Welcome to Edition 43 of This Week at NJCU for November 7, 2022. This once-weekly Monday publication will inform the university community about all events happening each week over the next eight days on campus and offer important announcements. To submit your event or announcement for the November 14, 2022 edition, please use the form at the bottom of this communication.

All listed times are Eastern Standard Time (EST). All events are in-person unless otherwise noted as online, via Zoom, or hybrid.

Please scroll down to the end of this message to see our sections highlighting current faculty, staff, student and alumni news and an In Memoriam section to honor those alumni, faculty, staff, or students, who have passed.

Share your news with us at communications@njcu.edu.

WHAT WE NEED:

For RWJ Pediatric Cancer Unit: Unwrapped gifts for children ages 5-13 including toys, games, books. Please no clothing or video games unless it is the complete handheld console (i.e. Gameboy).

For Big Brothers Big Sisters: New clothes and toys for children through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties. 

Please click to open wish list and sponsor a child. All gifts must be unwrapped and labeled with the child’s name, age and number on the list.

DROP OFF your donations from November 1 to December 5 at one of the following location: 

Contact Sergio Villamizar at Ext. 2170 or e-mail at svillamizar@njcu.edu if you have any questions. 

The Office of Military and Veterans Services is celebrating our Service Members throughout the month of November!

Greenlight a Vet for the Month of November

Monday, November 7
NJCU Denim Day
Donate $5 and wear your best denim to work. All proceeds benefit the NJCU community of veterans. Donations can be dropped off in person to Gilligan Student Union, Rm. 127, or made online:

OSS Office Visit 
The Office of Specialized Services and Supplemental Instruction (OMVS), which provides equal access to college programs through the provision of reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, will be spending the afternoon with OMVS. Please stop by with any questions on how they can assist you throughout the semesters, as you navigate your academic career.
Location: Gilligan Student Union, Rm. 127
Time: 1-4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, November 8
OMVS will be joining the First-Generation Student Celebration. Stop by our table and say hello as we celebrate our first-generation service members!    
Location: Gilligan Student Union Lobby first floor
Time: 12-3 p.m.

Wednesday, November 9
Stop by our office, grab a treat, put a star of your favorite veteran on our Honor Tree, and write a card for one of our service members!  
Location: Gilligan Student Union, Rm. 127
Time: 12-2 p.m.

Thursday, November 10
Green Zone Training (Military Competency Training) for students, faculty & staff. Learn more about our community of service members, who they are, and what you can do to assist them as they join our NJCU community. 
Location: Gilligan Student Union, Rm. 129. 
Time: 10 a.m.

Friday, November 11
Veterans Day Flag Raising Ceremony, 9:45 a.m. at the Hepburn Front Lawn Flagpole. Join us as we celebrate all service members by raising the flag in honor of Veterans Day. Be sure to Thank a Vet today! 
Location: Hepburn Front Lawn Flag Pole
Time: 9:45 a.m.

For more information about any of the scheduled events, please contact the Office of Military and Veterans Services at 201-200-3199 or veterans@njcu.edu

Please come and show your support!

On Saturday, November 12, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Jersey City Police Department — in conjunction with New Jersey City University, and Tomahawk Strategies, L.L.C. — will conduct an Active Shooter exercise on NJCU's Main Campus located at 2039 Kennedy Boulevard.

Volunteer actors/players from the NJCU Community are needed for this exercise in order for it to be successful and will add an element of realism to the event. NJCU last participated in this training exercise in June 2018 at the NJCU School of Business. An example of what to expect can be seen in this video from the Hudson County View.

Please be advised that exercises such as this are not for the faint of heart. The simulated weapons used by the police along with the dramatized injuries and fatalities may be disturbing. However, the value and learning experience these types of exercises add in the training and preparation of all those involved — both first responders and volunteers — is imperative in the event of a real-life emergency situation.

Lunch will be provided for all volunteers. Any student, faculty, or staff member wishing to volunteer to participate as an actor/player, or for more information, may contact Nayomie Serrano at nserrano@njcu.edu or (201) 200-3127.

Please join us for light refreshments where excellence and service will be recognized for the 2022 version of the Special Thanks and Recognition of Service (STARS) Awards.

