2018
Board of Trustees Michael Seeve Chairperson
John Galandak Vice Chairperson
Robert Guarasci Secretary Lourdes Cortez Frederick L. Gruel Dylan Johnson (Student Trustee) Kevin Lenahan ‘90 Andrew Massefski (Student Trustee) Brad Neilley ‘80 Linda Niro ’76 William J. Pesce ‘73 Joseph Velli ‘80 Deborah Zastocki Richard J. Helldobler, PhD, ex officio Robert Seal, Chief of Staff to the President and Board of Trustees
President’s Message As one of New Jersey’s comprehensive public universities, William Paterson University operates as a powerful force in the lives of our students, and in our region and state. We are committed to providing our students with an excellent education that will help them gain successful careers, move on to graduate study, and contribute to the greater society. I am honored, as William Paterson University’s
I was drawn to William Paterson University because I am committed to public higher education
eighth president, to continue to build on this
and to the academic and personal achievements
institution’s tradition of excellence. Since joining
of students. As a first-generation college student
the University on July 1, 2018, I have been warmly
like so many William Paterson students, and as the
welcomed into this special living and learning
product of public higher education myself, I know
community. I have immersed myself in continuing
how transformational this experience will be for
conversations with our faculty, staff, students,
the students we serve. I am proud to be part of an
alumni, elected officials, business leaders, and
institution that has been changing the social fabric
friends of the institution, gaining knowledge
of our region and state for 163 years.
and insights that will help shape our strategy
It is my pleasure to present the William Paterson
as we collectively chart our path for the future,
University Annual Report 2018, which highlights our
contributing to and building upon the ongoing
many achievements during the 2017-18 academic
initiatives of our Strategic Plan 2012-22. Continuing
year and the significant impact we have on our
our momentum requires a collaborative effort built
students and our greater community. I look
on expertise, commitment, and creative ideas.
forward to continuing to share our future success.
Richard J. Helldobler, PhD, President William Paterson University
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I.
Academic Excellence
Academic Initiatives and Highlights During the 2017-18 academic year, the University continued to expand its academic offerings on the graduate level with programs designed to provide students with skills focused on the latest workforce trends.
Professor Bhanu Chauhan, chemistry, with students
Approved for launch in fall 2018 is the master of science in materials chemistry, the only degree of its kind in New Jersey. The program provides chemists, chemistry educators, and materials scientists with a cutting-edge curriculum focused on the design and synthesis of next-generation materials, which have found applications in communication devices, computers, homeland security, sensing, green chemistry, energy conservation, and fuel cell technologies, among others. The new master of science in applied business analytics addresses the growing demand for well-trained business intelligence and analytics professionals. The curriculum integrates math,
Professor Andrew Nyaboga , accounting and law, with students in the Financial Learning Center
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technology, statistics, and business domain expertise to address emerging Big Data challenges, ranging from business intelligence and optimization, to data mining, data warehousing, social network and text analytics, and machine learning. The University also launched its unique master of science in sales leadership, the first graduate degree in professional sales in the U.S., which is designed to prepare executives to advance to strategic leadership roles that require a customer-focused perspective. The accelerated, 11-month online and weekend program, offered through the University's Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales, includes coursework in strategic sales leadership, financial and business acumen, sales analytics, and sales planning and process. One third of the program will focus on a real-life project relevant to the student’s organization. The University's master of business administration program, which has experienced enrollment growth of more than 100 percent from 2013 to 2017, continued its development with the addition of a new concentration in human resource management designed to meet the higher than average job market demand for human resources jobs as well as opportunities for career shifts and advanced managerial roles in the field. The MBA program now offers seven concentrations aligned with workforce needs, providing students with multiple ways to customize the program. On the undergraduate level, the University launched a bachelor of science degree in actuarial science and a bachelor of arts degree in urban science and society.
Maise Daughtry '18, who earned her bachelor's degree though the MCCC partnership
The University also expanded its nearly 10-year partnership with Mercer County Community College to the graduate level. The two institutions signed an agreement to offer the master of arts degree in higher education administration at the MCCC campus, beginning in fall 2018. Students will take classes using synchronous video, with students in classrooms at William Paterson and at Mercer. William Paterson and MCCC have partnered since 2009 to offer bachelor’s
degree completion programs on the MCCC campus, including the bachelor of arts in early childhood education, bachelor of arts in liberal studies, and bachelor of arts in psychology. The University continued its efforts to expand partnerships on the international level as well. William Paterson signed a memorandum of understanding with Ain Shams University of Egypt and Ocean County College that will lead to cooperative baccalaureate degree opportunities for students. As part of the agreement, qualified students who complete an associate degree from Ocean County College will be able to complete a baccalaureate degree from both Ain Shams University and William Paterson University. The agreement also calls for exploring faculty exchange and graduate degree opportunities for Ain Shams students through William Paterson. In addition, William Paterson signed a memorandum of understanding with the American College of Dubai to strengthen the relationship between the two institutions and share interests in similar academic, scientific, and professional goals. Through the agreement, the two institutions will work to develop dual degree programs, allowing students from the American College of Dubai to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees from William Paterson. Initial programs will focus on computer science and business. The year proved significant for the doctor of clinical psychology program (PsyD), which was granted accreditation on contingency by the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APACoA), effective April Professor Jan Mohlmann, psychology, with a 15, 2018 to April graduate student 15, 2023. The APACoA is recognized by both the secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the national accrediting authority for professional education and training in psychology. The “accredited on contingency” status
is granted to newly established doctoral programs, which remain in this status until they graduate 100 percent of their first two cohorts, and submit outcomes to APA-CoA on students’ attainment of professional competencies, among other benchmarks. The program will be eligible for review for full accreditation as early as April 15, 2021 and no later than April 15, 2023. The master of science in communication disorders and sciences was included in the list of top accredited speech-language pathology programs in the nation by Speech Pathology Graduate Programs, which evaluates programs based on outcomes and costs. The organization included William Paterson in the list of the best audiology and speech language pathology programs for prospective students.
A poster session during Explorations 2018
Explorations 2018: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Expression was held from April 2 through May 5. This annual event, now in its 19th year, is a tangible demonstration of the University's focus on undergraduate student research and scholarship in collaboration with faculty. This year’s activities included presentations and posters by undergraduate students, master’s students, and faculty as well as Honors Research Week, the 12th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, a presentation of the film Sonic Divide, Mathematics Awareness Week, and the conference Paterson Through the Arts. A website has been developed that shows the breadth and depth of scholarship and creative activity undertaken at the University: wpunj.edu/academics/ undergraduate-research. The Paterson Metropolitan Region Research Center held a daylong conference, Paterson Through the Arts, which brought together a broad spectrum of participants and attendees, including writers, filmmakers, artists, musicians, historians, and 3
of lectures relating to the exhibition were also held throughout the fall semester.
