College and School Happenings

Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences

Animation on Display

The 2022 Animation Thesis Exhibits and Screenings will be held on Monday, May 16, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, N.J. Proof of vaccination and a corresponding ID are required for all patrons 12 years old and up. Face masks are also required for all patrons.

The exhibit will showcase the evolution of the students’ thesis projects — from the idea phase to the final digital work. Admission is free. For information contact Robin Barkley, animation and director, animation/video game animation programs (Flor), at 973-443-8693 or robinb@fdu.edu.

State Police Presentation

The department of criminology and criminal justice hosted a presentation by the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center (NJSP-ROIC) at the Metropolitan Campus on April 20.

The guest speakers were Maj. Joseph Brennan, commanding officer, NJSP-ROIC; and Capt. Ronald Micucci, bureau chief, Critical Infrastructure Bureau, NJSP-ROIC. Topics discussed included intelligence-led policing, inter-agency collaboration, information sharing, crime reduction and protecting the homeland.

Senior Thesis Films Screened

The Richard J. Turick Film Screenings, which featured this year’s senior thesis films, was held on Tuesday, May 3, at the Morris Museum in Morristown, N.J.

Presented by FDUFilm, School of the Arts, this year’s student films included “Fishbowl” (Julian Weber), The Performer’s Tale (Jack O’Connor), “Peter the Caterpillar” (Elizabeth Kirshtein), “Locked Inside” (Munro McLaren), “All I Know” (Keith Kaswell), “Sailing Through Rough Waters” (Amanda Reimer), “Lethal Disposition” (Dani Fabiano and Gillian Loesberg), “The Good and Virtuous” (Colin Smith) and “Boo” (Austin Mitrione).

The late Richard Turick was chair of the visual/performing arts department and technical director in the theater arts program at the Florham Campus.

Mini Law School

FDU is hosting its annual Mini Law School for high-school students at the Florham Campus from Monday, August 1, through Thursday, August 4. The program will be held at Hartman Lounge, Hennessy Hall, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided.

The four-day event will give participants the opportunity to explore legal concepts through interactive activities, participate in a mock trial and build confidence and improve public-speaking skills.

Early-bird pricing (for those who register by Wednesday, June 15) is $349; and $399 thereafter. Deadline for registration is Friday, July 29.

To register go to Mini Law School. For inquiries contact Madelyn Ferrans, law and coach, Mock Trial Team (Flor), at ferrans@fdu.edu or 908-347-2183.

MFA Alumni Published Works  

René Steinke, English and director, MFA in creative writing program (Flor), announces that three MFA alumni are publishing books with major trade publishers — a rare feat and major achievement for an MFA program.

Lise Olsen, MFA’20 (Flor), and a Ronald J. Doerfler Memorial Scholarship winner, is the author of Code of Silence, which was published by Beacon Press in October 2021. It won the 2022 Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Book Award, which will be presented at the IRE national conference in June. IRE is the world’s largest organization of investigative journalists. Code of Silence also won the Carr P. Collins Nonfiction Book of the Year award from the Texas Institute of Letters. It will be out in paperback in August 2022. Olsen also recently reached a deal to publish her second nonfiction book, The Scientist and the Serial Killer, with Random House.

On May 3, Our Little World, the debut novel by Karen Winn, MFA’09 (Flor), was published by Penguin Random House.

A Little Hope, a novel by Ethan Joella, MFA’05 (Flor), was published with Simon & Schuster in 2021. It was a choice for Jenna Bush’s book club and a finalist for the first novel prize from the Center for Fiction.

Silberman College of Business

FDUPitch Winners

This year’s FDUPitch 2022 student entrepreneur competition, spearheaded by the Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, held its finals on April 6 at the Florham Campus.

