Сŷ��Ƶ

Сŷ��Ƶ Mock Trial Team 

2024 was an excellent year for the Сŷ��Ƶ Mock Trial Team. Coached by Dr. Esther Nir and led by an outstanding student leadership team (Stella Bajor-Gil, Cesar Romero, and Leandra Alexander), the AY 2023-2024 Mock Trial Team students prepared their case for the year’s competition season. They competed in invitational tournaments at several universities, including Farleigh Dickinson University, Drexel University, and Rutgers University, where they continued to perfect their roles as attorneys and witnesses. 

The team also scrimmaged in two rounds against Rider University with exceptional judges and attorneys presiding. Many students placed first or second in practice rounds, and the team was honored to conduct a practice trial in Judge Jablonski’s courtroom. The season concluded with the Regional Tournament at Princeton University in February 2024 with another outstanding performance.

In Fall 2024, a new team was formed for AY 2024-2025. The team had an excellent Fall 2024 season and will compete at Regionals at Princeton University in February 2025. Congratulations and good luck to our 2024-2025 team: Ivanna Ramirez (Captain), Samantha Jaipersaud (President), David Jaipersaud (Vice President), Isabella Pietroski (Director of Public Relations), Andrea Izaguirre, Ariana Garro Chaves, Iris Gonzalez, Delaney Kerr, Johnathan Perez, and Emily Rios.

Criminal Justice Coffee Talks

October was an exciting month for Criminal Justice Coffee Talks. The event series' first speaker was Ramon Aponte, an Сŷ��Ƶ Criminal Justice alum (B.S./M.S.). Aponte served with the Jersey City Police Department starting in 2005 while continuing his military career and retired in 2021. He shared his work history and experience within law enforcement with our students and provided advice for students with career aspirations in the field.

On October 28, the Criminal Justice Department welcomed Professor Kimberly Artist to our Coffee Talk series. Kimberly Artist is an Сŷ��Ƶ adjunct professor, mitigation specialist and consultant with over two decades in the criminal justice field. She is also an alum of Сŷ��Ƶ Criminal Justice (B.S., M.S.). After retiring from federal probation, Kimberly founded Fair Sentencing Advocacy Group and K. Artist Consulting firms that assist defense attorneys with mitigation services for federal defendants. She prepares mitigation reports that highlight personal, family, and systemic factors influencing clients’ lives, with a focus on mental health, adverse childhood experiences, and system failures. Her work supports fair sentencing outcomes, and she has created a platform for providing active learning, critical thinking, and valuable networking to our students.

Faculty Accomplishments

Dr. Venessa Garcia

Dr. Venessa Garcia, Professor, has completed a three-year term as Executive Counselor for the American Society of Criminology. She also served on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ad Hoc Committee and helped to write the first DEI statement for the organization. Dr. Garcia also accepted an invitation to sit on the editorial board of the Sage journal Feminist Criminology.

Dr. Garcia, along with research colleague Dr. Anqi Shen of Northumbria University in the U.K., has signed a book contract with Routledge Publishing for an edited book on women in policing globally. The book will focus on nations with virtually no research in this area. Dr. Garcia also gave a virtual talk to the Department of Psychology at John Jay on November 12th discussing her women in policing research. She also has two forthcoming book chapters, co-authored with Dr. Janice Clifford of Auburn University, on feminist criminology and women in policing.

Dr. William Calathes

Dr. William Calathes' scholarly work, “Tearing Down the Pillars of Traditional Criminal Justice Education: A Critical Pedagogy, Abolition Feminism and Anarchist Approach" was accepted for presentation at the American Society of Criminology's Annual Meeting - November 2024. This scholarly work explores innovative pedagogical strategies for integrating abolitionist and anarchistic perspectives into criminal justice education, aiming to challenge and transform traditional approaches to crime and punishment. By examining the historical and theoretical foundations of abolitionism and anarchism, the article highlights how these radical frameworks offer compelling critiques of the current criminal justice system and propose transformative alternatives and is being submitted for publication. Dr. Calathes also served as a member of the "Engaged Trauma and Informed Choices" Advisory Board in New York City where he works to develop programs and support services for college students suffering from trauma because of their personal experiences with police, or because of incarceration.

