Faculty

Audio Recording Technology Faculty

JOHN MACHADO, Associate Professor
Audio Recording Technology Department Chair
Mus.B., Mus.M., Five Towns College

Professional audio engineer with 20 years’ experience working in the world of audio recording technology. Engineer/producer on many projects that range from independent recordings to major and indie label recordings, and post production for movies, television, radio, and theatre.

JEEYUN LEE, Associate Professor
B.S., Ewha Woman’s University
Mus.M., Five Towns College

Professional audio recording engineer with experience at Buttons Sound Inc. Assistant Director of Music Television Programs at Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) for the Soyo Rock Festival in Seoul, Korea.

OLIVER ROACH, Instructor
MUS.B., M.M., Five Towns College

Oliver Roach Jr. is a professional live sound engineer who works in various locations around NYC and Long Island. He specializes in live music, and has experience working in theatrical productions, corporate events, and live broadcasts. He attended Five Towns College where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music.

Adjunct Audio Faculty

MATT BLOSTEIN, Assistant Professor
B.M., Manhattan School of Music
M.M., University of Valley Forge

BENEDETTO A. CACCAVALE, Instructor
B.A., Queens College

ALBERT COHN, Assistant Professor
Dual Enrollment Instructor at Bayside High School
B.A., Goddard College
M.A., New York University

JOHN GUNDERSEN, Assistant Professor
Dual Enrollment Instructor at Bayside High School
B.A., M.A., New York Institute of Technology

DAVID MARINO, Instructor
A.A., Nassau Community College
B.F.A., Long Island University

PHIL PAINSON, Instructor
AVID Pro Tools Certified

Business Faculty

CATHERINE KIMMEL, Associate Professor
Business Division Chair
B.S., SUNY College at Buffalo
M.B.A., Dowling College

Former Associate Dean and Full-Time faculty member at Briarcliffe College, Professor Kimmel has over 30 years’ experience in higher education as an instructor and administrator. 

DAVID M. COHEN, Professor, Business
College President
B.A., State University of New York at Oneonta
J.D., New York Law School

JANET KAPLAN, Professor, Business
Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Director of Compliance 
B.A., Emory University
M.A., Stony Brook University
J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

DONNA LATORRE, Associate Professor, Business B.S.,
M.B.A., St. John’s University

Experienced Business educator with specialization in finance, human resource management, and marketing. Professional experience includes Shearson Lehman.

CAROLANN P. MILLER, Professor, Business
Provost/Dean of Academic Affairs
B.A., M.B.A., St. John’s University

Former Assistant Dean at St. Joseph’s College and experienced higher education specialist in curriculum, assessment, and administration. Developed curriculum for project management certificate, not-for-profit management, and organization management programs. Created a Cisco Academy for software training development. Member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon economics honor society and the Society of Human Resource Management.

KRYSTI O’ROURKE, Assistant Professor, Business
B.S., Ithaca College
M.P.A., Long Island University: C.W. Post College

Research Associate for Town of Huntington Programs, LIU’s Department of Public Administration and publications in Journal of Gerontological Social Work on Job Interests and Employment Barriers. Active member in local Chamber of Commerce and Career Director Associations.

Adjunct Business Faculty

MICHAEL ARGENZIO, Assistant Professor
B.B.A., Baruch College
M.Mgt., University of Phoenix

Experienced attorney licensed to practice in the State of New York. Solo practitioner specializing in bodily injury, real estate, and elder law for over 20 years. Active member of the Nassau County Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee and Plaintiff’s Round Table, Hofstra and Fordham University Alumni Associations. Mentor at the Barack Obama Elementary School in Hempstead.

ANNE BROWN, Assistant Professor
B.A., Hofstra University
J.D., Fordham University School of Law

Experienced attorney licensed to practice in the State of New York. Solo practitioner specializing in bodily injury, real estate, and elder law for over 20 years. Active member of the Nassau County Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee and Plaintiff’s Round Table, Hofstra and Fordham University Alumni Associations. Mentor at the Barack Obama Elementary School in Hempstead.

MARK CARPENTIERI, Assistant Professor
B.A., Queens College
M.S., Clarion University of Pennsylvania

President and Founder of M.C. Records, a five time Grammy nominated label that has released over 45 recordings nationally and internationally. Was nominated for a Grammy as a musician, producer and for his record label. Inducted into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi. Professor Carpentieri has been teaching at Five Towns College since 2006.

KARYN CERNERA, Assistant Professor
A.A.S., Katharine Gibbs School 
B.A., Adelphi University 
M.F.A., Pratt Institute 
D.M., Colorado Technical University 

Director of Marketing and Chief Social Media Officer with over twenty years of experience in the commercial art and graphic design industry. Fifteen years of college-level teaching experience, rising to the position of Assistant Professor, with a doctoral degree in Management focusing on Higher Education Teaching and Learning. Dr. Cernera Bush has been teaching at Five Towns College since 2019.

BRUCE COLFIN, Associate Professor, Business
B.A., Queens College 
J.D., New York Law School 

President of the Law firm of Bruce Colfin Law, P.C., THE FIRM ®, primarily concerned with Entertainment Law, Copyright, Trademark, Video, Comics and Toys, Literary Property, Theater and Intellectual Property Law.

STEPHANIE DUNAIEFF, Instructor
B.A., Queens College
M.B.A., University of Nebraska

Stephanie Dunaieff started her first business when she was only 23 years old. She is now the President and CEO of two corporations. Dunaieff is the President and CEO of Margot Corporation, a business consulting company that specializes in intelligence-based business services. All of the services are customized based on an initial analysis of the company. The services are then reevaluated regularly to see what needs to be adjusted to improve the company even further. She is also the President and CEO of Margot Tutoring Inc, a tutoring company that provides brain-compatible tutoring for students in Pre-K through Graduate School.

Stephanie has been presenting at conferences across the United States since 2016 and she gave her first Keynote Speech in 2018. During the pandemic, Stephanie started presenting virtual workshops around the world.

Stephanie speaks from experience. In addition to her professional experience, Stephanie has experience leading nonprofit organizations. She was the President of the Commack-Kings Park Rotary Club from 2020-2021. Stephanie also held the position of Vice President of Grants and Marketing for the National Tutoring Association from 2019-2020 and the Small Business Chair from 2016-2020.

Prof. Dunaieff has two Bachelor’s Degrees from Queens College in Pure Mathematics and Psychology. She continued her education at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, where she earned a Master’s of Business Administration degree in Supply Chain Management and a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics. She has also earned a Graduate Certificate in Industrial Organizational Psychology.

BARRY HEYMAN, Assistant Professor
B.M., New York University
J.D., New York Law School

Mr. Heyman practices business, entertainment, intellectual property (copyrights and trademarks), and new media law.  Trained as a classical pianist and performing as a DJ has resulted in Mr. Heyman’s deep understanding of the students he teaches and creative talent he represents adding to the knowledge and expertise he brings as an established attorney.  Active member of New York University’s Alumni Association. 

KEITH HOELL, Assistant Professor
B.S., St. John’s University
M.B.A., St. John’s University

Keith Hoell owns his own technology consulting business and has worked in the education industry as a faculty and administrator for over 20 years. He has authored two textbooks on database management. In his spare time he likes to run, having competed in 10 marathons.

CHRISTINA LANGSTON, Instructor
B.S. University of Phoenix
M.S., Post University

JOHN MASSERWICK, Professor, Business
B.BA., Pace University
M.B.A., Adelphi University 
Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.) 

ERIN NOURIJANIAN, Instructor
B.P.S., Five Towns College 

Erin is the Senior Director of Marketing at UBS Arena and formerly the Senior Director of Marketing at NYCB LIVE, home of The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Before venturing into the arena world, Erin was the Director of Marketing at Webster Hall, one of the world’s most iconic historical club venues, and guided direction to win Pollstar’s 2016 Nightclub of the Year award. During her tenure, the venue was the #1 club-sized venue in New York. Erin is an alumnus of Five Towns College

SHARON PEARL, Instructor
B.A., Binghamton University
M.B.A., Pace University

Professor Pearl has over 20 years experience in Customer Insights and Competitive Intelligence with deep expertise in the services industry, largely financial services and healthcare. She has been called upon to speak at numerous industry conferences and events and has been teaching at Five Towns College since 2020.  

LOU PLAIA, Instructor
B.S., SUNY New Paltz
M.B.A., Dowling College

Founder and EVP of ReverbNation, an online artist services platform used by more than 5 million artists/bands to help build their careers. Prior to ReverbNation, Plaia worked 12 years at Atlantic Records as VP of Strategic Marketing and 4 years at Atlantic imprint, Lava Records, where he was the Head of Marketing and Artist Development. Plaia has helped develop the careers of Kid Rock, Matchbox 20, Hootie & the Blowfish, Stone Temple Pilots, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Jewel, Simple Plan, and many others. Professor Plaia has been teaching at Five Towns College since 2017.

MAUREEN POLLICINO, Assistant Professor
B.A., State University of New York at Oneonta
M.B.A., Adelphi University

A former banker and business advisor who has an extensive business background dealing with corporations and entrepreneurs. Spent 18 years at JPMorgan where she was a Vice President who advised corporations on financial and management strategy. Was a Business Advisor for 4 years at the Small Business Development Center at Farmingdale State College where she advised entrepreneurs on overall business strategy and attained her New York State Business Advisor Certification. Professor Pollicino has been teaching at Five Towns College since 2015.

CHRISTOPHER REMEDIANI, Instructor
A.A.S., Five Towns College
B.S., SUNY Empire College
M.B.A., SUNY Empire College

An alumnus of Five Towns College, Professor Remediani, has worked in the music industry for more than forty years on both the creative and administrative sides of the business as the General Manager of Notting Hill Music Publishing, USA, Director of Research for New On The Charts Magazine, and a Public Relation Representative for Heartfelt Productions. Outside of the music industry he has worked as a Project Manager for IBM and owned a digital document management and database production company that served clients in the construction industry for more than a dozen years.

MARY RYDER, Associate Professor
B.S., St. John’s University
M.B.A., Dowling College
Ed.D, St John’s University

Experienced educator in business with specialization in marketing, management, entrepreneurship, organizational leadership, and leadership theory. Nineteen years college-level teaching experience, rising to the level of Adjunct Associate Professor, with a doctoral degree in Administration and Supervision in Higher Education. Professional experience includes LSG/SkyChefs and Suffolk Community College Association.

JEFFREY SULTANOF, Assistant Professor
B.A., Queens College, City University of New York
M.A., Seton Hall University

Jeffrey Sultanof has had an eclectic career as a composer, arranger, conductor, historian, editor, author and teacher. He holds a B.A. degree from Queens College (CUNY) and an M.A. from Seton Hall University.

Sultanof worked at Warner Bros. Publications from 1977-1994 as an educational music editor, editor/arranger for ensembles large and small, and historian, preparing corrected editions of Gershwin, Porter and other legendary American composers. He worked with Burt Bachrach, Neal Hefti, Gordon Lightfoot and John Williams, arranging his “Liberty Fanfare” for Brass Quintet. 

From 1994-2002, Sultanof was an editor and consultant with the Hal Leonard Corporation, where he worked as an editor and producer of recordings with Sonny Rollins, Ahmad Jamal, Andy Laverne and Gerry Mulligan, producing the last recordings of Mulligan as a baritone saxophonist. From 2002-2004, he was assistant professor of music at Five Towns College, arranging for and coaching singers, conducting the jazz ensemble, and teaching courses on the music business, music history, and film music on the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree levels. From 2013-2017, he was an instructor and administrative coordinator of the MEMP (Music and Entertainment Management and Production) program at the Institute of Audio Research in New York City.

RHONDA TENENBAUM, Assistant Professor
B.A., Hofstra University
M.B.A., CW Post Long Island University

Professor Tenenbaum has over 20 years of experience in academia as a Business Instructor, and a comedy writer. Additionally, she develops interactive and traditional marketing strategies and campaigns for the financial services and retail industries.

GEOFFREY VANDERPAL, Assistant Professor
B.S., Columbia College
M.B.A., Webster University
D.B.A., Nova Southeastern University

Film and Television Faculty

MICHAEL PRYWES, Professor
Film and Television Division Chair
B.S., Northwestern University
J.D., 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.

THOMAS CALANDRILLO, Professor
Assistant Dean of Institutional Productions and Technology
B.P.S., M.A., Five Towns College
L.M.H.C., C.A.S.A.C., Adelphi University

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.

Calandrillo has traveled across the country and many parts of the Caribbean coordinating various projects and performances. From aerial photography in the Bahamas for a LeAnn Rymes Concert to the logistical coordination of satellite transmission for a live internet broadcast for Andrea Bocelli to New York City’s Birdland for Dave Brubeck, Tom has toured with some of the top bands as their IMAG/vision mixer video director.  

