Faculty & Staff Directory

Simran Bharadwaj

Psychology and Counseling
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: sbharadwaj@caldwell.edu

M.A., NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education & Human Development
B.A., New York University

Traci Bitondo

Counseling
Assistant Professor

Email: tbitondo@caldwell.edu
Phone:
Office Location: Visceglia Hall, 239

Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, University of the Cumberlands
M.A. in Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy, Caldwell University

Dr. Traci Bitondo holds an MA in Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy from Caldwell University and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of the Cumberlands. Throughout her career, she has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the 2022 Nancy Schoebel Legislative Service Award for her advocacy work. That same year, her research team won the Rawley Silver Research Award from the American Art Therapy Association (AATA). In 2019, she received the Edward Stroh LPC Award from the New Jersey Counseling Association. In her current private clinical practice, she works to treat mental health clients, alongside her dedication to supervising and mentoring emerging professionals. Currently, she serves as the President of the New Jersey Art Therapy Association and is a member of AATA’s Professional Affairs Committee. Additionally, she is an experienced presenter, presenting both locally and nationally, spanning a range of topics, including student development, innovative art therapy interventions for special populations, and clinical supervision interventions. Dr. Bitondo’s career is marked by a deep commitment to mental health, counseling, and art therapy, demonstrating a blend of practical experience, academic insight, and dedicated service to her community.

David Bohny

Information Technology
Executive Director, Application Support and Deployment

Email: DBohny@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3440
FAX: 973-618-3913
Office Location: Rosary Hall, IT Suite

B.S. Rowan University

Kathleen Boreale

Nursing and Public Health
Dean

Email: kboreale@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3142
Office Location: Werner Hall, Room 330

Kathleen Boreale, PhD, RN, APN-C, FNP-BC, ACHPN is an experienced registered nurse, nurse practitioner, and educator. Dr. Boreale has worked in various areas of practice at the bedside in medical/surgical, neurology, emergency care, and critical care. Dr. Boreale is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and holds a national certification as an Advanced Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse, having graduated as one of the first Palliative Care Nurse Practitioners in the United States. Her current area of practice and research focus is on the care of those individuals living with epilepsy.

Dr. Boreale received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lynchburg College in Virginia. She received her Master of Science and PhD in Nursing from Rutgers University. She also completed two post-master’s programs with a focus in Palliative Care from New York University and a Family Nurse Practitioner from Monmouth University. In addition to her advanced practice expertise in epilepsy management, Dr. Boreale’s specialty areas include pain management, palliative care, and neurology.

Dr. Boreale joined Caldwell University as a Faculty in 2016 and has previously served in administrative roles while at Caldwell University, as both the Assistant Dean and Associate Dean for the School of Nursing and Public Health. As the Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Services, Dr. Boreale is excited to see the collaboration among all the disciplines within the newly formed school. She is committed to sharing her more than 30 years of clinical and academic experience with the students at Caldwell University.

Dr. Boreale received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lynchburg College in Virginia. She received her Master of Science and PhD in Nursing from Rutgers University. She also completed two post-master’s programs with a focus on Palliative Care from New York University and a Family Nurse Practitioner from Monmouth University. In addition to her advanced practice expertise in epilepsy management, Dr. Boreale’s specialty areas include pain management, palliative care, and neurology.

Dr. Boreale joined Caldwell University as a Faculty in 2016 and has previously served in administrative roles while at Caldwell University, as both the Assistant Dean and Associate Dean for the School of Nursing and Public Health. As the Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Services, Dr. Boreale is excited to see the collaboration among all the disciplines within the newly formed school. She is committed to sharing her more than 30 years of clinical and academic experience with the students at Caldwell University.

Wendy Raso Bruffy

Natural Sciences
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: WBruffy@caldwell.edu

Wendy Bruffy has been an educator for the past 29 yrs working in higher education and at the high school level.  She has been a member of the faculty at Caldwell University for the past 15 in the School of Natural Sciences.  Wendy is a 1995 graduate of Caldwell College and in 1996 was married in the old chapel in the Mother Joseph Residence Hall. She loves to teach the allied health sciences with her favorite being Anatomy and Physiology. In her spare time she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, six children, and grandson.

Barbara Budris

Communication and Media Studies, Mathematics, Music
Faculty Secretary School of Arts and Sciences

Email: bbudris@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3326
Office Location: Visceglia Hall, 213

Office:
Mon: 9am-1:30pm
Tues: 9am-1:30pm
Wed: 9am-1:30pm
Thurs: 9am-1pm
Fri: N/A

Rutgers University–BA Business Administration w/Accounting Concentration and Sociology Minor.

