Advancement Advisory Council

College of Education
Advancement Advisory Council Members

Geri Berhain
BA ’71 (Elementary Education)
MED ’78 (Reading Specialist)

Relationship: Alumna
Former Employer: Wood-Ridge School District*
Title:  Retired Teacher

Brief Background: After graduation, Geri started as a substitute teacher in Hasbrouck Heights and Wood-Ridge where she eventually landed a full-time teaching position.  She built a wealth of experience over her 39 year career teaching K-8 and discovered her passion teaching social studies, science and reading.  As a life-long learner she earned 27 additional credits post MED (MA+27).    

Geri, is a distinguished WP Heritage Society member with over 40 years of giving back to her alma mater. She established the Geri Bahrain Education Scholarship.

 Dr. JoAnn Cardillo
BA ’76 (Early Childhood)
MED ’97 (Administration)

Relationship: Alumna
Former Employer: Passaic Valley Regional High School*
Title: Former Superintendent
Current Organization: JDC Education Consulting
Current Title: Founder

Brief Background: After graduation JoAnn became a teacher in the Paterson Public School District where she rose up the ranks to Vice Principal, Principal and eventually was hired to serve, in a different district, as the Passaic Valley Regional High School Superintendent.  She devoted her 40 years of service to her professional passion – help students become literate citizens prepared to succeed and contribute to society.   

JoAnn has partnered with her alma mater in many ways throughout her career and has a history of giving back.  Currently she is working to establish a JoAnn Cardillo Education Scholarship for a deserving WP student.

Dr. Gina Coffaro
BA ’90 (Elementary Education)
BA ’90 (History)
MED ’94 (Special Education)

Relationship: Alumna
Employer: Oakland Public Schools*
Current Title: Superintendent of Schools

Brief Background: Gina has a wealth of experience from being classroom teacher (Pre – K-8), Guidance Counselor, Assistant Principal, and faculty at higher education institutions. As a life-long learner she went on to earn two Master degrees from Columbia University – MED ’98 (Educational Administration) and MA ’99 (Curriculum & Strategic Leadership).  She also earned a Doctoral Degree from Drew University ’07. 

Gina has a strong history of giving back to her alma mater and has established the Coffaro Family Scholarship.

Dr. Sandra M. Diodonet
BA ’00 Communication
EdD ’23 Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy
(Fordham University)

Relationship: Alumna
Employer: Passaic Public Schools
Current Title: Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Sandra M. Diodonet is a passionate educational leader and proud product of Passaic Public Schools, whose commitment to public education is shaped by her Puerto Rican heritage and deep roots in the community. With more than 20 years of experience serving multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and historically underserved communities, she has advanced equity through Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Education, chronic absenteeism prevention, and rigorous grade-level instruction for all students.

Dr. Diodonet has held roles including teacher, coach, principal, Associate Chief Academic Officer, and Assistant Superintendent in Paterson Public Schools before becoming Superintendent of Passaic City Public Schools in 2021. She leads with the conviction that every child, regardless of zip code, language, or background, deserves an excellent education and embodies the belief that “only the educated are free.”

Bob Medina
BS ’75 Civil Engineering (NJIT)

Relationship: Alumnus
Current Company: Medina 43 Business Strategies*
Current Title : Founder, Business Strategist

Brief Background: Bob earned his BS ’75 in Civil Engineering from the Newark College of Engineering (NJ Institute of Technology). After 14 years of experience, he founded Medina Consultants P.C., one of the largest Hispanic owned engineering firms in New Jersey.  Eventually he merged it with TY Lin International and became a Senior Vice President member of the Board of Directors. In 2014 he retired and founded Medina 43 Business Strategies, but now a retired professional engineer.

His philanthropic mission is to inspire latino students to enter STEM education/careers.  He and his wife Dr. Patricia Campos-Media established the Medina family Endowed Education Scholarship at William Paterson.

Maria Julia Ortiz
BA ’93 Elementary Education
BA ’93 Psychology

Relationship: Alumna
Employer: Newark Public Schools*
Current Title: Assistant Superintendent of High Schools

Brief Background: Dr. Maria Julia Ortiz is a educational leader whose journey began at the age of five when she arrived in the United States from the Dominican Republic.

She is a proud product of Newark Public Schools, and is deeply committed to advancing education through the lenses of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Special Education, Social Justice, and Bilingual Education.

She has been with the Newark Public School district for over 23 years and currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of High Schools.

Dr. Susana Peron
BA ’93 Elementary Education
BA ’93 Psychology
Ed.D. ’22 Curriculum and Instruction (Northeastern University)

Relationship: Alumna
Former Employer: Paterson Public Schools*
Current Title: Retired, Deputy Superintendent of Schools

Brief Background: After graduating from William Paterson, Susana started as a Bilingual Teacher / Preschool Master Teacher (14 years of service in Paterson’s Early Childhood Program), which led her to a variety of administrative roles. She retired from the role of Deputy Superintendent of Schools in 2023.

Susana has established the Electra Rodriguez Education Scholarship in memory of her beloved grandmother. Over the years she has collaborated with faculty and staff of the College of Education on programmatic initiatives and has given back philanthropically.

Kristen Turchioe
BA ’10 Special and Childhood Education/Mathematics
(St. John’s University)
MED ’16 Curriculum & Learning, Early Childhood
END ’17 Supervisor
MED ’21 Educational Leadership

Relationship: Alumna
Employer: Ridgewood Public Schools*
Current Title: Teacher Interventionist

Brief Background: Kristen is an experienced educator and instructional leader with a strong background in inclusive education and intervention. She holds two graduate degrees in education from William Paterson University and maintains multiple New Jersey teaching and supervisory certifications, reflecting her expertise across early childhood, elementary, middle school, and special education.

Kristen currently serves as a Teacher Interventionist at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, where she has worked since 2012, and is also an adjunct professor at William Paterson University, where she prepares future educators in assessment, planning, and inclusive instructional practices.

Dorothy Westdyke
BA ’64 (Middle & Junior High School)

Relationship: Alumna
Employer: Passaic City School District*
Title: Retired Teacher

Brief Background: After graduating William Paterson, Dorothy developed a wealth of experience in her 40 years of teaching middle school in Passaic School District. As a life-long learner she 30 additional credits (BA+30).

Dorothy is a distinguished WP Heritage Society member with over 39 years of giving to her alma mater. She established the Dorothy Vernon Westdyke Endowed Scholarship.