Our Faculty

Maria Agapito

• magapito@bhsec.bard.edu

BS, MS, Montclair State University; PhD, Rutgers University and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Postdoctoral Research Associate, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department at Rutgers University – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Dr. Agapito considers herself to be both an educator and a scientist at heart. She has published in various peer-reviewed journal articles, presented at national conferences, and obtained prestigious fellowships. Courses taught at BHSEC include Introduction to Science I and II, Introduction to Chemistry I and II, General College Biology I and II, and college elective entitled “Introduction to Medical Pathology.” Future interest courses: Neuroscience, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, developmental biology and Independent Research.

Presently, She is establishing a research core facility for C. elegans (Nematodes), Girardia Sp. and Dugesia D. (Planarians) and solenopsis invicta (Ants) studies at BHSEC – Newark, NJ. Dr. Agapito conducts research in the areas of developmental biology, neurology and ethanol toxicology using diverse animal model systems. Her recent work has focused on developing an organic pesticide for combating red ants colonization, investigating the effects of cigarettes fumes on developmental growth, Observing the effects of bisphenol analogs on reproduction, metabolism and tissue repair. Through crow-funding donations via Donor’s Choose, the Einstein’s Dreamers Research Program was piloted this academic year 2018-19.  Presently, seven students (Research fellows) (two freshmen, two sophomore, one Y1, and two Y2 students) are actively been trained in a laboratory setting. The program runs twice a week Tuesdays and Fridays after-school for 1.5 hours. For more information please click on the“Einstein’s Dreamers Research Program”Tab in the faculty website.

Aside from her scientific interests, Dr. Agapito mentors the Bard Oncology and Neuroscience Team, she is the faculty advisor to the Future Health Professional organization. In addition,  she is the co-faculty advisor to the BHSEC Multi-Cultural Awareness student organization.

Dr. Agapito’s long-term goal is to change the face of America by enhancing curiosity; educating and mentoring students to enter STEM related fields. In this way, we can create a diverse population of role models for the next generations to come.

Jayme Alves

AS, Essex County College; BS, Kean University

Philippe Armand

BA, Rutgers University Newark; MA, Piedmont College; Ed.S. Lincoln Memorial University

Joanne P. Baron

• jbaron@bhsec.bard.edu

BA, PhD, University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Baron has been involved in archaeological projects in Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. Her current research investigates the ancient Maya economy and the use of chocolate and cotton as money. She directs the La Florida Archaeology Project, focused on a Maya archaeological site in Guatemala. She has published several books and articles. You can read more about her work here: http://jobaron.net, http://floridanaranjo.net, http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/06/maya-civilization-used-chocolate-money.

Scottye Battle

BA, California State University, Long Beach; MA, New Jersey City University

Kate Beridze

MS, Tbilisi State University, Georgia; PhD, Georgian Academy of Sciences

Marc B. Berman

• mberman@bhsec.bard.edu

BS, University of Maryland; MA, Hunter College; PhD, The Graduate Center, City University of New York

Dr. Berman is an avid lover of science and of science education. While a graduate student in the CUNY system, he performed research-based experiments on battery materials using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance techniques. His classes taught at BHSEC-Newark include: Introduction to science, 9th grade Physics, and College Physics. Dr. Berman is also the Weightroom club advisor. When he isn’t teaching, Dr. Berman is an avid flag football player, board game enthusiast, guitar player, and a fan of the New York Giants and Star Wars.

Straubel Cetoute

• scetoute@bhsec.bard.edu

BA in Mathematical Science, Kean University; MA in Instruction and Curriculum in Mathematics, Kean University

Jenna Chirico

BS, Washington College; MAT, Montclair State University

Ms. Chirico earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Washington College in Chestertown, MD. After graduating, she was accepted into the Woodrow Teaching Fellowship at Montclair State University in NJ where she earned her Masters in Teaching. As a part of her fellowship, she was placed at BHSEC Newark for the 2016-2017 school year. After loving the school, she was excited to be offered a full time position for the 2017-2018 school year. She currently teaches the High School Chemistry and Biology classes, is the advisor of the National Honor Society and Senior Class, and is the Assistant Girls Basketball Coach. On Saturdays, Jenna teaches science classes for The Fellowship Initiative in New York. In her free time, Jenna likes to spend time with her family and friends, workout, play basketball, and watch Ohio State football and basketball.

Stephen Crane

BS, MAT, Montclair State University

David Cutts

BA, University of Warwick; MA, PhD, University of Miami

David Dowling

BS, Ithaca College; MA, Adelphi University

Mr. Dowling is a founding faculty member at BHSEC Newark.  Since 2011, Mr. Dowling has taught and coached here at BHSEC. He has received his Bachelor’s Degree at Ithaca College in upstate New York, and his Master’s Degree from Adelphi University.  Prior to teaching at BHSEC Newark he taught all levels of Physical Education and Health on Long Island.  In addition to teaching, Mr. Dowling coaches the girls’ volleyball team and coordinates the athletic program.  He is an avid sports fan and enjoys participating in outdoor activities.  He resides with his wife and three children in Sussex County NJ.