President Emerita Kathleen Waldron with editors and authors of Paterson Lives
educators, to discuss the city’s vibrant cultural and artistic contributions. As part of the conference, the University celebrated the launch of the book Paterson Lives, edited by Professor George Robb, history, and Professor Stephen Hahn, English. The book contains entries on more than 50 famous Patersonians written by Robb, Hahn, and 13 other contributors including William Paterson faculty and staff, librarians, and alumni, as well as the Paterson Public Schools and Passaic County Department of Cultural and Historic Affairs. The book was an outgrowth of a collaboration of Professors Robb and Hahn, along with the Paterson Historical Preservation Society and the Paterson Museum in presenting a series of lectures in fall 2017 in celebration of the 225th anniversary of the founding of the City of Paterson in 1792. The University commemorated the United States World War I Centennial with an exhibition of more than 20 propaganda posters from the Special Collections Division of the Newark Public Library in the University Galleries from September through December 2017. The exhibition, curated by Professor George Robb, history, a scholar of World War I, with research assistance from graduate students Sarah McCoy, MA ’17, and Nicolette Solomita, MA ’16, included posters by well-known artists and illustrators exemplifying a wide variety of aesthetic and graphic styles. A series A poster from the University Galleries exhibition of World War I propaganda posters
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The College of Humanities and Social Sciences presented its sixth annual interdisciplinary symposium, Contexts 2017: BYO Truth: Language Matters and (Mis)Information in the Public Sphere, in October 2017. The event focused on issues of language and truth and how discussions of truth are expressions of, and attempts to normalize, differences in political, economic, and social outlooks. Steven Sloman, a professor of cognitive, linguistic, and psychological sciences at Brown University, gave the keynote address. Professor Haruko Cook, languages and cultures, led nine students on the 4th William Paterson in Ishikawa Summer Japanese Language and Culture SSAP-Japan 2018 to Kanazawa City in Japan from May 25 through June 25, 2018. The students devoted the month to the study of Japanese and the culture of the castle town of Kanazawa while each staying in a Japanese home. The Cotsakos College of Business hosted its 11th annual Russ Berrie Institute National Sales Challenge in November. More than 100 college students representing 34 universities from across the country, as well as from Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland, participated in the event, along with 75 executives from 16 sponsor companies who helped judge the competition. This annual event provides the University with an opportunity to showcase its nationally recognized sales education program and facilities.
The speed selling competition at the 2017 National Sales Challenge
Faculty and Staff News and Achievements The University’s faculty of teachers/scholars continued to make a significant impact on their disciplines during the 2017-18 academic year. Faculty received or were nominated for 273 awards, honors, and fellowships; produced 505 books, book chapters, conference proceedings, and articles in journals and 215 artistic artifacts/events including performances, productions, and exhibitions; and gave 419 lectures, presentations, and workshops at academic conferences and other settings. Theodore Cook, professor of history, received a 2018-19 Fulbright Scholar Award to conduct research at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London in the United Kingdom for a project entitled “War and Memory in Shaping Japanese Culture: Completing a Global Archival
selected for this fellowship. Amy Learmonth, professor of psychology, has been elected president for 2019-20 of the Eastern Psychological Professor Amy Learmonth Association, the largest society of psychologists on the East coast, with approximately 25,000 members, and the oldest regional psychological society in the world, dating from 1896. Professor Learmonth also has been elected program director for the International Society of Developmental Psychology for 2018-20. Bill Charlap, professor of music and director of the Jazz Studies Program, was nominated for his fourth Grammy Award for Uptown, Downtown, the latest album by the Bill Charlap Trio. The album was nominated in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category. Professor Charlap won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for his collaboration with Tony Bennett, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Professor Bill Charlap
Professor Aaron Tesfaye
Investigation.” This marks Professor Cook’s third Fulbright award. Also receiving a 2018-19 Fulbright Scholar Award was Aaron Tesfaye, professor of political science, who will be teaching at Melkelle University in Ethiopia and conducting field research for his project, “China in Ethiopia: The Long-Term Perspective.” This marks Professor Tesfaye’s second Fulbright award. Kathleen Malu, a professor of educational leadership and professional studies, has been awarded a Fulbright Specialist Award for Romania. Professor Malu has previously been a Fulbright Scholar in Rwanda and the United Kingdom. Marquita Smith, assistant professor of English, was awarded a full-year Woodrow Wilson Foundation Career Enhancement Fellowship. This is the second year in a row that a member of the William Paterson University faculty received this prestigious fellowship. She is one of 33 junior faculty members nationwide
Ellen Pozzi, an assistant professor of educational leadership and professional studies, was elected to serve on the 2020 American Library Association (ALA) Sibert Award Committee. The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award, established by the Association for Library Service to Children in 2001 with support from Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc., is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year. Julie Rosenthal, associate professor of elementary and early childhood education, received the Paterson 5
Alliance Extra Mile Award. This award highlights the achievements and efforts of volunteers serving the Paterson nonprofit community who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and who exude commitment and passion for their work and the Paterson community. Professor Rosenthal has involved her students in numerous projects with Paterson School No. 12.
Department, will serve as chairperson and keynote speaker for the Biotechnology Conference 2018 Global Congress of Biotechnology, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, in September 2018.
Brenda Marshall, professor of nursing, was selected to participate in the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminar (Alumni TIES) on “Building Communities of Hope: Collective Action to Tackle Addiction.” She was chosen from a competitive pool of candidates based on her commitment to create positive change with an initiative focused on altering the level of stigma against substance use disorders in nurses and in nursing education. Professor Marshall was also selected for a Fulbright in Malta. As part of that experience, she was the guest of honor at a luncheon for the minister of mental health and CEOs from multiple non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to discuss mental health in Malta. In addition, the luncheon was designed to plan support for national initiatives that will improve outreach to Maltese citizens with mental illness, migrants suffering from PTSD, and other Maltese citizens who need help, but are afraid to ask due to the stigma still associated with mental health issues.
Michelle Hinkle, assistant professor of special education and counseling, was named associate editor for the Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision.
