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News and Events
News
Events

May 19 2013

NYIT Salutes the Class of 2013 at its 52nd Commencement

May 17 2013

NYIT’s Physician Assistant Graduates Celebrate at White Coat Ceremony

May 13 2013

Energy Conference 2013: Preparing for Climate Change

May 09 2013

Annual Reception Celebrates Faculty Scholarship

May 07 2013

NYIT and Turkish Dignitaries Celebrate Partnerships

May 20 2013

NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine Hooding Ceremony and Brunch

May 21 2013

“Security in the Asia-Pacific: Strategic Challenges and Opportunities” -  USN Admiral S. Locklear

May 22 2013

Transfer Enrollment Days

May 22 2013

Public Talk with Lama Ole Nydahl: What Happens When We Die? A Buddhist Perspective

May 23 2013

Transfer Enrollment Days

Faculty and Staff Directory

Contact Us

Questions about Vocational Independence or any of our programs? Please contact Sheree Incorvaia, Director of Recruitment and Admissions, at sincorva@nyit.edu or 631.348.3139. You may also use our contact form.

Meet Our Director

Ernst O. VanBergeijk Ernst O. VanBergeijk, Ph.D.
Associate Dean/Executive Director 
631.348.3117 
evanberg@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • Columbia University, School of Social Work, New York
    Concentration: Advanced Practice
    Dissertation: Designed Reporters of Abuse and Neglect in New York City Public Schools
  • Masters of Social Work, The University of Michigan School of Social Work
    Major: Interpersonal Practive
    Minor: Administration
    Field of Practice: Schools
  • Bachelor of Arts with Honors, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
    Major: Psychology

Scholarly Interests: 
Autism spectrum disorders, transition planning, employment, travel training, and fitness.

Affiliations:
 Yale Child Study Center, Research Associate. Peer Reviewer: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Field Editor: Encyclopedia of Autism

Faculty and Staff

Christine Telesca-Alter Christine Telesca-Alter, LCSW
Instructor/Counselor
631.348.3161
calter@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Sociology, Union College, Schenectady, NY
    Magna Cum Laude
  • Master of Science in Social Work, Columbia University, NY, NY
    School of Social Work

Certifications:

  • New York State Certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  • New York State Certified School Social Worker
  • Adelphi University SIFI Trained Social Work Field Instructor

Scholarly Interests:
Clinical Social Work, Strength Based Approach, Applied Social Psychology

Affiliations:

  • Columbia University Graduate School of Social Work Lecturer & Field Instructor
  • Adelphi University Graduate School of Social Work Field Instructor
Rose Ezeani - Antwi Rose Ezeani - Antwi, MS, ANP-C
Medical Director
631.348.3153
rantwi@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • Master in Science, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
  • Bachelor in Art and Science, St. Jospeh College, NY
    With Honors

Scholarly interests:
Autism spectrum, geriatric medicine

Affiliations:

  • Fellow, American Academy of Nurse Practitioner
  Jason Baron, M.S. Ed.
Instructor/Counselor
631.348.3175
jabaron@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • Master of Science in Special Education and Elementary Education, Dowling College, Oakdale, NY
  • Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT

 

Certification:

  • New York State Initial Certification Special and Elementary Education

Affiliation:

  • Council For Exceptional Children
MaryJane Burner MaryJane Burner, M.A.
Credit Course Coordinator
631.348.3151
mburner@nyit.edu
Adjunct Professor of English at Suffolk Community College, Selden, NY

 

Education:

  • Bachelor of Arts, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY
    Major: English
  • Master of Arts, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY
    Major: English Literature and Compostion Theory

 

Certifications:

  • NYS Permanent Certification in English, 7-12

 

Scholarly Interests:
Autism spectrum disorders, transition planning to credit-bearing classes,  Shakespeare's tragedies, 19th century American literature, 19th century poetry.

Affiliations:

  • NCTE
Pat Cappellino Pat Cappellino, M.S.
Director of Independent Living
631.348.3138
pcappell@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • Master of Science, Special Education, Adelphi University, NY
  • Bachelor of Science, Secondary Education, State University of New York
    Major: English

Scholarly Interests:
Learning disabilities, independent living, transition planning.

 

Affiliations:

  • Learning Disabilities Association of America
  • Council on Exceptional Children
Steve Delaney Steve Delaney, B.A.
Instructor/Vocational Teacher/Job Coach
631.348.3070
sgdelane@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • Bachelor of Arts in History, Queens College, Flushing, NY
  • Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential, California State University at Long Beach
  • Diploma, Training and Mangement Development, New York University
  Maryanne Dumas, MS, GCDF
Instructor/Counselor
631.348.3129

 

Education:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, St. Joseph's College, NY
  • Master of Science in Counseling, Long Island University, NY

Certification:

  • NY State Permanent Certification in School Counseling
  • Global Career Development Facilitator, Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc.
Madeline Dwyer Madeline Dwyer
Administrative Assistant
631.348.3113
madwyer@nyit.edu
Gina Frisina Gina Frisina, M.S. Ed.
IEP Coordinator
631.348.3149
gfrisina@nyit.edu

Education:

  • Master of Science in Special Education, Dowling College, Oakdale, NY
  • Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Dowling College, Oakdale, NY
  • Associate of Science in Early Childhood, SUNY Farmingdale, Farmingdale, NY

