College and Center Happenings November 2025

Henry P. Becton College of Nursing and Allied Health

Information sessions on a variety of nursing and allied health programs will be held via Zoom on select days.

• Undergraduate/Entry-level Nursing (BSN, Accelerated BSN) — noon–1 p.m. EST: select Thursdays (December 4, February 5)
• Allied Health (Including Respiratory Therapy), Health Studies and Phlebotomy — 1–2 p.m. EST: select Thursdays (December 4, February 5)
• Graduate Nursing (Nurse Practitioner MSN and Postgraduate Certificate and Doctor of Nursing Practice [DNP])— noon–1 p.m. EST: select Tuesdays (November 25, January 27)
• Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) — noon–1 p.m. EST: select Tuesdays (November 25, January 27)
• MSN Entry-to-RN Practice — noon–1 p.m. EST: select Wednesdays (November 19, December 17, January 21)

For inquiries email CONAH@fdu.edu.

Maxwell Becton College of Liberal Arts and Education

Winter Festival

The annual Winter Festival concert will be held on Monday, December 8, at 7:30 p.m., in Dreyfuss Theater, Dreyfuss Building, at the Florham Campus.

The event will feature performances of a wide variety of classical, popular and seasonal music by music faculty members Kevin Brown, double bass; Allen Cohen, piano; Christopher Hodson, voice; Meagan Lee Hodson, voice; Nat Janoff, guitar; Mariana Karpatova, voice; Peter Toth, piano; and Elzbieta Winnicki, violin, with the FDU Chorus; FDU Chamber Choir; and the FDU Band.

Tickets are $5 and free for FDU students with ID. For information email Allen Cohen at alcmusic@fdu.edu.

Art Exhibit Opening

An opening reception for “Ancient American Sculptures and Carvings” will be held on Thursday, November 20, from 3 to 5 p.m., at the Hispanic Center and Center for Student Success, Fourth Floor, Robison Hall, Metropolitan Campus. It is cosponsored by the Hispanic Center and Center for Student Success and art, communication, and media.

According to Irene Oujo, executive director, Hispanic Center and Center for Student Success (Metro), “The exhibit celebrates the ancient art of Mesoamerica and showcases works by FDU students who created their own art inspired by research on this topic.” Works by local artists Natalia Tous, Claudia Dominguez and Sandra Martinez will also be on display.

The exhibit will run until April 2026. Regular exhibit hours are Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information email Irene Oujo at oujo@fdu.edu.

Healing Us Book Reading and Signing 

Daniel Regan, author of Healing Us: A Memoir, will read select passages from his book, which details his struggle with addiction and journey to recovery, on Thursday, December 4, from 4 to 6 p.m., in the Rutherford Room, Greg Olsen Student Union, on the Metropolitan Campus.

Following the reading, Regan will host a question-and-answer session, giving the audience a closer look at the inspirations behind his writing. He will cap the evening with a book signing.

The free event, which is open to the public, is sponsored by the department of social sciences, history and criminal justice. Registration is necessary. For information email Elizabeth Panuccio, criminal justice and interim associate dean, Becton College (Metro), at elizpanu@fdu.edu.

‘Much Ado About Nothing’

Shakespeare’s most popular comedy, “Much Ado About Nothing,” will be performed at the Dreyfuss Theater, Dreyfuss Building, Florham Campus, from Friday, November 21, through Sunday, November 23. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. on Friday with the opening cast; 2:30 p.m. with the opening cast and 7:30 p.m. with the closing cast on Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday with the closing cast.

The comedy includes two intertwined but different stories of romantic love. The production is being presented as part of the THEA3358 Acting Shakespeare course. Patrick Polsin, theater (Flor), will direct the production, with lighting design by David Landau, film (Flor).

The production is free and open to the public. For information call 973-443-8644 or go to FDU Theater Season.

HSI Battle of the Brains

For the fifth straight year, a team of FDU students — from Silberman College of Business and the Gregory H. Olsen College of Engineering and Science — competed in the HSI Battle of the Brains. The team of eight traveled to Austin, Tex., in October to join the 24-hour challenge. At the competition, participants must “develop a solution based on the business challenges presented, and create a marketing plan with collateral, and a go-to-market strategy.”

This year’s FDU group — which placed sixth out of 18 teams — was composed of Kelly Alas, marketing major (Metro); Elliot Guzman Lescas, accounting graduate student (Flor); Erick Jacomes, computer science major (Metro); Anastasia Lim, senior business administration major (Metro); Fiorella Merriman-Mendez, MBA student (Flor); Jonathan Nunez, information technology major (Metro); Allan Salazar, computer science major (Metro); and Valentina Torres da Silva, computer science major (Metro).

