Faculty, Staff — Update, In Memoriam, Welcome September 2026

Update

New and familiar faces were appointed to key administrative positions within FDU. Among them were Joseph Cerciello, BA’23 (Metro), who was named director of veterans services; Krystal Mayers-Pagan, who was appointed University director of student wellness services; Jennifer Soyka, who was appointed as the new general counsel and chief compliance officer; and Jason Young, who was named senior associate vice president/director of athletics (Metro).

Four smiling people in business attire

From left are Joseph Cerciello, Krystal Mayers-Pagan, Jennifer Soyka and Jason Young.

In a lawsuit over the Trump administration’s censorship of history in National Parks, Judge Angel Kelley of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts cited the 2021 survey “History, the Past, and Public Culture” co-directed by Peter Burkholder, history (Flor), in a ruling that ordered the Park Service to restore exhibits that it has dismantled or altered. In July, his article “Back to School: Baby Boomers Weigh In On Their Gen Z Classmates” was published in The Teaching Professor.

President Michael Avaltroni is among the three distinguished leaders who will be honored at the Hackensack Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Annual Gala and Celebration of Distinguished Citizens on Thursday, September 24. “His commitment to innovation has led to the creation of new pathways for student success while strengthening opportunities for learners from all backgrounds.” Avaltroni was featured in the latest edition of the Changing Higher Ed podcast, where he talked about “How Fairleigh Dickinson Is Building an Ecosystem of Lifelong Learning Across Five Generations.” He also wrote an op-ed on “Why Higher Education Needs Humanics” for U.S. News and World Report.

man headshot

Stephen K. Klasko

Stephen K. Klasko, chief executive officer of the Health Assurance Foundation (HAF), has been appointed to FDU’s Board of Trustees for a three-year term. He has worked closely with FDU and President Michael Avaltroni in recent years on several projects and played a key role in launching the Humanics Innovation Challenge at FDU, which integrates human and machine learning in healthcare. In 2024, Klasko received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from FDU during its Commencement ceremony. To read more about Klasko go to “Fairleigh Dickinson University Appoints Healthcare Innovator Dr. Stephen Klasko to Board of Trustees.”

Jarrett Bachman, hospitality/tourism management and coordinator, hospitality and tourism management programs (Van), was elected to the board of directors of go2HR for the 2026–2028 term. The election was held during the 47th Annual General Meeting of go2HR, the leading HR and health and safety association for the hospitality and tourism industry in British Columbia. Bachman’s appointment is a “testament to his expertise, leadership and deep commitment to the hospitality and tourism sector.” To read more go to “Faculty Spotlight: Jarrett Bachman Elected to the Board of Directors of go2HR.”

Carolynn Julien, associate provost for research and sponsored projects, grants and sponsored projects (Metro), was elected vice president/president elect of the National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP) for a one-year term that will run through June 30, 2027.

Chemistry faculty members Mihaela Leonida, preprofessional studies/graduate school adviser, and Ish Kumar (both Metro), co-authored the chapter “Benefits and Delivery of Hop Components,” which was included in the second edition of Beer in Health and Disease Prevention, which was edited by Victor Preedy and published by Elsevier.

Man in black polo shirt in front of a Powerpoint presentation

Jeeho Ryoo at the conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

Jeeho Ryoo, computer science (Van), was named a collaborator on two federally funded research projects from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) — a five-year Insight Grant (CA$415,539) on “Tracing Self-Regulated Learning in Computer Science Education with an AI-Enhanced Learning Tool” and a two-year Insight Development Grant (CA$98,040) on “Emotion-Aware Learning Supports for Equitable Computing Education.” The team will study how AI-supported tools can help students set goals, monitor their progress and reflect on how they learn best, while also building emotion-aware supports that make computing education more equitable for a wider range of learners. “At the heart of these projects is a simple belief that AI, used thoughtfully, can help learners become more self-aware, more independent and more capable of directing their own learning,” he said. “We want to build tools and practices that give students better learning experiences, help educators understand what actually works and open doors for more diverse learners to see themselves in computing.” Ryoo also co-authored a study on “Meta-Analysis of Argument Visualization Tools in Higher Education: Examining Effects on Student Achievement and Moderating Factors,” which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Technology, Knowledge and Learning in May. The study synthesizes findings from 14 studies to examine the impact of argument visualization tools in higher education. To read more about the study go to “FDU Vancouver Faculty Jeeho Ryoo Publishes Meta-Analysis on Argument Visualization Tools in Higher Education.” In August, Ryoo presented on “Lesion-DDPM: Lesion-Enhanced 3D Diffusion for MS MRI Synthesis” at the IEEE Ninth International Conference on Multimedia Information Processing and Retrieval held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Catherine Manly, higher education (Metro), published a report from the Learning Analytics Task Force, which she chaired for the Society for Learning Analytics Research. Titled “Reimagining Learning Analytics: Final Report to the SoLAR Community,” the report includes the new definition of learning analytics that has been developed with extensive input from the international learning analytics community over the past two years. It also includes a description of what areas may be considered in scope and out of scope for learning analytics. She wrote the article “Students with Disabilities Pursuing STEM: High School Math Preparation to Postsecondary Degree,” which was published in the Research in Higher Education journal. As chair of the Learning Analytics Task Force for the Society for Learning Analytics Research, Manly organized a keynote panel titled “Impact of the Revised Learning Analytics Definition” and a related poster on “Reimagining Learning Analytics Definition and Scope” for the 16th International Learning Analytics and Knowledge Conference (LAK26) held in Bergen, Norway. Manly served as a workshop co-chair for the LAK26 Conference with colleagues from Australia and Germany, organizing two days of preconference workshops. She also ran the workshop “Advancing Learning Analytics Instruction in the Classroom” with colleagues from across the U.S. and Europe. At the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting, held in Los Angeles, Calif., Manly co-presented on “Exploring how students who experience illness, injury, or dis/ability persist in STEM” and “Exploring online course scarcity’s impact on college progress: A regression discontinuity approach using waitlist enrollment.”

