Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences

Nelson to Read from Her Book on Reading

The Literary Review and the English, communication and philosophy department will be sponsoring a free reading on Thursday, April 15, at 5 p.m. in the Orangerie, College at Florham Library.

Sara Nelson, author of the recently published memoir, So Many Books, So Little Time: A Year of Passionate Reading, will be reading from her work and signing books.

The review of her book in Publisher’s Weekly reveals that in her prologue Nelson writes, “I have a New Year’s plan.” Her goal: to read a book a week for a year and try “to get down on paper what I’ve been doing for years in my mind: matching up the reading experience with the personal one and watching where they intersect — or don’t.” Armed with a list of books, the author, a Glamour senior contributing editor, the New York Observer’s publishing columnist and a veteran book reviewer, begins her 52-week odyssey. She succeeds in sharing her infectious enthusiasm for literature in general, the act of reading and individual books and authors. Along the way, Nelson unearths treasures.

Visual/Performing Arts Presents ‘Pippin’

The musical “Pippin,” with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, will be presented by the visual and performing arts department Wednesday, April 14, through Sunday, April 18.

Performances are in Dreyfuss Theater, Dreyfuss Building, College at Florham, Wednesday, April 14, through Saturday, April 17, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, April 18, at 2:30 p.m. A special performance for high school students will be held on Friday, April 16, at 11 a.m. Tickets are $5 for students and the FDU community and $10 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling 973-443-8644, ext. 4.

For information, contact Stephen Hollis, theater program director (Flor), at 973-443-8467 or at hollis@fdu.edu.

Silberman College of Business

2004 East Coast Collegiate Entrepreneur Awards

The 2004 East Coast Collegiate Entrepreneur competition is open to undergraduate-level students who run their own businesses while enrolled in colleges, universities and technical or career schools. This program recognizes winners from New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Delaware. Each state will recognize first- and second-place winners, who will be awarded $1,000 and $500, respectively. In addition, the judges will select a regional winner who will receive an extra $1,000, bringing the total grand prize to $2,000. Winners will be announced and honored in early May.

Administered by the Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies, this program is affiliated with the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards competition sponsored by St. Louis University in Missouri. The winner of the East Coast competition will compete with winners from other national and international regions in the global competition, where the first place award is $10,000, with an additional $1,000 awarded to the nominator.

James Barrood, director, entrepreneurial studies (Flor), said, “It is important for schools to encourage and recognize entrepreneurial students who pursue business ventures because innovative small and growing businesses are generally responsible for much of the job creation nationwide.”

This year’s competition will be judged by George Taber, president of Business News New Jersey; Erik Ipsen, deputy managing editor for Crain’s New York Business; Dee DelBello, CEO/publisher of Fairfield County Business Journal; and James Streit, Jr., publisher of the New Castle Business Ledger (Del.). Sponsors include Wachovia and the Edison Venture Fund.

New Jersey Female Entrepreneur Lecture Rescheduled

The inaugural New Jersey Female Entrepreneur Lecture on “Focusing on the Future: Growing Your Company in a Competitive Environment,” by Diahann Lassus, president and co-founder of Lassus Wherley & Associates, P.C., a wealth-management firm with offices in New Jersey and Florida, and the presentation of the winners of the 2004 New Jersey Business Idea Competition, has been rescheduled for Friday, March 26, at 6 p.m. in Lenfell Hall, the Mansion, College at Florham. The events are free. For further information see http://inside.fdu.edu/pt2/otw0402/happenings.html, Silberman College of Business, or call 973-443-8842.

New College of General and Continuing Studies

SATs of Interdisciplinary Students High

“One of the goals of the bachelor of arts in interdisciplinary studies program is to attract intelligent, highly motivated students with varied interests to the University,” said Kenneth Vehrkens, dean, New College (Metro/Flor). “If one dimension of measurable success is Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, then on this dimension the program is succeeding.” The average SAT scores of first-year students entering the program in the fall 2003 class was 1,223.

New MAS Courses and Certificate

Three new online graduate courses are being offered in the master of administrative science program, beginning in April. Managing Organizational Change, Customer Service, and Grant Writing and Administration will bring the total to nine online courses being offered in the Summer I trimester.

Also, a 15th specialization has been added to the MAS program — a Certificate in Global Emergency Medical Services Administration. This four-course, 12-credit graduate certificate was designed by two adjunct faculty members in the School of Administrative Science, Cathy Vacirca and Victor Carter, veteran members of the emergency medical services community. This certificate program will be piloted in Bergen and Somerset counties in April.

For more information, e-mail calissi@fdu.edu or call 201-692-7171 or 7172.

Wine and Food Celebrated in Annual Classic

The second annual New Jersey Annual Wine and Food Classic, hosted by Fairleigh Dickinson University, will be held on Friday, April 23, and Saturday, April 24.

