Montclair State’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

As part of Montclair State University’s Convocation exercises, the University will honor alumni at each of the convocation ceremonies with the School of Nursing honoring a distinguished speaker. We invite you to learn more about these honorees who will be receiving an award.

• College of the Arts: Aldo Scrofani ’73
• College of Education and Human Services: Roger León ’96 MA
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Steven M. Resnick ’93
• College of Science and Mathematics: Joseph L. Fiordaliso ’67
• Feliciano School of Business: Irving L. Dennis ’81
• School of Nursing: Dawn Aubel, EdD, MPH, APNc

College of the Arts
Aldo Scrofani ’73

Aldo Scrofani graduated from Montclair State in 1973 with a BS in Business Administration. He began his tenure in the theatre in 1977 at Jujamcyn Theatres Corporation. During his 13-year term he served as the executive vice president and executive producer, and participated in the vast growth of the organization into one of America’s leading and most progressive theatrical companies. Jujamcyn owned and operated first-class legitimate Broadway theatres, as well as produced some of the Broadway Theatre’s most memorable and successful productions.

In 1990, he joined Columbia Artists Theatricals (CAT). CAT was among the industry’s most highly regarded producing and management companies and was a leader in the world of theatrical touring.

During his 18-year term with CAT, Scrofani served as the chief operating officer. In addition, during this term, he also held the position of executive vice president and COO of Columbia Artists Management, Inc. (CAT’s parent company) and was a senior member of the Board of Directors. In 2009, he founded Theatre Management Associates, Inc. (TMA) and its subsidiary, Moonglow Productions LLC. TMA/Moonglow is a theatrical production and management company providing expertise and professional services to theatrical ventures on a worldwide basis. Concurrently, in 2008, after many years of guest lecturing and as a guest expert both at Duke and New York University, Scrofani became an adjunct professor at the Stern School of Business teaching a course entitled “The Business of Broadway,” as well as the Instructor on the highly praised program, “Strategic Steps for Growth” (SS4G), sponsored by the Mayor’s Office Of Media and Entertainment in partnership with New York University. Scrofani is currently the chief operating officer of the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc, which includes the world famous and iconic Apollo Theater. Read more

College of Education and Human Services
Roger Leon ’96 MA

Roger León graduated from Montclair State in 1996 with an MA in Administration and Supervision. He was born in the city of Newark, grew up in the city of Newark, remains a proud product of the Newark Board of Education, dedicated 25 years of service to the children in the Newark Public Schools, and still lives in Newark.

León attended Hawkins Street School from Kindergarten to eighth grade and graduated from Science High School. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at Rutgers University and was determined to remain in Newark to teach and impact lives at both of his alma maters. For three years, he taught fifth grade at Hawkins Street School and was the head coach of the Science High School Debate Team for eight years. His classes won local competitions and his students demonstrated high academic growth. The debate team won local, state and national championships. The Eighth Grade Algebra Pilot resulted in his move to Rafael Hernández Elementary School. León taught Algebra I to eighth-graders for high school credit and provided intensive professional development in mathematics to Newark teachers across the district. The success of this project resulted in hundreds of eighth-grade students earning high school credit in Algebra I, teachers earning dual certification in Mathematics, and the district’s highest elementary mathematics standardized test scores in years.

León earned his Master of Arts in Administration and Supervision from Montclair State University and subsequently served as a turnaround principal in Newark for 10 years. He was the principal of Dr. William H. Horton School for four years and University High School of the Humanities for six years. Since León believes that every child is a genius, it was his responsibility to lead and work collaboratively with all stakeholders to improve both schools. With the Accelerated Schools Project model at Horton, he promoted data-driven instruction, built a strong culture of achievement, and increased parent and community involvement. Student achievement increased, attendance improved and discipline referrals decreased. Under his leadership at University, the school implemented its own whole-school reform model, which was a return to the school’s original design; a school that is an engine of social change and social justice. As a result, the middle grades standardized test scores ranked #1 in New Jersey and the school became the top performing high school in the city, one of the top 75 high schools in the state and ranked one of the top high schools in the country. Read more

College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Steven M. Resnick ’93

Steven M. Resnick, Esq. graduated from Montclair State in 1993 with a BA in English/Pre-Law. He is a partner at Ziegler, Zemsky & Resnick, is a matrimonial and family lawyer and one of New Jersey’s trailblazing practitioners in the area of parental alienation.

