College Happenings

Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences

‘Sweet Charity,’ ‘Whose Life Is It Anyway?’ to Be Staged

The visual and performing arts department’s final offerings for the season are “Sweet Charity,” based on a book by Neil Simon with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and “Whose Life Is It Anyway?” by Brian Clark. Performances will be held in Dreyfuss Theater, Dreyfuss Building, College at Florham.

“Sweet Charity” performances will be from Wednesday, March 31, through Saturday, April 3, at 8 p.m.; Friday, April 9, and Saturday, April 10, at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, April 11, at 2:30 p.m. There will be a special performance for high school students on Thursday, April 1, at 11 a.m.

Set in New York City in 1966, the story revolves around Charity Hope Valentine, a dance hall hostess at the Fandango Ballroom. She longs to leave her seedy background and settle down with a good man but is always falling for the wrong guys, who love her and leave her. One steals her purse and throws her in a lake, another hides her in a closet and finally, trapped in an elevator, she meets the man she thinks she’s been waiting for. Originally based on Fellini’s film “Nights of Cabiria,” the musical contains memorable classics such as “Hey Big Spender,” “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” “Rhythm of Life,” “There’s Got to Be Something Better Than This” and “I Love to Cry at Weddings.”

It is directed by Stephen Hollis, theater and director, theater arts (Flor), with Allen Cohen, music (Flor), as musical director.

On Friday, April 9, the FDU Alumni Association Board of Governors is holding a Special Dinner and Theater Night at the College at Florham. Dinner will be held in Hartman Lounge, Hennessy Hall, at 6 p.m., followed by an 8 p.m. performance of “Sweet Charity” in Dreyfuss Theater. Ticket prices for the dinner and theater are $40 (includes dinner, cocktails and theater ticket) and $20 for anyone under 21 (includes dinner and theater ticket). Registration is necessary by Monday, April 5. For registration and information go to http://www.myfdu.net/sweetcharity or contact Madelyn Fine, administrative assistant, alumni relations (Metro), at 201-692-7013 or e-mail fine@fdu.edu.

Whose Life Is It Anyway?” will be staged from Wednesday, April 28, through Saturday, May 1, at 8 p.m., and on Sunday, May 2, at 2:30 p.m. The Thursday, April 27, performance will be followed by a panel discussion on euthanasia. A special matinee for high school students will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 30. The performance is under the direction of Peter Zazzali, Becton College (Flor).

Set in a hospital room, the action revolves around Ken Harrison, a sculptor by profession who has been paralyzed from the neck down in a car accident and is determined to be allowed to die. Clark presents arguments both in favor of and opposing euthanasia and to what extent the government should be allowed to interfere in the life of a private citizen. In portraying Harrison as a bright, witty, vibrant mind trapped in a useless body, the audience is left conflicted about Harrison’s desire to end his life.

Ticket prices for both performances are $5 for students and the FDU community and $10 for all others. Tickets can be booked in advance by calling 973-443-8644 (ext. 4) or purchased at the door. For further information contact Hollis at 973-443-8467 or hollis@fdu.edu.

Tri-collegiate Psychology Research Symposium

The Second Annual Tri-collegiate Psychology Research Symposium will be held on Thursday, April 15, 4–7 p.m., in Hennessy Hall, College at Florham. The event is co-sponsored by FDU, Drew University and the College of St. Elizabeth.

The symposium provides undergraduate, graduate and high school students with an opportunity to showcase their research in the field of psychology. A panel of judges made up of faculty from the three schools will judge student presentations. The prizes for undergraduates are $150 and $75 and the prizes for high school students are $100 and $50. Light refreshments will be served.

Daniel Calcagnetti, psychology (Flor), will deliver the keynote address, “Food for Thought: The Brain and Cuisine,” on the impact that certain foods have on the brain.

For information call 973-443-8547.

Hot Topics

For Black History Month, a Hot Topics panel discussion on “When Disaster Strikes: The Media Coverage of Hurricane Katrina and the Earthquake in Haiti,” was held on February 19 at the College at Florham. Hot Topics events are sponsored by the Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences.

From left are moderator Kathleen Haspel, communication studies (Flor); and panelists Sarah Latson, journalism (Flor); Katherine Dunsmore, communication studies (Flor); and Gregory Adamo, communication studies, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.

New York Piano Society Auditions

On Sunday, April 18, the New York Piano Society (NYPS), is seeking young instrumentalists — violinists, cellists and flutists — between the ages of 10–18, to audition for future guest performances of Piano Society concerts at noon in Hennessy Hall, College at Florham. Each musician must present two contrasting classical pieces with a minimum duration time of 10 minutes. Accomplished amateur pianists of any age who have established careers in other than music fields and college students who are not majoring in music may also audition.

