Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences

Schering-Plough Funds Chemistry Research Labs

A $300,000 grant from the Schering-Plough Foundation will make possible the renovation and creation of a new chemistry research laboratory cluster at the College at Florham. The new facility in Becton College will help FDU meet its goal of preparing students in the field of science who will not only thrive but excel in the technological world of the 21st century.

The University will completely renovate the current medicinal chemistry and organic chemistry laboratories while creating a third lab for bioorganic materials research. The facility will allow shared access to research space and equipment, which was previously limited. The labs will also encourage ongoing collaboration between faculty and student researchers, thus greatly enhancing the undergraduate and graduate science research programs.

The renovations will be staged over a three-year period. The labs will be a strong addition to a number of substantial investments that FDU has made in its science departments during the last two years. Recently completed projects include an interdisciplinary undergraduate research lab, a dedicated bioinformatics computer lab, a faculty microbiology lab, a refurbished microbiology teaching lab and a sterile prep area in the science building. To supplement the construction, the University plans to establish new research opportunities for students.

The Schering-Plough Foundation, which will provide funding for the new labs over a three-year period, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to working with the citizens of local communities to help them realize their full potential and enhance their quality of life. The foundation targets its grants in three major areas: health, education and community initiatives.

Schering-Plough Executive Lectures

The MA in corporate and organizational communication program is once again holding its Schering-Plough Executive Lecture Series.

The speakers for the remainder of the semester includes: on February 18, Gary Gumpert, partner, Communication Landscapers; Susan Drucker, professor of communication and law, Hofstra University; on February 25, Steve Lubetkin, Lubetkin and Co.; Chris Winans, vice president, media relations, American International Group; on March 4, Guy Fielding, head of research and development, CM Insight; Susan Llewelyn, honorary senior clinical lecturer in clinical psychology, University of Oxford; Stanley Deetz, professor of communication, University of Colorado at Boulder; and on March 11, Dick Hyde, executive vice president and U.S. director of crisis communications, Hill and Knowlton; Jackie Ottman, president, J. Ottman Consulting.

Lectures are held on Saturday mornings, 9 a.m. to noon, at the College at Florham. Except for March 4, all are held in the Rothman Institute Auditorium. The March 4 lecture will be in the Stadler/Zenner Academic Building. Additional program details, such as speaker biographies and meeting locations, are available at the Web site http://www.fdu.edu/corpcomm .

Why Get a Master’s Degree?

Why should business professionals consider taking a master’s degree in corporate communication? A panel of successful communicators will answer this question on Thursday, February 16, at the Rothman Institute Auditorium, College at Florham. Six professionals in the field of communications will talk about the impact that completing an MA degree has had on their careers and personal lives. The panel is made up of six members of the University’s MA in Corporate and Organizational Communication Board of Corporate Advisers.

“This event will be of interest to anyone who is feeling the urge to get ahead, increase his or her knowledge, skills and effectiveness or stretch his or her brain in new and unexpected directions,” says Gary Radford, communications and director, MA in corporate/organizational communication (Flor), whose program is sponsoring the event.

The panel is sponsored by the New Jersey International Association of Business Communicators (NJ/IABC). For more information go to http://inside.fdu.edu/prpt/njcommunicators.html .

New Study-abroad Program Features London Theater

Starting this spring semester, the theater arts program at the College at Florham will offer The London Theater Experience, a three-credit course that will revolve around an eight-day trip to London during spring break to see seven plays staged by such professional theater companies as the National Theater of Great Britain, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Old Vic, Royal Court and others.

The trip, under the leadership of Stephen Hollis, theater and director, theater arts (Flor), will also include lectures and seminars by leading actors and directors, workshops at the Globe Theater and a backstage tour of the National Theater. Students will stay at a centrally located hotel and will have enough free time to explore many other cultural and entertainment facilities. Prior to the trip, students will study and research some of the plays and on their return to campus submit written papers on all the plays seen. Twelve students have registered for his inaugural class, and “it is hoped this course will be offered on a regular basis every spring semester,” said Hollis. The course, offered in association with the theater department at Montclair State University, is open to students from both the Metropolitan Campus and College at Florham. For further information contact Hollis at 973-443-8467 or hollis@fdu.edu.

“Cabaret” Staged

This spring, FDU’s visual and performing arts department will be staging “Cabaret,” the award-winning musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb, in Dreyfuss Theater, College at Florham. Stephen Hollis, theater and director, theater arts (Flor), will direct with Allen Cohen, music (Flor), as musical director. The schedule of performances is Thursday, March 30, to Saturday, April 1; and Thursday, April 6, to Sunday, April 9. Performances from Thursday to Saturday are at 8 p.m., while the Sunday performance is at 2:30 p.m.

Based on a short story by Christopher Isherwood and later adapted into the play “I Am a Camera” by John van Druten, “Cabaret” first took the stage as a musical in 1966, playing to sold-out houses in New York and London before being made into a film starring Liza Minnelli and Michael York. Set in the pre-war Berlin of 1931, “Cabaret” revolves around the life of the part-time cabaret singer, Sally Bowles, and her smitten American writer boyfriend, Cliff, who tries in vain to rescue her from the influence of her underground pals at the notorious Kit Kat Klub.

General admission is $10; $5 for FDU faculty, staff and students. Tickets can be reserved in advance by calling 973-443-8644 (ext. 4) or purchased at the door. For further information, call 973-443-8467.

Psychology Research Discussion Series

Psychology faculty members will discuss their current research and invite all to come find out about research that is underway. Discussions will be held on Tuesdays from 2 to 3 p.m. in Room 241, Stadler/Zenner Academic Building, College at Florham.

Remaining discussions are: on March 28, “Attachment and Alcoholism: Is There a Relationship?” presented by Donalee Brown and Lona Whitmarsh; on April 11, “The ABCs of Workplace Coaching and Mentoring” by Paul Strauss; and on May 9, “Help! I Can’t Get Away From My Work: Constant Work Accessibility Issues,” by Melissa Gonzalez, Nancy Smith and Diane Wentworth.

Winter Session in Peru

During winter session, the department of modern languages and literature, College at Florham, ran its short study-abroad program in Peru as part of the courses, Latin American Culture and Civilization and The Latin American Essay. Visiting Machu Picchu are, from left, Joan Desilets, health/physical education (Flor); Delicia “Delly” Koeneke, faculty coordinator, languages (Flor); William Fordham, chair, chemistry/geology, and chemistry (Flor); Patricia Bazán-Figueras, languages and faculty coordinator, languages (Flor); and June Middleton, chair, biological/allied health sciences, and biology (Flor).

Silberman College of Business

Fred Hassan Inaugurates New Lecture Series

Silberman College of Business and its Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies are sponsoring a new lecture series featuring CEOs who are leaders in innovation.

Fred Hassan, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Schering-Plough Corporation, will give the inaugural lecture of the series on Thursday, February 23, in Lenfell Hall, the Mansion, College at Florham. Breakfast and registration period will be at 7:30 a.m., and the lecture will begin at 8 a.m., followed by a question-and-answer session with Hassan.

Hassan’s lecture, “Customer Focus: A Prescription for Driving Innovation,” will include practical lessons and advice relevant to leaders, whether they are in business or other organizations.

Hassan’s current position at Schering-Plough is the latest in a 30-year career committed to fostering innovation and science-centered entrepreneurship in the pharmaceutical industry. Hassan has a strong track record of executing transformational change in complex global companies. His leadership approach includes a deep focus on fostering attitudes and behaviors among colleagues that are critical to driving long-term high performance—including the behaviors of collaboration, shared accountability and listening and learning.

Prior to joining Schering-Plough in April 2003, Hassan was chairman and chief executive officer of Pharmacia Corporation (acquired by Pfizer in 2003). Previously, he was executive vice president and a director of Wyeth, formerly known as American Home Products. Hassan also spent 17 years with Sandoz Pharmaceuticals (now Novartis). Hassan received a BS degree in chemical engineering from the University of London and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Mass.

There is a $50 registration fee and seating is limited. To register, call 973-443-8842.

Winter Session in Costa Rica

During winter session, Rosemarie Twomey, left, business law (Flor), and Daniel Twomey, right, management and director, Center for Human Resource Management Studies (Flor), took students to Costa Rica for a business class, Experience the Pure Life. This photo is taken at the United Nations-affiliated University for Peace where Latin-American field representatives of the E+Co, which provides local energy sources for those who have no electricity, gave presentations. Between the Twomeys are, from left, E+Co members Gerardo Aguilar, LAC regional manager; Cynthia Leon, monitoring and evaluation officer; Wilhelm Baumgartner, operations officer; and Eduardo Fallas, investment officer.

Anthony J. Petrocelli College of Continuing Studies

Cybercrime Lab

Renovations will soon begin in Dickinson Hall to create a Cybercrime Lab under the direction of Kenneth Vehrkens, dean, Petrocelli College (Metro/Flor), and Ronald Calissi, executive associate dean for off-campus credit programs, Petrocelli College (Metro/Flor). The lab’s creation is being funded by a $500,000 U.S. Department of Justice Grant and will house two computer classrooms and two classroom/conference rooms. In addition to the computer lab, the space will also house the School Security and Safety Administration Program, which is under a separate New Jersey State legislative appropriation of $350,000.

The project director and project coordinator for the cybercrime lab grant are Eamon Doherty, administrative science (Metro), and Chris Cunningham, coordinator, cybercrime lab, administrative science (Metro), respectively. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the lab and the School Security and Safety Administration Program will be held in early fall.

New Jersey Police Executive Institute

On April 21, William “Pat” Schuber, administrative science (Metro), will deliver a two-hour presentation titled “George Washington’s Leadership at the Battle of Trenton” on the final day of the Fifth Session of the New Jersey Police Executive Institute. The institute is a joint educational initiative between the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police and Fairleigh Dickinson University. This five-day program, geared toward chiefs of police and command personnel, is intended to provide advanced-level education and training.

Three King’s Day

Puerta al Futuro celebrated its Third Annual Three King’s Day event on January 6. This celebration brought together students, faculty, staff and community members to learn about the Three King’s tradition and its role in Hispanic communities. This year’s Three King volunteers were Tom Swanzey, associate dean, Petrocelli College (Metro/Flor); Juan Carlos Orejarena, business, Puerta al Futuro (Metro); and William Varela, husband of Puerta student assistant, Ivette Varela. GOYA Foods contributed the juices, Dunkin Donuts donated the donuts, Commerce Bank supplied the lollipops and for the third year in a row Puerta student Patricia Bullon donated all the toys for the children. More than 50 families and 75 children received gifts and enjoyed music provided by Gustavo Chaves, another community leader. Bergen County Freeholder Thomas Padilla stopped by to wish all a wonderful holiday season.

This year’s Three Kings volunteers were, from left, J. William Varela, husband of Puerta al Futuro’s student assistant, Ivette Varela (Metro); Thomas Swanzey, assistant dean, Petrocelli College (Metro); and Juan Carlos Orejarena, business, Puerta al Futuro (Metro).

New MAS Diplomatic Program Launched

The master of administrative science program with a concentration in diplomacy and international relations for Latin-American diplomats, launched in 2004, has been expanded to include English-speaking diplomats. Diplomats from more than 14 countries, including: Niger, Oman, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Swaziland, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Angola, Sierra Leone, Paraguay, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador now participate. The program counts among its students the ambassadors to the United Nations from Oman, Niger and Swaziland. The program also has online students from London and Chicago.

University College: Arts • Sciences • Professional Studies

FDU in Engineering Spotlight

Fairleigh Dickinson University will host the largest engineering convention in the northeast — the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Regional Student Conference. ASME has more than 150,000 members globally and is one of the largest engineering organizations in the country. It provides professional development opportunities for its student members through 12 regional student conferences in North America. The northeast conference will bring together students from 32 universities from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Puerto Rico, competing in many real-world competitions, engaging in stimulating discussions and networking with professionals and employers in their fields of interest.

The conference’s highlight will be the Student Design Competition, where students use their engineering skills to solve a complex practical problem. In last year’s conference, FDU placed fourth with an all-freshman team. This successful showing led to the University hosting the event. Last year’s performance was spearheaded by Melvin Lewis, engineering technology and associate director, engineering/engineering technology/information technology (Metro), and Bernard Lefkowitz, electrical/mechanical engineering (Metro), for technical support; Reji Joseph, lab director, engineering (Metro); and Alfredo Tan, electrical engineering and director, computer sciences/engineering (Metro).

As an added attraction to this year’s event, ASME expects to attract some of the finest companies in the region to attend the event and run a mini job fair, providing a perfect platform for employers and prospective employees to network. “For FDU the event will be a great opportunity to showcase its dynamic engineering program, the enthusiasm of its committed faculty and students and its efforts to promote engineering and engineering-related activities” said Vincenzo Pappano, electrical engineering (Metro).

New Unit in University College

A new academic-administrative unit, Programs in Language, Culture and Professional Advancement (PLCPA), has been established in University College.

Its purpose is to integrate the various global education functions in the college’s nine schools (and in the English proficiency and liberal arts offerings that are taken by international students in Silberman College) with the administration of international student recruitment and student affairs functions. PLCPA incorporates courses listed in the FDU Undergraduate Studies Bulletin under the English Language Institute (ELI), aiming to adjust the levels and kinds of English proficiency of international students to the faculty’s expectations in the various University College and Silberman College programs. The terminology English as a Second Language (ESL) will be changed to English for Special Purposes (ESP).

At the same time, PLCPA aims to relate the English-proficiency education of University College’s international students to the global education of its domestic students through both general education and the major. In addition, PLCPA is University College’s coordinating unit for successfully meeting certain unique challenges of its mission. This mission is to provide educational programming that emphasizes excellent professional preparations for its distinctive student body — which, of all the components of Fairleigh Dickinson University, is and will continue to be the most diverse, both internationally and domestically.

Dalila Suhonjic, formerly director of global initiatives, is the director of Programs in Language, Culture and Professional Advancement.

Exhibits at University Gallery

Two exhibits are scheduled for University College Art Gallery, Room 11, University Hall, Metropolitan Campus, Monday to Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“Huracán: In Wilma’s Shadow,” photographs by Miriam Romais, motorcycle safety, continuing education (Metro), will be on exhibit through February 17. An exhibit closing party will be held on Thursday, February 16, 6:30–8 p.m. For more information go to http://inside.fdu.edu/prpt/huracan.html .

Elaine Lorenz will exhibit her ceramic sculptures, “Nature’s Influences,” on Monday, February 20, through Friday, March 24. A reception for the artist will be held on Thursday, March 2, from 3 to 5 p.m., and she will give a talk at 3:15 p.m.

Wroxton College

Last semester, Wroxton College students traveled north to Edinburgh to have a long weekend in and around Scotland’s historic capital. They had the opportunity to visit Edinburgh Castle, as well as galleries, shops — and even took ghost walks! A trip to the royal yacht Brittania was arranged, and some students took a trip to Stirling Castle and the monument to William Wallace.

Students taking politics courses spent the day in the Houses of Parliament listening to debates in the House of Lords and House of Commons and being addressed at a series of meetings by Baroness Trumpington, John Redwood, Lord Biffen, Lord Tyler, Lord McNally, Lord Howe of Aberavon and Philip Cowley.

February 2006

View text only for this complete issue.

Flor =
College at Florham, Madison, N.J.

Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.

Information Deadlines