Tasia Burgess

Student Life
Assistant Director of Multicultural Initiatives

Email: nburgess@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3712
Office Location: Student Center 193

B.A., SUNY Oswego

Tasia Burgess is a first-generation college student with a Bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in African American studies from SUNY Oswego. Joining Caldwell in the fall of 2024, she has spent the last 4 years prioritizing social justice in the workplace. With a background in recruitment, and project/program management, she focuses on bringing equitable policy and practice for all. She’s got a natural knack for cooking and loves spending her free time with a paintbrush in hand.

Jack Byrnes

Business and Computer Science
Adjunct Lecturer

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

B.B.A., University of Notre Dame
M.S., St. Mary’s University of Minnesota

Jack is a CPA and CGMA. He was an audit partner in the metro New York practice of Arthur Andersen where he served publishing, media, entertainment, manufacturing and software clients. He developed and taught many classes in the Andersen worldwide training program. Jack has spent almost 20 years based in London working as the CFO for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region at BBDO, a worldwide full service advertising network. He returned to the US full time in 2022 and currently is the CFO for the Americas at BBDO. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses including Advanced Auditing, Accounting for Managers and Intermediate Accounting.

Maureen Byrnes

Nursing and Public Health
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: mbyrnes@caldwell.edu

Clinical Adjunct Faculty

AAS, Essex County College
BSN, Long Island University
MSN, Columbia University
DNP Seton Hall University

Yang Cai

Sociology and Criminal Justice
Professor

Email: Ycai@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3624

Ph.D., Sociology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
M.A., Sociology, University of Georgia
B.A., English, Zhongshan University, China

Yang Cai is a professor of sociology in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. She received her Ph. D. in Sociology from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As a Social Demographer by training, her teaching and research interests include race and ethnicity, immigrant experience in health and education, as well as racial inequality in education and health.

Steven Cameron

Communication and Media Studies
Professor

Email: SCameron@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3597
FAX: 973-618-3467

A.B. Franklin & Marshall College
M.S. Boston University
M.Litt Drew University
D.Litt Drew University

Jeffrey Camp

Campus Safety and Security, Mailroom
Director

Email: jcamp@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3259
Office Location: Student Center, 119

Office:
Mon: 8:30-4:30
Tues: 8:30-4:30
Wed: 8:30-4:30
Thurs: 8:30-4:30
Fri: 8:30-4:30

With over 35 years of experience in public safety, I have dedicated my career to ensuring the safety and well-being of communities. Starting at the Clifton Police Department, I spent the majority of my time in the anti-crime unit, eventually moving up to supervise the unit. I finished my tenure at the department as the administrative Lieutenant on the Chief’s Command Staff.

Transitioning to the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, I took on the role of Director of Staff Operations, where I was responsible for strategic planning and research functions, including the development and implementation of master plans and department policies.

My career then led me to the higher education sector, where I served as the Director of Security at Berkeley College. In this role, I oversaw the safety and well-being of approximately 6000 college students, staff, and visitors across seven campuses in New York and New Jersey.

Having joined Caldwell University in February of 2022, I currently serve as the Director of Campus Safety and Security.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Jersey City State College and am a graduate of the 205th Session of the prestigious FBI National Academy. This professional development course has equipped me with the skills and knowledge necessary to improve law enforcement standards and cooperation worldwide.

In addition to my professional accomplishments, I am actively involved in my community through volunteerism.

Lena Campagna

Sociology and Criminal Justice
Assistant Professor

Email: lcampagna@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3377

Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Massachusetts Boston

Dr. Lena Campagna is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal
Justice at Caldwell University. Dr. Campagna earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts Boston with a concentration in communities and crime. Dr. Campagna specializes in victimology. Her research interests include victimization in Indigenous populations and factors that influence victim reporting to police. Her research work (both solo and co-authored) has been published in Law and Society Review, Journal of Criminal Justice Education, American Indian Research and Culture Journal, and International Review of Victimology. Dr. Campagna also serves as an elected Executive Counselor for the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Victimology Division.

