Briarcliffe Bethpage Faculty Bios

Joseph Achtziger

I have been employed by Briarcliffe College for more than thirteen years. I started my teaching career as an adjunct instructor in the business department and was promoted to a full time faculty position shortly thereafter. In 2002, I was promoted to the position of Assistant Professor.

Initially, I taught at all Briarcliffe Colleges campuses, including Lynbrook, Woodbury, and Patchogue, but have now been assigned to the Bethpage campus. Initially, I taught exclusively in the evening session, but now teach primarily in the day session. Initially, I was assigned both business and liberal arts courses, but now teach only business courses, including Principles of Business, Management, Marketing, Business Math, Finance, Advertising, Retailing, Business Law, Small Business Management, and International Business. This year, I have added a course in Public Relations.

During my tenure at Briarcliffe, I have served for three years as the Business Representative on the Academic Senate and have served as the Chair of the Faculty Review Committee. I have also been involved with many special projects. I am an officer of Sigma Beta Delta, the Business Honor Society, and was elected to the Alpha Beta Kappa National Honor Society. Recently, I was elected Faculty of the Senate and was rewarded with a reserve parking space!

In addition to my life at Briarcliffe, I am an Adjunct Instructor at St. John's University and A Real Estate Broker. I have also been employed as an Adjunct Instructor at both Nassau Community College and Adelphi University in recent years. On a volunteer basis, I have taught in the Religious Education Program at my church for the past twenty four years.

I came to Briarcliffe as a retiree from the Grumman Corporation with twenty seven managerial experience. I have truly enjoyed my "second career" teaching and mentoring our students, and am looking forward to the changes to be implemented in the near future..

Rachel Andoscia

Rachel Andoscia graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She received a BA in Criminology and a MA in Forensic Psychology with concentrations in criminal profiling and domestic violence treatment plans. She has worked with a New York City Supreme Court in developing treatment programs for violent offenders of domestic crimes. In addition, Andoscia has over ten years experience in security management and has assisted many companies in areas of crime prevention, anti-drug policies and emergency preparedness.

Socrates Boussios
Socrates Boussios is a full-time Assistant Professor in the Liberal Arts department teaching Mathematics and Statistics at Briarcliffe College while simultaneously pursuing his Ph.D. in Mathematics Education at Columbia University. Boussios teaches a variety of mathematics courses: Calculus, Developmental Math, Introduction to College Math, Statistics, and Technical Math.

James Burke
James Burke is currently an instructor in the Business Department of Briarcliffe College. He has taught full-time in both the day and the evening programs at the College for over 15 years. He teaches courses at all levels in the program including: Principles of Business, Intro to Management, Intro to Marketing, Advertising, Sales Management, Business Math, Business Communications and Quantitative Analysis. Burke holds an AAS degree in Business Administration from Suffolk Community College, a BBA and an MBA in Business Management from Dowling College. He is currently working toward his doctoral dissertation in International Business and Marketing Management at Pace University. Prior to teaching, he spent over five years as an Import/Export Manager.

Steve Byers, design instructor
Steve Byers is a designer, educator, consultant and business development expert professionally trained in the creative graphic arts at Yale University (MFA) and Carnegie Mellon University (BFA). His 35 years of international experience in the publishing industry includes such clients as the Advanced Products Division at Microsoft, International Typeface Corporation, Linotype Library, Monotype Corporation, Mark Batty Publisher, Letraset USA. Steve was a research fellow at the Center for Typography and Design at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. He is a facilitator of student seminars on graphic design issues at: Yale University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Cincinnati and Philadelphia College of Art.

