratory science, math, computers, language arts and Latin. During the academic year, the program provides tutoring, college visits, field trips, SAT/ACT prep and weekend visits to Ramapo.

Senior Mary DiPasquale, a history major with a creative writing minor, worked as a residential counselor and tutor

to Upward Bound students studying at Ramapo over the summer. She offered the following reflection on the summer program.

Senior Mary DiPasquale (center)

“The students look into their future and see it being affected positively by the Upward Bound program and the hard work they put into it. They dream of college and prepare for it without disavowing their background. I admired them all for their persistence and their dreams. If you have a passion for teaching and learning and you want to share that passion with students who really want and need that influence in their lives, this experience is so rewarding. You learn a lot about yourself. Be prepared to really care for these kids and for it to be hard to see them go.”

Students from Paterson, N.J. participated in the six-week Math and Science Program at Ramapo College over the summer.

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COLLEGE NEWS

TRADING AND INVESTMENT

BMW EXECUTIVE VISITS MBA STUDENTS Ludwig Willisch, head of region Americas for the BMW Group, spoke to MBA students in September as part of the “Becoming a 20th Century Leader” class taught by Professor Sridevi Shivarajan. Willisch discussed his career and lessons in leadership.

Willisch also serves as president and chief executive officer of BMW of North America, LLC, and president, chief executive officers and chairman of the Board of Directors of BMW (US) Holding Corp. He began working at BMW in 1996 as head of the Düsseldorf branch. He also worked as head of sales subsidiaries in Germany, Japan and Sweden.

The Office of Planned Giving hosted Successful Women Invest and Trade in October. Guests participated in a trading demonstration by Brian Goldberg, director of the Global Financial Trading Markets Lab located in the Anisfield School of Business. After the demonstration and lunch, Sarah Beane Ricca, a member of Ramapo’s Board of Governor, shared five ideas for successful investing.

THE RUSS BERRIE AWARD FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE Nominations are now being accepted through February 13, 2015 for the 2015 Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference. New Jerseyans who have made a significant difference in their communities through a lifetime of service or a single heroic act are eligible for cash awards of up to $50,000.

Established in 1996 by the late Russell Berrie, founder of Russ Berrie and Company, Inc. and the Russell Berrie Foundation, and Ramapo College of New Jersey, the awards honor “unsung heroes” statewide. Up to 11 individuals will be recognized for making a significant difference to the well-being of their community during the annual spring award ceremony at Ramapo College in Mahwah. The Russell Berrie Foundation will provide monetary awards of up to $50,000 and up to eight runner-up grants of $5,000 each.

Ramapough-Lenape Turtle Clan elder Vivian Milligan discussed the impacts to her community associated with the dumping of hazardous wastes by Ford Motor Company and others in Ringwood, N.J., with students from the senior capstone Environmental Studies course, Environmental Assessment, in spring 2014.

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Ramapo College Magazine Winter 2014

To nominate an individual, visit www.ramapo.edu/berrieawards/. The deadline for entries is February 13. The award ceremony will take place on May 1, 2015.

WHITE COAT CEREMONY Ramapo College nursing students, their families and guests celebrated the White Coat Ceremony on campus in September.

The ceremony marks the transition to hands-on training and clinical assessment for nursing students in their studies.

“It is a special moment for our students,” said Kathleen Burke, assistant dean for nursing. “It marks a key point in their academic career and engages them more fully in what the practice of nursing is all about.”

The national program was created by Arnold P. Gold Foundation and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Ramapo benefactors Mike and Elaine Adler,

whose generosity helped to create the Adler Center for Nursing Excellence on campus, are also supporters of the Gold Foundation. Elaine Adler delivered the keynote address at the ceremony. The Ramapo College of New Jersey Nursing Program was one of 100 schools across the nation selected for the ceremony.

Originally only for those in medical school, the ceremony was expanded to include future nurses. Dr. Richard Levin, president and chief executive officer of the Gold Foundation, stated that the mission is “to engage the entire healthcare team” in compassionate care.

EDIBLE GARDEN FUNDRAISER Ellie Krieger, star of the Food Network’s hit show “Healthy Appetite” and best-selling author, was the guest speaker at the Havemeyer Edible Garden annual fundraiser in September.

