Have you met… Odailin Dume?

Before our interview began, Odailin Dume (OD) successfully completed my test: finding my office.

For those of you who don’t know, OD works in D wing, while I’m all the way over by lot C3. Normally, I try to hold my interviews in the interviewee’s office. However, for this interview, I fully gave into my lazy tendencies. Yes, I felt bad about convincing OD to navigate campus on a warmer than usual day (March 29th), but in the end, I think the walk really got the blood pumping (well, for her – I was sitting down the entire time), which allowed us to have a really eye opening interview. As a fellow New Milford-ian, and fellow former Leonia-ite (potentially from the same apartment complex, even), we had a lot in common, so I knew this interview would go well.

OD has been at Ramapo for five years, over at Business Services, and maintains the position of Accounts Payable Accounting Associate. As her title would denote, she handles a large amount of accounting matters in her position, as well as such things as p-card purchases, cash receipts, and select involvement in the auditing process. Now, looking from the outside in, one may think that the folks over in accounting-type positions simply hang out in cubicles, with their abici and fancy paper-printing calculators, far away from student interactions. This, however, is not the case, as her position places her in contact with many Ramapo students.

This is where OD’s favorite part about the position comes into play. You see, OD has a unique experience of having formerly worked at the housing authority for a nearby city, where she maintained the roles of waiting list coordinator, rent collector, accountant, and receptionist (not in that order). In this position, she worked on helping out many families find places to live and utilize their resources. Now at Ramapo, years later, she is able to interact with some of the same students that she helped in her former position at the housing authority, when they were much younger. Seeing these students grow up (quite literally – some of them were rather small when they first met) and become successful Roadrunners has truly been a blessing for her.

When not at Ramapo, OD is also the mother of three lovely children (aged from 18 to 3), the oldest of which is aiming towards studies in computer engineering. She also enjoys reading, but based on her busy schedule, she generally sticks to the audio books. In addition to this, OD loves to dance! When she was younger, she studied ballet, as well as other styles such as meringue and salsa. OD, with her sister and cousin, would even perform dance routines across the NY/NJ area (their group was called the Chiquita del Can)! Although she’s no longer in the formal dancing field, anyone going to OD’s gym would probably tell that she has a love for it, as she let me in on the secret that she has a habit of dancing during her cardio routines. When I asked her if she still performed, she let me know that she didn’t, although she would like to try teaching Zumba one day.

As you may have noticed from one of the above paragraphs, OD and I both live(d) in New Milford, and Leonia. In addition to this, however, we both have a love and connection to the Dominican Republic. Odailin came to our country from the DR when she was only 9 years old, and I went to the Dominican Republic as a former Ramapo student through the BRIDGES trip, run by the College’s former Campus Minister, Father Ronald Stanley. These above similarities meant that I could not only ask her how my favorite pizza places were doing in my former home towns, but that I could also bond with her over how awesome pizza was in the Dominican Republic (you might not think that corn on a pizza sounds appetizing, but I assure you that it’s amazing when done correctly). For those of you wondering, Big Jim’s is still doing well in New Milford (although OD’s loyalty lies with Soprano’s), the pizza scene in Leonia is still sufficient, and both of us agree that the red saucey part, just after the cheese, and just before the crust, is the best part of any slice. Unfortunately, however, “New Milly” no longer seems to be what people refer to New Milford as, anymore.

From the start of our interview, it was clear that Odailin is an energetic member of the RCNJ community with a committed passion to helping others, no matter what her role is. The students she has worked with, and Ramapo as a whole, must be happy to have her positive energy picking up the place. Only one question remains: when is she going to start teaching that Zumba class?

Written by John Atti
May 2, 2019

Have you met… Ed Roessler?

Ed Roessler walked into my office at around 9 a.m. on December 6. He placed his Contigo mug of cold brew coffee on my desk. Across from him, I sat with my own Contigo mug, also filled with cold brew coffee. I could tell that this was going to be a fun interview (at least for me).

You may not know Ed Roessler by his face, but you definitely know him by his team’s handiwork, through Facilities.

