Faculty & Staff Directory

Cindy Striano

Health Services
Executive Director

Email: Cstriano@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3319
FAX: 973-618-3540
Office Location: Newman Center

Cindy Striano has more than 40 years of experience in professional nursing and healthcare administration. Having worked in acute care, private surgical practice, hospital administration, nursing education, and many other facets of nursing, she developed a love for working with college-aged students when she began working part-time over thirty years ago at Caldwell University. Her passion became assisting college students to be successful academically by providing care that removed any health barriers while educating students to be self-advocates and educated healthcare consumers. She is a member of the New Jersey College Health Association and the NJ State Nurses Association. She holds a Master of Science Degree in Nursing Education.

In her personal life, she is a wife, a mother to two grown children who continued in the healthcare professions of Dentistry and Orthopaedic surgery, a grandmother to an adorable grandson, and a dog mom to Phoebe. She loves to read, travel, and is a foodie who loves to cook.

Daniel Summer

Counseling
Assistant Professor

Email: dsummer@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3511

Dr. Dan Summer is an assistant professor of Art Therapy in the department of Psychology and Counseling. Dan completed his master’s degree in creative arts therapy at Hofstra University in 1997. Most recently he earned a Ph.D. in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University and is a licensed, board-certified art therapist in New York. His previous clinical experiences include working on an inpatient psychiatric unit with adults living with chronic mental illness and most recently in an outpatient setting providing group and individual therapy to children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbances. Dan graduated from Institute for Arts in Psychotherapies with a certificate in the drama therapy method developmental transformations and is taking classes in New Jersey to ultimately become licensed as a professional counselor in New Jersey.

Education
BA Adelphi University
MA Hofstra University
Ph.D. Lesley University
Professional Certifications
ATR-BC, LCAT Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (New York) Board-Certified
Ph.D. Doctorate in Philosophy-Expressive Therapies

Professional Affiliations
American Art Therapy Association
New Jersey Art Therapy Association board member
New York Coalition of Creative Arts Therapists

Publications
Burch, Summer, Ward, Watt, and Feldman (2019). Qualitative data from a mixed-methods study of resilience in ENACT’s therapeutic theatre process show UP! Drama Therapy Review 5(1), 117-138.
Summer. D. (2009) An introduction to Developmental Transformations. In (Ed. Dellapietra. L.) Perspectives on Creativity. pp. 109-121. Cambridge Scholars
Summer, D. (2007). Honoring Timothy’s spirit: Mural making to express, process, and overcome grief and loss. In (Ed. Camilleri, V.A.). Healing the inner city child: Creative arts therapies with at-risk youth. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Special interests
Expressive Therapies Summit- Presenter and participant

Victoria Swanson

Library
Library Director

Email: viswanson@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3311
FAX: 973-618-3360
Office Location: Jennings Library

Victoria has a BA from Seton Hall University and an MLS from Pratt Institute. She has worked in small and large corporate libraries, an internet start-up and academic libraries. She enjoys working with students the most.

Christine Szeluga

Career Planning and Development
Assistant Director

Email: CSzeluga@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3306
FAX: 973-618-3425
Office Location: Aquinas Hall, 109

Christine M. Szeluga is a Career Advisement professional who works with students and alumni in career exploration and planning, securing internships, job searches and coordinates programs to enable students to navigate these processes. After spending almost two decades working for professional associations both in New York and New Jersey, as an education manager, Christine joined Caldwell in September 2008 as Assistant Director, Career Planning & Development. Over more than fifteen of service to the university, she has worked with hundreds of students and alumni to find their careers and achieve professional success.

Larry Szycher

Visual Art and Design
Professor

Email: Lszycher@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3521

B.A. Jersey City State College

M.F.A. University of Maryland

Christopher Tamburro

Education
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: ctamburro@caldwell.edu
Office Location: Visceglia Hall

Office:
Mon: 3:15pm to 7pm
Tues: 3:15pm to 7pm
Wed: 3:15pm to 7pm
Thurs: 3:15pm to 7pm
Fri: 3:15pm to 7pm

Dr. Tamburro currently serves as the mayor of the Township of Verona. He was elected to the Township Council in 2021 before being selected as mayor in 2023. Concurrently, Dr. Tamburro has been a high school teacher for the Verona Public Schools since 2008, specializing in history, political science, economics, and law.

Dr. Tamburro has been a UniServ consultant for the New Jersey Education Association since 2016, where he manages various labor-related matters. In 2024, Dr. Tamburro and two partners leveraged their labor expertise to establish Representation Solutions, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in collective negotiations, contract enforcement, and strategic planning for public sector unions, including those representing first responders. The same year, Dr. Tamburro was appointed an adjunct lecturer of education at Caldwell University, teaching a course in the Ph.D./Ed.D. program on public-private administration.

