Winter 2020 Ramapo Magazine

WINTER 2020

LEARNING COMMONS GROUNDBREAKING

President Mercer welcomes nursing major Olivia Lobrow ’21 (second from right) and her family on Move In Day.

FROM THE DESK of the PRESIDENT Dear Friends, Higher education is so flooded with the terms “innovation” and “transformation” that it is difficult to arrive at tangible applications of these concepts in our day to day lives as educators, learners, and advocates for public higher education, however, the rehabilitation of the George T. Potter Library, and the addition of the Learning Commons, present our campus with tactile representations of both.

President Mercer and Trustee Sharlene Vichness (R) with EOF students Kelly Tapia ’23 and Jessica Biskup ’23 at the annual reception at the Havemeyer House for incoming EOF students

This fall we broke ground on the new Learning Commons. This ambitious capital project, which includes a rehabilitation of the George T. Potter Library and a Learning Commons addition, first started in 2015. As cranes and dozers and an array of other demolition and construction equipment and professionals now occupy the Potter Library area, it is remarkably exciting to bear witness to the yield of the last four years of planning.

In a 2019 issue of College and Research Libraries News, author Charles Kratz wrote, “In these times of libraries being marginalized in the digital age, it becomes most critical to maintain the importance and relevance of academic libraries as places of intellectual life and centers of activity,” adding that “links to other campus users and units help fight the marginalization of libraries, provide for greater collaboration on our campuses, and furnish space to accommodate different types of learning…Information commons projects require the desire to rethink service delivery models and to create new synergies and relationships.”

President Mercer with Mariella Zijdel ’21, Mahwah Mayor Jonathan Roth and Stephan Lally ’20 at the Leaders in Service (LIS) Orientation Dinner. LIS provides the opportunity for service, political engagement and leadership.

In the spirit of Kratz’ words, at Ramapo the new Library/Learning Commons has been designed to serve as a hub for activity and as a mechanism for connectivity to a variety of resources, information, and most important, to one another.

If you have not yet committed your own time or resources to this project, please consider doing so. Your gift will assist the College in bringing this truly innovative and transformative project to our students.

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

President Mercer with this year’s opening convocation speaker Camron Wright, author of The Rent Collector.

PRESIDENT’S CABINET Peter P. Mercer, J.D., Ph.D. President Stefan Becker Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Cathleen Davey Vice President for Institutional Advancement Kirsten Loewrigkeit Vice President for Administration and Finance Nicole Morgan Agard Chief Equity & Diversity Officer 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 BOARD OF TRUSTEES William F. Dator Chair BOARD OF GOVERNORS Debra M. Perry ’85 Chair Carolyn Merkel ’78 Chair, Alumni Association Board RAMAPO MAGAZINE Cathleen Davey Editor-in-Chief Angela Daidone Assistant Editor Mary Cicitta ’07, ’16 Production Editor Janelle Ferraro ’14 Graphic Designer Carolyn Herring Photography Editor Elizabeth Brand Angela Daidone Claudia Esker Contributing Writers Alexandra Simone Contributing Photographer This magazine can be made available upon request in alternate media.

201.684.7611.

Alumni contact and change of address: Joanne Sorace, Director of Alumni Relations 201.684.7115 Student Relations contact: Melissa Van Der Wall, Dean of Students 201.684.7457 Ramapo Magazine is produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications: Melissa Horvath AVP Marketing and Communications

Left: Students practice suspect apprehension techniques Right: IRS Special Agents Leo Rovensky ’04 and Tim Greene ’91

IRS ADRIAN PROJECT PRESENTS STUDENTS WITH CAREER OPTIONS Twenty-two Ramapo College students from the Anisfield School of Business and the School of Social Science and Human Services got a glimpse into what it’s like to uncover a money laundering operation when they participated in the Adrian Project, an IRS Criminal Investigation held on campus. The Adrian Project, a day-long simulation of a mock criminal investigation, was presented by a team of agents from a New Jersey bureau of the IRS Criminal Investigation Unit. Students reviewed bank statements, tax returns and invoices, and conducted interrogations of “witnesses” based on the evidence they uncovered. Working with their IRS coaches, students then compared their findings, surveilled suspects, presented their case for arrest warrants to a magistrate judge and made arrests.

Assistant Director of the Cahill Career Development Center at Ramapo LaQuan Norman, who was instrumental in bringing the Adrian Project to campus, said, “This was a great opportunity for Ramapo students to engage in hands-on learning and broaden their perceptions of career options for accounting and law enforcement.”

in this issue WINTER 2020 | COLLEGE MAGAZINE FEATURE

2 Feature - Learning Commons: Our Focus on Students DEPARTMENTS 8

Alumni Spotlights

22 Athletics

10

College News

24

16

Foundation News

Class Notes

CORRECTION Please note in the Summer 2019 Ramapo Magazine, an error was made in identifying former Trustee Chair Thomas Dunn as a Professor Emeritus. We regret this mistake.

ON THE COVER The College held its groundbreaking ceremony for the new Learning Commons on September 4. Pictured on the cover are, from left, Benefactors Sam Mann and Emily Kosstrin Mann, Board of Trustees Chair William F. Dator, Ramapo President Peter P. Mercer, and Benefactors Susan and Nick Vallario.

FOLLOW RAMAPO ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook.com/RamapoCollege RamapoCollegeNJ RamapoCollegeNJ

www.ramapo.edu

1

Learning Commons: OUR FOCUS ON STUDENTS

2

Ramapo College Magazine | Winter 2020

by Teri Gatto

“A PLACE TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO DO THEIR VERY BEST WORK.” That is how Ramapo College President Peter P. Mercer describes the new Learning Commons, one of the College’s most ambitious building endeavors. The groundbreaking ceremony for the future complex took place on September 4, 2019, just as the College launched the year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary.

www.ramapo.edu

3

The Friends of Ramapo joined in the celebration of the Learning Commons groundbreaking, here with a model of the facility. (L-R): John McKendry, President Mercer, Stan Richmond, Audrey Newman ’93, Margaret Mullen Gensch, Peggy Capomaggi, Mary Ippolito, Ryan Greff ’20 and Eileen Comerford ’80.

COLLEGE COMMUNITY is very enthusiastic about the “THE Learning Commons,” says President Mercer. “Part of the

reason is that we spent a lot of time working to decide what we wanted the final configuration, design and contents to look like.

And I think we got it right. Our community can clearly see that their own ideas are well reflected in the final design.”

In 2016, Ramapo received $15 million from the New Jersey Higher Education Capital Facilities program to completely renovate the Potter Library and create a new Learning Commons. The ambitious three-year project is expected to cost $40 million and result in a modern educational facility designed to support the intellectual growth of students, faculty and the wider community.

THE IMPACT OF LIBRARIES ON OUR LIVES Most people first experience libraries as children and see them as magical places filled with colorful storybooks and fun activities.

As children grow up, libraries often provide a window into a wider, more exotic and mysterious world.

“Because of my personal experience, I think of what we now call a learning commons, as a more expanded notion of what the library connotes,” says President Mercer. “That is something I never lost the feel for.”

President Mercer grew up in small fishing villages in 4

Ramapo College Magazine | Winter 2020

Newfoundland, Canada. And while both his parents were college educated, most of the people he grew up around had no formal education; a number could not read or write.

“My mother became a part-time teacher and librarian at a local school,” he recalls. “She would have books delivered every week from the bookmobile and would always ask me what I wanted. I read every morning before school, at lunchtime, after school, and on weekends.”

When President Mercer was nine, his family moved to Ontario.

“One day when we were driving, I saw a rather large building with a sign that said Carnegie Free Library,” he recalls. “I was thrilled – I had no idea there was such a thing.”

Carnegie free libraries were built with funds donated by ScottishAmerican tycoon and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. From 1882 to 1929, Carnegie established 2,509 free libraries throughout the world.

That Ontario library became a focal point during President Mercer’s youth. “I was there after school and on weekends,” he adds. “It informed the rest of my life.”

Today, through President Mercer’s vision and steadfast leadership, Ramapo’s Learning Commons is poised to be the envy of private and public colleges in New Jersey and beyond.

MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE RAMAPO COMMUNITY Libraries, especially in colleges and universities, have undergone a series of transformations during the past few decades.

Changed is the image of a student toiling alone, surrounded by books in an isolated carrel. Today the focus is not only research, but collaboration, technology, and sharing. Most students study and work in groups and do the majority of their research online.

To meet current needs, libraries have been transformed into facilities specially designed to cater to 21st-century students and faculty.

“We are stripping the original library’s walls back to the studs, and adding about 20,000 square feet of new, highly functional space,” says President Mercer. “It will be a library and resource center, but it will also be very attractive; a place where students can work, but also a place where they will want to spend some of their leisure time.”

“The Learning Commons was one of the highest priority needs on campus, if not the highest priority,” says Susan A. Vallario, Vice Chair of the Ramapo College Board of Trustees and lead benefactor. “From the minute we started talking about it, it was clear that this project would touch everyone involved in the campus community. That was something that was very important to my husband Nick and me; we are thrilled to be part of such a vital project.”

“This project will continue to support Ramapo into the 22ndcentury,” says William F. Dator, Board of Trustees Chair. “The Learning Commons is a much-needed project on the campus and it will have a major impact on our ability to serve our current students as well as recruit new students.”

According to architect Lee Alison Clark, AIA, of Cywinski Jackson, Bohlin, the transformation of the Potter Library into the Learning Commons includes the addition of nearly 20,000 square feet of new construction as well as refining the use of more than 60,000 square feet of the existing space.

“The entire facility will be a completely new and different place,” she explains. “The primary focus of the Learning Commons will be people, and predominantly students.”

The Learning Commons will give resident students an alternative to studying in their rooms and commuter students a place to work or relax between classes. Among the unique features of the new facility is a multi-story glass wall, which will face a breathtaking mountain view and fill the area with natural light.

“The Potter Library had very little natural light,” says Christopher Gest, of the DOBCO Group, the company that is overseeing the construction of the project. “Now with the renovation there will be a large curtain wall of glass, which will make the Learning Commons look much brighter and more current.”

“This is going to be a complete change from the study space that was available at the Potter Library, which had not been updated since it was built in the 1970s,” says Joseph DeMarco of Cambridge Construction Management.

(Top): Groundbreaking for the original library took place in May 1976.

(Middle): On October 23, 1991 the library was formally dedicated and named the George T. Potter Library after the College’s first president.

(Left): Student receives assistance at the front desk.

“This project will continue to support Ramapo into the 22nd-century, The Learning Commons is a much-needed project on the campus and it will have a major impact on our ability to serve our current students as well as recruit new students.”

— William F. Dator | Board of Trustees Chair www.ramapo.edu

5

FEATURE

“From the minute we started talking about it, it was clear that this project would touch everyone involved in the campus community. That was something that was very important to my husband Nick and me; we are thrilled to be part of such a vital project.”

— Susan A. Vallario | Vice Chair of the Ramapo College Board of Trustees and Benefactor

Among the features of the new Learning Commons will be a vast collection of digital content, cutting-edge technological services and increased meeting and classroom space, replacing stacks of books, outdated computer stations and small meeting areas, as pictured above. Top right, standing with the scale model of the project are Board of Trustees chair William F. Dator, Senator Gerald Cardinale, Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, Mahwah Mayor John Roth and President Peter P. Mercer.

A THOUGHTFULLY PLANNED PROJECT The notion of building a new library began in about 2010, a few years after President Mercer became Ramapo’s president. “It was a fairly embroidered conversation because there were a couple of themes running through it,” he notes.

One was that Ramapo did not have much of a student center. And while what it had was comfortable and functional, it was rather small.

“Other colleges in New Jersey were spending a lot of money on student centers, which were more elaborate and attractive than anything we had,” he adds. “So we gave ourselves the luxury of spending a couple of years to systematically explore our options.

Ramapo is becoming increasingly well-reputed and we want to make sure that the facilities we have line up with the reputation we are developing.”

“The process was thorough and included input from every segment of the Ramapo College community, including students,” he says.

“We needed a cross section of people, including some who understood project development and construction,” says 6

Ramapo College Magazine | Winter 2020

President Mercer. “But all the people on the Learning Commons Task Force really wanted to be there.”

“Having served on the Task Force, I had a good sense, possibly more than the typical donor, for what the campus needed, what the students were looking for, and what the faculty was looking for,” says Vallario. “I am really happy to say that I’ve seen that come to fruition. The plans that the Task Force put together hit the nail on the head in terms of what the Learning Commons needs to provide.”

Established in 1969, and centered on a renovated mansion, the Ramapo campus has gone through a series of transformations during the last five decades.

“Ramapo is a public liberal arts institution that looks and feels like a private college,” says Emily Mann, a benefactor and former trustee who has been involved with the College since 1995. “When I first joined, we were building the new residence halls, and then we built the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center, which is an important focal point of the campus. The Learning Commons represents a perfect progression in the campus’s evolution.”

FLOOR PLANS: LEVEL 1 & 2

A QUICK LOOK

MEN 106

INFORMATIONAL LITERACY CLASSROOM A 101

WOMEN MECH CHASE 105

MEN 104

WOMEN 103 ELEVATOR VESTIBULE 100B

JANITOR 102

OFFICE 129

ELEVATOR L1

• Sitting areas suffused with natural light

CIRCULATION 100A

STAIR A A-1

OFFICE 130

The Learning Commons will provide students with more space as well as bring an array of resources together, that go far beyond those of a traditional campus library including:

OFFICE 128

RECEPTION 127

GROUP STUDY 125

OPEN STUDY 123A

PRINT / COPY 100D

• 65 percent more student seating • Many distinct, reservable rooms

GROUP STUDY 113

GROUP STUDY 120

• Group study rooms from four to 12

MEDIA RECORDING 114

• Flexible classroom space

MEDIA RECORDING 115

• Lounge seating

MEDIA EDITING 116 KRAME CENTER 126

STACKS [114 DFU] 121

• The Maker Space, a design laboratory including equipment such as 3-D printers, laser cutters, and sewing machines

MEDIA EDITING 117 STACKS [173 DFU] 111

STACK STUDY 118

• On-site technology professionals in addition to library sciences professionals

OPEN STUDY 123B STAIR B B-1

STACKS STUDY 112

• Media rooms for recording, editing and previewing

STACKS STUDY 122

• A space-saving storage system for 20' 0' 10' 40' books and documents

SCALE:1:20

Floor 1

• State-of-the-art heating and cooling systems • The latest technology infrastructure • On-site cafe • Center for Reading and Writing IDC OFFICE 201B INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN CENTER 201

IDC OFFICE 201A

DH OFFICE 204A FACULTY RESOURCE CENTER 202 IT STORAGE 203

DIGITAL HUMANITES 204

FACULTY CORRIDOR 200A

MEN 209

WOMEN 210

MEN 207

WOMEN 208

PRINT / COPY 205 ELEVATOR VESTIBULE 200C

CIRCULATION 200B

STAIR A A-2

The Learning Commons’ Humanities Wing will offer scholars and students easy access to The Ramapo Special Collections, including:

JANITOR 206

GROUP STUDY 232

ELEVATOR L2

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS CASEWORK 223

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS READING ROOM 215

GROUP STUDY 231

• The Ramapo College Archives • The American History Textbook Project

GROSS CENTER 216 GROUP STUDY 230

OPEN STUDY 227A

GROUP STUDY 229

STACKS [102 DFU] 225

SPECIALTY WORKSTATIONS 224

GROUP STUDY 228

CLOSED STACKS [35 DFU] 217

• The Jane Addams Papers Project, and

OFFICE 218

• The Gross Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies

OFFICE 219 OFFICE 220

STAIR B B-2

OPEN STUDY 227B

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS WORK ROOM 221

For more details about the Learning Commons plans, visit ramapo.edu/learning-commons

STACKS STUDY 226

SCALE:1:20

0'

10'

20'

40'

Floor 2

www.ramapo.edu

7

Alumni Spotlights

FLOOR PLANS: LEVEL 3 & 4 VESTIBULE 300A

LOBBY 300B

OFFICE 307A

CAFÉ PREP 302A

CAFÉ SERVING 302

MEN 304

VENDING 300D

TECH SERVICES 307

OFFICE 306

WOMEN 305

CORRIDOR 300E

CORRIDOR 300C

CIRC STAFF 303A CAFÉ / STUDY 301

MEN 315

WOMEN 316

MEN 313

WOMEN 314

VESTIBULE 300F STAFF LOUNGE 308

CORRIDOR JANITOR 300G 312 PRINT / COPY 311 ELEVATOR ELEVATOR VESTIBULE L3 300J

CIRC DESK 303

INFORMATIONAL LITERACY CLASSROOM B 317

CIRCULATION 300H

STAIR A A-3

GROUP STUDY 335

GROUP STUDY 334

ANNIE LIN ’99 is the Senior Children’s Librarian at the Mulberry Street branch of the New York Public Library.

