RCC NAMED “MILITARY FRIENDLY CAMPUS”It’s no surprise to Katherine Dorfman, a 23-year-old RCC student and Marine veteran, that RCC was named “Military Friendly” by G.I. Jobs Magazine, a national military publication for veterans transitioning to civilian life.

Dorfman, earning her Occupational Therapy Assistant degree, said, “RCC is incredibly military friendly. The transition to civilian life is hard enough, and worrying about paperwork and getting into school can only make it worse. If I have a question about anything V.A. related, the Coordinator of Veterans’ Affairs knows the answer, and if he doesn’t, he looks into it, and makes that process astronomically less complicated.”

Being named ‘Military Friendly’ means that RCC ranks among the top 15% of schools nationwide. There are 151 student veterans enrolled in Fall ’12, a 57% increase over Fall ’11.

According to Jonathan Barnwell ’77, Coordinator of Judicial and Veterans’ Affairs, the student veteran population is increasing dramati-cally, and is expected to continue to increase as wars wind down and the Armed Forces reduce their numbers. Barnwell, whose parents served as Army Military Police, grew up on military bases throughout the coun-try. “Student veterans tend not to get involved in campus life,” he said. “They are here to get their education. But they have a lot to offer, and

encouraging them to get involved increases their retention rate and benefits others.”

John Vitale, a 53-year-old Marine veteran student, came to RCC be-cause of the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), a federally funded program that enables unemployed vets to go back to school to earn a certificate. Vitale feels so supported at RCC that he’s decided to stay on to earn his associate’s degree in Business. From there, he intends to earn a four-year degree. His goal is to open his own strength and speed coaching business in Rockland.

Vitale appreciates the help from his professors and the Veterans Affairs staff. He also enjoys the camaraderie on campus, visiting the Veterans Lounge at least twice a week. 

Dorfman, too, enjoys socializing with other veterans. “Sometimes, during my day-to-day student life, I see things that astonish and bewilder me. Civilian students often don’t ‘get it.’ That’s why I particularly like meeting other veterans on campus during our events such as charity dodge ball. Talking with them gives me a sense of community.” For a list of services for veterans at RCC, see page 7

U.S. Marine Corps veterans

Scene FALL

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For Friends and Alumni of Rockland Community College

Students John A. Vitale, Steven Capone, Katherine Dorfman, Kyle Verdeuf and Jonathan Winfield, veterans of the US Marine Corp, gather in the 9/11 Memorial Garden. They read the names of the victims at the 9/11 Commemoration on campus.

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Learning Opportunities

SCENEEditor: Tzipora Reitman,

Director of Communications

Staff Writers: Maralin Roffino,

Lisa Saunders

Photography: Collette Fournier

Design: Ginny Apostolides

zreitman@sunyrockland.edu

845-574-4595

www.sunyrockland.edu

www.facebook.com/sunyrcc

RCC Partners with Yonkers YWCA to Offer Green Career TrainingA group of 16 women who were either unemployed or underemployed are now preparing for green energy careers at RCC, thanks to a partner-ship with the YWCA of Yonkers.

The YWCA Solar Workforce Training is funded through a $40,000 Department of Labor grant for their Green/Clean Energy Occupational Training program as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Strategic Plan and Regional Project Awards.

In addition to tuition, the women receive bus passes and books. They are studying Renewable Energy Math/Electricity and Introduction to Photovoltaics, followed by a two-session review and a certification exam. The courses and entry level certification can be completed in one semester.

“This is a wonderful example of the YWCA’s mission for women’s eco-nomic empowerment at work,” said Yejide Okunribido, Esq., Executive Director, YWCA Yonkers. “With this funding, we can help women in Yonkers get the skills they need to become or remain self-sufficient by helping them consider careers in the new green economy and preparing them to succeed in this field.”

Tom Della Torre, Interim Dean of Academic and Community Partnerships, said “Rockland Community College is proud to be a partner in this innovative and tremendously worthwhile new program.”

Mirjana Alkovic and Francisa Hiraldo, two of 16 women from Yonkers studying for careers in green technology, display their newly acquired textbooks.

Peter Andryuk (right), Chair, Emergency Medical Services, instructs Nursing student Vladimir Joseph how to shock the SIM man during Completion Day. Vladimir signed the Completion Day pledge. 

Statewide “Completion Day” Encourages Degree CompletionStudents at community colleges throughout the state participated in a day of activities promoting the advantages of completing their associate’s degrees.

