William Paterson University
Encyclopedia
William Paterson University (The William Paterson University of New Jersey) is a comprehensive public institution located in Wayne, New Jersey
serving nearly 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students through five colleges: College of the Arts and Communication, Cotsakos College of Business, College of Education, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and College of Science and Health.
The institution now offers more than 250 undergraduate and graduate academic programs which range from liberal arts and sciences to pre-professional and professional programs. This offers students the opportunity to experiment with new interests while preparing for careers, advanced graduate education, and lifelong learning. It also offers a wide variety of continuing education programs designed for both professionals and the general public.
in Paterson
. New York City
is 20 miles (32.2 km) to the east, the Jersey Shore
is an hour’s drive south, skiing is 30 miles (48.3 km) north, and the Meadowlands Sports Complex
is a half-hour drive away.
, twenty-fourth vice president of the United States.
The original manor house, built in 1877, was the weekend retreat and summer residence of the Hobart family. Today the building is known as Hobart Manor and is home of the Office of the President and the Office of Institutional Advancement. Hobart Manor was designated a national and state landmark in 1976.
The University changed its name to Paterson State Teachers College when it relocated from Paterson
in 1951. In 1966, the curriculum was expanded to include degree offerings other than those leading to a teaching career. In 1971, it was renamed The William Paterson College of New Jersey. The change of name honored William Paterson, who was the state’s first senator, its second governor, and a United States Supreme Court Justice appointed by President George Washington, and reflected both the institution’s beginnings in the city that also bears his name and the legislative mandate to move from a teachers college to a broad-based liberal arts institution.
In another historic milestone, the Commission on Higher Education in June 1997 awarded William Paterson university status.
Kathleen Waldron, the former president of Baruch College and a former senior executive at Citigroup, has been appointed the seventh president of William Paterson University. She took office August 2, 2010 to replace the retiring Arnold Speert, who had served as the school's president since 1985 and oversaw the further expansion of William Paterson's curriculum and campus.
The institution’s full-time faculty is composed of scholars and teachers, many of whom are recipients of awards and grants from the Fulbright Program, the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation. More than 90 percent of full-time faculty members hold the Ph.D. or highest degree in their field.
Bachelor of science (B.S.) degrees include accounting, applied health, athletic training, biology, biotechnology, business administration, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, exercise science, mathematics, physical education, professional sales, and public health. In addition, the nursing program leads to the bachelor of science in nursing (B.S.N.).
The bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.) degree is awarded in fine arts. In the bachelor of music program, students can choose among performance, jazz, and music management.
Students may also pursue certification in early childhood, elementary, secondary, and special education.
For students seeking further challenges, the University’s Honors College offers tracks in biopsychology, cognitive science, humanities, life science and environmental ethics, management, marketing, music, performing and literary arts, social sciences, as well as independent study. Preprofessional programs are available in dentistry, engineering, law, medicine (which includes dentistry, optometry, podiatry, and veterinary science), pharmacy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology.
Graduate degrees also include the master of fine arts (M.F.A.) in art, the newly launched M.F.A. in creative and professional writing, the master of music (M.M.) with concentrations in music education, jazz studies (performance or arranging), and music management; and the master of business administration (M.B.A.) with concentrations in accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and music management.
Graduate degrees in education include the M.Ed. in curriculum and learning, educational leadership, literacy, professional counseling, and special education, as well as the M.A.T. in elementary education. A wide range of certificate and endorsement programs is also available.
, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
, Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
, National Association of Schools of Art and Design
, National Association of Schools of Music
, and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
, among others.
A significant expansion and renovation of the Science Building has been underway to provide state-of-the-art classrooms and research facilities, allowing for enhanced opportunities for research collaboration among faculty and students. Portions of the renovated building opened during summer 2010, and the remainder of the project is slated for completion in 2011.
The University also features other sophisticated laboratories devoted to arts and sciences, large areas for environmental research, and many specialized facilities. Hobart Hall is the communication building, housing TV broadcast studios, the WPSC
radio station and sound engineering arts facilities.
The recently expanded and renovated University Commons, including the John Victor Machuga Student Center with its food court and the Wayne Hall dining facility, is the hub of campus life, providing a venue for the entire University community to gather and interact.
With accommodations ranging from double room suites to apartments, the University’s modern, smoke-free buildings range in size from 100 to 400 students and are coed by suite, with four residents sharing a suite or apartment. First-year freshmen start out in traditional residence halls, while upper-class students and older transfer students experience the added independence of the apartments, Pioneer Hall and Heritage Hall.
The University has been nationally recognized for its alcohol prevention program, which requires freshmen and transfer students to take alcohol.edu, an online alcohol prevention course to educate students about the consequences of problematic drinking. In addition, specially trained students serve as peer health advocates and help to spread the message to their peers about the need to take a responsible approach to alcohol.
The University has announced that it will add men’s golf to its NCAA intercollegiate athletics program beginning in the spring of 2011.
All teams are named "The Pioneers."
The University’s Jazz Room Series, launched in 1978, is one of the largest and most prestigious college-sponsored jazz events in the country. Performers include renowned professionals who encompass the complete spectrum of jazz, from practitioners of traditional jazz to avant-garde to bebop to swing to Afro-Latin jazz, as well as William Paterson’s own student ensembles. The series has won numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for its innovative programming.
The University also sponsors the Distinguished Lecturer Series (DLS), which brings to campus discussions by speakers from the worlds of politics, government, the arts, literature, science, and business. Over the past 30 years, the series has presented such speakers as New York Yankees
and Boston Red Sox
general managers Brian Cashman and Theo Epstein, musical theatre composer Stephen Sondheim
, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, former Secretary of State Colin Powell
, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
, film directors Oliver Stone
and Spike Lee
, performer Gregory Hines
, writers Alice Walker
and Joyce Carol Oates
, and, most recently, entertainers Penn and Teller. As part of the 2009-10 DLS season, William Paterson University hosted the New Jersey Gubernatorial Debate, which featured candidates Chris Christie, Jon Corzine
, and Chris Daggett.