NJCU Gifts From the Heart
Holiday Toy Collection for RWJ Barnabas Pediatric Cancer Unit

Monday, November 7

(View Spotlight Events for more information)

Military Appreciation Week 2022 

NJCU Denim Day

OSS Office Visit 

Monday, November 7 | 1-4:30 p.m.

(View Spotlight Events for more information)

Are you interested in a career in financial services?

Join Equitable Advisors for a Virtual Information Session event on Monday, November 7th at 3 p.m. via Zoom.

Students who attend will have the opportunity to network with recruiters from Equitable, a Fortune 500 company! Equitable provides variable annuity, life insurance, and employee benefits products to both individuals and businesses. They specialize in customizable financial strategies that meet each client’s individual needs.

Participants will learn about their Finance Accelerator Program. This educational program will help you gain exposure to the financial services industry and help you to determine if a career in finance is right for you!

Those eligible for the Equitable Advisors Finance Accelerator Program, include all college juniors and seniors currently enrolled and in good academic standing.

If you are interested in attending this event in person, click HERE to register! 

Please make sure to vote in your local communities! Your Vote IS Your Voice.

Join us in the celebration of First-Gen students, faculty, & staff.

Enjoy music, games, free goodies, and so much more!

Military Appreciation Week 2022

Office of Military and Veterans Services will be joining the First-Generation Student Celebration

Tuesday, November 8 | 12-3 p.m.

(View Spotlight Events for more information)

This bi-weekly drop-in group aims to create a safe space where currently enrolled students can identify potential stressors and set goals for the upcoming week, engage in conversations around wellness and connect with other students by giving and receiving support and feedback.

Every other Tuesday from September 27 through December 6

Learn How to Land Your Dream Job: Grow with Google Program

Join the Career Success Lab for a special presentation on the new Grow with Google (GwG) program. NJCU and Google teamed up to provide FREE digital skills training to help students build digital and practical skills needed to thrive in internships or post-college employment. 

NJ SNAP will have a representative available on campus to help fill out your application.

Are you interested in getting started on a graduate degree or certificate in business? The NJCU School of Business has virtual office hours to chat with current and prospective graduate students every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. via Zoom. Join us to ask questions related to curriculum, classroom hours, course modality, program-specific details, career opportunities, and more!

Questions? Text 201-603-3064.

Military Appreciation Week 2022 

Stop by our office, grab a treat, put a star of your favorite veteran on our Honor Tree, and write a card for one of our service members! 

Wednesday, November 9 | 12-2 p.m.

(View Spotlight Events for more information)

Please join us this semester for our virtual monthly chats on current events in the LGBTQIA+ communities. Our third meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 9. Our last session of the semester will meet on Wednesday, December 7. To access our Zoom for any of the sessions, please RSVP here:

Military Appreciation Week 2022 

Green Zone Training (Military Competency Training) for students, faculty & staff 

Thursday, November 10 | 10 a.m.

(View Spotlight Events for more information)

The NJCU Art Department is proud to present four distinct alumni's work at this year's Art Fair 14C: Zugeiy Yepez (BFA 2017), Krystle Lemonias (BFA 2017), Darren Fisher (MFA 2014), and William A. Ortega (BFA 1998).

The Fair will be held at the Armory at 678 Montgomery Street, Jersey City, on November 10-13.

For details, see https://artfair14c.com/

Please come and visit our booth.

NJCU students pay just $5 for admission.

Join TLC to acquire some free digital skills and possibly win a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card! Any questions or concerns, please free to contact us at 201-200-2204, or email tlc@njcu.edu.

Military Appreciation Week 2022:

Veterans Day Flag Raising Ceremony

Friday, November 11 | 9:45 a.m.

(View Spotlight Events for more information)

Active Shooter Exercise:
Volunteers Needed

Saturday, November 12 | 8 a.m.

(View Spotlight Events for more information)

Hosted by Tim Horner, Winard Harper and
Jeff “Tain” Watts with Freddy “Huevito” Lobaton

A time to listen, share and network with the greatest in the world!!

The Drums Network @ NJCU is an opportunity to network and build community with other drums players in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Short master classes will be coupled with opportunities to ask questions and play with some of the greatest in the field! Come to participate, or just come to listen and learn. Either way, The Drums Network @ NJCU is designed to provide a valuable opportunity for all musicians.