“Longitudinal Measures of Masculinity and Femininity: Stability, Change, and Trump,” an article by Daniel Cassino, government/politics and executive director, FDU Poll (Flor), was published in the Politics & Gender journal. He also wrote a feature on “What cryptocurrency reveals about modern masculinity” for bloomsbury.com; and the following op-eds for the Times of India: “What A Narrow Escape for American Citizenship”; and “The Trumped-up manliness of MAGA-verse.”

Marc Diener, psychology (Metro), cowrote the study “Criterion validity of the Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale with the Thematic Apperception Test: A meta-analytic review” for Psychoanalytic Psychology. He also cowrote the article “Relationship-related anxiety” in press with the Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior.

James Gifford, humanities; coordinator of Core program, Vancouver Campus; and director of editorial committee, FDU Press (Van), presented his paper “Modernist Fantasy and Weird Modernism: Hermeneutics and Allusion Among Modernist Poetics” at the 28th Conference of the Modernist Studies Association held at Loughborough University in England. Gifford published a review of Michael Haag’s Larry: A New Biography of Lawrence Durrell 1912–45 in Deus Loci: The Lawrence Durrell Journal, and a review of Richard Bradford’s The Durrells: The Story of a Family in The Herald. He also published the “Poetry” and “Genre Fiction” sections of the American Literature chapter of The Year’s Work in English Studies, volume 104. His chapter “Literature & Anarchism” in The Palgrave Handbook of Anarchism was republished in a revised second edition of the book.

Jong-Chae “J.C.” Kim, sports management and chair, International School of Hospitality, Sports, and Tourism Management (Metro), spoke about the World Cup’s impact on the U.S. and college students in a video on FDU’s YouTube channel.

Bruce Peabody, government/politics and director, Fairleigh Institute for Lifelong Learning at Florham, will speak about “The Use and Abuse of American Heroes” on Tuesday, September 15, at 6:30 p.m., in Brooklyn, N.Y., as part of the Lectures on Tap series. Drawing from his book, Where Have All the Heroes Gone? The Changing Nature of American Valor, he will guide the audience through shifting models of U.S. heroism: from classical ideals to uniquely American, democratic and pragmatic versions, and into the current hyperpartisan age.

Frederick Engram, Jr., higher education (Metro), cowrote the op-ed “Why HBCUs must move beyond survival mode: Howard’s enrollment controversy highlights the need for sustained investments as more students choose Black colleges” posted in the August 7 issue of TheGrio. He will be one of the keynote speakers in the 57th Annual Conference of the Northeastern Educational Research Association, “Keeping It Real in the Age of AI,” on October 16 in Trumbull, Conn. Engram along with Emmanuel Cherilien, founder of Dr. Tank Educates, will deliver keynote addresses exploring innovation, educational leadership and the future of learning in an AI-driven world. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet both speakers during special book-signing sessions.

“Digital Health Disruption or Distraction? Implications of Telemedicine and AI for PAs,” an article by Sadia Zafar, physician assistant studies (Flor), is in press with the Journal of the American Academy of PAs.

Two smiling women in front of a conference backdrop

Paige Soltano, left, and Patricia Wyer at the Pathways Suitable Conference.

Paige Soltano, director of placement and outreach, Silberman College (Metro), and Patricia Wyer, director of placement and outreach, Silberman College (Flor), attended the Pathways Suitable Conference held in Philadelphia, Pa., in July. The conference was about best practices, student engagement, using data to demonstrate success and networking to meet staff and faculty who regularly utilize the Suitable platform. Silberman College uses Suitable to track its students’ professional development progress. Having attended Suitable conferences before, Soltano and Wyer appreciate the learnings they’ve gained. “We get great ideas that help with engagement and focus on NACE competencies to elevate our students’ success in and out of the classroom. Not only can we implement these ideas but they also inspire us to develop some of our own,” Soltano said. “One great idea that we got a couple of years ago was the Career Carnival and we’re bringing it back this September.”

Benjamin Freer, psychology (Metro); dean of Marion Turpan College of Psychology and Counseling; director of industrial/organizational psychology (China) MA program; cofounder of the Empathy Center for Research and Training, Institute for Character and Leadership (ICL); and interim director of the Stigma Free Center, ICL, was a guest in episode 66 (“Seeing Clearly: Empathy, Accountability and the Courage to Connect”) of the “Flourishing Leaders Podcast” co-hosted by Scott Parsons, founding executive director, ICL (Metro). The podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey. Among the recent topics discussed in recent episodes are “Seeking the Good: Character, Truth, Mentorship and a Life of Flourishing” with James Arthur, British education scholar and founding director of the Jubilee Center for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham; “Beyond the Average: Intellectual Humility, Character Measurement and Seeing the Person Behind the Data” with Elise Dykhuis, assistant professor and character scientist, Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic, United States Miliary Academy; and “Ignite the Grand Passion: Experience, Character and Learning to Flourish” with Pete Allison associate teaching professor, College of Health and Human Development, Penn State.