88.7 FM, the radio station of William Paterson University launched the 'Bravery in Radio' Award. The inaugural award was presented to Les Paul
in April 2009 for his pioneering work on the Les Paul Radio Show in 1949 with his wife Mary Ford. In April 2010, Bruce Morrow
(Cousin Brucie) received the award in recognition of his track record of creating "inspirational programming and a lifelong commitment to the medium of radio." In March 2011, the award was presented live on the Howard Stern Show
to Howard Stern
and Robin Quivers
who accepted the award for their "pioneering work in the medium of radio." After some on-air ribbing of the award and the university, Stern then sincerely accepted the award by saying “Thank you very much for this beautiful award. I do appreciate it - I’m not so jaded that I can’t be complimented by the students.”
William Paterson University’s College of Education received the Best Practice Award in Support of Global Diversity for 2011 from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). The award honors the integration of diversity awareness into educator preparation and was presented to representatives of the program at AACTE’s 63rd Annual Meeting and Exhibits in San Diego.
William Paterson University's solar panel facility ranks among the top ten largest installations at higher education institutions in the United States, according to a report released by the Association for Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in October 2011.
William Paterson University ranks among the top producers of Fulbright Scholars at master’s degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States, according to the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, a division of the Institute of International Education.
William Paterson University's campus radio station, WP 88.7 FM, was named among the Top 25 Nationwide for the MTVu Woodie for College Radio Station of the Year 2011, and took the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System's (IBS) Golden Microphone Award for Programming Excellence, and Bronze Microphone for programming operations.
William Paterson University’s College of the Arts and Communication received the annual Achievement Award in August 2010 from the American Muslim Union for an “innovative program to promote community awareness.”
William Paterson University’s Cotsakos College of Business was cited in the 2010 edition of Princeton Review’s The Best 301 Business Schools in the U.S.
The University’s Cotsakos College of Business received special recognition in 2010 from Beta Gamma Sigma, an International Honor Society for business, for the exceptional growth rate of chapter inductees.
William Paterson University received the Green Building Design Award in June 2010 from Passaic County in recognition of the University’s large photovoltaic (solar panel) installation.
William Paterson University has been honored as a “Military Friendly School” by militaryfriendlyschools.com and is included in their 2011 and 2012 Guide to Military Friendly Schools.
Faculty/Staff/Student Awards
Avinash Arya, associate professor, Cotsakos College of Business, received the 2010 Max Block Distinguished Article Award from The CPA Jounal for the article,"Recent Developments in Fair Value Accounting," co-authored with Alan Reinstein, August 2010.
Stephen Betts and Robert Laud, associate professors, marketing and management, have each received a Bright Ideas research award for their research papers from the New Jersey Policy Research Organization Foundation (NJPRO). Their papers were chosen from a field of 130 entries.
Julie Bliss, professor and chair, nursing, was appointed to the National Advisory Committee for Evaluating Innovations in Nursing Education, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project that has designated $4.2 million to evaluate innovative educational strategies for nursing education.
William Paterson students Nick Bowman, Claudia Capilla, and Mike Walsh placed second overall in the National Financial Planning Association (FPA) Competition in San Diego on September 14-17, 2011 and won $5,000 in scholarship money for the University.
Stephen Bryant, a distinguished bass-baritone and professor of music, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Opera Recording for his lead role on the recording of Tan Dun's opera Marco Polo. (January 2010)
Bruce Diamond is the winner of the New Jersey Psychological Association's Distinguished Researcher award for his work in the area of neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience.
Charley Flint, sociology, has received the Dr. Robert J. McCormack Leadership Award, presented to her for outstanding leadership as president of the New Jersey Association of Criminal Justice Educators. The award covers the term she served from 2008 to 2010.
Ofelia Garcia, professor of art, and former dean of the University’s College of the Arts and Communication, has received a lifetime achievement award from the Women’s Caucus for Art, an affiliate of the College Art Association.
Cindy Gennarelli, director of the Child Development Center, was awarded the Practitioner of the Year Award from the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators in November 2009.
Sergeant George Guzman Jr., Sergeant Lourens Latona, and Police Officer Javier Hernandez of the University Police Department were awarded the 2010 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Law Enforcement Distinguished Service Award Certificate.
Cyril S. Ku, professor and chair, computer science, and Linda Kaufman, professor, computer science, have been inducted into the Upsilon Pi Epsilon
Computer Science Honor Society.
Maureen Martin, assistant professor, English, will serve as Fulbright Teaching Fellow at the University of Nizwa, Oman, spring 2011.
The Vanguard Orchestra, featuring William Paterson jazz faculty members John Mosca, Jim McNeely, and Rich Perry, was nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble in 2010, after winning a Grammy Award in 2009.
William Paterson students Nathan Phillips, Nicholas Scheibner, and Cagla Yildirim won the first place award in the National Financial Planning Challenge Knowledge Bowl at the National Financial Planning Association (FPA) conference in Denver, Co. on October 9, 2010. The team won $10,000 worth of scholarships for William Paterson University.
William Paterson's Peer Health Advocates won the Outstanding Chapter Award for 2010 from the Bacchus Network, a network focusing on comprehensive health and safety issues.
Sheetal Ranjan, assistant professor, sociology, was presented with the Women's Initiative Award at the Bergen County celebration of Indian Independence Day held on August 15, 2011. Ranjan was recognized for her research in the field of violence against women and children.
