Department Overview
Have you always pictured yourself shining on stage? Fine-tune your raw talent with a conservatory-based education at RVCC. Students of our Arts & Design Program create vivid visual portfolios and winning audition pieces. With these assets, they move on to some of the country’s top arts performing programs and go on succeed in talent-based careers. Our graduates have continued their education at such prestigious schools as UCLA, NYU, Parsons School of Design and Berklee College of Music. Our prime location just an hour outside both New York City and Philadelphia gives us access to teaching artists with coveted experience in the field.
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Where Talent and Education Thrive
RVCC’s Arts and Design department cultivates top-notch talent in an academically rigorous environment. Embrace a creative and challenging education among a community of likeminded peers.a
Degree Programs
Degrees Designed to Transfer to Four-Year Colleges
Dance, Associate of Fine Arts - Explore Careers
Game Art, Associate of Science - Explore Careers
Graphic and Interactive Design, Associate of Fine Arts - Explore Careers
Interface Design & Web Development, Associate of Science - Explore Careers
Interior Architecture and Design, Associate of Science - Explore Careers
Music, Associate of Fine Arts Degree - Explore Careers
Theatre Arts, Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts - Explore Careers
Visual Arts, Associate of Fine Arts - Explore Careers
Certificates Designed to Lead to Direct Employment
Game Development, Associate of Applied Science - Explore Careers
Interface Design & Web Development, Associate of Applied Science - Explore Careers
The above are 60 credit Associates degrees, not 30 credit certificates.
Certificates Designed to Provide Specialized Expertise
Interface Design & Web Development, Certificate - Explore Careers
Interior Design, Certificate - Explore Careers
Online classes are an option for many Arts & Design degree requirements. Click here to register for online summer college courses today!
Full Time Faculty
Instructor
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.L.I.S., School of Communication, Information & Library Science, Rutgers University, B.A., Rutgers University
Programming Consultant, The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon, NEH Grant PW-50002-08. Researcher & Manuscript Digitization, The Mandaean Book of John: Critical Edition, Translation and Commentary, NEH Grant RQ-50649-12
Associate Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A., Columbia University; B.S., Gordon College
Virtual reality spaces for data visualization Global Game Jam - Regional Coordinator (US) Global Game Jam - Site Organizer
Director of Dance
Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.F.A., The Ohio State University; B.A., The College of the Holy Cross
Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission grant, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, 2015; Artists Fellowship Award in Choreography, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, 2011; The National Conference for Community and Justice Best Practices Award - Best of Branchburg honoree, Branchburg Rotary Club, 2011; Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission grant, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, 2005; Puffin Foundation Arts Grant, 2002, 2005; Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission Grant, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, 1993 - 1996, 2001 – 2003; Burlington County Cultural and Heritage Department Grant, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, 1998, 1999; New York Foundation for the Arts Grant, 1992; Artists-in-Education Grant, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, ongoing - New Jersey Teacher Dual Certification in Theater and Vocational Arts/Dance
Coordinator Visual Design
Instructor
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.F.A., Maryland Institute College of Art; B.A.,Stockton University
Gold Dragon Studios; Game Design Founding Partner, Creative Director and Content Designer - Greenman Creative; Designer and Creative Consultant - Aspect Arts; Direction and promotion/branding of all projects including media, design photography, and music.
