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Nursing Department Updates

Department Chair Updates - Dr. Joyce Wright

Faculty Accomplishments

Dr. Denise Branchizio
Dr. Denise Branchizio has been selected to be an evaluator for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for the United States. This is the Nursing Department’s accreditation agency! 

The Mission of this accreditation body, “Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public's health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing.”

Dr. Nelda Ephraim
Dr. Nelda Ephraim has published the following journal article:
Ephraim, N. (2020). : An essential element in the retention of new nurse faculty. Journal of Professional Nursing, 37(2), 306-319. She has more research in progress about Health Disparities and COVID-19 — The lived experience of Black and Brown people who tested positive COVID-19.

Dr. Joyce Wright
Dr. Joyce Wright has published the following articles:
Wright, J. (2020). Critical thinking with diverse students: The effects of a concurrent RN-BSN program and nursing residency. Nursing Education Perspectives. doi.org/1097/01.NEP0000000000000738

Wright, J. & Scardaville, D. (2020). A nursing residency program: A window into clinical judgement and clinical decision making. Nurse Education in Practice. doi.org/10.1016/jnepr.2020.102931

Dr. Barbara Blozen Updates - Department News

Inaugural White Coat Ceremony

NJCU was awarded a grant from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, for a White Coat Ceremony.

The White Coat Ceremony was initiated in 1993 at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons by Arnold P. Gold, M.D., who was a professor and pediatric neurologist. Dr. Gold, a passionate advocate for humanistic healthcare, believed that the oath taken by new physicians at the end of medical school came too late. Through the nonprofit organization that he and his wife, Dr. Sandra Gold, started, The Arnold P. Gold Foundation has expanded the White Coat Ceremony around the globe.

Today, nearly every medical school in the United States, hundreds of nursing schools, and many other health profession schools participate in this tradition of humanistic care. “Since 1993, the White Coat Ceremony has been an early and essential touchpoint of humanism on the path of a physician,” said Dr. Richard I. Levin, President and CEO of The Gold Foundation. “Today, as we are facing the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racism, the White Coat Ceremony is all the more relevant in emphasizing the importance of the human connection in healthcare. We are grateful for the leadership of NJCU in elevating the message, both during the ceremony and throughout the years of education, that empathy and respect are critical parts of optimal care.”

The Gold Foundation champions the human connection in healthcare. The foundation engages schools and their students, health systems, companies, and individual clinicians in the joy and meaning of humanistic healthcare, so that patients and their families can be partners in collaborative, compassionate and scientifically excellent care.

On Wednesday September 29, 2021, the incoming nursing accelerated nursing cohort lined up outside the Margaret Williams Theatre to process into the theatre with their white lab coats over their arms. The students awaited to be cloaked by the following faculty; Dr. Denise Branchizio, Dr. Lorraine Chewey, Dr. Nelda Ephraim, Dr. Donna Ho Shing, and Dr. Joyce Wright. Dean Edmonson welcomed the group, followed by warm remarks from President Henderson, and Provost Jhashi, Dr. Kevin O’Neill gave an inspiring speech, after which the students recited the Oath to Compassionate Care. COVID-19 best practices were upheld throughout the in-person ceremony.

Students, their two guests and faculty celebrated outside to support the students’ rigorous  journey to become a nurse in NJCU’s accelerated nursing program.

NJCU Honored with Chapter Key Award from Sigma Theta Tau

Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) is the only honor society in nursing. Since 1988, the Kappa Eta Chapter is the Sigma Chapter in the Nursing Department at NJCU. This year, we won the Chapter Key Award, which is an international award dating back to 1991. It was implemented to recognize chapter excellence in service, scholarship, membership engagement and leadership.

Sigma Theta Tau notified NJCU’s Kappa Eta Chapter that we were selected as a recipient of the 2021 Chapter Key Award. The Kappa Eta Chapter was one of the highest scoring entries and is being considered for the Ethel Palmer Clarke Founders Award for Chapter Excellence as well. This is NJCU’s eighth Key award and it will be presented at the biennium in November 2021 in Indianapolis. Our delegate Tara Marko, program chair, will accept the key for Kappa Eta Chapter. 

Connie Sensor, a graduate of the RN-BSN program, past president of Kappa Eta Chapter, and Sigma’s liaison to the United Nations was selected by Sigma as a candidate for President Elect of the International Board.

Health Sciences Department Updates

NJCU Health Science Student Organization Hosts Mental Health Virtual Event

NJCU will host a virtual Mental Health event organized by the NJCU Health Science Student Organization on November 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event focuses on destigmatizing mental health struggles in the community.

