Excellence in Historic Preservation

Kathleen P. Galop, Esq. ’68   

Kathleen Galop has committed both her personal and professional life to preserving and enhancing historic sites. As the Principal of Preservation Possibilities, an historic preservation consulting firm in Summit, NJ, Kathleen has extensive experience in the administration of historic preservation projects. As recipient of a John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Research Grant and a White House Historical Association Grant, Kathleen’s research on “Jacqueline Kennedy and Historic Preservation” was published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in May 2006.

After completing her B.A in History at Caldwell College for Women, Kathleen received her J.D. from The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University in Carlisle, PA.  Her early corporate experience included the Law Departments in The Prudential in Newark and MONY Financial Services in New York. She also served as Executive Assistant to the Secretary of Health during the administration of Governor Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania, where she administered the Pennsylvania Children’s Health Insurance Program.  She was appointed by Governor Jim Florio of New Jersey to two terms as a Trustee of the NJ Historic Trust.

Kathleen’s personal avocation has been the preservation of Branch Brook Park in Newark (America’s First County Park) and in her free time, she wrote the Nomination which resulted in placement of Branch Brook Park on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. She founded and ran the Newark Cherry Blossom Festival in 1976 and served on the Branch Brook Park Alliance and was recently named its first Emeritas Trustee. She served as a Special Consultant to NJ Network Public Television on a Branch Brook Park documentary film and recently co-authored Branch Brook Park, part of the “Images of America” series by Arcadia Publishing, to mark the 140th anniversary of the park’s creation.

Kathleen is a contributing author to the Encyclopedia of NJ and an adjunct professor in the Certificate in Historic Preservation Program at Drew University in Madison, NJ. She is a member of the Forum of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a former Trustee of the Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee and a founding Trustee of Newark Public Radio – WBGO.

Kathleen has received awards in recognition of her historic preservation work from the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Newark Jaycees and the City of Buffalo.  She served on the Caldwell College Board of Trustees from 1978-84 and was elected to a life term on the Board of Governors of The Dickinson School of Law of The Pennsylvania State University, where she established the Galop Fund for the Preservation of the Rare Book and Archive Collection.

Kathleen is currently consulting with The Newark Museum to identify preservation funding for the Museum’s historic buildings and with the National Association for Olmsted Parks for The Olmsted Papers Project.

Excellence in Psychotherapy

Michael Ippolito, Ph.D. ‘84

Born and raised in Belleville, NJ, Michael has spent his life offering his professional and volunteer services to the same community.  After a stint in the Army, he continued his education while holding down a full-time job as caseworker for the Department of Health and Human Services in Belleville.  Noticing an ad for Caldwell’s Continuing Education program, Michael enrolled and completed his Sociology degree in 1984.

In 1983, Michael and his wife, Lori, started The Philmore Associates, a tutoring program for children, while they pursued their doctorates.  When the business expanded to 5-6 tutors, it became apparent that behavioral and family problems were related to learning problems and a counseling component was added to tutoring.  The practice now specializes in stress-related problems in schools, in relationships and in the workplace.

Michael has been called repeatedly by the Essex County School Superintendent to handle crisis situations and has volunteered his time with students and parents to provide immediate counseling. In addition, Michael has served as consultant to the Belleville Alliance for Substance Education on substance abuse issues.  He has also worked with the Newark Police Department to produce a film against auto theft for school age children. He taught in Rutgers University’s Graduate School for seven years and has developed a more relaxed rather than clinical counseling style, which typifies his tutoring services as well.

The latest project to capture his enthusiasm is the development of The Philmore Advantage, a training program for school supervisors, principals, directors.  The program covers concepts of supervision, motivational theories, decision-making and evaluation.

Michael recently tested the program with principals and supervisors in the Belleville School System and received high post program evaluation responses.

Michael has recently been added to the Belleville High School Wall of Fame. The list of awards for his community service fill a page and include a 1997 Congressional Achievement Award. Michael also served for 5 years on the Board of Trustees for the Caldwell College Lifelong Learning Institute.  Since 1987, his firm has awarded a scholarship to a Belleville HS student who is handicapped and learning disabled and he quickly recalls success stories of past recipients. But the charity work that touches his heart began quite by chance. Father Paul of Christ Church, a small Episcopalian parish in Belleville, came to him and said they had a soup kitchen but no food.  Ever since, Michael has become the financial sponsor for food and coats for the homeless that are served there.

Excellence in Corporate Communication

Laurita McGreevy Warner ‘70

When Laurita Warner was recruited by Prudential Insurance Company of America as a senior to work on a task force for a new product, she couldn’t have realized she would spend her entire career with the company. After graduating Caldwell with a degree in Business Administration, Laurita began working in Newark and also completed an M.A. in Business Administration/Marketing at Seton Hall University.

In 1976 she transferred to Prudential’s Property and Casualty Company, located in Holmdel, to be closer to home. As Manager of Public Affairs, she established the company’s first Consumer Relations Department and managed both public and community relations.  She administered the corporate budget to support nonprofit organizations throughout Monmouth/Ocean counties and initiated an Employee Volunteer Committee to work with the Monmouth County Volunteer Action Center and a teen mentoring program with Red Bank Regional High School.

As she and husband, Art, started their family, Laurita pioneered part-time status for working mothers and was one of the first two managers in company history to initiate a 20-hour workweek after the birth of her first daughter.

When Prudential public relations was centralized in Newark in 1996, Laurita transferred to join Global Communications. As Vice President of Global Communications for Prudential Financial, she was a spokesperson to national and local media outlets.  She managed public relations and internal communications for Prudential’s domestic insurance and investment businesses and handled communications for Merger and Acquisition activities.

Laurita led a team that created and ran a series of one-day seminars called Stepping Out, A Day Of Finance, Fitness, and Fashion, dedicated to the financial literacy and overall well-being of women and attended by 1200 women in three locations.  She worked with the National Association of Secondary School Principals to promote Spirit of Community, Prudential’s national program to recognize volunteer activity among middle and high school students.  She also collaborated with the Children’s Television Network to promote education concerning the dangers of lead poisoning through Lead Away, a national campaign featuring Sesame Street characters Elmo and Rosita.  Laurita was the first woman to serve as president of the national Insurers’ Public Relations Counsel.

Laurita has been an active member of the Caldwell College Shore Chapter and has worked with the Porch Party Committee to plan their successful fundraisers.  She is a current member of the Alumni Board and has served her parish, the Church of St. Anselm, as Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Social Concerns Committee.

Since retiring in April, Laurita has continued her relationship with Prudential as a consultant, and in that capacity is currently serving as Public Relations Chair for NAVA, the Association for Secured Retirement Solutions.  She also serves as a consultant to High Point Insurance Company. She and Art are enjoying travel, renting a Manhattan apartment, and visiting their daughters, Allison and Kristen, in Hoboken and Philadelphia.