Spring 2017 Ramapo Magazine

SPRING 2017

RAMAPO COLLEGE MAGAZINE

Google is home to talented Ramapo Alumni

FROM THE OFFICE OF

THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends, As you page through this issue of the Ramapo College Magazine, I encourage you to rest a bit longer on the content and consider how, with each milestone we reach as an institution, countless lives are enriched.

We have continued to be competitively ranked by U.S. News and World Report as among “America’s Best Colleges” and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine has again included the College among its “100 Best Values in Public Colleges.” Further, we have embarked on a comprehensive renovation of our library and the addition of a learning commons — a project that is sure to be transformative in both spirit and physicality.

While external accolades and large scale campus enhancements fuel enthusiasm and pride of place, my most coveted talking point remains our alumni, students, and faculty who are forging relationships across the country and the world. In the pages that

follow, you will learn how our alumni are establishing themselves as innovative leaders in technology, how our students and faculty are venturing to places like Washington, D.C. and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to advance education and social initiatives, and how our own campus has been host to a series of events and special guests commemorating 2016-17 as the year of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Thank you for your support of Ramapo College of New Jersey and for your contributions to our continued success.

Sincerely,

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

Athletes who were awarded fall post-season honors were recognized during a recent basketball game. Athletic Director Harold Crocker, President Peter P. Mercer, Board of Trustees Chair George C. Ruotolo, Jr., and Trustee William F. Dator were on hand for the presentation.

The Honorable Jose L. Linares visited the College and spoke with students. Pictured with Judge Linares is Trustee Sharlene S. Vichness.

contents PRESIDENT’S CABINET Peter P. Mercer, Ph.D. President Beth E. Barnett Provost Kirsten DaSilva Vice President for Administration and Finance Cathleen Davey Vice President for Institutional Advancement Nicole Morgan Agard Chief Equity & Diversity Officer / Director of Employee Relations Christopher Romano Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Michael A. Tripodi Vice President and General Counsel Brittany Williams-Goldstein Chief of Staff and Board Liaison

Ramapo College recently welcomed newly-elected Congressman Josh Gottheimer to campus where he spoke to students, faculty, trustees and College officials. Pictured, from left are Trustee Susan A. Vallario, Congressman Josh Gottheimer, President Peter P. Mercer and Trustee Gary Montroy.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES George C. Ruotolo, Jr. Chair BOARD OF GOVERNORS Ralph Mastrangelo Chair Carolyn Merkel ’78 Alumni Association Board, Chair

SPRING 2017

FEATURES

RAMAPO MAGAZINE STAFF Cathleen Davey Editor-in-Chief

p. 2 Google

Mary Cicitta ’07, ’16 Production Editor

DEPARTMENTS

Angela Daidone Copy Editor

p. 8

Alumni Feature: Leandra Tejedoro ’13

p. 10

College News

Janelle Ferraro ’14 Graphic Designer

p. 16

Foundation News

Carolyn Herring Photo Editor

p. 20 Athletics

Contributing Writers Angela Daidone Elizabeth Brand Rachel Pinton

p. 22

Class Notes

This magazine can be made available upon request in alternate media.

201.684.7611 Alumni contact and change of address: Joanne Favata at 201.684.7115 Student Relations contact: Melissa Van Der Wall at 201.684.7457

Ramapo Magazine is produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications: Melissa Horvath-Plyman AVP Marketing and Web Administration

in this issue

Front cover: Dobromir “Dobri” Yordanov ‘15 climbing the Google ladder

www.ramapo.edu

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Google is home to

talented Ramapo Alumni

L

anding a job at Google is a bit like winning the lottery. In 2016, Google had 1,000 job openings and according to Fortune Magazine, close to three million people submitted applications. What’s more, the technology giant not only made Fortune’s list of the 100 best places to work for each of the past ten years, it took the top honor seven times.

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By: Teri Gatto

It takes an individual with a unique set of attributes to work for Google. Foremost among these are leadership, curiosity and the ability to learn and communicate. Jessica Flatley-Beauchamp ’05, Dobromir Yordanov ’15, and Atanas Frengov ’07, are three Ramapo alumni who have what it takes to be members of the Google team.

FEATURE

A Nurturing Environment A major benefit of attending a small liberal arts college such as Ramapo is that students are exposed to a broad range of subjects designed to develop their intellectual curiosity and appreciation for learning.

“What I loved the most about Ramapo was the Liberal Studies major,” says Flatley-Beauchamp, who majored in literature and secondary education and today is a Google account executive specializing in digital marketing. “Being the type of kid who did not know what she wanted to be when she grew up, the liberal arts and small classes were the perfect environment for me.”

Dobromir Yordanov ’15, President Peter P. Mercer, Atanas Frengov ’07 and Jessica Flatley-Beauchamp ’05

“Between the ages of 18 and 25, the social and intellectual development of students are inextricably intertwined,” says Ramapo College President Peter P. Mercer. “The great advantage of small classes is not only that they are more intimate and enable a student to be more focused, but that they also allow for interchange among members of the class. It is hard to hide in a class of twenty, so that imposes upon

the members of the class a kind of understood obligation to participate and advance whatever issues are being discussed. That is very good training for later in life.”

Yordanov, a Google software engineer who majored in computer science and mathematics, credits the College’s small class sizes as an important factor in his educational experience.

“They really helped me forge relationships with my professors,” said Yordanov. “I could walk into a professor’s office during office hours and just talk about my studies and interests.”

Yordanov said his professors encouraged him to apply for a summer internship at Google.

“They told me I had what it took to get the internship, but I thought I had no chance. I was from a small liberal arts college and was competing with students from MIT and other technical schools,” recalls Yordanov. “But to my surprise, I did get the internship. It was then that I realized that my professors had a much better idea of where I was technically than I did.”

“Google” in LEGOS — Googlers are encouraged to take a break, play with LEGOS and build something of interest to get their “creative juices” flowing.

www.ramapo.edu

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FEATURE

Good Communications Is Key Frengov, also a Google software engineer who majored in computer science and mathematics, chose Ramapo because he was impressed with the Computer Science program. “The program is pretty interesting,” he recalls.

“The student-professor ratio is very good, and the professors have excellent credentials.”

Frengov, who left his native Bulgaria to study at Ramapo and was the recipient of Ramapo’s prestigious Presidential Scholarship, not only focused on his double major but also enjoyed courses in humanities such as creative writing.

“Good writing skills are one of the most crucial assets you can develop,” he says. “This is very important in a job like mine because a lot of the work actually

involves properly communicating ideas so that co-workers can clearly understand them.”

Frengov explains that he is required to explain in writing the design and objectives of his projects. In addition, he collaborates with other team members to develop written documents.

“The clearer and cleaner you write, the quicker your project will get approved and launched,” he says.

“It also engages more people -clear communication and good writing skills are essential in my field.”

According to Frengov, writing code also requires good communication skills. “Every time you write a piece of code, you have to write comments next to it explaining in simple terms what the code is actually doing,” he notes.

Jessica Flatley-Beauchamp ’05 (center) gives visitors a tour of Google NYC headquarters.

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Ramapo College Magazine | Spring 2017

Ramapo students at Google NYC headquarters.

Ramapo alumnus and Google employee Dobri Yordanov ’15 hosted a six-day Virtual Reality (VR) programming boot camp for Computer Science students over several weekends in April. Dobri is a member of Google's VR product area "Daydream" and wanted to give Ramapo students an introduction to this cutting-edge technology. Students learned about setting up their own VR development environments, fundamental terminology and they created an end-toend VR experience from scratch. Course materials and demos are available online for anyone who is interested. goo.gl/GSrG1E

Preparing Students for the Real World Student research, internships, work-study programs and an array of extracurricular opportunities not only help students develop intellectually, they also prepare them for life in the workplace.

“I was a software developer at Ramapo for most of my four years there,” says Yordanov. “It was my first real job experience in an office and taught me the basics about how to interact with others as well as how to maintain a balance between working and going to school full time.”

Flatley-Beauchamp remembers being deeply involved in peer facilitation – a mentoring program where

advanced students help professors to teach a freshman seminar course. “Having the opportunity to co-teach a class at such a young age was tremendously empowering and helped me be comfortable later in my career with taking risks and daring to fail because I had done things I never thought I could do,” she says.

She went on to receive a master’s in management from Boston University.

“One of my best experiences at Ramapo was working on a research project with a couple of the professors,” recalls Frengov. “The project was ongoing for a few semesters and every Friday the students and professors would work together in the computer lab – it was both interesting and fun.”

Ramapo College students and alumni join Dr. Jacqueline Ehlert-Mercer and President Peter P. Mercer (center front row) in the Google lobby.