After Krieger’s presentation, an organic dinner, featuring fresh food, herbs and honey grown in the Havemeyer Edible Garden or produced locally was served to guests. Ramapo College students in the first-year seminar course on nutrition taught by Dr. Jackie Ehlert-Mercer, founder of the Havemeyer Edible Garden, assisted in the event and earned credit toward fulfilling their course enrichment component requirements.

Krieger is a James Beard Foundation award-winning and New York Times bestselling cookbook author. She

has written for Fine Cooking, Food Network Magazine and USA Today and appeared on national television shows such as Today and Good Morning America, among others.

For many years, the Havemeyer Edible Garden annual fundraiser featured special guest speakers including notable authors, researchers and food gurus such as Dr. Marion Nestle, Dr. Joan Gussow, Ellie Krieger spoke at the Havemeyer Corinne Trang and Mark Edible Garden annual fundraiser.

Winne. Krieger is part of a tradition of high-profile and nationally known nutrition and sustainability professionals visiting and participating in events at Ramapo College. www.ramapo.edu

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COLLEGE NEWS

GROSS FOUNDATION CHALLENGE GRANT USHERS IN NEW ERA The Gayle and Paul Gross Foundation awarded a five-year, $250,000 challenge grant to the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Ramapo College of New Jersey in August. The Center, established in 1980, is part of the Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies. It is now recognized as The Gross Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

“Gayle and I have been associated with the Center for a long time and are firm believers in the ongoing need to ensure that all people, especially school children, know about the Holocaust and the impact of hatred and bigotry in our societies,” said Mr. Gross.

The Center’s programming focuses on the history and lessons of the Holocaust, the genocide in Armenia and Darfur and other conflicts. The Center’s Gumpert Teacher Workshops provide instructors with strategies and lesson plans for incorporating the Holocaust and genocide studies into classroom studies. The lecture and film series bring scholars, filmmakers and policy leaders to campus for discussion.

“This generous gift from Gayle and Paul, long-time supporters of the Center, will foster expanded programming for students, teachers and

Cathy Davey, President Peter P. Mercer, Dean Stephen Rice, Lauren Gross, Paul Gross and Michael Riff

the general public in line with the College’s mission of community engagement,” said Peter P. Mercer, Ph.D., president of Ramapo College. “It is part of our ongoing effort to encourage tolerance and peaceful conflict resolution, to raise awareness of genocide and to promote the democratic outcomes of a liberal education.”

“Circumstances differ, but it is a shared experience. Through our programs, we aim to encourage young people and especially teachers to incorporate lessons of vigilance and tolerance in the curriculum.”

Michael Riff, the Center’s director, said it has made a concerted effort in recent years to reach out to other religious and secular institutions.

“Other ethnic and religious groups have experienced acts of genocide,” said Riff.

Steindel Surveys Economic Scene at Business Partners Luncheon Charles Steindel, resident scholar for the Anisfield School of Business at Ramapo College and former chief economist for the New Jersey Department of Treasury, was the featured speaker at the Ramapo College Foundation Business Partners Luncheon in October. He discussed the current health of the state and national economies and took questions from audience members regarding trends and potential concerns affecting employment levels. Prior to joining Treasury, Steindel worked for many years with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, serving as senior vice president. The College expressed its appreciation to more than 40 individuals who attended the Business Partners luncheon at the historic Havemeyer House.

Charles Steindel, Ramapo scholar-in-residence

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Ramapo College Magazine Winter 2014

Members of the Ramapo Chorale performed at the Pacific Summer Music Festival in June 2014. Their ten-day musical adventure consisted of daily rehearsals, performing with three choirs and presenting their own concert. The tour culminated in a festival finale concert that included Grammy-nominated Quartet San Francisco and guest choral conductor Dr. Andrew Last. When not making music, the students took in the beauty and culture of the island with jungle hikes, snorkeling in pristine ocean waters, visiting historic sites and exploring the local culture.

HIGH HONORS FOR TWO ROOKIES THIS FALL As the fall season began back in late August, it was evident that two studentathletes would see much success during their freshman campaigns as Roadrunners. Jeremy Hernandez, a cross-country runner out of Clifton High School, and Larysa Iwaskiw, a women’s volleyball player from Immaculate Heart Academy, quickly made a name for themselves as top student-athletes with their respective teams.