No Events Scheduled

Stop by the Counseling Center's table for activities and info on our services.

High Tea & Service Awards

Monday, November 14
11 a.m.- 1 p.m.

(View Spotlight Events for more information)

Are you seeking internship experience?

Join Enterprise Recruiters for a Networking and Information Session.

Students who attend will network with Jennifer Santiago, a recruiter from Enterprise, the largest car rental company in the United States! Participants will learn about the Enterprise company culture, and their Management Trainee program, and receive exclusive internship/job opportunities. This is an ideal event for students seeking internships or full-time roles in business, management, logistics, hospitality, supply chain, and more.

Questions? Contact: Yabdalla@njcu.edu
SoB Career Services

Join the TLC office as we prepare for the holidays with a Savings and Budgeting workshop. Hosted by TLC's Director, Christina Rolon. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 201-200-2204, or email tlc@njcu.edu.

Hosted by Professor Edvige Giunta and NJCU senior Kailee Morel

In 2002 The Feminist Press published The Milk of Almonds: Italian American Women Writers on Food and Culture, an anthology of memoir, fiction, and poetry by fifty-four writers. Editors Louise DeSalvo and Edvige Giunta aimed at subverting the conventional narrative of food, gender, and ethnicity. The anthology included established and emerging authors, including many authors who had not yet published a book. Twenty years later, one of the editors and several of the contributors come together to reflect on the cultural significance of this groundbreaking anthology and the community it helped to forge.

The Office of Career Services at the NJCU School of Business invites you to attend an exclusive networking dinner with executives from Veris Residential on Monday evening, November 14, 2022, in downtown Jersey City (the location will be sent upon acceptance into the program).

Veris Residential develops, owns, and manages premier multifamily communities in New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts. Veris specializes in creating sustainable properties with a society-centric focus that improves the communities they serve. Selected guests will meet with influential industry leaders eager to share their expertise. This is an excellent opportunity to expand your network with professionals in the business world.

To participate in this program, applicants must register using this link.

We will be selecting only 20 students to participate. If interested, please RSVP as soon as possible. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions!

Questions? Contact: Yosra Abdalla yabdalla@njcu.edu

Join us throughout the month of November in collecting new socks for the homeless.

Drop off donations at the TLC Office H112-E

Contact us: 
Phone: (201)-200-2204
Email: TLC@njcu.edu

The Gothic Knights Food Pantry and Gourmet Dining have partnered to giveaway 50 Thanksgiving dinners to the first 50 students to sign up. Students must be present on November 21 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to pick up their food. 

Dinners are only available to current NJCU students. 

For more information email: communitycenter@njcu.edu

Kay Kenny, Moonwalk, Archival inkjet print of a digital photographic montage, 20” x 24”

Panel Discussion: The Embankment on My Mind: Bridging Science and Art
Tuesday, November 22 | 4:30-6:30 p.m.
The Auditorium, The Visual Arts Building

JC Friday Extended Hours: Friday, December 2, 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.

Closing Reception: Friday, December 16, 4-6 p.m. (both galleries) 
Curated by Peter Delman and Midori Yoshimoto
Organized by Maureen Crowley and Katy Lyness, Embankment Preservation Coalition

The Embankment on My Mind exhibits original art inspired by a grassroots preservation initiative that holds the promise of transforming Jersey City's treatment of open space and an emerging trail system. Sixteen botanical artists depicting local flora join 28 artists with wide-ranging responses to the site, a massive stone rail embankment in the Downtown.

1. Get your COVID-19 and Flu Shots
COVID-19 vaccines can save you from COVID-19. Get vaccinated as soon as you can.

CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most crucial step in protecting against flu viruses. It still recommends that international travelers stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines and follow the latest face mask recommendations. CDC guidelines also advise getting tested before traveling, as well as after arrival. Please check our campus vaccination and testing campaigns. GET VACCINATED!!

2. Wear A Mask
Wear a mask indoors if you are not fully vaccinated or have a weakened immune system. If you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask indoors in areas with substantial or high COVID-19 transmission.

3. Wash Your Hands
Use soap and clean running water for 20 seconds at critical times, such as after using the restroom or before eating.

