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Nursing

Accreditation Update

The Nursing Department completed their Accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education March, 30, 2022. Although we await our final letter confirming this successful accreditation, we had no stated compliance concerns.

Congratulations to Dr. Shanda Johnson

Congratulations to Dr. Shanda Johnson for her nomination at the Institute of Nursing’s Diva and Don Gala, for her passion to the profession of nursing and her commitment to eliminating health disparities in minority communities. Johnson is an Assistant Professor and the Coordinator of the NJCU Accelerated Nursing Program, of which the Fort Monmouth cohort was ranked #1 in 2020.  

Nursing Alumna Dr. Shirley Brydie Featured as a Panelist

Dr. Shirley Brydie, an esteemed NJCU RN-BSN '95 alumna, was a recent featured panelist on Heart Health in the African American Community, an All of Us Research Program an initiative of the National Institutes of Health. This initiative studies how biomedical, environmental, and lifestyle factors affect health and hopefully will lead to creating more precise medical approaches improving health for future generations. 

Dr. Brydie is a full-time faculty member with the Arizona College of Nursing, as well as at the Chamberlain College of Nursing. She possesses over 35 years of experience, primarily in women's health, administration, and leadership roles.

Dr. Brydie sends her greetings, “Hi everyone, Shirley Brydie here, I am a native of New Jersey currently living in Phoenix, Arizona- ‘the valley of the sun.’”

“Over the past eighteen years, my focus has switched to nursing education and as such, I have enjoyed being a faculty member at various universities. One of my greatest passions is enhancing learning for aspiring nurses as this too enhances my craft. Being excited and delighted to work with nurses that are continuing their education means the next generation of nurses will stand to serve by incorporating the principles of professionalism and set themselves apart from the crowd.” 

“My words to live by taken from a Chinese Proverb: If you plan for a year, plant a seed. If you plan for a decade, plant a tree. If you plan for a century, educate the people.” 

Health Sciences

NJCU Health Sciences Students Kickstart NJ Dept. of Health & CDC Project Firstline Tour!

On February 2, 2022, NJCU Health Sciences Student Organization (HSSO) officers were selected by the New Jersey State Department of Health to kickstart the yearlong N.J. Universities & College Tour for Project Firstline. Project Firstline is a CDC initiative designed to provide training and additional education, tools, and best practices regarding infection prevention and control practices to frontline healthcare and community health workers, including students entering the healthcare, public health, and allied health fields.

Attending the Project Firstline inaugural training were HSSO students Kayla Breaud (President), Debra Oyedeji (VP), Asma Noubani (Treasurer), Nessie Mae DeChavez (Secretary), and Shari McIntosh (PR)! To learn more about Project Firstline, please visit .

Like Health but Need Help? Academics and Career Paths.

On April 7, the Health Sciences department hosted a session for all students who like health but need help exploring the right major or pathway for the career of their dreams. Dr. Shonda Johnson, Dr. Joyce Wright (Nursing), Dr. Manuela Caciula (Fitness, Exercise, & Sports), and Dr. Erin O’Neill (Health Sciences/Public Health) shared what programs their Departments offer and how students can best reach their career aspirations.

Citizens’ Guide to Advocating for Health & Health Policy-Featuring Assemblywoman Angela McKnight

On April 12, the Health Sciences department hosted an information session highlighting health advocacy and policy. Topics discussed included health as a human right and ways to engage legislators.

7th Annual Save the Youth: Online Rally & Event to Prevent Youth Violence & Strengthen Empowerment

Health Sciences hosted the 7th annual save the youth program session for educators, students, parents, medical/mental health/social services providers, and concerned citizens. Topics discussed included creating a culture of growth and empowerment for youth and stopping youth violence.

Professional Security Studies

Cybersecurity Degree Transfer Articulation Agreement

NJCU’s Department of Professional Security Studies and Hudson County Community College have signed a dual admission and articulation agreement on Cybersecurity, effective September 2022. NJCU President, Dr. Sue Henderson, HCCC President Chris Reber signed the agreement at a signing ceremony, held at Hudson County Community College on March 17, 2022.