New York’s 37 SUNY and CUNY community colleges designated October 3 as Completion Day to send a simple message: Students who complete an associate degree have better prospects for jobs, scholarships and transfer to four-year schools.

Throughout the day, students were encouraged to sign a pledge indicating their commitment to complete their associate’s degree within three years. At RCC, 252 students signed the pledge.

State Senator David Carlucci, RCC Class of 2000, discussed his proposed College Affordability Plan. Other activities included entertainment by

RCC Performing Arts students and a transfer college fair. Live career demonstrations included a crime scene investigation; SIM-man presen-tation; culinary workshop; stage sword fight and RCC-TV broadcast.

In the weeks leading up to Completion Day, signs around the RCC campus gave students reasons for degree completion:

• Students who complete an associate degree can expect to earn $400,000 more in a lifetime than a high school graduate.

• Unemployment for community college graduates is typically 30 per-cent lower than for high school grads.

• New York residents who transfer directly from a SUNY or CUNY two-year college with an associate degree are guaranteed entry to a four-year SUNY college.

STUDENTS RECEIVE FULL TUITION TO FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES

Ronald Lawyer ’12 (center) visits the Mount Saint Mary campus, where he began studying on a full scholarship this Fall. He is accompanied by Rev. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, President, Mount Saint Mary College, and RCC President Cliff L Wood.

Abraham Taub ‘12 displays his certificate for a full scholarship to Pace University, awarded at the RCC Foundation’s Scholarship Awards Ceremony in May.

9/11 Memorial Garden Opens

Students relax in the garden and contemplate the newly installed sculpture

The brick walkway leads to the Garden

Sample of inscribed brick

More than 200 people gathered for the dedication of RCC’s 9/11 Memorial Garden on September 11, 2012. The garden, located on the Academic Quad behind the Technology Center, is dedicated to those who perished in the attacks.

The garden’s inspiring 7-foot tall centerpiece sculpture, Spirit Rising, by Rockland County artist Eric Laxman, incorporates several pieces of steel from the World Trade Center Ground Zero site donated by the Port Authority of NY/NJ. At the dedication, Dan Masterson, Poet Laureate of Rockland County and Poet-in-Residence at RCC, read his poem, Out of the Blue. The poem will be inscribed on a plaque and installed in the garden. Student veterans read the names of more than 90 victims of 9/11 who have ties to Rockland County.

Other garden elements include ceramic tiles created by Cathy McErlean-Goddard and landscaping by Don Ruggieri, Omni Landscaping. The concept for the 9/11 Memorial Garden was initiated by President Cliff L. Wood and designed by Page Simon, Professor of Art.

Commemorative Bricks Available The garden’s brick walkway features bricks inscribed with personal messages, some of which offer touching tributes to those whose lives were taken on 9/11. Other messages honor or memorialize loved ones and express hopes for the future.

Donations made for bricks support scholarships for students in first responder programs at RCC: Emergency Medical Service, Fire Protection Technology, Emergency Management and Criminal Justice.

Each brick costs $100. Orders are now being taken for new bricks for Spring installation. To make a donation and inscribe your personal message, contact the RCC Foundation at 845- 574-4576.

At the RCC Foundation’s recent Scholarship Awards Ceremony, more than 250 continu-ing and graduating students received awards,

including scholarships for continued education at four-year institutions. Ronald Lawyer, an international student from Ghana, received a

scholarship for full tuition at Mount Saint Mary College. Another full tu-ition scholarship, for Pace University, was awarded to Abraham Taub of Spring Valley. Both Taub and Lawyer are pursuing medical careers.

3

Around Campus

STEM Initiatives on Campus

Senior Citizen Club and RSVP Move to Main Campus

Dr. S. James Gates Jr. of the Univ. of Maryland at College Park served as keynote speaker addressing the STEM Conference at RCC (October 12) to address the lag in STEM education in the U.S. Dr. Gates, a theoretical physicist, served on President Obama’s Council of Advisors for Science and Technology.

The Rockland Community College Senior Citizen Club, which formerly met at the Spring Valley Extension Center, now meets in the Technology Center on RCC’s main campus, usually the second and fourth Friday of each month at noon.

The Senior Citizen Club, which has 800 members, takes pride in offering its members much more than many typical senior clubs. Specializing in cultural, intellectual, and creative activities for seniors, they host stimulating lectures and exciting local trips in addition to offering their members socializing opportunities. Each meeting has a topic and speaker. Many trips are dedicated to entertainment, with destinations that include museums, the ballet, the opera, Broadway, or even a behind-the-scenes tour of Yankee Stadium.

