invention summer 2015€¦ · you did your best to become the best that you are capable of...

S U MM E R 2 0 1 5

THE MAGAZINE OF THOMAS EDISON STATE COLLEGE

INSIDE:> NATIONAL VETERANS PROGRAMJOINS COLLEGE

> 2015 NATIONAL INSTITUTE EXPLORESFUTURE OF PLA

> WATSON INSTITUTE HOSTS AUXILIARY POLICE FORUM

> ALUMNI PROFILES: OSCAR GUTIERREZ, BA ’12LAMEKA AUGUSTIN, MBA ’14

KIRK LEW ’14

Invention is published quarterlyand is produced by the

Office of Communications atThomas Edison State College.

DR. GEORGE A. PRUITTPresident

JOE GUZZARDOEditor

JEFF LUSHBAUGHGraphic Design and Layout

KRISTEN LACAILLADEKELLY SACCOMANNO

LINDA SOLTISContributing Editors

SUMMER 2015What’s Inside

1 Message from the President

College News:2 > National Veterans Program Joins College

3 > W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing Hosts NCIN Regional Scholars Network Leadership Conference

> College Hosts Health Policy Event

4 > College Mourns the Loss of Dr. Arnold Fletcher

5 > School of Business and Management Launches New Bachelor’s Program > Topping Off Ceremony Held for Nursing Education Center

6 > Watson Institute Hosts Auxiliary Police Forum

7 > Workshop Focuses on Reclaiming Vacant and Abandoned Properties> 2015 National Institute Explores Future of PLA

Cover Story:8 > Keeping It Personal: Kirk Lew ’14

Alumni Profiles:12 > Oscar Gutierrez, BA ’12

14 > Lameka Augustin, MBA ’14

16 > Class Notes

Cover Story: 8Keeping It Personal: Kirk Lew ’14

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Printed On Recycled Paper

www.tesc.edu

INVENTION | SUMMER 2015 1

M E S S A G E F R O M T H EP R E S I D E N T

Sincerely,

Dr. George A. PruittPresident

Dear Alumni, Students and Friends,The legendary basketball coach John Wooden said, “Success comes from knowing thatyou did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

The graduates featured in this issue of Invention bring this quote to life.

We are honored to tell you the story of Kirk Lew ‘14, the first graduate of our Master ofPublic Service Leadership degree program. Lew, a former Rutgers lacrosse player, is apolicy analyst with the New Jersey State Employment and Training Commission,where he works to improve the workforce of underserved populations in the state. Hediscusses the benefits of collaborating with the Watson Institute as a student in ourpublic service program and how he was able to apply that experience to his career.

Also in this issue, we meet Oscar Gutierrez ‘12, a noncommissioned officer in the U.S.Army Reserve, whose record includes eight years of active duty service. Gutierrez talksabout the role the College played in helping him achieve his primary goal of giving backto his country and his community, and building a successful career in public service.

We are also pleased to introduce you to Lameka Augustin ‘14, assistant school businessadministrator for the Branchburg Township School District in New Jersey. Augustinshares how our Master of Business Administration program helped her achieve herprofessional goals as a busy mother and wife.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Invention.

C O L L E G EN E W S

Operation College Promise, a national policy, research andeducation program that supports the transition andpostsecondary advancement of U.S. veterans, is now partof Thomas Edison State College, the largest provider ofcollegiate programs for active duty service members andveterans in New Jersey.

Operation College Promise, established by the New JerseyAssociation of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU) in2008, is now part of the College’s Office of Military andVeteran Education and will complement the institution’sefforts serving veterans, active duty service members andtheir families. The transition took place on May 15.

“Moving Operation College Promise into our institutionhelps ensure that we can continue its excellent work insupport of our nation’s veterans,” said Louis Martini,associate vice president of Military and Veteran Educationat Thomas Edison State College. “This goes beyond theenrollment of veterans. It is about making a larger impacton the lives of those who have served. It positions us toprovide career assessment support and help studentsconnect with ancillary services, including housing,childcare and health services.”

The College played a pivotal role in Operation CollegePromise when the program was selected in 2009 as one of20 recipients of the American Council onEducation/Walmart “Success for Veterans” grants. OperationCollege Promise created the Certificate for Veterans’ ServiceProviders program, the nation’s first and most widely

disseminated training program for professionals workingwith veterans, and The OCP Field Guide, the first nationalresource publication specifically designed for veterans’service providers. The program has trained more than 500professionals from approximately 30 states.