After graduating from Ramapo College, she worked in publishing and at New York University before her current job. She has been a children’s librarian for five years.

OFFICE 319

OPEN STUDY 330A

GROUP STUDY 333

OFFICE 320

GROUP STUDY 332

REFERENCE STUDY 327A

GROUP STUDY 331 OPEN STUDY 330B

STAIR B B-3

STACKS [60 DFU] 328

WORKROOM 318

OFFICE 321 OFFICE 322

PRINT/COPY 326

OFFICE 323 INTER-LIBRARY LOAN 325

OFFICE 324

STACKS STUDY 329

SCALE:1:20

Floor 3

OFFICE 404

OFFICE 405

OFFICE OFFICE 406A 406B

ITS COMPUTER STATIONS 402

ITS HELP DESK 403

OPEN TO BELOW

OPEN STUDY 401

20'

40'

WOMEN 413

becoming obsolete but nothing could be further

MEN 410

WOMEN 411

from the truth.

JANITOR 409 PRINT / COPY 408 ELEVATOR ELEVATOR VESTIBULE L4 400B

Are students more responsive to what libraries have to offer now?

It’s more important than ever to fact check and know that your information is from a credible source, and libraries can provide that.

However, I also think that some students might be surprised at what public libraries have to offer, like e-books, museum passes and movies. It is worth it to check out what your local public library offers.

CONFERENCE 417 CIRCULATION 400A

GROUP STUDY 433

DEAN'S ADMIN 418

DEAN'S OFFICE 418A

READING AND WRITING WAITING 419

GROUP STUDY 432

OPEN STUDY 428A

GROUP STUDY 430

STACKS [99 DFU] 426

CENTER FOR READING & WRITING 420

GROUP STUDY 429

STAIR B B-4

OPEN STUDY 428B

CONFERENCE 422

You’re a children’s librarian…did you spend a lot of time in the library as a child?

Libraries have always been a part of my life. I grew up going to the Bloomingdale branch of NYPL and going to the story times when I was a kid.

OFFICE 421 CORRIDOR 400D

DIRECTOR'S OFFICE 424

OFFICE 423

OFFICE 425

STACKS STUDY 427

SCALE:1:20

Floor 4

8

10'

MEN 412

STAIR A A-4

GROUP STUDY 431

0'

I know there is a perception that libraries are

ITS WORKROOM 406

MAKER SPACE 407

Have you seen a dramatic change in the way libraries function now, as compared to when you were a student — or even the beginning of your career?

I was in library school during the recession and while funding for libraries was being cut, people were using the library more than ever. The public library is no longer a place where there are grouchy librarians shushing everyone. The library really functions in many ways as a community space. People are there, not only for books, but to have access to Wi-Fi, use computers, attend workshops and programs, work on resumes, learn English, and the list could go on and on. I think libraries have become more open and welcoming to people.

Ramapo College Magazine | Winter 2020

Tell us a little about your Ramapo experience.

I had a great time at Ramapo. It was a wonderful time of my life. I was part of Sigma Delta Tau Sorority and Greek Life, and I made so many lifelong friendships. My college roommate is still one of my best friends. Ramapo had a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. I miss it.

0'

10'

20'

40'

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS

MICHELLE EHRENPREIS ’07 has been working as a librarian since 2009. She has been in her current position at Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, N.Y. for two years. She is a faculty librarian who specializes in electronic resources, managing the library’s online databases in addition to reference, instruction and research responsibilities. She is also the library liaison to psychology faculty.

How have college libraries changed since you were a student?

Libraries have changed because of the way students conduct research. Libraries now have fewer stacks and more computers, group study rooms and quiet or collaborative spaces for working. Libraries are also innovating their spaces to include information commons, maker spaces, cafeterias and more.

Are students responding to these changes?

I think students have always been responsive to what libraries have to offer because our mission is central to theirs in terms of succeeding in their studies, learning and graduating to obtain employment and become lifelong learners.

What was your experience like at Ramapo College?

I was a literature major at Ramapo. My favorite professor was Patricia Ard who taught me how to think critically–a skill that is essential for any career, but one I have found most beneficial in librarianship and scholarship.

Why did you choose to enter this field?

Library Science was a natural extension of my love for libraries, my strengths in writing, reading and analyzing.

My computer skills, because of my age, was also a huge advantage for me in the work force. I enjoy my field and love being part of Lehman College.

I feel at home in the library so I am fortunate to work in one. I also enjoy taking my children to the library and sharing that love with them and watch them develop their own relationship with the library.

GERALD “GERRY” O’NEILL ’78 is head librarian at Wilson Community College in Wilson, North Carolina, where he has been since 1989.

Previously, he worked in a number of library settings at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, and the Area Health Education Center through Duke University.

Have you seen a dramatic change in the way college libraries function now, as compared to when you were a student?

The proliferation of electronic databases I believe has been a blessing and a curse; databases can bring the user quickly to the appropriate resources or leave the user frustrated by dead ends.

Information literacy is the answer, along with repeated exposure to library resources. Librarians and students are learning from one another daily.

Are college students more responsive to what libraries now have to offer?

I would say that most students are still as curious about what the library holds, although today’s libraries offer different information delivery options. The varied options available for library users require various skill sets with which to locate useful information.

Did you spend a lot of time in the library as a child?

I grew up less than one block from the library in the borough of Waldwick [New Jersey], so I always had access to the local library. At that time, I was too young to appreciate the library, except as a tool to complete a school task or explore a certain interest. As my search skills improved, I was able to utilize the library in different ways.

Tell us about your Ramapo experience.

My major from Ramapo College is literature, with a focus on American writers.

The surrounding hills of the Ramapo Mountains were an idyllic setting in which to begin learning. Within those college classrooms, I learned to listen, learn and absorb the experience of attending college for the first time. In retrospect, it was a gratifying time in my life.

[Retired] Professor Denis Murphy stands out in my mind as an instructor who provided his students with a new appreciation of the unique literature American writers have contributed to world literature. He reflected his personal love of the writers and pointed out how his students could identify and explore what literary writers appealed to them. Without Denis Murphy’s directions and eye-opening classroom discussions, my personal appreciation of the writings of American authors would be considerably diminished. www.ramapo.edu

9

COLLEGE NEWS

(L-R): Congressman Tom Malinowski, Congressman Donald Payne Jr., Ryan Greff ’20, Congressional Award Board Members Patrick Gilha and Rich Bagger

RAMAPO STUDENT RECEIVES CONGRESSIONAL AWARD AUTHOR CAMRON WRIGHT DELIVERS OPENING CONVOCATION ADDRESS Author Camron Wright delivered the keynote address at the Opening Convocation in September before an audience of nearly 2,000.

Wright discussed his award-winning book, The Rent Collector, which was chosen as the summer reading selection for Ramapo’s first-year students. The book, based on true events following the Vietnam conflict in the mid-1970s, chronicles the story of a young mother, Sang Ly, struggling to survive by picking through trash in Cambodia’s largest municipal dump. Although the book is a work of fiction, it is inspired by real people who lived at the Stung Meanchey dump and suffered the atrocities of political oppression.

