Jeff Bonaldi (AS) has been busy for the last year with a business venture called Sports Klip. It’s based on an invention of his late father, Jeffrey P. Bonaldi, who died in 1996, the day before word arrived that his patent had been approved. His Sports Klip “system” consists of a plastic clip designed to securely fasten a wallet to clothing in a way that lets the wearer participate in any vigorous sport. Bonaldi has formed a corporation, obtained venture capital, organized a national sales force from a Manhattan office, and is marketing five versions of the Sports Klip through sporting goods stores and soon, he hopes, in catalogs.
Marguerite Berg Cahill (AS) is living in San Diego and attending graduate school at Alliant International University (formerly the California School of Professional Psychology). She is working toward a PhD in clinical psychology with a concentration in forensics.
Marvin Cardenas (AS) has spent most of his time since graduation in a job we imagine most political science majors would die for. He has been serving as a clerk in the Office of the President (not the Secretary-General) of the UN General Assembly. Here is most of an extended e-mail received in December. We have edited it somewhat for brevity.
“The presidency is not as well known an office as the secretary-general’s. However, protocol-wise, it ranks higher because it represents all member states, whereas the SG primarily represents the organization. The presidency is an office held for one year, a position occupied by an elected individual, usually a seasoned and well-respected statesman, from one of the five major regions (Western Europe and other states, Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Latin American and Caribbean states). Most of the support team and officers who assist the president also come from that region or country.“I was initially recruited as a clerk in October 2000, after several interviews and examinations (in French and English), to assist the economic and social adviser to Mr. Harri Holkeri, former Prime Minister of Finland, for the 55th session, which ended last fall. Luckily, upon the kind recommendation of the outgoing Finns, I was able to continue working this session for the Presidency of Dr. Han Seung-soo, foreign minister of the Republic of Korea, whose term ends in September.“I am very fortunate (and at times unfortunate due to the long hours and pressure) to have such a vast exposure in Presidency-related issues. Being in the presidency also allows me to get an eagle’s eye view of the UN organization and all its offices and agencies—a sometimes overwhelming body because of the sheer volume of work it tackles.“The role of the presidency is to moderate and chair some of this work through the General Assembly of 189 member states, and other informal meetings with some, or individual, member states. As a clerk, I’ve had to follow some of these meetings and do reports—the part of my job I think most enlightening and hands-on. The other responsibilities I have entail everything an assistant would normally do: help schedule meetings for the president and chief of staff, draft letters and responses to correspondence, research and retrieve reports and other various documents from the UN library or online, and, most important, liaise with the UN secretariat, which is the primary support for the presidency and work of the General Assembly.“All in all, the work has been enriching so far. I am able to keep up to date with all the global issues, and the office I work in affords the occasional opportunity to see the people who are at the heart of these issues. However, I’m considering moving to an office that will focus on the economic development of the least developed countries. Other hopeful plans include graduate school in the spring of 2003. I’ve recently moved to NYC, and enjoy the commute-free, brisk walk to work.”Deborah Cesario (AS) had enlisted in the Peace Corps after graduation and expected to serve two years as a teacher of English to university students in the city of Nawoiy in southeastern Uzbekistan. Following the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, and the American military buildup against Afghanistan, however, all 157 Peace Corps workers were ordered out of the country and back to the U.S. One of her first stops after returning to her Philadelphia home, was to speak before a group of TCNJ students and faculty. She described her life as an American who faced abuse from strangers in public on many occasions, but who also developed close friendships with many Uzbeks, most of whom, she said, are far more moderate in their religious beliefs than those Muslims who regularly express hatred of America.
Katy Ells (AS) worked as production associate on the “Screen Actors Guild Awards 2000” and the “Miss America Pageant 2001” television shows. Now she works at Gizmo Enterprises, a film/video and audio post-production house in New York City where she is training to become a film/video editor.
Cathleen Hayden (E) is at TCNJ pursuing a master’s in educational technology.
