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Carol Otis, Chair Gerard L. Carroll, Vice Chair Joseph Barreto, Secretary Dorothy Blakeslee, Treasurer James Demetrakis Patrick Fletcher Mark Longo Irene Oujo Dr. Sheetal Ranjan Joseph Zarra Peter Zalokostas, Alumni Trustee
*&&*(- ( & *- (* * & When we launched the College’s 50th anniversary celebration last year, we enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to recognize Bergen’s vast history – the volumes of success stories written by our students, faculty, staff and community. This collection of stories helped make Bergen the institution it has become and, for many of us, the people we have become. That’s why we also used the 50th anniversary as a chance to look inward at who we are today – and how our past influenced our present. We knew we had to take another step. We knew where we’d come from. And we knew where we were. But we wanted to know where we are going. And so, we framed the 50th anniversary around celebrating the past while recognizing the present and looking to the future. This publication, our 2017-18 annual report, reflects that narrative. The first part of this report focuses on the last year – our present – and the achievements of our students, faculty, staff and College as a whole. But when you turn this book around, you’ll take a trip down memory lane and the stories from the past. These two ideas – the past and present – then meet in the middle of this report to frame our future, under the direction of our 2018-23 strategic plan. I hope you enjoy this annual report and the concept that helped bring it to life.
Dr. Michael D. Redmond President
* &* *(-)',%
,+ STEM students travelled to Missouri to launch a high-altitude balloon to view the solar eclipse, while faculty in Paramus set the scene for onlookers. Other students used their homemade seismometer to measure geologic activity around the globe. ,
+ Alumnus Peter Zalokostas joined the Bergen board of trustees as the alumni representative.
)
)+ The Move for Success career closet officially opened in September.
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!+ Student Amanda Karpinski earned a spot on the Phi Theta Kappa international board of directors.
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+ “Main Ingredients� connected food with culture at the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center.
+ Faculty gathered for
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the opening of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning laboratory.
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,+ The Foundation awarded 100 students approximately $110,000 in scholarships in December.
!+ Bergenstages opened its season with “Hamlet.�
,
)+ Pole vaulter Camille Calupad earned the NJCAA Region XIX John Stauff Female Scholar Athlete of the Year award.
!
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The Bergen Community College Newsletter 2015, 2016 & 2017 NCMPR Medallion Winner
Fall 2017 • Volume 5, Issue e1
+ The National Council on Marketing and
A STEM Summer Science doesn’t stop over the summer.
one moment, everyone just watched this beautiful event.�
I
Also in STEM news this summer: • As the eclipse dazzled the skies, activity underground made waves for students. A seismometer constructed by graduates Karina Palaric and Tamar Tokman continued to record earthquakes that rocked areas as distant as Mexico. • Student Jonny Lazarte won first prize in the “Master the Mainframe Hackathonâ€? at the August SHARE conference in Providence, Rhode Island. • Student Sadik Erisen and alumni Ross Kernez and Tamar Tokman (her second major accomplishment of the summer!) presented their work on developing a proprietary search engine at the Enterprise Computing Community Conference at Marist College. I
n August, a team of two dozen STEM students, faculty and staff launched a highaltitude balloon to capture images of the solar eclipse from Jefferson City, Missouri — a spot located in the so-called “path of totality� — as a follow-up to last summer’s launch that delivered images of the Earth at 96,000 feet. During the eclipse, the team attached a homemade payload box with a microprocessor, GPS equipment and six cameras to a 3,000-gram balloon to record the event and conduct experiments. “For those two and a half minutes, as our balloon was up in the air and we were staring at the solar eclipse, we were just quiet, observing such a natural event,� student project leader Grecia Manrique said. “Everyone forgot about all of their problems. For
Public Relations recognized Bergen for its communication efforts with two Medallion awards.