4. Find Safer Ways to Celebrate the Holidays
There are many ways to enjoy holiday traditions and protect your health.

5.Consider risks

The NJCU Career Success Lab is happy to announce that New Jersey City University is now partnering with Handshake, a career management platform to help students and alumni discover new career paths and find jobs and internships. 

What’s Handshake?
Handshake is the #1 site for college students to find jobs. Career offices at 1,400+ higher ed institutions utilize Handshake and there are 750,000+ employers recruiting on Handshake—from every Fortune 500 company to nonprofits, startups, and more. Schools that join Handshake see on average a 3x increase in the size and diversity of their employer network.

Claim your account today and get recruited by
the top employers for full-time, part-time jobs
and internships—no experience required. Use the link below or download the App.

Please help us by donating non-perishable food items to help benefit those in need.

For more information, please contact communitycenter@njcu.edu.

We offer non-credit online courses in a variety of professions to help you start or advance your career in today’s top fields. Many of our Advanced Career Training courses lead to industry-recognized certifications and often include the certification exam fee in the cost of enrollment. You can start any time and financial assistance may be available.

State and local municipal employees may contribute to many charities through payroll deduction with the New Jersey Employees Charitable Campaign. Consider donating this year to a charity that is meaningful to you. charities.org/NJECC

You probably have heard of the Office of the Dean of Students (DOS), but do you know what the office does and doesn't do? Learn more by watching a short video on the DOS webpage! 

Provides FREE COVID-19 Vaccines
(Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax and J&J/Janssen)
* Vaccines available to anyone 6 months or older 

Current Vaccination Site Days: 
Mondays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Wednesdays, 1-6 p.m.
Fridays, 1-5 p.m
* Hours may change due to inclement weather & holidays

Visit hudsoncovidvax.org to schedule an appointment and to find more information on additional sites and hours. Walk-ins are always welcome.

*The challenge is to accrue a minimum of 10,000 steps per day most days of the week. The person with the most steps at the end of the contest wins. 

Sign up for the PhysicalActivity Challenge 

T-shirts or water bottles will be awarded to the top 3 participants in each category.

Everyone must present a valid ID to enter the facility. There are no exceptions.

Schedule subject to change depending on practice schedules.

All activities will cease 30 minutes before the building closes to allow everyone to leave the premises and time for cleaning and disinfecting.

Will you be completing your B.A. or B.S. degree this year in a subject area?

Teach while completing your dual certification program!

Contact: Carol Fleres or Charles Reid Taylor at cfleres@njcu.edu.

The Children’s Learning Center is now enrolling children for the fall semester!

CLC Highlights:

Learn More:
To enroll your child or learn more, call 201-200-3342 or email the CLC at njcuclc@njcu.edu.

Please know that on July 16, 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline became “988,” replacing the previous 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) number. Today, “988” is the three-digit, nationwide phone number to connect directly to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. By calling or texting 988, you’ll connect with mental health professionals 24/7 that provides confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress. Those experiencing a mental health crisis or those worried about someone who may need crisis support can call this number.

Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline which serves our nation’s Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and those who support them. For texts, Veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.

These centers are supported by local and state sources as well as the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress.

In today's rapidly changing world, you need more digital skills than ever before to flourish and succeed in your career. The Grow with Google Career Readiness Program offers you interactive learning paths that will help you build digital and practical skills needed to thrive in internships or post-college employment. The Career Success Lab at NJCU is excited to offer you this digital tool to excel in your future endeavors. Resume writing, interview techniques, networking tips and how to succeed in a new job, are but a few lessons you can use.

Why Digital Skills Training?
Digital literacy, problem-solving, and creative skills are essential for current and future jobs. Yet, among 18- to 25-year-olds, less than half (44%) believe their education system is preparing them with the skills they need to enter the workforce. We at Grow with Google have a responsibility to ensure that the young people we serve can gain the skills required for the workplace. Then, they can move toward their bright and successful futures knowing they are well-prepared.

Read more about the partnership between NJCU and Google in NJCU News.

For more information call 201-200-3587 or email communitycenter@njcu.edu.

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with The Lee Hagan Africana Studies Center with a talk by Karelle Hall.

Karelle Hall is a Ph.D. candidate in anthropology at Rutgers University. She received her bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in Anthropology with a minor in Native American Studies. Her dissertation research explores embodied and distributed Lenape diasporic sovereignty in public and performative spaces.

