Doing What Comes Naturally Page 6 Helping Patients Breathe Easier Page 8 Teaching Students to Mind Their Own Business Page 10 Page 14 LAUNCHING YOUR FUTURE How to Pick the Right Career Connections COUNTY COLLEGE of MORRIS Connecting Learning & Life | Winter/Spring 2014 magazine Winter/Spring 2014 Courses Page 20
County College of Morris (CCM) Spring 2014 issue of Connections magazine. Featured in this issue of Connections are several outstanding faculty members, along with the Communication, Respiratory Therapy, Business Career and Administration programs. As always, you can also find more about all that your community college has to offer at www.ccm.edu.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Doing What Comes NaturallyPage 6
Helping Patients Breathe EasierPage 8
Teaching Students to Mind Their Own BusinessPage 10
Page 14
LAUNCHING YOUR
FUTUREHow to Pick the Right Career
ConnectionsCounty College of Morris
Connecting Learning & Life | Winter/Spring 2014 magazine
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CCM Graduates Transfer to Leading Colleges and Universities
The County College of Morris Transfer Office makes it easy for students to transfer to four-year colleges and universities to earn their bachelor’s degrees or higher. Here are some of the four-year institutions where recent graduates have enrolled.
Boston University
Centenary College
College of St. Elizabeth
Cornell University
Drew University
Emerson College
Fashion Institute of Technology
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Harvard University
Montclair State University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New York University
Oregon State University
Penn State
Ramapo College
Rowan University
Rutgers University
Savannah College of Art and Design
Seton Hall University
Temple University
The College of New Jersey
University of Arizona
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
University of Miami
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Oregon
University of Florida
William Paterson University
Yale University
The opportunity and help I have received here is better than any I could have expected from anywhere else in the world.
~ Sean Moore, CCM Class of 2013
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship recipient (see page 5)
One of the things I enjoy most about serving as president of County College of Morris
(CCM) is how often I get to see the way people are able to turn their lives around as
a result of obtaining a high-quality education. Every semester, there are students who
come here uncertain and unclear about their direction. Speaking with them, they tell me
how the help and instruction they found here transformed their lives and put them onto
the pathway to success.
Students who were unclear about their direction are now graduates who have gone on
to pursue their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at Ivy League and other leading
institutions around the country and in New Jersey. Many have become leaders in the
fields of business, criminal justice, nursing and numerous other fields, while others have
started their own successful companies and added new jobs to our economy.
We also are an affordable resource for anyone looking to start their college education
and for those looking to improve their skills or transition to a new career. By starting at
CCM – where tuition is $3,228 per year for a 24-credit course load – students can save
as much as $50,000 or more on the total cost of a bachelor’s degree. What that means
is you could earn your bachelor’s from the school of your choice debt free or with a
manageable student loan.
Our smaller class sizes also allow students to develop connections with professors
who often become lifelong mentors. At CCM, students find professors who are first
and foremost teachers – teachers with a passion for helping people of all ages and
backgrounds to unleash their skills and talents. Throughout the pages of this issue, you
can see how that passion is manifested and works to improve lives.
The people of Morris County have great reason to take pride in their community college.
This is where transformation takes place on an ongoing basis. It’s part of our mission
and fiber – to help people bring about lasting change in their lives.
Sincerely,
Dr. Edward J. Yaw
President, County College of Morris
ConneCtions | Winter/Spring 2014 | 1 |
NEWSCCM President Visits Russia as a Fulbright ScholarA longtime supporter of international exchanges, Dr. Edward J. Yaw, president of County College of Morris (CCM), was awarded a Fulbright Scholar Grant to take part in a Community College Administrators Seminar (CCAS) in Russia this past spring.
As one of five Fulbright participants, Yaw spent two weeks meeting with higher education and other officials in Kazan and Moscow, sharing ideas about professional education and workforce development with the goal of expanding international opportunities at CCM for faculty and students.
Yaw’s interest in international education traces back to his high school days when he became the first student in his hometown of Potsdam, NY to take part in an exchange program. Through the American Field Service, he was able to spend a summer as an exchange student in Berlin. At CCM, he has overseen the
development of a number of programs to encourage international exchange opportunities for faculty and students.
In keeping with one of the themes of the CCAS program – sharing ideas – Yaw wrote a blog while in Russia to share his experiences with those both inside and outside of the CCM community. The blog, featuring photos, anecdotes and insights, can be found at http://ccmfulbright.wordpress.com/.
CCM Offers Nutrition TrackBeginning with the 2013 Fall Semester, County College of Morris (CCM) has begun offering biology students the option of adding a nutrition concentra-tion to their major.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic, jobs in the field of nutrition are expected to grow up to 20 percent by the year 2020, which is considered faster than average in relation to overall occupational growth.
The nutrition track combines biology coursework with food science and nutrition classes to prepare students to transfer to bachelor’s programs leading to a Registered Dietitian (RD) credential or Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTR) certification.
RDs and DTRs work in a wide variety of settings educating people about the connections between food, health and fitness including hospitals and other healthcare facilities, and with sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs. They also can find employment in food and pharmaceutical companies directing or conducting experiments and in colleges, universities and medical centers teaching others about the science of food and nutrition.
Many four-year schools in the area offer a bachelor's in nutrition, including Rutgers University, Montclair State University and the College of Saint Elizabeth, along with Columbia University, New York University and Cornell University.
The nutrition option is in addition to the culinary and occupational therapy assistant programs CCM launched last year to help students take advantage of strong job growth areas.
