Ramapo College Magazine Fall 2005

MAGAZINE

FALL 2005

RAMAPO

COVER COVER STORY: STORY: President President Peter Peter Philip Philip Mercer Mercer

Forging New Relationships Page Page 66

Band Together For Diversity Page 14

Our Vision Becomes Our Reality:

Bradley Center Dedication Page 10

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DID YOU KNOW? At the May 25 commencement, Ramapo College awarded 1,116 bachelor’s degrees and 138 master’s degrees.

Of the graduates, 779 were female and 475 male; 49 international students represented 24 countries. The College bestowed 185 Latin honors including 31 summa, 52 magna, and 102 cum laudes. The total number of graduates stands at 21,668 for bachelor’s and master’s degrees conferred. Below, six recent graduates reflect on their Ramapo experiences.

Rumen Kostadinov: School of Theoretical and Applied Science Lisa De Pree: School of Social Science and Human Services B.A. in psychology, summa cum laude, GPA 3.9; teacher certification; captain, women’s soccer team; second grade student teacher at Marshall Hill School, West Milford, NJ. Lisa is currently a kindergarten teacher in Saddle Brook, NJ. “Ramapo College’s teacher education program helped me reach my goal to be a teacher. Every professor I have had shared valuable knowledge about the field of education, which will help me to be a successful teacher.”

Christina Medina: School of Contemporary Arts B.A. in communications, cum laude, GPA 3.7; member of Communications Honor Society and National Association of Hispanic Journalists; news editor, The Ramapo News; recipient of the “Better College Newspaper Award” for newswriting from the NJ Associated Press.

She is currently a reporter/news clerk with the Star-Ledger in Newark, NJ; she helped launch the Morris County Section in June 2005.

“My professors at Ramapo helped open my eyes to a world full of opportunities. I would never have received as much personal attention or real-life work experience at any other institution.

They enriched my college experience through their wit, wisdom, and guidance.”

Nevena Dimova B.S. in biology; extensive research projects in generating a genomic library of the California blackworm. She is a member of Sigma Xi and the Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society. Dimova is enrolled at Harvard University in a Ph.D. program, biological sciences in dental medicine.

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B.S. in bioinformatics with a minor in computer science, cum laude, GPA 3.5; wrote and presented award-winning research paper, “Development of Bioinformatics Tools for Analysis of G-rich Sequences,” for the University of Maryland Symposium. Rumen is currently pursuing his doctorate in genomics and computational biology at the University of Pennsylvania on a full tuition and expenses scholarship.

“Dr. Paramjeet Bagga, Dr. Amruth Kumar, and Dr. Lawrence D’Antonio influenced me at Ramapo. Without their mentorship and oneon-one attention to my research, I could not have received my graduate scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania.”

Joe Tropia: School of Contemporary Arts B.A. in theater and communication arts, summa cum laude, GPA 3.9; editor in chief: The Ramapo News (2 years); member, Committee on Discrimination; appeared in four student productions; wrote and directed two sold-out Ramapo productions, “World’s Fastest Man” and “Desperately Yours.” Joe is currently sales and marketing coordinator for Theater Direct International/Broadway.com in New York City.

“While I had the opportunity to work with and learn from a number of truly first-rate professors in both my majors, Professor Edna Negron was one of the first who helped me figure out my path – how to fit what I love to do into a profession that would excite and challenge me.”

Anthony Olarerin-George B.S. in bioinformatics; completed a research project on the “Effect of dNTP concentration on the inactivity of HIV-1”; Presidential Scholar. Olarerin is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in bioinformatics at the University of Pennsylvania.

Marie Lechantre: School of Business B.A. in international business with a concentration in marketing. She is attending Dublin City University in Ireland, pursuing her master’s degree in international relations.

“Over the past four years in the United States, I have had the opportunity to see the world from an international perspective, both in the classroom and in my daily routine. Thanks to this wonderful experience, I am proud to say I have developed a cosmopolitan outlook.”

Joe Venosa: School of American and International Studies B.A. in history, summa cum laude, GPA 3.87; trained as a supplemental history instructor.

He is pursuing his master’s degree in African studies at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

“Thanks in large part to Dr. Sam Mustafa’s care and dedication, I am pursuing graduate school and planning a career in history.”

Anthony Dovi B.S. in business administration with a concentration in management and public policy. Dovi is pursuing a higher education administration M.A. degree at Columbia University’s Teachers College and completing an internship in the student life office at Ramapo.

Daniel Makoski B.A. in literature and political science. First year law student at Widener University School of Law in Delaware.

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE FALL 2005 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1 COLLEGE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Peter Mercer, Ph.D. President Pamela M. Bischoff, Ed.D. Vice President for Student Affairs Victoria H. Bruni, Esq. Vice President for Administration and Finance Cathleen Davey Vice President for Institutional Advancement W. Sanborn Pfeiffer, Ph.D. Provost/VPAA/Interim CIO BOARD CHAIRS Thomas Zelante, Esq. Board of Trustees Bernard Milano Board of Governors Lisa A. Ryan Alumni Association Francis J. Rodriquez Friends of Ramapo College of New Jersey

RAMAPO MAGAZINE STAFF Cathleen Davey Editor-in-Chief Bonnie D. Franklin Executive Editor Mary Cicitta Managing Editor Rosa Diaz-Mulryan Editor Cynthia Burns News Editor Janel Dengel Alumni Editor Kathleen Austin Foundation Editor Rachel McCann Sports Editor Liz Kloak Staff Writer Design: Byne Graphics/bynegraphics.com Cover portrait and feature photos: Herbert Studios, copyright 2005 Other photos except as noted: Ramapo staff Information contained in this magazine can be made available upon request in alternate media. Requests should be directed to: 201.684.7611 Alumni contact and change of address: Janet Dengel at 201.684.7179 or jdengel@ramapo.edu Student Affairs contact: Pam Bischoff at 201.684.7457 or pbischof@ramapo.edu

C O V E R

S T O R Y

6

PETER PHILIP MERCER Ramapo’s Fourth President

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COLLEGE NEWS

20

ALUMNI NEWS

4

FACULTY NEWS

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CLASS NOTES

6

COVER STORY:

25

GRANT STREET

26

COURTS AND FIELDS

10

Peter Philip Mercer, Ramapo’s Fourth President

OUR VISION BECOMES OUR REALITY: Bradley Center Dedication

14

BAND TOGETHER FOR DIVERSITY

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SPOTLIGHT

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FOUNDATION NEWS

29

DATEBOOK

Ramapo Magazine is produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications.

505 Ramapo Valley Road Mahwah, NJ 07430-1680

The Bradley Center is dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone in the Ramapo community.

Programs focus on wellness, recreation, and nationally ranked athletic teams. From L to R: Dennis McNerney, Anthony Marino, Lisa Ryan, Pamela Bischoff, Bernard Milano, Gail Brady, Bill Bradley, Ernestine Bradley, Governor Richard Codey, Sandy Pfeiffer, Peter McBride, Donald Mossman, Vanessa Faxas, John Kholhaus, Mahwah Mayor Richard Martell

Visit our Web site at www.ramapo.edu Fall 2005

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 1

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COLLEGE NEWS L to R: Ming Fay sculpture exhibit; Donna McKechnie; Veteran’s Recognition Program

Veteran’s Recognition Program Mark Mancuso, Esq., special counsel to the general counsel of the Defense Department and a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, served as the keynote speaker at the Veteran’s Recognition Program held May 11 on campus. Ramapo honorees included students (pictured above), alumni, faculty, and staff who have served in the military or Volunteer Services to America in both war and peace.

Veterans’ Administrator Dorothy Gillman coordinated the event.

A reading of “Vietnam Memories: Stories Left at the Wall,” a presentation of colors by Air Force ROTC, and comments by representatives of Americorps and the Peace Corps were featured.

Floor-to-Ceiling Sculptures Installed in Kresge Gallery This spring the Kresge Gallery was transformed into an Amazon jungle of Monkey Pot plants in “Ramapo Garden of Desire,” a floorto-ceiling sculpture installation by renowned Asian-American artist Ming Fay. “Ramapo Garden of Desire,” a sitespecific installation inspired by the gallery space, consisted primarily of Monkey Pots, an Amazon jungle plant. The name of the tree refers to its pot-like shape that holds seeds so enticing to monkeys, that their heads often become stuck in the plants as they try to obtain the

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seeds. “I have created my own version of the Monkey Pot as a symbol for humans who are caught by their own desires,” said Fay. “The layers of brightly colored foam of my Monkey Pots are reminiscent of the mutated forms of science fiction films and laboratory experiments gone astray.”

The Monkey Pots, Money Trees, Gwa Flowers and Butterfly Twigs flourished in an allegorical installation of nature’s bounty and the never-ending human desire to acquire and consume. The sculptor is a professor of art at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ.

Tony Award-winner Donna McKechnie at the Sharp Theater On May 14, the Ramapo community was treated to “An Evening with Donna McKechnie: One Singular Sensation!” Best known for her Tony Award-winning performance as Cassie in A Chorus Line, McKechnie sang and danced numbers from her extensive Broadway repertoire.

This program was made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ramapo College Recognized for Yearbook Excellence The staff of the Ramapo College yearbook has been recognized by

Taylor Publishing Company with an Award of Excellence honoring its accomplishments in yearbook design and coverage. The adviser to the yearbook staff is Dr. Anthony Padovano, a distinguished professor of literature and philosophy and director of the College’s Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) program.

The yearbook is featured in the 2005 Yearbook Yearbook, used by yearbook advisers, editors, and designers across the country for design ideas. Yearbooks published for the 2003-2004 school year were evaluated for excellence in one or more of the following areas: cover design, theme development, and page design. Only the top five percent of yearbook staffs are recognized by Taylor Publishing for outstanding achievement.

New Honor Societies Formed Ramapo College recently was selected to form the Zeta Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Delta, the International Honor Society. Phi Beta Delta honors those who serve internationalism – the idea of a world connected, of respect for different traditions and of the need for education to enhance knowledge of the many cultures that are part of the world. The College’s first induction ceremony took place in April and included 70 Ramapo students, faculty, and staff.

“Phi Beta Delta is ideal for celebrating international education

and the international endeavors of our community throughout the year,” said Susi Rachouh, director of international education. Activities may include guest speakers, readings of Nobel laureate books, ethnic dinner outings and visits to cultural festivals, international film screenings, or musical events.

Also in April, the communication arts major held its first induction ceremony for the new Ramapo Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Arts Honor Society. More than 40 students meeting the stringent academic requirements of membership were inducted. Award-winning photojournalist and adjunct faculty member Tom Franklin spoke at the event and presented some of his work.

Ramapo College and Volgograd University Embark on a Joint Venture American Values Reconsidered, jointly published by Ramapo College and Volgograd State Pedagogical University (VSPU) in Volgograd, Russia, is a collection of articles written by faculty and students from the partner institutions.

The book is the latest product of a fruitful, 14-year partnership between the two institutions.

The aim of the book, devoted to American values—the essence of American character and culture— is to explore the basic foundation of American culture as viewed from the United States and Russia,

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COLLEGE NEWS

L to R: American Values Reconsidered, jointly published

by Ramapo College and Volgograd State; Robert A. Scott, president of Adelphi University and president emeritus of Ramapo College; Russ Berrie Award attendees: l to r: Steve Adubato, Josh Weston, Angelica Berrie, Arthur Ackerman, Joann Tyler, David Butler, M.D., Lori Stokes, and Sandy Pheiffer

and to bring academic communities in both countries to a better understanding of each other.