Contact bfelix@njcu.edu for location and additional information

Early detection can save lives.

Hear about the latest developments in GIS with this seminar, which includes competitions, presentations, poster sessions, and a keynote presentation from Dr. Vasit Sagan, Acting Director of Taylor Geospatial Institute.

During this session, Ben Durant, NJCU's Chief Financial Officer, will be leading a discussion about the university’s finances, including a description of the process and timeline we will use to build the FY24 budget.

He will be joined by NJCU's financial advisors at First Trion, who will conduct a short presentation reviewing the current financial challenges at public higher education institutions, observations about NJCU’s financial condition and challenges, and keys to a successful turnaround.

Please check your campus email for information on registering for the in-person or virtual options and to submit questions.

Join the TLC office as we discuss communications skills, learn the benefits of branding, and self advocating!

Presented by F.E.L.A. In the TLC office.

Contact us with questions or concerns, at 201-200-2204, or email tlc@njcu.edu..

Career Services at NJCU is excited to bring you the following events for the months of October and November:

Early detection of HIV can save your life. COVID-19 testing will also continue to be available for the NJCU Community.

Co-sponsored by Lee Hagan Africana Studies Center and African and African American Studies Program.

The Hagan Summer Research Scholars present their research completed during the summer.

Featuring a talk by Dr. Jermaine McCalpin entitled: "Understanding Research: Google, Wikipedia and Beyond."

Contact bfelix@njcu.edu for location and additional information.

Join the TLC office to Self Care, Snack, and Paint!

Contact us with questions or concerns, at 201-200-2204, or email tlc@njcu.edu.

Spots are limited! 

Hosted by Nick Biello and Larry Bustamante. Featuring Sam Dillon, Andrew Gould, and Paul Jones

A time to listen, share and network with the greatest in the world!

The Saxophone Network @ NJCU is an opportunity to network and build community with other saxophone players in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Short master classes will be coupled with opportunities to ask questions and play with some of the greatest in the field! Bring your instrument if you want to play, or just come to listen and learn. Either way, The Saxophone Network @ NJCU is designed to provide a valuable opportunity for all musicians.

Music students from the brass studio showcase their work in solo and ensemble performances.

The Caroline L. Guarini Department of Music, Dance and Theatre at New Jersey City University announces a program of Opera Scenes entitled “Aspects of Love”.

Directed by Dr. Robert Prowse, the program will feature students in the Classical Vocal Performance program at NJCU. Opera excerpts will include selections from Massenet’s Manon, Mozart’s Così fan Tutte and Don Giovanni, Puccini’s La Bohème, Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers, and others.

The performances are free and open to the public.

For more information, please mail rprowse@njcu.edu.

Hosted by Rachel Therrien with Nathan Eklund, Bria Skonberg and Bobby Shew

A time to listen, share and network with the greatest in the world!

The Trumpet Network @ NJCU is an opportunity to network and build community with other trumpet players in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Short master classes will be coupled with opportunities to ask questions and play with some of the greatest in the field! Bring your instrument if you want to play, or just come to listen and learn. Either way, The Trumpet Network @ NJCU is designed to provide a valuable opportunity for all musicians.

Curated by Peter Delman and Midori Yoshimoto
Organized by Maureen Crowley and Katy Lyness, Embankment Preservation Coalition

The Embankment on My Mind exhibits original art inspired by a grassroots preservation initiative that holds the promise of transforming Jersey City's treatment of open space and an emerging trail system. Sixteen botanical artists depicting local flora join 28 artists with wide-ranging responses to the site, a massive stone rail embankment in the Downtown.

TLC's Annual Potluck Thanksgiving Feast is here!

Contact us with questions or concerns, at 201-200-2204, or email tlc@njcu.edu.

Join the TLC office to learn more about grad school and post grad opportunities.

Contact us with questions or concerns, at 201-200-2204, or email tlc@njcu.edu.

Spots are limited.

Please join us this semester as we host the final of our four sessions on Abortion: Health, Rights, and Access. This will be an open dialogue on your rights, resources, and access to abortions and other reproductive justice issues.

We look forward to seeing you. 

Please join us this semester for our virtual monthly chats on current events in the LGBTQIA+ communities. To access our Zoom for any of the sessions, please RSVP.