Android-At-Work - Google window displays have Androids “working” on the scaffolding outside their building.

ALUMNI, STUDENTS GET ‘BACKSTAGE’ TOUR OF GOOGLE More than 60 Ramapo College alumni and students visited Google New York City headquarters in February. The event, organized by the Office of Alumni Relations and the Cahill Career Development Center, was a collaborative effort to provide an alumni-student networking opportunity in a business setting. Small group tours of Google’s colorful and inspiring spaces gave participants a chance to learn more about the iconic media giant.

Google employees Jessica Flatley-Beauchamp ’05, Atanas Frengov ’07 and Dobromir Yordanov ’15 led an informative presentation to the group and discussed what it takes to “create a future innovator,” citing a strong academic foundation, one-on-one relationships with faculty and

involvement beyond the traditional classroom setting as factors in career success. They also touted Ramapo’s well-rounded experience as important components in developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills, all of which are key when Google and other employers actively seek new employees.

“Visiting Google was really a great experience for me,” said Danielle Mermelstein ’17, a Communication Arts major who will graduate with a minor in Computer Science.

“The tour of the headquarters was fascinating and I loved speaking with our alumni who work there. I’m interested in pursuing a programming career so it gave me a good idea about what to expect in the field.” www.ramapo.edu

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FEATURE

Members of the New York City Alumni Chapter (L-R): Christina Rosas ’99, Andrew Jackel ’93, Dr. Jacqueline EhlertMercer, Danielle Weingand ’15, Christine Harrigan ’09, President Peter P. Mercer, Joe DePierro ’87, Dobromir Yordanov ’15, Jessica FlatleyBeauchamp ’05, Atanas Frengov ’07

Frengov says he and another student presented their project findings at a conference in Florence, Italy.

“It was great to get the recognition,” he said. “This type of experience is very helpful if you plan to go on to graduate school,” adding that he earned a master’s from Columbia University.

“Sending someone to Florence is unusual but not rare,” says Mercer. “We send 20 to 30 students to international conferences every year to present their work. Publishing a paper in a scholarly journal as a result of his or her own

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Ramapo College Magazine | Spring 2017

research is an amazing feat for an undergraduate student.”

An excellent academic education and a wide array of extracurricular opportunities give Ramapo graduates an invaluable edge when they go out into the world.

“Our students have teachers from the best American and international universities and they study the same curricula as the students at elite institutions,” says Mercer.

“We provide the type of education that empowers our students to compete against the best of the best and succeed.”

“

We provide the type of education that empowers our students to compete against the best of the best and succeed.”

-President Peter P. Mercer

Purvi Parekh ’01, ’04, Dragoslav Grbovic ’03, Ph.D., Jelena Pjesivac-Grbovic ’03, Ph.D., President Peter P. Mercer and Vice President Cathleen Davey

SPOTLIGHT ON:

Jelena PjesivacGrbovic ’03, Ph.D.

As Staff Software Engineer in Big Data and Tech Lead/Manager at Google’s California headquarters, Jelena Pjesivac-Grbovic’s main responsibility is overseeing the search engine giant’s big data teams. (For context, Google processes 40,000 search queries every second on average or 3.5 billion per day globally, according to industry estimates.)

Like other alumni, Pjesivac-Grbovic, who majored in Computer Science and Physics in the School of Theoretical and Applied Science, credits members of Ramapo’s faculty for paving the way to her success at Google by providing support and encouragement during her undergraduate studies.

“The Physics faculty including professors Daniela Buna, Philip Anderson and Teodoro (Teddy) Halpern who is now retired, were amazingly supportive,” she says. ”From our first research projects, to helping us apply for internships and constantly providing opportunities for learning outside of the classroom, these faculty members were outstanding.”

View one of Jelena’s recent talks at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=kHvHqOU1XY4

In addition, Pjesivac-Grbovic noted that there were two computer science classes that made a great impact on her, Organization of Programming Languages by Professor Amruth Kumar, and Senior Design by Associate Professor Victor Miller.

“Dr. Kumar’s class forced me to analyze the same problem through many different lenses, and Dr. Miller’s forced me to think about how I should represent my work, and to get the buy-in for the idea I wanted to pursue,” she recalls. “Both professors forced me to stretch and changed the way I approach problems. I also loved the physics curriculum and pretty much every class in that major.”

Pjesivac-Grbovic recounts that launching www.google.me, a Google search engine registered in Montenegro - a sovereign state in Southeastern Europe - was a highlight in her career. The project came about as part of the company’s “20 Percent” program which encourages employees to spend 20 percent of their time on a project that is not related to their regular work. This offers them an opportunity to stretch their knowledge, skills and creativity.

“I did a couple of “20 Percent” projects outside of my core focus on big data,” she says. “But launching www.google.me was one of my proudest moments.”

“

I love the arch, the reservation, the pond, but it was the people who made Ramapo special to me.”

-Jelena Pjesivac-Grbovic

Though it’s been a while since her undergraduate days, Pjesivac-Grbovic’s memories of that time still bring a smile to her face. “I love the arch, the reservation, the pond, but it was the people who made Ramapo special to me,” she says. “To this day, Ramapo is my second home.” www.ramapo.edu

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ALUMNI PROFILE

ALUMNI PROFILE:

<h1>

LEANDRA TEJEDOR ’13

</h1>

<h2 style=“font-weight:bold”>

Named to prestigious ‘Forbes 30 Under 30 in Education’ list for 2017 </h2>

<img scr=”Leandra Tejedor Speaking.jpg”>Tejedor speaks with women in STEM at Digital Media Academy in Palo Alto, California</img> <body>

For the average computer user, understanding what’s really behind all those web pages is far beyond comprehension. However, for Leandra Tejedor, it’s second nature. “Give me 20 minutes and I can teach you,” she said.

A strong understanding of computer coding and her passion for helping others have paid off for Tejedor, who graduated in 2013 with a B.A. in Communication Arts with a concentration in Visual Communication 8

Ramapo College Magazine | Spring 2017

Design from Ramapo’s School of Contemporary Arts. She is the cofounder of Vidcode, a company that creates online platforms and curricula that teaches middle school students JavaScript that can be used for special effects, video game creation and other creative online projects. She also was recently named one of 2017’s “Forbes 30 Under 30 in Education.”

“It’s really exciting,” Tejedor said, adding that she feels humbled to

be named with some of the most innovative and driven young adults whose aim is to help students.

Among Tejedor’s fellow awardees are founders of national and international non-profit organizations and funds, Teach for America educators, and Ivy League alumni. It’s also an honor, she said because Vidcode is creating opportunities for teen girls to participate in what has traditionally been a male-dominated field.

“

<blockquote>

Give me 20 minutes and I can teach you.”

- Leandra Tejedor ’13 </blockquote>

Tejedor met her business partners in 2014 at a two-day “hackathon” in New York City – a popular event where computer programmers, graphic designers, interface designers and project managers, among others, team up to develop software projects.

Tejedor and the women she met there collaborated on a project that ultimately became the initial prototype for Vidcode. “The software we created to write code actually didn’t work. It looked like it did but it wasn’t 100 percent successful,” said Tejedor. “But we came in first place anyway.” It was then that the seed for Vidcode was planted.

Today, Vidcode’s platforms and coding tutorials reach more than 150,000 students (boys are now included, too) in 113 countries. The company partners with schools, summer camps and afterschool programs, and offers free activities online for teens to try on their own. Vidcode’s success, she said, is no doubt based in the fact </body>

that we live in a technologicallyentrenched world.

<img scr=”Leandra Tejedor Photo.jpg”>Tejedor, left, chats with business colleague</img>

“We are a ‘wired’ generation. And programming is no longer just for programming jobs. Students need to have the skills to enter a number of fields,” Tejedor said.

“That’s where Vidcode can help.”

Tejedor said her interest in virtual “space” began early, when she was a Girl Scout. “My Gold Award project as a Girl Scout was on creating coding with an education focus, so I’ve been doing this for a while,” she said. “I grew up with technology, so it was easy for me to pursue this field.”

Tejedor credits the liberal arts education and support she received at Ramapo for affording her the chance to pursue her passion.

<img scr=”Vid Code.jpg”>Tejedor at a conference in Austin,

Texas</img>

“Although I was a design major, I also studied interactive media and graduated with a minor in literature. I think those classes have helped me tremendously,” Tejedor said, adding that one of her most memorable experiences at Ramapo was being a studentworker in the publications office.