Dr. Tamburro received a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in law and criminal justice from The College of New Jersey, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a Doctor of Letters in historical studies and fine art and media studies from Drew University in 2019. Dr. Tamburro’s holds an educational supervisor certificate after taking completing coursework at Montclair State University in 2012. He completed the three-summer residential James Madison Program on Constitutional Ideals and Principles at Princeton University.

Dr. Tamburro serves as the vice president of the New Jersey Council for History Education and is a member of the Professional Consultants Association. Dr. Tamburro was president of the Verona Education Association from 2014 to 2022. He is also a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and Pi Sigma Alpha. He was honored as a distinguished educator by Springfield College in 2023.

Besides his work-related endeavors, Dr. Tamburro’s commitment to community service and emergency management includes serving as a deputy emergency management coordinator for the Township of Verona since 2014 and a member of the Verona Rescue Squad since 2009. He is a former chief of the Long Valley First Aid Squad Inc., assistant EMS chief in Verona, and a deputy emergency medical services coordinator for the Essex County Sheriff’s Department Office of Emergency Management.

Melissa Tarantula

Business and Computer Science
Project Manager

Email: mtarantula@caldwell.edu
phone: 973-618-3515
Office Location: Werner Hall Room 222

Melissa Tarantula is the ACBSP Accreditation and Assessment Coordinator within the School of Business and Computer Science. She earned a Master of Business Administration with a Global Business concentration from Caldwell University. She has a Bachelor of Science in Finance and minors in Spanish and International Business from The Pennsylvania State University (University Park). She helps manage a variety of initiatives within the school including program development, advisement, assessment and accreditation, recruitment and retention, event planning and operations, and international study trips.

Sara Tedrick-Parikh

Psychology and Counseling
Adjunct Instructor

Email: sparikh@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3558

Grief and loss is Dr. Parikh’s main area of interest, with a focus on understanding and increasing peer support among college students. Other areas of interest include empathy, multiculturalism, mentorship, first-generation college students, and resiliency. She is an active member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, an international, interdisciplinary professional organization for those who work with the dying or the bereaved, and has also been involved with National Students of AMF, a network of peer support groups for grieving college students. She enjoys fiction, amigurumi (crochet toys), and long leisurely walks.

Joseph Testa

Business and Computer Science
Adjunct Professor

Email: jtesta@caldwell.edu
Office Location: Werner Hall

Education:

B.S., Seton Hall University
M.B.A., Caldwell University

Bio:

Professor Testa is a graduate of Seton Hall University, where he studied Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing. He went on to graduate with his Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from Caldwell University. Professor Testa currently teaches undergraduate courses in the School of Business and Computer Science, within areas of Business Communications and Leadership. Professor Testa is also an active member of the Caldwell University Alumni Board.

Rachel Thomas

Applied Behavior Analysis
Adjunct Instructor

Email: rthomas1@caldwell.edu
Office Location: Werner Hall

Rachel earned her PhD in ABA from Caldwell University and her MS degrees in ABA & OBM from FL Tech. Currently, she aims to disseminate behavior analysis in the area of project management & has a research line in the area of public speaking.

Arnold Toffler

Business and Computer Science
Assistant Professor

Email: atoffler@caldwell.edu

B.A. Lehigh University

M.A. University of Pennsylvania

M.P.A. University of Pennsylvania

Sherri Treasurywala

Business and Computer Science
Assistant Professor

Email: streasurywala@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3451
FAX: 973-618-3355

Dr. Sherri Treasurywala teaches classes in global business, healthcare, strategy, supply chain and marketing. Dr Treasurywala earned her PhD, and an MBA from Cornell University.

Lily Tsoi

Psychology
Assistant Professor

Email: ltsoi@caldwell.edu
Office Phone #: (973) 618-3910
Office Location: Werner Hall, 120

B.A. in Neuroscience, Wellesley College
Ph.D. in Psychology (specialization in Cognitive Neuroscience), Boston College
Postdoctoral training, Princeton University

Dr. Tsoi is an assistant professor at Caldwell University. In addition to teaching advanced psychology courses, she conducts research and loves giving students opportunities to get involved. Her research uses survey methods, behavioral methods, and neuroimaging methods to understand how the brain supports social interactions and to uncover features of social interactions that promote social connection between people.

Dr. Tsoi is also the Co-Director of the Honors Program, the faculty advisor of Psychology Club and the Caldwell chapter of Psi Chi (the student honor society in Psychology), as well as the President-elect of the Caldwell chapter of Phi Kappa Phi (multidisciplinary honor society promoting scholarly excellence).