Robb Rehberg, assistant professor, kinesiology, received the highest honor given to an athletic trainer in New Jersey by being inducted into the Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey Hall of Fame in February 2011. He received the Athletic Trainer Service Award on June 24, 2010 from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. He also received the Kappa Delta Rho
Fraternity's Ordo Honoris (Order of Honor) on August 7, 2010.
John Runfeldt, associate director, Institutional Research and Assessment, received the 2010 North East Association for Institutional Research (NEAIR) Best IR and Practitioner Report for the report entitled Organizing Student Tracker Results using SPSS.
Erica Seguine, a graduate student in jazz arranging, won first place at the 2010 Zurich Jazz Orchestra Composer Competition, for her piece Gray Sky.
Triicia Coxwell Snyder, associate professor, Cotsakos College of Business, won a bright idea award from the New Jersey Policy Research Organization Foundation (NJPRO) and Seton Hall University for her paper, "Do Federal Budgets Cause Crowding out?” in 2011. Her paper was selected from a field of 109 entries.
Janis Strasser, professor, early childhood education, received the National Early Childhood Teacher Educator of the Year award.
Amanda Switzer, a student majoring in environmental science, received the Federal Student Intern Award from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, one of only three awarded in the nation.
Legendary jazz artist Clark Terry, permanent artist-in-residence in the University’s Jazz Studies Program, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, January 2010.
Aaron Tesfaye, assistant professor, political science, was named Fulbright Research Fellow at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, 2010-2011.
Thomas Uhlein, associate professor, art, received the Award of Excellence in Debt Poster Series from University and College Design Association 2010 at their 40th Annual National Design Show. He also received a Bronze Medal at the 2010 Art Directors Club of New Jersey 47th Annual Awards Exhibition.
Miryam Wahrman, professor of biology, won the first place award for her article, "Aphasia," published in The Jewish Standard in 2011.
Hilary Wilder, associate professor, educational leadership and professional
studies, was named a Fulbright Scholar for the spring 2010 semester, lecturing and conducting research at the University of Namibia (UNAM).
Melkamu Zeleke, chair and professor, mathematics, earned the Fulbright Award at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia in 2010-2011.
Honors and Awards Received in Previous Years
University and College Awards
William Paterson University received the Environmental Stewardship Award from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in recognition of voluntary, proactive, innovative actions that go beyond compliance to improve the environment and ensure a sustainable future, September 2008.
William Paterson University received the Energy and Climate Action Award from New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (NJHEPS) in recognition of meritorious performance in energy and emissions reduction, 2005.
William Paterson University has been honored as a “Military Friendly School” by militaryfriendlyschools.com and is included in their 2011 Guide to Military Friendly Schools.
Faculty/Staff/Student Awards
Ask Me No Questions, a novel by Marina Budhos, assistant professor, English, was selected for the Nutmeg Book Award by the Connecticut Public Libraries in 2009 and received the James Cook Teen Book Award in 2007.
Maya Chadda, professor, political science, received a Fulbright research fellowship to India, 2007.
Philip Cioffari, professor, English, won the Best Director Award for his film, Love in the Age of Dion, New York International Independent Film Festival, March 2009. The film was also an Official Selection at the Bergenfield Film Festival in May 2009.
Ming Fay
, professor, art, was awarded a Public Art Commission at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Terminal 2, and was a finalist in Public Art Competition, San Francisco Central Subway Station.
Rochelle Kaplan, professor, elementary and early childhood education, was the recipient of the Thomas F. Donlon Memorial Award for Distinguished Mentoring from the Northeastern Educational Research Association.
Sarah Nalle, professor, history, won a Guggenheim Fellowship for the 2007-2008 academic year.
Charlotte Nekola, professor of English, received a Fulbright Hays Senior Scholar Teaching Fellowship, University of Liege, Belgium, spring 2008.
Glen Sherman, associate vice president and dean of student development, was named the 2008-2009 Outstanding OAD (Alcohol and Other Drugs) Professional by Outside the Classroom, Inc.
Robb Rehberg, assistant professor, kinesiology, received the National Athletic Trainers Association Dan Campbell Award for Legislative Excellence for efforts leading to the passing of athletic training legislation in New Jersey, June, 2008. Rehberg also received the New Jersey Coaches Association Hall of Fame award, April 6, 2008.
Darlene Russell, assistant professor, secondary and middle school education, received the National Women Educators (WE) Activist Curriculum Award by the Research on Women in Education, American Educational Research Association (AERA), October 2009.
Ronald P. Verdicchio, associate professor, elementary and early childhood education, was elected Lifetime Director of the Board of Directors, The Atlantic Council of the United States, Washington, D.C., September 2008
Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne is a Township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, located less than from midtown Manhattan. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 54,069....
serving nearly 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students through five colleges: College of the Arts and Communication, Cotsakos College of Business, College of Education, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and College of Science and Health.
The institution now offers more than 250 undergraduate and graduate academic programs which range from liberal arts and sciences to pre-professional and professional programs. This offers students the opportunity to experiment with new interests while preparing for careers, advanced graduate education, and lifelong learning. It also offers a wide variety of continuing education programs designed for both professionals and the general public.
Location
William Paterson University is located on a 370 acres (1.5 km²), hilly, wooded campus in northern New Jersey in the suburban town of Wayne. The campus borders on High Mountain Preserve, nearly 1200 acres (4.9 km²) of wetlands and woodlands, and three miles (5 km) west of the historic Great FallsGreat Falls (Passaic River)
The Great Falls of the Passaic River is a prominent waterfall, high, on the Passaic River in the city of Paterson in Passaic County in northern New Jersey in the United States. The Congress authorized its establishment as a National Historical Park in 2009...
in Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
. New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
is 20 miles (32.2 km) to the east, the Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
is an hour’s drive south, skiing is 30 miles (48.3 km) north, and the Meadowlands Sports Complex
Meadowlands Sports Complex
The MetLife Sports Complex is a sports and entertainment facility located in East Rutherford, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, owned and operated by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority...
is a half-hour drive away.