Week honors, along with three ECAC Metro Rookie of the Week honors throughout the season. On Oct. 25, in the team’s 3-0 sweep over St. Joe’s-LI, she broke the all-time record for kills in a season, surpassing Michelle Ferrari, who collected 444 in 2011. Iwaskiw finished the season with 543 total kills.

Iwaskiw became the tenth person in the program’s history to be named NJAC

1st Team All-Conference and the second person to be tabbed as the NJAC Rookie of the Year. She was also named 2014 AVCA Division III New York Region First Team and AVCA New York Region Freshman of the Year. For the second time in school history, Iwaskiw was named AVCA Honorable Mention All-America for her efforts on the court this season.

Hernandez opened the season strong and ran each race as Ramapo’s top rookie while improving on his time during every race. For his efforts, Hernandez accumulated four New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week honors, along with three ECAC Metro Rookie of the Week honors. He is one of nine Ramapo men in history to be named NJAC 1st Team All-Conference and was the first ever in the program’s history to be named NJAC Rookie of the Year. Hernandez was also named the Team Rookie of the Year for his outstanding performance on the course this season.

It was evident in the first match of the season that Iwaskiw would be a driving force behind the women’s volleyball team’s success this season.

She led the team and conference all year in kills, averaging 4.65 per set, digs with 3.75 per set, and points with 5.32.

Iwaskiw received six NJAC Rookie of the

Jeremy Hernandez (front) excelled on the track this season.

Larysa Iwaskiw earned numerous honors on the volleyball court this season.

www.ramapo.edu

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COLLEGE NEWS LEARNING ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS In October, student leaders from Ramapo College visited the New Jersey Statehouse to meet with legislators and others to gain a better understanding of the legislative process. It was first visit of its kind for the students as was sponsored by the Office of Governmental Relations and the Center for Student Involvement.

President Peter P. Mercer met students as they arrived for a panel discussion featuring veteran government staffers, journalists and policy makers. The hour-long panel discussion, “How New Jersey’s Government Works,” included former New Jersey Labor Commissioner A.J. Sabath ’94, who also serves on the College’s Board of Trustees; Sonia Das, chief of staff to State Senator Loretta Weinberg; Gannett New Jersey’s Chief Political Reporter Bob Ingle; and Deborah Howlett, a former national reporter for USA Today and currently director of communications for the ACLU of New Jersey.

After the panel discussion, students toured the Statehouse, met with Assemblyman Robert Auth and heard from Michael W. Klein, executive director of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities, regarding higher education funding in New Jersey.

Governor James Florio Visit http://www.ramapo.edu/news/ campus-videos/ to hear an interview with Governor James Florio.

State Senator Sandra B. Cunningham

Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg spoke at the September 11 observance at Ramapo College. (L-R): Trustee Gary Montroy, Trustee William Dator, Mahwah Mayor William Laforet, Senate President Sweeney, Majority Leader Weinberg, President Peter Mercer and Student Trustee Kevin Ng .

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Ramapo College Magazine Winter 2014

Assemblyman Robert Auth met with Ramapo College students on the Assembly floor during their visit to Trenton.

The group also attended an afternoon Senate voting session and were recognized from the floor by Senator Weinberg. The trip will be held each semester.

The Trenton trip followed several visits to Ramapo’s campus from many public officials,including Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, former Governor James Florio and Senator Sandra B. Cunningham.

Senate President Sweeney and Senate Majority Leader Weinberg visited the campus in September. They toured the G-Wing renovations and construction at the Adler Center for Nursing Excellence. A 2012 bond referendum provided some of the funding for these projects.

Gov. Florio served as the 49th Governor of the State of New Jersey and served in the House of Representatives for sixteen years. He spoke to Ramapo students as part of the Constitution Day celebration. In an interview later that day, he also discussed the value of a liberal arts education in a global economy. Senator Cunningham spoke during a campus-wide voter registration drive and emphasized the need for students and young people to become engaged in the electoral process. She has served in New Jersey State Senate since 2007 and is the chair of the Senate’s Higher Education Committee.