Dale Caldwell, executive director, Rothman Institute, presented the award to this years winners (all FDU students): first place — Aleyna Gross, sophomore business and consumer psychology double major, and Adam Matter, senior psychology major (Pathway, a platform that serves as a built-in mentor to guide students toward the right career path); second place — Cameron Brooks, junior finance major, and Christopher Molina, junior marketing major (Fisherman’s Fairway, a golf driving range on the water); and third place —David Holland, junior business administration major (American Bamboo, sustainable grower and processor of bamboo for U.S. domestic use and export). Gross and Matter went on to compete at the statewide UPitch NJ competition held virtually on April 29.

To read more go to FDUPitch 2022 Results.

Lee Gildart and Oswald Haase School of Computer Sciences and Engineering

Senior Design Expo

The Gildart Haase School of Computer Sciences and Engineering is hosting an Engineering and Computer Science Senior Design Expo on Monday, May 16, from 4 to 6 p.m., in the Rutherford Room, Student Union Building, at the Metropolitan Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

According to Christopher Stubbs, mechanical engineering/mechanical engineering technology (Metro), who is overseeing the event, “It is a celebration of the work students have done during their last year at FDU. These presentations — projects from the students’ Senior Design Capstone classes — represent the dedication, creativity and ingenuity of the students as they work to design and manufacture a project of their choosing.”

The students worked individually or as part of teams to create these projects. This year’s expo will feature works by civil engineering, civil engineering technology, computer science, electrical engineering, information technology, mechanical engineering and mechanical engineering technology students.

For inquiries contact Stubbs at cstubbs@fdu.edu.

International School of Hospitality, Sports, and Tourism Management

Seventh Worldwide

The International School of Hospitality, Sports, and Tourism Management (ISHSTM) was ranked seventh on the list of the “Best Hospitality and Hotel Management Schools in the World for 2022” in a study done by CEOWORLD magazine. The school had an overall score of 94.98 percent and an AA rating. The survey included 185,000 graduates, industry professionals, employers and recruiters in 96 territories.

The rankings are based on seven major metrics of quality and reputation: perceived global brands influence, recruiters’ responses, employers’ feedback, job-placement rate, admission eligibility, specialization and academic reputation.

For more information and to view the complete list go to “Best Hospitality and Hotel Management Schools in the World for 2022.”

School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

School Receives Care Award

The School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences recently received a Champions of Good Work and Companies That Care Award from the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey. This award recognized the school’s service-learning course PHRM7413 Service Learning: Veterans, which focuses on the health and well-being of veterans. Students hear firsthand from veterans about their experiences and participated in hands-on learning experiences that directly support the veteran community of New Jersey

The course was created by Chadwin Sandifer, associate dean for student affairs/administrative operations, pharmacy/health sciences (Flor). He has been committed to designing initiatives to meet the evolving needs of the school, which include service-learning education, community service and volunteerism. He has developed opportunities for students to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for those who may be marginalized or in need.

Wroxton College

Study-Abroad Partners

Starting fall 2022, Wroxton College will have four new strategic partners: American University (Washington, D.C.); Merrimack College (North Andover, Mass.); D’Youville University (Buffalo, N.Y.); and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford-upon Avon.

“FDU’s Wroxton College has long provided one of the best study-abroad opportunities in the world,” said President Christopher Capuano, “and we are very pleased to now offer this unique opportunity to students from our partner institutions — and to have students from FDU learning alongside them.”

For the next five years, Merrimack College and D’Youville University will each send at least 15 students per year, split between the fall and spring semesters. American University, which like Merrimack has also sent students to Wroxton College in the past, has made a commitment to sending a minimum of 15 and as many as 30 students to Wroxton College each year.

FDU is the only American university to offer a study-abroad program that gives students the opportunity to train at the RSC. Participating students will receive preprofessional classical training in acting, dramaturgy, technical theater/design, directing, musical theater and more.

To read more go to “FDU Welcomes Study Abroad Strategic Partners for UK-based Wroxton College” or to “FDU at the Royal Shakespeare Company.”