Honors and Awards

Academic Year 2020-2021

William Paterson University Becomes First in NJ to Launch Chapter of New Honor Society for First-Generation College Students (January 2021).

Alpha Epsilon Delta, a more than 90-year-old national honor society for students pursuing careers as healthcare practitioners, establishes a new chapter in the Department of Biology at William Paterson University with the induction of 14 undergraduate biology majors. (Dec. 2019)

William Paterson University Earned a Gold Seal for higher-than-average campus voting rate in the 2018 mid-term elections at the 2019 ALL IN Challenge Awards Ceremony held by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. (Nov. 2019)

William Paterson University’s Marketing and Public Relations Department won three first place awards, one second place and two third place awards in the 51st annual New Jersey Advertising Club ceremony. (June 2019)

William Paterson University was named as one of the nation's top music business schools for 2019 by Billboard magazine.

William Paterson University was accepted as a new member of Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Sciences, based on the exceptional quality and quantity of the University’s student and faculty research in the Social Sciences Honors track. (February 2019)

William Paterson University’s WPSC-FM Brave New radio at 88.7 FM has been nominated by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System for the title of Best College Radio Station in the U.S. (among institutions with more than 10,000 students), making it the seventh time in eight years that it has been nominated for the same award. (January 2019)

William Paterson University’s student-run radio station, WPSC-FM (88.7) in Wayne, N.J., won the 2018 Marconi Award for “Noncommercial Station of the Year.” (Sept. 2018)

Billboard Magazine includes William Paterson University in its list of 2018 top music business programs in the nation.

William Paterson University’s Marketing and Public Relations Department won the first place award in the Social Media Multiplatform Category for the #WeAreWillPower Campaign, and three certificate of excellence (third place) at the 50th Annual New Jersey Advertising Club Awards Dinner. (June 2018)

For the fourth time in seven years, William Paterson University’s student-run radio station, Brave New Radio WP 88.7 FM, was named Best Radio Station in the Nation (among institutions with more than 10,000 students) by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) at their awards ceremony in March 2018. The radio station won five first place awards and the television station WPTV-6 won three first place awards -- resulting in a total of eight first place trophies and seven finalist trophies for the University.

William Paterson University’s master of science in communication disorders was included in the list of top accredited speech-language pathology programs in the nation by Speech Pathology Graduate Programs, which evaluates programs based on outcomes and costs.

William Paterson University has been honored as a military friendly school for the eighth year in a row by the 2018 Guide to Military Friendly Schools and is included in their online listing at militaryfriendly.com. There are nearly 150 veterans and active service students on campus.

William Paterson University was recognized in the 2018 list of Top University Sales Programs for its Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales in the Cotsakos College of Business. The list, released by the Sales Education Foundation of Dayton, Ohio, highlights William Paterson University as one of the best locations for hiring sales professionals.

William Paterson University’s Cotsakos College of Business is included in the 2018 edition of Princeton Review's, The Best 267 Business Schools. This marks the 10th consecutive year the Cotsakos College of Business has been featured in the book, which is well known for its college rankings based on how students rate their schools.

William Paterson University's Financial Planning Program in the Cotsakos College of Business is once again named one of the top schools for financial planners by Financial Planning Magazine for the eighth consecutive year.

William Paterson University is a member institution of the NASA MSI (Minority Serving Institution) Emerging Stars Network, a partnership effort to enrich STEM teacher preparation through NASA professional development opportunities and educational resources. 

William Paterson University's University Hall has been certified as LEED® Gold for its sustainability, savings, energy efficiency and environmental quality. Other commendations and awards from state and national organizations include:  NJ Green Building Council—2017 Honorable Mention; NJ Alliance for Action—2016 Distinguished Engineering Award; American School & University—2016 Interior Common Space SILVER Citation; NJBIZ—2017 Good Neighbor Award; and NJ Board of Public Utilities—Paid for Performance Incentives of $136,000.

