Summer 2014
RAMAPO COLLEGE MAGAZINE
from the office of the president PETER P. MERCER, Ph.D.
Commencement marks a beginning and an end. For our graduates, it is both the start of a new adventure and the culmination of their academic career at Ramapo College. During their time at Ramapo, our students pushed their boundaries and expanded beyond their pre-collegiate comfort zone to explore new areas of interest and to consider new perspectives. Their pursuit of academic excellence, commitment to community engagement and desire to affect our campus in meaningful ways enriched the experience of all. Now our new graduates enter the next chapter in their lives. For many, it is the start of their professional career or graduate studies. In these pages, you will hear from some of our graduates about their experiences and their aspirations. Members of the Class of 2014 do not continue this life journey alone. As many before them, our new graduates will continue to draw on lessons learned and relationships forged at Ramapo. The bonds of those ties will strengthen in ways that are not perhaps entirely clear at the moment as many of our graduates give back so selflessly to ensure the success of future generations. For that, we are grateful.
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As many before them, our new graduates will continue to draw on lessons learned and relationships forged at Ramapo. Our President’s Award of Merit honoree at commencement, Cathleen Benko ’85, is the embodiment of what is possible when one is equipped with a rigorous Ramapo education, commitment and desire to excel in all endeavors, and the recognition of the need to assist others. As vice chairman and managing principal of Deloitte LLP, Cathy has applied her many talents and steadfast commitment to ensure that others have the benefit of higher education in order to take advantage of opportunities and to forge their own path. As our commencement speaker, the Honorable Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, reminded us—our achievements are not our own but a result of the hard work and desire of others to overcome adversity and to move forward. It was obvious to the Class of 2014—from the nearly 10,000 family members and friends who gathered at the Izod Center in May—that they have a wealth of individuals who helped to make this moment possible for them and who eagerly await what’s next in their lives and careers. We wish them well. Sincerely,
Peter P. Mercer, Ph.D. President, Ramapo College of New Jersey
contents COLLEGE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Peter P. Mercer, Ph.D. President Beth E. Barnett, Ed.D. Provost Cathleen Davey Vice President for Institutional Advancement Maria Krupin Vice President for Administration and Finance Michael C. Tripodi Vice President and General Counsel BOARD OF TRUSTEES George C. Ruotolo, Jr. Chair BOARD OF GOVERNORS Frances K. Hackett ’80 Chair Carolyn Merkel ’78 Alumni Association Board, Chair Audrey Newman ’93 Friends of Ramapo, Chair
RAMAPO MAGAZINE STAFF Cathleen Davey Editor-in-Chief
(L-R): MBA graduating students Matthew De Marco, MBA ’14, Allison Gallo ’11, MBA ’14, Lana LoPresti ’11, MBA ’14, and Jesse Karkheck, MBA ’14 stand before the trading room in the Anisfield School of Business. They formed the project team for Stone Systems as part of the MBA Capstone experience.
FEATURES
p. 2–9
A Time for Celebration: Commencement Coverage
p. 2–3
More than 1,500 students earned their degrees at the 56th
commencement exercises. U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey
delivered the keynote address.
p. 4–5
Professor Yvette Kisor discusses her love of language and affinity for
the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.
p. 5
Class of 2014 Student Speaker Joseph Romano talks about his
four life rules.
This magazine can be made available upon request in alternate media. Requests should be directed to: 201.684.7611
p. 6–9
Members of the Class of 2014 reflect on lessons learned, their
experiences at Ramapo and what is next in their lives and careers.
p. 10–13
MBA Capstone Consulting Project provides valuable business experience
Alumni contact and change of address: Rayna Wendell at 201.684.7115
to Ramapo students and insights to participating companies. Learn more
about the MBA program and Adjunct Professor Tom Lambrix who was a
resource and guiding hand to Ramapo’s MBA students.
Stephen J. Hudik Executive Editor Mary Cicitta Managing Editor Cynthia Burns Foundation Editor Carolyn Herring Photo Editor Design: Stamats, Inc.
Student Relations contact: Melissa Van Der Wall at 201.684.7591
Ramapo Magazine is produced by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs.
Cover Photo (L-R): Gina Pichardo
’14, Assistant Professor of Nursing Christina Stearns ’03, ’07, Ph.D., and Samantha Heineke ’14.
p. 14–15
Giving Back: William and Catherine Krame and Dr. Timothy Finley ’94
support Ramapo’s mission through their generosity and are making an
impact on the next generation of students.
DEPARTMENTS
p. 16–19
College News
p. 20–23
Class Notes and Profiles
p. 24–25
Datebook
www.ramapo.edu
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A Time for Celebration More than 10,000 gather at Izod Center for commencement
M
ore than 1,500 students earned their degrees at Ramapo College’s 56th commencement exercises on May 16. The students, joined by families and friends, celebrated their achievements and looked forward to life’s next chapter. At the Arching Ceremony the previous evening, the soon-to-be graduates walked through the Arch marking the culmination of their collegiate careers and gathered with faculty and wellwishers at receptions for their respective schools.
Board of Trustees Chair George C. Ruotolo, Jr. welcomes the graduates and guests.
“You were put on this earth to stand out, to excel and to be better than the norm.” —Senator Cory Booker
“I trust the time you spent at Ramapo made you better, and as you go forth today, your accomplishments will make us all better,” said George C. Ruotolo, Jr., chairman of the Board of Trustees, in his welcoming remarks at the Izod Center to the Class of 2014. “We are all very proud of each and every graduate.” Kelsey Pierre ’14 celebrated with her fellow graduates.
The day before commencement graduates participated in the traditional Arching Ceremony as family, faculty and staff cheered them on as members of the Class of 2014 passed under the Arch.
(L-R): Trustee W. Peter McBride, Trustee A.J. Sabath ’93, Trustee Gary Montroy, Student Trustee Anthony Darakjy ’15, President Peter P. Mercer, Trustee Thomas Zelante, Esq., Trustee George C. Ruotolo, Jr. and Trustee William Dator
Emily Emmet ’14 carried the Ramapo gonfalon to open the commencement ceremony. Jason Silovitch ’14 and Gina Dovey, BSN ’07, MSN ’14
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Ramapo College Magazine Summer 2014
The color guard entered the Izod Center for the start of the commencement exercises.
Embrace the Discomfort Ramapo College President Peter P. Mercer urged the graduates to “not allow the anxiety of the unknown to encumber you.” He encouraged them to “embrace the discomfort and let it move you forward.” Dr. Mercer added that discomfort leads to opportunities for growth and broader perspectives.
President Peter P. Mercer addressed the Class of 2014 and urged graduates to “embrace the discomfort.”
“The fundamental element missing in most of postsecondary education in North America is the understanding that it is partly our job to make others and ourselves feel uncomfortable,” said Dr. Mercer. “That discomfort should arise from being engaged by ideas to which we had not previously been exposed; by learning from the experiences of others that are different from the experiences that we have had ourselves; and by questioning our own judgments and ideologies.” Dr. Mercer concluded his remarks by congratulating the graduates. “May you continue to push boundaries and may you be richly blessed in the years to come,” he said, before introducing the commencement speaker, U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey.
Not Born to Mediocrity Booker delivered an inspiring address, often tracing lessons learned from his own family and experiences in and out of the classroom. Booker reminded the graduates that earning their degrees was very much a cumulative effort “paid for by the blood, sweat and tears of your ancestors” and that “somewhere in your background people have faced insurmountable odds but persisted anyway.” He told the Class of 2014 that “you were put on this earth to stand out, to excel and to be better than the norm.” He reminded them that “hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard.”
U.S. Senator Cory Booker delivered the keynote address.
A graduate of Northern Valley High School in Old Tappan, N.J., Booker earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Stanford University before attending Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. Prior to winning election to the Senate, Booker served as mayor of Newark, New Jersey’s largest city. He serves on the Senate's Commerce, Science and Transportation, Small Business and Entrepreneurship and Environment and Public Works Committees.
Success and Service
Cathleen A. Benko ’85 (center), received the President’s Award of Merit from President Peter P. Mercer and Ramapo College Foundation Board of Governors Chair Fran Hackett ’80.
Cathleen A. Benko ’85 received the President’s Award of Merit. She is the vice chairman and managing principal of Deloitte LLP and a best-selling author of three books, including The Corporate Lattice. She was honored for her professional achievements and a lifetime of steadfast commitment to higher education. Benko serves on the board of advisors of Catalyst, a nonprofit organization that works to expand opportunities for women and underrepresented groups in the workplace. She was past director of the Deloitte Foundation, a strong supporter of higher education for more than 80 years, and is on the board of the San Francisco 49ers Foundation, which provides education and community enrichment opportunities for underserved youth.
“May you continue to push boundaries and may you be richly blessed in the years to come.” —President Peter P. Mercer, Ph.D. www.ramapo.edu
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A Passion for Language and Imagery Y
vette Kisor’s passion for literature’s language and imagery is evident in and outside the classroom. Ramapo College recognized Kisor for her accomplishments and dedication with the 2014 Fred and Florence Thomases Award in the spring.
“It’s humbling and reflects the collective support from my colleagues, students and the Ramapo community,” said Kisor.
