Middle States Self-Study Working Groups

For each of the seven MSCHE standards, working groups consisting of faculty, staff, administrators and students have been identified. Members of working groups come from the Kean Union, Kean Ocean, Kean Skylands and Wenzhou-Kean locations.  There are two co-chairs for each working group, one of whom is a faculty member and one of whom serves in an administrative capacity at the University. Working group co-chairs serve on a Self-Study Steering Committee led by a Self-Study Executive Committee that is responsible for leading the entire process from initiation to submission of the Self-Study document. Work on the Self-Study will be supported by a Logistics Team, a Design Team, an Editing Team, and a group whose charge will be to focus on creating the compendium of supporting documentation in an Evidence Inventory that will accompany the Self-Study document. 

Steering Executive Committee
Mission and Goals
Ethics and Integrity
Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
Support of the Student Experience
Educational Effectiveness Assessment 
Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
Governance, Leadership, and Administration
Requirements of Affiliation 
Evidence Inventory
Design Team
Editing Team
Logistics Team

The Executive Committee is responsible for leading the entire process from assigning the charges and self-study design to submission. Each member works to coordinate and support the efforts of 2-3 working groups. The Executive Committee will collectively compile the final study and ensure its timely submission to MSCHE.

Members:  Sue Bousquet, Vice President, Academic Affairs; Fran Stavola-Daly, Professor and Assistant Chair, School of Health and Human Performance; Felice Vazquez, Senior Vice President and Special Counsel 

The members of the Executive Committee will each serve as a designated liaison to select working groups and will regularly meet to support a holistic and coordinated effort. 

Members of each working group are as follows:

The working group for MSCHE Standard I is charged with demonstrating how Kean University’s mission defines its purpose within the context of higher education, the students it serves, and what it intends to accomplish; how the University’s stated goals are linked to the mission and how it fulfills that mission.

Co-Chairs: Pat Ippolito, Associate Professor, College of Education; Maryam Raja, Director, High School Partnership Office

Members: Joe Amorino, Program Coordinator, Fine Arts; Conseula Bonillas, Professor, College of Education; Lauretta Farrell, Director, Human Rights Institute; Elvis Gyan, Managing Assistant Director, Student Success and Retention; David Joiner, Associate Professor, STEM: Jennifer Lerner, Associate Professor, School of Psychology; Jane O’Brien, Lecturer and Coordinator, School of Psychology, Kean Ocean; Christina Vazquez, Acting Associate Director, Kean Ocean Admissions; Bridget White, Managing Assistant Director, General Education, Math; Sharon McKenzie, Assistant Professor, College of Education; Lindsey Gonzalez, Undergraduate Business Management Major and Student Organization President

This group shall work to demonstrate Kean University’s eligibility to maintain Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation. The group is charged with demonstrating that Kean fully meets the following Requirements of Affiliation.

Co-Chairs: Claire Mulry, Assistant Professor and Coordinator, Entry Level Doctorate Programs; Christine Thorpe, Dean, Nathan Weiss Graduate College

Members: Laura Haelig, OPRA Custodian, Office of University Counsel; Kristin Ganley, Legal Counsel, Office of University Counsel; Adara Goldberg, Director, Holocaust Resource Center; Adrienne Garro, Professor, Department of Advanced Studies in Psychology; Chelsey Jaipersaud, Undergraduate Communications Major and Intern, Kean University Ethics Office; Xurong Kong, Assistant Professor, Department of History; Neva Lozada, Director, Institutional Effectiveness; Joy Moskovitz, Assistant Vice President, Academic Affairs; Kelly Nemeth, Managing Assistant Director, University Counsel; Jennifer Peters, Director, Human Resources; Catricia Shaw, Managing Assistant Director and Deputy Title IX Coordinator; Tamika Quick, Executive Director, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The working group for MSCHE Standard III is charged with demonstrating how Kean provides students with learning experiences that are characterized by rigor and coherence at all program, certificate, and degree levels, regardless of instructional modality, and that all learning experiences, regardless of modality, program pace/schedule, level, and setting are consistent with higher education expectations.