In her free time, Dr. Tsoi enjoys trying out recipes on cooking blogs, exploring different neighborhoods, and visiting family and friends in NYC.

Kathleen Tuite

President’s Office
Assistant to the President for Mission Integration

Email: ktuite@caldwell.edu
Office Location: Administration Building 2nd Floor

BA Religious Studies – Caldwell College
MA Theology – St. Michael’s College
MA/Ed.S – Educational Leadership – Seton Hall University

Employment:

St. Dominic Academy, Jersey City NJ:
– Religious Studies Teacher

Caldwell College/University:
– Associate Dean Student Life
– Vice President for Student Life
– Special Assistant to the President for Mission
– Assistant to the President for Mission Integration

Sisters of St. Dominic, Caldwell, NJ:
– Vocation Director

Beatrice Turenne

Nursing and Public Health
Instructor, Public Health Education

Email: bturenne@caldwell.edu
Phone: 9736183020
Office Location: Student Center 2nd Floor

Beatrice Turenne graduated from Seton Hall University with a BSW and Alliance Graduate School of Counseling with a focuse on Clinical Mental Health Counseling. After serving with the NJ Department of Health on several projects, the call to Public Health became clearer and clearer. She is a nationally certified counselor and a NJ Disaster Recovery Crisis Counselor. All efforts stem from her faith, and a belief that there is wellness and life in abundance available, and it is our greatest calling to help others achieve it.

Erika Turner

Counseling Services
Counselor

Email: eturner@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3879
FAX: 973-618-3940
Office Location: Newman Center – Health Services

Office:
Mon: 8:30-4:30pm
Wed: 8:30am-4:30pm
Fri: 8:30a-12pm

Erika Turner is a licensed therapist with over 17 years of experience working with adolescents and adults in a variety of settings. She is a compassionate clinician who treats individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, work/life balance, life transitions, and loss. She works collaboratively with clients to develop trust, accomplish goals, and achieve success.

Annette Vaccaro

Counseling
Associate Professor

Email: AVaccaro@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3938
Office Location: Student Center, 105

Office:
Mon: 8:00am-10:00am
Tues: 8:00am-10:00am
Wed: By Appointment
Thurs: By Appointment
Fri: By Appointment

ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS
EDUCATION
B.A. Seton Hill University
M.S. Eastern Virginia Medical School
M.S.W. New York University
Certificate in Psychoanalysis, The Academy of Clinical and Applied Psychoanalysis
Ed.D. Argosy University

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Art Therapy Association
New Jersey Art Therapy Association
American Counseling Association
New Jersey Counseling Association
New Jersey Association for Social Work
National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis
Society of Modern Psychoanalysis

CREDENTIALS
Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Certified Psychoanalyst, National and New Jersey
Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist
NASW approved Social Work Supervisor
Approved Counseling Supervisor
Art Therapy Credentialed Supervisor

SPECIAL INTERESTS
Clinical Supervision, Modern Psychoanalysis, Mental Health, Family Life

Rebecca Vega

Music
Associate Professor of Music, Director of Instrumental Studies, Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, and Flute

Email: RVega@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-868-6395
FAX: 973-618-3467
Office Location: Visceglia Hall, 218

Office:
Mon: 1:00 PM -2:30 PM
Tues: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Thurs: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Professor Rebecca Vega is an Associate Professor in the Music Department, and serves as the music recruitment advisor. This is her 20th year at Caldwell where she directs the CU Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Flute Ensemble and Reed Ensemble. She teaches Conducting, Instrumental Rehearsal Techniques and Music Education courses. She is an active flutist and performs regularly with the UpTown Flutes and the trio Terzetta.

B.M. (Music Education) California State University, Long Beach
M.A. (Flute Performance) Eastern Michigan University

Vladislav Veksler

Business and Computer Science
Assistant Professor

Email: vveksler@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3028
Office Location: Werner Hall 218

Dr. Vlad Veksler is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Caldwell University. His research and teaching focuses on all topics where there is interplay between humans and machines, including Artificial Intelligence, UI/UX and Human-Computer Interaction, Human-Agent Teamming, Cybernetics, Cognitive Modeling, Behavioral Simulations, Behavioral Game Theory, AI in Games, and Cognitive Robotics. 

If you are an undergraduate student at Caldwell looking to get involved in scientific research with a focus on any of these topics, please contact Dr. Veksler via email.