In 2001, Tom sold his partnership share of American Media Productions and began working on next business, Empire Production Support (EPS, Inc). As President of EPS, Tom coordinated camera support equipment rentals and crewing support for broadcast and feature films. He is an active member of IATSE 600 (International Cinematographers Guild), where he worked on many major blockbuster films as a special effects /stunt camera-‐crane operator/technician.

ROBERT DIGIACOMO, Associate Professor 
B.F.A., Cornell University

Robert DiGiacomo has spent over thirty years working professionally in both photography and cinematography. He has worked on a diverse range of projects with world renowned Directors, Directors of Photography and Photographers. Feature film credits include: Shine A Light (featuring The Rolling Stones) directed by Martin Scorsese, and filmed by three-time Academy Award winner Robert Richardson, ASC; Big Fish filmed by Oscar winner, Phillipe Rousselot, and Directed by Tim Burton. Additionally, he has worked on over 600 television commercial productions, documentaries, and a variety of music videos with: Diddy, Bon Jovi, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Carole King, U2, and Britney Spears (featuring Madonna). Robert is an active member of the International Cinematographers Guild, on the Industry Roster, and CSATF Safety Passport certified. 

JING WANG, Assistant Professor
A.A., LaGuardia Community College
B.A., M.F.A., Hunter College

Jing Wang is a Chinese female independent filmmaker and teacher based in New York City. Jing has found her identity as an immigrant artist and an activist throughout the course of making non-fiction films. Jing’s film has been shown at the Museum of the City of New York, the Rooftop Film Festival, and WNYC – The Greene Space. Her works were reviewed by the New York Times, Gothamist, World Journal, and China Press.

Jing graduated from Hunter College with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Integrated Media Art (MFA/IMA). Jing had served as a full-time lecturer at the State University of New York and a guest lecturer at Brooklyn College, College of Staten Island, and Queen’s College. Her teaching goal is to inspire young artists to find their own voices through creating media works.

Adjunct Film and Television Faculty

JUSTIN ANDREWS, Assistant Professor
B.A., Framingham State College
M.F.A., Savannah College of Art and Design

After earning his Bachelors In 2010, Andrews left Massachusetts to earn an MFA in Film/Television in Savannah, GA. It was here that he honed his skills in directing and found joy in collaborating with actors. His MFA thesis film, DIRT, went on to earn the Filmmaker Magazine Award at the 2013 Savannah Film Festival.

Andrews has been a teaching artist since 2013 when he taught a young filmmakers workshop at the Savannah College of Art and Design and became hooked. He combined his new joy for teaching with the art of filmmaking and has mentored and taught new filmmakers ever since.

DAN GALIARDI, Associate Professor
B.S., B.A., SUNY Buffalo
M.S., Hofstra University

Member, International Cinematographers Guild/Local 600 IATSE, Hollywood, California. Film industry professional camera assistant, proficient in the use of various motion picture cameras (both 16 mm and 35 mm): Panavision, Arriflex, Aaton, Moviecam, and Photosonics. Expert in studio and location filmmaking techniques. Has administered the Guild’s entrance exam on several occasions. Major motion picture credits include: Batman Forever, Major Payne, Conspiracy Theory, Independence Day, The Truman Show, Jungle 2 Jungle, and others. Network television credits include: Law & Order, NYPD Blue, Time of Your Life, etc. National commercial campaign credits include: AT&T, Smith Barney, Avon, and more.

JOSHUA GREENBERG, Instructor
B.F.A., Tisch School of the Arts at NYC
M.F.A., Columbia University 
J.D., Cardozo School of Law

Joshua Greenberg is a writer and teacher of film who brings a devotional ardor to his love of cinema. A consummate scholar, he bookended his law degree at Carodozo with a film school at NYU and Columbia University, where he developed a broad understanding and deep appreciation of both the business and aesthetics of filmmaking. Greenberg has won multiple awards for his short film productions, along with recognition for his screenwriting, and he is a participating member of the BMI Musical Theatre Librettists Workshop. In addition to the joy he finds teaching students about the craft of storytelling and the unique cultural power of cinema, he is currently at work with a writing partner on an episodic adaptation of a historical novel set during the era of the Roman Empire.

BARRY HARTGLASS, Assistant Professor
B.M., University of Miami
M.A., CUNY Hunter College

ERIKA HOULE, Assistant Professor
B.F.A., M.A., New York University

Erika Houle is a cinematographer, director, and documentary filmmaker based in New York. She has worked around the world on feature films, documentaries, commercials, and episodic television shows. Her early work as a documentary cinematographer took her across the country and internationally to India and Haiti. Most recently, she shot for Equal Means Equal, the feature documentary film cornerstone of the movement to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Houle lived in Morocco while working on cable network Spike’s 2015 mini-series Tut and continues working in the camera department on for NBC’s Saturday Night Live. In 2016 she received her master’s in Art, Education, & Community Practice from Steinhardt, NYU. She remains creatively connected in experimental work, most recently directing a music video for Joan Baez’s 2019 Grammy nominated album Whistle Down the Wind.

MAHNOOR KHAN, Instructor
B.S., Iqra University
M.F.A., LIU Post

Originally from Karachi, Pakistan Mahnoor believes in capturing the essence of the moment and her photographs act as a medium of communication for those unheard, metaphors of reality and expression to emotions that are well kept hidden.  She looks to create artwork that resonates with people to embody the soul and message.  She has exhibited her work in solo and groups exhibitions internationally including New York and Spain.

CHRISTOPHER LIANG, Instructor
B.M., Berklee College of Music

Christopher Liang established the Audio Dojo LLC in 2010 in Queens, NYC.  He has extensive experience in both film and television.  He was part of the team which mixed and sound designed promos for HBO’s hit show Sopranos and he has mixed thousands of spots and shows for Syfy, USA, TBS, Nickelodeon, Spike, A&E, CNN, Tru, Vh1, Discovery and Netflix.

He is a re-recording mixer and sound fx designer for independent feature films and documentaries. His collaborations include What She Said, Fire In Water, Dead Pigs, Hold The Dark, 93Queen, In Case of Emergency, Over Oceans, Myanmar: Bridges to Change, Suicide Killers, The Wall, Kiss Me Again, Outlands, and Behind The Shadows.  Such works were featured at Sundance, Tribeca, Bushwick, Telluride, BANFF and Queens World Film Festivals.  Christopher also freelances as a music composer and sound designer for Viacom, in New York City.  As a production sound recordist, his portfolio includes recordings for Sprint, Reebok, Shiseido, Empire Market, Busby Family Eye Care and Aubin Pictures.

JOHN MAREAN, Assistant Professor
B.A., SUNY Binghamton
M.F.A., Yale School of Drama

John Marean, co-owner of Intention Films and Media, graduated with his MFA in Technical Design and Production from the Yale School of Drama. 

He started his career as the Technical Director of the Hudson Guild Theater, then became Production Manager of Playwrights’ Horizons/Scenic Central and built sets for Nickelodeon, as well as many other Broadway, off-Broadway, television and feature film productions.

John joined the taught at Thomas Edison High School, Hillcrest High School was named Technical Director at the LaGuardia High School (The “Fame” school) of Music & Art and Performing Arts in NYC. He continues to teach Entertainment Technology subjects at the NYC College of Technology in Brooklyn.

In 2006, John became the Technical Director of the Long Island/TV Foundation. John works as a Director of Photography, Assistant Camera, Grip, Gaffer, Sound Recordist, Production Manager, Assistant Director and as a Covid-19 Compliance Officer.

DAVID MARINO, Instructor
A.A., Nassau Community College
B.F.A., Long Island University

RAMFIS MYRTHIL, Instructor
B.A., Queens College

HAROLD NAIDEAU, Instructor
B.A., Antioch College
B.A., Brooks Institute of Photography
M.B.A., Long Island University: CW Post College

ASHISH PANT, Assistant Professor
B.A., University of Delhi
M.F.A., Columbia University
M.B.A., Harvard Business School

BRUCE PENN, Instructor
B.A., SUNY College at Oswego
M.A., SUNY Old Westbury

With over 25 years of entertainment and teaching experience, Bruce Penn is no stranger to the rigors and rewards of professional and education productions.As a theatre and communications graduate, he has a wide range of writer, director and producer credits. At age 18, he published his first book of inspirational poetry called, “Life-Reach It”. He later wrote and produced several stage and teleplays including; “What’s Going On”, “The Shut-In”, and “The Challenge”. His artistry also includes a series of award winning acrylic on canvas paintings called, “The Heritage Collection”.

He later went on to direct several music videos and short films. His more recent work includes a documentary on the civil rights movement. His film received high marks for a first-hand account of Dr. Martin Luther King’s acceptance of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. The film, “The Journey to Oslo”, was a moving and inspiration interview with Rev. Dr. Richard Dixon’s eyewitness account of the events surrounding the uprising and assassination of his best friend and comrade Dr. King.

Now as writer and director of his latest project, “The Last Alumni”, his artistic vision has come full circle. He, along with WMHS alumni, students, staff, and community have come together to produce and inspiring independent student film. For the past 16 years, he has taught film and sound production to up and coming filmmakers in Wyandanch High School.

CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON, Assistant Professor
B.F.A., New York University

Chris Chan Roberson is a 15-year veteran editor, producer, videographer, digital content strategist, and college professor. He has been teaching cinematography and editing at Tisch School of the Arts since 1999 and served as NYU’s Executive Director of Post Production for over two years.

Chris is a contributing writer for Comic Book Resources. He also edits professionally and has worked with such talents as Sting, Billy Eichner, Nick Kroll, and Christian McBride. He has done editing for the YouTube channels Screen Rant and CBR and has produced content for Kung Fu Tea and the New-York Historical Society. In 2006, Chris won a Telly Award for his editing work with Robert Small Entertainment, where he edited for Comedy Central, Nick at Nite and The Biography Channel.

From 2012 through July 2014, Chris worked as the Studio Manager of YouTube Space NY. He helped emerging partners devise channel strategy, increase production value, and develop their brand. On a regular basis Chris has worked with such YouTube channels as The Key of Awesome and VSauce3. In 2014, Chris conducted a TEDx Talk, titled “Modern Mavericks.”

DANIEL WINERMAN, Assistant Professor
B.F.A., New York University
M.F.A., Boston University

Dan Winerman is an actor and director of theater and film. Based in New York City, Dan has directed and developed new plays for several venues and festivals such as Primary Stages, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, Lark Theatre, Flea Theater, HERE Arts Center, the Boston Playwrights Theatre, the Young Playwrights Festival, the Samuel French Short Play Festival, the Summer Shorts Festival @ 59E59 Theater, NYU’s Department of Dramatic Writing, and NYU’s Department of Musical Theatre Writing. For the Berkshire Playwrights Lab, Dan directed staged readings of new plays by Anna Ziegler (Variations on a Theme), Sam Marks (The Old Masters), Jonathan Caren (The Recommendation), and John Cariani (Love/Sick). Recently, he directed two short plays by Cary Gitter at The Tank and is adapting them to film. He was selected as a finalist by the Drama League Fellowship and National Directors Fellowships. He has been the Guest Director at many productions, such as “Middletown” at Pace University, Mac Rogers’ “Blast Radius” at American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AMDA, and at Fordham University, the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. 

Interactive Media Arts Faculty

SHARON RYBA-PERTZ, Assistant Professor
Interim Interactive Media Arts Chair
B.S., College of Staten Island

Video and Film Editor with 25 years’ experience working in news and documentary for television broadcast and entertainment industries. Still and Motion Graphics Designer with 20 years’ experience in private, public, government, and educational sectors. Editor and designer on various projects ranging from producing content and shows for 3D stereoscopic domed and immersive environments to designing and developing corporate branding and UX/UI design.

JULIE HARING, Instructor
B.F.A., Cooper Union School
M.A., New York Institute of Technology
M.S., Long Island University

Julie Haring, a successful professional in the field of Motion Graphics, holds a MA in Communication Arts from NYIT and an MS Ed from Long Island University.

During her many years in digital design and animation, Professor Haring has worked in small creative teams on a broad range of projects for local broadcast, medical simulation, virtual reality, and corporate events. She has designed and animated branded and original assets for clients such as Cablevision, SmileTrain, Canon USA, Inc., Weight Watchers, and ABC.

She has also brought her expertise and creative skills to educational projects to include online course design for corporate training at Canon USA, Inc. and virtual exhibit components for the Heckscher Museum and Huntington Long Island School District.