“It’s humbling and reflects the collective support from my colleagues, students and the Ramapo community.” Yvette Kisor on receiving the 2014 Fred and Florence Thomases Award
Established in 1975 by Ramapo’s founding trustee Florence Thomases and her husband, Fred, the award recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarship and contributions to the Ramapo community. The recipient of the award traditionally serves as grand marshal at the commencement exercises and carries the college mace at the ceremony. Born in Suva, Fiji, and raised in Australia and Minnesota, Kisor earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Classics from Rice University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in English with a minor in Classics and the Classical Tradition from the University of California at Davis. She joined Ramapo in 2004 and teaches British Literature with an emphasis on Old English Language and Literature, Beowulf, Chaucer and J.R.R. Tolkien.
Yvette Kisor, Ph.D., associate professor of Literature, presented the mace, signaling the start of the commencement ceremony.
Kisor‘s enthusiasm and love of the broad spectrum of British literature is obvious to her students and casual observers. Thanks to the vastly popular Peter Jackson films of Tolkien’s works, Kisor’s longtime appreciation of the author’s nuanced ability to create striking, colorful and intense images is reaching a broader audience on campus and beyond.
An Early Influence Resurfaces in Later Years Kisor traced her interest in Tolkien to an early age. “I read The Lord of the Rings around age 11, and they really captured my attention,” said Kisor. “I have some vivid memories of reading the "Mines of Moria" chapter under the covers by flashlight and finding it impossible to go to sleep, my heart was beating so fast!” Her encounter with Tolkien’s works resurfaced in later years, but from a different perspective. Kisor was assigned Tolkien’s academic essay on Beowulf, The Monsters and the Critics. “I did not immediately realize it was the same Tolkien!” she recalled. “I reread everything, and appreciated his works on a whole new level given my new familiarity with Beowulf and other medieval works.”
Kisor’s interest in J.R.R. Tolkien stems from her childhood. She teaches a broad range of courses on British Literature and has three publications scheduled to come out in 2014.
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Ramapo College Magazine Summer 2014
Kisor first offered a Major Authors course in Tolkien shortly after starting at Ramapo in 2004.
She later changed the format to a stand-alone course. Half the course covers Tolkien’s writing, and the other half the medieval works which he studied and loved. She has always taught the course following the Peter Jackson movies, which has boosted its appeal. The third and final film in Jackson’s The Hobbit series is scheduled to come out in December.
Student Perspective: Life Lessons Student speaker Joseph Romano “thanked Ramapo for this moment on behalf of all graduates and for the many moments leading up to it.” He concluded his remarks by outlining four life lessons.
Why Study Tolkien? “It’s a good question,” said Kisor. “Students learn about his masterful use of language, imagery and boundless creativity.” Kisor’s approach in the course emphasizes the interconnections among Tolkien and several authors, using the concept of intertextuality as developed by modern literary theorists Julia Kristeva and Mikhail Bakhtin to consider relationships among Tolkien, medieval works and the modern works that draw on Tolkien.
Student speaker Joseph Romano ’14 addressed his fellow graduates and cited four rules to live by day in and day out.
Joseph Romano delivered the student address at the commencement exercises. He earned his degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.
Kisor teaches a broad range of courses examining British literature, with an emphasis on medieval works. This fall, she will teach the senior seminar on Arthurian literature, an early British survey course and the honors First-Year Seminar focused on fairy tales. She will likely teach the Tolkien course as well as History of the English Language in the spring. Kisor remains active on the research and publications front as well, with three publications scheduled to come out by year’s end.
Joseph was involved with the Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassador (RASA) program, Leaders in Service (LIS), Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, Inter-Fraternity Council, Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society, Sustainable Living Facilities and participated in the College Honors Program. Below are some excerpts from Joseph’s remarks. In his address to his classmates. Joseph cited four life rules to live by day in and day out. Rule One—Whatever it is that you do, whatever you define as your
They include:
job in life, do it to the best of your ability. Grades do come first.
• Using the History of Middle-earth series with Tolkien’s Fiction. MLA Approaches to Teaching: J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and Other Works, ed. Leslie Donovan. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2014. 133–43. • Poor Sméagol: Gollum as Exile in The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien in the New Century: Essays in Honor of Tom Shippey, ed. John William Houghton, Janet Brennan Croft, Nancy Martsch, John D. Rateliff, and Robin Anne Reid. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2014. 153–68. • ‘naked as a nedyll’: The Eroticism of Malory’s Elaine. Sexual Culture in the Literature of Medieval Britain, eds. Amanda Hopkins, Robert Allen Rouse, and Cory James Rushton. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer, 2014. 38–47.
Rule Two—Live life committed; find your passion and follow it. It doesn’t matter if you’re the wolf or the sheepdog, just don’t be one of the sheep. Rule Three—Life is short. So have fun, rejoice, and celebrate every day that you wake up on this side of dirt. And Rule Four—Surround yourself with the people you love. Appreciate them. You’re going to make mistakes, guaranteed. We all do. But with a network of family and true friends to get you through
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the dark spots, it will make the bright spots shine all the brighter.
…Today is one of those bright spots for all of us. I thank Ramapo for this moment and for the many moments leading up to it. I thank my
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parents for their wisdom, and I thank all of you for your time…
Congratulations, Class of 2014, we made it! Articles in this section by Stephen J. Hudik
www.ramapo.edu
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THE PATH AHEAD REFLECTIONS FROM THE CLASS OF 2014 Learn more about some of Ramapo’s recent graduates as they discuss their experiences, influences and what’s next in their lives and careers. We’ll hear more from additional members of the Class of 2014 in the fall issue of Ramapo Magazine. I was attracted to Ramapo College’s small class sizes and the outstanding biology department. I received a four-year presidential scholarship, which allowed me to save money towards medical school. Ramapo’s hands-on learning provided me with experiences that shaped me to be a socially conscious person. This social conscience will be invaluable as a future doctor. I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and last fall worked at a local site laying a concrete foundation alongside recipient families. I realized that one person in collaboration with other civic-minded individuals can propel positive change.
Chelsea Grama (Hamilton Township, N.J.) earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a minor in psychology. She will be attending Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa.
Professors Susan Petro, Thomas Owen and William Mitchell are all outstanding. Each provided me with great advice and guidance. Prof. Petro is a great biology teacher. I still use some of the mnemonics she taught my freshman year in my current studies. Prof. Owen was especially helpful throughout my medical school application process. Prof. Mitchell provided me with invaluable research opportunities. I owe much thanks to each of them. I have not decided on a particular area of medicine and will see where my strengths and interest lead me. I am keeping an open mind for now. I want to try out several specialties to see where I best fit in. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a doctor. In middle school, I was rushed to the hospital with abdominal pain and had an emergency lifesaving appendectomy. I was impressed by the skill of the doctors who treated me, and the experience furthered my interest in medicine. I always had a strong aptitude for science and an intellectual curiosity and wanted a career with ongoing learning as I try to find answers to old questions and to develop new questions.
“I was attracted to Ramapo College’s small class sizes and the outstanding biology department.”
I met many diverse people and made lifelong friends while receiving a top-rated education at Ramapo. I was not intimidated during medical school interviews and was confident that Ramapo had prepared me well.
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Ramapo College Magazine Summer 2014
Stephen Scorzo (Kinnelon, N.J.) earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. He accepted a position with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
I chose Ramapo College because of its reputation as a top public college, its size and the location. With small class sizes, you have the opportunity to interact and to develop relationships with the professors. I have been fortunate that I have been able to build relationships with professors who have provided mentoring and direction throughout my college career. My professors truly cared about my success not only in the classroom but in my future. All of the many clubs and activities in the Anisfield School of Business complemented my classroom learning. Constance Crawford, professor of accounting, was especially helpful in my studies. I got to know Professor Crawford during the first semester of my junior year. I often went to see her during her office hours. She was always available and willing to help. I took multiple courses with her. She is an excellent teacher and brought a tremendous amount of knowledge and outside examples into the classroom. Professor Crawford gave me valuable advice and guidance in deciding my career path. I always had an interest in accounting. My dad and his twin brother are both CPAs and my older brother recently passed the CPA exam. The CPA designation has given them tremendous career opportunities.
“I chose Ramapo College
because of its reputation
as a top public college, its
They all played a large role in convincing me to take some business courses. Once I began taking the courses, I immediately knew that it was for me.
size and the location.”
I worked as an Audit Intern at PricewaterhouseCoopers during the summer of 2013. It was a paid position, and I also earned four credits towards my degree at Ramapo College. I worked in the Health Industries Market team. I was part of engagement teams which provided audit and assurance services to public pharmaceutical and healthcare corporations. I gained valuable experience and understanding of the audit process of large publicly held corporations. At the end of the eight-week internship, I was offered a full-time position upon graduation. I plan to begin the CPA review course after graduation, pass all four parts of the CPA exam and start working in late August. I made a lot of close friends at Ramapo. I am excited to move forward in my career, but I will miss being at Ramapo.
Jessica Kinsella (Freehold, N.J.) earned her Bachelor of Arts in literature with a minor in psychology. She accepted an editorial assistant position with John Wiley & Sons in the Culinary and Hospitality Department. Jessica is pictured with Stephen Rice, dean of the Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies.