“Thomas Edison State College is the perfect setting for thenext stage of Operation College Promise,” said Dr. MichaelKlein, executive director and chief executive officer ofNJASCU. “The association is proud of Wendy Lang, whooriginally envisioned the program and who continues tobe its heart and soul. At Thomas Edison State College,Wendy will continue Operation College Promise’sgroundbreaking work to support military and veteranstudents in achieving a college degree.”

National Veterans Program Joins College

(from left) The Operation College Promise team: Frank Foy, Wendy Lang andWilliam Keyes

2 INVENTION | SUMMER 2015


N E W SC O L L E G E

The W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing at Thomas EdisonState College recently hosted the 2015 New Careers inNursing (NCIN) Northeastern Scholars Network LeadershipConference, which brought more than 100 nursing studentsand educators from across New England and the MiddleAtlantic states to Trenton, N.J.

“These conferences provide important opportunities tostudents currently enrolled in accelerated second degreeprograms who have earned NCIN scholarships to interactwith nursing leaders in the field today,” said Dr. FilomelaMarshall, dean of the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing.“We are honored to bring this regional meeting to theCollege for the first time and provide a professional learningexperience to students from throughout the Northeast.”

The conference, which was held on April 25 at the College,enables NCIN scholars to explore common challengeswhen transitioning to the nursing profession, identifyopportunities for continued professional growth anddevelopment, and network with fellow students andnursing leaders in discussion groups focused on topicsrelated to their nursing careers.

In 2014, the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing was one of52 schools from across the country to receive a grant fromthe Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for the NCINscholarship program.

Four NCIN scholars enrolled at Thomas Edison State Collegeattended this year’s regional leadership conference,including Chayna Hardy-Taylor, Charles Thompson, SuzanneSzary and Victoria Burch.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the AmericanAssociation of Colleges of Nursing launched the NCINprogram in 2008 to help alleviate the nursing shortage,expand the capacity of nursing programs, increase thenumber of nursing faculty in the pipeline and build a morediverse nursing workforce in an effort to meet the needs ofa changing patient population.

NCIN scholars have already earned a bachelor’s degree inanother field and are making a transition to nursing throughan accelerated nursing degree program.

College Hosts New Careers in NursingNortheastern Regional Meeting

W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing HostsHealth Policy Event

(from left) Accelerated BSN students Chayna Hardy-Taylor, Suzanne Szary,Victoria Burch and Charles Thompson attended the 2015 NCIN NortheasternScholars Network Leadership Conference at the College.

Dr. Filomela Marshall, dean of the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing

The W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing atThomas Edison State College recentlyhosted a health policy event presented bythe Institute for Nursing and the NewJersey State Nurses Association.

The event, Health Policy: Nurse Advocacy inAction, was held on June 18 at the Collegeand provided nurses with informationabout health policy legislation, the legisla-tive and advocacy process and currentstate and federal issues related to nursing.

“Nurses make up the largest employeegroup in the healthcare sector,” said Dr. Filomela Marshall, dean of the W. CaryEdwards School of Nursing. “This eventprovided an opportunity for nurses andnursing students to network with keyleaders, learn more about the healthpolicy process, and understand theimpact that nurse advocacy can have toeffect change in the healthcare system.”


Thomas Edison State College mournsthe loss of Dr. Arnold Fletcher, theinstitution’s first vice president, whopassed away at his home in NewtownSquare, Pa., on June 12. He was 97.

Fletcher devoted his life to family,music and higher education. He grewup in Upper Darby, Pa., and was ateenage piano prodigy who earnedmusic degrees from Temple Universityand a doctorate in education from theUniversity of Pennsylvania.

He was a World War II Army veteranwho served with the 11th ArmoredDivision under Gen. George Patton.He received a Bronze Star for his dutyduring the Battle of the Bulge andtook part in the liberation of theMauthausen-Gusen concentrationcamp near Linz, Austria.

In 1946, Fletcher joined the musicfaculty of West Chester State TeachersCollege, where he served as professorof music and dean of AcademicAffairs. Following his tenure at WestChester State, Fletcher served brieflyas president of the American Collegeof Monaco before joining Thomas

Edison State College in 1973, wherehe played an instrumental roledeveloping and leading theinstitution's academic enterprise.

Under his leadership, the Collegedeveloped its first degree programs,appointed its first Academic Council,created both the Thomas EdisonCollege Exam Program (TECEP®) andthe school’s first independent studycourse and became a pioneer in priorlearning assessment.

