Members
MR. STEVE FASTOOK ’06H • CHAIR
Steven Fastook is an award winning Media Production Executive in network entertainment, sports and news. CNBC, the world’s leading business news entity, is owned by Comcast's NBC Universal unit.
Fastook is currently Senior Vice President of Operations for CNBC. He is responsible for production and operations of the network. In this role Fastook has advanced the use of technology and launched the first ever totally digital process at CNBC, the creation of which was seen as a benchmark in the industry. In 2011 Steve and his team created a groundbreaking production tool called 4D which received an IBC Innovation award.
Over the span of his career, Fastook has been the recipient of 9 Emmy Awards for his work covering the 1988 Seoul Olympics; creation of the national syndicated Rosie O’Donnell Show; graphic design, studio production & remotes, and special events like the Macy*s Parade.
In 2006, Fastook received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Kean University. In 2007, he was inducted into the Nutley Hall of Fame. Steve is also an Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University in NJ. He is the past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Kean University Foundation. He also sits on the board for the International Radio and Television Society, an organization dedicated to enhancing education for media students.
MS. LINDA LEWIS • VICE-CHAIR
Ms. Lewis has served on the Board of Trustees since February 2003. She is a guidance counselor at Elizabeth High School in the Elizabeth, N.J., school district where she also serves as a member of the school-management team. In addition, Lewis is an education and management consultant, providing services to private, public and nonprofit organizations.
Ms. Lewis served the federal government in the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights from 1978 to 1986. She was charged with supervising equal-opportunity specialists and secretarial staff in the Post-Secondary Division. Ms. Lewis was also charged with overseeing written and verbal information to the division's director and the regional director regarding complaint investigations and compliance reviews. In addition, she conducted workforce analysis of the utilization and underutilization of the handicapped, women and minorities in the workforce and reviewed post-secondary institutions in Region II to determine whether or not they were in compliance.
From 1978 to 1984, Ms. Lewis conducted investigations under the authority of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Americans with Disabilities Act and the Vocation Rehabilitation Act.
Ms. Lewis was director of Affirmative Action at the Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N.Y., from 1977 to 1978. After obtaining a Master of Arts in guidance and counseling from Atlanta University in 1974, she began her career as a psychological counselor at Bloomsburg State University in Bloomsburg, Pa. She currently resides in Union, New Jersey.
DR. THOMAS J. BISTOCCHI • SECRETARY
Dr. Thomas J. Bistocchi served as Superintendent of Schools for the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools from 1994-2013. During his tenure at UCVTS, Dr. Bistocchi established the UCVT Adult High School (1995), the Union County Magnet High School (1997), the full-time Union County Vocational-Technical High School (2002), the Academy for Information Technology (2002), the Academy for Allied Health Sciences (2005) and the Academy for Performing Arts (2008, and in partnership with Kean University). The District grew from 200 high school students in 1994 to more than 2,000 students during Dr. Bistocchi's tenure. In 2006, the District Board of Education dedicated the new Academy for Information Technology building as "Bistocchi Hall".
Dr. Bistocchi served as a board member and President of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational Schools, Secretary and President of the Union County Workforce Investment Board and President of the Union County Educational Services Commission Board of Directors. He also served as a member and President of the Board of Commissioners for the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and as Secretary of the MSA Board of Trustees.
Dr. Bistocchi received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Bloomsburg University, his C.A.S.E Degree from Johns Hopkins University and his doctoral degree in Educational Administration from Rutgers University. He currently serves as managing partner of Educational Alternatives, LLC, an educational consulting firm. Dr. Bistocchi has been a member of the Kean University Board of Trustees since 2012.
MR. DAVE GIBBONS • TRUSTEE
Dave Gibbons serves as CEO of Elberon Development Group, a family commercial real estate business that owns and operates approximately 2 million square feet of commercial industrial space in northern New Jersey. Dave oversees all aspects of the company, including capital allocation, asset management, financial analysis, personnel and strategic planning, with a particular focus on acquisitions, construction and development.
Prior to becoming President of Elberon Development Group in 2011, Dave served as a Partner for Seagis Property Group, an entity that owns and operates over 8 million square feet, including approximately 2 million square feet in New Jersey. Dave oversaw the firm’s New Jersey office, with responsibility for acquisitions, leasing, development and construction.
As a real estate investor over the past 20 years, Dave has led the leasing of over 5 million square feet of commercial space and acquisitions, totaling approximately 2.5 million square feet. He also has led the ground-up development of over 2 million square feet and supervised construction projects totaling over $250 million.