History
William Paterson University was founded in 1855 as the Paterson City Normal School. For more than a century, training teachers for New Jersey schools was its exclusive mission. In 1951, the University moved to the present campus. Originally known as Ailsa Farms, the site was purchased by the state of New Jersey in 1948 from the family of Garret HobartGarret Hobart
Garret Augustus Hobart was the 24th Vice President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1897 until his death. He was the sixth American vice president to die in office....
, twenty-fourth vice president of the United States.
The original manor house, built in 1877, was the weekend retreat and summer residence of the Hobart family. Today the building is known as Hobart Manor and is home of the Office of the President and the Office of Institutional Advancement. Hobart Manor was designated a national and state landmark in 1976.
The University changed its name to Paterson State Teachers College when it relocated from Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
in 1951. In 1966, the curriculum was expanded to include degree offerings other than those leading to a teaching career. In 1971, it was renamed The William Paterson College of New Jersey. The change of name honored William Paterson, who was the state’s first senator, its second governor, and a United States Supreme Court Justice appointed by President George Washington, and reflected both the institution’s beginnings in the city that also bears his name and the legislative mandate to move from a teachers college to a broad-based liberal arts institution.
In another historic milestone, the Commission on Higher Education in June 1997 awarded William Paterson university status.
Kathleen Waldron, the former president of Baruch College and a former senior executive at Citigroup, has been appointed the seventh president of William Paterson University. She took office August 2, 2010 to replace the retiring Arnold Speert, who had served as the school's president since 1985 and oversaw the further expansion of William Paterson's curriculum and campus.
Academics/Faculty
With an average class size of 20, William Paterson students study in small classes, and have the opportunity to take advantage of numerous research, internship, and clinical experiences.The institution’s full-time faculty is composed of scholars and teachers, many of whom are recipients of awards and grants from the Fulbright Program, the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation. More than 90 percent of full-time faculty members hold the Ph.D. or highest degree in their field.
Undergraduate Degree Programs
Bachelor of arts (B.A.) degrees are granted in African, African American, and Caribbean studies, anthropology, art, art history, Asian studies, chemistry, communication, communication disorders, early childhood education, earth science, economics, elementary education, English, French and Francophone studies, geography, history, Latin American and Latino studies, liberal studies, mathematics, music, philosophy, political science, psychology, secondary education, sociology, Spanish, and women's and gender studies.Bachelor of science (B.S.) degrees include accounting, applied health, athletic training, biology, biotechnology, business administration, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, exercise science, mathematics, physical education, professional sales, and public health. In addition, the nursing program leads to the bachelor of science in nursing (B.S.N.).
The bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.) degree is awarded in fine arts. In the bachelor of music program, students can choose among performance, jazz, and music management.
Students may also pursue certification in early childhood, elementary, secondary, and special education.
For students seeking further challenges, the University’s Honors College offers tracks in biopsychology, cognitive science, humanities, life science and environmental ethics, management, marketing, music, performing and literary arts, social sciences, as well as independent study. Preprofessional programs are available in dentistry, engineering, law, medicine (which includes dentistry, optometry, podiatry, and veterinary science), pharmacy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology.
Graduate Degree Programs
At the graduate level, the University offers the master of arts (M.A.) degree in applied sociology, clinical and counseling psychology, English, history, professional communication, and public policy and international affairs. The master of science (M.S.) degree is offered in biology, biotechnology, communication disorders, exercise and sports studies, and nursing.Graduate degrees also include the master of fine arts (M.F.A.) in art, the newly launched M.F.A. in creative and professional writing, the master of music (M.M.) with concentrations in music education, jazz studies (performance or arranging), and music management; and the master of business administration (M.B.A.) with concentrations in accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and music management.
Graduate degrees in education include the M.Ed. in curriculum and learning, educational leadership, literacy, professional counseling, and special education, as well as the M.A.T. in elementary education. A wide range of certificate and endorsement programs is also available.
Accreditations
The University’s many accreditations include Middle States Commission on Higher EducationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association dedicated to educational excellence and improvement through peer evaluation and accreditation...
, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business was founded in 1916 to accredit schools of business worldwide. The first accreditations took place in 1919. The stated mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation and thought leadership. It is regarded...
, Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, , is an agency of accreditation for the accredits postsecondary education programs in 19 different allied health and related fields....
, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education is an autonomous nursing education accrediting agency that contributes to the improvement of the public's health. The CCNE is recognized by the U.S...
, National Association of Schools of Art and Design
National Association of Schools of Art and Design
The National Association of Schools of Art and Design , founded in 1944, is an accrediting organization of colleges, schools and universities in the United States. The organization establishes standards for graduate and undergraduate degrees. Member institutions complete periodic peer review...
, National Association of Schools of Music
National Association of Schools of Music
The National Association of Schools of Music is an association of post-secondary music schools in the United States and the principal U.S. accreditor for higher education in music...
, and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education was founded in 1954 to accredit teacher certification programs at U.S. colleges and universities. NCATE is a council of educators created to ensure and raise the quality of preparation for their profession. NCATE is recognized by the U.S....
, among others.
Facilities
William Paterson University’s campus provides students with a variety of opportunities for hands-on experience. The University’s advanced facilities include the Nel Bolger, RN, Nursing Laboratory and the 1600 Valley Road building, which includes interactive classrooms, the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales with its professional sales laboratory, and the Financial Learning Center, one of the nation’s largest trading floors located within an academic institution. The Power Art Center accommodates an array of studio arts, including three-dimensional design, photography, sculpture, ceramics, print-making, wood-working, and painting.A significant expansion and renovation of the Science Building has been underway to provide state-of-the-art classrooms and research facilities, allowing for enhanced opportunities for research collaboration among faculty and students. Portions of the renovated building opened during summer 2010, and the remainder of the project is slated for completion in 2011.
