Michael Ben-David, Trustee

Michael Ben-David, of Franklin Lakes, was appointed to the Board in March 2023. A public school educator with more than 24 years experience in teaching, coaching and administration, Trustee Ben-David currently serves as the Superintendent of the Tenafly Public Schools following eight years in West Morris Regional. Prior to entering education, Trustee Ben-David spent a brief period as an attorney/clerk in the United States Federal Courts and as a litigation associate at Riker, Danzig in Morristown. Trustee Ben-David is a graduate of Rutgers College (B.A.), Seton Hall Law School (J.D.), and the College of Saint Elizabeth (M.Ed). While in law school, Trustee Ben-David was an Associate Editor of the Seton Hall Law Review, interned with Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., then on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and was the recipient of the Seton Hall University School of Law Pro Bono Service Program award for his work teaching Street Law in Jersey City.

William F. Dator, Immediate Past Chair

William “Bill” Dator was born in India but moved to his father’s home in Mahwah at an early age. He is a third generation real estate broker and is currently associated with the Mahwah office of Special Properties-Christie’s International Real Estate  and he is also a State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser. Trustee Dator attended Monmouth University and studied real estate appraisal at the University of Indiana, the University of Connecticut, and the University of San Francisco Law School. He was formerly Chairman of the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority, is currently Vice Chairman of the Mahwah Board of Adjustment, and is an active member of the Mahwah Office of Emergency Management. Trustee Dator has volunteered his time in several leadership roles including: President of the Mahwah Chamber of Commerce, Battalion Chief with the Mahwah Fire Department, President of the Mahwah Ambulance Corps, and is a Trustee of the Mahwah Museum. Professionally, he has served as a Director of Independence Bank and Commerce Bank North. Trustee Dator was the founding President of the Friends of Ramapo and has been actively involved with Ramapo College since 1970.

Marize Helmy, Treasurer

Marize Helmy, of Franklin Lakes, was appointed to the Board in January 2024. Trustee Helmy is a practicing attorney specializing in Elder Law and Estate Planning at The Manna Helmy Law Group, formerly known as Michael A. Manna & Associates. She holds a BA in Visual Arts from Fordham University (2008) and a JD from SUNY at Buffalo Law School (2011). During her time in law school, Trustee Helmy was president of the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program and raised funds to support and fund otherwise unpaid internships. She also worked in the career services office and was also involved with student conduct, later serving as the Assistant Chief of the Student Wide Judiciary. Upon graduation, Trustee Helmy received an award from the law school for the greatest contribution to the community. While studying for the bar exam, she volunteered her time translating and filing immigration applications for domestic violence victims and also dedicated her time to rehabilitative and innovative court developments such the Newark Drug Courts and Child Welfare Improvement Project. Trustee Helmy teaches at the local community schools as well as to social workers for their mandatory continuing education credits on topics relating to elder law, guardianships and other ethical issues. She is board member and acting treasurer of her church in Bergen County and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the Bergen County Bar Association. Trustee Helmy has been honored by Thomson Reuters as a New Jersey Super Lawyers™ Rising Star in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Chris Lopez, Trustee

Chris Lopez, of Oakland, was appointed to the Board in 2023. Trustee Lopez is the founder of ProfiTank, a boutique consulting firm specializing in streamlining overhead and operating costs, business process automation, vendor selection, and negotiating supplier contracts.  A former United States Marine Officer, Chris has vast experience in advising business clients on a range of matters including but not limited to talent management/recruiting, data analytics, and vendor management. Trustee Lopez has also tackled Veterans’ unemployment issues through the development of accredited programs and curricula that helped Veterans become gainfully employed upon transition from military service. He holds a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy.

