College Happenings

Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences

‘Whose Life Is It Anyway?’

The visual and performing arts department’s final theatrical production of the 2009–2010 season, “Whose Life Is It Anyway?” written by Brian Clark and directed by Peter Zazzali, Becton College (Flor), will have its remaining performances on April 30 and May 1 and May 2.

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.

Performances are Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 2, at 2:30 p.m. in Dreyfuss Theater, Dreyfuss Building, College at Florham. A special matinee for high school students will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 30. Up to 30 tickets per high school are available.

Ticket prices 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 Stephen Hollis, theater and director, theater arts (Flor), at 973-443-8467 or e-mail hollis@fdu.edu.

Senior Thesis Film Festival

The visual and performing arts department will hold its Annual Senior Thesis Film Festival, which features thesis films made by graduating students, on Tuesday, May 4, at 6 p.m. at the Clearview Headquarters Ten Cineplex in Morristown, N.J. Tickets are $5 at the door, and RSVP is necessary. To RSVP and for information call 973-443-8646 or e-mail fduscreenings@yahoo.com.

High School Studio Summer Workshops

Outstanding high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors are encouraged to join this year’s High School Studio at Florham Program. Designed to build upon student interest and talent, the program offers varied courses that complement the learning process.

The first series of workshops for the “behind the scenes” visual artist is offered Monday to Friday, from July 12–16 and July 19–23 with separate morning and afternoon courses. Students choose from video-game animation; screenwriting and film production; graphics such as creating an online portfolio and live Web designs; and a set of fine arts courses that includes the graphic novel, watercolor and ceramic-character sculpture.

The second series of workshops, designed for the performing artist, is scheduled from Monday, August 2, to Friday, August 13, with both morning and afternoon courses. Students can join any of the two-week workshops in acting, music, film and TV, play or musical theater. Students can choose four out of the five courses offered.

All courses are taught by University faculty who are working professional artists. Morning courses run from 9 a.m. to noon, while afternoon courses are from 1 to 4 p.m. Class size is limited to guarantee personal attention from the FDU faculty. Students may opt for a half-day or full-day program.

Tuition for students who enroll in a full day of workshops includes lunch. Program cost is discounted with two or more courses. One half-day course offered for one week is $400; the cost for two weeks of morning and afternoon workshops is $1,375.

A non-refundable deposit of $150, along with a $20 registration fee, is due with the application by May 15. Registration must be paid in full by June 30. No refunds will be given after June 30.

For more information and to apply, visit the program website at http://www.fdu.edu/highschoolstudio, e-mail summer@fdu.edu or call the High School Studio at Florham Office at 1-800-338-3887.

New York Piano Society Summer Gala Concert

A free summer gala concert of classical piano music, presented by Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences and the New York Piano Society, Inc. will be performed on Sunday, June 6, at 2 p.m. in Lenfell Hall, Hennessy Hall, College at Florham.

The performers are members of the New York Piano Society — outstanding amateur performers who have established careers in fields other than music. According to pianist Elena Leonova, founder and artistic director of the society, the objective of the New York Piano Society is to “establish a venue to enable amateurs to perform publicly.” The society brings together people of varying vocations for a shared experience founded on their love of the piano and classical music.

The doors will open at 1:30 p.m. For more information call 973-443-8661; 1-800-862-4630, ext. 48; or 609-937-9239.

Tri-collegiate Psychology Research Symposium

The Second Annual Tri-collegiate Psychology Research Symposium was held on April 15 at the College at Florham. Undergraduate, graduate and high school students presented their research, with faculty from FDU, Drew University and College of St. Elizabeth judging the presentations.

Shown at the Tri-collegiate Psychology Research Symposium are, back row, from left, Barbara Coe, coordinator, psychology, Drew University; Kaitlyn Nesbitt, graduate assistant, psychology/counseling (Flor); Donalee Brown, psychology (Flor); Dana Kaspereen, psychology (Flor); Vanessa Morgenthaler, graduate assistant, psychology/counseling (Flor); and front row, from left, Rebecca Krantz, administrative assistant, psychology/counseling (Flor); Melanie Conti, coordinator, undergraduate/graduate programs, psychology, College of St. Elizabeth; Yolanda Hawkins Rodgers, psychology and chair, psychology/counseling (Flor); Patricia Heindel, psychology, College of St. Elizabeth; Jennifer Geuther, adjunct instructor, College of St. Elizabeth and Sussex County College; and Anthony Tasso, psychology (Flor).

Silberman College of Business

Third Annual Management Research Symposium

The department of management will be holding its Third Annual Research Colloquium on Thursday, May 13, 3–4:30 p.m., in Hartman Lounge, Hennessy Hall, College at Florham. The event features Rogerio Victer, management (Flor), who will speak about “How Home Country Moderates International Strategy: The Mechanism of Institutional Influence on Firm Performance.” Victer’s research was recently accepted for presentation at the Strategic Management Society International Conference in Rome, Italy. The paper is available for reading before the discussion.

