Elise Brandenburg

English
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: ebrandenburg@caldwell.edu
Location: Jennings Library Adjunct Office

Elise holds an MFA from Columbia University and a BA in Creative Writing from Hunter College. She has taught workshops at Sarah Lawrence College and Harvey Milk High School in NYC. She is the recipient of the Lenore Lipstein prize in poetry, and residencies at Djerassi Resident Artist Program and Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts.

Nicole Brandt

Registrar
Registration Services Assistant

Email: nbrandt@caldwell.edu

BS in Biology from Caldwell.

Isela Brenes

Communication Sciences Disorders
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: Ibrenes@caldwell.edu
Office Location: Albertus Magnus Hall

My name is Isela Brenes and I am a speech-language pathologist currently working in a school setting, helping students engage within the classroom environment. Over the past years I have supported individuals ranging across the lifespan from early childhood to late adulthood with their communication needs and related areas. Professionally my goal is to improve participation in daily activities as well as help improve quality of life. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from Kean University and with a master’s degree in science and communication disorders from Emerson College. With a passion for both speech and education, I am enthusiastic about welcoming and guiding others into this wonderful field.

Céline Browning

Visual Art and Design
Associate Professor of Studio Art

Email: CBrowning@caldwell.edu
Location: Visceglia 130

MFA, State University of New York at New Paltz
BFA, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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, History and Political Science, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Music, Sociology and Criminal Justice, Theology and Philosophy
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.

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.

Rachel Callery

Business and Computer Science
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: rcallery@caldwell.edu
Location: Werner 211

I graduated from one of the last hospital associated certificate nursing programs in 2010. I worked in the Emergency Department for about 10 years in which I learned a lot about the disparities in the US healthcare system. My experiences inspired me to go back to school, I earned my Masters Degree in Science of Nursing with a specialty in Nursing Administration. I currently run the nursing department at a skilled nursing facility. I have a passion for teaching, especially those who have chosen to work within the healthcare system, teaching them how to balance managing people, health, healthcare systems, and how these things effect the business of the healthcare setting.

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
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.

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.

Natalie Candela

Academic Affairs
Dissertation Coach

Email: ncandela@caldwell.edu

Natalie Candela, PhD is a certified hypnotherapist working in private practice in Tacoma, WA. She holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology, a Master’s in Education, and a Doctorate in Conflict Resolution. Before her current work, her career was centered within the field of education, where she taught, tutored, coached, and ran academic support services. She has done writing, tutoring, and editing throughout her life and enjoys helping others bring clarity, structure, and flow to their writing.

Jennifer Cannon

Human Resources
Senior HR Generalist

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.

Christina Carlotto

Undergraduate Admissions
Admissions Counselor

Email: ccarlotto@caldwell.edu
Phone Number: 973-618-3220
Location: Newman Center

Syracuse University, B.S. in Psychology

Samantha Castellano

Adjunct Instructor

Email: scastellano@caldwell.edu

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

Jasmine Chatman

Student Engagement
Director of Student Engagement

Email: jchatman@caldwell.edu
Office: 973-618-3484
Location: Student Center 192

Jasmine Chatman, Director of Student Engagement is originally from Massachusetts and brings over 12 years of experience in student engagement. Her journey began as a student leader and continued through graduate school into her professional career, giving her a well-rounded understanding of event planning from both the student and administrative perspectives.

She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Education with a focus on student leadership development, anticipated completion in May 2026.

Education:

B.A., Western New England University, 2015

M.Ed., Springfield College, 2017

Ellina Chernobilsky

Academic Affairs, Institutional Research and Assessment
Vice President for Institutional Assessment, Strategic Planning, and Scholarship

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

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

Email: ccilento@caldwell.edu

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

Cindy Concannon

Academic Affairs, Nursing and Public Health
Clinical Director, Mary Jo Rolli Codey Center

Email: cconcannon@caldwell.edu
Office: 973-618-3668
Location: Visceglia 104
Office Location: Student Center, 104

Additional Office Hours: Saturday 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm

Cindy Concannon MA LPC, LPAT, is the Clinical Director of the Mary Jo Rolli Codey Center. The Center, located on Caldwell’s campus, is a university-based training and wellness hub dedicated to fostering professional development and community wellbeing. Staffed by advanced graduate interns from the clinical mental health counseling and clinical mental health counseling with art therapy concentration program, The Center provides innovative, evidence-informed programs that promote resilience, creativity, and connection. The Center serves as an outpatient facility providing mental health services to the public (adults, seniors, children). The Center also provides Turnkey Art Therapy Services to hospitals and agencies.

