Session I
9:00 am: Jorge Rivera-Schreiber
9:15 am: Pamela Haji: Classic Tales of Resistance: Still Relevant?
Assistant professor of English at Bergen Community College, Professor Haji is currently writing a book on resistance memoirs, a subject of focus for her.
9:30 am: Benicia D’Sa: Introducing Emotional Intelligence at Schools?
Assistant professor of Education at Bergen Community College, Professor D’Sa has focused much of her work in the area of emotional intelligence.
9:45 am: Susan Amper: Poe’s Darkest Secret: He was Kidding
Susan Amper is a professor of English at Bronx Community of the City University of New York. She is the author of How to Write about Edgar Allan Poe, has published numerous articles on Poe, and served as a Guest editor of Poe Studies.
10:00 am: Itai Sneh: The Bomb Clock is Ticking
Tenured at the Department of History in John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Associate Professor Itai Sneh completed his doctorate at Columbia University. He also holds a law degree and a master’s degree in Eastern European Jewish History from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and a BA in Jewish History (with minors in International Relations, Biblical Studies and Yiddish Language and Culture) from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. His research interests and resulting publications include articles on human rights, U.S. politics, American foreign policy, terrorism, the Vietnam War, and the Middle East. His forthcoming book with Peter Lang Publishers is The Future Almost Arrived: Why Jimmy Carter Could Not Change U.S. Foreign Policy. His Torture Through the Ages is under contract with the Praeger division of Greenwood Press.
10:30 am: Beverly Margolies: Collaborators, Bystanders, Heroes
As an Instructional Designer at Bergen, Beverly empowers faculty to teach with technology, in new and creative ways. Growing up she was inspired by the stories her parents shared of growing up as Jewish teenagers during the Holocaust. These firsthand accounts of the Holocaust are extraordinary and personal and continue to inspire students just as they have inspired Margolies. Her YouTube site, http://youtube.com/bevmargo, is listed on the “Holocaust Education – Creative Inspirations” page on NJ’s Department of Education website.
10:45am:Lori Talarico: Life Lessons
Assistant professor of English at Bergen Community College, Professor Talarico has acted as the coordinator of the Success 1-2-3 program, a program that assists at-risk students stay in, and finish, college.
11:00 to 11:15 BREAK
Session II
11:15 am: Joseph Basralian: The Armenian Genocide: A Personal Journey
A philanthropist and member of the Bergen Community College Foundation, Joseph Basralian is the Managing Principal of Winne Banta. Throughout his career, he has represented clients in all aspects of commercial real estate – including acquisition, land use planning, financing and development – and he has also represented financial institutions in all aspects of commercial lending, including over 300 economic development bond issues. He has represented business organizations in those areas, both within and without New Jersey. He represents a wide variety of business entities in all aspects of contracts, licensing agreements, mergers and acquisitions. Having a strong background in business, Mr. Basralian is well-qualified to provide both legal and business advice to his clients
11:30 pm: Tony Senatore: The Meaning of Education to Me: What I Learned in Math Class
Senatore has released the world’s first commercially available instructional DVD dealing with all aspects of the 12 string bass guitar with his 12-String Bass X-Ploration DVD, which was released in 2007.Senatore has been featured in Mike Varney`s Spotlight column in Guitar Player Magazine, recorded for Mr. Varney as a sideman on the 1991 Shrapnel Release entitled Midnight Drive, by virtuoso guitarist Stephen Ross, with special guests Joe Nevolo on Drums (Greg Howe, Mahogany Rush) and Jens Johanssen (Yngwie Malmsteen, Ronnie James Dio) on Keyboards. Other publications that Tony has appeared in include Down Beat Magazine, Bass Player Magazine, and an article by Jay Lustig for the Aquarian. He also has been the bassist at The Barber Shop Studios under the direction of Producer Jason Corsaro since 1993 and released a highly acclaimed solo album titled Holyland in 2005. He was the bassist in the Genya Ravan Band from 2005 to 2007, and well as for New Jersey’s own Billy Hector.