“The Role of Strategy in Great-Power Decline,” a paper by Peter Woolley, political science (Flor), has been accepted for publication by The Naval War College Review. He was invited by Rear Admiral Ryoko Azuma, commander of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and Amb. Satoshi Katahi, consul-general of Japan in New York, to celebrate America’s Independence Day aboard the JS Kashima, a training ship of the JMSDF. Woolley did a variety of presentations: “The Impact of Political Polarization on Audiences,” for the Thrive Arts Conference at Princeton University; “How to Be an Intelligent Consumer of Polls,” at The College of New Jersey, Ewing, N.J.; and “Recent Shifts in Global Public Opinion,” for students from India’s Amity University, Noida, who were visiting the United States. He also delivered the keynote talk, “Shifts in U.S. Public Opinion,” for the Morris County Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly legislative breakfast.

“‘There’s nothing we can really do’: College students’ stories of bias reporting and free speech rationales,” a paper by Ashley Robinson, higher education and interim director, doctorate in leadership (Metro), has been published online in The Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. Part of her research as a fellow of the National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement, the paper examines stories of students who reported an identity-based bias incident to their college or university. Robinson’s research found that the students followed a similar process for reporting, and that they had many negative feelings and associations with the reporting process, often feeling betrayed or distrustful of their institution because of the reporting process. The paper offers recommendations to reframe reporting processes away from underlying punitive assumptions toward prioritizing support and resources to help harmed parties. Robinson announced that the online EdD in leadership program is thriving in its second year, with students enrolled in its higher education and P–12 education tracks. “The program is unique in its emphasis on social justice, data analytics and sustainability,” she said.

Gillian Hartinger, director of human resources (Van), attended the opening event of Hope Meets Action: Echoes Through the Black Continuum at the Museum of Vancouver. She participated in the event through her role as board member of Hogan’s Alley Society, a nonprofit organization committed to “daylighting the presence of Black history in Vancouver and throughout British Columbia.” The event featured the Juneteenth Listening Room: Ancestral Memory Dialogue and Performance, a program that invited attendees to reflect on the history, resilience, and contributions of Black communities in British Columbia. For Hartinger, attending the event aligned with her ongoing commitment to supporting initiatives that promote equity, diversity and community connection. To read more go to “FDU Vancouver Leader Supports Community Dialogue Through Hope Meets Action Exhibition.”

Eunsun Kwon, social work (Flor), cowrote the following articles: “Living Well at Home with Dementia: Home Modifications, Caregiving Duration, and Subjective Well-Being,” for the Journal of Applied Gerontology in August; “Housing environments, social isolation, and mortality among low-income older renters in the United States,” for Social Science and Medicine in July; “Community Resources for Older Adults with Age-related Disabilities and Chronic Conditions: A Scoping Review,” for Research on Aging in June; and “Subsidized senior housing and cognitive function: a moderated mediation model of social engagement and neighborhood cohesion,” for The Gerontologist in April.

Alan Sheinfil, psychology (Metro), co-presented a poster on “HIV-Stigma and Working Alliance” at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention in Washington, D.C.

Gary Darden, history (Flor) and director, University-wide Core program, is teaching a minicourse this fall at the Madison (N.J.) Public Library. The course, “The Making of a World Power: Spanish-American War to World War II,” will be taught Thursday afternoons, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., on September 10, 17 and 24; and on October 8 and 15.

Two men in suits holding a framed Proclamation.

William “Pat” Schuber, left, with Oradell Mayor James Koth III.

A proclamation was issued at the Oradell, N.J., Mayor and Council Meeting recognizing William “Pat” Schuber, homeland security (Metro), as Grand Marshal of the 2026 Independence Day Parade “for his lifetime devoted to public service, leadership, integrity, education, military service and community stewardship — values that reflect the very ideals upon which our nation was founded.” In addition, July 4, 2026, was proclaimed as William “Pat” Schuber Day in “appreciation for his extraordinary contributions to the community, county, state and nation.” A former Bergen County executive and longtime Oradell resident, Schuber is also the borough’s historian and archivist. As part of America’s 250th birthday, he kicked off the town’s festivities with a presentation at the Oradell (N.J.) Public Library titled “George Slept Here,” about George Washington’s stays in Bergen County.

Scott Parsons, founding executive director, Institute for Character and Leadership (Metro), led the following workshops: “Navigating Change: Leading with Character When the Map Keeps Changing” at the FDU Division of Student Affairs Leadership Retreat, and “Trust as a Foundation of Leadership” as part of the Ascent Leadership High Camp Seminar Series. He delivered the keynote speeches “Flourishing Leaders and the Golden Mean Inventory,” during a Flourishing Leaders Roundtable held at Oxford University, and “Leadership for Flourishing in the Military” at the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy’s Flourishing Through Peace Research Conference. He was also a panel speaker on “Educating as a Moral Practice,” at the Virtues and Vocations Conference at Notre Dame University; a keynote speaker at Noche de Florecimiento (Flourishing Night) at the University of Texas San Antonio; and a speaker at FDU’s First Annual TEDxFDU. Parsons also presented on “Love and Practical Wisdom in Leadership: Bridging Virtue Ethics and Organizational Practice” (Harvard University Human Flourishing Program); and “Advancing Humanics Through Character, Flourishing, and Real-World Leadership” (Marion Turpan College of Psychology and Counseling Spring Advisory Board Meeting).