Albert C. Nieves, Vice Chair, EOF Liaison

Albie Nieves, of Wood-Ridge, was appointed to the Board in 2023. Trustee Nieves is a Professional Services leader serving industry leaders and Fortune 500 companies, including Mellon HR & Investor Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Fiserv, and DocuSign. Trustee Nieves has extensive experience in executing strategic programs, providing fiscal oversight, change leadership, leading organizations and client relations. He served as the Strategy Services Leader at DocuSign, Vice President, Professional Services with Fiserv/Tegra 118 and currently as a Chief of Staff/consultant for small start ups. Since 2008, he has served as a member and, for almost a decade as President, of the Wood-Ridge Board of Education, leading the expansion and new build of an intermediate school and infrastructure upgrades throughout the district. Trustee Nieves attended Saint Peter’s University and carries a number of professional and technology certifications.

Kyree Robinson-Banks ’27, Student Trustee

Kyree Robinson-Banks ’27 joined the Board in April 2024 as a first-year student majoring in political science. He is involved in the Black Student Union (Treasurer) and the Model United Nations. As a pre-law student, his plan after Ramapo is to attend law school, hoping to eventually return to his community in Newark to give back through service. He is excited to bring a student voice, perspective, and story to the Board of Trustees to enhance the college’s mission and connection with the community.

George C. Ruotolo, Jr., CFRE, Board of Governors Liaison

George C. Ruotolo, Jr., counselor to non-profit organizations and institutions, has been a professional fund raising and public relations executive since 1973. Prior to establishing Ruotolo Associates, he served as vice president of a major public relations fund raising firm and worked in investment banking. Trustee Ruotolo’s expertise encompasses annual development, capital campaigns, planned giving, marketing and public relations programs for dioceses, churches, colleges, school, hospitals and social service organizations on local, regional, and national levels. During his tenure as Chair of the Ramapo College Board, the Board implemented a comprehensive Board Development Program, established policy on presidential evaluation, completed renovations of the science complex and construction of the Adler Center for Nursing Excellence, and advanced the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Compliance.  Trustee Ruotolo has also served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross, Bergen-Hudson Chapter and is a founding member of the Ridgewood Educational Foundation.

A.J. Sabath ’93, Alumni Association & NJASCU Liaison

A.J. Sabath is the President/CEO of the Advocacy and Management Group based in Trenton, NJ. He formerly served as chief of staff to Senate President Richard J. Codey and as the commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Prior to joining the Executive Branch, Trustee Sabath held a number of positions in the New Jersey Legislature. He earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Ramapo College.

David G. Schlussel, Trustee

David G. Schlussel is one of the founding members of Key Properties LLC, a full service commercial real estate development company dealing with all aspects of industrial, office, hi-tech, retail and residential properties based in Teaneck. Trustee Schlussel has experience in acquisition, development, construction, financing, leasing and management of office, industrial, residential and retail properties. He has served on the Board of Education for Yavneh Academy and is former Chairman of Adult Education for the Jewish Center of Teaneck. He is the founder and Chairman of the Yale Alumni Real Estate Association. He is Chairman Emeritus of NORPAC and has lectured at New York University on real estate development. Trustee Schlussel holds a B.S. from Yale University and an M.S. from the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Susan A. Vallario, Chair

Susan A. Vallario began her professional life as a Land Use Specialist for the State of New Jersey at the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission. After attending law school, she practiced land use, corporate, and commercial real estate law at Beattie Padovano in Montvale. Subsequently, as Vice President and co-owner of Kurt Versen Company, a family held manufacturing firm in Westwood, New Jersey, she was responsible for human resource management, financial management, and regulatory compliance. In addition to her full-time career, Chair Vallario has managed the affairs of several family partnerships and trusts. She earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from Pace University School of Law, an M.A. in Social Relations and a B.A. in Government from Lehigh University, and taught as an adjunct faculty member in the Legal Studies Department at Montclair State University. While on the Board of Directors of the Employers Association of New Jersey (EANJ), Chair Vallario served as the EANJ’s Chair and as a member of its Executive Committee. She has been a member of the New Jersey Bar Association and the Editorial Board of its magazine, “New Jersey Lawyer,” as well as the Bergen County Bar Association, the Society for Human Resource Management, the American Institute of Certified Planners, the American Planning Association, and Valley Hospital’s Women For Health.

To learn more about serving as a student trustee on the Board, please visit //www.ramapo.edu/student-affairs/alternate-student-trustee-application-process/