I knew I wanted to go to a small school and stay relatively close to home. When I came to one of Ramapo’s open houses, the beautiful campus won me over immediately. I loved the small class sizes, and the dorms were amazing. I also loved how close we were to New York City. After hearing more about the literature program, I knew Ramapo would be a good fit for me. It is surreal to think about how much I’ve grown at Ramapo in the last four years. I made amazing friends, challenged myself academically and became a more independent person. I loved every one of my literature courses. Reading, writing about and critically discussing some of the world’s most influential pieces of literature reinforced my drive to succeed in the publishing industry. A Ramapo humanities roundtable event is where I met Phaedra Cress, the employer who came to represent John Wiley & Sons. She graciously sat with me and answered all the questions I had about publishing and helped me obtain my internship with the company the following year. I really don’t know where I would be without the opportunities Ramapo has given me.
“When I came to one of Ramapo’s open houses, the beautiful campus won me over immediately. I loved the small class sizes, and the dorms were amazing.”
Dean Stephen Rice’s passion for learning and willingness to guide his students made me comfortable enough to reach out and to ask for his help with my career. He has been a constant source of advice and encouragement. I will always be thankful. Professor Todd Barnes has been one of the biggest influences for me. British literature, especially Shakespeare, was a focus for me when selecting courses. I took three of his classes and got the wonderful opportunity to be his research assistant in my last semester at Ramapo. I helped with citations for his book Counterinsurgent Shakespeares: Performing Character and Nation During Wartime. Prof. Barnes taught me the power of words and their ability to shape our surroundings. It is something I won’t forget. Overall, I feel very lucky that I got the chance to grow and learn at Ramapo over the last four years, and I am excited to see where my passion for literature will take me. I am thrilled to be starting my career with John Wiley & Sons. www.ramapo.edu
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John Sapida (Maywood, N.J.) earned his Bachelor of Arts with a double major in international studies and political science and will pursue a Master's in International Affairs at The Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy at the New School.
I was born in Dasmariñas City, Cavite in the Philippines and moved to the United States when I was nine. I attended Paramus High School and transferred to Ramapo College from Bergen Community College. I fell in love with the International Studies and Political Science programs at Ramapo and the campus environment. As I prepared for graduation, I realized how much I have grown since starting here. I am focused now on pursuing a graduate degree and/or employment with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). After graduation, I am hoping to gain some experience in the field of human rights through internships or employment. One experience that helped move me in that direction was when Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines. I was asked by the Civic and Community Engagement Center (CCEC) to help coordinate Ramapo College’s initial response to the disaster. This got me really interested in humanitarianism and volunteerism. Another was my internship at the World Youth Alliance in New York City. I represented the organization in its work with the United Nations’ Commission for Social Development and in the design, development and implementation of social media campaigns for UN Days of Observances, including the International Day of the Family, International Day of the Youth, and Mother's Day for World Youth Alliance members around the world.
“I fell in love with the International Studies and Political Science programs at Ramapo and the
campus environment.”
There were more than a few faculty members who helped me throughout my studies at Ramapo College. Picking just one would be hard. Professors Erick Castellanos, Susan Hangen, Keisha Haywood, and Rebecca Root have all been my mentors. Aside from helping me become a better writer and researcher, they taught me how to understand, think, write and argue critically and comparatively about global issues. They provided encouragement and support in my research interests.
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Ramapo College Magazine Summer 2014
Erin Mulligan (Brick Township, N.J.) earned a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in American Studies and History with a minor in Women's and Gender Studies. In the fall, she will pursue graduate studies at Bowling Green State University in Ohio toward a master's in American Culture Studies.
I liked the overall environment at Ramapo. I did not want to be a number in a lecture hall. The small class size sold me. When I actually got here, the beauty of the campus solidified my decision. I had no idea I could find such a beautiful campus. After that, I only had eyes for Ramapo.
“I liked the overall environment at Ramapo. I did not want to be a number in a lecture hall. The small class size sold me.” The most valuable thing I will take away from Ramapo is the interdisciplinary education I received. Ramapo, and the Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies (SSHGS) in particular, support interdisciplinary learning. This approach gives students a more comprehensive and complex knowledge base. I have taken classes in Music, Art, History, Literature, American Studies, Anthropology, Sociology and many other departments to fulfill the requirements of my degree. This variety is something that made my education truly unique. The faculty in SSHGS has been an absolute dream team for me. I could go on at length about Professors Taranto, GronbeckTedesco and several others. Dean Rice has always been my biggest supporter and pushed me academically to realize my goals. Without him, I don't think I would have seriously considered graduate school at all. After earning my master’s, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in American Studies and become a professor.
Claude Barnes (Teaneck, N.J.) earned a Bachelor of Science with a double major in accounting and economics. He accepted a position with Ernst & Young.
I chose Ramapo College for its location, class size and affordability. My first semester humbled me. Being on my own and having no one telling me what to do was a blessing and a curse. After that semester, I really matured and became focused, willing and determined to achieve greatness so that I could possibly leave a legacy here at Ramapo. Surrounding myself with people who were as hungry as me played a big role in helping me develop as a person. When I handed in that final exam, it really hit me that I was able to stay focused and to achieve my goal of graduating in three years. I built relationships with many professors and administrators to whom I am forever grateful. It is hard to single out one. Ray Rigoli has been a mentor and got me mentally prepared for what to expect in a Big Four Accounting Firm. I enjoyed all of Constance Crawford’s classes. Her real-life experiences to explain concepts made learning accounting much more interesting and fun. I remember sitting in Theresa Hutchins’ office and just talking with her, asking for her advice and her opinion on different topics. Lorne Weems always had my best interest and saw the potential in me from day one. Nicole Baker, my academic advisor, was always honest with me and never told me things that I wanted to hear but what I needed to hear. I never had a lot when I was young. I never wanted to be a burden on my parents. So if I wanted something, I saved up all the money I could and bought it myself. Being able to organize money at a young age made accounting come natural to me. I love to help others and accountants help individuals fix financial problems.
“I chose Ramapo College for its location, class size and affordability.” I plan to be involved with students and helping them obtain internships and jobs. I am grateful to the professors, administrators, faculty and students who made being at Ramapo a joy. Ramapo has properly prepared me for what I can expect in life. I cannot wait until I am at a point in my life where I can establish a scholarship at Ramapo.
Christopher ReCorr (Metuchen, N.J.) earned his Bachelor of Arts in music. He is pursuing a master of fine arts: composition for film at Columbia College of Chicago.
I am from New Jersey and wanted to stay in state. I had a friend who attended Ramapo years ago. I visited him on campus and saw the beautiful campus. I had also read about the interesting music program. Ramapo was a great experience. It gave me a chance to define my musical voice through traditional music training combined with new technology. I remember the first Mozart score I analyzed for theory class. I knew the piece but never really looked at the score. I thought it would be a difficult assignment, and it was. I saw what Mozart was doing with music through analysis and felt a real sense of accomplishment and pride.
“Ramapo was a great experience. It gave me a chance to define my
musical voice through
Professors Gidal, Cluett and Sorce were all very helpful. Prof. Gidal had an interesting discussion session prepared for every class. Prof. Cluett is extremely knowledgeable in the field of electronic music and is an innovative composer. I can’t forget Prof. Sorce, my favorite. He is a musical genius. All three influenced my musical path.
traditional music training combined with new technology.”
I’m looking forward to the two-year master's program. I heard so many nice things about Chicago and am looking forward to living and studying there. The program ends with a five-week summer session in Los Angeles where we will have our compositions played by an orchestra in a real movie studio. I was really influenced by music and films of the 1980s, especially Purple Rain and Amadeus which both came out in 1984. The music in these movies is amazing. Music played a big part in the narrative, and I instantly had an interest in how music worked with film. I’ve focused more on the emotional state created by music since I have been at Ramapo. I’d like to compose for film but am open for other experiences.
Profiles in this section by Stephen J. Hudik
www.ramapo.edu
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DEVELOPING BUSINESS SOLUTIONS CAPSTONE CONSULTING PROJECT PROVIDES VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FOR MBA GRADUATES
W
hen Ramapo College redesigned its
Fortunately for Finaldi, the medical technology
Master of Business Administration
company to which she was assigned, Stryker
degree in September 2012, the
Orthopaedics in Mahwah, was her full-time
faculty committee that developed the new
employer (she coordinates training programs
MBA curriculum envisioned the Capstone
that teach healthcare professionals how to use
Consulting experience as the culmination of an
Stryker products). What’s more, the company
intensive 20-month course of study. Working
representative who supervised Finaldi and her
in groups of four and five, the students would
teammates was Ken Gavlick, a senior marketing
take on advisory roles with local companies,
director at Stryker and a 1989 Ramapo graduate.
trying to resolve real-life problems identified by executives. That’s how Jessica Finaldi, who earned an undergraduate business degree from Ramapo in 2011, wound up leading a team of MBA candidates charged with creating a project strategy and marketing plan for a new implant system that helps repair femoral neck fractures of the hip.
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Ramapo College Magazine Summer 2014
Photo below: Jessica Finaldi ’14 and Ken Gavlick ’89, senior marketing director at Stryker. Jessica and her MBA classmates worked to create a marketing plan for a new implant system.