Clockwise from top: Students greet Fulbright Scholars at the Elabuga Institute with a traditional Tartarstan Dance; A falconer makes himself available for photo opportunities; The Assumption Cathedral is a major attraction within the Kremlin.Ph
otos
: Dr. E
dwar
d J.
Yaw
| 2 | County College of Morris | www.ccm.edu
NOTESandSee CCM on YouTubeWant a fun way to learn about County College of Morris (CCM), its faculty and student life? Then take a look at some of the videos on CCM’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/user/CountyCollegeMorris. From that channel, you can watch:
• Discover the state-of-the-art facilities CCM offers its students
• How to Make Cherries Jubilee, an impressive but easy-to-create dessert
• Watch a time-lapsed video of artist and Professor Todd L.W. Doney painting a landscape
BASF Internship Prepares Former Mechanic, Tristan DeBona, for Scientific ResearchMicrobes, zeolites and diesel oxidation catalysts, along with other scientific topics, are easily explained by Tristan DeBona in words that make the complex understandable.
A biology student at County College of Morris (CCM), DeBona, of Randolph, plans to pursue a career in scientific research. This past summer, he was able to further advance in that direction as CCM’s first intern at BASF, working in one of the research labs at the world’s leading chemical company.
"It's a great opportunity for a former mechanic who enjoys working with his hands,” said DeBona. As he explains, “high school was not a shining time for me,” so he went on to become a car mechanic repairing BMWs and MINI Coopers. Coming home covered in brake dust day after day, however, soon sparked a desire for something more.
Initially, he started at CCM as a music major thinking he would pursue a career with a recording studio. But it was the science bug that eventually won him over.
"A lot of people are afraid of math, technology and science. It’s true; it’s not easy. It’s the most difficult area you can pursue,” said DeBona. “There’s a domino effect, however, that takes place once you start learning these areas. You get interested and you want to start learning more. It’s fun.”
Top Five Reasons for Earning Your Associate Degree
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SuccessStudent
Stories From CCM
1 You’ll save significantly on the cost of
your higher education – as much as
$50,000 or more. At CCM, tuition and
fees are $3,228 per year for 24 credits. 2 You’ll earn more in your lifetime
than a high school graduate does.
Students who earn an associate degree
or certificate earn 22 percent more
on average than someone who only
completed high school.
| 4 | County College of Morris | www.ccm.edu
Prestigious Scholarship Allows Sean Moore to Pursue Human Rights DreamPrior to graduating from County College of Morris (CCM) this past May, Sean Moore, of Boonton, learned he was one of only 73 recipients selected nationwide to receive the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Founda-tion Undergraduate Scholarship.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation supports outstanding community college students by providing them with up to $30,000 per year for two to three years to earn their bachelor’s degrees. As a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar, Moore also is eligible for an additional $50,000 scholarship to pursue graduate studies.
Moore’s story is particularly remarkable given the tragedy and uncertainty he has faced in life.
“When I was 8 years old and in first grade, I lost my parents to a murder– suicide committed by my father,” explains Moore. “That derailed any sort of immediate academic interest. I lost faith in people as well as any chance of having a normal life at that point.”
After high school, Moore began traveling in an attempt to make sense of life. He wound up in Mexico, where he witnessed more heartache, but also found a renewed faith in mankind. He was invited by a family to live with them though they barely had enough to survive themselves.
“Seeing those residents – who only have the option of working in a dangerous factory for nothing while receiving no benefits – help me while I had the option of returning home, it was truly transformative,” says Moore.
He decided to return to New Jersey and enroll at CCM. Moore’s goal is to become a leader in the areas of human rights and labor law to help make life better for others.
“I don’t think any other community college could have put me in a better position than CCM,” he says. “The opportunity and help I have received here is better than any I could have expected from anywhere else in world.”
3 You’ll find good-paying jobs with an as-
sociate degree in such fields as criminal
justice, engineering, fashion design,
nursing, physical therapy, radiography,
respiratory therapy, and more. 4 You’ll have the opportunity to develop
your leadership and communications
skills both in and outside the classroom
by taking part in a range of student life
and athletic programs. 5 You’ll find it easier to transfer to a
four-year school should you wish to earn
your bachelor’s degree. In New Jersey an
associate degree counts as the first two
years of a bachelor’s degree at each of the
state’s public institutions.
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ConneCtions | Winter/Spring 2014 | 5 |
By Nancy Dreyfus
If you think you would enjoy working in a public relations firm, on the set of a television show or writing for an online or print publication, the Department of Communication at County College of Morris (CCM) opens the door to training for those fields and many more.
“In this age, the concept of learning a set of skills, finding a job and applying just those skills to the job is over,” says Dr. Matthew Jones, chair of the Department of Communication. “What most employers are looking for are people with critical-thinking and problem-solving skills who can take knowledge and apply it in new ways.”
Communication majors at CCM study a variety of offerings in liberal arts and technical communications leading to an Associate in Arts degree in communication, journalism or broadcasting. In the process, they also learn communication theory as it relates to culture, aesthetics and society.
The CCM program also includes a strong internship component to provide students with practical, hands-on experience. Recent student internships have included writing for Goddess Connections (an online beauty magazine), working in broadcast TV production for The Wendy Williams Show and honing public relations skills at
organizations such as the AMA Fight Club martial arts studio. Journalism majors gain experience by writing for the CCM student newspaper, The Youngtown Edition, or local newspapers such as the Daily Record.
Bringing Real-World Experience To Students
In addition, faculty members bring real-world experience to the classroom, having worked for such cutting-edge organizations as Google, MTV, The New York Times and recent presidential campaigns.