William Velhagen

School of Arts and Sciences
Dean

Email: wvelhagen@caldwell.edu
Phone: (973) 618-3623
Office Location: Werner Hall, 118

William A. Velhagen, Jr. was born and raised in the Philippines. He received his B.S. Biology degree from the University of the Philippines. He started medical school but then realized he was most excited about teaching and research. He came to the U.S. and obtained his Ph.D. in Zoology from Duke University, where he studied evolutionary biology.

Before coming to Caldwell, Dr. Velhagen taught at James Madison University, Longwood University, and New York University. At Caldwell, he has become a full professor, the head of the School of Natural Sciences, the vice president of the faculty council, and the founding president of the university’s chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Dr. Velhagen serves as the Principal Investigator on the Caldwell SMART (Science and Math: Academics, Research, and Teaching) project, funded by the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, which supports students aiming to teach high school biology, chemistry, or math. He is also the Projector Director of Caldwell’s STEM Advance project, funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Hispanic Serving Institution STEM and Articulation Program. The project aims to grow the number of students choosing and graduating from programs in STEM (Science, Technology, and Mathematics).

Dr. Velhagen is excited to become the inaugural Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. He has long believed in the value of a well-rounded education, even reading classics such as The Iliad, The Odyssey, and the works of Shakespeare before they were assigned in school. His favorite authors include Carl Sagan and Stephen Jay Gould. As dean, he aims to foster the curiosity, creativity, and ambition of the school’s students.

Assunta Violante

Modern Languages
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: AViolante@caldwell.edu

EDUCATION
M.A., Spanish, Montclair State University
M.A.in Bilingual Education, Seton Hall University

Professor Violante is an adjunct professor of Italian and Spanish. She holds a Master’s degree in Spanish from Montclair State University and a Master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Seton Hall University. She began her teaching career as an instructor of Italian, Spanish and Latin in the Newark Public School system.

Prior to coming to Caldwell University, she was the Supervisor of World Languages and ESL for eleven years in the West Essex Regional School District in North Caldwell. During this time she implemented a distance-learning program in Japanese. She was also supervisor of World Languages, ESL and Business for eight years in the Paramus School District. From 1986 to 1990, she was an adjunct professor at Montclair State University where she taught Italian and Spanish and was an instructor in the study abroad program at the University of Siena, Italy.

Professor Violante is a native of Italy who is very passionate about teaching languages. Her interests include traveling to different countries to enrich her knowledge of other cultures which she imparts to her students. She continues to research and implement effective teaching methods that provide her students with an optimal level of instruction in order to foster an appreciation for other languages and cultures.

Rosemina Vohra

Business and Computer Science
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: rvohra@caldwell.edu

Courses taught: Java Programming I and II, Data Structures and Algorithms, Design and Analysis of Algorithms, Advance Web Programming, Artificial Intelligence

Helen Vrontikis

Institutional Advancement
Director of Development

Email: hvrontikis@caldwell.edu
Office: 973-618-3657
Office Location: Rosary Hall, 204

B.S. University of Utah

Paul Ward

Visual Art and Design
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: pward@caldwell.edu
Office: Visceglia 134

M.F.A. Brooklyn College, City University of New York
B.F.A. Caldwell University

Edward Wardell

Academic Advising, Academic Success Center
Assistant Director of Advisement & Academic Support

Email: ewardell@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3298
Office Location: Student Center, 192

Hello! My name is Edward “Eddie” Wardell and I am the Assistant Director of Advisement and Academic Support. I have a Master’s in Counseling in Higher Education/Student Affairs from Montclair State University and a background in Mental Health Counseling. I assist students with a wide range of things like registration, major/minor exploration/declaration, academic policies, long-term planning, setting academic goals and working on effective learning and organizational strategies to achieve them. I utilize a strength-based developmental student-centered approach, which includes respect, unconditional positive regard, and encouraging students to utilize introspection to discover their unique strengths.

Ian White

Education
Adjunct Faculty

Email: ikwhite@caldwell.edu
Office Location: Jennings Library, Center for Teaching & Learning

Bach of Arts in Philosophy
Masters of Science in Political Science
Ed.D in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education

Currently University Registrar at New York Institute of Technology. Have worked in higher education for 20+ years in areas including Institutional Research, Academic Affairs, and Enrollment Management.

Buffie Whitfield

History and Political Science
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: fippolito@caldwell.edu

B.A. John Jay University

M.A. Adelphi University

Ph.D. Trident University

Margaret Wilkins

Business and Computer Science
Adjunct Instructor

Email: mwilkins@caldwell.edu
Office Location: Werner Hall, 219

B.S. Hampton University

M.S. Hampton University

Ph.D. University of New Mexico

Jacinta Williams

Business and Computer Science
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: jywilliams@caldwell.edu

Bio

B.A., Kean University
M.S., Rutgers University