Saint Peter’s College Announces New Faculty for 2009-2010 Academic Year

Jersey City – Six new faculty members will join the Saint Peter’s College teaching community effective with the start of the fall 2009 semester. Coming to Saint Peter’s with a mix of professional backgrounds and a diverse breadth of knowledge, the educators will have the opportunity to share their expertise with students in the College of Arts and Sciences/Business Administration and the School of Nursing. The new faculty members are as follows:

Andrea Centrella-Nigro, D.N.P.
Assistant Professor, Nursing
Prior to joining Saint Peter’s College, Dr. Centrella-Nigro served as an educator at the Holy Name School of Nursing in Teaneck, N.J.  She is certified by the National League for Nursing in nursing education. Among her many skills and accomplishments, Dr. Centrella-Nigro has recently published an article in Pediatric Nursing and she is fluent in Spanish, a skill that proved useful while she was completing missionary work.

Dr. Centrella-Nigro received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from William Patterson College, her Master of Science in Nursing from Rutgers University and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Lorraine Garcia, RN, APN
Clinical Instructor, Nursing
Ms. Garcia, a certified childbirth educator, has previously taught in the sciences and nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from Rutgers University with a concentration in women’s health.  She also holds a Master of Arts in Sociology from the New School for Social Research.

William Gutsch, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor, College of Arts and Sciences/School of Business Administration
Since 1995, Dr. Gutsch has served as the president of Great Ideas, providing services for NASA, Educational Television, various local and national governments, as well as major universities and science museums around the world. He has also served as the chairman of the American Museum of Natural History Hayden Planetarium, as well as the president and CEO of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education.

Dr. Gutsch previously worked for ABC’s Good Morning America and World News This Morning as a science correspondent. Additionally, he has written, produced and appeared on programs for PBS, NBC, CNN, The Learning Channel and NASA-TV; he was nominated for an Emmy in 1986. Dr. Gutsch has also worked with film production companies such as Paramount, Lucasfilm Ltd., and The Children’s Television Workshop.

Dr. Gutsch graduated from Saint Peter’s College with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.  He received his Master of Science in Astrophysics, as well as his doctoral degree from the University of Virginia. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 1995 from Saint Peter’s.

Kathleen Motacki RN, M.S.N.
Clinical Associate Professor, Nursing
Ms. Motacki holds national board certification in pediatric nursing, and is also a certified back injury resource nurse. Additionally, she has extensive experience working with children that have chronic illnesses or are in rehabilitation. Ms. Motacki has published several articles, the most recent of which in the journal of pediatric nursing, discussing safe patient handling and movement.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing as well as her Master of Science in Nursing from Kean College.

Jane O’Rourke, D.N.P.
Assistant Professor, Nursing
Dr. O’Rourke specializes in psychiatric and mental health nursing, and previously served as the chief nurse executive at Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood, N.J., Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw, N.Y., and Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus, N.J. As an educator, she has experience teaching on the graduate and undergraduate levels. 

Dr. O’Rourke received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing as well as her Master of Science in Nursing from Hunter College, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She also holds a certificate in Executive Nursing Practice.

Valery Vyatkin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Business Administration
A native of Russia, Dr. Vyatkin has worked with the World Bank, the Economic Development Institute on Banks and Credit Risk Management, and the EuroMoney Advanced Training Center in London. He previously participated in an advanced management and finance program co-sponsored by Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, for the American Bankers’ Association and the Russian Academy of National Economy.

Dr. Vyatkin has served as a professor of risk management in Russia, as well as at Central Connecticut State University, SUNY Maritime College and the World Bank.  He has published multiple articles, many of which focus on risk management, organizational design and financial decision-making.  Additionally, he is a founding member of the Russian Risk Management Society as well as an alumnus of Moscow State University, where he graduated with a Ph.D. in Management and Economics.

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Saint Peter’s College, founded in 1872, is a Jesuit, Catholic college in the liberal arts tradition located in the heart of Jersey City, N.J., with a branch campus in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and course offerings on the Jersey City Waterfront and at various corporate sites throughout New Jersey. Educating over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 50 programs, Saint Peter’s College is committed to academic excellence and individual attention, preparing students for a lifetime of learning, leadership and service in a diverse and global society.

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