Dr. Esther Nir 

Dr. Esther Nir published an article titled, “The Influence of Prior Legal Background on Judicial Sentencing Considerations” with her Penn State-Harrisburg (and former Сŷ��Ƶ) colleague, Dr. Siyu Liu. This article is based on Dr. Nir’s in-depth qualitative interviews with State Court judges. The article examines how judges’ prior prosecutorial, or defense experiences contribute to their judicial decision-making processes. This article was published in the International Journal on Responsibility. Dr. Nir also presented at the American Association of Colleges and Universities Conference in March 2024, along with her Сŷ��Ƶ colleagues Drs. Musial, Pax, Zhang, and Wei on their work related to Community Engaged Learning. 

Dr. Nir also served as a member of the Hudson County Advisory Board for the Reduction of Gun Violence. 

Сŷ��Ƶ Fire Science Present at FDIC International

The Fire Department Instructors Conference, FDIC International as it is known throughout the fire service, is a leading conference that brings together professionals from around the world. Held annually in Indianapolis, Indiana, it is a week-long conference for education of the fire service. 

As Сŷ��Ƶ is a leader in fire service education, we are honored to have four of our own present at this year’s conference.  Presenting at this year’s conference are Deputy Chief Anthony Avillo (Ret.), Deputy Chief Jack Murphy (Ret.), Dr. Denis Onieal (Ret.), and Andy Soccodato, owner, The Water Thieves, a training company. 

Deputy Chief Avillo, travels the country speaking at numerous conferences, and seminars teaching fireground strategies. He has written numerous books and articles and is a major contributor to the NJFMBA Bulletin. His numerous accolades include the honor of earning the Fire Engineering/ISFSI George D. Post Instructor of the Year in 2012 which is awarded annually at the FDIC Conference. This year Deputy Chief Avillo will be presenting “Fireground Strategies: Strategic Decision Making”.

Deputy Chief Murphy, retired from the Leonia Fire Department has always believed in education.  A writer for Fire Engineering, he continues to educate through his articles and serves as an Adjunct Professor. His career includes time serving on the New York Model ICC Building and Fire Codes Program, as the NJ State Deputy Fire Coordinator for Bergen County, and member of NFPA committees for High-Rise Building Safety and Pre-incident Planning. Deputy Chief Murphy’s many accomplishments include being the recipient of the 2012 “Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award” awarded annually at the FDIC Conference. At this year’s conference, Deputy Chief Murphy will be speaking on “Good, Bad, and Ugly High-Rise Construction and Alteration Projects”.

Dr. Onieal, began his career with the Jersey City Fire Dept, moving up the ranks and becoming Chief of Department and an acting adjunct professor in Fire Science at Сŷ��Ƶ. Once leaving Jersey City, he served as the Deputy US Fire Administrator, and superintendent of the National Fire Academy, the county’s leading authority in the fire service. Dr. Onieal will be presenting “Leadership Lessons Learned on the Line” at this year’s conference. 

Besides Andy Soccodato being the owner of The Water Thieves, he also serves as an instructor with the Tennessee State Fire Academy and is on the editorial board of Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment. While at the conference, he will be teaching “Advanced Drafting Operations: Getting Greedy with Your Water in the Rural Environment”.

The Fire Science Department is honored to have these professionals from the Сŷ��Ƶ Fire Science program continue to lead and educate those in the fire service!

Fire Science Major Bailey Fearon Presented at Girl Scout Career Fair Event

Fire Science major Bailey Fearon was a presenter during the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey’s May 2024 ‘See Her Be Her” career fair event at Stevens Institute of Technology.  The program is designed to inspire and expose young girls between the ages of 5 – 8 years old to careers that are considered “not the right gender” to pursue. Bailey presented her work with being on a volunteer fire department as well as her studies at Сŷ��Ƶ in the Fire Science program. She tried to impress upon the girls that with the right education, hard work, and dedication, women could break into the fire service.

Faculty Accomplishments

Professor Anthony Avillo 

Deputy Chief Avillo (Ret.) is a contributing writer for Fire Engineering magazine, a fire service publication, and writes for the New Jersey FMBA Bulletin. 

Professor Avillo has also submitted to Fire Engineering his fourth edition of “Fireground Strategies”, a nationally recognized and university-adopted book used throughout the fire service. The book should be published by late 2024.  Prof. Avillo has presented at over two dozen conferences and seminars throughout the country this year.