The authors discuss various issues connected with American values—philosophic and everyday concepts, patterns of behavior, literature and music, political problems, and personal experiences.

The essays, all in English, were presented at a conference held in Volgograd. Ramapo students, faculty, and administrators were among the presenters. Edited by Vladimir Karasik and Olga Leontovich of Volgograd, and Jennefer Mazza and Sharon Rubin of Ramapo College, the book will be useful for students of American culture and for people interested in the humanities. The Ramapo College Foundation and the Office of the Provost supported the publication of the book.

Mutual Images: United States and Russia, a team-taught class linking Ramapo College with students at VSPU, is another product of the agreement. Students at both institutions come together once a week, for 75 minutes, and take the same course of instruction, read the same texts, view the same art, movies and television, listen to the same music, and discuss all the instructional materials in real time via video conferencing technology. They are paired for assignments and present oral reports as cross-national partners.

The course is the result of a United

States Department of State grant that is assisting the development of American studies at VSPU.

Former Athletic Director Elected President of Black Coaches Association While serving as Athletic Director at Ramapo College, Eugene Marshall was elected to a two-year term as president of the Black Coaches Association at the organization’s convention in Indianapolis, IN. In August, he departed to serve as the deputy athletic director at West Point.

The Black Coaches Association (BCA) is a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to foster the growth and development of ethnic minorities at all levels of sports both nationally and internationally.

Marshall, who previously served as the BCA board’s first vice president, is the first representative from a Division III college to be elected to the presidency. As former chair of the NCAA’s Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee (MOIC), he focused on the lack of minority football head coaches, the lack of women minority head basketball coaches, and the lack of minority athletic directors in Division I schools. Marshall hopes to increase membership in the BCA and involve more administrators, including athletic directors, assistant athletic directors, and physical trainers.

College Receives Government Grant to Help Fund Sustainability Center Ramapo College is the recipient of two grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, totaling $320,000, to help fund the construction of a Sustainability Education Center on campus.

The facility will include classrooms, a laboratory, display space, offices, and a greenhouse.

In addition, the Center will provide a forum for scientists and professionals and a site for workshops, seminars, and conferences on sustainable topics. The Sustainability Education Center will enhance the College’s partnership with the Meadowlands Environment Center, located in Lyndhurst, NJ. “By making the link between environmental and sustainability education, Ramapo College is helping to promote learning about our natural systems as well as the consequences of human actions,” said Cathleen Davey, executive director of the Ramapo College Foundation.

Bob Scott Honored Dr. Robert A. Scott, president of Adelphi University and president emeritus of Ramapo College, was named one of the 100 Most Influential Long Islanders by Long

Island Business News. “After taking over a university in administrative tatters,” reads the citation, “Scott has engineered a stunning turnaround at Adelphi, which is now solvent, growing in enrollment, climbing in academic standard, and increasingly considered by smart young people from other places.”

The Russ Berrie Award for “Making a Difference” The three top winners of this year’s Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference were Joann Tyler, for her work feeding the homeless; David Butler, MD, of Holy Name Hospital, whose frequent trips to Haiti provide medical services for poor women; and Arthur Ackerman, for adopting children with Down Syndrome. In all, 19 New Jersey residents were awarded cash grants at the ceremony held on campus June 2. Created in 1997 by the late philanthropist Russ Berrie and Ramapo’s former president, Robert A. Scott, these awards are designated specifically for unsung heroes. Lori Stokes, WABC-TV anchorwoman, delivered the keynote address and television host Steve Adubato served as master of ceremonies.

Presenting the awards were Berrie Foundation President Angelica Berrie, Russ Berrie and Company Board Chairman Josh Weston, and Ramapo College Provost W. Sanborn Pfeiffer.

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 3

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FACULTY N E W S

Three prominent theological voices on the world scene are pictured at the conclave site at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. L to R: Sister Joan Chittister (Erie, PA), Dr. Anthony T. Padovano (Ramapo College), Sister Maureen Fiedler (Washington, DC)

Conclave and Papal Election This past April, Dr. Anthony T. Padovano, a founding faculty member and distinguished professor of literature and philosophy, was in Rome during the memorial service for Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict XVI. He served as leader and resource for the world media gathered there and provided context on history and analysis for journalists covering these events. In an interview at Ramapo College, Padovano observed, “There can be no peace among the nations without dialogue between the religions.

The purpose of this endeavor in Rome is clarification of the issues which all people of good will have in common.”

In Rome, he was interviewed by ABC, Associated Press, Australian and Canadian TV affiliates, and CNN International. Padovano works with three international networks—the United Nations, the Parliament of World Religions, and

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Babylonian cuneiform fragment of the story of the flood. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, purchase, 1886, 8611.378A

the International Movement for Reform in the Catholic Church— on peace and religious concerns.

New Fragment of Babylonian Flood Story Discovered While cataloging cuneiform tablets in the basement of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Dr. Ira Spar, professor of ancient history at Ramapo College and research assyriologist at the museum, discovered a small 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch clay fragment with the word “flood” inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform. He sent a hand-drawn copy of the cuneiform sign to Professor W.G. Lambert of the University of Birmingham, England, who confirmed Spar’s identification of the text as a missing piece of the Babylonian flood epic.

According to Spar, several pre-Biblical versions of the flood story are known to scholars. The newly discovered fragment is part of a version written in Babylonian and known as the Epic of Atra-

L to R: Dr. Richard Russo, coordinator for Ramapo’s Center for Learning and Instruction; Vladimir Slavicek, principal of the Jiri Orten Grammar School in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic; and Dr. Alex Urbiel, director of teacher education at Ramapo discuss teacher education.

hasis that Lambert says served as the model for the Biblical story of the flood. A translation by Lambert with drawings, photographs, and commentary on this text has been published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Literary and Scholastic Texts of the First Millennium B.C., co-edited by Spar and Lambert. This volume, the second in a series of four cuneiform texts of the museum’s holdings, examines 106 religious, scientific, scholastic, and literary texts and fragments.

Teacher Educators Host a Dialogue With Faculty from Czech Republic A contingent of educators from the Czech Republic visited Ramapo College to meet with Dr. Alexander Urbiel, director of teacher education and Dr. Richard Russo, coordinator of the Center for Learning and Instruction, to participate in a dialogue about the similarities and differences in teacher education between the two countries.

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FACULTY

Judith Peck: Sculptures in Bronze

“The initiative came from the Czech teachers who were touring the United States and wanted to talk to teacher educators,” said Urbiel. “The Teacher Education Program at Ramapo College has been exploring ways to increase contact with schools and educators overseas, so this became an opportunity to meet and discuss potential collaborative efforts.” Russo noted that the exchange focused on education and pedagogical issues, rather than cultural ones.

Urbiel and Russo believe the Czech Republic is on the verge of reform. “Like other countries in the former Eastern Block, education in the Czech Republic is reforming itself,” Urbiel said. “The idea that teachers are givers of information and students passive receptors is giving way to a view that stresses the dialogic process of education. Methods rooted in collaboration, with recognition of various student learning styles, are beginning to be used.”

“In the Czech Republic there is a disparity between early elementary and secondary training,” Russo said. “Here, it is essentially the same. There, if someone wants to be an early elementary teacher, there’s not a lot of post-secondary training required.”

The visit supported Ramapo College’s goal to build an international and intercultural component into the teacher education program so that once college students become classroom teachers, they can better relate to students whose backgrounds don’t match their own.

Art and Science in Paramus. Peck notes, “My sculpture is about people: how they look, how they behave, how they endure hardship and how they find the meaning, truths, and joys of life.” In addition to bronze, Peck also works in steel and mixed media. “Some of my thematic concerns are about the choices people make and the choices made for them by history, by chance, by the intensities of their emotions and experience.

These themes often involve individuals and families, and individuals alone in families.”

Professor Publishes Poetry Sculpture Featured at Tycoon Art Gallery Sculptures in bronze by art professor Judith Peck were recently featured in “Brilliant Harmonies,” an exhibit at the Tycoon Art Gallery, in Manasquan, NJ. Peck’s sculpture also was featured in “Sculpture in Bronze,” an exhibit at the Bergen Museum of

Fifty poems by Dr. Rosetta D’Angelo, professor of Italian Studies and Literature, have been published by Carello Editore in Italy in the Jewels of Literature Series. The book includes an introduction by Tina Piccolo, an Italian poet and founder of the International Poetry Prize, and was featured at The Poetry Book Fair in Rome this past February.

Award Given by Canadian Government for Academic Research Dr. Joseph LeMay, professor emeritus of international business, was recognized by the government of Quebec, Canada for his research on the business environment there. “Le Prix du Quebec” is one of the highest awards for academic research in the Canadian province.

LeMay received this honor at the National Assembly Parliamentary Building in Quebec City. He was recommended by his colleagues at the biennial Conference of the American Council for Quebec Studies. His research focused on Hydro-Quebec, farmland preservation, U.S. and Japanese direct investment in Canada and the business environments of the smaller cities of Quebec.

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 5

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President Peter Philip Mercer...

Forging

New Relationships

By Bonnie D. Franklin

President Peter Mercer and students Jonathan Carletto, Kylene Milligan, and Steve Cucchiara 6 Fall 2005

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE

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FEATURE

Following a week that began with his wedding to Jacqueline Ehlert and included packing for the move from Toronto to Mahwah, Dr. Peter Philip Mercer arrived on campus late on July 1 to begin his tenure as the fourth president of Ramapo College.

Thomas Zelante, chair of the Ramapo College Board of Trustees, says many things impressed him about Mercer, specifically his drive and determination. “He’s a human dynamo and has immersed himself in this job.” Zelante goes on to say, “What has impressed me most is his care and concern for students’ well-being and his regard for all aspects of their lives.”

By then, he was already familiar with the campus as well as many of its constituents, having made three visits since his appointment to the position last February. He also knew something about what has been described as the “full contact sport” that is New Jersey politics, knowledge that will guide him well as he begins his work on behalf of the College.

Mercer learned about the presidential search from his wife’s sister and brother-in-law, who are Mahwah residents. “There were a couple of decisive points for me in the interview,” says the new president. “One of them was when I asked the committee frankly to describe any reservations they might have about my candidacy. And they did. They said, ‘This is what you may be up against as a Canadian.’ And it gave me a chance to address those issues.” Another turning point was his tour of the campus, which he found compelling; “It was so strikingly well equipped,” he says. “So when I came back for the two days of interviews, I was intent on asking questions so that I could make my best evaluation of the College and you could do the same of me. After that, I was committed to coming here if I was offered the position.”

One of the first people Mercer met with after being named president was State Senator Paul Sarlo. “He said he was glad I’d come to see him and that I’d probably have some work to do in Trenton,” says Mercer, who appreciated the candid talk and continues, “I would much sooner someone say, ‘You have some challenges here and this is why,’ than for them to believe and think that but never actually tell me. I have found New Jersey officials more than willing to be forthright about what they think the issues are.”

