Foundation Board

The Foundation Board at Rockland Community College is comprised of accomplished individuals from the community who are committed to supporting the institution’s students and advancing its mission.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Walter GoldmanWalter Goldman, a resident of Rockland County for 40 years, has always been an entrepreneur by figuring out how to meet the needs of others with business solutions. At 16 he started the Bagelnuts, a delivery service, which delivered fresh bagels and donuts to your door every Sunday before 9:00AM.

At 18, Walter started a small business, Rockland Dating Service. In college, in upstate New York, Walter realized that many students needed to get their belongings to and from their downstate home and The College Carriers were born.

In an effort to continue to find ways to assist others by using technology, in 1985 at the beginning of the decentralization of distributed data processing, Walter started a company called Magnacom Data Products. By 1999, this value-added reseller grew to $30,000,000 in sales by offering back-office data solutions, maintenance and repair services.

Walter sold his computer business in 2005 and went on to concentrate on financial planning, operations and logistics, efficiency and assisting others in developing businesses from the ground up to early-stage funding.

In 2009, Walter started a management consulting firm called Goldkap Consulting Group which helps companies start, grow and scale. He continues to own and operate this business today.

Walter has experience in writing and executing business plans, finding ways to bring organizations and executives of organizations to the next level in their business careers while keeping a constant eye on margins, profitability and solutions that can be managed and monitored.

Walter speaks at professional associations throughout the tri-state area and has given multiple classes on how to make it as an entrepreneur in today’s economy.

Walter graduated from Pace University with a BBA in Marketing with a minor in finance. Walter is married with 4 adult children. Walter is a mentor for SCORE and sits on multiple boards that include Rockland Business Owners Group, American Cancer Society, Rockland Community College Foundation and Rockland Development Council. In his spare time, Walter enjoys traveling, reading and working to build a better community.

Howard HellmanHoward Hellman, an alumnus of Rockland Community College and long-serving member of the RCC Foundation, is the founder and chairman of All Bright Electric in West Nyack, NY, as well as a managing partner of Hellman Development and Hellman Management. He is known as a regional leader in electrical contracting issues, procedures, regulatory requirements and best practices. He has been inducted into the New York State Small Business Development Center’s Hall of Fame, and has received awards of excellence and appreciation from the Rockland Business Association, Rockland County Legislature and Rockland County Economic Development Corp.

Howard is a frequent speaker and mentor to the RCC President’s Society, and in addition to his service on the Board of the RCC Foundation, Howard is a past chair of the Rockland Business Association and United Way of Rockland. He has served as a trustee of the YMCA, and as a board member of Boy Scouts of the Hudson Valley, Rockland Independent Living Center, and Rockland County IDA.

Mitch GuslerSenior Partner, Rifkin & Company, LLP, Certified Public Accountants

Mitch Gusler, a Certified Public Accountant as well as a Certified Valuation Analyst, has been a Foundation board member for over 15 years, having served in various leadership positions.  Currently, he serves on the Executive Committee as Past Chair of the Foundation. He has been practicing public accounting since 1980, and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the New York State Society of CPAs, and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

Mitch previously served on the board of directors of the New York State Society of CPA’s and is currently a member of the board of directors of Meals on Wheels.

Board Members

Ayham AlardahAyham was born in Jordan, and moved to Rockland County, NY at (7) seven years old. A graduate of North Rockland School High School, Ayham came to the Honors Program at RCC, taking the business administration track and inspired by the entrepreneurs he grew up surrounded by.  In his final semester at RCC, Ayham is president of the Entrepreneurs Club, the Accounting Society, and on the Economics & Investment and SGA board while chairing the campus improvement and Public Health committee.

When not attending a club meeting or event, Ayham works as Finance Assistant in the college’s finance office. After this semester, he plans to transfer to a four-year university. With the goal of running his own business, Ayham plans on working in financial services after graduation, ultimately using his exposure to million- dollar companies, as a model to how successful business should be run.

Traci runs Schultz Ford in Nanuet with her brother.  She is a third-generation owner ad a life-long resident of Rockland County.  Traci has been a local business leader her whole professional career.  She is committed to the County and our RCC students.