Rockland County residents over the age of 60 are eligible, and only one member of a couple need be 60. Annual dues are $10. Walter and Barbara Fiedler are the club officers, president and vice-president respectively. Parking spots are reserved for meeting attendees.

For more information, please contact the Fiedlers at 845-356-3482.

RSVP The Rockland County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) has also relocated from Spring Valley to the Suffern campus, and is now in Academic I, Room 1110 (first floor), convenient to parking near the child care center.

RSVP’s mission is to help address community needs by recruiting volun-teers 55 and older to lend their time and expertise in community service to non-profit agencies and proprietary nursing homes, and, in so doing, to provide them with meaningful and ongoing volunteer opportunities.

More than 500 members volunteer throughout the year in a wide variety of settings, including schools, libraries, adult education and ESL locations, local non-profit organizations, hospitals and more. RSVP volunteers serve as medical transportation drivers, meal deliverers to the homebound,

clowns, friendly companions to the disabled and seniors; and tutors for children and adults.

These energetic men and women donated 110, 211 hours of their time, expertise and goodwill to more than 100 local non-profit agencies and their clients.  According to federal government calculations, their contri-butions have a monetary value of more than $2.5 million.

RSVP is sponsored by RCC and funded by the Corporation for National Community Service, the Rockland County Legislature, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the Rockland County Office for the Aging.  

For further information or to volunteer, contact Gerri Zabusky, Director, at 845-356-6818, or gzabusky@sunyrockland.edu.

Xin Ye, Instructor, Electronic & Computer Technology; Nina-Richie Nwosu, Student Trustee and Engineering student, and Liya Li, PhD., Professor of English, examine the Centripetal Force device used for measuring centrifi-cal force in the new Physics Lab. 4

Serving Our Community

Korean War Veterans Gather on Campus

RCC President Cliff L. Wood (3rd from right) joins members of the Rockland County Korean War Veterans Eagle Chapter for their 18th Monument Service held in July at the Onderdonk Cemetery on campus. The memorial service honors the 27 Rocklanders lost in the early stages of the Korean War.

Learn more about the importance of STEM and the Summit

at: http://stemstakeholders.org Contact us at: stem@sunyrockland.edu or

845-574-4521

RCC Senior CitizensJack Sherry, a local history teacher, por-trays Benjamin Franklin in a presenta-tion to the RCC Senior Citizens Club, which now meets in the Technology Center Ellipse.

Criminal Justice Careers Begin at RCC Most of these Rockland law enforcement leaders studied at, graduated from, or taught at RCC:

Seated: (l to r) Chief William Barbera ’81 (Sheriff’s Dept.), Chief Clarke Osborn ’92 (Suffern), Chief Brian Moore ’93 (Stony Point), District Attorney Thomas Zugibe. Standing: (l to r) Chief Michael Sullivan ’92 (Clarkstown); Chief Michael O’Shea (Piermont), Chief Kevin Nulty ’73 (Orangetown), Chief Paul Modica ’06 (Spring Valley), Capt. Brad Weidel ’80 (Ramapo); Sheriff Louis Falco ’05; Chief Charles Miller (Haverstraw), Director Chris Goldrick (RC Narcotics Task Force).

RCC Graduation 1980

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Alumni SpotlightInternational Student Makes U.S. Military History

Captain Charles L. Stuppard ‘80 is making United States Military history as the only Naval Officer currently in command of both a Navy and an Army base. He has the unique challenge of merging the cultures of two branches of the US Armed Forces--a completely new concept. His Virginia Beach base includes 23,000 people, including Navy Seals and the Army’s 11th Transportation Battalion. Captain Stuppard said, “I look forward to going to work every day due to the nature of my work--protecting and defend-ing the Constitution.”

This former Design Engineer in Weapon Systems was not always a U.S. citizen. He was born in Haiti and educated in

Catholic school, and immigrated to the United States when he was 19. RCC was his first public education. “It was like drinking from a fire hy-drant. I loved every minute of it.” Fluent in French and Creole, Stuppard earned As in all of his classes, but initially needed to play catch-up in English.

Transferring to Cornell University was always his goal. “My Physics professor, Mr. Ziegler, steered me towards Engineering. After taking

Statics and Dynamics at RCC, I was well prepared to study engineering at Cornell. My sociology professor, Dr. Pollinger, started each class with, ‘Read the New York Times!’ Now I realize how important it is to know what’s going on in the world. The impact of educators on the lives of students lasts a lifetime.”