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
Adjunct Lecturer

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

Mark Corino

Athletics
Assistant Vice President, Director of Athletics

Email: MCorino@caldwell.edu
Phone: 973-618-3260
FAX: 973-618-3370
Office Location: Newman Center, Athletic Suite

Mark A. Corino begins his 34th year at Caldwell University as the Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Corino also serves as the head men’s basketball coach for the university, a role he has worked in since his came to Caldwell in 1988.

In perhaps the most challenging year for all college athletics, Corino navigated the Caldwell Athletics Department through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21. Corino successfully guided the department through the implementation of a testing and tracing program and mask guidance while following all health and safety protocols that were issued from the local, state and national levels. His leadership and support from the university administration allowed the department’s athletic programs to compete safely during the spring 2021 semester with some teams like men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball, competing outside of their traditional fall seasons of competition.

In 2018, the university dedicated the playing floor at the George R. Newman Center in honor of Corino for his extensive contributions to the department as the director of athletics and as the head coach of the men’s basketball program. Mark A. Corino Court was officially dedicated on December 8, 2018 that featured speeches from Caldwell President Dr. Nancy Blattner, and Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Commissioner Dan Mara as well as special proclamations from Caldwell Mayor Ann Dassing and West Caldwell Mayor Joe Tempesta Jr.

Corino came to Caldwell as the university’s first full-time athletics director in 1988. In his first year, Corino headed a department that had three programs and no conference affiliation. Entering 2020-21, Caldwell has grown to 17 intercollegiate athletic programs that compete in the CACC (13 teams), the East Coast Conference (women’s bowling), the Collegiate Sprint Football League (sprint football), the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (acrobatics & tumbling) and the TriState Conference (men’s rugby). Corino oversaw the university’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, a process that began in 1998 and was completed in 2002. From 2011-2021, Caldwell added nine new sports under Corino’s leadership that includes women’s track and field, women’s lacrosse, men’s cross country and track and field, women’s bowling, sprint football, men’s lacrosse, acrobatics & tumbling and men’s rugby.

Along with the jump to NCAA Division II status came an upgrade in facilities with the opening of the state-of-the-art George R. Newman Center, home of the Caldwell University basketball and volleyball teams in 2002. In 2010, Caldwell University, West Caldwell and Essex County came together to fund the renovation of the Kiwanis Oval, an artificial turf facility used by multiple municipalities and Caldwell University. Corino has also contracted agreements to lease Essex Valley Field to host the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams home contests as well as direct an agreement to lease a space for locker rooms, trainer rooms, office and meeting space at Provost Square, adjacent to the Kiwanis Oval, for the men’s lacrosse, baseball and sprint football teams.

Corino played a pivotal role in the creation of the CACC, which has grown to 13 institutions. Corino, who has served as the conference’s president during three separate stints, was named the CACC and NAIA Region X Administrator of the Year in 2000. He also was among 14 finalists for the NAIA National Athletic Administrator of the Year. In 2010, Corino was named the Jostens ECAC Administrator of the Year. For all his contributions and years of service as the athletics director and head coach, Corino was promoted to Caldwell University’s Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics in 2014 and was inducted into the Caldwell Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. Corino was again honored by his CACC colleagues as he was selected as the 2016-17 and 2020-21 CACC Athletic Director of the Year. Corino also received the prestigious Garden State Award from the Collegiate Athletic Administrators of New Jersey in 2018.

