MAY 2022 | ISSUE NO. 8
Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President
ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS Message from the Provost Message from the Provost
Dear Colleagues, With the spring semester winding down and final exams at hand, we are in the season of celebrating our students’ accomplishments and congratulating those who are completing their degrees. I want to recognize the work of our faculty and staff who are dedicated to the mission of providing our students an excellent education as they launch careers or further their educations, and, most importantly, their lives as thoughtful citizens. As we attend various student celebrations this month, and then our commencement exercises on June 2, enjoy the moments of heartfelt accomplishment and the role that all our faculty and staff play in fostering the intellectual and professional growth of our students. I commend you all for this important and life-transforming work. Tamara
Tamara Jhashi, Ph.D. Provost and Senior Vice President
MAY 2022 | ISSUE NO. 8 | PG. 2 NJCU OFFICE OF THE PROVOST | ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS
MAY EVENTS Communications Workers of America, Local 1031: 1st Annual Unity Luncheon, AFT, IFPTE and CWA Thursday, May 5th 12:00 P.M. to 2:30 P.M.
GSUB Patio
Music, Dance and Theatre Department: NJCU Spring Jazz Fest Sunday May 1st
Music of Brazil and the Americas Sunday, May 8th
12:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. 3:00 P.M.
Margaret Williams Theatre Margaret Williams Theatre
Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies:
Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society Induction Sponsored by the World Languages and Cultures Department and the LATI Center Friday, May 13th 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Hepburn Hall, Room 202 Pa’lante Graduation Ceremony for Hispanic/Latinx Students Sponsored by the Council on Hispanic Affairs, the LATI Center, and the Division of Diversity and Inclusion Friday, May 20th 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. GSUB Lobby
Sociology & Anthropology Department:
"Ethical Implications of Virtual Social Work Practice Following the COVID-19 Pandemic" 29th Annual National Association of Social Workers - New Jersey Annual Conference & Exhibition on demand presentation and accompanying publication in the NASW-NJ Focus Magazine. Dr. Jennifer A. Pax May 1- May 31, 2022 On-Demand Session Register at: https://thefutureofsocialwork.org/
SAVE THE DATE JUNE EVENT 2022 Commencement Ceremony
Thursday, June 2nd Prudential Center | Newark, N.J. - 11 a.m. Ceremony: School of Business and College of Professional Studies (doors open at 10 a.m. for all graduates, and all must be seated by 10:40 a.m.) - 3 p.m. Ceremony: Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education and the William J. Maxwell College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) and CAS/Education dual-degree recipients (doors open at 2 p.m. for all graduates, and all must be seated by 2:40 p.m.)
MAY 2022 | ISSUE NO.8 | PG.3 NJCU OFFICE OF THE PROVOST | ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS
FACULTY AND STAFF UPDATES CPS Dean Update:
The search committee for dean of CPS, chaired by Dean Breault, worked diligently in the spring term; however, the search was ultimately unsuccessful. Dr. Marvin Walker will serve as Acting Dean of CPS, beginning July 1. His leadership will help further the goals of the College in the months to come. Thank you to Dr. Michael Edmondson for serving as Interim Dean of CPS since fall 2019. He has been a stalwart champion of CPS while wearing several hats at NJCU. He will now be able to focus his energy as the Executive Director of NJCU @ Monmouth. An important initiative to serve students in the central part of the state, the Monmouth campus location needs full-time leadership to grow our enrollment and provide excellent academic programs for students to achieve an affordable four-year degree.
Dr. Michael Edmondson Executive Director of NJCU @ Monmouth
Dr. Marvin Walker, Acing Dean of CPS
GRANTS Career Success Lab - Grow with Google Career Readiness Grant
NJCU is partnering with Google to bring the Grow with Google program to our students. The Grow with Google Career Readiness Program contains interactive learning paths that will help students build both the digital and practical skills they need to acquire and thrive in internships or postcollege jobs. The curriculum includes lessons on resume writing, interview techniques, and how to succeed in a new job. It teaches and reinforces professional skills through projects that deliver tangible outcomes, such as a resume or cover letter. This grant has been made possible by HACU.
