Jane Cooper

How long have you been at FDU?

I began teaching at FDU as an adjunct professor during the summer of 1998. I continued as an adjunct faculty member for the following two years and, in the fall of 2001, I became a full-time lecturer.

The best advice I ever received was from my older sister. She told me that in order to be the best person I can be, I must be able to place myself in another’s shoes and try to understand life from all perspectives. She believed that by adhering to this philosophy I would learn to be a truly empathic person.

A piece of jewelry that I consider to be an amulet. My mother wore this piece daily, as do I, and for me it holds wonderful memories.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Wow, greatest achievement — being able to keep my two children safe, healthy and instilled with a sense of love and security.

My hobbies are …

… ballroom dancing, playing the piano, long-distance bicycling, oil and watercolor painting and reading.

I find it impossible to choose one person, so therefore I must tell you who I would invite to my dinner party — Martina Navratilova, Barbara Walters, Oprah Winfrey, Paul Newman, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Steven Spielberg. I would serve lobster bisque soup, Caesar salad, Chilean sea bass, roasted red potatoes, asparagus and a chocolate soufflé.

I would love to attempt a career in medicine, in particular as a general surgeon. The opportunity to see the immediate results of my efforts make a significant difference in another’s life would be an incredible experience. The profession I would want nothing to do with is one that would not allow me to interact with and influence others.

I would like to live for six months or longer in Italy. The people, artistic feeling, food and overall culture lend itself to a comfortable, romantic feeling.

How long have you been at FDU?

A little over two years.

My friend, Iris, told me to pick my battles. She said it about raising children but I think that it works well in a lot of situations.

Actually, I have trouble narrowing it down to one. I treasure some very special family photos and the piano from my childhood. I definitely must mention the handmade items made by friends to which the word “treasure” truly applies.

That’s a tough one. I would say “my family and friends,” but I don’t know that I can really take credit for them. I am very proud of my daughters and the people they are becoming. I am also very proud of going back to school to get a second graduate degree, especially so many years after my first one.

… counted cross-stitch and designing counted cross-stitch. I also love seeing new places, tasting new foods and doing origami.

I would invite a diverse group of friends. The main thing would be the good conversation that invariably comes out of this kind of gathering. The food would be diverse, too — Hungarian, Slovak, Middle Eastern and Indian, in order to savor the major world influences in my life.

I would like to try to be an accountant (which is why I am back in school), but I would make an awful doctor. My ultimate fantasy, however, would be to run a needlework shop with a stitching area where people could come to stitch and socialize.

I really only see myself living in the northeast U.S. and in Israel. For a year or so, I would love to live in Holland. I have visited there a number of times and love the beauty of the country. The weather is perfect for me (cool, with a good amount of rain), the people are friendly, I have close friends there, and as a former milker, I really appreciate their cows.

Twenty-five years — as an alumnus, (BA’83 [Metro], and MBA’89 [Metro]), instructor and administrator.

“Trust anyone and everyone — until they screw you,” from my mother.

My library card! It has been my passport to many worlds.

Always being available for my students, thus being able to help them to identify their unique strengths and the courage to fulfill their goals.

… fishing, baseball and collecting old books.

Carl Jung, for information and great conversation. I’d call Rich and Janice at Gourmet Dining and trust their impeccable taste for the food and wine.

Horse whisperer! I would not want to be an undertaker or be involved in mortuary sciences.

Italy. I have a page full of reasons, including the people, the art, the architecture, the music, the museums, the Vatican, the food, etc. Ciao!

Almost three years.

Be yourself, open and honest, but cautious. Be willing to explore new things, but understand that there are multiple interpretations to the same event. That advice came from one of my brothers as I was getting ready to “fly” on my own.

A necklace I got from my parents. That has been a constant reminder of their friendly remarks about how to face difficulties with a smile and with the best disposition to search for completeness and satisfaction.

One of the achievements that stands out is the ability I developed to understand and adapt to changing conditions and cultures. This ability reflects on my firm advocacy of behaviors that acknowledge and respect diversity.

Among my favorite hobbies, outdoor activities (hiking, camping out, swimming in the Caribbean, etc.) have a special place. I don’t get to do them as frequently as I used to, due to weather conditions, which are quite different from those I had in my country of origin (Colombia). I also spend a good amount of time reading and listening to music. I also have to mention that I immensely enjoy the possibility of sharing good conversation with friends.

Any good, close friend is more than a perfect guest. The menu would include some of the typical dishes I learned to love as I grew up but would also include some other specialties I have come to enjoy. A good part of the menu is the possibility of sharing that friendship.

I am tempted to say either psychology or sociology. I am always looking for information behind the clues I get from people around me or trying to understand the many different ways people react to the same type of stimulus. Human diversity is fascinating, and I just wish I could have ways to better understand our enormous capacity to relate to the world around us. I do not see myself as a law guardian or doing any activity related to law enforcement. I just feel I do not have that drive. In addition, I always take myself as far away as possible from any issues of that nature. In simple words, I do not want to get involved in judging anybody’s actions.

Italy. It is the most fascinating place I have been. It offers such a rich combination of experiences that it is impossible to resist the strong attraction to that country. People are extremely friendly, very spontaneous. They welcome you and always smile. On top of that, you just have a whole world to explore, from the remains of ancient times to the marvels of recent years. I guess that is a manifestation of that Latin blood we have in our veins.

March 2003

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

Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.

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