“My son Trevor was a film student who had worked on a documentary [The River of Victory, 2010] about the Stung Meanchey and a family living there. I was so intrigued watching all the hours of footage that I fell in love with the story,” said Wright. “It made me realize that even though the family was poor and I was living in a wonderful home, that our problems are the same. We’re all just people and we all want the same for our families—to be healthy and happy.”

Wright said the message he also hoped to convey was the importance of learning and literature in our lives, and how being able to read and communicate can “give us a sense of understanding that can change our lives.”

“When I went back to Cambodia with my son to do more research for the book, I met the real Sang Ly. Something she said has stayed with me: once she learned to read, she wasn’t as afraid to be in the dump at night. It took away her fear and brought her courage. That was a powerful message,” Wright said.

The Rent Collector won Best Novel of the Year from the Whitney Awards and was nominated for the prestigious International DUBLIN Literary Award. Wright’s first book, Letters for Emily, was a Reader’s Choice Award winner, as well as a selection for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. Wright’s other works include The Orphan Keeper, The Other Side of the Bridge and Christmas by Accident.

10

Ramapo College Magazine | Winter 2020

Ramapo College student Ryan Greff ’20 has earned the Congressional Award for young Americans, the highest award issued by the United States to young people ages 13 to 24. Ryan joins just 10 other New Jersey students to receive the Congressional Award’s Gold Medal this year.

“I am so honored to receive this award,” said Ryan, a Fair Lawn, N.J., native, who completed his requirements, including 400 hours of service and 200 hours of personal development, starting when he was a student at Fair Lawn High School. “Being involved in volunteer work, and leadership programs can be challenging at times, but it’s also so very rewarding. It’s been quite a remarkable ride for me.”

The Congressional Award Program challenges young people to set goals in four program areas: Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration.

Ryan, a finance major with a minor in information technology management, was recognized at a ceremony on September 21. United States Representatives Tom Malinowski and Donald Payne, Jr. made the medal presentations on behalf of Congress.

At Ramapo, Ryan serves as Student Governor within the Ramapo College Foundation. He is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Golden Key Honour Society and the New Jersey Business Administration Association Honor Society. He currently holds an intern position with Morgan Stanley in New York City.

The United States Congress established the award in 1979 to recognize initiative, service and achievement in young people. It is nonpartisan, voluntary and non-competitive, and is funded entirely by private sector donations.

PROFESSOR’S WORK INCLUDED IN THE BEST AMERICAN POETRY

DATA SCIENCE DEGREES ANNOUNCED Ramapo College announced the launch of both a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and a Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS), effective fall 2020. Data Science is integral to the needs and operations of almost every business sector and enables companies to leverage data to predict trends, inform decisions and make breakthroughs. Data Scientists are employed by hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturers, financial and trading firms, sports teams, marketing agencies, and of course, tech companies. In fact, Glassdoor ranked Data Scientist as the #1 job in America in 2019, with a median base salary of $108K/year, as well as the #1 Best Paying Job Out of College in 2019.

“Ramapo College is committed to establishing itself as a hub for cutting-edge education and research in Data Science," said Stefan Becker, Ramapo College Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. "I am excited that we will be able to offer our students a first-class education in the Data Science field, an area that is experiencing a strong and growing demand across industries.” Ramapo is among only two higher education institutions in New Jersey to offer an undergraduate program in Data Science, and is also only one of two institutions in the state to offer both an undergraduate and graduate program. The B.S. program is the only one in the state to include both online and in-classroom courses for the major.

The undergraduate B.S. degree will address computational information collection and analysis that can be applied in a wide range of areas, including human health and services, consumer behavior, marketing applications and specialized fields such as sports analytics and linguistics. Data Science undergraduate majors are also required to complete a minor to gain domain knowledge in a particular field, to better contextualize their data studies.

The work of Ramapo College Professor of Creative Writing James Hoch has been included in the 2019 edition of The Best American Poetry, recently published

by Simon & Schuster. Hoch’s poem “Sunflowers” was selected from literally tens of thousands of published poems including those that are selected to grace the pages of prestigious periodicals such as Atlantic Monthly, The New Yorker and American Poetry Review.

“I’m honored, of course, to be selected among this group,” said Hoch, admitting that he spent about four years working on this poem. “It was actually rejected several times before it made it into the American Poetry Review last year. You always ask yourself, ‘Have I done enough for this poem?’ so it’s quite rewarding for it to be recognized.”

“Sunflowers” conveys a message of personal relationships and loss, inspired by a museum viewing of Vincent Van Gogh’s famous paintings.

Since 1988, The Best American Poetry has been the leading anthology of contemporary American poetry. The book is available at booksellers and online.

The graduate MSDS program is a two-year, 30-credit program with a signature Fieldwork Experience component. Hands-on fieldwork experience projects will focus on real-world problems brought to the program by industry sponsors. Students will work closely with faculty and sponsors over one or more semesters. This model gives industry sponsors access to Ramapo students and faculty to help create business value and insights, explore new ideas, and build new products — while also creating a pipeline for talented students to join these organizations following graduation.

More information is available at ramapo.edu/data-science

Did you know?

The Social Work International Program has added a trip to Peru for Summer 2020 to study Community Health and Human Services. There are now five Social Work International Programs (Cuba, Ghana, Netherlands and Portugal). www.ramapo.edu

11

COLLEGE NEWS

RAMAPO WELCOMES FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS spend time in another place, you’re not just a passive learner, it becomes part of you. This will surely help my career as a teacher when I return home to Morocco.”

Berlingo, who also is in the United States for the first time, is teaching Italian Foundations II and is enjoying rediscovering her own culture, albeit with an American slant. “The Italian American heritage is so much a part of the culture here,” said Berlingo, who hails from Catanzaro, the capital city in Italy’s Calabria region. She teaches English and is a language tutor at the university there. She, like the others, had several options where they would like to spend their Fulbright teaching year. “When I saw photos of the Ramapo campus, I fell in love with it. Now that I’m here, I know I chose the right place. It’s just beautiful and the people here are friendly and so helpful. I love it already.”

Professor Sarra Safhi

Ramapo College welcomed three Fulbright Visiting Scholars this fall. Professors Roberta Berlingo (Italy), Yu-Chien Hsieh (Taiwan) and Sarra Safhi (Morocco) arrived on campus in early September and have already immersed themselves in their classroom assignments as well as become acclimated to life in New Jersey.

“This is the first time I’ve been away from my country,” said Safhi, who is teaching Arabic at the College. “It’s such a very different language, the characters and the pronunciation, but the students are enjoying it,” she said. “And I’m enjoying teaching them.”

Safhi has been a teacher of English and Arabic art history in her native city of Marrakech for seven years. She is pursuing an advanced degree in comparative linguistics at the university in Rabat, Morocco. Asked why she chose to apply for the Fulbright scholarship, Safhi said, “I thought it would be an eye-opening experience to see firsthand American life and culture. When you

Professor Roberta Berlingo

12

Ramapo College Magazine | Winter 2020

Hsieh, who visited Alaska and cities along the United States West Coast several years ago, prefers to go by her “Americanized name of Yolanda.” She is teaching Mandarin Chinese to the Ramapo students. Like Safhi, she realizes her students are starting from scratch with the characters and slight nuance differences in pronunciation of the Chinese language. But she said because she is a teacher of elementary school children in Taiwan, she can approach her college-aged students in a similar fashion. “The children I teach at home are as young as six years old. They are learning the very basics, so I use the same technique here. So far, it’s working. They are understanding the tones and getting the ‘feeling’ for the sounds.”

The three said they are looking forward to being here for a “New Jersey winter,” something none of them experience in their home countries. So far, just one minor complaint: American coffee. Too weak, they agreed. But with plenty of options, they said they’ll figure something out.

Professor Yu-Chien Hsieh

RAMAPO RECOGNIZED IN TOP THREE FOR JOB PLACEMENT SUCCESS OF ITS GRADUATES

(L-R): Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, President Mercer and N.J. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal

Bergen County Assistant Prosecutor Kristin DeMarco

Bergen County Lieutenant Linda McNulty

NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL GREWAL ON CAMPUS FOR SEXUAL VIOLENCE FORUM New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal was on campus this fall for “Community Forum on Campus Sexual Violence: Exploring Students’ Rights and Options.” Earlier this year, the Attorney General’s office announced that prosecutors in all 21 state counties would hold such forums, part of the 21-County, 21stCentury Community Policing Project. Ramapo College was chosen as the Bergen County site, the first such forum to be held in the state.

