Communication & Languages

Department Overview
Effective communication skills are critical in a global marketplace with accelerating technological advancements. Our programs provide the tools to successfully navigate this complex and ever-changing world.

The Communication & Languages Department offers a wide range of programs, with classes offered online and face-to-face, that prepare you for careers in such high-energy fields as media production, advertising, event planning, public relations, marketing, and journalism. We can also help you advance your career prospects by learning a foreign language including French and Spanish.

If English is your second language, we offer various levels of instruction to prepare you for college level courses. We can help you with speaking, grammar accent reduction, reading and writing.

Graduates of our programs transfer to such prestigious colleges and universities as The College of New Jersey, Emerson College, Rutgers University, New York University, Syracuse University and The New School.

Learning to Navigate the Global World

No matter where your career path takes you, you’ll need to have great communication skills. From landing a job to winning over clients to nailing a team project, your ability to effectively communicate can mean the difference between success and failure. The Communication & Languages Department can help you improve your communication skills so you can meet your personal, educational and career goals. You can also learn a new language or improve your foreign language skills.

Degree Programs

Full Time Faculty

Sara R. Banfield, Department Chair Read More

Bio

Professor - Communication Studies

Academic Degrees Achieved: Ed.D., M.A., West Virginia University; B.A., Capital University

Area of Expertise

Communication Studies: Interpersonal Communication, Intercultural Communication, Instructional Communication

sara.banfield@raritanval.edu

Cheryl Bell Read More

Bio

Associate Professor - English as a Second Language

Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A., University of Findlay; B.S., King's College

Conference Presentations: “Conversation Partners: Overcoming Challenges,” May 30, 2014, at the Faculty of the Future Conference held at Bucks County Community College, Newtown, Pennsylvania; “English Language Learners Researching Popular Culture to Close Gaps,” March 5, 2012, at the League of Innovations Conference held in Philadelphia, PA; “Using video clips to stimulate students’ writing,” April 28, 2012, at the Kean University Writing Project Symposium – T3: Teachers Teaching Teachers held at Kean University, Union, New Jersey; “Using elaboration to decipher vocabulary,” April 3, 2008, at the 42nd Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit held in New York, New York; “Bringing Native and Nonnative Speakers Together,” March 31, 2005, at the 39th Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit held in San Antonio, Texas

Area of Expertise

English as a Second Language

cheryl.bell@raritanval.edu

Thomas Bentey Read More

Bio

Instructor, Social Media

Academic Degrees Achieved: B.A., English, Rutgers University; M.A., Media Studies and Communication, The New School, New School University; M.F.A, Film (Producing), Brooklyn College, Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema

thomas.bentey@raritanval.edu

Carolyn D. Kinebrew Bosa Read More

Bio

Associate Professor - Communication

Academic Degrees Achieved: M.S., Boston University; B.S., Florida Institute of Technology

Dennis Kauff Memorial News Reporting and Producing Award for Enterprise Reporting--General News

Area of Expertise

Communication, Film Studies

ckinebre@raritanval.edu

Rebecca L. Case Read More

Bio

Assistant Professor - Spanish

Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A., Montclair State University; B.A., Drew University; A.A., Raritan Valley Community College

Area of Expertise

Spanish

rebecca.case@raritanval.edu

Christine Chynoweth Read More

Bio

Instructor - ASL

Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A., Montclair State University; B.A., Montclair State University

Area of Expertise

American Sign Language, Linguistics

christine.chynoweth@raritanval.edu

Lindsey Hageman Read More

Bio

Instructor of English as a Second Language

Academic Degrees: M.S., in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), SUNY Albany; B.A., in English Literature, McGill University

Area of Expertise

Reading/writing and grammar

lindsey.hageman@raritanval.edu

Philip H. Martin Read More

Bio

Assistant Professor

Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A., Columbia University; B.A., Seton Hall University; A.A., Union County College

Winner of the Neblett Award for Outstanding Classroom Teaching, 2013

Area of Expertise

Interpersonal Communication, Media Studies, Rhetoric

philip.martin@raritanval.edu

Sandra Laurie Reynolds Read More

Bio

Professor - French & Spanish

Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A.,University of Salamanca, Spain; M.A., Purdue University; French Certificate, University of Quebec

1997 Who's Who Among America's teachers, 2002 Fulbright Teacher Award, 2005 Fulbright-Hayes Grant Recipient, 2008 Editor's Choice Award for International Library of Poetry, 2015 Publication in Raritan Valley Anthology of Poetry; Papers presented at national and international conferences for AATF, ACTFL, NJEA and NE on topics such as the Cajun people, King Arthur, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Guadalupe-an creole, language acquisition.

