Bachelor’s degrees in science and mathematics, humanities and the social sciences, business, the arts, education and nursing were awarded at the Undergraduate Commencement exercises held Friday, May 25 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

����vlog President Susan A. Cole presided over the exercises and the Commencement address was delivered by New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, who received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree.

A committed and respected advocate for the people of New Jersey, Lieutenant Governor Oliver has served in numerous governmental capacities at the municipal, county and state levels. Starting as director of the Office of Youth Services and Special Projects for the City of Newark, she moved on to work at a number of colleges and spent several years as the director of the Essex County Division of Community Action, an anti-poverty initiative established by the federal government.

Beginning in 1996, Oliver served as an Essex County Freeholder for three years, and as a member of the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey representing the 34th District for 14 years, including two terms as the first African-American woman to serve as Speaker of the General Assembly. In 2017, Oliver was elected Lieutenant Governor of the State of New Jersey with a dual appointment as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.

Addressing the graduates, Oliver said, “Your generation is proving itself impatient to leave its mark, and so I say, go out and do it!”

“This is an awesome day for which you have worked hard and long,” Oliver said. “But it’s really just the beginning of your journey. Go out and write something wonderful with your life.”

Greetings from the senior class were offered by Toni Lynn Jassel, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with a concentration in Statistics. Jassel told her fellow graduates “We all have the ability to accomplish greatness, and we get to define what that greatness will be. So, go on, and eagerly live the life you are destined to live. The life we worked hard for.

Go to bed proud, and wake up with the courage to be your most true self.”

The two Graduate School Commencement ceremonies for doctoral and master’s degree recipients were held earlier on January 14 and May 22 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

Congratulations Graduates!

Hundreds of soon-to-be College of the Arts students and their families visited campus on July 6th and 7th for a full day of orientation info sessions to help start their freshman year successfully.

At the start of the day, incoming students had the opportunity to mix and mingle with current Montclair State students,  then gathered for presentations given at the Alexander Kasser Theater. Throughout the day, sessions covering everything from academic guidance and technology essentials, to commuter and residential life, were held to help smoothly transition them onto their new campus.  

Organized by department and school, each incoming student was assigned to a group led by a peer leader which gave them the opportunity direct their questions to a seasoned Montclair State student in their field of study. 

“The peer leaders have been great and very friendly while giving us the inside scoop,” said Music Education incoming student Michael Oddo, who specializes in percussion. Mr. Oddo shared that Montclair State was his first choice. “I felt connected, I wasn’t just a number; I was a student and a person and they know me very well,” was how Mr. Oddo described as why he chose to study at The John J. Cali School of Music.

Aspiring film producer Tazia Campbell, who will be beginning her studies at the School of Communication and Media said, “I’m extremely interested in the program and all the courses I’ll be taking, and I’m confident they will help me on my career path.” Ms. Campbell will also be living in the campus residence halls.

Elmer Cruz from Fairview, New Jersey, an incoming Acting major declared that his decision to be a College of the Arts student began at his acting audition. “I felt very welcomed and wanted,” Mr. Cruz said about his first impression of the program faculty. “What interested me was the program’s approach to studying Practical Aesthetics and Stanislavski methods, and I wanted to be a part of it.”

Hailing from Massachusetts, Theatre Studies incoming student Eliza Dumont described Montclair State as “a home away from home” of all the universities and colleges she visited. “I loved the overall atmosphere, and I knew I was going to come here as soon as my visit ended.”

The College of the Arts will be welcoming both incoming and continuing students for the start of classes on Tuesday, September 6th,  and anticipates another outstanding academic year of work, growth, and research by its talented faculty and student community. 

The 2016 College of the Arts Convocation was a joyous and unforgettable ceremony which featured a show-stopping performance by Distinguished Alumna Award recipient Melba Moore ’70, where Sprague Field resonated with the gleeful cheer of families and friends seated in the bleachers.

Dressed in regalia and grinning from ear-to-ear, graduating students posed for photos with their teachers, while laughing, embracing and trading stories. They also had much to share about taking the step from student to graduate, and reflected thoughtfully on their plans after graduation.

