Winter 2024 Feature
 Long ReadÂ
FINDING YOUR SPARK
How Ramapo’s Provost is Changing the Way Students Learn
![MICHAEL-MIDDLETON-2024 Ramapo College's Provost, Michael Middleton, with a book](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/02/MICHAEL-MIDDLETON-2024.png)
College
![President Jebb during Arching President Jebb fist bumping a student during Ramapo College's welcome Arching ceremony](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/02/President-jebb_Arching-CH-Aug2023-008.jpg)
 Long ReadÂ
Ramapo On the Rise
Presidential Reflections on the College’s Growth
![friends-of-ramapo-50th-anniversary_winter2024-home Friends of Ramapo College's Margaret Mullen-Gensch and Peggy Capomaggi](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/friends-of-ramapo-50th-anniversary_winter2024-home.jpg)
 Long ReadÂ
CELEBRATING HALF A CENTURY OF COMMUNITY IMPACT
The Friends of Ramapo 50th Anniversary
![impacting-society-the-benefits-of-a-humanities-education_winter2024-home Susan Hangen, Ramapo’s dean of the School of Humanities and Global Studies sitting at a desk](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/impacting-society-the-benefits-of-a-humanities-education_winter2024-home.jpg)
 Long ReadÂ
IMPACTING SOCIETY
The Benefits of a Humanities Education
![cure-for-the-nursing-shortage_winter2024-home Ramapo College nursing students practicing CPR](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/cure-for-the-nursing-shortage_winter2024-home.jpg)
 Short ReadÂ
FAST-TRACK TO HEALING
A Cure for the Nursing Shortage in New Jersey
#HomeSweetPo
![diversity-beyond-the-arch_winter2024-home Diverse group of Ramapo College Students as the sun is setting by the Arch with a student dancing in the forefront](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/diversity-beyond-the-arch_winter2024-home.jpg)
 Long ReadÂ
DIVERSITY BEYOND THE ARCH
A Catalyst for Growth and Success
![COPLAC students ÀÇÓÑÊÓƵ students who presented at the COPLAC conference](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/community-through-scholarship-and-creativity_winter2024-home.jpg)
 Long ReadÂ
ANCHORING A COMMUNITY THROUGH
Scholarship and Creativity
Faculty
![AI human circuitry AI generated image of an AI concept with a human and circuitry](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/faculty-insights-on-ai_winter2024-home.jpg)
 Long ReadÂ
Ramapo Faculty Offer Insights on Artificial Intelligence
![voices-amplified_winter2024-home Ramapo College's award-winning faculty](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/voices-amplified_winter2024-home.jpg)
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Voices Amplified
Faculty Research, Publications and Presentations
Athletics
![Athletic fields lighting up the night ÀÇÓÑÊÓƵ soccer player with a bright light shining on him at night](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/light-it-up_winter2024-home.jpg)
 Long ReadÂ
LIGHT IT UP
College Adds Lighting System to Athletics Stadium
![ÀÇÓÑÊÓƵ Women's Volleyball players ÀÇÓÑÊÓƵ Women's Volleyball players excitedly holding a trophy](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/season-to-remember_winter2024-home.jpg)
 Short ReadÂ
A SEASON TO REMEMBER
Women’s Volleyball Writes Their Way into History
Foundation Focus
![reflections-from-bryan-steros_winter2024-home Bryan Steros smiling outside wearing a suit with a yellow tie](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/reflections-from-bryan-steros_winter2024-home.jpg)
 Long ReadÂ
GIFTS FOR AND FROM RAMAPO COLLEGE
Reflections from Bryan Steros ’98
![EOF Class of '23 Large group of Ramapo College EOF outside on campus on a sunny day in August](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/transformative-impact-of-the-educational-opportunity-fund-program_winter2024-home.jpg)
 Long ReadÂ
EMPOWERING FUTURES
The Transformative Impact of the Educational Opportunity Fund Program
![New-Alumni-leadership_winter2024-home2 Keith Hawkins holding a Harlem Globetrottrers basketball](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/New-Alumni-leadership_winter2024-home2.jpg)
 Short ReadÂ
NEW ALUMNI LEADERSHIP
at Ramapo College
![out-and-about_winter2024-home Donald J Mahoney '73 Memorial Trophy](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/out-and-about_winter2024-home.jpg)
 Short ReadÂ
OUT AND ABOUT
Alumni and Foundation Events
Then & Now
![then-and-now-iso_winter2024-home Ramapo College International Students Organization club](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/then-and-now-iso_winter2024-home.jpg)
 Short ReadÂ
THEN AND NOW
International Students Organization
![library-then-now_winter2024-home ÀÇÓÑÊÓƵ Library then and now image](/magazine/wp-content/uploads/sites/343/2024/03/library-then-now_winter2024-home.jpg)
 Short ReadÂ
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 ÀÇÓÑÊÓƵ 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