There is a $20 audition fee. Those who are interested may call NYPS at 1-800-862-4630, ext. 48, for more information or visit http://www.newyorkpianosociety.com or e-mail newyorkpianosociety@gmail.com with a proposed program.

The Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences and the New York Piano Society periodically sponsor classical music concerts at the College at Florham.

The New York Piano Society, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to discovering and nurturing talented performers whose primary professions lie outside the field of music performance. The society provides a nourishing environment through recitals, special events with concert artists, workshops and social events and seeks to foster relationships between non-professional and professional pianists so they can learn from and inspire each other, according to Elena Leonova, its founder. For more information call (800) 862-4630, ext. 48, or (609) 937-9239.

Silberman College of Business

Upcoming Breakfast Seminars

David Grant, president and chief executive officer, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, will discuss “Forging Collaborative Partnerships for Sustainability” on Friday, March 26, as part of the Institute for Sustainable Enterprise (ISE)/Center for Human Resource Management Studies (CHRMS) Breakfast Seminar Series.

Presentation highlights include examples of successes at the local level, obstacles that get in the way of this work, the question of whether sustainability is un-American and the ways in which collaborative partnerships can be forged towards a sustainable New Jersey.

The next breakfast seminar, “Bridge to Prosperity: Creating a Resilient Infrastructure Creates a Resilient Nation,” will be held on Friday, April 16, with Mitchell Erickson, director, northeast operations, Interagency and First Responder Programs, Science and Technology Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

The attendance fees of $40 (for the general public) and $25 (for nonprofit organizations) for each event do not apply to FDU faculty, administration, matriculated students and current employees of ISE/CHRMS partners, who are admitted free. To register or for more information visit ISE/CHRMS at http://view.fdu.edu/default.aspx?id=5033 or call 973-443-8577 .

Personal Branding Seminar

“Personal Branding” is the topic of the free Female Entrepreneurs’ Alliance seminar on Thursday, April 8, 6–9 p.m., in the Rutherford Room, Ferguson Recreation Center, College at Florham. Vicki Lynne Morgan, president, Russmor Marketing Group, Califon, N.J., will conduct the seminar.

The event is co-sponsored by the Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurship and the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) Women’s Business Center.

Registration is necessary. For registration or for information call 973-507-9700 or go to http://www.njawbo.org/wbc and click on Seminar Schedule.

Forum on Human Values and Sustainability

A forum on “Human Values and Sustainability” will be held on Tuesday, April 13, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., in Lenfell Hall, Hennessy Hall, College at Florham. Keynote speakers are Robert Sebbag, vice president, access to medicines, Sanofi-Aventis; and Jeffrey Hollender, chairman and co-founder, Seventh Generation. The luncheon speaker is Arturo Condo, rector, INCAE Business School in Costa Rica. Panelists are George Burrill, founder and former chief executive officer, ARD Inc.; Kate Curran, vice president, external affairs, GE Money, and co-founder, The Giving Project; and Morton Emmanuel Winston, philosophy, The College of New Jersey, Trenton, N.J.

The daylong forum is co-presented by the Fulbright Academy of Science and Technology and the Institute for Sustainable Enterprise and is sponsored by the Aspen Institute.

The forum will be followed by the Fulbright Film Festival, which will run from Monday, April 12, to Tuesday, April 13, from 7 to 9 p.m., in Lenfell Hall. The festival will feature documentaries and shorts produced by Fulbright scholars and alumni.

Forum fees are as follows: $425 for executives/managers who work for the government, corporations and foundations; $225 for professors, teachers, executives at nonprofit organizations and retirees; $100 for professionals from low-/middle-income countries, Fulbright scholars and graduate students; and $70 for evening reception and film festival only.

Registration is necessary. For registration and information go to http://www.fast-ise.org or to http://fastiseconference.yolasite.com/ .

2010 Innovation Summit

The Innovation Summit, a half-day intensive seminar designed to help the executive management teams of small- to medium-sized businesses and large corporations better understand how to implement innovation and effectively collaborate at their organizations, will be held on Wednesday, April 14, in Lenfell Hall, Hennessy Hall, College at Florham. This year’s theme is “Improving Education and Talent Development.”

The day will feature presentations by David Grant, president and chief executive officer, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; Hod Lipson, mechanical/aerospace engineering and computing/information science, Cornell University; and Michael Horn, co-founder/executive director of education, Innosight Institute. The speakers’ presentations will be followed by a panel discussion on education and talent development.

The schedule includes breakfast and registration at 7:15 a.m., presentations at 8:15 a.m., a panel discussion at 10:40 a.m. and networking at 11:30 a.m. Cost of the seminar is $145 and pre-registration is necessary. There will be a live webcast, and video-on-demand access will be available after the event. For registration and information call 973-443-8842 or go to http://view.fdu.edu/default.aspx?id=3712 .