Professor Mike Hurley (’93)

Continues his tenure with the U.S. Air Force, working with the Chief of Staff Civic Leadership Team. Professor Hurley recently presented a lecture to the Vermont Air National Guard in Burlington, VT.  He has also recently collaborated with other first responders on a book highlighting their experiences during the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center terrorist attacks.

Alumni Accomplishments

Andy Soccodato

Owner of The Water Thieves, LLC published his first book “Water Thievery: The Art of Water Supply Operations” through Fire Engineering. The book focuses on effective water supply operations which are critical in the fire service.

Captain Alex Degnan (’11) 

Captain with the Jersey City Fire Dept. has published a book by Fire Engineering “Tough Fires: Keeping the Fight”. The book centers on practical application of staying on the offense during difficult circumstances. Captain Degnan is also a contributing writer for Fire Engineering magazine. 

Jerry Naylis 

The owner of Technical Fire Services, Mr. Naylis is a contributing writer for Fire Engineering magazine.  His latest publication in the magazine was February 2024, “After a Freeze-up: Important Next Steps”. 

We are excited to announce the following alumni promotions:                                       

• Tucker Brendle (’15) to Lieutenant, Meadowlands Fire Dept., NJ
• Kevin Cowan (’21) to Captain, Elizabeth Fire Dept., NJ
• Steven Hudson (’15) to Lieutenant, Meadowlands Fire Dept., NJ
• Patrick Klebaur (’17) promoted to Captain, North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue, West New York, NJ
• Matthew Lemons (’22) promoted to Lieutenant, Summit Fire Dept., Summit, NJ
• Sean Redl (’20) to Assistant Fire Marshal, Bergen County, NJ
• Ray Rodriguez (’21) promoted to Captain, Englewood Fire Dept., Englewood, NJ
• Matthew Weisman (’14) promoted to Captain, Jersey City Fire Dept., Jersey City, NJ 

32nd and 33rd Annual Pinning Ceremonies for Graduating Cohorts of Baccalaureate Nursing Students
 

On May 10th, the Nursing department held its Nursing Program Pinning Ceremony to celebrate the Non-Accelerated Graduates, Class of 2024. The tradition of the nursing pin and pinning ceremony is steeped in tradition and has an extensive history dating back to the 1880’s. For a senior nursing student, being pinned signifies completion. The faculty of Сŷ��Ƶ views the Pinning Ceremony as an important rite of passage into the profession of nursing.

 

On Wednesday, August 14th, 2024 a cohort of fifty-seven (57) students within the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program were presented with their Сŷ��Ƶ nursing pins following their completion of the rigorous, three-semester program. 

The tradition of university nursing pinning ceremonies dates to 1880 and honors a long history of presenting badges of excellence in recognition of selfless service. For nursing graduates, the ceremony signifies not only their accomplishments as students but also their promise to serve.

The 2024 pinning ceremony was hosted by former department chairperson Dr. Joyce Wright and program assistant, Samantha Younker. Student excellence awards were presented by new department chairperson Dr. Nelda Ephraim and Interim ABSN Program Coordinator, Michelle Tinglin. Сŷ��Ƶ President Andres’ Acebo and Provost Dr. Donna Breault were in attendance and delivered congratulatory remarks to the graduates and guests.

During her address at the ceremony, Dr. Wright thanked the department faculty, student families, friends, and loved ones for supporting the cohort through the program and for being a part of this beautiful accomplishment and celebration. She expressed her confidence in the graduates of the ABSN program, stating that they are now prepared to become skilled, competent, and compassionate nurses.

“To our new nursing colleagues, you are getting ready to say the one simple phrase over a million times in your career “Hello, I’m going to be your nurse today” It seems so trivial but those words and your actions hold a lot of power for the patients you will be responsible for and caring for. Please never forget that”

Dr. Branchizio, Assistant Professor of the Nursing Department, offered her advice to prepare the students for entering the nursing field:

“As you step into the roles of nurses, remember that this is a privilege and responsibility; nursing is not just about medical knowledge - it’s about passion and empathy for those you are about to serve. You are entering a field that is constantly involving; it requires adaptability, innovation and a lifelong commitment to learning. Embrace these challenges that will shape you into the nurses you will become.”