AGolden Opportunity to Celebrate Make another Bergen memory. Leave a legacy that will last a lifetime. Donate online at tinyurl.com/bergen50
C
ommemorating the 1967 hiring of the institution’s first president, Sidney Silverman, Ph.D., and the approval of the master plan that developed the College’s main campus at 400 Paramus Road, Bergen’s 50th year has begun. “During this anniversary, we will look first to our past in order to celebrate our place
and influence in the lives of our students, but we will also look to the future,� President Michael D. Redmond, Ph.D., said. “This celebration of our tradition of excellence encourages us to imagine what we can still become.� A committee led by honorary co-chairs Bergen County Executive James Tedesco III, Bergen County Freeholder Chair Tracy Silna Zur and Professor Emeritus Virginia Laughlin will direct the institution’s efforts related to celebrating the anniversary. Share your memories of the last 50 years at 50.bergen.edu. I
Take a stroll down memory lane with a retro photo from the last 50 years every Friday! facebook.com/bergencommunitycollege
+ Past faculty and staff gathered for a luncheon organized by the Retired Employees Association.
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+ The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program named Bergen as one of the nation’s top 150 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
$+ Phi Theta Kappa inducted new members in November.
%+ Latino Heritage Month featured a parade of flags and participants including Freeholder Germaine Ortiz. $
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,'+ Gov. Phil Murphy selected board of trustee "
"+ The Department of
members Dr. Sheetal Ranjan, Joseph Barreto and Mark Longo to serve on transition team committees that set priorities for his term.
Wellness and Exercise Science organized the second annual “Hero 5K Run� to raise funds for United States military veterans.
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# #( #( -)'," + Biology professor Robert Highley
,+ Students Elda Pere, Remila Jasharllari and Doreta Biba were among only 207 U.S. recipients of the 2017 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars award.
received the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award for providing outstanding leadership to his department; sociology professor Dr. CameliaManuela Lataianu was named the 2017 recipient of the John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Award; and paramedic science program director professor Jennifer McCarthy received the Innovation of the Year Award.
,
+ Students worked with faculty advisers to become published authors as part of the latest Bergen Scholarly Journal.
)+ Alumna Sarah Hwang received a $5,000 award through the 2017 Finch College Alumni and Freya Moskowitz Stern program.
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!+ The Child Development Center preschool earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
+ The annual alumni dinner recognized dental hygiene professor and class of 2002 graduate Goli Kocharian (Distinguished Achievement Award), wrestling coach and NJCAA Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee Ed Kochakji (Living Legacy Award) and class of 2015 nursing graduate Jon Silva (Rising Star Award).
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%+ Library archivists created displays featuring Bergen memories at the Bergen County Administration Building and other sites throughout the county.
$+ Shooting guard Cherie Smedile passed the 1,000-point milestone and also became Bergen’s alltime scoring leader.
%
"+ Bergen honored trailblazing former coach Dr. Rose Marie Battaglia, who earned entry into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. ,,
,,+ Princess
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Dr. Nisreen Bint El-Hahsemite visited to discuss women in STEM.
,'+ Bergen County leaders gathered with College officials to recognize Black History Month. $ ,'
,)+ A panel with board of trustees chair Carol Otis, former President Dr. Judith K. Winn and former professor Conny Lee highlighted Women’s History Month. $ $#% # %
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# ( *-)'," ,+ Blending Bergen’s past, present and future, the College recognized the class of 2018, led by valedictorian Zaina Laaroussi, at commencement. Guest speakers such as Gov. Phil Murphy, Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III and Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders Chair Thomas Sullivan joined President Dr. Michael D. Redmond and Grand Marshal Dr. Ursula ParrishDaniels. The program also featured videos detailing the College’s history and special recognitions and musical performances. Additionally, for $20.18, more than 200 members of the class of 2018 purchased philanthropy cords to support a class gift – a scholarship for future students.
,
)+ Almost 400 College faculty, staff, students, alumni, retirees and supporters celebrated the institution’s 50th anniversary during a gala fundraiser April 19 at the Venetian in Garfield. Government officials U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy, Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III, Bergen County Freeholders Mary Amoroso and Germaine Ortiz, state Sen. Gerald Cardinale, state Assemblyman Robert Auth and state Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi delivered proclamations recognizing the College’s 50-year record of success stories. Sen. Menendez presented President Redmond with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in Bergen’s honor. The College also recognized former Executive Vice President Virginia Laughlin for her donation of $50,050 to the $50 for 50 campaign. More than 400 faculty and staff donated to the legacy initiative.