Grewal said, “We will steadfastly defend the right of students to receive an education free of sexual harassment, violence and discrimination. We cannot stand by while the federal government proposes sweeping changes that would undermine that right and discourage students who are survivors of sexual violence from coming forward. The message that I want these survivors to hear is this: there are prosecutors across the state and investigators working with them who dedicate their lives to prosecuting cases like yours and pursuing justice for survivors like you.”

Kat McGee, director of Title IX at Ramapo College, served as moderator for the event.

“Following the national reckoning on sexual assault and harassment, survivors are increasingly empowered to seek justice. A new generation of students know that they are not alone, there are many campus and community resources to support them,” said McGee. “This is evidenced by the dedication of the Attorney General and our partners in law enforcement who came to Ramapo to speak with students about their rights and resources.”

College partners in attendance included Mark Musella, Bergen County Prosecutor; Robert Anzilotti, Chief of Detectives at the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office; Patricia Teffenhart, executive director of the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault; Helen Archontou, and Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA Northern New Jersey YWCA healingSPACE Sexual Violence Resource Center; and members of the Bergen County Special Victims Unit.

Students who select Ramapo College have an excellent chance of obtaining employment after graduation, according to Zippia. com, a website dedicated to providing job seekers with potential career resources.

Ramapo was ranked #3 with a 93.1 percentage rating among 30 New Jersey colleges and universities, up from 92.75 percent a year ago.

“The skills and experiences Ramapo students gain through academics, internships and cocurricular activities prepare them for a lifetime of achievement. Our employer partners frequently comment on the caliber of our students and graduates. And, I have the great pleasure of working with many of our successful alumni who want to give back to current Ramapo students,” said Beth Ricca, director of the Cahill Career Development Center.

Using IPEDS and College Scorecard Data, Zippia.com searched for the colleges in each state with the highest listed job placement ratings, looking specifically at employment levels at year 10 after students have graduated. The analysis was limited to the 30 public and non-profit, four-year institutions colleges in New Jersey that offer at least a bachelor’s degree. IPEDS, the Integrated Postsecondary Education System used by the National Center for Education Statistics, consists of twelve interrelated survey components that are collected over three collection periods each year. The College Scorecard Data is provided by the U.S. Department of Education to increase public transparency on how well different schools are serving their students. www.ramapo.edu

13

COLLEGE NEWS

(L-R): Professor Emeritus Susan Scher, Board of Trustee member A.J. Sabath ’93, Mitch Kahn and Assistant Professor of Social Work Kathleen Ray

(L-R) standing: Alejandro Ramos ’23, Student Government Association President Stephan Lally ’20, Claudia Wetzel ’20, Tushar MittalAgrawal ’22 and Jeff Spatola, chief of staff to Senator Oroho. (L-R) seated: Ryan Greff ’20, Senator Steven Oroho and Rohan Dhote ’22.

PROFESSOR EMERITUS MITCH KAHN HONORED

STATE SENATOR OROHO VISITS CAMPUS

Mitch Kahn, professor emeritus and retired director of the Social Work Program at Ramapo College, was honored by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) at its annual celebration held at the Estate at Farrington Lake in East Brunswick, N.J.

State Senator Steve Oroho, the ranking member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, visited Ramapo College earlier this fall. During his visit, he toured the campus with President Peter Mercer and met with Assistant Dean of Nursing Kathleen Burke for a tour of the Adler Center for Nursing Excellence. He later met with students and hosted a roundtable discussion on college access and affordability. The Senator’s visit was part of an outreach effort to introduce the students to state legislators.

Kahn, who was named Social Worker of the Year by the NASW, joined Ramapo College in 1971, retiring in 2013. He served as director of the Bergen County Housing Coalition and is a founder of the New Jersey Citizen Action, serving on its board since 1982. New Jersey Governors Thomas Kean and Christine Todd Whitman appointed him to several state housing study commissions where he was responsible for examining existing state policies. Currently, he is chair of the Ringwood, N.J., Economic Development Commission, is president of the Board of Directors of City Green, Inc., and was recently recognized as a Social Work Pioneer by the NASW National Office.

FIVE-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH MOVE LANGUAGE AHEAD Ramapo marked its five-year affiliation with Move Language Ahead (MLA), Deb Spina director of Events and Conferences, Massimo an English as a Tardi Founder and CEO of MLA, and President Mercer Second Language Photo Courtesy: Deb Spina immersion program for visiting high school students and their teachers. The MLA program came to the College in 2014, sending 520 high school students from Italy and France. The student groups come in for two or three weeks at a time, take classes on campus and live in the residence halls. Students also enjoy the campus facilities for evening get-togethers and socials.

The program has doubled in its five years with 1,055 students visiting in summer 2019. Students hailed from Russia, Ukraine, Mali, Vietnam and Romania as well as Italy and France.

14

Ramapo College Magazine | Winter 2020

TEEN’S LOVE OF BOOKS IS A GIFT After learning of the Ramapo Readers Project, Boonton High School freshman Kaitlyn Deppert spent her summer collecting books from family members and friends. In her letter to Assistant Professor of Social Work Kim Lorber, who oversees the Ramapo Readers project, Katie wrote, “E-books are great and very convenient, but there is something different about turning the pages of an actual book.” In all, Katie collected 990 books—far more than her intended target of 300 books.

The Ramapo Readers 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. Ramapo Readers now focuses on helping local organizations and schools, including 52 public schools in Paterson. Volunteer students have established 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 158,000 books of all genres for all age groups.

A look at the Class of 2023

Quick facts: The Class of 2023 boasts 1,037 FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS, the largest in Ramapo’s history. These students were selected from 7,329 applicants also the most in the College’s history.

Samantha Stolker ’21 and her mom Julie help sister Jenna ’23 move in to Pine Hall. “I have four kids. I hope they all come here,” says mom.

21

ALL NEW JERSEY COUNTIES ARE REPRESENTED

84 students are

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FUND (EOF) STUDENTS

16

international students from six foreign countries

121 incoming students will participate in ROADRUNNER ATHLETICS

53 incoming students will participate in the College’s LEADERS IN SERVICE PROGRAM

Students hail from

EIGHT

different states

TOP NAMES ARE

TOP MAJORS

Andrew, Emily, Emma, Joseph, Matthew, Michael, Nicholas, Nicole, Samantha and Victoria

Nursing, Biology, Business and Computer Science

www.ramapo.edu

15

FOUNDATION NEWS

MINDFUL SELF-COMPASSION Dr. Chris Germer, a pioneer in the field of self-compassion and co-developer of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Program spoke to the Ramapo community recently on why self-compassion matters and why it suddenly has become so popular in the world. He offered guidelines and simple skills for bringing self-compassion into daily life. Burgeoning research demonstrates that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing; reduced stress, anxiety and depression; maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise; and satisfying personal relationships. To learn more, visit ramapo.edu/mindfulness

ROTARY MAKES PRESENTATION TO EOF Tim Shaffer, president of the Bergen Highlands/Ramsey Rotary Club, along with William F. Dator, Rotarian and chair of the Ramapo College Board of Trustees, presented a donation for $2,000 that will support scholarship/relief fund to students and staff of the Educational Opportunity Fund Program (EOF).

The EOF program was started in New Jersey 50 years ago to give inner-city students the opportunity to attend college. At Ramapo College, where most of the EOF students are first-generation college students, it has been tremendously

successful with a high graduation rate.

During a presentation to the Rotary Club in December 2018, students Juliana Florez ’19 and Janay Davidson ’20 spoke about how the program has provided them additional support to complete their degrees as well as assist them in purchasing textbooks and participating in campus activities. Janay is a senior preparing for law school and Juliana works on campus as a graduate assistant in the Center for Student Success while pursuing her master’s degree in counseling at Monmouth University.

TD BANK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES The annual TD Bank Summer Concert Series drew hundreds of visitors to the weekly events held at the College’s Bandshell.