A native of Canada, Mercer was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland; his father was an Anglican (Episcopal) clergyman and his mother a teacher. The family, which includes his two brothers, moved to London, Ontario when Mercer was nine.

After graduating with a law degree from the University of Western Ontario, Mercer went to Cambridge University, where he earned a master’s degree and began work on his Ph.D. in public interest law. He continued at the University of Michigan as a visiting research scholar before returning to Cambridge to complete the residency requirement for his doctorate.

At Cambridge, his thesis advisor was Sir David Williams, who subsequently became that institution’s president.

He served as an assistant professor of law at the University of Windsor and associate professor of law at the University of Calgary before accepting a position as associate professor with tenure at the University of Western Ontario, where he was immediately offered the associate dean (academic) position. There he went on to become dean and vice president for external affairs, and eventually vice president for administration and general counsel.

Mercer is the father of two, a 21-year-old son in his senior year at the University of Toronto, and a 16-year-old daughter in her senior year of high school.

Challenges and Opportunities Mercer notes that the statewide college/ university capacity problem is very real.

“In the past, we’ve identified our likely cap as being at 6,000. We’re not there yet so it gives us some room to grow. We have to identify ways we can be responsive to the need the state has to increase capacity.

I wouldn’t want to say at this stage that I’d rethink that 6,000 figure because I don’t have enough information yet, but I certainly want to look at it, because even if we can offer a few hundred more places than we thought, as long as we can maintain our essential character as a premier liberal arts college, then we should look at all those issues afresh.”

When asked about rising tuition, Mercer says, “I start by asking, what value are we delivering? And what key performance indicators do we have to demonstrate that?

The state appropriations as a percentage of the operating revenues of the College have fallen quite dramatically over the last few years. And that’s not unique to New Jersey;

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 7

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FEATURE

Mercer adds that he is willing to press for funding, public and private, “because part of this College’s mission is also to reach out to communities where there are able students who can’t afford the tuition. We need to continue to create buffers to enable those students to attend here. I made it very clear during the interview process that I wanted to make that one of my goals — to rededicate to that mission of being a public college.” Bernard Milano, chairman of the Ramapo College Foundation Board, says he is impressed with how quickly Mercer has made good on that promise and adds, “Peter has shown great interest in meeting and getting to know our corporate, individual, and foundation partners. Expanding these relationships will bring opportunities for current students and enable us to reach out to underserved communities. I’m pleased that he shares my commitment to building the endowment as a means of ensuring our ability to provide excellence that is affordable.”

Consistent with previous Ramapo presidents, Mercer strongly supports the College’s liberal arts mission. “There is a need for first-rate colleges. I’m not particularly wowed by the name university or the feeling that somehow you are seen to have progressed if you’ve changed your status or title from college to a university. I think quite differently, that you must be good at what you do. This College’s success has been predicated on becoming better at what it does, not on trying to be all things to all people.”

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Relating to Ramapo’s Founding “We have a remarkable constituency of faculty here who are founding mothers and fathers, people who were here from the beginning,” Mercer says. “They had a very strong vision of what the College would become and in most important respects, they’ve been vindicated in that the College has done marvelously within the context of their vision. In other respects, I’m sure they feel things have developed differently than they anticipated; that would almost be inevitable. And we have a newer cohort of faculty whose acculturation may be different. When I talk about the renewal of the vision of the College and renewal of the strategic plan, I’m partly talking about making sure that we maintain fidelity to the fundamental principles of the College

while sensibly translating what that means in 2005. The founders are guardians of the public trust. And when they have spoken to me, I’ve heard passion, commitment, identification, intensity, and genuine feeling. I hope that the person we hire tomorrow and the person who was here when the college was founded will both say in five years, ‘We’re in a great spot.’”

Noting that Ramapo wasn’t originally envisioned as a residential institution, Mercer adds that its transition to one has had “profound and wonderful implications.

You look at the retention rate, the number of students who come back after the third year - the percentage has risen in the last four years from 66 to 74. That’s striking.

If good students are educated here, the chances that they will maintain ties to New Jersey are much greater.”

Photo courtesy of Lara Rodriguez, Meadowlands Enviroment Center

it’s not unique to America. The greatest challenge is to convince students, parents, the public at large, and legislators that public investment in higher education is the best use of public money — the best use of private money, too. A well-educated populace is healthier, more productive, has higher morale, and is more cohesive. A few generations ago it wasn’t hard to make that argument; people looked at education to really advance society. Education is the single greatest force for positive social change as well as positive individuals. It’s what transforms lives. And so the challenge is moving that up the agenda and keeping it there.”

Photo: Dr. Victoria Madden, project director, Center for Technology Enhanced Education, and Dr. Peter Philip Mercer identifying artifacts from a dig at the Meadowlands Environment Center.

In a class entitled, Can You Dig It?, students who come to the Center have the opportunity to uncover and discover the mysteries of the past. Students are introduced to some of the simple techniques used by archaeologists in conducting field studies. After using the “tools of the trade,” they carry out an archaeological dig classifying and identifying their wares.

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FEATURE

Priorities and the Future “My own immediately identifiable goal,” says Mercer, “would be to continue to increase the academic standards of the College, while also increasing its diversity.

“I have to reach out myself. I need to be seen as a visible embodiment of the commitment, probably in places where presidents might not have been before, in situations presidents might not have been before. It’s important for those who live and work here to be in a diverse environment.

That’s part of their education; that’s part of our social responsibility.”

In Mercer’s view, the College is moving toward what he describes as a new level of complexity. For examples, he points to faculty with well-developed research programs and those who are reaching out to industry, government and to other institutions, and to the College’s richer, more complex programmatic elements. He explains, “I think that is going to grow even further. The opportunities the students will have, the very diverse experiences, are going to expand. I think the change that I’m capable of leading will be to ensure that the infrastructure that develops in the College supports that.”

Mercer sums up by saying, “Ramapo is on the radar screen of people who in the past would not have thought of it as an option, either for themselves or their children. That’s a real testament to the people here. This College has been very well run, and very imaginatively run. I think it probably took some risks, programmatically, in the early days that now are paying off.” He continues, “But, there are constituencies that we need to spend more time communicating with. One of my priorities is to make sure that we are known to our representatives, to those who make decisions in Trenton, so that we can help influence those decisions, and I don’t mean that entirely parochially. It’s not just, ‘what can we get out of it?’ but ‘what can we do for the system of higher education in New Jersey?’ We’ve got a very credible voice to lend to that debate.”

New Residents in the Havemeyer House Peter and Jacqueline Ehlert-Mercer met at a food services conference in June 2002 where he was a featured speaker. Jackie, a registered dietician with her own business and a former director of food services at a college in Vancouver, asked Peter if she could quote from his speech for an article she was writing. The Mercers were married June 25, 2005.

“I’m enormously fortunate to have Jackie’s support in all this and her participation.

We’re excited to be here,” says President Mercer. “From a career perspective, it’s like being back in the fourth grade - you start in September and you get a new scribbler, sharp pencils and new set of crayons, and you get to start all over. In a sense that’s what it’s like coming here. It’s wonderfully rejuvenating.”

The Mercers reside in the Havemeyer House, the renovated historic mansion on the west side of Rt. 202, near the south entrance to the campus.

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 9

10/3/05 11:13:40 AM

OUR VISION BECOMES OUR REALITY:

Bradley Center “May every season you play here be as successful as the one you just completed.”

- Acting Governor Richard Codey

“We’re realizing the dream of having a facility that will answer the wellness and health and fitness needs of our students.

This facility can only enhance the learning environment that we have here at Ramapo.”

Interim President and Provost W. Sanborn Pfeiffer said, “Today we mark the official unveiling of a magnificent structure, the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center, which supports the athletics, intramural, and recreational needs of all Ramapo College students. Together we have turned a vision into a reality for our college community.”

“This 18,000 foot NCAA–regulation main arena, with a state-of-the-art wood flooring system and bleacher-style seatback seating for more than 2,000 spectators, will make an immeasurable contribution to the student life on this campus.”

- Vice President Pamela Bischoff - Vice President Cathleen Davey

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE

10/3/05 11:13:53 AM

FEATURE

Dedication BILL BRADLEY CENTER IS DEDICATED

Senator and Mrs. Bill Bradley and Acting Governor Richard J. Codey joined campus officials and lead donors in dedicating the newly completed Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center in a ceremony held April 13. Bradley and Codey were guest speakers before a large crowd of students and student athletes, College administrators, faculty, staff, trustees, friends, and government officials including Mayor Richard J. Martell of Mahwah.

1 1. Don Mossman, vice president and general counsel, Sharp Electronics, and Bill Bradley in the Sharp Fitness Center

The Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center, with 117,000 square feet built at a cost of $26 million, provides Ramapo athletes with an 18,000 square-foot, NCAA-regulation main arena with a stateof-the-art flooring system and seating for 1,600-2,200. The new home for varsity sports also provides up-to-date and spacious team rooms, fitness and training equipment and an atrium that serves as a public event area and home to the Ramapo College Athletics Hall of Fame.

2 2. Tom Palmer, member of the Board of Governors, Bill Bradley (back), Becky Kraus, and Alice Palmer

3 3. Governor Richard Codey and Thomas Zelante, chairperson of the Board of Trustees

Other features of the Center include the Sharp Fitness Center, equipped with stateof-the-art weight training circuit and aerobic fitness machines; Inserra Family Student Lounge; Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Spectator Lobby; the 50-seat Sony Skybox; the Adele and Reuben Thomas Swimming Pool; the Edelman Climbing Wall; the Sodexho Concession Area; and the Frank and Becky Kraus Welcome Center.

Additional major donors include the Bergen Barracudas, Daniell Family Foundation, Prestige Family of Dealerships, and the Fred J. Brotherton Foundation.

The Center is named in honor of Bradley, who has a long-standing and supportive relationship with Ramapo College. In 1976, he visited the campus to dedicate the former athletic center, and later made his first public speech as a Senator in the

“I am tremendously honored to have this facility named for me...this facility brings together many parts of my life.”

– Bill Bradley

Ramapo College gym. In 1983, he delivered Ramapo’s commencement address and in 1988, was awarded an honorary doctorate.

In 1996, Bradley and former Governor Tom Kean debated “The Future of American Politics” in an open forum sponsored by the Ramapo College Business Network.

Bradley participated in the new Center’s groundbreaking in April 2003.

Bradley is a managing director of Allen & Company LLC. He served in the U.S. Senate from 1979–1997 representing the state of New Jersey. The Senator played for the New York Knicks from 1967-1977.

Designed by GBQC Architects, the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center meets standards of accessibility for the disabled, energy conservation and “green” sustainability practices, in keeping with Ramapo College traditions. Damon G. Douglas Construction Management and Century 21 Construction Company oversaw the construction of the Center.