Reem Ibrahem, who delivered the Senior Address, graduated from the Art Education program and explained her thoughts as the chosen voice of the class of 2016. “Arts has been a passion my entire life, and it feels as though every moment has been building toward this day. I’ll be getting my degree, walking across stage and delivering the Senior Address, so it’s a very special day for me.” Ms. Ibrahem, who in the fall will be beginning her career as an art teacher at Paterson School No. 7, shared that if the faculty did not encourage her talents, she wouldn’t have pursued sculpture as her discipline of study.�� Ms. Ibrahem’s advice to students working their way to graduation was: “Don’t be dissuaded. If you have a vision for yourself, set a plan and strategy to accomplish it: go for it, and more power to you.”

Musical Theatre graduate Darius Jordan Lee, who has starred in countless productions on campus such as 42nd Street and Hair, is joining the cast of Mamma Mia at the John W. Engeman Theatre in New York this summer. “I’m the first Lee in my family to graduate from college so it means the world for me to be here,” explained Mr. Lee, who as a powerhouse of talent as an actor, dancer, and singer, was encouraged by all members of faculty. “The Department of Theatre and Dance as a whole has encouraged me along the way; they’ve helped me get to where I need to be as a creative professional.” Mr. Lee’s words of wisdom to aspiring students of theatre: “Don’t give up, if your mind can conceive it, and your heart can believe it, you can achieve it.”

John J. Cali School of Music graduate Kara Delonas is leaving Montclair State after prodigious study in Double Bass Performance, and will be rushing off after the ceremony to Colorado, to play at Creede Repertory Theatre for the summer season. Ms. Delonas who has also performed in several festivals around the country is thankful to everyone at the School of Music for their help, including faculty member Linda McKnight, a foremost teacher of the double bass in the country, and Gina Balestracci, the academic administrator of the program. “Practice every day, always strive to be the best, and never settle. Even if you’re pleased with your work, you always have room to improve,” was Ms. Delonas’s recommendation to performance students. It’s clear she’s followed her own advice as she embarks on an impressive performance career.

Leonor Marion Landais, a BFA Studio Arts graduate who specializes in ceramics, is enthusiastic to continue her studies and is dedicated to growing as an artist. In the fall, Ms.��Landais��will be beginning a Master in Fine Arts program at the Tyler School of Art at Temple University and is grateful to the Department of Art and Design faculty who have aided in her creative development. “I feel it’s important to get as much insight as possible into your work, and because the faculty, such as my mentor Owen Oertling, were so accessible and available to help, I’m grateful to have had that opportunity as an artist,” said Ms.��Landais. As she described her anticipation to continue her arts education and expand her experience as a visual artist, Ms.��Landais��offered her advice to aspiring students of art: “Be dedicated to your work in the studio. Regardless of your talents or gift, be dedicated to your growth as an artist by committing to your time to working in the studio.”

As a Television and Digital Media Division graduate of the School of Communication and Media, Sam Romano worked as sports director and web editor at the campus radio station WMSC, wrote for the The Montclarion, and helped produce weekly episodes of Carpe Diem. “During my time in school I learned everything I needed to be successful and I can’t wait to put all of those skills to use,” Ms. Romano shared about preparing for a career in broadcasting. Ms. Romano, who has just started a position as a Studio Director at News 12, explained how faculty encouraged her career goals. “There are so many professors who have field experience and contacts and are so willing to help the students chase and achieve their dreams. It’s inspiring!”

Dance graduate Emma Pressman was awarded the 2016 Dean’s Scholar/Artist Award, as well as the Theatre and Dance Service Award, and the Linda Roberts Outstanding Dance Senior Award. With these numerous achievements under her belt, Ms. Pressman shared how it felt to be recognized by the College of the Arts Dean as an artist. “This award has made me realize what I have accomplished over the last four years. I knew I was working hard but I never really paused to reflect. I was so honored to be recognized, sitting on that stage gave me the opportunity to look out at all of the people who supported me through it, my friends, my family and my incredible teachers.”

Each of the College’s graduates has contributed immensely to the vitality, spirit, and vast accomplishments of Montclair’s vibrant arts community. They will always be an essential part of Montclair State’s history and future, and will always have a home at the College of the Arts as alumni!