“That was the beginning of theperiod to start serving the adultlearner. We were starting somethingat that point, and I think we were fairlysuccessful at it,” he said in a 2013interview with the College. “I waswilling to jump into something thatwas new, and it would give us achance to try out new things. Somewould work. Some wouldn’t. Many ofthem did. Some became permanent.And by setting a beginning for it, weachieved a background basis for it tocontinue in the future.”

Fletcher also played a key role inhelping the College earn its first fullaccreditation from the Middle StatesCommission on Higher Educationand served as acting president of theCollege on two separate occasions in1978 and 1982 when the institutionwas transitioning betweenpresidents. He stepped down fromhis role as vice president at theCollege in 1983.

“We owe much to Arnold Fletcherbecause he provided leadership at acritical time in our history and had avision for the institution,” said WilliamJ. Seaton, provost and vice presidentof Academic Affairs at Thomas Edison

State College. “His work helped createthe foundation of our College’sacademic program, opening doorsfor adult learners and helping toreshape the entire higher educationlandscape. Arnold was a Renaissanceman whose legacy is firmly rooted inthe foundations of the College.”

In his honor, the College establishedthe Arnold Fletcher Award torecognize Thomas Edison StateCollege baccalaureate degreegraduates who earned at least 90credits using one of the innovative,nontraditional learning methodsrecognized by the institution.

Fletcher was preceded in death by hisfirst wife, Toni; and is survived by hissecond wife, Mary Girling Fletcher, ofNewtown Square, Pa.; his daughter,Patrice Fletcher, of Chicago; his son,Kenneth Fletcher, of Independence,Ore.; and a niece, Dee Krauss, ofHuntington Beach, Calif.

Dr. Arnold Fletcher attended several Thomas Edison StateCollege Commencement ceremonies after his retirement.He performed “Prelude Excerpts” by George Gershwin atthe 2011 Fall Commencement in Trenton, N.J.

In Memoriam:College Mourns the Loss of Dr. Arnold Fletcher



The School of Business and Managementat Thomas Edison State College hasrecently launched a Bachelor of Sciencein Professional Studies degree programthat is ideal for working professionalsinterested in finishing their business ormanagement degree and leveragingmost of their transfer credits.

“This degree is designed for studentswho are already professionals working intheir fields but who want to complete abusiness degree,” said Alicia Malone,assistant dean of the School of Businessand Management. “It is less prescriptivethan our Bachelor of Science in Business Administrationprogram and offers a little more flexibility while stillenabling students to demonstrate competency inbusiness theories.”

The 120-credit program is offered completely online andallows students to transfer and apply most of their

previously earned credits completed atregionally accredited institutions andfinish their business degree withoutsacrificing their professional and personalobligations. Course work provides a solidgrounding in relevant academic theory,applied practice and policymaking.

“As the demand for workplace skillscontinues to evolve, one thing remainsconstant—many people without abachelor’s degree are likely to experiencea roadblock to achieving their careergoals,” said Dr. Michael Williams, dean ofthe School of Business and Management.

“Our new program allows students to benefit from aconcentration in interdisciplinary knowledge that preparesthem for success in any vocation.”

To learn more about the program, visitwww.tesc.edu/business.

Dr. Michael Williams, dean of the Schoolof Business and Management

College Launches Bachelor of Science inProfessional Studies

Topping Off Ceremony Held for NursingEducation CenterThomas Edison State Collegerecently held a topping offceremony for the Nursing EducationCenter, which celebrates the finalsteel girder being put into place tocreate the frame of the newestlandmark building coming todowntown Trenton, N.J.

The ceremony took place at thebuilding’s construction site at WestState and Calhoun streets in Trentonon May 13. College officials andmembers of the design and

construction teams for the buildingsigned a steel beam, which wasthen hoisted into the air and putinto place near the top of the three-story structure.

“We have always taken our role as aresident and a steward of this cityvery seriously,” said Dr. George A.Pruitt, president of Thomas EdisonState College. “We felt a greatresponsibility to build not justanother building but somethingthat will be a significant and

permanent landmark to our city. Wethink this building makes astatement about the quality of ourcity, our College and the studentsthat we serve.”

The $26.2 million building isscheduled to open in 2016 and willinclude nursing simulation labs andclassrooms, a testing center, meetingspace, conference rooms and a two-level parking garage, which featuresa green roof that will create anoutdoor space for students.


The John S. Watson Institute for PublicPolicy of Thomas Edison State Collegerecently hosted a forum that focused onhow the auxiliary police model hasimproved community-police relations inPerth Amboy, N.J., and how it can beimplemented in other cities andmunicipalities in the state.