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 11

10/5/05 1:45:45 PM

FEATURE

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE

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FEATURE

In order of appearance on page 12 and 13:

4. Bill Bradley, Thomas Hewitt, AVP and field marketing manager, Commerce Bank, and W. Sanborn Pfeiffer, provost/vice president for academic affairs/interim CIO 5. Art Ramirez, former member of the Board of Trustees, and Mrs. Ernestine Bradley 6. Gene Marshall, former athletics director making a toast at the Bradley Center Dedication

19 7. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley and Richard Codey, acting governor 8. Bill Bradley, Chris Turner, general manager of Prestige Family of Dealerships, and Sandy Pfeiffer 9. Bill Bradley and Reverend Vernon Walton, member of the Board of Trustees

Photo by Len Rubenstein

10. Bill Bradley and Mark Tigue, student athlete 11. Bill Bradley, Joan Dunn and Tom Dunn, member of the Board of Governors 12. Jackie Ehlert-Mercer, Bill Bradley, and Kelly Wallace, representing Sony Corporation, in the Sony Skybox

Photo by Len Rubenstein

13. Richard Codey, Bill Bradley, Don Mossman, vice president and general counsel, Sharp Electronics 14. Gail Brady, chairperson of the College’s Board of Trustees at the time of the dedication, and Bernard Milano, chairman of the Board of Governors 15. Bill Bradley tests the rock climbing wall 16. Timothy Schroeder, secretary of the Board of Trustees, with Bill Bradley 17. Lisa Fischman, student athlete 18. Elaine Adler, Foundation board member, Bernard Milano, Bill Bradley, and Frank Shapiro, senior vice president of Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, U.S.A., Inc., at the rock climbing wall 19. Bill Bradley, Richard Anisfield, past president of Kurt Versen Inc. and Sandy Pfeiffer 20. Paul Miller, a trustee of the Daniell Family Foundation, Bill Bradley, and Pamela Bischoff, vice president of student affairs, at the Bradley Center pool

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21. President Peter Mercer and Dennis McNerney, county executive

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 13

10/3/05 11:17:06 AM

BAND TOGETHER FOR DIVERSITY DAC History In July 2004, former interim president W. Sanborn Pfeiffer wrote to the campus community to invite volunteers to serve on a new committee to be called the Diversity Action Committee (DAC).

In order to request consideration for membership, he asked that interested faculty and staff submit a brief statement outlining their interest. The division of Student Affairs developed and implemented a process for selecting a student representative. Fifty applications arrived at the Office of the President.

From the fifty, Dr. Pfeiffer selected ten individuals to serve on the initial committee. He also assigned the director of affirmative action and workplace compliance and the director of institutional research and planning as resource persons to the DAC to provide information as needed. A Board of Trustees liaison to the Office of the President on matters related to the diversity initiative was also selected. Currently serving in this capacity is Trustee Vernon C. Walton.

Further, it was understood that the DAC would reach out and seek advice and counsel from many of those who volunteered but were not selected for membership on the initial committee. Dr. Patrick Chang, DAC chair, has continually consulted with the volunteers.

“I was impressed by the range of experience in diversity issues among the volunteers, and by the genuine display of interest in this initiative,” noted Pfeiffer.

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BY ROSA DIAZ-MULRYAN Member, Diversity Action Committee

Imagine a college campus where all voices are heard, all members are included, and everyone is respected and equally treated. Reflecting the changing demographics in its region and beyond, the campus is diverse in its student body and in its faculty and staff — enriching the learning experience for all. And, this campus embraces all people because their variations are recognized, acknowledged, and treasured. This diverse campus focuses on challenging people to expand their perceptions, values, and thinking.

This describes the vision of the Diversity Action Committee (DAC), as it works to fulfill its charge established by former Interim President W. Sanborn Pfeiffer in September 2004.

Does this vision of a campus reflect what members experience at Ramapo?

In answering this question, the DAC is moving swiftly in setting the foundations for fulfilling a number of major goals contained in its Mid-Year Report submitted in April 2005. Chaired by Dr. Patrick Chang, acting vice provost for academic technology, budget, and personnel, the committee’s work and that of its subcommittees is expected to be long-standing. One key recommendation in the report—the development and administration of a campus climate survey— will invite the participation of the entire campus community this fall.

Developed during the summer months, the survey’s questions were finalized following campus focus groups led by representatives from an expert and experienced consulting firm, Rankin and Associates. The Pennsylvaniabased firm, responsible for administering the

For further information about Ramapo’s Diversity Action Committee, please contact Dr. Patrick Chang at pchang@ramapo.edu.

survey and completing a detailed analysis of the results, has conducted campus climate surveys at more than forty institutions across the country. Confidentiality is of course at the center. All survey responses are returned either electronically or by mail directly to the firm for inclusion in the study.

“Ensuring the statistical validity of the study is important,” said Professor Edna Negron, chair of the Campus Climate Survey Subcommittee. “To accomplish this, campuswide participation is essential to ensure the results capture the experiences of all groups and individuals.”

A DAC subcommittee led by Rosa DiazMulryan, assistant vice president for marketing and institutional relations, has put forth an internal communications campaign to encourage participation during a weeklong series of events. The campaign, Band Together for Diversity, which includes receipt of a Band Together wristband after one completes the survey, announces Diversity Week, October 24-28. Its goals are to inform the campus community—students, faculty and staff— about the importance of having every campus member complete the campus climate survey and to create a heightened awareness about the diversity initiatives on campus.

“The student body has embraced the push for strong participation, planning supporting events to encourage everyone to take the survey, to be heard, and to ensure a

RAMAPO MAGAZINE

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Poster design by Words and Pictures

“The survey is critical to enabling Ramapo to evaluate its structural, educational, and social environment.” statistically valid result in which the campus can have confidence,” confirmed Dr. Chang.

The results of the campus climate survey, expected in a report from Rankin & Associates in early spring 2006, will provide a foundation for campus actions to follow. According to Dr. Chang, areas that rise to the surface as needing action in fulfilling the campus vision of diversity will assuredly be at the center of new goals for the Diversity Action Committee to act upon.

Newly appointed president, Dr. Peter Mercer, said, “The campus climate and core issues surrounding equity and the recruitment and retention of diverse students, faculty, and staff on the Ramapo College campus are a prime focus of the Board of Trustees, the offices of the president and provost, and

every divisional vice president.

Working through the Diversity Action Committee, it is our plan to make diversity focal in our thinking and planning.”

Dr. Mercer also affirmed, “The survey is critical to enabling Ramapo to evaluate its structural, educational, and social environment. I strongly encourage every campus member to participate in the campus climate survey. Participation shows you care about Ramapo College, your colleagues, and the student body.

The results of this survey will serve as our campus environmental barometer and will lead to necessary planning and action wherever we find we fall short.

Everyone’s input is vital.”

Further information on the campus climate survey and the full scope of the DAC’s work may be found on the Ramapo

College Intranet. Key content on the DAC Intranet site includes the DAC Mid-Year Report containing over-arching, shortterm, mid-term, and long-term goals; a progress report on the committee’s goals; a metaanalysis on the perceived campus climate and recruitment and retention as conducted by Dr. Chang in the fall of 2004 with nearly fifty campus members who originally volunteered to serve on the committee; the committee’s charge, and a DAC membership and contacts listing.

DAC’s Vision of Diversity* In promoting and celebrating diversity, Ramapo College pledges to respect and value personal uniqueness and differences, to seek to attract diverse faculty, staff, and students that reflect the changing demographics in the region and beyond, to seek and acknowledge common ground, to challenge stereotyping, and to promote sensitivity and inclusion. It understands that the diversity of its staff, faculty, and students enriches the learning experience of all and encourages people to expand their

DAC’s Definition of Diversity* Human diversity includes, but is not limited to, age, ethnicity, gender, religion, physical or mental abilities and disabilities, socio-economic status, viewpoint differences (e.g., political), sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin.

perceptions, values, and thinking. As expressed in its Culture and Values Statement, Vision Statement, Mission Statement and Strategic Plan, it takes seriously its commitment to diversity, and implementing ideas of value. *Developed using the draft definition of diversity from the University of Toledo’s Commission on Diversity as a guide.

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 15

10/5/05 1:50:23 PM

FOUNDATION R E A P I N G T H E R E W A R D S: Photo by Len Rubenstein

S c h o l a r s h i p s

A t

R a m a p o The Survivor to Survivor Scholarship:

“

This endowment will cover tuition and expenses at Ramapo College for the duration of a student’s undergraduate career...

T

he scholarship program encompasses many facets of life inside and outside the Ramapo community. Scholarship opportunities have evolved into a unique blend of tradition and idealism. Many current and former faculty, staff, alumni, and board members have endowed scholarships at Ramapo for a variety of purposes. Friends of Ramapo, partners in our community, corporations, and institutions have taken steps to establish a lasting legacy. A retired worker, a neighbor and a patriotic Holocaust survivor have chosen to endow Ramapo College. Past, present, and future students reap the many rewards of these programs.

Thoughtful and meaningful endowments make Ramapo’s scholarship program unique, innovative, and diverse.

The Friends of Ramapo scholarship program, established in 1979, is the oldest scholarship endowment fund at Ramapo College. Friends scholarships are given to students with outstanding academic achievement who are representative of the many intellectual, social and cultural interests throughout the Ramapo community. Another award was created by Florence Thomases, a member of the founding Ramapo College Board of Trustees, who were entrusted with the mission of creating the College and finding it a home. In honor of Florence and her

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husband’s commitment to excellence in education, the Fred and Florence Thomases Scholarship Endowment fund was created to leave a lasting, enduring legacy for generations of Ramapo students and to honor the Thomases’ generous spirit of volunteerism.

Ramapo’s largest scholarship fund, the Cara Mychelle Hirschman Memorial Scholarship, celebrates the life of a Ramapo student who, although she had a learning disability, was on the Dean’s List and took full advantage of her college experience. Determined and dynamic, Cara worked closely with the Office of Specialized Services and was an officer in the Marketing Club. Cara was tragically killed in a car accident at age 21. A gift from the Eleanor B. Reiner Foundation, in honor of Cara’s unique style and grace, permanently endowed these awards for students with a documented learning disability.

Our newest and most unique scholarship, the Survivor to Survivor Scholarship, was given to Ramapo by a Holocaust survivor and his family, in gratitude to United States military personnel who saved his life over sixty years ago. Josef A. Ross was liberated from Terezin (Thersienstadt) Concentration Camp in 1945 and became an American success story. This endowment will cover tuition

”

and expenses at Ramapo College for the duration of a student’s undergraduate career and is available to the surviving children of any U.S. military personnel who have lost their lives in a recent conflict (Desert Storm, Afghanistan or Iraq). The Ross Family hopes to honor present and future Americans with their gift of higher education and promise.

Some scholarships are earmarked for students pursuing a specific course of study, or for international students, or are designed to encourage committed students to continue their education. The Carol D. Schaefer Human Service Award provides assistance for social work or psychology majors who are committed to serving others. To celebrate his mother’s passion for the environment, Leonard W. Weis, Ph.D. established a joint program between Ramapo and the Weis Ecology Center in Ringwood, New Jersey. The May H. Weis Environmental Internship/Scholarship provides a full tuition scholarship and paid summer internship for students pursuing environmental studies. As director of International Student Services at Ramapo, Bernice Yampell wanted to establish a fund to assist needy international students who are “quietly striving to complete their education.” Her gift continues to provide a pathway to educational excellence for many of our diverse, talented students.

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FOUNDATION NEWS

2005

Scholarship

Recipients

Pictured below is a small group representing a few of the nearly 200 scholarship recipients for 2005.

Bernice Yampell International Student Scholarship

Sharon G. Pierson Endowed Scholarship I and II

Named after a former director of Ramapo’s international student services, this award recognizes overseas students with financial need.

