Meet the 2026 Pinnacle Award Recipients!
Get to know the Class of 2026 Pinnacles before they take the podium to speak at Commencement.
Marium Zahra Rizvi
Marium Zahra Rizvi
Biology
Florham Campus
FDU: How have you taken advantage of opportunities on campus to grow personally and professionally?
Marium Rizvi: The strong emphasis on the health sciences at FDU allowed me to expand my scientific knowledge while building meaningful connections with professionals in the field, growing as a leader and future healthcare professional.
One of the most impactful opportunities for me was the Honors Program. With the support of the previous director, Dr. April Patrick, I completed two research projects, one in a laboratory setting and another in medical literature, which ultimately led to my publication in the Journal of Health Ethics (with guidance from adjunct faculty member Peter DePergola). These experiences strengthened my research skills and deepened my interest in the intersection of science, medicine and bioethics. Finally, FDU’s pharmacy faculty and curriculum provide students with opportunities to develop clinical knowledge, bedside manner and practical skills while forming valuable connections within healthcare.
As president of the South Asian Student Association, I worked with students and staff to organize cultural events to bring students from diverse backgrounds together. I gained experience in leadership, collaboration and event coordination. It has been incredibly rewarding to see the organization continue to grow and thrive.
FDU: What are some ways that you found community with faculty, staff or students within your major?
MR: During my first semester, feeling very shy, I often found myself sitting under a tree near Hennessy Hall, wondering when I would find my people. Then one day in chemistry, a kind student invited me to sit with her and her friends, and from that moment on, everything changed.
The students in my programs quickly became my closest friends and strongest supporters. We supported each other through difficult exams, celebrated each other’s successes, and ultimately created friendships that extend far beyond the classroom.
Community at FDU also extends to faculty. I highly encourage students to build relationships with their professors. Ask about their research, take interest in their areas of expertise and do not be afraid to attend office hours. Professors truly appreciate when students show genuine curiosity and engagement. Those relationships can lead to mentorship, guidance and letters of recommendation.
FDU: What is your biggest takeaway from your college experience?
MR: My biggest takeaway from my college experience is how meaningful the small moments can be. Some of my favorite memories weren’t the big milestones, but the everyday experiences I shared with friends, like going to Namkeen after an exam, or sitting in the Zen Cafe on the Florham Campus laughing about anything and everything.
What I value most from my time at FDU are the relationships I built and the memories we created together. Whether it was organizing large club events like Ya Habibi Nachle through the South Asian Student Association or scrambling to finish an experiment in an organic chemistry lab, each of those moments became part of the larger story of my college journey. Looking back, it’s those friendships, shared challenges and everyday memories that made FDU feel like home. I am incredibly grateful for the people I met here.
Emily Diane Jacobelli
Emily Diane Jacobelli
Psychology
Metropolitan Campus
FDU: How have you taken advantage of opportunities on campus to grow personally and professionally?
EJ: To grow personally and professionally, I first had to take advantage of the resources given to me. They don’t always just jump out at you, so I thought to pause and reflect. How can a step in this direction, opposed to a step in that one, help me in the long run?
In doing this, I founded FDU’s Psychology Alliance and am proud to be president of the club. Professionally, just by helping a professor carry her books to and from her car every day, she offered me a job at a nearby psychologist who also attended FDU. I was thrilled to take the job and to work under the doctor. All in all, every opportunity given to me on campus has significantly molded me into the person I am now.
FDU: What are some ways that you found community with faculty, staff or students within your major?
EJ: My biggest sense of community came from the psychology faculty in Williams Hall!
Dr. Ben Johnson [assistant professor of psychology and deputy director of the Clinical Forensic Psychology MA Program], helped the Psych Alliance get off the ground and could not have been more helpful in doing so. He took the time to help me understand my undergraduate academic options, as well as after graduation. Additionally, Rob Mezzano [assistant to the dean, Marion Turpan College of Psychology and Counseling] and Jonathan Jones [administrative assistant to the graduate program director, Marion Turpan College of Psychology and Counseling] who work in the psychology office went from staff to friends. They were always quick to offer candy, pens, or help with room scheduling for the Alliance — though getting my five-minute chats in with them is what I loved most. And Judith Hayles [adjunct faculty member] was truly an inspiration to me, showing her students that she was always willing to lend a helping hand.
My heart will always belong in Williams Hall!
FDU: What is your biggest takeaway from your college experience?
EJ: Work for whatever you want. If you want a good grade in class, push through that awkwardness and ask a classmate for help; don’t be afraid to tell a teacher what you are struggling with. If you’d like to make a difference, seek areas that need aid and jump right in and be hands on. Whether it be succeeding academically, making money, or working out, set a goal, work toward it and attain it. The world will keep spinning, so learn to change and spin with it instead of stopping and hoping it stops with you.
Parsa Mokari Zadeh Asil
Parsa Mokari Zadeh Asil
Information Technology
Vancouver Campus
FDU: How have you taken advantage of opportunities on campus to grow personally and professionally?
PM: I actively connected with career services on the Vancouver Campus to develop my professional profile and improve my career readiness. I also worked part-time as an IT assistant with the IT department, where I gained hands-on technical experience and learned directly from senior IT staff. In addition, I volunteered and participated in various on-campus events. These experiences helped me understand different cultures, build strong relationships and create lifelong friendships with students from different majors.
FDU: What are some ways that you found community with faculty, staff or students within your major?
PM: One way that I found community was by being an active member of student clubs related to my interests and field of study — including the AI, IT and cybersecurity clubs. I also participated in workshops, volunteer opportunities, and campus events. Through these activities, I connected with faculty, staff and students, which helped me build meaningful relationships and feel more engaged within my major.
FDU: What is your biggest takeaway from your college experience?
PM: The biggest takeaway from my college experience is that I developed the mindset of a lifelong learner and a strong problem solver. Throughout my studies, I learned how to adapt to new challenges, manage responsibilities and approach complex situations with a practical and thoughtful perspective. These experiences strengthened both my personal growth and my professional outlook for the future.