Elaine Bauer Zabriskie ’73 receives Peggy Harris ’53 Alumnus of the Year Award

 Elaine Bauer Zabriskie ’73 receives the Peggy Harris ’53 Alumnus of the Year Award at Caldwell University.  She is pictured here with James Stark ’14, president of Caldwell’s Alumni Association Board of Directors, (L) and Caldwell  President Jeffrey Senese, Ph.D. (R) at a celebration recognizing her achievements during Homecoming & Reunion Weekend Sunday, Sept. 24. 

Nutley resident and Caldwell University alumna Elaine Bauer Zabriskie ’73 was the recipient of the Peggy Harris ’53 Alumnus of the Year Award as part of the University’s Homecoming & Reunion Weekend celebration Sunday, Sept. 24.

The honor is given annually to a Caldwell University graduate in recognition of distinguished service to the Alumni Association or University. It is the Alumni Association’s highest honor.

Zabriskie’s generous service to the University includes four years as president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors among her 15 years as a member of the Board. She has given her time and talent serving on the Caldwell Veritas awards for alumni professional excellence and two presidential search committees.

James Stark ’14, president of Caldwell’s Alumni Association Board of Directors, said Zabriskie is most deserving of the honor. “Elaine’s dedication to the University warranted her nomination and unanimous vote for Alumnus of the Year, as she embodies the true spirit of the Caldwell community. We congratulate Elaine and thank her for all she has done to make Caldwell University a better place.”

Zabriskie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Caldwell and an MBA from Montclair State University. She attributes the writing, research and documentation skills she learned at Caldwell as key to her success in an accomplished career in product management and software quality engineering in the telecommunications sector. “Liberal arts gave me the background. I can’t tell you the demand there is for that,” said Zabriskie. The marketplace needs university graduates “who can be concise with their ideas, and write and present well,” and Caldwell’s atmosphere gives students opportunities to develop those skills, said Zabriskie.
Asked about her favorite memory during her undergraduate days at Caldwell, Zabriskie said it was Christmastime. “The campus would transform from Thanksgiving on–the whole Advent season. It was such a lovely time starting with the luncheon the Sisters would give us…we had so many parties decorating.”