Chemistry and Biochemisty Department - NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) Grant Dr. Yufeng Wei (Chemistry and Biochemistry), PI, and Drs. Jennifer Pax (Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work), Wei Zhang (Psychology), and William Montgomery (Earth and Environmental Sciences), Co-PIs, received an NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) grant, titled “Building Capacity to Develop Community-Engaged STEM Learning as an Institutional Transformative Mechanism”, for a total amount of $150,000.
MAY 2022 | ISSUE NO.8 | PG.4 NJCU OFFICE OF THE PROVOST | ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS 2022-2023 Academic Catalog:
The 2022-2023 academic catalog is now live. If changes need to be made, please email Jennifer Fitzgerald (jfitzgerald@njcu.edu) and Gail Fernandez (gfernandez7@njcu.edu).
IDEA Evaluation:
IDEA Evaluation opened to faculty on May 2nd and to students on May 5th.
General Education Request for Expression of Interest for Online Degrees:
NJCU intends to offer some fully online undergraduate degrees in the near future. To ensure a uniform learning experience for students enrolled in online degrees, only courses that satisfy the Quality Matters design standards will be included. The General Education Curriculum Committee is looking for expressions of interest from faculty willing to revise the course modality of their currently scheduled GE sections for fall 2022 and spring 2023 to be in line with these standards. All students enrolled in online degrees will take these specially designated online GE courses. For more general information on Quality Matters, please contact Dr. Dan Ward in the Department of On Line Learning. The General Education Curriculum Committee is currently seeking Tier 1 courses that teach at least one of the following learning outcomes: 1. Civic Engagement and Intercultural Knowledge 2. Oral Communication 3. Information & Technology Literacy And Tier 2 courses that teach at least one of the following learning outcomes: 1. Civic Engagement and Intercultural Knowledge 2. Oral Communication 3. Information & Technology Literacy 4. Quantitative Literacy If courses are selected as part of this initiative, faculty will work with instructional designers from the Department of Online Learning to present their courses in Blackboard Ultra following the Quality Matters rubric. If you are interested, please complete and return the attached brief form to the General Education Curriculum Committee at GECC@njcu.edu. The deadline to submit this expression of interest is May 9th.
PUBLICATIONS Chemistry and Biochemisty Department:
Dr. Yufeng Wei is principal author of the following journal article: Ikedife, J., He, J. & Wei, Y. PEA-15 engages in allosteric interactions using a common scaffold in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Scientific Reports 12, 116 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04099-6 Dr. Robert Aslanian is co-author of the following book chapter: Huang, X., & Aslanian, R. “Finding Cures for Alzheimer’s Disease: From γ-Secretase Inhibitors to γ-Secretase Modulators and βSecretase Inhibitors" in Contemporary Accounts in Drug Discovery and Development, edited by Xianhai Huang, Robert Aslanian, and Wayne H. Tang, 51-84. Hoboken: Wiley, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781119627784.ch4 Dr. Robert Aslanian is co-editor of the book Contemporary Accounts in Drug Discovery and Development, released in March, 2022.
MAY 2022 | ISSUE NO.8 | PG.5 NJCU OFFICE OF THE PROVOST | ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS
NOTABLES Educational Technology Ed.D. Leadership Department:
Ed Tech Ed.D. Alums Setting New Standards of Excellence in Service and Scholarship
Photo Caption: Dr. Kerry Magro
Dr. Kerry Magro Published Bestselling Book on Autism Congratulations to Dr. Kerry Magro (Ed.D. in Ed Tech Leadership) on his new book -- Autistics on Autism: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams. Release in February 2022 it is currently the #1 Best Seller on Amazon in Autism & Asperger's Syndrome. Dr. Magro is an internationally renowned author, speaker, and thought-leader on autism. He has appeared on national and international broadcasts from CBS, NBC, and CNN. He is currently a consultant for the Netflix series Autism on the Spectrum. Dr. Magro’s research at NJCU focused on the online communities of parents of children with autism. Dr. Mathew Farber Awarded Scholarly Recognition Congratulations to Dr. Mathew Farber (MA and Ed.D. Alum of Educational Technology Leadership). Dr. Farber earned the University of Northern Colorado's College Scholar Award. Dr. Farber is a prolific author and researcher. He is an Assistant Professor of Teacher Education and the author of several books and numerous articles on games in education and educational technology, and he is an educational consultant for UNESCO.
