Frank Cerreto, Professor of Mathematics, Ed.D., Rutgers, The State University
Frank A. Cerreto has been a member of the faculty of General Studies at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey since 1976. His doctorate, completed at Rutgers University, is in mathematics education. His research interests include problem representation in mathematics education, connections between mathematics and other disciplines, and technology and mathematics education.
For most of his career at Stockton, he has coordinated and taught in the College's Basic Studies and First-Year Studies programs, while designing and teaching mathematics courses for liberal arts students and for prospective teachers. He has been instrumental in developing and implementing the college’s Quantitative-Reasoning-Across-the-Disciplines (QUAD) program.
Contact Frank at X4631, visit his office at G241 or email him at Frank.Cerreto@stockton.edu
G.Jan Colijn, Dean of General Studies and Professor of Political Science, Ph.D., Temple University
Jan Colijn (Kandidaat, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Ph.D. Temple University) has served as the General Studies dean since 1988. Earlier he chaired the college’s Social and Behavioral Sciences division (1982-1985). He was a visiting fellow in the departments of politics and international relations at the University of Warwick in 1986-1987, the second time he lived in England, where he had run a hotel in 1968.
Jan has been at the college since 1974 when he joined the political science faculty for what was envisioned to be a one-year appointment. While on the faculty, he taught international relations, foreign policy, comparative politics, and a variety of General Studies courses. His scholarly interest and publications during the past fifteen years have focused on genocide, a central area within the college’s liberal arts curriculum. He serves on boards of a variety of professional organizations.
Born in the Netherlands, he counts marathon speedskating and soccer among his avocations. He and his wife Sarah, a College alumna, live in Port Republic and their daughter lives in Pennsylvania where she attends graduate school.
Jack Connor, Professor of Writing, Ph.D., University of Florida
As a member of the Writing Program, I’ve been teaching at Stockton since 1984, mostly W1 courses such as College Writing, Rhetoric & Composition, and Writing About Nature. I also teach W2 courses in natural history, including Stockton’s Natural World (a freshman seminar), The Pine Barrens, Ornithology, and Evolution, Religion, & the Natural World. All my courses include electronic conferencing, multi-step drafting, and student-to-student reading and editing. The nature courses also incorporate the world outdoors, especially Stockton’s beautiful campus, my favorite classroom.
I have written about nature, especially birds, in a variety of publications and two books, The Complete Birder and Season at the Point. My wife and I live in Port Republic and have three children. Besides worrying about them, my current obsessions include long-distance swimming, digital photography, and the flora and fauna of the Pine Barrens.
Contact Jack at X4446, visit his office at C148, or email him at Jack.Connor@stockton.edu
Judy Copeland, Associate Professor of Writing, M.F.A., University of Iowa, J.D., University of Oregon
I teach creative nonfiction. Before I joined the Stockton faculty in 2005, I did a variety of jobs, including lawyer, waitress, circus laborer, editor, and women’s rights organizer. During my legal career, I served as editor-in-chief of the Oregon Law Review, clerked at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and worked as a corporate attorney in Japan in the 1980s. Now my favorite passion is storytelling. I love helping students shape their own life-experiences into stories. My creative nonfiction has won prizes from the Florida Review, Water~Stone Review, and New Millennium Writings, and has been shortlisted in Best American Essays 2004 and Best American Travel Writing 2004. Travelers’ Tales featured one of my stories in Best Travel Writing 2006. Judy Copeland spent fall 2008 as the Jack Kerouac Writer-in-Residence in Orlando, Florida, working in the house where Jack Kerouac wrote Dharma Bums. For information about the project and to view Judy’s online journal during her stay, see http://kerouacproject.org.
Contact Judy at x4862, visit her office at C105, or email her at Judith.Copeland@stockton.edu.
Pam Cross, Developmental Education Specialist/Coordinator of Writing Center, M.A. Georgetown University
As Writing Center Coordinator, I recruit, train, and supervise some of Stockton’s brightest and most creative students. I also teach in the Basic Studies, Writing, and EOF programs. My involvement in the BASK program gives me an opportunity to help students gain confidence as college thinkers and writers. In my work with the tutors, I stress the importance of understanding the learning differences among all students and building on students’ strengths. In coordination with the Community of Scholars, I regularly present workshops on writing, researching, and studying.
A 1982 Stockton graduate with a B.A. in Political Science, I earned my master's degree in English at Georgetown University and returned to Stockton to run the Writing Center in 1986. I consider myself blessed to have a job I love. I am also happily married with one son and two sweet mixed-breed dogs.
Contact Pam at X4899, visit her office at J105i, or email her at Pam.Cross@stockton.edu
Emari DiGiorgio, Assistant Professor of Writing, MFA NYU.