Stuppard joined the Navy in 1985 as an aviation officer candidate after designing airplanes for the Air Force. In 1998, he earned a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies at the Naval War College in Newport, RI. At the time of 9/11, he was serving at the Pentagon as an Action Officer in the Joint Staff.

In 2006, he was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as a Commanding Officer conducting Operation Active Endeavor to prevent terrorist operations. Further assignments included a one-year tour in Kuwait as Commander of Task Group 56.6 caring for a force of 10,000 Sailors serving as Navy Individual Augmentees in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, fighting the Global War on Terrorism.

In his current position as Commander of Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Stuppard says, “Since 1946, all services have been training and fighting as a Joint Force, but now we are trying to see if we can go a bit further. We have a total of 12 Joint Bases throughout the world. Mine is the only one with the combination Army, Navy and Navy in charge.”

Stuppard is a Doctoral Candidate at Salve Regina University in Newport, RI. His dissertation, “The Effect of Technology on Leadership,” looks for a link between the technology of 1860-65 and President Lincoln’s military leadership.

Captain Charles L. Stuppard

Stuppard’s awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, and the Joint Service Achievement Medal.

He lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, Nidda. Their three children are currently earning advanced degrees.

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Mailbag

Alumni Spotlight

Gentlemen:

It gives me great pleasure to inform you that I am shortly to receive

my baccalaureate degree in Business from Baruch College of the

City University of New York, and, more importantly, that I have

received a full scholarship to attend Hofstra University School of Law

this fall. Indeed, I was accepted into all five law schools to which I ap-

plied, and received at least a partial scholarship from each.

Inasmuch as your firm awarded me the KG&G Law Scholarship for

the Spring 2010 semester as a graduate of Rockland Community

College, you have played a role in my success thus far. For that I

thank you, and encourage you to continue to award the scholarship

so that other deserving students may benefit from it, as I have.

Again, thank you for your support of my educational endeavor.

Most sincerely,

Zamir Ben-Dan

New Hempstead, NY

Zamir Ben-Dan ’09 sent the follow-ing letter to the law firm of Kantrowitz, Goldhamer & Graifman, who awarded him the pre-law scholarship they sponsor through the RCC Foundation.

Ben-Dan was accepted into law school at Brooklyn , CUNY, Hofstra, New York Law and Pace. He now attends CUNY School of Law on a fellowship. He also serves as advisor to RCC’s award-winning Debate Team, where he served as president when he was a student.

Director of Amateur Scouting for Seattle Mariners

Tom McNamara, named RCC’s All-Conference baseball player in 1985, is now Director of Amateur Scouting for the Seattle Mariners. “It’s a privilege to work in professional baseball. It is a very rewarding experience to give high school and college players an opportunity to fulfill their dreams of reaching the Major Leagues someday.”

McNamara said that being a baseball scout puts him on the road for 12-months a year, visiting the top players selected by his 23-member staff. “I travel throughout the country looking for the Major League Stars of tomorrow. We look for ‘tools’

when in search of a player—power, speed, arm strength, defense and hitting ability.”

Athletes McNamara signs for the Mariners will play on one of its six mi-nor league teams, such as the Bellingham Mariners, the team McNamara joined upon graduating from Dominican College.

Now in his 19th year working in pro-ball, McNamara feels that RCC was the ideal place for him to improve his own baseball “tools” after

graduating from Albertus Magnus High School in 1983. “By living at home, I could concentrate on school and baseball. It gave me a chance to improve my grades while playing on a good, competitive team.” He is grateful to his RCC baseball coaches, Robert Nadal, who passed away recently, and Dan Keeley, now Director of Arena Management & Athletics. “They were excellent baseball teachers. They knew the game well and treated us like men.” McNamara transferred to Dominican College where he majored in history and set a school baseball record of stealing 71 bases.

McNamara feels that community college is perfect for many students to begin their higher education. “When a high school student is not sure where they want to go, or what they want to do, I tell them a community college is the best option. I really enjoyed the teachers and the wide variety of courses at RCC. In order to be on its baseball team, you have to be a full-time student in good academic standing.”

Following a season of playing on the Bellingham Mariners, McNamara joined the RCC Hawks coaching staff, and helped guide the Hawks to the 1993 NJCAA World Series. He left RCC after three seasons to take a position with the Seattle Mariners, where he worked as an area scout for the Northeast region. After spending two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he signed All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder, and five years with the San Diego Padres organizations, he returned to Seattle.