Dave is a board member of Kean University, Choose New Jersey and NJ-NAIOP, a 700-member, statewide commercial real estate trade organization, where he currently serves as president of the board of trustees. He also is a member of the Cornell Law School Advisory Board. He has served as a director or trustee for several other boards throughout his career, including First Bank, Synergy Bank and Trinitas Hospital. He served as Chairman of the board of four different organizations: Synergy Bank, Newark Legacy Charter School, Elizabeth Development Company and the YMCA of Eastern Union County. Dave obtained a B.S. in Finance from the University of Notre Dame, and J.D. from Cornell Law School.
MR. JOHN KEAN JR. • TRUSTEE
Mr. Kean was appointed to the Board of Trustees in June of 2012. He is currently President and a Member of the Board of Directors of BCN Telecom, Inc., a New Jersey based competitive local exchange carrier. Prior to joining BCN, he served as Managing Director and head of the energy group at Avondale Partners, a boutique investment bank based in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Kean's background includes serving in leadership positions as a senior executive in public, private and non profit entities working in both domestic and international markets. He also has extensive experience serving on a number of boards including public and private corporations, and non profit entities. He was a founding member of the Kean University Foundation where he served as a board member for close to 25 years. In addition to his long service at the Kean University Foundation, his dedication to education includes service on the boards of the TVRC Education Foundation and the Morristown Beard School, and as NJ State Chairman of the School Counts Campaign.
He received his bachelor's degree from Lake Forest College and attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He currently resides in Bernardsville, New Jersey.
MS. BERTHA LITTLE-MATHEWS • TRUSTEE
Bertha Little-Mathews is director of community development for the Township of Union, where she works with public officials and nonprofit agencies to promote community development and health and safety. She is also president of BLM Consultants LLC in Union.
A retired corporate manager with 32 years of service in telecommunications, Little-Mathews held a management position at AT&T in technical planning and implementation and served as the division’s quality manager. She was manager of operator services at New Jersey Bell prior to the breakup of the Bell system, overseeing more than 200 employees. She was also secretary-treasurer of the former Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1006.
Little-Mathews earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Rutgers University and has several certifications, including in labor/management and affordable housing. She is affiliated with numerous local and national organizations and volunteers on committees at the township and county level.
MR. RAJEEV MALHOTRA '90 • TRUSTEE
Rajeev Malhotra ’90 is comptroller for Elizabeth Public Schools, managing a $550 million annual budget for the school district. He oversees accounting, purchasing, payroll and accounts payable and reviews contracts for the district, the fourth largest in the State of New Jersey, with more than 27,000 students.
A Certified Public Accountant, Malhotra is a former member of the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy.
Prior to his work with the school district, Malhotra had a 25-year career in the financial services industry, including serving as director of financial planning & analysis at New York Life and director of financial reporting at Prudential Investments, as well as positions at UBS Financial Services, Citigroup, PNC Financial Services and Bank of America.
Malhotra earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Kean University in 1990.
MR. ALAN J. MARKMAN • TRUSTEE
Alan J. Markman joined the Kean University Board of Trustees in May 2023. He is a practicing attorney with the law offices of Markman & Cannan LLC in Bloomfield, NJ. Prior to creating Markman & Cannan, Markman was a partner in the law firm of Markman & Leo, LLP, and prior to creating that firm, he worked as an associate with the Law Firm of Theodore J. Leo. Mr. Markman started his law career as an associate with former Superior Court Judge Garry Furnari.
Mr. Markman is a native Pawtucket, Rhode Island; he moved with his family to New Jersey during his high school years. He attended Fairleigh Dickenson University in Madison, NJ earning a B.S. in Finance. Mr. Markman later attended Western Michigan Law School, earning his Juris Doctorate in 1994.
Mr. Markman has been married to his wife, Paula, for over 22 years; they have two children, Tyler and Olivia. He is passionate about many things including his family, working out with friends, and playing golf both locally and wherever he travels.
Mr. Markman is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Essex County Bar Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He also is legal counsel for the State Troopers Fraternal Association (STFA) Council and listed as a top attorney in Martindale-Hubble’s Who’s Who directories.
MR. A. TODD MAYO '88 • TRUSTEE
A . Todd Mayo, a New Jersey native and a Kean graduate, is a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force and an attorney who operates his own law practice Mayo & Russ, P.A. based in East Brunswick. He has served as a municipal judge as well as a workers compensation judge. He currently serves as the chair of the Joint Legislative Commission on Ethical Standards.