Assistant Professor-Arts and Design
Academic Degrees Achieved: B.F.A. Rhode Island School of Design, RI
M.F.A. Montclair State University, NJ
• Long Island Arts Council grant for Freeport public library mural
• Artist in residence, AIR-Y, Kofu City, Yamanashi, Japan
• Artist in residence, Marpha Foundation, Marpha, Nepal
• Civil Society Fellowship, Artist-In-Residency, Vermont Studio Center
Assistant Professor of Art - 3D Design and Sculpture
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.F.A., Rhode Island School of Design; B.F.A., Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
Instructor - Visual Arts - Image & Print Technology
Academic degrees achieved:
M.F.A., Photography, Tyler School of Art
B.S., University of Tennessee
Arts & Design Co-Chair
Associate Professor - Graphic Design
RVCC Art Gallery Director
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.F.A., Cranbrook Academy of Art; B.F.A., Hartford Art School / Glasgow School of Art
2015-16 RVCC Full-Time Faculty Research Grant; 2015 Residency: NES Artist Residency, Skagaströnd, Iceland; 2013 Puffin Foundation Ltd. Individual Artist Grant; 2012 Residency: The Solo(s) Project House, Newark, NJ; 2011 NJ State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Grant (top award / painting); 2011 Residency: Salzburg Künstlerhaus, Salzburg, Austria; 2010 Residency: The Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT; 2010 Residency: Chashama North, Pine Plains, NY; 2009 Residency: Virginia Center for the Creative Arts at Mt. San Angelo, Amherst, VA; 2008 Fellowship / Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation in conjunction w/ The Millay Colony for the Arts; 2008 Residency: The Millay Colony for the Arts, Austerlitz, NY; 2007 Residency: Artists’ Enclave at I-Park, East Haddam, CT; 2006 Residency: Cooper Union School of Art - Drawing & Painting Residency, New York, NY
Professor
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.A., B.A., Madras University; M.A., Temple University; A.B.D., Freie Universitaet
Scholarships: Assistantship, Freie Universitaet, Berlin, Germany. Graduate Exchange Student Scholarship, Temple University, Philadelphia. Graduate Scholarship for Study in Italy, Temple University. Graduate Assistantships in Art History, Temple University. Graduate Merit Scholarship, Madras University, Chennai India. Research Interests: Literature and the Arts in the cultures of Asia- especially East and South Asia Origins and History of Mother Goddess Imagery- in the East and West Development of the Temple of the Goddess in South Indian Temple Complexes
Professor - Theatre
Academic Degrees Achieved: M.F.A., The New School for Drama
Lifetime Membership/The Actors Studio (NY,NY); Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation Fellowship Recipient for Playwriting; New Jersey Playwrights Competition - Winner (William Paterson University); Actors Equity Member; Member of the Dramatists Guild
Professor - Music
Academic Degrees Achieved: D.M.A., M.M.A., Yale School of Music; M.A., Columbia University; B.A., Princeton University
Works featured on a New York Philharmonic Chamber Ensembles Concerts, 2006, 2013 2016; New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship in music composition, 2014; Compositions and orchestrations featured on recordings from CD Baby, Musicians Showcase, Naxos, Centaur, Opus One and Newport Classic; Sonata for Solo Violin premiered 2010 in Mendoza, Argentina; Francesca da Bimini commissioned and premiered in the Kennedy Center by the National Symphony Orchestra, 2003
Adjunct Faculty
Raritan Valley Community College online courses, as well as face-to-face classes, are taught by accomplished adjunct and full-time faculty.
James Adkins james.adkins@raritanval.edu
B.F.A., Sculpture, Maryland Institute, College of Art
M.F.A., Sculpture, New York Academy of Art
Abraham Alinea abraham.alinea@raritanval.edu
B.M., M.M., Music Performance (Piano), Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
Kathleen Amalfitano kathleen.amalfitano@raritanval.edu
Marissa Aucoin marissa.aucoin@raritanval.edu
B.F.E., Montclair State University
M.A., SUNY College Brockport
Lynn Barnes (Lydia Grey) lynn.barnes@raritanval.edu
BFA, MFA, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
Danielle Barry danielle.barry@raritanval.edu
B.A., Western Maryland College
B.A., McDaniel College
Lauren Beirne lauren.beirne@raritanval.edu
B.F.E., Dance, Rutgers University
M.F.A., Dance, New York University
Will Berman will.berman@raritanval.edu
D.M.A.,Voice, Rutgers University
Jeanne Brody jeanne.brody@raritanval.edu
M.A., Temple University
Ph.D., University of Delaware
Kailey Brown kailey.brown@raritanval.edu
M.F.A., Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
B.F.A., University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL
Robert Burger robert.burger@raritanval.edu
B.A., Pratt Institute
M.A., International Fine Arts College
Angeles Cossio angeles.cossio@raritanval.edu
M.F.A., Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
B.F.A., The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY
Lisa Deo lisa.deo@raritanval.edu
B.A., Kean University
M.F.A.,Eugene Lang College
Michael Eckhart michael.eckhart@raritanval.edu
B.M., Northern Arizona University
M.M., San Diego State University – California State University
Elvis Fuentes elvis.fuentes@raritanval.edu
M.A., Rutgers University
Barbara Greenspan Barbara.greenspan@raritanval.edu
B.A., University of California
M.A., New York University
Kate Hoffmann kate.hoffmann@raritanval.edu
M.O.D., The University of Edinburgh
Steve Hudson Stephen.Hudson@raritanval.edu
M.M., Manhattan School of Music
Bangalore Iyengar bangalore.iyengar@raritanval.edu
B.A., Fine Arts - Visual Arts, Jaw Nehru Tech University; M.A.