Developing Business Solutions On their first day at the Stryker campus, the students attended a fivehour training session on the anatomy of hip fractures and the implants and instruments used to repair them. “I ran this program like it was a surgeon education program,” Gavlick said. “It’s really learning a different language. The team needed the technical knowledge to be able to speak confidently about femoral neck fractures.” Over a 10-week period starting in late February, the students met on the Ramapo campus each Thursday night with Adjunct Professor Tom Lambrix, the faculty advisor for the capstone course. “The students put to use what they learned in other MBA courses and directly applied it to a real-life challenge,” Lambrix said. “That’s a
(L-R): The Finaldi sisters: Lauren, Jessica and Jennifer
win-win for the students and the companies.” The students also met weekly with their employer representative.
A FAMILY CONNECTION
At Stryker, Gavlick directed the students to pertinent employees
For Jessica Finaldi and her two sisters, Ramapo College is a
in research and development, sales, marketing, quality control,
second home. The three siblings—Jessica, her twin sister, Lauren,
manufacturing and other business areas. “I gave them a real-
and oldest sister, Jennifer—have earned four degrees at the
life project,” Gavlick said. “They were tasked with developing the
undergraduate and graduate levels, with a fifth on the way.
marketing portion of the project.”
Jessica is the most recent graduate, earning her MBA this spring.
And that’s precisely what MBA Director Timothy Landers had in
She was chosen by her classmates as the MBA Outstanding Student
mind when he recruited local companies to take part in Ramapo’s
of the Year and was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Business
Capstone Consulting Program. The other participating businesses
Honor Society (2014). She first came to Ramapo’s campus in fall
were Hackensack University Medical Center; Stone Systems, a
2007 and received a B.S. in Business Administration/Management
fabricator of quartz and granite countertops in Passaic, N.J.; and
with a minor in Spanish Language Studies. She participated in the
Pearson Education, a publishing company in Upper Saddle River, N.J.
RCNJ Cheerleading Program in 2007 and served as Senior Resident Hall Assistant from 2008–2011. Lauren E. Finaldi graduated in 2011 with a B.S.N. in Nursing. She was the President of Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical Fraternity in 2010–2011 and studied abroad in Sierra Leone, West Africa, through the SA Leone Health Pride. Lauren works at Hackensack University Medical Center and specializes in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma. She will return to campus this fall to pursue her M.S. in Nursing. Jennifer started the Finaldi siblings Ramapo tradition, earning a B.A. in Music Industry in 2009, magna cum laude. She interned at Suzi Reynolds & Associates, L.L.C. in Fort Lee, N.J., gaining experience in artist management and marketing, and was captain of the Ramapo tennis team in her junior and senior years. She now works at Stryker with Jessica. As an associate business analyst, Jennifer is responsible for documenting business requirements and working with IT quality and the web development team.
Hackensack University Medical Center Heart and Vascular Hospital Capstone Team: Lorena Mamo, Adjunct Professor Tom Lambrix, Minnie Cummings, Robert Lascar, MBA Director Tim Landers, Lisa Huang (James Duffany - absent)
“Ramapo College will always have a fond place in our hearts,” said Jessica. “I’m so thankful for the time the faculty and staff put in to help students succeed. You don’t find this type of drive and passion everywhere.”
www.ramapo.edu
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A NEW FOCUS
Discovering the Unintended
In January 2011, shortly after
The new curriculum requires
Ramapo’s Anisfield School of
MBA candidates to complete
Julie Alexander, a vice president at Pearson Education, supervised
Business earned accreditation
two three-credit courses in each
a team of five MBA students who were assigned to advise the
from the Association to Advance
of seven consecutive 10-week
company on how to price its new (mostly digital) products and
Collegiate Schools of Business,
terms. Students proceed through
services. But the students’ research, Alexander said, showed that
the world’s foremost sanctioning
the 20-month program together
price was not always a key factor for customers. “Essentially their
body, Dean Lewis Chakrin set out
as a cohort, attending classes
to reinvent Ramapo’s Master of
on campus two nights per week
Business Administration degree
while also receiving weekly
to better meet the business
online instruction. The program
challenges of the 21st century.
emphasizes leadership—the focus
Chakrin convened an ad hoc
of three of the 14 courses—critical
faculty committee to design a new
thinking and global business,
curriculum from scratch. “Very
highlighted by a nine-day trip
At Hackensack University Medical Center, students advised the
rarely do you have an opportunity
to China with Dr. Huiping Li,
Heart and Vascular Hospital on how to introduce a system of
in academia to start with a
an Associate Professor of
electronic record keeping. They were supervised by Dr. David
whiteboard,” said MBA Director
International Business. “Business
Timothy Landers.
professionals need to be aware
recommendation was to focus on other elements they uncovered, such as customer service and the power of the brand to drive sales,” Alexander said. “I appreciated that they had the confidence to move the case in a different direction and maybe share information with the client that the client wasn’t prepared for or may not have considered.”
Landers, vice chairman of the Heart and Vascular Hospital. A cardiologist, David Landers said the project would never have been completed without the Ramapo students. “We did not have the resources to conduct an analysis in-house,” Dr. Landers said. “To bring an analytic skill set that we don’t have in the institution, to bring that to bear, it was a tremendous benefit for the hospital.” To ensure that each team had the right mix of student expertise, Lambrix worked with the MBA Director Tim Landers. Robert Lascar, the team leader on the medical center’s project, said the team’s positive chemistry made his job easier. “Our team was very lucky to have people with the right business skills and the right mix of personalities,” Lascar said. “We were able to move quickly
After soliciting input from Ramapo alumni and business leaders from across northern New Jersey, the faculty committee devised an accelerated, hybrid program aimed at early-career professionals. “They all became part of this journey to figure out how best
of different cultures, how the global supply chain works and the geopolitical challenges in a shrinking world,” Landers said. The first cohort of 19 students earned their MBA degrees in May, 2014, and the program has now grown to more than 50 students.
to address the needs of working professionals in a fast changing marketplace,” said Landers.
and get our project and presentation finished effectively and very early.” Lascar recently took a new job as director of information technology for Promotion in Motion, Inc. He earned his B.S. in Information Systems from Ramapo in 2009, summa cum laude, after serving in the military.
“
To bring an analytic skill set that we don’t have in the institution, to bring that to bear, it was a tremendous benefit for the hospital.
”
Dr. David Landers
Julie Alexander, vice president at Pearson Education, and Adjunct Professor Tom Lambrix worked with Ramapo students on a project for the company involving pricing of new products.
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Ramapo College Magazine Summer 2014
“
...they had the confidence to move the case in a different direction and maybe share information with the client that the client wasn’t prepared for or may not have considered. Julie Alexander
”
In May, at the climax of their 10-week assignments, the students returned to their company headquarters and delivered their findings
ADVICE & COUNSEL As they dug into their ambitious consulting assignments at four major employers across northern New Jersey in the spring, Ramapo’s 19 MBA candidates met weekly with Tom Lambrix, an adjunct business professor and the faculty advisor for the Capstone Consulting Program. Lambrix helped the students get organized, delegate assignments and establish schedules. And when asked, he offered advice. “Specifically,” Lambrix said, “I offered advice on putting together a first-rate company analysis and presentation. The team had a responsibility to do their part of the project and to present the results to the client.”
to an audience that typically included senior managers. Finaldi’s
Lambrix brought to the role a 30-year career
team gave a 45-minute presentation to Stryker Trauma marketing
in business and government—he was a senior
employees, among them two senior directors of marketing.
vice president with a Fortune 100 company and
“Jess really did take the lead on this thing,” Gavlick said. “What they gave to us is a great foundation, which will allow us to continue to
served on the White House domestic policy staff under President Jimmy Carter as well as 10 years of teaching experience at the Anisfield School
move forward with the project. We are very pleased with the end
of Business. As faculty advisor to the Capstone
result. Everybody benefitted in the long run—the students, the
Program, he counseled the MBA teams on how to
school and Stryker.”
price online educational materials, how to move
Finaldi said the capstone project at Stryker gave her invaluable hands-on experience. “Bringing a product to market in a highly regulated industry is a challenge, and I learned that it is imperative to rely on industry research and subject matter experts in each
medical records to a digital database, how to market a medical device used in hip fractures and how to enhance customer relations for a fabricator of quartz and granite countertops.
functional area to point you in the right direction,” she added.
“These organizations had real-life issues that they
“Not only did I get to implement the knowledge that I have gained
needed help with,” Lambrix said. “The students got a
throughout my MBA program, I was able to practice my leadership
lot of practical experience, in undertaking the role of
skills for the project. It felt good to know that my teammates
consultants. They began to understand the complex
trusted me to take them in the right direction.”
issues companies face, and they gained experience in oral and written communication, very important skills as they move through their careers.”
Want to learn more about how the Ramapo MBA program can help your career? Scan the QR code or visit www.ramapo.edu/mba
The 2014 MBA cohort gathered to celebrate the completion of their studies.
Articles in this section by Christopher Hann and Stephen J. Hudik
www.ramapo.edu
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GIVING BACK FACULTY NEWS
William and Catherine Krame and Dr. Tim Finley are creating opportunities for today’s Ramapo students and future generations through their foresight and generosity. The Krames recently made a gift creating the Center for Contemplative Studies and Mindful Living. Dr. Tim Finley made a gift to support the reconstruction of laboratories and offices in the G building.