A highly skilled litigator, Resnick handles all aspects of matrimonial and family law relating to divorce, equitable distribution, palimony, annulment, high net worth, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, business valuations, real estate, domestic violence, custody and visitation, paternity, estate/will contests, judgment/agreement modification, appeals, and case second opinions, among others. He has also served as co-counsel for numerous out-of-state matters.

Resnick recently broke new legal ground in New Jersey on the subject of parental alienation and has argued before the Appellate Division of New Jersey and New Jersey Supreme Court on many other matrimonial and family law issues, as well.

Resnick began his legal career immediately following law school serving as law clerk to the Honorable Jo-Anne B. Spatola in New Jersey Superior Court, Family Part. He also held the highly esteemed position of adjunct professor at Montclair State University where he taught Family Law and Legal Writing.

While a law student, Resnick served as interns to both the Honorable Ralph Deluccia and the Honorable Catherine Langlois in the Family Part of New Jersey Superior Court. Read more

College of Science and Mathematics
Joseph L. Fiordaliso ’67

Born and raised in the Ironbound section of Newark, Joseph L. Fiordaliso ’67 earned a BA in Business Education from Montclair State, and completed graduate and management courses at Montclair State and Rutgers University.

Joseph served as director of government relations for the Saint Barnabas Health Care System. From 1967 to 1986, he was an educator at Vailsburg High School and Bloomfield High School, and an adjunct professor of accounting at County College of Morris for 12 years.

In 1988, Joseph was elected to the Livingston Township Council and served for three terms, and was elected mayor three times during his tenure. In 1990, he was appointed by the Essex County Executive to serve as the director of planning and economic development and was named “Citizen of the Year” by the Livingston Chapter of Unico National in 2003. He has worked extensively with the New Jersey Democratic State Committee and served as district director for Senate President Richard Codey. Joseph was named deputy chief of staff in Governor Codey’s office in November 2004.  Read more

Feliciano School of Business
Irving L. Dennis ’81

Irving “Irv” L. Dennis ’81 was recently nominated by the President of the United States, and confirmed by the Senate, to serve as the CFO of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In his capacity at HUD, he serves as the principal advisor to the secretary on financial management and is the senior departmental official responsible for establishing and implementing policies to govern all aspects of financial management at HUD, and oversees the design, implementation and coordination of HUD’s financial information and general management systems. As the CFO, Irv oversees a $70 billion budget and is successfully leading a Finance Transformation and IT Modernization plan at HUD with a focus on improving financial controls to focus on protecting taxpayer funds.

Prior to his role at HUD, Irv had a successful career with Ernst & Young LLP (EY) beginning in 1981 following his graduation from Montclair State. He retired as global client service partner and served as the global coordinating audit partner for some of EY’s largest international clients, including several S&P 500 EY clients, specializing in life sciences, franchising operations, consumer products, distribution and manufacturing. Many of his audit teams included over 700 professionals located in over 100 countries. Irv has extensive experience in advising public company boards, audit committees and C-suite executives on matters such as corporate governance, finance transformations, complex business processes, internal controls, financial reporting and M&A activities. Read more

School of Nursing
Dawn Aubel, EdD, MPH, APNc

Dawn Aubel is the Director of Global Patient Relations at Novartis Oncology, ensuring that patients’ perspectives are incorporated in clinical research, as well as improving access to treatment and support. She has been a nurse in the areas of clinical care, population health, and research, for over 30 years.

Aubel received a doctorate in health services organization and leadership, a Master of Science in nursing, as well as a Master of Public Health, from Columbia University. Her undergraduate degree in nursing is from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is certified by the American Nurses Certification Center as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Aubel has extensive experience in primary care, cancer survivorship care, and in health services delivery. She has won a number of awards, including the President’s Award for her work in wellness; and the Global Human Resources Award for Energy & Culture for cancer survivorship, and most recently, the eyeforpharma Collaboration Award with Johns Hopkins University. Read more