Like the quick brown fox, Emari DiGiorgio jumps over the lazy dog. Native to the South Jersey area, she subsists on a diet of fruits, berries, seaweed salad, yoga, poetry, and long walks through the woods. She completed her MFA in Poetry from New York University in May 2003 and was both a Goldwater and Starworks Fellow while a graduate student. She has taught poetry and creative writing to disabled adults at Goldwater Hospital and to children at Weill-Cornell University Medical Center. Besides stalking the Writing Center, Emari teaches Rhetoric and Composition, College Writing, Creative Writing, and Why Poetry Matters. Outside of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Emari is also a visiting poet-in-the-schools through the New Jersey State Council for the Arts. Contact Emari at 626-3463, visit her office at J105f, or email her at Emari.DiGiorgio@stockton.edu
Penelope Dugan, Professor of Writing, D.A. State University of New York at Albany
Penny Dugan has taught at Stockton since 1976. She teaches courses in writing, women’s studies, and African-American studies. As founding director of the college-wide writing program, she envisioned and nurtured the kind of program she wanted to teach in. She looked for and found faculty who are writers themselves—poets, essayists, journalists, and fiction writers—who know the struggles and sweat good writing needs and the pleasures of seeing their work in print.
Penny has published numerous personal essays, articles on teaching and writing, and book reviews. She serves on the editorial boards of Radical Teacher and Puerto del Sol and was one of the founding editors of The Journal of Lesbian Studies. Currently, she is working on a collective biography of abolitionist John Brown’s daughters. Penny is a fan of Stockton’s theatre program and auditions for roles requiring age, experience, and courage. Her picture is from the spring 2003 presentation of Lee Blessing’s Eleeomosynary, where Penny played the role of an eccentric grandmother. During vacations, Penny returns to the Adirondack Mountains of New York state, where she hosts writers and people who fish at her home on the shore of Lake Champlain. Contact Penny at X4313, visit her office at G243, or email her at Penny.Dugan@stockton.edu
Marcia Fiedler, Instructor in Jewish Studies, M.A. New York University
Marcia Fiedler, Coordinator of Jewish Studies and instructor of Jewish Studies, earned an MA in Jewish Education from New York University and a BA in both Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education from the University of Pittsburgh. Marcia has been involved in Jewish Education for over 20 years. Her teaching experiences range from Early Childhood Education through Adult Education. Marcia has held a variety of positions in the field of education: teacher (grades N-12, and adult education), Religious School Administrator, Instructor of Jewish Studies and Coordinator of Jewish Studies at Stockton College. Marcia believes that anyone can learn and be successful if taught in the proper fashion. It is important not to just teach the material, but to teach the student. The teacher needs to teach students and incorporate all the different modes of learning.
Marcia teaches a variety of Jewish studies classes including Hebrew I, II, and II, Women in the Bible, Bible as Literature, and Old Testament and Film. Marcia is very involved in the Holocaust Resource Center (located on the second floor of the Library). She can often be found working on a variety of projects and programs in the center. If Marcia is not in her office, she can most likely be found in the resource center.
Contact Marcia at X6087, visit her office at J111, or email her at Marcia.Fiedler@stockton.edu
Wondi Geremew, Assistant Professor of Developmental Mathematics, Ph.D., Wayne State University
I received a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Wayne State University on August 27, 2005. I hold a MSc. in Industrial Mathematics at University of Kaiserslautern, Germany, and a MSc. in Mathematics, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. As a graduate teaching assistant at Wayne State University, from September 2000 to August 2005, I taught courses ranging from beginning Algebra to Calculus. I have also been a lecturer at Alemaya University, Ethiopia, for two years.
I came to Stockton in Fall 2005, hired as an assistant professor of developmental mathematics. I have taught GNM 1125-Algebraic Problem solving, College Algebra, and Quantitative Reasoning. My research interests are on Variational Analysis, Optimization and Applications.
Contact Professor Geremew at 626-3520, visit his office at J112, or email wondi.geremew@stockton.edu
Carra Hood, Associate Professor of Writing, Ph.D., Yale University
Dr. Hood holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Yale University, an M.A. in African and African-American Studies (Yale University) and a B.A. summa cum laude in Black and Puerto Rican Studies (Hunter College). Dr. Hood has extensive experience teaching composition, writing and rhetoric, and cultural studies in a variety of institutions. She has a growing research record; has made numerous conference presentations; has organized several conferences; and she is experienced using technology in her teaching. Among her honors and awards are: Dissertation, Teaching and Graduate fellowships (at Yale), a Rockefeller Humanities Fellowship, Scholarship and Welfare Fund Award, a Black and Puerto Rican Studies Department Award, and the Charlotte Newcombe Scholarship (at CUNY). Her interests include expository writing, visual rhetoric, and digital composing.