Certifications:

  • New York State Provisional Certification, Elementary Education, N-6
  • New York State Permanent Certification, Special Education
Christine Hawkins Christine Hawkins, LMSW
Instructor/Counselor 
631.348.3160 
chawkins@nyit.edu

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Social Science, Binghamton University, NY
  • Master of Science in Social Work,  Marywood University, Scranton, PA
  • Provisional Certification as a School Social Worker, New York State
  • Level 1 Certification in EAGALA, Equine Assisted Therapy
  • Adelphi University Graduate School of Social Work, SIFI trained Field Education

Scholarly Interests:
Life Skills training for those on the Spectrum, Self-Advocacy and Disabilities, Addiction and Treatment and Animal-Assisted Therapy as a tool to support people as they strive to achieve their life goals.

Affiliations:

  • Adelphi University Graduate School of Social Work, Field Education
Sheree Incorvaia Sheree Incorvaia, M.S.Ed.
Director of Recruitment and Admissions for VIP
Director of Introduction to Independence
631.348.3139
sincorva@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Queens College, NY
  • Bachelor of Science in Anthropology, Queens College, NY, Cum Laude
  • Master of Science in Special Eeducation, Long Island University, Brookville, NY, Summa Cum Laude

 

Affiliations:

  • Learning Disabilities Association of America
  • National Association for Professional Special Educaton Advocates
  • New York State Council on Children and Families
  • Western Suffolk Counselors' Association
Carol Jockle Carol Jockle
Instructor/Counselor
631.348.3135
cjockle@nyit.edu

 

Education

  • Master of Science in Counseling,  Long Island University, Brookville, NY
  • Received the Distinguished Performance Award in College Student Development
  • Bachelor of Arts Degree in Humanistic Studies and Social Science,  Adelphi University, NY
    Summa Cum Laude
    Honor Society
    Dean’s List

 

Affiliations:

  • American Counseling Association

Professional Development:

  • Developed a comprehensive 3-tier travel curriculum for students with special needs
  • Educational and Cultural Travel with Special Needs Students
  • Completed 6 international trips, numerous trips within the USA
  • Local instructional travel
David Krainski David Krainski, MS,GCDF
Instructor/Counselor
631.348.3123 dkrainsk@nyit.edu

Education:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University at Albany, NY
  • Master of Science in Counseling, NYIT, Old Westbury, NY
    With Distinction
  • Certification: Global Career Development Facilitator, Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc.
Walter Mayer Walter Mayer, LMSW
Coordinator of Residential Life
631.348.3141
wmayer@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology, Boston University, MA
  • Master of Social Work,  Adelphi University, NY
Cathie O'Mack Cathie O'Mack
Financial Coordinator
631.348.3126
comack@nyit.edu

 

Jennifer Parkinson Jennifer Parkinson, M.S.Ed.
Instructor/Job Coach
631.348.3122
jparkins@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • Master of Science in Secondary Education, Social Studies, Queens College, Flushing, NY
  • Bachelor of Arts in History, SUNY, Oswego, NY

Certifications:

  • New York State Special Education 9 - 12
  • Social Studies
  • American Red Cross Instructor Trainer

Scholarly Interests:
Transition planning, entreprenurial opportunites, employment, and fitness

Michelle Ranaldo Michelle Ranaldo Director of Technology
631.348.3137
mranaldo@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Elemntary Education, Bradley University, Peoria, IL
  • Master of Science in Instructional Technology, NYIT, Old Westbury, NY
    Wtih Distinction

Affiliations:

  • International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
  • New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education
  • Western Suffolk BOCES
  • EDWEB Community

 

Scholarly Interests:
Assistive and Adaptive Technology, Media Applications

   
Helene Schorr Helene Schorr
Instructorr/Counselor
631.348.3146
hschorr@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • Bachelor of Arts  in Psychology, SUNY, Binghamton, NY
  • Master of Science in School Counseling, Long Island University, Brookville, NY
Michelle Stylianou Michelle Stylianou
Instructor/Counselor
631.348.3134
mstyli03@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • Bachlor of Fine Arts, SUNY, Stony Brook, NY
  • Master of Arts in Art Education,
  • Certified Yoga instructor, RYT
Ruth Ventura Ruth Ventura
Instructor/Counselor
631.348.3130
rventura@nyit.edu

 

Erin Vlasak Erin Vlasak
Director of Student Services
631.348.3142
evlasak@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, St. Jospehs College, NY
    Graduated Cum Laude with Departmental Honors
  • SJC Cerrtificate in Counseling & Guidance
  • SJC Certificate Mental Health Worker
  • Master of Science in College Student Development, Long Island University, NY

Member of American Counseling Association (ACA)

Terri White Terri White
Director of Vocational Services
631.348.3128
twhite01@nyit.edu

 

Education:

  • University of Tampa, FL, Bachelor of Science, Physical Education, K-12
  • New York Institute of Technology, NY, Master of Professional Studies, Human Relations/couseling With Distinction

Professional Focus:
Giving adult students with learning differences the experiences and support needed to achieve an independent life by being successful in a competitive employment market.

Affiliations:

  • Psy Chi Honor Society (Int'l. Honor Society for Psychology)
  • Internet support group for families of USAF graduates.