11:45: Sandy Weiner: I Went Through Life Like a Tootsie Roll Pop
Sandy Weiner, Chief Love Officer at Last First Date, http://lastfirstdate.com, believes that the simple act of honoring yourself makes you more attractive, more valuable and more lovable to the opposite sex. She is an internationally known dating coach, blogger and workshop leader. Sandy blogs for Huffington Post, Mint.com, HeadDrama.com, Examiner and EmpowerHer.com. She’s been featured on Daily Buzz TV in her own segment, “Love Bytes.” Sandy’s variety of coaching programs are devoted to helping women over 40 break old love habits and achieve epic love the second time around.
12:00 pm: Vincent C Paladino:The Ethical Protector in Daily Life
Paladino is a thirty year student of Zen, Mikkyo Tendai Buddhism and martial arts who has studied and trained in Japan with Masaaki Hatsumi, and other masters from around the world. He is a contributing columnist for usadojo.com, an audio engineer and exercise therapy specialist. Practicing these two vocations has led him back to school with the intention of earning a degree in biomedical engineering.
12:15 pm: Christina Martinez: Flying in the Freedom of Forgiveness
Christina is the coordinator for the new aviation program at Bergen Community College. She is enthusiastic about flying and helping students achieve their dreams. Active in the aviation community, she also volunteers as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Team Representative. She is also president of Rising Above, LLC where she thrives on helping clients solve problems that affect leadership strategies, team collaboration, customer service, and productivity. Christina has been featured on CNBC On the Money and Cablevision For the Health of It. Christina is a contributing expert in Latina and Garden State Woman magazines; she has several published articles. She is the Chairman of the Board for the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce, visionary and co-founder of the Bergen Community College Women’s Institute. She has received numerous awards for service to the community, leadership, and inspiration as a female entrepreneur.
12:30 to 1:30 pm: LUNCH BREAK
Throughout the lunch break, videos of TED talks will be playing for your viewing pleasure.
Session III
1:30 pm: Cynthia Davis: From Inspiration to Art to Action
Cynthia Davis is a decorative artist and the founder of The Canvas Peace Project, an initiative that inspires artists across the US to help raise awareness of genocide and the ongoing atrocities in Sudan. The Canvas Peace Project exhibits raise money to help finance a women’s empowerment project in Ariang, South Sudan. Cynthia is currently a board member of Hope for Ariang, an organization founded by “Lost Boy” Gabriel Bol Deng, bringing primary education to South Sudan. Cynthia is a 2011 Carl Wilken’s Fellow with United to End Genocide.
1:45 pm: Staci Alzieber: No Cape Required
A Carl Wilkens Fellow with United to End Genocide, Staci now works at the Conference for Nongovernmental Organizations where she focuses on international human rights issues including the rights of women during conflict.
2:00pm: Gabriel Bol Deng: The Power of Hope to Move a Mountain
One of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Gabriel’s amazing story of survival and hope is the focus of the new documentary, Rebuilding Hope. His Hope for Ariang Foundation has recently opened the Ariang School in his former village and works with children, especially girls, to insure access to education. He currently tours the world as a specialist on the issues facing children during conflict.
2:15 to 2:30 pm: BREAK
Session IV:
2:30 pm: Sunny Glottmann: I Think Therefore I Consume
Sunny Glottmann was introduced to the impact of psychoanalysis on consumer culture while on a freedom bus in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Currently, Sunny is finishing her second year at Bergen Community College. She will be graduating this spring, and plans on transferring to a top tier university where she will be studying political science. Before beginning her studies at Bergen, Sunny tried her hand at music, providing bass and vocals for Supersound, a band who established a cult following in Brooklyn during the early 2000’s. Shortly after their demise, Sunny relocated to Charlotte, NC where she worked as a resident sound engineer for the Actor’s Lab, a prominent theatre troupe known for its daring theatre productions. It was also during this time, where she found her true calling, working as both a grassroots organizer and activist for voters’ rights.