“The objective is to try and influence freshmen coming in, across the curriculum, about the idea of taking a more holistic approach not only to education but to life in general.” William Krame
WILLIAM AND CATHERINE KRAME William and Catherine Krame have lived in Mahwah for 15 years, so when they started looking to build a spiritual center for mindfulness education, their search eventually led them to Ramapo College. “I’ve seen Ramapo grow from a small college into a major learning institution,” Bill Krame said. “What they’ve done is very impressive.” The Krames made a generous donation toward creating the William and Catherine Krame Center for Contemplative Studies and Mindful Living. Krame, a real estate developer, said he and his wife have
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meditated daily for many years. Having a Type A personality, he said, he sees the benefits firsthand. “Mindfulness has finally been recognized by academics and the medical community as a way of coping and dealing with everyday problems and medical issues,” he said. “The whole concept is: You cannot alter the past and your future is unknown. All you can control is how you deal with the here and now.” Krame’s vision for the school is long term, and ambitious. He believes Ramapo can become the leading institution on the East
Coast for mindfulness education. Its physical location, beautiful facilities, commitment to the students and the surrounding community, and its focus on interdisciplinary education make Ramapo an ideal environment for expanding the study of mindfulness. “Under the leadership of President Mercer and a fully engaged and committed faculty,” Krame said, “we are very excited about this opportunity and the potential that exists to make a real difference in the world.”
“Ramapo College went out on a limb in accepting me…I am grateful to Ramapo and very proud that the College continues to open its doors to students with promise who don’t fit the A student profile…” Tim Finley
DR. TIM FINLEY By the time he enrolled at Ramapo, Dr. Timothy Finley had been a ninth-grade dropout, a failed fishmonger and a construction worker who only recently received a high school equivalency diploma. So he’s always been thankful that Ramapo accepted him and that Ramapo professors pushed him toward a career in medicine. When Finley heard that the G-wing of the academic building was about to receive a major upgrade, he wanted to pitch in. His gift of $100,000 will help finance the muchneeded reconstruction of student and faculty laboratories and faculty offices.
“The G building was my section of the College, so I guess I felt most connected to it,” Finley says. “I graduated in ’94, and I remember it was dated back then. When they said they were going to remodel it, it was a no-brainer.” Today, Finley is an anesthesiologist at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, N.J. For the past decade, he’s traveled to Haiti regularly to volunteer his services on the impoverished island. He recently helped raise funds that enabled two Haitian students to enroll at Ramapo.
Finley recalled his “unconventional” academic career when accepting an award at Ramapo’s annual Distinguished Citizens Dinner in March. “Ramapo College went out on a limb in accepting me,” he said. “I am grateful to Ramapo and very proud that the college continues to open its doors to students with promise who don’t fit the typical student profile, including the students from Haiti that we sponsor each year.”
Profiles in this section by Christopher Hann
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COLLEGE NEWS
SUMMER READ SELECTION: SONIA NAZARIO TO SPEAK AT ACADEMIC CONVOCATION Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario, which tells the story of a Honduran boy seeking his mother 11 years after she left her family to find work in the United States, is the 2014 summer read selection for Ramapo College.
won more than a dozen awards, among them the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing, and the George Polk Award for International Reporting. It was later expanded into a book and became a national bestseller.
The author will visit Ramapo on September 2 and deliver the convocation’s keynote address at 2 p.m. in the Bradley Center. The event is open to the public, and alumni are welcome to attend. The author will also meet with students and faculty.
The book puts a human face on the ongoing debate about immigration reform in the United States. It was ranked as one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post and Miami Herald, among others. For more information on the book, visit www.enriquesjourney.com.
Nazario has spent more than 20 years reporting and writing on social issues, most recently as a projects reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She has won numerous national journalism and book awards for her work covering issues such as hunger, drug addiction and immigration. In 2003, her story of a Honduran boy’s struggle to find his mother in the U.S., entitled Enrique’s Journey,
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Ramapo College Magazine Summer 2014
Nazario has been listed among the most influential Latinos by Hispanic Business Magazine and a “trendsetter” by Hispanic Magazine. In 2012, Columbia Journalism Review named Nazario among “40 women who changed the media business in the past 40 years.”
Carol Ichinco
Anne Greenip
Matthew McMahon
Christopher Romano
STAFF RECOGNITION AWARD RECIPIENTS President Peter P. Mercer announced four recipients of the Ramapo College President’s Staff Recognition Awards in May. “Ramapo College is fortunate to have so many talented and compassionate individuals whose extra efforts and exemplary service make the College a great place to work and to study,” said President Mercer.
N.J., and Chris Romano of Wayne, N.J. The recipients were recognized for assuming additional assignments to advance the goals of the College, for going above and beyond to ensure the health and safety of students and colleagues, for successfully leading a team to complete a significant institutional project, and for motivating others to perform at an exceptional level.
The President's Staff Recognition Program consists of two award categories. The Staff Excellence in Service Award is presented to an individual or group which provided exemplary service by fostering cooperation, collaboration, and open communication among members of the College community. The Staff Leadership Award is presented to Ramapo College staff members who took on leadership roles and enacted positive changes in their respective areas.
Greenip serves as residence director and joined Ramapo in 2007. She was recognized for her contributions to student leadership programming and fostering safe and healthy residence hall environments.
The 2014 recipient of the Staff Excellence in Service Award is Carol Ichinco of Emerson, N.J. Ichinco, chemistry lab coordinator in the School of Theoretical and Applied Science, joined Ramapo in 2005. She was recognized primarily for fostering a collegial and cooperative environment.
Christopher Romano, associate vice president of enrollment management, joined Ramapo College in 2007. Romano was recognized for taking on additional responsibilities, providing exemplary support as advisor to the College’s Student Government Association, and leading multiple initiatives that generated nontraditional sources of revenue for the College.
The 2014 recipients of the Staff Leadership Award are Anne Greenip of Westwood, N.J., Matthew McMahon of Landing,
Matthew McMahon is assistant director of judicial affairs and joined Ramapo in 2010. McMahon was noted for successfully leading the institution through the implementation of an online student conduct information system.
THE NURSING CLASS OF 2014 The nursing class of 2014 gathered before the annual pinning ceremony. Pictured in the second row with the graduates are Mike and Elaine Adler, Debra Nichols, simulation lab instructor, Joan Richards, director, nursing simulation lab, Donna Flynn, assistant professor, Andrea Central-Nigro, assistant professor, Dean Edward Saiff and Assistant Dean Kathleen Burke
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COLLEGE NEWS
Deakin University in Victoria, Australia. She received her B.A. in Philosophy and Literature Studies from Deakin University in 1994 and her Ph.D. in Genocide Studies, Philosophy and Film from Deakin University in 2006.
Ramapo’s Joseph Connell delivered a presentation at the New Jersey chapter of the National Academic Advising Association conference held on campus.
NACADA CONFERENCE The New Jersey chapter of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Drive-In Conference took place at Ramapo College in June. Attendees included 125 educators from 38 colleges in New Jersey, the tri-state area, and as far away as Virginia. New Jersey's state representative to NACADA, Sabrina Mathues, said attendance this year was more than double the usual audience. Ramapo’s Student Success staff are NACADA members, including conference co-chairs Michelle Johnson, associate director, and Joseph Connell, director. This year’s conference theme was Academic Advisors: Leaders of Student Success. Ramapo's Christopher Romano, associate vice president for enrollment management, and Joseph Connell delivered the keynote address entitled Using the Student Success Lens to Drive Institutional Change. They shared the work of the College's Academic Advisement Council, which includes faculty and professional staff representatives, in creating a culture of academic advisement. Opportunities for professional development and networking carried throughout the conference's concurrent sessions.
GUMPERT TEACHERS’ WORKSHOP In May, the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies sponsored a Gumpert Teachers’ Workshop, “The U.N. Convention on Genocide as a Living Text: A Case Study for the Classroom.” This event was supported by the New Jersey State Commission on Holocaust Education. Keynote speaker Dr. Donna-Lee Frieze, editor of Totally Unofficial: The Autobiography of Raphael Lemkin, traced the development of the original text as a living document from when Lemkin drafted it in the late 1940s to the present day. Author and scholar Dr. Donna-Lee Frieze is a Research Fellow in the School of History, Heritage and Society at
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Ramapo College Magazine Summer 2014
Jill McCracken, a teacher of Social Studies at Holmdel High School and an instructor at the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Center of Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, New Jersey, also delivered an interactive presentation on how to bring the study of the evolution of the Genocide Convention into the classroom. McCracken holds a B.A. from the College of New Jersey and an M.A. from Norwich University in Vermont. She has been a member of the board of directors at the Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Education Center (HGHREC) at Brookdale Community College for more than 30 years. The day’s program concluded with a panel of genocide survivors interacting with workshop participants.
JUDITH PECK EXHIBITION In April, the Kresge and Pascal Galleries at Ramapo opened the exhibition Judith Peck’s Sculpture: Empathy. The exhibition featured a survey of work from Judith Peck, professor of art at Ramapo College. It was presented in celebration of Peck’s retirement, and four decades of teaching at Ramapo. The event included a reception hosted by the Friends of Ramapo. “My work is about people: how they look, how they act, how they endure hardship and celebrate joy. The landscape of people is a dramatic terrain, full of vitality, often funny, sometimes sad, but like the weather, always changing. I change too as I search about, trying to make sense of it all,” said Peck. Peck’s sculptures are in approximately 80 public and private collections. They include the American Art Collection at Yale University Art Gallery, the Ghetto Fighters Museum in Israel, West Palm Beach Florida Library and cultural and religious institutions in New York, Maryland and Israel. Peck holds a doctorate in Education from New York University and two master’s degrees in sculpture and art education from Teachers College, Columbia University. To learn more about Peck and her work, visit www.judithpeck.com.