Contact Carra in her office, J105g, 626-5580, or at Carra.Hood@stockton.edu.
William Jaynes, Professor of Social Work, Africana Studies, M.S.W., Temple University
A member of the Stockton faculty since 1977, Professor Jaynes has demonstrated a broad interest across a number of disciplines and subjects. He has taught most of the major content areas in Social Work as well as offering a number of courses in General Studies and Gerontology throughout his career.
Since stepping down as Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Professor Jaynes has focused his current interest in the areas of Ethnic and Minority Relations, Ethnic Relations, and African-American Studies.
Contact Professor Jaynes at X4445, visit his office at K112, or email him at Will.Jaynes@stockton.edu
Murray Kohn, Professor of Holocaust Studies
Contact Professor Kohn at X4442, visit his office at J105d, or email him at murray.kohn@stockton.edu
G.T. Lenard, Associate Professor of Writing, Ph.D., Temple University
I'm an Associate Professor of Writing; I was hired here in 1984--before some of you were born! Here's some stuff about me:
Turn-ons: 18th Century British novels; American Literature; satire
Turn-offs: bad grammar; poorly developed ideas; failure to sustain a logical argument
Favorite novel: Tristram Shandy, by Laurence Sterne
Favorite poem: "The Snow Man," by Wallace Stevens
Now you know the important stuff about me.
Contact G.T. at X4443, visit her office at G232, or email her at Georgeann.Lenard@stockton.edu
Heather McGovern, Associate Professor of Writing, Ph.D., Texas Tech University
My professional life has three primary strands: my devotion to environmental advocacy, curiosity about websites, and desire to help students adjust to college and develop skills to succeed in college and as professional members of society after college. These interests led me from the high mountain desert of rural Idaho to a double major in biology and English for my BA from The College of Idaho, a small liberal arts school. I followed that with graduate degrees in English at Clemson University and technical communication and rhetoric at Texas Tech University. I share my passion for environmental rhetoric in a GIS course, Voices and Visions on the Environment. This class explores the natural environment through paintings and photography, scientific articles, fiction, film, nonfiction, and music. I also share my knowledge about editing and document design in Editing and Design, a 3000 level course. In addition, I teach college writing and rhetoric and composition to help start students off well in college and professional writing and design, a class that includes writing resumes, brochures, and newsletters and making graphs and charts, to prepare students for success in the professional and civic world. I have an infant, Grace, and a toddler, Sarah. I am currently serving as the college's Director for the Institute for Faculty Development.
Contact Heather at X5575, visit her office at J109, or email her at Heather.McGovern@stockton.edu
Betsy McShea, Associate Professor of Developmental Mathematics, Ph.D., The American University
In 1997, I received my PhD in Mathematics Education from American University in Washington, D.C. Currently, I am an Assistant Professor of Mathematics and I teach a variety of courses including Developmental Math, Quantitative Reasoning, Algebraic Problem Solving, Sports and Math, Foundations of Math, and Math for Elementary School Teachers.
I have a wide range of interests in the field of mathematics especially the integration of mathematics across other disciplines. I have presented several papers/workshops on integrating sports, games, the Harry Potter books, politics, and business into the math classroom. I also have done a variety of pedagogical/curriculum work with local school districts and K-12 teachers.
My main interests other than teaching include my family (my husband and 3 kids), animals including my two dogs (Max and Clifford), sports/exercising (I was an assistant coach of the Stockton women's basketball team for several years), the outdoors, movies, and music.
Contact Betsy at X4568, visit her office at J105h, or email her at Betsy.McShea@stockton.edu
Richard M. Miller, Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies
My love for learning and teaching is what inspired me to pursue the field of education. My philosophy of lifelong learning for the sake of learning sets and example for my students to explore the unknown. Students are not simply a group of people who sit in my class for a semester but individuals, with his and her own talents, skills and goals.
I take pride in learning from my students as much as helping them acquire new skills and renewed self esteem. My accolades include numerous awards and scholarships, such as Avi Chai Foundation Awards, Chai Award for dedication to education, National curriculum awards, as well as scholarships for education, seminars, and workshops. As a chaplain for Hospice, consultant for a nursing home and educational organizations, I am able to utilize my research on "Caring" to connect with my Stockton students on a variety of levels and assist them in looking at their experiences through different lenses.
