Meet the new faculty in the Henry P. Becton College of Nursing and Allied Health
Time to meet several of the new faculty members in the Henry P. Becton College of Nursing and Allied Health!
FDU: When did you realize that you wanted to be a professor, and why?
Francesca Martinez: After nearly 20 years in nursing, including many years in healthcare leadership, I realized that some of the most meaningful moments in my career have involved teaching, mentoring and helping others grow. I’ve served in roles ranging from nursing education and clinical operations to director of women’s services and chief nursing officer. Those experiences showed me how important strong educators and mentors are in shaping not only individual nurses, but also the future of healthcare. Working at FDU allows me to bring those real-world experiences into the classroom and clinical learning environment while helping students develop the knowledge, confidence and clinical judgment they need to become exceptional nurses.
FDU: What is your favorite season, and why?
FM: My favorite season is fall. I love the cooler weather, changing leaves and everything that comes with the start of a new academic year. My birthday also happens to be in the fall! Something about fall feels like a fresh start. I also love spending time with my family during this season and enjoy the fall activities that come with living in New Jersey while also enjoying our family’s weekend home in upstate New York.
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
FM: I was drawn to FDU because of the opportunity to combine my background in nursing leadership, education, clinical operations and informatics into a role where I could make a meaningful impact on both students and the clinical learning environment. As the director of clinical laboratories, I am especially excited about creating innovative, hands-on learning experiences that help bridge the gap between the classroom and clinical practice. From my earliest conversations with the Henry P. Becton College of Nursing and Allied Health, I was impressed by the commitment to students and opportunities for collaboration and continued growth. I am excited to be part of that work and to contribute to preparing the next generation of nurses.
FDU: What’s your favorite way to decompress after a long day of work?
Niko Nikolovienis: My favorite way to decompress is to spend quality time with my family and stay connected to my Greek culture through traditional Greek dancing. I enjoy dancing myself, but I also teach Greek dance to children and young adults from ages 5 to 18. Sharing our traditions with the next generation is something I truly enjoy, and it gives me a great way to step away from work, recharge and have fun.
FDU: What would the title of your autobiography be?
NN: I would title it “Breathe, Believe, Become.” My journey began in Greece and eventually brought me to the United States to continue pursuing my career and passion for respiratory care. Going from working clinically at the bedside to becoming FDU’s respiratory care program director, while still remaining connected to clinical practice, has been an incredible journey and a great gift. Each step has taught me the importance of believing in your goals, continuing to grow and never forgetting where you started.
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
NN: The opportunity to help build and lead a new respiratory care program and contribute to educating the next generation of respiratory therapists. I wanted to bring my years of bedside and clinical experience into higher education to help students develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and compassion needed to succeed in healthcare. We still have a lot of hard work ahead of us as we introduce this new program to prospective students and communities throughout New Jersey, but that is also what makes this opportunity so exciting. I am proud to be part of building something that can make a lasting contribution to FDU, our students and the respiratory care profession.
FDU: How do you define success?
Rachel Ruf: I define success by the measurement of other people’s outcomes due to my mentorship, my strong relationships, my personal and professional growth as a lifetime learner, the respect you earn and enjoying the simple pleasures in life.
FDU: What is your favorite film or television series, and why?
RR: I have to say one of my favorite movies is “Forrest Gump” because it demonstrates so much about life. It shows you about unconditional love, overcoming a disability and making such a difference in so many lives. Forrest shows gratitude, kindness and total selflessness. He is an inspiration.
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
RR: I graduated from FDU. It was a wonderful opportunity to come back as a professor to help build a baccalaureate respiratory care program at my alma mater. It is an honor to be part of such a great team to mentor and teach students to become an amazing professional to help others with their respiratory illnesses.
FDU: Who is one person, dead or alive, that you wish you could meet? Why?
Maggie Runyon: I would love to meet my maternal grandmother, who passed away when my mom was a child. She raised seven incredible children and left a legacy of love that has buoyed me for decades. I wish I had the chance to get to know her as a person outside of the many stories I’ve heard.
FDU: Who was your favorite teacher when you were a student?
MR: This is a hard question because I’ve been blessed with many incredible teachers over two decades of school! However, as a nurse educator now myself, I have to call out Jane Ashley, one of my professors at Boston College, where I earned my BSN. Jane was a phenomenal professor who had not only an incredible knowledge base, but also took the time to connect deeply with her students about the purpose behind our work. I learned so much from her in both the classroom and clinical setting about how to care well for our patients as a whole human being, not an illness or disease process. I aspire to embody her caring approach to education, which inspired me deeply as a student.
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
MR: I was excited to join FDU because of a leadership vision that truly puts students first amid the evolving complexities of healthcare. I was looking for an institution that values applied, equity-focused scholarship — a place where I could guide health majors and graduate students to bridge research and statistics with real-world clinical advocacy. FDU’s vibrant community and strong commitment to workforce sustainability made it the natural home for my teaching and research.
FDU: What’s the most interesting thing that you’ve learned recently?
Shalini Vaidyalingam: I’ve recently been fascinated by how AI is being used in medicine to recognize patterns in medical images and clinical data that may not always be obvious to the human eye. Having spent years in clinical medicine, it’s amazing to see how quickly technology is changing what may be possible in diagnosis and patient care. I’m excited to see where it takes us.
FDU: If you were stuck on a deserted island, what is the one book that you absolutely must have with you?
SV: I would take the Bhagavad Gita. It’s one of those books you can return to at different stages of life and take away something different each time. And if I were stuck on a deserted island, I think I’d appreciate both the perspective and the company!
FDU: What brought you to FDU?
SV: My connection to FDU began with America Carlough, senior academic advisor, who encouraged me to consider this opportunity and believed that my clinical background could translate well into teaching. Her confidence in me opened a door to something I had not originally envisioned for myself. Once I learned more about FDU and the opportunity to bring my clinical experience into the classroom, I was excited to begin this new chapter in education. I’m very grateful to America for making that connection.