New Jersey City University has launched the NJCU Center for the Arts to bring its performing, visual, film, and literary arts activities under one creative umbrella.

Long considered a cultural hub of metro-north Jersey, NJCU boasts an accomplished international faculty in many disciplines, from music to theatre, to media and visual arts, and literature. These professionals mentor students, sharing their knowledge and passion, and also invite renowned guest artists to campus. On any given day or evening, NJCU’s theaters and galleries host an array of performances, recitals, lectures, screenings, and exhibitions. In addition, events are presented at local public schools and other area venues.

In announcing the NJCU Center for the Arts, President Sue Henderson commented, “Our University community is rich with talented artists and bold ideas. NJCU is proud to share this abundance of creative energy and inspiring work with our neighbors and all those in the greater Jersey City area who wish to expand their horizons and explore new worlds.”

Dr. Henderson continued, “Our Center for the Arts is comprehensive in its approach to programming and inclusive of diverse expressions of creativity. With the variety of cultural offerings, there’s bound to be something appealing to everyone on our fall calendar.”

NJCU has established an Arts Advisory Board comprised of key individuals in the metropolitan cultural community to assist the University in strengthening and expanding its arts identity and initiatives. Details about the Arts Advisory Board will be announced later this fall.

Highlights of the fall programming include a keynote speech by Tony-Award winning choreographer Bill T. Jones (Nov 15); Surviving and Thriving: Anti-LGBT Bullying in America, with Guest Speaker Sean M. Kosofsky, Executive Director of the Tyler Clementi Foundation (Nov. 2); and screenings of the 2016 winners of the Black Maria Film Festival, which is housed at NJCU and is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year (various dates and locations).

The Department of Music, Dance and Theatre presents mainstage productions of the Broadway and Hollywood hit musical Little Shop of Horrors (Oct. 21-30), Johann Strauss, Jr.’s operetta Die Fledermaus (Nov. 17-20); guest performances by internationally acclaimed Cuban guitarist Iliana Matos (Oct. 9), Audrey Cupples, the first and only female saxophonist in the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band (Oct. 26) and jazz pianist Michael Weiss, who has performed with Wynton Marsalis and other jazz greats (Nov. 14). Families and young children will enjoy a special interactive version of Cinderella that combines music and storytelling (Oct.17,19, 21).

In NJCU’s two galleries, the talents of faculty in the NJCU Art Department are on view (Sept. 16 – Oct. 25), along with exhibitions by MFA students (ongoing) and installations by Israeli-born, Brooklyn-based artist Etty Yaniv (Nov. 7 – Dec. 15),

For the full Fall 2016 Calendar of Events for NJCU performing, visual, and literary arts visit www.njcu.edu/arts. For additional information call 201-200-3426.

All events are open to the public, and for most, admission is free. Mainstage performances are ticketed: tickets may be purchased in advance at www.njcu.edu/arts or in person at the box office, which opens one hour prior to performances.

NJTV And NJCU Partner On Weeknight Business News Broadcast From Studio At NJCU School Of Business

NJTV, New Jersey’s public television network, and New Jersey City University (NJCU) are partnering on a new business update segment broadcast from the NJCU School of Business as part of NJTV’s weeknight newscast, NJTV News with Mary Alice Williams. The updates are produced on location at the Strategic Development Group Studio at the NJCU School of Business located at Harborside Plaza 2 in the Jersey City financial district. The new space was celebrated at a ribbon-cutting event on June 1, 2016 at the School with network and University principals, business leaders and local officials in attendance.

The studio was made possible through major gifts from the Strategic Development Group (SDG) to NJCU for construction of the facility and NJTV to equip the studio with the latest broadcast technology. Anthony V. Bastardi, chairman and chief executive officer of SDG, is a vice chair of NJTV’s Board of Trustees.

Broadcast financial journalist Rhonda Schaffler hosts the business segments. Schaffler is editor-at-large of TheStreet, a leading digital financial media company, and anchor of TheStreet TV.

The new segments report business and financial news happening across New Jersey from a state-of-the-art studio space with a windowed backdrop on the Jersey City waterfront overlooking Wall Street. The reports are integrated into the NJTV News with Mary Alice Williams newscast, which airs weeknights at 6:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on NJTV (check local listings).

In announcing the segment, NJTV General Manager John Servidio said, “The addition of a regular weeknight business report is another step in the evolution of NJTV News and the network. We’re covering the issues in the state better than ever before, and we are proud to partner with NJCU to make it happen.”

NJCU President Sue Henderson remarked, “NJCU is delighted to host the NJTV News weeknight business report and to broadcast financial news from our School of Business, a high-tech facility that is situated in the heart of New Jersey’s business hub.”

Dr. Bernard McSherry, interim dean of the NJCU School of Business, noted, “Having NJTV’s business news broadcast to the metro area from a studio overlooking Wall Street at the NJCU School of Business sends a powerful message. This is an opportunity to let the business community and students everywhere know that NJCU is the place to go for business news and business studies in New Jersey.”

“Everyone at Strategic Development Group is very proud to support the efforts of NJTV and NJCU in this endeavor,” said Mr. Bastardi. “The more local news and information available to New Jerseyans, the better.”

NJCU Awarded $1.4 Million NSF Grant

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a Robert Noyce grant in the amount of $1,444,698 to New Jersey City University for support of its project, “Recruiting and Preparing STEM Majors as Secondary Teachers for High-Need School Districts in New Jersey.”

Beginning in summer/fall of 2017, the project will award scholarships and stipends to NJCU STEM majors who are obtaining teaching certifications in their fields. Funds will be available to undergraduates for their junior and/or senior years, and post-baccalaureate STEM majors may receive one-year stipends to complete their teacher certification requirements. Participants will be provided with mentoring, supplemental instruction, and professional development. Awards are competitive, and scholarship recipients will be selected primarily on the basis of academic merit and commitment to teaching. The Noyce Scholars must commit to teaching in high-need school districts for two years for every year of funding they receive.

NJCU has partnered with Bergen Community College, Hudson County Community College, and Middlesex County College, as well as Essex County Vocational Technical Schools, Union City High School, and the Jersey City Board of Education.