“Why You Shouldn’t Work on Labor Day,” an article by Kara Alaimo, communication and director of communication major (Metro), was posted on time.com. She also wrote the following analysis pieces for CNN: “Creating nude deepfakes is rampant among young people — and AI safety education is lacking”; “Want an extra hour in your day? Try expert practices to free up your time”; “Don’t yell at your child over not wanting to go to school”; “Why too much time online makes us unhappy”; “You haven’t been enforcing rules to manage your kid’s screen time. How to change that now”; “L.A. Unified enacts reasonable rules for screens in schools but your kid’s school hasn’t. Now what?”; “Students learn less when they use tech. So why do schools keep giving kids devices?”; “Want to be happier and healthier? Switch up your day with movement breaks”; “Social media doesn’t strengthen your friendships. What works” and “This skill can protect kids from the harms of social media.”

Woo Shik (Austin) Shin, pharmaceutical sciences (Flor), cowrote the following articles: “Pyrithione: A Privileged Structure with the Essential Pharmacophore for Inhibiting Zinc Metallo-enzymes,” published online in Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry in June; “An Overview of Outer Membrane Protein a (OmpA) as a Therapeutic Target for Acinetobacter Baumannii Infection,” in Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets in May; and “Investigation of Three Flavonoids as Potent Tau Aggregation Inhibitors and In Vivo Demonstration of Myricetin,” in Pharmacological Research–Natural Products in December. He was co-corresponding author of the article “Iron(III)–Tropolone Complex as a Topical Agent Against Drug-Resistant MRSA Skin Infections,” in the Antibiotics journal in March.

Mark Chiarello, chief operating officer (Van), announces the appointment of Peter Guo, founder/partner, enterprise risk services, MNP, and chair of the board, Chartered Professional Accountants of BC, as the inaugural chair of its Advisory Council. The FDU Vancouver Advisory Council brings together a select group of distinguished leaders from across British Columbia sectors to provide strategic guidance, support governance and ensure that the University’s programs remain aligned with evolving industry needs, trends and workforce demands. According to Chiarello, “Under Peter’s leadership, this Council will play a critical role in shaping our strategic direction, ensuring our programs remain innovative, relevant and responsive to the needs of British Columbia’s workforce, businesses and supporting the growth of our economy.”

During the Educational Opportunity Fund’s (EOF) Annual Awards Ceremonies, EOF Champions from the Florham and Metropolitan campuses were honored, with each awardee receiving a plaque and trophy. EOF Champion Awards are presented to individuals who have provided exceptional service to the EOF Program and its students. The honorees were Mary Hebert, campus director, Regional Center for Learning Disabilities, and Harry Tongue, associate director of financial aid, from the Florham Campus; and Shawn Harr, assistant director, Academic Support Center, and William Maurice, psychological counselor, Office of Mental and Emotional Wellbeing, from the Metropolitan Campus.

One woman and three men smiling and holding plaques

From left are EOF Champions Mary Hebert, Harry Tongue, Shawn Harr and William Maurice.

Derek Phillips, executive director, MS in clinical psychopharmacology program, and Lynette Pujol, deputy director, MS in clinical psychopharmacology program (both Metro), both earned board certification in psychopharmacological psychology from the American Board of Psychopharmacological Psychology (ABRxP), a provisionally affiliated board of the American Board of Professional Psychology. Phillips and Pujol serve as founding president and founding vice president, respectively, of the ABRxP. Pujol was recently honored with the “Distinguished Contributions to the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy at the National Level” by APA (American Psychological Association) Division 55, the Society of Prescribing Psychology. In May, Phillips was elected secretary of the American Psychological Foundation.

Anna Nogid, pharmacy practice (Flor), cowrote the article “Tofersen: A Novel Option for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,” for the Annals of Pharmacotherapy.

FDU Honors and Transforming College Campuses are hosting Wisdom Walks on both New Jersey campuses this fall. These walks offer the University community a unique opportunity to connect with faculty, staff and administrators, who will speak about their career journeys, research insights and life advice. Featured walk leaders at the Florham Campus include: Robert Barrows, chemistry (Flor); Christopher Bickel, career development specialist, career development (Flor); Justin Bogart, inorganic chemistry and chair, biochemistry/chemistry/physics (Flor); Sydnie Fatt, University social media manager, public relations (Flor); Robert Griffo, psychology (Flor); Vaniah Howell, animation (Flor); and Omer Topaloglu, marketing and chair, marketing/management/entrepreneurship (Metro). At the Metropolitan Campus, the walk leaders are Juhi Bhatt, University Associate dean of students/director of student conduct/deputy Title IX coordinator; Roger Forsthoff, criminology/criminal justice (Metro); Benjamin Rifkin, humanities and University provost and senior vice president for academic affairs; Rosa Santana, University director for career development (Metro); Melissa Slavin, psychology (Metro); Paige Soltano, director of placement and outreach, Silberman College (Metro); and Christopher Stubbs, mechanical engineering/mechanical engineering technology and director, Center for Artificial Intelligence (Metro).

Stephanie Gaitley, head women’s basketball coach, athletics (Metro), announces the promotion of the following members of her coaching staff: Jeremy Thompson to assistant coach/recruiting coordinator; Tyler Rozier to assistant coach/assistant recruiting coordinator; and former FDU guard Nickie Carter, MSM’24 (Metro), to assistant coach.