The University also features other sophisticated laboratories devoted to arts and sciences, large areas for environmental research, and many specialized facilities. Hobart Hall is the communication building, housing TV broadcast studios, the WPSC
WPSC
WPSC-FM is William Paterson University's non-commercial radio station. Licensed to Wayne, New Jersey, USA, the station serves the northern New Jersey and western New York City area...
radio station and sound engineering arts facilities.
The recently expanded and renovated University Commons, including the John Victor Machuga Student Center with its food court and the Wayne Hall dining facility, is the hub of campus life, providing a venue for the entire University community to gather and interact.
Residential Life
The University provides housing for nearly 2,600 students in ten residence halls, including two that opened in 2006. These newest residence halls, High Mountain East and West, offer learning communities in collaboration with the University’s Honors College, and feature smart classrooms that are used as part of the living/learning experience.With accommodations ranging from double room suites to apartments, the University’s modern, smoke-free buildings range in size from 100 to 400 students and are coed by suite, with four residents sharing a suite or apartment. First-year freshmen start out in traditional residence halls, while upper-class students and older transfer students experience the added independence of the apartments, Pioneer Hall and Heritage Hall.
Student Organizations and Activities
Offering an active campus experience for both resident and commuter students, William Paterson University hosts 24 fraternities and sororities and more than 70 clubs and organizations, as well as a variety of intramural and recreational activities, peer education, and leadership programs. In addition, the University offers club sports in ice hockey, equestrian, rugby, and bowling.The University has been nationally recognized for its alcohol prevention program, which requires freshmen and transfer students to take alcohol.edu, an online alcohol prevention course to educate students about the consequences of problematic drinking. In addition, specially trained students serve as peer health advocates and help to spread the message to their peers about the need to take a responsible approach to alcohol.
Athletics
The University has 12 intercollegiate sports teams in the NCAA Division III, five for men and seven for women, including successful NCAA teams in men’s baseball and women’s softball. The William Paterson University Pioneers compete in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), as well as in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). Both men and women have teams in basketball, soccer, and swimming. In addition, the men field baseball and football teams (the baseball team won national championships in 1992 and 1996). Women compete in field hockey, softball, tennis, and volleyball.The University has announced that it will add men’s golf to its NCAA intercollegiate athletics program beginning in the spring of 2011.
All teams are named "The Pioneers."
Cultural Events
Cultural events take place on campus throughout the year. Among the programs are theater productions, gallery exhibits, and concerts presenting jazz, classical, and contemporary music.The University’s Jazz Room Series, launched in 1978, is one of the largest and most prestigious college-sponsored jazz events in the country. Performers include renowned professionals who encompass the complete spectrum of jazz, from practitioners of traditional jazz to avant-garde to bebop to swing to Afro-Latin jazz, as well as William Paterson’s own student ensembles. The series has won numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for its innovative programming.
The University also sponsors the Distinguished Lecturer Series (DLS), which brings to campus discussions by speakers from the worlds of politics, government, the arts, literature, science, and business. Over the past 30 years, the series has presented such speakers as New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
general managers Brian Cashman and Theo Epstein, musical theatre composer Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, former Secretary of State Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, film directors Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
and Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
, performer Gregory Hines
Gregory Hines
Gregory Oliver Hines was an American actor, singer, dancer and choreographer.-Early years:Born in New York City, Hines and his older brother Maurice started dancing at an early age, studying with choreographer Henry LeTang...
, writers Alice Walker
Alice Walker
Alice Malsenior Walker is an American author, poet, and activist. She has written both fiction and essays about race and gender...
and Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates is an American author. Oates published her first book in 1963 and has since published over fifty novels, as well as many volumes of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction...
, and, most recently, entertainers Penn and Teller. As part of the 2009-10 DLS season, William Paterson University hosted the New Jersey Gubernatorial Debate, which featured candidates Chris Christie, Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
, and Chris Daggett.
The Bravery in Radio Award
In April 2009, WPSCWPSC
WPSC-FM is William Paterson University's non-commercial radio station. Licensed to Wayne, New Jersey, USA, the station serves the northern New Jersey and western New York City area...
88.7 FM, the radio station of William Paterson University launched the 'Bravery in Radio' Award. The inaugural award was presented to Les Paul
Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
in April 2009 for his pioneering work on the Les Paul Radio Show in 1949 with his wife Mary Ford. In April 2010, Bruce Morrow
Bruce Morrow
Bruce Morrow is an American radio personality known to many listeners as Cousin Brucie.-Radio work:...
(Cousin Brucie) received the award in recognition of his track record of creating "inspirational programming and a lifelong commitment to the medium of radio." In March 2011, the award was presented live on the Howard Stern Show
Howard Stern Show
The Howard Stern Show is an American radio show hosted by its namesake Howard Stern. It gained wide recognition in the 1990s when it was nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from 1986 to 2005...
to Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
and Robin Quivers
Robin Quivers
Robin Ophelia Quivers is an American radio personality, most notable for being the long-running news anchor and co-host of The Howard Stern Show. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Quivers graduated from the University of Maryland with a major in nursing. In 1975, she joined the United States Air Force...
who accepted the award for their "pioneering work in the medium of radio." After some on-air ribbing of the award and the university, Stern then sincerely accepted the award by saying “Thank you very much for this beautiful award. I do appreciate it - I’m not so jaded that I can’t be complimented by the students.”