McNamara was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at both RCC and Dominican College.

Alumni Notes

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Chad Agrawal ‘09, who graduated from Stern School of Business of New York University in December ’11, founded a website, CommunityCollegeTransferStudents.com to help others transfer to top colleges, universities, and Ivy League schools. The site features a com-munity college transfer e-book and blog to help students transfer from community college to university. “I know how it feels to achieve something I never thought possible,” he said.

David Braunfotel ’85, Section Manager of Customer Support Operations at Orange & Rockland Utilities, was named to the board of directors of the United Way. After graduating from RCC, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an MBA from Ramapo College.

Edward Jablonowski ’12 of Greenwood Lake received college tuition reimbursement as part of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York. He graduated from RCC in May ’12 with an AAS in Fire Protection Technology. He is a volunteer firefighter with the Greenwood Lake Volunteer Fire Department and an EMT with the Greenwood Lake Ambulance Corps.

John R. Lenihan ’88 is currently a producer, writer, director and actor in Haywire, a science fiction/horror web series. The first season debuted on Halloween 2010 and was a five-time winner of “Best Drama of the Week” from the website Indie Intertube’s weekly podcast. Haywire is about life in Monroe, NY, after a burst of light is followed by power outages and failure of all electronic devices. Kenneth O. Sharp ’84 also works on Haywire. He and Lenihan reconnected recently on Facebook and Sharp, also an actor, offered his Valley Cottage home for some of the filming. Sharp’s twin daughters also joined the cast.

Lenihan also works on independent films such as the horror flick, Cry, which won best Horror Film at the 2009 New York International Independent Film Festival.  Cry and Haywire can be viewed on YouTube. After graduating RCC, Lenihan studied film at SUNY Purchase and the-ater at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. He lives in Montgomery, NY.

After Sharp graduated from RCC, he moved to Manhattan, where he continued his acting studies at HB Studios. For the next dozen years, he performed both in New York City and regional tours across the country before marrying and starting a family. Currently, Sharp works as a home improvement contractor, but still moonlights in projects such as Haywire.

The Spicer siblings, Heidi ’07 and Ryan ’09, opened a bar/restaurant in Nyack in 2010 called the Pour House. Heidi married Walter Nolan in 2011. That same year, Ryan, who was an All American baseball player at RCC, gave the gift of life to his father, Frederich Spicer, by donating a kidney. Inspired by her brother, younger sister Katelyn, an RCC student, decided to go into the health field and is now preparing to enroll in Nursing.

Amanda Marie Tuzzolino ’09 graduated in May ’12 from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor of health science in exercise science.

Two Alumni Invited to Leadership ConferenceMarvin Matthew ’11, a student at University of Maryland who is studying abroad in Rome this semester, was selected to speak on behalf of the U.S. at a conference for young leaders, One Young World, (October 18-22, Pittsburgh). One Young World is a London-based charity that gathers together young people from around the world, helping them make lasting connections to create positive change. Matthew spoke on leadership and governance to 1,000 leading social entrepreneurs from 175 countries. Other speakers at the conference included President Bill Clinton. His trip was sponsored by Volkswagen.

Kennedy Ogoye ’10, a native of Kenya and senior at Cornell University, founded JUST SAVE ONE, a team of students committed to solving real-world problems. He and his team were instrumental in the installa-tion of water tanks and classroom electricity in a school in Mbaka Oromo, Kenya.

Ogoye was also selected to attend the One Young World Leadership Summit as a delegate.

  RCC’s Services for VeteransVeterans Affairs: a one-stop-shop for advisement, registration and GI Bill certification. Local veterans organizations also provide a valuable resource for assisting student veterans.

Veterans Lounge: a place to socialize with others who share com-mon experiences.

Health clinics: through the auspices of the VA/Hudson Valley Health System.

Veterans’ dodge ball tournaments: to benefit veterans organiza-tions such as Pets for Vets.

Veterans Day Services: RCC recently highlighted the 60th anni-versary of the Korean War. Featured speaker was Donald P. Gregg, Chairman Emeritus of the Korea Society and special assistant to the US Ambassador to Korea.

Business Boot Camp: Veterans who successfully complete six sessions receive a full tuition reimbursement.

Veterans Open House: Providing information about the new Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP).

Scholarships: Twenty scholarships are reserved just for veterans.

Facebook: Veterans Affairs of Rockland Community College

For more information, contact Jonathan Barnwell, Coordinator of Judicial and Veterans’ Affairs, at 845-574-4105 or jbarnwel@sunyrockland.edu.

