Happy Holidays from Berkeley College!

As we bid goodbye to 2010, we can look forward with excitement to 2011! Berkeley College will be celebrating its 80th Anniversary, with a theme of “Changing Lives”! There are many events planned for the upcoming year to which you will be invited. I encourage you to check out http://www.berkeleycollege.edu/80th/ to read more about Berkeley’s history, and discover our path to the future.

The holidays are a wonderful season for giving, and Berkeley College alumni exemplify this spirit. In this issue, you will read about Micki Sander ’54, an alumna who has dedicated her time and energy to helping the children of fallen servicemembers. You will also read about new developments in Berkeley’s athletics program as we speak with Brian Maher, Athletics Director. And don't miss our note from Amy Soricelli, Director of Alumni Placement, who has offered some tips for effective job-searching during the holiday season.

Finally, we will be celebrating the opening of Berkeley College’s new campus in Brooklyn, NY! The campus is now open, I encourage you to read more about the campus and COO Conrad Walker.

Have a wonderful holiday season! See you in the new year!

Berkeley College Opens New Brooklyn Campus

Berkeley College’s Brooklyn Campus has recently opened its doors for applicants interested in taking classes in the upcoming Winter 2011 quarter, which is scheduled to begin on January 3, 2011.  The Brooklyn Campus is located at 255 Duffield Street, between Fulton Street and Willoughby Street, in close proximity to all downtown Brooklyn mass transit.

Conrad Walker was appointed Campus Operating Officer for the location. In this role Mr. Walker will oversee preparation of the new facilities, as well as handle day-to-day operations and monitor personnel.

“Mr. Walker has the experience and commitment to lead the Brooklyn campus community,” said Berkeley College President Dario A. Cortes, PhD. “He understands the academic needs of our students, and as a resident of Brooklyn he understands the importance of incorporating the community's energy and spirit with our campus life."

Career Advice from Amy Soricelli, Director of Alumni Placement

Job Hunting Tips for the Holiday Season by Amy Soricelli, Director of Alumni Placement

The holiday season can be a challenging time to prepare for an interview, so it is important to keep a positive attitude and stay determined. Here are some tips to make your best impression:

• If you must change into more comfortable shoes for your long trip home, wait until after you leave the recruiter’s office before removing boots, socks, etc.
  
•  Chewing gum is never allowed, even if you offer a piece to the recruiter. Your resume might end up exactly where the gum will.
  
• Do not bring luggage to your interview. You shouldn't need to remove your iPod, magazine, file folders, and an apple in order to find your resume.
  
• Walls are thinner than you think! Make sure to wait until you're out of the building before calling your best friend to tell him or her all about the interview.

Finally, remember that searching for a job is itself a full-time job, and you deserve to take a break. Make sure to take a few moments during this holiday season to count your blessings, and spend some time with your friends and family.

Q&A with Micki Sander '54: Helping the Children of Fallen Servicemembers

When did you graduate?

I received a certificate from Berkeley College in 1954. 

Describe your experience at Berkeley.  Any special memories? 

I would get together with a friend before class, and she and I would get coffee and bacon on an English muffin every day.  We took classes on stenography, typing, writing letters, and other classes.  I couldn’t have made it where I am today without that background.  All of the skills I learned have given me the ability to write for magazines, newspapers, and create proposals and presentations.  Just the ability to write a good letter gives you so much strength in what you do. 

Q&A with Brian Maher, Director of Athletics at Berkeley College

If you haven’t already heard about Berkeley’s new athletic teams, you will soon.  From soccer dominance in the Hudson Valley Athletic Conference to celebrating the first season of Women’s Basketball in New York, the Knights are blazing new trails for Berkeley College.

We asked Brian Maher, Athletics Director for Berkeley College, a few questions about how he and his staff have created such stunning successes. 

Thanks for sitting down with us, Brian.  How long have you served as Athletics Director at Berkeley?
I have been at Berkeley for five years.  I was named Athletics Director in February, 2008.  Before that, I worked in the Student Development and Alumni Relations Departments.

