College and School Happenings

Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences 

NSF Grant

FDU, in collaboration with Kean University, Union, N.J., was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) S-STEM grant on “Applying Student Knowledge for Success in Cybersecurity and Data Science.” The five-year project, which will run through September 2026, is led by Laila Khreisat, computer science and chair, mathematics/computer science (Flor). To read more go to “NSF Grant Awarded.”

Cyber Defense Program’s Excellence Reaffirmed 

The National Security Agency (NSA) and a committee of academic peers have validated FDU’s BS in computer science with cybersecurity concentration at the Florham Campus through the 2026 academic year.

To read more go to “National Security Agency reaffirms excellence in FDU’s Cyber Defense Program.”

Theater Offerings

This spring, the School of the Arts is doing a production of “Single Black Female,” a two-woman show based on the book by Lisa B. Thomas, renowned playwright, award-winning artist, scholar and professor of African and African diaspora studies at the University of Texas at Austin. The show will feature rapid-fire comic vignettes that “explore the lives of 30-something African-American middle-class women in urban America as they search for love, clothes and dignity in a world that fails to recognize them among a parade of stereotypical images.”

Auditions for this production will be held on Tuesday, December 14, from 3 to 6:30 p.m., at the Barn Theater, Florham Campus. Those interested can email Alexandra Kostis, assistant to the director of theater (Flor), at akostis@fdu.edu.

Performances of “Single Black Female” will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 24, through Saturday, February 26, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 27. It will be directed by well-known producer/director Marshall Jones III, head of BA theater, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J., and director, Rutgers Community Arts Summer Acting Conservatory.

Ticket prices are $15 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens 65+ and $5 for the FDU community and students. Seating is limited and reservations must be emailed at fdubarntix@gmail.com. For information go to FDU Theater Season.

Student theater groups at both campuses also staged productions in the fall semester. The University Players at the Metropolitan Campus staged Franz Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” in November. It was directed by Athos Varduoniotis, Petrocelli Center (Metro), and the group’s faculty adviser.

Fairleigh Dramatics at the Florham Campus performed “Stuck With You,” in December. An original play written by theater arts students Lily Friedman and Miranda Graves, it was directed by student Connor McDowell.

Winter Festival 

The annual Winter Festival concert was held on Monday, December 6, at the Florham Campus.

The event featured performances of popular, seasonal and concert music by music faculty members Allen Cohen, piano and director, FDU Chorus; Mariana Karpatova, voice; Jane Seaman, voice; Peter Toth, piano; and Elzbieta Winnicki, violin; FDU Chorus; FDU Chamber Choir; and the FDU Band.

Silberman College of Business

Rothman Friday Forum

The Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship will be hosting a Rothman Friday Forum via Zoom at noon on Friday, December 10. Stacy Palmer, tax principal, and Jason Warde, tax manager, both from Untracht Early, Florham Park, N.J., will speak about “Tax Changes in 2021 — What Business Owners Need to Know.”

The free event is cosponsored by Provident Bank, TD Bank, the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey and Rothman Institute. Registration is necessary. For information contact Susan Slavin, programs director, Rothman Institute (Flor), at srslavin@fdu.edu.

Previous topics discussed included “The Art of Successful Transition,” “Compliance and Pandemic Policy” and “Small Business Formation and Governance.”

Student-run Café

Silberman College is looking for 10 to 12 business or hospitality students to join a student-run café as part of a hands-on class for the duration of the spring 2022 semester. Selected students will receive credits, pay and real experience running a business.

The eatery will be run out of SNAX Café in Hennessy Hall, Florham Campus. Those interested should fill out this form.

Family Businesses Honored 

The Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship held the 29th Annual New Jersey Family Business of the Year Awards on October 27 at the Glen Ridge (N.J.) Country Club. 

The ceremony honored family businesses from around the state that were recognized for their dedication to the industry, family values, vision and contribution to their communities and the New Jersey economy.

This year’s winner for the Over $10 Million Category was Beacon Converters, Inc., a packaging manufacturer for the pharmaceutical and medical-device industry in Saddle Brook; the finalist was Heritage’s Dairy Stores, Thorofare; and the semifinalists were Burke Motor Group, Cape May Court House; Diane Turton, Realtors, Point Pleasant Beach; and Triangle Manufacturing Co., Inc., Upper Saddle River.

For the Under $10 Million Category, the winner was Braunschweiger Jewelers, of Morristown; the finalist was The Cranford Theater and Drive-in, Cranford; and the semifinalists were JD Companies, Hackensack; McMahon Insurance Agency, Ocean City; and Ravitz Family Markets, Cherry Hill.

The award for New Family Business went to Estro Digital Communications in Westwood.

The winners were featured in New Jersey Business Magazine, a publication of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, and announced in Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey’s Commerce Magazine.

International School of Hospitality, Sports, and Tourism Management 

Immersion Studies Program 

The International School of Hospitality, Sports, and Tourism Management (ISHSTM) is launching a new Immersion Studies program in which admitted students will combine structured work experience at luxurious resorts with predominately online courses that culminate in a BA in hospitality and tourism innovation and excellence (HTIE).

For more information go to BA HTIE Immersion Studies or to “FDU Offers New Four-Year Immersion Hospitality and Tourism Degree Based Fully Onsite at Luxury Resorts.”

School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 

Pharmacy Week 

The School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences celebrated FDU Pharmacy Week from October 18 to October 22 with various events and activities such as Drug Take Back events, pumpkin decorating, discussions and presentations. Topics covered included “Do I Need Malpractice Insurance After Graduation?” “Practical Tips to Get That Residency” and “Provider Status: How Far We’ve Come and Where Are We Going.” 

School of Public and Global Affairs

Holiday Food Drive

The School of Public and Global Affairs, Feeding America and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) are sponsoring their Third Annual Food Drive. All proceeds benefit CFBNJ. Donors can make contributions online through Friday, December 31, at the Third Annual Virtual Food Drive.

Last year, the food drive raised nearly $11,000. During the inaugural event in 2019, more than $11,000 was raised and more than 1,500 lbs. of food was collected for CFBNJ. For information contact Clark Gettinger, program manager, public/global affairs (Flor), at cgettinger@fdu.edu.

Wroxton College

Wroxton Cookbook Now Available

Bring the flavors of Wroxton into your own home with The Wroxton Cook Book: Recipes from Wroxton and Other British Favourites by Abbey Dean and Justyn Thyme and edited by Nicholas Baldwin, dean and director of operations, Wroxton College. It also features a Foreword by Fern Britton, author and broadcaster.

The 450-page Wroxton Cook Book is now available for order. It features more than 300 recipes and more than 250 photos of classic British dishes. The cookbook is $60 per copy and includes shipping and handling. Sixty-six percent of the proceeds will support the Wroxton Now & Forever Fund.