KAREN PELLECHIA, Assistant Professor
Dean of Online Education
B.A., Queens College
M.F.A., Brooklyn College

Karen Pellecchia has been serving as both educator and administrator in Higher Education for over 30 years. She has served as mentor and senior faculty member at several institutions specializing in studio art and application of design principles. Earning an MFA in Painting and Drawing from Brooklyn College, Pellecchia received the Charles G. Shaw graduate award for distinction in the painting medium, and was the recipient of a Full Fellowship at the Vermont Studio awarded by renowned artist Wolf Kahn. Her work is part of international and corporate collections and has been featured in several interior design publications. Throughout her career, Pellecchia has expanded her art to fashion, interior and landscape design. Her fashion designs have been sold at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC; Mitsukoshi and Lane Crawford, Japan; and have been featured in Women’s Wear Daily, Elements, and W Magazine.

Adjunct Interactive Media Arts Faculty

MICKEY ALOSOIO, Instructor
B.F.A., Fashioni Institute of Technology

PAUL BIEDERMANN, Instructor
B.F.A., Washington University in St. Louis (School of Design & Visual Arts)

KRISTY CARATZOLA, Instructor
B.F.A., LIU Southhampton
M.F.A., LIU Post

BRAD DARROHN, Instructor
A.A., Suffolk County Community College
B.S., Full Sail University

ROBERT FIELD, Assistant Professor
B.A., LIU Post
M.A., Syracuse University

ALLISON RUFRANO, Assistant Professor 
B.A., Adelphi Univeristy
M.S.Ed, M.F.A., Long Island University: CW Post

DENISE RUGGIO, Assistant Professor
B.F.A., M.A., New York Institute of Technoloy

NICK SELVAGGIO, Instructor
B.S., New York Institute of Technology

CHRISTINE SQUITIERI, Assistant Professor
B.F.A., New York Institute of Technology

Christine Squitieri’s passion of 3D design has brought her to FTC from an incredibly diverse spectrum of disciplines. After receiving her BFA in Computer Graphics from NYIT in 1998, she worked for a leading video game developer creating 3D models and animation. Later in her career, she found herself being trained in blacksmithing and sculptural metal working. Just prior to joining the FTC faculty, she specialized in the concept and development of unique sculptural forms and custom design solutions for events, stage sets, exhibits, retail environments and new product prototypes for various fabrication companies. Christine brings an imaginative and forward-thinking mindset while maintaining a realistic approach to production and fabrication.

As a fearless Designer, she deeply values the power of imagination within constraints and enjoy opportunities to “create something from nothing.”

ADAM TATZ, Instructor
B.F.A., University of Delaware

Liberal Arts/General Education Faculty

JENNIFER DARDZINSKI, Associate Professor
Liberal Arts and Sciences Division Chair 
Assistant Dean of Instruction
A.A., Nassau Community College
B.A., Hofstra University
M.S., Ph.D., St. John’s University

Dr. Jennifer Dardzinski has been in education for over 20 years. She is currently the department chair of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Five Towns College. In addition to being the department chair she also teaches English and the literacy education courses. She recently coauthored a chapter for a literacy textbook.  She earned a BA in Elementary Education from Hofstra University, and a MS and Ph. D in Literacy from St. John’s University. She taught grades 1st, 2nd and 3rd at a Catholic school on Long Island for 8 years before moving on to higher education in 2010. Before becoming department chair at Five Towns, Jennifer was an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities on Long Island and NYC teaching English and Literacy courses.

JERRY COHEN, Associate Professor, Science
Director of Adult and Continuing Education 
B.S., Ohio University
M.S., Hofstra University

ALISSA GAMBINO, Assistant Professor
B.A., LIU Southampton College
M.F.A., Stony Brook University

Alissa’s undergraduate career most notably includes employment as writer, performer, and director with The Southampton Players, a touring, outreach activist performance troop. Also, her original play competed and was selected for production during Southampton College’s One-Act Play Festival.

During her post-graduate years, she worked closely with and assisted several New York Times best-selling authors and workshop leaders; including Roger Rosenblatt, Meg Wolitzer, and David Rakoff; during five Southampton Arts summer conferences and two Writers Conferences in Florence, Italy. Additionally, her professional and personal writing experience includes freelancing as a film critic and fashion journalist; publishing poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and essays; and copyediting for several online media outlets and multiple issues of The Southampton Review, a literary and arts journal. Furthermore, her positions as a fashion blogger and experiences as an influencer stem from her roles as a stylist and social media director in New York City, Brooklyn, and on Long Island for multiple e-commerce platforms, retailers collaborations, and fashion blogs, including recognition from The Huffington Post for evocative, original content. However, her love of literature and composition motivated her transition to the world of academia; she has taught English at SUNY Suffolk County Community College and has a decade of tutoring experience for students of all backgrounds and writing proficiencies in any discipline at the Rose Tehan Memorial Writing Center. Alissa proudly joined the FTC’s Liberal Arts faculty teaching English and Literature in 2017.

Most recently, Alissa serves as director for FTC’s Writing Across the Curriculum committee and tutors all FTC students in The Writing Center.

DOMINICK QUARTUCCIO, Assistant Professor
A.A., Suffolk Community College
B.A., M.F.A., Stony Brook University

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.

Adjunct Liberal Arts/General Education Faculty

LEANN BORNEMAN, Instructor
B.A., M.S.W., Stony Brook University

MICHAEL CAMPANELLA, Assistant Professor 
B.A., M.S.Ed., Queens College

DANIELLE COSTANZA, Assistant Professor
B.S.W., Marist College
M.S.W., Fordham University

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!

KELLY HEIDER-WALSH, Instructor
A.A.S., State University of New York at Farmingdale
B.A., Dowling College
M.A., Long Island University: C.W. Post

THERESE HOWELL, Instructor 
B.S.Ed., Five Towns College 
M.A., University of the Rockies

Therese Howell is an alumnus of Five Towns College who wears many hats in the professional field. Mrs. Howell is a licensed real estate agent, a therapist, an entrepreneur and has helped many people in her community. In her career, she has counseled suicidal individuals and others who are dealing with drug addiction. She was recruited to co-produce a real estate production for television. Teaching at Five Towns College allows Mrs. Howell the opportunity to guide and develop students. She is proud to return to the College.

MAUREEN GREEN, Assistant Professor
B.A., Charleston Southern University
M.S., Towson University

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.

CARL KIRSCHNER, Professor
B.A., Queens College
M.A., Ph.D., New York University

Dr. Kirschner received his PhD degree in Industrial/Organizational psychology from New York University. He began his academic career at Baruch College where he was Director of Student Support Services. He continued on to become College Dean at Suffolk Community College and University Dean for Student Affairs at CUNY where he was responsible for over 4000,000 students.

Dr. Kirschner has experience in public, private and for profit schools. He has created and taught courses on the undergraduate and graduate levels ranging from introductory psychology to emotional intelligence. In addition to educational settings, Dr. Kirschner has collaborated with the American Management Association and other consulting firms to improve work life satisfaction and productivity.  He is the recipient of several awards for his work in education. At present he serves on the Five Towns College Board of Trustees and continues his consulting projects.

ANGELINA LIBARDI, Associate Professor
B.S., M.S., Adelphi University

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.

SANDRA MARDENFELD, Assistant Professor
B.A., SUNY at Buffalo
M.A., New York University
Ph.D., Rutgers University

Sandra Mardenfeld is a freelance writer, editor, social media strategist, marketing consultant and educator based in Long Island, New York. She has worked as the managing editor for several national magazines, as the Broadway editor of Playbill and as an editor/writer on many websites. Her travel book, New York Day Trips, was published in June 2020. She obtained her PhD in Communication and Information and Library Science, specializing in media studies, at Rutgers University. Her dissertation looked at reporter’s privilege through the perspective of the public and the practitioner using focus groups, interviews and published editorials. She received her masters in magazine journalism at New York University and her bachelors in journalism at The State University College of Buffalo.  

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

MERRICK MONCK-ROWLEY, Assistant Professor
B.A., Trinity College
M.S., Queens College
M.S., New York Institute of Technology

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.

RASHEEN NORTHINGTON, Instructor
B.A., Hunter College
M.A., SUNY Potsdam

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. 

SIMONE ROBERTS, Instructor
A.A.S., Nassau Community College 
B.S.Ed., St. John’s University
M.S.Ed., Queens College

ELIZABETH SALGADO, Assistant Professor
B.S., Southern Connecticut State University 
M.S., Walden University

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.

TONY SCHELLENBERGER, Assistant Professor 
B.A., Indiana University
M.S., Psy. D., Nova Southeastern University

Tony began my interest in psychology by attending Indiana University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology.  While at Indiana University, Tony had the opportunity to work with a Neuropsychology professor and was able to assist him in several research students and be published several times.  He then furthered his education at Nova Southeastern University, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  While attending this university, he earned both a master’s degree and Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D) degree in clinical psychology. After completing doctoral work, Tony spent professional time working in the field of disability support and therapy for approximately three years before finding his passion for teaching.  Since 2010 he has been teaching at a variety of colleges and universities through both face-to-face and online instruction. He very much enjoys working with college students and feels privileged to be able to assist people of all ages in pursuing their dreams of higher education.

RONALD STANIEC, Instructor 
B.A., George Mason University
M.A., Hofstra University

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.

Mass Communication Faculty

HOLLI HAERR, Assistant Professor
Mass Communication Division Chair
B.A., Indiana University
M.S., Quinnipiac University

Holli Haerr has been teaching Mass Communication courses at Five Towns College since the Spring of 2016. She has previously worked for News 12 Long Island, FiOS1 News and 1010WINS radio as well as radio and TV stations in Washington D.C. Holli brings her experience into the classroom and helped develop a hands-on Mass Comm lab and other courses.

BRIDGETTE BOYLE, Assistant Professor
B.A., Fairfield University
M.B.A., Fordham University

Brigette Boyle is currently an Adjunct Professor at Five Towns College, where she teaches media, writing, and branding classes. Prior to working in higher education, Boyle spent 18 years in media and human resources and was most recently Senior Vice President, Recruitment & Development at Fox News Network in New York City, where she built and was responsible for the company’s hiring initiatives across all divisions, including the launches of Fox Business Network, Fox News Headlines 24/7 and Fox News Latino.  In addition to teaching at FTC, Boyle is Co-Owner and Director of Admissions & Career Services at Campus Boss, where she specializes in guiding students and professionals of all levels through resume writing, interview preparation, and essay collaboration. 

THOMAS CALANDRILLO, Professor
Assistant Dean of Institutional Productions and Technology
B.P.S., Five Towns College
L.M.H.C., C.A.S.A.C., Adelphi University

SHARON RYBA-PERTZ, Assistant Professor
Interim Interactive Media Arts Chair 
B.S., College of Staten Island

Video and Film Editor with 25 years’ experience working in news and documentary for television broadcast and entertainment industries. Still and Motion Graphics Designer with 20 years’ experience in private, public, government, and educational sectors. Editor and designer on various projects ranging from producing content and shows for 3D stereoscopic domed and immersive environments to designing and developing corporate branding and UX/UI design.

Adjunct Mass Communication Faculty

LAURA ALBERTS, Instructor  
B.A., SUNY Empire State College

For nearly 15 years Laura Alberts has worked numerous areas of sight and sound. Working with lighting, sound, and video, with a focus in lighting design and its operations, Laura has had the opportunity to work numerous events from corporate to weddings, and concerts to theatre. She has experience with advancing upcoming shows, staging upcoming shows to be trucked, and training lighting board operators, and technicians.

Laura has done lighting design for national acts, bringing the opportunity to travel numerous states. She has the opportunity to work with Kansas, Eddie Money, The Gin Blossoms, and Buckcherry. She has also worked at Nokia Theatre, Irving Plaza, Mohegan Sun, Gramercy Theatre, and the Javits Center.

Laura’s bachelor’s degree in Photography and Creative Art Therapy adds to her creative eye when designing and assists in her teaching abilities.

MICKEY ALOSIO, Instructor
B.F.A., Fashion Institute of Technology

RICH BARRABI, Instructor
B.A., University of Scranton

Rich Barrabi is the Managing Anchor for News 12 Long Island. He has spent more than a decade covering news as anchor, reporter and photographer throughout the tristate area.

DAVID DODDS, Instructor 
B.F.A., City College of New York

Capturing reality in compelling and bold ways is just another day at the office for Dave Dodds. Dave, an Emmy winning cameraman, has contributed on exciting content for Discovery, Animal Planet, NatGeo, PBS, and more – from sensitive human-interest series work, to exciting action sports films, and so much in between. After twenty years in television, including a decade producing award-winning content for News 12 Networks, Dave recently stepped over to the Marketing and Communications world, creating a new role overseeing video production for the Tri-State healthcare organization, Optum.