Biography:
Doctorate in Education and Ed.S. (Educational Specialist) from Seton Hall University
B.S. and M.A. in Judaic/Hebrew Studies from H.U.C., Los Angeles
Certification from Machon Greenberg Teachers Institute in Jerusalem
Rabbinic Ordination, Yeshiva education
NJ and NY State Certification as a Principal, and teacher certification
Taught adult education and University students at Fairleigh Dickinson University & Richard Stockton College
Exceptional IDEA - student evaluations at Stockton College
Garnished several awards in Jewish education
Involved in community organizations dealing with education
Taught Elementary, Junior High, and High School students
Experienced leading education workshops
Positive relationships with faculty, staff, parents, students, and the community
Served on Board for Teacher Credential Review, and supervised teacher for NJ certification and licensing
Principal for three decades in private/parochial schools.
Contact Professor Miller at 626-3519, visit his office at J105d, or email him at richard.m.miller@stockton.edu
Francis Nzuki, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Francis was born in the eastern part of Kenya (many years ago!) and earned his BS in Mathematics at the University of Nairobi before getting his MS in Mathematics at the same institution. In fall of 2002 Francis joined Syracuse University in New York as a teaching assistant as well as a doctoral student in mathematics education. In August 2008 he completed his Ph.D. program and in the same year he was hired as an assistant professor of developmental mathematics at Stockton.
His research interests revolve around issues of equity in mathematics education with a focus on students' construction of mathematics identities and use of technology in the mathematics classroom. Contact Francis in his office C-145, 626-6881, or at francis.nzuki@stockton.edu.
Luis Peña, Math Center Coordinator, M.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Since 2004 I have been the Math Center Coordinator here at Stockton. I have a staff of very talented student tutors that help students in a wide range of topics including math, the physical sciences, statistics, and computer science. I also teach introductory level college mathematics and a course about humanity's role in space. All of this combines into a very interesting and rewarding job in particular when I am able to help build a student's confidence and see that light smile that comes with enlightenment.
My background is a bit diverse academically and culturally. I was born in Ecuador where I spent most of my childhood. A Stockton alumnus, I graduated with a B.S. in Mathematics in 1995. I then went on to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where I received an M.S. in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering.
Contact Luis at X4897, visit his office at J105c, or email him at Luis.Pena@stockton.edu
Carol Rittner, Distinguished Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Dr. Carol Rittner is Distinguished Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. A graduate of College Misericordia (1967), The University of Maryland (1972), The Pennsylvania State University (1978), and St. John's Seminary (1991), she also holds three Honorary Doctorates (College Misericordia, 1990; King's College, 2000; and Monmouth University, 2002). Her many publications include The Courage to Care: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust (New York University Press, 1986); Elie Wiesle: Between Memory and Hope (New York University Press); Different Voices: Women and the Holocaust (Paragon House, 1993); The Holocaust & the Christian World (Continuum, 2000); and Will Genocide Ever End? (Paragon House, 2002). A recent book, published in 2004 by SCM Press (London) is The Church & Genocide: Rwanda 1994).
Dr. Rittner also is the Associate Editor of The Genocide Forum (1998-) and the Editor of the Aegis Review of Genocide (2003-), both of which are published quarterly.
Besides her many scholarly involvements, Dr. Rittner is actively involved in Christian-Jewish Dialogue in the USA, serves as a Consultant to Holywell Trust in Derry, Northern Ireland, and serves as Senior Advisor to Beth Shalom Holocaust Memorial Centre and to Aegis Institute in England. She is a member of the Executive for Aegis Trust (UK), a member of the Board of Trustees at College Misericordia (Dallas, PA), and the Chairperson of Mercy Global Concern (New York). Dr. Rittner is the Coordinator of the Undergraduate Minor in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.
Contact Carol at X4553, visit her office at C104, or email her at Carol.Rittner@stockton.edu
Richard Trama, Visiting Instructor of Writing. M.A., Drew University.
Rich taught part time for Stockton’s Writing Program for over 20 years before joining us as a full-time visiting faculty member in September 2009. Rich has taught Rhetoric & Composition, Argument & Persuasion, Writing for Many Roles, College Writing, and a Readings Freshman Seminar. He has a background in foreign languages and linguistics and is presently working on his doctorate in Literature at Drew University, with an emphasis on modernist culture. He has many years experience working on the high-school level as teacher, curriculum developer, guidance counselor, administrator, and educational consultant.
Contact Professor Trama at X4240, or visit his office at J107, or email him at richard.trama@stockton.edu
PROFESSORS EMERITI
Mimi Schwartz Ed.D. (Rutgers, The State University), Professor Emerita of Writing: creative nonfiction, memoir, literary journalism, literature of the Holocaust.
Chick Yeager Ed.M., Ed.D.(Harvard University), Associate Professor Emeritus of General Studies: Atlantic City politics and Washington Internships.
