Anthony Balzano, a cultural anthropologist, has taught full-time in higher education since 1983, save for two years of dissertation fieldwork (1985-1986) on land tenure arrangements and the ability to make a living in rural Haiti. Dr. Balzano maintains an active ethnographic research program in the Fond-des-Blancs valley on Haiti's southern peninsula, and among émigrés from this valley now living in Stamford (CT), Boston, and Montreal. Dr. Balzano completed his doctoral dissertation at Rutgers University in 1989. Before attending graduate school, he completed a tour of duty as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer, teaching O-level and A-level chemistry, biology, and human biology in the Kingdom of Eswatini in southern Africa. Dr. Balazano is a Professor of Anthropology & Sociology at Sussex and facilitates its Community Archaeology Project and Council on Sustained Dialogue. He has been a member of the full-time faculty since fall 1989. He has presented numerous scholarly papers on rural Haiti and curriculum development, especially on issues related to anti-racism. Dr. Balzano has held several leadership roles with the Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges, a section of the American Anthropological Association, and the American Federation of Teachers-New Jersey. Dr. Balzano has 28 years of experience with collective bargaining representing faculty in higher education. He presently co-chairs the AFT-NJ Social Justice Committee.
Dr. Dina P. Conde is a Professor at SCCC teaching biology courses. She founded the Biology Club and has been a Biology Club advisor since its inception. Professor Conde served the College Community as Science Department Coordinator, Science Department Chair, and Dean of Liberal Arts and Science. She earned a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Rutgers, the State University of NJ, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She has published some of her work and has presented at both regional and national conferences.
Jason Fruge graduated from Lincoln Technical Institute and began his automotive career with Lexus of Bridgewater. In 2003, Jason left the automotive industry to reenlist in the U.S. Army where he served in the Infantry in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. After leaving military service, he returned to the automotive industry with Lexus. He spent the remainder of his career as a service technician as a Team Leader/A Level Technician. Jason started teaching at Sussex County Community College as an adjunct instructor in 2015. In 2018, he was promoted to the role of Program Supervisor for Automotive, Welding, Building Construction Trade, Machine Tool Technology, Optics Technology, and Diesel Technology.
Sherry Fitzgerald, Professor of Visual Art, holds an MFA from Marywood University. She currently serves as the Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department and just recently stepped down from her college administrative role as Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Arts and Humanities. She is an accomplished artist and designer who enjoys teaching, sharing ideas with colleagues and students, doing community service, and working on projects that improve our environment.
Jumana Hablawi, a professor at SCCC, serves as the Lead Faculty of Biological Sciences and Head of Anatomy & Physiology. Her teaching expertise spans a diverse array of subjects including Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Nutrition, and Introductory Human Biology, catering to both Biology majors and non-majors. Professor Hablawi is the founder of the Anatomy Freaks Club, a peer-tutoring initiative designed to enhance students’ mastery in Anatomy & Physiology. In her professional research, Professor Hablawi independently formulated an innovative in vitro diagnostic tool for detecting canine IgG and IgM antibodies targeting B. burgdorferi-specific proteins. Her research contributions extend to pedagogy, focusing on student learning and instructional methodologies in higher education. Professor Hablawi is an active participant in academic circles, having presented her findings at various regional and national conferences. Her commitment to teaching is deeply rooted in a desire to positively influence her students’ academic and professional journeys.
Diane Harris is a Mathematics Instructor at Sussex County Community College and is the Math Honor Society Advisor and Organizer for Mu Alpha Theta, the National High School and Two-Year College Mathematics Honor Society. Diane earned a Master of Education degree from Gordon College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Maine, graduating with highest distinction and high honors. Prior to transitioning into higher education, Diane had a career in the pharmaceutical industry specializing in contract pricing, analysis, development, and administration.
