Faculty Accomplishments
George Ackerman, PhD, JD, Justice Studies, School of Professional Studies, is the author of Policing and Parkinson’s Disease: Encounters, Training, and the Need for Awareness, which was published with the TogetherForSharon® initiative. The book focuses on the greater need for Parkinson’s disease awareness in the field of law enforcement.
Laura Altomonte, CPA, CGMA, Director, Academic Affairs, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, led the Berkeley College effort for the special International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) Accounting Accreditation for the Associate in Applied Science and Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in Accounting, as well as the Master of Business in Management Accounting concentration.
Kwaku Ampadu-Nyarkoh, PhD, Management, is the author of the book On the Business Side of Healthcare: COVID-19 Era and Beyond, which was published in October 2024. He is also the author of “Healing in Africa: Exploring Health and Wellness Across the Continent,” a chapter in the book Artificial Intelligence Conundrum, focused on the influence of technology and innovation on healthcare delivery in Africa.
Ihor Andruch, Justice Studies, School of Professional Studies, presented “ChatGPT in Career Services: Creating Personalized Pathways for Student Career Development” during the virtual New Jersey Career Center Consortium (NJC3) Spring Conference in April 2023. Andruch also received the Spring 2023 Extra Mile Award from Berkeley College, recognizing the ways he supports students and contributes to the College community.
Melissa Baralt, PhD, Sciences, Division of General Education, was named Latinx Educator of the Community by Prospanica NY in December 2024. Baralt presented “The Effects of Transgenerational Trauma – A Lesson in Healing” to the nonprofit Generation Fearless, and “Ace the Interview: The Art of First Impression” to the William Paterson University: School of Continuing Education, both in January 2025.
Mahogany K. Calizaire, IT Management, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, received the Fall 2024 Extra Mile Award from Berkeley College, recognizing the ways she supports students and contributes to the College community.
Brian J. Callahan, AIA, Interior Design, School of Professional Studies, received the 2023 Bergen County Historic Preservation Award from the Bergen County Historic Preservation Advisory Board and the Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs in May 2023. Callahan was recognized in the category of “Historic Preservation” for his work converting a colonial revival residence built in 1905 in Westwood, NJ, to law offices.
Geralyn Cappelli, Management, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, earned recertifications from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) as a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Cappelli also received certificates of completion for attending the Kaufman & Canoles 40th Annual Employment Law Update in October 2024 and the Harvard Business Publishing seminar “Teaching with AI: Practical Approaches to Using Generative AI in Class” in November 2024.
Moon Chang, Fashion, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, launched a 2025 collection titled “Hybrid Beauty III: Responsibility Collection” in Schön! Magazine. The collection was inspired by Chang’s sustainability initiative, which strives to cut excessive waste and promote sustainable and ethical business practices through circular design and production.
Yesudas Choondassery, PhD, Division of General Education, is the author of “Human Rights, COVID-19 and Health Equity: How Can Human Rights Advance Health Equity?” which was published in the International Multidisciplinary Research Journal in September 2022. The paper investigates the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) legal and moral appeal and how it can address health disparities and promote health equity.
Barbara Cohen, PhD, JD, PMHNP-BC, RN, FNYAM, Health Services, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, co-authored “The Legal Quakes: How Mental Disorder Defense Has Changed in India,” which was presented at the 24th World Congress of Psychiatry in November 2024. The presentation compared the use of the insanity defense in the United States and India.
Pattie Cowan, Director, Honors Program and English, Division of General Education, received the Fall 2024 Extra Mile Award from Berkeley College, recognizing the ways she supports students and contributes to the College community.
Barbara Crump, PhD, NP-C, AOCNP, Nursing, School of Health Studies, presented “Exploring Nurses’ Perceptions of Dignity during End-of-Life Care” during the Nurse Educator Conference at Saint Anselm College in May 2024. The presentation focused on the empowerment of nurses and nurse leaders in preserving the dignity of patients and translating strategies into clinical practice.
Christopher J. Doran, RN, CDP, Nursing, School of Health Studies, presented “Navigating Parkinson’s Disease: A Nursing Perspective” through the Marjorie and Selwyn Jacobs Family Nursing Professional Endowed Fund at William Paterson University in October 2024. The continuing education event highlighted gained knowledge to improve the care of patients.
Kim Felsenthal, PhD, Social Sciences, Division of General Education, mentored a graduate student from Mexico City, who recently presented her research to Berkeley College on creating community in virtual worlds.
Nicole Garret, PhD, English, Division of General Education, is the author of “Misreading the Mysterious Mother,” a chapter in Staging The Mysterious Mother (Yale University Press, 2023). The essay puts Horace Walpole’s infamous play in context with other fictional stories of motherhood and grief, and celebrates the play’s return to the stage.
Jason Gulya, PhD, Applied Media and English, Division of General Education, presented “Against Ease: Teaching Critical Thinking in the Age of AI” at The Teaching Professor Online Conference in October 2024. The presentation focused on how to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into the classroom in a way that encourages critical thinking and analysis. Gulya was selected as a faculty mentor for the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ Institute for AI, Pedagogy, and Curriculum. He also contributed insights for the articles “ChatGPT Forces Universities to Adapt or Retreat” and “5 AI Education Experts Spill Their Secrets,” which were published in Forbes.
Gene Haynes, EdD, General Business, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, was appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul to serve as a member of the NYC Transit Riders Council. In this role, Haynes will advocate for improved rider experiences by providing constructive feedback to NYC Transit management and the MTA Board.