Area of Expertise

French & Spanish

lreynold@raritanval.edu

Dawn Sweet Read More

Bio

Assistant Professor

Academic Degrees Achieved:
PhD, Communication, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
M.A., The College of New Jersey
B.A., Kean College (now Kean University)
A.A., Raritan Valley Community College

Awards, Research, Grants:
2020 Olsson Early Career Award, University of Idaho
2014 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, Psychology Department, Iowa State University

Area of Expertise

Communication Studies

dawn.sweet@raritanval.edu

Andrea Vaccaro Read More

Bio

Professor

Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A., University of San Francisco; B.A., Rutgers University

Area of Expertise

English as a Second Language

andrea.vaccaro@raritanval.edu

Evan Walter Read More

Bio

Instructor

Academic Degrees Achieved: B.A., General Studies: Film, M.A., Media Studies, The New School University; A.A., Liberal Arts: Communication, Raritan Valley Community College

Area of Expertise

Digital Media/Film

evan.walter@raritanval.edu

Adjunct Faculty

Raritan Valley Community College online courses, as well as face-to-face classes, are taught by accomplished adjunct and full-time faculty.

Ali Akarcesme ali.akarcesme@raritanval.edu
M.A., Film, School of Visual Arts
B.A., Film & Media, Temple University

Lynn Barnes lynn.barnes@raritanval.edu
M.F.A., Visual Arts, Rutgers University
B.F.A., Visual Arts, Rutgers University

Emily Bengels emily.bengels@raritanval.edu
B.A., Bryn Mawr College
M.E.D., Rutgers University

Susan Berriman Bova susan.bova@raritanval.edu
B.S. Linguistics and French, Georgetown University
Master's Degree in Educational Linguistics with a specialization in ESL, Uuniveristy of Pennsylvania
Certificate in Bilingual Education, French, ESL and Reading Specialist

Alisha Brown alisha.brown@raritanval.edu
M.S., Communications, D.Ed., Educational Leadership & Management, Drexel University

Carole Browne carole.browne@raritanval.edu
M.A., Seton Hall University

Natalia Cabinda natalia.cabinda@raritanval.edu
B.A., English, French, Universite de Yaounde, Cameroon
M.A., Foreign Language & English, Universite de
Yaounde, Cameroon
M.Ed., Education, Universite de Yaounde, Cameroon

Antoinette Cavaliere antoinette.cavaliere@raritanval.edu

Deborah D'Amore deborah.damore@raritanval.edu
B.A international Politics Minors in Business and Italian, Penn State University
M.A.T Italian, Rutgers University

Amy Dixon amy.dixon@raritanval.edu
TESOL,Kean University
M.A. Secondary Education, Seton Hall University
B.A. Political Science, Seton Hall University

George Falkowski george.falkowski@raritanval.edu
M.A., Mass Communication, Emerson College
B.A., English, Kean University

John J. Fink john.fink@raritanval.edu
M.F.A., Media Production, SUNY University at Buffalo

Donna Gregory donna.gregory@raritanval.edu
B.A., Communication, Rutgers College
M.C.I.S., Communication and Information Studies, Rutgers University

Patricia George patricia.george@raritanval.edu
M.E.D., College of New Jersey

Maria Grewal maria.grewal@raritanval.edu
B.A., History, Warwick University, England
M.A., Comparative Social History, Warwick University U.K.

Michael Allen Griffith   michael.griffith@raritanval.edu
M.A., Mass Communication/Media Studies, New York University
B.A. Speech, Media, Communication & Philosophy, East Stroudsburg University

Katarina Grofikova   katarina.grofikova@raritanval.edu
Master in TESOL, 2001 Adelphi University, Long Island, New York

Lindsey Hageman lindsey.hageman@raritanval.edu
M.S., University of the State of New York

Timothy Hall timothy.hall@raritanval.edu
M.E.D., College of New Jersey
E.D.D., Columbia College

Jae Han jae.han@raritanval.edu
B.S., Accounting, Seton Hall University
M.A., Curriculum and Instruction ESL, Kean University
M.A., Educational Administration, Kean University

Mary Ryan Howley mary.howley@raritanval.edu
B.A., Music, Montclair State University
B.A., M.A., Spanish, Rutgers University

Alina Laboy alina.laboy@raritanval.edu
B.A., M.S., St. John’s University Jamaica

Thomas Lancaster thomas.lancaster@raritanval.edu
B.A., English, St. Vincent College
M.A., Media Studies, New School for Social Research

Vivienne Larrea   vivienne.larrea@raritanval.edu
Dual B.A. Spanish & Latin American Studies, Rutgers University
M.A.T. Foreign Language Instruction Spanish, Rutgers University

Luis Lavado luis.lavado@raritanval.edu
B.S., Temple University
M.S., Gwynedd-Mercy College

Laureen Lefever laureen.lefever@raritanval.edu
B.A., Communication Arts, St. Francis College
M.F.A., Acting, Brooklyn College

Alfonso Q. Llano alfonso.llano@raritanval.edu
Master's degree in Spanish, Rutgers University