Jane Shtaynberg, assistant dean for experiential education, pharmacy/health sciences (Flor), cowrote the article “Implementing Standards 2025: Recommendations to Prepare Graduates for Advancements in Practice and Enhance Program Quality,” for the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.

Florham Campus faculty members Melissa de Waal, microbiology; Kathleen Frey, pharmaceutical sciences; and Eunsun Kwon, social work, have been named SEED Grant Round 2 awardees through the SEED Grant Funding Opportunity for their respective projects that will run through June 30, 2027. As part of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s National Science Foundation (NSF) Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) grant (Award #2433183), this seed grant program supports small, partnership-driven projects that broaden participation in regional innovation and research ecosystems. de Waal’s project, “Collaborative Research to Unlock the Integration Between Dietary Evolution, the Microbiome, and Immunity in Bats,” will investigate how a bat’s diet, its gut bacteria, and its immune system work synergistically to support bat health. Frey is the principal investigator for a project titled “Drug Design for Lymphatic Filariasis, a Neglected Tropical Disease,” which is working to design new, safer treatments for lymphatic filariasis, a tropical disease caused by a parasitic worm. Her team will use computer modeling to find promising drug compounds, which will now be lab-tested to ensure they safely target the parasite without harming human cells. Kwon’s project, “Geographic Disparities in Mortality and Hospital-Based Health Care Utilization Among Low-Income Older Adults with Dementia,” examines how differences across communities may contribute to disparities in health care use and mortality among low-income older adults with dementia in New Jersey. To read more go to “Three Faculty Members Named SEED Grant Round 2 Awardees.” 

Three smiling women

From left are Melissa de Waal, Kathleen Frey and Eunsun Kwon.

Andrea Brace, public health and chair/director, Master of Public Health program (Flor), cowrote the following articles: “University Students’ Physical Activity during COVID-19: A Mixed-Methods Study Guided by the Social Ecological Model,” in The International Journal of Health, Wellness and Society ; and “Examining sexual victimisation among LGBQT+college students in the U.S.: results from the national college health assessment,” in the Journal of Sexual Aggression.

Among the recipients of this year’s Maddy Awards, which is spearheaded by the Florham Campus Student Government Association, was Kenneth Betz, economics (Flor), Faculty Member of the Year. Silberman College of Business was also named Department of the Year.

“Rocking the Declaration,” an artwork by Janet O’Neil, graphic design and coordinator, graphic design (Flor), and illustrations of an original Morristown map (detailing some of the town’s historic landmarks) and a Florham Campus map by senior graphic design major Caitlin Halpin were among those displayed throughout the summer at 1776 Morristown for America’s 250th birthday. The exhibit is part of a community art project honoring Morristown, N.J.’s role in the founding of the United States. O’Neil’s artwork will be auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting FDU’s graphic design program and Morris Arts. According to O’Neil, her work was inspired by the ideals of freedom, unity and civic pride. “Rocking the Declaration” depicts George Washington rocking out on a stars and stripes electric guitar. “I am a big fan of classic rock and Jersey singer/songwriters Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. Like both singers, George Washington was an agent for change. I envisioned him making music for the Declaration,” she adds. To read more go to “Two FDU Artists Create New Work to Celebrate the. USA’s 250th.”

Three artwork images. George Washington with an electric guitar and two map illustrations

“Rocking the Declaration,” left, by Janet O’Neil and map illustrations by Caitlin Halpin.

Hyunah Cho, pharmaceutical sciences and executive director of health innovation and strategy, pharmacy/health sciences (Flor), cowrote the following articles: “Bi-layered tablets as a novel platform for wound healing and synergistic combination therapy,” in AAPS PharmSciTech in March; and “Microneedle Technologies for Drug Delivery: Innovations, Applications, and Commercial Challenges,” in Micromachines in January.

Kathleen Stein-Smith, Becton College (Metro), presented on “French All Around Us” at the Writers Table during the Leominster French-Canadian Festival at the Leominster (Mass.) Library; “French in the U.S. and ‘Le francais autour de nous, vol 2’” as part of the Ronin Institute for Independent Scholarship Lightning Talks; “Le francais autour de nous, vol 2,” at the Independent Linguists Meet; “Language Advocacy: FUNdamental to Language Learning and Use,” at the Central States Conference held in Chicago, Ill.; and “The Northern New Jersey Mensa® French Conversation Group — Why French?” at BLAST 2026 in Newark, N.J. She also delivered the closing remarks, “French in Motion/Le Francaise n Mouvement” at the Offices of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie in New York. The French edition of her book, French All Around Us (Le français autour de nous, vol 2.), was published by TBR Books in March 2026. Stein-Smith’s book review of Promoting Diversity, Ethics, and Leadership in Business English: Strategies for Effective Communication was published in the March issue of the Journal of Languages for Specific Purposes, where she is a member of the Scientific Board. She also wrote the following articles for various publications: “Multilingualism, Language Education, and Language Use as Service: Service, Servant Leadership, and Advocacy” (Journal of Foreign Languages, Cultures & Civilizations); “Better The French You Know” and “Quoi de Neuf?” (Language Magazine); “Le Francais en Mouvement” (La Gazette violette); and “Why French? — The Role of French Language Advocacy in the Classroom and Beyond” (International Journal of Contemporary Education).