Vanessa Gomez '10: Life After Graduation

They say when one door closes, another door opens. I finished my scholastic marathon at Berkeley College and welcomed my first summer without a single homework assignment. Since I was a fast-track student, I attended school non-stop for three years. It was definitely worth it. I took my time in relaxing and enjoying a job well done. 

I've kept a nice, steady job that employs several fellow alumni. My company is so impressed by the caliber of Berkeley College graduates that it has started increasing the number of interns it employs. It goes to show that Berkeley Pride goes beyond graduation.

It's been a year since I've graduated, and I'm already itching to go back to school. I spend my weekends nose-deep in a GMAT study guide. I loved my whole college experience and cannot wait to continue my education. Who knows? If the rumors are true (that maaaybe Berkeley is considering offering graduate degrees), then I may be making a return to Woodland Park. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping the rumors are true.

About Vanessa:

Vanessa Gomez is a 2010 graduate from the Garret Mountain campus with a B.S. in Business Administration. She is a full-time administrator in a pharmaceutical company.

Submit Your Nomination for the 2011 Berkeley College Alumni of the Year

We are accepting nominations for the 2011 Alumni of the Year!  Each year, two alumni are chosen for the Alumni of the Year Awards, which are presented at the annual commencement ceremony. One alumnus/a is selected from the New York campuses and one alumnus/a is selected from the New Jersey campuses. Each year, a panel of alumni are put together to send to the President of the College for final selection.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION TODAY!

September / October Message from the Director of Alumni Relations

Dear friends,

Fall has definitely arrived! Although it’s hard to believe summer ended so soon, this is one of my favorite times of the year. First, I invite you to post your Halloween pictures to our Alumni Association Facebook Page. And since this is a busy time of the year for moving and career changes, make sure to send us your updates through BerkeleyConnect, the alumni online community!

Fall is a time of beautiful colors and cool breezes, but it is also a time to look ahead to the holiday season and the new year. And we have a great year to look forward to! Berkeley College is celebrating its 80th Anniversary in 2011, and we will be celebrating with an entire year of events and programs for alumni and students. We have already launched a new series of online career services webinars for alumni, which you can read about below. Next up on our list: an Alumni Reunion Weekend in 2011!

We are in the process of setting a date, but if you are interested in participating in a Reunion Weekend, there are several opportunities for alumni volunteers. Just visit the Get Involved page on the alumni website to let us know if you are interested.

Finally, we have just launched a new initiative: online office hours. I encourage you to log in for our first office hour on Tuesday, November 16 at 3:00 p.m. It’s easy! Just follow these instructions on that date, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask a question and receive feedback instantly.

I look forward to hearing from you! |

New Alumni Online Office Hours

The Alumni Relations Department has instituted new online office hours.  No phone calls, no emails, just questions and answers!  You can log in anytime during the scheduled office hour.

Use this link to log in, and make sure to include your full name and class year when signing in.

http://connectpro97104357.na5.acrobat.com/officehour/

Berkeley College Launches Financial Aid TV

Berkeley College has launched Financial Aid TV, a great new resource about student loans and financial literacy for alumni

Tom Kokis, Director, Student Financial Literacy

Do you have questions about your student loan? Curious about deferments or if there is choice of repayment plans to make repayment more manageable?  Want to know more about loan consolidation? 

If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then Berkeley College’s Financial TV (http://berkeleycollege.financialaidtv.com) (FATV) service is available to assist you.

Does Your Resume Need Repair? Follow these quick tips to keep your resume polished and presentable!

Amy Soricelli, Director of Alumni Placement

1. Re-read your resume! Change the bullets around. Remove some of the redundant bullets and give your resume some fresh air.
   
2. Does your resume 'pop'? Are there any action words you can use to replace stagnant words? You may want to use actions words, such as: Negotiated, enlisted, mastered, projected, revamped, instructed.
   