Corino remains actively involved in the intercollegiate athletics community. He is the current President of the CACC Directors Council after being re-elected in 2018 and joined the NCAA Division II Management Council in 2020. Corino has served on the Board of the Directors for the ECAC, and previously served as the CACC’s representative on the Division II Athletic Directors Association Board of Directors. Corino is a former member of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee for all divisions and served on the DII East Region’s Regional Advisory Committee for men’s basketball.

A native of Belleville, N.J., Corino attended Kean University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in industrial arts. He later received a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Caldwell in 1997.

Corino is the youngest of three brothers who have combined for more than 1,000 coaching victories at the collegiate and high school levels. Oldest brother Jimmy was a high school basketball coach, while Carl is one of the all-time winningest high school softball coaches in New Jersey.

Corino resides in Cedar Grove, N.J., with his wife Susan, who have a daughter, Michele, son-in-law Michael and grandsons Vincent and Valentino. “My family has been tremendously supportive and without their understanding we would not have been able to accomplish all that we have here at Caldwell,” Corino said. “They’ve played an important part in our success as well.”

Frank Corrado

Education
Adjunct Professor

Email: fac1913@aol.com
: 9734776070
Office Location: Albertus Magnus Hall, 223A

BA Degree in Social Studies= Bloomfield College. MA Degree in Student Personnel Services= William Paterson University. MA Degree in Educational Administration – Rutgers University
Experience” Principal- Roosevelt Middle School, West Orange, N.J. 2000 -2011
RMS was recognized as a National “School To Watch”-2009
Winner of the Katrine Goerss Leadership Award -2009
Principal -Indian Hill School – Holmdel , NJ.1993-2000
Principal -William R. Satz Middle School, Holmdel , N.J. 1987-1993
University teaching Experience. Caldwell University- Adjunct Professor and Supervisor 2011 to present

Karen Cotter

Business and Computer Science
Adjunct Lecturer

Email: kcotter@caldwell.edu

Dr. Karen Cotter has been in education for over 25 years teaching K-16 to professional development and training of faculty and staff. She is currently an adjunct at Caldwell University. Karen is also part of the Supplemental Instruction Team in charge of Training and Supervision at New Jersey City University. She has presented at numerous conferences including ASHIE, HACU, ISSOTL, ISTE, NJSAL, MCC on topics that focus on student engagement and active learning. 

Dr. Cotter holds an Ed.D. in Educational Technology Leadership from New Jersey City University, a Master of Arts degree in Science Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Carolina University. 

Marisa Crozier

Education
Adjunct Professor

Email: mcrozier@caldwell.edu
Office Location: Visceglia Hall, Room 225

Ed.D. Special Education
Caldwell University │Caldwell, NJ
M.A. Special Education
Caldwell University │Caldwell, NJ
Certification: New Jersey Certification of Eligibility Teacher of Students with Disabilities
Caldwell University │Caldwell, NJ
B.A. History
William Paterson University │Wayne, NJ

Daniel Cruz

Psychology
Assistant Professor

Email: dcruz@caldwell.edu
Office Phone: 973-618-3264
Office Location: Visceglia Hall 148

Education
• B.A., Psychology, Montclair State University
• M.A., Psychology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University
• Ph.D., Counseling Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology Specialty)

Dr. Cruz is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Caldwell University, as well as an assessment psychologist and neuroscience researcher. He is licensed to practice psychology in New Jersey and is board-certified in Counseling Psychology (ABPP-Co), with specialized
expertise in psychological and neuropsychological assessment and consultation.

At Caldwell University, Dr. Cruz teaches a range of psychology courses, including statistics, health psychology, and psychopathology. He is committed to supporting students’ academic and personal development, and he values the opportunity to mentor students throughout their
time at the university and beyond.

Dr. Cruz’s research focuses on developmental disorders, with particular interests in developmental trauma, complex PTSD, autism spectrum disorder, and ADHD. His work integrates psychological theory with neuroscientific approaches to better understand the impact of early experiences on brain development and mental health.

Outside of his professional work, Dr. Cruz enjoys spending time with family and friends, relaxing with his cats, and unwinding with his favorite streaming shows.