Co-Chairs: Richard Conti, Coordinator, Forensic Psychology Programs and Associate Professor, School of Psychology; Jeremiah Sullivan, Executive Director, School of Communication, Media & Journalism

Members: Bridie Chapman, Executive Director, School of General Studies; Jennifer Crupi, Professor, School of Fine & Performing Arts; Gilda Delrisco, Professor, College of Education, School of Curriculum & Teaching; David Mohney, Dean, Michael Graves College, Architecture & Design; Susan Polirstok, Professor, College of Education, School of Special Education & Literacy; Barbara Ridener, Dean, College of Education; Jeremiah Sullivan, Executive Director, School of Communication, Media & Journalism; Brian Teasdale, Associate Dean, School of Natural Sciences; Michael Tocci, Associate Dean of Research, College of Science, Math, & Technology; Lisa Sisler, Lecturer, English; Wenli Yuan, Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator, School of Communication, Media & Journalism; Casey Iorio, Undergraduate Criminal Justice Major and Kean Ocean Vice President for Student Organizations

The working group for MSCHE Standard IV is charged with demonstrating that the ways in which Kean recruits and admits students are consistent with its mission and educational offerings; and how Kean’s commitment to student retention, persistence, completion, and success is demonstrated through support systems that enhance the quality of the learning environment, contribute to the educational experience, and foster student success.

Co-Chairs: Juneau Gary, Professor, Counselor Education Department/Ocean Program Coordinator; Gillian Scott, Managing Assistant Director, Institutional Effectiveness

Members:  Matthew Kreider, Defensive Line Coach, Athletics; Linda Lashley, Managing Assistant Director, EEO Program; Kerrin Lyles, Director, Miron Student Center; Jonathan Mercantini, Dean, College of Liberal Arts; Dianne Mohammed, Registrar, Wenzhou-Kean University; Scott Snowden, Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs; Karen Struthers, Associate Director, Financial Aid; Bala Subramanian, Adjunct Faculty, College of Business & Public Management; Rongsun Pu, Associate Professor, Biology; Brianna Alicchio, Coordinator, 11 Supplemental Instruction; Maria Briffa, Graduate Counseling Major and Graduate Assistant, Office of Student Success & Retention

The working group for MSCHE Standard V is charged with demonstrating the ways in which the institution assesses student learning and achievement to demonstrate that Kean students have accomplished educational goals consistent with their program of study, degree level, Kean’s mission, and appropriate expectations for institutions of higher education.

Co-Chairs: Feng Qi, Associate Professor, College of Science, Math, & Technology; Craig Konyk, Assistant Professor, Michael Graves College, Architecture & Design

Members: Keith Bostian, Dean, College of Science, Math, & Technology; Ray Divirgilio, Lecturer, College of Education; Kim-Le Downes, Lecturer, School of General Studies; Jessica Goldsmith-Barzilay, Acting Director, Career Services & International Studies; Rose Gonnella, Associate Dean, Michael Graves College, Architecture & Design; Roxie James, Executive Director, School of Natural Sciences; Jean Brown, Retention Coordinator; Laurie Knis, Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy; Pat Morreale, Professor, School of Computer Science & Technology; Timothy Marshall, Assistant Professor and Cardiopulmonary Content Coordinator, School of Physical Therapy; Heaven Vergara, Education Major and Intern for Career Services College of Education Partnership

This working group for MSCHE Standard VI is charged with demonstrating how Kean’s planning processes, resources, and structures are aligned with each other and are sufficient to fulfill its mission and goals, to continuously assess and improve its programs and services, and to respond effectively to opportunities and challenges.

Co-Chairs: Bok Gyo Jeong, Assistant Professor and Non-Profit Coordinator, School of Public Administration; Orley Wainberg, Director, Student Accounting

Members: Jessica Adams, Acting Associate Dean, Kean Ocean; Louis Beaugris, Executive Director, School of Mathematical Sciences; Shuli Xu, Vice Chancellor, Wenzhou-Kean University; Rafael Inoa, ASsistant Professor, Nathan Weiss Graduate College, Educational Leadership; Dan Mercado, Professional Services Specialist, Facilities; Fajad Mughal, Technician, OCIS-AVT; Robyn Roebuck, Director of Operations, Kean Skylands; Jin Wang, Dean, College of Business; Mariann Moran, Assistant Professor, Nathan Weiss Graduate College, Department of Occupational Therapy; Shanice Allen, Student Representative to the Wenzhou-Kean University Board of Directors

The working group for MSCHE Standard VII is charged with demonstrating that Kean is governed and administered in a manner that allows it to realize its stated mission and goals in a way that effectively benefits the institution, its students, and the other constituencies it serves, and that even where supported by or affiliated with governmental, corporate, religious, educational system, or other unaccredited organizations, the Kean maintains education as its primary purpose, operating as an academic institution with appropriate autonomy.