(L-R): Dick Roberts, associate vice president/contracting officer at Ramapo, Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and President Peter P. Mercer review plans for the G-Wing renovations.

The Henry Bischoff Award for Excellence in Teaching for 2014 was awarded to Kristin M. Kenneavy (center), associate professor of sociology. She is pictured with (left) Beth Barnett, provost, and Sam Rosenberg, dean of the School for Social Science and Human Services.

About 200 students and faculty from Ramapo College participated in the People’s Climate March held in New York City in September. It is estimated that 400,000 people participated in the event, including 50,000 college students. In addition to New York, events took place in 162 countries to draw attention to climate change and sustainability-related issues.

DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH Dr. Paul Wichansky spoke at Ramapo College in October as part of Disability Awareness Month. The event was sponsored by the Office of Specialized Services

(L-R): Don Vanderbeck, former men’s volleyball coach, presents Kris Fraser with his plaque.

(L-R): Erica Moore received her plaque from Kate Levin, a former teammate and assistant sports information director.

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME The Ramapo College Athletic Hall of Fame Committee honored five former Roadrunners and a team at the Bradley Center during a dinner and ceremony in the fall.

The first inductee of the evening, Kris Fraser, was a four-year member of the men’s volleyball team. He quickly made his mark as one of the top players to come out of the program as a member and captain from 2001-2004, breaking school records throughout his career.

Patrick Jagodzinski was a standout four-year men’s soccer player who still holds numerous records for his goaltending abilities. He achieved high honors such as NCAA Regional All-American in 2003 and 2006.

A record holder in softball, Erica Moore was a four-year member of the team and captain, who led the program to four NJAC Championship Tournaments and three appearances in the NCAA Championships. The team won the regionals in 2006 and competed in the College World Series.

Wichansky’s talk was entitled “Taking the ‘Dis’ Out Of Disability.” He spoke about helping others to achieve their aspirations with the right attitude and closing the gap between the words “normal” and “disabled” through the use of humor. He drew upon his experiences of growing up with cerebral palsy and a hearing impairment. He also challenged the audience to change stereotypes that others apply to those with disabilities.

Tom Swanton was a standout football player in the late 70’s and early 80’s. His junior and senior campaigns boasted 114 tackles and 20 sacks. Swanton was the defensive captain in 1981 earning Defensive Most Valuable Player honors.

Our swim program would not be where it is today if David Turnage did not start the program back in 1973. He was inducted for his service to the swim program, and his service to the Athletic Department from 1973-1984.

Finally, the 1974-1975 Ice Hockey Team was inducted after finishing their season at 23-7-1, winning the first championship in the history of the program in the Bi-State Intercollegiate Hockey League. www.ramapo.edu

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CLASS NOTES

CHRISTINA

ROSAS

’99

Christina Rosas ’99, an attorney who practices law at Lazer, Aptheker, Rosella & Yedid in Long Island, cited her time at Ramapo for shaping her personal and professional development in many ways.

Rosas said professors such as Mitch Kahn, Mark Howenstein and Flavia Alaya proved invaluable in honing her life and career choices and skills.

“Each one helped me to realize my own potential and encouraged me to challenge myself,” said Rosas.“The world opened up for me as the College’s interdisciplinary approach gave me the chance to study a wide breadth of subjects and sparked my intellectual curiosity which remains a driving force to this day.”

Rosas said “the quality and reputation of the Social Work program” was a key factor in her decision to attend Ramapo. She credited the Admissions Office for making her transition to a four-year institution a seamless one.

Rosas started to think about law school during the year-long placement for her Theory and Practice class as a supportive case manager with a mental health agency. The experience convinced her that she wanted a career as an advocate and believed she could most help to empower others through a career in law.

She began her career as a law clerk at Lazer, Aptheker, Rosella & Yedid while in law school. Today, she practices primarily in the areas of real estate and debt workouts but has recently broadened her scope to include trusts and estate planning.

Rosas said the College’s interdisciplinary approach provided a solid foundation for career success and helped to mold her into a well-rounded person, which she views as equally important in attaining success and happiness in life.

She remains active at her alma mater and serves on the Alumni Advisory Board for SSHS. In addition to her law practice, Rosas serves on the Board of Directors for Nassau/Suffolk Law Services, a not-for-profit organization that provides free civil legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals on Long Island.