Professor Brenda Marshall
Sheetal Ranjan, professor of sociology, was elected chair of the Division of Women and Crime of the American Society of Criminology, the largest and most important criminology society in the world. She also spoke at the Women in Law Enforcement Symposium, which included nearly 250 female law enforcement officers from organizations including the FBI, New York Police Department, and United Nations Police. Venkat Sharma, dean of the College of Science and Health and a faculty member in the Biology 6
Dean Venkat Sharma
William Kernan, professor of public health, was awarded the 2017 New Jersey Society for Public Health Education (NJSOPHE) President’s Award. This award is given to an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to both Professor William Kernan the practice and profession of health education in New Jersey, through meritorious achievement in their work and through commitment to the profession of health education. Eyes of the World, a book co-authored by Marina Budhos, professor of English, was a finalist for the Young Adult Library Services Association Nonfiction Award and was named to numerous “Best of 2017” lists. She also received the 5th Annual Maplewood Literary Award. Elizabeth Haines, professor of psychology, spoke at the United Nations 62nd Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March 2018 to discuss the scientific perspective on why gender stereotyping is damaging to women and men worldwide. The commission is the principal intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion of gender equity and the empowerment of women. Silk City Artists and Musicians, the latest documentary film by Vincent Parrillo, professor of sociology, was selected for inclusion in the Garden State Film Festival and the Ridgewood International Film Festival.
Lillian Prince, professor of art, had her first solo New York City exhibition at the Littlejohn Contemporary Gallery, which featured her recent paintings. Professor Prince also exhibited her work in galleries in Miami, the Hamptons, Saugerties, and Chatham. She was named one of the Top Ten Artists NYC Now by Art511 Magazine. Rahi Abouk, associate professor of economics, finance, and global business, received a 2018 Shepard Science Award for Prevention and Control from the Centers for Disease Control for his research on newborn screenings for heart defects in collaboration with the CDC’s National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. John Mason, professor of political science, served as a panelist at the Japan Rice Peace Forum, held at the Social Forum in New York City as part of the United Nations General Assembly Week. Professor Mason presented on issues of food security and the impacts of climate change. Martin Williams, director of sponsored programs, was appointed to the Professional Development Committee of the National Council of University Research Administrators, a national organization for higher education professionals Martin Williams who lead campus initiatives in securing external grant funding for research projects. Lydia Albuquerque, DNP ’18, and an incoming assistant professor of nursing, received the Diva Award for Exceptional Nurses given by the New Jersey States Nurse Association’s Institute for Nursing. I Feel You, a new book by Cris Beam, assistant professor of English, was featured in The New York Times Book Review. Professor Beam also gave a series of lectures at the 92nd Street Y in New York City based on her most recent work, in addition to invited lectures at Columbia University, the New York Society for Ethical Culture, and the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
Professor Nadine Aktan
Nadine Aktan, professor of nursing, was a March of Dimes 2017 Nurse of the Year finalist in the academic educator category. The March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards recognize nursing excellence and achievements in research, education, quality patient care, innovation and leadership. In recognition of their distinguished service to the University, the following retired faculty were awarded emeritus status by the Board of Trustees: Robert Bing, accounting and law; David Horton, Alan Lazarus, and David Shapiro, art; Robert Benno, biology; John Rhodes, communication; Hillary Wilder, educational leadership and professional studies; Janis Strasser, elementary and early childhood education; Suzanne Bowles, history; Gordon Schmidt, kinesiology; Susan Godar, Emroy Knaus, and William Matthews, marketing and management; Nan Guptill-Crain and Jeffrey Kresky, music; John Peterman, philosophy; Carole Sheffield, political science; Charley Flint, sociology; Jeanne D’Haem, special education and counseling; and Jane Bambrick, Susan Sabatino, and Pamela Theus, Cheng Library. Maribel Rodriguez, associate director, Campus Activities, Service, and Leadership, was selected to participate in the Social Justice Training Institute. This program provides a forum for the professional and personal development of social justice educators and practitioners to enhance and refine their skills and competencies to create greater inclusion for all members of the campus community. Jeffrey Kresky, professor of music, was the subject of a special New Music Series concert in honor of his retirement in June 2018. The concert featured works written by Professor Kresky during his 44-year career as a composer, music theorist, conductor, and keyboardist.
Professor Jeffrey Kresky
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Grants to Support Academics During the 2017-18 academic year, the University received more than $5.1 million in support from federal, state, and local government sponsors, an increase of nearly 11 percent over last year. Grants supported faculty and academic initiatives in a variety of areas, ranging from individual faculty research and projects to programs focused on education and outreach, providing significant resources that support the University’s role as a leading comprehensive institution in its region and state.
Professors Michael Griffiths and Nicole Davi
The National Science Foundation awarded $234,000 to Professors Michael Griffiths and Nicole Davi, both of the Department of Environmental Science, for a multi-year collaborative project with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University and the University of California, Irvine, as well as other international partners. Through their project, "Calibrating South East Asian Proxies: Speleothems and Tree-Rings," the researchers aim to create and analyze a millennium’s worth of historic temperature and precipitation records for northern and southern Laos, as evidenced in the atmospheric and land surface signals transferred to cave stalagmites and trees. The U.S. Department of Education awarded a $99,000 FulbrightHays Group Projects Abroad grant to Professors Kabba Colley and Darlene Russell from the Department of Secondary and 8
Professors Kabba Colley and Darlene Russell
Middle School Education to lead a 12-week group trip to Senegal and The Gambia with pre-service and current Paterson teachers during summer 2018. The project focused on exploring the agroecology and culture of the SeneGambia river basin and included a collaboration with students and faculty at the University of Thies on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) curriculum and instructional activities related to the region. Professor Jonathan Foley, chemistry, received a $55,000 American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund Award to conduct research on light initiated energy transfer to petroleum-derived molecules mediated by hybrid nanoparticles. The Professor Jonathan Foley research, which will involve students, seeks to advance the fundamental understanding about precisely controlling hybrid nanoparticles mediated interactions between visible light and chemical systems. Professor Yalan Xing, chemistry, also received a $55,000 American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund Award for her research project, "Direct Difunctionalization of Alkynes by Radical Oxidative Coupling Reaction." Her research will Professor Yalan Xing advance knowledge of the alkyne difunctionalization strategy by studying existing and developing new types of radical oxidative coupling. The American Cancer Society awarded $20,000 to Professor Aleksander Kecojevic, public health, for a project designed to explore the potential for developing a tobacco-free policy for the University’s entire campus.