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With College of the Arts Dean Daniel A. Gurskis presiding, the ceremony included greetings from President Susan A. Cole, the senior address delivered by Reem Ibrahem and music performed by students from the John J. Cali School of Music.

Tony Award-winning actress and vocalist Melba Moore ’70 was honored with the Distinguished Alumna Award and delivered the keynote address. Also receiving special recognition was graduating senior Emma Pressman, who was presented with the Dean’s Scholar/Artist’s Award.

The candidates’ degrees were conferred at the 2016 Commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 25 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Music Education alumna Melba Moore ‘70 will receive the ����vlog Distinguished Alumni Award and undergraduate Dance student Emma Pressman will receive the Dean’s Scholar/Artist award.��Art Education student Reem Ibrahem will deliver the senior address.

Department of Art and Design Recipients:

Ann Chapman Scholarship
Maviel Gonzalez

Art and Social Practices
James Yee

Cento Amici (Art and Design)
Tiffany Case
Paige Fusco
Kaitlyn Texel
Evan Tortorelli��

Don & Judy Miller Award
Chloe Anne Cruz
Julian Alfonso Sanchez

Excellence in Animation/Illustration
Christine Almeda
Da Young Cho
Sebastian Gomez
Keven Mallqui
Yumi Nakayama

Excellence in Art Education
Danielle Davis
Luisa Henao

Excellence in Art History
Gorkem Eroglu
Cynthia Huasipoma
William Weber

Excellence in Ceramics
Stephany Sueldo

Excellence in Fashion Studies
Eric N. Torres

Excellence in Graphic Design
Pablo Chavarria��
Ariana Dela Vega��
Ramzi Husein
Nicole Park

Excellence in Industrial Design
Senior: Anthony Lopez,��Edwin Teca
Junior: Miguel Pena
Sophomore: Adam Pelley
Freshman: Sador Garrett Boldog

Excellence in Metal and Jewelry
Katherine McCole

Excellence in Painting and Drawing
Anthony Coplan
Christopher Gullander

Excellence in Print and Paper Arts
Derek Wright
Suzanne Tuchman

Excellence in Photography
Brianne J. Dougherty

Excellence in Sculpture
Leonor Marion Landais

Fashion Studies Katherine Hall Award
Genavieve Pimenow��

Outstanding Graduating BFA in Studio
Christopher Gullander��

______________________________

School of Communication and Media Recipients:

Achievement in Production Award
Amanda Accardo
KellyMarie Braun
Jose Cortez
Dante Giannetta
Francesca LaBianco
Sarah Modo
Samantha Romano
Tyler Rosenberg
Jarrett Strenner
Benjamin Vazquez-Juarbe

American Broadcasting Company Award
Daniel Collins
Ryan Long
Brandon Simanski

Angelo and Margaret J. DiFlaura Award
Emma Cimo

Bill Puskas Most Promising New Student Award
Jinal Kapadia

Cento Amici Award��(Communication and Media)
Kristie Keleshian
Samantha Williams

Christopher Stasheff/Al Prieto Scholarship Award
John Reilly

Communication Studies (2671) Award
Cynthia Huasipoma
Alison McCabe

Communication Studies – Excellence in Communication & Media
Theresa Bright��

Excellence in Cinematography
Alejandra Cedeno
Rob Woods

Excellence in Editing
Rebecca Gruber

Excellence in Filmmaking
Greg Buracker����
Kim Hill��
Swelee Joseph
Jacob Shapiro��

Excellence in Health Communication
Annastassia Pritchett

Excellence in Organizational Communication Award
James Jeffers

Excellence in Public Relations Award
Ana Vargas

Excellence in Screenwriting��
Stephen Bodossian
Rocio Mendieta
Tiara��Montgomery

Faculty Award
Craig Gorbunoff
Michael Oroko

George Hiltzik Scholarship for Media Students
Jessica Bacher
Kyle Bogdan
Avery Federico
Paige Godlewski
Jennifer Leon
Keyra Krauss
Theresa Reynolds
Chris Sabo
Amelia Spitler����

Harold Friedlander Memorial Award
Daniel Falkenheim

Jack Anderson Journalism Scholarship
Stephanie Pitera

John D. Sharkey
Jayna Gugliucci

Jose Rohaidy Award
Josue Dajes

Journalism Achievement Award
Fabricio Costa-Filho
Elena Medina
Christopher Thompson

Journalism Award
Daniel Falkenheim��

Lambda Pi Eta Scholarship
Morgan Taylor

Most Valuable Player to the Film Program
Michael Turner

MSU BFA Filmmaking Award 2016 Cinematography Award
Alejandra Cedeno
Robert Woods

Nominated for Dean’s Scholarship
Amelia Spitler

Outstanding Scholarly Achievement
Shannon Boyle
Brooke O’Donnell

Radio Achievement Award
Ivan Arevalo �� �� �� �� ����

Radio Club of America Scholarship Award
Daniel Falkenheim
Nicholas Franciosa
Amanda Kaminsky
Dayonara Link
Paula Tan
Stanley Wiercinski

Richard Drukker Award
Deanna Rosa

Stephanie Wood Public Service Award
Jantzen Rogalski
�� �� �� �� �� �� ��
Wayne Bond Communication Achievement Award (Graduate)
Christine Sandella

Wayne Bond Communication Studies Achievement Award (Undergraduate)
Meghan Carney��
Julia Siegel�� �� �� �� ������ ����

TV Digital Media (2514) Award
John Reilly �� �� ����

______________________________

John J. School Cali School of Music Recipients:

Academic Excellence Award��
Monika Szumski

Cento Amici Award (Music)
Evan Fleming
Rebecca Orlando
Dana Rizzo

David Ott Scholarship for Outstanding Music Therapist Intern
Chyi June Khoo

David Ott Scholarship for Outstanding Music Therapy Student (Graduate)
Erica Gibbons

David Ott Scholarship for Outstanding Music Therapy Student (Undergraduate)
Lawrence Budden

Excellence in Band Award
Alyson Berkowitz ����
Hayley Orlando
Robert Parson��

Excellence in Choir Award
Nicole Jodoin
Andria Kwasnicki
Christine Rauschenbach ��

Excellence in Jazz Award
Ian Howells

Excellence in Orchestra Award
Anita Balazs
Nick Mossa �� ����

Lucille Oliva Award
Karlee SanGiovanni

Music Department Service Award
Katie Rakus

Music Teachers National Association Award
Dana Rizzo

Oscar Ravina Award
Paul Vanderwal

Outstanding Graduate Composer Award
Kevin Cummines

Outstanding Graduate Performance Award
Sujin Kang ����
Jung Yong Kim

Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher Award in Music Education
Larisa Skinner��

Outstanding Student Teacher Award
Mavrothi Kontanis
Andria Kwasnicki

Outstanding Undergraduate Composer Award
Camila Agosto
Jeffery Triggs

Outstanding Undergraduate Performance Award
Joseph Varela

Presser Scholarship
Dana Rizzo

Thomas and Michelle Wilt Scholarship
Camila Agosto

Thomas J. Randazzo Award
Emily Gaul

______________________________

Department of Theatre and Dance Recipients:

College of the Arts Advisory Board Scholarship Award
Daniel Padierna

Cento Amici Award (Theatre & Dance)
Juliana Chimenti
Jacqueline Kosoff
Brian Sedita
Yvonne Setlock
��
Choreographic Excellence Award
Jennifer Campbell
Stephen Galberth �� ���� �� �� �� ��

Danceaturgy Award
Audra Hofacker
Ashley Wiedow����
��
Department of Theatre & Dance Service Award
Christian Dilks
Audra Hofacker
Nicole Mageros
Andrea Miller
Emma Pressman
��
Doris Bianchi Senior Award
Eric Craft
Michael Sickles��������

Jeanne Wade Heningburg Award
Kidjie Boyer
Marsha Guirlande Pierre
��
Joseph F. Bella Production/Design Award
April Gormley
Connor Wilson
��
Linda Roberts Outstanding Senior Dance Award
Chelsea McCloskey
Emma Pressman
��
Marc Mattaliano Theatre Award
Andrew Russel
Angelica Santiago������������������������
����
Mary Ann Peins Dance Scholarship
Tiara Knox
Melody Marti