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IN MEMORIAM:

MAUREEN SMITHEM ’74 BRUCE GERMAIN ’77 VICTOR TIRRITO ’77 KATHRYN VOLINO ’79 WILLIAM KNAPP ’88 MARY DEVERE ’90 JAMES THALLER ’90 JASON SMITH ’00 MICHAEL MIKTUS ’05

HENRY BISCHOFF REMEMBERED

LORNE WEEMS REMEMBERED Lorne Weems, who served as director of the Education Opportunity Program (EOF) from 2007, passed away in August.

Ramapo College of New Jersey mourned the loss of Dr. Henry Bischoff this year. A memorial service took place on campus in September.

Family, friends and colleagues gathered to remember Henry.

Weems began working at Ramapo College in 1996. He was a central part of the College for 18 years and impacted many lives. Friends, family and colleagues gathered to remember Lorne at a memorial service on campus in September.

Henry joined Ramapo College Professor Emeritus Henry Bischoff in 1971. He was a founding faculty member and taught history and urban studies, among other disciplines, for 26 years until retiring with the rank of professor emeritus of history in 1996.

Henry worked tirelessly for the College.

President Peter Mercer, in an interview with The Record at the time of Henry’s passing, said: “The first thing you noticed about Henry was his remarkably bright eyes. The lights were always on. He was interested in what was happening around him.”

In an interview with the Ramapo News, Deirdre B. Foreman, acting director of EOF, recalled Lorne: “I think the students found a confidant in him…they found someone that they could rely on and someone that they could always go to for assistance.”

Ramapo freshman Daniela Herrera, in an interview with Ramapo News, recalled that Weems said “you don’t have to exceed the expectations that others make for you; the only expectations you should exceed are those that you set for yourself.”

He graduated from Georgetown University and the University of Chicago, where he received a Ph.D. in American History. He was the coauthor of From Pioneer to Settlement to Suburb: A History of Mahwah, New Jersey 1700-1976 and also wrote Innovations and Realities: A History of Ramapo College of New Jersey, The First Quarter Century. After retiring, he volunteered for the Hermitage in Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J., and served as director of historical studies.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Pamela Bischoff, who was vice president for student affairs at Ramapo College and two daughters, Renee and Kendra Bischoff.

DANIEL QUINN ’74 (Literature) was nominated for the Zelda Fichandler Award from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation.

The Zelda Fichandler Award recognizes directors and choreographers making an extraordinary theatrical contribution in their region of the United States.

MATTHEW MARGOLIES ’86 (Business Administration) was named president of MGC Diagnostics Corporation.

Margolies joined MGC Diagnostics in May 2012

and is currently executive vice president of global sales and service.

MARK MARSHALL ’90 (Business Administration) was appointed executive director of customer care at MetTeal, a provider of IP-enabled communications solutions.

LOUIS PEPE ’96 (International

Business) is serving as president-elect of the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials for the 2014-2015 school year.

Pepe is also the assistant superintendent for business for

Lorne Weems with Stevenson Roney ’09 at an EOF celebration.

Summit, N.J. public schools.

ERIC MELNICZEK ’97 (Business Administration) and his wife Amanda welcomed their first-born, John Benjamin Melniczek, on September 16, 2013 in Greensboro, N.C. CHELSEA BINNS ’00 (Law and Society) received a Ph.D. in criminal justice from CUNY Graduate Center/John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

She currently serves as senior vice president at Citi and an instructor in the department of public management at John Jay College. She is also

the second vice president and training director of the New York chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

CHRISTOPHER M. CHUDYK, CPA, CITP ’00 (Accounting)

represented Traphagen Financial Group at the Bergen Chapter of the NJSCPA’s Annual Young CPA Networking Event, an event which allows attendees to learn more about opportunities in the Bergen Chapter and the accounting profession.

www.ramapo.edu

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CLASS NOTES MICHELLE MASI-LERNER ’02

KELLY LLOYD ’06

KAREN BUCHAR ’07

GRACE HELBIG ’07

(Communication Arts) and Adam Lerner ’04 (Political Science) welcomed twins on March 6, 2014. Joseph Carl was born at 8:05 a.m. at 5 pounds 10 ounces and 17.32 inches long. Danielle Rose was born at 8:06 a.m. at 3 pounds 14 ounces and 17.52 inches long. The twins were born at Centrastate Hospital in Freehold, N.J.