As a technician, Dave has always been precise and efficient. He operates the camera intuitively and lights with inspiration from the art of life, always staying open to the surprises of the moment. As a creative producer and director, Dave is careful and collected but also has a fond appreciation for improvisation. He is story and character-focused and never backs down from a creative challenge if there’s something worth fighting for. In addition to directing and producing engaging and branded content for Cisco Systems, Kraft Foods, Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus and more, Dave recently helmed and produced the award-winning feature documentary, “Cherry’s In Season”, about a legendary Fire Island bar with deep ties to the roots of gay rights movement.

MICHAEL GRAHAM, Instructor
B.S., University of Tennessee

Over 35 years as a radio and television news and sports reporter and anchor. Worked for major market television station WPIX TV in New York and ABC Network Radio, WABC radio, Wor radio and Bloomberg radio in New York City as well as numerous Long Island radio and cable tv stations. Was Play by Play announcer for the Atlantic League’s Long Island Ducks and for many other minor league and college sports teams.

ROBERT HOELL, Assistant Professor 
B.F.A., M.A., New York Institute of Technology

Rob Hoell is an award-winning journalist and senior multimedia producer on Northwell Health’s Marketing and Communications team. He is also the host of health system’s podcast 20 Minute Health Talk. He had been an adjunct professor at Hofstra University for over a decade, where he taught Broadcast Writing and Reporting. Previously, Rob served as Long Island Bureau reporter for WPIX channel 11, as well as reporting for News 12 Networks. He has covered some of the biggest stories in the nation, the “September 11^th Terror Attacks”, the crashes of “TWA flight 800”, “SwissAir flight 111”, and the :Miracle on the Hudson”. He also covered the “1994 Stanley Cup Finals”, and reported from the “2000 Subway World Series”.

REBECCA KLEIN, Instructor
B.A., Brandeis University
M.S., Columbia University

Rebecca Klein is a senior reporter at The Huffington Post, where she covers education, politics and policy.  Before that, she served as the education section’s editor.  She has worked as a producer at WNYC, New York City’s public radio station, and her work has been recognized by groups like the Online News Association and the Education Writers Association.

SANDRA MARDENFELD, Assistant Professor
B.A., SUNY at Buffalo
M.A., New York University
Ph.D., Rutgers University

A freelance writer, editor, social media manager, marketing consultant and educator with more than 30 years’ experience. She worked as managing editor for several national magazines, as the Broadway editor of Playbill and as an editor/writer for many media organizations. Sandra has also written articles and blog posts for more than 50 newspapers, magazines, and websites, and has done content marketing for various clients.

HAROLD NAIDEAU, Assistant Professor
B.A., Antioch College
B.A., Brooks Institute of Photograph
M.F.A., Long Island University: C.W. Post College

TIMOTHY NEEDLES, Instructor 
B.F.A., School of Visual Arts 
M.A., Stony Brook University

Tim Needles is an artist, educator, performer, and author of STEAM Power: Infusing Art Into Your STEM Curriculum. He is a TEDx Talk speaker, a technology integration specialist, and art educator at Smithtown School District, and his work has been featured on NPR, in the New York Times, Columbus Museum of Art, Normal Rockwell Museum, Alexandria Museum of Art, Katonah Museum of Art, and Cape Code Museum of Art. He’s the recipient of ISTE’s Technology in Action Award and Creativity Award, NAEA’s Eastern Region Art Educator Award & ArtEdTech Outstanding Teaching Award, and The Rauschenberg Power of Art Award. He’s also a National Geographic Certified Teacher, PBS Digital Innovator, a NASA Solar System Ambassador, an ISTE Community leader, NAEA ArtEdTech interest group leader, and Adobe Creative Educator.

MICHAEL PRYWES, Instructor 
Film and Television Division Chair
B.S., Northwestern University
J.D., 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.

MICHAEL QUICK, Instructor
B.A., Sacred Heart University

ANDREW SINGH, Instructor
B.F.A., M.A., New York Institute of Technololgy

DAVID WEISS, Instructor
B.A., Curry College

WILL WRIGHT, Instructor
B.A., Fordham University

Will J. Wright is an award-winning Manager, Diversity Leader and Creative Development Broadcast Executive.  In his 52 years of service in the mass communication industry, he has worked for NBC News, MSNBC, CBS News, Cablevision, KRIV in Houston and was part of the original startup staff at CNN.  Wright was Vice President and News Director of WWOR-TV in the New York Market.  He was a member of the team that established NBC BLK and NBC OUT, website verticals of NBC News.com with the specific mission to market to and develop an outreach to new potential audiences. 

He has won three Emmy awards, a national Edward R. Murrow Award, and more.

Music Faculty

JOHN KELLY, Associate Professor, Guitar*
Undergraduate Music Division Chair 
Mus.B., Mus.M., Five Towns College

Professional guitarist and mandolin player. Currently working as musical director and staffing coordinator for one of New York metropolitan area’s premier entertainment companies. Featured soloist of The Concert Pops. Performances with The Platters, The Coasters, Charo, Robert Klein, and Fred Travalena. Numerous radio and television appearances, including the show Fox and Friends. Recipient of the Tony Mottola Award.

SCOTT BALLIN, Associate Professor, Jazz Piano*
Director of American Songbook Ensemble
Mus.B., Mus.M., D.M.A., Five Towns College

Professional engagements include: Pianist for Isotope Stompers, numerous concerts including main stage Hechsher Park in Huntington. Musical Director for Gene Santini, at Feinsteins N.Y.C. Pianist with Long Island Jazz All Stars directed by Mike Carubia. Jazz concerts and club appearances with Byran Carrott, Teddy Charles, Jerry Weldon, Jay Hogard. Music Director for Rat Pack Show, Rainbow Room, N.Y.C. Pianist/Music Director for Henry Prego, Harrah’s Atlantic City. Pianist Garden City Hotel, Parker Meridian Hotel N.Y.C. Bandleader and pianist on Carnival Cruise ship M.S. Tropicale.

Contributing writer for Jazz Improv Magazine - Concert and CD reviews, instructional articles. Undergraduate and Graduate instructor at Five Towns College for: Keyboard classes, Ear Training, Harmony, Music History and Private Instruction. Director of American Songbook Ensemble, Upbeat Entertainment, Jazz Piano Concert Series. Professional Development: IAJE Conventions, Jazz Times Conventions, N.Y.C., Chick Corea Workshop, Lenox, Mass., JEN Convention, Reno, Nevada. Host of radio program The Music of Miles Davis on WFTU radio.

Adjunct Music Faculty

EDWARD ADAMS, Assistant Professor
B.M., West Chester University of Pennsylvania
M.M., University of Nevada – Las Vegas Stony Brook

KRISTI ADAMS, Assistant Professor
Director of Vocal Jazz
B.S., Dowling College
M.A., SUNY Stony Brook

Kristi Adams has been an educator of music, dance, and theatre for Middle County Central School District on Long Island for 19 years. Throughout her career, Kristi has taught sight-reading, vocal pedagogy, and professional singing techniques to students ranging from sixth grade through the college level. Most notably, Kristi has directed both the Rhapsody in Pink Girls Ensemble and the Spartan Barbershop Chorus, an ensemble that competes internationally. Kristi has won numerous achievements for her work, including the Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award and special recognition by the New York State School of Music Association as being an expert on the male changing voice. This recognition earned her a place on the organization’s “Music Views” DVD.

In addition to her educational accomplishments, Kristi is also an accomplished dancer who has trained professionally with members of the Joffrey Ballet and Julliard Ballet School. Her training enabled her to teach beginning through advanced ballet, modern, lyrical, jazz, tap, and hip-hop styles at various dance schools. Currently, she sings with the award-winning Greater Nassau Chorus and works full-time as a music teacher at Newfield High School.

MICHAEL BLUTMAN, Instructor, Trumpet*
B.M., University of Maryland
Mus.M., Julliard

Michael Blutman enjoys a diverse career as a trumpeter and music educator. A graduate of The Juilliard School and the University of Maryland, some of his performing and recording credits include: Sting, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Jonathan Batiste Jazz Band, Broadway shows, David Bowie’s band, and many others. As an educator, Michael has taught at Five Towns College, Ithaca College, Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts, East Meadow’s (NY) Fusing Culture and Curriculum, Nassau Suffolk Performing Arts, and has a private trumpet studio on Long Island. Michael also co-founded Pinnacle Music Press (www.pinmusicpress.com), a music education publishing company, and has written articles for several music education journals and websites.

STEVE BRIODY, Professor, Guitar, Composition/Arranging *
B.A., SUNY Fredonia
Mus.M., D.M.A., Five Towns College

Dr. Briody is a recognized guitarist, composer, educator and arranger. He has played guitar with legends such as Randy Brecker, Jeff Lorber, Dave Valentin, Jane Monheit, Charlie Daniels, Funk Filharmonik, Carl Fischer, and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame All-Star Band. He is the author of the Jamey Aebersold book Jazz Guitar Lines of the Greats, which has become a popular Jazz guitar publication. Steve is a staff arranger at Smart Chart, prominent publisher of college and high school jazz ensemble arrangements. He has also contributed lesson articles to Guitar Player and Guitar World magazines. His song “Footsteps” appeared on the #1 Jazz album of sax great Eric Alexander. Recently, he had the honor of being guest conductor of the Nassau All-County Jazz Ensemble in 2018, performing at the Tilles Center. In addition to his international credits, he often performs in the NY area with jazz, funk, and top-40 bands. At Five Towns College, Steve currently teaches Graduate-level Jazz Harmony, Arranging, Big Band Arranging, Improvisation, Guitar Instruction, Jazz/Pop Composition, Popular Music Lab, Graduate Jazz Pedagogy, and directs the Jazz Orchestra.

BRYAN CARROTT, Assistant Professor, Percussion *
B.A., William Paterson College

A native New Yorker, Mr. Carrott has toured and recorded throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan, with Ralph Peterson, Henry Threadgill, Butch Morris, Dave Douglas, The Jazz Passengers and Charlie Hunter. He is a two-time recipient of New York’s Meet The Composer Award and has been cited for several years in Down Beat Magazine’s International Critics’ Poll. He has also been featured on BET’s Jazz Central, on the film soundtrack, 3 A.M. with Branford Marsalis, and as a mallet/multi-percussionist for Disney’s Lion King on Broadway. As a clinician for Ross Mallet Instruments, Bryan has led performances at the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) and the Percussive Arts Society Conventions. He was a featured soloist with Cologne, Germany’s WDR Orchestra conducted by Gunther Schuller.

GLENN CHIARELLO, Instructor
B.M., LIU Post
M.M., Five Towns College

MELISSA COYLE, Instructor 
B.M., Westminster College of the Arts (Rider University) 
M.S., Long Island University

An alum of both Westminster Choir College in Princeton and LIU Post, Melissa has been the resident music director at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts for the past 6 years. She also music directs, plays keyboards, and vocal directs many shows in the area. Melissa has performed alongside the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center with Westminster’s Symphonic Choir. As a private vocal coach, Coyle’s students perform often at NYC cabarets and around Long Island, and many have gone on to pursue professional careers in music and theater. A professional musician and educator, Melissa has been working in the Long Island area for the past ten years. Melissa is happy to help her students to grow in their musical skills and gain a better appreciation of the arts.

MARY ALICE DOMENICA, Assistant Professor, Piano,
Music Theory*
B.M., Covenant College
Mus.M., Belmont University
D.M.A., University of Miami

Dr. Mary Alice Domenica’s musical background includes undergraduate and master’s degrees in classical solo piano performance, and a doctoral degree in collaborative piano with a cognate in music theory. Her chamber music experience includes frequent work in instrumental chamber ensembles, musical theatre accompanying, and extensive experience as a choral and instrumental accompanist, including accompanying the Nashville Symphony Chorus. She is currently the owner of Dix Hills Piano, a studio where she teaches beginning through advanced piano and specializes in teaching piano technique to promote relaxation and improve artistry. In addition to being a piano instructor, Dr. Domenica also coaches vocal students at the studio.

Dr. Domenica is also a trained organist and vocal coach. She has worked as an organist for the Astoria Community Church and a piano instructor at the Community School of the Arts at Austin Peay State University. At Austin Peay State University, Dr. Domenica appears as a recording artist on several albums produced on campus.