Faculty award recipients (all Flor) at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’ 13th Annual Student and Faculty Recognition Awards Ceremony were Yong Guo, pharmaceutical sciences and chair, pharmaceutical science (Faculty Researcher of the Year Award); Tiffany Timberman, social work (Advancing Healthcare Access and Equity Award); and John Albanese, physician assistant studies (Faculty Member of the Year Award).

In the news …

Bruce Peabody, government/politics and director, Fairleigh Institute for Lifelong Learning at Florham, was quoted in the Morristown Green article “From ‘Breakfast University’ to glassblowing: Adults head back to class in Greater Morristown.”

Jennifer Sipila, communication, vice provost for academic affairs and executive director of lifelong learning (Metro), was quoted in the following articles: “FDU partners with Michigan data services company to expand educational opportunities for working professionals” (roi-nj.com); and “FDU and Edcor Partner on Tuition Discount Program for Working Professionals” (njbia.org).

Mark Chiarello, chief operating officer (Van), was quoted in the article “BioTalent Canada and Fairleigh Dickinson University Vancouver Partner to Strengthen Life Sciences Talent Development” posted on morningstar.com, lasvegassun.com, The Joplin Globe and Yahoo Finance (Business Wire).

Georgia Winters, forensic psychology and director, MA in clinical forensic psychology (Metro), was interviewed in the June 21 episode of Live Now on Fox about “Identifying and combating child grooming.”

President Michael Avaltroni was quoted in the article “College summer aid cuts may harm students for life, educators say,” posted on njspotlightnews.org.

Peter Woolley, political science (Flor), was interviewed in the August 3 “New Jersey Now” episode that covered a variety of topics such as empowering New Jersey voters, the issue of school segregation in New Jersey and non-citizens voting due to a DMV error; in the July 2 episode of “Frontline Voices,” which aired on WBAI 99.5 FM, on the topic “Is New Jersey the Bellwether? The Budget, Analilia Mejia, Mamdani and What NJ Tells Us About November?; the April 20 episode on “We Decide: America at the Crossroads with Jenna Flanagan,” which aired on WBAI 99.5 FM, about New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District; and “American public support for the war in Iran” for Jornalismo TV Cultura in Brazil. He was quoted about the FDU poll “Experiment Shows What’s Needed to Get Voters to See Segregation in New Jersey” in the following articles: “New Poll Finds New Jersey Voters in White Communities Deny School Segregation in Their Districts” (hudsonreporter.com); “Is your N.J. school segregated? A striking new poll offers some uncomfortable answers” (nj.com); and “Prompting voters to think about racism makes some more likely to see school segregation, FDU poll finds” and “New Jersey voters fail to see segregation in their own schools, FDU Poll finds” (newjerseyglobe.com). Woolley was also interviewed by the political section of the Japanese consulate of New York. He also talked about civic participation for HTTV Community Television’s “America 250” civics series.

Jason Young, senior associate vice president/director of athletics (Metro), was quoted in the articles “Italy’s Macron Signs First U.S. Collegiate Deal” (sgbonline.com); and “How a NJ school’s apparel deal was tailored for the new era of college sports” (app.com and northjersey.com).

President Michael Avaltroni; Robert McGrath, psychology; deputy director of clinical training, PhD in clinical psychology program; and director of the Center for Character Development, Institute for Character and Leadership (Metro); and Scott Parsons, founding executive director, Institute for Character and Leadership (Metro), were quoted in the article “At FDU, they’re teaching people … how to be people,” posted on binje.com.

Jarrett Bachman, hospitality/tourism management and coordinator, hospitality and tourism management programs (Van), was interviewed on CBC News about summer travelers in Canada rethinking or adjusting their holiday plans due to cost concerns. Bachman is also Destination BC’s scholar-in-residence, where he contributes research and industry expertise that help inform conversations about tourism across the province. To read more go to “FDU Vancouver MHMS Program Coordinator Weighs in on Summer Resident Tourism Behaviour on CBC News as Destination BC’s Scholar-in-Residence.”

Kara Alaimo, communication and director of communication major (Metro), was quoted in the following articles on cnn.com: “Parents are tracking their adult children for safety. But is it actually safer?”; “New surgeon general’s advisory raises alarm about screen time risks for kids and teens.”

Kathleen Stein-Smith, Becton College (Metro), was a guest on the French Canadian Legacy podcast, where she talked about volume 2 of her book French All Around Us. She was also featured on the front page of the June 2026 issue of IMPrint, the Northern New Jersey Mensa® newsletter, in the article “Our Chapter’s Service to the Foreign Language.”

Daniel Cassino, government/politics and executive director, FDU Poll (Flor), was a guest on the podcasts Robots From Tomorrow on the legacy of STOP PROJECT 2025 and comics as agents for change and survival in today’s America and The Bunker podcast — News without the nonsense about “How to fix the USA: Rip it up and start again?” and in the Times Radio in the UK, where he talked about his latest book Bitcoin Bros: Masculinity, Cryptocurrency, and the Future of Men. He also was interviewed on August 14 episode of “NJ Spotlight News” on the FDU poll about the perceptions of segregation in New Jersey; several episodes of “New Jersey Now”: on July 20 about Grading NJ and NJ Transit on World Cup and on June 8 about the World Cup Preview and Protests at Delaney Hall. Cassino was a guest in the June 1 episode of “Mornings with Ken Rosato” about the New Jersey primary election; May 26 episode of LiveNOW on Fox about “Spencer Pratt: Masculinity and Politics”; in the April 30 episode of “Energy Matters with Jeannette Hoffman” about a new survey on “Energy in New Jersey; the April 30 episode of “New Jersey Politics with Laura Jones” about the FDU poll on casino expansion outside Atlantic City. His research and most recent book, Bitcoin Bros, were cited in the article “Designed Masculinity,” posted on printmag.com. Cassino’s post on Bluesky was extensively quoted in the article “Frauenhass and Männerliebe Kann eh sein, dass Donald Trump ein bisschen schwul ist? (“Misogyny and love of men: Is it possible that Donald Trump is a little bit gay?”) that appeared in an Austrian media outlet.

