Meet the Senators
Mukul Acharya
Mukul is an accomplished academic leader currently serving as the Assistant Vice President for Transformational Learning and the Center for Assessment of Learning at Kean University. He leads strategic initiatives at the university to implement best practices and ensure quality, compliance, and continuous improvement. Mukul is passionate about fostering evidence-based decision-making and enhancing educational outcomes through strategic leadership and collaboration in formal and non-formal education. With a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) from the University of Massachusetts, Mukul brings over two decades of experience in higher education leadership. His expertise in research, evaluation, and data utilization has significantly contributed to program development, student learning assessment, and accreditation efforts at Kean University.
Sucheta Ahlawat
Sucheta joined the faculty of Kean University in 1994 and is a professor in the Department of Marketing, Global Business, and Economics. Sucheta earned her Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts. She has served in numerous leadership roles, including her current service as Chair of the University Senate. As Chair of the university Senate, she has focused on revitalizing Senate committees and strengthening shared governance by fostering collaboration between the Senate, faculty, and administration. Sucheta is committed to working to create a healthy and vibrant university community.
Denise Anderson
Denise’s career as a design educator is rooted in extensive practical experience creating brand strategies and identities for corporations and new business start-ups. Since joining the Michael Graves College faculty in 2013, she has focused her research and teaching efforts on bridging the gap between design education and professional practice to ensure students are equipped to achieve their career goals. At the heart of her scholarly activities are two essential focal points: graphic design portfolio development—developing projects that reflect the skills and passions of students, and interdisciplinary, experiential learning—connecting the classroom experience to professional practice.
Craig Anderson
Billie J. Bailey
Billie is the Director of the Bridge to Success program. Billie earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Montclair State University. She is an alumna of Kean University with Master's degrees in Counseling and Public Administration. She is certified as a substance abuse coordinator. Her counseling theory is person-centered. Her research interests are first-generation, academically underprepared students at risk and economically disadvantaged populations. She is passionate about the work she does. She is a published scholar and has presented at national conferences. She is an Executive Board Member of the New Jersey American Council on Education (NJACE) and a former Executive Board Member of the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund Professional Association (NJEOFPA).
Consuelo (Connie) Bonillas
Consuelo, a resident faculty member since 2003, is a professor of public health and is currently the Department Chair of Health and Human Performance in the College of Health Professions and Human Services.
Norma Bowe
Dean Casale
Kathleen Curran
Gilda Del Risco
Gilda Del Risco coordinates the undergraduate Elementary Education/Bilingual K-6, Elementary Education/Bilingual K-6/5-8 undergraduate programs, Curriculum, Certification: Bilingual/Bicultural Education, and the M.A. Bilingual/Bicultural Education graduate programs. Gilda also serves on the Department of Bilingual, TESL, and Spanish ARTP Committee, the College of Education Retention & Tenure Committee, and the University Promotion (UPC) Committees. Gilda is also a member of the Bilingual Education Parents Advisory Committee in the Elizabeth Public School District.
Edward Farnum
Aaron Gubi
Aaron is an Associate Professor in the Advanced Studies in Psychology Department. His research focuses on child maltreatment/trauma and diversity issues in professional training and practice. He has authored or co-authored over two dozen research papers and presents regularly at local and national conferences. Aaron also maintains a part-time practice as a psychologist. He hopes to work with colleagues within the Senate to promote collegiality at the university and an environment that supports the mentoring and development of early-career faculty, lecturers, and staff.
William Heyniger
Ipek Kocoglu
Craig Konyk
Craig is the Chair and Associate Professor of Architecture at the School of Public Architecture at the Michael Graves College. Craig’s research interests include investigations into new areas of experimental preservation and its impact on architecture and urbanism. Craig has been named an Emerging Voice by the Architectural League of New York and a finalist for the Rome Prize in Urban Design by the American Academy in Rome. He has served on the Boards of the Architectural League of New York, The Architect’s Newspaper, and Artists Space Gallery in New York. Craig currently serves as Secretary of the University Senate and the Chair of the University Appeals Board.
Barbara Lee
Barbara received her Doctor of Education from Temple University. In her years at Kean, Barbara has served in many capacities. She is the Chair of the Department of Special Education and Literacy and serves on the University Senate, Senate Executive Committee, and University Curriculum Committee. Barbara feels her greatest service has been acting as a program coordinator, being involved with several academic program reviews, CAEP accrediting committees, SPA reviews, and three complete academic program revisions. Barbara also served as Senate Chair for three years and a member of the University Planning Council.
