The Advisory Board for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers advice, support, and assistance in sustaining and growing the high caliber of academic programs of the College. The Board advises and supports the Dean, with extensive opportunity to interact with faculty, staff, and students, and to learn about current programs and future opportunities in the College. Through individual and collective efforts, the Advisory Board advocates for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and brings relevant individual and professional experiences and insights into the process. The work of the College Advisory Board complements department-level efforts by focusing primarily on college-wide goals.
Members
- Onika T. Jervis ('93 Biology)
- Ed Carroll ('85 Communication & Media)
- Patrick Coleman ('90 International Relations)
- Howard Goldblatt ('73 Political Science)
- Bruce Hottum ('78 Biology)
- Ronald Knapp Distinguished Professor Emeritus
- Jeffrey Korn, Esq. ('79 Speech Communication)
- Beth (Yaffee) McNeill ('91 Speech Communication)
- Judy O'Brien ('70 Sociology)
- Christopher Wright ('01 Speech Communication)
- Robin Faye Angstrom ('10 Anthropology)
- Ms. Michele T. Di Palo ('77 Sociology)
- Gary Larkin ('85 English)
- Dr. Steven Brody ('73 Psychology)
- James Schiffer, Dean LA&S
Members' Biography
Onika T. Jervis ('93 Biology), Chair, Associate Director of Residential Life and Housing at Barnard College. Prior to this, Ms. Jervis worked with SUNY New Paltz in the office of Residence Life as the Complex Director of Bevier Hall and helped inaugurate the "First Year Initiative" program.
Ed Carroll ('85 Communication & Media) is the chief operating officer of Rainbow Entertainment Services. Mr. Carroll has built some of the most successful brands in television and has overseen the development of some of television's most successful series, including "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad," "Bridezillas," "Inside the Actors Studio" and "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."
Patrick Coleman ('90 International Relations) is the director for African affairs at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). USTR is part of the executive office of the president of the United States. Mr. Coleman works on developing and implementing U.S. trade policy with the countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
Howard Goldblatt ('73 Political Science) has been director of government affairs for the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud since its inception in 1993. His career in government and public policy started in New York and includes 10 years of service on Capitol Hill serving on the legislative staffs of several members of Congress.
Bruce Hottum ('78 Biology) currently operates his own general dentistry practice in Kingston, N.Y. Dr. Hottum is also a teacher of pre-hospital emergency care and rescue to EMS, fire, police and military within the Hudson Valley region.
Ronald Knapp taught for 33 years, from 1968 through 2001, in the Department of Geography and the Asian Studies Program at SUNY New Paltz, retiring as SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus to pursue full-time fieldwork and writing. He has authored, edited, or contributed to more than 20 books on China's architecture, culture, and historical geography.
Jeffrey Korn, Esq. ('79 Speech Communication) has served as senior vice president and chief legal officer for iMergent, Inc., an e-commerce solutions company, since 2009. Prior to that, Mr. Korn was a practicing trial attorney in Jacksonville, Fl., during which time he was a frequent lecturer and author on trial tactics and creditors' rights.
Beth (Yaffee) McNeill ('91 Speech Communication) works for Cintas Corporation as a global account manager. In her role, she manages a portfolio of Fortune 1000 companies. She develops and leads account strategy on multi-platform initiatives across all lines of service provided by Cintas.
Judy O'Brien ('70 Sociology) is currently the field vice president with Travelers Insurance. As field vice president, Ms. O'Brien's direct reports include eight claim center vice presidents and their executive management teams representing approximately 2,700 claim professionals.
Christopher Wright ('01 Speech Communication) is the associate director of undergraduate admission and coordinator of multicultural recruitment at Emerson College. He helps guide the college with their diversity and inclusion initiatives, while advising young people of their options and opportunities in higher education.
Robin Faye Angstrom ('10 Anthropology) is currently living in Besançon, France, where she works at L'université de Franche-Comté as a full-time English lecturer. She attended SUNY New Paltz from 2006 to 2010 where she earned her Bachelor's degree in anthropology and French.
Ms. Michele T. Di Palo ('77 Sociology) is the director of medical policy operations and new technology assessment at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA), an independent not-for-profit healthcare plan that covers 2.5 million members nationwide. Ms. DiPalo has also consulted at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Tufts University, and Northern Essex Community College. Ms. DiPalo earned her Master's degree in sociology from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.
Gary Larkin ('85 English) is a manager/writer at the Big 4 audit firm PwC Center for Board Governance, where he is responsible for writing the BoardroomDirect monthly newsletter and ghostwriting articles for partners, overseeing the Center's web site, and maintaining its Board Center App.
Dr. Steven Brody ('73 Psychology) is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in private practice in Greenwich, Conn. He is a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia (DDS '77) and is currently an attending surgeon in the Department of Surgery at both Greenwich Hospital and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He also serves as an assistant clinical professor at Columbia University, College of Dental Medicine.
James Schiffer has served as Professor of English and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at SUNY New Paltz since July 2008. From 2000 to 2008, he was head of the English department at Northern Michigan University, and before 2000, he served for many years as chair of the English department at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia.