Chef Kester, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, is the supervisor for Sussex's Culinary & Hospitality program. He was tasked with the design and launch of the new SCCC Culinary Institute. Kester has worked in some of the best restaurants in New Jersey in a career that spans 20 years. His accolades include being named one of the top five chefs in the state by Inside Jersey in 2015, and he has been a part of several teams that earned coveted 4-star ratings from The Star Ledger. His secret to a great menu is fresh, local ingredients. Kester worked closely with farmers and took a hands-on approach to help establish a sustainable farm for one of his restaurants.
A graduate of Johnson and Wales University, and holds an A.A.S. in Culinary Arts and a B.S. in Business Studies. Chef Kous is the Program Supervisor of Hospitality, and an Instructor of Culinary Arts, and considers this to be his most rewarding positions of his career in foodservice. He has a passion for working directly with food and in operations, and in teaching his students how to do the same. During his 35-plus years of experience in the foodservice industry, he has enjoyed cooking in restaurants, resorts/hotels, owning a catering business, and working in the healthcare industry as an executive chef and foodservice department manager. Chef Kous not only enjoys working with food as a profession, but also enjoys cooking for family and friends, and continually developing his acumen in business, current food trends and instructing students.
His “recipe for success” is to always remember and appreciate the help he has received during his culinary career and to “feed” the same to the future generations in the industry.
After earning a B.S. in biology, Jean LeBlanc returned to her love of literature and writing, receiving an M.A. in English from Middlebury College. She joined the English Department at Sussex County Community College as an adjunct in 1999, becoming a full-time instructor in 2008 (and subsequently an assistant professor). She teaches English Composition I and II, American Literature, Creative Writing, Modern Poetry, and several other courses. For four years LeBlanc served as Director of the Betty June Silconas Poetry Center at SCCC; she is currently on the editorial board of the BJSPC’s annual journal, the Stillwater Review, and on the poetry center’s advisory board. Her poetry has been published in numerous journals, as well as in ten collections (most recently Ancient Songs of Us, from Aqueduct Press in 2020). She has also edited several poetry anthologies. In the pre-pandemic world, she participated in poetry readings, writing groups, lectures, workshops, and expert seminars, and is looking forward to the revival of these in-person poetry connections in the post-pandemic world.
Nicholas Lionetti is the Program Supervisor of the Exercise Science department at Sussex County Community College. He received his Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology from East Stroudsburg University in 2015 and is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine in Clinical Exercise Physiology and Exercise is Medicine. During his professional career, Nicholas has served as a Lead Exercise Physiologist working with older adults in assisted living, as an Exercise Specialist in a hospital-based health and wellness center, as a Clinical Intern in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, and as a Personal Trainer for a private business. In addition, he has several years of experience teaching at the collegiate level in Exercise Science and is passionate about helping his students succeed in both the classroom and in the field.
Dr. Melik joins the Sussex community after a successful career in medicine. She is a physician, medical researcher, and registered medical assistant, among other specialties, whose love for academia turned into a teaching career. She has previously acted as the Associate Chair of the Medical Programs at Berkeley College. Dr. Melik lives in Sparta with her family and is excited to make waves in her community.
Sal Paolucci is an assistant professor of Business and Economics, the Chair of the Professional Studies & Social Sciences Department at Sussex, and the Program Coordinator for the Business department. He teaches Introduction to Business, Principles of Marketing, Economics, and Small Business Management. He has earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Montclair State University. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Business Administration from Walden University. He is also a Co-Advisor of the SCCC Business & Entrepreneurial Club. He is also a volunteer and Trustee at the ADI (The Anxiety and Depression Initiative), a non-profit organization in northern NJ. He encourages entrepreneurship, social responsibility, and philanthropy in the classroom and beyond. He is strongly committed to student development and creating a productive learning environment.
Professor Deborah Phillips-Lanza is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Social Sciences and Program Coordinator for the Foundations for Success Program. She completed her MA from Montclair State University while working at Stevens Institute of Technology as their Dean of Residence Life for 14 years and worked towards a doctorate at Stevens and New York University. Professor Lanza has contributed to numerous journals and publications including the 9th edition of John Gardner’s text Your College Experience: Strategies for Success. Professor Lanza is an award recipient of The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance Project for her work in diversity education and was nominated for The National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience’s First-Year Seminar Award. She was also the creator of “A Freshman Can” Community Service Program to involve students in the fight against hunger and help local food banks which evolved into a campus food pantry. Professor Lanza feels privileged to teach and mentor students in ways that help them achieve their dream of a college education.