He is currently an Instructor in the Graphic Design Department in Briarcliffe College, Patchogue, New York with a focus on desktop publishing and print layout. He has prepared and delivered presentations that simplified complex technical concepts and described business, design and financial opportunities, to boards of directors, the university community and professional associations; including Apple Computer, Adobe Systems, Lexmark International, Go, IBM, Sun Microsystems, Imagen Corporation (QMS), IWATA (Tokyo), Morisawa & Co. (Tokyo) and Xerox. He authored the book "The Electronic Type Catalog" for Bantam Doubleday and is now working on a book for college level instruction of typography. He has been a Board Member of Association Typographic Internationale (AtypI), Basel, Switzerland, the Vice President of Membership for AtypI and the Chairman of the Technology Committee for AtypI. Byershas served on the Board of Directors for Type Director Club of New York. And was a member of original ISO, Typographic Steering Committee.

Karyn Cernera Bush*

Karyn Cernera Bush has over ten years experience in the commercial Graphic Design field. Some accomplishments include: Art Director and Studio Manager for local artist studio, Pre-press Specialist for local print houses including PIP Printing and American Litho and Graphic Artist/Public Relations personnel for the Art League of Long Island.

In addition to her experience in the Graphic Design field, Karyn has been working as a Fine Art and Design faculty member at colleges including Briarcliffe College, Katharine Gibbs School, Dowling College and local non-profit art studios including Art League of Long Island and the Mills Pond House at Smithtown Arts Council. Classes taught range from traditional studio practice to high-end print design.

Karyn graduated from Pratt Institute in 2006 with an MFA in sculpture. Undergraduate degrees from Adelphi University and Katharine Gibbs School complete her Studio and Graphic Design educational background. Karyn began her early art education taking extracurricular advanced studio courses at The Cooper Union and intensive design courses at Parsons School of Design in New York City.

In 2006, Karyn received the "Artist in Residence" award at the Alpan Gallery in Huntington, NY. This residency concluded with a three man exhibition showcasing "Homecoming", her large-scale, conceptual installation. This accomplishment comes in addition to a strong exhibition record in local, Brooklyn and Manhattan based art galleries including her 2006 solo exhibit "An American Dream" located at the Steuben Gallery in Brooklyn, NY.

Rob Doran
Rob Doran began his career in the television industry as a camera operator and video editor. Doran worked for several years as a freelancer on many television productions for ABC, CBS, Fox News Channel, HGTV, Lifetime, Sportschannel, and The Travel Channel. In 1995, he took a full time position producing packaged news stories for Medialink Broadcasting. The video production arm of that company was purchased by MediaOnDemand.com during the dot com boom, and was responsible for the day to day operations of their television production studio at the Jacob Javits center. Since that time Doran has produced numerous Video productions and 3D animation for his Public relations and corporate clients. He is an Autodesk certified instructor for 3DS Max, and is co-author of the book "3DS Max 8 Revealed".

Robert Field
Illustration and Graphic Design Instructor
Robert Field is an illustrator, designer, and educator. Over the course of a more than 20-year career, his illustrations and graphic designs have appeared in a wide range of publications and venues around the world. His professional experience began at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a preeminent medical research hospital in New York City. There he created graphic design solutions for patient education initiatives, as well as scientific illustrations, which appeared at various medical conferences and in major medical research journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine. His undergraduate training in biology and graphic arts provided the academic foundation to work in this highly technical and clinical setting.

Following his tenure at that prestigious medical institution, he worked as senior designer at a biotech company on Long Island designing print marketing collateral materials and web-based advertising campaigns. Concurrently, he has continued to create illustrations for a variety of freelance editorial and publishing clients.

Robert Field is an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at Briarcliffe College. He is a member of the Society of Illustrators and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Long Island University/ C. W. Post Campus, and a Master of Arts degree from Syracuse University, where he had the privilege of studying under "Hall of Fame" illustrator and educator, Murray Tinkelman.