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+ The U.S. Department of State recognized Bergen as one of the nation’s top institutions for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.
+ Professors Dr. Judith Rae Davis, Dr. Bonnie MacDougall and Dr. Joan Tscherne earned the rank of “professor emeritus.�
!
+ The College dedicated a memorial garden near Ender Hall for horticulture student Brenda Boffa, who passed away from cancer.
!+ State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal delivered the keynote for Asian Heritage Month.
%+ Bergen hosted more than two dozen elected officials for “A Legislative Lunch� to strengthen ties with its federal, state, county and municipal officials.
%
"+ Members of the “founding faculty� hired prior to 1978 organized a dinner to celebrate the 50th anniversary and support student scholarships.
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$+ Student Daniel Currier won the 10th annual speech competition for his presentation of his work, “Weaponized Emotion.�
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,'+ Students presented research as part of the annual STEM C2 Summit.
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,,+ Gallery Bergen’s exhibition “Student Art at Bergen� featured student work.
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,)+ The work of 20 high schoolers became part of the College’s literary journal, “Pegasus,� published annually in June.
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& (* (* # *- *( * ,+ Financial Resources Bergen will secure robust resources to deliver excellent academic and co-curricular programming. The College will continue to foster a culture of transparency where all stakeholders are responsible for the financial viability of the College.
,
)+ Human Talent and Internal Culture Bergen will invest in its employees through enhanced professional engagement and development opportunities that will prepare them to fulfill the College’s vision,
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+ Relationships and Partnerships Bergen will strengthen and expand relationships with education, industry and community partners to support a continuum of lifelong and global learning.
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As Bergen celebrated its 50-year tradition of excellence, the College was reminded of its original mission. Founded to serve the educational and workforce needs of Bergen County, the College has continually stood as an exemplary higher education institution for the region - and country, for that matter. “Reimagine Bergen,� our five-year strategic plan, is the result of broad engagement of our board of trustees, faculty, staff and students to look to the future and inspire the institution’s evolution.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2018 - 2023
Reimagine Bergen
!+ Student Experiences !
Bergen offers a comprehensive learning environment with individualized services dedicated to guiding students and developing them as independent learners on their unique paths to success.
+ Technology Bergen will invest in and support technology that is secure and reliable. Information technology will continue to enhance efficiency and access while ensuring a user-friendly experience.
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)',, )',% *(*-# - At the beginning of the 2010s, the College placed renewed emphasis on supporting students and their success through resources such as the Cerullo Learning Assistance Center, which would twice earn honors as the top tutoring center in the country, and other initiatives such as an on-campus food pantry to help students remain on a path to graduation. These programs helped Bergen surge to the top of the state’s rankings for associate degree graduates four years in a row.
Cerullo Learning Assistance Center
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And that wasn’t the only spot Bergen students, faculty and staff found themselves on top. Among the accolades, Phi Theta Kappa students held offices such as international president, while faculty member Dr. Geoffrey Sadock earned U.S. Professor of the Year honors.
U.S. Dr. Professor Geoff o rey S f the Yea r adock .
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Under Dr. B. Kaye Walter as president, the College completed construction on the region’s only Health Professions Integrated Teaching Center - a facility like no other of its kind, preparing graduates for the county’s No. 1 job sector, health care. Also, through leveraging federal grants, the College offered cutting-edge STEM programs in areas such as drone technology and even sent a high-altitude balloon into space. It should then come as no surprise that in 2017, as it marked its 50th anniversary, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program named Bergen as one of the nation’s top 150 institutions.
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)''' )',' #- # - #& As the 2000s began, the College’s focus on the technological revolution and the approaching opening of the Technology Education Center quickly turned to the events of September 11, 2001. But the American spirit endured. And so did Bergen’s. Seeking to serve their communities, record numbers of students enrolled in programs like criminal justice, while new programs in homeland security and e-commerce reflected our changing world. Bergen’s physical campus continued its transformation as well. A $1 million gift from the Pitkin Foundation renamed the “megastructure,� while President Winn closed her tenure by opening the arts and communication marvel, West Hall. .
