INFORMATION FOR
The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is the largest college at William Paterson University, and home to a diverse population of more than 3,000 students. Our programs provide insight into the past and explore solutions for the future, enabling our students to build their careers, pursue advanced academic studies, and empower positive change.
We offer a wide range of outstanding programs in the visual and performing arts, communication arts, and the humanities and social sciences. Students have the opportunity to work closely with a dedicated faculty of teacher-scholars including many Fulbright fellows and others of international prominence who bring real-world experience to the classroom. In our college there are extensive opportunities for artistic creation, performance, scholarship, study abroad, and hands-on learning as a part of your academic experience.
Our internship program is designed to provide career experience that helps you connect your current educational program to your future as a successful professional. Students also benefit from state-of-the-art resources ranging from HD television broadcast studios, animation and game design labs to recording studios and a social media lab, among others. They can also participate in college conferences, academic clubs, and honor societies.
We are home to a number of signature experiences that make us unique in New Jersey and to students around the nation and world, including our internationally renowned—jazz studies program and our award-winning campus radio station, 88.7 WPSC/Brave New Radio (named “College Radio Station of the Year” by the National Association of Broadcasters).
Dean, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
EMAIL: davisw@wpunj.edu
PHONE: 973-720-2731
OFFICE: Atrium 260
Associate Dean, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
EMAIL: razzorel@wpunj.edu
PHONE: 973-720-3282
Interim Associate Dean, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
EMAIL: macdonaldp@wpunj.edu
PHONE: 973-720-3036
A selection of recent artworks created by faculty members of the Department of Art at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ are currently on view in an exhibition at the University Galleries in the Ben Shahn Center for the Visual Arts through December 11, 2026. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Friday, October 16 through Sunday, November 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission to the Galleries is always free. A panel discussion will take place on Thursday, October 1, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. followed by an opening reception from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., in the Court Gallery, Ben Shahn Center for the Visual Arts.
On view in the Court Gallery, this exhibition features work by faculty who teach animation, art history, digital art, painting, and sculpture. The works in the exhibition reveal the faculty’s unique artistic practices as they innovate across diverse media. Faculty artists featured in the exhibition include Myles Dunigan, Eileen Foti, Andrea Geller, Ashley Gerst, Heejung Kim, Wes Sherman, and AnnaCarina Sinocchi.
This year’s exhibition features work by William Paterson Professor AnnaCarina Sinocchi, who presents two pieces inspired by the enigmatic stone block forms of Puma Punku (Gateway of the Puma) in western Bolivia. The T-shaped motifs featured in her work indicate spatial awareness that lies beyond our visual perception of a known world. Sinocchi’s artwork has been featured in both solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and is held in private and public collections.
Other works include a series of detailed, symbol-rich graphite drawings by Myles Dunigan. Dunigan, the grand prize winner of the 2020 Ink, Press, Repeat printmaking competition and now a professor at WP, presents a series of works that, combine, “desperate elements of our post-truth, hyper-technological world to build uncanny narratives that are neither completely factual nor total fabrications,” he says. “Gleaning from science-fiction, doomsday prepping manuals, and environmental disaster sites, I blend these elements into crypto-documentarian objects and ephemera.”
Also included is an innovative artist’s book/poetry and visual arts collaboration, in which Eileen Foti, coordinator of WP’s foundation program, participated. An accompanying video shows the poems included in the book being read, while the images created in response are shown.
Also on view in the South and East Galleries is robin holder: Reckonings, which showcases a variety of multimedia works by the renowned artist and printmaker.
The William Paterson University Galleries are wheelchair accessible. Large-print educational materials are available. For additional information, please call the William Paterson University Galleries at 973-720-2654.
The Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University is dedicated to preserving and sharing the artistic heritage of China and integrating its rich tradition into the University's curriculum. Students will not only have the opportunity to view Chinese art, but draw upon its philosophy and incorporate its techniques in order to participate effectively in the increasingly global world of visual arts.
Combining coursework dedicated to the rigorous investigation of art with a broad spectrum of the most current tools and technology yields artworks that push the limits of the imagination. The activities and technology at the Center for New Art support and supplement the Art Department curriculum while also extending to other departments within the University.
"At William Paterson, I had the opportunity to get research experiences during my undergraduate studies, and that's kind of rare. I also have amazing professors who push you because they want you to be successful. They really want to help--they're not just leaving you out there alone. I really like that and feel supported here."
Sidal Yurt Earned her BA in psychology at WP in 2023 and continuing for her MA and PsyD in clinical psychology International Student from Turkey
"William Paterson was such a great force and inspiration to finding what I want to do in life. It's opened so many doors for me and allowed me to see my potential. Now that I see it, I'm going to run with it."
Justyn Chapman Double Major in Popular Music Studies and Public Relations | Class of 2023
"The resources here are top notch. William Paterson has hidden gems throughout the campus and the classrooms—resources that can really help a person grow and develop, not just in academics but also in their professional life."
Hosanna Nitro Communication/ Public Relations Major | Class of 2023
"The professors here have pushed me to grow as an individual. They encouraged me to take part in class discussions and debates, helping me go from shy and reserved to someone who speaks up and is willing to challenge herself. As a result, I was able to take part in a prestigious internship for a U.S. Congresswoman, where I recruited volunteers, participated in voter turnout events, and learned a great deal about re-election campaigns. I cannot thank my professors enough."
Dhruvisha Patel Political science, litigation paralegal at DiFrancesco, Bateman, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, PC | Class of 2023