To honor his wife, Bernard J. Milano, chair of the College’s Board of Governors, established these awards to benefit students majoring in communication arts.

Tuguldur Tungalag is from Mongolia and majoring in international business with a minor in economics. She has a 3.37 GPA and was inducted into two honor societies. She spent her summer as an intern at Sharp Electronics in Mahwah.

Melissa Muha graduated cum laude with a B.A. in communications arts, and a GPA of 3.58. She was co-president of the Senior Class Council and helped to found Lambda Pi Eta, a national communications honor society, on Ramapo’s campus.

Mary K. Fanale Memorial Scholarship

Jeannette Krieger Mytelka Memorial Award

Given in her memory by her husband and eight children, the Mary K. Fanale Memorial Scholarship recognizes a highachieving student age forty or older from New Jersey.

Given to honor his mother, a middle school English teacher, this award was set up by former Ramapo College Board of Trustees Chair Arnold Mytelka to assist outstanding seniors.

Eric Mathis Forney a senior majoring in communications with a concentration in journalism, has a 4.0 GPA. He won the Star–Ledger’s Silver Pen Award in 2003.

Thomas Balne is majoring in computer science and theater.

He has appeared in eight musicals and was recently Romeo in Romeo and Juliet.

Prestige Family of Dealerships Scholarship This scholarship demonstrates Prestige’s commitment to higher education in New Jersey.

The Anisfield Scholarship Named after Millicent Anisfield, former chair of the Ramapo College Board of Trustees and current member of the Board of Governor’s executive committee, this endowed scholarship recognizes minority students with excellent scholastic achievement.

Katelyn J. Mulligan is a communication arts major with a minor in theater. She works as a Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassador and entertainment editor for The Ramapo News.

Enrique L. Merino maintains a 3.76 GPA as a physics major with a minor in mathematics.

Enrique grew up in Lima, Peru and attended bilingual private secondary school.

Justin Ulbrich is majoring in communication arts with a concentration in TV/video production. He maintains a 3.96 GPA while working as a freelancer in video production and marketing design.

Eina Adlawan is a junior majoring in nursing. She attended Bergenfield High School and is a member of three honor societies.

Eina has volunteered at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 17

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Working toward these accomplishments, special events held throughout the year provide the Foundation with the needed resources to assure the continued success of the College. Given Ramapo’s unique interdisciplinary academic structure and diverse population, these events are designed to have broad appeal.

An alumnus, a single contributor, a corporate partner, or a thoughtful friend – all are invited to participate in a wide variety of Foundation activities.

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Sponsored by Seiko Corporation of America, the Foundation hosted the 18th annual golf outing at Tuxedo Golf Club’s scenic course. This year’s event raised over $85,000 to “provide the resources that make the difference in Ramapo College’s quest for educational excellence.” – Mission of Ramapo College’s Foundation.

Nancy Brotherton (center) was presented the award for women’s individual low net score by (l) Dr. William Brotherton and President Peter Mercer.

Photo by Gene Gouss

L to R: Under the leadership of Golf Committee Chair Don Mahoney (l), the 18th annual golf outing achieved record-setting success. Pictured with Mahoney are Jackie-Ehlert Mercer and Tom Palmer. Palmer purchased the winning ticket for the event’s Dream Season of Golf Raffle.

Photo by Gene Gouss

Through the work of its Board of Governors, the Foundation is able to award scholarships, provide its faculty with research opportunities and assist in capital projects throughout the College community. The Ramapo College Foundation is highly committed to enhancing the educational experience and quality of life for all Ramapo students.

Representing event sponsor SEIKO CORPORATION OF AMERICA at the 18th Annual Golf Outing: (l to r) Marty Gormley, SEIKO president Toyoji Todaka, Scott Chou, and Mike Marin. The Foundation is grateful for the strong support of its corporate partners.

Photo by Gene Gouss

Pictured are Robert and Susan Tillsley of Franklin Lakes with Donna McKechnie (seated). Robert Tillsley and Joseph Leone (not pictured) co-chair the Foundation’s CIT Performing Arts Dinner Series Committee. McKechnie, the original lead and Tony Award-winning star of A Chorus Line, presented her onewoman show as the final offering of last season’s series, hosted by the Ramapo College Foundation. The 2004-05 CIT Series raised over $30,000.

Photo by Gene Gouss

A Foundation Committed to Educational Enhancement and Quality of Life

The CIT Performing Arts Dinner Series opens its sixth annual season on Saturday, October 1 with acclaimed jazz/ vocalist/pianist Loston Harris.

Recently highlighted as one of America’s favorite crooners, Harris makes his musical home at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City. In addition, the series includes a holiday performance

by Eileen Ivers (December 17), a presentation by the New Generation Tango company (February 4, 2006), The Magic of David Caserta (April 1, 2006), and an encore performance by Second City (May 13, 2006). Sponsored

by CIT, series patrons enjoy a gourmet dinner prior to each show, intermission refreshments, and a mix-and-mingle dessert hour with performing artists and representatives of the College, Foundation, and Board of Trustees.

Photo by Gene Gouss

FOUNDATION NEWS

Stu Axelson (right center) receives the award for winning the Putting/Chipping Contest sponsored by the Prestige Family of Dealerships. Presenting the award are Tom Zelante (far left), chair, Ramapo College Board of Trustees; Chuck Luciano, representing the Prestige Family of Dealerships (left center); and Ramapo College President Peter Mercer (far right). Axelson was also a member of the first low net team.

Representing PSE&G, cart sponsor for the outing: (l to r) Mike Carcich, Beth Acquaire, Bert Merzeau (standing), who received an award for the men’s low gross score, and John Smith. Smith serves on the Foundation Board and is a member of the Golf Committee.

The Annual Distinguished Citizen’s Award Dinner will be held on March 11, 2006 at the Rockleigh Country Club.

Intended to honor distinguished citizens for their leadership and commitment to higher education, the dinner has become a chance for Ramapo’s community to expand its horizons and welcome new friends.

2006 Distinguished Citizens: Joseph T. Dockery, president Prestige Family of Dealerships; Emily Mann who serves as governor of The Ramapo College Foundation Board; Audrey Meyers, president and CEO of the Valley Hospital and Valley Health Systems; and Jeffery Warren ‘73, principal JR Market Strategies, LLC, and senior advisor National Pharmaceutial Council.

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FOUNDATION NEWS

Giving Task Force. She continues, “Many times, those individuals lose that special satisfaction of helping young people to achieve their lifetime goals. They also may not realize the income tax and estate tax savings that come with planned giving. I have found philanthropy to be a powerful tool to achieve my goal to support Ramapo students, and my estate planning.”

Roz and Josef Ross (right)

The Fighting 69th

Give A Forever Gift

Josef and Roz Ross, whose gift of $250,000 will provide full scholarships for the children of American service personnel killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, were recognized at the St. Patrick’s Day reception honoring families of the New York National Guard unit, the Fighting 69th. Held at the unit’s armory in Manhattan, the event included addresses by New York Governor George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and a performance by Irish tenor Ronan Tynan. Michael Doorley, chief operating officer, International Insurance and Investments Division at Prudential Financial, the event’s lead sponsor, explained to the large crowd that Joe Ross, a Holocaust survivor, promised himself that he would one day thank those who had liberated him and give back to his adopted country in a meaningful way.

Now a successful businessman and resident of Fort Lee, NJ, Ross is making good on his promise. In the photo above, Joe and Roz are being serenaded with the theme from Schindler’s List.

An endowed gift is a donation that is maintained by the Ramapo College Foundation in perpetuity.

This principal amount will always remain intact because only interest and appreciation from the fund is used each year by Ramapo College for the specified purposes. The other portion remains untouched to help the endowment grow and keep pace with inflation.

“I have found philanthropy to be a powerful tool to achieve my goal to support Ramapo students, and my estate planning.”

Millicent Anisfield “People sometimes hesitate to carry out their philanthropic desires for fear that they will deprive their family of needed assets,” says Millicent Anisfield, chair of the Foundation’s Planned

“Members of the Friends of Ramapo are grateful to the College for making the campus community-friendly,” said Francis J. Rodriguez, president of the Friends. “The cultural, recreational and educational opportunities provided to the Friends of Ramapo are a valuable community resource and a special connection for many local citizens.”

An endowment provides assurance that your restricted gift is not used for operating expenses. And, endowments may be established for a minimum of $10,000, which may be made in a single donation or pledged over a period of years.

You have the privilege of naming the gift in memory of a family member, or to honor a friend or yourself.

Francis J. Rodriquez, President of the Friends of Ramapo, gives a tour to community members at the Bradley Center’s Sharp Fitness Center.

Creating an endowed gift will ensure that your good intentions last forever.

“Your quiet generosity means more than you can ever imagine.

In the years to come, students will always be given an opportunity as a result of your gift. For this we say, thank you,” says Anisfield.

Become a Friend of Ramapo Among the many benefits of becoming a Friend of Ramapo are receipt of The Ramapo Magazine, discounts at the Berrie Center, use of the College Library, tuition waiver to audit a class, and membership in the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center for an extra membership fee.

Friends of Ramapo host enjoyable events in order to provide fundraising support for Ramapo’s students, scholarships, and programs.

Family Weekend October 15 and 16 Autumn is the perfect time to come to campus and meet Ramapo parents, faculty, staff, administrators and President Peter Mercer. Family Weekend festivities include exciting programs at the Band shell, faculty presentations and workshops, field hockey and soccer games, Midnight Madness, a performance at the Berrie Center, a Saturday lunch, and a Sunday brunch.

The 2nd Annual Tuition Raffle, sponsored by the Ramapo College Parents Advisory Council, will also be drawn at Family Weekend during the Saturday program.

Proceeds from the raffle will go toward student scholarships for Ramapo College students.

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 19

10/5/05 1:53:14 PM

ALUMNI N E W S

Rewarding Altruism: New Alumni Scholarship Fund Helps Those Who Help Others Last year alone, Ramapo students:

Alumnus Dedicated to Less Fortunate Receives President’s Award of Merit Dan Cronin ‘84 was posthumously awarded the Ramapo College President’s Award of Merit for 2005, during the May commencement ceremony.

While serving in the Navy in 1966, Dan Cronin suffered a severe injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. In 1980 Dan enrolled at Ramapo College, received a degree in 1984, and continued his education at Seton Hall University, where he earned a degree in law.

Dan then began a selfless career in family law, serving as an attorney for Bergen County Legal Service. Among the many honors he received were the New Jersey Certificate of Appreciation for Meritorious Public Service for his work as a member of the Supreme Court’s District Ethics Committee, a Certificate of Appreciation from Shelter Our Sisters, a home for the victims of domestic violence, and the Outstanding Attorney of the Year award from Legal Service of New Jersey.

An active member of the Alumni Board, Dan met his wife, Bea, at Ramapo College, where she currently serves as director of Human Resources. Following his death in December 2004, Bea, together with Dan’s friends and family, created a scholarship fund to honor Dan’s life and recognize the next generation of young people committed to making a difference. “He led a life of service to others,” says Bea. Dan’s ideals are epitomized through his last words to his niece: “It is what you do that makes you special.” Inspired, his niece replied, “My quest is to become something special, and to pass it on.”

This is Dan’s legacy.

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• In response to Hurricane Katrina, students led efforts to raise more than $5,000 and welcome Tulane students to the Ramapo campus.