NJ SNAP will have a representative available on campus to help fill out your application.

Be A Hero. Donate Blood.

The NJCU Holiday Choral Concert will take place on Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 3 p.m. in the Margaret Williams Theatre on the NJCU campus. The concert will feature performances by the NJCU Concert Chorale and Chamber Singers, both under the direction of Dr. Robert Prowse. The songs will span five centuries and will include songs from Christian and Jewish traditions, plus popular music for the holiday season. 

Free Admission.

The woodwind chamber ensemble concert features all the woodwind chamber ensembles and soloists at NJCU this fall.

Free for all. 

The Pop/R’n’B Ensemble is the creation of the NJCU Music Business program. It is dedicated to performing classic “pop” with a focus on rhythm & blues music from the pens of 20th century tunesmiths whose work ruled the airwaves from the 1960s to the present day.

Free admission. 

Five students were elected in the Fall 2022 Student Government Association elections. A total of 220 votes were received. Congratulations to Marina Iskandre (Freshman Class President), Gianna Cannady (Freshman Class Secretary), Shahod Augustin (Sophomore Class Treasurer), Sofia Asali (Sophomore Class Treasurer) and Katha Patel (Junior Class Vice President).

Congratulations to the newly-elected OSP Connect Committee!

President: Charles Villanueva; Vice President: Elaine Rodriguez; Public Relations: Jamar Smith; Secretary: Patience Hevi; Treasurer: Jhonly Fortun Pinera.

Retired NJCU adjunct professor Jahnbaz Almas is an independent candidate on November 8 for the Bayonne (N.J.) Board of Education. From 1998 to his retirement in 2020, Almas taught Computer Science at NJCU. | Read more

Four members of the NJCU men's soccer team were voted to the 2022 All-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). Junior forward Maximo Vargas (Montevideo, Uruguay and The British Schools) was selected First-Team All-NJAC. He is now a two-time All-NJAC honoree. NJCU also had three Honorable Mention selections — sophomore forward Danny Tobon (Clifton, N.J. and Clifton H.S.), sophomore back Jason Suarez (Clifton, N.J. and Clifton H.S.) and senior goalkeeper Nick Linebaugh (Linden, N.J. and St. Benedict's Prep). | Read more

Three members of the NJCU women's soccer team were voted to the 2022 All-NJAC teams. Junior forward Kim Brites (Carteret, N.J. and Carteret H.S.) was named all-conference for the third time in her career, gaining Second-Team honors. Freshman midfielders Nyrohah Alvarenga (North Bergen, N.J. and High Tech H.S.) and Rebecca Lopez (Mountain View, Calif. and Mountain View H.S.) each earned Honorable Mention honors. | Read more

Two members of the NJCU women's volleyball team were voted to the 2022 All-NJAC teams. Senior right-side hitter Paola Toledo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Colegio Catolico San Rafael H.S.) was named Second Team All-NJAC after being named an Honorable Mention selection in 2021. Senior middle blocker Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, N.J. and Hudson Catholic H.S.) earned the first honor of her collegiate career, taking home Honorable Mention distinction. | Read more

Junior Jeff Johnson (Middlesex, N.J. and Middlesex H.S.) of the men's wrestling team is ranked No. 10 in the country and No. 2 in the NCAA Mideast Region in the 157-pound weight class in preseason rankings announced by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). Additionally, sophomore Damianlee Torres (West Orange, N.J. and West Orange H.S.) enters the season ranked #6 in the Mideast region at 125 pounds. | Read more

For the first time in school history, the NJCU women's basketball received votes in the D3hoops.com Top 25 national poll. The Gothic Knights, winners of back-to-back NJAC championships in 2021 and 2022, received 13 points in the D3hoops.com Preseason National Poll, equivalent to a 39th place listing nationally. Their season begins on Thursday, November 10 against Division I Monmouth University. | Read More | Full poll

Do you have news to share? Email communications@njcu.edu

The Bayonne (N.J.) Police Department recently swore in 12 new police officers, including four members of the NJCU family, Alexander Kruczyk '21, Alexios Lambos '22, Andrew Michael '16, and Christopher Shaw. Officer Kruczyk earned a B.S. in National Security Studies. Officer Lambos graduated this spring with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a minor in Fire Science. Officer Michael earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Officer Shaw is pursuing a degree in Exercise Science.
| Read More

