Meet the 2014 WW New Jersey Teaching Fellows
Alexander Aleynik | Englewood Cliffs, NJ | Will attend: William Paterson University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: New York University ’06, biochemistry
• Graduate college, class, and major: Rutgers University (UMDNJ) ’13, M.S., microbiology/molecular biology/stem cell biology
Teaching assistant, stem cell biology; associate scientist in quality assurance for major pharmaceutical firm; private tutor, math and science, middle school through college level; Dean’s List student; fluent speaker of French and Russian.
Caitlin Ament | Little Falls, NJ | Will attend: William Paterson University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Montclair State University ’09, molecular biology
• Graduate college, class, and major: Montclair State University ’11, M.S., molecular biology
Substitute teacher; adjunct professor of biology; certified tutor in science, math, and English; National Science Foundation Fellow in local schools; research assistant on various projects, including toxicological studies of World Trade Center dust; recipient of multiple scholarships and awards.
Wahab Ashraf | Avenel, NJ | Will attend: Montclair State University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Rutgers University-Newark/NJIT ’10, biology
• Graduate college, class, and major: Rutgers University-Newark/NJIT ’14, M.S., biology
College-level biology instructor; math coordinator/lead instructor, Upward Bound; tutor/part-time lecturer; math teaching assistant; graduate of high-need schools; fluent Urdu and Hindi speaker, with conversational French and Arabic; Dean’s List student and recipient of multiple scholarships and awards.
Kelly Barna | Hainesport, NJ | Will attend: The College of New Jersey
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: The College of New Jersey ’13, biology
Independent student researcher, biostatistics; private tutor; information technology specialist; camp counselor, third and fourth graders; Science Olympiad participant; volunteer with homeless shelter, Habitat for Humanity, and school and medical clinic in Costa Rica; award-winning scholar-athlete in field hockey.
Adam Behr | Brick, NJ | Will attend: The College of New Jersey
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Seton Hall University ’11, physics
Research assistant in biophysics, econophysics, and pulsed laser deposition, with two published articles; assistant restaurant manager, praised for customer service and problem-solving; member, Alpha Kappa Psi professional business fraternity.
Jeffrey Chiusano | Cherry Hill, NJ | Will attend: Rowan University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: The College of New Jersey ’14, physics
Physics lab technician; member of Sigma Pi Sigma physics honor society; Dean’s List student, four semesters; Special Olympics volunteer in flag football and summer camp; scholar-athlete in football and rugby and two-year letter earner; former dental assistant intern.
Eric Clementelli | Old Bridge, NJ | Will attend: Montclair State University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Rutgers University-New Brunswick ’14, geology
Teaching assistant/tutor, environmental geology, earth science, anthropology; former field intern in stratigraphy in the Black Hills; veteran, United States Marine Corps; Dean’s List student, three semesters, academic award winner, and member of two academic honorary societies; president, campus geology club.
Aline De Sousa | Wayne, NJ | Will attend: Montclair State University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Montclair State University ’14, biology
Teacher assistant, early childhood center; teacher, private youth creativity franchise; business administration minor; physical therapy aide; temporary teacher aide, high-need urban charter school; former store manager; graduate of high-need schools; fluent Portuguese speaker, with conversational Spanish.
Randolph Dorcent | Roselle, NJ | Will attend: William Paterson University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Seton Hall University ’09, biology
Paraprofessional teacher aide and substitute teacher; private SAT teacher and math tutor; chemistry minor; camp counselor; patient care intern, hospice care organization; trainer, coalition-building program; member of multiple academic honoraries; fluent speaker of Creole and French.
Ikechukwu (Ike) Ekedede | Newark, NJ | Will attend: The College of New Jersey
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Saint Peter’s University ’04, computer science/mathematics
Substitute teacher and math tutor; former quality assurance analyst and information technology support staff; campus award-winner for performance and ability in computer science; physics minor; graduate of/tutor in high need schools.
Virginia Fasulo | Wantage, NJ | Will attend: William Paterson University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: University at Albany ’06, biology
• Graduate college, class, and major: University at Albany ’10, M.P.H., epidemiology
Former public health technician/intern; researcher on Lyme, West Nile, and other arthropod-borne diseases; sanitary inspector; former swim instructor; events manager and volunteer, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, including three events with high school students; PR volunteer, environmental organization.
Drew Favat | Gibbsboro, NJ | Will attend: Rowan University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Rowan University ’14, mathematics
Teacher assistant; data entry intern; former retail store manager; avid online gamer and game designer with collaborative learning strengths.