(Communication Arts) has joined the law firm of McCarter & English LLP in Newark, N.J. She was previously an associate at Lowenstein Sandler LLP in Roseland, N.J.

(Educational Technology) was awarded the 45th annual Robert H. Ax Award by the Home and School Association.

Buchar is a mathematics teacher at Glen Rock High School.

ADAM BAKER ’07 (Music) and Theresa Heller ’07 (Communication Arts) were married in June at the Morris Museum in Morristown, N.J. Adam owns his own piano tuning business, Stay Tuned Piano Tuning, and Theresa is a program coordinator for the N.J. Clean Energy Program’s renewable energy program.

HEATHER DEMCOVITZ ’07

(Contemporary Arts) was named to Forbes’ 2014 Hollywood and Entertainment 30 under 30 list and to the Hollywood Reporter’s inaugural Silicon Beach Power 25. She is the creator and host of the it’s Grace YouTube channel. Helbig also created the My Damn Channel web series, DailyGrace.

THOMAS RAYMOND BALNE ’05 (Computer Science

and Theater) and Megan Knowlton Balne ’07 (History and Theater) welcomed their son, Samuel Reginald Balne, on March 21, 2014.

(Literature) married Matthew Coombs on Sunday, June 1, 2014 at Lake Valhalla Club in Montville, N.J. Her college roommate, Robyn Ford ’07 (History) served as maid of honor.

LAUREN HENDERSON ’05 (Business Administration) was promoted to chief financial officer of CastleBranch Corporation, one of the nation’s largest background screening and compliance management companies.

The Ramapo Alumni Mentoring Program connects alumni to students and recent graduates. Ramapo alumni are successful in many fields and positions and can assist with career and industry exploration, networking and transitioning to work life upon graduation. Sign up to become a mentor today. www.ramapo.edu/alumni/ramp

Pushing Boundaries SUCCESS BEYOND RAMAPO For 40 years Ramapo College has launched graduates who have succeeded in Pushing Boundaries both personally and professionally. Today, Ramapo College continues to inspire its students. See what our alumni are saying:

Foundation for a Lifetime

‘‘

I was a social work major with minors in Public Policy and African-American Studies. I loved my experience at Ramapo, the campus, the faculty, the challenges and the intimate environment. I forged some lasting relationships and am still involved as an alumna. Since I transferred from a community college, the College’s small size enabled me to get to know the faculty well.

I received a firm foundation and identity from the faculty of Ramapo’s Social Work Program. Sam Pinn, Mitch Kahn, Sam Rosenberg and Lorne Weems were helpful in my collegiate career and career planning.

Currently, I am an adjunct professor at Passaic County Community College and field liaison for Rutger’s University School of Social Work Newark Field Office. I am also the founder/executive director of Balm In Gilead Community Services, Inc. a non-profit agency that addresses behavioral health needs.

Viva White ’01 22

Ramapo College Magazine Winter 2014

’’

MELISSA DOBROSHI ’08 (Business Administration) is engaged to Christopher Kotsonis. A Fall 2015 wedding is planned.

STEVEN BLOOM ’08 (Economics

and Accounting) successfully completed his MBA at Monmouth University in May 2014. He was awarded the Outstanding Student Award for an MBA student.

Bloom also received a scholarship from the Institute of Management Accountants to take the Certified Management Accountant exam. He is currently a finance manager at L’Oreal USA in Berkeley Heights, N.J.

CHRISTINE HARRIS ’10 (Social

Science) has accepted the role of co-president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Middlesex. Harris was also featured recently in Dance Mogul Magazine speaking about her experience at Sunrise Senior Living and Ramapo College.

HYUNSOOK RHO ’08 (Nursing) became a full-time professor at KunJang College in South Korea. Rho teaches anatomy and community health nursing and is working towards a Ph.D. in nursing at Junbook University.

(Literature) is the youth services librarian at Lee Memorial Library in Allendale, N.J.