FRANK DOYLE, Assistant Professor
B.A., Queens College
M.M., New England Conservatory of Music
D.M.A., Five Towns College

Frank completed a D.M.A in Music History and Literature with a dissertation titled,”Horace Silver: Transcription and Analysis of Ten Blues Compositions including the Piano Improvisations 1954-1969.” He has additionally studied computer music synthesis with Barry Vercoe and taken additional courses with futurist, Issac Asimov at MIT. Professor Doyle was inducted into The LI Music Hall of Fame as the “Educator of Note 2016” for his pedagogical career in music theory, composition and musicology. Frank’s numerous literary contributions include the editing of Barron’s Review Book in AP Music Theory and co-writing of the 2014 National Standards in Secondary Music Theory and Composition. He is currently an editor for The Journal of Music Pedagogy Online and serves as program evaluator and workshop leader for NYSSMA, NAfME and the AP College Board where he presents lectures and training sessions on creative applications of popular music and music technology in the music theory curriculum. Frank has performed and recorded as keyboardist with Meatloaf, as musical director/composer with Weird Al Yankovic on his, “MTV’s Big Al Show,” and has scored original music for television, commercials and films. He plays piano with his quintet, “Lush Life” in jazz clubs throughout Long Island and NYC.

WILLIAM FARRISH, Assistant Professor, Guitar, Jazz
Harmony*
A.A.S., Mus.B., Five Towns College
M.M., SUNY Purchase College

For the past 30 years, Bill Farrish has earned his living as a performing musician touring throughout the United States and Canada in various groups ranging in size from solo to big band. Bill has performed with Shunzu Ohno, John Stowell, Dennis Wilson, Bernard Purdie, Tiny Grimes, Charles Eubanks, David Garibaldi, Arthur Prysock, Ray Alexander, Jimmy Halperin and many others. His work also includes Off-Broadway productions of: Man of LaMancha, Lil’ Shop of Horrors, Hair, and Tapestry. Television credits include: Bea Moss Productions and “The Carl Bruno Show” (TCI Cable), featured artist in the independently released production “An Evening with Bill Farrish” by Raven Productions, QPTV., composer of the theme and incidental music for The Park, Eun Kyung Show, Radio Seoul, Flushing NY and many jingles.

Having released six CD’s for MCR Records under his own name, Bill’s music has been featured on several radio broadcasts in Europe, the Far East, and South America. In 2014 All About Jazz featured an article about Bill entitled “Practice, Do You? Part 3-3” Bill has also published two books, entitled Jazz Guitar Volume I and Basic Musicianship.

KENNETH FRIESE, Associate Professor, Voice *
B.S., SUNY Potsdam
M.M., Boston University

Before his employment at Five Towns College, Professor Friese worked for many years as the choral director of the Plainview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School, where he led the choir to numerous accolades, including multiple “gold with distinction” medals at choral festivals held by the New York State School of Music Association. His choirs have performed at various concerts and events nationally, and most notably, multiple performances at the Tilles Center on Long Island. He is currently the organist and director of music at Old First Presbyterian Church and Temple Beth-El, both in Huntington. In addition to his multiple directorships, he is also a prolific vocal coach, specializing in vocal development and Baroque singing techniques. He has taught classes in secondary choral methods, choral conducting, accompanying for the high school teacher, and multiple levels of sight-singing.

STEPHEN GLEASON, Associate Professor
Mus.B, M.M., Five Towns College

Professional musician, vocalist, and choral conductor.  Extensive experience with a cappella vocal groups.  Worked in New York’s premiere top 40 band The Touch as a singer/guitar player and a session player for selected artists’ recordings at Jellybean and Arista records.

JEFFREY GLEMBOSKI, Assistant Professor
Director of the Barbershop Harmony Ensemble
Mus.B., Mus.M., Five Towns College

Jeffrey Glemboski is a professional public-school music educator at the Norman J. Levy Lakeside School in Merrick. He is a member of the National Music Educators Association (NMEA) and the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS). Recently, he was the recipient of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) Founders Award. Professor Glemboski is currently the musical director of the Long Island Sound Barbershop Chorus and its scholastic offshoot at Five Towns College.

In addition to his educational pursuits, he currently sings bass in the internationally known barbershop quartet Round Midnight. The quartet recently achieved Top 10 Finalist status in the BHS International Barbershop Quartet Contest and they are past BHS Mid-Atlantic District Quartet Champions. The group has received praise for their recording efforts too, garnering multiple Contemporary A cappella Recording Award (CARA) nominations. The foursome has won the New York City Harmony Sweepstakes Championship and was appointed an official “Arts Envoy” group by the U.S. State Department.

MASATORA GOYA, Assistant Professor, Composition*
B.A. Kyoto University
M.M. New Jersey City University
D.M.A., Five Towns College

Trained as a vocal performer first, Masatora explores the musical landscape of drama, space, and emotion. Described as a “composer of cultural crossroads” by American Composers Forum, his unique eclecticism has attracted many musicians performing in nontraditional chamber ensembles, such as Alturas Duo, Duo Anova, Liberté Mandolin Orchestra, Duo Yumeno, Tomoko Sugawara, Thomas Piercy, and Hidejiro Honjoh. Masatora also frequently collaborates with visual artists and filmmakers, such as Yuki Ideguchi, Sam Platizky, Andre Lewis, Nori Mizukami, Chloe Miller, and Takashi Nasu. His music has been performed worldwide and his album “Dream of Sailing” has been released from Ravello Records.

Masatora received a BA in Integrated Human Studies from Kyoto University and studied music at Koyo Conservatory. Since relocating to the United States, he earned a Master of Music from New Jersey City University and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Five Towns College, and studied in the BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. A resident composer of Kadoma Film Commission as well as a recipient of ASCAP Plus Awards, Jerome Fund for New Music, and Diversity Doctoral Fellowship at SUNY Purchase College, Masatora served assistant director of Vox Novus Composer’s Voice and taught at NJCU and Purchase College.

TOM GUARNA, Assistant Professor
B.F.A., The New School
M.M., Julliard

SOO JIN HAN, Instructor
B.M., New England Conservatory of Music
M.M., New York University

KELLY HORSTED, Assistant Professor, Voice, Piano*
B.M., Applied Piano, Eastman School of Music
M.M., Collaborative Piano, Eastman School of Music

Pianist Kelly Horsted, a native of Sioux City, Iowa, enjoys an active career in NYC as an accompanist, music director and vocal coach specializing in new opera, art song, and role preparation.

An enthusiast of new music, Kelly has enjoyed a long relationship with American Opera Projects including his sixth season as a co-music director for the Composers and the Voice series. Other notable collaborations with AOP include Hershel Garfein’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Tarik O’Regan’s Heart of Darkness, Paula Kimper’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey as well as Patience and Sarah for the chamber opera’s premiere at the Lincoln Center Festival.

Kelly has been a frequent collaborator at NYU’s Tisch Graduate Musical Theater Program, and Ann Baltz’s Operaworks. He has taught at Hunter College, Mannes College of Music, the International Workshops in Graz, Austria, the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival and the Hartt School of Music.

Mr. Horsted has appeared at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Zankel Hall and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and Symphony Space in NYC. He has also performed at the Wintergreen Festival, in Fountainbleau, France, and on the Opera America Songbook. While at Eastman he was a 1st place winner in the Kneisel Lieder Competition.

JOSEPH KIMURA, Assistant Professor, Cello*
B.M., M.M., Juilliard School of Music

Currently a member of the Five Towns Master Quartet, Joseph Kimura has had a very diverse musical career. Formally a member of the Laurentian String Quartet, he has appeared as a soloist with many orchestras, including the Stamford Symphony, Hoboken Chamber Orchestra, Garden State Chamber Orchestra, Korean Symphony, Gloria Chamber Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the State of Mexico. Joe appears on recordings for the EOS ensemble and Riverside Symphony, as well as numerous movie and TV soundtracks. He has performed live on National Public Radio and appeared on Broadway with The Will Rodgers Follies and Beauty and the Beast. He has taught at Summertrios and the Greenwood Junior Music Camp during the summer. He studied with Harvey Shapiro at Julliard, including studies with Paul Katz and Channing Robbins.

SCOTT LITROFF, Assistant Professor, Saxophone
B.A., Stony Brook University
M.M., Mannes School of Music
D.M.A., Stony Brook University

Scott Litroff is a saxophonist recognized for his versatility as a performer and educator in both jazz and classical styles. Dr. Litroff performed his solo debut at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, and has since performed at venues including Weill Hall, Merkin Hall, The DiMenna Center, Yoshi’s Club San Francisco, and Jazz Alley in Seattle, as well as venues in Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan. He has performed alongside some of the world’s finest musicians including Koh Mr. Saxman, Ray Anderson, Bakithi Kumalo, Steve Salerno, Nellie McKay, William Wei-Leng Chen, and has performed under the baton of renowned conductors including George Manahan, Rosen Milanov, Joseph Colaneri, and David Hayes. Dr. Litroff previously held positions at Adelphi University, Stony Brook University, and Suffolk Community College.

Dr. Litroff’s numerous awards and honors include the prestigious 2013 Samuel Baron Prize, the 2012 Ackerman Prize in Music, the 2011 Bob Meyers Award for Excellence in Jazz, as well as First Prize in the Stony Brook University Graduate Concerto Competition, First Prize in the Mannes Concerto Competition, and Two-Time Winner of the Stony Brook Undergraduate Concerto Competition.

DAVID LOBENSTEIN, Assistant Professor
Director of Jazz Ensemble
B.M., SUNY College at Fredonia
M.F.A., California Institute of the Arts

Dave Lobenstein currently teaches orchestra for the Long Beach Public School System and is an Adjunct Professor at Five Towns College where he instructs Jazz Combo and Jazz History classes. Dave has been very involved around the NYC area as a jazz clinician. He has conducted workshops at local colleges and high schools which focus on beginning improvisation and introduction to the jazz repertoire. As a performer, Dave has worked with a variety of musical styles. His credits include: Performances at the JVC Jazz Festival w/ The Dave Lobenstein Quartet, Interplay Jazz Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic, Roscoe Mitchell, Leo Smith, Jeff Jarvis, Jimmy Wormworth, Kevin Clark, Sam Dillon Quartet, Manhattan Vocal Project, Regis and Kathie Lee, Danny Holmes, and the Mike Fahn Quartet.

Dave’s primary teachers have been: Charlie Haden, Darek Oles, Marc Johnson, Peter Rofe, Scott Colley, and Harry Jacobsen.

ANDREA LODGE, Assistant Professor, Piano* 
B.Mus., Memorial University of Newfoundland
M.Mus., University of British Columbia
D.M.A., SUNY at Stony Brook

Pianist Andrea Lodge has been called a “Must See” (The Telegram, St. John’s, Canada). A specialist in the performance of contemporary music, she frequently collaborates with composers on the creation of new works including Herbert Deutsch, Elliot Cole, Nicholas Deyoe, Andrea Mazzariello and C. Curtis Smith. Andrea was awarded top prizes at the Eckhardt-Gramatté Canadian National Competition for the Performance of New Music, including the award for best performance of the commissioned work, Curlicue, by Karen Sunabacka. She was featured in the Village Times Herald (Long Island, NY) for her showing at this competition in an article called “Stony Brook Pianist Hailed as One of Canada’s Best!”

Dr. Lodge is an integral part of nief-norf, a contemporary music organization and ensemble focused on bringing together new ideas in performance, composition and research. Since 2014, Andrea has been faculty pianist at the annual nief-norf summer festival and for nief-norf project performances. She performs regularly as soloist, with guitarist Jay Sorce as the Sorce/Lodge Duo, and with Hypercube, a cutting-edge new music quartet of saxophone, percussion, guitar and piano/accordion. Hypercube has been bringing their music to new audiences with tours across the country. Her piano studies include work with Gilbert Kalish and Christina Dahl.

JAMES MCCRANN, Assistant Professor
B.S., Hofstra University
M.A., Hofstra University
D.M.A., Rutgers University

Recently appointed Wind Ensemble Conductor at Five Towns College, Dr. James P. McCrann has experience at the higher education level for other institutions. This experience includes directing a Symphonic Band and teaching graduate courses in conducting and music education. Since 1994, he has been High School Director of Bands in Garden City, having also served as a District Arts Coordinator and orchestra conductor. During his tenure, Garden City music programs expanded by over four-fold, earning national recognitions from the Grammy Foundation and the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM).

McCrann holds a D.M.A. in Music Education and Wind Conducting from Rutgers University, a B.S. and M.A. from Hofstra University, a P.D. in Administration, and membership in National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE), National Band Association (NBA), New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA), Suffolk County Music Educators Association (SCMEA), and Nassau Music Educators Association (NMEA). He was recognized by Grammy in the Schools, Pi Kappa Lambda, Tri-M, and School Band & Orchestra (SBO) magazine as one of “50 Directors Who Make a Difference.”

McCrann is Band/Wind Ensemble Editor for NYSSMA, with research appearing in national and international publications and regional conferences. His collaboration with renowned composers, including Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Moravec, Stephen Melillo, and Brian Balmages, culminated in new works for band, chorus, and orchestra. Active as a clinician and guest conductor, McCrann has worked with various ensembles from across the country.