Co-Chairs: Ed Johnston, Associate Professor, Robert Busch School of Design, Michael Graves College; Valerie Winslow, Director, Conference & Events Services

Members: George Chang, Dean, College of Science, Mathematics, & Technology; Dave Farrokh, Assistant Dean, College of Business; Jennifer Gardner, Assistant Professor, Nathan Weiss Graduate College, Occupational Therapy; Ken Green, Chief Labor Counsel; Robert Kitzinger, Assistant Professor, Nathan Weiss Graduate College, Counselor Education; Holly Logue, Professor, College of Liberal Arts, School of Fine & Performing Arts; Jason Pleitez, Student Trustee, Kean University Board of Trustees; Lauren Mastrobuono, Lecturer, School of Psychology; Eric Yixin Yang, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Acting Vice Chancellor for Wenzhou-Kean University; Veysel Yucetepe, Director, MBA 12 Program, Global Business School; Alyssa Carbone, Managing Assistant Director, Conference & Events Services

This group shall work to demonstrate Kean University’s eligibility to maintain Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation. The group is charged with demonstrating that Kean fully meets MSCHE Requirements of Affiliation.

Co-Chairs: Gail Verdi, Associate Professor and Executive Director, College of Education, School of Curriculum & Teaching; Jane Webber, Assistant Professor and Doctoral Program Coordinator, Nathan Weiss Graduate College, Department of Counselor Education

Members: Joe Antonowicz, Director, General Accounting; Faruque Chowdhury, Associate Vice President, University Procurement & Business Services; Katsumi Kashida, Managing Assistant Director, Center for International Studies; Joe Marinello, Associate Vice President, Computer & Information Systems; John Raue, Director, Strategic Initiatives; Nicole Rodriguez, Director, Office of Community Standards & Student Conduct; Daniela Shebitz, Executive Director, College of Environmental & Sustainability Sciences; Dongyan Mu, Assistant Professor, School of Environmental & Sustainability Sciences; Gabriella Lapointe, Graduate Special Education Major and Graduate & Part-Time Student Council President

This is one of the several working groups that collaborates with the working groups, the Steering Committee and the Executive Committee to demonstrate Kean University’s compliance with the MSCHE Standards and Requirements for Affiliation. Utilizing the General Guide this group identifies, analyzes and inventories supporting evidence on all standards and Requirements of Affiliation. 

Co-Chairs:  Franklin Turner, Professor, College of Psychology; Muhammad Hassan, Director of Digital Information Resources, Nancy Thompson Library and Learning Commons

Members: Jeff Toney, Provost and Vice President for Research & Faculty; Shiji Shen, Director, Office of Institutional Research, Linda Cifelli, Learning Commons

The Design Team will assist the Executive Committee in designing templates, feedback and input forms, and other tools as needed for a coordinated development of the Self-Study. The Design Team will also take the final, edited submissions from the Executive Committee and develop a visually organized and cohesive format.  

Members: Craig Coughlin, Special Events Communication Specialist, University Relations; Joey Moran, Creative Director, University Relations

The Editing Team assists the Executive Committee in ensuring that the Self-Study is finalized in accordance with requirements of MSCHE, and assists in creating a Self-Study that is coherent, organized and reads in a consistent voice. They will also serve as proofreaders of the Self-Study. 

Members: Susan Gannon, Acting Director, Office of Research & Sponsored Programs; Carolina Guerra, Communications Graduate Student and Graduate Assistant for University Relations; Margaret McCorry, Director, Media Relations

The Logistics Team will assist the Executive Committee with document gathering, scheduling, coordination and other general logistics required for a successful effort. 

Members:  Mukul Archarya, Associate Director, Office of Accreditation & Assessment; Jeremy Gusset, Graduate Student in the Michael Graves College and Graduate Assistant for Campus Planning; Charles Lartey, Director, Accreditation & Assessment, Wenzhou-Kean University; Tiffany Johnson, Executive Assistant, Office of the Senior Vice President & Special Counsel; Keyiara Boone, Program Coordinator, Liberty Hall; Judy Pena, Confidential Secretary, Office of Academic Affairs 

The Senior Leadership Advisory Team will engage with working group co-chairs and members as they address aspects of Standards and associated lines of inquiry relative to individuals’ areas of expertise.

Members: Karen Smith, Vice President, University Relations; Andrew Brannen, Senior Vice President for Finance, Administration & Finance; Matt Caruso, Acting Vice President, Student Affairs; Paul Croft, Associate Vice President, Academic Affairs; Maximina Rivera, Associate Vice President, Student Affairs; Marsha McCarthy, Vice President, Enrollment Services; Stephen Kubow, Associate Vice President, Kean Ocean; Audrey Kelly, Chief of Staff & Executive Director, Board of Trustees