Remember those nice vines attached to the Adler Center? Ed’s team installed them (and they’re hops, believe it or not). The magnolia tree planted during the fall semester’s EOF dedication? Also Ed. Perhaps you’ve noticed a few new bike racks appearing in certain spots around campus, or the lawn being painted to welcome the new incoming class? Yep, Ed and co. set that up. If you’ve ever eaten at the outdoor tables by the Arch, you can thank Ed for his handiwork: the tables were installed there to complete the space. Ed definitely has his mind on continually improving the landscape of the College.

Four years ago, Ed started as a Grounds Worker at Ramapo. He’s now the Supervisor of Landscape Maintenance, with a team of six working along with him. As a part of this job, in addition to installing bike racks and planting, he helps maintain the athletic fields, manage snow removal, and picking up the garbages from around campus. I asked him if he could share any of the new projects coming down the pipeline, but he is unfortunately sworn to secrecy.

Before working at the College, Ed did his time in private industry, including a stint where he worked on a golf course and honed his landscaping skills.

Concerning Ramapo, although it was hard to pick out a favorite project, when heckled, Ed ultimately talked about the time he helped relocate some large trees across campus. The job required the use of a tree spade (large piece of machinery that wraps around the tree and uproots it), which ended up being pretty fun to work with. He also spoke about installing the aerators in Kameron Pond to help circulate the water. Those of you who were here long enough may remember that the pond used to have a fountain. Having aerators instead may be a good thing: back when he worked in the golf course, he recalled having to remove the fountain sprinklers every winter, and always forgetting to buy oars for the boat. As a result, he had to row his way to the sprinkler with shovels. If it works, it works, right?

One of his favorite parts about his job, according to Ed, is taking a place that people walk past every day without much fanfare, and then modifying it so that it becomes much more noticeable. Remember those vines I mentioned before, by the Adler Center? Well, you might have also noticed that some strikingly red canna lilies were also planted there. Do you know where they came from? Les Paul’s house. Turns out that they also multiply quite quickly: they started with about 12 a few years ago, and now have about a dump truck bed full of bulbs on reserve.

When asked how much he liked plants on a scale of 1 to 10, Ed ranked them a solid 8. Surprisingly, though, he has no plants on his house (they would conflict with his cats). As a fellow cat owner and plant lover, I find myself in the same boat (all of my plants were moved into my office after the cat came home).

When not working or dealing with plants/cats, Ed enjoys reading biographies (Elvis Costello and the Beastie Boys are the last two that he finished), as well as historical fiction. He also takes pride in cooking for his family, and bragged that he made a killer pizza dough (his method takes three days, but is good enough to warrant hosting several formal pizza parties with family and friends). In addition to this, Ed is a member of multiple bands (at least three at any given moment, he says), and plays both guitar and bass. I asked him if he would ever take part in one of the open mic nights at the College. The jury is still out on that.

One thing’s for certain: we can all trust that the campus grounds are in good hands as long as Ed and his team are on the case.

Written by John Atti
January 16, 2019

Have you met… Joanne Caselli?

Meet Joanne Caselli, a Ramapo alumnus that has been involved with Ramapo in one way or another since 1999! An avid fan of bowling and the “cozy mystery” detective genre (wherein extremely nice people build relationships and have a good time while solving grizzly murders), Joanne can be found on the 2nd floor of the E wing, in that fancy secondary hallway for Teacher Education.

Joanne has worked at Ramapo as a staffer since 2006. Her original position was that of a Center for Learning and Instruction Trainer. Even before that she worked as a student employee in the Writing Center, which at that time was located in almost the exact spot as her current office! Students went there for tutoring, amongst other things (I myself went there for help with my College English class – you can judge for yourself if it was helpful by proofreading this article).

Joanne started her current position as a Teacher Education Certification Officer in 2008. In this role, her main goal is to make sure our Teacher Ed students get certified. This involves working hand-in-hand with the state to ensure that all paperwork is handed in appropriately. Now, this doesn’t just involve accepting one form, rubber stamping it, and sending it on its way. In addition to reviewing the paperwork, Joanne has to wait for grades to come in and ensure that the degrees are conferred. She then needs to make sure that any missing paperwork and separate test results are accounted for, and passed along to the state for review.