The event, which was held on May 7 at the College,brought together officials from cities and towns acrossNew Jersey and featured a keynote address by New JerseyActing Attorney General John Jay Hoffman.

Hoffman told participants that auxiliary police programsshould be based on the needs of the police departmentand community, but models like the one in Perth Amboycan help bring communities and law enforcement officialscloser together to build trust.

“It’s important for police departments to learn wherecitizen assistance can help build a program,” he said. “Itformalizes a sense of accountability and responsibility inthe community.”

Auxiliary police are volunteers from the community whocomplete background checks and basic police training.They assist law enforcement in a variety of settings,including patrol, crowd control, helping in missing personssearches and serving as community-police liaisons.

The forum also included a public safety panel thatdiscussed how the auxiliary model in Perth Amboy hasimproved community-police relations in the city, and aroundtable discussion on auxiliary police.

Lawrence Cattano ‘12, deputy police chief in Perth Amboy,participated in both the panel discussion and a roundtablediscussion and said increased training for auxiliary policehelped make the program in Perth Amboy successful.

“It is important to give volunteers the tools andopportunity to succeed,” he added. “Training helpsprofessionalize the effort and helps the program toestablish its own credibility with the community and thepolice department.”

Cattano said municipalities considering an auxiliary policeprogram should try to identify people in their communitiesinterested in partnering and who would embrace the idea.

“It is very important to find somebody to have a sense ofownership,” he said. “It could be someone from the Office ofEmergency Management, a retired law enforcementprofessional or a long-time resident that knows theneighborhood and the community well.”

The event was presented by The John S. Watson Institutefor Public Policy, The Citizens Campaign and the NewJersey Urban Mayors Association.

Watson Institute Hosts Auxiliary Police Forum

C O L L E G EN E W S

(from left) Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson; Harry S. Pozycki, chairman, TheCitizens Campaign; Perth Amboy Deputy Police Chief Lawrence Cattano ’12;and Barbara George Johnson, executive director, The John S. WatsonInstitute for Public Policy.

(from left) N.J. Acting Attorney General John Jay Hoffman; Harry S. Pozycki,chairman, The Citizens Campaign; and Perth Amboy Deputy Police ChiefLawrence Cattano ’12.

“It is important to give volunteersthe tools and opportunity

to succeed.”> Lawrence Cattano ‘12

Perth Amboy Deputy Police Chief[ ]


The John S. Watson Institute forPublic Policy of Thomas Edison StateCollege recently coordinated aworkshop designed to helpmunicipal officials deal with vacantand problem properties that candestabilize neighborhoods andimpede economic development.

The workshop, which was held onMay 12 at the War Memorial inTrenton, N.J., brought togetherpractitioners from around the U.S.who shared best practices aboutreclaiming vacant and abandonedproperties, dealing with problemproperties through codeenforcement and how New Jersey

municipalities are creatively tacklingissues related to vacant and problemproperties.

“Many cities and towns in New Jerseyare still reeling from the foreclosurecrisis and economic downturn,” saidBarbara George Johnson, executivedirector of The John S. WatsonInstitute for Public Policy. “Our goal isto help municipal leaders develop astrategy to revitalize theircommunities and take advantage oftools and resources such as theAbandoned Properties RehabilitationAct and other legal avenues, toimprove troubled properties evenwhen resources are limited.”

The Watson Institute presented theworkshop with the Center forCommunity Progress; New JerseyUrban Mayors Association; Housingand Community DevelopmentNetwork of New Jersey; and NewJersey Community Capital.

Workshop Focuses on Reclaiming Vacant andAbandoned Properties


2015 National Institute Explores Future of PLAand Role of Assessment in CollegeThomas Edison State College recently presented the 27thannual National Institute on the Assessment of AdultLearning, which focused on how prior learning assessment(PLA) can help advance national college completion goalsin the U.S. and the role technology will play in theassessment and education of adult learners.

The theme of this year’s event—held June 2–4 at the HiltonPhiladelphia at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia, Pa.—was“PLA 20/20: Goals and Visions.”

“Our theme was meant to get people thinking about thenear future and how education might be evolving as weincorporate new technology and work to achieve PresidentObama’s college completion goals, one of which is toincrease the percentage of Americans with a collegedegree to 60 percent by the year 2020,” said Marc Singer,vice provost of Thomas Edison State College’s Center forthe Assessment of Learning and director of the NationalInstitute. “This year was about exploring the ways we canhelp make that happen through our work with adult andnontraditional students. Prior learning assessmentcontinues to play a major role in helping to achieve thiscollege degree completion goal.”

