Felician University honored four long time faculty members at an online Employee Recognition event Wednesday, June 17. Felician is guided by its Franciscan Core Values, and as members of the Felician community came together virtually, Andy Fellows Director of Campus Ministry shared a Prayer of Transformation. “As we gather to celebrate our employees, their service, and their next step, we are reminded that one of our core values is transformation. Our employees being recognized are moving on to new phases in their lives, after much dedicated service to Felician.”

Felician’s Acting President Dr. Sylvia McGeary said the Recognition event was about “the colleagues that we celebrate for the time that they have been here with us for being a part of our lives, for impacting the lives of hundreds of students over the years that they’ve been here. And each of them in their own way, has helped all of us to make the student experience one of excellence and one that truly is done in pursuit of transformation.’’

Dr. George Abaunza, Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences is leaving Felician after 20 years to become V.P. for Academic Affairs at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York. In addition to Dean, Dr. Abaunza served many other roles at Felician including Associate Dean, instructor, Assistant, Associate and Full Professor of Philosophy, Associate Dean for Assessment and Development in the School of Arts & Sciences, Associate Dean of Humanities, and the Interim Dean for the School of Education. Dr. Abaunza was the recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award in 2013. Along the way he also took on other responsibilities including being one of the first to serve in the Felician leadership pilgrimage to Assisi, as well as serving on the Governing Board of Felician’s Institute for Ethics and Public Affairs. He began a summer program with students to Nicaragua to serve schools, orphanages, and farming cooperatives, and along the way never shied away from taking on other tasks and responsibilities to serve the University. Dr. Abaunza helped Felician get a record $638,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, and also helped Felician partner with community organizations in providing academic support to JFK High School in Paterson- New Jersey’s first federally funded Full Service Community High School (FSCS). In his remarks Dr. Abaunza said, “It’s really tough to say goodbye to 20 years’ worth of work, companionship, collegiality, and camaraderie that I’ve been able to develop along with our incredible colleagues.”

Also honored was Dr. Barbara Gordon, who started at Felician in 2007 as Choir Director, and Professor of Music and French. Dr. Dolores Henchy, Acting Dean of Arts & Sciences said Dr. Gordon was dedicated to the annual Christmas concert, and other choir performances that benefited local charities including the Rutherford Community Food Pantry, and Eva’s Village in Paterson. As part of an NEA grant Dr. Gordon taught in Felician University’ new Prism Paterson Course teaching about Patersonians past and present who have made contributions in classical music and other genres.

Dr Maria Vecchio is retiring as a full-time Associate Professor of History but will stay on at Felician as an adjunct. She taught everything from Ancient Society to the Middle Ages, World War One to the present, World Geography and Culture, the Renaissance, and Introduction to Political Science. From 1989 to 2014 she conducted the annual readings of the U.S. Constitution on Constitution Day. She was the first faculty moderator for the Model UN Club and participated in the Harvard National Model UN from 2004 through 2014, and in 2008 was the first recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award. Speaking at the recognition event Dr. Vecchio said, “I’ve been through every aspect of my life on this journey with each and every one of you. It’s been such a pleasure working with you, in so many different capacities. Many of you have become great personal friends as well and it’s been such a pleasure to be with everyone.” Professor Vecchio said she wants her legacy to be, “she taught history because that is my chief goal” and will remain at Felician University as an Adjunct Professor.

Elizabeth Herrera who is retiring after serving as a Spanish Adjunct Professor for 20 years said she is deeply indebted to the fine professional colleagues who made her an integral part of the Felician faculty with so much love and generosity adding “Most importantly, I wish to extend my gratitude and admiration for all my many and dear students, throughout the years. Their diligence, hard work and enthusiasm for learning a foreign language, in this case my native tongue Spanish filled me with joy and an infinite desire to teach.”

Jeffery Blanchard, Director of the Honors Program and Associate Professor of English was awarded the Faculty Excellence Award, and as the recipient gets the honor of being the keynote speaker at Convocation.

The event was organized by Felician’s Human Resource Director Ginny Topolski and the departing academics received a parting gift of either a chair or a lamp engraved with their name and the Felician insignia.

Acting President McGeary summed up the event well when she said, “Each of our honorees has touched our lives with their passion, and with their desire to help shape our community of lifelong learners. And each of them while not being a physical presence on campus after the end of this month will continue to be part of who we are as Felician University and will always be welcome.”

# # #

About Felician University

Felician University engages over 2,300 undergraduate, graduate, and adult students through programs in Arts & Sciences, Business, Nursing, and Education. Universal Franciscan values of social justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity serve as an inclusive foundation for transforming the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University’s education is ranked 3rd best return on investment for private colleges in New Jersey 2018 by the PayScale.com College ROI Report and is ranked #1 safest college campus in the state by niche.com.