JILL MILLER-THORN, Professor
B.M., M.M., Ithaca College
D.M.A., Temple University

Dr. Jill Miller-Thorn received her DMA in composition from Temple University in January 1994. Her compositions include two symphonies, a concert band piece, various chamber works and piano music. She has studied with Karel Husa, a Pulitzer Prize winning composer at Cornell University, and Maurice Wright at Temple University. Awarded the Penn Woman Award in musical composition in May 1986, Dr. Miller-Thorn’s success that year included a world premiere of Woodwind Quintet # 1 by “1807 and Friends” a renowned chamber group comprised of members from the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Philadelphia Public Library accepted her first symphony, Symphonic Fantasies, as part of its Fleishman Collection of Orchestral Music.. In 2003, the Five Towns College Concert Band premiered By the Band Shell, a reflective work on her childhood in a rural setting where she would sit near the band shell to hear the community band play Sunday concerts in the local park. Lament for solo clarinet was premiered in NYC by Demetrius Spaneas for Women’s Work 2011. She is currently the Chair of the Music Division and Director of Graduate Music Studies at Five Towns College.

AUDRA MORICCA, Assistant Professor, Voice*
Applied Instruction Administrator 
B.M. Applied Voice, Mannes School of Music
M.A. Voice Performance, Aaron Copland School of Music, CUNY Queens College

Dramatic Soprano Audra Moricca, a native of Northport, New York, began her musical studies as a violinist, studying at Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Moricca maintains an active performing career and is a highly respected interpreter in both the operatic and concert arenas. Audra specializes in the dramatic roles of Strauss, Verdi and Wagner, as well as the title roles of Tosca, Turandot, and Vanessa.

With pianist Kelly Horsted, Ms. Moricca has performed extensive recital repertoire exploring less standard expansive song works reflecting their particular affection for modern dramatic song in venues across the US. As a scholar, Audra has studied with internationally respected pedagogues, notably, Joanna Levy, Ruth Falcon, Leo Lozito, Barbara Peters, Elisabeth Vrenios and Robert C. White.

As a pedagogue, Audra has taught both performance classes and private study. She is a technical specialist working with students in all musical styles frequently noted for accomplishing extensive range and power and quick progress among her students. In addition to Five Towns College, Audra has served as a vocal faculty member at Molloy College, the Hartt School at the University of Hartford and at Music in Chappaqua. She maintains a private studio in Manhattan, West Hartford, Connecticut and Northport, New York.

SEIN OH, Instructor
B.M., M.M., University of North Texas

Sein Oh is a creative, energetic, yet sentimental pianist as well as a composer and arranger. Sein has released her album “It’s Okay” in August, 2014. She was awarded 3rd place in the West Virginia University intersection of classical and jazz festival 2014 college jazz piano competition. She has toured with The Dave Alexander Orchestra, The Cold Front with billboard chart topping artist Kayla Waters and has performed in the Bruce Johnstone quartet. She has performed with many other great jazz musicians in the United States, Canada and South Korea.

In 2018 she started her position at Washing D.C’s preeminent music school, Levine School of Music where she taught jazz improvisation, music theory, jazz piano lessons, jazz combo, and group jazz piano classes. In the Fall of 2019 she has joined the faculty members at the Five Towns College in Dix Hills, NY.

In 2008, She was accepted to the University of North Texas jazz studies program as a jazz piano performance major. While in college, she performed in various UNT ensembles and studied with Michael Palma, Stefan Karlsson, and world renowned educator Dan Hearle. She graduated with her Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz studies in 2012 and continued on to receive her Master of Music in jazz studies in 2014.

JEBEDIAH PATTON, Assistant Professor, Jazz Piano*
B.A., Duke University
M.A., CUNY Queens College

Jeb Patton has toured throughout the United States and abroad with the Heath Brothers and with Jimmy Heath’s Generations Quintet, performing in theaters, festivals, concert halls, colleges, and clubs. Recent highlights include two performances with the WDR Bigband in Germany, a tour of France, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland with his quartet, a solo concert in Versaille, a tour of Mexico with his trio, and a solo/duo performance honoring Thelonious Monk as part of Monk@100 Duke Performances Series in North Carolina.

He has recorded and published a number of workbooks and transcriptions of comping by artists such as Horace Silver, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock and Art Tatum. Career highlights also include performing at the Opening Nights of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jimmy Heath’s 75th Birthday Celebration, October 2001 as well as at Jimmy Heath’s 90th Birthday Celebration, October 2016 at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center.

ANDREW PEREA, Associate Professor, Strings*
B.Mus., Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College
M.M., University of South Florida
D.M.A., University of Texas, at Austin

FELIPE RONDON, Instructor 
Mus.B., M.M., Five Towns College

JOSEPH ROMANO, Assistant Professor, Woodwinds*
B.M., M.M., Manhattan School of Music

Joseph Romano received his Bachelors and Masters of Music Degrees from Manhattan School of Music. Studies include private lessons with Peter Simenauer, Joseph Allard, David Tofani, Charles Russo, Leonard Hindell, and Eddie Daniels. Recipient of MSM Scholarships and a member of the Dean’s List. Additional studies include Augustin Duques at The Julliard School and with Bob Mintzer. Also received New York State Permanent Public School Teacher Certification while at MSM.

Since 1986 has been a member of the faculty of Friends’ Academy as Band Director, Woodwind Instructor, and Jazz Ensemble Director. Since 2015 has been a faculty member of The Green Vale School as Woodwind Instructor. Prof. Romano co-led the Dowling Jazz Ensemble with Charles Sarling from 2014-16. He has performed at Carnegie Recital Hall, Town Hall, Symphony Space, On and Off Broadway Shows, Westbury Music Fair, Nassau Coliseum, The Tilles Center, recording sessions for CBS Records, The Rainbow Room Orchestra, the Mineola Choral Society, The Concert Pops, and Theater Three. Performances with Donna Summer, Nell Carter, the Annual Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Dinner hosted by Mary Tyler Moore and the Make A Wish Foundation which featured Tony Bennett, Lainie Kazan, and Mariah Carey.

TONY ROMANO, Assistant Professor, Guitar*
Mus.B., Five Towns College
M.A., CUNY Queens College

Guitarist, composer, and Centaur Recording Artist Tony Romano has been a visible part of the New York City music scene for over twenty years. Just Jazz Guitar magazine wrote “His tone is beautiful and soulful, and his remarkable technique is a servant to his rich musical imagination and broad harmonic palette.” With a wide range of playing styles, Tony has toured worldwide and performed and recorded with many notable Jazz, Latin, Pop, and Broadway artists, including Randy Brecker, Joe Locke, Michael Feinstein, Bill Warfield, Steve LaSpina, Joe Bataan, Dave Valentin, Candido Camero, Chembo Corniel, Yomo Toro, Joel Frahm, Thomas Chapin, Brit Woodman, Santi DeBriano, Paul Bollenback, Stanley Jordan, Debbie Gibson, Kat Gang, Alex Gemignani, and Chuck Cooper. Tony’s guitar work can be heard on all 52 episodes of the BBC series 3rd & Bird as well as the  Discovery Channel miniseries Going, Going, Gone! He has also performed for NPR broadcasts, and has appeared on NBC’s The Today Show, Telemundo, and the ABC Morning Show. Tony is an adjunct Professor at Five Towns College, and has been a Teaching Artist for the Kupferberg Center at Queens College, as well as an instructor for the National Guitar Workshop. MA from the Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College, BM from Five Towns College.

ANTHONY M. ROMEO II, Assistant Professor
B.S.Ed., Hofstra University
M.A., Hofstra University
D.M.A., Five Towns College

JEFFREY SULTANOF, Assistant Professor
B.A., Queens College, City University of New York
M.A., Seton Hall University

Jeffrey Sultanof has had an eclectic career as a composer, arranger, conductor, historian, editor, author and teacher. He holds a B.A. degree from Queens College (CUNY) and an M.A. from Seton Hall University.

Sultanof worked at Warner Bros. Publications from 1977-1994 as an educational music editor, editor/arranger for ensembles large and small, and historian, preparing corrected editions of Gershwin, Porter and other legendary American composers. He worked with Burt Bachrach, Neal Hefti, Gordon Lightfoot and John Williams, arranging his “Liberty Fanfare” for Brass Quintet. 

From 1994-2002, Sultanof was an editor and consultant with the Hal Leonard Corporation, where he worked as an editor and producer of recordings with Sonny Rollins, Ahmad Jamal, Andy Laverne and Gerry Mulligan, producing the last recordings of Mulligan as a baritone saxophonist. From 2002-2004, he was assistant professor of music at Five Towns College, arranging for and coaching singers, conducting the jazz ensemble, and teaching courses on the music business, music history, and film music on the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree levels. From 2013-2017, he was an instructor and administrative coordinator of the MEMP (Music and Entertainment Management and Production) program at the Institute of Audio Research in New York City.

MARK VERDINO, Assistant Professor, Electric, Acoustic, String Bass*
Mus.B., SUNY Potsdam
M.M., Manhattan School of Music

Mark is fluent on both acoustic bass and fretted and fretless electric bass. He is a sub on the Broadway show Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, School of Rock, Jersey Boys, The Book of Mormon, Aladdin, Mean Girls, Waitress, Hello Dolly, Pretty Woman, Matilda, Miss Saigon, On Your Feet, Groundhog Day, Finding Neverland, Bandstand, The Great Comet, Fun Home, Gigi, Mary Poppins, Spring Awakening, Young Frankenstein, The Pirate Queen and Movin’ Out. Mark held the bass chair for the Jersey Boys 1st National Tour, Jersey Boys 2nd National Tour, Aladdin 1st National Tour and the Spring Awakening 1st national tour. He also subs in the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra and in the band for the Big Apple Circus. He plays in the corporate party/club date band LUXE. He played for 10 years in the acclaimed Dave Matthews Tribute Band Ants Marching, as well as the Billy Joel Tribute band Glass Houses. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and The 55 Bar along others. Mark is endorsed by D’Addario stings, New York Bass Works basses.

DEANA VERONE, Assistant Professor, Voice *
B.A., Molloy College
M.A., Long Island University: C.W. Post

Deana Verone has been an adjunct professor of Vocal studies for over 10 years. As a well-known Mezzo-Soprano vocalist, she has performed at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, NJPAC, and Hofstra University. She performed with Sal Valentinetti, Chris Macchio, and Jim Sergi. Ms. Verone’s performing career has taken her throughout the tristate area, as well as Pennsylvania and Florida.

When Ms. Verone is not performing she is a music educator for a local school district, and teaches Early Childhood Music Education and Beginner Piano at Nassau Community College. She holds an advanced certificate in Educational Leadership from Long Island University and graduated with the Music Achievement Award of Excellence. She has been a proud member of the Music National Honor Society and Delta Omicron.

Ms. Verone has worked as a music librarian/backstage assistant for many performing artists who include: Brian Stokes Mitchell, Idina Menzel, Nathan Gunn, Kelly O’Hara, Natalie Merchant, Linda Eder, Kristin Chenoweth, Johnny Mathis, and Frank Sinatra Jr.

JONATHAN WAXMAN, Adjunct Professor, Music History
B.M., Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
M.A., Ph.D., New York University

Jonathan Waxman completed a Ph.D. in historical musicology at New York University with a dissertation titled “Prefacing Music in the Concert Hall: Composer Commentaries, Program Books, and the Conflict over Musical Meaning.” He has recently published an article in the journal Popular Music History which examined the influence of Ives’s music on the film scores and concert works of Bernard Herrmann. As Vice-President of the Greater New York City chapter of the American Musicological Society, Jonathan has supervised several scholarly conferences for the society, and has recently given papers on concert program books at the national meetings of the Society for American Music, and the American Musicological Society.

MELANIE MALUSA WINK, Instructor
B.M., University of Delaware
M.M., Five Towns College

ANTHONY VETERE, Instructor
Mus.B., M.M., Five Towns College

Anthony Vetere has been an accompanist for Gateway’s Children’s Theatre since 2015. Anthony has assisted with auditions for main stage productions at Gateway, including A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and Newsies, and has served as music director for their Children’s Theatre production of Beauty and the Beast Jr. Vetere as worked as a substitute keyboardist for the Gateway productions of Beauty and the Beast and Newsies. He has a Mus.B. and a M.M. in Music Performance from Five Towns College, where he has worked as an accompanist for the musical theatre department. He has accompanied his students at Five Towns College for their final exam performances at venues including Don’t tell Mama and Ripley-Grier Studios in New York City, and as the rehearsal pianist for the Five Towns College Production or Hair. He has also worked as a keyboardist for the Theatre Three production of The Adams Family.