Fire Science Department Updates

New Statewide Transfer Agreement for Fire Science

In the spring of 2021, the NJCU Fire Science Department and the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety (NJDFS) launched a new and important Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote higher education to firefighting professionals across the state of New Jersey. Now, fire fighters who have completed one or more of the following certifications may be eligible to transfer in up to 15 credits when they apply to the NJCU Fire Science program:

• Firefighter 1 & 2
• Fire Inspector
• Fire Official
• Fire Instructor 2
• Fire Officer 2
• Fire Officer 4
• Fire Investigator
• Hazardous Materials Incident Commander

Prof. Ken Jenks promoted to Battalion Chief

Fire Science Professor Ken Jenks was promoted September 22, 2021 to rank of Battalion Chief of the Summit Fire Department in Summit, NJ. 

Battalion Chief Jenks began his career with the Summit Fire Dept. in 1997 as a volunteer firefighter. He was then hired to the career division in 2004. While working as a career firefighter, BC Jenks enrolled in NJCU’s Fire Science program and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2011. He was next promoted to Lieutenant in 2012 and earned a Master of Administrative Science degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2014.

Prof. Jenks many accomplishments include: TEEX – Jurisdictional Crisis Incident Management, New Jersey Certified Fire Instructor II, Active Shooter Workshop, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, NIMS ICS 400 Advanced Training, New Jersey Certified Drill Ground Instructor, New Jersey Certified Fire Prevention Inspector. BC Jenks was also recognized in 2009 and 2012 earning Life Saving Recognition, Chiefs Award for Meritorious Service.

The Fire Science Department and New Jersey Deputy Fire Chief’s Association

The Fire Science Department was proud to co-sponsor the New Jersey Deputy Fire Chiefs Association 7th Annual Training Seminar. The event was held at NJCU’s main campus on October 2, to a sold-out audience of fire service professionals, students, and alumni. It featured five nationally recognized leaders in the field, two of whom—Dr. Denis Onieal and Mr. Anthony Avillo—are NJCU alumni and professors., both are graduates of the Fire Science program and NJCU and adjunct professors.

We were honored to have Dr. Onieal return to NJCU to speak to the audience. He is a retired Chief from the Jersey City Fire Department and past NJCU adjunct professor who went on to become the Deputy Fire Administrator and then Acting Fire Administrator for the U.S. Fire Administration before retiring. Dr. Onieal spoke on the topic of Line of Duty Death.

Our very own Adjunct Professor Anthony Avillo, retired Deputy Chief from North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue and currently Director of the Monmouth County Fire Academy, spoke on Fire Officers’ Excellence. Director Avillo has authored several books that are used nationwide in the fire service.

The best of the best in the fire service were at the event, including Vincent Dunn, retired Division Chief from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) who is also an author and nationally recognized speaker. Also in attendance was Captain John Ceriello, Rescue 1 from FDNY, a nationally recognized author and speaker who presented on Ventilation Practices. Another notable guest was nationally recognized speaker and author Professor Glenn Corbett who spoke on Building Construction for the Fire Service. 

This was a wonderful opportunity for NJCU students and alumni to meet and listen to the national fire service leaders on our own campus. After a day of intense training and education, the afternoon concluded with a book signing event.

Criminal Justice Department Updates

Faculty Accomplishments

Dr. Esther Nir
Dr. Esther Nir co-authored two journal articles:

The Challenge of Imposing Just Sentences Under Mandatory Minimum Statutes: A Qualitative Study of Judicial Perceptions in Criminal Justice Policy Review. (Nir & Liu, 2021).

Defending Constitutional Rights in Imbalanced Courtrooms. Published in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. (Nir & Liu, 2021). 

Professional Security Studies Department Updates

Breaking News!! We are happy to announce that the University has approved the minor in Forensic Studies, a joint-degree program between the Professional Security Studies Department and the Criminal Justice Department. The program is expected to be offered as a degree option for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Faculty Accomplishments

Dr. Michael Wiltsey
Dr. Michael Wiltsey and colleagues presented the Resilience Program to the leadership of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice as well as to the entire sworn law enforcement staff of the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office in March 2021. He continues to conduct cross-institutional research and ongoing data collection concerning resilience and mental health wellness among New Jersey Law Enforcement Officers with his colleague, Dr. C. Gabrielle Salfati from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In late Spring and early Fall 2021, Dr. Wiltsey provided training to law enforcement supervisors on the topic of Crime Scene Supervision, and law enforcement officers in the areas of Crime Scene Photography and Crime Scene Investigation.  

Dr. Wiltsey and colleagues will be presenting the below titled presentation at the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Online Conference held by the International Association for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:

• Deibler, M., Levine, L., Reinardy, R., & Wiltsey, M. (2021, October 8-10). Don't Believe Everything You Think! Shifting Perspectives on Intrusive Thoughts in OCD and Anxiety [Conference presentation]. OCD Online Conference 2021, International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation.

Dr. Wiltsey and colleagues will be attending the 40th Anniversary of the Erlangen, Germany chapter of the International Police Association in October 2021. While at the conference, he will interact with law enforcement officers from all over the world and will be discussing and sharing mental health wellness initiatives with representatives from various agencies from European and other countries.