To graduate, students must show proficiency in written, oral and interpersonal communications, as well as technological competencies. The program prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges as communication majors or for specializa-tion in media, journalism, speech, film, radio and TV, new media, public relations or advertising.
Jones points out that graduates who enter the communications field experience a high level of job satisfaction.
“Human beings are natural communicators, so people in the field of communication are not only doing a job but building their own identities.”
Doing What Comes
NaturallyCommunication
| 6 | County College of Morris | www.ccm.edu
Faculty ProfileViewing Life through the Prism of Narrative and ComicsDr. Matthew Jones, Chair, Assistant Professor, Communication
Dr. Matthew Jones, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Communication at County College of Morris (CCM), has long found the relationship between cinema and comics intriguing as evidenced in his first book, Found in Translation: Structural and Cognitive Aspects of the Adaptation of Comic Art to Film.
“I see my interest in comic art as complemen-tary to my interest in film, media and culture in general,” says Jones. “However, I’ve always preferred independent and underground work to mainstream products.”
He notes that comic art has a long history. “First, it has a history in modern times that stretches back to the birth of the newspaper as the first mass medium. More broadly, though, foreshadowing of comic art as a medium can be seen in Egyptian art, Asian pictographic writing systems and even in prehistoric cave paintings.”
A More Honest Interpretation Of Society
Of particular significance, comics provide a gritty interpretation of society generally not portrayed by the mass media.
“Hollywood movies and classic literature tend to offer a sanitized picture of ourselves the
way we’d like to be seen,” says Jones. “The ‘rubbish,’ such as newspaper broadsheets, old crime comics and the underground comics of the ’60s, gives us culture in the raw.”
Jones’ passion for comics and films has followed him throughout his academic career. Most recently, he was asked to present a paper at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH, as part of the Illustration, Comics and Anima-tion Conference.
Sharing Values Through Storytelling
In the classroom, Jones uses his fascination with the cultural narrative of films and comics to encourage students to share their values through storytelling.
“I had a speech class where the students’ last assignment was to take one episode in their lives, turn it into a narrative and use it to persuade listeners about a personal value that they held,” he recalls. “One student shared a story about how he traveled to South America to help rebuild a village that had been wiped out in a storm. He seized on that as an experience that illustrated a value he held and did a hands-down tremendous job from beginning to end. He learned from it; I learned from it, and it turned out to be something that the entire class benefited from.”
I decided to study communications because media has a huge impact on everything our society believes and does. I didn’t know that I could write until I came to CCM. My English professor encouraged me to explore the written word, and once I did many opportunities opened up. Being the editor of the school newspaper was crucial to my development as a writer and enabled me to secure an internship with an online beauty magazine. In my current position with a marketing agency, the writing skills I developed at CCM have helped me to extend my talents into public relations, website content and blog writing.
Laura Bozzi, ’13, Associate in Arts, Journalism
Montclair State University, Class of 2015
Public Relations Specialist, Hudson Horizons, Saddle Brook
”
”Photo: Shelley Kusnetz Photography
ConneCtions | Winter/Spring 2014 | 7 |
By Nancy Dreyfus
“Respiratory therapists really have an impact on the health and well-being of the patient,” says Associate Professor John Rutkowski at County College of Morris (CCM). “They see patients from the time they come into the hospital from emergent situations to the day they go home.”
CCM offers an Associate in Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy. Upon graduation, students can take an exam to obtain their respiratory therapist licenses and begin their careers or go on to a four-year college to earn additional degrees in such areas as advanced respiratory therapy, health sciences, physician assistant, nursing and other specialties. In addition to classroom time, CCM respiratory therapy students participate in clinical practice, working with instructors on patients in hospital settings.
Treating The Entire Spectrum Of Life
Respiratory therapists treat adults with chronic obstructive lung disease or lung cancer and also assist patients after cardiac surgery and following traumatic injuries. They also work with children who have asthma, cystic fibrosis and respiratory problems. “It’s especially rewarding when therapists work with children and you see them get better,” says Rutkowski.
“We see the entire spectrum of life in our profession – from the day some-one’s born to people who are more than 100 years old.”
The job, he notes, can be especially rewarding. “Just seeing people recover from things like severe trauma from an automobile accident where they may have been unable to breathe effectively or communicate is gratifying.”
With his students, Rutkowski takes special care to stress that they need to pay particular attention when treating nonresponsive patients. “No matter how unconscious a patient might appear to you, make sure you treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve,” he conveys. “They may be quite aware of what’s going on and remember what was said and done later on.”
Offering A Wide Range Of Career Opportunities
Respiratory therapists work in a variety of healthcare settings. “About 85 percent of our graduates go on to work in acute care in hospitals. You can also work in physicians’ offices, skilled nursing facilities, insurance companies, medical equipment manufacturers and the patient's home,” says Rutkowski.
According to Rutkowski, the ideal respiratory therapy student is someone who can combine academic skills and people skills.
“Respiratory therapists tend to see the patients when they’re having their most difficult times, so it’s important to be able to communicate with patients and understand what they are experiencing.”
For Associate Professor John Rutkowski, respiratory therapy is not only a career, but a way of life. He’s worked in the field for 44 years as a therapist, hospital manager, teacher and community activist.
“My first experience with the field was when my father had heart trouble while I was still in high school,” he recalls. After graduating, Rutkowski took a part-time job at a local hospital working as an inhalation therapy technician.
“In those days, you didn’t have to have a degree,” says Rutkowski.
“You learned on the job.”
He eventually decided to attend St. Joseph Hospital in Lancaster, PA and York College of Pennsylvania. “Most of the class was
already working on the job and felt the only way to get better at it was to
get some formal education.” After earning his Associate of Science degree, he earned his bachelor’s degree from
Jersey City State College
(now New Jersey City University),
MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University
and MPA from Seton Hall University.