Pictured above right, President Peter P. Mercer (left) and Vice President Cathy Davey (far right) present donations from the Ramapo College Foundation on behalf of the College’s students, faculty and staff to express their grateful appreciation to the Mahwah Medical Emergency Services. Accepting is Mahwah 16

Ramapo College Magazine | Winter 2020

Emergency Medical Services Chief Liz Villano and EMS President Bob Klingen, Mahwah Fire Department First Assistant Fire Chief Cord Meyer, and Mahwah Municipal Alliance Chief Stephen Jaffe. Pictured above left are Board of Governors member Steve Napolitano and his son Steven, who “assisted” in the ice cream truck that was on the premises for the concerts. Special thanks to Liberty Cars of New Jersey and the Bergen Barracudas for their loyal and continued support of the concert series.

WILLIAM F. DATOR HONORED AT 32ND ANNUAL FOUNDATION GOLF OUTING

Board of Trustees Chair William Dator was honored for 50 years of volunteer service at the 32nd Annual Golf Outing. Left, presenting the first Friends of Ramapo scholarship donation to Ramapo founding President George Potter. Right, receiving the Havemeyer Presidential Leadership Award from President Mercer and 2018 recipient Thomas Shara.

William F. Dator received the Havemeyer Presidential Leadership Award at Ramapo College Foundation’s 32nd Annual Golf Outing at the North Jersey Country Club in Wayne, N.J. More than 120 golfers participated in the event which raised nearly $100,000 that will provide scholarship support for qualified students, fund collaborative research initiatives between students and faculty, and support special programs and projects on campus.

“Chair Dator’s support of the College since its inception, as well as his leadership and service in recent years, continues to set an example for so many of us to admire,” said Ramapo College President Peter P. Mercer. “Ramapo College is grateful for our donors, friends, and business partners whose generosity of time and resources thoughtfully advances our mission as New Jersey's designated public liberal arts college.”

The Havemeyer Presidential Leadership Award is given to an individual who has offered his or her expertise and whose contributions have touched the lives of the community as well as the students, faculty and staff at Ramapo College.

Dator, who serves as Chair of the Ramapo College Board of

Trustees, is currently associated with the Mahwah office of Special Properties-Christie’s International Real Estate. He attended Monmouth University and studied real estate appraisal at the University of Indiana, the University of Connecticut, and the University of San Francisco Law School. He was formerly Chairman of the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority, is currently Vice Chairman of the Mahwah Board of Adjustment, and is an active member of the Mahwah Office of Emergency Management.

He was the founding president of the Friends of Ramapo and has been actively involved with the College since 1970.

“This year’s outing was a great success thanks to the support from our sponsors, golfers and the hard work of the Ramapo and North Jersey Country Club staff,” said Frank Conway, of Franklin Lakes, who served as Golf Committee Chairman. “We could not have asked for better weather and the North Jersey course was in top condition.”

The event sponsor was Century 21 Construction and the Marino Family. Additional sponsors were Lakeland Bank, DialAmerica, Inserra ShopRite Supermarkets, UPS, Stryker, BMW of North America LLC, and PKF O’Connor Davies.

PERFORMING ARTS DINNER SERIES KICKS OFF WITH ‘AMERICA’S GOT TALENT’ FINALIST The Ramapo College Foundation kicked off its Performing Arts Dinner Series on Saturday, December 7 with “America’s Got Talent” finalist Sons of Serendip at The Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts, which celebrated its 20th year.

Other performances in the series include the Brubeck Brothers Quartet on January 25, celebrating the music of jazz giant Dave Brubeck. On March 7, Kittle & Co. will delight audiences with Celtic and bluegrass, folk and jazz selections. The series concludes on May 2 with LaChanze, a Tony and Emmy Award winner, bringing her Feeling Good tour to our stage.

Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and curtain at 8 p.m.

Sons of Serendip

For additional information, visit ramapo.edu/dinner-series www.ramapo.edu

17

FOUNDATION NEWS

Assistant Vice President of Grants and Programs, Angela Cristini demonstrates the workings of the Mobile Food Lab for partners from the Rockland and Orange Utility company.

Visitor to the Mobile Food Lab participates in salad-making activity.

Photo courtesy: Akdeniz Rysmendieva ’20

ORANGE & ROCKLAND AND BERRIE FOUNDATION SPONSOR MOBILE FOOD LAB SCHOOL VISITS The Mobile Food Lab will be rolling out its nutrition and STEM education programs in area elementary schools, thanks to grants from Orange & Rockland and the Berrie Foundation. O&R’s support will bring the Mobile Food Lab to elementary schools in Allendale, Mahwah, Oakland, and Ramsey, and the Berrie Foundation is providing major support to bring the Mobile Food Lab to all third

ROSARIO FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP As a student at Ramapo, Danny Rosario majored in accounting and was very active in community service and education programs through his fraternity, Lambda Theta Phi. After graduating in 2014, Rosario went on to earn a master of accountancy degree at Rider University and a master of business administration from William Paterson University. Today, Rosario is Director of Finance at Alliance Health System, a management consulting firm for medical practices. In September 2019, he created the Rosario Family Scholarship to honor his experience as an Educational Opportunity Fund student, and to recognize current EOF students for their achievements. "I decided to offer a scholarship to EOF for all the great work that I experienced personally and with other students," he says."I'm truly grateful for the foundation that EOF set for me."

18

Ramapo College Magazine | Winter 2020

graders in Garfield. Educators from the Meadowlands Environment Center, the Mobile Food Lab home base, will lead activities on the bus focused on the science of food and healthy eating through science, art and cooking. The activities encourage kids to explore where food comes from, how it nourishes and impacts us, and how it shapes our world.

RAMAPO ALUMNI VETERANS HONORED AT WEST POINT GAME Ramapo College veterans were honored at the November 9 West Point Game. Guests enjoyed a tailgate followed by an Army Black Knights win over UMass Minutemen.

Top (L-R): Al Gensch, President Mercer, Dr. Jacqueline EhlertMercer, Timothy Cairns ’18 and Keith Cascio ’22 Left: Veterans, alumni and friends of Ramapo College

MICHAEL SIMON ’73 CREATES ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

(L-R): President Mercer, Jeanine Mahon Dawkins and Board of Governors member Keith Dawkins ’94

The late 1960s and early 1970s were an exciting time, with students, faculty and staff working together to launch this new venture that is Ramapo College.

Michael Simon was among that group of students, and as a result was involved in a number of “Ramapo firsts” that are still thriving today.

With other students Simon built WRPR, the campus radio station.

He helped design the class ring, which features the Arch and the words “peace through understanding,” a sentiment that reflected the political climate at the time. He worked on campus as the night switchboard operator and as a shuttle bus driver.

He was a member of the housing committee, and fondly recalls the muddy campus due to construction of the first residence halls, which opened in 1972.

(L-R): David Repetto, Esq., Tom Palmer and Michele Repetto

BIRCH FELLOWSHIP ANNUAL FUND RECOGNITION DINNER The Stephen & Mary Birch Fellowship recognition dinner was held in September at the Havemeyer House.

Hosted by President Peter P. Mercer and Dr. Jacqueline Ehlert-Mercer, the annual event recognizes leadership donors of the Annual Fund of Ramapo College, which helps support student scholarships, faculty research grants and special campus projects.

After Simon graduated, he worked as a purchasing agent at a number of corporations including IBM, Mercedes Benz, Seiko, and Serveron, at lived in Israel, New York, Kentucky, and North Carolina.

“Now that I am retired, I volunteer most days of the week to help those in my community who are less fortunate,” says Simon, who now calls Oregon home. “I want to help everyone in need that comes into my life.” To continue that sentiment at Ramapo, Simon has established the Michael Simon Class of ’73 Scholarship Endowment to benefit a student who is a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and an active student leader.

Travel with Ramapo Professors PROGRAM CONTINUES

Travel with Ramapo Professors: Irish Literature and Music Ireland with Professor Ed Shannon ’85 has a few spaces still available.

March 15 - 22, 2020 | Perfect for first-time visitors to the Emerald Isle Imagine experiencing St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland!