Dr. Kutub Thakur has published various papers during the past year, including in an IEEE Conference:

• K Thakur, H Alqahtani, G Kumar - Computers & Electrical Engineering, 2021 
•  K Thakur, G Kumar - Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering, 28, pages 2897–2919 (2021) 
•  
  S Gupta, K Thakur, M Kumar  
•  H Xu, K Thakur, AS Kamruzzaman, ML Ali 2021 IEEE International IOT, Electronics and Mechatronics Conference (IEMTRONICS) 
  Electronic ISBN: 978-1-6654-4067-7 
  Print on Demand  (PoD) ISBN:978-1-6654-1160-8 

Dr. Lazlo Molnar
Faculty member and former Ambassador to the United Nations Dr. Laszlo Molnar presented in the University’s International Virtual Exchange Presentation discussing the current “Global Threat Landscape.”

Dr. Molnar will also recently hosted the NJCU International Virtual Exchange Presentation

Dr. Scott Fisher
Faculty member Dr. Scott Fisher has had multiple publications this past year, including:

• Handbook for Tactical Operations in the Information Environment, a RAND study co-authored with Schwille, Michael, Welch, Jonathan, et. al.; 
• Propaganda and Influence Campaign Operations, a paper presented at the 2021 APSA (American Political Science Association) conference with Klein, Graig and Pupcenoks, Juris; and a forthcoming article in Foreign Policy Analysis titled FOCUSdata: Foreign Policy Through Language & Sentiment, co-authored with Klein, Graig, and Codjo, Juste.
• Two Small Wars Journal articles: Satellite Internet Services – Fostering the Dictators’ Dilemma? (co-authored with Schwille, Mike) and What is the role of Information Operations in supporting training missions? Or, when is a tweet more than just a tweet?

Presentations include:

• Two International Studies Association (ISA) conferences on military partisanship delivered with Dr. Louise Stanton from NJCU's Political Science department.
• An NJCU workshop, Domestic Extremism and Social Justice: Using Data to Chart a Course Forward, with Dr. Esther Nir from NJCU's Criminal Justice department
• A virtual tableau “Lunch and Learn Workshop” on Teaching Data Analysis with Tableau for non-STEM Students.

New Faculty Hire: Dr. Jonathan Rosen

Jonathan D. Rosen is Assistant Professor in the Professional Security Studies Department at ��è�ƽ��. He earned a master’s degree in Political Science from Columbia University and received his Ph.D. in International Studies from the University of Miami. Dr. Rosen’s research focuses on drug trafficking, organized crime, and security. He has published 20 books with Routledge, Lexington Books, Palgrave Macmillan, the University of Florida, and the State University Press of New York. He has published journal articles in Trends in Organized Crime, the Journal of Criminal Justice, Deviant Behavior, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, and Contexto Internacional, Revista CS, among other journals. He has participated in grant-funded research studies in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Mexico. In 2017, for example, Jonathan and his colleagues at Florida International University interviewed and surveyed nearly 1,200 active and former gang members in El Salvador. 

This past summer Dr. Rosen worked on a USAID grant with colleagues at another institution. The citation for the report is as follows: José Miguel Cruz, Jonathan D. Rosen, and Josué Sánchez, Understanding Intervention Programs and Gang Governance at the Local Level. The Case of Northern Central America (Miami, FL: Florida International University, 2021). 

Dr. Rosen also had an article accepted in a journal titled: José Miguel Cruz and Jonathan D. Rosen, “Leaving the Pervasive Barrio: Gang Disengagement under Criminal Governance,” (forthcoming in Social Problems). 

Fitness, Exercise and Sports Department Updates

On July 30 - August 1, 2021, Tom Lee, our Aquatics Director and Master Instructor for Scuba spent the weekend training NJCU Exercise Science Department students as they became certified PADI Open Water Scuba Divers. The dive team included our NJCU students, alumni, and participants from the Office of Community Recreation.

The group completed nine dives over the course of three days.

New Faculty: Nathalie Silva - Pfeifer

Prof. Nathalie Silva-Pfeifer
Professor Nathalie Silva-Pfeifer joined the Fitness, Exercise and Sports Department as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Fall 2021. Her academic journey began in 2007 when she moved to the United States from Brazil to pursue a new college degree and a career. Professor Pfeifer has a Master of Science in Exercise Science, and she is a Doctoral candidate at Columbia University Teachers College. Her passion for teaching stems from the impact that education has on people, and her philosophy of teaching is based on the belief that learning needs to be student-centered and that students need to be equal partners in the learning process. Nathalie’s scholarly work focused on the use of mental imagery in motor learning. Her current dissertation research explores the experiences of a deaf community from a critical perspective through narrative inquiry and visual methodology.