Mark Frascinella*

Mark Frascinella has been with Briarcliffe College for two years, and is the Department Chair of Technology for both campuses. He holds a Master's Degree in Management Engineering and a Bachelor's Degree in Aeronautical Engineering & Astronautics. His computer industry certifications include Certified Novell Engineer, Cisco Certified Network Associate, and Cisco Certified Academy Instructor. Currently he is pursuing network security credentials. Although teaching and his students have been his main focus during the past several years, he has 30 years of industry experience in high technology applications, acting as Engineer, Programmer, Network Engineer, Project Manager, and Division Vice-President. Applications include LAN network design, substation automation software, military electronic power sub-systems, carrier communications systems, and radar and antenna systems. Frascinella's outside interests include the company of a devoted wife of 35 years, social dancing, free-lance writing, and flying as a licensed pilot.

Dr. Joseph Greco

Dr. Greco has taught English Composition, remedial writing and reading, creative writing, literature, film courses and art history at many colleges. He is an Associate Professor at Briarcliffe College. Dr. Greco is the author of "The File on Robert Siodmak in Hollywood: 1941-1951," and is currently completing a work of fiction.

Marilyn Hluszko

Marilyn Hluszko teaches in the Liberal Arts Department at Briarcliffe College. She has taught the Collegiate Learning course, remedial writing and reading, and English composition. She holds a MS degree in Adult Education from Buffalo State College and a BA in Elementary Education, with a minor in Behavioral Sciences from Queens College. Professor Hluszko has received the Chancellor's Recognition Award and a Faculty Recognition Award for Creativity in Learning

Kate Kimmel

Instructor at Briarcliffe College for 18 years in the Business/Technology Department. Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from SUNY Buffalo State College and MBA from Dowling College.

Faculty of the Year, 2008. Executive Committee for the Academic Senate. Co-Chair, Middle States Self-Study. Faculty Development Coordinator. Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society

Professor Nicholas Koumbiadis

Professor Nicholas Koumbiadis academic qualifications began with graduating (Magna cum Laude) with a BBA in Accounting and a MBA from Adelphi University. Since then, he has been a full-time instructor in Accounting and Finance for over six years and recently, embarked on a journey towards a Doctorate in Business Administration completing all course work with a GPA of 3.75. As a result, he has gained personal readiness to continue with a strong commitment to academics in pedagogical research within the fields of accounting, finance, and ethics. Moreover, he has gained a mastery of business-wide knowledge and literature by demonstrating competence in scholarly activities through publishing's and conference presentations worldwide at conferences in France, Dubai, and Cyprus. As a leader who cares for the students and demonstrates extensive knowledge for the subjects of accounting and finance, he is able to apply this knowledge to the challenges and job at hand to ensure the success of his students in the profession of accounting.

Professor Nicholas Koumbiadis has contributed to his organization in three major ways: through his love and commitment of teaching, through service activities, and his research as well as publications that demonstrate an active scholarly agenda.

Dr. Richard Morfopoulos

Dr. Richard Morfopoulos earned an M.S. with distinction from New York Institute of Technology's Center for Labor and Industrial Relations in 1988. After working as an Account Executive for two of the largest executive search firms in the world, Dr. Morfopoulos earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Studies. Since 2004 Dr. Morfopoulos has taught full-time at Briarcliffe College in the Business Administration and Office Technologies Department, where he is presently an Associate Professor. Dr. Morfopoulos frequently publishes articles and chapters pertaining to social entrepreneurship and disability studies. He is the Managing Editor of the International Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, and he is presently under contract to write a textbook with Dr. Manny London related to advocacy, social entrepreneurship, and corporate social responsibility.

David Naylor

David Naylor has worked for Briarcliffe College since March 2001. He is a Microsoft Certified Professional, a Certified Novell Administrator, and is A+ certified. He has earned a Master of Arts, in Communication, with distinction, from the New York Institute of Technology. In addition, Naylor won the C.E.C. Educator of the Year 2000 award for instructional excellence. Recently, he authored his first book entitled "Systems for Success."

Nicholas Pasquarello

Nicholas Pasquarello brings twenty years experience in law enforcement to Briarcliffe. He holds an A.S. in criminal justice from Nassau Community College, and a B.A. and M.S. from the school of public service at Long Island University-C.W. Post Campus.