She also advises along the way, to ensure that students will be able to receive that certification during their time as students by taking the right classes and tests, including students pursuing Ramapo’s new Elementary Education major. As there are many certification areas, each student has to make sure they follow their certification guidelines correctly to receive the appropriate cert (including ones for elementary students, and specific certifications for content certification, also known as secondary certification).

To add some more variables into the mix, Joanne’s specialty deals with those students who have already earned their degree and want to get a certification as well. This sometimes includes students who have transfer credits from several institutions, as well as students pursuing their Masters (including those in our Masters in Special Education or Educational Leadership degrees). Some programs (especially the ones for those on track to become a Principal) also require several years experience first, or signed letters from officials from other institutions. This leads some students to get the degree, and then return years later to get all their t’s crossed for that wonderful certificate. Joanne has had students from the 1990s reach out to her for paperwork from our archives to help them with their certification. Imagine sorting through all of that?

By now, you may be guessing that this involves a lot of tracking, and a confident grasp on the certification knowledge-base for the state. Joanne has a knack for it, though – she used to help students out with this, even when she was a student here herself! Her role has made her quite familiar with our College’s Banner Self-Service software. I think it’s safe to say that our students’ certification needs are in good hands.

Written by John Atti
June 14, 2018

Have you met… Ivy Payne?

Many of us may know Ivy Payne as a smiling face in Student Affairs, but through our exclusive interview with her, the PSA has uncovered some extra fun facts about this awesome pillar of the Ramapo community!

Ivy has been working for Ramapo College in one form or another since she was 14 years old. As a part of a program for Native American youths, she was assigned to learn the ropes in Human Resources over the course of several summers. By the time she was old enough to get a full time job, Ramapo was more than happy to take her in as a Senior Operator Automated Typewriter for Payroll.

That’s right: Senior Operator Automated Typewriter. That title just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? Ramapo staff that have been here long enough most likely remember the old black-and-green terminals in some of the offices. Ivy recalls working on those, as well as traditional typewriters, before the College began upgrading their machines. Do you remember working with Webmail before we converted to Gmail? Well, Ivy recalls a time that email used to be accessible only through the terminal system itself (Orion). Things surely have changed, haven’t they?

Since then, Ivy has transitioned into her most recent position as Student Affairs Coordinator (a title that is, some may say, a bit easier to articulate). Through this role, Ivy has a heavy amount of interaction with students, from those going through the interim suspension process to those managing student leadership roles on campus. Ivy is also in charge of correctly distributing all of the Public Safety/incident reports at Ramapo (no small task, as those who receive these reports can attest) to many other Student Affairs related tasks. It’s safe to say that Ivy has been a part of Ramapo history, and has seen this College change quite a bit since she first started working here in her teens!

Ivy has had her baby and bridal showers at Ramapo, but one of Ivy’s fondest memories is when her fellow staff members threw an Arching Ceremony for her. It was no normal ceremony, however. Although Ivy always loved a good Arching, as she completed her degree elsewhere, she did not expect to be given any type of ceremony at Ramapo.

Lo and behold, while returning from lunch one day, Ivy was intercepted by some of her colleagues. Within a few moments, she had been draped in her college’s cap and gown (which they had somehow acquired), and escorted to the Arch. When she got outside, she was greeted by an archway that was completely filled with people. Family members and colleagues (including our very own President Mercer, Dean Nancy Mackin and Vice President Pam Bischoff) lined up waiting for her. Now THAT’S a Ramapo memory, eh?

When Ivy isn’t at work, her favorite activities are hanging out with her son (who is about the age that Ivy was when she first started working for the College), as well as listening to some awesome 90s R&B (and, of course, Tupac). If you see her in the hallways or in the office, feel free to give her a hello, or perhaps subtly play “California Love” as you pass by.

Written by John Atti
February 22, 2018

Jeff Delos Santos with Angela Moore post interview

Have you met… Jeff Delos Santos?

Although this Ramapo College alum may be tucked behind his desk with nothing but a screen lighting up his office, Jeff Delos Santos was willing to shed some light on his personal and professional life.

