Jill Berkowicz ’75, ’79g
Adjunct Professor
SUNY New Paltz Educational Leadership Program
Major: Elementary Education, Psychology and Special Education
Jill Berkowicz, Ed.D., has spent her 30 year career in education focusing on issues of equity and best practices in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and technology, as they affect the development of all learners in the K-12 system. In her leadership roles as principal and director of curriculum, instruction, and technology, equal access to quality teaching was the foundation of her work.
Presently, Jill is an adjunct professor at SUNY New Paltz in the educational leadership program. She provides ongoing professional development for teachers and principals. Her work is dedicated to developing schools' capacities to improve the teaching and learning environment through technology, high-stakes portfolios, and rigorous learning experiences.
She serves on the board of New York ASCD as the educational consultant for their digital newsletter and the editor of their IMPACT Journal. Jill is the coauthor, with Dr. Ann Myers, of a blog, Leadership360, published by Education Week, and of a book entitled The STEM Shift: A Guide for School Leaders.
Vilicia Cade ’88
Senior Director of Secondary Education
Major: Black Studies
Vilicia Cade is a demonstrated and proven instructional leader in pre-K-12 education. She has extensive experience working with low performing schools, supervising principals, and developing systems that improve student outcomes. She has expertise in program development, building leadership capacity, executing effective data driven school improvement protocols, and effectively implementing the tenets of a professional learning community. Over the past 15 years, she has served in various leadership roles. During this time, she has established a reputation for fostering positive human relations while galvanizing others to embark on systemic changes that result in improved student learning.
Vilicia has earned a bachelor’s degree, three masters’ degrees, and a doctorate. Her doctoral research focused on restructuring schools. She has played a pivotal role in leading and overseeing school reform and turnaround efforts in both the New York City Public Schools and in the Christina School District, Wilmington, DE — where she currently serves as a senior director. She has been a teacher, curriculum specialist, assistant principal of academic subjects, principal, director of curriculum and instruction, director of school reform, and senior director of secondary education. Her mantra is “equity and excellence” for every child. Her passion is to ensure that every child has access to opportunities to realize their post- secondary dreams.
Esther R. Dyer ’72
President and CEO
National Medical Fellowships, Inc.
Founder and Proprietor
ArtEgg Studios
Major: Elementary Education: English
Dr. Esther R. Dyer was elected president and CEO of National Medical Fellowships, Inc. (NMF) in 2006. NMF is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the next generation of healthcare leaders. Founded in 1946, NMF has provided more than 30,000 scholarships to diverse students in medicine and health professions. Today, NMF programs are designed to engage and encourage NMF scholars to pathways to success that are focused on increasing access to quality healthcare for all in our diverse society. NMF collaborates with public and governmental organizations to move closer to the day when healthcare disparities are eliminated. Previously, she was executive director of the American-Italian Cancer Foundation and the United States Representative of the European School of Oncology.
Prior positions have included: director of public affairs for Empire Blue Cross; director of the Health Services Research Fund; executive director of the New York City March of Dimes; external affairs advisor to the Center for Bioenvironmental Research at Tulane and Xavier Universities; senior advisor of external affairs at Columbia Cornell Cares; and assistant professor and member of the graduate faculty at Rutgers University. She holds a doctorate degree in library science from Columbia University, a Certificado del Curso Medio from Universidad de Salamanca, a master’s degree in information policy from Rockefeller College, SUNY Albany, named Distinguished Alumna, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education: English from SUNY New Paltz. Other professional affiliations include: American Library Association (life member); American Society for Clinical Oncology; Lower Westside Home Health Agency (board member); National Hispanic Medical Association (member); National Medical Association (member); New York Society of Association Executives; the Circumnavigators Club [life member, international president (2010-2012), and member of the Board of Directors of the Circumnavigators Club Foundation]; and the Emy and Emil Herzfeld Foundation.
Kari Giordano ’02
Middle and High School Teacher
Southern Berkshire Regional School District
Major: Graphic Design
Kari Giordano teaches art, design, and photography to middle and high school students in western Massachusetts. After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from SUNY New Paltz in 2002, Kari began a short career in print design. Determined to spend more of her professional time away from a computer desk, she decided to pursue teaching as a more satisfying career. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Teaching from Rhode Island School of Design in 2006 and secured a teaching job that same year.
Kari serves as the curriculum leader and head of the fine and performing arts department, oversees various student-run organizations, and is the public relations coordinator at the Southern Berkshire Regional School District. She received the James C. Kapteyn Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2015; an award honoring one high school teacher of exemplary character, integrity, and honor chosen from nominees working in Berkshire County, MA, Columbia County and Dutchess County, NY, and Litchfield County, CT. Kari has had multiple articles published in SchoolArts Magazine and has been a presenter at the National Art Education Association convention. In her non-teaching hours, she operates a freelance graphic design and photography company: Sundae Graphic Design + Photo. Her work can be viewed online at sundaegraphics.com and artanddesigned.weebly.com.
Tamah Wiegand
Head of Middle School (Retired)
The Brearley School
Major: English
Tamah Wiegand was born on the south side of Chicago. She graduated from Evanston Township High School, receiving the League of Women’s Voters Citizenship award, recognizing the work that she had done tutoring younger students, helping to establish a day camp for Native American children in Chicago, and campaigning for equal housing on the north shore of Chicago.
After graduating from Connecticut College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Tamah began teaching at the Brearley School in New York, NY: an independent school for girls in K-12. She started as an assistant teacher in the fifth grade and 31 years later, retired as the head of the middle school. In between, Tamah taught fifth grade history and geography, sixth grade English grammar, fifth through seventh grade English, and tenth grade American history.
Since retiring, Tamah has served as the vice president of the Gardiner Library Board of Trustees and has continued to tutor. She enjoys reading, gardening, and traveling, and has been especially fortunate to have traveled to every continent. For her, traveling is like being in another classroom where she has learned to appreciate diverse cultures, while, at the same time, recognizing that we share the same basic values.
Alita McCoy Zuber ’94 ’97g CAS ’00
Assistant Superintendent of Business
Ossining Union Free School District
Major: Business Administration and School Business Administration
Alita McCoy Zuber has made outstanding contributions to the Ossining Schools and their community. In 2014, Alita was awarded the Pinnacle of Excellence award from the Association of Business Officials International for her process and success in improving community trust and engagement about financial problems facing the Ossining School District. In 2015, she was recognized by Education Week as “Leader to Learn From” based on her expertise in district finances. Recently, Alita published an article for heinemann.com, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, for their professional development digital library. The article is entitled, “How Enlightened, Engaged, and Empowered Public School Communities Can Overcome Financial Obstacles.” She also wrote an article for School Administrator Magazine entitled “Differentiated Instruction… From the Business Office?” The article highlights how a finance leader devises creative tools to overcome public skepticism. Alita has also been a panelist in a webinar, hosted by the New York State Association for School Business Officials on best practices for budget communications.
Alita holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, a Master of Science degree in School Business Administration, and a Certificate of Advanced Study from SUNY New Paltz. She is permanently certified in school business and district administration. She completed the Education Policy Fellowship Program co-sponsored by the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) in Washington, DC, the Department of Education Policy & Social Analysis at Teachers College, Westchester-Putnam School Boards Association (WPSBA), and Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES. Alita is a wife and mother of three girls, an active member of her church, and of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for 23 years.