Richard Campbell

Business and Computer Science
Lecturer

Email: rcampbell@caldwell.edu
Office Location: Jennings Library, Adjunct Room

M.S. Data Science, Eastern University (in progress)
B.S Computer Science, University of Michigan

Richard Campbell began his teaching career following four decades in software engineering. Originally from Michigan, he earned his bachelor’s degree from The University of Michigan (Go Blue!). He has worked for startups, university research groups, and spent more than 30 years at various Wall Street banks (where he was able to transition from programming to managing production trading systems to software architecture and governance). When he is not hacking around with computers, he enjoys watching classic cinema and reading history.

Jennifer Cannon

Human Resources
Senior HR Generalist/Operations Assistant

Email: JCannon@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3405
FAX: 973-618-3358
Office Location: Rosary Hall, 2nd Floor

Jennifer joined Caldwell University in July 2010. She is an experienced Educator and Human Resources professional. Jennifer received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Sociology from William Paterson University. She then went on to get her master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Montclair State University. Some of her responsibilities have grown to include benefits administration, employee onboarding, events and liaison to the Operations team.

Samantha Castellano

Psychology and Counseling
Adjunct Instructor

Email: scastellano@caldwell.edu

LPC, NCC, LPAT, ATR-BC Adjunct, Graduate Counseling B.A, Montclair State University M.A. Caldwell University

Ellina Chernobilsky

Academic Affairs
Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

Email: echernobilsky@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3951
Office Location: Alumni Theater, Room 104

B.S. Upsala College
M.A.T. University of Memphis
Ph.D. Rutgers University

Ellina Chernobilsky holds Ph.D. in Education and has served as a faculty member of the Education Department of Caldwell University since 2007. She started her administrative duties at Caldwell University in 2018 but continues to teach in the Education Programs. Prior to earning her Ph.D., Dr. Chernobilsky was a classroom teacher and used action research as a means to study and improve her own teaching in order to help herself and her students become better learners. Her research interests include but are not limited to the issues of professional development on all levels of education, student learning, multilingualism, action research in education, use of data and data mining in education. Currently, she is exploring the pedagogical and andragogical uses of generative AI. She regularly teaches courses in educational research, educational technology, and teaching in higher education. She has spent time teaching in Uzbekistan, China, and Russia.

Cara Cilento

Communication Sciences Disorders
Adjunct Instructor

East Stroudsburg University BS Kean University MA

Cilento started as a speech pathologist in 1996 in the Belleville Public Schools. She then transferred to the Cedar Grove Public Schools in 2001 where she remains. Over her career she has treated children and adults between the ages of 3-21.

Lauren Clark

Counseling
Assistant Professor

Email: lbclark@caldwell.edu
Office Location: Visceglia Hall, Room 149

Dr. Lauren B. Clark is currently an Assistant Professor in the Graduate Counseling program, at Caldwell University. Dr. Clark joined Caldwell in the spring of 2023 and teaches graduate courses including research and statistics, career counseling, multicultural counseling, and practicum. Dr. Clark is fully certified as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Louisiana, and a national certified counselor (NCC). Her research interests include school violence prevention,
trauma, and adolescent anger and aggression.

Walter Cmielewski

Education
Professor, Coordinator of the Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program

Email: wcmielew@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3205
FAX: 973-618-3580
Office Location: Visceglia Hall, 247

BS English Education
MS English Education
MA Reading
Ed.D. Educational Administration and Supervision

Matt Collum

Academic Affairs
Assistant Director, Retention Initiatives

Email: MCollum@caldwell.edu
Office: 973-618-3272
Office Location: Aquinas Hall, Cougar One Stop

Matt comes to Caldwell University from Boston College (BC), where he worked in Campus Recreation as the Assistant Director, Member Services & Operations. He also served as a game clock, play/shot clock, and scoreboard operator for BC’s basketball, hockey, lacrosse, and football programs, and is a sports junkie. He was a Graduate Assistant at Western Illinois University, and interned with West Virginia University (both Campus Recreation positions).

Matt’s interests (outside of sports) include movies and TV shows (to name a few: Star Wars, Breaking Bad, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, The Office), spending time with family and friends, and working with college students in Higher Education.

Education
M.S.: Sport Management (Western Illinois University)
B.S.: Health and Physical Education; K-12 Teaching (Montclair State University)

Hector Colón

Athletics
Head Coach Women’s Volleyball

Email: hcolon@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3460
Office Location: Newman Center

Colón has been connected to the sport for more than 30 years, including coaching at club and high school through the junior college and NCAA levels. He most recently served as assistant coach at nearby Saint Elizabeth (N.J.) University since 2022 after stints at Morris Catholic High School and Union College.

“Héctor’s experience in many areas of the sport made him a very attractive candidate for the position,” said Corino. “We believe that his leadership will have an immediate and lasting impact on our volleyball program.”