Heidi Hoefinger, PhD, Social Sciences, is a co-author of “The Intersectional Racialisation of Migrant Sex Workers in Aotearoa New Zealand,” which was published in AG AboutGender in 2024. The article examines how New Zealand’s decriminalization of sex work in 2003 failed to protect migrant sex workers (MSWs) on temporary visas, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and deportation. Hoefinger presented “Human Trafficking in the US and Beyond – Findings from the Global Sexual Humanitarian Study” at the Berkeley College Library in January 2025.
Lisa Karakas, English, Division of General Education, presented “Building Research Skills through Scaffolding: No Hard Hats Required!” at Temple University’s 23rd Annual Conference on Teaching Excellence in January 2025. The presentation focused on how to break down the writing and research process to enhance student motivation. Karakas also received the Fall 2024 Extra Mile Award from Berkeley College, recognizing her contributions to the development of the Bachelor of Science in Applied Media program.
Andrea Kennedy, Fashion, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, served as a panelist and moderator during the “Fashion and AI” panel at Texworld NYC in January 2025.
Peter J. LaPlaca, CFP, ChFC, AEP, Accounting and Finance, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, was certified as Accredited Estate Planner (AEP), as designated by the Board of Directors of the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils in August 2024.
Samuel Lloyd, DPS, Management, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, earned recertifications from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) as an SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
Jay Michaels, Marketing, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, received the Community Award for Excellence in Marketing and Promotion from The Fresh Fruit Stage and Film Festival in January 2025. Michaels was also named to the Board of Directors for the Queens Culture & Arts Network.
Filippa Modesto, PhD, English, Division of General Education, presented “Primo Levi: Echoes of Survival and the Importance of Language” during the 2nd CUSIAC International Conference at the University of Molise in Italy. Modesto’s paper explores the importance of language in Levi's work as a means of survival and “internal liberation.”
Brittany O’Brien, NCIDQ, Interior Design, School of Professional Studies, will serve on the Council for Interior Design Qualifications (CIDQ) Writing Committee in January and August 2025. The Committee is a volunteer group of subject-matter experts who write and review exam questions for the National CIDQ exam.
William Orbe, IT Management, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, was a faculty participant at “AI and the Future of Business: Strategies, Investments, and Opportunities,” hosted by the New Jersey Business & Industry Association in February 2025.
Sarah Salib, MD, CCMA, Allied Health – Medical, School of Health Studies, received certification as a Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor from the American Heart Association in January 2025.
David Sharpe, Accounting and Finance, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, presented “A Discussion on Career Pursuits in Accounting and Finance” to current and aspiring Berkeley College students in May 2024 and January 2025. The sessions focused on the importance of networking, Berkeley College resources, and the skills needed to pursue a career in accounting and finance. Sharpe also created a Canva video titled How to Earn 100 Points on Your Discussion Board Posts, sharing leading practices for discussion board posts that can help students earn top grades.
Danielle Sonnenberg, PhD, Social Sciences, Division of General Education, is the author of “Online Education Benefits Instructors’ Emotional Labor Management,” which was published in Computers and Education Open in December 2024. The article examines the shift to online education during the COVID-19 pandemic and finds that empathy-building strategies helped instructors navigate online limitations. Sonnenberg also earned a certification from Showing Up, an organization focused on bridging the gap between those who care and those who feel unseen.
Patianne Stabile, DA, English, Division of General Education, organized an interactive webinar titled “How to Help Students Develop Their Authentic Voice in a World of AI,” which was presented at Westchester Community College in June 2024. Stabile is a member of the Executive Board of the New York College Learning Skills Association (NYCLSA) and a representative of the downstate HUB of NYCLSA.
Robert Thomas Torres, CST, CRCST, CHL, Allied Health – Surgical, School of Health Studies, received an award for five years of service to the U.S. Government in April 2024. Torres is employed at the U.S. Army Medical Command/Defense Health Agency at Keller Army Community Hospital, U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY.
Hui-wen Tu, EdD, Social Sciences, Division of General Education, presented “The Influences of Social Media on Young Musicians” at the E-Learn: World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education in October 2024. The presentation examined young musicians’ purpose-based learning experiences on social media.
Jonathan Weidenbaum, PhD, Humanities, Division of General Education, delivered a presentation titled “Five Days in the ICU: When a Bioethicist Experiences What He Teaches” to the Ethics Committee at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in March 2024. During the presentation, Weidenbaum describes the moral dilemma he experienced when faced with the decision of taking a loved one off of life support. He also participated in Is This Funny? Comedy and Philosophy, a two-part video discussion on the nature of humor.
Ira Weissman, CPA, CGMA, Accounting and Finance, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, recently celebrated an academic milestone when he reached 50 years of service teaching undergraduate and post-graduate courses.
Gracer Yung, EdD, Accounting and Finance, Larry L. Luing School of Business®, received a certificate for Effective Teaching Framework for Higher Education from the Association of College and University Educators in April 2024.
Focus on Faculty
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we spoke to some of Berkeley’s dedicated professors to get their insights on timely topics such as what excites them about their roles, the ways in which students inspire them, and their advice for the next generation of leaders. We thank them for their commitment and the important part they play in preparing our students for success and continuing the reputation of Berkeley College.
The accomplishments reflected on this page have been furnished and verified by each individual faculty member, who is solely responsible for such content.