(L –R): Carter Jones Meyer, professor of history; Kathleen Burke, assistant dean of the Ramapo College Nursing Program; Peter P. Mercer, president; Eileen Klein, assistant professor of social work; Dr. Jaime R. Torres, regional director of the New York Regional Office for HHS
HEALTH CARE PANEL DISCUSSION In March, Dr. Jamie Torres, regional director of the New York Office for Health and Human Services, discussed the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in a panel discussion at Ramapo College.
Junior Alexis Appezzato won the national championship in the javelin in the spring.
APPEZZATO WINS CHAMPIONSHIP Junior captain Alexis Appezzato became just the fifth student-athlete under Head Coach Mike Jackson to win a National Championship. She did it this past May in the javelin. Appezzato won the individual national championship as she represented Ramapo College at the 2014 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Appezzato went into the competition seeded 4th with a mark of 46.19 meters, but threw a school record toss of 47.96 meters, to take home the national championship on just her second trip to the national competition. For her efforts, she was named All-American. The national title came after a stellar season where Appezzato won the NJAC Championships in the javelin with a throw of 44.42 meters, earning NJAC First Team All-Conference honors and the ECAC Championships hitting 46.19 meters. She was named NJAC Field Athlete of the Week on three occasions throughout the season, finishing the year as one of the most decorated student-athletes on the 2014 roster. Appezzato’s successes did not stop on the track. She has earned a 3.8 grade point average in the classroom studying psychology and was named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic team.
“The Affordable Care Act is the most comprehensive piece of social legislation since Medicare and Medicaid and is changing the healthcare landscape in our nation in terms of increased access, affordability and quality,” said Dr. Torres. He said millions of New Jerseyans will be covered by the Health Insurance Marketplace, and the majority will have subsidies to help pay for that coverage. Signed into law in 2010, the ACA survived scrutiny before the United States Supreme Court which declared the individual mandate component of the ACA permissible under Congress’s taxing powers. The ACA includes a number of elements, including individual mandates, insurance exchanges and subsidies designed to reduce the cost of healthcare and to provide coverage to more Americans. “The Act is complex, controversial and extremely important,” said Dr. Peter P. Mercer, president of Ramapo College. “It is appropriate that we here at Ramapo College, an institution grounded in critical thinking and community service, examine this issue more closely.” Following remarks by Dr. Torres, a panel discussion took place with members of the Ramapo College faculty including Kathleen Burke, assistant dean of the Ramapo College Nursing Program, Carter Jones Meyer, professor of history, and Eileen Klein, assistant professor of social work. Faculty, students and guests attended the forum. A question and answer session concluded the presentation.
Articles in this section by Shannon Collins ’14, Stephen J. Hudik and Rachel Pinton
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CLASS NOTES
Kevin Keiser ’05, director of The Grid, working on the set.
Kevin Keiser ’05 and Kevin Sebastian ’04 premiered their television series, The Grid, at the New York City International Film Festival in June. Their entry won Best TV Pilot.
KEVIN
SEBASTIAN
’05
Sebastian, who wrote, produced and starred in the show, said most of the pilot was filmed at Ramapo. It included many alumni such as Thomas Biggiani ’10, Greg Genute ’13, Peter McPherson ’13, Malcom Minor ’14 and Vanessa Rappa ’13. Keiser was the director. The Grid also earned the Platinum Reel Award from the Nevada International Film Festival, the Best Pilot Nomination from the Hoboken International Film Festival and was an Official Selection at the Golden Door International Film Festival and the Garden State Film Festival. The Grid is an action packed science fiction series about a rogue federal agent who travels 10 years into the past to prevent a current hostage situation. “Kevin and I had to keep reminding ourselves that the show we were watching was something that we created,” said Sebastian.
(L-R): Kevin Keiser ’05, Vanessa Rappa ’13, and Kevin Sebastian ’04
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IN MEMORIAM: ANTHONY CHIOCCO ’75 ERIN D. CURCIO ’04 GABRIEL A. DAVIS ’13 ADAM J. DENMAN ’09 NICOLE DIRADO ’83 JOSEPH A. FALATO ’76 CAROLE G. JONES ’86 KATHLEEN M. LAMPETER ’83 NICHOLAS T. LARIONOFF ’00 NORMAN LAZER ’91 PATRICIA N. MALONE ’83 VIRGINIA MARINARI ’74 GRACE Y. MILLER ’79 KRISTINE CASTRO O'KEEFE ’05 BARBARA H. PALLOTTA ’02 RICHARD J. SCHNEIDER ’06
JUNE SHAW ’81 (Human. Ecol.) was recognized for her military service in the Women's Naval Reserves during World War II by the League of Women's Voters of New Jersey and the Women's Institute of Bergen Community College. The Board of Freeholders and County Executive Kathleen Donovan presented a special commendation and medal to June at the ceremony in March. June's husband and World War II veteran, John Shaw, and their daughter, JULIE SHAW '79 (Psych.), attended the event. KATHY MESSINA ’82 (Bus. Admin.) was named chief financial officer of Behan Communications, Inc., one of New York’s leading public relations firms.
ALBERT J. SUPINO ’97 ADRIENNE TORRES ’82 DENNIS PIERCE ’73 (Pol. Sci.) was elected president of the Catechetical Leaders of the Diocese of Arlington (Virginia). He also serves as the director of religious education at St. Stephen Martyr Catholic Church in Middleburg, Va. Pierce completed a Master of Theological Studies from the Washington Theological Union in Washington, D.C. RENA RUBIN ’75 (Psych.) exhibited her mixed media art collection, Angels and Elements, at the Gallery at West Side Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, N.J. Rubin explores the relationship between the physical world and the spirit world. Rubin is an artist, musician and art educator. SANDRA BENEDETTO ’76 (Soc.) received the 2014 Legacy Awards from Women in Consumer Electronics (CE). Benedetto is the director of product management at THX. DR. WARREN SHAFER ’76 (Biol.) was awarded the American Society for Horticultural Science Outstanding Industry Scientist Award. He is the vice president of global research and development and regulatory affairs at Valent BioSciences Corporation in Libertyville, Ill.
JAMES A. MANGIN ’83 (Metro. Studies) was appointed as a full-time certified financial officer for the city of Hackensack. Mangin is a registered municipal clerk and purchasing agent. STEVE SASSO ’86 (Comm. Arts) was elected in November to the Allendale, N.J., Borough Council for a three-year term. He is the chairman of the Department of Public Works Committee; the Vice Chairman of the Facilities, Parks and Recreation Committee; and the Council Liaison to the Planning Board. PAULA MURRAY ’89 (Bus. Admin.) was elected president and chief executive officer of Palisades Federal Credit Union. GREGORY NELSON '92 (Bus. Admin.) was elected vice president and general manager of Electronic Components and Packaging for AMETEK. CLINTON HEBARD ’96 (Acctg.) was a guest speaker at the Lakeland Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Wayne, N.J., where he discussed the Perils of Certainty. Hebard is a founding member of Highlands Peace Action and a member of New Jersey Peace Action.
MICHAEL DILLARD ’07 (BUS.) Lending a helping hand—that’s always been a central trait in Michael Dillard’s personal life and professional career even as he has changed fields. Giving back to his community in the Newark area is at the heart of his career. He credits the support of many individuals from his Ramapo College experience, especially Dean Lewis Chakrin, Miki Cammarata and Patrick Chang, for their assistance and advice. Dillard works as a program coordinator at RutgersNewark in the Office of University Community Partnerships. He manages an after-school program for high school students providing work readiness skills and college preparedness. He also teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels while pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership at Rowan University. “I never thought higher education would be my future career,” said Dillard. “I started in the healthcare arena managing various assisted living facilities, but my Ramapo experience helped me make the transition.” Michael is very active with his alma mater, serving as a member of the Equal Opportunity Fund Alumni Advisory Board and participating in the Anisfield School of Business alumni roundtable events.
MARK MCCOMBS ’00 (Soc. Sci.) was elected chief of the Midland Park N.J. Volunteer Fire Department. www.ramapo.edu
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CLASS NOTES DR. MARCELLA RUNELL-HALL ’97 (Soc. Work), founding director of New York University's 'Of Many' Institute of Multifaith Leadership and member of the clinical faculty in its Silver School of Social Work, became Mount Holyoke's new dean of students effective June 1. ROBERT KAUFMAN ’98 (Psych.) was recognized by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage as one of its top affiliated sales associates for February. Kaufman has been a real estate professional for 15 years. SIOBHAN TAUCHERT ’02 (Ed. Tech.) recently accepted the position of principal of Betsy Ross Elementary School in Mahwah, N.J.
MICHELLE MASI-LERNER ’02 (Comm. Arts) and ADAM LERNER ’04 (Poli. Sci.) welcomed twins on March 6, 2014. Joseph Carl was born at 8:05 a.m. at 5 pounds 10 ounces and 17.32 inches long. Danielle Rose was born at 8:06 a.m. at 3 pounds 14 ounces and 17.52 inches long. The twins were born at Centrastate Hospital in Freehold, N.J. HELENA FARRELL ’93 (Lib. Stud.) published the inspiring book, A Walk in Our Shoes, about the parents of two terminally ill boys and their efforts to save their children and others with rare genetic diseases.