William Paterson University’s Marketing and Public Relations Department was recognized by the New Jersey Advertising Club with first, second, and third place awards at its 49th annual awards dinner. First place award was in the Corporate /Product Brochure category for the Explorations brochure written by Christine Diehl and designed by Bob Verbeek; Second place was in the Social Media Multiplatform Program/Campaign coordinated by Jaclyn Atonacci and Yuri Marder; Third place was in the Collateral/Direct marketing category for a Jazz Room Series promotional piece designed by Nadia Esposito and edited by Phillip Sprayberry. (June 2017)

Faculty/Staff/Student/Alumni Honors and Awards
Chemistry Professor Jonathan 'Jay' Foley
Receives NSF’s Most Prestigious Award in Support of Early-Career Faculty Who Have Potential to Serve as Academic Role Models

Jaime Harris '22 s one of 212 students from the United States and Mexico and one of only three in New Jersey to receive the 2021-2022Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellows Award for civic engagement. 

Alumni Yu Nishiyama, MM ’20, and Hunter McKay, MM ’20, Honored in ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composers Competition (March 2021)

niversity's TV Sports and Comedy Programs Win Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Awards (March 2021)

Lily Prince, professor of art, was awarded the highly prestigious international Pollock-Krasner grant award for her lifelong commitment and achievements in the field of painting (May 2020).

University President Richard J. Helldobler Named to NJBIZ ‘Power 50’ List in Education. (Sept. 2019).

Sekinat Kuku, pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology at William Paterson University, won the 2019 New Jersey Psychological Association Graduate Student Research Award. (Dec. 2019)

Matthew Cohen, a junior at William Paterson University, won first place in the speed-selling competition in the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales 13th Annual National Sales Challenge held on campus. (Dec. 2019)

Stephen C. Betts, a professor of marketing and management in the Cotsakos College of Business, received the Fellow Award from the Institute for Global Business Research (IGBR) at their fall 2019 meeting. The award is given for being a supporter and ambassador of the organization.  Betts also serves on the organization’s board of directors.

Nick Hirshon, assistant professor of communication, received the New Jersey Journalism Educator of the Year award from the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists

Vivek Agnihotri and Dely Po Go, nursing professors, were two of 13 nurses to receive the Diva and Don award for advancing healthcare in New Jersey by the New Jersey State Nurses Association 's Institute for Nursing. (April 2019)

Kara Rabbitt, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at William Paterson, has been named an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow for academic year 2019-20. (March 2019)

Shaydaih Williams, a junior majoring in public health with a minor in health studies, was one of 262 students in the nation and one of only three in New Jersey to receive the 2019 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow Award for civic engagement. (March 2019)

Michael Rees: Synthetic Cells, an exhibition created by Michael Rees, visual art professor and professional sculptor, will be featured at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton through December 31, 2019.

Tom Heinzen, professor of psychology, and Kathleen Odell Korgen, professor of sociology at William Paterson University, are two of ten authors to receive the 2019 Most Promising New College Textbook award for their new booksfrom the Textbook and Academic Authors Association (TAA).

Jay Foley, an assistant professor of chemistry at William Paterson University, is one of 24 scientists nationwide named as recipients of the 2019 Cottrell Scholar Awards presented by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. (2019)

Lisa Warner, associate professor of elementary and early childhood education at William Paterson, received an appreciation award from the Newark Board of Education for “sharing valuable expertise that empowers mathematics educators to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics” in their school district. (January 2019)

WP Jazz Studies Director Bill Charlap was artist, arranger and co-producer for Tony Bennett and Diana Krall's new Grammy-nominated album, Love is Here to Stay.

Leo-Felix M. Jurado, professor of nursing at William Paterson University, received the prestigious Mary Anne Rooney Essence of Nursing Award presented by New Jersey Consortium Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), the nursing honor society, for his exemplary leadership and mentorship to others in the profession of nursing.(Oct. 2018)

Maya Chadda, professor of political science, has been appointed to serve on the Council on Foreign Relations, U.S.-India relations study group, comprised of top experts from the public and private sectors.(Oct. 2018)

Walter Gorra, a William Paterson student pursuing a master of music degree in jazz composition and arranging, won the prestigious Downbeat MagazineGraduate Student Jazz Award for Original Composition (Small Ensemble) for his original work, “Bandwidth.”(Sept. 2018)

Brenda Marshall, professor, nursing, is named among nine exceptional psychiatric-mental health nurses selected to receive the 2018 American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) annual awards in October, 2018.

Zhiyuan Cong, professor of art and master Chinese artist, is a finalist in an international art competition governed by China Culture and Arts Council, and organized by the China National Academy of Painting and the National Art Museum of China.