Provost Breault invited the students to reflect on their time within the program, from their first semester to their graduation, and quoted prominent thinker and educator John Dewey as she parted advice on the nursing graduates, that the “educative process is a continuous process for growth. Having at every stage, an added capacity for growth”

“This is why I asked you earlier to think about what you were like at the start of this program. You’ve changed, you’ve grown; and you will continue to grow in your knowledge and in your skillset.”  Dr. Breault explained, stressing the importance of communication, community, and curiosity. “Understand that this is not the end of your education. Hopefully this program has instilled within you a sense of curiosity and wonder about your profession. And as such, you will continue to learn as you move forward in your career,”

President Acebo expressed the importance of celebrating the pinning ceremony, as the students’ choice to pursue a career in nursing was not an easy undertaking but a worthy one. 

“Reflect on this moment and the truth of what you have accomplished. This is a profession that embraces community, that will comfort, heal and nurture minds and spirits. You’re preparing for a future that gives life more meaning. Every life you touch will be made better,”

Graduating students Sarah Bregna and Alessandra Wojcicki were each presented with awards honoring their success in recognition of student excellence. 

Sarah Bregna’s speech presented the student excellence award to Cohort President Alessandra Wojcicki; in which she praised the president for her dedication and support to her fellow classmates. 

“She is a person who exudes empathy, confidence, humility and compassion in every aspect of her life,” Sarah described, adding: “She is the most selfless and genuinely kind person I ever met.” Sarah also spoke about the cohorts’ shared experiences together which have made them stronger not just as a cohort but as friends and colleagues. 

Cohort President, Alessandra, praised her fellow students for their growth and dedication within the program; praising the level of support the cohort gave to one another; something that was greatly valued during their time as Сŷ��Ƶ students. “It is an incredible honor of mine to stand before you today not just as a fellow graduate but as president of this amazing cohort. Over the past 12 months, we’ve experienced a world of emotions, challenges, and triumphs.” 

Alessandra expressed her thanks to the Nursing Department faculty and the graduates’ families and friends, acknowledging those relationships as the foundations of support that helped her fellow students succeed within the program.

“As we get ready to enter the next stage of our careers as newly registered nurses, let us take a moment to remember why we started this journey. Nursing isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. We’re stepping into a profession that requires passion, resilience, and a never-ending commitment to our patients - it’s crucial to remember that while the technical skills we honed are important, they’re only a part of what makes us truly great nurses.”

The Nursing Department would like to congratulate the ABSN students once again for their dedication and achievements in completing the ABSN program.

Nursing Research Day

On Tuesday, April 20th, 2024, the 37th Nursing Research Day was sponsored by the Nursing Department and held at Сŷ��Ƶ. This is a unique event; all researched topics were requested by the clinical nurses at our collaborative hospitals. Topics varied from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Effects of Family Engagement in Psychiatric Patients, Adolescent Psychosis with Marijuana Usage, and The Effect of Implementing Sepsis Bundles in Adult Patients with Suspected Sepsis are just a few examples. Students have worked all semester for this conference. All Abstracts will be shared with our stakeholders in a collaborative effort. 

ABSN Students Present Research at Monmouth Medical Center

Several students from the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program presented research posters at Monmouth Medical Center. Their research shared abstracts and findings on the studies of COVID-19 - how to detect blood clots early in adult patients – and the effect of implementing sepsis bundles in Adult Patients with Suspected Sepsis (Zady Guzman Amaya, Juan Miguel Belamide, Alexia Morrison, Farzana Nazar). Their visit was also covered in the Monmouth Medical Center newsletter for July 2024. 

School Nurse Program Exhibits at 30th Annual NJSSNA Conference

The 30th annual NJSSNA conference was held at the Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center in New Brunswick, NJ on Friday, March 15th - March 16th, 2024. This conference was attended by registered nurses who are members of the New Jersey State School Nurses Association (NJSSNA) and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN). Exhibitors at the conference included representatives from institutes of higher education (Caldwell University and Chamberlain University), the NJ Department of Health, healthcare providers, insurance companies, and school nursing supply organizations Program Coordinator Dr. Nelda Ephraim represented the Сŷ��Ƶ Graduate School Nurse program and spoke with both current and former Сŷ��Ƶ students, faculty support members, and nurses interested in obtaining their M.S. Degree.

