COLLEGE NEWS
Undergraduate Students Present Research Findings at
Annual Symposium
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More than 30 students presented posters and talks describing their undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activities in the sciences at an annual Student Research Symposium held in April at the College.
The symposium provided a research conference atmosphere during which students presented the results of faculty-student collaborative scientific research. Topics included the artificial sweetener aspartame inhibits tail regeneration in the mud worm, the implications for dinosaur speed estimates, the simulation and visualization of forest dynamics and the recycling of aluminum by utilizing the metal as an electrode in a fuel cell, among others.
The School of Theoretical and Applied Science, Reedy International of Keyport, New Jersey and LeCroy Corporation of Chestnut Ridge, New York sponsored the event.
Property Developer
David Schlussel Appointed
to Board of Trustees |
A.J. Sabath ’93 Has Board of Trustees Term Renewed The Honorable A.J. Sabath ‘93, who serves as vice-chair, had his term renewed for six years. Sabath, the former chief of staff to Senate President Richard J. Codey, earned a bachelor's degree in social work from Ramapo College and he is the owner of The Advocacy Group in Moorestown, NJ. |
Darwin Day at Ramapo College
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A celebration of Charles Darwin’s life and evolutionary theory, and its impact 200 years after the concept of human evolution was proposed, was the theme of “The Darwin Revolution” in April.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Niles Eldredge (pictured) who earned a Ph.D. in Geology from Columbia University and whose research specializes in the evolution of trilobites, a group of extinct arthropods. His 2005 book, “Darwin, Discovering the Tree of Life,” accompanied an exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History, where he is a curator of Paleontology.
Faculty from the School of Theoretical and Applied Science presented a current-day description of how Darwin’s theories have impacted evolution and influenced their research projects.
World Language Symposium
Celebrates the Benefits of
Learning Another Language
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“Expanding Cultural Diversity: Does Learning Another Language Matter?” was the theme of a world language symposium in April. Dr. Joel Goldfield, associate professor of Modern Languages and Literatures and director of the Assistant Teacher/Oral Practice Session Program at Fairfield University in Connecticut (pictured), gave an opening presentation.
The symposium, sponsored by the School of American and International Studies, was a daylong exploration of the benefits of learning another language that included presentations by Ramapo College professors and students. Among the reasons cited for learning another language were improving English skills, enhancing travel experiences and gaining an advantage in the global community.
Science Writer and Author of "Galileo's Daughter"
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Dava Sobel, spoke at the Meadowlands Education Center. The best-selling science author, whose book, “Galileo's Daughter” won the 1999 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for science and technology, was a featured speaker presented by the William D. McDowell Observatory at the Meadowlands Environment Center in March.
The book, a finalist for the 2000 Pulitzer Prize in biography, is based on 124 surviving letters to Galileo from his eldest child, a cloistered nun. Their relationship, traced through the correspondence, overturns the myth of Galileo as an enemy of the Catholic church. Although his discoveries in astronomy made Galileo world famous, his writings brought him to trial before the Inquisition, after which he was forced to deny his own beliefs. Ironically, his definition of the relationship between science and religion has since become the Church's official position.
“Diversity Perspectives In The 21st Century” Lecture Series
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A lecture series, “Diversity Perspectives in the 21st Century,” was presented throughout the spring semester. Each of the 13 lectures represented a broad diversity of cultural, ethnic and religious groups. The free series featured artists, activists, authors and academics.
“Weekly speakers, plus film screenings, performances and exhibits put a face on the particulars, the complexity and the breadth of diversity,” said Dr. Kay Fowler, a professor of Gerontology and organizer of the series. “The lectures gave us cause for celebration and pride in the richness of the diverse 21st century while strengthening our commitment to be a part of the efforts to enhance social justice, empathy and interpersonal growth.” Among those who lectured were award winning playwright, poet and essayist Cherrie Moraga who spoke on social change; documentary writer Daniela Zanzotto who addressed race, class and education; Dr. Cyrus Ellis, a social justice activist, veteran, author and professor at Governors State University, Illinois who deconstructed the 2008 Presidential election; Houda Abadi, director of Unity Programs for Abraham's Vision, a non-profit organization that facilitates dialogue between Jewish and Muslim youth and Philip Gourevitch, who authored “Standard Operating Procedure,” an investigation into the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
The Diversity Action Committee, the School of Contemporary Arts, the School of Social Science and Human Services, Student Activities Platinum Series, Women’s Center, Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Africana Film Festival, Schomburg Foundation, Office of Student Affairs, Institutional Advancement, Office of Student Development and PRIDE sponsored the series with support from College.
Painting With Wine
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The Italian Club, Il Circolo Italiano, sponsored an evening with artist and poet Pietro Barbera in April. Barbera recited poetry from his anthology, “Il tempo sospeso,” and taught attendees how to paint with wine.
Berrie Award Winners
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Patient care technician Angelica Mercado of North Bergen was awarded a $50,000 cash grant from the Russell Berrie Foundation as winner of the 2009 Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference for assisting a driver whose gas tanker overturned and exploded. Mercado assisted at the scene of the accident and transported the driver to the hospital. Healthcare professionals at The University Hospital in Newark, where the driver was taken, believe Mercado’s quick actions likely saved the man’s life.
Taking home the $35,000 award was Kevin J. Williams of Maywood who established the Maywood Rotary Kenya Project to help Maasai schoolchildren. His efforts have resulted in the first fresh water well for the schoolchildren and people in seven surrounding villages, along with school supplies, textbooks, school uniforms, well-balanced meals and a library. The organization has also paid for two eighth-grade classes to attend high school.
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Bea Napier, of the Township of Washington, (Bergen County) was awarded the $25,000 grant for her service with the township’s ambulance corp. In her more than 35 years of service she has made more than 5,000 calls, used CPR to save 19 lives and assisted with three childbirths.
In all, 19 finalists were selected by a committee comprising eminent New Jersey business leaders and professionals. Established in 1997 by the late Russell Berrie and administered by Ramapo College of New Jersey, the Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference honors Garden State residents for their unselfish dedication to serving others. The 16 remaining finalists each received $2,500.
Musical Celebration of
America
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The RCNJ Theater Program presented
Woody Guthrie’s “American Song” for a
slate of performances in April. This exuberant
musical celebration of America,
directed by Mary Ellen Allison, associate
professor of Theater, tells the life of the
rambling folk singer through his words
and music.
Silver Award Winner
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Jeff Gluck, a Ramapo student in Breanne Trammell’s Visual Identity class, won an American Institute of Graphic Arts Detroit Student Exhibit Silver Award for his entry in their design competition in April. Breanne Trammell is a School of Contemporary Arts adjunct. AIGA is a collaboration between the national organization and its 55 plus chapters. It was founded in 1914 in New York City with a nation-wide membership base of more than 20,000 professional, educator and student members and is the oldest and largest membership association of design professionals.
2009 New Jersey Distinguished Teacher Education Program Recipients
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Felice Centrella, an English teacher with Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School, and Ashley Woolsey, a teacher in Africa, both of whom were enrolled in Ramapo College’s Teacher Education Program, were selected as recipients of the 2009 New Jersey Distinguished Student Teacher, a recognition program of the New Jersey State Department of Education. Dr. Alexander Urbiel, assistant dean of the Teacher Education Program, noted that the award is based on the student's academic performance and letters from professors, cooperating teachers and student teacher supervisors. Only 15 student teachers from across the state were chosen this year for the recognition.