The New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services awarded $13,000 to Professor William Kernan, public health, to support a multiyear education and outreach project to schools and communities in Passaic County titled "Use of Opioid Pain Relievers for Sports-Related Injuries in Young Athletes." This grant is an enhancement to related outreach activities of the United for Prevention in Passaic County (UPinPC) project headquartered at the University. Professor Emily Monroe, biology, received a $41,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health through a subaward from Rutgers University to support a Biomedical Postdoctoral Research and Education Training Program. This teaching Professor Emily Monroe mentorship program places postdoctoral fellows in the Biology Department and engages them in teaching, labs, and curriculum development. Professor Julie Ann Nagle, art, received a $3,000 National Academy of Sciences/National Academies Keck Futures Initiative through a subaward with University of Texas, Austin, for her work as part of a collective of artists, scientists, and researchers for an exhibition in Baltimore titled Omnibus Filing 2.0: Empathy Mirror, designed to encourage visitors to empathize with nature.
II.
Student Success
Enrollment and Degree Completion Highlights The University’s efforts to improve four-year and six-year graduation rates have continued to be successful. The four-year graduation rate rose for the fifth year in a row and now stands at 34 percent, again moving closer to the national average of approximately 37 percent for four-year graduation at public institutions. In addition, the six-year graduation rate improved to 55 percent, increasing consistently over the same time frame. The University’s six-year graduation rate has now surpassed the national average for similar institutions. 36%
34.0
32%
29.0
28%
26.6 24%
20%
21.2
16%
12%
8%
4%
2010
2011
2012
2013
Four-year graduation rates
Efforts to help students progress toward timely degree completion included the full implementation during the 2017-18 academic year of Starfish, which provides an enhanced early alert system to identify students in need of academic support. The program includes an online scheduling module for advisors, tutors, and cohort managers. Outcomes during the year were positive, with nearly 2,000 meetings scheduled and a more than 85 percent attendance rate by students. Incoming fall 2018 students were Professor Julie Nagle and students in a sculpture class
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able to log in to Starfish to connect to a pre-college success plan and critical activities in order to be ready for the fall semester.
William Paterson University also became the first New Jersey state institution to join the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) Reverse Transfer Initiative, which allows students to take credits from their four-year institution and apply them to their community college degree. Transferring credits from the university level to the local community college has an array of advantages, providing students with the option of obtaining an associate’s degree credential while they are pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
Student Honors In 2017-18, William Paterson students earned a wide array of accolades and honors for academics, including participation in undergraduate research and other scholarly and creative activities with faculty, as well as their efforts in civic engagement activities and athletics. The University’s Academic Success Center expanded its services in both location and in hours of service offerings to assist students when and where they needed services. This expansion provided students with afternoon and evening hours in the Cheng Library, including overnight assistance before and during final exams. Also, Academic Success Center tutors and mentoring support were available in Matelson Hall, one of the University’s residence halls, in the evenings and on Sundays when students often need assistance for the upcoming week. A collaborative partnership with the online system Tutor.com launched during the spring 2018 semester to provide students with live online tutoring assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, especially meeting a need for students who are looking for help during the evenings and on weekends. During one three-month period, more than 250 students took advantage of the system for support in a range of areas including writing assistance as well as courses such as chemistry, algebra, statistics, social science research, computer science, and anatomy and physiology. Student feedback for the system was overwhelmingly positive, with many indicating the online tutoring had been critical to their success.
Tyesha Crawford, a junior majoring in criminology and criminal justice and sociology, was one of 268 students in the nation and one of only seven in New Jersey to receive the 2018 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellows Award for civic engagement. Crawford Tyesha Crawford received the award for showing her strong commitment to the ideals of Campus Compact, a national coalition of more than 1,000 colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. William Paterson’s student-run radio station WP 88.7 FM was named Best College Radio Station in the nation among institutions with more than 10,000 students for the fourth time in seven years in the 2018 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System awards. The station also won
Students celebrate as the University’s radio station is named Best College Radio Station
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for Best Sports Play-By-Play, Baseball/Softball, Best Station Promotional Poster, Best Use of Social Media, Other, and Best Use of Instagram, and was a finalist for five additional awards. In addition, the station was one of five finalists for a 2017 National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award for NonCommercial Station of the Year, to be announced in September 2018.
Student Conor Labita during the speed selling competition
Conor Labita, a professional sales major, won first place in the speed selling competition of the 11th Annual National Sales Challenge hosted by the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales. This event brings more than 100 of the nation’s top sales students to the University each year. Women’s and gender studies majors Sachel (Sonny) Debrosse, Laura Lee, and Josephine Latimer presented papers at the New Jersey Women’s and Gender Studies Consortium Colloquium. Debrosse won an honorable mention prize for her paper, “The Marginalization of Women and People of Color in Nerd Culture.” James Hook, an honors accounting major, was awarded a full scholarship to study at Lingnan University in Hong Kong in the master of accountancy program. Moetaz Shair, an honors global business major, and and Sachin Persaud, a management major, were awarded full scholarships to study in the master of science in human resource management and organizational behavior program, also at Lingnan University. James Hook ‘18
Talia Spille, an accounting major, was one of 167 students nationwide chosen to receive a $10,000 merit-based scholarship from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. A paper by Mariela Versola, a graduate student in the master of music in jazz studies program, was accepted for presentation at the International Society for Music Education, which will be held this year in Azerbaijan. The paper, “The Question of Indigenous Music: A Literature Review of Music Education in Post-Apartheid South Africa,” is an extension of her thesis project on South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Nicole Miller and Trevor Courtright, honors biology majors, co-authored a paper with Professor David Gilley, biology, “Behavioral Activity of Hydrocarbons Emitted by Honeybee Waggle Dancers,” that was published in the Journal of Insect Behavior. Bands headed by popular music major Dean D’Antuono, and recent popular music graduate Bobby Mahoney, were the opening acts on consecutive nights for concerts by the rock band Bon Jovi at the Prudential Center in April 2018. Alpha Beta Chi, the William Paterson chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, the international counseling academic and professional honor society, received the 2018 award for Outstanding Newsletter Award for Large Chapters. May Manolo, a May 2018 graduate with a master of education degree in counseling, served as newsletter editor. Jessie Cussac, a May 2018 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in public health, was selected to join the Peace Corps as a community health promotions specialist in Guyana.