In addition to his musical theatre work, Anthony also works as a vocal accompanist at local church, where he plays hymns and classical music. He has served as keyboardist for New York’s Most Dangerous Big Bands, where he also arranged for the 20-pieces big band ensemble. As a member of the ensemble, he participated at the Night on the Town benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – Long Island Chapter. Anthony has also been members of jazz quintet, where they performed jazz standards monthly at Treme. In addition, he has been a member of the Yeah, Whatever jazz sextet. This jazz group performed at Groove in New York City and also recorded a holiday album.

* Private Instruction Music Faculty

Music Education Faculty

JAMES DRAGOVICH, Associate Professor 
Coordinator of Music Education
B.A., M.S.Ed., Long Island University

Professor James Dragovich was a band director for the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools for thirty-three years, twenty-nine spent as Director of Bands at George W. Hewlett High School. Under his direction the Hewlett bands received numerous awards and recognitions. Both the Hewlett High School Wind Ensemble and Concert Band received Gold ratings at NYSSMA Festivals, the Hewlett Marching Band received a first-place award in the NYC Columbus Day Parade and the Hewlett Jazz Orchestra performed at many jazz festivals and conferences including the 2014 NYSSMA Winter Conference. All of his high school ensembles toured on a regular basis and performance destinations included Walt Disney World, Montreal and Quebec Canada, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Carnegie Hall, and Puerto Rico.

Mr. Dragovich received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a concentration in Percussion from Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus. Upon graduation, Dragovich was offered a graduate assistantship to continue his studies at LIU where he graduated with a master’s degree in Music Education. He went on to serve on the music faculty of LIU Post teaching Percussion Methods for thirteen years. Jim also studied at Hofstra University where he received a master’s degree in Wind Conducting. While attending Hofstra he served as the graduate conducting associate to both the Hofstra Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. Upon his graduation Mr. Dragovich joined the Hofstra faculty and taught both brass and percussion methods on the graduate and under graduate level for nine years.

As a conductor Mr. Dragovich has commissioned and conducted the world premieres of numerous works written for both symphonic band and jazz ensemble. Guest soloist with his ensembles include Stanley Drucker, Joseph Alessi, Mike Davis, Cecil Bridgewater, John Riley, Jack Schatz, Dave Pietro, Pete McGuinness, Jim Snidero, and Mike Carubia, to name a few. As a performer Mr. Dragovich has always maintained an active schedule and has worked with Billy Ekstine, Jerry Vale, the Four Freshman, Clem DeRosa’s Mighty Swing Machine, Ray Alexander and the Four Aces in addition to various bands, orchestra and theater productions in the metropolitan region, including his own 17 piece jazz orchestra.

At present Mr. Dragovich is the Coordinator of Music Education at Five Towns College and also directs the Nassau Suffolk Jazz Band. Mr. Dragovich is an adjudicator for Music in the Parks, Festivals of Music and the Long Island Music Festival while serving as a guest clinician for Education Tours, Inc. He is a member of the board of Directors for Best Bands and Choirs International and the American Chamber Ensemble. Mr. Dragovich works as a BOCSE Artist in Residence and continues to be in demand as guest conductor, clinician and performer while maintaining his own teaching studio specializing in concert percussion, drum set, tenor and bass trombone.

JENNIFER DARDZINSKI, Associate Professor
Assistant Dean of Instructors 
Liberal Arts and Sciences Division Chair
A.A., Nassau Community College
B.A., Hofstra University
M.S., Ph.D., St. John’s University

WILLIAM FORTGANG, Associate Professor
B.A., M.S., P.D., Long Island University

Professor Fortgang has been an educator for over 40 years. Throughout his career, he has taught public school instrumental music at the elementary and middle school levels and was a Supervisor of Fine Arts. He also served as a Junior-Senior High School principal for 21 years.

At Five Towns College Professor Fortgang teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels and is responsible for placing and supervising our student teachers. He also supervises our Education faculty members and is responsible for coordinating the NCATE/CAEP (National Council for Accreditation for Teacher Education/Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation process for our Education Division.

Professor Fortgang is a former President of the Nassau County Music Educators Association and is currently the Executive Director of Nassau NYSCAME (New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education). He holds New York State Permanent Certifications in Music K-12, School Administration and Supervision (SAS) and School District Administration (SDA). Professor Fortgang is an active member of the Suffolk County Music Educators Association, Nassau County Music Educators Association, New York State School Music Association and NAfME (National Association for Music Education). 

Adjunct Education Faculty

MICHAEL CANIPE, Instructor
B.S., East Carolina University
M.M., Cleveland Institute of Music

DEBRA DEGENHARDT, Instructor
B.M., SUNY Fredonia
M.M., Manhattan School of Music

ANGELINA LIBARDI, Associate Professor, Science
B.S., M.S., Adelphi University

KIM LOWEBORG-COYNE, Professor
B.A., Molloy College 
M.A., Long Island University 
Ph.D., New York University

JAMES MCCRANN, Assistant Professor
B.S., Hofstra University
M.A., Hofstra University
D.M.A., Rutgers University

Recently appointed Wind Ensemble Conductor at Five Towns College, Dr. James P. McCrann has experience at the higher education level for other institutions. This experience includes directing a Symphonic Band and teaching graduate courses in conducting and music education. Since 1994, he has been High School Director of Bands in Garden City, having also served as a District Arts Coordinator and orchestra conductor. During his tenure, Garden City music programs expanded by over four-fold, earning national recognitions from the Grammy Foundation and the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM).

McCrann holds a D.M.A. in Music Education and Wind Conducting from Rutgers University, a B.S. and M.A. from Hofstra University, a P.D. in Administration, and membership in National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE), National Band Association (NBA), New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA), Suffolk County Music Educators Association (SCMEA), and Nassau Music Educators Association (NMEA). He was recognized by Grammy in the Schools, Pi Kappa Lambda, Tri-M, and School Band & Orchestra (SBO) magazine as one of “50 Directors Who Make a Difference.”

McCrann is Band/Wind Ensemble Editor for NYSSMA, with research appearing in national and international publications and regional conferences. His collaboration with renowned composers, including Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Moravec, Stephen Melillo, and Brian Balmages, culminated in new works for band, chorus, and orchestra. Active as a clinician and guest conductor, McCrann has worked with various ensembles from across the country.

ANDREW PEREA, Associate Professor, Strings*
B.Mus., Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College
M.M., University of South Florida
D.M.A., University of Texas, Austom

MICHAEL RODGERS, Assistant Professor
B.S., Molloy College
M.A., Hofstra University

Mike Rodgers began his career in education in Valley Stream District #13 at Howell Road Elementary School as the Music and Chorus teacher, and later on serving as the District Coordinator for Music and Fine Art. Since 2016, Mike has been the Director of Music and Performing Arts in the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District. Prof. Rodgers is an outspoken for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives in schools both for music and all areas, committed to changes to have fair representation from the African American, Asian-American, Latin American/Spanish, and LGBTQ+ communities in music education. He has done collaborative presentations for several organizations and conferences and chaired the Equity Series recently sponsored by NYSCAME. Additionally, he has maintained a philosophy of Global Education having traveled extensively in Europe, Australia, Japan, and North America to learn of cultures traditions. He served as a member of the Nassau Music Educators Association executive board from 2015-2022 as the Web Editor/Social Media Coordinator, is a member NYSSMA where he has served on different committees and is a certified vocal adjudicator and is a member of the National Association for Teachers of Singing, Suffolk County Music Educators Association, and National Association for Music Education. He is elated to serve as the President-Elect for the state executive council of the New York State Council of Administators of Music Education. In his spare time, he maintains a performance schedule with local musical groups.

MARGARET THIELE, Professor
Graduate Music Studies Coordinator
B.M.Ed., Ohio State University
M.A., Eastern Michigan University
D.M.A., Boston University

Dr. Margaret Thiele recently joined the faculty at Five Towns College as the Music Education Department Chair. Dr. Thiele holds degrees from The Ohio State University (BME), Eastern Michigan University (MA), and Boston University (DMA). She previously taught at Heidelberg University and Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Thiele’s specialty is Elementary General music having taught elementary general music and choir in the Dexter Community Schools in Dexter, MI for many years.

Dr. Thiele has presented research in Utah, Virginia, Nebraska, Florida, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Published articles have appeared in TI:ME, the FMEA Research Perspectives in Music Education, and the OMEA Triad. Her research interests include music development and cognition, and the impact of public policy on music education. Professional affiliations include the American Orff-Schulwerk Association and NAfME. A mother of four and grandmother of six she enjoys biking, hiking and traveling with her family.

KATHRYN VETTER, Assistant Professor
B.M., Michigan State University
M.M., University of Oklahoma
D.M.A., Stony Brook University

CHRISTOPHER WINK, Instructor
B.S.Ed., Hofstra University
M.M., Five Towns College

MELANIE MELUSA WINK, Instructor
B.M., University of Delaware
M.M., Five Towns College

Melanie Malusa Wink is a graduate of the University of Delaware and Five Towns College. She is currently the high school band director at Mattituck High School where she teaches band, music theory, jazz band, pep band, pit orchestra, and marching band. Primarily a horn player, Melanie has worked with marching bands and pit orchestras across Long Island.

ROBERT WOTTAWA, Associate Professor
B.A., Franklin Pierce College
M.S.Ed., D.Ed., Long Island University: CW Post

Rob Wottawa is currently the Director of Art, ENL, Music, And World Languages in the East Islip School District. He previously was the Department Chair of Art, Family & Consumer Sciences, and Music, as well as the 9/10 Choral Director in the Longwood School District. He earned his Doctorate of Education at Long Island University, Post Campus, and defended his dissertation: Expert Advice From Mentor Teachers to Improve First-Year Teachers’ Teaching and First-Year Experience in December of 2015.

Since completion of his doctorate he has presented in New Mexico, Salt Lake City, and Long Island on various occasions. He completed a study with a math professor from Stony Brook University on Parents’ Perceptions of Math and Math Education. The work is being published soon. Rob has presented countless times to doctoral candidates in preparation for the dissertation process, has been a committee member on several dissertation committees as the methods advisor, and has chaired committees at Long Island University.

Online Education Faculty

KAREN PELLECHIA, Assistant Professor
Dean of Online Education
B.A., Queens College
M.F.A., Brooklyn College

Karen Pellecchia has been serving as both educator and administrator in Higher Education for over 30 years. She has served as mentor and senior faculty member at several institutions specializing in studio art and application of design principles. Earning an MFA in Painting and Drawing from Brooklyn College, Pellecchia received the Charles G. Shaw graduate award for distinction in the painting medium, and was the recipient of a Full Fellowship at the Vermont Studio awarded by renowned artist Wolf Kahn. Her work is part of international and corporate collections and has been featured in several interior design publications. Throughout her career, Pellecchia has expanded her art to fashion, interior and landscape design. Her fashion designs have been sold at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC; Mitsukoshi and Lane Crawford, Japan; and have been featured in Women’s Wear Daily, Elements, and W Magazine.

ROBERT FIELD, Assistant Professor
B.A., LIU Post
M.A., Syracuse University

STEPHEN GLEASON, Associate Professor
Mus.B, M.M., Five Towns College

Professional musician, vocalist, and choral conductor.  Extensive experience with a cappella vocal groups.  Worked in New York’s premiere top 40 band The Touch as a singer/guitar player and a session player for selected artists’ recordings at Jellybean and Arista records.

MAUREEN GREEN, Assistant Professor
B.A., Charleston Southern University 
M.A., Syracuse University
M.S., Towson University 

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.

CHRISTINA LANGSTON, Instructor
B.S. University of Phoenix
M.S., Post University

ELIZABETH SALGADO, Assistant Professor
B.S., Southern Connecticut State University
M.S., Walden University

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.

TONY SCHELLENBERGER, Assistant Professor
B.A., Indiana University
M.S., Psy. D., Nova Southeastern University

Tony began my interest in psychology by attending Indiana University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology.  While at Indiana University, Tony had the opportunity to work with a Neuropsychology professor and was able to assist him in several research students and be published several times.  He then furthered his education at Nova Southeastern University, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  While attending this university, he earned both a master’s degree and Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D) degree in clinical psychology. After completing doctoral work, Tony spent professional time working in the field of disability support and therapy for approximately three years before finding his passion for teaching.  Since 2010 he has been teaching at a variety of colleges and universities through both face-to-face and online instruction. He very much enjoys working with college students and feels privileged to be able to assist people of all ages in pursuing their dreams of higher education.

