MESSAGES FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
College News FRANCES K. HACKETT ’80
Board of Trustees News
CHAIR, RAMAPO COLLEGE FOUNDATION BOARD OF GOVERNORS
T
he
Ramapo
College
Foundation
exceded its goals for 2013. In the first
year as chair of the Ramapo College
GEORGE C. RUOTOLO, JR.
Foundation, I am proud of our achievements
CHAIR, RAMAPO COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY
and excited about new initiatives in grants,
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
alumni relations, and planned giving. The Comprehensive Capital Campaign
Dear Friends,
goal was originally $40 million. We exor the last year, I have enjoyed the
ceeded that goal by approximately $7.5
privilege of serving as Chairperson of
million, and the Board of Trustees in-
the Ramapo College Board of Trustees. It
> BY Shannon Collins ’14
Mr. Vincent "Vin" Colman was recently named to the Ramapo College Board of Trustees. He is currently vice chairman and the leader of PwC’s Assurance Practice. Colman has served as a member of the Board of Governors since 2009. Colman, a Mahwah, NJ resident, has more than 30 years of experience serving global companies in accounting, auditing, financial reporting, mergers and acquisitions, and risk management. He previously served as managing partner of PwC's U.S. Assurance practice and vice chairman for the east region. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, in Accounting from Saint John's University and is a Certified Public Accountant in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.
creased the goal to $50 million.
“Vin’s financial expertise and skills are a tremendous asset to Ramapo College,” said President Peter P. Mercer. “We are grateful for his ongoing service in this new role.”
The Foundation endowment has experi-
Ramapo Listed One of the 100 Best Values in Colleges, 2014
enced a 94 percent increase over the past
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, for the ninth consecutive year, listed Ramapo College as one of the 100 best values in colleges for 2014. Ramapo ranked 66th for in-state tuition, up a slot from the 2013 tally.
continues to be an insightful, rewarding and heartening experience. I have spent much of my professional
five years, and net assets have increased 43
career providing philanthropic counsel to nonprofit
organizations.
The
percent over that same period. Ramapo
first
College continues to maintain significant
conversation with many of my clients is
support from its alumni, with 8.6 percent
often one of value. What value does your
of alumni solicited financially supporting
organization add to the lives of its patrons,
their alma mater in Fiscal 2013.
community and society as a whole? For
Kiplinger assesses the quality of its contenders through a number of measurable standards, including admission rate, the percentage of students who return for sophomore year, the student-faculty ratio, and the four-year graduation rate.
some organizations, this question prompts
We are pleased that student scholarship
a profoundly introspective exploration;
awards increased by 11 percent. Sixteen
Ramapo Student Lands Google Internship
for
mission
new named endowments were established
statement that has long been well-regarded
through gifts and pledges. There was a 33
Dobromir “Dobry” Yordanov, a junior at Ramapo College, landed a summer internship at Google Inc. Yordanov is an international student from Bulgaria and is a double major in Computer Science and Mathematics. In the spring semester, he worked as a programmer and developer for Ramapo’s website. This summer, Yordanov will participate in a Google orientation in California, before spending the summer in Cambridge, M.A. as a programmer and software engineer under Google’s YouTube team.
others,
it
crystallizes
a
but seldom celebrated.
Frances K. Hackett ’80 and George C. Ruotolo, Jr.
As a participant in Ramapo College’s abundant culture, I am confident in the College’s ability to deliver on its mission through a sublime balance of thoughtful interior consideration and outward strength of purpose. The work I have enjoyed with my fellow trustees, the Board of Governors, College leadership, faculty, staff,
percent
increase
in
applications
for
government grants and a corresponding 46
percent increase in funds secured. These grants supported faculty projects in the sciences and humanities and the renovation of a research suite for faculty and student research projects in biology and biochemistry.
and most importantly, the students, has revealed this stasis in ways
I am proud of the dedication of those who serve on the Board of
pedagogical, intercultural, economic and extracurricular.
Governors, the knowledge imparted by the Alumni Board and the
To this end, the College is not only a most worthy recipient of philanthropic giving (as you will note in the pages that follow) but it is also a mindful steward of its resources—well-prepared for a changing landscape and adaptable to fluctuations—but above all else, knowing of its purpose and its distinctive value. I thank you for your support of Ramapo College and invite you to join me as a participant in its exciting future.