Mr. Mayo received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Kean University 1988, while serving as President of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the economics honor society. He went on to graduate with his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University in 1994.
Mr. Mayo is married and has three children.
MR. MATTHEW McDERMOTT • TRUSTEE
Matthew P. McDermott joined the The Kaufman Zita Group (KZG) in 2018 as Senior Vice President. Prior to joining the Kaufman Zita Group, Matt served in two administrations, including seven years as a senior staff member to Governor Chris Christie, and held senior leadership positions in four state departments.
Most recently, he worked as the Assistant Commissioner for Government and Community Relations at the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Previously, he served in various roles including, Chief of Staff to Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, Chief of Staff and Deputy Commissioner at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Director of Appointments for Governor Chris Christie, and as Director of Communications for the New Jersey Department of Treasury. Matt was also the Principal of McDermott Public Affairs, a successful full-service public affairs consulting firm, from 2002-2010. Matt received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
MS. ADA MORELL '97 • TRUSTEE
Ada Morell has a long and distinguished career in both public and private service.
She recently retired from her longtime position as deputy chief of staff for retired U.S. Representative Albio Sires (NJ-8), managing a bustling congressional office and assisting constituents in areas ranging from immigration to Social Security. She previously was the co-owner and vice president of A.M. Title Agency, Inc. in Elizabeth for nearly 25 years, and continues to serve as a consultant on real estate matters with Title Masters, LLC, in Westfield, NJ.
Prior to these leadership roles, Morell gained significant legal and management experience from her tenure working as a certified paralegal, and later on as a sales representative for A.M. Title Agency. Concurrently, she worked toward attaining a bachelor of arts in English education in 1997 from Kean and a master’s degree in education from St. Joseph's College of Maine—all as a single parent raising two children.
Early in her career, Morell applied her fluency in Spanish to her role as an immigration program coordinator at North Hudson Community Action Program. She also owned her own translation service, Pronto Translation Service.
Morell, who emigrated from Cuba in 1963, joined the Board of Trustees in December 2004 and was elected its chair in 2011. She has served as chair for 10 years, during a time of significant expansion and development at the University.
Morell is the proud parent of two children: Carlos Estevez, a New Jersey State Trooper and daughter, Lisa M. Stickel, a certified teacher of sciences, and is grandmother to Ayden, Carlos, Kyle, Kevin, Sophia and Sarah. She lives in Monroe Township, NJ.
MR. EDWARD OATMAN '98 • TRUSTEE
Edward T. Oatman has more than 16 years of governmental experience and currently serves as Union County Manager. He has responsibility for the day-to-day operations and budget of a 21-municipality government with approximately 2,800 full-time employees. He is also responsible for the implementation of the policy of the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Over the years, he has worked to assist NJ State Senator Nicholas P. Scutari (D-22) and former NJ Assemblywoman Linda Stender in developing landmark environmental, public safety, health and infrastructure legislation.
Mr. Oatman has a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Kean University. He has been active in his hometown of Woodbridge, having served on the Boards of the Woodbridge Little League; and the Woodbridge Township Youth Soccer Association. He is a member of the Mawbey Street School & Woodbridge Middle School PTO.
Mr. Oatman is married and has three children.
MS. BARBARA SOBEL '71 • TRUSTEE
Ms. Sobel, a Kean University graduate, was first appointed to the Board of Trustees in July 2000. She is president of the Sobel Family Foundation, and organization actively involved in charitable research, development and giving around the world. Ms. Sobel and her husband, former U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, Cliff Sobel, H '97, are still actively involved in a number of projects in Brazil, including health care programs that provide breast cancer screening and treatment for impoverished women. Ms. Sobel serves as the Board of Trustees representative on the Kean University Foundation Board of Trustees.
DAVID R. SPEVACK • TRUSTEE
David R. Spevack is a New Jersey trial attorney and the president and managing partner of Spevack Law Firm, of Woodbridge, New Brunswick and Shrewsbury.
He is licensed to practice law in New Jersey, New York and U.S. District Court, and since 2009 has served as prosecutor in a number of New Jersey municipalities, including Woodbridge, Edison, Perth Amboy, Newark, Metuchen and Carteret. He also specializes in assisting police and law enforcement officers with their legal needs, and he is appointed to the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Automobile Litigation and No-Fault Special Committee.