University Alumni
William Paterson University’s nearly 63,000 alumni live in all 50 states and 33 countries from Australia to Turkey. University alumni are leaders in the arts, business, health care, sports, entertainment, the media, and education. They are public servants, artists, musicians, teachers, scientists, television personalities, authors, politicians, crime fighters, and entrepreneurs.Honors and Awards for Academic Year 2010-2011
University and College AwardsWilliam Paterson University’s College of Education received the Best Practice Award in Support of Global Diversity for 2011 from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). The award honors the integration of diversity awareness into educator preparation and was presented to representatives of the program at AACTE’s 63rd Annual Meeting and Exhibits in San Diego.
William Paterson University's solar panel facility ranks among the top ten largest installations at higher education institutions in the United States, according to a report released by the Association for Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in October 2011.
William Paterson University ranks among the top producers of Fulbright Scholars at master’s degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States, according to the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, a division of the Institute of International Education.
William Paterson University's campus radio station, WP 88.7 FM, was named among the Top 25 Nationwide for the MTVu Woodie for College Radio Station of the Year 2011, and took the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System's (IBS) Golden Microphone Award for Programming Excellence, and Bronze Microphone for programming operations.
William Paterson University’s College of the Arts and Communication received the annual Achievement Award in August 2010 from the American Muslim Union for an “innovative program to promote community awareness.”
William Paterson University’s Cotsakos College of Business was cited in the 2010 edition of Princeton Review’s The Best 301 Business Schools in the U.S.
The University’s Cotsakos College of Business received special recognition in 2010 from Beta Gamma Sigma, an International Honor Society for business, for the exceptional growth rate of chapter inductees.
William Paterson University received the Green Building Design Award in June 2010 from Passaic County in recognition of the University’s large photovoltaic (solar panel) installation.
William Paterson University has been honored as a “Military Friendly School” by militaryfriendlyschools.com and is included in their 2011 and 2012 Guide to Military Friendly Schools.
Faculty/Staff/Student Awards
Avinash Arya, associate professor, Cotsakos College of Business, received the 2010 Max Block Distinguished Article Award from The CPA Jounal for the article,"Recent Developments in Fair Value Accounting," co-authored with Alan Reinstein, August 2010.
Stephen Betts and Robert Laud, associate professors, marketing and management, have each received a Bright Ideas research award for their research papers from the New Jersey Policy Research Organization Foundation (NJPRO). Their papers were chosen from a field of 130 entries.
Julie Bliss, professor and chair, nursing, was appointed to the National Advisory Committee for Evaluating Innovations in Nursing Education, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project that has designated $4.2 million to evaluate innovative educational strategies for nursing education.
William Paterson students Nick Bowman, Claudia Capilla, and Mike Walsh placed second overall in the National Financial Planning Association (FPA) Competition in San Diego on September 14-17, 2011 and won $5,000 in scholarship money for the University.
Stephen Bryant, a distinguished bass-baritone and professor of music, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Opera Recording for his lead role on the recording of Tan Dun's opera Marco Polo. (January 2010)
Bruce Diamond is the winner of the New Jersey Psychological Association's Distinguished Researcher award for his work in the area of neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience.
Charley Flint, sociology, has received the Dr. Robert J. McCormack Leadership Award, presented to her for outstanding leadership as president of the New Jersey Association of Criminal Justice Educators. The award covers the term she served from 2008 to 2010.
Ofelia Garcia, professor of art, and former dean of the University’s College of the Arts and Communication, has received a lifetime achievement award from the Women’s Caucus for Art, an affiliate of the College Art Association.
Cindy Gennarelli, director of the Child Development Center, was awarded the Practitioner of the Year Award from the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators in November 2009.
Sergeant George Guzman Jr., Sergeant Lourens Latona, and Police Officer Javier Hernandez of the University Police Department were awarded the 2010 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Law Enforcement Distinguished Service Award Certificate.
Cyril S. Ku, professor and chair, computer science, and Linda Kaufman, professor, computer science, have been inducted into the Upsilon Pi Epsilon
Upsilon Pi Epsilon
Upsilon Pi Epsilon : International Honor Society for the Computing and Information Disciplines, is the first and only existing one of its kind....
Computer Science Honor Society.
Maureen Martin, assistant professor, English, will serve as Fulbright Teaching Fellow at the University of Nizwa, Oman, spring 2011.
The Vanguard Orchestra, featuring William Paterson jazz faculty members John Mosca, Jim McNeely, and Rich Perry, was nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble in 2010, after winning a Grammy Award in 2009.
William Paterson students Nathan Phillips, Nicholas Scheibner, and Cagla Yildirim won the first place award in the National Financial Planning Challenge Knowledge Bowl at the National Financial Planning Association (FPA) conference in Denver, Co. on October 9, 2010. The team won $10,000 worth of scholarships for William Paterson University.
William Paterson's Peer Health Advocates won the Outstanding Chapter Award for 2010 from the Bacchus Network, a network focusing on comprehensive health and safety issues.
Sheetal Ranjan, assistant professor, sociology, was presented with the Women's Initiative Award at the Bergen County celebration of Indian Independence Day held on August 15, 2011. Ranjan was recognized for her research in the field of violence against women and children.
Robb Rehberg, assistant professor, kinesiology, received the highest honor given to an athletic trainer in New Jersey by being inducted into the Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey Hall of Fame in February 2011. He received the Athletic Trainer Service Award on June 24, 2010 from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. He also received the Kappa Delta Rho
Kappa Delta Rho
Kappa Delta Rho is an American college social fraternity, with 77 chapters spread out over the United States, primarily in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions...
Fraternity's Ordo Honoris (Order of Honor) on August 7, 2010.
John Runfeldt, associate director, Institutional Research and Assessment, received the 2010 North East Association for Institutional Research (NEAIR) Best IR and Practitioner Report for the report entitled Organizing Student Tracker Results using SPSS.
Erica Seguine, a graduate student in jazz arranging, won first place at the 2010 Zurich Jazz Orchestra Composer Competition, for her piece Gray Sky.