New Joint Degree Program

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

New Foreign Policy Publication by Faculty Members

Faculty members Dr. Scott Fisher and Dr. Juste Codjo coauthored a publication titled “” for Foreign Policy Analysis.

Dr. Juste Codjo
Faculty member and D.Sc. Coordinator Dr. Juste Codjo is currently in the process of designing a virtual colloquium program, set to be launched in Fall 2022. This monthly online program will feature the research of NJCU’s DSC doctoral candidates, as well as host guest speakers to discuss new research and developments in the field.

Dr. Michael Wiltsey
Dr. Michael Wiltsey provided a guest lecture for the ��è�ƽ�� Honors Program Forensics Course on December 1, 2021, on Crime Scene Investigation.  

Dr. Wiltsey and colleagues presented the New Jersey Resilience Program for Law Enforcement training to various law enforcement entities and other organizations throughout the state, including the following presentations:

• November 1, 2021 – Co-Facilitator of Training for a County Prosecutor’s Office
• November 3, 2021 – Co-Facilitator of Training for a County Prosecutor’s Office
• December 2, 2021 – Co-Facilitator for Train the Trainer Session on Cognition, Perceptions, Cognitive Biases, and Behavior for Resilient Minds on the Front Lines
• January 10-11, 2022 – Co-Facilitator of Training for a County Prosecutor’s Office

Dr. Wiltsey 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. Baseline data has been collected on over 2,000 police officers and is currently being analyzed. Multiple publications and presentations will be forthcoming from this research.   

Dr. Wiltsey provided the following presentations:

• Wiltsey, M. (2021, Nov. 5). Comprehensive Mental Health Wellness [Presentation]. Resilience Program Officer Statewide Quarterly Training (Central), Office of the Attorney General, Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey Resilience Program for Law Enforcement, Rowan College of Burlington County, Mount Laurel, NJ, United States.   
• Wiltsey, M. (2021, Nov. 17). Comprehensive Mental Health Wellness [Presentation]. Resilience Program Officer Statewide Quarterly Training (North), Office of the Attorney General, Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey Resilience Program for Law Enforcement, Kean University, Union, NJ, United States. 
• Wiltsey, M. (2021, Dec. 3). Resiliency and the CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) Officer [Training]. New Jersey CIT Training, Burlington Township Police Department, Burlington Township, NJ, United States.
• Wiltsey, M. (2022, March 8). The New Jersey Resilience Program for Law Enforcement: History, Status, Success Stories, and Future Directions [Presentation]. The County Prosecutor’s Association of New Jersey (monthly meeting), Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Freehold, NJ, United States. 

Dr. Kutub Thakur
On December 26, 2021, faculty member and Director of NJCU’s Cybersecurity program, Dr. Kutub Thakur was featured at an international event at Bangladesh’s United International University to speak on the current issues related to Cybersecurity, providing professional insight to international students and dignitaries.

Coming soon: International Collaborative Initiatives!

Faculty members of the PSS department are currently engaged in discussions with various international institutions on collaborative initiatives. Some of these countries include—but are not limited to—Brazil, Turkey, India, Japan, Croatia, and Mexico. The focus of these collaborations is on expanding academic partnerships across various disciplines in Professional Security and providing PSS students, as well as the wider NJCU community, with internationally renowned professional and academic exposure.

Fitness, Exercise and Sports Department

Emergency Care & Safety Institute Education Center Designation

On January 6, 2022, the Fitness Exercise and Sports Department was qualified and designated as an Education Center by the Emergency Care & Safety Institute (ECSI), in association with the American College of Emergency Physicians. Professor Luis Torres, a faculty ember in the FES Department, is a Certified ECSI Instructor, and he will be able to certify NJCU students and to add additional qualified instructors in Advanced CPR, AED, and First Aid. (ECSI Certificate Below)

On March 12, 2022, Dr. Manuela Caciula was an invited keynote speaker for the International Scientific Conference Youth in The Perspective of The Olympic Movement organized by the Transylvania University of Brasov, Romania. She presented her work "Physical Activity Coaching Interventions in People with Early Stages Neurodegenerative Disorders.” 