Three NJCU graduates, including a pair of Dean's List twin brothers who played baseball for the Gothic Knights, were recently sworn in as police officers with the Wayne Township (N.J.) Police Department by Mayor Chris Vergano. Daniel McLaughlin ' 21 (B.S. in Criminal Justice and Psychology (double major)), Michael McLaughlin ' 21 (B.S. in Criminal Justice), and Giuseppe Rizzolo, Jr. '17 (B.S. in Criminal Justice; minor in Computer Science/Computer Information Systems) were all sworn in. | Read more

Sean Carney '00 (BFA in Art/Fine Arts) of Lawrence Township, N.J. has his exhibit “Somewhere Special" on display in the renovated and reopened Hutchins Gallery at The Lawrenceville School, located at 2500 Main St, Lawrenceville, N.J., now through December 3. The exhibit contains more than 100 paintings. When not painting in multiple mediums, he has been a drawing and painting teacher at Lawrence Township High School for 23 years. For more information or hours email hutchinsgalleries@lawrenceville.org or visit his website at carneystudios.net. | Read more

Michele Mabel (Quinn) '08 (M.A. in Special Education) is a Democratic candidate for Wood-Ridge Council in the November 8 election. She works as a special education teacher in the Hasbrouck Heights school district. | Read more

Sidra Hassan-Brown '12 (B.A.Sc. in Applied Science in accounting and illustration) is a professional artist who paints in realistic and abstract art. Her transition from accounting to full-time art career is profiled in a story in Sandboxx. | Read more

Andrew Paterek '21 (B.S. in Criminal Justice) was one of five new officers sworn in with the Old Bridge Township (N.J.) Police Department. Paterek first served with the department as an auxiliary police officer from 2015 to 2020. More recently he served as a Class 1 special law enforcement officer for the department. | Read more

Robert Policastro '80 (B.A. in Art) is a curator and one of 15 artists of 150 Bay Street, who have a new group exhibit, Kind of Blue, on display beginning with an opening reception this past Friday, Nov. 4, from 6 to 9 p.m. to view the artwork and meet the artists. The show runs until Nov. 28 at The ART150 Gallery, located at 157A First St., 2nd Floor, Jersey City. The artists participating in Kind of Blue have explored what the color blue means to them through paint, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and fiber among others in the upcoming show. Before joining 150 Bay Street, Policastro had an art studio in Hoboken for 20 years. He specializes in fine art oil paintings that feature the human figure and life portraits. | Read more

Do you have news to share? Email communications@njcu.edu

Mark M. Arias '80 (B.A. and M.A. in History) of Manchester, N.J., formerly of Bayonne, N.J., passed away on October 30, 2022 at the age of 64. He was a teacher of ESL students for the Bayonne School system. | Obituary

Alexander S. Biro '70 (B.A. in Music Education) of Clifton, N.J., passed away on October 29, 2022 at the age of 74. He was a microbiologist and freelance musician prior to his retirement. | Obituary

Julie Rose Gottstein (Miskolczi) '73 (B.A. in Health Education and School Nursing) of Edison, N.J., passed away on October 26, 2022 at the age of 80. She worked as a Registered Nurse in private practice, hospitals, and schools and was a speaker for the American Parkinson's Disease Association. | Obituary

Frederick A. McLaughlin Ill, passed away on October 17, 2022 at the age of 73. A United States Army and Air Force veteran, he was born in Maine, raised in Maryland and lived in 13 states until settling in New Jersey. He studied in NJCU's graduate program towards a Certificate of Teacher of the Handicapped. | Obituary

David Joseph Travis, Sr. of Lyons, N.J. passed away on October 8, 2022 at the age of 87. He was a retired Major in the U.S. Army and former Science High School (Newark, N.J.) teacher. | Obituary

Gail M. Werthwein (Fitzpatrick) of Edison, N.J. formerly of Carteret, N.J., passed away on October 20, 2022 at the age of 68. She spent 40 years as an accountant with the Wakefern Food Corporation | Obituary

If you would like to submit information for the In Memoriam section, please contact: communications@njcu.edu.

Past alumni are memorialized on the In Memoriam section of the NJCU website.

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