Making A Difference Daily
The job of a respiratory thera-pist, he says, has many rewards as you get to see the difference you can make in a person’s life.
“When I was still in school, I remember this frail lady in her 70s who had severe emphysema,” he recalls. “My fellow students and I would take her for walks with the ventilator so she could move around. She really enjoyed that. Some of the patients we worked with felt so desperate and nonfunctional that even walking 50 or 60 feet was a tremendous experience.”
He says the most challenging patients were those with severe asthma. “They just kept struggling and struggling and sometimes you’d be there for hours at a time before the medication was effective and you coached them to breathe more efficiently,” he says. “Most of the time it’s just the respiratory therapist and the family in the room.”
Changing Policy Through Service
A strong believer in the power of community and professional service, Rutkowski’s work in those areas contributed to changing school policy in the state so students with asthma can carry their own medications to use when needed. In his spare time, he volunteers with the Pediatric and Adult Asthma Coalition in New Jersey and the American Lung Association. He has also provided testimony at Environmental Protection Agency hearings on clean air legislation.
Respiratory therapy, notes Rutkowski, can be a difficult field, but it’s also one where colleagues support each other.
“As a profession, we have an extensive network of colleagues always ready to help each other across the state, the nation and internationally.”
Faculty ProfileThe Air that He BreathesJohn Rutkowski, Program Director, Associate Professor, Respiratory Therapy
”” I studied respiratory therapy because I wanted to work in a field I was passionate about,
that benefited people and that I would enjoy getting up every day to do. When I was a child, I had complications with asthma, so I was familiar with respiratory therapists and the hospital environment. I knew I would like this major, but I was surprised at just how much I loved it. The professors have all worked in the medical field and have carried that experience into the curriculum at CCM. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. Respiratory therapy offers a career where I can continue to grow, move up and earn enough to support my son and myself.
Sarah O’Doherty, ’13, Associate in Applied Science, Respiratory Therapy
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ConneCtions | Winter/Spring 2014 | 9 |
Teaching Students to
Mind Their Own BusinessBusiness Career and Administration
By Nancy Dreyfus
In his 30-plus years teaching business courses at County College of Morris (CCM), Chair and Professor of Business Dr. Anthony F. Cupo has seen students accomplish great things.
“Many have gone on to attain successful professional careers, such as becoming medical doctors and corporate executives,” he says. Recently, two students from the Class of 2012 were instrumental in founding the Young Entrepreneurs club at CCM and went on to start their own successful business – Collegiate Sun – branding sunglasses with college logos while continuing their higher education at Cornell University.
A Degree With Universal Applications
“Business has universal applications,” he says. “Everything we do is related to business, from the moment we wake up every morning. Talk about having the right degree, you can apply it to every walk of life."
CCM offers an Associate in Applied Science Business Career degree which prepares graduates to directly enter the job market and apply for entry-level or mid-level business positions in administrative, office or sales work. The college also offers an
Associate in Science in Business Administration to meet the needs of students who want to transfer to a four-year school and earn a bachelor’s degree. Those students find
work in such areas as junior management, finance and banking. CCM business graduates who have chosen this route have attended many highly competitive institutions of higher
learning including Rutgers, Cornell, New York University and Princeton University.
CCM business students are able to gain on-the-job experience through cooperative courses and internships with local businesses such as the National Football League's New York Jets, Tiffany & Co., Nordstrom and Newton Memorial Hospital.
Education Built On Experience
“What makes the CCM business curriculum so strong is our faculty,
known for its extensive corporate and entrepreneurial experience," says Dr. Cupo.
“The faculty provides the students with varied hands-on projects involving inves-
tigation, research and case-study analysis. They give personalized attention, and, as a result, students are totally engaged and develop close relationships with their professors.”
He adds that students are also held to a high standard of performance. “Appearance is a huge plus. Students should strive to dress like success, appear like success, walk like success, talk like success – and then chances are good, they’ll be a success!”
| 10 | County College of Morris | www.ccm.edu
I didn’t do too well in high school. I was kind of a slacker. I woke up after taking my first class at CCM. I realized that if I worked hard, I could succeed, which is what I did. I definitely learned a lot about the business profession at CCM. I got close with professors there and still keep in touch with some of them. Toward the end of my sophomore year, I started Collegiate Sun, a growing company which currently supplies college-branded sunglasses to more than 80 schools and in more than 35 stores. CCM was definitely a stepping stone to success for me.
Anthony Scandariato, ’12, Associate in Business Administration
Cornell University, Class of 2014
Cofounder of Collegiate Sun
The business world offers many rewards as well as some quirky experiences, says Maureen Sutton, assistant chair and assistant professor of the Department of Business at County College of Morris (CCM).
“I remember returning from a flight to Mexico and having to sleep in the airport,” Sutton recalls. “It was probably the longest night in my life. I had a stomach ailment and I slept on the floor at the Houston airport waiting for a flight to Newark. The next morning, weather conditions were getting worse, the bathrooms were getting dirtier and there were rumors that the airport was running out of food.” She heard that the only flight leaving was headed for Cleveland, so she ran to the gate, got a ticket and took that flight out. Fortunately, she was eventually able to get a connecting flight home.
When she traveled to Japan, she encountered gender bias. “The men wouldn’t look me in the eye when I spoke,” she says. “They would only look at the men I was traveling with. It’s just one of those things. You can’t get upset; it’s just part of the culture.”