“That was the best part, designing brochures, calendars, the travel book for International Studies and the Berrie Center catalogues,” she said. “I learned so much and had so much fun.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF: LEANDRA TEJEDOR

“There aren’t a lot of tools or programs built around their hobbies or interests. We wanted to make sure girls feel like there is a place for them where they can become comfortable with programming and pursue jobs in the field.”

<img scr=”Hack It Back.jpg”>Tejedor with a young student at a science fair in San Francisco</img>

www.ramapo.edu

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COLLEGE NEWS

(L): Amanda Sambucini ’15 works with students at the STEAM Expo.

(R): Ramapo Teacher Education students Amanda Khoudary ’17 and Fred Weinberg ’17 judge student projects.

TEACHER EDUCATION STUDENTS SERVE AS JUDGES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STEAM EXPO Ramapo College students in the Teacher Education program got a glimpse of young minds at work recently when they served as judges for a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Expo at Corpus Christi Elementary School in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. Amanda Khoudary ’17 and Fred Weinberg ’17 judged projects in the fifth and sixth grade categories.

“I was pleased that some of my students were able to be judges at the STEAM Expo. I know they were very impressed with the students’ projects,” said Eva Ogens, Associate Professor, Teacher Education (Math and Science) at Ramapo College. “I believe that any time Ramapo students can interact with ’real’ elementary and middle school students, it helps them realize that we should set our expectations high and that young students are capable of doing some amazing things! It also provides an opportunity for our students to make connections with the community.”

Weinberg, a post-baccalaureate student studying for certification in K-6 and middle school mathematics and social studies, said he found the staff and student body at Corpus Christi to be quite impressive.

“This competition was a perfect example of how learning can be made to be both fun and meaningful,” said Weinberg. “The students showed great pride and enthusiasm in their work.”

Ramapo alumna Amanda Sambucini ’15, who teaches sixth grade at the school, said, “As their teacher, I was proud to see my students’ exhilarated faces and enthusiasm as they explained their amazing projects and experiments to the judges.” Sambucini, who also is in Ramapo’s Master’s in Special Education program, credits the College’s faculty and staff for her success as an educator.

“Their guidance and community atmosphere was a significant reason for me to continue my academic career as a graduate student. The teacher education certification program gave me opportunities to develop into the teacher I am today.”

Gina Deppert, 5th and 6th grade science teacher, who organized the Expo, said she was thrilled to have Ramapo students participate.

“Getting a first-hand look at what our students are capable of was important for Amanda and Fred as they continue their studies,” said Deppert. “It was important for us, too, and I am grateful for Ramapo’s willingness to send their students to be part of this special event.”

ANNUAL CAREER FAIR ATTRACTS RECORD NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS 120 employers -- the most ever -- in a wide range of industries, including business, education, government, manufacturing, retail and real estate services.

“A record number of employers attended and were extremely pleased with the Career Fair this year,” said Beth Ricca, Director, Cahill Career Development Center. “We have already heard from a number of students who have interviews as a result of this event.”

Harry Bolton and Nicole Conner of UPS

Hundreds of Ramapo College students participated in the annual Spring Career Fair, held recently in the Bill Bradley Arena on the College campus. The event, sponsored by the Cahill Career Development Center, attracted more than 10

Ramapo College Magazine | Spring 2017

The Cahill Center conducted several workshops to help prepare students for the job fair, including a resumé writing workshop and an “Elevator Pitch Perfect” contest for students to practice their 30-second introduction to employers. According to post-event surveys, 80 percent of employers rated student preparedness as above average, and were impressed by the quality and

professionalism of the Ramapo College students.

“Employers spoke highly of Ramapo students as quality candidates, including several who themselves are Ramapo alumni,” said Debra Stark, Employer Relations/Alumni Career Advisor in the Cahill Center. Likewise, Stark added, students commented on the great turnout and the diversity of employers present.

“This variety is important for millennials.

They need exposure to more industries and greater knowledge in general about what the workplace offers.”

Among employers in attendance were ADP, BMW of North America, Center for Human Development and Family Services, Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs, NBCUniversal, Peace Corps, Simon & Schuster, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Benjamin Moore & Company.

RAMAPO ENTERS INTO DEGREE COMPLETION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FOR ADULTS WITH COUNTY COLLEGE OF MORRIS Ramapo College of New Jersey has entered into a partnership with the County College of Morris (CCM), effective fall 2017.

This collaborative partnership program agreement is specifically designed to facilitate the transfer of adult students into Ramapo’s accelerated Degree Completion program.

Adult students, who have earned their associate’s

degree through CCM’s Adult Program, will be guaranteed admission to complete a bachelor’s degree in one of Ramapo College’s degree completion programs for adults.

“We are excited to continue to strengthen the partnership that Ramapo has enjoyed with County College of Morris,” said Christopher Romano, Vice President for Enrollment Management

and Student Affairs at Ramapo College. “Through this program, we recognize that many returning adult students are seeking a degree in a cohort filled with other returning adults and on a schedule that recognizes the needs of working professionals balancing work, school and home life.

By aligning our programs, we can ensure that students will find that balance at both CCM

and Ramapo and be able to finish what they start.”

Ramapo College and CCM will collaborate in providing students with information and academic advising, as well as academic requirements and transfer process. Qualified students must have successfully earned an A.A. or A.S. degree with at least a 2.5 GPA and at least 64 credits before transferring.

Educators and guests from Japan met with Ramapo College staff and faculty for a symposium to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster of 2011.

SCHOLARS FROM JAPAN RECALL EVENTS OF 2011 FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR DISASTER DURING SYMPOSIUM The Roukema Center for International Education at Ramapo College recently hosted educators from Japan who participated in a symposium titled "Fukushima and the Human Consequences of Nuclear Disaster." The allday event was held to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster of March 2011.

The nuclear accident was triggered by a tsunami which occurred after a powerful 9.0 earthquake shattered the region. The power plant not only suffered damage from the earthquake but proved particularly vulnerable to the tsunami, which resulted in a greater than 19,000 death toll and millions of buildings and homes destroyed or severely damaged, including the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. More than 100,000 people were evacuated from their homes to escape the potential dangers of radioactivity exposure.

“Efforts to recovery in the region remain slow,” said Professor Fuminori Tamba of Fukushima University, whose comments were translated by Izumi OsawaMinevich, of the Roukema Center, who was one of the

presenters and a Fukushima native. “People outside of that area can often minimize what really happened and be positive. But people are still feeling the effects. This is why it is important to share stories with students and others.”

Tamba was one of seven visitors from Japan who presented during the symposium. Among the highlights was a recently produced documentary film, done in animation form that depicted the rescue efforts and the after effects of the nuclear event.

“Having faculty from around the world here to campus to discuss the triple catastrophe and the aftermath of that day in 2011 helps us better understand our role in responding to such tragedies and preventing future events that impact so many people on the planet,” said Aaron Lorenz, Dean of the School of Social Science and Human Services at Ramapo College.

Professor Michael Edelstein, of the School of Social Science and Human Services at Ramapo College, helped coordinate the event, chair sessions and was a presenter. www.ramapo.edu

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COLLEGE NEWS

Students and staff of Ramapo’s Educational Opportunity Fund Program in Washington, D.C.

Barbara Harmon-Francis, Director of Ramapo College’s EOF program, said, the conference was life-changing for many of the students.

EOF STUDENTS ATTEND PRESTIGIOUS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. Fifteen students and three staff members from Ramapo College of New Jersey took part in the African American Student Leadership Experience (AASLE) earlier this year in the historic Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. Ramapo’s participation at the AASLE conference, sponsored by the Bryant Educational Leadership Group and held in

collaboration with the Asian American Pacific Islander and Chicano Hispanic Latino Leadership Experiences, was funded through the College’s Educational Opportunity Fund Program, the Center for Student Involvement and the Office of the Dean of Students.

The conference theme was “Be the Change: Global Vision, Global Reach, Global Impact.”

“For some, it was their first time in our nation’s capital.

They were blown away by the knowledge they gained from the keynote speakers and were greatly influenced by the dialogue with students from across the United States. They are excited and ready to bring some great programming back to Ramapo, and are hopeful to return next year.”

Ramapo College students and staff were presented with an award for having the highest number of participants in attendance.

ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS PRESENTS CHECK FOR VETERAN STUDENTS SERVICES Ramapo College recently received a generous gift from Enterprise Holdings to benefit the College’s Student Veterans. President Peter P. Mercer accepted the check, appropriately presented in the recently opened Transfer Student & Veterans Lounge on campus.

(L-R): Vice President of Institutional Advancement Cathleen Davey, Jennifer Santiago, Enterprise Holdings and President Peter P. Mercer

“We take great pleasure in working with Enterprise in support of our student veterans,” said President Mercer. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with them.”