John Sauchelli has been a pastry chef for more than half his life, and has a passion for creating decadence using natural ingredients. A multi-award-winning hot sauce maker and co-owner of Jersey Barnfire Hot Sauce, John has worked in many fine dining restaurants in New Jersey, New York, and abroad, including Maritime Parc in Jersey City, Grand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs in Hamburg, NJ, Gramercy Tavern in New York City, and Hotel Nassauer Hof in Wiesbaden, Germany. Most recently, John was the Executive Pastry Chef at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, NJ and is currently a pastry and baking instructor at Sussex County Community College’s Culinary Institute in Newton, NJ.
John believes that food can be aesthetically beautiful and pleasing to the eyes without having to be fancy. A fervent gardener, John is seasonally inspired, and the Garden State serves as a muse for his fresh, local, ingredient-driven desserts.
Peter Schoch, Associate Professor of Physics & Computer Science, holds two Master of Science degrees: M.S. in Physics from Lehigh University and M.S. in Space Studies from University of North Dakota. He believes, "Mathematics and physics are at the heart of everything, and explain how and why everything works. Without mathematics you can't begin to solve problems, and without physics you can't begin to model them."
Dr. Leonard Sheehy is the Supervisor of The Sussex County Community College Robotics & Makerspace, and Lead Faculty of Chemistry. He has been a robotics instructor for twelve years. Dr. Sheehy collaborated with LEGO as a Master Educator developing curriculum and consulting on products. Dr. Sheehy is also employed by the United States Army as a STEM instructor. In this position he works with scientists and engineers to develop and implement hands-on, state of the art content and interactive activities for the institute located on the base at Picatinny Arsenal. Dr. Sheehy is certified Festo Mechatronics instructor. His current interests include research in the areas of robotics, automation, and mechatronics, development of technologies to assist the developmentally challenged, and implementation of applications to assist in content distribution in all subject areas. Dr. Sheehy is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Erin Shroll’s expertise in all things plants began cultivating as a child growing up in a central Ohio farming community. A graduate of Oregon State University with a Master of Science in Horticulture, she spent her graduate year researching living, or “Green,” roofs. She moved to New Jersey in 2010 to explore vegetable farming. She has also gotten her hands dirty in beekeeping, estate gardening, and hydroponic farming. But her favorite way to garden is to garden with a purpose, whether building a rain garden, a garden for pollinators, or to grow vegetables for food.
Mary Ives Thompson, Professor of English, holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in English Literature from The Catholic University of America and a B.A. in English with a minor in Mass Communications from King’s College. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the English and Humanities department, acts as Instructional Design Faculty Facilitator, and oversees the annual College Novel selection. In addition, she has published and presented nationally and internationally on college instruction and literature topics.
Daniel Warhol, Instructor of English, is originally from Sussex County, NJ. He received both his B.A. and M.A. in English from the University at Albany, SUNY, where he focused on modern literature and literary criticism. His Master’s thesis, “The Magic of a Strange Sky: Nature and the Mysticism of Memory in Beckett’s Trilogy”, was published to ProQuest upon the completion of his degree. He began teaching as an adjunct Instructor at Sussex County Community College in 2020.
In addition to his role as the Faculty Advisor of the College’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, Daniel is the Director of the Betty June Silconas Poetry Center, housed in the College library, and Editor of The Stillwater Review, a print poetry journal that publishes lyrical poetry from local, national, and international poets.
As a full-time Instructor of English, Daniel will continue teaching courses in literature and composition, emphasizing to his students the enrichment that effective writing and critical reading can afford them in their personal, academic, and professional lives.
Daniel is excited to continue facilitating the activities of the community of young scholars that make up our chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. He is also looking forward to promoting an appreciation of the verbal arts.
