About Us

Kathy Shay is a Full Professor in the Mathematics Department. She holds four degrees from Rutgers University: B.A. in Mathematics Education (Douglass College), Ed.M. in Mathematics Education, M.S. in Statistics, and Ph.D. in Mathematics Education. A faculty member at MCC since 1981, she typically teaches courses in the Calculus and Statistics sequences. Her teaching experience also includes 25 years as a part-time lecturer for the Statistics and Mathematics Departments at Rutgers. Dr. Shay has been a faculty development consultant for middle- and high-school teachers through various grant projects at MCC and Rutgers. Her most recent grant work (2010 – 2013) was as a senior investigator for NSF-funded Project Math Vote, a research study on the pedagogy of classroom voting. She has presented at numerous national and local conferences for mathematics educators. Dr. Shay was the 2017 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award at Middlesex County College.

Susan Altman, executive board member of the Center for the Enrichment of Learning and Teaching, is an Associate Professor and Assistant Chairperson in the Visual, Performing and Media Arts Department. She earned her B.F.A. from the State University of N.Y. at Buffalo and her M.F.A. in printmaking from the Tyler School of Art of Temple University. Courses taught include: Painting, Printmaking, Drawing, Figure Drawing, Introduction to Art and Art History. Professor Altman maintains an active studio practice as well as working as a curator. She has a special interest in pedagogy related to the studio, especially regarding writing and critique. Active in the College Art Association, she has presented at their annual conference, as well as the FATE – Foundation in Art Theory and Education Conference and the Lilly Conference for Teaching and Learning. The recipient of numerous grants and fellowships, she has exhibited both nationally and internationally. Her work can be found in numerous private and public collections including the Franklin Furnace Artist Book Collection at MoMA, The Brooklyn Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, and the Library of Congress. Prof. Altman was the 2016 recipient of the Faculty Scholar Award at Middlesex County College.

Tamara Gallant, executive board member of the Center for the Enrichment of Learning and Teaching, is an Adjunct Professor in the Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance Department. She earned her B.A. in English with a concentration in Chemistry at Williams College, and her MPH in Health Education & Health Behavior at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. She currently teaches Contemporary Health Issues (HED 150) and Human Sexuality & Family Life (HED 200) at MCC. She has trained educators, physicians and other medical staff, artists, policy-makers, and other professionals and community members in many settings in both the USA and francophone Africa, including at other college campuses such as UMass Amherst, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (formerly UMDNJ), Villanova, and Berkshire County Community College. She has also served on the boards for a variety of community development projects, town-gown associations, and performing arts organizations.

Daniel Grek, executive board member of the Center for the Enrichment of Learning and Teaching, is an Instructor and Curriculum Coordinator of Civil Engineering Technologies, is still newer to Middlesex County College but not to teaching. After earning his BS in Civil Engineering from Rutgers University, he stayed on to teach several of their laboratory courses and help run their structures lab. While doing so he earned his MS in Structural Engineering and also taught as an adjunct in Summer sessions. He is currently finishing the last bits of his Phd in Structural Engineering, focusing on the use of structural repair materials on concrete and the effect of fire on repairs. At MCC he teaches courses dealing with everything from concrete, to water resources, and even Algebra I. Daniel does everything he can to infuse his lectures (and students) with his passion for engineering and hopes he can bring that same passion to CELT.

Patty Kiernan, executive board member of the Center for the Enrichment of Learning and Teaching, is an Adjunct Professor for the Mathematics Department. She earned an A.A. in L.A. Business from Middlesex County College, her B.A. in Statistics from Rutgers University, and her M.A. in Education, Curriculum Instruction, & Math Education from University of Phoenix in addition to completing post graduate coursework in Statistics at Rutgers University. Courses taught include: Introduction to Education, Student Success, Introduction to Psychology, Algebra 2, Statistics I and II, and Calculus I. She is a pioneer in the inverted classroom educational model and teaches courses online and on campus. She is the advisor to the M3 Club (Middlesex Math and the Mouse Club) and is working with the students in the club to create a heuristic to predict crowd patterns at Walt Disney World. Prof. Kiernan was the 2016 recipient of the MCC Excellence in Teaching Part Time Award.

Adriana Mamay, executive board member of the Center for the Enrichment of Learning and Teaching, is a Reference and Instruction Librarian and Assistant Professor. She joined MCC in September 2011. Adriana holds a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from Long Island University, a Master of Arts in World History from New York University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University. Adriana is an active member of several professional library organizations, currently serving as co-chair of the New Jersey Library Association Annual Conference and executive board member of the New Jersey chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries. Adriana was named a 2014-2015 New Jersey Library Association Emerging Leader and enjoys collaborating with peers both on and off campus.

Emmi Schatz is Professor in the Business and Computer Science Department. She holds a BA in Mathematics and an MS in Computer Science, both from Rutgers University. An MCC faculty member since 1992, she has taught many programming courses, web courses, and courses for non-majors. Currently she teaches Java programming courses, computer architecture, and computer applications. Emmi has served on many MCC committees and has attended many computer science workshops and conferences. CELT activities have given her tools and insights that helped her become a better teacher, and she wants to facilitate more of that for all MCC faculty.

Karuna Taneja, executive board member of CELT is an Adjunct Professor for Math department. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from reputed Universities in India. After working as an IT professional and HR Manager for an IT company, she decided to follow her heart to become a teacher. Before taking the Adjunct position at MCC, she worked at a middle school as Math and Computer Science teacher. She has taught Computer Science courses at Delhi University, India as an Adjunct Professor. Along with holding a position on the Executive Board of CELT she is a co-advisor for the STEM Club at MCC.

Christine Wathen, executive board member of the Center for the Enrichment of Learning and Teaching since 2007, is a Full Professor in the Business and Computer Science Department. She earned her BS in Finance and an MBA, both from Seton Hall University, and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Management from Capella University. Courses taught include Financial Accounting, Principles of Economics I and II, and Business Organization and Management. In addition to facilitating workshops for faculty on campus, she is involved in coordinating the development and mentoring of new faculty. A fellow Middlesex County College alumni herself, she is dedicated to the mission of the college and committed to helping students succeed.