Enterprise is among the many area companies that have recruited students for internships, as well as part- and/or full-time positions. Ramapo College has the second most veteran students among state colleges or universities that are employed with the company in the Northern New Jersey region.

“Enterprise has a strong military heritage and it is an amazing opportunity for us to support 12

Ramapo College Magazine | Spring 2017

the veteran students,” said Jennifer Santiago, Talent Acquisition Manager for Enterprise, Wayne office. “We recognize their leadership skills and work ethic and value what these men and women bring to the table.”

Ramapo College opened its Transfer Student & Veterans Lounge in November 2016. The space is designed to be a hub of resources and a gathering place for transfer and veteran students. Ramapo College has been designated a Military Friendly School for four straight years and is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Colleges.”

JAPANESE ART TAKES CENTER STAGE IN GALLERIES Manga and War, a traveling exhibition from the Kyoto International Manga Museum in Japan, was one of several prestigious exhibitions on display recently in the Pascal and Kresge Galleries at Ramapo College. Curated by the Kyoto International Manga Museum in 2015 and presented abroad for the first time, this exhibition commemorated the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, and was a rare opportunity for American audiences to view 24 principal Japanese manga works, along with original paintings and drawings by several manga authors.

The manga that blossomed in post-war culture was strongly influenced by personal war experiences.

This exhibition was made possible in collaboration with New Jersey City University and supported in part by the Japan Foundation and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

STUDENTS WINTER IN COSTA RICA FOR A CAUSE Twelve Ramapo College students spent their winter break in Costa Rica, but the trip was hardly a relaxing two weeks on coastal beaches. Working with Ramapo’s local partner in the Central American country, the students developed wildlife enrichment projects, constructed building and moving enclosures for rescued animals and supported educational programs, among other tasks at Santuario de Lapas, NATUWA, a not-for-profit animal sanctuary that rescues animals that were captured through the illegal pet trade and provides a place of refuge for them.

The College began its relationship with NATUWA during Spring Break 2012 and has offered nine individual trips with more than 100 students and six staff members participating.

This trip was supported through the Community and Civic Engagement Center and the Ramapo College Foundation.

"Ramapo College is uniquely privileged with the opportunity to support an important cause through service to the NATUWA Macaw Sanctuary,” said Ben Levy, Director of International Education at Ramapo, who accompanied the students along with Linda Diaz, the College’s Director of Residence Life. “Ramapo’s students gain a transformative experience through challenging their comfort levels, whether that is living in simple conditions, conducting manual labor or interacting with a different culture and in a different language.

Students embrace these challenges with eyes and hearts open.”

Levy said a typical day begins with a call from nature’s alarm clocks – howler monkeys and screeching macaws. Students, who reside on-site in a dormitory for volunteers, are assigned a variety of projects that include building pools for tapirs

Students at NATUWA Macaw Sanctuary in Costa Rica

and jaguars; general maintenance, leading guided tours for visitors to the sanctuary and much more.

“I think that I can speak for the group when I say that it was an experience we will treasure for the rest of our lives,” said Harper Patsko ’19. “As a child, I wanted to be an ornithologist, so in a way, being surrounded by beautiful birds and other animals has fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine. Even though my career goals have shifted, I was absolutely elated to be there.”

Levy added, “It is a mutually beneficial experience where the support that students provide allows swift progress on important initiatives that would normally take the project much longer to achieve.”

PROFESSOR PUBLISHES STUDY OF GENETIC DIVERSITY FOR A WIDESPREAD BOTANICAL SPECIES Ramapo College Professor Eric Karlin is one of two researchers who have discovered that most of the genetic diversity for ancestrally indicative markers in the widespread peat moss Sphagnum ×falcatulum occurs within each individual plant.

Karlin is a professor of Plant Ecology in the School of Theoretical and Applied Science at Ramapo College. The study was published online on January 14, 2017 by the journal Annals of Botany.

Although most moss plants have just one nuclear genome, plants of Sphagnum ×falcatulum are unusual in having nuclear genomes from three different species.

In spite of being a relatively young species, Sphagnum ×falcatulum is the most widespread Sphagnum species in temperate regions of the southern Hemisphere, occurring in both Australasia and in Tierra del Fuego (at the southern tip of South America).

However, “the genetic difference (divergence)

among regions and among populations within regions collectively represent just 10 percent of the total information present in this species at ancestrally indicative markers used for this project, with another seven percent of the total information occurring among individuals within populations” said Karlin. “Thus, 83 percent of the total genetic information for the entire species occurs within each individual plant.”

Karlin and his colleague Peter Smouse, a professor at Rutgers University, determined the genetic diversity for the three ancestral genomes combined (the hologenome) as well as for each genome separately. The latter approach has rarely been possible to accomplish in prior studies.

They found that the total genetic diversity varied greatly among the three ancestral genomes. This indicates that Sphagnum ×falcatulum, which is an allopolyploid, had multiple origins involving ancestors that differed in their respective genetic diversity for the markers which were used.

Eric Karlin

www.ramapo.edu

13

COLLEGE NEWS

(L-R): Andrew Silverstein, CIANJ Board Chairman with President Peter P. Mercer

RAMAPO READERS PROGRAM HONORED BY THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY Ramapo College of New Jersey was recognized for its volunteer efforts when the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) and COMMERCE Magazine recently hosted their Fourth Annual Chairman’s Reception – paying tribute to the kindness and generosity of the business community.

The College’s Ramapo Readers program was among the thirty-nine entities, including leading manufacturers, retailers, hospitals, banks and colleges and universities, who were honored as “Champions of Good Works” at the gala reception, attended by more than 260 business executives.

“The Ramapo Readers Program is fueled by the good will, compassion, and contagious energy of the students, faculty, and staff of Ramapo College. It is an initiative of which I am proud to be a part and one that I trust will continue to grow,” said President Peter P. Mercer Ramapo Readers is an ongoing book drive initiated by student and faculty volunteers of the College and supported by generous donors throughout the College and community.

The project began in 2006 when faculty spearheaded through students of the Social Work Club a textbook drive to provide books for the devastated Southern University library in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, following Hurricane Katrina. In all, 7,500 books were shipped.

To sustain the project, Ramapo Readers has since shifted its focus to help local organizations and schools, including 52 public schools in Paterson. Students of the Social Work Club have expanded their efforts to establish additional collection points throughout the community as well as on campus. Their commitment to the project has resulted in the collection and distribution of approximately 134,000 books of all genres and appropriate for all age groups. True to its mission, Ramapo Readers is changing the world, one reader at a time.

14

Ramapo College Magazine | Spring 2017

Constance Crawford, MSAC Program Director, with students

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING PROGRAM TO LAUNCH IN FALL 2017 Ramapo College’s Anisfield School of Business (ASB) has added a Master of Science in Accounting Program to the College’s graduate degree offerings.

Applications are being accepted now for the Fall 2017 program.

The 30-credit M.S. in Accounting (MSAC) Program is designed to prepare students for Certified Public Accounting (CPA) certification and for a wide variety of professional fields, including forensic accounting, fraud examination and advanced auditing, accounting and control in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, and data analytics, among others.

The MSAC program is designed for students who wish to pursue both an undergraduate and graduate degree in accounting and students returning for a master’s degree in the field.

“This changes the entire mindset for our accounting students,” said Ed Petkus, Dean, ASB. “With the five-year B.S. + M.S. offering, even our firstand second-year students can see themselves as potentially pursuing a Master’s degree, not just as something that might happen someday long after they graduate, but as an integral part of their college experience. It facilitates a mature and conscientious approach to their education, right from the first day they come to campus.”

For current and incoming students, completion of the five-year program is accomplished through a comprehensive learning experience in both advanced accounting and

CPA exam preparation. Students will attain 150 credits and the professional capabilities to excel in today’s complex and rapidly changing financial reporting environment. For students who have previously earned a B.S. in Accounting, the MSAC will require 30 course credits.

Vin Colman, New York Metro Vice Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers and member of the Board of Trustees at Ramapo College, said, “The future of the profession depends upon having a robust pipeline of highly skilled individuals who can harness the power of technology and navigate the intricacies of data analysis—they will thrive as the industry grows increasingly complex and solutionoriented.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow 11 percent from 2014 to 2024. Ramapo B.S. in Accounting graduates are in high demand by local, regional and national accounting firms, including the “Big Four,” and the new M.S. in Accounting program will build on that reputation.

“Employees will need certain tools and skills to respond to those industry needs, so in addition to comprehensive course work at the graduate level, we are infusing information technology and stressing data analytics to best prepare our students to successfully enter the field,” said Constance Crawford, MSAC Program Director.