From International Finance To The Classroom
Sutton worked in international finance for AT&T for almost 20 years, overseeing the funding of joint ventures in Europe, South America and Asia. She had staff in Hong Kong, Tokyo and London and occasionally flew overseas to manage them.
She enjoyed her work, but was bitten by the teaching bug while still at AT&T. “AT&T had a Financial Leadership Program hiring people out of college and mentoring them. I taught a number of classes in the program and really liked it.”
She relates very strongly to the students who enter her classes to better their lives.
“My dad didn’t even graduate from high school,” she says. “He had to drop out in 10th grade because his father died during the Depres-sion. He always emphasized education because it could provide a job that you liked and open up all sorts of doors for you. Many of our students don’t come from wealthy upbringings; I didn’t either. It was an education that got me to this stage in my life.”
””
Faculty ProfileStepping Through Doors to Opportunity
Maureen Sutton, Assistant Chair, Assistant Professor, Business
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ConneCtions | Winter/Spring 2014 | 11 |
By Dana Ahern
Without residence halls on campus, many students at County College of Morris (CCM) might be inclined to come to class and then go home or straight to work. Doing so, however, means they miss the opportunity to get involved, make new friends and develop their skills. When Anhelina Mahdzyar, a computer science major, began her second semester at CCM, she decided she did not want to be that type of student. She wanted a full college experience.
With more than 40 student organizations and 10 athletic programs, CCM offers students plenty of options for getting involved and connected with other students.
The first CCM club Mahdzyar joined was the Volunteer Club. Serving as vice president, she helped to revamp the club, increasing its membership and activities. Along with helping to build several Habitat for Humanity houses and other community projects, club members ran a food and clothing drive after Superstorm Sandy to help victims. Next she joined the Outdoors Club as secretary. Last year, she also served as the senate leader for the Student Government Association (SGA).
Developing Leadership Skills As A Solo Traveler
An avid traveler and backpacker, Mahdzyar credits much of her leader-ship abilities and outgoing nature to her experiences abroad. While in high school, she saved for her first backpack-ing trip to Europe. The summer after she graduated, she flew to Europe alone
and has backpacked through various countries every summer since then.
“I’ve learned so many life skills, how to be self-sufficient and confident. I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for people and different cultures,” she says. “When traveling alone, you learn a lot about yourself and how to connect better with different people."
Moving to the United States from Ukraine with her family when she was 7 years old, she also learned at a young age how to stay self-motivated.
“My parents do not speak fluent English and were not always able to help me with my homework,” she recalls. “I had to learn how to reach out for help and keep myself motivated.”
The Value Of Getting Involved
At CCM, this year she is serving as president of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. In addition, she is chair of the Interclub Council of the SGA and is working with the Women in STEM Club to support female students interested in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
Mahdzyar believes there is a lot of value in students getting involved on campus.
“It brings a lot of life to CCM and really helps students to develop as individuals and leaders,” she says.
Student Profile
“Getting involved brings a lot of life to CCM and really helps students to develop as individuals and leaders.”
How a Love of Travel Developed a Leader Anhelina Mahdzyar, Computer Science
Photo: Shelley Kusnetz Photography
| 12 | County College of Morris | www.ccm.edu
By Rick Burchfield
If you only knew Matt Roché as a doctor of clinical psychology and read about his impressive academic and research background, you’d probably determine that he had mapped out his career path during his teenage years.
However, it was a conversation with a County College of Morris (CCM) professor that helped set the Chatham native and New Providence resident on his current track.
Aiming Higher
“Janice Rafalowski, (CCM psychology professor), asked me if I had ever thought about transferring to a place like Cornell,” says Roché, who graduated with an honors associate degree in liberal arts from CCM in 2003. Roché, who never had entertained the thought, says Rafalowski strongly believed he could do so.
“That was literally the moment when I said that’s where I was going if I was accepted,” recalls Roché.
Roché was accepted to Cornell and graduated in May of 2005 with a degree in human development and a GPA of 4.08 on 4.3 scale. After graduation he became a research assistant at Princeton where he studied Asperger syndrome with the hope of providing children with improved interventions. The experience led to his acceptance into the doctoral program at Binghamton University, where he spent time researching individuals at-risk for the development of schizophrenia.
Research Brings New Insight
Roché, who interned at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
– now Rutgers – while studying for his doctorate, is currently working in the Divi-sion of Schizophrenia Research at Rutgers as a postdoctoral fellow. The three-year program allows him to lecture at New Jersey City University while researching. He hopes that research can make a difference in the lives of those who suffer from schizophrenia and other mental disorders. One area in which he has particular interest is violence and mental illness.
“In many people’s minds, serious mental illness is associated with violence,” says Roché. “The truth is, people with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence than to be violent themselves.
When they are violent, it is often in response to the aggressiveness of others.”
Professors Who Make A Difference
Roché believes his path would have been very different had he not decided to attend CCM after working in retail management for two years after high school.
“CCM was definitely a necessary stop along the way,” he says. “Without all of the people like (Professor Laura) Gabrielson and Professor Rafalowski, this would never have happened.”
Alumnus Profile
Career with a Purpose Begins at CCMMatt Roché, ’03, Associate in Liberal Arts
“CCM was definitely a necessary stop along the way.”
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ConneCtions | Winter/Spring 2014 | 13 |
How to Pick the Right CareerBy Kari Hawkins, Coordinator of Transfer Services
"What do I want to be when I grow up?" Chances are you have asked yourself this question at least once in your lifetime, and many of us are still asking this question right now. If you are like the majority of people, the answer to this question may not be so obvious. And while conven-tional wisdom suggests that our career aspirations will come into focus as we get older, the idea that the market on career uncertainty has been cornered by the young and inexperienced is shortsighted. Ultimately, regardless of age, maturity or even occupational security, gaining a clearer perception of what we truly want out of our careers can be elusive.