The management department organized the colloquia series to develop collaboration and interests among colleagues within and outside the management department. Through the series, the department hopes to stimulate research ideas, methodologies and interests, as well as help faculty members refine and publish research through constructive feedback and discussion.

To RSVP and for information e-mail Linda Cannilla, graduate assistant, management (Flor), at lcannilla@optonline.net.

Breakfast Seminars Scheduled

The Institute for Sustainable Enterprise (ISE)/Center for Human Resource Management Studies (CHRMS) is offering two breakfast seminars, from 7:30–9:30 a.m., in Hartman Lounge, Hennessy Hall, College at Florham.

On Friday, May 21, Faith Taylor, corporate vice president of sustainability and innovation, Wyndham Worldwide, Parsipanny, N.J., will discuss “Sustainability and Driving Innovation in the Hospitality Sector.”

The last breakfast seminar of the semester, which will be held on Friday, June 18, will feature Edward Barker, Jr., director of corporate partnerships, Earthwatch Institute, Maynard, Mass., who will talk about “Using Partnerships to Enhance Sustainability Outcomes.”

The $40 attendance fee ($25 for nonprofit organizations) does not apply to FDU faculty, administration, matriculated students and current employees of ISE/CHRMS partners. To register or for more information visit ISE/CHRMS at http://view.fdu.edu/default.aspx?id=5033 or call 973-443-8577.

Family Business Forum on May 20

As part of the O.Berk Company Family Business Forum series, a seminar on “Valuating the Family-owned Firm,” plus a session on “How to Improve Your Negotiating Skills,” will be held on Thursday, May 20, 8:30 a.m., at the Rutherford Room of the Ferguson Recreation Center, College at Florham.

Fall seminars are “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.

Discover Business Teen Camps

The Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurship is offering its innovative Discover Business Teen Camps at the College at Florham from July 12 to 16, and at the Metropolitan Campus from July 19 to 23.

The one-week camp, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, will help students gain knowledge in the following areas: teamwork and leadership, communications, finance, marketing and market research and entrepreneurship/business planning.

Discover Business is open to teens entering grades 8 through 12. Rothman Institute faculty and staff will lead the workshops and skill sessions.

Tuition is $490, and registration must be completed by June 25. A $150-nonrefundable deposit plus a one-time $20 registration fee, is required at the time of registration to reserve a space for the camper. All fees must be paid no later than July 6. For more information, call 973-443-8842 or go to http://view.fdu.edu/default.aspx?id=1259.

Anthony J. Petrocelli College of Continuing Studies

Agreement with Hudson County Community College

An articulation agreement for a new “gateway program” in homeland security between Hudson County Community College (HCCC) and Anthony J. Petrocelli College of Continuing Studies was signed on March 26. This agreement will enable students who complete the five-course Homeland Security Certificate program at HCCC to transfer their studies for credit toward a bachelor’s degree in individualized studies or a master’s degree in administrative science at FDU.

At the agreement signing are seated, from left, Eric Friedman, dean of community education, Hudson County Community College; Abegail Douglas-Johnson, vice president for academic affairs, Hudson County Community College; Ronald Calissi, executive associate dean for off-campus credit programs, Petrocelli College, and director, administrative science (Metro/Flor); and standing, from left, Glen Gabert, president, Hudson County Community College; and Kenneth Vehrkens, dean, Petrocelli College (Metro/Flor).

FDU Posts Highest Number of Veterans Enrolled

According to data from the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey (AICUNJ), 170 out of 522 veterans enrolled in New Jersey private colleges had signed up for FDU’s spring 2010 semester. Ariel “A.J.” Luna, director, veterans services (Metro), said, “This is the largest number of enrolled veterans, which accounts for about 32.6 percent of the total AICUNJ enrollment. FDU also has the largest number of yellow ribbon recipients, with 34 out of 131 students, 26 percent of the total AICUNJ enrollment.” See chart below.

ISHTM Study-abroad Trips

Twenty-six students of the International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, accompanied by Aixa Ritz, hotel/restaurant/tourism management, and Donald Hoover, hospitality management (both Metro), traveled to Italy from March 12 to March 20 as part of their undergraduate Global Issues in Hospitality Management course. The students stayed at the Posta hotel in Reggio Emilia, and visited Florence, Parma, Colorno and Bologna.

During their visit to Parma, the group was welcomed by Gianluigi Zenti, president and chief executive officer of Academia Barilla. The students toured the Barilla Pasta Factory, and then they cooked lunch with the Academia’s chefs.

Other highlights of the trip included a sightseeing tour of old Florence and a visit to the Florence Market, where students purchased ingredients for a meal they later prepared at the Apicius International School of Hospitality. They also visited the Bologna Tourism Office, where they had lunch and were given a tour of the Grand Hotel Baglioni, a leading hotel of the world, followed by a walking tour of Bologna. To complete their Italian adventure, the group also visited a parmesan cheese manufacturer, the Casali winery, a balsamic-vinegar manufacturer and the Universita degli Studi de Scienze Gastronomiche (University of Gastronomic Sciences).