O.Berk Company Family Business Forum Series

The Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurship announces that its Family Business Forum has been renamed the O.Berk Company Family Business Forum, thanks to a generous donation from Norbert Gaelen and his family in honor of the company’s 100th anniversary. The Gaelen family’s commitment will enable the Rothman Institute to enhance its services and help more family businesses succeed. The O.Berk Company is a former member of the forum.

O.Berk Company Family Business Forum will offer six seminars this year for those involved in a family business. The Thursday morning seminars, which start at 8:30 a.m. and are held at the Rutherford Room of the Ferguson Recreation Center at the College at Florham, are scheduled from March through November.

Upcoming seminars are “Using Coaching Strategies to Improve Your Performance: Its Value for All Family Members and Non-family Staff,” with Caren Martineau and Michael Hamilton, partners, HME Brand Management Services, on April 15; “Valuating the Family-owned Firm, plus a session on “How to Improve Your Negotiating Skills” on May 20; “An Examination of Family Business Boundaries,” with Jane Adams, family business expert, coach and author, on September 16; “The Ins and Outs of Effective Succession Planning” on October 14; and “Dealing with Human Resource Issues That Affect Family Firms,” with Bud D’Avella, president, Prudent Publishing Company, on November 18.

For information on the free seminars call 973-443-8880 or go to http://www.fdu.edu/rothman .

Anthony J. Petrocelli College of Continuing Studies

ISHTM Students Attend World Conference

On February 7, 2010, the student chapter of the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) sent 15 students to the Annual World Conference of Club Managers in San Diego, Calif. They were accompanied by Kirsten Tripodi, hospitality management (Metro).

The student chapter is housed in the International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (ISHTM) and is supported financially by fundraising efforts coupled with the generosity of the New Jersey Club Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the New Jersey Club Managers Association.

The World Conference incorporates many educational sessions and is connected to the Golf Industry Show. More than 300 students and 5,000 club managers were in attendance, and students had the opportunity to apply and interview for jobs all over the country.

This year’s FDU attendees were officers of the student chapter of the CMAA Jaime Taylor (president); Ashlee Isard (vice president); Jesica Cavuoti (treasurer); and Elana Schulefand (secretary); and members Jill Yoffee, Maureen Dzialowski, Megan Savage, Kevin Shadiack, Massiel Rodriguez, Raffaellina Buonincontri, Jessica Santiago, Bob Perez, Mihai Nyerges, Stephanie Gimigliano and Stephen Schachter.

Kirsten Tripodi, front row, left, hospitality management (Metro),
accompanied 15 students from the student chapter of the Club Managers
Association of America (CMAA) to the Annual World Conference of Club
Managers in San Diego, Calif. They are, front row, from left, Tripodi; Jill
Yoffe and Elana Schulefand (both Flor); Massiel Rodriguez and Jesica
Cavuoti (both Metro); Jaime Taylor, Megan Savage, Ashlee Isard and
Stephanie Gimigliano (all Flor); back row, from left, Kevin Shadiack (Flor);
Jessica Santiago (Hudson County); Maureen Dzialowski (Flor); Stephen
Schachter, BS’09 (Flor); Raffaellina Buonincontri (Flor); and Rob Perez
(Metro).

Transitioning to Green Careers Certificate Program

Kenneth Verhkens, dean, Petrocelli College (Metro/Flor), announced that Petrocelli College’s division of continuing education, Silberman College of Business’ Institute for Sustainable Enterprise and the Transitioning to Green Careers Foundation have partnered to offer the Transitioning to Green Careers™ certificate program, beginning in April 2010.

This three-month, non-credit certificate program supports individuals from all areas of specialization in finding and securing professional positions in the new green economy. The program helps professionals in transition learn and apply leading-edge knowledge of green and sustainable-business practices to make them more marketable in their job search.

Through a combination of state-of-the-art education, personal reflection, career assessment and evaluation and partnership with a Transitioning to Green Careers™-certified career coach, participants will:

• gain insights into who they are, where they are and where they want to go, building on their passions, values, aspirations, knowledge, experience and expertise;

• determine the opportunities (in-house, full-time or part-time positions) or entrepreneurial ventures for which they are best suited; and

• create and execute a personalized, highly effective action plan in pursuit of their career objectives.

All participants attend a dynamic and highly interactive Transitioning to Green Careers Forum™, with subject-matter experts in major industry areas as well as green entrepreneurial opportunities. They receive a personalized set of Green Career Path options and leave with a concrete, personal career-action plan. The program has been approved for Workforce Investment Training Grants and can be found on the state’s Web site under environmental engineering.

The cost of attending the program is $4,000. To register call (800) 338-3887 or 201-692-6500, fax (201) 692-6505 or e-mail ceinfo@fdu.edu. For more information about the program go to http://view.fdu.edu/default.aspx?id=7795 .

