Middle States at Atlantic Cape
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is an internationally recognized organization whose offices are located in Philadelphia, PA. MSCHE evaluates degree-granting institutions of higher education and helps these institutions improve their programs and services. The degrees we grant at Atlantic Cape would have little meaning without the stamp of approval from the Middle States. Many of our students transfer to four-year schools and go on to graduate degrees, and because our college is accredited by Middle States, those other colleges and universities do not question the validity of our graduates' credits.
The academic programs and services provided at Atlantic Cape are reviewed every eight years to ensure they meet the standards set by the Middle States for all degree-granting institutions in their geographic region. Middle States reaffirmed Atlantic Cape’s accreditation in June 2018 after the College submitted a Self-Study and underwent an Evaluation Team Visit conducted by representatives from peer institutions. The Middle States standards are outlined in their publication, Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation Fourteenth Edition.
Atlantic Cape is now preparing for our next reaccreditation process. The president and leadership identified co-chairs for the Steering Committee to coordinate the self-study efforts. Additionally, Atlantic Cape’s President requested volunteers, among faculty and staff, to serve on the steering committee and working groups. Working groups will begin convening in the spring of 2025.
The steering committee comprises steering committee co-chairs, co-chairs of each working group, and cabinet members.
Middle States Steering Committee
- Accreditation Liaison Officer:
Dr. Vanessa O'Brien-McMasters, Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness & Chief Strategy Officer - Steering Co-Chair:
Dr. Gwen Setley, Director of Academic Program Effectiveness - Steering Co-Chair:
Sherwood L. Taylor, Senior Director, Workforce Development
Standard I: Mission & Goals
- Co-Chair: Janet Marler, Assistant Professor, English
- Co-Chair: Richard Russell, Associate Professor, English
- Cabinet Liaison: Laura Batchelor, Chief Marketing Officer
- Dr. Christopher Carbone, Assistant Professor, Biology
- Crista Golden, Bursar
- Connor McHugh, College Recruiter
- Chef Joseph Sheridan, Director, Academic of Culinary Arts and Hospitality
- Nicole Thompson, Advertising & Marketing Manager
Standard II: Ethics & Integrity
- Co-Chair: Nancy Porfido, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advocate & Judicial Officer
- Co-Chair: David Zuba, Public Relations Manager and Copywriter
- Cabinet Liaison: Tom Hendrixson, Executive Director, Human Resources
- Dr. Hana Bajes, Assistant Professor, Biology
- Carol A. Fraone, College Recruiter
- Danielle Nelson, Assistant Bursar
- Kayla Scannell, Interim Registrar
- Dominic Tullio, Assistant Director, Financial Aid
Standard III: Design & Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
- Co-Chair: Jerome Ingram, Assistant Director, First-Year Experience
- Co-Chair: Dr. Jolie Master, Interim Dean STEM & Associate Professor, Biology
- Cabinet Liaison: Dr. Josette Katz, Sr. Vice President, Academic Affairs
- Nicholas Alexander, Senior Manager, Digital Accessibility CFA
- Susan DePhilippis, Professor, World Languages; Chair of the Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence
- Melissa Hatty, Assistant Director, Workforce Development Operations
- Michelle Perkins, Director, Instructional Technology
- Dr. Francis Toriello, Assistant Professor, Physics and Chemistry
Standard IV: Support of the Student Learning Experience
- Co-Chair: Janet Hauge, Director of Academic Support Services
- Co-Chair: Stacey Zacharoff, Dean of Students
- Cabinet Liaison: Dr. Natalie Devonish, Vice President, Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
- Madeline Barrows, Assistant Professor, Psychology
- Tonya Cooper, Manager, Foundation and Restricted Accounting
- Jamal Edwards, Director, Athletics
- Dr. Terri-Lynn Hamby, Director, Science Labs
- Gwen McIntyre, Professor, World Languages
- Tasha Rivera, Director, One-Stop Enrollment and Recruitment
Standard V: Educational Effectiveness Assessment
- Co-Chair: Dr. Denise-Marie Coulter, Sr. Dean, Liberal Studies & Culinary Arts
- Co-Chair: Dr. Beth Sanders-Rabinowitz, Department Chair & Associate Professor, Social Sciences
- Cabinet Liaison: Dr. Josette Katz, Sr. Vice President, Academic Affairs
- Janice Burg-Levi, Adjunct Instructor
- Dr. Raymond Keller, Assistant Professor, Biology
- Wallace Maines, Director, Paramedic Sciences & EMT Training
- Jennifer Martucci, Senior Manager, Institutional Research
- Myrna Morales-Keklak, Dean, Nursing & Health Sciences
Standard VI: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
- Co-Chair: Dr. Augustine Nigro, Department Chair & Professor, Arts & Humanities
- Co-Chair: Matthew Miller, Senior Manager, Institutional Research and Assessment
- Cabinet Liaisons: John Piazza, Chief Information Officer; Dominic Sambucci, Chief Business Officer
- Michael Bolicki, Professor, Social Science
- Sandi Greco, Senior Director, Project Management
- Krista McConnell, Director, Cape May County Campus and Community Outreach
- Sondra Ritondo, Budget Analyst
- Emily Smykla, Senior Manager, Grants
Standard VII: Governance, Leadership, & Administration
- Co-Chair: Dr. Karl Giulian, Area Coordinator and Associate Professor, Business
- Co-Chair: Luis Montefusco, Senior Director, Institutional Research, Assessment, & Planning
- Cabinet Liaison: Jean McAlister, Chief of Staff & Chief Advancement Officer
- Dr. Laurie Lemons, Associate Professor, Chemistry
- Joy Little, Controller
- Christopher Mularz, Advancement Officer/Associate Director, Foundation
- Rosemary Reidy, Executive Assistant, Office of the President and Board of Trustees
Verification of Compliance
- Co-Chair: Sandra Criscione, Director, Innovation & Academic Resources
- Co-Chair: Jeffrey Wenzel, Director, Restricted Accounting
- Cabinet Liaison: Leslie Jamison, Chief Financial Officer
- Victoria DeLaurentis, Director, Financial Aid
Contact Information
E-mail your Steering Committee Co-Chairs at middlestates@atlanticcape.edu