Jessie Cussac ‘18
Public health majors Jessie Cussac, Ebony Felton, Ashley Lucyk, and Makeda Marshall were recognized for their research poster presentations at the 2017 New Jersey Society for Public Health Education Conference. They were the only undergraduate students who presented at the event. 11
Art majors Vanessa Antico, Anna Arcuri, Grace Brown, Ryan Byrne, Ash Casti, Wini Estevez, Desiree Feliciano, Avery Mason, Rebecca McGuffog, Vivianna Mercado, Jonte Silver, Corinne Sullivan, Bleriot Thompson, and Kim Verost exhibited their works at the Gallery at Cartaigh Coffee in Stone Ridge, New York from November 19, 2017 through January 20, 2018. The exhibition was arranged by Professor Lily Prince, art.
nursing, Seongwon Kim, economics and global business, Annelise Malgieri, exercise science and psychology, Fallon Sankins, nursing, CelineAnn Samaniego, nursing, Melanie Tanis, nursing, Janella Mae Tenorio, nursing, Abigail Urena, public health, Erika Ureta, biology, Erica Wu, nursing, Caroline Chambers, communication, Shelby Chapman, psychology, and Erik Lacano, political science and legal studies.
Cotsakos College of Business students Lee Nadeau, Victoria Inglis, Granit Ramadani, Tyler Stalter, and Nathan Lee represented the University at the Federal Reserve Challenge, a prestigious competition featuring 36 teams from colleges and universities throughout the Northeast.
Four art students, mentored by Professor Angela DeLaura, art, won certificates of excellence for their design projects at the 50th Annual Jersey Awards from the New Jersey Ad Club.
Valerie Saturen, a graduate student in English, presented her research at the National Conference of Peer Tutoring and Writing at Hofstra University. In her presentation, “Community Writing Centers: Tutoring Beyond the College Campus,” she reviewed her research into several communitybased writing center models. The William Paterson University Chamber Choir went on their first-ever European tour in March 2018, performing at five cathedrals in major cities of Austria and Italy. The 34-member group was directed by Professor Lauren Fowler-Calisto, music.
The Chamber Choir performing in Europe
Nineteen William Paterson students presented at the Northeast Regional Honors Council Conference in Providence, Rhode Island. The students are: Natalie Arcello, psychology, Maridel Asuncion, nursing, Nancy Bzadough, psychology, Tyler Kennedy, psychology, Bayan Hammoudeh, nursing, Nia Hayes, mathematics, Morgan Keck, 12
The William Paterson Jazz Orchestra performs at Lincoln Center
The William Paterson University Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Professor David Demsey, and two jazz ensembles under the direction of Professor Bill Charlap and Professor Steve LaSpina, performed at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 1, 2018, before a sold-out audience. William Paterson’s Rugby Club Team won the Tri-State Sevens Tournament, which earned the team a bid to the 2018 College 7s National Championships Tournament in Colorado. The team finished ninth in the main tournament, and won the consolation tournament. Athletic training majors Bailey Wyrostek and Yezli Nunez each used the CPR training they had learned in a University course, Sports Emergency Care, to help save the life of a person in separate incidents. The two students, along with Professor Robb Rehberg, kinesiology, who teaches the course, were featured in an article in NJBIZ.
III.
Unique Learning Opportunities
Civic Engagement William Paterson University students increasingly devote time and effort to civic engagement activities as the University continues to provide vast opportunities for service learning.
Members of the Bowling Team
William Paterson’s Bowling Team won the 2018 National Collegiate Club Bowling Championship, becoming the first men's team to win this championship in back-to-back years. In addition, Steve Kotowski was named an honorable mention selection of the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association 2017-18 Men’s All America Team. The William Paterson Ice Hockey Team was named the 2018 Super East Champion, which represents the sixth league championship for the program, and finished the season ranked fifth in the country. Three players, Shawn LaCorte, DJ Sabato, and Cory Sala, were selected to the ACHA U.S. Select Team which won a silver medal in the World Cup of College Hockey. The University’s Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Teams were selected to the Scholar All-America Team of the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America. The Women’s Basketball Team won the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament, marking the program’s second ECAC championship win. Senior Toni Woetzel was named tournament MVP. The campus television station, WP-TV, won three Intercollegiate Broadcasting System first place awards in the medium of video for Best Sports Program, Best Variety Program, and Best Use of Graphics, and was a finalist for two additional awards.
During the 2017-18 academic year, the University strengthened its commitment to promote public and community service by developing a Civic Action Plan, fulfilling a promise made as a signatory of the Campus Compact 30th Anniversary Action Statement of Presidents and Chancellors. The plan outlines the University’s future goals for student civic engagement participation, development of courses with embedded civic engagement activities, creation of additional impactful partnerships with community partners, and overall support for a campus culture of community and civic engagement. William Paterson was recognized by Campus Compact as a Campus in Action and was one of only two higher education institutions in New Jersey to submit a campus civic action plan to Campus Compact. The University continued to offer a wide variety of civic engagement-focused academic courses as part of the University Core Curriculum, which requires new undergraduate students to complete such a course as part of their degree. During the 2017-18 academic year, 2,219 students completed 32 different civic engagement courses that span a wide variety of academic disciplines in each of the University’s five colleges. The Pioneer Life Digital Badge Program, which provides students with the means to track hours of their leadership and civic community service engagement activities, in 1 year increased 30 percent over the previous year, with nearly 4,200 students enrolled since the program’s inception in fall 2015. Overall, students contributed 10,697 hours to community service projects, an increase of six percent over the previous academic year. The Office of Campus Activities, Service, and Leadership continued to expand its outreach to new community partners, including the Friends of Wayne Animal Rescue, the Magnificat Women’s Shelter, the Bloomfield
10,697
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Pet Shelter, the American Heart Association, and Little Sisters of the Poor. Two graduate students designated as civic engagement assistants helped to expand and cover programs and work with community partners, assisting with 32 civic engagement events for students. The University held its second annual fall “Celebrate Civic Engagement” week in November 2017, offering numerous events to coincide with the University’s annual recognition of Veteran’s Day. Students continued a University tradition of planting nearly 6,000 flags on Zanfino Plaza in honor of members of the military killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan. The week also included performances of “The Telling Project,” presented by University Performing Arts. The production starred six veterans from the William Paterson community—four current students, one August 2017 graduate, and Charles Lowe, director of public safety and campus police— who shared their personal stories of war.
Great Falls National Historical Park, working with the Rahway Food Pantry, and interacting with patients at a community health center.
Academic Offerings Many William Paterson courses offer students the opportunities to apply the skills that they learn in the classroom to situations they may experience in their careers.
