Fairleigh Institute for Lifelong Learning at Florham 
(FILL-Florham)

Brigid Coakley

Brigid Coakley received her BA in English from Skidmore College and her MA in English/Education from Columbia University.  After teaching high school English, she now leads both a current events discussion group and the Foreign Policy Association's Great Decisions group for the Somerset Hills AAUW (American Association of University Women).  She also helped create and lead a nonfiction book study group focusing on social justice.  

Jeffrey Eger

Jeffrey Eger has been a film writer, director and producer of films since 1969. He has also been a  writer and researcher for a number of museums. For the last 30 years he has been a book dealer specializing in art books and auction catalogs worldwide.

Stephen Eisdorfer, J.D.

Stephen Eisdorfer is a graduate of Haverford College and Harvard Law School. He clerked for the New Jersey Supreme Court, practiced law for 45 years, was an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and argued a dozen cases concerning the New Jersey Constitution before the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Eleanor J. Flanigan, Ed. D

Eleanor earned her Doctorate and Master’s degrees in Business and Education from Temple University in Philadelphia. She has taught computers and information technology at Montclair State University, County College of Morris, and Temple University, having written seven books in that field for McGraw-Hill, Harcourt Brace, and others.  She was voted Teacher of the Year twice in her academic career: Eastern Business Education Association (1978) and Montclair State University (2008).

On the corporate side, Eleanor was a systems analyst at GE as well as an international marketing manager for Ashton-Tate, a database software company, living in England with her family, serving the U.K. and western Europe.

Eleanor’s life-long dedication to the arts, particularly of Broadway, led her to share her enthusiasm with FILL colleagues by co-teaching a course on Broadway Musicals. 

Deborah Gerrish, Ed.D

Deborah Gerrish is a teacher and award-winning poet whose poems appeared in several publications including Ararat, The Paterson Literary Review, Exit 13, Off Line, the South Mountain Anthology, and Goldfinch. Her chapbook, The Language of Rain, was published in 2008, and her latest collection of poems, The Language of Paisley, was published in 2012. She was a recipient of an Edward Fry Fellowship for scholarship and accomplishment as a doctoral student at Rutgers University where she received her Ed. D. in Literacy Education 2004. Deborah gives poetry readings in the area, and as one of the featured poets, she participated in the celebration of Women’s History Month at the Caldwell Library in March, 2010 -2013. As an English teacher, she taught in the New Jersey public schools for over 30 years. Deborah's FILL courses include "Poetry as Affirmation," "The Art of Poetry," and "Looking at Poets."

Debra Goldfaden

Debra Goldfaden has always been a “certified nerd”.  Using PC’s and Mac’s she has delved into the inner workings of technology systems throughout her career.  One of her first dates with husband Jerry was to view the introduction of the, then new, Apple 2e into New Jersey.  Their first vacation together to Club Med included a weeklong programming course in DOS and BASIC.  (Whatever that is?)  She has maintained an avid interest in technology and has constantly been assisting others to use and understand it.

As a Speech-Language therapist, she worked with her district’s technology department to set up her school’s webpage and assisted in formulating, deploying and then supporting the Speech Department’s computer evaluation reports. 

Debra is a graduate of Queens College with a B. A. and M. A. in Speech-Language Pathology.  She holds a Certification of Clinical Competence and certificates as Teacher of the Handicapped and Speech-Language Specialist.  She also obtained certification as Learning Disabilities – Teacher Consultant from Montclair State University. 

Debra has taught graduate courses at Kean University and Montclair State University.  She is retired from the West Orange school system where she worked as a Speech-Language Therapist with the general and special education populations.  Teaching others has always been among her passions. Debra's FILL courses include "IPhone Tips & Tricks" and other social media and technology courses. She was the 2022 FILL Instructor of the Year.

Arnie Goldstein, Ph.D.

Arnie received Bachelor’s (Magna Cum Laude) and Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering from the City College of New York and a Ph.D. in Engineering from the City University of New York. He was employed for 49 years in the petroleum and petrochemical industries as an engineer, executive, and consultant specializing in the management of intellectual property assets. He was an Adjunct Professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and a volunteer docent at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. Arnie teaches courses such as "A Brief History of the Twentieth Century" for the FILL program. He was honored to receive the 2017 FILL Instructor of the Year award. 