Karen Pellecchia

Karen Pellecchia, New York painter and designer, has been making art from an early age. She began her career with an Advanced Study Scholarship to Pratt Institute at the age of thirteen and continued later to receive a BA in Fine Arts from Queens College and an MFA in Painting and Drawing from Brooklyn College, graduating with honors. During her tutelage, Pellecchia was afforded the opportunity to study with the renowned artists and critics, Philip Pearlstein, Louis Finklestein, and Lennart Anderson. At Brooklyn College, she was the recipient of the Shaw Memorial Award for distinction in the painting medium and received a full Fellowship, awarded by Wolf Kahn to study painting at the Vermont Studio Center. Pellecchia has been a member of the faculty at Molloy College, Nassau Community College, and currently, is serving as Associate Professor of Art at Briarcliffe College. There she teaches introductory to advanced level classes in Drawing, Painting, 2D and 3D design, Color Theory and Mixed Media. Her work is part of private and commercial collections throughout the United States and Europe, and is represented in Westport, Connecticut and St. Bart's. In addition to the Fine Arts, Pellecchia has studied the applied art of Interior Design at Parsons School of Design and presently freelances in both Interior Design and Fashion Design. Pellecchia Inc. designs have been marketed in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Hong Kong, and have been featured in W Magazine, WWD, and Elements Magazine.

Victor Petrigliano

Victor Petrigliano brings eighteen years experience as an attorney specializing in criminal representation, real estate, and litigation. He holds an A.S. degree in criminal justice from Nassau Community College, a B.S. in criminal justice from St. John's University and a J.D. from St. John's Law School.

Diane Sagesser

January 2009 will mark my 20th year anniversary with Briarcliffe College. I have taught Intro To Computers, all levels of Keyboarding, Machine Transcription, Medical Transcription, Intro To The Internet, College Skills Classes, Reading Skills Classes, College Comp One, Sports Event Management, Business Policy Seminar, Spreadsheets classes, PowerPoint, PageMaker, Publisher, Office Simulation Courses, and many others. I was Faculty Member of the Year-2003, I was inducted into Alpha Beta Kapa in 2007, I was awarded READING IS FUNDAMENTAL Contribution to students in 2008, and I was inducted into the Cambridge Who's Who in 2008. I have served on the Academic Senate as Office Technology Rep for 10 years. I hold an MBA and I am currently working on obtaining a Doctorate in Business Administration from North Central University.

Brian Schorr, J.D.*

Brian Schorr, J.D., has been teaching at Briarcliffe College since 2002 as an adjunct assistant professor. In 2003 he won a Briarcliffe College Crystal Apple Outstanding Faculty Award. Brian earned his B.A. in 1996 at the California State University, Northridge and his J.D. in 2000 at the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center. Brian has taught at Interboro Institute, Queensborough Community College/CUNY and Hofstra University while serving on committees related to curriculum development, faculty development and the American Bar Association. His academic background also includes memberships in Golden Key International Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society, and Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society. Aside from writing screen plays and a novel in his spare time Brian is also working on a textbook with a working title of Cyberlaw: National and International Law and Policy. Brian is currently serving at the Department Chair for Liberal Arts and Sciences for Briarcliffe College.

Stan Smith
Stan Stan Smith is currently the Coordinator of Technology at the Briarcliffe Bethpage campus. Stan has been with Briarcliffe College for 13 years as a full time faculty member and has been teaching at a college level for 15 years including being an adjunct at New York Institute of Technology. His background includes a Bachelor's of Science degree in Electronic Engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston plus 20 years of field experience as a design engineer for telecommunications products, systems, and networks, including both Local Area Networks (LAN's) & Wide Area Networks (WAN's). Some of Stan's accomplishments while in the field include layout and design of telecommunications systems for an X.25 network implemented by Manufacturers Hanover Trust, T-1 system design for IBM Corporation, and a network monitoring & management system for Citibank. Stan has attended training classes for MCSE, Cisco Network Security, and is certified in Network Essentials and scored a perfect 100% on the A+ core (hardware) exam. Presently Stan is pursuing his Master's degree in Network Architecture and Design from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His interests include playing guitar, home improvements, and being with his family.