Rahi Abouk, associate professor, health economics, Cotsakos College of Business, received the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Charles C. Shepard Science Award in the Prevention and Control Category for his research study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Ted Cook, history, has been selected for a 2018-19 Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to the United Kingdom. The award is for the UK School of Oriental and African Studies, for his project "War and Memory in Shaping Japanese Culture: Completing a Global Archival Investigation." (2018)

Kathleen Malu, Educational Leadership and Professional Studies, has been awarded a Fulbright Specialist Award for Romania.(2018)

Aaron Tesfaye, Political Science, has been selected for a 2018-19 Fulbright U.S. Scholar grant to Ethiopia, where he will be conducting field research on "China in Ethiopia: The Long-Term Perspective."(2018)

Marquita Smith, English, has been awarded a full-year Career Enhancement Fellowship from the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. (2018)

Amy Learmonth, Psychology, has been elected president of the Eastern Psychological Association (EPA) FOR 2019-20. Professor Learmonth also has been elected program director for the International Society of Developmental Psychology for 2018-20.

Martin Williams, director of the Office of Sponsored Programs at William Paterson University, has been appointed to the Professional Development Committee of the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA).

Elizabeth Ekmekjian, professor of accounting, was selected as a recipient of the New Jersey Society of CPAs Diversity and Inclusion Impact Award. Ekmekjian and 26 other individuals were selected based on their dedication and commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion issues within the accounting profession and, in many cases, personally mentoring staff to leadership roles in the industry or students to follow an accounting path.

Jaclyn Antonacci, online marketing coordinator, and Maria Daniels, senior marketing communications coordinator, were named to a list of “Jersey’s Best 40 Under 40” marketing communications professionals by the New Jersey Advertising Club. (May 2017)

Vince Parrillo, professor of sociology, won the award for "best documentary feature" for his film, Paterson and Its People, from the Garden State Film Festival, held March 30 to April 2, 2017 in Atlantic City. Parrillo and Jaroslaw Ziaja were co-producers of the film; Parrillo also was the author, narrator, and director.

Robin Schwartz, professor of art, is featured in the online TIME magazine (http://time.com/4688056/animals-primates/?xid=homepage) and has an exhibit on display at the Alice Austen House Museum. (March 1 - May 28, 2017)

Sandy Alon and Laura Fattal, professors in William Paterson’s College of Education, were co-awarded $95,000 as part of a Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad grant to lead a four-week trip to Israel in July 2017 with William Paterson students and K-12 teachers to advance cultural awareness of and interdisciplinary instruction.

English professor Brad Gooch’s new book, Rumi’s Secret, a biography of the 13th century Sufi poet, has garnered national and international attention, including reviews in the Washington Post and the New York Times Book Review, an interview on NPR with Leonard Lopate, and inclusion on the BBC’s list of 10 books to read in 2017.

Three Psychology students under the direction of Michele Cascardi, associate professor, psychology, had two poster presentations accepted for the 2017 annual convention of the American Psychological Association. Michelle Rosselli, Molly Kammen and Ashley Bujalski will be presenting in August, 2017, at the convention in Washington, DC

Marina Budhos, English, won the Literary Award at the 5th Annual Maplewood Ideas Festival 2018.

Marina Budhos, English, is the author of Watched, recognized as the Walter Dean Myers Honor Book for 2017, presented as part of an award ceremony at the Library of Congress. This honor champions those books that embody diversity.

Tyesha Crawford, a junior majoring in criminology and criminal justice and sociology at William Paterson University in Wayne, is one of 268 students in the nation and one of only seven in New Jersey to receive the 2018 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellows Award for civic engagement. (March, 2018)

Brenda Marshall, Nursing, was selected to participate in the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Alumni thematic International Exchange Seminar (Alumni TIES) on Building Communities of Hope: Collective Action to Tackle Addiction." (2018)

Alpha Beta Chi, the William Paterson chapter of Chi Sigma Iota (the international counseling academic and professional honor society) is the 2018 recipient of the Outstanding Newsletter Award for Large Chapters. (2018)

WP's Men's Bowling Team won the 2018 National Collegiate Club Bowling Championship, becoming the first men's team to win this championship in back-to-back years.

WP's Ice Hockey Team finished with an overall 31-3 record and a final ranking of No. 5 in the country and No. 1 in the Northeast for all ranking periods.

The Pioneer Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Teams have been selected to the Scholar All-America Team of the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America.

Archive of previous awards