Faculty and students who traveled to Vieques, Puerto Rico
Students plant flags on Zanfino Plaza
For the first time, a week of activities was held in the spring, around the theme “Celebrating People in Action: National Volunteer Week.” The week, held in April 2018, featured 10 events including a collaboration with NJIT at a health care facility in Newark and an Earth Day cleanup at the Paterson Great Falls as part of National Parks Week. Due to a snow storm during spring break, the University’s Alternative Spring Break trip to Camp Linwood MacDonald was postponed to a weekend from April 13-15 during National Volunteer Week, with 20 students attending. On January 15, 120 students and nine staff participated in the Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service, serving in a variety of on-campus and off-campus activities including meal and care packaging, cleanup and recycling at the Paterson 14
Nine communication students traveled to Puerto Rico during the winter break to help restore hurricaneravaged community radio station WVQR 90.1 FM in Vieques. The trip, organized by Professor Lori Ramos, communication, was part of a service-learning course during the winter semester. The students were joined by Professor Diana Peck, communication; Sebastian Escobar ‘15, station manager for William Paterson’s radio station WPSC 88.7FM Brave New Radio; and University audio technician Dante Portella. The students conducted interviews that aired on WPSC and Radio Vieques, and produced videos documenting conditions on the island as well as their experiences. They also donated a new computer and ham radio and lent a helping hand to the island’s ongoing efforts to rebuild by volunteering at the island’s organic farm and distributing food and supplies to displaced residents. In Professor Kathleen Korgen’s Public Sociology and Civic Engagement class, students learned how to put sociology into action based on sociological concepts and methods. Students worked together to develop a group action plan that identified and addressed a social problem. This year, one student project focused on assessing University support for a tobacco-free campus; other students looked at the needs of lowincome families by initiating a toy drive. In addition, students were required to complete at least 20 hours of service at the course’s dedicated service learning
sites in Paterson—Oasis, A Haven for Women and Children and/or the New Jersey Reentry Program— giving them a first-hand look at social issues. Through a collaboration with the University’s Small Business Development Center, directed by Kate Muldoon, MBA students worked with local business owners on business problems they have identified. Students assisted six to eight businesses per semester, providing them with digital marketing and social media strategies as well as a millennial point of view. Students in an anthropology course, Cultural Resources Management and Community Engagement, taught by Professor Ruth Maher, worked with the Van Riper-Hopper House Museum, a Dutch colonial home in Wayne on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Students helped with repairs at the museum, set up education stations where young and old may use artifacts, and organized education stations where old games can be learned and played. One music student repaired an old organ that had been broken for years. Students also organized an outdoor concert and open house with historical Dutch music performed by University music students.
Other Significant Opportunities for Students In addition to providing students with a high-quality education in the classroom and important research, civic engagement and other learning opportunities, the University remains committed to providing additional support in achieving career success following graduation. The Pesce Family Mentoring Institute continued to expand its efforts to pair successful professionals, including alumni and local community business partners, with select undergraduate students. This year, the Institute matched more than 200 mentor/ mentee pairs, up from approximately 150 matches last year. The program instituted a new mentee orientation, and held two formal on-campus dinners with speakers as well as a series of six informal meet and greet events. The Career Development Center hosted two major job fairs including a fall career and internship fair and an education job fair, as well as a variety of networking events, including programs for the Cotsakos College of Business, the College of Science and Health, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as special programs for accounting majors and art majors.
IV.
Community Outreach
As a public comprehensive university, William Paterson University plays an important role in its region and state. During the 2017-18 year, the University hosted a number of important events that brought the community to the campus.
Governor Phil Murphy after the gubernatorial debate on campus
The University was selected, along with its media partners, CBS broadcast affiliates in New York and Philadelphia and The Record/USA Today Network, through a competitive process to host a 2017 gubernatorial debate on Wednesday, October 18 with Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno and former Ambassador Phil Murphy. The debate was televised live throughout New Jersey and the region by the University’s media partners WCBS-TV in New York, KYW-TV in Philadelphia, WCBS Radio and WINS Radio in New York, and KYW Radio in Philadelphia, as well as streamed on Facebook Live and via the websites of The Record and Gannett New Jersey newspaper sites across the state. More than 900 people filled Shea Center, including elected officials, members of the Board of Trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, students, friends, and members of the community. Professor Joann Lee, communication, and Professor Christine Kelly, political science, organized a debate watch and post-debate discussion for students in the Hobart Hall Martini Center that featured a panel of University students. This marked the fourth time that William Paterson University hosted a gubernatorial debate, having hosted very successful debates in 1997, 2009, and 2013. The debate resulted in extensive publicity throughout 15
New Jersey and the region via television, radio, print, and digital news outlets, bringing significant visibility to the University and enhancing its reputation for playing a key role in New Jersey public affairs.
High school students from Italy on campus
The School of Continuing and Professional Education enrolled nearly 1,100 students during its 2017 Summer Pre-College Youth Programs, offering a wide array of more than 60 courses for students in grades 4 to 12 from regional schools and international programs. The School’s new partnership with Interstudio Viaggi (ISV) enrolled nearly 400 high school students from Italy and several other European countries for six weeks in July and August. Students and staff lived in the campus residence halls, ate in the campus dining halls, took advantage of campus recreational facilities, and participated in field trips to New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. The students also were enrolled in English language courses, and some attended WP Pre-College Summer Youth Programs classes. In 2018, this summer partnership with ISV expanded to almost 1,000 international students and staff living on campus for three two-week sessions of courses,
Students sewing during a Summer Youth Program
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recreational activities, and field trips. In addition, a new partnership brought a group of middle and high school students from Vietnam to campus for a similar three-week experience in summer 2018. The six-week Summer Life on Campus program continues to expand every year, providing an exciting full-day schedule of educational, recreational, and field trip activities and offering a popular option for working families in northern New Jersey. In addition, in summer 2017, a group of 54 students from Passaic High School attended college-credit courses in a full-day program that also included tutoring, homework help, and SAT preparation workshops. In summer 2018, the cohort from Passaic High School expanded to 78 students who attended college-credit courses, as well as new professional certification courses that prepare students for careers in highdemand industry sectors.
Middle school students in the Summer Life on Campus program
Adult certification programs in the School of Continuing and Professional Education increased in 2017 with the launch of “Degree Plus” certifications that lead to 100 new nationally recognized industry credentials in key industries. All programs are offered in-person, online, and in hybrid format for the convenience of busy professionals. William Paterson University’s 4th Annual Cyber Security and Big Data Analytics Symposium was held on April 6, on the heels of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement that 87 million people could have had their data accessed by Cambridge Analytica. Keynote speaker Steve Lutinski, director of cyber security services at Verizon, provided timely insight from the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DRIR), and David Rossi, cyber security architect for IBM, discussed risks and industry threats. Industry representatives from healthcare, finance, and technology engaged in a
Alumni Engagement University alumni are a significant component of the broader William Paterson community. The institution continues to work to engage alumni in the life of the University through events and other activities.
