Faculty Accomplishments
Berkeley College Faculty Research, Publications, and Awards
George Ackerman, PhD, JD
Social Sciences, Division of General Education
Dr. Ackerman co-authored Sports & Slowing the Progression of Parkinson’s Disease: A Collection of Personal Stories & Research, published by TogetherForSharon® in 2025.
Kwaku Ampadu-Nyarkoh, PhD
Management, Larry L. Luing School of Business®
Dr. Ampadu-Nyarkoh published the chapter “Artificial Intelligence Conundrum” in Healing in Africa: Exploring Health and Wellness Across the Continent. He co-authored the book On the Business Side of Healthcare: COVID-19 Era and Beyond, published by Xlibris in 2025. Ampadu-Nyarkoh presented “Re-Africanization in Healthcare Post-Globalization Through Ancestral Praxis” in September 2025 at the 37th Annual Diopian Institute for Scholarly Advancement Conference and “Deglobalizing Era and Human Capital Mismatch: Rethinking Career Readiness for Entrepreneurial Competitiveness in Africa” at the Society of North American Scholars Interdisciplinary Research Conference in October 2025.
Melissa Baralt, PhD
Sciences, Division of General Education
Dr. Baralt delivered a presentation titled “Know Your Influence” at the Paterson Healing Collective to youth in Paterson, NJ, about self-awareness and the importance of inner strength. Baralt presented “How to Ace the Interview: Master the Art of Impression” at William Paterson University. She was a featured guest on the Teach Me Something podcast, presented by Berkeley College and iHeartPodcasts, where she discussed her experiences as a first-generation professor.
Kristina Belanger, PhD
MBA Program, Larry L. Luing School of Business®
Dr. Belanger had her article “The Perceived Intensity of Workplace Toxicity by Demographics and the Mitigating Effects of Organizational Support, Engagement, and Employee Well-Being” published in the Open Journal of Business Management. The article, published by Scientific Research, explored the structural embedding of toxicity in the workplace and impacts of mitigation through organizational support.
Dyandra Raye Brown
Fashion, Larry L. Luing School of Business®
Brown, founder of the Jo-Anne Vernay shoe brand, was featured in a November 2025 article of Madamenoire titled “America Recycles Day: 10 Black Women Behind The Sustainable Brands Transforming Fashion, Beauty & Home Goods.”
Michael Thomas Cain
English, Division of General Education
Cain received the Audience Choice Favorite Film Award for the feature film Top Hate, which he directed and produced, at the LA Neo Noir Novel, Film, and Script Film Festival in January 2026. Cain also won Best Feature Film Screenplay in North America from KIDS International Family Film Festival for his film Jordey the Christmas Movie.
Geralyn Cappelli
Management, Larry L. Luing School of Business®
Cappelli earned recertifications from the Human Resources Certification Institute as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) as an SHRM Senior Certified Professional.
Moon Chang
Fashion, Larry L. Luing School of Business®
Chang was selected as a premium sponsored brand by Runway 7 and presented the finale showcase for the New York Fashion Week (NYFW) show titled “Moon Chang x Runway 7, NYFW” in February 2026. Chang was invited to sit on the International Jury for the A’Design Award Italy competition for Fashion, Apparel, and Garment Design in 2026.
Yesudas Choondassery, PhD
Humanities, Division of General Education
Dr. Choondassery presented “Eco-Ontology and Ethical Praxis: Reimagining Sustainability from the Ground Up” at the 41st International Research Association for Interdisciplinary Studies Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities in August 2025.
Barbara Cohen, PhD, JD
Health Services, Larry L. Luing School of Business®
Dr. Cohen created and taught Defensive Documentation for Nurses, a six-hour continuing education presentation for the professional service workshop program of the State University of New York Research Foundation.
Barbara Crump, PhD
Nursing, School of Health Studies
Dr. Crump received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Maria College in May 2025, where she delivered the college’s Commencement address.
Christopher de la Victoria, DNP
Nursing, School of Health Studies
Dr. de la Victoria received the 2025 Nursing Excellence Award: Nurse Educator from the Philippine Nurses Association of America in May 2025.
Christopher Doran, DNP, RN
Nursing, School of Health Studies
Dr. Doran successfully defended his doctoral research and project implementation on “Increasing Social Work Referrals via the FACIT-Sp-12 Spiritual Health Assessment Tool.”