• Held a “dorm storm” to round-up items for a campus yard sale, raising more than $1,500 to aid tsunami victims in Southeast Asia.

• United student and community musicians for the first Chords for Cause concert to raise over $1,000 to benefit homeless shelters in Bergen County.

• Designed and printed coloring books, dressed in “Cat in the Hat” costumes, and visited a Head Start program in Goshen, NY to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with an afternoon of reading.

• Spent time during their spring break in Oaxaca, Mexico, Asheville, NC, and Philadelphia, PA to plant seedlings for a reforestation project, built wheelchair ramps and decks for low-income seniors, and constructed urban sculpture gardens.

• Collected food to assemble 200 bagged lunches to feed the homeless living under bridges in the New York metropolitan area.

• Tutored and mentored K-12 students in Paterson Public Schools for the Student Literacy Corps. The students from Paterson later had the opportunity to visit the Ramapo campus for an “Introduction to College” day.

When members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors heard of these and other stories of caring students at Ramapo College, they wanted to reward them in some meaningful way.

“We voted to establish a new scholarship that would pay tribute to students who make a difference in the lives of others,” said Lisa Ryan, president of the Alumni Association. The Alumni Association Service Award Scholarship recognizes and honors the ideals of Ramapo students dedicated to community service.

For information on how alumni can get involved in this effort or donate to this scholarship, call Janet Dengel at 201.684.7179 or e-mail alumni@ramapo.edu.

Seniors Give Back in Record Numbers Over the last two years the number of graduating students who made gifts to the College through the Senior Gift Drive program has steadily increased by more than 700 percent.

Approximately one hundred members of the Class of 2005 supported the 2004-05 Senior Gift Drive. To cap off the campaign, many of this year’s participants gathered at Champagne at Sunset, Ramapo’s traditional senior sendoff the evening before Commencement, to present the Class of 2005 plaque, containing the names of student donors.

The Senior Gift Drive encourages graduating students to make gifts to the College’s Annual Fund. Beginning in 2004, those who donate have their names included on a class plaque, which is displayed in the Birch Mansion. The ultimate goal of the program is to encourage graduates to continue their support of Ramapo College and to participate as active and involved alumni.

At a special reception for Senior Gift Drive participants several weeks before Commencement, then interim president W. Sanborn Pfeiffer reminded students about the importance of giving back to the College. “Your gifts to Ramapo this year have honored your experiences on campus, and the opportunities given to you. We call on you to continue this tradition, to help future generations of students create their own Ramapo experiences. No gift can have more meaning than that of opportunity.”

Student leaders from the Class of 2005 present the Senior Gift Drive plaque to Dr. W. Sanborn Pfeiffer, former interim president. Pictured (l to r) David Terdiman, associate director of annual giving, Anthony Maderano ‘05, W. Sanborn Pfeiffer, Anthony Dovi ‘05, Matthew Kaulius ‘05, and Melissa Muha. Not pictured: Naomi Bastedo, Jeff Dixon, Jill Freudenfels ’06, Erin McDermott, Erika Soto, and Edwin Zambrano ‘05.

RAMAPO MAGAZINE

10/5/05 1:53:50 PM

ALUMNI

From Global Economy to Business Card Exchange: Alumni Business Network Can Help The state of today’s global economy... best practices in the workplace... the impact of politics on trade and business.

These are the exciting topics one would expect to discuss at any standard business network program.

Reunions Unlimited: Alumni Office Helps You Reconnect Despite stormy weather, alumni from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s came back to campus on April 2 to enjoy the Second Annual Spring Alumni Reunion hosted by Anne and Pat Chang. They shared memories as they looked at photos brought by Miki Cammarata, acting associate dean of students; dined on delicious food; and listened to the mellow music provided by Alex Stein.

On July 9, more than 70 people came back to Ramapo College—some for the first time in 25 years—for the African-American/Latino ‘70s Reunion. A barbecue, tours, scavenger hunt, old photos and lots of memories were shared.

The most successful reunions at Ramapo are often alumni-driven events. Alumni round up their former classmates and the Alumni Office helps with addresses, outreach, and joining in on the fun. For information on how you can start a Ramapo Reunion for your group, call Purvi Parekh, assistant director, alumni relations, at 201.684.7115 or e-mail alumni@ramapo.edu.

But equally important are business card exchanges, the local job market, great tips from peers who are building businesses, buying homes, job hunting, and investing.

All these opportunities—both global and local—make the Ramapo College Alumni Business Network a strong and growing group, which alternates educational meetings with relaxed, fun networking nights.

The brainchild of Alan Finkelstein ’01, Cory Christiana ‘03, and Patrick Hunter ’01, pictured above-right (l to r) co-chairs of the Alumni Business Network, this unique, creative approach offers the best aspects of both learning and networking.

Recently, the group attended a lecture on campus presented by the Ramapo College Center for Business and Public Policy.

They got to hear Judge Andrew Napolitano of Fox News and stayed for a short business card exchange. In May, more than 30 alumni met at Bourbon Street Restaurant in Hillsdale where they mingled and made contacts. The event, sponsored by Nationwide Planning, Inc., was so popular that alumni are calling for more opportunities to network at an off-campus, casual venue.

ATTENTION: Looking for any Ramapo College alumni from the class of 1974 to the present who volunteered with the Emergency First Aid Squad or Emergency Medical Services. David Bacall ‘01 and Heather Hemphill ‘05 are planning to host a reception with the Alumni Office in spring of

Since its inception, the Alumni Business Network has allowed participants to exchange business cards and resumes, confidentially discuss job searches, publicize open positions in their companies, and on occasion, garner new business. The group has attracted not only alumni from the corporate segment, but social workers, teachers, and artists.

For information about the next meeting of the Alumni Business Network, or to be on the mailing list for future events, call Purvi Parekh, assistant director, alumni relations at 201.684.7115 or e-mail alumni@ramapo.edu.

Coming Up This Fall: Class of 1973 Reunion – October 22 The first graduates will reunite to capture their stories.

The Newest Way to Give— Just Click and Donate You can give to the Ramapo College Annual Fund securely online!

Visit www.ramapo.edu/annualfund All gifts, large and small, help support student scholarships, faculty research, and college projects. To share your opinions about our site or our new online giving, call David Terdiman, associate director of annual giving, at 201.684.7141 or e-mail dterdima@ramapo.edu.

‘06. For more information, e-mail alumni@ramapo.edu or call the Alumni Office at 201.684.7115.

Make an Online Gift to the Annual Fund!

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 21

10/3/05 11:20:12 AM

CLASS NOTES M A R R I A G E S

A N D

U N I O N S

John Schultz ’94 to Loriann Holzli Kristen Lynn Saso ‘97 to Richard Thomas Scholz Jr. Cathryn Elizabeth Ecke ‘97 to Jeremy Schaffer Jennifer Napier ‘97 to Patrick Tierney Tracy Lyn Hinchman ‘98 to Ryan James Hannah

‘73 Daisy Kowal exhibited her artwork in the Belmont Artist’s Display at Cedar Crest. At the age of 50 she was a member of the first graduating class of Ramapo College. She also has posed for a number of book covers and has a street, “Daisy Court” named after her in Smoke Rise.

‘74

Gardens. Also affiliated with The American Historical Theatre, she recently portrayed “Dolly Madison” in a one-woman Chautauqua tent show. Chautauqua is based on the traveling tent shows that brought authors, humorists, and scholars to rural communities 100 years ago.

Kenneth Remo is a revenue auditor for the Illinois Department of Revenue and is the father of twins, Eric and Marilynn, born on 03/03/00 (he just found the time and energy to let us know of their fifth birthday!).

Daniel P. Quinn, author of Organized Labor: Collected Poems, has just completed a tour of book signing engagements and readings at the Irish Arts Center in New York City, the Bowery Poets Cafe, and other locations. He was also interviewed on WLIW-FM in Southhampton, NY. His book is available at the Botto House Museum in Haledon.

Fred Benson has been appointed as the advertising director for the Fayetteville Observer in North Carolina. Prior to joining the Observer, Benson worked for Stars & Stripes and The Miami Herald.

’75

‘77

Steven Schiffman recently celebrated his 25th year with Dover High School, where he has served as a teacher, administrator, and department supervisor of social studies and special education.

’76

Jim Gibson has been appointed to serve on the advisory commission of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. He is a senior vice president and chief financial officer at RTI International, the nation’s second largest independent research and development organization.

Arthur Sheldon was named the chair of the Gwinnett (GA) Transit Advisory Board in Gwinnett County near Atlanta in May 2005.

‘79 Margaret Henry-Pokusa portrays the Loyalist and friend of the Washingtons, “Lady Jane Fairfax,” at Mount Vernon Estate and

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Roger J. Muller Jr. is a proud father of two daughters, Kelsey who is 13, and Taylor, who is 8. He also plays on the Hoboken Rockers Hockey Team with Dr. Pat Chang.

Lisa Throckmorton ‘99 to Matthew Nicholas Marino Dawn Abelson ‘03 to Gregory Kaplan ‘03 Alexandra Lisa Patrick ‘04 to Keith Ford Knippenberg ‘04 Annette (Moni) Cytryn ‘00 to Robert S. Smith Jr. Krista Hawthorne ‘05 to Paul Jenne

‘83

‘89

Phyllis E. DiAmbrosio, Ph.D., received a certification in contemporary psychoanalysis from the national training program at National Institute for the Psychotherapies Training Institute in New York City. She has her practice in Westwood.

Kathleen Shannon O’Brien, now retired, has established a notfor-profit organization, Suited for Success, in Chattanooga, TN. She worked as a controller at Bergen Catholic High School from 1990-1996.

‘84 Michael Schoen has been named as a trustee to the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce. He has worked for JCP&L, a FirstEnergy Co., for 18 years. He also serves on the board of the Sussex County American Red Cross.

Philip J. Bellomo, a two-year veteran of the Paramus Police Department, was recently promoted to the rank of detective lieutenant in the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

He is currently enrolled at Seton Hall University for his master’s in human resources and education.

He resides in Ringwood with his wife Kristine and three children.

‘87 Robert J. Skead is celebrating the launch of his fifth children’s soccer book, Elves Can’t Kick.

He also serves the players on the NY/NJ MetroStars as their team chaplain, and as a staff member of Athletes in Action. He gives talks in schools to children and adults about creative writing and the importance of discovering one’s talent for a fulfilled life.

‘90 Michael J. Marra and his wife Ellen announced the birth of their son Alex Richard Marra on June 8, 2005.

Mitchell S. Biarsky is married to Suzanne; they have a three year old son, Gabriel.

’93 William J. Downey III has two children, Cecilia Margaret who is four, and Liam Vincent, who is one-year-old. He is a police officer in Bayonne and is presently working with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Municipal Task Force.

Sharon Wollerman has joined Arpin International Group as operations manager at the company’s new Manhattan office.

A fluent speaker of Mandarin Chinese, she also spent six months in Huangzhou in the Hubei Province teaching English to the local population.

Stacy Greene was promoted to the position of national manager at the NY Metro Office of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

RAMAPO MAGAZINE

10/3/05 11:20:22 AM

CLASS NOTES

SUBMIT CLASS NOTES: Do you have an interesting item to share with your classmates?

