Meet the new faculty in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Give a warm welcome to the new faculty members in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences!
FDU: What excites you the most about social work?
Marquis Chandler: What excites me most about social work is the opportunity to help people and communities when they need it most. Sometimes people are searching for answers in the wrong places or simply don’t have access to the resources and support they need. As social workers, we can help fill those gaps and advocate for meaningful change. As a professor, one of the most rewarding parts of my work is preparing the next generation of social workers to become leaders in the field and in their communities.
FDU: What do you like to do in your free time — like hobbies or other activities?
MC: In my free time, I make music. I’m a hip-hop artist who has toured throughout the East Coast and opened up for hip-hop legends such as KRS-One, Freeway and Mr. Cheeks of the Lost Boyz. My music is thought-provoking and rooted in storytelling. I also use hip-hop as a tool to explore social conditions and many of the same issues we advocate around in social work. For me, music is both a creative outlet and another way to educate, tell stories and connect with people.
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
MC: What brought me to FDU is its commitment to empowering students through innovative and accessible educational experiences, including our asynchronous MSW program. I was drawn to the opportunity to help create an environment where students can receive a quality social work education while balancing the realities of their everyday lives. I also love New Jersey, and I appreciate FDU’s commitment to making an impact not only within the University, but also across communities throughout the state.
FDU: How did a failure, or a seeming failure, lead you to future success?
Justin McTish: Early in my career as an orthopedic occupational therapist, I was treating a high school baseball pitcher recovering from an elbow injury. I was intently focused on following standard protocols for his specific diagnosis. While he made progress in his function, after several weeks, he still was not ready to return to pitching. I realized I was treating the injury rather than the person. Once I adapted his treatment program to simulate the specific demands of a baseball pitcher, his progress greatly accelerated. Shortly thereafter, he successfully returned to pitch in his upcoming season. It was a valuable lesson in patient-centered care. This experience taught me to remember that every patient has different meaningful activities, and their treatment is best when it is tailored to what matters most to the individual.
FDU: What do you consider to be the highlight of your last year?
JM: Professionally, a major highlight was being nominated by my students as an honoree in the Student Government Association’s faculty appreciation program at my former university. I truly enjoy the challenge of breaking down complex material into manageable concepts. Beyond the material, I strive to build meaningful connections with my students. I make it a point to incorporate their feedback and modify the material to best meet their needs. Knowing that these efforts resonated with my students meant a great deal to me.
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
JM: From my first interactions, the University’s commitment to its students was abundantly clear. I connected deeply with the emphasis on keeping student-centered, high-quality education at the forefront, as well as the University’s drive for innovation. In many ways, FDU’s environment reminds me of the college where I earned my OTD. During my time in college, I developed a real passion for the field of occupational therapy. That experience played a defining role in shaping me as a clinician and educator. My goal is to create that same impact for the students here at FDU.
FDU: What’s your favorite way to decompress after a long day of work?
Harsh Patel: If it’s summer, you’ll usually find me going for a swim. In winter, I like to slow down with a cup of tea and something light on TV, often a stand-up comedy special or a sitcom. I’m also a frequent re-watcher of shows like “Ted Lasso,” “Succession,” “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” There’s something comforting about returning to a series you already love.
FDU: What is your favorite childhood memory?
HP: One of my favorite memories is coming home from school to find my favorite snack waiting for me, courtesy of my mom, before heading straight to the playground for a few games of cricket with friends. It’s a simple memory, but one I still look back on fondly.
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
HP: I was drawn to FDU because of its strong commitment to academic excellence and its supportive, collaborative environment for both students and faculty. As someone stepping into this next chapter of my career, I wanted to be part of an institution that takes teaching as seriously as it takes innovation, and FDU’s emphasis on preparing pharmacy students to thrive in an evolving healthcare landscape really resonated with me. I’m especially excited about the opportunity to work closely with students in the classroom and mentor them as they build the clinical and critical thinking skills they’ll carry into practice. Beyond the classroom, I’m looking forward to being part of a department that values both strong teaching and meaningful scholarly contribution, and to growing alongside colleagues who are equally invested in shaping the next generation of pharmacists who will go on to make a real impact in healthcare.
FDU: Other than your academic work, what sparks your curiosity?
Alexis Rotondo: I love any sort of puzzle solving or mystery, regardless of format or subgenre. This primarily refers to my longstanding obsession with Agatha Christie books (and some Stephen King), though I sometimes find myself listening to true crime podcasts as well. As strange as this sounds, I have a lot of fond memories of staying up late watching “Forensic Files” with my mom when I was younger. Did I always find sleep afterwards? Maybe not, but I have always gravitated toward anything that had a compelling presentation of the unknown. I also grew up on brainteasers and puzzle games, riddles and anything else I could get my “little grey cells“ on.
