Veritas Award 2019
Excellence in Humanitarian Efforts
Sr. Alice McCoy, O.P. ’68
Sister Alice McCoy, O.P. exemplifies the Dominican Mission of building community and inspiring compassion. After graduating from Caldwell College for Women in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and minor in Math, she began a career in teaching Chemistry. Soon after, she felt a call to embark on a new path of service. She earned a Masters of Divinity Degree from Immaculate Conception Seminary in 1975. After serving as Coordinator of Education of Health Ministries for the Archdiocese of Newark, Sr. Alice began serving as Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Jersey City in 1980.
As a lifelong resident of Jersey City, Sister Alice has a deep concern for the city’s most needy and vulnerable residents. She is one of the founders of Hudson Hospice for the terminally ill and she serves as director of Hudson Hospice Volunteers.
She began the Benincasa Project in Jersey City as a non-profit, faith based, non-denominational organization, which has provided more than $142,000.00 in rent and energy assistance to more than 175 families.
Sister Alice helped establish Mary House: A Center for Concern, it hosts community meetings and provides consulting. In 1982, New Jersey SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examination) declared Mary House a Peace Site. The Mary House Food Pantry at Our Lady of Sorrows helps those who experience an emergency need for food. Sister coordinates and operates a soup kitchen and free clothing store. The parishioners of Our Lady of Sorrows and others support her endeavors through monetary donations and volunteerism to continue her ministry to those in need.
Sister Alice served as a member of the Caldwell University Board of Trustees from 1980-1983. In recognition for her service to the residents of Jersey City, Sr. Alice has received an honorary degree from St. Peter’s University, she was named a Woman of Achievement by the Jersey Journal and has been referred to as “The Mother Teresa of Jersey City”.
Excellence in Law and Family Services
Tanya L. Freeman, Esq, ’08
Tanya is the founding partner of Tanya Freeman Law, LLC in East Hanover. She entered Caldwell University as the mother of six children and a full-time employee at Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and upon graduating cum laude, she obtained her law degree cum laude at Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center.
Prior to her law practice, Tanya led audit teams in banking and insurance industries for over a decade, acquiring financial skills that would enhance her ability to represent high net worth clients, as well as cases concerning owners of closely held businesses.
In her practice, Tanya provides legal representation in all aspects of family law, including divorce, child and spousal support, child custody, interstate custody and relocation disputes, as well as domestic violence matters. As a divorce lawyer, she tells her clients her story so they know that no matter their age or stage in life, there is great hope and they too can take steps to reinvent themselves. She has represented clients in cases involving professional athletes, television personalities, and other high-profile celebrities. Tanya is regularly invited to lecture on family law, both in New Jersey and internationally.
In 2014, she was appointed by the Governor to a five-year term on the Board of Directors for University Hospital in Newark, where she presently serves as Chair of the Board.
In 2019, Tanya established the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Emergency Fund at Caldwell University which provides financial support to students enrolled in the EOF program at Caldwell University for unexpected and emergent needs.
Excellence in Business and Volunteerism
Marcy Holmes Matlosz ’76
Marcy Matlosz has distinguished herself in the fields of EHS (Environmental Health Safety), Quality, Risk Management and Human Resources over a career spanning more than 34 years. She is currently consulting for Reagents Holding, LLC.
After graduating from Caldwell College in 1976 with a BA in Biology/Chemistry she focused on the chemical industry starting in a Quality Control Department entry position and over the course of her career moved into roles with increasing responsibilities reaching the executive position of Vice-President of Human Resources. In 1985, she received an MA in Environmental Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology. She has worked for such companies as JT Baker, Mallinckrodt Baker, Avantor Performance Materials, and Ricca Chemical Co. The majority of her responsibilities were globally focused giving her many opportunities to visit various locations around the world and work with people from many diverse cultures.
Marcy has been active in a wide area of community work. As a volunteer for the United Way for 14 years in the Warren County Program she served as Board Member and Chairman and led the annual fundraising campaigns. She actively supported the “Fill the Bus” initiative which collected school supplies for needy children as well as clothing drives for the poor.
In addition, Marcy was a member of the Board of Directors of the Job Haines Home in Bloomfield, NJ and was active on the Strategic Planning, Building and Grounds and Marketing Committees. Her work there was important to Marcy because the Home strives to give high standard services while being competitive in costs and giving subsidies to those financially in need.
As a Board member of the Warren Hills Regional School District for 16 years, Marcy was able to provide critical analyses to the Board and its committees in the decision-making. Now that Marcy lives in Florida she volunteers for the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys which is a service helping battered women. In addition, Marcy is actively supporting the rebuilding of St. Peters’ Roman Catholic Church, which was destroyed as a result of Hurricane Irma.
The strong foundation that Marcy gained while attending Caldwell University (then Caldwell College) has resulted in a rewarding career and years of generous community service.