Another group of students visited Switzerland as part of the same course (see http://inside.fdu.edu/otw/1003/studyabroad.html).

Below photo: Students who traveled to Switzerland, accompanied by Joseph Tormey, standing, second from right, hospitality management (Metro); and Kirsten Tripodi, kneeling, right, hospitality management (Metro), included, standing, from left, Jesica Cavuoti, Bo Sun, Maneenate Worrachananun, Brittany Lanning, Laura Biviano, Neil Liepmann, Amber Dubiny, Alana Madera, Robert Perez, Stephanie Gimigliano, Nalee Yaoon, Katherine Labriola, Paul Liobe, Jaime Taylor, Kirsten McGlynn, Ashley Eevardi, Kelly Bartolome, Peter Milazzo; and kneeling, from left, Nathalie Gonzalez, Massiel Rodriguez, Jessica Levine, Jennifer Rosenberg and Laura Gachot.

Above photo: At the Hotel Posta in Reggio Emilia are, seated, from left, Aixa Ritz, hotel/restaurant/tourism management (Metro); Umberto Sidoli, owner and general manager, Hotel Posta; Donald Hoover, hospitality management (Metro); Charles Mortiner; Dayapal Chandolia; and standing, from left, Alyson Tartini, Lauren Waida, Jacquelyn Chong, Cassandra Huie, Raffaellina Buonincontri, Rachael Paglino, Brian Leibel, Brianne Wilson, Lisa Frawley, Michael Gill, Xiaojun Shi, Megan Cowee, Huang-Lin Wang, Tiffaney Cappuccio, Kevin Shadiack, Megan Savage, Victoria Vicari, Robyn West, Mayumi Hasegawa, Allison Pillori, Richard Pittner, Amanda Kline and Daniel Levine.

Joseph F. Job Endowed Scholarship

Kenneth Vehrkens, dean, Petrocelli College (Flor), announced that Ronald Calissi, executive associate dean for off-campus credit programs, Petrocelli College, and director, administrative science (Metro/Flor), has raised $25,000 for the Joseph F. Job Memorial Scholarship at FDU. The scholarship is in honor of the late Joseph Job, five-term sheriff of Bergen County, for whom Calissi worked during the early part of his 30-year career in state and county government service with the Sheriff’s Department, Prosecutor’s Office, State Attorney General Division of Criminal Justice and as director of public safety for Bergen County and the Law & Public Safety Institute. The scholarship fund will provide annual scholarships of $500 and $1,000 for credit and non-credit courses related to public safety.

Other ISHTM News

Students of the International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (ISHTM) attended The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show, held at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City on March 1 and 2. While at the show, students attended industry-related seminars, networked with industry executives and learned about the latest trends in the food-service industry.

On March 7, Richard Wisch, hotel/restaurant/tourism management and associate dean/director, hospitality/tourism management (Metro/Flor), hosted the ISHTM’s Spring 2010 Student Scholarship/Benefit Dinner at the Park Avenue Club, Florham Park, N.J. Twenty-nine students were awarded scholarships during the event.

University College: Arts • Sciences • Professional Studies

Olsen’s ‘Journey Into Space’

Alumnus Gregory Olsen, BS’66, BSEE’68, MS’68 (Metro), FDU trustee and president, GHO Ventures, Inc., talked about his “Journey Into Space” in a special presentation to a packed Wilson Auditorium on April 15 at the Metropolitan Campus. The event was sponsored by FDU’s Lee Gildart and Oswald Haase School of Computer Sciences and Engineering.

Olsen’s presentation also touched on his transformation from an underachieving high school student to a prominent scientist. In addition to the members of the University community, more than 100 high school students from Hackensack, East Orange, Paterson and Union City attended the event.

After a question-and-answer period, copies of Olsen’s book, By Any Means Necessary! An Entrepreneur’s Journey Into Space, were raffled off. The book also was on sale and a book-signing and reception followed the presentation.

A live webcast of the event was aired on the University’s website. To view an archived recording of the event go to http://www.fdu.edu/newspubs/olsenwebcast.html. For more photos of the event go to photo story ‘Journey Into Space’ http://inside.fdu.edu/otw/1004/photo6.html . That evening, Olsen also was the invited speaker at an alumni networking event.

Left photo: Alumnus Gregory Olsen, left, BS’66, BSEE’68, MS’68 (Metro), FDU trustee and president, GHO Ventures, Inc., is welcomed by Alfredo Tan, electrical engineering and director, computer sciences/engineering (Metro).

Right photo: J. Michael Adams, left, FDU president, holds up an FDU banner that alumnus Gregory Olsen, right, BS’66, BSEE’68, MS’68 (Metro), FDU trustee and president, GHO Ventures, brought with him to the International Space Station.

University College Gallery

The works of graduating art student Alvin Mofunanya will be on exhibit from May 3 to 7 at the University College Art Gallery, Room 11, University Hall, Metropolitan Campus.

This weeklong display will be followed by an exhibit of works by Yelena Aronson, computer graphics (Metro), from May 10 to June 18 at the gallery.

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