Traci runs the RCC Ford ASSET Program, overseeing the student interns.  She hires the students who want to continue with Ford and guides them into their careers. To learn more about the Ford ASSET Program, please refer to the following 2021 RCC press release where Traci is interviewed. 
https://sunyrockland.edu/2022/05/02/students-begin-sixteen-week-program-to-become-ford-certified/

Sonia Burgos-CrannageSonia is an Associate with Sichol & Hick, P.C. and practices Elder Law, Disabilities, Trusts and Estates, Guardianship, Medicare and Medicaid, Real Estate Closings & Wills.

Sonia is a graduate of Adelphi University and the Jacob D. Fuchsburg Law Center of Touro College where she received her Juris Doctor in 1987. She was admitted to the New York Bar in 1988.

Burgos-Crannage was the former New York State coordinator for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. She has lectured on issues concerning the elderly and the disabled at CUNY Law School, Suffolk Academy of Law, C. W. Post College, Hofstra University, various accounting associations, parent organizations, and Senior Citizen centers. She has spoken about Elder Law and issues concerning the disabled on various radio stations.

Angel CardozaAngel assumes the position of General Manager, Control Center and Substation Operations at Orange & Rockland Utilities (O&R).  In this leadership position, Mr. Cardoza develops business strategies on safety, operational excellence, enhancing the customer experience and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI).  His responsibilities include the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the Company’s electric transmission and distribution systems.

Angel holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering degree from the City College of New York, a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from Mercy College and an Executive MBA from Fordham University.

Mr. Cardoza served on the Board of Managers for the Bronx YMCA and currently serves on the Board of Directors for BronxWorks and on the RCC Cyber Security Advisory Board.

Dr. Susan DeerSusan Deer, PhD, Officer in Charge, joined RCC’s administration in 2008 as Dean of Instruction. She was appointed Vice President of Academic Affairs in 2010, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services in 2013, and Provost and Executive Vice President in 2016.

Dr. Deer is responsible for providing overall leadership to the Academic Affairs and Student Services divisions, implementation and management of educational policy, curriculum development, academic scheduling and programming, academic program review, and accreditation matters.

From 1983-2008, she worked for SUNY Orange County Community College as a full Professor in the Department in Human Movement, an Associate Vice President for the Health Professions, Athletic Director and Union President of the Staff and Chair Association.

Deer holds a PhD in Education from Capella University, Minneapolis, MN; a Master of Science degree in Biophysical Focus of Human Movement, with a concentration in Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology, from East Stroudsburg University, PA; a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from SUNY Brockport and an Associate in Art from SUNY Orange.

Dr. Daniel DoBellDan comes to SUNY Rockland from Cayuga Community College in Auburn, NY where he spent the last four years serving as the CCC Vice President for Administration and Treasurer. Prior to his appointment to CCC, Dr. DoBell served as the CFO for the Elmira City School District, the largest school district in New York’s Southern Tier. He has also served as Vice President of Finance for Texarkana College in Texarkana, TX and Mansfield University in Mansfield, PA. Prior to working in education finance, Dr. DoBell supported the economic development mission at the University of Illinois and Iowa State University where he served as the Executive Director of the U of I Research Park and Business Director for the Iowa State University Office Intellectual Property. Dr. DoBell is a CPA and holds a PhD in Higher Education Organization and Leadership from the University of Illinois under the direction of Dr. Stanley O. Ikenberry, President emeritus of the University of Illinois. He also holds an MBA and BBA from Iowa State University.

Dr. Bart GrachanBart is the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, overseeing Enrollment Services, Educational Planning, Student Engagement & College Life, and Student Success areas. He has spent more than 20 years working in higher education in a broad range of areas, but always with special focus on helping community college students succeed and move on to their next steps.

He joins RCC via LaGuardia Community College, where he started as the Director of Transfer Services. He subsequently served as the Associate Dean for Progress and Completion, overseeing academic, career, and transfer advising and special programs; for a year as the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs during a presidential search, overseeing all enrollment management and student affairs; and finally as Associate Dean for Enrollment Management. While at LaGuardia, Dr. Grachan served on the CUNY Committee for Academic Policy, the CUNY Pathways Evaluation Task Force, and the CUNY Transfer Steering Committee, as well as founding the CUNY Community College Council.