Christine LoMonaco christine.lomonaco@raritanval.edu

Brian Lorio brian.lorio@raritanval.edu
B.S., Speech, Northwestern University
J.D., University of Illinois College of Law

Julia T M-Bowie Julia.tm-bowie@raritanval.edu
B.A., M.S.E.D., Rutgers University

Lisa Mahajan-Cusack lisa.mahajan-cusack@raritanval.edu
B.S., Business Admin/Psychology, College of St. Elizabeth
M.P.A., Public Service Admin & Policy, Seton Hall University

Clarence McMillan clarence.mcmillan@raritanval.edu
M.P.H., Kean University; PHD., Walden University

Catherine Mitch catherine.mitch@raritanval.edu
B.A., German Language and Literature, Florida State University
M.A., German Literature, Florida State University
M.S., Multilingual/Multicultural Education, Specialization in TESOL, Florida State University

Vita Morales vita.morales@raritanval.edu
M.T.A., Hunter College
M.E.D., Fordham University

Thomas Mullen   thomas.mullen@raritanval.edu
B.A., M.A., Comparative Literature, University of Wisconsin

Dana Jean Nelson dana.nelson@raritanval.edu
M.A., Psychology, Rutgers University
M.A., ESL Studies, Rider University
B.A., Psychology, Carleton College

Xavier Nieto xavier.nieto@raritanval.edu
B.A., Spanish, College of Staten Island
M.A., Spanish, Brooklyn College

Cary Pendaz cary.pendaz@raritanval.edu
B.A., Humboldt State University
M.A., Middlebury University

Olga Phelps   olga.phelps@raritanval.edu
M.A., Herzen University

Bryon Pinajian bryon.pinajian@raritanval.edu
M.A., Seton Hall University

Katherine Poynter katherine.poynter@raritanval.edu
B.A., Drew University
M.A., College of New Jersey

Jason Scott Quinn   jason.quinn@raritanval.edu
M.F.A, University of North Carolina at Greensboro,
M.A. Acting, University of North Carolina at Greensboro,
B.A. Communication Studies, University of South Florida
Theatre Arts Cert. Acting, Circle in the Square Theatre School

Amit Ray amit.ray@raritanval.edu
M.S.E., Drexel University

Anne Reifsnyder   anne.reifsnyder@raritanval.edu
B.A., Lake Erie College
M.S., University of Albany, SUNY

Michael Reynolds michael.reynolds@raritanval.edu
M.A., English and Creative Writing, Southern New Hampshire University
B.A., Communication, Ramapo College

Betty Sanchez betty.sanchez@raritanval.edu
M.A., Montclair State University

David Sandler david.sandler@raritanval.edu
B.S., Journalism, Suffolk University
M.A., Education, Suffolk University

Virginia Santoro virginia.santoro@raritanval.edu
B.A., French, American University
M.A., TESOL, Kean University

Brian Schorr brian.schorr@raritanval.edu

Peter J. Schroeck pschroec@raritanval.edu
B.A. German, SUNY at Albany
M.A. German, SUNY at Albany
Ph.D. German, Rutgers University

Diana Sefchik diana.sefchik@raritanval.edu
B.A., History, M.A., Secondary Education, Seton Hall University
M.A., Elementary Education, Kean University

Michael Shannon, CMP, HMCC michael.shannon@raritanval.edu
B.S., Business Administration, School of Hotel & Restaurant Management, University of Denver

Jacqueline Skole jacqueline.skole@raritanval.edu
A.B., Political Science, Communication, University of Michigan
M.S.J., Journalism, Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism

Gail Strelko gail.strelko@raritanval.edu
B.A., Psychology, University of Texas
M.Ed., Teaching English as a Second Language, The College of New Jersey

Joseph Svec joseph.svec@raritanval.edu
M.A., William Paterson University
M.F.A., University of Idaho

Kimberley Tan kimberley.tan@raritanval.edu
B.A., Memorial University Newfoundland

Louis Thomas louis.thomas@raritanval.edu
Montgomery County Community College
B.A., Temple University

Amanda J. Thompson amanda.thompson@raritanval.edu
M.A. Applied Linguistics, Montclair State University
B.A. Spanish Linguistics, Rutgers University

Peter Troost peter.troost@raritanval.edu
Certificates, Avid Editing, Future Media Concepts
B.A., Communication, Rutgers University

Hector Velasquez hector.velasquez@raritanval.edu
M.E.D., New Jersey City University

Doryce Wheeler doryce.wheeler@raritanval.edu
Ed.M./Teacher Certification Program in English as a Second Language, Rutgers Graduate School of Education

Joseph Whelan joseph.whelan@raritanval.edu
B.A., Spanish, Rutgers University
M.A., Inst. Curr./ESL, Kean University

Ricardo Zamora ricardo.zamora@raritanval.edu
Master Degree University of Salamanca (Spain)