. . . continued from page 1 “MILITARY FRIENDLY CAMPUS”

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An essay by Suzanne Cleary-Langley, PhD, Professor, English, was included in the book, Jean Valentine: This-World Company, (Michigan University Press) Her poem, “Lawrence Welk,” was accepted for publica-tion in an anthology of poems about television, which will be released by Poets Wear Prada Press in 2013. Cleary-Langley also won the 2012 John Ciardi Prize for Poetry for her book manuscript, Beauty Mark, from the BkMk Press of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, which will publish her book in 2013.

Patricia Coyne, RNC-MNN, MS, MPA and adjunct, Nursing, wrote and published Schaum’s Outline of Maternal-Newborn Nursing (McGraw-Hill).

Reamy Jansen’s poetry chap-book, Two Ways of Not Hearing (Finishing Line Press), was released in August. The cover is by Leslie Kingseed, Reamy’s wife and adjunct faculty, Science, and the author photo is by Collette Fournier, adjunct faculty, Art, and Educational Support Specialist, Campus Communications.

John Lenna, adjunct, Physical Education, was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Outstanding Performance by the Rockland County US Bowling Conference (July 2012).

Katherine E. Lynch, PhD, Chair/instructor of English, Philosophy and Religious Studies, co-edited a collection of fiction, OMG Queer: Short Stories by Queer Youth, (Bold Strokes Books, August 2012).

Ian Blake Newhem, Associate Professor, English, was invited to join the Board of Directors for the National Writers’ Union Service Organization (a division of the United Auto Workers). He will lead the NWUSO’s national effort to educate emerging writers on fair labor practices in the rapidly-evolving industry.

Cliff L. Wood, EdD, President, was honored by the Spring Valley NAACP with the Humanitarian Award at their annual dinner (October 26, Norwood, NJ), based on his distinguished career of promoting social justice, for serving as a role model for the betterment of mankind, and for his consistent support for the organization. Dr. Wood was also honored by the Hudson Valley Patterns for Progress with the Regional Achievement Award in recognition of his service to the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council. For the past two years, he has worked to create an economic development roadmap and shared vision for the region.

Student ExcellenceAngela Rose Berlingeri won a $250 scholarship from the Hudson River Fishermen Association for academic excellence and community service.

Three works by Art students were selected for inclusion in the SUNY Student Artists’ Showcase exhibit at Governor Cuomo’s Office in Washington, DC.:

Jennifer Murphy of Harriman, Untitled, 2012, Gelatin Silver Print

Takashi Okamoto of Valley Cottage, Shatter, 2012, Digital Print

Reid Parsekian of Valley Cottage, Montage, 2012, Digital Print

They were among 14 selected from a field of 68 competing entries from State University of New York colleges by a panel of judges that included SUNY Art Professors and members of Governor Cuomo’s staff. Lena Hyun, adjunct faculty, Art, curates and coordinates the SUNY exhibits.

Five students: Kristian Comer, Steven Goldsmith, Harte Mahler, Elizabeth Meisenzahl, and Maggie O’Rourke and Patrick Birmingham, adjunct faculty, passed the skills proficiency test at the conclusion of this summer’s Fight Master Workshop, with three receiving recognition with a “Recommended Pass” from the Society of American Fight Directors (August 2012). The students trained with Fight Master J. David Brimmer (currently fight director at three Broadway shows) for two weeks. Christopher Plummer, adjunct faculty, Performing Arts, assists in teach-ing this course.

 

Achievements

“Two ways of not hearing,” a new book of poetry by Reamy Jansen, Professor of English.

Performing Arts Chair and RCC Foundation board member Patricia Maloney-Titland was named Person of the Year at the RCC Foundation Golf Outing

RCC Foundation Golf Outing Raises Record Amount

The RCC Foundation raised over $38,000, at their annual golf outing at Spook Rock Golf Course in August, a 40% increase over last year. The event was co-chaired by RCC alumnus Howard Hellman, owner of All Bright Electric, and John Wickes of Wickes Arborists.

At dinner following the event, Patty Maloney-Titland, Chair of Performing Arts, was named the Foundation’s Person of the Year in recognition of her creativity, gen-erosity and the energy she devotes to directing the talented students who perform at many Foundation Events.

Forty Under 40 Honorees Include Three RCC Employees, Seven Alumni35% of Honorees Attended RCC

Forty outstanding individuals who live or work in Rockland were recently selected for Rockland County’s Forty Under 40 Program, sponsored by Provident Bank and the Rockland Economic Development Council. These emerging young leaders represent a wide range of professions and affiliations. They were recognized at a gala dinner in October.