Jessica Ferreira | Kearny, NJ | Will attend: Montclair State University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Bryn Mawr College ’14, biology
Undergraduate researcher, environmental factors in decomposition; tutor, chemistry, biology, and math; student math instructor; student consultant on undergraduate learning and teaching; member of multiple academic honoraries; scholar-athlete, rowing; fluent Portuguese speaker, with conversational Italian.
Darlene Fleming | Delran, NJ | Will attend: Rutgers University-Camden
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Salve Regina University ’87, biology
Small business owner, interior landscape company, with extensive knowledge of plants and their diseases and treatments; chief financial officer and credit manager; volunteer field hockey coach; graduate of high-need schools.
Bethany Fowler | Uvalde, TX | Will attend: Rowan University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: University of Texas ’12, applied mathematics
• Graduate college, class, and major: Arizona State University ’14, M.A., mathematics
Teaching assistant/instructor, pre-calculus; math tutor; graduate researcher, mathematics instruction; math department grader; undergraduate researcher, t-cell receptors; volunteer leader for after-school science club with fifth and sixth graders; recipient of multiple scholarships; community volunteer.
Bradley Gold | Maplewood, NJ | Will attend: Montclair State University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Montclair State University ’14, biology; Ithaca College ’08, cinema/photography
Undergraduate researcher ; substitute teacher, math, science, history, physical education, working with high-need students; peer tutor; Dean’s List student, every semester; recipient of multiple academic awards and scholarships.
Olugbenga Ige | Newark, NJ | Will attend: William Paterson University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: University of Ibadan (Ibadan, Nigeria) ’80, geology
• Graduate college, class, and major: University of Ibadan (Ibadan, Nigeria) ’82, M.S., mineral exploration; Ph.D., ’88, geology
College professor, geology (Introduction to Geology, Mining Geology, Economic Geology, Geochemistry, Conservation Science), Nigeria; published scholar with more than 20 published papers on geology, materials research, and archaeology; visiting scholar in U.S., U.K., and Germany; familiarity with high-need circumstances and communities.
Tenzin Jigmey | Jersey City, NJ | Will attend: William Paterson University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Barkatalluh University (Bhopal, India) ’97, chemistry
• Graduate college, class, and major: Jamia Hamdard University (New Delhi, India) ’05, M.S., chemistry
Adjunct community college chemistry instructor; substitute teacher, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; chemistry teacher, high school-aged students, Dharamsala, India; college-level lecturer in general chemistry, Dharamsala, India; published scholar/researcher; director of quality and research, Tibetan Medical Institute; analytical chemist/research assistant in U.S.
Danielle Kinloch | Nutley, NJ | Will attend: William Paterson University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Montclair State University ’14, biology
Private tutor, science and reading; hospital geriatric education volunteer; physical therapist aide; former camp counselor; volunteer, Special Olympics and local soup kitchen; avid runner and marathoner.
Daniel Klehamer | Avenel, NJ | Will attend: Rowan University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Rowan University ’14, physics
Student teaching laboratory coordinator/instrument repair technician, physics department; sign creator, vinyl installer, and automotive painter.
David Kornitzer | Wayne, NJ | Will attend: William Paterson University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Kean University ’13, biology
Tutor and substitute teacher, biology; physical therapy aide; camp counselor; volunteer with special needs children; CPR professional and emergency responder; carpenter/roofer; lacrosse player; Dean’s List student; member of TriBeta biology honors society.
Steven Kuipers | Wayne, NJ | Will attend: William Paterson University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Montclair State University ’14, mathematics
Math tutor, both in private settings and in a learning center; undergraduate researcher, graph theory; classroom intern, urban school; volunteer, local food pantry; magna cum laude graduate; Russian minor.
Jacqueline Kuzora | Milford, NJ | Will attend: William Paterson University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: William Paterson University ’12, biology
Undergraduate researcher, honeybee behavior, with grant support; research assistant; teacher’s assistant and director of aftercare program, nursery school; animal caretaker/control/investigator for local humane society; Dean’s List student; member of academic societies in animal behavior and Italian.
Thuy Le | Trenton, NJ | Will attend: The College of New Jersey
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Bloomsburg University ’83, analytical chemistry
• Graduate college, class, and major: University of South Florida ’89, M.S., organic chemistry; University of Maryland ’95, Ph.D., organic chemistry
Adjunct college faculty, general and organic chemistry; mentor; volunteer science educator; former patent examiner; former researcher/senior scientist in medicinal chemistry with national pharmaceutical firms, 15+ years; certificates and coursework in entrepreneurship, leadership development, project management; recipient of multiple academic awards and honors.
Jen Lee | Hammonton, NJ | Will attend: Rutgers University-Camden
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Rutgers University, New Brunswick ’96, chemistry
Adjunct community college chemistry faculty; chemist and technical writer, food and pharmaceutical industries, 18+ years; IT technical support engineer, with additional credentials in programming and coding; database designer; web and graphic designer; peer trainer; animal shelter volunteer; youth theater leader.