Brenna Levine
Holly Logue
Holly is a Professor of Theatre at the Kean Theatre Conservatory, starting her career at Kean in 1984. She has served as Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts and Chair of the Theatre Department for nearly three decades. This marks Holly’s third term on the University Senate, where she is also a member of the Executive Committee. She received the Presidential Excellence Award for Service and Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Works. Logue is a member of the National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi, and the Actors Equity Association. Holly recently served as the President of the National Association of Schools of Theatre and Chair of the Accreditation Commission. Her teaching focuses on Acting, directing, dialects, and musical theatre. She received the Kennedy Center Award for Excellence in Directing for her Ragtime and Pirates of Penzance productions.
Patrick McManimon
Patrick received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 2000. Previously, he was an administrator and warden at several Illinois and New Jersey institutions. Dr. McManimon is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Kean Criminal Justice and Public Affairs Department in the College of Business and Public Management. He is a certified expert witness in the United States Federal Courts for correctional management and inmate rights. His current research interests are opioid addiction/death avoidance in New Jersey and the Violation of inmate rights in Prisons in the United States.
Matthew Mongelli
Matthew is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics since 2006. In that time, he served twice as the program coordinator and on numerous departmental committees. Dr. Mongelli has served as a member of the University, College, and Department Curriculum Committees, General Education Committee, Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Committee, and the College and Department Retention and Ture Committees. He is currently the Chair of The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology Curriculum Committee and the Department of Chemistry and Physics Grievance Committee. Dr. Mongelli has also been teaching in the Upward Bound Program every summer since 2007 and has been a mentor in the Ronald E. McNair Program at Kean University.
Mahchid Namazi
Julia Nevarez
Judy Pena
Raza Rafique
Raza has been an assistant professor at the School of Management at Kean University since 2019. Dr. Rafique holds a Ph.D. in Supply Chain Management and has extensive experience in curriculum development. He is actively involved in various departmental, college, and university committees, including the Department Curriculum Committee and the University Curriculum Committee. As a prolific researcher, Dr. Rafique has published several papers in top-tier journals, including those in the FT50, UTD24, and ABDC lists.
Nicole Rodriguez
Nicole began her career at Kean University in June 2000. During her tenure, she has worked in University Relations, Conference Services, and Disability Services. She currently serves as the Director for Community Standards and Student Conduct, where she investigates, manages, and adjudicates various types of cases, including mental health concerns, harassment, assault, alcohol, and drugs. She is a two-time alum of Kean University, having earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Communications. She offers the Senate an experienced administrator capable of demonstrating inclusivity while considering the matters relevant to the Kean University community.
Dina Rosen
Dina is an Associate Professor in the Early Childhood Education Program and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. She has served as the undergraduate program coordinator and on various faculty search committees. She has also served on the Senate Professional Handbook Committee, Library Committee, and Distance Education Committee. Dina is excited about serving as a Senator and is committed to continuing the Senate's efforts to find new ways to achieve shared governance.
Benito Sanchez
Benito is currently the Accounting and Finance Department Chairperson and an Associate Professor of Finance. His research focuses on economic and financial development, banking efficiency, asset pricing models, and—more recently—economic policy uncertainty and ESG. Sanchez has extensive experience in curriculum and assessment issues at the department, college, and university levels. He has also served on numerous department, college, and university committees.
Galia Shokry
Zakeeyah Speight
Dawn Smith-Jeffries
Dawn has 16+ years of service at Kean University, having served in various capacities in the Office of the Registrar in Toms River and Union. She is currently a Graduation Degree Audit Specialist in the Office of the Registrar. As a first-generation graduate, Dawn is proud to have earned her B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in College Counseling and Student Services from Kean University. Dawn is passionate about contributing to the University Senate. She serves on the University Senate Executive Committee, General Education Committee, and the KFT Professional Staff Development Committee.
Gail Verdi
Gail is the Chairperson and Professor in the Department of Bilingual, TESOL. Her research interests include literacy development, equity in education, culturally responsive pedagogy, and language acquisition. She is a member of the University Curriculum Committee and the University Appeals Board. She has worked on the CAEP report for the TESOL Advanced Program and is currently a Co-Pi on the NSF-funded Noyce Grant: Culturally Responsive Education of STEM Teachers.
Veysel Yucetepe
Veysel is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Marketing, Global Business, and Economics. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Global Business School and interim Executive Director of the School of Accounting and Finance. Veysel has served on several key committees, including the University Planning Council (UPC), the General Education Committee, the Released Time for Research and Creative Works Committee, the Distance Learning Committee, and various search committees. Previously, he also held the role of Coordinator of Kean-Ocean Business Programs.