STACEY BOGDANSKI ’99 (Acctg.) joined Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Wendell LLP as a senior account executive for the Middletown office. Bogdanski is a member of the New York State Society of CPAs and is a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. LENORE BRADY ’99 (Lit.) is a North Carolina Highway Patrol Meritorious Service Award recipient. In 2012, Brady created the Crossfit Trooper Challenge to raise money to buy an automatic external defibrillator (AED) for Troop E Headquarters. The event raised enough money to buy the AED and to make a donation to charity. Brady's efforts have promoted trooper fitness and funded equipment the State Highway Patrol uses to serve the public. LT. JOSEPH DAWICKI ’00 (Soc.) was promoted to shift commander for the Fair Lawn Police Department. Dawicki is a 13-year veteran who served as a sergeant in the patrol division. BRIAN HEINEMAN ’01 (Ed. Tech.) is now the director of curriculum and instruction for Bernards Township. LAUREN BARBARA ’10 (Theater) was appointed admissions counselor for St. Thomas Aquinas College.
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GABRIEL CARRILLO ’07 (Bus. Admin.) was promoted to assistant secretary of the Atlantic Stewardship Bank. Carrillo will serve as a financial analyst, sit on the Asset and Liability Committee, and manage the bank's investment portfolio. Carrillo is a member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals and a volunteer soccer coach. MELINDA COBAN '07 (Bus. Admin.) is pursuing a career in real estate with Saddle River Group of Terrie O'Connor Realtors. MARTIN KAFAFIAN ’07 (Music) joined Beattie Padovano in Montvale in February 2013. Kafafian practices in shareholder disputes, close corporations and limited liability companies, commercial litigation, and environmental law. Kafafian attended Rutgers Law School and graduated cum laude. MICHAEL LAPORTA ’07 (Bus. Admin.) joined the Wyckoff Group of Terrie O'Connor Realtors.
JEN PONTON ’06 (Theater) [above, center] made her offBroadway debut in How to Make Friends and Then Kill Them, which ran from November 7 through December 14, 2013. Ponton has worked in television and film since 2007, starring in shows such as 30 Rock, Law and Order: SVU and Boardwalk Empire. Ponton also starred in the independent film, Franny. TATE BUSHELL ’07 (Biology) is now a member of the Westchester Land Trust, a Bedford Hills-based land conservation organization. Bushell serves as a land steward and previously served as the land steward and educator for the Pound Ridge Land Conservancy. MEGAN KOSZTYU ’12 (Acctg.) was licensed as a Certified Public Accountant and is currently working as a tax accountant at EisnerAmper LLP.
Ramapo College Magazine Summer 2014
GREG DELAURA ’00 (Vis. Arts) co-founded Delform Studios in Rutherford, N.J. The business specializes in custom furniture, architecture, lighting and accessories. Delform clients include MetLife Stadium, Macy's, the Museum of Modern Art and Starbucks. JENNIFER MCGLYNN ’04 (Info. Syst.) has been promoted to vice president of information technology for the Atlantic Stewardship Bank and is responsible for managing and overseeing the technology infrastructure and operations for the bank, IT regulatory compliance, vendor management and business continuity. BRAD DRAGONE ’08 (History) has been recognized by the New Jersey State Society chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution as the 2014 Outstanding Teacher of American History for the State of New Jersey. Dragone has taught world and American history for grades six through eight at Lafayette Township School since 2009.
MEGAN KNOWLTON BALNE ’07 (Theater) joined Hyland Levin in Marlton in September 2013. Balne specializes in real estate, commercial litigation, zoning, and land use. She attended Rutgers Law School, Camden and graduated magna cum laude. JOE MARTINO ’08 (Comm. Arts) is a journalist for the Central Jersey News and a sports journalist for the Courier News and Home News Tribune. Martino is also a member of the MyCentralJersey.com online news team. PAUL LENDA ’09 (Bus. Admin.) published The Creation of a Consciousness Shift, an inspiring guide to personal and collective transformation. KATIE MILLER ’09 (History) is the head coach of Brookdale Community College’s women’s soccer team. TIMOTHY RILEY ’09 (Spanish) was sworn in as a police officer for the North Brunswick Police Department. BRANDI FODERA ’13 (Acctg.) is a staff accountant for ParenteBeard, a top 25 accounting firm. MICHELLE SHELLEY SMITH ’03 (Biology) and SHANNON STRAUCH ’12 (Biology) performed with Mary Lou Hale’s School of Dance on June 2, 2013. SARANNE WEIMER '09 (Law/ Society) joined Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla in Red Bank in June 2013. Weimer specializes in labor and employment and graduated magna cum laude from Seton Hall Law School in 2012. Weimer is also a firefighter and EMT at Tinton Falls Fire Company No. 1 and Tinton Falls EMS North.
ASHLEY SCALES ’11 (Theater) was promoted to admissions counselor and student ambassador coordinator for St. Thomas Aquinas College. Scales is also a member of the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling and the National Association for College Admission Counseling. FRANK DI DOLCI ’12 (Bus. Admin.) was appointed branch manager of the Pascak Bancorp, Inc. branch in Hillsdale, N.J. Di Dolci joined the Pascack Community Bank in 2012 and has over 13 years of banking experience. He is also a member of the North Jersey Regional Chamber of Commerce, Westwood Chamber of Commerce, Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce, Westwood UNICO, and treasurer of the Westwood Rotary Club. Di Dolci also volunteers for the Teach Kids How to Save program.
SUSAN VANINO ’13 (above) (Soc. Work) was awarded the Learning Ally National Achievement Award. Learning Ally is a nonprofit educational organization serving individuals with visual and learning disabilities. Vanino is the program coordinator for the Adjustment to Vision Loss Project (AVL). She is expected to graduate from New York University in May 2014 with a master's degree in social work. JOANN LABOUNTY ’12 (Nursing) was named Nurse of the Year by the New Jersey March of Dimes. LaBounty is a nurse in Valley Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. DARA HOFSTADTER ’13 (Biology) is attending Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
AMANDA JONES ’13 (Ed. Tech.) accepted the role as coach for the Secaucus softball team. Jones served as the team's assistant for four years and played on Ramapo College's softball team. JANET NAMKUNG ’13 (Psych.) serves in the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) as a team leader. Namkung is responsible for managing 10 to 12 Corps members and their activities on service projects.
MARRIAGES & ENGAGEMENTS NICHOLAS SALAMON ’03 (History) married Allison Perason in November 2013. Salamon earned a juris doctorate from Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. He is now an attorney with Levin Cyphers in Toms River, N.J. DAVID BLACKOWSKI ’04 (Comm. Arts) married Alexandra Jordan Thelin on October 12, 2013. Blackowski is pursuing a master's degree in information systems at Drexel University and is a network and computer systems analyst in Fair Lawn. LUCA RISPOLI ’04 (Bus. Admin.) announced his engagement to Joanne Otlowski. Rispoli earned an MBA at Centenary College in 2013 and currently works for Verizon Wireless. The couple is planning a May 2015 wedding. JENNA FRANCE ’07 (Bus. Admin.) announced her engagement to Tyler Rutherford. France is a medical record auditor at GenPsych in Bridgewater, N.J. ALYSSA DONNA HART ’07 (Cont. Arts) married Matthew Ross in December 2013. Hart is the director of public relations for Fuse. KELLY WIKIERA ’07 (Psych.), now Kelly Raymo, would like to announce her marriage to Chris Raymo and the birth of their son, Max Gannon Raymo, on July 15, 2013. Kelly would also like to congratulate SARA LAURENZI ’07 (Psych.) and DANIELLE PREFACH ’08 (Nursing) on the birth of their little ones!
MARC MCDERMOTT ’08 (Bus. Admin.) married Leigh Mazzagetti on June 8, 2013, in Flemington, N.J. MARK TIGUE ’08 (Bus. Admin.) and Jaclyn Perna married on June 28, 2013, and honeymooned in Los Cabos, Mexico. Tigue is an exchange traded fund consultant with BlackRock. KYLE LEE COSTA ’08 (Psych.) and JESSICA LEIGH SEIDLER ’09 (Psych.) were married at the Pleasantdale Chateau in January. Costa is a graduate student at Seton Hall and is a police officer with the Oradell Police Department. Seidler is pursuing her doctorate at Kean University. JACLYNN BUCHALSKI ’09 (Biology) and MATTHEW HINZ ’09 (Law/Society) are excited to announce their engagement. Buchalski and Hinz met their freshman year at Ramapo College while living across the hall from each other in Linden Hall. When Hinz graduated from the New York State Police Academy, he proposed to Buchalski at his celebratory dinner. Hinz is currently a New York State Trooper. Jaclynn Buchalski is a teacher at Montville Township High School, where she also coaches field hockey and softball. Their wedding is planned for fall 2014. SARAH COSTELLO ’09 (History) and Christian Lott announced their engagement. Costello is currently the director of development at NY/NJ Baykeeper. An April 2015 wedding is planned.
