Gala 2024
Caldwell University will honor supporters of its educational mission at the Presidential Scholarship Gala,
Wednesday, April 24 at the Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, New Jersey.
The University will celebrate Sister Donna L. Ciangio, O.P., D.Min. ‘71, chancellor for the Archdiocese of Newark and vice-chair of the University’s Board of Trustees; Carlos Pomares ‘ 93, board president and District 5 commissioner for the Essex County Board of Commissioners, and member of Caldwell’s Board of Trustees; Caldwell University business alumnus, the late Bryan J. Norton ‘20, and Atlantic Health System.
Honorees:
Atlantic Health System is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of 20,000 team members and 5,440 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey, a region comprising 14 counties and 7.5 million people. The not-for-profit system offers more than 550 sites of care, including its seven hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ and through its partnership with CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold, NJ. Atlantic Health System is the official healthcare partner for the New York Jets.
Suja Mathew, MD is Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer of Atlantic Health System. In her role, Dr. Mathew oversees the quality, research, education and health equity missions of the Atlantic Health organization. With many years of experience in clinical leadership, Dr. Mathew works collaboratively to deliver innovative and high-quality care for patients across the state.
Sister Donna L. Ciangio, O.P., D. MIN. ’71
Sister Donna L. Ciangio is a Dominican Sister of Caldwell, New Jersey. She holds a doctorate from Drew University, Madison, New Jersey. She is serving as Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Newark and works extensively in the areas of congregational development, parish pastoral councils and planning, Small Christian Communities, and the Synod on Synodality.
She served as International Director of Renew International and Director of Pastoral Services of the National Pastoral Life Center, and ministered in several parishes. Her current book is Open Our Hearts, a Lent small group reflection book published by RENEW International.
Bryan J. Norton ’20
Bryan Norton had a love for sports that began during his youth, where over the years, tee-ball and flag-football turned into playing varsity-level baseball and football at James Caldwell High School. After graduating from high school, Bryan began his collegiate experience at Caldwell University, where he held onto his love for sports and committed himself to studying Sports Management in hopes to secure a career in the industry after graduation. In May of 2020, Bryan earned his Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Caldwell University with cum laude honors.
He was a passionate fan of his teams. He loved cheering on the New York Yankees, New York Football Giants, Brooklyn Nets, and New Jersey Devils. Bryan also enjoyed golfing and spending his weekends at the Jersey Shore with his family and friends. He took pride in his work, and he loved what he did – he lived by the phrase, “if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life”. During his time at Caldwell University, he was active in looking for ways to expand his network and enter the world of Sports Management. He managed to secure an internship during all four years of his collegiate career, a feat not many students are able to reach between their studies, jobs, and extra curriculars. Today, we view his journey as the perfect roadmap for any student who is seeking a job within the sports industry. These experiences turned into amazing realities for Bryan, giving him the opportunity to work with the New York Yankees, New Jersey Devils, and finally, landing a role as a Partnership Activation Coordinator for Major League Baseball.
Bryan passed away unexpectedly in July of 2022. The Bryan J Norton Memorial Scholarship was created in his memory to not only honor his life and legacy, but to provide educational opportunities to other students who are following Bryan’s path. It is our hope that Bryan’s spirit and commitment for doing what you love is passed along for many generations to come.
Carlos M. Pomares ’93
Carlos M. Pomares ‘93 is board president and District 5 commissioner for the Essex County Board of Commissioners, the first Hispanic to serve in the roles. He was originally elected as District 5 commissioner in November 2017 and became vice president in 2020. The board serves as the legislative and investigative powers of Essex County government as granted by the Optional County Charter Law and supervises the budget of $800 million.
Pomares is a member of Caldwell University’s Board of Trustees. He has been a strong advocate for arts, culture, historic preservation and education. He previously served as councilman-at-large in Bloomfield Township. He has been instrumental in the creation and improvement of the Morris Canal Greenway in Bloomfield, notably with the creation of Canal Park at Oak Tree lane, the restoration of the historic Collins House (ca. 1790) and the development of the Greenway way-finder signs and the Greenway mobile app.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Caldwell University and has received awards for his public speaking and museum work. He credits Caldwell’s Dr. Marie Mullaney and Professor Bob Mann as highly influential mentors. He also earned a Master of Arts degree from Seton Hall University. Pomares serves as executive director of the Cuban Artists Fund and is an adjunct professor of history and political science at two institutions of higher education.
He is married to Natasha Pomares. The couple met while attending Caldwell University. Natasha holds bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and psychology and an MA in supervision and instruction from Caldwell University. They have three children: Carlos (Class of 2025, St. Peter’s Prep), Felicita (Class of 2026, Mount St. Dominic Academy), and Mario (Class of 2025, St. Thomas the Apostle School). They reside in the Bloomfield Historic District.
Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Pleasantdale Chateau, West Orange NJ