Photo Caption:Dr. Mathew Farber
Dr. Michael Bermudez Named Fulbright Scholar Congratulations to Dr. Michael Bermudez (MA and Ed.D. in Ed Tech Leadership Alum) for receiving a 2022-23 Fullbright award to Uganda. Dr. Bermudez’s research at NJCU focused on the use of handheld apps for body monitoring and stress reduction. Dr. Bermudez is an Assistant Professor at the University of Scranton. His scholarship looks at the intersection of occupational therapy, technology, and education. Photo Caption:Dr. Michael Bermudez
Dr. October Hudley Earns National Civil Rights Award Congratulations to Dr. October Hudley (MA and Ed.D in Ed Tech Leadership). Dr. Hudley is a Councilwoman at Large in Irvington, NJ and the President of the Irvington National Action Network Chapter. Her chapter earned Chapter of the year and she has been recognized nationally and statewide for her leadership in Irvington during the pandemic.
Photo Caption: Dr. October Hudley
MAY 2022 | ISSUE NO.8 | PG.6 NJCU OFFICE OF THE PROVOST | ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS
NOTABLES Chemistry and Biochemisty Department:
Earlier this year, the department was recognized as an American Chemical Society (ACS) accredited department after a thorough program review. Students who complete the ACS-accredited curriculum are recognized with a certificate from the ACS.
Special Education Department:
On March 27, Professor Susan Vezza was honored at Rutgers University-Newark by the 211 Community Impact & International Youth Organization for her commitment of more than a decade, to raising the spirit of youth and their families in Essex County.About 100 women educators, mothers, business owners, community activist, and other powerful women attended the event. Professor Vezza has taught with distinction in NJCU’s Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant Program. Photo Caption: Professor Susan Vezza
RECAP Political Science Department: NJCU’s Delegation to the National Model United Nations (NMUN)
The NJCU Delegation to the National Model United Nations (NMUN), formed by students enrolled in the UN Workshop class, participated in the annual conference and competition of the NMUN in New York City on April 10-13. Directed by Dr. Ning Liao, the faculty advisor of the Model UN team, the NJCU delegation represented Syria this year on six simulated committees and won two Outstanding Position Paper Awards. The world’s largest and oldest university-level Model UN, NMUN draws participants from more than 130 UN Member States each year to address current global issues or urgency. Since 2015, the NJCU delegation has received 12 national accolades. Offered by the Political Science Department every spring, UN Workshop is also a simulation class in the Global Studies minor at NJCU. Dr. Ning Liao, Associate Professor of Political Science, presented a paper, entitled “An Irreversible Malaise of Decoupling? Examining the Identity Politics of U.S.-China Economic Rivalry,” at the annual convention of the International Studies Association in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 30. On April 28-29, he represented NJCU in the 2022 College and University Educators Workshop of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) at CFR’s New York headquarters.
MAY 2022 | ISSUE NO. 8 | PG. 7 NJCU OFFICE OF THE PROVOST | ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS
2022 LATI Colloquium
RECAP
Held on April 6 and 7, the 2022 LATI Colloquium featured over 100 presenters, artists, and musicians and reached an audience of over 250 in-person and virtual attendees. Faculty, students, staff, and alumni from NJCU and 4 other colleges and universities, as well as representatives of 2 community organizations, presented scholarly and creative work with a focus on Latin America, the Caribbean, and U.S. Latinx communities. Four different musical groups performed, and a studentcurated art exhibition featured 21 professional and school-age Latinx artists from across Hudson County. The Colloquium was sponsored by the LATI Center and cosponsored by the Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies academic program and the World Languages and Cultures department.