Thankfully, though, these answers are attainable... with
a little hard work and planning.
Craft A Career Plan
Like most meaningful endeavors, crafting a career plan is a commitment, requiring you to dedicate time, effort and energy. We use the words “job” and “career” interchangeably, but unlike a job, a career is a lifelong journey that integrates our emerging ambitions and established priorities. Successful career planning involves setting achievable goals and making decisions based on self-knowledge, research and discovery.
If you were asked to define career success, how would you respond? Your response would undoubtedly be different from that of your friend, peer, colleague, partner, parent or sibling. Whether you measure career success by the paycheck received, people helped, degree earned or opportunity seized, it is important to remember one thing – it’s possible.
Know YourselfWhether you’re just getting started or making a career change, think first
about how well you know yourself. Self-awareness plays a significant role in the career exploration process. Who you are is defined by your likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses and values. Ask yourself these questions: “What problems do I like to solve?” “What do I enjoy learning?” “What do I expect out of my career?” Play to your strengths; focus on developing skills and engaging in experiences that highlight what you do best. Your values are what motivate you to work. Clarify your values; prioritize what is most important to you and make sure you can identify the connection between your core work values and occupational choice. It’s important to recognize these characteristics as they may conflict with your career choices. For example, if you enjoy hands-on work and being outdoors, pursuing a career in information technol-ogy may not be the best choice. When you choose a major or make a career decision based on the facts, you will feel more confident with your choice. A variety of career assessments are available to help you explore your self-concept and to identify careers that are most suitable to your personality, skills and interests.
Pursue Your InterestsPursue your interests by getting involved outside of the classroom. Join a club, volunteer, take a part-time job related to your major. Participation in these co-
Launching
Your
FEATURED RESOURCESFEATURED RESOURCESg Craft A Career Plan• Career Development Course (PSY 112) – Students establish,
change or confirm career goals and learn skills necessary for ongoing career and life planning (for CCM students).
• Workshops – Office of Counseling and Student Success (for CCM students)
› Career Discovery Series – Four-part workshop series on making effective career decisions, an in-depth exploration
› Career Choices – Career assessment tools to better under-stand which careers/majors match your personality, interests, values and abilities
g Know Yourself• Career Assessments – Office of Counseling and Student
Success (for CCM students)
› FOCUS Online Career Guidance
› Strong Interest Inventory
› Career Decision-Making System
• Get involved – Campus Life (for CCM students)
› More than 40 student clubs including co-curricular clubs, honor societies, special interest clubs, religious organizations, recreational clubs, service organizations, and governance and planning organizations
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curricular activities develops skills in leadership, organization, teamwork and communication. These skills transfer to your professional life and can be featured on your resume and discussed during an interview.
Assessing your personality is one of the more reliable methods of career exploration. Research suggests personality traits are inborn and remain consistent throughout your lifespan. Understanding how your personality relates to academic majors and occupational choices will guide your search. You’ve heard the saying “birds of a feather flock together.” If an occupation is compatible with your personality, individuals with similar personality characteristics will seek related opportunities, creating a more satisfying work environment. Similar to individuals, work environments also have personalities. Research environmental differences at companies or organizations where you might want to seek employment. When you align your values with the values of an organization, you are likely to have a more fulfilling work experience.
Research Your OptionsIncreasing your knowledge of the world of work is critical in creating your career path. How could you possibly know what you want to do if you don’t know what is out there? Of course you are more comfortable with the familiar, but not everyone who likes children should be a teacher and major in education; there are
more jobs in the “helping fields” other than nursing; opportunities for criminal justice majors exist beyond law enforcement; and not all accountants work in the tax or banking industry. Your exposure to these more prevalent traditional examples has likely shaped your perceptions about what your options are. The good news is, if you need to expand your knowledge of career options that information is available and accessible.
Start by making a connection between your major and occupational opportuni-ties. Some academic programs create a clear path from major to career, for instance social work and engineering, while others provide perspective, increase awareness and teach you to think critically. It’s important to understand how the degree you’re earning fits into the career search.
Once you’ve identified a field that interests you, it’s important to make sure that you will be adequately prepared; know the academic requirements, understand the day-to-day responsibilities of the work, check employment outlook and industry trends. During your research, be sure to identify similar alternatives to explore. There are a number of ways to gain greater insight into possible careers. Contact someone who works in the field, ask to conduct an informational interview or shadow someone for a day.
Develop Your ConfidenceThe job search can be intimidating. You will feel more confident during this process if you’ve created a resume, participated in a mock interview, built a solid network and completed an internship or co-op experience. Resumes are working documents; continue to make updates as you experience new roles, take on additional job responsibilities and further develop your skills. Seeking an internship provides the opportunity to gain “real- world” experience. Research shows that employers use internships to create a pool of potential job candidates. Any experi-ence that provides you with exposure to professional contacts is an opportunity to expand your professional network. Don’t be afraid to promote yourself! As you come into contact with people, commu-nicate your accomplishments, goals and career aspirations.