Prior to arriving at LaGuardia, and after a three-year stint as a high school social studies teacher, Dr. Grachan’s higher education career was spent in enrollment management and student affairs at four-year colleges. Starting at Iona College, he spent nearly a decade as a football coach before transitioning to admissions, where he was responsible for transfer, adult, and graduate students, and where he discovered his deep appreciation for community colleges. He then became the Director of the Community College Transfer Opportunity Program at NYU, where he worked with transfer students from their recruitment through their graduation, before later becoming the Director of Admissions at St. Thomas Aquinas College.

Dr. Grachan earned his doctorate in Higher Education Administration from New York University, a Master of Arts in History and a Master of Science in Teaching Secondary Social Studies from Iona College, and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University in history and English literature. He has published, presented, and spoken endlessly at parties about transfer, retention, and enrollment issues and policies. He still gets invited to said parties because he is the proud father of three children, including twins, and is the proud husband of his wife, Alicia.

Susan LyddonSusan is the VP of Institutional Advancement at RCC. In this role she manages Strategic Marketing, the RCC Foundation, and Grants. Before she joined RCC in 2018, she spent 11 years working in several roles at LaGuardia Community College in Queens. Susan is passionate about community colleges and considers this her life’s work. She feels that elevating students and giving them opportunities is world-changing work. Before LaGuardia Community College, Susan worked in various roles in the non-profit sector in NYC and abroad including teaching in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Kobe, Japan. She also opened a school in Jakarta, Indonesia where she lived for 4 years. Susan lives in Milford, PA with her adorable little dog Margo.

Distinguished Service Professor, Program Director – Visual and Performing Arts, and Faculty Representative to the RCC Foundation Board

Patricia Maloney-Titland is a dedicated professor and arts advocate who has received the SUNY Distinguished Professorship, the highest rank bestowed by the State University of New York. In addition to her role as professor, she is a professional actor and director, and has received numerous accolades for her contributions to the arts, including the Arts Council of Rockland Award for Arts Educator (which she has received twice), the Rockland Community College Foundation’s Leadership Award, and their Person of the Year. With her wealth of experience, creativity, and passion, Maloney-Titland has made a lasting impact on the lives and careers of her students, helping them achieve their goals and pursue their dreams in the arts.

In recognition of her dedication to education, and commitment to students and community, Maloney-Titland is the recipient of Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) National William H. Meardy Faculty Member Award, the ACCT Northeast Regional Faculty Excellence Award, two SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence, one in Faculty Service and one in Scholarship and Creative Activities, as well as the “Champions of Education” Award.

Maloney-Titland is a driving force in the arts community, both as a professor and as the co-founder and co-artistic director of the award-winning, and long-running Rockland Shakespeare Company. The company has achieved great success under Maloney-Titland’s leadership. In addition to her work with the company, she has been continually engaged in a wide range of creative and academic pursuits, including the production of events and performances for Heritage Month celebrations, scholarship and philanthropic fundraisers, advocacy for students with disabilities, implementation and cultivation of professional Internship programs, and rigorous curriculum-based productions, for which she has been recognized by her peers, the College, and the Community.

Adam O'GormanAdam has a business-oriented mindset. He started a very successful tutoring business when he was 17 and continued to run it for 10 years. He was also a teacher for 4 years and turned around 2 school’s math programs. After fulfilling his goal of being a teacher, he moved onto being the managing partner of a fine dining Japanese restaurant. After completing that goal, he decided to pursue the goal of selling real estate and focused in the residential market. He finally found his niche in the commercial real estate market where he excels in providing his clients with honesty, promptness, and aptitude. He treats his client’s properties as if they were his own. As one client writes, “Working with you was a trouble-free experience and you were very accommodating in all the tasks needed to the job done. Thank you for making out renting process smooth and helping us find the perfect tenants to fit our requirements.”-S Macchia

John PiccininniJohn is the President of Piccininni Development Corp., Real Estate Development & Management

Susan Oelkers-RamosSusan, a Stony Point businesswoman, was appointed by Governor George E. Pataki in January 2004 to serve as a member of the SUNY Rockland Community College Board of Trustees for a term to expire on June 30, 2010, as successor to Mr. Isidro Cancel. She was reappointed in July 2010 for a term to expire in June 2017. Ms. Oelkers-Ramos is the sole proprietor of Environmental Construction of Stony Point, a position she has held since 1988. Originally from Manhattan, Ms. Oelkers-Ramos earned her General Education Diploma and attended classes at SUNY Rockland.