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“It is gratifying to be recognized among our peers for our rigorous academic programs, which is a testament to the dedication and talent of our faculty,” said Ramapo College President Dr. Peter P. Mercer.
Ramapo College Magazine | Annual Report 2013
Alumni Advisory Boards to each School, the enthusiasm of the Friends of Ramapo and the input of the Parents’ Council. A College community with majors that offer a variety of relevant courses, as well as exciting educational and cultural programming, encourages individuals to support Ramapo, ensuring a strong Foundation. I am indebted to my predecessor Robert Tillsley for his stewardship of the Foundation during his tenure as chair and look forward to working with the Board to continue the positive momentum generated in 2013.
Ramapo’s Student Government Association Organizes First SGA Conference In the spring semester, Ramapo College’s Student Government Association hosted its first Student Government Association Conference. More than 40 SGA leaders from various colleges and universities across the state participated in a discussion covering a variety of issues. The conference featured a series of workshops on issues such as governance and advocacy and respective organizational strengths and weaknesses. The first SGA conference started a conversation about those involved in student government across the state. “It speaks volumes that Ramapo took this on, and I hope it will allow Ramapo to better serve its student body today and in the future,” said Ramapo’s Student Government Association President Vincent Guinta.
Ramapo Offers Joint Admission with Seton Hall Law School Ramapo College, in conjunction with Seton Hall University School of Law, announced a new joint admission program. Students accepted into the joint program gain guaranteed admission to Seton Hall University School of Law upon graduation. Incoming students must meet certain academic criteria and enroll as a Political Science or Law and Society major. Those accepted into the program must achieve certain academic criteria while at Ramapo to maintain guaranteed admission to Seton Hall. Professor of Political Science Jeremy Teigen, Professor of Law and Society Aaron Lorenz, and Vice President of Enrollment Management Christopher Romano worked to develop the new offering for students. “Students seeking a career in law benefit greatly from this agreement if they have the qualifications,” said Professor Teagen. “The agreement does not confine them to a single law school but can lower their anxiety level with the knowledge that they are already accepted at a top regional law program.”
Ramapo Offers Students Super Bowl Experience This January, Ramapo College’s Cahill Center offered students an exciting opportunity. Through a partnership with Manpower Staffing, an employment agency, Cahill offered 50 Ramapo students a chance to work at Super Bowl XLVIII. Students ranged from sophomores to seniors and included a variety of majors. The jobs and experience of the students at the Super Bowl were diverse and provided insight into one of the world’s major sporting and entertainment events. Ryan Wilson, a sophomore and Marketing major, was a greeter at MetLife Stadium on game day, interacting with fans and fielding questions. She said the experience was a lot of fun, and she would participate again. Francesca Hoffer, a sophomore and Math and Secondary Education major, also had a positive experience. “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I took it,” she said. “It was a long day on our feet, but we saw a lot of celebrities like Kate Upton, Alicia Keys, and James Marsden. It was a really rewarding and exciting day.” Some students including Ramapo senior, Christine Kutlu, worked on Media Day which took place prior to the game at the Prudential Center. Kutlu, a Business Administration and Marketing major, said he “did his best to resolve any problems, check up on team members, and explained the autographing rules to the lucky yellow card holders.” LisaRae Wiedemann, a junior at Ramapo, also worked Media Day. She said the assignment was an amazing networking opportunity to meet other students and professionals from the National Football League and ESPN.
Graduating Senior Tina Iraggi Receives Patrick W. Halloran Scholarship Ramapo College senior, Tina Iraggi received the Patrick W. Halloran scholarship provided by the National Order of Omega. Every chapter under the Order of Omega across the country nominates up to two students for this national scholarship. Iraggi earned the scholarship due to her dedication to the Order of Omega, Greek Life, and Ramapo’s campus community. In 2013, Iraggi, a Psychology major, was president of the Mu Rho chapter of Order of Omega. She also served as president and community service chair of Rho Alpha Sigma, and vice-president of chapter development and community service chair of Alpha Omicron Pi. She is also pursuing a certification in Elementary Education. www.ramapo.edu
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