Nearly 120 educators and practitioners from around theworld attended the 2015 National Institute to share ideasabout PLA, hear about best practices, discuss strategies forresolving potential roadblocks and learn how adultlearning relates to the rest of the educational arena.

Keynote presentations were made by Meg Benke, PhD,professor and mentor, School of Graduate Studies, SUNYEmpire State College; and Rich Roberts, PhD, vice presidentand chief scientist, Center for Innovative Assessments,Professional Examination Service.

Thomas Edison State College established the NationalInstitute in 1988 to provide an intensive learningexperience for educators and professionals involved in theassessment of adult and experiential learning and to helpensure that PLA is appropriately practiced. The event alsohelps educators learn the best practices related to the fieldand understand the importance of quality assurance andaccreditation issues related to PLA.

To learn more about the 2015 event, visitwww.tesc.edu/nationalinstitute.

Practitioners from around the country sharedbest practices about reclaiming vacant andabandoned properties at the War Memorial inTrenton, N.J.

For Kirk Lew, it’s personal.

A public service professional who has dedicated his careerto assisting those who need it most, Lew discovered earlyon that by working directly with people with specialneeds and their families, he could make the biggestimpact in their lives.

A standout lacrosse player at Hillsborough High School inNew Jersey, Lew went on to play lacrosse at Rutgers,where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1996. He was ateacher for about a year before changing careers to workclosely with at-risk youths and kids with developmentaland physical disabilities, giving each child the attentionthey needed.

“This allowed me to teach one-on-one and apply apersonal touch to each individual I worked with,” Lewrecalled. “Each child has their own wants, needs andexpectations so we are able to bridge that gap and tailortheir plan for success in a way that benefits them the most.”

Employed as a lead residential advisor for ResCare, Lewworked mostly with at-risk youths; and as a seniormanager for the nonprofit organization Bridges toEmployment, he worked primarily with people withdisabilities. During this time, Lew said he learned patience,effective communication and empathy—skills critical toanyone working in public service.

Today, Lew works as a policy analyst for the New JerseyState Employment and Training Commission (SETC),where he partners with businesses, job seekers, organizedlabor and state and county agencies to improve theworkforce system for three of the most underservedpopulations in New Jersey.

“I work to foster effective communication and interactionbetween public, private and community organizations toassure that no duplication of services exists,” said Lew.


“I was able to apply what I was doing in my position directly to my coursework. I made connections between the material and everything began

to come full circle.”> Kirk Lew, MPSL ’14

[ ]

A standout lacrosse player at Hillsborough High School in New Jersey, Lew(center) played Division I lacrosse at Rutgers University. Today, he coachesyouth lacrosse.

Kirk Lew ’14 – First Graduate of the Master of Public Service Leadership Program.

“Promoting synergy between these groups helps to affirmthat needs are being met and systems are connected andworking seamlessly.”

He also examines how laws and policies directly impactthe state’s youth and disabled communities as well asadult literacy in New Jersey and champions the notion ofhow community support and access to education directlycorrelate to practical employment.

“By encouraging both public and private groups toleverage their resources and work together, theseorganizations are allowing access to education and propertraining for the hardest served populations, which helps tonot only increase their wage opportunities, but assist inadvancing their career options,” he said.

When Lew joined the commission in 2012, he realized thathe needed a graduate degree in order to advance his career.

“Everyone I worked with had a master’s degree; it justmade sense for me at this juncture,” he said. “To make iteven sweeter, my daughter was just beginning her firstyear of grade school, so to be able to go to school‘together’ was special.”

Lew also drew motivation for completing his master’sdegree from his parents.

“My father immigrated to the United States from China ata young age, and always reinforced the importance ofearning advanced credentials,” he said. “My parents metand lived in New York City housing projects for some timebefore they found their way out. It was through pursuingeducation that they were successful and able to providefor our family. Watching our parent’s triumph firsthand, mysister and I knew that following a strong educational pathwas a clear choice we each wanted to make.”

It was the need for a master’s degree that fit his passion forcommunity development and capacity-building that ledLew to Thomas Edison State College. In 2014, he becamethe first graduate of the College’s Master of Public ServiceLeadership degree program, which enables students toapply what they learn in their courses to their actual workenvironments.