According to Avimanyou Vatsa, computer science (Metro), who was the team leader and lead adviser, the FDU group received a Top Business Score on the project and was selected among seven universities for the pitch talk, for which the team ranked second.

Nunez received a $2,000 scholarship from Dell Technologies. Scholarship recipients are selected based on their academic excellence, leadership qualities and commitment to community engagement.

The FDU team was accompanied by Vatsa and Adviser Luz Helena Flores, associate director for recruitment and community, Hispanic Center and Center for Student Success (both Metro). J. Daniel Wischnevsky, management and associate dean, Silberman College (Metro), was also an adviser. To read more go to “FDU Team Places High in the HSI Battle of the Brains.”

Supreme Court 2025

Students and Becton College faculty members talked about the “Supreme Court 2025 Term: Preview and Review.” Among the discussants were Tiffany Bergin, criminology/criminal justice (Flor), and Tracy Osawe, government and politics major and president, Prelaw Honor Society. Bruce Peabody, government and politics and director, Fairleigh Institute for Lifelong Learning (Flor), moderated the discussion.

Banned Books Event

The Peter Sammartino School of Education and the FDU library cosponsored a virtual discussion on “Teaching Challenged Texts: Navigating Banned and Challenged Books in the Classroom” in October. Melissa Smith, education and director, QUEST and Master of Arts in Teaching program, and Brian Mooney, education (both Metro), explored how teachers can foster inclusive conversations around literature and promote critical thinking in the classroom.

A recording of the event may be viewed on the FDU library website .

Gregory H. Olsen College of Engineering and Science

Rain Barrel Ribbon-cutting Ceremony

A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony for a rain barrel donated by Teaneck, N.J., resident Beverly Luchfeld was held on November 6 at the Metropolitan Campus.

Attended by members of the campus community, the ceremony featured remarks from Luchfeld; Marion McClary, biological sciences and chair, biological sciences department (Metro); and Patty Keefe Durso, vice provost for academic affairs.

The rain barrel was donated on behalf of The Jack Flamholz Water Sustainability Project, which was founded in 2017 in memory of Luchfeld’s husband, Jack, an avid supporter of Teaneck Creek Conservancy and water sustainability.

According to McClary, Luchfeld strongly believes in the importance of sustainability and is responsible for a rain barrel that is along the Hackensack River Greenway in Teaneck, which runs along the Metropolitan Campus. She had reached out to McClary, who is a member of the Hackensack River Greenway Advisory Board, to donate the rain barrel for the campus’s use.

The rain barrel will be used to provide water for plants in the greenhouse, which is located between the Kron Administration Building and River Road. This donation, along with the creation of a new student green team, may generate more campus activities utilizing the green house.

IEEE Summit Call for Presentations

Undergraduate, graduate and high-school students may present individual or group research projects at the IEEE Summit on Applied AI for Bioinformatics and Cybersecurity on Tuesday, December 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Room 208, Becton Hall, on the Metropolitan Campus, and via Zoom. Complimentary breakfast and lunch will be served.

Among the summit’s speakers are Benjamin Rifkin, University provost and senior vice president for academic affairs; Badri Adhikari, computer science, University of Missouri – St. Louis; and Abhijeet Chaudhary, senior data scientist, ADP.

Winning students/teams will receive $200 for first prize and $100 for second prize. Participating students will also receive Certificates of Presentation and have the opportunity to network and enjoy discussions with experienced researchers.

All attendees, including participating students/teams, must register. Students and teams must confirm their participation by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 7. Their presentations — 15-minute presentable slides — must be submitted via email to Avimanyou Vatsa, computer science (Metro), vice-chair of the IEEE Systems Council, secretary of the IEEE North Jersey Section and IEEE Summit organizer, at avatsa@fdu.edu by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 8.

The IEEE Summit was organized by the Gregory H. Olsen College of Engineering and Science, the IEEE Systems Council and the IEEE North Jersey Section. For inquiries contact Avimanyou Vatsa at 201-692-2498 or avatsa@fdu.edu or Mike Newell, chair of the IEEE Systems Council, at mike.newell2@13harris.com.

Biology Seminar

The department of biological sciences will host a free seminar on Thursday, December 4, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in Room 1127, Dickinson Hall, Metropolitan Campus.

Qaiser Tarique, visiting scholar, biochemistry/microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J., will speak about “Impaired Reproduction of Urban-deployed Oysters.”

For information call 201-692-2391.

Talk Series on Applied AI

Naveen Kumar, founder and CEO of Truxt.ai, spoke about “Building a Scalable Generative AI Product” on October 29 at the Metropolitan Campus and via Zoom as part of the Talk Series GAP 0.1 on Applied AI.