The 4th Annual Cyber Security and Big Data Analytics Symposium
lively panel discussion about data vulnerability. This symposium gained publicity from news crews from NJTV and FiOS1 News reporter Adam Smith, who is a recent William Paterson University graduate. The 15th Annual LGBTQA College Leadership Conference was held at the University on October 13. Titled Queer Students: Activism from Hashtags to Conscious Engagement, this year's conference focused on the use of social media and online communities to expand LGBTQA activism, with discussion focused on ways to facilitate social and political change through social networking, tools that can be used to expand advocacy efforts, and the opportunity to learn about initiatives on various college campuses in support of LGBTQA students. This annual conference is hosted by a consortium of colleges and universities including William Paterson University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey City University, Ramapo College, and Pratt Institute. The conference was open to the public and drew a total of 93 participants from universities, colleges, and high schools in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The 15th Annual LGBTQA College Leadership Conference
During Homecoming Weekend 2017, nearly 2,000 attendees enjoyed a Saturday afternoon Oktoberfest Carnival with food, game booths, prizes, and amusements leading up to the Homecoming football game against Frostburg State. Other events included the WP Biergarten and a Kinesiology Open House to celebrate WP’s newly renovated Preakness Hall and the state-of-the-art kinesiology labs. On Sunday, five outstanding alumni athletes and the 2001 softball team were honored by a record number of attendees at the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Brunch.
Cheerleaders during Homecoming 2017
Alumni social media continues to grow. This year a total of 30,356 members/followers populated alumni social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Another 201 alumni met online for a “virtual book club” where members read and discussed books on topics that included leadership, social justice, and historical fiction. In accordance with the University’s Strategic Plan, 14 alumni webinars attracted a total of 398 alumni attendees. Webinars covered diverse topics including resume writing, interviewing skills, financial planning, and personal improvement. 17
V.
Excellence and Affordability
study lounges. Residents will live in semi-suites— two bedrooms and a shared bath—arranged in “clusters” on each floor.
Academic Zone Master Plan and Facilities Upgrades The University has made a strong commitment to modernizing and revitalizing the academic core of the main campus, supporting the work of students and faculty with enhanced academic facilities. That commitment reached another milestone with the renovation of Hunziker Hall, which was completed during early summer 2018 and reopened for classes in September 2018. The building houses state-ofthe-art smart classrooms, group study rooms, a keyboard lab for the Department of Music, a creative commons space, offices, and the University’s Black Box Theatre. The Hunziker Hall project was the second phase of a two-part project that included the renovation of Preakness Hall, which opened in September 2017 for classes. The renovation of these two buildings was partially funded by $7.2 million from the State of New Jersey through the Building Our Future General Obligation Bond and the Capital Improvement Fund.
A rendering of the new residence hall
William Paterson currently houses approximately 2,600 students in 10 residence halls. Following the completion of the project, the University plans to demolish one of those existing residence halls, Overlook North. To support our sports programs, the game field at Wightman Field was replaced with new artificial turf with sport-specific playing lines to accommodate multiple NCAA and club teams, along with the refurbishment and repainting of the running track. Following the work completed on the Wightman Gym pool last year, additional grouting, recouping, and painting of the pool was completed. The tennis courts were also resurfaced. The Cheng Library was enhanced with new carpeting and renovated restroom facilities. The lobby in Shea Center for Performing Arts was also renovated, including enhancements to the restrooms.
Fundraising
Hunziker Hall
In addition, the institution broke ground for a new 288-bed suite-style residence hall located in the University’s residential zone. The new residence hall, scheduled to open in fall 2019, is being constructed to replace existing beds that are no longer serviceable and do not meet the needs and desires of today’s college student. This 90,000 square-foot facility will provide open spaces with natural light, community spaces including a kitchen, lounges, a classroom, and a meeting room, and 18
The Office of Institutional Advancement raised $3.1 million in cash and commitments during fiscal year 2017-18, including $1.8 million toward scholarships. The Office of Institutional Advancement has raised $7.5 million towards its overall scholarship goal of $10 million. The University awarded nearly 1.3 million in privately funded scholarships to students this past year, an increase of more than 214 percent since 2010, when scholarships totaled $414,000. Several successful events of the William Paterson University Foundation focused on raising funds for scholarships and academic and University programming. The Foundation’s 28th Annual Legacy Gala, held in April 2018, raised $119,00 for scholarships. At the gala, alumna Linda Bowden,
MA ’78, New Jersey regional president of PNC Bank, and Enterprise Holdings were honored for their philanthropy, leadership, and community service. Since 2013, the gala has raised more than $1 million for student scholarships. In addition, the Foundation’s 9th Annual Golf Outing, held in October 2017, netted more than $67,000, the highest amount in its history and an increase of 25 percent over the previous year.
The 28th Annual Legacy Gala
Among individual gifts for scholarships was a $62,000 gift from longtime donors Louise ’86 and Charles Theiller to establish the Louise and Charles Theiller Endowed Scholarship Fund for students majoring in biology or biotechnology. This is the second scholarship fund that the Theillers have established; in 2000, they chose to honor their late daughter, William Paterson University nursing alumna Patricia Theiller Franklin ’86, by establishing an endowed scholarship fund for nursing students. During their years as donors, the Theillers have given out more than 60 scholarships to University students, and have spoken about the impact that providing financial assistance to the University’s students has made on their lives.
Charles and Louise Theiller (center), with scholarship students (from left) Daniel Podlesiecki, Kristen Myers, and Lisa Turner
Other gifts of note include a $400,000 bequest intention to name a lecture hall, a $300,000 IRA designation to support the psychology film program, a $280,000 IRA designation to support scholarships, an $85,000 pledge from the Taub Foundation to support early childhood learning partnerships, a $75,000 pledge to establish an annual and endowed scholarship for students demonstrating financial hardship, and a $50,000 pledge to establish an endowed scholarship in chemistry. There were also several major gifts and pledges in support of programs or scholarships such as a $40,000 gift from the Russ Berrie Foundation for the new master’s in sales leadership program, and in support of the Russ Berrie Institute’s National Sales Challenge and the National Sales Challenge Boot Camp. In addition, nearly $538,000 was raised in annual giving, the second highest amount in University history. Overall, assets of the William Paterson University Foundation grew to $27.7 million, a seven percent increase over the previous year and a more than 95 percent increase over seven years.
Employee Recognition For a fourth year, William Paterson continued to support and recognize faculty and staff through the WP PRIDE Staff Excellence Awards Program administered through the Office of Human Resources to reward staff members for excellent service to the institution. PRIDE awardees are nominated by colleagues for contributions to the University that are above and beyond their normal responsibilities. During the 2017-18 academic year, 57 employees nominated by their peers and supervisors received awards. 19
Public Recognition The University continued to build institutional identity and expand its visibility through a variety of activities, including hosting notable speakers and events and achieving positive coverage from the media on a wide variety of platforms. WCBS-TV anchor Kristine Johnson speaks at Commencement
She was also among 25 women of excellence who were honored in the exhibit “New Jersey Women History Makers” on view during the entire month of March 2018 at the North Jersey Federal Credit Union Totowa Branch. The North Jersey Federal Credit Union partnered with the Passaic County Historical Society to create this in-branch visual exhibit, described as “honoring some of New Jersey’s most incredible and inspirational women who have changed the landscape of the state.” President Waldron also led a panel session on presidential leadership at an American Council on Education conference in April 2018 in Washington, DC, and spoke at the ACE Summer Program at Bryn Mawr College dedicated to preparing women leaders for college presidencies.
Kristine Johnson, an anchor for WCBS-TV in New York, gave the keynote address at William Paterson’s 2018 commencement ceremony on May 18 at the Prudential Center in Newark. More than 10,000 family members and friends cheered on the graduates. Johnson also was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Dr. Henry Pruitt, William Paterson University trustee emeritus, who retired from the Board of Trustees in June 2017 after 33 years of service, received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Pruitt, the longest serving board member in the University’s modern history, served as chair of the board from 1991 to 1993. A separate ceremony for master’s and doctoral degree candidates was held in the Sports and Recreation Center on campus on May 16. President Kathleen Waldron, in her final year before her retirement as president of the University, continued to speak on issues throughout the state. She was a panelist, along with fellow New Jersey public college presidents and legislators, to discuss the topic of the importance of a bachelor’s degree to New Jersey’s economy at the annual Higher Education Symposium held in October 2017 and sponsored by the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities. 20
The 39th season of the Distinguished Lecturer Series featured American designer and artist Maya Lin, most noted for creating the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, who discussed art and design, and American chef and restauranteur Alice Waters, who discussed her role as a pioneer of the farm-to-table Artist May Lin movement. Waters’ lecture was also part of a yearlong program at the University titled Food for Thought: An Exploration of the Culture, Politics, and Science of Food, featuring a wide variety of events including talks, theatre and musical performances, panel discussions, workshops, and art exhibits. Among the highlights were a foraging hike on campus for edible and medicinal wild plants led by naturalist “Wildman” Steve Brill, a lecture by Ruth Reichl, the bestselling author, food critic and judge on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, and a performance by Jen Chapin, the singer, food activist, and board member of WhyHunger.
Patrick DeDeo, associate vice president for governmental relations and external affairs, received the Tri-County Chamber Award for two years of extraordinary leadership as chair of the board. He also serves on the Executive Board of Directors of the Greater Paterson Chamber of Commerce.
Patrick DeDeo
The University launched new webpages to highlight its commitment to sustainability with details about all that we do together to support this important cause. The new pages help to reinforce William Paterson’s dedication to this significant effort, as well as to state and nationwide advocacy, with timely updates about campus initiatives, academic programs that focus on sustainability, the work of the WP Green Team, and a summary of the awards that the University has won for its work in support of sustainability. For the second year in a row, William Paterson University was awarded gold level recognition for its commitment to exercise via the “Exercise is Medicine on Campus” program. The program—part of a global initiative run by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)—calls upon faculty, staff, and students to improve their collective health by making physical activity a part of campus culture. Only 24 institutions across the globe earned gold status from ACSM this year. Numerous faculty and administrators shared their expertise on a wide variety of topics which resulted in positive media coverage for the University. The University’s marketing accomplishments were once again recognized by the New Jersey Advertising Club, underscoring the institution’s continued success with initiatives focused on enhancing reputation. At the Ad Club’s 50th Annual New Jersey Awards Dinner, the Department of Marketing and Public Relations won first place in the Social Media Multiplatform Campaign category
for its #WeAreWillPower social media campaign, which aims to expand the University’s Will.Power. brand by translating it into a digital experience that showcases stories of achievement and determination from within the University community, especially students. The department also earned third place certificates in the Social Media for Brand Building category, also for the #WeAreWillPower social media campaign; in the Digital Media Website Design Self-Promotion category for the University’s website refresh project, launched in fall 2017, which focused on academic quality; and in the Magazine Ad category for a special “Brain. Power.” print ad that highlighted outstanding faculty research.
The #WeAreWillPower blog
The department also earned four awards in the Fifth Annual Education Digital Marketing Awards, sponsored by Higher Education Marketing Report. Honors included a gold award for the #WeAreWillPower blog, which features examples of student Will.Power. stories; gold for the civic engagement online display ad, which is part of the refreshed Will.Power. advertising creative that was launched in fall 2017; silver for the fall 2017 University website refresh, which focused on academic quality; and bronze for the “View from Above” drone video. 21
About William Paterson University William Paterson University is a public comprehensive university with more than 10,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered by five academic colleges: Arts and Communication, Cotsakos College of Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Health. Its 370-acre wooded campus is located in suburban Wayne, New Jersey, just 20 miles from New York City, adjacent to 1,200 acres of wetlands and woodlands, and only three miles from the historic Paterson Great Falls. The University offers a wide range of learning opportunities in its classrooms, laboratories, and studios, and throughout the campus, as well as at various off-campus locations. William Paterson’s faculty members provide a valuable blend of accomplished scholarship and practical, applied experience. Among the University’s faculty are
41 Fulbright scholars and recipients of numerous other awards, grants, and fellowships. Students benefit from individualized attention from faculty mentors, small class sizes, and numerous research, internship, and clinical experiences. The institution’s more than 76,000 alumni can be found throughout New Jersey, the nation, and the world, using their William Paterson degrees and experiences as a springboard to professional accomplishment and personal growth. They are leaders in the arts, business, health care, sports, entertainment, the media, and education. They are public servants, artists, musicians, teachers, scientists, television personalities, authors, politicians, crime fighters, and entrepreneurs. Their achievements reflect the University’s mission and commitment to preparing graduates for success in their careers, communities, and lives.