Honors Field Trip:
The Honors Program, History Department, and Global Initiatives teamed up for an informative academic field trip to Philadelphia on 4/29/22. Forty students as well as several faculty/staff traveled by bus to Independence Hall, where they met expert guides from Founding Footsteps. Over several hours the group learned about the old town district, architecture, historic preservation, the life and career of Betsy Ross, city planning, Philadelphia’s early and impressive history of African-American property ownership, the Civil rights Movement in Philadelphia, and Philly’s parks.
Liberty High School Strings Orchestra (Iowa) and Caroline L. Guarini Department of Music, Dance & Theatre
Liberty High School Strings Orchestra (Iowa) visited NJCU on Friday April 15th.
Ramadan Mubarak Iftar Night
The Muslim Student Association presented Ramadan Mubarak Iftar Night with speaker Mohamed Shallan on Thursday, April 21st.
MAY 2022 | ISSUE NO.8 | PG.8 NJCU OFFICE OF THE PROVOST | ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS
RECAP Women's and Gender Studies Department: 18th Annual New Jersey Women's and Gender Studies Consortium (NJWGSC) student colloquium at TCNJ
WGST minors Analisse Ortiz and Giovania Jones, and WGST major Safiyah Shedeed presented at the 18th annual New Jersey Women's and Gender Studies Consortium (NJWGSC) Student Colloquium. Analisse Ortiz presented her final paper for Dr. Jacqueline Ellis' WGST 310 "Girls, Girl Culture, and Girlhood Studies" called “The generational career expectations of Latinas: Latina-American futures”.
Photo Caption: (L to R): Dr. Jennifer Musial, First Prize winner Giovania Jones (WGST minor), Analisse Ortiz (WGST minor), Dr. Jacqueline Ellis.
Giovania Jones presented an artist talk and recorded performance piece called “G.I.R.L.S.: getting into real life shit”, which was devised for the same class (WGST 310). Safiyah Shedeed talked about her WGST 380 Internship with Jersey City Councilperson Yousef Saleh. She'd won the Internship grant prize in Fall 2021 for this internship. She also took home the First Prize, a cash prize for top student submissions.
Photo Caption: Safiyah Shedeed (WGST co-major)
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Town Hall Meeting:
On Tuesday, April 26th, NJCU held a Town Hall meeting to discuss what it means to be a HispanicServing Institution and how NJCU could best serve its Latinx students. Introduction: Dr. Sue Henderson, NJCU President and Chair of the Governing Board of HACU (Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities) Moderator: Dr. Ángel González, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Panelists: Andrés Acebo, NJCU Chief of Staff to President Henderson Jose Balda, NJCU Director of Admissions Alan Cruz, NJCU Student and SGA Executive Vice President Ivelisse Cruz, NJCU Alumna and past CHA President Dr. Katia Paz Goldfarb, Associate Provost for Hispanic Initiatives, Montclair State University.
MAY 2022 | ISSUE NO. 8 | PG.9 NJCU OFFICE OF THE PROVOST | ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS
RECAP Communications Workers of America, Local 1031: 1st Annual Unity Luncheon, AFT, IFPTE and CWA Communications Workers of America, Local 1031 held the 1st Annual Unity Luncheon, AFT, IFPTE and CWA on Thursday, May 5th.
Office of the Provost Dr. Tamara Jhashi, Provost & Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, Tjhashi@njcu.edu Dr. Nurdan Aydin, Associate Provost, Naydin@njcu.edu Dr. Gail Fernandez, Associate Provost, Gfernandez7@njcu.edu Bernadette Schery, Executive Assistant to the Provost and Senior Vice President, Bschery1@njcu.edu Damaris Castillo, Budget Manager, Dcastillo@njcu.edu Sherifa Abdalla, Professional Services Specialist III, Sabdalla@njcu.edu
HOW TO SEND NEWS AND SUBMISSIONS Please send faculty achievements and departmental events to Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@njcu.edu. Next Academic Connections will appear on Friday, June 3rd. Submission of news deadline is Friday, May 20th.