New Spinning Studio

The Fitness, Exercise and Sports Department is happy to announce the opening of a new Spinning Studio, located in Grossnickle Hall, Room 303. NJCU students, faculty and staff are welcome to join our FES activity classes.

Training on CARDIOVIT CS-200

Exercise Science senior students and FES Faculty participated in a two-day training on the CARDIOVIT CS-200, the new generation of ErgoSpyro systems, conducted by Dr. Ramon Martorell. In recent years, cardiopulmonary exercise testing has become an increasingly important tool and has established itself as a valuable differential diagnosis in the fields of: respiratory medicine, cardiology, sports medicine/ science, occupational medicine, intensive care, rehabilitation and nutrition. The students will learn assessment protocols during the Exercise Physiology, and the Exercise Testing and Prescription classes.

In-Body 570 Machine Body Composition Analysis

The FES Department cordially invites students, faculty and staff for a fast and comprehensive Body Composition Analysis on the In-Body 570 Machine. The assessment will provide a breakdown of overall body composition, displaying vital measurements in (lbs): Total Body Water (divided into Intracellular and Extracellular Water), Lean Body Mass, Dry Lean Mass, Body Fat Mass and Weight. Testing will be free and available by appointment beginning with April 19, 2022. Please contact Dr. Manuela Caciula at mcaciula@njcu.edu. The Exercise Science Lab is located in Grossnickle Hall, Room 323.

Fire Science

The New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers Offers Scholarships for NJCU Fire Science Majors

The New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) has always supported NJCU and the Fire Science Department. According to their mission statement, they are a “group of fire protection engineers and allied professionals dedicated to advancing the art and science of fire protection engineering, maintaining a high ethical standard among its members, and fostering fire protection engineering education.” In keeping with their mission, this Fall 2021 semester the NJ SFPE offered our students several scholarships. The scholarships are part of the SFPE Foundation Grant program. The Fall 2021 semester scholarships awardees Ryan Urban and Kelly Kavanaugh were recognized at the NJSFPE December. Once again, this Spring semester the SFPE will be offering scholarships to qualified Fire Science students. The SFPE is an invaluable supporter of our Fire Science majors and department. They are dedicated professionals who have been supporting our students and program through student scholarships, opportunities for students and faculty to attend special events, symposiums, tours, and monthly meetings. 

Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice Coffee Talks

In April, NJCU alumnus Dr. Emmanuel Pierre-Louis ’09, who is now program director for the Superior Court of New Jersey – Passaic County Gun Violence Reduction Program, held a virtual talk where he discussed his career in law enforcement, shared career advice and potential internships and research positions in the field. Dr. Pierre-Louis is also an adjunct professor at both NJCU and Rutgers University-Newark School of Criminal Justice, as well as a youth minister at Cityline Church, where he serves the youth, young adults, and their families within the community. 

On May 3, M’Balu Bangura M.S. ’16 discussed her career in civil rights advocacy and shared career advice. 

“Lu” Bangura is an experienced civil rights investigator, risk analyst, and diversity, equity, and inclusion professional. She was Baltimore City's first Equity Specialist, tasked with creating, implementing, and managing agency compliance with the City's equity initiative. She considers herself an Inequity Eliminator and has spent her academic and professional career as a social justice advocate and promoter of diversity, equity, and inclusion for all. Lu is currently the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for Enoch Pratt Free Library and Maryland State Library Resource Center.

Women in Policing Research

Dr. Venessa Garcia, Department of Criminal Justice, was invited to present her research on women in policing at Dayton University, Ohio, this past February. She was welcomed by students and faculty. Dr. Garcia and Dr. Anqi Shen, Northumbria University Newcastle, UK, were invited to present at the 2022 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66). Their presentation, “Equity Before Equality for Women Police Around the World: Strategies for Change” was invited for publication in a special issue of the International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice. Continuing her women in policing research, Dr. Garcia was joined by Dr. Janice Clifford, in presenting findings from Dr. Garcia’s national survey of U.S. women police. Together they gave a poster presentation at the Southern Sociological Society in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Garcia also gave a talk to students, professors, and victim advocates at Auburn University on sexual assault against females.