Camp Discovery, Leader in Training

Camp Discovery, a day camp for children in grades one through seven, and the Leader in Training (LIT) Program, which is open to 8th and 9th graders, will run from June 28 to August 6 at the Metropolitan Campus and the College at Florham. The programs are given in three two-week sessions.

Camp Discovery activities include science, theater, swimming (College at Florham only), sports, arts and crafts, world discovery, games and fun field trips. LIT offers campers leadership opportunities, workshops and fun/educational field trips.

Weekly field trips for the 2010 season include the Bronx Zoo, Medieval Times, Hackensack Ice House, Bowler City, New York Hall of Science and “The Lion King” on Broadway.

Space is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. The LIT program is already full at the Metropolitan Campus. FDU faculty and staff receive a 20 percent discount. For information call (201) 692-6500 or visit the Web site http://www.fdu.edu/campdiscovery.

Loss Prevention Foundation Certification Examination Committee

Petrocelli College hosted the Certification Examination Committee of the Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) on February 18 and February 19 at the Cyber Crime Training Laboratory in Dickinson Hall, Metropolitan Campus.

The LPF is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving the retail community, providing educational programs, certifying training, promulgating best practices and promoting loss-prevention and asset-protection divisions within the retail industry. Among those who attended were representatives from large corporations such as Macy’s, Sears and T.J. Maxx.

Petrocelli College reviewed the foundation’s certificates — Loss Prevention Certified and Loss Prevention Qualified — for academic credit on the undergraduate level.

University College: Arts • Sciences • Professional Studies

Diggory Works on Exhibit

“Land-skips,” a hybrid painting and photography exhibit by Anne Diggory, will be on display in University College Art Gallery, Room 11, University Hall, Metropolitan Campus, until Friday, April 30. The exhibit will be closed on Thursday, March 18, and Friday, March 19, for spring break.

Diggory paints on top of printed versions of digital collages of photographs of paintings and the locations that inspired them. The introduction of photography extends the range of texture and detail in her work and at the same time gives the viewer a slightly unsettling experience of shifting back and forth between clarity and mystery, with the painted marks sometimes giving more clarity than the fact of photography.

The exhibit includes imagery inspired by waterways in New York’s Adirondack Mountains, as well as the tidal streams and shorelines near Sag Harbor on Long Island. The title of the show, “Land-skip,” is an earlier spelling of landscape, and it is used here with a new meaning that focuses on the gaps or skips in the landscape and the shifts between ways of perceiving the space and expressing it.

Gallery hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. For information call 201-692-2801.

More Writing Studio Workshops, ESL Lunches

The Metro Writing Studio is holding various workshops and English as a Second Language (ESL) conversational lunches this semester.

Upcoming workshops this April are “The Basics of Effective Writing,” with Valerie Dargan, director, Bergen County Human Services Department, on Wednesday, April 7, 8:15–9:45 p.m., at the Metro Writing Studio; “How to Write a Master’s Thesis,” with Paul Caruso, English (Metro), on Wednesday, April 14, 3:30–5 p.m., at the Metro Writing Studio; and “Common Comma Confusion” with Janet Boyd, English composition and coordinator, Metro Writing Studio (Metro).

During the monthly conversational lunches, non-native speakers can practice their spoken-language skills with guidance from Jeanette Adams, University College (Metro).

The lunches will be held from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Metro Writing Studio on the following Fridays with the respective topics: April 9, Think Spring!; April 23, Poetry and Jazz; and May 7, Mother’s Day and More.

The workshops and ESL conversational lunches are free and are open only to members of the FDU community. For more information contact Janet Boyd at 201-692-2166 or boydj@fdu.edu or go to http://ucoll.fdu.edu/metro .

Biology Seminars

The School of Natural Sciences is sponsoring free biology seminars on Thursdays in Room 4468, Dickinson Hall, Metropolitan Campus, from 5:25 to 6:15 p.m.

Remaining seminars for spring 2010 are: on March 25, “Tree Interaction with the Urban Environment,” Carson Glaeser, independent consulting arborist, Glaeser Horticultural Consulting, Flushing, N.Y.; on April 1, “Plant-derived Antioxidants,” Edward Kennelly, biological sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, N.Y.; on April 8, “Brain Neuron Immune Function,” Thomas Molitor, clinical population sciences and director, graduate studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; on April 15, “Drosophila as a Model System,” Angela Klaus, biological studies, Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J.; and on April 22, “New Drugs Against Lupus,” Anne Davidson, microbiology/immunology, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, N.Y. The series will culminate with student presentations on April 29 and May 6.

The seminars are being coordinated by Gerhard Haas, biological sciences (Metro). For information call 201-692-2257.