KANYA BALAKRISHNA GIVES KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT ANNUAL DIVERSITY CONVOCATION

Kanya Balakrishna

“

Collective genius is the only way we can change the world.”

Co-Founder and President of The Future Project Poses Challenge for Students to ‘Define Success on Their Own Terms’

Philadelphia, San Francisco and Detroit. It now has nearly 100 employees and exists in more than 40 public schools.

Kanya Balakrishna’s youthful energy filled the room as she encouraged students to embrace passion for their own futures during her keynote address at the 11th Annual Diversity Convocation in February. The event was sponsored by the Diversity Action Committee, the Office of the President and the Ramapo College Board of Trustees.

Speaking to an audience of students, staff, faculty, trustees and guests, Balakrishna posed, “Ask this question: what would you do if you weren’t afraid? We all have ideas about the future and what we can accomplish but if fear is holding us back, what good are those ideas?

The Future Project is about making schools a place where students can discover their passions and create their own opportunities and successes.”

Ramapo President Peter P. Mercer offered the opening remarks. “A young person with a passion and an enthusiasm for positive social change, Ms. Balakrishna reminds me of many of our student leaders,” Mercer said. Student Trustee Stephen Geerlof and Associate Professor Pinar Kayaalp, Co-Chair of the Diversity Action Committee, delivered the welcome and keynote speaker introduction, respectively.

Balakrishna, a Yale graduate, is co-founder and president of The Future Project, a national movement calling on young Americans to create the future of their dreams. Since launching in 2011 in Washington, D.C., New York City and New Haven, Connecticut, the organization has spread across seven American cities, including Newark,

The Future Project dispatches full-time “Dream Directors” — highly trained, worldclass leaders and entrepreneurs — into high schools and charges them with mobilizing a coalition of students and staff who channel their passions to build student-led Future Projects (campaigns, organizations, products) that impact their schools and communities.

“We want people to define success on their own terms…when ideas collide and combine, they grow and that leads to innovation,” Balakrishna said, adding that “Collective genius is the only way we can change the world.”

The annual Diversity Convocation is one of the initiatives of the Diversity Action Committee at Ramapo College.

PROFESSORS TRAVEL TO ETHIOPIA; PRESENT TALK ON LITERACY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COMIC BOOKS Ramapo College professors Michael Bitz (Teacher Education) and Tilahun Sineshaw (Psychology) of the School of Social Science and Human Services traveled to Ethiopia in January to share their expertise in exploring learning and development through creativity with educators in the African nation.

Bitz and Sineshaw, traveling through a Sub-Saharan Africa Travel Grant from the Office of the Provost, worked with Ethiopian teachers, faculty and graduate students at Addis Ababa University An Ethiopian student peruses a comic book. to build creative pathways to literacy.

Their talk, titled Literacy, Creativity and Cognition: Exploring Learning and Development Through YouthGenerated Comic Books, was well-received.

“Comic books are not part of the cultural norm in [Ethiopia] but they are a creative element in the telling of stories, whether fictional or real life,” said Bitz, who also serves as Director of the Instructional Design Center. “Literacy educators, no matter where they are, face the same challenges: how to excite students

to write, how to foster a love of reading, how to engage students in language. Our goal was to introduce the process of writing, designing and telling a story through a different art form, namely comic books.”

Sineshaw, a native of Ethiopia, said integrating different socio-cultural perspectives into thinking and problem solving strategies encourages learners to become even more creative and utilize sustained novel approaches in literacy acquisition and development. This integrative approach is believed to be an important factor in bridging the gap between theory and practice.

“Every young person has his or her own story to tell, regardless of their background or life experiences,” he said. “This is just one more way to introduce literacy to students who might otherwise not know how to express themselves in creative ways.”

Bitz and Sineshaw also visited the St. Joseph School in Addis Ababa, which enrolls more than 1,600 students in grades K-12.

The Ramapo professors shared comic books created by grade school children in the United States and are working with educators to launch a school-based comic book workshop in the Ethiopian capital.

“We are a whole world away but not very different,” Bitz said. www.ramapo.edu

15

FOUNDATION NEWS

School of Business Alumni Advisory Board.

She has been instrumental in BMW’s annual sponsorship of the Foundation’s Golf Outing and Distinguished Citizens Dinner. She also helped coordinate the BMW of North America Diversity Scholarship.

(L-R): Chair, Board of Governors Ralph Mastrangelo, Honoree Trudy Hardy ’91, Honoree Thomas M. Hewitt Sr. ’75, President Peter P. Mercer, Honoree Ilija Pavlovic, Chair, Board of Trustees George C. Ruotolo Jr., Vice President of Institutional Advancement Cathleen Davey and Edward P. Wallace, Jr., representing SUEZ North America

FOUR HONORED AT RAMAPO COLLEGE FOUNDATION’S 35TH ANNUAL DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS DINNER The Ramapo College Foundation honored four individuals for their professional achievement, commitment to education and community service at its 35th Annual Distinguished Citizens Dinner (DCD). The honorees were recognized at a gala on March 4 at the Rockleigh Country Club in Rockleigh, N.J. More than 300 guests enjoyed the event, which raises funds for student scholarships, faculty and student research opportunities and campus projects.

In addition to family and friends of the honorees, many Ramapo alumni and past DCD honorees also joined College officials, faculty and staff for the event, which included a successful auction, dinner and dancing.

The honorees were: Trudy Hardy ’91 is Vice President of Marketing for BMW of North America, LLC. She is responsible for directing all marketing communication activity and strategic product planning for the United States market for BMW. Trudy currently serves on the Ramapo College Foundation Board of Governors and the Anisfield

Rich Henning is Senior Vice President, Communications for SUEZ North America. In this position, he oversees all internal and external communication programs for the company’s corporate office and its nationwide water and wastewater operations. Rich serves as chair of the board of directors of Heroes and Cool Kids Foundation as well as the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation Board. He is a member of the New Jersey utilities Association, the New York State Water Wise Council and the American Water Works Association.

Thomas M. Hewitt, Sr. ’75 is Vice President, Field Marketing for North New Jersey, TD Bank. In this position, he executes marketing initiatives to promote new retail and business accounts and supervises community relations donations to enhance business development. Tom has served as chair of the Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies Alumni Advisory Board, participated on the Anisfield School of Business Alumni Advisory Board and is a member of the Ramapo College Foundation Board of Governors. He has been instrumental in TD Bank’s annual sponsorship of the TD Bank Summer Concert series at Ramapo College, the Business Partners Program and a grant for the Nursing Program.

Ilija Pavlovic is President and CEO, Special Properties Real Estate Services, LLC, which is an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, the real estate arm of Christie’s, the world’s leading art business and arbiter of luxury for 250 years.

In the past year, Special Properties has significantly expanded its presence, becoming the exclusive Christie’s arm in more than 100 communities in northern New Jersey. In 2008, he purchased Crocker Mansion, a National Historic Registry property in Mahwah, and in seven years completely restored this unique and magnificent property.

PERFORMING ARTS DINNER SERIES In its 17th year, the Performing Arts Dinner Series continues to attract new friends to the College and offers award-winning performances, a wonderful dining experience and an opportunity to support student scholarships. This year’s performances included D.O.A. Mysteries in Mind Over Matter, Chris Collins & Boulder Canyon: A Tribute to John Denver, Pat Hazell’s The Good Humor Men, and Jarrod Spector & Kelli Barrett: This is Dedicated.

The generous sponsors included Elaine Adler, The Adler Aphasia Center, Stryker, Liberty Hyundai & Liberty Subaru/the Rick De Silva Family, Frank and Judy Rodriguez, Roy and Eileen Putrino and Inserra Shoprite Supermarkets.

The Performing Arts Dinner Series is a yearlong fundraiser for unrestricted revenue to support student scholarships and to advance the mission of the Foundation.

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Ramapo College Magazine | Spring 2017

(L-R): Performing Arts Committee Chair Roy Putrino, Sponsor Michael McCarthy of Stryker, Chair, Board of Governors Ralph Mastrangelo, Scholarship Recipient Princep Shah ’17 and Ramapo College President Peter P. Mercer

FOUNDATION ALLOCATION GRANTS FUND VARIED PROJECTS The Ramapo College Foundation Board of Governors Grant Allocations Committee recently awarded its spring semester grants to the campus. Nineteen competitive grants were funded to support an array of projects. “This year's proposals represented a broad spectrum of research, study abroad, and faculty scholarship,” says Patricia Davino, Chair of the Grant Allocations Committee. “I was especially glad to see that so many of the projects involved students, and have provided an incomparable benefit that only adds to their Ramapo College experience.”