Triicia Coxwell Snyder, associate professor, Cotsakos College of Business, won a bright idea award from the New Jersey Policy Research Organization Foundation (NJPRO) and Seton Hall University for her paper, "Do Federal Budgets Cause Crowding out?” in 2011. Her paper was selected from a field of 109 entries.
Janis Strasser, professor, early childhood education, received the National Early Childhood Teacher Educator of the Year award.
Amanda Switzer, a student majoring in environmental science, received the Federal Student Intern Award from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, one of only three awarded in the nation.
Legendary jazz artist Clark Terry, permanent artist-in-residence in the University’s Jazz Studies Program, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, January 2010.
Aaron Tesfaye, assistant professor, political science, was named Fulbright Research Fellow at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, 2010-2011.
Thomas Uhlein, associate professor, art, received the Award of Excellence in Debt Poster Series from University and College Design Association 2010 at their 40th Annual National Design Show. He also received a Bronze Medal at the 2010 Art Directors Club of New Jersey 47th Annual Awards Exhibition.
Miryam Wahrman, professor of biology, won the first place award for her article, "Aphasia," published in The Jewish Standard in 2011.
Hilary Wilder, associate professor, educational leadership and professional
studies, was named a Fulbright Scholar for the spring 2010 semester, lecturing and conducting research at the University of Namibia (UNAM).
Melkamu Zeleke, chair and professor, mathematics, earned the Fulbright Award at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia in 2010-2011.
Honors and Awards Received in Previous Years
University and College Awards
William Paterson University received the Environmental Stewardship Award from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in recognition of voluntary, proactive, innovative actions that go beyond compliance to improve the environment and ensure a sustainable future, September 2008.
William Paterson University received the Energy and Climate Action Award from New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (NJHEPS) in recognition of meritorious performance in energy and emissions reduction, 2005.
William Paterson University has been honored as a “Military Friendly School” by militaryfriendlyschools.com and is included in their 2011 Guide to Military Friendly Schools.
Faculty/Staff/Student Awards
Ask Me No Questions, a novel by Marina Budhos, assistant professor, English, was selected for the Nutmeg Book Award by the Connecticut Public Libraries in 2009 and received the James Cook Teen Book Award in 2007.
Maya Chadda, professor, political science, received a Fulbright research fellowship to India, 2007.
Philip Cioffari, professor, English, won the Best Director Award for his film, Love in the Age of Dion, New York International Independent Film Festival, March 2009. The film was also an Official Selection at the Bergenfield Film Festival in May 2009.
Ming Fay
Ming Fay
Ming Fay is a Shanghai-born and New York-based sculptor and professor. His work focuses on the concept of the garden as a symbol of utopia and the relationship between man and nature...
, professor, art, was awarded a Public Art Commission at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Terminal 2, and was a finalist in Public Art Competition, San Francisco Central Subway Station.
Rochelle Kaplan, professor, elementary and early childhood education, was the recipient of the Thomas F. Donlon Memorial Award for Distinguished Mentoring from the Northeastern Educational Research Association.
Sarah Nalle, professor, history, won a Guggenheim Fellowship for the 2007-2008 academic year.
Charlotte Nekola, professor of English, received a Fulbright Hays Senior Scholar Teaching Fellowship, University of Liege, Belgium, spring 2008.
Glen Sherman, associate vice president and dean of student development, was named the 2008-2009 Outstanding OAD (Alcohol and Other Drugs) Professional by Outside the Classroom, Inc.
Robb Rehberg, assistant professor, kinesiology, received the National Athletic Trainers Association Dan Campbell Award for Legislative Excellence for efforts leading to the passing of athletic training legislation in New Jersey, June, 2008. Rehberg also received the New Jersey Coaches Association Hall of Fame award, April 6, 2008.
Darlene Russell, assistant professor, secondary and middle school education, received the National Women Educators (WE) Activist Curriculum Award by the Research on Women in Education, American Educational Research Association (AERA), October 2009.
Ronald P. Verdicchio, associate professor, elementary and early childhood education, was elected Lifetime Director of the Board of Directors, The Atlantic Council of the United States, Washington, D.C., September 2008
Notable alumni
- Richie AdubatoRichie AdubatoRichard Adam "Richie" Adubato was a basketball coach in the National Basketball Association. He has served as head coach for three NBA teams: the Detroit Pistons, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Orlando Magic...
, was a basketball coach in the National Basketball Association - Eric Alexander, jazz musician.
- Carl AllenCarl Allen (drummer)Carl Allen is an American jazz drummer.He has worked with a wide variety of musicians, including Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, George Coleman and Phil Woods. and the Benny Green Trio....
, jazz drummer - Ronald M. BerkmanRonald M. BerkmanRonald M. Berkman is currently serves as president of Cleveland State University , a position he assumed in 2009.Dr. Berkman, 62, was formerly Provost and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Florida International University in Miami, where he had been since 1997. Berkman began...
, president, Cleveland State UniversityCleveland State UniversityCleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969... - Jonny Rogoff, rock & roll drummer for YuckYuck (band)Yuck are an indie rock band that originated in London, England. The band features members Daniel Blumberg and Max Bloom, both of whom formerly played in the band Cajun Dance Party. The band's self-titled debut album was released through Fat Possum on 21 February 2011 in the United Kingdom...
- Linda Bowden, M.A. 1978, northern New Jersey regional president of PNC Bank
- Kevin BurkhardtKevin BurkhardtKevin Burkhardt is a reporter who works for SNY. He is the field reporter during New York Mets telecasts. He joined the broadcast team at the beginning of the 2007 season, replacing Chris Cotter...
, field reporter, New York Mets, SNY. - Tom BrislinTom BrislinTom Brislin is an American keyboardist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer from New Jersey. He is the founding member of the rock band Spiraling, and plays or has played keyboards with several well-known acts...