KRISTEN MOCKOVIAK ’09

MONIQUE ELISE SIMPSON ’10

(Literature) serves as the senior special projects associate at QualCare, Inc.,a managed care organization in New Jersey.

(Biochemistry) graduated from medical school at Vanderbilt University on May 9, 2014 and accepted a position in the child and adolescent psychiatry residency program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She is grateful for her mentors at Ramapo College for their continued support, especially Dr. Owen, Dr. Vides-Saade, Dr. Pacheco and all the TAS faculty and staff.

JOSEPH FEDERICO ’10 (Literature) co-authored a historical book, “Images of America: Galloway Township,” for Arcadia Publishing.

The book is available for purchase at Barnes and Noble and on Amazon.com.

GRETCHEN KASER ’10

TIMOTHY LINDNER ’10 (Literature) received his master of fine arts degree in creative writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Lindner serves as the senior production editor for John Wiley and Sons.

JAMES SOLTIS ’10 (Communication Arts) is engaged to Courtney Borgo.

Soltis is employed in the human resources department at the Children’s Place. A June 2015 wedding is planned.

KRISTEN MOLEDO ’11 (Literature) serves as the content technology coordinator at John Wiley and Sons.

MAURA SCHWARTZ ’11 (Literature) teaches high school English at Allentown High School, where she is also the debate team coach.

Faculty who teach and mentor

‘‘

The professors at Ramapo were engaging. For my learning style, the Ramapo environment was the best fit. I majored in literature with a creative writing concentration.

I felt valued by my professors and peers. I learned an incredible amount of information that shaped my education and character.

My education was incredibly well-rounded. The class environment always promoted conversation. We learned to articulate our thoughts and to disagree respectively with our peers and even our professors, which I found to be refreshing. The ability to communicate effectively has been a major advantage in my life and career. Ed Shannon, Monika Giacoppe, Lisa Williams and James Hoch were instrumental. With the Cahill Center’s help and professor recommendations, I secured a job three months after graduation.

I currently work at John Wiley & Sons. My job is focused on the project management side in the Production of Global Education products with a focus on digital.

Kristen Moledo ’01

’’

www.ramapo.edu

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CLASS NOTES SEAN STRATHY ’11 (Literature) is a sales representative at Pearson North America.

JENNIFER ALI ’12 (Law and

Society) was sworn in to the Little Ferry Police Department and became the town’s first female police officer.

ROBERT W. KELLER III ’12 (Environmental Studies) received a master’s degree in environmental studies with a concentration in sustainable development and climate change from Antioch University in Keene, N.H in May 2014.

RUBY CORMAN ’13 (Literature) joined the AmeriCorps NCCC Pacific Region and has worked with Habitat for Humanity and the National Park Services. Corman hopes to become a Park Ranger with the National Park Services.

SARAH GALO ’13 (Literature)

was awarded the Isabel Sparks Presidents Award for Best Alumni Epsilon Creative Paper for her poetry collection, “Lacuna.” Galo is also a contributor for various online publications including PolicyMic, Salon, The Line Campaign, Medium and Relevent.

BRENDAN FLANAGAN ’12 (International Studies and Literature) is pursuing his master’s degree in English with a concentration in Irish literature and culture at Boston College. Flanagan plans to continue his education, seeking a Ph.D. in English in the hopes of becoming a full-time college faculty member.

AMANDA LENTINO ’12 (Literature) is an English teacher at Waldwick High School and also serves as an advisor for Waldwick High School’s online and print newspaper.

ASHLEY NETANEL ’13 (Literature) is pursuing a master’s degree in human sexuality education at Widener University. Netanel hopes to continue her studies in Human Sexuality Education towards a doctoral degree.

ALEXANDRA POLIZZO ’13 (Literature) is an English teacher at West Morris Mendham High School and teaches sophomore and junior honors classes and coaches field hockey.

DANIELLE VALERIO ’13 (Educational Technology) and husband, Martin, have accepted full time teaching positions in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Air Force Airman 1st Class

LEXI LAPP ’14 (Theater)

ELYSE ALLEN ’13 (International

was accepted into the acting apprenticeship program at the Actors Theatre of Louisville.