Grants are awarded in the fall and spring semesters each year, with more than 40 funded this year alone. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to apply by June 1 for the fall cycle and February 1 for the spring cycle.

Ramapo students, led by Associate Professor Ashwani Vasishth, will take part in a six week study abroad program in Bangalore, South India this summer, where they will visit tribal villages and meet with local organizers who are promoting women’s literacy and ecological sustainability. Closer to home, two

students will be researching the ecological and social impact of illegal dumping in Stag Hill in Mahwah. “The students will be conducting hands-on field research, collecting samples, and then working with a local business to perform soil and water testing” says Karin LaGreca, an adjunct professor and leader in MEVO, a local non-profit that has been organizing clean ups on Stag Hill since 2011.

Other grants included support for student/faculty research into the behavior of traders during stressful market conditions (Juan Cabrera, Associate Professor of Finance), the impact of peer teaching on student learning (Malavika Sundararajan, Assistant Professor of Management) and a study by Assistant Professor of Social Work Seon-mi Kim that seeks to understand how the worker cooperative model helps underprivileged female workers customize their jobs and improve job satisfaction. Support for musical performances included the Open Door Concert Series (Itay Goren, Adjunct Professor of Music) and the Lysander Trio and Aeolus Quartet (Gilad Cohen, Assistant Professor of Music Performance and Theory).

$500,000 GRANT RENEWED (R): Professor Catalin Martin shows Engineering Physics student Alex Clark ’17 how to operate the new Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer in the Physics lab.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRANT FUNDS SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT Engineering physics and chemistry students at Ramapo will now have the opportunity to conduct graduate level research on a highly sophisticated piece of equipment not typically found in undergraduate labs. Assistant Professor of Engineering Physics Catalin Martin received a grant of $151,144 from the National Science Foundation to purchase a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer. The FTIR Spectrometer measures light with extended spectral ranges that

is emitted, absorbed or scattered by materials and can be used to study, identify and quantify those materials.

“Using the FTIR Spectrometer will provide students useful technical skills for industry careers or further studies in graduate school,” says Martin.

The spectrometer is also expected to attract external collaborators and users from major research institutions which will offer new opportunities for Ramapo students to broaden their education and research background.

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority recently renewed its $500,000 commitment to Ramapo College for environmental education at the Meadowlands Environment Center. Angela Cristini, Professor of Biology and Assistant Vice President of Grants and Sponsored Programs, directs all educational programming at the center which serves over 20,000 students each year. “We look forward to continuing to provide high quality, hands-on environmental education to K-12 students,” says Cristini.

www.ramapo.edu

17

FOUNDATION NEWS

PHOTO COURTESY: MICHAEL PACHECO ’17

GRANT SPOTLIGHTS MATH, THEATER ENDEAVORS

Grant Recipient: Amanda Beecher, Associate Professor of Mathematics Project Funded: Math Contest in Modeling At eight o’clock on a Friday evening in mid-January, when other students on campus were winding down and making their weekend plans, students Pam Bletsova ’18, Alex Cardazzi ’17, and Nate Moon ’18 logged into the Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) and Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM) website to choose the six problems they would tackle as part of the group’s annual competition.

For the next three days and nights, the students researched the open ended problems, implemented mathematical models and then wrote up their solution in a 20 page paper. “For Ramapo students, this contest challenges them to mentally solve a real world math problem and get recognition on a real world stage,” says Associate Professor of Mathematics Amanda Beecher, who serves as the advisor for the student teams. According to Beecher, the contest encourages a

multi-disciplinary approach to problem solving in a fixed amount of time, which mirrors the real world job experiences the students are likely to have. Teams are often comprised of students representing different disciplines such as mathematics, economics, psychology and business.

Ramapo students have competed in the last three contests, with tremendous success. Three teams have been designated as “Outstanding” which places their work in the top five percent of all submitted papers. Students Pam, Alex and Nate are eagerly awaiting the results of their entry, but all agreed that despite taking on such a huge project in a compressed amount of time, the experience was well worth it.

Nate said, "Once you realize that you're totally capable of taking on these huge challenges, it's absolutely contagious and you can't stop.”

Grant Recipient: Peter A. Campbell, Associate Professor of Theater History and Criticism Project Funded: Touring Production of Can’t Get There From Here Long before online dating, in 1916 Pennsylvania farmer John Coldren placed a want ad for a bride in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Wanted: by a good looking young man, aged 36, to correspond with a young lady of near age, object matrimony. My income is over a hundred dollars a month; own a farm and an automobile. John D. Coldren. Brownsville, Pa. His ad generated dozens of replies from young women, which became the basis of Peter Campbell’s performance installation Can’t Get There From Here. The project incorporates spoken text, dance and film, and has already featured Ramapo students in a premiere performance in the Sharp Theater of the Berrie Center.

In November 2016, Professor Campbell took three Ramapo students to Minnesota to perform and teach choreography to students from Minneapolis-area colleges, as well as professional actors and dancers.

The trip culminated in two performances at the TRANSFORMance Festival. “Ramapo students were given extended opportunities to collaborate on a groundbreaking new performance work with professional actors, designers, choreographers, and technicians, in a venue filled with theatre professionals and scholars from all over the world,” said Campbell.

Plans are underway to tour the production to additional venues.

18

Ramapo College Magazine | Spring 2017

CHEERING SQUAD

PHOTOS COURTESY OF: BRANDYWINE LIVING

Brandywine Living residents cheered on their favorite team as the Ramapo College Men’s Basketball Team advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The enthusiastic cheerleaders even celebrated the team’s efforts with a signature cocktail, the “Ramapo Roadrunner” which they developed specifically for the occasion as they watched the game live-streamed. Brandywine Living, a Business Partner with Ramapo College, is based in Mahwah, N.J.

Save The Date THE RAMAPO COLLEGE FOUNDATION’S

30 th Annual

Y

Golf Outing Y Monday, July 17, 2017 THE NORTH JERSEY COUNTRY CLUB WAYNE, N.J.

Sponsored by:

Century 21 Construction www.ramapo.edu/ golf-outing

RAMAPO COLLEGE FOUNDATION GRANT ALLOCATIONS BY THE NUMBERS Since 2014, grant funds have increased by

30%

41

grants were awarded in 2017

400+

Ramapo College students have directly benefitted from ALLOCATION GRANTS this year www.ramapo.edu

19

ATHLETICS

Take a look at the winning shot: http://bit.ly/2nAxBAk

(L): The men’s basketball team celebrates the NJAC championship.

(Below): Head Coach Chuck McBreen is ecstatic after the title win.

MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM HAS HIGHLIGHT REEL SEASON The 2016-2017 men’s basketball season was one of the best in program history and certaintly one for the record books. The list of team accomplishments is highlighted by the half-court buzzer beating shot that rocked ESPN SportsCenter Top Ten Plays and thrilled the sell-out crowd at the Bradley Center, earning the Roadrunners a trip to the 2016-2017 NCAA Championship Tournament, hosted here on campus.

The team finished at 26-3 and climbed to fifth in the nation, winning the NJAC title and garnering player accolades along the way, including NJAC Player of the Year and four NJAC AllConference awards. “This team was a special group of studentathletes with great character who came together and collected the best record in school history,” said Roadrunners Head Coach Chuck McBreen, who was named NJAC Coach of the Year. “They created unique memories that will last forever.”

The Roadrunners seemed to destined to greatness from the season’s opening tip-off. They began the campaign on a 14game win streak and made it to the national stage by defeating conference rival New Jersey City University, 67-64, with the thrilling buzzer beating half-court shot tossed in by junior forward Thomas Bonacum. The NJAC title was the fourth in program history, all during McBreen’s tenure, while it was the seventh time (sixth under McBreen) the team made an appearance at the NCAA Tournament.

The Roadrunners saw just as many individual successes as it did team successes throughout the season-- and Bonacum built a resume that will likely land him in the College’s Hall of Fame. “I had an unforgettable season this year and it shows that hard work pays off, but I couldn't have done it without my teammates,” he said.

In addition to his NJAC Player of the Year nod, Bonacum earned NABC Atlantic Region 1st Team, NABC District Player of the Year, NABC Coaches' Division III All-American 1st Team, All-Met Division III Co-Player of the Year, All-Met Division III 1st Team, D3hoops.com All-American 3rd Team, D3hoops.com Atlantic Region 1st Team, D3hoops.com Atlantic Region Player of the Year, ECAC Metro AllStar 1st Team and NJAC 1st Team All-Conference.