MICHAEL SUTTON ’10 (Bus. Admin.) was engaged to Stephani Jacquot in January. Sutton and Jacquot are both employed by Lifeboat Distribution. A September 2014 wedding is planned. RICHARD CULVER ’10 (Comp. Science) was engaged to Mary Adams in December 2013. Culver is a computer scientist for the Department of the Army and is pursuing an MBA in project management. An August 2015 wedding is planned. ALLYSON L. ARMSTRONG '11 (Psych.) and Scott A. Schatzer were engaged on September 26, 2013. Armstrong is a Residential Coordinator at Ohio University. An October 2015 wedding is planned. KATHERINE GRACE BURKE ’11 (Soc. Work) married Andrew David Rogala on May 25, 2013. Burke is a social worker in adoption and foster care services. STEPHANIE WALKER ’12 (Psych.) announced her engagement to Frank Nonnenmacher. Walker is pursuing her master’s degree at Fairleigh Dickinson in clinical mental health counseling. They are planning a wedding for June 2015. DANIELLE MASCIO ’13 (Acctg.) is engaged to Kris Abrahamsen. Mascio is an accountant for Ernst and Young. A May 2015 wedding is planned. JERICHO KAYNE ’13 (Bus. Admin./Psych.) married Brian Hawkins on June 30, 2013. The couple enjoyed a honeymoon in Jamaica.
KRISTIN TVEDT ’09 (Lit.) and RYAN MOCKOVIAK ’10 (Info. Systems) were married on June 1, 2013, in Basking Ridge, N.J. The couple met at Ramapo in 2008. The marriage ceremony was performed by Pat and Anne Chang. JUSTIN DEVERY ’10 (Bus. Admin.) is engaged to Amanda Fey. Devery is a client relationship manager with Bank of America Merrill Lynch. An October 2014 wedding is planned. JERICHO KAYNE ’13 (Bus. Admin./Psych.) married Brian Hawkins on June 30, 2013. The couple enjoyed a honeymoon in Jamaica. www.ramapo.edu
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OPEN DOOR CONCERT SERIES
THE BARCLAYS August 19 – 24, 2014
The Ridgewood Country Club Paramus, NJ
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 | 7:00 P.M. West Point Woodwind Quartet The West Point Woodwind Quartet of the West Point Band will open the third season of the Series. The quintet, assembled from selected members, perform in many different events ranging from military social functions, formal recitals and official ceremonies including presidential receptions.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29 | 7:00 P.M. Spanish Pianist Mario Prisuelos For the first time, the series presents an artist from abroad. Mario Prisuelos will perform a solo program as part of his East Coast Tour. He performs regularly in his native Spain and in major capitols of Europe, South America and the United States including a recent solo recital at Carnegie Hall. Prisuelos’ program features Debussy’s Estampes, Ligeti’s Musica Ricercata and works by Granados and Albeniz.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19 | 7:00 P.M.
Participate in the Tickets Fore Charity Program at the Barclays and support the Ramapo College Foundation One Day Ticket: $65 ($48.75 to the Ramapo Foundation)
Weekly Grounds Ticket: $125 ($93.75 to the Ramapo Foundation) Last day to purchase tickets is August 17 75% of the net proceeds of your ticket purchase will be donated by the PGA Tour to the Ramapo College Foundation.
Music by Composer Randall Svane New Jersey composer Randall Svane’s distinguished and expressive music has captured the hearts and minds of audiences across the United States and Europe. The New York Philharmonic, the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina in Florence, the Munich Chamber Choir and the Borromeo String Quartet are just a few of those who have performed Svane’s works to critical and public acclaim.
SUNDAY, MARCH 8 | 3:00 P.M. Music by Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms created some of the most hauntingly beautiful music ever written. This special Sunday afternoon program will feature several of his beloved chamber music compositions. Pianist and faculty member Itay Goren will be joined by violinist Evelyn Estava and cellist Jeffrey Shah to perform the Piano Trio in B Major, Violin Sonata in A Major and the Four Piano Pieces Opus 119.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 | 7:00 P.M. Violist Joel Lipton and Pianist Gary Kirkpatrick American born violist Joel Lipton now resides in the Netherlands. He has been the co-principal violist of the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra for many years and performed with other major orchestras in Europe and the United States. His collaboration with one of America's foremost pianists, Gary Kirkpatrick, has spanned more than four decades and resulted in many tours and recordings. Together, they will perform works by Brahms, Schubert and Beethoven.
Visit www.buytfc.com and click on “Buy Tickets.” Include the promotional code assigned to Ramapo College: PINFLAG14
West Point Woodwind Quartet
Spanish Pianist Mario Prisuelos
Music by Composer Randall Svane
Violist Joel Lipton
Pianist Gary Kirkpatrick
Itay Goren
Please note it is case sensitive and must be all CAPS.
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Ramapo College Magazine Summer 2014
Under the artistic direction of Itay Goren, Ramapo College presents a series of concerts in the York Room in the Birch Mansion. Email Goren at igoren@ramapo.edu for more information.
BERRIE CENTER FOR PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
15TH ANNUAL PERFORMING ARTS DINNER SERIES The Performing Arts Dinner Series offers exceptional seating and affordable ticket prices at the Benefactor or Patron Level through the Ramapo Foundation, combined with a wonderful dining experience, to support scholarships to benefit Ramapo College students.
EAST GIPSY BAND | 8:00 P.M.
JOHN PIZZARELLI | 8:00 P.M.
East Gipsy Band represents a new color on the Hungarian music scene and world music. Its members come from first-rank jazz and gypsy musicians. Their music is an adventure within the traditions of Roma music with a great spin on jazz. Improvisation and characteristic features of jazz are central to their music.
John Pizzarelli, the world-renowned jazz guitarist and singer, was called “Hip with a wink” by Town & Country, “madly creative” by the Los Angeles Times and “the genial genius of the guitar” by The Toronto Star. After his recent smash success with the Boston Pops, he was hailed by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” And the Seattle Times called him “a tour de force” and “a rare entertainer of the old school.” John Pizzarelli has established himself as one of the prime interpreters of the Great American Songbook and beyond, bringing to his work the cool jazz flavor of his brilliant guitar playing and singing.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26
RADIOTHEATRE’S FRANKENSTEIN 5:30 P.M. DINNER Radiotheatre is an award-winning Performance Group that creates Audio Theatre live on stage. Their production of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein tells the emotional story of an egomaniacal scientist and his tortured offspring. A perfect Horror tale for Halloween weekend.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7
JUDY GOLD | 8:00 P.M.
EILEEN IVERS | 8:00 P.M.
Emmy Award winning actress and comedian Judy Gold is best known as the star of her two critically acclaimed longrunning Off Broadway hit shows. Judy was nominated for the 2012 Outer Critics Circle Award for The Judy Show, as well as a 2006 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance for her previous show, 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother. The New York Times called this one-woman show “fiercely funny, honest and moving.”
Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul capture the spirit and magic of the season in their heartwarming holiday show. Nine time AllIreland Fiddle Champion and music star of Riverdance Eileen Ivers will change the way you think about violin. Hailed as one of the great innovators and pioneers in the Celtic and World Music genres, Ivers has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today.
“… the Jimi Hendrix of the violin.” - The New York Times
Call the Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts for tickets at 201.684.7844 or visit www.ramapo.edu/berriecenter
MARRIED TO BROADWAY, FEATURING THE STARS OF LES MISERABLES 5:30 P.M. DINNER Real-life married couple and Broadway greats Ron Sharpe and Barbra Russell join with leading lady Natalie Toro to perform the best of the Great White Way and favorite holiday classics.
For tickets or more information, call Liz Kloak at 201.684.6834 or email at lkloak@ramapo.edu.
www.ramapo.edu
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
505 Ramapo Valley Road Mahwah, NJ 07430-1623 www.ramapo.edu
Pushing Boundaries SUCCESS BEYOND RAMAPO For 40 years Ramapo College has launched graduates who have succeeded in Pushing Boundaries both personally and professionally. Today, Ramapo College continues to inspire its students. Hear what our alumni say about these four promises:
Faculty Who Teach and Mentor “I had a number of outstanding mentors at Ramapo College, including Bob Sproul, Carter Jones Meyer, Danny Jean, Venus Hewing, President Mercer and Frances Shapiro-Skrobe. There are countless others who made my time meaningful and special.” Tom Ng ’10 (History) Teacher, Uncommon Charter High School Brooklyn, N.Y.
Hands-on Learning “The hands-on theatrical training and extremely dedicated professional faculty at Ramapo College taught me the necessary skills to survive in show business as an entertainer and gave me the educational framework and ability to handle numerous aspects of the craft onstage and offstage.” Hal Meyers ’80 (Theater) Performance Artist and Entertainer
Small Elite College “Small class sizes at Ramapo College allow students to form lasting relationships with professors. The professors, in turn, set high expectations to help students achieve their potential. It is a unique opportunity to study beside and work one-on-one with experts of the caliber Ramapo employs.” Carla Pastore (’07 Literature, ’10g Education Technology, ’13g Education Leadership) Teacher, Waldwick High School Pompton Lakes, N.J.
A Foundation for a Lifetime "The liberal arts education I gained from Ramapo College was greatly beneficial. Even though I was a communications major, I use the skills I learned in my career as a lawyer." Kelly Lloyd ’06 (Communication Arts) Attorney, Lowenstein Sandler PC Roseland, N.J.
Photo: Jeremy Teigen, associate professor of political science