In addition to tastings and gourmet wine dinners, there are hands-on seminars and spirited discussions — all open to the public. Proceeds from the New Jersey Annual Wine and Food Classic will benefit students through the Scholarship Fund of the University’s International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

There are five events on April 23. The Grand Tasting will feature more than 30 wineries from 11 viticultural areas around the world as well as artisan cheeses and seasonal hors d’oeuvres. The program for the walk-around tasting outlines each country as well as the wines being offered and will be held in the Mansion, College at Florham.

On this same evening, there are four wine dinners in highly regarded New Jersey restaurants known for their commitment to great food and wine — Acqua Ristorante, Raritan, N.J., featuring the great wines of Italy from Banfi Vintners; Huntley Taverne, Summit, N.J., featuring boutique wines of the Napa Valley; The Dining Room at The Hilton Short Hills, Short Hills, N.J., featuring the wines of Ferrari Carano Winery; and The Bernards Inn, Bernardsville, N.J., featuring Burgundian wines of Joseph Drouhin.

Saturday, April 24, features 10 seminars that range from “Australia Uncorked” to “Amazing Desserts Anytime.” Each seminar explores a key trend in the world of fine wine and gourmet food. The seminars will be held at the Dolce Hamilton Park Conference Center, Florham Park.

Specifics on each event, registration information and pricing is fully outlined on the event’s Web site, http://www.njwineandfood.com. Call George Staikos, event coordinator and international hospitality/tourism management (Flor), at 908-284-4930 with questions.

Scholarship/Benefit Dinner, Sold-out Event

Left photo: Bill Doran, left, multimedia specialist, University systmes/security (Metro), and his wife, Kathy, are served by Metropolitan Campus student Aracelis Castillo. Right photo: Ruth Hladyk, left administrative assistant, international hospitality/tourism management (Flor), and Kirsten Tripodi, center, international hospitality/tourism management (Metro), are pictured with students from left, Dev Tailor (Metro), Becky Ketchum (Metro) and John Wilkens (Flor).

The International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management’s annual student scholarship/benefit dinner on February 28 was another sell-out event held at Hamilton Park Conference Center; approximately 300 persons attended. During the dinner, Kenneth Vehrkens, dean, New College (Metro/Flor), announced that Richard Wisch, the school’s director (Metro/Flor), has been appointed an associate dean. Also, John Hughes, international hospitality/tourism management (Flor), has been named the school’s associate director. A doctoral candidate at Columbia University Teachers College, Hughes is the director of the school’s Professional Development Sequence at the College at Florham.

From right, Richard Ottaway, associate dean for academic affairs, Silberman College (Metro/Flor); and his wife, Elaine; student Meridith Brown (Flor); George Staikos, international hospitality/tourism management (Flor); student Alison Mozak (Flor); Albert Schielke, associate dean, University College (Metro); and his wife, Susan; student Mira Rosenzweig, president, Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management Society (Metro); Richard Wisch, director and associate dean, international hospitality/tourism management (Flor/Metro); and student Jenifer Santangelo, president, Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management Society (Flor).

Rider Safety Education Follows New Curriculum

The University’s motorcycle safety education program will initiate the 2004 state motorcycle safety education courses by offering a new curriculum, developed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation after years of research with adult learning techniques. It is designed as a student-centered, rather than instructor-led, program. Instructors carry the title “Rider Coach” to identify their roles as facilitators in the learning process both in the classroom and outside during riding exercises. The first course of the season begins March 19. Weekend classes are booked into mid-July. Joan Leder, senior program director, continuing education (Metro), heads the program.

ROGATE Lectures

On Thursday, March 18, New College will offer ROGATE Academic Interest Lectures to more than 300 gifted-and-talented fifth- and sixth-graders from around the state of New Jersey in the Edward Williams Building, Metropolitan Campus. Ann Taxier, English, New College (Metro), will present “Creative Writing and Poetry Workshop.” Kenneth Vehrkens, dean, New College (Metro/Flor), will speak on “What Will My Job Be: Career Opportunities in 2014?” This is the 20th year that New College has hosted the Academic Interest Lectures.

Shelter Our Sisters

The Strategic Planning Workshop for Shelter Our Sisters, the only facility in Bergen County that houses victims of domestic violence, was co-sponsored by the School of Administrative Science at the Metropolitan Campus in February.

University College: Arts • Sciences • Professional Studies

The School of Natural Sciences and Hackensack Riverkeeper Incorporated have joined forces to offer two environmental science courses, Science of Environmental Advocacy I and II.

Both courses will be taught by the Riverkeeper’s staff. Advocacy I will introduce the methodology of environmental advocacy through legal, economic, scientific, sociological and historical aspects of environmental protection. The second course, an independent study, will involve work with the Riverkeeper staff on a project of regional importance pertaining to the Hackensack River watershed.

For additional information, contact Edward Catanzaro, chemistry (Metro), at 201-692-2340 or catanzar@fdu.edu.

March 2004

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

Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.

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