Kumar specializes in helping organizations leverage intelligent analytics to accelerate software delivery while maintaining enterprise-grade security and reliability. He holds three patents in software engineering automation and is recognized for his innovative approach to integrating AI into software-development lifecycles.

The talk, which was attended by members of the University community, was cosponsored by the Olsen College of Engineering and Science, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Systems Council and the IEEE North Jersey Section.

According to Avimanyou Vatsa, computer science (Metro), vice-chair of the IEEE Systems Council and secretary of the IEEE North Jersey Section, the presentation was interactive. “It generated a lively discussion as our curious and creative budding engineers, mathematicians, data scientists, mechanical engineers and computer scientists posed insightful and challenging questions,” he said.

Vatsa and Michael Newell, chair of the IEEE Systems Council, organized the event.

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

College Open House

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will be holding its fall open house on Saturday, November 15, from 9 a.m. to noon, at 230 Park Avenue, Florham Park, N.J.

Attendees can obtain information on pharmacy, occupational therapy and physician assistant studies programs; meet pharmacy/health sciences faculty, staff and current students; learn about the college’s integrated-curriculum and experiential-education opportunities; and tour the college and view its state-of-the-art classroom, lab and study space.

For inquiries contact Tracy Templin, executive director for admissions/enrollment operations, pharmacy/health sciences (Flor), at tracyt@fdu.edu.

Day at The Capitol

Occupational therapy faculty member Theresa Westgard, together with students of FDU’s inaugural occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program, participated in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) on the Hill, in Washington, D.C., which was organized by the AOTA.

Along with fellow occupational therapy students and professionals from across the country, the FDU group traveled to Capitol Hill to advocate for the following key legislative priorities:

• Extending the Medicare Telehealth Waiver, ensuring continued access to OT services via telehealth;
• Supporting the Occupational Therapy Mental Health Parity Act to clarify and expand OT coverage under Medicare;
• Urging co-sponsorship of the Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act to promote equitable access to OT services in home-health settings; and
• Encouraging robust FY26 LHHS (Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies) appropriations for IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act), and healthcare workforce pipeline programs to strengthen OT education and services.

The decision to participate was made during Westgard’s summer class on Healthcare Leadership and Advocacy. “This course challenged students to demonstrate their knowledge of effective leadership styles, while identifying personal and professional strengths and areas for growth to become an effective leader,” she said.

“By joining these discussions with key lawmakers, FDU OTDs advocated for the essential role occupational therapy plays in healthcare, education and community settings, emphasizing the need for policies that support access, equity and professional growth within the field,” Westgard added. “Participating in this national advocacy event also helped to support our students’ understanding of the link between community/state/federal leadership and the promotion of our OT profession.”

Virtual Graduate Open Houses, Information Session

Virtual open houses for the Master of Public Health (MPH) program and a virtual information session for the Master of Social Work (MSW) program will be held in December. The events will include program overviews and Q&A sessions with faculty.

• MPH Virtual Open Houses will be held at 7 p.m. EST on the first Wednesday of every month: December 3 and January 7.
• The MSW Virtual Information Session will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 9.

Registration is necessary. For information contact Tracy Templin, executive director for admissions/enrollment operations, pharmacy/health sciences (Flor), at tracyt@fdu.edu.

College of Psychology and Counseling

About 90 faculty, staff and students (undergraduate and graduate) from the Metropolitan Campus joined this year’s Out of the Darkness Walk on October 4 at Overpeck Park in Ridgefield Park, N.J., to help raise funds for The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Proceeds will help fund AFSP’s research, education, advocacy and loss-support programs. According to Celina Mazon, AFSP fundraising manager, “In 2024, we hosted more than 161 educational programs and trained more than 10,000 New Jerseyans to help prevent suicides.”

This is the first time that FDU had sponsored and joined the walk. The University donated 36 lawn signs that promoted positive mental health messaging and included QR codes to access resources. Gallons of water along the route were also provided for participants who went on the one- and three-mile walks. An FDU table was set up along the route where information about the University’s community-based mental health clinic, the Center for Psychological Services, along with the launch of FDU’s Stigma Free Center, was disseminated. Resources and premium items from Transforming College Campuses were also distributed to participants. Members of the Knights softball, women’s lacrosse, bowling and track and field teams volunteered at the event.

FDU participants found the walk inspirational. “Seeing so many people coming together to support efforts to prevent suicide was really moving,” said Stefanie Ulrich, director, FDU Center for Psychological Services (Metro). “To be part of an event with such an important purpose was deeply meaningful for us. We look forward to future partnerships with AFSP and its local New Jersey chapter.”