Student Activities and Accomplishments:

Congratulations Selma Pont Fernandez (ABSN)

Selma Pont Fernandez’ Research was presented at the Annual Conference of Innovations in Addiction Medicine and Science.

Weiss, S., Feldman, J., Pont-Fernandez, S., Kheyfets, M., Leggio, L., Nichels, J.D., Smith, K.E., & Epstein, D. (2024). Nonpharmacologic interventions ameliorate withdrawal signs in opioid-dependent adults. Annual Conference of Innovations in Addiction Medicine and Science. Dallas, Texas.

Kappa Eta Inducts 12 Nursing Students into the Honor Society

On March 30th, 2024, Kappa Eta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, representing the Nursing Department at Сŷ��Ƶ was honored to congratulate Sara Teplitsky, BSN, RN, CEN for the Rising Star Award for Leadership.

 

Faculty Accomplishments

Dr. Barbara Blozen EdD, MA, RN, BC, CNL - The Awards Committee of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is pleased to announce the recipient of the Elaine Ellibee Award is Dr. Barbara Blozen, Professor of Nursing, Сŷ��Ƶ. 

Congratulations to Dr. Barbara Blozen, EdD, MA, RN, BC, CNL - elected by her peers to the Board of Directors at The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). 

Dr. Joyce Wright, PhD, RN, CNE - served on the Dissertation Committee, for Rutgers University Candidate, Gerri Kiefer-Necklen, Title of Dissertation and successful defense, The Effects of
Virtual Simulation on Critical Thinking and Clinical Decision Making with Associate Degree Nursing Students.

Sponsorships & Grants

Сŷ��Ƶ Grant # 3520070

In coordination with the Instructional Designer, Silk Web, Dr. Nelda Ephraim is spearheading this project to bring the RN-BSN program/courses to an online format. Respective courses have been assigned and work is in progress.

Grant DOE # Award: P116Z230248 Congressionally Funded Community Projects Program Сŷ��Ƶ, Providing Equitable Access to High-Demand Online Nursing Education 

Private/Foundational Nursing Scholarships awarded over $12,000 to students in all Nursing Programs in April 2024.

Health and Exercise Science Department Hosts 9th Annual Save the Youth Event 

The Health and Exercise Science department hosted its 9th Annual Save the Youth event on April 17, 2024. This event featured over a dozen community organizations such as Victors in Need of Each Other (The Connected – V.I.N.E.), the Anti-Violence Coalition, and many more. Some of the themes highlighted were violence as a public health epidemic, the school-to-prison pipeline, and how to intervene with adverse childhood experiences to prevent negative health outcomes in adulthood. This event supported the mission to raise awareness, educate individuals, and provide resources and mechanisms for community members to help fight against youth violence. This event also helped to promote internships and networking opportunities for students and staff alike. 

Recent Public Health Education Graduate Appointed to Professional Development Committee of National Society of Public Health Education 

Gia Ros, who graduated in Spring 2024, was recently appointed to serve as one of the committee members of the Professional Development Committee of the National Society of Public Health Education (SOPHE). I am honored to be the only student and individual from New Jersey to serve on this committee joining a group of experienced public health professionals from various states.

2024 End-Of-Year Celebration 

In December 2024, the Population Health and Exercise Science department organized an end-of-year celebration for Сŷ��Ƶ Exercise Science students who completed their Adapted Physical Education clinical experience with students from the A. Harry Moore School. This event marked the second year of this valuable collaboration, and we extend our sincere appreciation to Professors Daniel Deshong and Lori Bierig, as well as Dr. Patricia Holzman, for their dedication and efforts in making this partnership both successful and enriching for all students involved. 

Dr. Erin O’Neill Joins the CDC’s National Leadership Academy 

Dr. Erin O’Neill joins the CDC’s National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health (NLAPH) to start a Northeast Hub Collaboration with the intent to make Сŷ��Ƶ a partner. This initiative intends to enhance the diversity of retreat sites, best practices, leadership styles, learning experiences, teaching, and scholarship to contribute to a national, innovative, and proactive Health Equity Leadership mindset for better public health outcomes. 