Seung-Yub Lee | Cherry Hill, NJ | Will attend: Rutgers University-Camden
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: KyungPook National University (Daegu, South Korea) ’91, chemistry
• Graduate college, class, and major: KyungPook National University ’94, M.S., organic chemistry; Stony Brook University ’00, Ph.D., organic chemistry
Senior scientist in research institutes and biotechnology companies; author on 19 published articles and holder of three patents with expertise in chemistry, biochemistry, and biology; mentor for high school summer interns at chemical biology research institute.
Lily Marino | Bernardsville, NJ | Will attend: The College of New Jersey
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: University of Notre Dame ’14, mathematics
Teaching assistant, early childhood centers; math tutor for peers and family; creator and leader of leadership retreat for fellow students; member of the Notre Dame Marching Band and music mentor.
Brian Moshofsky | New York, NY | Will attend: Montclair State University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: University of California, Santa Cruz ’06, chemistry
• Graduate college, class, and major: University of California, Berkeley ’09, M.S., chemistry; Ben Gurion University of the Negev ’14, Ph.D., nanoscale science and engineering
Graduate student instructor, chemistry; research mentor for master’s-level students; tutor, middle- and high school students, chemistry, biology, physics, math; published researcher in nanostructures and materials science; recipient of numerous awards and scholarships; avid traveler, basketball player, cook, and computer programmer.
A-Nam Nguyen | New Brunswick, NJ | Will attend: Rutgers University-Camden
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Rutgers University-New Brunswick ’14, cell biology/neuroscience
Undergraduate researcher, melanoma; intern, health care project on wellness and race/ethnicity; mentor for women students; emergency room volunteer; women’s studies minor; award-winning filmmaker/leader on homelessness; youth volunteer; member, Phi Beta Kappa; Dean’s List student, with graduation honors; fluent in Vietnamese, with conversational Spanish.
Eric Nyabeta | Paterson, NJ | Will attend: William Paterson University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: University of Eastern Africa ’07 (Eldoret, Kenya), biology
• Graduate college, class, and major: Montclair State University ’11, M.S., molecular biology
Paraprofessional teacher in special education and inclusion classes, elementary level; substitute teacher; researcher in Kenya, HIV and malaria; laboratory technician, quality assurance testing and pharmaceutical analysis.
Evangelina Pena | Bergenfield, NJ | Will attend: Montclair State University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Rutgers University-New Brunswick ’14, biological oceanography
Independent student researcher, coral reef conservation and marine molecular biology; animal care intern and youth educator at aquarium; coordinator, student-run environmental newsletter; member of service and academic societies; volunteer in urban schools and community organizations; Dean’s List student; scuba diving enthusiast; fluent Spanish speaker.
Jennifer Pfaff | Titusville, NJ | Will attend: The College of New Jersey
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Wheaton College ’14, environmental studies
Substitute teacher; tutor for Nepali refugees; undergraduate researcher, aquaponics; environmental educator working with youth at local farm; wetland ecology teacher; horticulture apprentice; summer camp counselor; Sunday School teacher; child care provider; Dean’s List student.
Jarred Phillips | Eastampton, NJ | Will attend: Rutgers University-Camden
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Yale University ’14, molecular, cellular, and developmental biology
Undergraduate researcher, plant lab; science enrichment instructor in afterschool program for noted national museum; summer school physics teacher at Newark charter school; community health educator in urban schools; assistant director and tutor for academic enrichment program for disadvantaged youth.
Timothy Pilla | West Deptford, NJ | Will attend: Rutgers University-Camden
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Rowan University ’11, biology
Camp instructor for large groups of children through a nature-based adventure firm; ocean enthusiast; expert scuba diver and scuba intern in Bali; advocate for ecological awareness and conservation; musician, photographer/videographer, skateboarder, cyclist.
Veronica Pistoia | Allentown, PA | Will attend: Montclair State University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Mansfield University ’08, biology
• Graduate college, class, and major: West Chester University ’13, M.S., biology
Microbiology technician; substitute teacher’s assistant; private tutor and mentor for autistic children; ecological researcher; STEM supplemental instructor for the National Park Service and various organizations; judge at science fairs; education volunteer, local environmental centers; avid hiker, whitewater rafter, reader, and jazz enthusiast.
Shannon Quirk | West Orange, NJ | Will attend: Montclair State University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Fairleigh Dickinson University ’06, biology
Teacher’s aide, special needs children; chemistry minor; theater volunteer, including work with youth conservatory; Dean’s List student and member of academic honorary; world traveler.