Gail Stratford
Gail Stratford has a Masters Degree in English from Hofstra University. She has taught for the past 30 years in colleges such as Hofstra University, Suffolk Community College, and Briarcliffe College. She has had her poetry published and written for local newspapers such as Newsday and Parent Connections.

She is a member of both Alpha Beta Kappa and Sigma Beta Delta. In addition, she was one of 12 Finalists for CEC's Educator of the Year in 2004 and was Briarcliffe's Faculty of the Year that same year. She was also Patchogue's Faculty of the Semester in 2007 and has served twice as the Faculty Development Coach. She is a member of the Middle States Steering Committee in addition to the Liberal Arts Advisory Board and Strategic Planning Committee.

Catherine Tyrie
Catherine Tyrie is a full-time Assistant Professor at Briarcliffe College. Since 2006, she has served as a member of the Faculty Senate. In 2008, Professor Tyrie had two pieces of work published. She wrote a chapter about bioagriculture with Professor Morfopoulos in a colleagues' textbook as well as a social entrepreneurship journal article. Professor Tyrie presented an innovation study at a 2008 international conference sponsored by the Society for Advancement of Management (SAM). In 2007, she presented a social entrepreneurship paper at the SAM conference. In addition to teaching full-time, Professor Tyrie and her husband own a small business.

Dr. George Weissinger
Dr. George Weissinger brings 26 years experience as a criminal investigator, a probation and parole officer and an FBI special investigator. He holds a B.A. and M.A. in Sociology from CUNY-Queens College and a Ph.D. from the School of Arts and Sciences from New York University, specializing in deviance and criminal justice studies.

Bruce Wigutow
After earning his Master's degree in English/Education at Long Island University's C.W. campus in Spring of 1994 Associate Professor Bruce Wigutow joined the Briarcliffe College faculty in the Fall of 1994 as an Adjunct Instructor. One year later Professor Wigutow became a full-time member of the faculty in the Liberal Arts department. Professor Wigutow teaches all of the English course offered by the college as well as Critical Thinking, Ethics, Fundamentals of Communication, Collegiate Learning, and Sociology. He also teaches two classes in the Business department: Sports Event Management and Sports Marketing. Professor Wigutow received his Bachelor's degree in Telecommunication (Radio and Television) at Ohio University, in 1986.

Professor Wigutow also has performed or is currently performing other duties for Briarcliffe College. He is the transfer credit evaluator for the Patchogue campus. He serves on the Middle States Reaccreditation Steering committee and is the chair of one of the subcommittees. He is a long time member of the Academic Affairs committee and has served on the Academic Senate on several occasions. Professor Wigutow was the Faculty Member of the year, given out at graduation, in 2000. He won the Crystal Apple Award, voted by the students, in 2004. Bruce was the Faculty Member of the semester, voted by his peers, in the Spring semester of 2008. He is a member of the National Council of Teachers of English. Professor Wigutow is also and Adjunct Professor at two other institutions: Farmingdales State College and St. Joseph's College.

Dr. Allen B. Zilbert
Dr. Allen B. Zilbert has been in the computer field since 1980. He holds a doctorate in computers from Columbia University. Besides his degree in computers, he has a Master's Degree in Business Administration from St. Johns University. At Briarcliffe College, Dr. Zilbert is an Associate Professor in the Technology Department. In addition to his teaching responsibility, he also is the Director of Academic Portal and Web Systems. Dr. Zilbert's expertise is in software development. In this concentration, his specialization is in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and bar code. While being in the business sector, he has developed applications for hospitals, insurance companies, hotels, lighting manufacturers, and pen distributors. Also, he was involved with the conversion of business applications written in COBOL for Y2K compliance.

*chairs