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.
Department Overview
In today’s global economy with technology constantly advancing, effective communication is more and more critical. Our programs provide you with the knowledge to successfully navigate in a complex and ever-changing global environment.
Our Department offers a wide range of programs, with online classes as well as face-to-face, that can prepare you for careers in such high-energy fields as public relations, advertising, marketing, management, event planning, media production and journalism. We also can help you advance your career prospects by learning a foreign language or improving your foreign language skills. Courses are offered in French, German, Italian 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.
Communication Studies, Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts - Explore Careers
Digital Media/Film Studies, Associate of Science - Explore Careers
Digital Video Production, Certificate - Explore Careers
English as a Second Language, Certificate of Completion - Explore Careers
Event Planning/Meeting Management, Certificate - Explore Careers
Online classes are an option for many Communication & Language degree requirements. Click here to register for online summer college courses today!
Sara R. BanfieldRead More
Cheryl BellRead More
Carolyn D. Kinebrew BosaRead More
Rebecca L. CaseRead More
R. Kevin HinkleRead More
Sarah GrecoRead More
Philip H. MartinRead More
Sandra Laurie ReynoldsRead More
Bick Treut, Department ChairRead More
Andrea VaccaroRead More
Evan Walter Read More
Professor - Communication Studies
Academic Degrees Achieved: Ed.D., M.A., West Virginia University; B.A., Capital University
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
Assistant 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
Assistant Professor - Spanish
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A., Montclair State University; B.A., Drew University; A.A., Raritan Valley Community College
Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: Ph.D., New York University; M.A., City University of New York; M.A., Louisiana State University; B.A., Wake Forest University
Princeton Mid-Career Fellowship, 2014-2015
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
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.
Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A., Ohio University; B.S., Emerson College
Author Mediated Perspectives: Media Ownership, Literacy, and Effects (Cognella Publishing, 2015) - Pursuing PhD Psychology (Media Effects), Capella University
Associate Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A., University of San Francisco; B.A., Rutgers University
Raritan Valley Community College online courses, as well as face-to-face classes, are taught by accomplished adjunct and full-time faculty.
Susan Berriman Bova sbova@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
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 ddamore@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
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
Faith West Gorman Faith.westgorman@raritanval.edu
M.B.A., Centenary College
Maria Grewal Maria.grewal@raritanval.edu
B.A., History, Warwick University, England
M.A., Comparative Social History, Warwick University U.K.
Michael Griffith Michael.griffith@raritanval.edu
B.A., 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
Harry Hillard Harry.hillard@raritanval.edu
B.A., Human Communication, Rutgers University
M.F.A., Film Production, Tisch School of the Arts, New York 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
Christy Lamagna, CMM, CTSM, CMP christy.lamagna@raritanval.edu
President's Award: New York Institute of Technology New York Institute of Technology 4.0 CUM
State University of New York at Oneonta: Alumni of Distinction
Certified Meeting Planner: Meeting Planners Institute Certified Tradeshow Marketer: Northern Illinois University
Outreach Certified Meeting Manager: Meeting Planners Institute/Georgetown University
Thomas Lancaster Thomas.lancaster@raritanval.edu
B.A., English, St. Vincent College
M.A., Media Studies, New School for Social Research
Vivienne Larrea vlarrea@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
Russell Lawyer Russell.lawyer@raritanval.edu
B.A., Speech -Theater, Duquesne University
M.A., Communications, Northwestern University
Laureen Lefever Laureen.lefever@raritanval.edu
B.A., Communication Arts, St. Francis College
M.F.A., Acting, Brooklyn College
Alfonso Q. Llano allano@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 tmullen@raritanval.edu
B.A., M.A., Comparative Literature, University of Wisconsin
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
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
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
Jacqueline Skole Jacqueline.skole@raritanval.edu
A.B., Political Science, Communication, University of Michigan
M.S.J., Journalism, Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism
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
Jeanette M Taono jtaono@raritanval.edu
B.A., Fordham University
M.A., Middlebury College
Louis Thomas Louis.thomas@raritanval.edu
Montgomery County Community College
B.A., Temple University
Amanda J. Thompson athompso@raritanval.edu
M.A. Applied Linguistics, Montclair State University
B.A. Spanish Linguistics, Rutgers University
Hector Velasquez Hector.velasquez@raritanval.edu
M.E.D., New Jersey City University
Evan Walter ewalter@raritanval.edu
A.A Liberal Arts: Communication, Raritan Valley Community College
B.A. General Studies: Film, The New School University
M.A. Media Studies, The New School 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 rzamora@rvcc.edu
Master Degree University of Salamanca (Spain)
The Department sponsors several events throughout the year to showcase student achievements including the annual speech contest and Nota Bene, an online journal that recognizes academic achievement in multiple disciplines.
Students with strong academic standing are invited to join the Alpha Beta Gamma honor society.
Career Coach – Learn more about career opportunities in communications and languages.
Contact Information:
helena.torlish@raritanval.edu
908-526-1200 x8221
Taking online community college classes offers you the flexibility and convenience to fit college into your schedule. You have an opportunity to interact with instructors and fellow students online. RVCC offers special online course orientations to help you to prepare for studying virtually and to show you how to make the most of the educational experience.