E-mail pjoisher@ramapo.edu.

Fifty word limit.

I N

M E M O R I A M

Marybeth Thompson ‘75 Kevin E. Salters ‘76 Daniel J. Cronin ‘84 Edgar O. Curtiss ‘93 Helen Brunoff ‘94

All photos must be 300 dpi.

Toniann Kroth and Michael DiDomizio are expecting their second child in January 2006.

They have an older son, Matthew, who is three. Michael is a director of sales for Kings International Co. in Manhattan. Toni is a full-time, stay-at-home mother, and the family lives in Washingtonville, NY.

’95 Kelly Duhart recently received a promotion to associate director in the Verizon Wireless Legal Department.

Hasjonn Simmons earned several computer certifications from both Microsoft and Cisco. He is finishing his MBA with a specialization in technology management and runs a small consulting business.

and Mongolia, and traveled to Japan and Brazil to study local cultures.

Daniel Jean has assumed the post of acting director of the First Year Experience and Leadership Education at Ramapo College.

He formerly served as the assistant director of student activities.

Shirley Montanari received a master’s of divinity degree from New Brunswick Theological Seminary.

‘97 Peggy Stewart, a social studies teacher from Verno Township, was named New Jersey’s Teacher of the Year for 2004-05. The State Board of Education cited her for her individualistic approach to her students and for her persistence in creating experiences to foster citizenship and a strong world view. She was a senior fellow in Yale University’s Programs in International Education. She also participated in an academic field experience in China

Wilton Craig Calderon, D.O., graduated from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and will begin a traditional rotation internship year with an emphasis on emergency medicine at New York United Hospital Medical Center in Port Chester, NY.

’99 Robert Dally finished the 2005 Boston Marathon: time - 3:37:05.

Dena O’Brien and Eric Charbonneau were married on May 1, 2004.

They are blessed with the birth of their son, George Thomas, on March 24, 2005. The family resides in East Windsor.

Heather M. (Morse) Keene and her husband Jeffrey Keene welcomed baby girl Victoria Hazel Keene on February 12, 2005.

Yevgeniy Dekhtyap appeared in a play at the Old Globe in San Diego called Pentecost.

‘96/’97 Cindy Rodriquez Galarcep ‘96 and Ives Galarcep ’97 married in 2000 and recently had a baby boy.

‘00

Yuki Yoshida has received her Ph.D. in physics and landed a job with Intel.

Jennifer Napier and Patrick Tierney were married on May 7, 2005. Jennifer is a hedge fund analyst at Paradigm Consulting Services, LLC. The couple reside in Bridgewater.

‘98 Patricia Hemphill is a licensed clinical social worker, residing in Franklin Lakes. She recently gave a lecture on the topic, “Riding the Caregiver Roller Coaster,” at the Englewood Public Library. She is employed by Valley Home Care, a partner of Elder Care Options and is a consultant for Michael A. Mann & Associates.

Yasminda Hall (Steuth) married Thomas Hall Jr. in 2003. They have triplet daughters, Sarah, Savannah, and Samantha who are now three years old. Yasminda is currently a stay-at-home mom.

Bryan K. Fort and his wife Tamara Fort are proud to announce the arrival of their son Myles Bryan Fort. Myles was born on June 15, 2005, weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz., and was 20 1/2 inches long. They live in Ocean Township.

‘01 Henry Chea was awarded a master’s degree in automotive engineering at Chalmers University in Sweden, known as the best automotive engineering school in the world. Since his graduation, he has joined the faculty at Chalmers.

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 23

10/5/05 1:56:52 PM

CLASS NOTES “We have a dynamite physics program at Ramapo College, with students able to compete with the best, in the best graduate programs in the world,” said Henry in an e-mail.

Adele DeAntonio was appointed to the position of head teacher at the First Occupational Center of New Jersey’s Lakeside School. In her new position she will develop curriculum and direct teaching staff. She is now completing her master’s degree in administration at Saint Peter’s College.

Michele Neats ’01 and Mark Valente ‘02 celebrated their engagement on July 15, 2005. Michele is currently employed as a second grade teacher in the Bergenfield School District. Mark is currently employed as an associate manager in licensing for the ScheringPlough Research Institute. The wedding will be planned for August of 2007.

‘02 Anthony Malpero is enrolled in the MBA program at LSU, specializing in internal audit and finance.

When Aayush Parekh was born on April 5, 2005 it was a happy day for quite a few Ramapo alumni.

Purvi (Joisher) Parekh ‘01 ‘04 and Bijal Parekh are the proud parents. Meena Joisher ‘92 is Aayush’s delighted grandma and Manshi Joisher ‘02 and Vidhi (Parekh) Shah ‘02 are his doting aunts. With a Ramapo legacy like this, Aayush could definitely one day be part of Ramapo’s Class of 2023!

Sanna Lemmetti works in the Office of Admissions at Ramapo College and joins the ever-growing group of alumni who work on campus.

’

When it’s Commencement Day 2005 and it’s 50 degrees and raining, who do you call to get rain ponchos for the entire graduating class? An alumna of course!

Patricia Hamara ‘02 came to the rescue this year by securing over 1,000 ponchos at a discount.

Many thanks to this recent alumna for keeping our newest alumni dry and warm.

Steven Cicchetti II was appointed as a police officer in Pequannock.

He graduated from the Morris County Police Academy.

Gavin Millard is the assistant chief financial officer of a law firm in Somerville. He is also pursuing a master’s degree in education.

Garrett Dancik is continuing his graduate studies in bioinformatics at Iowa State University. His research deals with developing a computational model of HIV virus evolution.

Emily Toxie is a visitor assistant at the Museum of Modern Art, providing information, tickets, and speaking with visitors at the newly reopened museum. She is also pursuing her art which is craft-based, using beads, sequins and embroidery. A member of Artists Anonymous, three shows of her work recently ran simultaneously.

’05

Megan Callahan is pursuing an MFA in acting at Wayne State University through a fellowship as a member of the Hilberry Repertory Theatre Company. She received a national certification in massage in August ‘04 and became a Reiki Master. Her goal is to open an artistic healing center and performance space.

‘01/’02 Jackie Di Salvatore ’01 is engaged to Jon Canter ’02. A wedding is planned for June 2006.

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Nevena Dimova has been accepted into a Ph.D. program at Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Christen Dipetrillo has been accepted into the microbiology Ph.D. program at Dartmouth.

Michael Miktus is currently employed at Daytop-New Jersey in Mendham as a behavioral counselor for adolescents with substance abuse problems. He plans to continue his education, pursuing an MSW. Vladimir Popov has been accepted into the biochemistry and molecular biology program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

‘02 /’03 Craig Maloney ’02 and Dragoslav Grbovic ‘03 have been awarded a patent for their vehicle location device by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. They developed their invention as a student project with a grant from the Ramapo College Foundation during a class on inventing.

Arthur V. Thomson, Jr. (Jay) proposed to Janise Kimberly Haberstroh on March 27, 2005. A wedding is planned for April 7, 2006.

Janise is a bilingual preschool teacher in Long Branch, and Jay is a full time DJ, MC and vocal performer for Elite Entertainment in Eatontown.

‘03 Brian Samples is engaged to Erin Navarro. A wedding is planned for May 2006.

Anthony Olarerin-George and Rumen Kostadinov have been accepted into the University of Pennsylvania’s Ph.D. program for bioinformatics.

Dragoslav and Jelena Grbovic are presenting and publishing while doing their Ph.D. work in Tennessee.

Federico Halpern passed the qualifying exams at Lehigh University for a Ph.D. in physics.

’04 Harshani Peiris is working for Dr. Linda Greenbaum at the University of Pennsylvania.

Their research involves gene expression analysis using micro arrays (gene chips).

On April 30, the 2005 Athletic Hall of Fame honored seven alumni for significant contributions to their Roadrunners teams and intercollegiate athletic competition at Ramapo College of New Jersey. The new Athletic Hall of Fame wall in the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center was unveiled at the dinner. The wall honors all Hall of Fame inductees since the event’s inception. This year’s honorees pictured above (l to r) are: John Boback ’83 Football, Chris Dahmke Football, Dawn Martin, Softball, Shonda Nicholas ’86 Basketball, Juan Arroyo ’77 Men’s Tennis Coach, Patrick Morris ’79 Basketball, Jay McDuffie ’93 Basketball

RAMAPO MAGAZINE

10/5/05 1:57:49 PM

COLLEGE GRANTS

By Ron Kase, Ph.D. Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Director, Grants Administration

In the academic world, the most prized activities outside the classroom are publishing and successful grant seeking...

Faculty members from almost all of the nation’s colleges and universities compete annually for the millions of dollars in grants made available by federal and state agencies and private foundations. The grants sponsor research and other projects that add to our knowledge, and often result in articles published in journals of various fields.

Faculty members are encouraged to be grant seekers because of the many benefits that grants bring to an institution of higher learning. For Ramapo College, grants mean funding for undergraduate research projects that are essential to students planning to enter graduate and professional schools. Another major area is the expansion of knowledge of K-12 teachers in

science and the humanities.

Ramapo College has been a leader in providing nationally recognized programs for teachers, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Education.

The NSF has helped define the nation’s agenda for research in science since its founding in 1950.

Two graduate programs offered at Ramapo College grew out of grants. The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) began as a series of seminars for faculty funded by an award from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Courses offered to the region’s public school teachers through an NSF grant became the Master’s of Science in Educational Technology (MSET).

The College, through a grant from the NJ Meadowlands Commission, operates the Meadowlands Environment Center, one of the nation’s premier facilities for environmental education.

Staff and faculty associated

with this program have been successful in developing other grants related to the Center’s mission. For example, the new Senior Environmental Experiences (SEE) project funded by the NSF and directed

by Professor Angela Cristini, is creating new approaches to educational experiences for older adults. A long-term project directed by Professor Thomas Heed and funded by the U.S. State Department has developed a partnership between Ramapo College and a Russian university. The College’s Office of Specialized Services has provided vital academic support to students with disabilities for over two decades. The major funding for this office comes from competitive grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. The College’s strong Math/Science Upward Bound program, another Department of Education grant, has launched hundreds of inner city high school students toward college and careers. Recently the College

was the recipient of two awards from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provide scholarships to nursing students on both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

In addition to financial and research considerations, grants help to bring colleges to higher levels of recognition regionally and nationally. Sponsored projects become known through publications and other means of dissemination. New faculty are attracted to colleges with certain grant-funded programs.

Students as well seek out colleges that offer opportunities for research experiences to undergraduates. Grant seeking is a process that requires a thorough knowledge of one’s discipline, good writing skills, and an ability to manage a multifaceted project while teaching and guiding students. Ramapo College is fortunate to have talented individuals who can do all of that and keep looking for new grant opportunities.

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 25

10/3/05 11:21:06 AM

COURTS AND FIELDS R o a d r u n n e r s C a p t u r e T i t l e A D VA N C E

T O

The Ramapo College men’s basketball team brought home the school’s first ever New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship.

With a 24-5 overall and 13-3-conference record, the team was the NJAC’s bid to the 2005 NCAA Championship Tournament.

This dynamic team earned its place in Roadrunner history, crushing the Scarlet Raiders of Rutgers Newark 61-46 in the semis and defeating the Stockton College Osprey’s 79-71 for the championship.