MSU Dance Education Award
Jayne Gendreau
Megan Namnama��������������������������
��
MSU Dance Spirit Award
Alexa Lucchese
Tricia Urgo
��
Outstanding Performer Award
Breeanah Breeden
Victoria Franzetti
��
Senior BFA Acting Award
Kacie Craven
Dino Curia
��
Wycoff Award
William Ervin

The writer of the upcoming book “Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy,” O’Neil explored what algorithms are (and are not), how they are built, their positive and negative effects, and the ways we can examine them for fairness and ethical behavior.

Click here to read highlighting the event, Cathy O’Neil, and ����vlog professor Dr. Neil Baldwin.

Which students should be accepted into which colleges?
What political messages should campaigns send to people on Facebook?
How long should prisoners go to jail?
What advertisements will appeal to you?
What kind of person would you like to date?

These questions used to be determined by��people. But in the age of “big data,” they are increasingly being decided by��algorithms. In Cathy O’Neil’s talk at Montclair State — a special preview of her next book, coming out in the fall — she will explore what algorithms are (and���������’t!), how they are built, their positive and negative effects, and the ways we can examine them for fairness and ethical behavior.

A lively Q&A will follow.

Cathy O’Neil��is a data scientist, writer, and activist. She received a math Ph.D. from Harvard University and was a math professor for a time at Barnard College. In 2007 she went to work as a “quant” in finance for a few years before switching over to the tech world. After starting a blog at��, she joined Occupy Wall Street and started writing books about data science. Her new book,“Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy,” will be released on Sept. 6, 2016 by Crown Books. On Twitter:��

Agenda:
6:00-6:45 p.m. Networking with pizza
6:45-7:00 p.m. Welcome
7:00-8:30 p.m. Cathy O’Neil presentation with audience Q&A

Event is presented by��Creative Research Center,��the����and��.

Event is free and open to the public, but please pre-register at:

Directions and parking info: Park in the Red Hawk Deck on campus, exit the deck on Level 5 and proceed straight up the walkway (soccer field will be on your left). At the new Feliciano School of Business building, turn right and go up the outdoor staircase. University Hall will be straight ahead once you reach the top of the steps.

Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram:����and

The discussion centered around Salter’s lyrics for the song cycle Rooms of Light, a collection of songs from renowned composer/jazz pianist Fred Hersch which explores various aspects of photography. The songs conjure photographs set in the Civil War, in wedding albums, X-rays, and images from paparazzi, outer space, the deep seas, Instagram, and selfies.

Several of the songs first premiered at Lincoln Center as part of the American Songbook series in 2007, and the latest production, which featured a cast of singers performing the song cycle and the Fred Hercsh Ensemble, ran at Peak Performances in October 2015.  

“The poem springs from the half-spoken words of such patients as the physician sees from day to day.” Words by Dr. Williams, who often wrote on the back of prescription pads while tending to patients at his Rutherford practice, are testament that his clinical practice and artistry were intertwined.��Carpe Diem host Krystal Acosta sat down with Dr. Baldwin — a cultural historian, literary critic, and biographer — to discuss Williams’s diverse talents and explore his artistic and professional struggles.

The in-depth interview examines the creative process of the New Jersey native who found artistic inspiration in his practice and patients, shared perspectives on his home state, and reflected on his love of nature. The episode also features family members and patients of the poet at event at the Meadowlands Museum which celebrated Williams’ life and the babies he helped deliver along the way.

The book, originally published in hardcover by Atheneum, was released in 2008 in paperback by InPrint Editions/Black Classic Press (Baltimore) to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Williams’s birth. It examines his work as a local country doctor and prolific writer of poetry, stories, novels, plays and essays; his complex nightlife in the Bohemian circles of Greenwich Village; as well as the long and loving friendships he shared with literary superstars such as Ezra Pound and Hilda Doolittle.

