Leslie Foster

Leslie Foster, of Hillside N.J., is a Social Science and Human Services major with a concentration in Society and Culture with a 3.9 cumulative GPA. 

She has been an active member in Roots and Bridges, LLC which specializes in community advocacy and engagement based in Newark, N.J.

Kiara Balliram

“My mission is to cultivate compassion and civic consciousness,” says Kiara Balliram. Kiara is a Political Science major with minors in International Studies and Civic and Community Leadership. She is from Ramsey, N.J. 

While at Ramapo Kiara has been a passionate advocate for mental health as a peer educator with Wellness is Now. She was inducted into the Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society, Tau Sigma, and Sigma Iota Rho. Kiara is currently a campaign intern for New York State Senator John Brooks.

In the near future, Kiara plans to pursue graduate studies in Divinity and International Relations. “Pursuing both avenues of study fully embraces my identity,” she said. “I really found out who I was while at Ramapo.”

Michelle Claudio

Michelle Claudio of Oakland, N.J. is a Social Science major with a 3.76 GPA. She has been working at the United Nations as a Senior Support Staff since 1990. Through the UN General Assembly, she serves as a Special Protocol Officer in ushering Heads of State. 

Michelle enrolled at Ramapo College after her children completed their undergraduate degrees. Her education was disrupted due to a health crisis in the family. After a long battle with cancer, she lost her husband last year. They were married for thirty-three years. She decided to resume her studies this past fall during the pandemic. 

“Returning to Ramapo has given me a renewed sense of purpose in life,” says Michelle. She credits her husband in teaching her perseverance, as well as the college for their incredible support and encouragement. 

Thera Carlin

Thera Carlin of Springfield, Ohio, is a History major with a minor in Human Rights and Genocide Studies. She has a GPA of 3.8.

“At Ramapo, I have worked hard to keep up on studies and promote healthy discussions amongst peers on difficult topics. Off campus, I have a part time job while also making time to participate in organizations such as SOAP, who combats sex trafficking.” Thera’s goal post-graduation is to join the Peace Corps and use her history degree to teach in underdeveloped countries. “In addition, I’d like to join human rights organizations that focus on refugees or sex workers.”

Michael Romano

Michael Romano of Lodi, N.J. is a History/American Studies Secondary Education major. He has a 3.6 GPA. He is part of the education honor society at Ramapo, and recently presented a paper at an American Studies conference.

Michael works on campus as an editorial assistant at the Jane Addams Papers Project, where he conducts research and creates educational resources for teachers. “I hope that students will learn something about history from what I have written, and expand their worldview.”

He plans to teach high school history and attend graduate school after Ramapo.

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.

Maria Garcia

Maria Garcia of Maywood, NJ was unable to finish her education in her native country, Spain, so after arriving in the United States, she learned English and started at Ramapo to follow her dream of earning a college degree. For most of her college career, she has been on the Dean’s list, and has been nominated as the best student in the Spanish program.  She is a member of the Spanish Club, the Book Club and tutors in the Spanish Lab.

She has also been involved in off –campus leadership positions at Sacred Heart church in Suffern. She was one of the coordinators of the Spanish Religious Education Program; she also participated during mass as a Reader and Eucharistic Minister until she moved to Maywood a little over two years ago. She works part time in St. Dominic’s School in Blauvelt, NY as a teaching assistant.

After graduation she hopes to find a job in a school district close to home. In the near future she hopes to be able to go back to school to earn a Master’s Degree.

The senior has a double major in Spanish and History, and a concentration in Education. Her GPA is 3.7.

Donna Stempert

Donna M. Stempert of Denville, NJ is a Literature major.  She has a 3.96 GPA.

Donna is very active off-campus as a first grade teacher and mother of four.

Paola Bermedo-Sturla

Paola Bermedo-Sturla of Hackettstown, N.J. is a Spanish language/ international studies double major.

She has a 3.87 grade point average.

Paola was inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society, Sigma Delta Pi and Sigma Iota Rho.

Throughout college Paola has been a full time student while continuing to work full time.

Kristin Knudsen

Kristin Knudsen was born in Bad Ischl, Austria and now lives in Hillburn, NY. She attended Marymount Manhattan College before enrolling at Ramapo and is acertified interior designer. “I see beauty and art in every space, shape and object,” she wrote, “It is my desire to widen my knowledge so that I may expand and develop the artist that I am.” At Ramapo, Kristin is majoring in Literatue and has a 3.95 grade point average.