Employee Directory

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 also 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.

In 1996 Dr. Jon Connolly earned his Ph.D. from the University of Maine in Biological Science. He has published more than a dozen peer-reviewed research articles and has presented at numerous conferences and higher education leadership seminars. He credits his leadership success on the indispensable efforts of others in the talented teams with which he has worked. He began his work as President of Sussex County Community College in 2015.

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.

Alyssa earned her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling with a Specialization in Art Therapy from Caldwell University in 2014. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC), and also is a Little Flower Yoga Instructor (level 1). She has experience working in a variety of mental health settings, including outpatient facilities, hospitals, partial hospitalization programs, psychiatric hospitals, and therapeutic schools. Alyssa currently works at SCCC as an academic advisor and personal counselor.

Cory earned his Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Marywood University and his Ph.D. in Psychology with an emphasis on the Integration between Psychology, Technology, and Learning. He oversees enrollment management, institutional effectiveness, and research functions at the institution.

I’m a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America. I was named the new Supervisor of Culinary & Hospitality at Sussex County Community College. Working in some of the best restaurants in the state of new Jersey, my career has spanned 20 years. I was honored to be named one of the top five chefs in the state by Inside Jersey in 2015 and have been part of several teams that earned coveted 4-star ratings from The Star Ledger.

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. With 30 years of experience in Higher Education, Professor Lanza considers college student development her discipline. The core mission of the program she leads is college student success and development - something she has studied, lived, and breathed her entire career. 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 9thedition of John Gardner’s text Your College Experience: Strategies for Success. Professor Lanza has been a presenter at numerous conferences and colleges including a presentation at Oxford University. 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. Professor Lanza is a Certified Academic Advisor and has served in a plethora of campus and community work including: Chair of Academic Standards, member of the Diversity Council, member of the Tenure, Promotion and Reappointment Committee, Advisor of the Psychology Club, Department Assessment Coordinator, member of the Orientation Committee, and served on the Yes Express Student Success Council. Professor Lanza was also an Advisory Council member for the Sussex County Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs among individuals 18-25. 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.

After earning a B.S. in biology, I returned to my love of literature and writing, receiving an M.A. in English from Middlebury College. I joined the English Department at Sussex as an adjunct in 1999 and full-time in 2008. I teach English Composition I and II, American Literature, Creative Writing, Modern Poetry, and several other courses. For four years, I served as Director of the Betty June Silconas Poetry Center at SCCC; now I am on the editorial board of the BJSPC’s annual journal, the Stillwater Review, and on the poetry center’s advisory board.

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.

Sal Paolucci is an Instructor of Business and Economics at SCCC, as well as 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 class room and beyond. He is strongly committed to student development and a creating a productive learning environment.

Mike graduated from Sussex County Community College before enrolling at East Stroudsburg University where he earned his BS and MS in Athletic Training. While in graduate school, Mike was selected, along with 12 other graduate students, to take part as a healthcare professional for the Mayaguez Central American and Caribbean Games in 2010. Sussex hired Mike in 2011 as the Athletic Trainer and Assistant Athletic Director. He is responsible for the prevention, evaluation, and management of sports-related injuries, as well as strength and conditioning programs for athletic teams, academic correspondence between athletes and professors, and a variety of other duties that are needed to aid the athletic department and its success. In 2016, Mike was added to the soccer coaching staff.

Dr. Leonard Sheehy is the Supervisor of The Sussex County Community College Robotics & Makerspace and the 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 a certified Festo Mechatronics instructor. His current interests include research in the areas of robotics, automation, and mechatronics, the 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 growing vegetables for food.

After graduating with her AA degree from Sussex County Community College, Traci went on to East Stroudsburg University, where she earned her BA in English, graduating cum laude. Traci began her employment with SCCC in March of 2009, first in the Registrar’s office, then, since August of 2011, she has been happily staffed in the Athletic Department handling all things administrative, as well as, providing all of the action shots of Sussex's athletic contests. Additionally, she offers her full-on spirit and support to the student-athletes, the teams, and their very dedicated coaches.

Mary Ives Thompson, Professor of English, holds a PhD and MA in English Literature from The Catholic University of America and a BA 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. She has published and presented nationally and internationally on topics related to college instruction and literature.