Berkeley College Alumni Attend NYT Intern Reunion

Berkeley College graduates were among those who recently attended a reunion for the New York Times EARN internship program, formerly PDC. The New York Times welcomed current and former interns who have contributed to the program over the past 10 years, and who now are employed at the New York Times or with other organizations. “It is an honor for these interns to be recognized by such a respected industry leader,” said Berkeley College Vice President of External Affairs Kevin Hill at the celebration. 

Former New York Times interns and Berkeley College graduates
Keisha Holder '01 of Manhattan, NY, and Nancy Drepaul '09 of North Bergen, NJ.

Q&A with John Rapanos, DPS, CFP, Dean, The School of Business

John M. Rapanos, DPS, CFP
Dean, The School of Business

What was your experience before Berkeley College?

I had over 30 years of management experience within the financial services industry.  Most of my career was with Merrill Lynch.  I had management positions in a number of functional areas of Merrill, including technology, finance & administration, marketing, and human resources.  My last position at Merrill Lynch was Director of Strategic Sourcing and HR Information Systems.  I was responsible for developing recruitment strategies for the Private Client Group, as well as developing metrics to assess the firm's use of human capital. 

Berkeley College Offers New Career Webinar Series for Alumni

The Departments of Alumni Relations, Admissions, and Career Services have teamed up to offer webinars, or online learning seminars, to all alumni looking for career advancement.

Webinars are seminars hosted through your computer, making it easy to connect at any time or location. 

“Berkeley College offers great career support for all alumni,” said Michael Smullen, Director of Alumni Relations.  “Unfortunately, it isn’t always possible for our alumni to arrange an in-person visit with a career counselor.  Our career services webinars make the perfect fit for alumni who would like to advancement professionally, but need flexible hours for help and support.”

Register Today for the Alumni Career Webinar Series

Berkeley College and the Alumni Association are sponsoring an alumni career webinar series to help you find a job and use your network for professional advancement.

How To: Search the Alumni Directory

How to Search the Alumni Directory for Social and Professional Networking

As an alumnus or alumna of Berkeley, you are connected to thousands of other alumni, many of whom would be interested in connecting with you.  The alumni website, BerkeleyConnect, provides you with a great opportunity to make this happen.

Q&A With Cyndy Marchese, Vice President of International Enrollment

International Enrollment
(left to right)
Yaruby Petit-Frere, Associate Director
Cyndy Marchese, Vice President
Nori Jaffer, Associate Vice President

How long have you been at Berkeley College, and what has your experience been like?
I’ve been with Berkeley College for over 35 years. It’s been a great period of growth from the first day, not only for me personally, but for the College as a whole.

How has Berkeley College grown?
Berkeley College has grown in enrollment, the number and location of campuses, and the educational offerings. For example, when I first started, we were located in East Orange, NJ. In 1976, we moved to Garret Mountain and the Manhattan campus was still in the Chrysler Building. And, other than a few students from the Caribbean islands, we did not have any international students. Now, we have over 700 international students from all over the world.

Alumni Soccer Outing

Berkeley alumni cheered on the NY Red Bulls while they played LA Galaxy

Berkeley College alumni visited Harrison, NJ to see the NY Red Bulls play the LA Galaxy. The stadium was packed, the game a tense showdown between two great teams, and Berkeley College alumni were there to watch! President Dario A. Cortes, PhD and other associates were also on hand to enjoy the festivities.

Although the Red Bulls ultimately fell to the Galaxy by a score of 1 - 0, the game was great fun and a wonderful opportunity to see many Berkeley alumni and family! 

Photo Gallery:

2010 Alumni Soccer Outing

Cool Tips for a Hot Summer Job Search

Amy Soricelli
Director of Alumni Placement

Happy July! Keeping your cool in the summer heat - with the stress and frustration of the job search is no small task and requires a calm perspective and diligent focus. Here are some tips for getting your 'space' ready for the summer job search....

Deferments and Forbearance: Tools to Help with Student Loan Repayment

Tom Kokis
Director of Berkeley College Student Financial Literacy Group

In these uncertain and difficult economic times, many individuals may find themselves having problems making payments on their student loans. It is important not to fall behind on this important obligation as it can have very serious consequences for a borrower’s credit rating and ability to secure other forms of credit.