Faculty

Film/Video Faculty

Thomas Calandrillo began his work in the Television and Film industry in 1995 producing and editing industrial videos and local commercials for various` clients throughout Long Island. In 1998, Tom and a colleague founded a production company, American Media Productions Inc.  Under Tom’s leadership, American Media Productions obtained contracts for the 1998 – 2001 Jones Beach Concert series season. In that time, American Media Productions provided the technical engineering support and video directing for over 450 shows.

Dominick Quartuccio is a writer with an MFA in Creative Writing and Literature from Stony Brook Southampton and a BA in English from Stony Brook. He has been a part of the Liberal Arts Department of Five Towns College since 2016 and teaches English Composition. He has also taught literature courses at FTC and teaches creative writing workshops at local libraries on occasion. Dominick has recently published a book of poetry called Like Fiery Fingers and an autobiographical book of poems and stories, titled Dealing with Dad: Getting Along with and without My Old Man, which are both available on Amazon.

Danielle Costanza is a Licensed Mastered Social Worker (LMSW) that has been practicing in the field since 2004. She received her Bachelor of Science degree form Marist College and her master’s degree in Social Work from Fordham University. Danielle has worked in many areas of social work and her specialties include at risk youth, underserved communities, child welfare, and mental health. Danielle has been teaching in higher education since 2015 and currently teaches in the School of Social work at Adelphi University and the Human Services program at Suffolk Community College. She enjoys her fight for social justice and helping others!

Maureen has taught social sciences and writing since 2008. Developed writing across curriculum and academic integrity policies and trainings. Experience in the criminal justice field, working with a SAMHSA pilot program for dually diagnosed offenders. Six years as print and web editor of national trade publication. Currently working on an Instructional Design & Technology M.Ed. through the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. As a writer-editor, clients include SaaS producers, educational and trade publishers, authors, artists, musicians, and nonprofit organizations.

Angelina Libardi has been in education for 20 years as well as 10 years working for pharmaceutical companies and Department of Health. She is currently an adjunct professor at Five Towns College and at SUNY Farmingdale College. She teaches environmental science and human biology courses at the undergraduate level as well as bioscience majors courses in biology. She earned a BS in chemistry and a MS in biochemistry from Adelphi University. She has completed course work at the McCrone Research Institute at Cornell University. Her thesis on Bovine Vitreous studies of Lens Crystallins was published in 1990 and an article in Exp Eye Res was published in 1991. She has also been a Mentor at Empire College and prior to Higher Education, she has experience as a QC/QA department supervisor, Auditor and assistant director.

She has worked as an assistant professor for LIU Post, St. Thomas Aquinas College and Mercy College prior to coming to Five Towns College.

Merritt Monck-Rowley has been in education for twenty years at the junior high, high school and collegial level. She is currently a tenured teacher at Cold Spring Harbor where she teaches Spanish III and IV. Prior to Cold Spring Harbor Merritt was a tenured Spanish Teacher at West Islip Public Schools.   In addition to teaching Spanish Merritt is a co-advisor for the International Club, Class of 2023 Student Government and ARC, Animal Rescue Club at CSH. Ms. Monck-Rowley earned a B.A. Degree in History at Trinity College, (Attended Tufts and Skidmore in Madrid , junior year of college), M.A. in Spanish/Education from Queens College and an M.A. in Instructional Technology from NYIT. During the summer Merritt has been an early childhood teacher at the Portledge School in Locust Valley, NY.

Rasheem earned a B.A. in Biochemistry and an M.A. in Adolescent Education in Chemistry from Hunter College. He is the Author of a medical book that has been recently published in October 2020 about the Thoracic Diaphragm. Rasheem has taught grades 9-12 for four years at a Public School in Brooklyn. Additionally, Northington has educated many students at several colleges in subjects including, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics. 

Elizabeth Salgado has been in education for 20 years. She is currently an adjunct instructor of mathematics for Five Towns College. Elizabeth is also an adjunct instructor of mathematics and mathematics education courses and is a university supervisor for student teachers in mathematics and elementary education in the state of Connecticut. She earned her BS in Elementary Education and her BA in Psychology with a Specialization in Mental Health from Southern Connecticut State University, a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Walden University, and is currently completing her Ed.D in Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, Grades K-12 from Walden University. Before higher education, she taught grades 2nd, 4th, and 6th grade in Connecticut.

Professor Ron Staniec has been teaching Communication since 2011. Ron began his scholastic journey at George Mason University in Virginia. On scholarship, he was a member of Mason’s Speech & Debate team, otherwise known as the American Forensics Association. In Ron’s four years of competition, he collected a total number 121 awards – both at State and National levels. He graduated with a B.A. in Communication. Ron returned to Long Island to help coach the Speech & Debate team at Suffolk County Community College. It was during Ron’s tenure as coach at Suffolk where he discovered his ambition to teach Communication. Ron pursued his enthusiasm and went on to graduate with a M.A. in Speech Communication & Rhetorical Studies at Hofstra University.

Michael Prywes is a writer, producer, teacher, and attorney for artists and entrepreneurs. His bestselling business book “The Gasp: How to Seize that A-Ha! Moment and Turn It Into a Winning Business” teaches creatives how to launch and grow a creative enterprise.

At Five Towns College, Michael teaches media law, writing, and producing. Michael is also an adjunct professor of entertainment law at the Touro Law Center. Over the past two decades, Michael has taught at CUNY Queens College, LIU Brooklyn, St. John’s, and has guest lectured at NYU and UCLA. Michael has also been a producer on a number of feature films, including his award-winning theatrically-released comedy “Returning Mickey Stern,” starring Joseph Bologna, Tom Bosley, and Connie Stevens, and he has advised and served as panelist for a number of film festivals.

As an undergraduate at Northwestern University, Michael was one of twelve students selected for the two-year intensive Creative Writing for the Media Program, alongside some of today’s most renowned Hollywood writers and producers. He is also a graduate of UCLA’s yearlong professional film and television writing program.

Michael is counsel to the Long Island Film and Television Foundation, and continues to serve New York City and Long Island small business owners, filmmakers, performers, recording artists, writers, and innovators.

Adjunct Theatre Arts Faculty