He was quoted in the following articles about FDU polls:

Cassino also was quoted in the following articles: “NJ House candidates increasingly skip League of Women Voters debates,” “Threat of federal trial looms as Rep. LaMonica McIver seeks reelection,” “Despite absence, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. holds cash lead over Dem rivals,” “Adam Hamawy holds fundraising lead in race to succeed Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman” and “NJ transgender healthcare bill amended to avoid mention of ‘gender-affirming’ care” (newjerseymonitor.com); “New Jersey misses deadline to put casino expansion before voters” (focusgn.com); “New Jersey Legislators Miss August 3 Deadline on Meadowlands Casino Ballot Measure” (sccgmanagement.com); “New Jersey Legislators Fail to Hold a Referendum on Meadowlands Casino” (gamblingnews.com); “NJ voters won’t get to weigh in on a Meadowlands casino this November” (northjersey.com); “Does crypto make your portfolio less risky? Only if you do it right, experts say” (cnbc.com); “‘Cost Me the Election’: Data Centers Trigger Voter Backlash” (newsweek.com); “‘Handsome Guy’: Donald Trump Gets Distracted by Male Reporter During Press Conference” (okmagazine.com); “Pete Hegseth’s Latest Workout Video Is Peak ‘Masculinity Theater’ for MAGA” (huffpost.com); “Why Trump is impressed by ‘cool machos’” (fakti.bg [Agence France-Press]); “Who is behind $5 million in dark money spent on NJ primary races?” (njspotlightnews.org); “All the president’s men? Inside Trump’s hot guy fascination” (france24.com [Agence France-Press]); “Trump displays an obsession with virility and ‘handsome men’” (blick.ch [Agence France-Press]); “Tammy Murphy chairs the World Cup host committee. Where has she been?” (njherald.com and dailyrecord.com); “What it means to be a man is a theme in Texas Senate race as Paxton attacks Talarico” and “Spencer Pratt is ‘winning the internet,’ but can he become mayor of Los Angeles?” (npr.org); “4 NJ Democrats face off in crucial debate in highly competitive congressional race” (gothamist.com); and “How a smear campaign by Ben Franklin actually started the Jersey Devil lore”; “N.J. Dems are more ‘extreme’ than ever. Fear grows it could fracture the party,” “These Democrats are fighting for a shot at beating Tom Kean Jr. in November” and “Mikie Sherrill hasn’t ‘pissed people off’ yet. But it’s about to get real” (nj.com).

In Memoriam

Marybeth Clark, administrative assistant, QUEST field placement and Maxwell Becton College of Liberal Arts and Education (Metro), died on May 2 at the age of 71. She joined FDU in 2012. She is survived by her sisters Barbara Vajda (Frank) and Margaret McNamara (Bill Pollen); nieces and nephews, Joseph, Scott, Robert, Catherine and John; great nieces and nephews, Jillian, Christopher and Cynthia; grandchildren, Deirdre, Maggie, Emily, Liam II and Erin; and friends (“faux” children) Christal, Kelly, Liam and Eamonn. She is predeceased by her sister, Frances Clark.

Edward Hennessy, Jr., chair emeritus, Board of Trustees; alumnus, BS’55 (Ruth); and retired chairman and CEO of the aerospace, automotive and engineering giant AlliedSignal, died on May 8 at the age of 98. He joined the FDU Board of Trustees in 1978 and went on to serve for 16 years including 11 as chair. In addition to his leadership and insights as a trustee, he was a generous benefactor to the institution he loved. He chaired the University’s first comprehensive capital campaign, Partners in Education, and later chaired the Challenge 90s Campaign. He and his wife, Ruth, also established the Edward L. Hennessy, Jr. and Ruth S. Hennessy Foundation Scholarship fund at FDU. In recognition of his continued philanthropy and support of the University, the iconic Vanderbilt-Twombly mansion, the jewel of the Florham Campus, now bears his name. His support also made possible the new Elizabeth Ruth Hennessy Athletic Field, named for his daughter. In 1984, he received an honorary doctor of laws degree from FDU and in 1989 he was honored as a member of The PINNACLE’s inaugural class of alumni who have “reached the highest point of development and achievement.” The following year he was awarded the inaugural Charter Day award for his dedication as a trustee and chairman of the board. He is predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Ruth. He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth; a son, Michael; two grandchildren and several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews as well as great grand-nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tri-County Scholarship Fund, 14 W. Main Street, Mendham, N.J. 07945, or to Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches, 1712 2nd Avenue N, Lake Worth, Fla. 33460. To read more about his life and legacy go to “Former FDU Board Chair Ed Hennessy Passes Away.”

Pamela Nelson, a former public safety communication specialist at the Metropolitan Campus, died on June 28 at the age of 61. She joined the University in 2001 and was with the department of public safety until 2025. She is survived by her daughter, Nequia Nelson (Mike); sons, Shahdee Nelson (Nikki) and Tori DuPree; grandchildren Micah Devers and Angelo Nelson; her mother, Mary Jane Nelson; sister, Veronica Nelson Baines (Greg); brothers, Randy and Reggie Nelson; and other relatives and friends.