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Ramapo College Magazine | Spring 2017

Bonacum led the Roadrunners this season with 478 points, 17.1 per game. He also led the team in field goals made, free throw attempts, free throws made, assists, defensive rebounds and minutes played. For the NJAC, it was Bonacum's second first team nod after earning it in 20152016, while being named NJAC Rookie of the Year in 2014-2015. This season he also became the 19th player in program history to score 1,000 career points.

Other post-season honors went to junior Christopher Moseley, who earned NJAC 2nd Team All-Conference, and junior Josh Ford and senior Sultan Aminu who were named to the Honorable Mention All-Conference team. Bonacum added, “All of my teammates deserve credit and recognition as well. We all worked extremely hard this year to have the season we had.”

Despite a heart-breaking loss in the second round of the NCAA Championship Tournament, the Roadrunners have much to be proud of this season. “This team cared for and played for each other every single day. They were extremely unselfish and all they wanted to do was compete and win,” McBreen said. Without the support of the fans who rocked the Bradley Center the entire journey, the end result might have taken a different path. “The way they brought the entire Ramapo College Community together was extraordinary and nothing I have seen in my 19 years at the College.

We can’t thank the fans enough!”

ROADRUNNERS BRING HOME ALL-AMERICAN HONORS The national stage was the platform for two Ramapo College track and field athletes who earned the opportunity to represent the College at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Napersville, Illinois, in early March.

Held at the Res Rec Center and hosted by North Central College, juniors Amber Edwards and Jeremy Hernandez furnished All-American performances at the national indoor championship.

Edwards made her first appearance at the NCAA Championship, qualifying to compete in the field event of the triple jump. She became eligible for nationals after winning the NJAC and ECAC Championships earlier in the season. Edwards entered the championship ranked 2nd in the Atlantic Region with her ECAC winning mark of 38' 10.5" (11.85m) and was seeded 6th in a field of 17 competitors. Edwards hit a mark of 12.05 meters, a personal best, to take home a 4th place finish overall to earn All-American honors.

A frequent flyer at nationals, Hernandez made the trip this season to take on the best of the best in the mile run. This was his third trip to the national stage for indoor track and field. He clocked in with a time of 4:10.00 and finished the mile final in 6th place overall earning All-American status. He qualified for the finals as he ran the preliminary race in 4:12.09, finishing in 1st place overall one day prior. To make it to nationals, Hernandez won the NJAC Championship earlier in the year and came into the championship seeded 11th in the field of 15 runners.

Both Edwards and Hernandez were named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region Team, while Edwards earned NJAC 1st Team All-Conference earlier in the season.

Hernandez also took home NJAC 1st Team All-Conference honors while being named the conferenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s G. Larry James Men's Indoor Track & Field Most Outstanding Athlete for the second time in his career.

Juniors Amber Edwards, above, and Jeremy Hernandez, left, perform during the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Top and middle left, Edwards and Hernandez on their respective medal podiums

www.ramapo.edu

21

CLASS NOTES

WHERE WE ARE

&

what we are up to 1976

THOMAS SANDONATO (Contemporary Arts). In March 2017, Tom’s artwork was exhibited at the Themes+Projects Gallery in San Francisco. The exhibit, titled “Passages,” explored the spaces between painting and sculpture using mixed media. Tom is co-creator of KitHAUS, an eco-friendly, modular building company; he lives and works in Los Angeles.

1980

ROBERT A. VANDENBERGH (Business Administration) was recently recognized by Lakeland Bank for his 25 years of service. Bob joined the bank in 1991 (then NBSC) where he has risen from senior vice president and senior loan officer to his current position of executive vice president and chief operating officer.

1986

JULIA OGDEN (Psychology) is one of 213 teachers from across the U.S. who has earned the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The teachers were recognized

by President Obama at a ceremony in Washington D.C. on September 8, 2016.

They each received a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. Julia has been teaching science at Woodcliff Middle School in Woodcliff Lake for 14 years and facilitates the school’s environmental club.

KAREN D. SIMMONS (Management) is the 2016 recipient of the Nancy Jaeger Award for Excellence in Counseling bestowed by Ramapo College. Karen is a counselor at New Brunswick High School. This is the third year that the College

has given the award, which is named for the Ramapo’s former director of admissions who served the College for nearly 40 years.

1987

DAN S. CARR (Business Administration) joined ITG Brands LLC in Greensboro, N.C. as the company’s president. ITG is the thirdlargest tobacco manufacturer in the U.S. Previously, Dan was president at General Cigar. He began his career with Scott Paper (now part of Kimberly-Clark Corp.). He has served on the board of the Cigar Association of America for more than 15 years and is former chairman. He also serves on the University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business executive advisory council and on the board of the Tobacco Merchants Association.

1989

NANCY GRASSO (Business Administration) was hired by Van Dyke Health Care, Inc. as its first executive director of its new home care company, At Home with Van Dyke.

Previously, Nancy served as vice president at Accredited Health Services as well as executive director for several home care agencies.

1990 Alumni enjoyed networking at the New York City Alumni Chapter reception at The Tippler immediately following the Google alumni presentation, thanks to co-owner and alumnus ANDREW JACKEL ’93 (pictured with President Peter P. Mercer).

The unique venue and delicious refreshments provided the perfect setting for lively conversation among the group.

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Ramapo College Magazine | Spring 2017

ALLYSON MILLER (Communication Arts) joined Phelps Memorial Hospital Center as director of marketing/communications.

Most recently, Allyson served as vice president of business

development at St. Barnabas Hospital Health System.

Prior to that, she was vice president of marketing and business development at CarePoint Health.

1991

RONALD J. CAMPIONE (Political Science) was promoted to principal of the law firm of Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C. in Florham Park.

Ronald’s practice focuses on complex litigation and transactional matters involving business law. He joined the firm in 2006. He earned a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law.

1992

ALICIA R. HARRIS (Communication Arts) recently joined Natrel Communications Inc. as vice president, group copy supervisor. Natrel is a healthcare communications agency located in Parsippany.

1997

DANIEL JEAN (Communication Arts) was appointed an interim member of the Haledon Board of Education. Daniel is director of the educational opportunity fund and academic development at Montclair State University.

He holds a master’s degree from Montclair State University as well as a doctorate from Seton Hall University.

2000

KENNETH ROSENFELD (Accounting) was promoted

to partner in the tax department at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP in New York; it is an international law firm serving the financial and investment sector. Kenneth has been an associate of the firm since 2006. He earned a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

2001

VALERIE J. JOHNSON (MSET) was honored recently by the Teaneck Chamber of Commerce as “Woman of the Year” for her service to the community. She was also honored earlier this year as “Educator of the Year” by the Teaneck mayor’s office.

She has been a township resident for 24 years and actively involved in many organizations, including the Taste of Teaneck, the Teaneck Rotary Club, the Bergen County alumni chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Teaneck Comes Together, the Enslaved Africans Memorial committee, as well as her church, Christian International Church in Lincoln Park. Valerie teaches sixth grade at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and is active with the PTSO and the PTO. WILLIAM TANTUM (MSET) was named principal of Tenakill Middle School in Closter.

He holds an undergraduate degree from Rutgers University as well as master’s degree from Montclair State University. William worked for the Teaneck public school district for 16 years prior to joining the Closter public school system five years ago as technology coordinator and subsequently as technology integration program supervisor.

2003

GILBERT BANKSTON (Communication Arts) has joined Levin Management Corporation as vice president

of property management.

Based in North Plainfield, the company provides retail property leasing and management. He had held management positions at Simon Property Group and General Growth Properties.

Gil is pursuing an MBA at Keller Graduate School of Management, DeVry University.

UCHE OFODILE (Political Science) was appointed by Facebook as its regional head, Africa for Express Wi-Fi. She is based in London and is responsible for expanding connectivity to underserved locations around the world.

Prior to her new position, Uche was CEO of Tigo DRC.

2004

CARLY JOHNSON (Biology) joined the Nutley school district as science coordinator.

She manages all aspects of the K-12 science programs in the district’s five elementary schools. Carly worked for the Summit school district where she was middle school assistant principal.

Previously, she was a middle school science teacher for the Mahwah public schools. She holds a master’s degree in education from the College of New Jersey.

JULIE KESTER (Social Science) was named Budd Lake public schools’ “Teacher of the Year.” Julie is a guidance counselor at Sandshore School; she has worked for the district for 12 years.

She holds a master’s degree in school counseling from William Paterson University and a supervisor’s certificate from Rowan University.

2005

ROBERT SIEGLER (Business Administration) joined Lakeland Bank as vice president, financial advisor for the investment services division based in Butler.

Prior to joining the bank,

Bob was financial advisor with JPMorgan Securities in Rockland County, N.Y.