Having lost to Stockton just a week prior, the win was a fabulous finale to a tremendous season. The team climbed to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament before suffering a heartbreaking loss to King’s College 78-85. The team is poised to repeat its championship season, when they open the 2005-2006 season on Saturday, November 19 at 5:30 p.m. with the Annual Roadrunner Tip-Off Tournament at the Bradley Center.

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N C A A

S W E E T

Todd Lowber, a sophomore transfer from Richard Stockton College, struggled to put into words what it felt like to clinch the championship crown, beating the team that he had played for just one year before.

Wow, what a ride! Even now, it’s hard for me to put it all into perspective— the feeling of success. There were so many feelings throughout our journey this past year. There were so many ups and downs, highs and lows. They say adversity builds character, and I agree with them. From the first time I talked to Coach McBreen about coming to Ramapo, to the moment of our victorious reign as NJAC Champs, I felt something that I could not easily categorize. It was so surreal; it was like a dream. The house was packed and the ‘Ramapo Rowdies’ were out in full force. We were in the team room preparing to take the floor. Our year of

S I X T E E N

hard work was on the line. You could hear the crowd cheering through the walls; you could feel the electricity in the air. The tension was mounting! It was Stockton, my former home, that we were to face for the championship crown. Before we took the floor, Coach McBreen had one last thing to say. ‘OK guys, you know what you’re here for, you know what has to be done!’ It was time for revenge. The Ospreys had defeated us, 80-94, just one week before.

Now they were in our house. The coach continued, ‘and nobody, and I mean nobody, comes in our house and pushes us around; it’s your game, let’s do it.’

And we did! We took the game from Stockton, 79-71. We were the 20042005 champions! It’s ironic the way life is. I never would have imagined that the year after leaving Stockton I would end up playing them for the NJAC Championship. The whole experience

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10/3/05 1:42:15 PM

COURTS AND FIELDS

H I G H L I G H T S for me was extremely special. Between the NJAC Championship, the NCAA Tournament, the new Bradley Center, and the people who took part, it was the best experience in my life so far! I hope that next year I can lead us to another championship crown. Coach McBreen always tells us to cherish times like these. He says you never know if you’ll get another chance. But my goal for next year is to prove him wrong, get a second NJAC Championship crown and one more crack at the NCAAs. Teammate Noel Colon had these thoughts about his hometown crowd, the new Bradley Center and winning the NJAC title: Playing at the Bradley Center during my junior year was a wonderful experience! I felt blessed to be a part of the team that won the first ever NJAC Championship. Playing at the Bradley Center, in front of the ‘Rowdies,’ made the experience even more exhilarating.

I was a member of the 2003 men’s basketball team that reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. We also hosted the NJAC Championship game that year. The feeling of playing in that game does not compare to playing in front of a much larger crowd in a brand new facility. Playing in ‘The Bill,’ in front of a loud, rowdy crowd, made playing for a Division III program feel like you were part of a Division I school. Winning the NJAC Championship in our house was something I will never forget. When the student body rushed the floor to celebrate with us, it was one of the most exciting times of my life! That is a moment that I will never forget.

The NCAA Tournament brought more excitement to the year. Though we came up short, having the opportunity to host the NCAA Tournament on our home court showed how far we have come as a program. I feel that we have one of the best facilities in the state of New Jersey, and I am very grateful to have played at the Bradley Center and to have won an NJAC Championship!

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME WILL INDUCT FIVE ATHLETES, ONE TEAM Ramapo College of New Jersey will induct five former athletes and one team into the Athletic Hall of Fame in a ceremony to be held Saturday, April 29, 2006 at the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center. The event will feature the induction of: Ben Arcuri ’98, basketball Bob Jankowski, football DJ Pinton ‘99, soccer Mary Hendricks ‘88, track

Gray Places Fourth at NCAAs Bloomington, IL Christina Gray (Barnegat, NJ) earned AllAmerican status at the Division III Indoor Track Nationals. Gray placed fourth in the Women’s 400 meter dash in a time of 58.06 seconds. In prelims, Gray broke her own school record, running 57.86 seconds.

Congratulations!

Andrew Latincsics ‘89, track

Also honored will be the 1978 Ramapo Roadrunners football team.

The Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes and honors those who have made significant contributions to the history of intercollegiate athletic competition at Ramapo College of New Jersey. The athletes who are members represent the best of all who have participated in varsity athletics at the College.

A reception is scheduled at 5:30 p.m., followed by the ceremony and dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets for the event are $70 per person. For further information about the Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, please contact Rachel McCann, director, sports information/marketing/ planning, 201.684.7679.

Men’s Volleyball 2005 ECAC Champs The Ramapo College men’s volleyball team finished 26-13 overall, 7-5 NECVA METRO this past season. The Roadrunners earned a #1 seed in the 2005 ECAC Championship Tournament, where they faced #4 Hunter in the semi-final round, posting a 3-2 (28-30, 30-22, 30-24, 22-30, 15-9) win, advancing them to face Mt. St. Vincent for the third time in the season. Previously, the two teams split grabbing one win apiece. Ramapo grabbed game one with a come-from-behind 30-27 win before adding a second game win, 35-33. The team fell in game three, 22-30, but fought back to take game four, 30-26, and the 2005 ECAC Championship title. For his efforts, senior RYAN HOWELL was named 2005 tournament MVP. Fall 2005

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 27

10/3/05 1:42:24 PM

SPOTLIGHT T h e S ch ool o f Busi ness: What’s in a Name?

“The name better reflects who we are and what we intend to be in the future.”

Photo by Len Rubenstein

This past spring a resolution was passed to change the name of Ramapo College’s School of Administration and Business to the School of Business. For the renamed School of Business, the switch signifies embracing a change in the identity of the business academic unit of the College, the need to build external partnerships, and being competitive with area colleges that offer business majors.

Dr. Brian Lofman

“It is particularly appropriate due to the school’s shifting competitive context.”

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Dr. Brian Lofman, associate professor of marketing and interim dean, wrote and sponsored the resolution on behalf of the faculty. “It is particularly appropriate due to the school’s shifting competitive context,” he says. The change coincides with several initiatives underway or concluded at Ramapo College, including the hiring of a new president, the search for a dean as Dr. Frederic Champlin plans his retirement, the celebration of the school’s 25th anniversary, and the drive toward accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). “It is critical we be more strategic about everything we do as the business program relates to marketing,” Lofman says.

The resolution details the school’s history.

From 1971 as the Division of Professional Institutes, to 1976 as the Division of Business Administration, and subsequently to 1979 as the School of Administration and Business, the business unit has progressively grown in both size and academic stature.

“The School of Business continues to offer programs that are time-relevant,” says Anthony LaManna, J.D., M.B.A., a professor of business administration and law who served as the School of Business and Administration’s first director. Students may major in information systems, accounting, economics, international business, and business administration with a concentration in finance, management, or marketing. Each program includes a strong liberal arts component designed to enrich the students’ experience.

“The name better reflects who we are and what we intend to be in the future,” says Lofman.

RAMAPO MAGAZINE

10/5/05 1:58:55 PM

DATEBOOK OCTOBER

9

22 Class of 1973 Reunion 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

York Room - Birch Mansion

Reception and curator’s talk for Master Blaster, Ramapo Curatorial Prize Exhibition 5 - 7 p.m. Kresge Gallery

30

4

The Art, Memory and Pain of Afghanistan: Postcards from Tora Bora

Rosa Hyewon Lee, Guitar 3 p.m. York Room – Birch Mansion

Filmmakers Kelly Dolak and Wazhmah Osman discuss their work in progress.

5 p.m. Sharp Theater

20-22; 26-29 Crimes of the Heart The RCNJ Theater Program presents this dark comedy directed by Mary Ellen Allison.

Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker American Repertory Ballet Friday, December 9 at 8 p.m.

Saturday, December 10 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sharp Theater

23 Reception and artist’s talk for Annu Palakunnathu and Matthew Lauren Piperno 5 - 7 p.m. Pascal Gallery

DECEMBER 2 Animal Farm (A Puppet Musical) Based on the Royal National Theatre’s production of Orwell’s most famous work, this full-body puppet musical brings the classic to life.

Enjoy a unique opportunity to hear Italian pianist Rossano Sportiello, one of Europe’s best musicians, in his only East Coast appearance.

7:30 p.m. Sharp Theater

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3 p.m. York Room - Birch Mansion

26 Recess: Trends in Asian Contemporary Art With Melissa Chiu Asia Society director Melissa Chiu highlights recent developments in Asian contemporary art.

1 p.m. Adler Theater

NOVEMBER 6 The Antares Quartet The Quartet draws from a colorful repertoire for violin, cello, piano, and clarinet, creating programs ranging from the traditional to the contemporary.

3 p.m. Adler Theater

Recess: Embracing the Infidel – Behzad Yaghmaian 1 p.m. H Wing Auditorium

9-10

8 p.m. Adler Theater

From Stride to Be-Bop: Jazz Piano from Fats Waller to Barry Harris.

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An Eileen Ivers Christmas Featuring Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul

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8 p.m. Sharp Theater

Founder’s Day Ramapo College Campus

10-12; 16-19 The Castle The RCNJ Theater Program presents this play based on the novel by Franz Kafka and directed by Maria Vail Guevara.

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8 p.m. Sharp Theater

The Clark Terry All-Stars

NOVEMBER continued

Catch this legend in his first appearance at the Berrie Center with an all-star ensemble.

15 Recess: Greenwich Village: The Glorious Years Legendary impresario Art D’Lugoff— who opened the landmark The Village Gate in 1958—takes a look back at the Village’s cultural, social, and political history.

1 p.m. Adler Theater

20 Afternoon at the Opera Enjoy the beauty of Verdi, Puccini, and Mozart duets with tenor Christopher Cantu and soprano Elizabeth Schmidt.

3 p.m. York Room - Birch Mansion

8 p.m. Sharp Theater

SAVE THE DATE March 11, 2006 24th Annual Distinguished Citizens Dinner The Ramapo College Foundation Board of Governors honors Distinguished Citizens for their leadership, support, and commitment to higher education.

6:30 p.m. Rockleigh Country Club Rockleigh, NJ

July 24, 2006 The 19th Annual Golf Outing Tuxedo Country Club Tuxedo, NY

Fall 2005

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RAMAPO MAGAZINE 29

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Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Hackensack, NJ Permit No. 1037

505 Ramapo Valley Road Mahwah, NJ 07430-1680 Address Service Requested

New Jersey’s Public Liberal Arts College www.ramapo.edu

Toni Morrison Inspires CLASS OF 2005 Addressing Ramapo’s 1,254 graduates, critically acclaimed, awardwinning author Toni Morrison encouraged each to strive for a more humane and peaceful world. She urged the graduates to seek fulfillment and noted, “no generation has a complete grip on the imagina-

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“No generation has a complete grip on the imagination and the work of the next, not if you refuse to let it be so.”

tion and the work of the next, not if you refuse to let it be so.” Morrison passionately informed the group, “your life is already artful, just waiting for you to make it art.” In closing, she wished her captivated audience, “relevance and a well-lived life.”

Ramapo’s Board of Trustees awarded

Morrison an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. The author of eight major novels, Morrison is a professor at Princeton University.

Her novel, Beloved, won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1988 and she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993.

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