2:45pm: Bergen P.R.I.D.E.: P.R.I.D.E and Action
A college based organization which furthers the needs and concerns of the LGBTQ2 community via educational workshops, events and informational sessions.
3:00 pm: Hector Polanco: You Made Me
A former BCC student, Hector overcame medical issues to gain straight As and go on to Columbia University.
3:15 pm: Terence Smith: Deconstructing Illusions: A Journey to Shape Perspectives
A member of the creative team behind the film and book, Inside These Walls, Terrance Smith graduated from Syracuse University in 2011 with a degree in Communications and Rhetorical Studies. As a student, he balanced his academic career with artistic pursuits in mass media to include: hosting two prime-time television specials in the Bahamas, performing at a leadership seminar in India, serving as entertainment correspondent for the College of Visual & Performing Arts NYC Gala, and collaborating with numerous on-campus publications. He dedicated his senior year to conducting extensive research in an effort to develop a cultural and political profile for the Balkan region. His research and experience served as the foundation for his formal scholarly entry, “Deconstructing Illusions; A Post-War Journey Through Eastern Europe”. He is currently finishing his documentary Inside These Walls which utilizes non-traditional stories to describe genocide and conflict and the quality of life post war in the Balkans.
3:30 pm: Samie Alix: In the Shadow of the Word
Sixteen year old spoken word poet on the importance of language for young people, SamieAlix has been honored with a Center for Creative Youth Fellowship from the Hartford Center for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. She will perform with Joseph Benomar.
3:45 pm: Derek Evers: The Fight to Remain Independent (and relevant) in Web Publishing
Derek Evers is the founder and publisher of Impose Magazine, an independent media outlet based in Brooklyn with a widely-respected read on America’s independent music and cultural landscape. Originally founded in 2002 as a print magazine, it has grown to include a daily-updated website, a video website, a globally-distributed record label, and national events of all sizes. Evers has also been an editor at AOL Music and Fader, has conducted and produced hundreds of interviews including as the face of Converse during the 2009 Jelly Pool Parties and as a talking head on VH1′s Most Shocking Moments in Music. His writing resume includes Vice, Fader, Gothamist, AOL, and Village Voice, to name a few.
4:00 to 4:15 pm Break
4:15pm: Glenn Kurtz: Three Minutes in Poland: Discovering a Lost World in a 1938 Home Movie
Glenn Kurtz is the author of Practicing: A Musician’s Return to Music (Knopf, 2007; Vintage Books, 2008), which the New York Times called “a thoughtful and fluid meditation” and Newsday hailed as “the book of a lifetime.” Practicing has been featured on NPR’s “Weekend Edition” with Scott Simon, “To the Best of our Knowledge,” WNYC’s “Leonard Lopate Show,” and elsewhere. An Italian edition appeared in 2010. Glenn’s second book, Three Minutes in Poland: Discovering a Lost World in a 1938 Home Movie will appear in 2014.He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory-Tufts University double degree program and holds a PhD from Stanford University in German Studies and Comparative Literature.
4:30pm: Gary Lucas: Blues and the Tuning of the World
Dubbed “The Thinking Man’s Guitar Hero” by The New Yorker, “The world’s most popular Avant-rock guitarist” by The Independent (UK), “One of the 100 Greatest Living Guitarists” (Classic Rock), “Legendary Leftfield guitarist” by The Guardian (UK), “Guitarist of 1000 Ideas” by The New York Times, “a true axe God” by Melody Maker, and “One of the five best guitarists in the world” by the national Czech newspaper Lidove Noviny, the British world music magazine fRoots recently described Gary Lucas as “without question, the most innovative and challenging guitarist playing today.” Rolling Stone’s David Fricke wrote: “Gary Lucas is one of the best and most original guitarists in America…a modern guitar miracle.”
We are honored and humbled that Gary Lucas will accompany his presentation with acoustic guitar samplings. ∞