2006

JOSEPHINE CIOCIA (MSET) was elected to the Hasbrouck Heights council last November. Josephine is an English teacher in the Little Ferry public schools and a member of several professional associations. She has served on the Hasbrouck Heights Board of Education (former president) and acted as BOE liaison to the mayor and council as well as the middle school PTA liaison.

Jacqueline also volunteers for Meals with a Mission.

TIMOTHY P. DEKOKER (Accounting) received the 2016 Spectrum Brands Cub One Excellence President’s Award for leadership as a member of the global operations finance team.

Tim was also received a Pinnacle Award for outstanding performance.

He was promoted in 2015 to controller for three company sites, two in Charlotte, N.C. and one in Mira Loma, Calif.

Tim is married to LAUREN (formerly Pisano) (Business Administration ‘06), and they reside with their two children, Timothy, 5, and Tyler, 3, in Fort Mill, S.C.

2007

CHRISTOPHER BARBARINO (Business Administration) joined TD Bank’s Waldwick commercial lending team as assistant vice president, portfolio manager. He had been assistant vice president, commercial loan officer and underwriter with Spencer Savings Bank in Elmwood Park.

2008

ALEXANDER VAN DER TOORN (Information Systems) was promoted to assistant treasurer and network engineer. Alexander worked

KATERINA KORUNOVSKI ’17 NAMED MARCH OF DIMES’ STUDENT NURSE OF THE YEAR Ramapo College student Katerina Korunovski was named The March of Dimes’ Student Nurse of the Year at a recent ceremony. Katerina, a Garfield, New Jersey, native, will be completing her undergraduate studies in May 2017. She was the only student awardee in a field that included more than 200 total nominations for various categories.

“I was so surprised when my name was called,” said Katerina, who hopes to continue a nursing career in critical care. “Since I was a little girl, I never changed my career path. I always wanted to be a nurse.

I didn’t think I would fit anywhere else.”

Katerina was nominated for the award by Julia Fitzgerald, Assistant Professor of Nursing at Ramapo College.

“I nominated Katerina based on her academic and clinical performance,” said Fitzgerald, explaining that requirements were a GPA of at least 3.5 and involvement with the community.

“Katerina definitely qualified and we couldn’t be more proud of her.”

In the summer of 2016, Katerina completed a 10-week externship with Hackensack University Medical Center, which consisted of 12-hour shifts that took her into the surgical intensive care unit and with the rapid response teams. She said it was “the best experience of my life.” www.ramapo.edu

23

CLASS NOTES

part time at the bank while pursuing his degree, and after graduation, he joined the bank full time as network analyst and was promoted to network administrator.

2011

DESHAWN M. COOK (Psychology, MALS) was appointed director of student life at Butler College of Princeton University in October 2016. He came to Princeton from Drew University where he was assistant director of residential life and Title IX coordinator. Shawn holds a D.Litt. in fine arts from Drew University. In December, he was interviewed by the university newspaper, The Daily Princetonian, about his background and professional goals.

2014

KAITLYN M. O’DONNELL (Psychology), a native and resident of New Milford, is leading a borough task force working toward removing the stigma tied to mental illness. She works as a senior case manager for the Alliance Against Homelessness of Bergen County, Inc.,

which locates housing for the mentally ill. Kaitlyn is pursuing an M.S.W. at Ramapo College.

FRANK PATIERNO (Law and Society) joined the Fairfield Police Department as a probationary officer. He graduated from the Cape May Police Academy in June 2016. Frank also serves in the National Guard.

2016

TAMMY SMITH (Social Work), an M.S.W. student at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work represented the School in the University’s 2016 Lightning Challenge, a competition where graduate students present their academic research for a cash prize. Tammy was one of six masters-level students selected to participate in the Challenge. Tammy is a social worker for Care Plus NJ. She volunteers for NAMI New Jersey as well as the Fair Lawn stigma-free task force which she chairs. Tammy also serves as the 2016-2107 graduate student representative on the NASW, New Jersey Chapter board of directors.

MARRIAGES

IN MEMORIAM

DAVID BERARDI (Physics Engineering 2011) married Mary Francis on October 1, 2016 in Vernon, N.J. David earned an M.S. in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Rutgers University. He is a thermal engineer with ZT Systems in Secaucus.

The couple resides in North Arlington.

GLORIA S. BEDERKA, ’81

EMILY P. MACDONALD (Literature 2012) married ANTHONY M. CASCIO (Psychology 2012) on September 30, 2016 in Spring Lake. The couple met as students.

CHRISTOPHER J. CONNELLY ’82 LAWRENCE J. RUDLOFF, ’82 JUDITH BRAUTMAN ’83 LESLIE W. MASON ’84 JEANNE M. BOSCA ’86 ANNA D. LEUZZI ’87 CHARONDA C. O’BRYANTHOPKINS ’92 STEVEN J. IANNOTTA ’04 CAITLIN L. CARRIERE ’11 JOHN PATRICK LUCCHESI ’14 DANIELLE K. SOUCY ’14

KEEP RAMAPO Up-to-Date Send us your class notes www.ramapo.edu/alumni/ submit-class-notes/

KEEP UP WITH @RamapoAlumni

Many alumni enjoyed this year’s 35th Annual Distinguished Citizens Dinner at the Rockleigh Country Club. It was a wonderful evening of dinner and dancing in celebration of this year’s honorees.

24

Ramapo College Magazine | Spring 2017

SANTNER LECTURE SERIES LAUNCHES Award-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes was the featured speaker when the School of Contemporary Arts kicked off the Walt Santner Theater Lecture Series in March at the Sharp Theater of the Berrie Center for Visual and Performing Arts.

The Walt Santner Lecture Series, established in 2016 through an endowment provided by Mr. Santner, an alumnus of the School of Contemporary Arts, is aimed at enhancing the theater majors’ experience at the College.

10TH ANNUAL ASB ALUMNI NETWORKING ROUNDTABLE The Anisfield School of Business held its 10th Annual ASB Alumni Networking Roundtable. Thirty alumni spent the evening networking with 65 ASB junior and senior students who benefitted from the information, advice and insights regarding job expectations, career challenges and opportunities in various fields. There were three rounds of discussion where students were seated with two alumni at each table, based upon an area of business (Accounting, Marketing, Management, Entrepreneurship, Project Management, Finance, Information Technology Management, Business Law). After each round, the students were able to move to a different table.

Save the Date

2017 TD BANK

Summer Concert Series

Barnes, whose recent Broadway credits include Aladdin, Kinky Boots, Something Rotten! and Tuck Everlasting, among dozens of other stage productions, discussed his work in costume design in a career that has spanned several decades. He won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design for his work on the Broadway productions of the Drowsy Chaperone (2006) and Follies (2011). Most recently, he was nominated for the Tony for Best Costume Design in a Musical for Tuck Everlasting in 2016.

His current work includes the costume design for a production of Dreamgirls that opened in November 2016 at the Savoy Theater in London.

Thursday, July 6 Alotta Colada — an exciting Island Party Band Fireworks show (weather permitting) | Alumni BBQ Thursday, July 13 Frontiers — Journey Tribute Band (Fireworks rain date) Thursday, July 20 Unchained — Van Halen Tribute Band

Friends of Ramapo benefactor Margaret Mullen and award-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes

Thursday, July 27 Long Live the Beatles Show — The Mahoney Brothers All concerts are held on the Ramapo College Bandshell lawn at 8 p.m. In case of inclement weather the concerts are held in the Bradley Center. Concerts are free; parking is $5 per car.

If you would like to be a concert sponsor please contact Jo Anne Zellers, at jzellers@ramapo.edu or 201-684-7179.

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

ALUMNI BARBECUE

COME BACK TO RAMAPO THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2017

When you give to Ramapo, you are not only investing in our buildings and classrooms, you are also investing in every student on campus throughout the year. You empower them to spread the generosity they receive. Your actions will carry with them through the rest of their lives.

JOIN US TODAY AND MAKE YOUR GIFT TO THE 2016-17 ANNUAL FUND.

JENNIFER NARDELLO ’17

“

In my senior year, I made a meaningful gift to the 2016-17 Annual Fund and after I graduate in May, I pledge to continue donating to Ramapo College. I received a high-quality education during my time here, thanks in large measure to people like you who have generously invested in its students, faculty, and programs. Please join me in helping Ramapo to provide our students with the knowledge, skills, and ability to succeed in today’s competitive and ever-changing world.”

- Jennifer Nardello ’17 Major: Communication Arts | Hometown: Wood-Ridge, N.J.

www.ramapo.edu/give Thank you for your support!

Questions? Contact Dawn Lozada, Director of the Annual Fund, at dlozada@ramapo.edu or 201.684.7141.

The fiscal year ends on June 30, 2017.