For more information, visit ramapo.edu/travel www.ramapo.edu

19

FOUNDATION

Current students and alumni attend the Annual Run with Color

(L-R): Natalia Santamaria Laorden, associate professor of Spanish at Ramapo College; Oscar Holmes, professor of management, Rutgers University; Allison Banks-Moore ’77, chief diversity officer, Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Jersey; Quincy Bloxom, director of operations, Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey; Susan Hangen, dean of the School of Humanities and Global Studies at Ramapo College

HEALTH CARE SYMPOSIUM TARGETS DIVERSE APPROACH “Diversity in Health Care II: An Interdisciplinary Approach” was the focus of a symposium held on campus in October. Panel discussions, “The Economic Advantage of a Diversity Approach in Health Care and Human Services” and “Bilingual Narratives” featured guest panelists from Horizon BCBSNJ, Rutgers University, the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey, and faculty and professionals from Arizona University, Columbia University and William Paterson University.

Dorothy Roberts, noted professor and director of the Program on Race, Science and Society at the University of Pennsylvania, gave the keynote address. The panels and keynote covered diversity in health care topics as they relate to law, management, social work, medical anthropology, Spanish, counseling and political science. The event concluded with a reception and presentation of Ramapo College’s Peruvian Study Abroad Program, which will provide students with an opportunity to engage in hands-on fieldwork in community medicine.

The event was sponsored by the Undergraduate Studies and Foreign Language federal grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.

Participants are showered with colored powder during the run.

Photo courtesy: Michelle Mongiardo ’21

RUN WITH COLOR SUPPORTS ANNUAL FUND The sixth Annual Run with Color took place during the weekend of Oktoberfest, attracting 165 participants and raising more than $3,300 to support the Ramapo College Annual Fund.

The annual 5K event is presented by the Ramapo College Student Government Association. Event sponsors were Gateway Gourmet, Campbell Fire Protection, Inc. and Ramapo alumna Eileen Comerford ’80, who is a member of the College’s Anisfield School of Business Alumni Board.

PROFESSOR’S BOOK ROYALTIES TO BENEFIT RAMAPO STUDENTS In 2018 Associate Professor of Psychology Leah Warner published a book, “Social Problems: A Supplementary Reader to Race, Class, and Gender Anthologies.” The book was published with financial assistance from the Ramapo College Foundation. Warner’s collection of articles is used by instructors around the country to help students put social issues in context. Warner decided to use the royalties from her book to give back to the College, specifically for an award for students in social science. The new Social Justice Scholarship will be used to recognize students with financial need who have completed an exemplary project or paper in a social science inquiry class. A committee of faculty members will select the finalist, and the first recipient will be selected this year.

20

Ramapo College Magazine | Winter 2020

RAMAPO COLLEGE LEGACY SOCIETY

I HAVE A

kinship WITH RAMAPO

When Toni Brower ’02 graduated from high school, her professional life began immediately and was focused on Manhattan. She later got married, started a family, and, one day, living minutes from Ramapo College, decided to start earning her undergraduate degree.

Still working, Toni attended Ramapo part-time. “It was convenient,” she said. “I was still career-focused and I just took a class here and there. I initially studied business but as I was already working in business my academic interests gradually changed to international relations.” Over time, she picked up the pace and started taking more classes each semester, graduating with honors in 2002.

“I loved Ramapo, the professors really cared about my classmates and me. The coursework was interesting. And the campus was – and remains – absolutely lovely.”

Several years later, Toni and her husband decided to invest in Ramapo philanthropically – and in themselves – by purchasing a charitable gift annuity, a donation that provided generous tax benefits and lifetime income at a fixed interest rate. Upon her passing the annuity’s residual funds will revert to the Ramapo College Foundation.

“A representative from the Ramapo College Foundation suggested I consider purchasing an annuity. I met with my tax advisor to explore the idea and it fit so nicely into my plans – while simultaneously and substantially investing in the College’s future.”

“I have a kinship with Ramapo. It’s a place that’s always taken care of me – and now it’s a place that I will take care of through my annuity.”

GENERIC EXAMPLE OF A $10,000 GIFT ANNUITY FOR A FEMALE DONOR AGE 73 (December, 2019) 5.9% Charitable Gift Annuity ASSUMPTIONS: Annuitant Age Date of Gift

73

BENEFITS: Charitable Deduction $3,787.60

December 2019

Annuity $590.00

Cash Donated Payout Rate (Courtesy of American Council on Gift Annuities) Payment Schedule

$10,000

Tax-free Portion

$450.17

5.9%

Ordinary Income

$139.83

quarterly at end

After 13.8 years, the entire annuity becomes ordinary income.

To learn how you can invest in the future – yours and Ramapo’s or for your quote, contact Cathleen Davey today at 201.684.7615 or cdavey@ramapo.edu or contact David Terdiman at 201.684.7179 or dterdima@ramapo.edu * This illustrator is provided as an example of an annuity. It is not intended to provide legal, accounting or other professional services.

www.ramapo.edu

21

SEEING DOUBLE

Photo Courtesy: Peter Bonilla ’19

22

COLLEEN AND MAGGIE FARRELL – FIELD HOCKEY POSITIONS – Maggie: midfield or forward, Colleen: defender

LOUIS AND NICK PETROZZIELLO – SOCCER POSITIONS – Nick: attacker, Louis: defender

FAVORITE FOOD Colleen: cheeseburgers, Maggie: mac ‘n cheese

FAVORITE FOOD Nick: lasagna, Louis: burritos with sour cream

FAVORITE TV SHOW Friends!

FAVORITE TV SHOW Nick: SpongeBob Squarepants, Louis: Breaking Bad

FAVORITE ATHLETE National Field Hockey Team (naturally)

FAVORITE ATHLETE (International soccer star) Lionel Messi

Ramapo College Magazine | Winter 2020

ATHLETICS

T

here’s something quite unusual going on down at Ramapo’s athletic fields. The College is boasting four sets – yes, four sets!

– of twins on its athletic teams this season. Even more unusual is that these siblings compete on the same teams, creating perhaps a little bit of chaos for their opponents. Three of the pairs are fraternal--you can easily tell them apart — and one set is identical, making it a bit more difficult to distinguish who’s who. Despite sharing genetic similarities and incredibly strong sibling bonds, these twins are different in their own right. But that’s part of what made this story doubly fun.

COLLEEN AND MAGGIE FARRELL – FIELD HOCKEY These freshmen from Millington, N.J., (Morris County) have been playing field hockey on the same team since grammar school.

Maggie, who is older by two minutes, is also a few inches taller.

At present, she hasn’t declared a major but wants to explore her options before committing. Colleen, definitely the more chatty of the sisters, is in the nursing program.

They live in Bischoff Hall but unlike when they were kids, they do not share a room. “We’ve always been together so not sleeping in the same room was a bit of a change,” said Colleen. “But we’re close.”

LOUIS AND NICK PETROZZIELLO – SOCCER These siblings from Old Bridge, N.J., got different starts here at Ramapo. Nick, who will be graduating in 2020, came in right after high school. Said Nick, “I took a tour with Coach [DJ Pinton] and fell in love with the campus.” Louis, who is older by 16 minutes and stands a half-foot taller, transferred in from Middlesex County Community College after taking a year off. “My main goal is to get a degree but I really missed playing soccer with my brother, so I decided to come here to Ramapo,” said Louis.

BROOKE AND SAMANTHA SAVERCOOL – CROSS-COUNTRY ON THE COURSE – Both run cross-country but have favorite track distances. Brooke: 800 or 1,000 meters, Samantha: 1 mile, 2 mile FAVORITE FOOD Brooke: tacos, Samantha: mashed potatoes (with anything) FAVORITE TV SHOW Brooke: Supergirl, Samantha: All American FAVORITE ATHLETE Brooke: (American hurdler, sprinter) Sydney McLaughlin, Samantha: (American middle-distance runner) Emma Coburn

No wonder. The Petrozziello brothers have been playing on the same teams since they were three-years-old – dad played competitively and coached the boys’ teams, they explained.

They’ve even had the same numbers – 12 and 21 (deliberately reversed) – on their uniform jerseys the entire time.