Fine Arts - Visual Arts, Mah Sayajirao University Baroda
Heejung Kim Heejung.Kim@raritanval.edu
M.F.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook
William Kolatac william.kolatac@raritanval.edu
B.S., Rider University
M.S., Kean University
Richard Lempicki richard.lempicki@raritanval.edu
B.Mus., Composition, Berklee College Music
Bill Macholdt William.Macholdt@raritanval.edu
B.S., East Stroudsburg University
M.F.A., Bennington College
David Marcinkowski David.marcinkowski@raritanval.edu
B.A., Kean University
M.A., New School Joffrey Program
Jeffrey Mason Jeffrey.mason@raritanval.edu
B.A., Bob Jones University,
M.F.A. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Jeffrey McConnell jeffrey.mcconnell@raritanval.edu
M.F.A., Photography, Temple University
Irina Nikitovic irina.nikitovic@raritanval.edu
B.A., Art History
M.Ed., Art Education & Supervision, Kean University
Dot Paolo Dorothy.Paolo@raritanval.edu
M.F.A., Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
Shyamal Raguso shyamal.raguso@raritanval.edu
B.S., Computer Science, DeSales University
B.F.A., M.F.A., Painting, Monmouth University
Candace Reilly Candace.reilly@raritanval.edu
B.A., Drew University
John Reinking III John.Reinking@raritanval.edu
M.F.A., Marywood University
Jonathan Ricci Jonathan.Ricci@raritanval.edu
B.F.A., Maryland Institute College of Art
M.F.A., Bowling Green State University
M.A., Eastern Illinois University
Sarah Roche Sarah.Roche@raritanval.edu
B.F.A., Moore College of Art and Design
M.F.A., University of Pennsylvania
Ana Rolim ana.rolim@raritanval.edu
B.Arch., M.Arch., Ph.D., Architecture & Urban Development, Federal University of Pernambuco – Brazil
Oliver Santana oliver.santana@raritanval.edu
B.A., Music, Conservatory of Music
M.A., Music, Georgia State University
D.M.A., Music, Rutgers University
Kathy Schulz Kathleen.Schulz@raritanval.edu
B.F.A., State University of New York
M.F.A., University of Massachusetts
Dawn Schultz dawn.schultz@raritanval.edu
B.A., Special Education, Kean University
M.F.A., Choreography, Jacksonville University
Paulette Sears Paulette.sears@raritanval.edu
B.A., English, Vassar College
M.A., Mills College
Wes Sherman James.Sherman@raritanval.edu
B.S., Lipscomb University
M.F.A., Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
Lynn Sichel Lynn.sichel@raritanval.edu
B.M.U.S., Antioch University
M.A., Sarah Lawrence College
San Timur Solu San.Solu@raritanval.edu
B.A., Kean University, English Certificate, Oxford University
M.PHIL., Rutgers University
Eric Stryker eric.stryker@raritanval.edu
B.F.A., Art History, Boston College
M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., Art History, Yale University
Michael Stuempfle Michael.Stuempfle@raritanval.edu
B.M., M.M., Indiana State University
Eldad Tarmu Eldad.tarmu@raritanval.edu
M.A., Stony Brook University
Cynthia Teeters Cynthia.Teeters@raritanval.edu
M.S. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
B.S. University of California, Los Angeles
Events
Whether your major is dance, theatre, music or art, there are opportunities throughout the year to showcase your talents and accomplishments including:
- Student Art Shows
- Student Theatre Performances
- Student Dance Recitals
- Student Music Recitals
- RVCC Chorale
- RVCC Jazz Ensemble
For a complete listing of VAPA events, click here.
Somerset County 2019 Excellence in the Arts Awards Ceremony
Contact Information
shartzell@raritanval.edu
908-218-8876