David Glazer, PhD, JD, and Andrea Kennedy
Director, MBA Program / Fashion, Larry L. Luing School of Business®
Dr. Glazer and Kennedy presented “Ditching Disengagement: Top Ten Tips to Enhance Student Learning” at the Association of Private Colleges (APC) Innovation Summit in June 2025.
Jason Gulya, PhD
Media Communications and English, Division of General Education
Dr. Gulya published the article “We Need to Rethink Grading” in The Chronicle of Higher Education in November 2025. Gulya presented the keynote “Are Traditional Grades Making It Harder for Education to Adapt to AI?” at Insight Jam in January 2026. He also presented “Rethinking Assessment” at the San Diego Community College’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit in November 2025. Gulya published the chapter “Ambient AI and the Future of Productive Struggle” in the book What Education Becomes: Teaching and Learning in a Post-AI World in February 2026.
Laura V. Harste, PhD
Sciences, Division of General Education
Dr. Harste joined the Access Champions Working Group at the State University of New York, Westchester Community College, dedicated to advancing digital accessibility.
Gene Haynes, EdD
General Business, Larry L. Luing School of Business®
Dr. Haynes was appointed by New York 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, Division of General Education
Dr. Hoefinger conducted a Student Peer Mentoring Workshop titled “Creating Stronger, More Supportive Peer Relationships – Cultural Sensitivity Training for New Peer Mentors,” which discussed cultural awareness and sensitivity, how to build respectful conversations, and suggestions for inclusive mentoring.
Ruth N. Kaplan, EdD
Humanities, Division of General Education
Dr. Kaplan will display two of her pieces, “Sunflower” and “Floral,” at the Art Educators of New Jersey Membership Exhibition 2026 at ARTWORKS in Trenton, NJ, through April 2026.
Lisa Karakas
English, Division of General Education
Karakas participated in an AI panel at the Association of Private Colleges Innovation Summit in June 2025.
Andrea Kennedy
Fashion, Larry L. Luing School of Business®
Kennedy served on a CURVE NY panel titled “From Sustainability to Sales: How to Drive Conversions by Aligning with Consumer Values,” where she discussed how sales will increase when brands align themselves with consumers’ values.
Samuel Lloyd, DPS
Management, Larry L. Luing School of Business®
Dr. Lloyd earned recertifications from the Human Resources Certification Institute as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) as an SHRM Senior Certified Professional.
Jay Michaels
Marketing, Larry L. Luing School of Business®
Michaels was named to the Board of Directors for the Queens Culture & Arts Network.
Grace Mitchko, PhD
Nursing, School of Health Studies
Dr. Mitchko graduated with her doctorate in Nursing Education and Administration in December 2025 from William Carey University.
Filippa Modesto, PhD
English, Division of General Education
Dr. Modesto is the author of a peer-reviewed article “The Primacy of Language in Primo Levi’s Survival in Auschwitz” in Rivista di Studi Italiani.
Jeff O'Brien
Allied Health – Surgical, School of Health Studies
O'Brien obtained a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Arizona.
Lori Rassas, JD
Legal Studies, School of Professional Studies
Rassas had her article “Forget ChatGPT: Meet Fred” published on Inc.com.
Dave Sharpe
Accounting and Finance, Larry L. Luing School of Business®
Sharpe presented “Career Pursuit Readiness” to Bucknell University and Berkeley College. The seminar discussed entry-level hiring and marketplace dynamics, strategies for succeeding in the workplace, and how to leverage experience to build durable skills.
Patianne Stabile, DA
English, Division of General Education
Dr. Stabile was named President of the New York College Learning Skills Association.
Eileen F. Toplansky
English, Division of General Education
Toplansky published a book titled Won Ton is Not Now Backwards about the correct enunciation and articulation of certain sounds to assist children in gaining control of their speech.
Jonathan Weidenbaum, PhD
Humanities, Division of General Education
Dr. Weidenbaum presented “From Affectional Facts to Affordances: The Relevance of American Philosophy for Understanding Humor” to the American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division, in January 2026. He also presented “Between a Broken Cosmos and the Insulated Ego: Jewish Thought and the Drama of Reparation” at the American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting in November 2025.
Jennifer Yadav
Sciences, Division of General Education
Yadav launched Rescue Vision Films, Inc., a nonprofit film company with a mission to shine a light on untold stories of people in need and to raise funds to support the causes behind those stories.
Gracer Yung, EdD
Accounting and Finance, Larry L. Luing School of Business®
Dr. Yung earned a Professional Development Certificate from The Association of College and University Educators.
The accomplishments reflected on this page have been furnished and verified by each individual faculty member, who is solely responsible for such content.