Benjamin Griffel

• bgriffel@bhsec.bard.edu

BS, Rutgers University; MS, Drexel School of Biomedical Engineering; PhD, Rutgers University and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Dr. Griffel’s research interests include Biosignal Analysis, Nonlinear Systems, Chaos, and Nonlinear Signal Processing Algorithms. He has authored or coauthored for publications in a wide range of peer reviewed journals and the textbook Biosignal and Medical Signal Processing (Click here for his book Biosignal and and Medical Image Processing). His teaching interests include Calculus, Statistics, Engineering, and Biological Sciences.  In his spare time he likes to play guitar and write music, program computers, and spend time with his family.

Seth Halvorson

BA, Macalester College; MA, Stanford University; PhD, Columbia University

Dr. Halvorson’s interests include Political, Ethical, and Social Philosophy, Policy Analysis, Classical and Contemporary Theories of Democracy and Citizenship, and History of Technology. He has presented at national and international conferences on diverse topics in Philosophy, Education, Ethics, History, and Politics. Prior to his graduate education, Seth spent 3 years at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University. His recent work has focused on the use of ethico-ecological vocabularies in the Anthropocene. He is undertaking a book-length study of the civic, moral, and educative dimensions of speed in the spheres of American social life.

Ashley Iguina

BA, Wellesley College; MAT, Montclair State University

Alison Mahone

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

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.

Tiffany R. Morris

• Tmorris@bhsec.bard.edu

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. Morris’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.

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

Jazmin Puicon

BA, Union College; MA, New York University; PhD, Rutgers University

Jazmín Puicón is an Assistant Professor of History at Bard High School Early College in Newark, NJ. She is a historian of modern Latin America with a specialization in Women’s and Gender History. Her research focuses on popular democracy, Afro-Colombian women, and working-class culture in urban Colombia. Her writing examines how the working class in Cali, Colombia sustained families and communities by embracing popular democracy despite increased local and national political violence. 

She has received grants from the Mellon Foundation, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at New York University, and the International Education Fund Grant (Union College-NY) to conduct research in Colombia on oral history and political violence, highlighting the voices of Afro-Colombian women in the Cauca Valley as they fought for peace and community throughout the 20th century. She has presented papers and her work at conferences in the United States and abroad, including the International Conference on Women’s History in Bogotá, Colombia and the inaugural ALARI Conference on Afro-Latin American Studies at Harvard University.

At BHSEC-Newark, she currently teaches courses on the history of the United States from an Afro-Latinx perspective, the History of Modern Latin America, Year 1 Seminar, and Women’s and Gender Studies courses for 9th graders to Year2 students.  

In addition, while at BHSEC-Newark, she has won grants for her courses (including the Engaged Liberal Arts and Science Grant from Bard College), was selected into the inaugural cohort for the New Jersey Department of Education’s Diverse Teachers for Diverse Schools initiative, is currently a fellow at the Open Society University Network’s Experiential Learning Institute and also a fellow at the Pulitzer Center’s Teacher Fellowship Program on Stories of Migration: Going Beyond the Headlines for the Spring 2021. She was previously a Teaching Fellow at the Honors College at Rutgers University – New Brunswick.

Shana Russell

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

Jaya Srinivasan

MS, PhD, University of Bombay; MBA, SUNY Buffalo

Curtis Stedge

• www.CurtisStedge.com

BS, SUNY Potsdam; MA, University at Buffalo; MFA, University of Maryland; CMA, Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies; R-DMT Candidate, Kinections

Curtis is a multi-disciplinary artist, educator, researcher, and arts manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Dance and Business Administration from SUNY Potsdam (Potsdam, NY), a Master of Arts in Arts Management from the University at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY), an MFA in Dance from the University of Maryland (College Park, MD), and a CMA in Laban Movement Analysis from the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (New York, NY). He is currently working toward certification as a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist or BC-DMT, with Kinections (Rochester, NY).

As a professional dancer Curtis has toured regionally as a principal with Geomantics Dance Theater (Rochester, NY). From 2005 to 2011, he studied contemporary dance and Laban Movement Analysis intensively with CMA Richard Haisma. He has also studied with Christopher K. Morgan, Adriane Fang, PEARSONWIDRIG DanceTheater, Elizabeth Streb, Catherine Burge, Troika Ranch, Ruth Solomon, and Wally Cardona.

As an educator Curtis has taught both arts management and dance at the undergraduate level in higher education, and has taught dance extensively to people of all ages and backgrounds. Curtis’ areas of research interest include the choreographic process, dance and community, dance and peacebuilding, as well as dance and placemaking.

As an arts manager he has worked for various national and international not-for-profit arts organizations including The National Centre for Early Music (York, England) as Marketing Associate, Geva Theatre Center (Rochester, NY) as Associate Director of Box Office Operations, Capital Fringe Festival (Washington, DC) as Box Office Manager, Projective Kinetics (Rochester, NY) as Executive Director, and Neglia Ballet Artists (Buffalo, NY) as Managing Director.

In addition to being Faculty in Dance at Bard High School Early College – Newark, Curtis is currently the Executive Director of the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, and Founder and Executive/Artistic Director of KineoLab.

Website: www.CurtisStedge.com

Celestine Woo

BA, Pomona College; Ph.D. New York University

Dr. Celest Woo received her BA in English from Pomona College, and her PhD in English from NYU. She has taught at 7 colleges in NY and also in CO. She has published a book on Shakespeare performance, a poetry chapbook, and a just-released book of poetry based on dance. She has been a modern dancer for 30 years. She first came to Bard in 2014 and taught in the Early College program in Harlem for five years.

Betsy Wood

Biyuan Yang

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

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.