Our Faculty

Brett Laramee

B.S. Ramapo College of New Jersey; Ph.D. Clark University

Dr. Laramee is a Physics professor at BHSEC Newark. He is a proud NJ native, growing up in South Jersey and attending Ramapo College of New Jersey (Mahwah, NJ) for his B.S. in Engineering Physics. Dr. Laramee completed his PhD in Physics from Clark University (Worcester, MA) in 2024, with his research studying organic superconducting crystals at ultracold temperatures and extremely high magnetic fields. With a focus on problem solving as a backbone, he is dedicated to cultivating the critical thinking skills of all of his students in High School Physics, College Physics, and Computer Science. Outside the classroom, Dr. Laramee enjoys travelling with his wife, playing disc golf & Pokémon Go, and is also a classically trained musician who plays & teaches mallet percussion.

Alison Mahone

BA, Rutgers University; MEd, St. Peter’s University

Kamyar Malakuti

M.A. in Pure Mathematics, Kerman University, Iran; Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, New Jersey Institute of Technology.

​Dr. Malakuti ​was a lecturer in Ardabil University, Iran. After immigrating to the United State​s​,​ he​ worked as a researcher at​ ​Simpotek, Inc. ​He ​also worked as part​-​time ​lecturer at Bergen Community College, Fairleigh Dickinson​ University Becton College of Arts and Sciences, and Fairleigh Dickinson University Silberman College of Business.

John Martin

BS, Montclair State University

Mr. Martin started teaching at Bard High School Early College in 2016.  He achieved his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Health from Montclair State University.  Mr. Martin teaches ninth grade Health and Physical Education as well as College Personal Health and College Personal Fitness.  Additionally he coaches high school football, wrestling, and baseball.

Reynaldo Martinez

Anand Mhatre

BSc, Queens’ University, PhD, McGill University

I teach College Biology and Medical Genetics at BHSEC-Newark.  Previously, I taught and directed a research laboratory at New York University.  My research focus is on inherited hearing loss, understanding its molecular-genetic cause, and developing gene-based therapeutics using both in vitro and in vivo models.  My interests include probability, entrepreneurship and hockey.

Christopher Morabito

BA, College of Staten Island, CUNY; MA & Ph.D., The Graduate Center, CUNY.

Dr. Christopher Morabito is an Assistant Professor of English at Bard High School Early College Newark.Dr. Morabito is proud to have received his college education at CUNY, the public university system for New York City. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from the Macaulay Honors Program at the College of Staten Island, CUNY and his Master’s Degree and Ph.D. from The Graduate Center, CUNY. Dr. Morabito’s research interests include young adult literature and the literacy practices of marginalized communities. He also taught within the CUNY system for 6 years before joining the BHSEC Newark community. When he is not teaching, Dr. Morabito enjoys spending his time seeing Broadway plays, crocheting, and playing with his cat Hades.

Michael L. Murray

BA, George Mason University; MA, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; M.L.I.S., Rutgers University; A.M., PhD, University of Pennsylvania

David D. Oquendo

BFA, Rutgers University-Newark; MFA, Montclair State University

David D. Oquendo is a New Jersey, USA based artist – born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2009, while being mentored by the late Denyse Thomasos, Oquendo completed his undergraduate degree at Rutgers University (Newark Campus), earning a BFA in Painting and a Minor in Art History. In 2012, he earned an MFA in Painting from Montclair State University.

Oquendo’s most notable exhibitions are a 2016 solo show at Solo(s) Project House in Newark, NJ, a 2017 solo show at the Henao Contemporary Center in Orlando, FL, and a 2020 solo show at Equal Space located in Newark, NJ. He also has artwork in Rutgers University’s art collection.

David’s hobbies include; Brazilian JiuJitsu, Archery, bowhunting & fitness.

David Petriello

B.A. Seton Hall University; M.A. Montclair State University; Ph.D. St. John’s University

David Petriello is a teacher with over 20 years of experience. He is a historian who specializes in the topics of disease and history, conservative political history, military history, and East Asian history. He has written over two dozen books and articles on a variety of topics, including Bacteria and Bayonets, A Pestilence on Pennsylvania Avenue, From Columbus to COVID: Disease and American History, and The Republican Party and China.

Jazmin Puicon

Gopakumar Ram

Doctorate in Education (EdD): P-20 Community and Leadership: Murray State University, Kentucky
MSc Zoology: MG University, India
MEd, Educational Technology and Teacher Education: Bharathiyar University, India

Teaching Certification: Biology and Chemistry, NJED
Professional Teaching Certificate: Biology and Chemistry, Department of Education, Kentucky.
Professional Experience: 32 years of Teaching Experience from four different countries: India, Bhutan, Maldives, United States
Taught AP Biology, Dual Credit Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Anatomy and Physiology, HONS Biology and Hons Chemistry
Served as Science Department Chair for 16 years;
Served as Head of Various School Administrative Committees for 10 years in Bhutan

Shana Russell

BA, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University; MA, Simmons College; PhD, Rutgers University

Dr. Shana Russell is an Assistant Professor of English at Bard High School Early College Newark. She has dedicated the last twenty years to the study of literature and history and is passionate about education as a human right. In this capacity she has directed national public history initiatives, served on the Board of the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison, and worked with the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School initiative. Dr. Russell holds a B.A. in English from Florida A&M University, an M.A. in Gender and Cultural Studies from Simmons University, and a Ph.D. in American Studies from Rutgers. She is a proud first generation college-graduate. When she isn’t teaching the amazing students at Bard, Dr. Russell serves as the chief historian for the Rikers Public Memory Project.