Ms. Ramos has served the community in many capacities. She recently donated time and equipment towards the restoration of Nyack’s Memorial Park, and was responsible for the renovations to Emanuel Welder Park in Monsey. She was a 2003 recipient of Partner for Growth award from Orange & Rockland Utilities and belongs to the Lions Club of Stony Point.

Kevin StumpBefore joining Rockland Community College as its first Vice President of Economic Mobility and Workforce Innovation, Kevin was the Senior Director for Impact, Evaluation, and Thought Leadership at the Education Design Lab where he oversaw the Community College Growth Engine Fund, a national initiative to design and implement a new class of credentials called Micro-pathways. In addition to driving a robust thought leadership and impact strategy, he was also responsible for oversight of the Lab’s Designers in Residence program working with a diverse set of higher education leaders to imagine a new paradigm for the role colleges can play as regional ecosystem catalysts.

Kevin served as the Senior Vice President for JobsFirstNYC where he led the organization’s strategic inquiry and rebranding process. During his time at JobsFirstNYC, Kevin co-led the launch of the Invest In Skills NY campaign, which was successful at securing an unprecedented $175 million investment dedicated to workforce development. Kevin was also charged with launching JobsFirstNYC’s Transfer 2 Career Collaborative, an innovative pilot aiming to build partnerships between 12 transfer high schools and a set of workforce development training providers and community colleges to improve career readiness and increase postsecondary and employment outcomes.

Kevin served as the founding northeast director for Young Invincibles (YI), where he launched their New York office and ran a successful campaign to establish the Empire State Apprenticeship Program, an effort sparked by a report he authored on New York’s statewide youth unemployment crisis. At YI, he also co-launched DegreesNYC, a collective action project to achieve equity in postsecondary access and completion. Kevin has policy, research, and advocacy experience from his tenure at both the Roosevelt Institute as well as at the New York Public Interest Research Group where he launched and chaired the Coalition to Reform New York’s Tuition Assistance Program. He has appeared in a variety of media outlets and has authored, commissioned, and overseen a number of research projects. In 2017, Kevin was honored as one of New York’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in City & State magazine. He holds a bachelor’s degree in community organization and advocacy from SUNY Plattsburgh and master’s degree in public administration from Marist College.

Aimee VargasAimee is Senior Advisor to the Dean at the NYU Silver School of Social Work working to expand the reach and impact of its educational, research and program work, locally and nationally.

As Senior Advisor, Aimee manages the Silver School’s external affairs, including federal, state, and city government relations; effectively translate and broaden the impact of faculty research on policy and practice; and play a lead role in establishing and facilitating community partnership initiatives.

“Aimee is fiercely dedicated to advancing equitable policies for underrepresented communities, a mission that we shared during the time that we worked together in Albany,” said New York State Assembly Member Catalina Cruz.  “She excels at bringing people together to find common ground, and never hesitates to stand up for the Latino community and other communities who are in need of social supports and resources. Appointing her as Senior Advisor is a fantastic move for Dean Michael Lindsey and the NYU Silver School of Social Work.”

Vargas was Director of Downstate Intergovernmental Affairs amongst many other roles during the Cuomo administration, during which she helped to design and execute outreach strategies to support the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement, the Penn Station/Farley project and the Jacob Javits Center revitalization.

At the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where she was the Chief Government and Community Affairs Officer, Vargas helped to advance major projects, such as the LIRR Third Track Expansion project, the 2nd Avenue Subway construction project, the L Line Reconstruction project and the Penn Access project.

As Associate Counsel and Director of Environmental Justice at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Aimee built strategic partnerships with community-based organizations to develop public policy initiatives that protect culturally diverse and socio-economically distressed communities.

Vargas is an Adjunct Professor of Communications at Marist College. She also is the Board Secretary of Hunger Free America and a Board Member of the SUNY Rockland Community College Foundation. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Community Affairs and Communications at Sands Corp. Prior roles included Director of the Mid-Hudson Region at the Empire State Development Corporation and Senior Director of Corporate Communications – U.S. Reputation at Anheuser-Busch.  Aimee is a graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.