Remember… don’t panic, keep an open mind, and stay positive!
g Research Your Options• Job Listings – Office of Career Services
(for CCM students and alumni)
• Employment Resources
› Occupational Outlook Handbook – www.bls.gov/ooh/
› Real Time Jobs in Demand (NJ) – http://tinyurl.com/o693ek
› U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – www.bls.gov/
• Career Week – Office of Career Services (for CCM students and alumni)
› Held annually in November, focuses campus attention on career choices and opportunities through a variety of curriculum
• What Can I Do With This Major? – www.whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/
• CCM Job Fairs – Office of Career Services (for CCM students and alumni)
g Develop Your Confidence• Cooperative Education and Internship Program –
Office of Career Services (for CCM students)
• Resume Critiquing/Interview Techniques – Office of Career Services (for CCM students and alumni)
ConneCtions | Winter/Spring 2014 | 15 |
The Value of a Community College EducationBy Kathleen Brunet Eagan
Starting at a community college just makes good sense. With college tuition averaging about $22,000 a year, it’s not difficult to understand the economic value of community colleges. At County College of Morris (CCM), the cost of an education for a full-time student earning 12 credits a semester is $3,228 a year. But earning a college degree debt free, or with a manageable student loan, is not the only reason to start at a two-year school.
Explore Your Options
Not everyone knows what career path he or she wants to pursue after graduating high school. In fact, about 80 percent of college students change their major at least once, and many change their major at least three times. By start-ing at a community college, students can explore a range of academic majors at a significantly reduced cost and in classes that are small enough so they can get to know their professors and really explore their options.
Improve That GPA
Let’s face it, some high schools students do not take their education seriously during their teenage years. Then they graduate and realize they need to get serious about their lives. As an open access institution, CCM provides a pathway for improving a lack-luster GPA and opening up the doors to opportunity. In recent years, students who did not do well in high school have transferred to Cornell, Harvard, Princeton and other top schools after
improving their GPA at CCM – and many of them with scholarships to continue that education.
Play Your Sport
Not every high school athlete is fortu-nate enough to receive a scholarship to continue to play his or her sport in college. For student athletes with a passion for developing their skills both on and off the field, CCM offers the opportunity to meet those dual goals. A member of Region XIX and the National Junior College Athletic Association, CCM offers at total of 10 varsity sports for men and women.
Enter The Job Market Immediately
Many good – and well paying – careers require only an associate degree or certificate. For example, a certificate in Computer Software Applications prepares recipients for entry-level positions as computer applications and computer support specialists, while an Associate in Applied Science degree in Radiography or Respiratory Therapy prepares graduates for work in two strong job growth areas in health care.
Transition To A New Career
Looking to update your skills or transition to a new career but don’t have a lot of time? At CCM, you can find a wide range of both credit and non-credit programs that can help you develop the skills you need to improve your profes-sional opportunities.
OPTIONS TO FIT COLLEGE INTO YOUR SCHEDULECounty College of Morris offers a number of options to make it easier to fit college into your schedule. While the majority of courses are taught as traditional in-classroom classes within a 16-week semester, many others are offered in alternative formats.
• Online Courses – are offered entirely online. However, you may be required to attend an in-person student orientation or take a test or assessment on campus.
• Hybrid Courses – take place both in-class and online, reducing the amount
| 16 | County College of Morris | www.ccm.edu
EARN A CERTIFICATE
Want to expand your knowledge base, enhance your resume or transition into a new career but unable to commit the time and resources to earn a degree? At CCM, you can find more than 45 certificate and certification programs to build your skills and open up new opportunities.
• Administrative Support Computer Information Systems
• Advanced Electronics
• Advanced Mechanical Analysis
• Agile Project Management With Scrum (NC)
• Alternate Route Teaching Certification (NC)
• Android Application Developer Certificate (NC)
• Assembly and Testing
• Basic Electronics
• Basic Telecommunications Fundamentals
• Business Continuity Planning Certification (NC)
• Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (NC)
• Certified Nurse’s Aide (NC)
• Computer Aided Drafting Technology
• Computer Software Applications
• Culinary Arts
• Digital Technology
• Early Childhood Development
• Engineering Technology
• Entrepreneur Studies (NC)
• Finance
• Garden Center
• Grant Writing (NC)
• Grounds Maintenance
• Horticulture Apprenticeship
• Human Resources (NC)
• Information Security
• Intravenous Therapy Certification for RNs (NC)
• Landscape Contractor
• Landscape Design
• Lean & Six Sigma Green (NC)
• Mechanical CAD
• Media Technology
• Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (NC)
• Microsoft Office Specialist (NC)
• Nurse Paralegal Certificate (NC)
• Paralegal (NC)
• Personal Trainer
• PMI Project Management Professional (NC)
• Restaurant Management and Event Planning
• Routing (CISCO CCNA)
• ServSafe Food Handler (NC)
• Small Business Management
• Supply Chain Management (NC)
• Systems Networking
• Web Development
• Web Master (NC)
Programs marked “NC” are non-credit courses offered through the CCM Department of Career and Professional Programs.
of time you need to be on campus. Generally these courses are 16-weeks long but some may be offered over a shorter time period.
• Fast Track Courses – are condensed from 16 weeks to eight weeks or less.
Courses are taught in a hybrid format with combined in-class and online instruction.
• Accelerated Courses – reduce the amount of time it takes to complete a 16-week semester.
• Late Start Classes – begin after the first week of a semester. These are generally eight-weeks long and are taught in class, online or as hybrid courses.
Photo
: She
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ConneCtions | Winter/Spring 2014 | 17 |
Letting Go and
Doing What’s NextNursing Student Laura Marks Refuses to Let Time Pass Her ByBy Kathleen Brunet Eagan
A self-described “problem solver” who believes in the power of an education to change lives, Laura Marks refused to let financial challenges stop her from attend-ing college. Last year, she enrolled at County College of Morris (CCM) for the second time because she wants to be a nurse and eventually a neonatal nurse practitioner.