Lekha Sekhar

Tiffany R. Sims

BS, MS, New Jersey Institute of Technology; PhD, Rutgers University and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Sims’s interests include robotics, sensorimotor integration, physical rehabilitation,  and the development of outcome measures for movement disorders. She has taught 9th grade physics, Geometry, College Physics, Engineering, Bioengineering, and Bioinformatics. She is also the coach for the robotics team.

Agnes Sung

B.A., University of Pennsylvania; M.S., NJIT; M.S., Harvard University

Ms. Agnes Sung is a math teacher at Bard Early College High School Newark. Her career began in computer science creating language teaching software for a small start up. She then entered a long career in Wall Street’s financial technologies and aerospace’s software engineering. After realizing that God’s work for her was in education, she changed careers to teaching. She holds a B.A. from University of Pennsylvania specializing in classical Chinese writing, an M.S. from NJIT in Computer Science, and a second Masters from Harvard University’s Mathematics in Teaching. Deeply committed to educational equity, she enjoys researching different teaching approaches that enable urban, suburban, and rural students to be successful in the classroom and in life. Ms. Sung lives in a forest preserve in New Jersey and enjoys visits from deer, groundhogs, chipmunks, bats, foxes, flying squirrels, racoons, and occasional black bears.

Andrew J. Trevarrow

BA, Western Michigan University; MA, Illinois State University; MA, Ohio State University; PhD, Ohio State University

Lubna Tumeh

Betsy Wood

BA, Arkansas Tech University;  MA, University of Arkansas; PhD, University of Chicago

Dr. Wood is an American historian with more than 15 years of teaching experience. Her work focuses on American labor, law, and politics from the 1850s to the modern era. Dr. Wood is interested in how culture and morality shape capitalism and capitalist society.

After graduating with her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, Dr. Wood taught American history and labor at the University of New Hampshire, Cornell University’s School of Labor and Industrial Relations, and the Hudson County Community College in Jersey City, NJ. She joined the faculty at Bard-Newark in 2021 where she teaches History of the Americas, History of U.S. Social Movements, and the Bard Seminar. She also serves as the faculty advisor for the National Honor Society.

Dr. Wood was named Bard-Newark’s 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year.

Dr. Wood’s book, Upon the Altar of Work: Child Labor & the Rise of a New American Sectionalism (University of Illinois Press, 2020) examines how the issue of child labor in America was debated in the context of moral, ideological, and legal disputes over slavery. Upon the Altar of Work was published as part of “The Working Class in American History” series, the premiere press for labor history in America. Dr. Wood’s award-winning research has been widely acclaimed in academic journals and national media. Upon the Altar of Work was recently featured in a podcast interview hosted by the Society for the History of Children and Youth. In the wake of recent efforts to roll back child labor laws in America, Dr. Wood has received national attention for her expertise. She was 1 of 13 national leaders invited to discuss this issue at the University of Arkansas Law School Symposium on Child Labor in the fall of 2023. In the spring of 2024, she was invited to speak at Georgetown University’s 2024 Symposium on Work and Poverty.

Dr. Wood’s work has appeared in many national publications, including TIME Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, U.S. News & World Report, The Conversation, and dozens of local newspapers nationwide. She regularly provides historical expertise and commentary about the status of child labor laws in the U.S. and has recently been interviewed by Stateline News, The Guardian, Bloomberg News on “The Big Take” podcast, YES! Magazine, “Rising Up with Sonali” syndicated news program, the DNA of the News / El ADN de las Noticias international news program, and others.

Dr. Wood has long worked at the intersection of academia and policy. Prior to teaching, she worked as a policy and research analyst in Washington, D.C. at the Institute for Policy Studies, the oldest progressive think tank in the country. At IPS, Dr. Wood published major policy reports and served as a media spokesperson about income and wealth inequality. She also helped to launch and manage Inequality.org, a project that bridges academic expertise with political activism. While in D.C. she served on the Advisory Board of the Labor and Research Action Network (LRAN) which connects academic experts to labor organizers. Dr. Wood’s work in D.C. led to Rutgers University where she helped launch the Center for Innovation in Worker Organization (CIWO) to provide strategic support for labor organizations.

Dr. Wood’s current research projects include a biography of American businesswoman Vivien Kellems who popularized tax evasion as a form of civil disobedience. Dr. Wood has received a Bard Early College Research Grant for this project.

Biyuan Yang

BA, China Central University of Nationalities; MS, University of Bridgeport; PhD, New York University

Dr. Yang is an assistant professor of Chinese at Bard High School Early College. She has 20+ years of teaching  experience in ESL and Chinese at the K-12 and college level. She holds a B.A. from Minzu University of China, an M.S. from University of Bridgeport, and a Ph.D. from New York University. A long time member of the Bard community, she combines her hobbies with work, serving as the caretaker of our courtyard garden and photographer for school events.

Juan Yu

BA, Huanggang Normal University, China; MA, Durham University, England

Ms. Yu joined Bard High School Early College in 2017, having received her MA in TESOL (Teaching English to Students of Other Languages) from Durham University in Great Britain, BA in English Literature from Huanggang Normal University in Hubei Province, China, and working as a translator and interpreter for several well-known artists in Beijing, as well as teaching at high schools and colleges in China and the United States. A perpetual adventurer at heart, her academic interests are in promoting intercultural exchange by finding new, innovative, and interactive methods to teach language, history, Mathematics and heritage to non-native speakers. Her courses include Introduction to Language: Chinese, Chinese 9, and Mathematics 10: Geometry.