Of course, there’s plenty of gratification when you finally solve something challenging, but I also greatly enjoy the journey to that point. Theory crafting and exploring options outside of the box are usually even more fun than arriving at the right conclusion. Some of the best times I’ve had with friends involve that car ride home after a thought-provoking movie.
FDU: What would the title of your autobiography be?
AR: “I’ll Figure It Out.” Not only is this something I say frequently, it’s also quite representative of my life and academic journey. I’ve had plenty of moments in my life where I’ve found myself well out of my comfort zone having to use whatever resources and instincts I had to do the best I could. Nothing in life is truly ever fully predictable, and nothing is certain, so adaptation is one of the most useful skills a person can practice and develop. I have worked hard to develop a confidence in myself that allows me to say I would figure it out and mean it.
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
AR: My very first introduction to FDU was during my first year of pharmacy residency, in my first clinical rotation. It was a very stressful time for me; I had started an internal medicine rotation and was waiting to take my licensure exam. I would work a full day at the hospital, learning and working with many new providers, and then head home to study until I couldn’t stay awake anymore. Coincidentally, the preceptor I had for this rotation was FDU faculty, and we clicked within the first week of my rotation. This helped to alleviate a lot of the stress. I had someone I could approach with my uncertainties and obtain valuable advice in an understanding, caring environment. I selected her as my mentor for the residency year, and she and I remained in contact throughout my second year of residency at a different hospital as well. During our many conversations FDU came up several times, and as someone also interested in academia, I found myself envisioning a potential future with FDU. The warm culture of collaboration and a heavy focus on the student experience stood out to me as a community I wanted to be a part of, and I had only heard positive things from people both currently and formerly employed by FDU. When the time came to job search, a position opened up that perfectly aligned with all of my passions. Now I find myself across the hall from my mentor and so, so excited for the road ahead.
FDU: What are you working on right now?
Ramazan Sela: I am working on creating a variety of lectures which discuss both the broad strokes and subtle nuances of various medical topics. My focus is to ensure that the lectures contain the necessary information presented in a straightforward manner, so students fully grasp all levels of complexity with ease.
FDU: If you were stuck on a deserted island, what is the one book that you absolutely must have with you?
RS: On a deserted island, the book I would want to have with me is “The Geography of Bliss” by Eric Weiner. I have reread this book countless times and the spark of this masterpiece never seems to fade. Navigating through various locations and thought processes with the author is something I can gladly do for decades.
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
RS: The mission statement and values of Fairleigh Dickinson University align perfectly with my own morals and beliefs. Working at FDU provides me with the opportunity to use my education, experience and compassion to prepare future physician assistants. I will be one of the many aspects of their educational journeys that will equip them with the essential skills necessary to become exceptional, compassionate clinicians.
FDU: What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you?
Madison Silvestri: The best advice I have ever received comes from my parents. Throughout my academic career, they reminded me that as long as I did my best, that was all I could ask of myself. Knowing that I had given 100 percent effort to everything I pursued allowed me to feel proud of myself regardless of the outcome. This is a lesson I hope to share with my future students. It is easy to be overly critical of yourself and place unnecessary pressure on achieving a particular grade or result, but it is equally important to recognize that if you have truly given your best effort to something, you should be proud of what you have accomplished.
FDU: What is your favorite film or television series, and why?
MS: My favorite television series growing up was “Full House.” I loved its lighthearted nature and the meaningful life lessons embedded into every episode. The show allowed me to reflect on important values like family and friendship.
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
MS: The incredible faculty who helped shape my experience as a pharmacy student and, ultimately, as a pharmacist and healthcare professional. Throughout my time as a student at FDU, I experienced firsthand the impact of their encouragement, support and guidance. Their mentorship empowered me to grow both personally and professionally, and it inspired me to pursue a career in academia. I want to give back by providing my students with the same level of support and encouragement that made such a meaningful difference to me.
FDU: What do you want students to take away from your classes?
Sadia Zafar: I want students to leave my class understanding the fundamentals of health science and medicine required to become a physician assistant, PA-C. They will have clinical proficiency and reasoning skills to apply those fundamental concepts in practice, and a desire for continuous learning and improvement.
FDU: What bucket list item do you most want to check off in the next year?
SZ:I hope to visit Scotland! Academically, I am looking into pursuing a doctoral of medical science (DMSc) or doctoral degree in education (EdD) through FDU or another accredited program.
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
SZ: The beautiful campus and proximity to my home brought me to FDU. I enjoy the smaller, individualized class size for the PA program. I hope to have a collaborative teaching environment both within and outside of my current program.