“I was able to apply what I was doing in my position directlyto my course work. I made connections between thematerial and everything began to come full circle,” said Lew.“Much of my work focuses on looking at the bigger pictureand analyzing how systems move and change. The coursework I completed while earning my degree allowed me tofurther refine my ability to strategize and theorize.”

As a student, Lew collaborated with The John S. WatsonInstitute for Public Policy to help implement strategicinvestments for community economic development in 19municipalities across the state—part of the Institute’sComprehensive Economic Development Strategy forNorth-Central New Jersey.

“Working with the Watson Institute as a member of theWork Investment Task Force has directly aligned with mywork at the SETC,” he said. “We’ve been able to helpstimulate the economy and allow workforce systems tobecome more fluid through employer training programs.”

Lew has served as a youth lacrosse coach for the past 12years and frequently speaks at job fairs and community-based organizations for youths on topics such as socialmedia safety and effective employment tactics.

“Much of what I have experienced through my owneducational journey I now pass on to the populations Iwork closely with,” he said. “I take every opportunity toreiterate how crucial it is to begin an educational path thatwill lead to starting a career.”

Lew resides in Hillsborough, N.J., with his daughter.



Oscar Gutierrez, BA ’12

“Having my bachelor’s degree brings the experience full circle and opens a

wide range of opportunities.” [ ]


Even though Oscar Gutierrez was only 11 years oldwhen he came to the United States, he broughtsomething very special with him: a desire to serve hisnew country.

“As an immigrant to the United States, I have anoverwhelming sense of duty to this country that hasallowed me to serve in the military,” said Gutierrez, whoemigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in 1991. “I feel theneed to give back, and that sense of duty leads me toserve my community at all levels—local, state, federaland not-for-profit.”

Gutierrez’ service at the local level includes his currentposition as controller for the city of Fishers, Ind. At thestate level, he serves as the commissioner of the 5thCongressional Indiana War Memorial, an appointmentmade by Gov. Mike Pence. Gutierrez assists at thefederal level as a noncommissioned officer in the ArmyReserve with eight years of active duty and 12 years ofcontinued service.

“My time will never truly repay this great nation for allthe opportunities it has afforded me, but it plays a smallpart ensuring that we continue moving forward,”Gutierrez explained.

One of those opportunities, Gutierrez is quick to note,was earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in liberalstudies from Thomas Edison State College in 2012.

“The military gave me the tools and resources to receivethe education that Thomas Edison State College hasprovided,” said Gutierrez, who is currently pursuing aMaster of Business Administration (MBA) at IndianaWesleyan University. “As a service member, I had aneclectic group of schools I had previously attended andwas pleased to find that TESC accepted a large numberof military training credits, and all of my testing andcollege credits from other institutions. To complete mydegree requirements at Thomas Edison State College, Iused online, guided independent study and priorlearning assessment courses.”

Prior to attending Thomas Edison State College,Gutierrez completed several federal and militarycourses and gained years of experience in subjectssuch as appropriation law, accounting, financialstatements and U.S. general ledger.

“Having my bachelor’s degree brings the experience fullcircle and opens a wide range of opportunities,” he said.

Since earning his BA degree, Gutierrez has garnered anumber of prestigious appointments.

Before he was named the city controller in Fishers,Gutierrez served as the controller for the City ofLawrence, Ind., and with the U.S. Department of Defense,where he was awarded the Joint Service CommendationMedal and the Joint Service Achievement Medal for hiscontributions in financial management.

Additionally, he serves as a trustee of the IndianapolisPublic Library and a member of the Hispanic BusinessCouncil Board of Directors. He is also a member of theRotary Club of Indianapolis, The American Legion, UnitedService Organization of Indiana, the Folds of HonorFoundation and the Columbia Club Veterans Association.

Today, Gutierrez is eager to spread the word about thededication and integrity of his alma mater.

“I continue to serve as finance instructor for the ArmyReserve and often recommend TESC to colleagues forits military friendliness, but, more importantly, forhaving a regional accreditation and the credibility ofnot being a for-profit institution,” he said.

Gutierrez, who resides in Geist, Ind., with his wife,Meghan, and their 4-year-old son, Darwin, said he likesto spend as much time as he can with his family.

“We frequent the Indianapolis Zoo, the IndianapolisChildren’s museum and Fort Harrison State Park,” he said.

Alumni Profile

Oscar Gutierrez, BA ’12

Model Citizen

Commitment toSucceed



Lameka Augustin, MBA ’14

Alumni Profile

Augustin said earning a Master of Business Administration(MBA) degree from Thomas Edison State College broughther closer to her professional objectives.