Hon. Jay Jorgensen

The Hon. Jay Jorgensen served over 15 years as a Superior Court Judge in Middlesex County.  He spent his entire judicial career in the Family Division, concentrating on matrimonial dissolutions, custody, support, and domestic violence.  Recognized for his expertise in the field of family law, the Judge is a frequent lecturer in continuing education courses, including at the annual Judicial College for the New Jersey Judiciary.  Judge Jorgensen graduated summa cum laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a bachelor’s degree in history.  In 1981 he graduated with his Juris Doctorate Degree from the Villanova University School of Law.  He also earned a master’s degree in military history – Civil War Concentration from American Military University in 1999. He is a member of the FDU Division I Athletic Hall of Fame, as well as a recipient of the FDU Pinnacle Award.  Mr. Jorgensen is the author of a number of books including Gettysburg’s Bloody Wheatfield, which earned the Bachelder-Coddington Award as the best new book on Gettysburg in 2002.  He has lectured extensively on New Jersey’s role in the American Revolutionary War, and leads tours of Revolutionary War sites in New Jersey for American History Forum.

Joyce Kaffel

Joyce Kaffel is a freelance film/arts writer, film lecturer, former faculty member at Marymount Manhattan College and Long Island University, former blogger for the Montclair Film Festival, taught film locally in a number of adult education programs. Joyce teaches film classes for FILL including “Fantasy, Illusion, and Magic in the Movies" and "McCarthyism in the Movies."

Rick Klass

Rick joined FILL in 2024, following his retirement from a long career as a CPA and a partner at Friedman LLP, a regional Accounting firm. He acted as a senior tax advisor to wealthy families and their related businesses. He earned his MBA in Accounting from Rutgers University and has a B.A. in History from the University of Buffalo, with a minor in Education. Rick started his career at Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC) and built the tax departments at both Yohalem Gillman in New York and Friedman LLP in New Jersey. He was also a member of the Management Committees at both firms. Being a FILL instructor is a way of continuing his joy of teaching, which began for him in undergraduate school, many decades ago.

David Ogens

David Ogens graduated college at Lowell Technology Institute majoring in Engineering. He then received a certificate to teach Industrial Arts and earned a MA in Technology Education at Montclair University. He spent the last 7 years of his career at the brand new East Orange Campus High School (Old Upsala College) as the Technology Coordinator/Computer Teacher. He also taught various computer courses at the Adult School in West Caldwell. David has been involved with computers since the late 1970’s and is knowledgeable with both Macs and PCs platforms. Dave's FILL courses include "How to Use Your IPad and IPod," "Navigating the Internet," and the "FILL Film Discussion Group.” He was the 2023 FILL Instructor of the Year.

Charlie Pomel

Charlie is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in Chemistry and MBA studies in Pharmaceutical Industry Management. He also studied Mechanical Engineering at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. He has worked for major pharmaceutical industry companies for over 40 years, holding positions in R&D Project Management for New Drug Development, Clinical Research Quality Assurance, and as a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Chemist. Charlie has conducted many presentations on technical topics while working in industry. He is a firm believer that you never stop learning and has presented science workshops at the Science-sational day sponsored by Morris County 4-H youth development to encourage children to learn more about science. He is also a charter member of the Liberty Science Center and as a volunteer scientist, was instrumental in initiating Liberty Science Center’s first school programs project. Charlie's FILL courses include "Science and Technology: Are We There Yet," and "Travels in the Classroom." He was the 2017 FILL Instructor of the Year.

Nicholas Quintero

Nick is an alumnus of FDU-Florham, where he graduated in 2020 with a BA in History and in 2021 with an MAT in Education. He is currently a high school history teacher at Bergen County Technical Schools and is towards his MA in American History at Gettysburg College through the Gilder Lehrman Institute. Since leaving FDU, he has taught at several schools throughout New Jersey, instructing courses in AP Government and Politics, United States History I and II, AP United States History, and Financial Literacy.

Dan Rose

Dan Rose has taught English for over 20 years to elementary, secondary, and college students in the U.S. and Scotland, as well as lifelong learning courses to adults at colleges, libraries, senior centers, and community groups in New Jersey, Florida, andMaryland. He has been an Editor at Silver Burdett Publishing and a Trainer/TechnicalWriter at AT&T. Mr. Rose has an M.Ed. in English and an MS in Project Management.His poetry and fiction have appeared in Alaska Quarterly, Lips, Little Patuxent Review,and Perspectives. A writer, editor, and educator, Dan Rose teaches and writes about various subjects. He and his wife live in Roxbury, NJ.

Ann Shoshkes

Prior to her retirement, Ann Shoshkes was the Director of Risk Management at Bloomingdale's. She holds an MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology and a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design.

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Ann always has had a passion for Art and Design. She is a devotee of the art of beautiful writing and is currently a Board member of the New York Society of Scribes. Ann's FILL courses include "Introduction to Calligraphy" and "Watercolor."