The honorees include three current RCC employees: Javonne S. Johnson ’08, Support Technician, Multi-Media Production Center; Katherine E. Lynch, PhD, Chair, English, Philosophy & Religious Studies; and Shamika Mitchell, PhD, Assistant Professor of English.

The following awardees are graduates of RCC: Kenneth N. Blank ’98, Matthew J. Castelluccio ’97, Joseph D. Chiappa ’97, Robert W. Everett ’92, Tracie D. McLee ’99 and Tara A. Munderville ’97.

An additional six awardees attended RCC: Tonette R. Earl, Jami N. Erlich (awarded posthumously), Jeffrey C. Heaphy, Marshanette S. Patterson, Iris Santiago and Maria S. Silverstein.

By the Numbers601 = Students taking weekend classes during Fall ’12 semester

594 = Students who registered to vote for the first time during RCC’s Rock the Vote drive

150 = Veterans currently enrolled at RCC

100% = pass rate on Paramedic licensing exam for graduates of 2012 EMS program

30% = Percentage of weekend students over age 42

9

Forty Under 40 Honorees: Javonne Johnson, Dr. Katie Lynch, Dr. Shamika Mitchell

Library Support Technician Manonce Celestine stands beside the painting he created for the RCC Library entitled, “Freedom” (mixed media on canvas).

State Senator David Carlucci observes an RCC student attempt to text and drive while using a simulator following a forum sponsored by AT&T on the dangers of texting while driving.

Don’t Text and Drive

10

MilestonesThree New Full-Time Faculty Members Appointed

Erica Kaplan, Instructor of Performing Arts, who taught at RCC as an adjunct between 1996 and 2006, is excited to return to campus to teach music. Originally from Rockland County, Kaplan looks forward to sharing her passion for music, most particularly jazz. She finds that returning to academia after taking time off to raise her family has added a new perspective to teaching and says, “I feel energized, creative and ready to teach and inspire my students!” Kaplan earned a BA from SUNY Empire State College and an MA from New York University, both in music. A Manhattan resident, she is a professional musician, performing throughout the NY Metro area

on saxophone, flute, and voice. She has lectured and taught a curriculum she developed on Women in Jazz. During her earlier years at RCC, Kaplan was instrumental in bringing many world class jazz artists to campus.

Corey Ratner, Chair, Automotive Technology, brings a broad range of skills to RCC, including experience in a corporate setting, as a successful small business entrepreneur and as a radio show panelist. After earning a BA in Psychology from Adelphi University in 1988, he began working at his family’s automotive business in Brooklyn.

From 2002-2007 Ratner advised listen-ers regarding car care and repair issues on Autolab, ABC’s live radio show. He joined the Consortium for Automotive Education and taught as an adjunct at Bronx Community College, CUNY, where he developed automotive technology curriculum.

He owned and operated AAMCO Transmissions in Freeport, NY from 2005-2011, and taught employees diagnostic strategies, transmissions, engine performance, emissions controls and computer systems. As a technical chairman for the corporate AAMCO, he implemented training seminars and was their liaison to dealers. He also owned and successfully operated two Midas locations there between 2004 and 2007.

He is very excited about growing the Automotive Technology program at RCC and helping students develop the skills necessary for their own suc-cess in the increasingly sophisticated world of automotive technologies. 

A long-time native of Long Island, Ratner still lives there with his wife and family.

Beth Robinson, Instructor and Chair, Communication Arts, is an RCC alumna and former adjunct. She earned a BA in English from SUNY Cortland and an MS in Communications from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University.

Robinson served as Senior Vice President of Broadcast and Technical Operations at Westwood One (2000–2011), respon-sible for primary oversight of their three national production facilities (New York, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles), delivering content to more than 2,300 af-filiate stations and millions of listeners each day, including national distribution of CBS

News, the NFL (including the Super Bowl), NCAA March Madness, and The Grammy and Country Music Awards.

Throughout her career, Robinson maintained a commitment to prepar-ing the next generation of media professionals. In addition to RCC, she taught at Ramapo College, Montclair State University, and established a University Outreach program as a board member of the NYC chapter of the American Women in Media (AWM). She served RCC on the alumni board, as a panelist for several events, a judge for the RCC-TV Video Festival, and as the 2004 Commencement Speaker. Her new priori-ties include improving the technical facilities for students and faculty in Communication Media Arts/Speech at RCC and expanding collabora-tion with other programs.