Jaime L. Holtz (E) has taken a teaching position in Hopewell Township.
Sean McMillan (AS) stopped in last summer to bring us up to date with himself and other “Wolfe 6 kids” from his class. At the time he was working at the Hopewell Valley Country Club. Now he’s studying for a degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
William Petti (AS) attends graduate school at Temple University, pursuing a PhD in political science and serving as a teaching assistant.
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Abraham Asoli (AS) is pursuing a master’s in international relations at George Washington University, Washington, DC.
Anne Baitzel (EN) works for Lockheed Martin in Moorestown.
Michael Boutros (AS) attends New York University School of Law.
John Boyd (AS) is enrolled at New England School of Law in Boston.
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Veronica Castro (AS) is at George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC.
Karen Cigala (B) is an account executive for Princeton Partners in Princeton.
Kate Curran (AS) and Karin Gallagher (AS) attend Rutgers-Camden Law School.
Seth Danzig (AS) is pursuing a master’s in communications at Rutgers University.
Patti Davis (AS) interned during the summer for MWW Group, a Trenton lobbying firm, and now is a sales and marketing analyst at McCollisters Trucking.
Right after graduation, Marc Dral (AS) went to work in the division of constituent relations in the New Jersey governor’s office and survived the change of political administration in January. On behalf of the governor, he writes a variety of letters and policy communications, and refers matters to the appropriate state departments and agencies. Dral lives in West Trenton.
Angelique Douyon (AS) is pursuing a PhD in political science at the University of Michigan.
Christina Foglio (AS) attends Wake Forest University Law School in Winston-Salem, NC, on a full scholarship.
Ida Fuda (AS) attends Pace University Law School in White Plains, NY.
Natalie Gagliardi (E) teaches third grade at West Freehold Elementary School in Freehold and lives in Seaside Park.
Julio Garcia (AS) works for the NJ Department of Law and Public Safety.
Michael Gesualdo (AS), Tom Leach (AS), and William Quirk (AS) are attending Seton Hall Law School in South Orange.
Jason Gonzalez (AS) is finishing his second major in communication studies at TCNJ.
Joseph Roselle Gurski (AS), Christine Peluso (AS), and Michael Young (AS) are attending Rutgers Newark Law School.
Sheryl Lacina (E) teaches fourth grade at St. Pius V School in Lynn, MA.
Erin McGrath (AS) is the service learning coordinator at Middlesex County College.
Greg McNelis (EN) works for Lockheed Martin in Valley Forge, PA.
Kristin Mellage (AS) is teaching English in a middle school in Austria for a year under the auspices of the Fulbright Program, after which she plans to attend a law or other graduate school.
Alison Newman (AS) attends Seton Hall University, enrolled in its joint JD/MA in diplomacy and international relations program.
Kenneth Nisch (AS) attends medical school at UMDNJ.
Carolyn Novak (AS) is interning with Americorps.
John Pavelec is a reporter for the Watchung Sentinel-News.
Robert Rasmussen (EN) works at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics.
Cindy Scornavacca (EN) works for Globe Span.
Amanda Smith (AS) is pursuing a master’s in public relations at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
David Van Camp (EN) finished his TCNJ studies in December and now works as a beginning engineer at Schoor Depalma in Manalapan. He is in the division that works on mechanical, electrical, and plumbing projects for governmental agencies and private firms throughout New Jersey and nearby Pennsylvania. He has a new apartment in Mercerville, and says he hopes to be on track to take the professional engineer examination in a few years.
Kerri VanEenennaam (E) is a sixth-grade special education teacher in Monroe Township, and lives in Hightstown.
Lissy Velarde (AS) works for the New Jersey Department of Labor under the auspices of the Hispanic Interns in Community Service Program and the Latino Leaders Fellowship Institute.
Joshua Whalen (AS) works at CIGNA Systems in Voorhees.
David Zaikwski (AS) is working at RGR REFCO Global Research doing research on market commodities.
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