Jeff began his career at Ramapo College back in 2008 working as the Enrollment Services Coordinator for a few years before becoming a Systems Administrator for the IT Office. He currently manages the Hobsons Radius CRM (Customer Relationship Management)—a system used to create and manage email campaigns, event registrations and contact lists—in which he develops reports based on results of campaigns. He also supports the Financial Aid Office as their technical liaison. As he would say, he acts as “their voice in IT” to help support that office’s technical based needs, programming any system updates and automations that the office may need.

Prior to working for Ramapo College, Jeff was a student at the College. One of his most memorable experiences was his graduation day as a student. He was part of a class-year that graduated on the actual campus itself, stating that there was something special about “being able to walk on your own field” for graduation. As a current employee he stated that “it feels like I never left college… minus the homework and exams.” One of the aspects that Jeff likes most about working for Ramapo is that he enjoys the diversity of the student body and the staff, stating that “there is a mix of cultures of people in every department.”

Outside of Ramapo College, Jeff enjoys spending time with his two year old daughter, wife, family, and friends. When he has free time on the weekends, Jeff enjoys smoking a cigar with his buddies and enjoying some whiskey from a whiskey-glass set he earned for his 5-years of service anniversary at Ramapo College. He is an avid cigar collector, owning over 2,000 cigars at one point! Not only does he collect cigars, but what you might not know about Jeff is that he  once was a collegiate bowler, and has about 25 years of bowling experience under his belt. Although he hasn’t had time to go bowling these days, he has found new hobbies like cooking on the grill.  One thing to note, if you are ever over his house, do not expect to find anyone using the grill but him.  That is his territory and his territory only!

So now that you know a little bit more about Jeff Delos Santos, be sure to say hello if you see him around.

Written by Angela Moore
November 15, 2017

Have you met… JJ Belle?

JJ Belle post interview with Angela Moore

You may have seen him walking around in the hallways of the academic building with a coffee in hand, but you might not know how deeply rooted to Ramapo, Jonathan (JJ)  Belle, is and all of his intricacies. From enjoying crime novels to his love of music, there is more to him then meets the eye.

JJ began his career back in November of 1997 working in the Bursar’s Office (known now as the Office of Student Accounts) as a Principal Clerk for one year before his approximate 19 years of serving the Office of Financial Aid in which he is now the Associate Director. As second in command in the Financial Aid office, JJ assists and administers NJ State and Title 4 federal student aid programs, guiding students and their families through the process of obtaining financial aid. “I help Ramapo students pay for their education and at the end of the day that strikes me as very worthwhile,” says JJ describing his role. “I enjoy doing it here because this [Ramapo College] has become a home.”

One could say that JJ has deep ties to Ramapo College. In addition to working here for almost 20 years, he earned his undergraduate degree in Economics and received an Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. He also met his wife on campus when a mutual friend asked them both to act in a campus play his friend was directing. JJ stated that, “by the end of the show we were dating and 3 months after that we were engaged.” About a year later they got married and by the way he spoke of their 18 years of marriage one can imagine that they are still smitten.

Around 13 years ago, JJ had long, curly hair, which fits his rocker like persona.  His favorite type of music is hard rock and heavy metal with his favorite artist being Zakk Wylde.  He appreciates all types of music though. As an avid music lover,  JJ sings tenor in his church’s choir, plays bass guitar, and is part of the John Roy Band.  In his down time you might find him reading a crime/drama, detective type of novel or a musician’s autobiography. He also enjoys acting, and time with his wife and 10-year-old daughter. Needless to say, JJ is a very interesting coworker.

One of JJ’s most memorable experiences while working at the college was the day of 9/11.  A commuter student “bounced” into his office around 11:00 a.m. as happy as could be, unaware of what had occurred, and JJ had to be the one to inform her what had happened. “She went from being a cheerful student excited with the promise of a new semester to devastated in a split second.” JJ describes himself as “the type of guy who will always try to get the laugh,” so one could imagine how difficult it was for him to be the one to inform the student of that tragic event.

One thing that is clear in spending time with JJ is that he is a caring, talented and appreciative man. He loves and thinks highly of his family and shows respect for the people he works with. So hopefully now if you see JJ in the hallways, you know just a little bit more about him.

Written by Angela Moore
June 14, 2017