Conference Presentations: 

April 13, 2024, Dr. Manuela Caciula presented her work at the “4th International Conference on European Healthcare & Hospital Management” 

Faculty Accomplishments Publications:

Lynch, E., & Williamson, J. (2024). Beyond knowledge: Unveiling the hidden link between body image and dietary intake in elite race walkers at risk of relative energy deficiency in sport. Nutrition and health, 2601060241307073. Advance online publication.  

Caciula, M.C., Torres, L., Tomoioaga, S. (2024). A Comparative Study of Mental Health, Body Composition, and Physical Activity in American vs Romanian College Students After COVID-19 Lockdown: Original Research. Journal of Exercise and Nutrition, 7(1).  

D.Sc. Graduate named Director for the Center for Defense and Homeland Security at the Naval Post Graduate School.

Dr. Gregory Bernard, Graduate of the Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Civil Security, Leadership, Management, and Policy (2016) was named Director for the Center for Defense and Homeland Security at the Naval Post Graduate School. His dissertation was titled: “Who is Professor Plum: A Framework for Defining Non-State Adversaries.” 

D.Sc. Graduate Presents at the 2024 Security Cooperation Conference

Dr. Ike Ejikeme, who completed his Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Civil Security Leadership, Management & Policy degree in Spring 2024, presented a paper on October 29 at an international conference in Washington D.C. Derived from his doctoral dissertation on U.S. security cooperation programs in Africa, the paper was co-authored with Dr. Juste Codjo, his former dissertation advisor and D.Sc. Program Coordinator. The  was organized by the Defense Security Cooperation University and gathered security cooperation policymakers, scholars, and practitioners from around the world for three days to foster dialogue and analysis of key issues facing the Security Cooperation community. Attendees included more than 200 U.S. government civilians, over 100 U.S. military members, over 100 civilian researchers, and approximately 50 representatives from foreign governments and international organizations.

DS.c Hooding Ceremony

On May 14, 2024, the Professional Security Studies department held its Doctor of Science in Civil Security, Leadership, Management, and Policy (CSLMP) hooding ceremony to honor its three doctoral graduates who earned their degree at the 2024 Commencement. The following students were hooded at the ceremony:

• Alyza M. Brevard-Rodriguez
• Ike D. Ejikeme
• Daryl Lynch 

The CSLMP doctoral program allows students to study, improve, and develop best practices in civil security with lessons in national security, emergency management, cyber security and defense, homeland security, information assurance, crisis communications, criminal justice, and strategic planning.

New Forensic Studies Minor Now Offered, following Dr. Michael Wiltsey Program Proposal

The original program proposal was submitted in 2023 for the new Minor in Forensic Studies that will be housed in the Department of Professional Security Studies (PSS) and include courses from both the Professional Security Studies Department and the Criminal Justice Department. This minor will be offered in a hybrid format (face-to-face and online) to prepare students for careers in which these applied skills are utilized. 

The purpose of this minor is to provide students with basic knowledge and understanding of forensic areas of study as applied to the fields of National Security, Law Enforcement, Private Security, and Criminal Justice. Students in the Bachelor of Science in National Security Studies program or the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program often seek jobs with local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Some may also seek jobs in the private sector where foundational knowledge of forensic areas may benefit their professional aspirations. Many of these agencies and private companies have assignments that require basic knowledge in, or are completely related to, areas that can be explored in forensic studies. Such areas can include biometric applications and understanding, areas of forensic identification, crime scene investigation units, and behavioral analysis units. For students entering these professions, having a background which includes demonstrated skills in these areas will undoubtedly contribute to their marketability.

The minor in Forensic Studies is designed to provide a strong foundation and detailed technical knowledge in forensic areas, including an overview of forensics, crime scene investigation, fingerprint and palm print examination, bloodstain pattern analysis, and forensic psychology. In addition, the minor will introduce students to relevant areas of the criminal justice field that have a strong connection with forensics. The program will require (18) semester hours of courses, consisting of (9) semester hours from Professional Security Studies and (9) semester hours from Criminal Justice.

The overall goal of this new program is to provide students with the background knowledge in theory and practice in forensic studies and to understand these applied areas of learning. In addition, students will learn practical skills to be applied in their career searches. Students will experience hands-on practice of real-world skills.  

