College and School Happenings

Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences

Professional Learning Hubs Grant

The New Jersey Department of Education has awarded FDU the Expanding Access to Computer Science Education: Professional Learning Hubs grant. It will support the creation of a Computer Science (CS) Hub at FDU, which will be led by faculty at the department of mathematics and computer science housed at the Florham Campus.

The CS Hub at FDU, in partnership with Local Education Agency (LEAs) will expand access and participation for K–12 students in CS experiences via professional learning for educators, curricula development and promoting the expansion of CS activities all over New Jersey. The six LEAs who will work with FDU are the districts of Boonton, Florham Park, Hackettstown, Hanover Park Regional, Jersey City and Morristown.

To read more go to “Florham Park Schools and Hanover Park High School Partner with Colleges on Professional Learning Hubs.”

Animation Lab Newly Renovated

The Animation Lab, which is located in Dreyfuss Building at the Florham Campus, has been newly renovated and features the latest technology.

“It feels very professional inside, just like an animation studio,” says Robin Barkley, film/animation and director, MA and MFA in animation (Flor). The technology has been updated — students now have access to Wacom drawing tablets and two 3D printers, plus standing desks and collaborative workspaces. Faculty members teach on high-definition monitors, and student work can be displayed on a large digital monitor in the hallway.

To read more about the renovated lab and to see pictures go to “Animation transformation: A lively new lab space for student animators.”

Mini Law School

FDU is hosting its annual Mini Law School at the Florham Campus from Tuesday, August 3, through Friday, August 6. The program will meet in-person, with proper safety protocols in place, on the first floor of Hennessy Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The four-day event will feature simulations, discussions and interactive presentations to give high-school students a taste of both a first-year law school curriculum and the skills and knowledge needed to compete in mock-trial programs at the collegiate level.

The sessions will be taught by FDU faculty and advanced undergraduates who have participated in the University’s award-winning Mock Trial team. No prior background in law or mock trial is necessary.

Early-bird pricing (for those who register by Monday, May 31) is $349; and $399 thereafter. Deadline for registration is July 31.

To register go to Mini Law School, and for more information go to 2021 Mini Law School. For inquiries contact Madelyn Ferrans, Becton College and coach, Mock Trial Team (Flor).

Environmental Justice Symposium

The biological sciences and criminology/criminal justice departments hosted the Environmental Justice Symposium: Examining the Inequalities of Pollution, a two-part lecture and discussion series on April 18.

The symposium featured Charles Lee, senior policy adviser of environmental justice, Environmental Protection Agency, and author, Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States; Robert Laumbach, environmental/occupational medicine, Rutgers University School of Public Health, Piscataway, N.J.; Nicky Sheats, president/cofounder, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, and member, White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council; and Maria Lopez-Nuñez, deputy director, Ironbound Community Corporation, Newark, N.J., and a member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council and the Climate Adjustment Alliance.

Silberman College of Business

Best Executive MBA Programs

FDU’s Executive MBA Program was ranked among the 25 Best Executive MBA programs for 2021 by GreatBusinessSchools.org. Only accredited and reputable programs were included and were ranked according to factors like tuition cost, student satisfaction and potential salary.

For more information go to 25 Best Executive MBA Programs for 2021.

Paws for a Cause

Students in the MGMT4640 (Managing Projects and Organizations) class of Gerard Farias, management (Flor), have started a fundraiser to benefit St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J. The students have created Facebook page for “Paws for a Cause,” which not only aims to raise funds for the shelter pets’ needs but also to help them get adopted.

Lee Gildart and Oswald Haase School of Computer Sciences and Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Team Wins First Place

The FDU-MCAA (Mechanical Contractors Association of America) Student Chapter bested chapter teams from 18 other institutions to win first place at the MCAA’s 2020–2021 Student Chapter Competition, a highlight of the MCAA Virtual Education Conference. The team received a $10,000 award, which will help fund the ongoing programmatic/operation expenditures of the chapter. 

Competing teams submitted a plan that provided engineering and business solutions in response to a request for a proposal for the mechanical (HVAC/plumbing) renovation project of the historic University of Pennsylvania Museum. The four best-scoring teams presented their proposals at the conference for the final round of the competition in March.

“The FDU team did an outstanding job before and during the contest, displaying commitment, professionalism and team spirit,” said Alfredo Tan, electrical engineering and director, computer sciences/engineering (Metro). “It started with preparing a well-written professional proposal involving about 20 students and culminated with an excellent oral presentation, remotely viewed by several hundreds of participants at the conference.”

The members of the FDU presentation team included mechanical engineering majors: senior Francis Castro, president of the FDU-MCAA Student Chapter; senior Natalie Stanton, vice president of the FDU-MCAA Student Chapter; senior Keion Oglesby; junior Andrew Sayad; and senior Alejandro Zapata.

For more information go to “FDU-MCAA student chapter takes first place in virtual competition.”

International School of Hospitality, Sports, and Tourism Management

Student Chapter of the Year

The Fairleigh Dickinson University Club Management Association of America (CMAA) was named Student Chapter of the Year for a Small Chapter by the national CMAA organization.

The student chapter was chosen for its outstanding work, attendance at CMAA events and the accomplishments of student-chapter members. It received a $1,000 grant for students to attend the CMAA World Conference in 2022. Kane Pappas, assistant to the director, hospitality/sports/tourism Management (Metro), is the club’s faculty adviser.

To read more go to “FDU CMAA wins Student Chapter of the Year!”

Henry P. Becton School of Nursing and Allied Health

School Ranks #2 in New Jersey

The School of Nursing at the Metropolitan Campus has been ranked second with an NCLEX-RN first-time passing rate of 96.91 percent in the sixth annual report published by RNCareers.org.

The report evaluated 18 associate’s degree in nursing programs and 13 bachelor of science in nursing degree programs in New Jersey — obtaining each institution’s first-time NCLEX-RN passing rates, the number of students taking the test, the program nursing accreditation and more. The results were then compared against other nursing programs in New Jersey to come up with the state rankings. For more information go to Best Ranked RN Programs in New Jersey.

MSN Nurse Practitioner Volunteers

A group of MSN nurse practitioner students led by Mary Molloy, nursing (Metro), volunteered to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Among the volunteers were Hoss Dahdouli, Lorna Dunkel, Daiva Gessmann, Denise Huebler and Maria McBride.

School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

MSW Virtual Events

The Master of Social Work (MSW) is hosting several virtual events in May.

• Field Facts with FDU Master of Social Work (MSW) Field Director will be held on Friday, May 14, at 11 a.m. Zakia Clay, social work (Flor), will discuss internship opportunities available in the MSW program. For information email zakiaclay@fdu.edu.
• Virtual Handshake: Meet FDU’s Master of Social Work (MSW) Director, will be held on Wednesday, May 19, at 3 p.m. Attendees have the opportunity to get to know Justin Bucchio, director, MSW program (Flor). For information email jbucchio@fdu.edu.
• A Master of Social Work Virtual Open House, which will provide a detailed overview of the MSW online program, will be held on Saturday, May 29, at 10 a.m. For information email jbucchio@fdu.edu.

Annual Research Symposium

The School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences held its annual research symposium on April 30 via Zoom. The event highlighted research and projects of the school’s students, faculty, alumni and resident pharmacists of FDU-affiliated institutions.

This year’s keynote address, “Inflammatory Macrophages: Agents of Defense or Destruction?” was delivered by Debra Laskin, distinguished professor and chair, Roy A. Bowers Endowed Chair, pharmacology/toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, N.J.

Maria Leibfried, pharmacy practice (Flor), was symposium chair.