“Fact is that time is going to pass no matter what you do. I could have not come back to CCM and I’d still be 30 years old,” says Marks. “The question you need to ask is, ‘Do you just let time pass or do you do what needs to be done to get where you want to be?’”
When she first enrolled at CCM in 2003, Marks had to leave after a year to help with some family issues surrounding her father’s sudden death. She was fortunate in that she was able to find a well-paying job with an insurance company. Then that company moved its offices to New York City and Marks, who lives in Oak Ridge, saw it as an opportunity to get back to her original dream.
“I was able to go on unemployment and get a tuition waiver to pay for my first year,” says Marks. That option, however, no longer is available so she and her husband are now funding her education. Her goal is to earn her associate degree with as little debt as possible since she also plans to pursue her bachelor’s and then a master’s degree in nursing.
Affordability That Opens Pathways To Opportunity
The affordability of CCM, she notes, certainly has helped. Also of assistance is the $2,500
M. K. Squazzo Nursing Scholarship she has been awarded two years in a row in recognition of her outstanding academic success.
“Coming to CCM certainly was a money issue,” she says. “I know there is that old stigma sur-rounding community colleges but that’s certainly not the case at CCM. Even during our clinical rotations, the doctors and nurses all spoke about how much they respect CCM’s nursing program. It’s a good education and the instructors really help you to do well. They go above and beyond for their students. I’m particularly grateful for the assistance I received from Professors Celeste Wayne and Patricia Baxter, who both helped guide me in and outside the classroom and hospital setting.”
Regarding her future profession, Marks speaks with great pride about reaching her goal.
“There is nothing better than being able to say just the right thing to get someone to smile and help them feel a little bit of comfort,” she says. “I’m really excited about being a nurse and having those initials after my name. There is no greater honor than being in a position to help people.”
Scholarship Recipient
Photo: Shelley Kusnetz Photography
“The doctors and nurses all spoke
about how much they respect CCM's nursing
program.”
| 18 | County College of Morris | www.ccm.edu
CCM Foundation Scholarships
The County College of Morris (CCM) Foundation awards more than $200,000 in scholarships each year. Scholarships are available to both full-time and part-time students, either as general scholarships or based on academic areas of interest or other criteria. Following is a representative list of the scholarships offered through the foundation. For a complete list, go to tinyurl.com/n5r4tc4.
Executive Editor, Joseph Vitale, Executive Director of College Advancement and Planning
Managing Editor, Kathleen Brunet Eagan, Director of Communica-tions and College Relations
Magazine Design, Gina Garcia, Graphic Designer
Contributors: Dana Ahern, Rick Burchfield, Nancy Dreyfus, Kari Hawkins
Photographers: Life in MoPhoto, Shelley Kusnetz Photography
Meet Our Writers
Dana Ahern served as the public relations intern for Communica-tions and College Relations at County College of Morris (CCM) during the summer of 2013. She currently is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts through the CSE@CCM Communication program, a joint offering of CCM and the College of Saint Elizabeth. Prior to working as the public relations intern at CCM, she interned for the Institute of Management Accountants.
Kathleen Brunet Eagan is director of Communications and College Relations at County College of Morris (CCM). Prior to joining CCM in 2010, she ran her own communications firm, Clarus Associates, serving such clients as Rutgers University, the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Rick Burchfield is coordinator of Communications and College Relations at County College of Morris. He came to the college after a decade in journalism, spending much of it covering Morris County. He has held positions as sports editor at the Daily Record and associate regional editor at AOL’s Patch.com.
Nancy Dreyfus has been a professional writer for more than three decades, penning articles about education, medicine and the environment. She has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, public relations manager and advertising executive. In the 1970s, she attended County College of Morris as a visiting student, transferring her credits to a four-year university. Both of her parents graduated from CCM while she was in high school.
Kari Hawkins is coordinator of Transfer Services and an adjunct faculty member at County College of Morris. She has been working in higher education in the community college setting for the past eight years focusing on the transition from two-year to four-year institutions. She currently teaches a Career Development course offered through the Psychology Department at CCM.
214 Center Grove Road
Randolph, NJ 07869
County College of Morris is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. County College of Morris is accredited by the Middle States Commission on
Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 267-284-5000. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.| 28 | County College of Morris | www.ccm.edu
Trustees & Administration
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Thomas J. Mastrangelo, Director
David Scapicchio, Deputy Director
Douglas R. Cabana
John Cesaro
Ann F. Grossi
John Krickus
Hank Lyon
Board of Trustees
Jeffrey M. Advokat, Esq., Chair *
Stanley T. Omland, P.E., P.P., Vice Chair
Thomas A. Pepe, Treasurer *
Dr. Joseph S. Weisberg, Secretary *
Dr. Barbara L. Hadzima
Dr. Rosalie S. Lamonte
Paul R. Licitra
J. Richard Rajoppi
Dr. Joseph L. Ricca, Jr.
Cynthia E. Samuel
Michael A. Van Allen
Nicholas Cruz, Alumni Trustee
Sandra Geiger, Trustee Emerita
W. Thomas Margetts, Trustee Emeritus
William T. McNerney, Trustee Emeritus
All trustees also serve concurrently as members of the CCM Foundation. Members noted with an * serve on the Foundation Board of Directors.
College Administration
Dr. Edward J. Yaw, President
Dr. Dwight L. Smith, Vice President of Academic Affairs
Karen VanDerhoof, Vice President of Business and Finance
Dr. Bette M. Simmons, Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment Management
Joseph Vitale, Executive Director for College Advancement and Planning and President of the CCM Foundation
Roger Flahive, Executive Director of Information Systems (CIO)
Thomas Burk, Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations