Update

Kenneth Vehrkens, dean, Petrocelli College (Metro/Flor), will receive the 2007 Unsung Hero Award at the Minority Athletes Networking (MAN) annual scholarship dinner on May 8 at Mayfair Farms, West Orange, N.J. Vehrkens has been a member of the board of advisers of MAN since its founding year 1989. The organization was co-founded by alumnus George Martin BA’87 (Ruth), a former New York Giants player.

Jason Scorza

Jason Scorza, philosophy/political science and director, art/media studies and English/philosophy/humanities (Metro), was named a 2007–2008 American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow. He is one of 39 Fellows selected nationwide. The ACE Fellows program identifies and prepares promising senior faculty and administrators for leadership positions in university administration. The program combines seminars, interactive learning opportunities, campus visits and placement at another higher-education institution for a semester or academic year. ACE Fellows participate in the highest level of decision making while participating in administrative activities that benefit their home institutions.

Vincent Varrassi, director, Regional Center for College Students with Learning Disabilities (Metro), wrote “Planning for College Success for Students with Learning Disabilities,” the lead article in Tech-NJ 2007 Assistive Technology for People with Disabilities, published by the College of New Jersey, School of Education. His article focused on questions students should consider when looking for a college.

Ethné Swartz, entrepreneurial studies and chair, marketing/entrepreneurial studies (Flor), presented “Outcomes Assessment as an Opportunity: The Case of a Business Planning Course in a Business Curriculum,” at the 2007 Annual Conference of the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Ronald Calissi, executive associate dean for off-campus credit programs, Petrocelli College, and director, administrative science (Metro/Flor), was named Educator of the Year by the Italian American Police Society of New Jersey for his significant contributions to numerous public and nonprofit organizations as an administrator and teacher in higher education. Calissi also was commended by the New Jersey Senate Resolution as a man of outstanding character, exceptional determination and a meritorious record of service, commitment and leadership.

Vicki Cohen, education; director, education; and program coordinator, instructional technology certificate (Metro), and John Cowen, elementary education/reading and coordinator, MAT elementary education/literacy reading specialist certification (Metro) co-wrote Literacy for Children in an Information Age: Teaching Reading, Writing and Thinking, which was published by Thomas Wadsworth in February.

Nancy Cunard: Heiress, Muse, Political Idealist, a book by Lois Gordon, English (Metro), was highly praised on the cover of the April 6, 2007, issue of The New York Times Book Review. The book revolves around the life of Nancy Cunard, heiress to the British Cunnard shipping fortune. With the book already in its fourth printing, the movie rights are being sought.

James Barrood, executive director, Rothman Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies (Flor), attended the Council on Competitiveness’ 20th Anniversary Conference in Washington, D.C. The Rothman Institute is a national affiliate of the council.

Faramarz Fatemi, left, and Elise Salem.

Elise Salem, associate provost for global learning (Metro/Flor) and English (Flor), and Faramarz Fatemi, director history/political and international studies and history/political science (Metro), discussed “The Changing Middle East: Lebanon and Iran” at a post-symposium human rights speaker series.

Frank Brunetti, law/taxation (Metro), attended the second session of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Cooperation in International Tax Matters in Geneva, Switzerland, as an observer member. At the session, Brunetti suggested reorganizing the United Nations Manual for Negotiations of Bilateral Tax Treaties Between Developed and Developing Countries, which his subgroup had been working to improve. After his presentation, Brunetti was appointed coordinator of a working group to update the manual.

On March 9, Bernard Dick, English/communications and coordinator, MA in media/professional communication (Metro), presented a paper titled “Lillian Hellman’s ‘The Little Foxes: The Play, the Film and the Opera’” as part of the Lillian Hellman and William Wyler Festival in Birmingham, Ala. Dick’s review of Scott Eyman’s book Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer appeared in the spring 2007 issue of Film Quarterly.

A review by William Roberts, Jr., social sciences and director, Public Administration Institute (Metro), of the two-volume Le Carte del Sacro Tavolo: Aspetti del Pontificato di Pio X dai Documenti del Suo Archivio Privato was published in the April 2007 issue of The Catholic Historical Review. The two volumes deal with the Vatican’s recently declassified private correspondence of Pope Pius X (1903–1914).

Dwight Davidson, assistant dean of students for judicial affairs (Flor), presented a lecture titled “Children of the Star, the Cross and the Swastika” on April 17 at Sussex (N.J.) County Community College.

Frank Scott, public administration (Metro), was acknowledged as a reviewer for his contributions to the development of the textbook Hazard Mitigation and Preparedness, which was published by John Wiley & Sons. The book will be used in the master of administrative science course Emergency Management and Safety Administration.

Susan Neihart, director of graduate recruiting/marketing, graduate admissions (Metro), and Anita Rivers, director, adult/part-time admissions, continuing education (Metro), are co-hosting the College Expo for Adult and Graduate Students on Saturday, May 5. The free event, which is sponsored by the Higher Education Consortium of the New York Metropolitan Area of which FDU is a member, will be held at the Rothman Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Michael Goodman, English (Metro), and director, Corporate Communication Institute (Flor), will present “The Awakening of the Dragon: Could China Revolutionize Corporate Communications?” at the 10th Annual Brazilian Corporate Communications Congress. The congress will be held from May 16 through May 18 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

On April 17, Denise O’Shea, systems librarian/technical support specialist, Weiner Library (Metro), presented “Google™ or PubMed: Which is Better for Medical Research?” to 50 residents as part of National Library Week celebration at the New York Metropolitan Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Joan Leder, senior program director, continuing education (Metro), and a member of the Metropolitan Campus Threat Assessment Team, relates that after the Relational Violence Subcommittee’s sponsored presentation of the discussion, led by Ted Bunch, co-founder of A Call to Men and Women to End Violence Against Women, the audience took a pledge to take an active role in changing attitudes and perceptions about violence against women.

Gerard Farias, management and executive director, Institute for Sustainable Enterprise, reports that his Business Organization class project, a dinner-cruise fund-raiser for Goryeb Children’s Hospital at Morristown Memorial, is being held Friday, April 29. The ship, “The Temptress,” will cruise around Manhattan. The special offer for FDU faculty and staff is $60 per person. Go to http://www.fdukares4kids.org for more information. For tickets at this special rate, send an e-mail to gfarias@fdu.edu. The service-learning project initiative is called FDU Kares for Kids. Twenty-five students are involved.

In Memoriam

Edward Catanzaro, chemistry (Metro), died on April 20 at the age of 74. Catanzaro joined the University in 1971 as associate professor. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; his son, Anthony; his daughter, Kathleen Tosi; his sister, Virginia Ribotsky; and grandchildren, Matthew and Michael Catanzaro. There will be a memorial at the Robert Spearing Funeral Home, 155 Kinderkamack Road, Park Ridge, N.J., on Saturday, April 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Hackensack River Keeper, Inc., 231 Main Street, Hackensack, N.J. 07601 or to the Hospice at Bergen Community Health Care, 400 Old Hook Road, Westwood, N.J. 07675.

Announcing

Colleen Coppla-Vasold, campaign director, University advancement (Metro), and her husband, Art Vasold, announce the birth of their son, Cole Patrick, on March 22.

Welcome

The University welcomes new full-time and part-time employees who joined FDU as of April 16, 2007.

Welcome to Brigid Burke, systems/technical services assistant, library (Flor); Julia Kieran, administrative assistant, mathematics/computer science/physics (Flor); Lynda Kuit, assistant to the campus dean (Van); David O’Reilly, business manager/senior learning resources/support specialist (Van); Rakesh Penugonda, coordinator, educational technology (Flor); Nicole Scott-Harris, officer, public safety (Flor); and Jennifer Thorspecken, advisement counselor, academic advising/student support services (Metro).

April/May 2007

View text only for this complete issue.

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

Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.

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