Spevack serves as a Middlesex County Bar Foundation Trustee and is a member of the New Jersey Association of Justice (NJAJ) Board of Governors. He frequently presents at seminars and lectures for the Practicing Law Institute, New Jersey Continuing Legal Education and Middlesex Bar Association. He is a member of the NAACP and is president of a tennis foundation.
Spevack received his Juris Doctorate from Rutgers Law School in 2001. After graduation, he completed a Civil Division clerkship in Hudson County Superior Court. He also studied at University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, University of Leiden in the Netherlands and the University of Extremadura in Spain. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and Spanish from the University of North Carolina - Greensboro.
MR. RICHARD TORRES • TRUSTEE
Richard Torres is Counsel in the Real Estate Industry group in the New York office of the international law firm Goodwin Procter LLP where focuses his practice on the establishment and ongoing management of real estate private investment funds.
Mr. Torres is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the Hispanic Bar Association and Practicing Attorneys for Law Students, a non-profit organization that provides mentoring to New York City-area minority law students.
Prior to joining Goodwin, Mr. Torres was vice president of legal & business affairs for Leverage Agency LLC, a sports marketing agency based in New York City. He also worked at several law firms in New York, where he developed an expertise in sports and entertainment law. In connection with such work, Mr. Torres worked on some of the largest pay-per-view boxing matches of the last decade, including boxing matches involving Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.
Mr. Torres graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Rider University and received his Juris Doctorate with a concentration in Business Law from Cornell Law School.
MS. DANIELLE BRATHWAITE • STUDENT TRUSTEE
Danielle Brathwaite is a dedicated full-time accounting student at Kean University. As a freshman, she joined the Leadership Institute within the Center for Leadership and Service (CLS), seamlessly putting into practice the skills she had acquired as a mentor in the peer leadership program at her high school, St. Vincent Academy in Newark. Brathwaite’s passion for mentorship led her to be selected as a General Education Mentor (GEM) for the University’s Transition to Kean Class. Her leadership prowess earned her the position of leadership specialist in CLS, where she now oversees the mentor program in the Leadership Institute.
Dedicated to making a positive impact, Brathwaite is also actively involved in various community service initiatives and student organizations. She is a member of the National Council of Negro Women at Kean, contributing to the organization’s mission to lead, advocate for and empower women of African descent, their families and communities. Originally from East Orange and now residing in Springfield, Brathwaite also regularly participates in community service initiatives and shares her passion for music as a member of her church choir.
In her leisure time, Brathwaite enjoys reading, pouring her thoughts into her journal, and spending time with her cherished family. Her ambition is to share her enthusiasm for student involvement and leadership with her peers.
MS. CYLIA BLACKMON • ALTERNATE STUDENT TRUSTEE
Cylia Blackmon is a committed Supply Chain Management Major with a Minor in American Sign Language residing in Springfield, NJ. Her love for service led her to join the Leadership Institute within the Center for Leadership and Service and the Student Government Association during her freshman year, where she served as Freshmen Class Treasurer. Those skills perfectly translated into her role as Sophomore Class President during this past academic year, where she successfully led her board and curated events that reached various students.
Blackmon is also actively involved on campus, holding active memberships within the American Sign Language Club, the Kean Association of Marketing and Cougar Volunteers. Blackmon has contributed to campus life through these organizations while pursuing her passions outside of the classroom. When she is not volunteering, Blackmon enjoys listening to music, spending time with her friends and family and playing with her dog Chloe. Some of her future goals include attending graduate school to get her master's degree and begin working in the non-profit field. As she looks forward to the new school year, Blackmon hopes to represent student voices and make positive changes in the Kean community.
MS. AUDREY M. KELLY • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Ms. Kelly has served as lead manager of Board activities since 2004. She also serves as Chief of Staff to the University President, overseeing a variety of departments and leading the President’s senior management team. Prior to her current assignments, Ms. Kelly worked as executive director of University Relations and as President of the Kean University Foundation Inc. She began her career at Kean as a project specialist for the public administration department, developing initiatives such as the annual Homeland Security conference, the Certificate in Emergency Management program, and the LEAD NJ training program for public officials. Ms. Kelly also secured the state grant that brought New Jersey’s continuing education program for fire officials and firefighters to Kean. Previously, Ms. Kelly worked as a newspaper reporter with both the Asbury Park Press and The Home News, specializing in state government, politics and the budget process. She served as deputy communications director in the New Jersey Office of the Governor for Gov. Jim Florio, and as communications director for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation for the Giuliani administration. She then served as a senior vice president at Siegel & Gale, an international strategic branding and Internet consulting firm based in New York City.