RUTHERFORD, NJ – Felician University proudly recognized the achievements of six distinguished alumni at the Alumni Awards Ceremony on April 23 in Ray’s Place on the Rutherford campus. The awardees, Dr. Saskia Brown ’02, ’10, ’14, Sheila Collier ’17, Jason Fermin ’17, Penny Kamkourkong ’13, Caitlin Schlesner ’22, and Jerry Vasto ’14, represent a diverse range of fields and accomplishments, demonstrating the limitless possibilities and potential that a Felician education can unlock.

The ceremony commenced with Dr. Mildred A. Mihlon, President of Felician University, remarking, “We are the pathway for young students to enter the workforce upon graduation and become successful changemakers, leaders, and distinguished alumni of tomorrow.”

Dr. Saskia Brown is a three-time graduate of Felician University, earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2002, her master’s degree in education in 2010, and a Principalship Certification in 2014. With over 18 years of service in education, she catalyzes school change by creating authentic learning environments that provide direct support, resources, access, and opportunities to children, families, and school district staff. Dr. Brown is currently Deputy Superintendent of Schools for Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy Charter Schools and an adjunct professor in New Jersey. She is also the owner and educational consultant for Supporting All Students Educational Consulting, which works to support school districts across the nation. In recognizing the true definition of what being an alumni is, she remarked, “This award is a reminder of the responsibility that we bear as graduates of this esteemed institution to use our knowledge and our talents to affect meaningful change in our community and beyond.”

Sheila Collier, MSN, RN completed a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Executive Leadership from Felician University in 2017. With a career spanning 36 years, she has earned recognition for her ability to steer cultural and clinical practice transformations successfully. In 2023, she became a project manager for RWJBarnabas Health’s Women’s service line, advising eight OB departments within the RWJ Barnabas healthcare system on hospital-based quality improvements.

Jason Fermin graduated from Felician University with his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 2017. A US Marine and US Army veteran, he has a combined 12 years of service in the military and has completed over 200 missions. He is currently a detective for the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, where he is assigned to the Narcotics, Gangs, and Violent Crimes Task Force. Jason is also a federal task force officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration. He has instructed over 1000 active police and recruits at various academies across the state. Jason is actively involved with community groups, youth programs, organizations, and veteran initiatives.

Penny Kamkourkong first discovered Felician University at a college fair in Bangkok, Thailand, and in 2013, she earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting. Using her impressive leadership and accounting skills, Penny helps clients of big companies tackle large projects by identifying and reporting her findings for change. Often, Penny helps these companies recover and restructure before disaster hits. One of the industries Penny has tackled is conglomerate oil and gas corporations. She currently works as an accountant for Siegfried Group.

Caitlin Schlesner obtained her Nurse Practitioner certificate in 2019 from Felicia University. Before that, she volunteered at ground zero after 9/11 and joined the US Army within that month, where she stayed for 13 years. She was a Red Cross nurse for the last eight years and was later redeployed to Ukraine to help. She oversaw medical supplies coming in and ensured that these supplies were distributed correctly. Upon her return to the States, she secured over $500,000 worth of medical equipment for the people of Ukraine. Today, Caitlin works as a part-time nursing instructor and is an Advanced Practice Nurse in the emergency room at St. Joseph’s Hospital while continuing to help those in Ukraine.

Jerry Vasto graduated from Felician University as a business major in 2014. He was a talented, left-handed pitcher for the Golden Falcons, being named an all-conference, all-region, and honorable mention all-American pitcher. In the 2014 MLB draft, he was selected by the Colorado Rockies and earned his first career strikeout against the D-backs. In 2018, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals and ended his career with the Chicago Cubs in 2021. Jerry is an Account Manager at Financial Partners Group and the owner of VPC Athletics, LLC, where he trains baseball players to help them achieve their goals on the field.

Each recipient was presented an award by a representative from the school they graduated from. Dr. Anthony Scardino, Associate Dean for the School of Business & Information Sciences, accepted Jerry Vasto’s award on his behalf.

If you want to learn more about the Felician University Alumni Association, contact Diane Sedlmeir at SedlmeirD@felician.edu or visit felicianalumni.org.

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About Felician University

Felician University inspires and engages more than 2,100 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students through programs in the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education. Over the past five years, Felician University has ranked 3^rd among private institutions in New Jersey for best value according to payscale.com and #1 Safest College Campus in New Jersey according to niche.com. The 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. Felician University was designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the thirteenth year, recognizing its strong support for Veteran students. The university is recognized for its diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), having underrepresented students comprise more than half of the student population. With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, the Franciscan values of social justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity serve as an inclusive foundation for transforming the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.