Angie Rivera | Haledon, NJ | Will attend: William Paterson University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Fairleigh Dickinson University ’14, biology
Undergraduate biotechnology researcher; biotechnology lab assistant; tutor, private firm; college-level tutor in chemistry, biology, and physics; former hospital volunteer; avid scuba diver and skydiver; fluent Spanish speaker.
Kevin Rutz | Toms River, NJ | Will attend: The College of New Jersey
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: The College of New Jersey ’12, interdisciplinary business w/technology focus
Substitute teacher; member of technology education society, with expertise in electronics, audio/video systems, television production; statewide judge in student technology competition; website builder; Eagle Scout and Boy Scout leader; campus orientation leader.
Kathryn Seibring | Towanda, IL | Will attend: The College of New Jersey
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Illinois Wesleyan University ’14, mathematics
Volunteer after-school tutor/mentor in high-need elementary school; financial intern with national insurance group; Spanish minor; tutor for Spanish-speaking high school student; elementary girls’ basketball coach; former childcare provider; captain, varsity women’s basketball team; graduate of high-need school.
Cameron Smith | New Brunswick, NJ | Will attend: The College of New Jersey
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: The Johns Hopkins University ’78, physics
• Graduate college, class, and major: University of Chicago ’80, M.B.A., finance
Product risk manager for major national insurance firm; former Internet business manager in telecommunications; avid lifelong physics buff.
Alan Szarawarski | Piscataway, NJ
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology ‘88, economics and political science (dual degrees)
• Graduate college, class, and major: Harvard University ‘99, Ph.D., government
Former instructor and mentor for undergraduate students in the field of government; visiting faculty member and administrator, small liberal arts college; co-president of elementary school parent-teacher organization.
Lindsay Steirer Taylor | Princeton, NJ | Will attend: The College of New Jersey
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Purdue University ’03, biology
• Graduate college, class, and major: Washington University in St. Louis ’09, Ph.D., molecular cell biology
Lecturer/postdoctoral research associate; adjunct faculty, community college; published researcher and recipient of fellowships from the National Institutes of Health and Howard Hughes Medical Institute; mentor for high school and college students; volunteer with emotionally troubled adolescents; adventurous traveler who has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and trekked to Mayan ruins.
Lesley Tolentino | Bronx, NY | Will attend: Rowan University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: University at Albany ’14, mathematics
Teaching assistant/mentor/tutor in math for students in high-need high school; volunteer, college-level academic recovery program; peer educator on health and mental health issues; camp counselor, Fresh Air Fund; longtime resident of high-need communities; Dean’s List student and recipient of numerous achievement awards; fluent Spanish speaker.
Christopher Tomlinson | Chatsworth, NJ | Will attend: Rowan University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Rowan University ’10, civil/environmental engineering
• Graduate college, class, and major: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ’12, M.S., civil engineering
Adjunct faculty, engineering graphics; research assistant studying reclaimed asphalt pavement; teaching assistant, materials and transportation engineering; recipient of multiple academic awards and scholarships, including designation as top civil engineer at Rowan; children’s church teacher; longtime resident of Camden area and South Jersey.
Kelly Troendle | Pitman, NJ | Will attend: Rutgers University-Camden
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Rutgers University-Camden ’12, biology
Teacher’s assistant in middle-school science classrooms, working one-on-one to create lessons and provide enrichment.
Jillian Varner | Oak Ridge, NJ | Will attend: Montclair State University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Montclair State University ’14, physics
Substitute teacher; certified tutor in physics and mathematics; undergraduate researcher, complex fluids lab, studying the plausibility of using pipeline transportation to reduce the amount of fossil fuels used on farms; percussion instructor, marching band; campus physics club president.
Brandon Washington | Philadelphia, PA | Will attend: The College of New Jersey
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: LaSalle University ’10, integrated science, business, and technology
Information technology expert and consultant; help desk technician; web designer and social media manager; summer camp counselor and youth mentor; heir to a landmark Philadelphia restaurant, working to reopen the family business; member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
Jaquil White | East Orange, NJ | Will attend: Montclair State University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: Rutgers University-Newark ’14, mathematics
Math teacher assistant, Upward Bound; head mentor, academic boot camp; teacher assistant, high-need middle school; undergraduate researcher, interactive computer-based math program; graduate of high-need schools; Dean’s List student and member of several academic honoraries.
Matthew Zachariades | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | Will attend: Rowan University
• Undergraduate college, class, and major: High Point University ’14, mathematics
Teaching assistant in math, high-need middle and high schools; resident assistant; camp counselor; athletic coaching minor; multiple scholarship recipient; volunteer coach for a program assisting disabled children in playing baseball.
