Winter 2024 Feature
Long Read
FINDING YOUR SPARK
How Ramapo’s Provost is Changing the Way Students Learn
College
Long Read
Ramapo On the Rise
Presidential Reflections on the College’s Growth
Long Read
CELEBRATING HALF A CENTURY OF COMMUNITY IMPACT
The Friends of Ramapo 50th Anniversary
Long Read
IMPACTING SOCIETY
The Benefits of a Humanities Education
Short Read
FAST-TRACK TO HEALING
A Cure for the Nursing Shortage in New Jersey
#HomeSweetPo
Long Read
DIVERSITY BEYOND THE ARCH
A Catalyst for Growth and Success
Long Read
ANCHORING A COMMUNITY THROUGH
Scholarship and Creativity
Faculty
Long Read
Ramapo Faculty Offer Insights on Artificial Intelligence
Listing
Voices Amplified
Faculty Research, Publications and Presentations
Athletics
Long Read
LIGHT IT UP
College Adds Lighting System to Athletics Stadium
Short Read
A SEASON TO REMEMBER
Women’s Volleyball Writes Their Way into History
Foundation Focus
Long Read
GIFTS FOR AND FROM RAMAPO COLLEGE
Reflections from Bryan Steros ’98
Long Read
EMPOWERING FUTURES
The Transformative Impact of the Educational Opportunity Fund Program
Short Read
NEW ALUMNI LEADERSHIP
at Ramapo College
Short Read
OUT AND ABOUT
Alumni and Foundation Events
Then & Now
Short Read
THEN AND NOW
International Students Organization
Short Read
THEN AND NOW
Library
Class Notes
1982
Joyce L. LaVacca (Business Administration) has been appointed vice consul to the Consulate General in Chennai, India by the U.S. Department of State. Joyce is an attorney who has held several diplomatic roles with the Department of State. She earned a J.D. from Rutgers Law School and a Master of Liberal Arts from the University of Pennsylvania.
2003
Pedro E. Hernandez (History) attorney, partner and co-leader of Hinshaw & Culbertson’s global insurance services practice group, has been appointed to the firm’s management committee. Pedro has been with Hinshaw & Culbertson since 2007 and also serves on its executive committee. He earned his J.D. from Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School of Law.
2004
Katie Arcuri (Communication Arts) has been elevated to position of director of athletics at Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City; she is the 11th person in the school’s history to hold this title. Katie was promoted from senior associate athletics director of compliance and student athlete welfare. She has been with the university for 20 years and has served in a variety of roles within the Athletics Department. While an RCNJ student, Katie was a member of the women’s basketball team and, subsequently, was inducted into the college’s Athletics Hall of Fame. She received a master’s in sport management from the United States Sports Academy.
2013
Kyle Tafuri (M.A., Sustainability) was recently named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2023 list, “Rising Stars: 67 Healthcare Leaders under 40,” which recognizes young leaders positioned to impact the future of healthcare. Kyle is vice president of sustainability at Hackensack Meridian Health where he leads the development and management of such initiatives as infrastructure upgrades for energy efficiency, green building, nutrition, purchasing and safer chemicals.
2014
Nicole Franklin (M.A.L.S.) joined Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as director of communications for the Department of Marketing and Communications. Nicole graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago with a degree in mass communications and went on to work at NBC and CBS. She won three Daytime Emmy awards for her work on the CBS Sunday Morning news program. She has also served as an adjunct faculty member at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Bloomfield College and Long Island University Brooklyn and as assistant professor at Hofstra University.
2022
Christopher L. Hughes (Political Science) has been appointed chief of staff to New Jersey Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips who represents the 40th Legislative District. Christopher was elected to the Mahwah Board of Education in 2022 at 24 years old. He is active in the Mahwah and Bergen County Republicans and with his parish of Saint Elizabeth in Wyckoff.
Ramapo College Magazine Team: Winter 2024
Editor-in-Chief:
Christopher Romano, Ed.D.
Managing Editor:
Diane Couzens
Associate Editor:
Mark Gregorio
Digital Designer:
Angela Moore
Copyeditor:
Lies Chartier
Contributors:
Lisa Ambrose; Diane Couzens; Janelle Ferraro ’14; Liz Kloak MA ’16; Bev McCarron; Ariana Rivera ’18; Rachel Pinton ’01; David Terdiman; Nicole Videla; John Yao
Photography:
Peter Bonilla ‘18, P&M Photo; Carolyn Herring; Alexandra Modafferi; John O’Boyle; Peter Rice; Ariana Rivera ’18; Katie Rygiel; David Terdiman