BROOKE AND SAMANTHA SAVERCOOL – CROSS-COUNTRY The Savercool sisters, who are freshmen, got an early start to their running careers. At the suggestion of their first grade teacher in Montville, N.J., they started running track for their town’s youth recreation program, eventually switching to longer cross-country distances in the third grade. Samantha, older by 30 minutes, is a literature major with the goal of becoming a high school teacher.

Brooke, who unlike her twin wears glasses, is studying sociology and criminology. When they’re not studying, they each run between 30-40 miles a week to train for the season. They live in Pine Hall in the same room. Joked Samantha, “I trust her with my stuff.”

On the course: Both run cross-country but have favorite track distances. Brooke: 800 or 1,000 meters, Samantha: 1 mile, 2 mile JUDLYN AND JUDANICKA JULCEUS – TRACK & FIELD One would be hard-pressed to tell these two sisters apart. Except for the slight tint of bronze in Judlyn’s long braids, these twins from Livingston, N.J., are identical. Now in their junior year, they are even pursuing the same careers – majoring in biology with a common goal of becoming physician assistants. Judanicka, a minute older than Judlyn, said they used to play soccer in grammar school but decided running for pure speed was much more fun. The Roadrunners are happy they did. The Julceus sisters earned NJAC All-Conference honors for their participation in both the 100-meter dash and on the 4x100 relay team.

JUDLYN AND JUDANICKA JULCEUS – TRACK & FIELD ON THE TRACK – Judanick and Judlyn: sprints, relay team FAVORITE FOOD Judanicka: chicken tenders and fries, Judlyn: tacos FAVORITE TV SHOW Judanicka: The Resident, Judlyn: Grey’s Anatomy FAVORITE ATHLETE Judanicka: (American hurdler, sprinter) Sydney McLaughlin, Judlyn: (American sprinter) Allyson Felix

www.ramapo.edu

23

Class Notes

WHERE WE ARE & WHAT WE ARE UP TO 1985

2007

HELEN MCNEILL (Biology) was named the inaugural Larry J. Shapiro and CarolAnn Uetake-Shapiro Professor in the Developmental Biology Department at Washington University in St. Louis. Helen’s research focuses on analyzing human DNA and certain molecules’ role in embryonic development; it has implications for development of birth defects, cancer and genetic disorders. Helen earned a Ph.D. in molecular and cellular physiology from Stanford University.

MEGAN R. KNOWLTON BALNE (History and Theater) an attorney with Hyland Levin Shapiro LLP, was named a partner of the firm. She received the 2019 Professional Achievement Award by the New Jersey State Bar Association and is a member of the South Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Megan received her law degree from Rutgers University School of Law-Camden in 2010.

1989 JEFFREY VENTOLA (Business Administration) has joined Lowcountry Food Bank as Myrtle Beach Regional Food Center manager. The organization serves 10 coastal counties of South Carolina.

1994 MICHAEL K. MAHONEY (Accounting) has been promoted to assistant vice president, accounts payable, billing and financial systems at Selective Insurance Company of America. Mike joined the company in 2013 as manager, financial systems. Prior to that, he was an accounting manager at Geller & Company. He is a certified project management professional.

2003 DARREN SMITH (Communication Arts) was sworn in as deputy sheriff of Chester County, Penn. Previously, Darren served as police reserve officer in his hometown of Paramus. He graduated from Delaware County’s Police Academy.

2005 TIMOTHY J. FORD (Law and Society) was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant by the Union Police Department. He joined the force in 2005 and has served in the patrol bureau, the staff services bureau and as a field training officer. Timothy is certified by the State of New Jersey as a drug recognition expert. He received the “Top Gun” Award from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety for his ongoing efforts in detecting and arresting drunk and impaired drivers.

2011 JUSTIN G. DI MAIO (Biology) a chiropractic physician, joined the staff of Tanis Chiropractic in West Milford. Dr. Di Maio received a doctor of Chiropractic from the Palmer College of Chiropractic in 2014.

Previously, he was on the staff of Advanced Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy in Riverdale.

KAREN L. ELLIOTT (BSN) recently received the DAISY Award from Valley Hospital for her outstanding work as a labor and delivery nurse.

2019 RICK ALVES (Law and Society) was sworn in as an officer with the Fairfield Police Department. Rick attended the Essex County Police Academy where he received the Dr. Zachary Yamba Award for having the highest academic average of all recruits in his class.

RIA ESTEVES (Social Work) was one of 12 Congressional interns selected this past summer to participate in the Foster Youth Internship Program overseen by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute in Washington, D.C. Participants were young adults who had spent time in

Dr. Robert Scott, former President of Ramapo College and Tom Dunn, former Board of Trustees member toured the Founders’ Day Photo Exhibit.

24

Ramapo College Magazine | Winter 2020

the foster care system and who display the interest and the skills necessary to become effective advocates for change. Ria created a policy report which was presented to members of Congress and their staffs and released to child welfare advocates across the country. Ria’s recommendations were also highlighted in The Chronicle for Social Change.

MARRIAGES LOUIS A. KERN (Accounting, 2017) married Danielle Fiore on May 10, 2019. Louis is a senior auditor for the Port Authority of NYNJ. Danielle is a 2013 graduate of Marist College. She works for Steve Madden Company. The couple resides in Little Falls.

MICHELLE C. REGNA (Communication Arts, 2013) married Dr. Andrew John Deek in Knoxville, Tenn. on September 21. Michelle is a digital social media editor for HGTV, Travel Channel and DIY Network in Knoxville. She received a master’s degree in information systems from NJIT. Andrew is a medical student at the University of Tennessee Medical College in Knoxville.

IN MEMORIAM ROSANNE FRANCONE ’78 JAMES H. POULIN ’78 ANN L. SPINELLI ’82 PETER J. AMORESANO ’83 VIRGINIA A. PAGE ’89 ALISON ANN WALTON ’94 JANICE BUNO-MOCIOLEK ’97 JUNE M. KARPOWICH ’00 JAMES H. WILLIS ’19

Walt Santner ’75 toured the Founders’ Week Photo Exhibit and contributed audio recordings of early Ramapo College radio broadcasts.

Founders’ Week 2019

1

2

3

4

5 1. Retired faculty and staff gathered to hear a lecture by Professor Paul Elovitz on his “50 Year Love Affair with Ramapo.”

2. The College was honored to have President Emeritus Robert Scott join President Mercer to present the Inaugural Millicent Anisfield Lecture, moderated by Thomas Dunn, on The Legacy of George Potter and the Evolution of the College Presidency.

Former Trustee chairs Gail Brady and Robert Corman joined Trustees Vichness, Montroy, Dator and Vallario.

3. Family members of Founding President George Potter attended the Legacy Society Dinner on Founders’ Day. (L-R): Cynthia Lightbody, Ralph Potter, Trustee Chair Bill Dator, President Mercer and Kathy L. Schulz ’83

6

4. First Generation college students, first in their families to attend college, were recognized during Founders’ Week.

(L-R): Daryl Pula ’21, President Mercer, keynote speaker Cathleen Benko ’85 and Kiana Azcona ’21 5. Ramapo celebrated the 50th anniversary of the College with a birthday cake on Founders’ Day. 6. (L-R): Vincent Putignano ’19, MASE ’21; Brian Chinni, assistant dean, Teacher Education; Julie Norflus-Good, director, Master of Arts in Special Education and Jason Lopez ’19 at the NJEA Conference in Atlantic City

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

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

SAVE THE DATE | MARCH 14, 2020

Honoring: Eileen Comerford ’80

Ann Marie Leichman | Joseph M. Sanzari www.ramapo.edu/dcd RAMAPO COLLEGE FOUNDATION

DISTINGUISHED

CITIZENS Dinner

50th Kickoff Celebration THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE PO “Ramapo College continues to be one of my favorite places in the world. Visiting the campus feels like coming home.

It’s where I met the love of my life, where I found myself, where I focused on my passion (creative writing). It’s also where I go to feel inspired again. I may have graduated, but a big part of my heart will always be with this College.”

— JULIA GUERRA ’14