Professional Security Studies Hosts Annual National Security Symposium

On July 11, 2024, the Professional Security Studies department hosted its 12th Northeast Regional Security Education Symposium. This symposium brought together a distinguished group of experts to discuss the critical challenges and emerging trends within the field of security with a focus on the threat of fraud in the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency landscape. The event highlighted the complexities and challenges of preventing fraudulent activity in this digital domain and stressed the need for collaborative efforts to safeguard financial systems. In addition, it provided a platform for in-depth discussions which included topics such as preventative and investigative strategies.

Throughout the symposium, panel discussions focused on the growing threat of cryptocurrency fraud. The panel provided an overview of the different types of fraud within the cryptocurrency space including Ponzi schemes and phishing attacks. Experts from both the public and private sector shared their perspectives on defending against these threats and the importance of community engagement in preventing such threats. 

The symposium also included presentations of case studies that depicted real instances of cryptocurrency fraud. These case studies provided valuable examples and explanations on the vulnerabilities within the cryptocurrency domain and highlighted successful strategies for mitigating such risks.

The event also offered opportunities in networking, allowing participants to exchange ideas, build professional relationships, and explore potential collaborations. Attendees included representatives from law enforcement agencies, government agencies, and university faculty, staff, and students.

Faculty Presentations & Publications

“A Model for Understanding Adversary Reactions to the Information Tools of Statecraft,” Fisher, Scott and Codjo, Juste; Information Forces Indo-Pacific 2024 (INFOPAC) conference, Honolulu, HI, October 2024. 

“Information as a Tool for Deterring or Punishing Baku – How Armenia Can Target Azeri Weaknesses to Help Counter Baku’s Military Power,” Fisher, Scott; Technological, Operational, and Societal Developmental Factors to Enhance Armenia’s Security over the Coming Decade Panel Discussion, Analysis Research & Planning for Armenia (ARPA) Institute, November 2024.

“North Korean Public Diplomacy: How Pyongyang Discussed Covid,” Fisher, Scott; 2024 Kyujanggak International Symposium, Seoul, Korea, November 2024

Cybersecurity Threats using Application Programming Interface (API)
A Kamruzzaman, K Thakur, ML Ali
2024 International Conference on Computing, Internet of Things and Microwave Systems (ICCIMS)

The Application of Layered Authentication in Cybersecurity
ML Ali, K Thakur, MA Obaidat
2024 International Conference on Computing, Internet of Things and Microwave Systems (ICCIMS)

Cybersecurity and AI seminar
Date November 11 and 12 Dubai, UAE
Topic: Revolutionizing real-time detection and response through anomaly detection and behavior analysis.

Dr. Rosen and Colleague Research Cited in Chile newspaper

Dr. Abdullah Alhayajneh

October 4th, 2024: Сŷ��Ƶ-HCCC Faculty and Dean’s Event in the Culinary Conference Center at Hudson County Community College

The goal of the successful meeting was to strengthen the relationships between faculty at HCCC and Сŷ��Ƶ, enabling us to better serve students in CONNECT programs between Сŷ��Ƶ and HCCC.

October 2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Month Presentation

Dr. Abdullah emphasized the importance of protecting your future by mastering the skills to safeguard data and systems. Cybersecurity Awareness Month highlights a growing need for individuals, businesses, and governments to understand and prioritize cyber safety in an increasingly digital world. 

At Сŷ��Ƶ’s Adult and Continuing Education, our online Cybersecurity Certification programs are designed to build your credibility and help you stay ahead in this fast-evolving field. With guidance from our expert Cybersecurity Department, we provide a clear pathway to success in this dynamic industry. 

November 15th, 2024: Cybersecurity Bootcamp, Union College (NJ)

Dr. Abdullah Alhayajneh conducted a full-day in-person Cybersecurity Bootcamp.
During the Bootcamp, different important cybersecurity topics were discussed and there were hands-on labs. These events are important for introducing Сŷ��Ƶ’s cybersecurity programs to Union College students and encouraging them to join. Two staff members from the Сŷ��Ƶ Admission office and the Transfer office also attended the event. 

• "Proactively Defending Enterprise Computer Systems Against Threats and Vulnerabilities". Journal: Computer and Information Science; Vol. 17, No. 2; 2024 ISSN 1913-8989 E-ISSN 1913-8997. Published by the Canadian Center of Science and Education.