Dr. Baldwin is currently at work on a new biography, Martha Graham: When Dance Became Modern, to be published by Alfred A. Knopf.

Carpe Diem is an award-winning news and culture student production which covers topics in New Jersey and on the campus of Montclair State. This episode was hosted by series producer, Krystal Acosta and directed by Television and Digital Media major, Amanda Martinez.

Watch the episode on the “Doctor Poet” .

Congratulations Graduates!

Assembled in Sprague Field on the University Campus, 500 of 680 soon-to-be College of the Arts graduates in attendance were celebrated by the University faculty, administration, and nearly 3500 cheering guests on May 18th.�� It was an evening filled with joy, excitement and expressions of tribute, as students gathered to be recognized, once more, before heading to Commencement.�� The students, as did the faculty, had much to say as they reflected on their college experience and in anticipation of their next chapters that await.

“We are thrilled to see them grow and move on, but we’ll certainly miss them,” said Prof. Neil Baldwin of the Department of Theatre and Dance. Dressed in regalia and grinning from ear-to-ear, students posed for photos with their teachers, while laughing, embracing and trading stories. The boisterous energy was infectious as they lined up before the grand procession onto Sprague field, where staff and faculty beamed with excitement, joining students as they celebrated their accomplishments realized at the College of the Arts, and of all those to come.

Music Theory and Composition student Carlos Bandera, from the John J. Cali School of Music, will be attending The Peabody Institute at The Johns Hopkins University in the fall, where he will continue his studies after graduating, pursuing a Masters degree in composition.�� “I was interested in applying to Johns Hopkins because it’s a renowned program, and I was encouraged by my teacher Prof. Kenneth Lam, who also attended the Conservatory,” said Mr. Bandera enthusiasm, “I’m ready to take the next step, to start the next chapter of my life.”

Heather Pollak, a Dance major and Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society member who after graduation is attending the prestigious Master of Science in Performing��Arts��Leadership and��Management program at Shenandoah University.�� “Graduation is exciting, but bittersweet, as I’m leaving behind my dance performance family,” said Pollak of her classmates in the Department of Theatre and Dance.�� With a lifetime of dance and focused performance study while at the College of the Arts, Ms. Pollak is looking forward to her bright future in leadership and administration in the performing arts.

A recent School of Communications and Media (SCM) graduate who completed her studies early, Nina Baratti returned to Convocation as a full-time reporter at local news organization SNJ Today. ��“Everyday I’m reporting on television or radio,” said Ms. Baratti who explained how the College of the Arts prepared her for her new role. “I learned how be on camera, edit, and write within the extremely hands-on program that helped prepare me for the real world.” ��When asked about her career plans, Ms. Baratti said she’d like to continue and grow as a reporter with her organization, and “because I acquired so many skills at Montclair State, I feel I can do so many things.”

John Caliendo, a Musical Theatre graduate who felt “the four years here flew by” also felt prepared and excited as he moves on after Convocation.�� “The arts professional training program has readied me for what’s to come,” said Mr. Caliendo, who will be performing in next month’s production of Steven Sondheim’s “Company” at The Bucks County Playhouse, a theatre in New Hope PA widely known as a stepping-stone to Broadway.�� “I can say that with one-hundred-and-ten percent confidence because as I have come to work with highly experienced people in the production, and the program prepared me for that professional environment.”

Honored with the Dean’s Scholar/Artist Award and the College of the Arts Art Education Award, Rebecca Zuniga, with her parents and family, attended the Department of Art and Design awards ceremony at the bustling George Segal Gallery, where the BFA Thesis Show Exhibition was also on show.�� “I feel very honored,” said Ms. Zuniga, who explained how she completed her art education studies in four years rather than the typical five years that the program prescribes.�� “It was a lot of hard work and late nights, but winning the awards was like the cherry on top of my experience at College of the Arts.”�� Ms. Zuniga is moving on to continue her career in arts education to a teaching position Rutherford High School in NJ.

Each of the College’s graduates has contributed immensely to the vitality, spirit, and vast accomplishments of the vibrant arts community. They will always be an essential part of Montclair State’s history and future, and will always have a home at the College of the Arts–as alumni!

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