Studies) graduated from military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Pushing Boundaries SUCCESS BEYOND RAMAPO

Hands on Learning

‘‘

At Ramapo, I was a theater major with concentrations in stage management/ directing and design/ tech. I toured several different schools and felt most at home at this campus. It was the only place I really felt that I could fit in and be happy for four years.

I was incredibly lucky to walk into a semester with an opening for an assistant stage manager. It provided hands on experience.

I started my professional career as a stage manager the summer after my freshman year. My adviser, Rachel Budin, gave me the experience, tools and contacts to get into the business.

I recently accepted a position as the assistant stage manager on the 2014-2015 national tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. I couldn’t be more thrilled to join this professional company. I look forward to taking all of my experiences and memories from Ramapo along with me.

Jess Gouker ’14 24

Ramapo College Magazine Winter 2014

’’

THE ANGELICA AND RUSS BERRIE CENTER FOR PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28

EISENHOWER DANCE: DANCE FOR LOVERS 8 P.M. | SHARP THEATER

PREUVE D’AMOUR 8 P.M. | SHARP THEATER

LES PAUL TRIBUTE 8 P.M. | SHARP THEATER

Plus special tickets for Valentine’s Day, including Pre-show Dinner and Artist Talk.

Considered by many critics to be one of the finest contemporary dance companies, the company, led

by Artistic Director Laurie Eisenhower, has received numerous grants and awards for its work. Dance for Lovers celebrates the passion of the season through dance, using the virtuosic athleticism and creative artistry that Eisenhower Dance has become known for.

Preuve d’Amour/Prueba de Amor/Proof of Love— Paris meets Buenos Aires in this culturally immersive evening of theater, dance and music featuring Argentine theatre artist and Fulbright scholar-in-residence Rafael Bianciotto, Zefiro Theatre from Paris, tango artist Sandra Antognazzi and acclaimed musician Oscar Feldman and his band. The evening begins with Zefiro’s American premiere performance of “Preuve D’Amour” adapted from Roberto Arlt’s Prueba de Amor, a philosophical exploration of love set in Buenos Aires of the 1930s.

Les Paul Tribute Featuring the Charlie Hunter/ Scott Amendola Duo. Guitar virtuoso Charlie Hunter and drummer Scott Amendola will headline the 2015 Les Paul Tribute Festival Concert, co-presented by the Mahwah Museum.

Hunter and Amendola combine diverse styles of American music through the songs of Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Hank Williams, The Cars, Bob Marley and others.

“A hand-clapping delight...a nice balance between hip fun and serious dance.”

– Chicago Tribune

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

MACK BRANDON’S GOSPEL EXPLOSION 8 P.M. | SHARP THEATER

DAVID BROZA 7 P.M. | SHARP THEATER

Share the joy of gospel music as Mack Brandon brings his fabulous choir back to the Berrie Center. A music professor at Ramapo College for the past 20 years, Brandon was the pianist and/or musical director for Ben E. King, The Drifters, Average White Band and the Supremes. He toured worldwide, including opening for the late comedienne Joan Rivers and country artist Clint Black. Brandon’s choir features the best voices from around the state, including Ramapo College students.

Israeli superstar David Broza has been considered one of the most dynamic and vibrant performers in the singer/songwriter world. David’s charismatic and energetic performances have brought to worldwide audiences a fusion of the three different countries in which he was raised: Israel, Spain and England. He unites the three worlds by utilizing his ability to take on the troubadour tradition, featuring lyrics of the world’s greatest poets.

Call The Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts for tickets at 201.684.7844 or visit www.ramapo.edu/berriecenter

SUNDAY, MARCH 22

THE RAMAPO COLLEGE FOUNDATION PRESENTS A BAND CALLED HONALEE 5:30 P.M. DINNER | 7 P.M. SHOW A Band Called Honalee is a modern-day folk trio inspired by the music and legacy of Peter, Paul and Mary. Following in the footsteps of that iconic trio, the group got its start in the heart of New York City’s East Village in 2009.

The show allows audiences to experience this timeless music live onstage once again.

Become a scholarship benefactor to benefit Ramapo College students.

To purchase tickets email lkloak@ramapo.edu or call 201.684.7611.

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

505 Ramapo Valley Road Mahwah, NJ 07430-1623 www.ramapo.edu