, is an American keyboardist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer. - Edna Cadmus, class of 1976, clinical professor and director of the doctorate in nursing practice program-leadership specialty, at Rutgers University in Newark
- Joe ClarkJoe Louis ClarkJoe Louis Clark is the former principal of Eastside High School in Paterson, one of New Jersey's toughest inner city schools. He is also the subject of the 1989 film Lean on Me, starring Morgan Freeman. Clark gained public attention in the 1980s for his unconventional and controversial...
, author, speaker, educator known for his overhaul of Eastside High School made famous by the Morgan Freeman movie "Lean on Me" - Lisa Coates, class of 2002, one of fifteen teachers from around the country selected as 2010-11 U.S. Department of Education Teaching Ambassador Fellows, selected to support reform in states and communities.
- Christos CotsakosChristos CotsakosChristos M. Cotsakos is Founder, Chairman of the Board, CEO, and President of EndPlay, Inc.-Early Life & Education:Christos M. Cotsakos is a first-generation Greek-American from Paterson, New Jersey and is fluent in Greek. He is the fourth of five children...
, founder, chairman and CEO of Pennington Ventures, LLC, and co-founder and chairman of Mutasian Entertainment, LLC, former CEO of E*TRADE Group. - Rod DanielsRod DanielsRod Daniels is a news anchor in Baltimore, Maryland.Daniels began his career as a weekend sports anchor at WIS-TV in Columbia, South Carolina. He then moved to WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh as a weekend anchor and reporter, and later to WISN-TV in Milwaukee...
, Anchorman for WBAL-TVWBAL-TVWBAL-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station in Baltimore, Maryland. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11. It is one of the flagship stations of Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation, which also owns sister radio stations WBAL and...
Channel 11 in Baltimore. - John DeLuca, class of 1979, vice president for research at Kessler Research Center
- Bruce Dostal, Triple-A Baseball player.
- Tom FitzgeraldTom Fitzgerald (Reporter)Tom Fitzgerald is a Television News Reporter for Fox 5 News WTTG in Washington D.C., which he joined in 2003.-Education:A graduate of William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, Fitzgerald earned a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University's School of Arts & Communications in...
, journalist, emmy awardEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
winner. - Rob FusariRob FusariRob Fusari is a record producer and songwriter, possibly best known for his work with American recording artist Lady Gaga.-Early life:Born and raised in Livingston, New Jersey, Fusari began studying classical piano at age eight, and became so skilled as a pianist, that he started performing in...
, class of 2008, Grammy Award-winning music producer & songwriter for Lady GagaLady GaGaStefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
. - Margie Gelbwasser, M.A. 2003, the author of Inconvenient, a young adult novel
- Samantha Giancola aka Sammy Sweetheart, Jersey ShoreJersey ShoreThe Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
cast member since 2009 (did not graduate). - Horace JenkinsHorace JenkinsHorace Jenkins is an American professional basketball player, formerly of the NBA and currently with Italian Lega Basket team Climamio Bologna....
, former NBA player. - Ben Jones, artist
- Cora-Ann Mihalik, broadcast anchor/journalist
- Damian Muziani (Class of 1991), host of morning television program "Better Philly", broadcast from WPHL17 in Philadelphia.
- Dan PasquaDan PasquaDaniel Anthony Pasqua , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from 1985-1994. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1982 amateur draft. Pasqua attended William Paterson University in New Jersey...
, Major League Baseball player - Herb Perez, won the United States’ only Gold Medal in the Olympic Sport of Taekwondo
- Will Pesce, class of 1973, CEO, recently retired after nearly 22 years as president and chief executive officer of John Wiley & Sons Publishing Co.
- Joseph D. PistoneJoseph D. PistoneJoseph Dominick Pistone, alias Donnie Brasco, , is a former FBI agent who worked undercover for six years infiltrating the Bonanno crime family and to a lesser extent the Colombo crime family, two of the Five Families of the Mafia in New York City...
, class of 1965, a.k.a. "Donnie Brasco", FBI agent who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family. - Joe Riccitelli, class of 1985, executive vice president of promotion for the Jive Label Group
- Tiffany Riddick, background vocalist, tours with Beyonce.
- Matthew Samra, class of 1994, an associate attending vascular surgeon in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, N.J.
- Richard Sponzilli, class of 1971, chairman and CEO of of one of the industry’s premier landscape design firms, the Fairfield-based Sponzilli Landscape Group, Inc.
- Tyshawn Sorey, class of 2004, a graduate of the University’s jazz studies program, is a performer (he plays the drums, trombone, and piano), and a composer
- Crystal Torres, jazz trumpeter, tours with Beyonce.
- Walter Tomasheski, spokesperson, Allstate Insurance Company
- Billy Tooma - Class of 2007 (M.A. '09) - a poet and short story writer, he was nominated for the National Aviation's 2011 Combs-Gates Award for his documentary, Fly First & Fight Afterward: The Life of Col. Clarence D. Chamberlin
- Ray Toro - Lead guitar and backing vocalist for American rock band My Chemical RomanceMy Chemical RomanceMy Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
. - Dick VitaleDick VitaleRichard J. "Dick" Vitale , also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known as a college basketball broadcaster and for the enthusiastic and colorful remarks he makes during games. He is known for his...
, legendary sports broadcaster (graduate degree). - Kathy Walsh, class of 1981, president and CEO of The Arc of Bergen and Passaic Counties
- Clinton WheelerClinton WheelerClinton Wheeler is a retired American professional basketball player. He was a 6'1" 185 lb point guard and played collegiately at Division III's William Paterson University...
, former NBA player. - Ian ZieringIan ZieringIan Andrew Ziering is an American actor best known for playing Steve Sanders on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210.-Personal life:...
, class of 1988, cast of Beverly Hills, 90210Beverly Hills, 90210Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
.