Robert Wallach, BS’61 (Metro) and benefactor, died on June 15 at the age of 87. He established the Robert and Susan Wallach Scholarship for Veterans and Military Service Students at FDU in honor of his brother, David Wallach, who was killed in action during the Korean War. The Wallach Veterans Lounge at the Florham Campus, which provides a dedicated space for student veterans to study, relax, hold meetings and share meals, was also made possible by Wallach’s donation. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Susan Schiffman Wallach, BS’61 (Metro); his children, Brian (Melinda), Meredith (Jason) and Richard (Michelle); and his eight grandchildren, Ethan, Bram, Ellie-Rose, Dylan, Ava, Juliet, Cameron and Tate.

Welcome 

The University welcomes new full-time and part-time employees who joined FDU as of September 8, 2026. 

Welcome to Shea Baggett, assistant women’s lacrosse coach, athletics (Flor); Ngoc Nhu Banh, IT assistant, information technology (Van); Christian Bascunan, assistant baseball coach, athletics (Flor); Ashley Battisti, assistant director of housing and residence life for residence experience, housing and residence life (Metro); Rocco Bonavolonta, assistant women’s softball coach, athletics (Flor); Patricia Bonghanoy, marketing and communications coordinator, marketing and communications (Van); Cory Borisoff, assistant athletic trainer, athletics (Metro); Evan Brandsdorfer, assistant men’s soccer coach, athletics (Metro); Jabir Brinkley, assistant director/counselor/recruitment coordinator, Educational Opportunity Fund (Metro); Nicole Carter, assistant women’s basketball coach, athletics (Metro); Pamela Cavanagh, director of disability support and Academic Support Center, disability support services (Flor); Marquis Chandler, clinical assistant professor, social work (Flor); Christina Christodoulou, assistant professor, psychology (Flor); Lisa Clarke, chief budget and strategy officer for academic affairs, University provost (Metro); Joshua Curran, assistant director of athletic facilities/operations, athletics (Metro); Jason Dalton, officer, public safety (Flor); Jack Davidson, senior enrollment services clerk, enrollment services (Flor); Meagan DeWan, assistant women’s soccer coach, athletics (Metro); Thomas DiBlasi, assistant professor, psychology (Metro); Dulan Edirisinghe, research scientist, pharmacy practice, (Flor); Galareh Farhadian, program development manager, campus executive (Van); Julian Fernandez, officer, public safety (Flor); Robert Gerity, assistant men’s basketball coach, athletics (Metro); Jane Greenway Carr, lecturer, communication (Flor); Anna Horne, assistant women’s lacrosse coach, athletics (Metro); Valerie Hoskey, marketing coordinator, strategic initiatives and government/community affairs (Flor); Ramadan Ibrahim, institutional research analyst, institutional research/assessment (Van); Fisnik Isufi, assistant athletic trainer, athletics (Metro); Denice Jacob-Maldonado, career development specialist, career development (Metro); Genevith Jaquez Portorreal, coordinator, Hispanic Center and Center for Student Success (Metro); Erin Kay, assistant field hockey coach, athletics (Flor); Luke Krumich, assistant football coach, athletics (Flor); Robyn Lynch, campus transfer evaluator, Center for Academic Advising and Student Success (Metro); Luke Maginnis, assistant football coach, athletics (Flor); Shannon Mariniello, lecturer, biology (Metro); Jeremy Marousis-Bush, lecturer, writing (Metro); Francesca Martinez, clinical assistant professor, nursing, and director of clinical laboratories, nursing/allied health (Metro); Michele McCormick, lecturer, writing, and associate director of University writing (Metro); John McDonald, administrator, student affairs, nursing/allied health (Metro); Justin McTish, assistant professor, occupational therapy (Flor); Brittney Miranda, lecturer, nursing, (Metro); Viktorija Miseljic, lecturer, chemistry (Metro); Nicholas “Niko” Nikolovienis, clinical assistant professor, allied health, and director of respiratory care program, nursing/allied health (Metro); Harsh Patel, clinical assistant professor, pharmaceutical sciences (Flor); Sarah Piening, assistant softball coach, athletics (Metro); Arthur Pinto, manager of student services, student services (Van); Alexis Rotondo, clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice (Flor); Rachel Ruf, clinical assistant professor, allied health, and director of clinical education, respiratory care program, nursing/allied health (Metro); Ramazan Sela, clinical assistant professor, physician assistant studies (Flor); Michael Shapiro, assistant men’s/women’s tennis coach, athletics (Flor); Madison Silvestri, clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice (Flor); Jennifer Soyka, general counsel/chief compliance officer/secretary of board, general counsel (Metro); Andrew Steiner, University admissions counselor, undergraduate admissions (Flor); MacKenzie Ann Stephenson, coordinator for Greeks and student life programming, student affairs (Flor); Daniel Tolentino, administrative coordinator, grants/evaluation/accreditation, nursing/allied health (Flor); Jennifer Toole, lecturer, communication (Metro); Shalini Vaidyalingam, instructor, nursing (Metro); Bianca Worthy, assistant director of Panicucci Center for Student-Athlete Success, athletics (Metro); Amanda (Bevan) Zientek, lecturer, biology (Flor); and Kathleen Zurich, case manager, dean of students (Flor).

 

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