Colón graduated from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. In addition to his vast coaching work, he has served as a journalist in the sport, featuring clubs, players, coaches and schools in many articles and photographs.

His work in coaching took off with a role at VB Rags Academy in Randolph, N.J., in 2013, where he has gained experience in mentoring players in both indoor and beach volleyball. In August 2021, he assisted at a beach clinic led by AVP legends Mike and Patty Dodd.

This past season, Colón helped Saint Elizabeth’s reach the playoffs for just the third time in the program’s history, while the team recorded cumulative GPAs of 3.22 and 3.64 during his tenure.

The Cranford, N.J. resident and Union, N.J. native also serves as a consulting coach at Generation Next Volleyball, where he develops practice and development plans for the club.

“I look forward to the challenge of coaching at this level,” said Colón. “I believe in creating a positive space and if you do it right, success will come.”

Cindy Concannon

Academic Affairs
Clinical Director, Mary Jo Rolli Codey Center

Email: cconcannon@caldwell.edu
Work: 973-618-3667
Office Location: Student Center, 104

Cindy Concannon MA LPC, LPAT, is the Clinical Director of the Mary Jo Rolli Codey Center. The Center provides mental health counseling to the local community and serves as a training clinic for Caldwell’s masters students in the clinical mental health counselor and clinical mental health counselor with art therapy concentration education programs. The Center serves adults, children, adolescents and teens, diverse populations including people with Aphasia and their caregivers. Cindy has worked with populations of all ages with challenges that include trauma, grief, survivors of domestic violence, mental health problems, stroke and traumatic brain injury, and people living with Aphasia. Cindy utilizes the creativity in therapy as a form of communication, fostering self-discovery.

Licensure/Certifications
LPC – Licensed Professional Counselor NJ
LPAT – Licensed Professional Art Therapist NJ
ATR-BC – Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist (National)
NCC – National Certified Counselor

Associations
American Counseling Association
Creativity in Counseling Association
American Art Therapy Association
New Jersey Art Therapy Association

Education
M.A., Counseling/Art Therapy Concentration Caldwell University, 2019;
B.A., Fine Arts Studio/ Drawing Concentration; Montclair State University, 2013

Christie Conforti

Athletics
Assistant Director of Athletics / Head Women’s Basketball Coach

Email: cconforti@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3361
Office Location: Newman Center, Athletics Suite

Christie Conforti joined the Caldwell Athletics staff as Assistant Director of Athletics and Women’s Basketball Head Coach in April 2021 and enters her fourth year at Caldwell. In addition to her coaching duties, Conforti oversees several sports and serves as one of the advisors for the Student Athlete-Advisory Committee (SAAC).

In her first season at Caldwell, Conforti guided the Cougars to a 13-15 overall record and eight wins in the conference. The Cougars reached the opening round of the CACC Tournament with the program earning one CACC All-Conference selection, two Met Basketball Writers honorees and three on the CACC All-Academic Team. She followed up with another CACC tournament qualifier in 2022-23.

Conforti comes to Caldwell from fellow Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference institution Concordia College, where she served as the women’s basketball head coach for seven seasons. She previously served as an assistant coach for the Clippers for one plus seasons before taking over as the interim head coach in the middle of the 2013-14 season. Conforti’s first full season as head coach was in 2014-15 and by her third season she led the Clippers to their first ever CACC Championship Tournament appearance in 2016-17. The past season, Concordia forged new milestones under Conforti’s leadership. The Clippers reached the semifinals of the CACC Championship for the first time and earned the program’s first-ever bid to the NCAA Division II Championship.

Conforti was a member of the Pace University Setters, where she earned recognition on the Northeast-10 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the 2007-08 season. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Pace in 2010.

Conforti hails from Staten Island, N.Y., where she attended St. John Villa Academy, and lives there now with her husband Joseph and daughter Camryn.

Christopher Conklin

Education
Dr.

Email: cconklin@caldwell.edu
Office Location: Visceglia Hall, 226

Dr. Christopher Conklin was a classroom teacher, a member of the Child Student Team as the Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant, a school and/or district administrator, and taught graduate level classes as an adjunct professor at William Paterson University. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University, two master’s degrees from New Jersey City University and a Doctorate of Education from Northcentral University.

Regina Consunji-Watkins

Business and Computer Science
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: rwatkins@caldwell.edu

B.S. University of the Philippines M.B.A. University of the Philippines