For a video of the event’s highlights go to Bergen County Walk.

Silberman College of Business

Faculty Colloquia

The School of Public and Global Affairs is hosting monthly Faculty Colloquia via Zoom — on select Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. EST — on a variety of topics.

Upcoming colloquia are “Focusing on the Human in the Age of AI: Compassion in the Undergraduate Curriculum,” with Benjamin Rifkin, humanities and University provost/senior vice president for academic affairs, on November 19; “Global Health Leadership and Financing Without the United States,” with Arnold Okpani, global health/human services (Van), on December 10; and “How Health Care Quality Is Measured and Publicly Shared: Canada, U.S., Australia, U.K. and Germany,” with Abiola Adeniyi, health/human services and coordinator, of Master of Healthcare Administration Program (Van), and Ulrike Berzau, public/global affairs (Metro).

The colloquia are free and open to the public. For information contact Peter Woolley, political science (Flor) and chair, public/global affairs, at woolley@fdu.edu.

Graduate Open Houses

The School of Public and Global Affairs will be holding open houses for the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree, Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with specialization in healthcare management and Certificate in Healthcare Management. They will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

• Tuesday, November 18, Cafeteria, Holy Name Medical Center, 718 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, N.J.;
• Tuesday, December 2, Cafeteria, 4 Valley Health Plaza, Paramus, N.J.;
• Tuesday, December 9, Outside Cafeteria, The Valley Hospital Dorothy B. Kraft Center, 15 Essex Road, Paramus, N.J.; 
• Thursday, December 11, Cafeteria, Clara Maass Medical Center, 1 Clara Maass Drive, Belleville, N.J.; and
• Tuesday, December 16, Holy Name Administrative Offices, 3 University Plaza Drive, Hackensack, N.J.

For information email Christina Costa, MHA program manager (Metro), at c.costa1@fdu.edu. She will be at the college fair and open houses to answer questions and assist prospective students with their applications.

FDUPitch 2026

Silberman College has launched FDUPitch 2026, an annual business-idea competition for all FDU undergraduate students. Students whose ideas are selected will be paired with mentors who will provide them with feedback to refine their pitches. Graduate students can compete if they have at least one undergraduate student in their team.

Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis. Final deadline is on February 4, 2026. The student/team who wins will compete in the UPitchNJ statewide competition to be held in May 2026.

For details about the competition and submission guidelines go to FDUPitch Business Idea Competition or contact Eun-Jeong “EJ” Ko, entrepreneurship (Flor), at eko@fdu.edu.

Hall of Fame Gala Held

This year’s Silberman College Hall of Fame Gala, which was held on October 17 at the Florham Campus, raised more than $200,000 to support student scholarships.

This year’s honorees were Sarah Hassan, BS’09, MBA’10 (Flor), fund manager, Dynagrow Capital, Boca Raton, Fla.; Clinton Lewis, Jr., MBA’94 (Metro), chief executive officer and member, board of directors, AgroFresh Solutions, Philadelphia, Pa.; Arleen Paladino, MBA’84 (Flor), chief financial officer, Crum & Forster, Morristown, N.J.; and Leonard Green, chairman/founder, The Green Group, Woodbridge, N.J., and adjunct faculty member, Babson College, Wellesley Hills, Mass., who is this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award

To read more go to “Silberman College of Business Hall of Fame Gala.”

Wroxton College

Information sessions and a pop-up event were held in October.

Wroxton briefings were held at both New Jersey campuses for FDU students interested in taking a study-abroad course or spending a semester in Oxfordshire, England. They were led by Dean Nicholas Baldwin and Brian Swanzey, director of study abroad (Flor).

The Wroxton Alumni Group also hosted a Pop-up event at GK’s Red Dog Tavern in Morristown, N.J.

For more information go to Wroxton College.

FDU Center for Artificial Intelligence

The FDU Center for Artificial Intelligence will host a full-day symposium on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, titled “The Intelligent Future: AI Across the Arts & Sciences.” Sponsored by Pfizer and the Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey, it will be held on the Florham Campus and via Zoom.

According to Christopher Stubbs, mechanical engineering/mechanical engineering technology and center director (Metro), the event aims to bring together scholars, researchers and students from across the University community to share their work, exchange ideas and foster collaboration. The symposium will feature presentations, panel discussions and networking opportunities.

Submissions from faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduate students are encouraged. Abstract submissions for research talks, teaching presentations, demonstrations, interactive workshops, and panel discussions will be considered. Those interested may submit an abstract for consideration by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 1.

For information, contact Stubbs at cstubbs@fdu.edu.