“My goal was to become a school business administrator,”said Augustin, who was recently named assistant schoolbusiness administrator/assistant board secretary for theBranchburg Township School District in New Jersey. “Inorder to be an eligible candidate for this position, Ineeded a master’s degree from an accredited college. Iselected Thomas Edison State College’s MBA programbecause it seemed like the best fit for me.”

Augustin, who completed her MBA while working full timeas a school accountant for the Hawthorne Board ofEducation in Hawthorne, N.J., said she was attracted to theprogram’s accelerated timeframe and competitive tuition.

“I was looking for a program that was autonomous andattainable within two years,” she said. “The affordabilityfactor was a major attraction because the cost ofobtaining a master’s level education can be prohibitive. Icompared Thomas Edison State College to other onlineMBA programs, and read reviews from students abouthow the staff and mentors played a big role in helpingthem succeed. I value the ability to work independently,but I also wanted to make sure that I was applying to aninstitution that would be there for me if I needed it.”

As a student, Augustin pointed out that one of theprogram’s strong suits was the relevancy of her coursework to her job.

“The mentors are seasoned professionals with anextensive amount of knowledge in real world concepts.This is an enormous benefit to students who are thenable to immediately apply what they are learning toenhance their position in the workforce,” she said.

Perhaps her biggest motivation was her family. The ‘familyfirst’ mentality that Augustin embraces kept her poweringthrough busy days on the job, household demands andchallenging course work.

“My children watched as I embraced the educationaljourney and were very supportive,” she recalled. “Theywere clearly impressed with me sticking it out. I know thispassage made a lasting impression on them andunderscores how important education is to their ownfuture.”

Augustin, who graduated in 2014, stressed that studentsmust be committed to be successful and complete theMBA program.

“You have to put in the work and make the commitment tocomplete your assignments,” she said. “I am a wife, motherof three and an active church member. What worked forme was doing my reading at night and numerous times onsports fields while my children were at practice. Iincorporated my current lifestyle with the commitment ofcompleting my degree. TESC made it as seamless aspossible to access my assignments through any methodand on any device, which is a major plus. My lifestyle wasno longer an obstacle for completing my MBA.”

Augustin describes her household as the archetypical‘modern family.’ She and husband Hans live in Haledon,N.J., and have three children, Katrina, Justin and Jalen.

Lameka Augustin had three letterson her personal ‘to do’ list: MBA.

(from left) Lameka Augustin, MBA ’14 and Felicia Meyers, MSN ‘14 at theCollege’s 42nd Annual Commencement on Sept. 20.


C L A S S N O T E S

Michael Barnes AA ’05, BA ’09Michael Barnes graduated with a MA in modern languagesfrom Kansas State University in December 2013. Barnesrecently retired from the U.S. Army after 27 years, and has beenhired by Kansas State University as the Fort Riley studentservices coordinator.

James Battavio BA ’10James Battavio was recently promoted to police captain withinthe Bridgeton Police Department in Bridgeton, N.J. Battaviojoined the department in 1999 and was promoted to sergeantin 2004 and lieutenant in 2007. He also currently serves as anadjunct professor in justice studies at Cumberland CountyCollege in Vineland, N.J.

Jinphil Cho BSBA ’12Jinphil Cho graduated with an MBA in finance and accountingfrom Indiana University in May 2015.

Nicholas Dean BA ’05Nicholas Dean was recently featured on National Public Radio(NPR). Crescent Leadership Academy in New Orleans, La.,where Dean serves as principal, was highlighted in a newsfeature by NPR noting the school’s success with programs toassist students who have not been successful in otheracademic settings. Dean is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Sue Gibson BA ’93Sue Gibson has been a pastoral counselor for women atCovenant Hills Treatment Center in Boerne, Texas, for the pasteight years. Gibson is an ordained minister in the UnitedMethodist Church where she served five churches as apreacher for 20 years. Her memoir, Fun and Faith: A Journey inCourage, has recently been published. This memoir delves intothe daring and brave venture of pastoring churches after a callfrom God at midlife.

Mike Havlik BSBA ’08Mike Havlik, following his graduationfrom Thomas Edison State College,spent four years working in the financialservices industry. He credits much of hissuccess in law school to the skillset heacquired through the College, allowinghim the ability to learn how to learn.Havlik anticipates graduating from lawschool at the University of Colorado thisyear. Following his law school graduation, Havlik looks forward toworking for Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP in Denver, Colo.