After many years in Manhattan, Robinson returned to Pearl River where she lives with her two daughters and her mother.

PASSINGSMinnie Alberta Greene ’76, a long-time companion of RCC Board Chair Dr. Arlene Clinkscale, passed away at the age of 81 on July 17. Formerly from Lynchburg, VA, Greene moved to Spring Valley in 1960, a single mother without a high school diploma. She was befriended by Dr. Clinkscale, who gave her a birthday gift of GED courses and drove her to all her classes. Greene went on to earn an AAS degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant at the age of 45. She worked at Rockland Psychiatric Center for 25 years, retiring in 1990. She was predeceased by her husband, James Greene.

Deirdre (Huebner) Michella ’78, a labor and delivery nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital, died on August 2 at the age of 53. After earning her associate’s in Nursing from RCC, she went on to earn a bachelor’s in Nursing from Mount St. Mary College, She is survived by her husband of 28 years, Kevin, three sons, her mother and mother-in-law and many other family members.

Erica Kaplan

Corey Ratner

Beth Robinson

African American History Month

11

Heritage Celebrations

Native American Heritage CelebrationTuesday, November 13, 12:30-2:00pm, Cultural Arts Center Atrium

“Maraca & Guiro: Two Taino Instruments in the 21st Century” by Jose ObandoThe Areyto, a Taino ceremony, utilized the Maraca and the Guiro to augment this narrative celebration. Today, the Maraca is an intrinsic part of Salsa and the Guiro has three distinct variations: Cuban, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rican for Son, Merengue and Salsa (dances).

African American History MonthTuesday, February 19 Noon-3 pm Ellipse, Technology Center

Book Discussion on Kim Phillips book, “War, What is it Good For?” led by David Lucander, Instructor, Pluralism & Diversity.

Orlando Reyes, an artist from Jersey City, presents artwork from various artists who have exhibited at his gallery.

Lazaro Chavez teaches Latino dance on cam-pus at the Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff.

Hispanic Heritage Month

THE VOTE IN AMERICA: STRUGGLE, CHALLENGE and CHANGE

Tuesday, February 26, Cultural Arts Theater (snow date, February 28) 10 am – registered school groups 7 pm – open to the publicIn tribute to African American History Month, RCC will host a free, multi-media presentation on the struggle for African Americans’ right to vote and the challenges to their exercising that right as well as an acknowledgement of how important, powerful and precious that right is. The program will feature music, dance, narrative, video and iconic photos as well as com-mentary by noted figures of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

The event is sponsored by the African American Historical Society of Rockland County in collaboration with the RCC African American History Month Committee and the Performing Arts Department.

Non-Profit US POSTAGE

PAID Monsey, NY 10952

Permit No. 302

145 College Road, Suffern, NY 10901Address Service Requested

For details, check calendar of events online at www.sunyrockland.edu or call 845-574-4032. www.facebook.com/sunyrcc LIKE

Upcoming EventsDECEMBER

1 ..............Business Boot Camp for Entrepreneurs

1-2 ...........Greater New York Gymnastics Invitational

7 .............Entrepreneurial Business Competition 

21 ............Fall semester ends

21 ............Senior Citizens Club

27 ............Pearl River Holiday Festival Track Meet

29–30 .....Bergen County Coaches Wrestling Tournament

JANUARY

2 ..............Wintersession begins

13 ............Seminar for Healthcare Professionals 

15 ............New Student Orientation 

18 ............Wintersession ends

25 ...........Senior Citizens Club 

25-27 .......International Auto Show

FEBRUARY

African American History Month

8 .............Senior Citizens Club 

8-10 ........Suburban Home Show 

15-18 .......Northeast RV Show  

19 ............AAHM Book discussion

22 ............Senior Citizens Club 

26 ...........Vote in America

28–March 3... World Fishing & Outdoor Expo

RCC SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION DINNER

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013 Italian American Social Club, West Haverstraw, NY 7 pm, Cocktail Hour 8 pm, Awards Dinner Dance

$50 per person

Info: 845-574-4512 or athletics@sunyrockland.edu

WINTERSESSIONJanuary 2-18, 2013Earn up to 4 credits in 3 weeks!

TRANSFER YOUR CREDITS!Only $168/ credit

REGISTER NOW IN THE TECHNOLOGY CENTER, 1ST FLOOR.

www.sunyrockland.edu/go/wintersession