Rutherford, N.J. August 5, 2025— Felician University is pleased to announce the appointment of six new members to its Board of Trustees, effective immediately. These distinguished individuals bring a wide range of professional expertise that will support the university’s continued growth and success in strategic planning, financial oversight, legal and ethical compliance, and the fulfillment of its mission. 

Board of Trustees Chair, Donald C. Jones, expressed his support of these appointments in a statement.“I am delighted to welcome our new trustees to the Board. Each brings unique strengths and perspectives that will enrich our work and help advance Felician’s mission. Most importantly, their shared commitment to keeping our students at the center of every decision ensures we remain focused on what matters most,” said Jones. 

The new trustees are: 

Dr. Saskia Simone Brown
Deputy Superintendent, Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy Charter Schools; Adjunct Professor, Ramapo College of New Jersey and Drew University; Owner, Supporting All Students (SAS) Educational Consulting LLC 

Dr. Brown is a Felician alumna and currently serves on the Alumni Board and as a mentor in the Falcons Fly Together program. She previously served as an adjunct professor at Felician from 2014 to 2018. 

Marie-Jocelyne (Marie-Jo) Colas
Director, QMS Oversight Strategic Solutions – BioResearch Quality and Compliance (BRQC), Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson 

Colas brings extensive experience in regulatory oversight and quality compliance within the pharmaceutical industry. 

Jason C. Fermin
Detective, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office; Federal Task Force Officer, DEA; Founder, I.A.O. Ready LLC 

A 2017 graduate of Felician University’s Criminal Justice program and a veteran of both the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army, Fermin has completed more than 200 missions and serves as a detective focused on narcotics, gangs, and violent crimes. He is also a certified police instructor and active community leader. 

Pananya (Penny) Kamkourkong
Manager, The Siegfried Group 

Kamkourkong is a proud Felician alumna and serves on the Alumni Advisory Board. She was honoured with the School of Business Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award in 2024 and is a mentor for the Falcons Fly Together program. Originally introduced to Felician during a college fair in Bangkok, she remains actively involved in university life and mentoring. 

James “Jimmy” G. Rizzo
Director, BCB Community Bank; Managing Partner, Chestnut Circle Properties 

Rizzo has served on BCB’s board since 2015 and currently chairs the Investment and Capital Markets committees. He previously held senior roles in the high-yield bond market with firms such as Guggenheim Partners, Citicorp, and Dahlman Rose. A graduate of St. Peter’s University, Rizzo is active in several educational and civic boards, including St. Peter’s University, Rutherford Public Library, and St. Dominic’s Academy. 

Anthony Russo
President, Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ); CEO and Publisher, COMMERCE Magazine 

As president of CIANJ, Russo oversees all facets of the association, representing over 900 member companies. He also serves as publisher of COMMERCE Magazine, a leading business publication with more than 40,000 readers. Russo has held various roles in environmental policy and legislative affairs, including at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Chemistry Council of New Jersey, and the National Lime Association. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from NJIT. 

“We are honoured to welcome these accomplished professionals to the Felician University Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Mildred Mihlon, President of Felician University. “Their combined expertise and commitment to our mission will be invaluable as we continue to advance academic excellence and student success.” 

Photos and full bios available upon request. 

About Felician University  

Felician University is committed to supporting academic success at any stage of life. With over 2,300 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students enrolled across the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education, Felician provides diverse learning experiences that equip all students with the skills to meet the demands of today’s society. Over the past five years, Felician University has consistently ranked 3rd among private institutions in New Jersey for best value according to payscale.com and has been recognized as the #1 Safest College Campus in New Jersey according to niche.com. Our Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. We are proud to be designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the thirteenth year, a testament to our dedicated support of Veteran students. Our diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), with underrepresented students comprising more than half of the student population, reflects our inclusive and supporting environment. With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, our Franciscan values of respect for human dignity, compassion, and social justice are woven into the very foundation and development of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University is proudly sponsored by Felician Sisters International (FSI). For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.