Isabella Apgar

Isabella Anna Apgar of Mendham, N.J. is a History major with a double minor in Human Rights and Genocide Studies. She has a 3.7 GPA.

At Ramapo, she has participated in several organizations including A Moment of Magic, Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassadors, and Global Roadrunners. Within these organizations, she has volunteered her time to help spread magic to pediatric cancer patients and other underserved children, has used her passion for Ramapo to be a tour guide for prospective students, and has promoted studying and interning abroad.

Isabella studied abroad in Summer 2023 in partnership with CIEE in Rome, Italy, and she was invited back by CIEE to intern in Rome in Summer 2024. While in Rome, she took classes on the rich history of the country, and she helped organize the high school study abroad trips, all while immersed in the heart of Italy.

She is also the partnership intern for the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies where she helps organize exhibits, teaches the history of the Holocaust to middle school students, and helps with social media.

After graduation, Isabella plans to work in the museum field and to attend graduate school.

Stefanie Viera

Stefanie Viera of New Milford, N.J. is a History major with a minor in Latino(a) and Latin American Studies. She has a 4.0 GPA and has been on the Dean’s List for the entirety of her time at Ramapo, in addition to being recently inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society as President and the Alpha Alpha Alpha Honor Society. 

At Ramapo, Stefanie has been active in the Student Ambassador Program and the Student Government Association, in which she recently started the position as the Secretary of Service. She also is employed on campus at the Jane Addams Papers Project. 

Over the summer, Stefanie completed an internship with the American Red Cross Greater New York Region in the Disaster Workforce Engagement department. During this time, she was able to take part in the behind-the-scenes humanitarian work while also spearheading a Volunteer Newsletter. 

After graduation, Stefanie plans to obtain her masters degree in Human Rights, after which she would like to travel and eventually pursue a career in humanitarian work, mainly focusing on helping refugees. 

Celine Panis-Pardo

Celine Panis-Pardo of Randolph, N.J., is a double major in International Studies and Law & Society. She has a 3.9 GPA, is President of both Phi Beta Delta International Honors Society and the newly developed chapter of Model UN on campus.

At Ramapo, Celine has been part of many organizations throughout her college experience: one of which being the United Asian Association, where she is currently the Internal Vice President. She is also the head photo-editor of the Ramapo News, where she has so far written and published 11 articles on entertainment and cultural issues.

After graduating, Celine hopes to get her Master’s in Social Work and later attend law school, working within non-profit organizations to maximize human rights efforts, particularly within the field of child advocacy and immigration.

Courtney Ottaviano

Courtney Ottaviano of Bellmore, N.Y., is a senior Sociology Major concentrating in Social Inequality and double minoring in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Human Rights and Genocide Studies. She has a 3.8 GPA and has been awarded the Dean’s List throughout her academic career. She has been an active member of Ramapo Pride and is a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success.

Off campus Courtney has served as a childcare volunteer at Congregation Ohav Sholom. In the future she hopes to work at a non-profit organization.

Natalie Tsur

Natalie Tsur of New Milford, N.J., is a junior Communication Arts major, concentrating in Journalism and double minoring in Creative Writing and Human Rights and Genocide Studies. She has a 3.98 GPA and has been awarded Dean’s List throughout her academic career and published in the college’s literary magazine.

At Ramapo, Natalie has served as a peer mentor and is an active member of the College Disciplinary Review Board and The Ramapo News as web editor. She recently conducted an independent project interviewing Ramapo students, documenting their experiences during quarantine. Her work is viewable on the newspaper’s Instagram page.

Natalie currently interns at Embrace Relief, a local non-profit organization, as a digital content writer. She hopes to continue her studies post-graduation, specializing in feature journalism and plans to teach later in her life.

Zurine Cadena Jimenez

Zurine Cadena Jimenez, of Mount Arlington, N.J. is an International Studies major with a minor in Human Rights and Genocide Studies.  She has a 3.96 GPA and is a member of Sigma Iota Rho.  Zurine plans to enroll in a Master’s program in Human Rights Studies at Columbia University.  Upon completion, she aspires to obtain a position at UNICEF to work with regional and country offices that are engaged in advancing the early childhood education sector in developing countries.

In the summer of 2018, Zurine completed an internship with the director’s office of the Office of Innovation at UNICEF.  Through this experience she was able to take part in quarterly progress meetings pertaining to scaling of regional as well as country infrastructure projects such as healthcare and water access through the use of various technologies.  She also represented the School of Humanities and Global Studies at COPLAC’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference.

Her life goal is to compose a peace education curriculum, emphasizing tolerance and equality that she hopes will be utilized in the process of intra/interstate conflict resolution.  She also hopes to extend her research on the Colombian civil conflict and 2016 peace accord as well as partake in campaigns working towards the elimination of FGM and child marriage.

Additionally, Zurine has an Associate degree in both Studio Art and International Studies.  She is currently a preschool teacher for Kindercare Learning Centers.  In her free time, she engages in working on art pieces and in writing poetry.  Her poems have been published in the literary magazines Driftwood and the Promethean. She has also been featured as Reward Publishing’s Poet of the Month.

Alejandra Sanchez

Alejandra Sanchez of Paterson, N.J. is an International Studies major with a double minor in Latin American Studies and Human Rights & Genocides Studies. She has a 3.7 GPA and has been inducted into Sigma Iota Rho Honors Society for International Studies, and into Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honors Society.

At Ramapo, Alejandra has been active in the Association of Latino Moving Ahead, where she has served as Treasurer and President and also with the organization of Global Roadrunners, where she has served as an E-Board member. Through these positions she has coordinated fundraisers on campus, particularly the Refugee Clothing Drive.

Off-campus, Alejandra studied abroad for a full semester in Santiago, Chile. She also interned abroad at the Alianza Francesa as a Cultural Orientation Intern in Puebla, Mexico. Additionally, Alejandra will be interning in the Center for Safety and Change as a Bilingual Legal Translator.

“Upon graduation, I plan to obtain a paralegal certification and eventually pursue law school in order to become an immigration attorney.”

Zurine Cadena Jimenez

“My goal is to obtain a position at UNICEF where I can work with regional organizations to provide access to early childhood education in developing countries,” says Zurine Cadena Jimenez.

Zurine is an International Studies major with a minor in Human Rights and Genocide Studies. She has a 3.85 GPA. She plans to continue her education at Columbia University to earn a master’s degree in Human Rights Studies. In addition, Zurine has an associate’s degree in Studio Art.  Her poetry has also been published in literary magazines such as “Driftwood” and the “Promethean” and has been featured twice as Reward Publishing’s Poet of the Month. 

Zurine is from Mount Arlington, N.J. and is currently a preschool teacher for Kindercare Learning Centers.

Alec Weissman

Alec Weissman of East Brunswick, NJ is a Literature major with minors in both Human Rights/Genocide Studies and International Studies. He has a 3.60 GPA.

Alec served as President of the Student Government Association during the 2015-2016. He is also a brother of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International as he hopes to attend law school following graduation.  He also played for the Ramapo’s men’s varsity volleyball team.

Alec participated in the 2015 Pan American Maccabi games in Santiago, Chile. He also interned at the Museum of Jewish Heritage this past summer, and will be interning at a non-governmental organization, Grupo Cajola, in spring of 2017.

Megan Denecour

Megan Denecour of Boonton, NJ is an International Studies major with a minor in Human Rights and Genocide Studies.  She has a 3.98 GPA.  She is a member of Sigma Iota Rho International Studies honor society and serves as president.

Megan has been active in Relay for Life, Colleges Against Cancer, and the Concert Band.

She is currently interning with the International Rescue Committee.