Technology Education Center.
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As President Dr. Jerry Ryan entered the College, the nation entered the Great Recession. With Americans struggling to find work and veterans returning home from the conflicts that started at the beginning of the decade, enrollment surged with many opting to pursue a higher education as a path to a better life. The enrollment increase led to the hiring of a historic number of full-time faculty members and the purchase of a five-story facility in Lyndhurst known as Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands.
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,$%" ,$$$ ( & After founding president Dr. Sidney Silverman’s retirement, the College continued its explosive growth during the next two decades under presidents Dr. Alban Reid and Dr. JosÊ López-Isa, a founding faculty member. Together with faculty and community members, the College continued its development as a premier destination for higher education, acquiring its adult learning center in Hackensack for $1 from The Record newspaper in 1978, building the Anna Maria Ciccone Theatre, student center, expanding the library and even serving as a campaign stop for Democratic nominee for President of the United States Walter Mondale in 1984.
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The College took care to respond to a statewide call to increase the number of black and Hispanic students enrolled in college by creating new initiatives to ensure that all members of the Bergen region had an opportunity to pursue their dreams. By the mid-90s, and with enrollment rising to more than 13,000 students, President Dr. Judith K. Winn ushered in a new era of services at the institution for students with disabilities and those studying Englishas-a-Second-Language.
Dive rsity counts !
Meanwhile, advances in technology streamlined academic pursuits – adding email and the World Wide Web to the Bergen lexicon.
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,$ % ,$%% & *-*#( - *#( It’s always been about community. After a decade of grassroots support for providing new opportunities for higher education in New Jersey, in 1965, the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders made Bergen Community College a reality. Just two short years later, the College’s first board of trustees approved the master plan to develop 400 Paramus Road as Bergen’s home and named Dr. Sidney Silverman its first president. Dr. Silverman would serve 10 years as Bergen’s leader, working collaboratively with the institution’s early students, faculty and staff, operating first out of Building E – now Ender Hall – and eventually, the megastructure, now the Pitkin Education Center.
First President Dr. Sidney Silverman (second from right).
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Students immediately enrolled in programs that prepared them for careers in business and the sciences, taking advantage of the energetic faculty’s desire to make Bergen, in Dr. Silverman’s vision, the “Harvard of community colleges.� These formative years at the institution featured a spirit of collegiality and togetherness, with faculty and staff recalling stories of droves of students, close office quarters and even a rainy graduation day ceremony. By the end of Dr. Silverman’s first 10 years, nearly 4,500 men and women would earn associate degrees and certificates.
A new community of learners.
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Wilton T. Barney, Chairman Bennett H. Fishler, Jr., Vice Chairman Clarence E. Mathe, Jr., Secretary David Van Alstyne, Jr., Treasurer Archie F. Hay Eugene Jacobson Benjamin Labov Archie L. Lacey Joseph L. Muscarelle
*&&*(- ( & *- (* * & When we launched the College’s 50th anniversary celebration last year, we enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to recognize Bergen’s vast history – the volumes of success stories written by our students, faculty, staff and community. This collection of stories helped make Bergen the institution it has become and, for many of us, the people we have become. That’s why we also used the 50th anniversary as a chance to look inward at who we are today – and how our past influenced our present. We knew we had to take another step. We knew where we’d come from. And we knew where we were. But we wanted to know where we are going. And so, we framed the 50th anniversary around celebrating the past while recognizing the present and looking to the future. This publication, our 2017-18 annual report, reflects that narrative. The first part of this report focuses on the last year – our present – and the achievements of our students, faculty, staff and College as a whole. But when you turn this book around, you’ll take a trip down memory lane and the stories from the past. These two ideas – the past and present – then meet in the middle of this report to frame our future, under the direction of our 2018-23 strategic plan. I hope you enjoy this annual report and the concept that helped bring it to life.
Dr. Michael D. Redmond President