Hon. Ruth Balkin '73 is a Justice NYS Supreme Court.

Paul Riley '86 is a professional soccer coach.

Neil Stepney '86 is a Pharmaceutical Sales Manager.

Carolyn G. Shapiro-Shapin '87 (Yale, '93) is an Associate Professor in History at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. She recently received an award on behalf of the College Board Advanced Placement® Best Practices Course Study.

Pamela Booth '88 is the manager for Swiss Reinsurance.

Joseph Leavy '88 is the Director of Humanities for Huntington Union Free School District, K-12.

Paul Tetlow '88 is a Barrister in London, England.

Rick Lucyk '89 is a managing attorney.

Rocco Caprioli '90 is the owner of an Allstate Ins. Agency.

Vincent Melomo '90 is the Assist. Professor of Anthropology at Peace College.

Stephen Shaffer '92 is a Consultant and Senior Economist for Transportation Infrastructure Financial/Economic Evaluations.

Edward McNamara '93 is teaching High School social studies.

Kristen Dirschel '94 is working for the Foreign Service in U.S. Embassy Beijing, China.

Christa Griggs-Bello '94 is teaching High School social studies.

Stuart Joseph '94 is a magician.

Allison Pieloch-Jerome '94 is the Director for the Academic Achievement Program at Chaminade University of Honolulu.

Jennifer Evans-DiCrescio '95 is teaching Elementary School.

Alexandra Torres '95 is a Certified Teacher Assistant.

Valerie Ross-Conklin '96 is teaching.

Holly Stonelli '96 is a High School Guidance Counselor.

Annemarie Hill '97 is now teaching.

Jonathan Giovanni '98 is a Pro Se Law Clerk/Staff Attorney for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.

Tina Nappi-Bodkin '98 is a Benefit Specialist.

Eric Stapler '98 is a Territorial Product Manager for Allstate Insurance.

Suzanne Molczan '99 is the Adult Program Coordinator for Hillside Public Library.

Sharon Sparrow '99 is a School Library Media Specialist.

Kathy Gray-Paolillo '00 is teaching Secondary Education.

Eric LoBelia '00 is teaching social studies.

John Lovrich '00 is an attorney.

Julie Giovanni-Duenges '01 is teaching Special Education.

Darlene Jobes '01 is teaching 2nd Grade in Queens, NY.

Lauren Marcello '01 is teaching High School social studies.

Julie Chardavoyne '02 is teaching 4th grade.

Christine Graziano-Watt '02 is teaching High School.

Desireé Vuocolo-Canovic '02 is an auditor and is pursuing a Doctorate in History at the University of Connecticut.

Sheryl Zalaznik '02 is teaching 4th grade.

Christine Abajian '03 is teaching and is currently pursuing a doctorate at St. John’s University.

Christina Aurora-Kaye '03 is teaching 4th grade.

Meredith Douglass '03 is the Executive Director and H.R. Manager of a non-profit Foundation and is planning to pursue Masters of Public Policy & Administration in ‘07.

Paul Pereira '93 is teaching High School.

John Piccone '93 is the Executive Director & Business Head for Morgan Stanley.

Dena Rizopoulos '03 is a 3rd year law school student at St. John’s Law School.

Thomas Westerman '03, now a graduate student studying with Diplomatic Historian Frank Costigliola at the University of Connecticut at Storrs (UCONN), has been an Editorial Assistant at the World Policy Journal since 2001.

Kyla Cathey '04 is the Copy Editor for Lodi News-Sentinel and is currently pursuing M.A. in Education.

Kerri Kirschbaum '04 is a Law Clerk.

Marc Maresca '04 is now with FDNY Tower Ladder 111.

Nicole Tropiano '04 is teaching 6th grade.

Rudolph Baptise '05 is attending Touro Law School.

Jennifer Hill '05 is teaching 4th grade at St. Agnes School in Rockville Centre.

Linda Keller '05 is a law school student at St. John’s University.

Jessica Lancia '05 is the Residence Hall Director for the College of Charleston and is planning to pursue a Doctorate in History.

Noah Levine '05 is working for the law firm Sullivan and Cromwell.

Lauren Novis '05 is teaching 1st grade.

Rudy Baptiste '06 is now a law school student.

Carlyshia Hurdle '06 is a professional basketball player.

Sharon Ribera '06 is teaching history at Bayside High School.

Neil Testa '06 is teaching history at Hempstead High School.


Alumni News

Course Recognition
Summer 2006
Dr. Shapiro-Shapin's course, "United States Since 1877," was identified as one of the top examples of best practices in a national study of U.S. History courses conducted by the Center for Educational Policy Research (CEPR) on behalf of the College Board. A total of 133 courses from across the nation were reviewed. In addition to being identified as being best practices overall, Dr. Shapiro-Shapin's course was designated an "exemplary practice" course by a panel of national experts in U.S. History. This is the highest designation awarded, and only a very few courses in the study met this standard of distinction and excellence.

The study sought to identify best practices college courses that could inform the redesign of AP courses in U.S. History. The goal of the redesign process is to ensure that AP courses reflect the best of college teaching. To identify best practices courses, CEPR assembled a panel of national experts to analyze top courses from a wide range of institutions. The panel reviewed the nominated courses and identified the critical components of best practices present in each course. The College Board then convened a commission in U.S. History to develop new AP course descriptions, new AP exam specifications, and professional development guidelines for AP teachers. The commission, which is meeting over the current academic year, will utilize the study's findings as a key resource to fulfill its charge. The final result of the commission's work will be AP courses that closely reflect the best practices of college courses in U.S. History.

Dr. Shapiro-Shapin's course is recognized as among the very best in the nation in U.S. History.