Paul Soltis

Paul is a 2016 graduate of William & Mary, where he received a BA in English.  He is a Resource Interpretive Specialist with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, serving as the historian for Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic Sites. Paul grew up with an interest in the American Revolution and our public stewardship of state parks and historic sites in this corridor of the “Crossroads of the American Revolution” that includes Washington Crossing State Park, Trenton Battle Monument and Princeton Battlefield State Park.

Marjorie Spencer 

Marjorie Spencer received her B.A. in Math/Science and her M.A. from Drew University. Her professional experience includes 14 Years of Herbicide,Pesticide, and Drug Metabolism research at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, work as a High School Teacher, and service as a Youth Ministry Director. She resides in Chatham, NJ. Marjorie's FILL courses include "Current Events Roundtable," "Public Health Forum," and the "Brain and Behavior Seminar." 

Ken Spingarn

Ken Spingarn has attended FILL classes for the past seven years. He is a graduate of Upsala College and for many years he owned an insurance agency in Livingston, NJ. Ken’s interest in electronics began at age fifteen when he became a Ham Radio Operator. He has worked with personal computers from the very beginning and attended New Jersey Institute of Technology. Ken is a certified Webmaster. His FILL courses include "Past, Present, & Future: Threads of History & Their Influence on Current Affairs," and "Making Sense of the Digital World." Ken was the 2015 FILL Instructor of the Year.

​Hossur Srikantan

As a senior IT executive with a broad based experience in the delivery of technology solutions for global corporations, Hossur Srikantan has worked for Exxon Corp, Union Bank of Switzerland, Citigroup / Smith Barney, American International Group etc., as well as in entrepreneurial /start-up ventures and consulting. He enjoyed volunteering as a mentor/counselor for undergraduate & graduate students in start-up, entrepreneurship, and career counselling at Rutgers University, Baruch College etc. He also advises and mentors small businesses (SCORE) and Probono project efforts (Taproot Foundation).  

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He is a proud US Citizen with an engineering degree and MBA in general management. Hossur's FILL classes include “People, Places, and Culture - India," and “Can We Humans Successfully Manage & Navigate Technology or Be Morphed into Humanoid Robots?”

Larry Stanley

Larry Stanley was a TV director for more than 30 years and received his BA in Broadcasting from San Francisco State University. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and he roasts his own coffee. Larry's FILL classes include "Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: Enjoying the Great Warner Bros Cartoons," and "The Twilight Zone."

Meg Wastie

Meg Wastie has a BS from Monmouth University in English and secondary Ed. She obtained her MA from Kean University in Guidance Counseling, ans well as a second MA from Seton Hall University in Museum Studies.

Meg worked at Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ as an English/Speech/Drama teacher for 32 years. She was also the educational curator at the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts in Madison, NJ for 15 years, and is currently the Program Consultant for Westfield Historical Society. Meg's FILL classes include "Lit With a Twist" and "Separate Pieces of Literature."

Rev. Dr. James White

Rev. Dr. James White is currently a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Newark.  He has served over 40 years as assistant pastor where he specialized in adult faith formation.  He also spent two years as chaplain to St. Michael's Hospital in Newark, serving as chaplain.  Twenty-seven years of his ministry was spent as a secondary school teacher at Bergen Catholic, and Seton Hall Prep. 

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His education includes a bachelor's degree in Sociology from Seton Hall University, A master of Divinity from Immaculate Conception Seminary, a Masters in counseling from Iona University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Drew University.

Dr. Naomi Wish, Ph.D.

Dr. Naomi Bailin Wish, Professor Emerita at Seton Hall University, is a national leader in the field of Nonprofit and Philanthropic Studies. She recently retired from Seton Hall University (SHU) after teaching there for 45 years. She has published in many journals including Public Administration Review, The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, and International Studies Quarterly.

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As a Political Science professor, she taught a course on the political system in Israel quite a few times. She took both graduate and undergraduate SHU students to Israel in 2008 and 2010 and taught her course there as well as at Seton Hall itself. 

Mark Weisstuch, Ph.D.

Mark earned a doctorate in theatre history from the City University of New York.  For a decade, he taught various courses in theatre and drama and chaired the Theatre Department at Bradford College (Haverhill, MA).  Thereafter he shifted to administration, becoming the Administrative Vice President of Congregation Emanu-El (New York) for nearly thirty years.  But his enthusiasm for teaching never waned as he taught courses on synagogue governance for colleagues and newcomers to the field.  For the last twenty years he has taught adult study courses in Jewish history at the Skirball Academy (New York).  Most recently, Mark taught an undergraduate course on Shakespeare, entitled “Shakespeare Our Contemporary,” at the University of Connecticut (Stamford, CT). Mark's FILL classes include "Hamlet," and “The Merchant of Venice: Justice and Mercy.”