Susan Moore Jordan BA ’86Susan Moore Jordan has published athird novel, You Are My Song, to gowith two previous titles in her“musical trilogy,” Eli’s Heart and How IGrew Up. All three books are set in the’50s and ’60s, and are drawn from herpersonal experience in music andtheater. Jordan’s novels are inspiredby real people she has encounteredand feature performers whosededication to music helps them overcome life-and-deathcrises. She is a longtime voice teacher and stage director. Anative of Oak Ridge, Tenn., Jordan earned a certificate in vocalmusic and church music at The Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she was a vocal performancemajor. While based in Cincinnati, she also served on theadministrative staff of the Edgecliff Academy of Fine Arts andthe Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival. Jordan’s novels areavailable through Amazon and are featured onwww.goodreads.com and www.selfpublishersshowcase.com.

Dr. Terry Drew Karanen BA ’08Dr. Terry Drew Karanen’s newest book, How to Find Your Visionand Get a Life! Using a vision and mission to create a life worthliving was released in June. The book takes the reader step-by-step through the process of creating personal vision andmission statements – the foundation necessary to accomplishgoals. It is now available through bookstores as well as onlinein soft cover or eBook format.

Photo Credit: Amy Rau

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Delicia Dawn Kouzeva (Lewis) BA ’01Delicia Dawn Kouzeva will release a new book in September2015, titled American Woman is Silent No More. The release ofKouzeva’s book is appropriately timed for the beginning ofDomestic Violence Awareness month in October. Lewis is anAmerican Christian author and activist for women’s andchildren’s rights, and the awareness of domestic violence andsex based crimes against humanity in Bulgaria.

Janice Kovach BSBA ’01Janice Kovach spoke at TEDxJerseyCityin the fall of 2014 exposing thepolitical correctness that preventsmany from understanding andaddressing certain human rightsissues, particularly those related toviolence against women and girls.Kovach also spoke in July 2015, at theDay of Memory Conference, inLondon, remembering and honoring the victims and survivorsof honor killings across the globe.

Byron McKenzie AAS ’04Byron McKenzie is a retired Navy chiefpetty officer who currently works as amedical credentialing specialist at NavalHealth Clinic New England. In January,McKenzie completed a Master ofScience in Leadership degree and aGraduate Certificate in ProjectManagement from Boston University.

Maria Pereira BSBA ’07Maria Elizabeth Frazao Pereira has been brought on by Luso-Americano newspaper as a writer, concentrating on the PalmCoast region of Florida. Pereira is also a regular contributor tothe Portuguese Times and The Palm Coast Observer.

Heather Stauffer BA ’05Heather Stauffer won five honors in thecategory of weekly publications withcirculation of 5,000 to 9,999 at theKeystone Press Awards in aPennsylvania NewsMedia AssociationFoundation competition. For her workat the Central Penn Business Journal,Stauffer won a first place award in thespecial project category for “Faith inyour business,” second place in investigative reporting for “Whatdo our public company leaders make?,” second place in thebusiness or consumer story category for “How Martin’s got toDubai,” an honorable mention in the personality profile categoryfor “Different spheres, same team” and an honorable mention inthe news beat reporting category for healthcare coverage.

Joshua Strickler BA ’05Joshua Strickler was chosen as one of15 students to receive a 2015Steinman Fellowship. Awarded by TheJohn Frederick Steinman Foundation,these fellowships are offered to thosestudents who are currently pursuingadvanced degrees in mental healthfields including psychiatry, psychologyand social work. Strickler is workingtoward a Doctor of Psychology degree in clinical psychology atImmaculata University.

Matthew Quirk BA ’04Matthew Quirk published his mobile app Philly Sports ThisWeek, which provides the schedules for the six majorprofessional Philadelphia sports teams. It is available on theApple App Store, Android’s Google Play and Windows PhoneStore. Quirk is a software engineer and, since 2002, has heldvarious computer-programming positions for companies inthe Philadelphia, Pa., area.

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save the date

Thomas Edison State College Foundation’s 2015 Grande Ball> Saturday, Oct. 24 Greenacres Country Club, Lawrenceville, NJ

September

16 >Wine, Beer and Cheese PairingPrinceton, NJ

26 > 43rd Commencement andCommencement Alumni Dinner Trenton, NJ

October

7 >New York, NY

November

5 >New Jersey Education Association Atlantic City, NJ

18 >New Jersey League of Municipalities Atlantic City, NJ

invention summer 2015€¦ · you did your best to become the best that you are capable of...

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