GEOFFREY VANDERPAL, Assistant Professor
B.S., Columbia College
M.B.A., Webster University
D.B.A., Nova Southeastern University 

Theatre Arts Faculty

DAVID KRASNER, Professor 
Theatre Arts Division Chair
B.F.A., Carnegie Mellon University
M.F.A., Virginia Commonwealth University
Ph.D., TUFTS University

David Krasner, Ph. D., Chair of Theatre at Five Towns College, has taught acting, directing, and theatre history for over 40 years. He received his doctorate in drama from Tufts University. He is the published author of 11 books and over 3 dozen articles on acting, modern drama, African American theatre, theatre and philosophy, and dramatic theory and criticism. He twice received the Errol Hill Award from the American Society for Theatre Research for the best work on African American Theatre, and received the 2008 Betty Jean Jones Award from the American Theatre and Drama Society as the best teacher of American drama. His students have won Tony, Emmy, and Obie Awards, and he is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on Stanislavsky Studies, acting, African American theatre history, and modern drama. He serves on the advisory/editorial boards of Stanislavsky Studies, Theatre Journal, and African American Review. He was formerly the Dean of the School of the Arts at Dean College in Franklin MA; Head of the BFA Acting Program at Emerson College; Director of Undergraduate Theatre Studies at Yale University; and Head of the MFA Graduate Directing Program at Southern Illinois University. For nine years he taught acting, voice, speech, and movement at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NY.  

HALI BEKOFSKY, Assistant Professor
B.F.A., The University of the Arts
M.A., Stony Brook University

MICHAEL KAUFFMAN, Assistant Professor
Theatre Technology Director
B.A., Bard College

Michael Kauffman is a designer, technician, and production manager who has worked countless productions at a myriad of New York venues.  After initially training at Bard College, Michael went on to work professionally at The Fisher Center for The Performing Arts, The Tilles Center, Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, The Landmark on Main Street, The John W. Engeman Theatre, and others.  Michael has also spent several years in the live event technologies industry, working with local specialists such as Bestek Lighting and Staging, Shadowbox Design Management, and Luminous Designs. Michael most recently has served as the Technical Director and Production manager of the nearby Argyle Theatre, where he has worked since its inception, and is delighted to now be a part of the stellar Theatre Arts faculty at Five Towns College.

MITCHELL WALKER, Assistant Professor
A.A.S., Florida School of the Arts
B.F.A., University of Cincinnati

Mitchell Walker is a New York City based Director/Record Producer. He co-founded No Reverse Records, LLC and the Artistic & Creative Director for The Rusty Anchor Acting Company (RAAC), LLC. As a Record Producer he has worked with music legend Greg Calbi, four-time Grammy Award winner Alex Venguer and Grammy-nominated engineer Daniel Alba. Recent Projects include Frankiel The Musical (Top 10 Billboard cast album), So Good, Alexa Green (Wicked) “Broadway World Solo Album of the Decade.”

Favorite Director credits include Night of the Living Dead: The Musical at Theatre Row (Off-Broadway), The Last Five Years at Columbia University, Gemini: Diana DeGarmo at Sony Hall, and DNA: Diana DeGarmo & Ace Young at Birdland. Solo Shows: Blaine Alden Krauss (Hamilton) Janine DiVita (Anything Goes) Michelle Dowdy (Hairspray) Victoria Cook (Into the Woods) and Amy Toporek (Marvelous Wonderettes) at Feinstein’s/54 Below, Joe’s Pub, Don’t Tell Mama, The Laurie Beechamn Theatre, Haswell Greens, & The Metropolitan Room. University of Cincinnati, CCM BFA in Musical Theatre and proud member of AEA. www.noreverserecords.com www.RAAC.com

Adjunct Theatre Arts Faculty

MICHAEL BISHOP, Instructor
B.F.A., Bellhaven University

KEVIN BURNS, Instructor
B.A., Queens College
M.F.A., Pace University
M.S., Long Island University: CWPost

Kevin Burns is a Long Island based director, choreographer, and performer. Most recently, he directed “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” at CMPAC, the first main stage production to return to Long Island Theatre after the COVID-19 pandemic. Other favorite credits include “Disney’s Beauty And The Beast”, “The Rocky Horror Show”, and “A Christmas Story”. He has worked with companies across the island as an actor, dancer, and educator. He is the choreographer of the annual spring musical at St. John the Baptist DHS. Part of Kevin’s theatrical mission is to help shape the talents of young artists, and to assist in creating a kinder, more inclusive world for all people through the arts.

KAELEM CAMPER, Instructor
B.F.A., Temple University
M.F.A., Long Island University: CW Post University

Kaelem Von Camper, or KC, is an actor and director from Philadelphia, PA. KC received his MFA in acting from Long Island University in 2021, as well as his Bachelor’s degree from Temple University in 2017 with a theatre major and a creative writing minor. A few of his past performances include William Beatty in Fahrenheit 451, Antonio/Trinculo in The Tempest, CB in Dog Sees God, Walter/The Kid in The Colored Museum, and Rich in Lockhardt.

NIKKI CHAWLA, Assistant Professor
B.A., Queens College
M.F.A., Pace University
M.S., Long Island University: CW Post University

Nikki Chawla (SAG, EQUITY) is an actor, acting teacher, standup comedian, and model. She began her acting career studying with Gene Lasko and Elizabeth Kemp.  She has trained with well renowned teachers of RADA, Malcolm McKay and Cecily Berry of The Royal Shakespeare Company.  Her TV & Film credits include: Hiraeth, the series (Amazonprime), Fresh Blood (Amazonprime, Nominated for the Best Supporting Actress), Saturday Night Live skits, Brown Nation, Redrum (Investigation Discovery ID), I Don’t Like You With Me (NYU), Unfreedom (Portland film festival & Chelsea Film Festival), The Distance Between Us (Greater Washington Immigration film festival), and Refugee (Big Apple film festival). Theatre credits include: A View from Versova, For Our Own (Planet Connections Festival), The Graduate (Actors Studio Drama School), Where Children Play (Berkshire Fringe Festival), Vagina Monologues (V-day Union City), Long Day’s Journey into Night, The Color of Vengeance and Romeo & Juliet. She also has performed in the Shakespeare play, The Tragedy of Richard the Third at Stratford upon Avon & Bosworth, England as well as NY. Her first short film that she directed and produced called “Baby” was selected for the Sikh International Film Festival and premiered at The Paley Center of Media in NYC.

GENE CONNOR, Assistant Professor
Dual Enrollment Instructor at Syosset High School
A.A., McClennan Community College
B.A., Southern Methodist University
M.A., Pace University

MELISSA COYLE, Assistant Professor
B.M., Westminster Choir College
M.S.Ed., Long Island University: CW Post

An alum of both Westminster Choir College in Princeton and LIU Post, Melissa has been the resident music director at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts for the past six years. She also music directs, plays keyboards, and vocal directs many shows in the area. Melissa has performed alongside the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center with Westminster’s Symphonic Choir. As a private vocal coach, Coyle’s students perform often at NYC cabarets and around Long Island, and many have gone on to pursue professional careers in music and theater. A professional musician and educator, Melissa has been working in the Long Island area for the past ten years. Melissa is happy to help her students to grow their musical skills and gain a better appreciation of the arts.

FRANCESCA FERRARA, Instructor
B.A., Catholic University of America

PETER FOGEL, Assistant Professor
B.F.A., Hofstra University
M.F.A., Rutgers

JAMIE GANNON, Instructor
B.A., Pennsylvania State University

JESS GERSZ, Instructor
B.A., University of Albany
M.F.A., University of Illinois

As a Freelance Designer and Associate: Jess has had the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects.  From strip shows to theme parks, Jess is always looking for new adventures in costuming.  You can see projects of his Off-Broadway, on Tour, and in various Theatres around NYC.  Jess is a proud member of USA-829.

TIMOTHY GOLEBIEWSKI, Instructor
B.A., M.A., University of Pittsburgh
M.F.A., University of Connecticut

JARED HERSHKOWITZ, Associate Professor
B.A., State University of New York at Albany
M.S., New York Institute of Technology

Professional actor, director, producer, and educator with more than fifty years of experience in professional and educational theatre. He has appeared on and off Broadway and in many regional productions. He has acted with Jason Robards, Sandy Dennis, Richard Mulligan, Billy Crystal, William Hickey, William Daniels, Gene Saks, and many other notable actors. He has studied directing with Jarka Burian, Paul-Bruce Pettite, and Herb Costin and acting with James Leonard, Robert Lewis and Richard Mulligan. He has produced plays, musicals, readings, and award shows in New York City.

ETHAN NEWMAN, Assistant Professor
B.A., Simpson College
M.F.A., University of Missouri

JONAH PIALI, Voice Instructor
B.M., M.M., SUNY Potsdam

SUSAN TURNER RADIN, Assistant Professor
Dual Enrollment Instructor at Walt Whitman High School
B.A., Boston College
M.A., Teachers College at Columbia University

DANIEL RENKIN, Instructor
B.A., Indiana University

LISA STRUM, Assistant Professor
B.A., Albright College
M.F.A., University of Washington

Lisa an educator, actress, playwright, producer, casting director, director, and singer. She has performed in regional theatres all across the country. She directed For Colored Girls at Five Towns College in Long Island, FALL for the Marathon 2019 One Act Play Festival with Ensemble Studio Theatre and starred as Rose in FENCES with the REP at The University of Delaware. Lisa also starred in the Michigan Premiere of Dominique Morisseu’s PIPELINE at the Detroit Public Theatre, and SWEAT at People’s Light.  Her solo play, She Gon’ Learn premiered at the Emerging Artist Theatre Festival at TADA!, followed by sold out performances at the United Solo Festival on Theatre Row in NYC where the play received one of the festival’s Best Solo Show Awards. Other She Gon’ Learn performances include:  The Obie Award Winning Fire This Time Festival; The National Black Theatre; The New Black Fest at The Lark Play Development Center; The Roselle Center for the Arts at University of Delaware, a workshop production at The Jersey City Theatre Center in New Jersey, and the headlining show for the inaugural Alumni Theatre Event at Albright College.

As an actor, Lisa has worked at Lincoln Center Theatre with the Tony Award winning director of Hamilton, Thomas Kail, appeared at Summer Stage, Signature Theatre, New Federal Theatre, Intiman Theatre, The Obie Award Winning 48 Hours in Harlem, ACT and The Fifth Avenue Theatre in Seattle. Lisa has also had a recurring role on Law & Order: SVU and co-stared in the television pilot Citizen Baines with James Cromwell from Babe and LA Confidential. As an educational consultant, she has conducted numerous artist and professional development workshops in public schools, colleges and universities all over the country. Lisa is a staff facilitator at Columbia University for The Literacy Unbound Summer Institute and was the Theatre Specialist for the Abrons Arts Center, Barbara L. Tate Summer Arts Program at the historic Henry Street Settlement for nine seasons. Lisa was a Finalist for the Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award, was the recipient of the Playwrights Initiative Fellowship at the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, was nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award for Best Outstanding Actress in a Play, and received a Broadway World Award for Best actress in the Regional production of FENCES.

KRISTEN WALLACE, Assistant Professor
Dual Enrollment Instructor at Deer Park High School
B.A., M.A., Stony Brook University
M.S., The College of Saint Rose

JOSHUA WARNER, Instructor
B.F.A., Emerson College
M.F.A., Brooklyn College

Joshua and his team have designed over 100 projects for teacher, film, television, and beyond. Designs for theater have included; “The Bachelor Musical Parody”, “Love Actually? The Musical Parody”, “FRIENDS! The Musical Parody”, “The Boys from Syracuse”, “The Dark Star of Harlem”, and more. Joshua has worked as an associate/assistant at the various theaters including; Ford’s Theater, Signature Theater, Arizona Broadway Theater, Bay Street Theater, and HERE Arts Center.

Warner is passionate about educating the next generation of artists and has had the opportunity to do so at several institutions of higher education.

DANIEL WINERMAN, Assistant Professor
B.F.A., New York University
M.F.A., Boston University

Dan Winerman is an actor and director of theater and film. Based in New York City, Dan has directed and developed new plays for several venues and festivals such as Primary Stages, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, Lark Theatre, Flea Theater, HERE Arts Center, the Boston Playwrights Theatre, the Young Playwrights Festival, the Samuel French Short Play Festival, the Summer Shorts Festival @ 59E59 Theater, NYU’s Department of Dramatic Writing, and NYU’s Department of Musical Theatre Writing. For the Berkshire Playwrights Lab, Dan directed staged readings of new plays by Anna Ziegler (Variations on a Theme), Sam Marks (The Old Masters), Jonathan Caren (The Recommendation), and John Cariani (Love/Sick). Recently, he directed two short plays by Cary Gitter at The Tank and is adapting them to film. He was selected as a finalist by the Drama League Fellowship and National Directors Fellowships. He has been the Guest Director at many productions, such as “Middletown” at Pace University, Mac Rogers’ “Blast Radius” at American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AMDA, and at Fordham University, the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.