Teri Duda Receives Shirley Chisholm Catalyst for Change Award From New Jersey General Assembly

PARAMUS, NJ - June 5, 2007 - Berkeley College Senior Vice President of External Affairs Teri Duda has received The Shirley Chisholm Catalyst for Change Award in the category of Civic and Community Service from the New Jersey General Assembly. The Award honors and recognizes women who exemplify the spirit, tenacity, and innovation demonstrated by the late Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected as a member of the United States Congress, and the first woman to be considered as a presidential nominee in the United States.

A resident of Oradell, Ms. Duda received the Award in recognition of her commitment to ensuring that communities address the most pressing socio-economic issues which confront women, children, families, and neighborhoods. The General Assembly also commended Ms. Duda’s leadership in enhancing the field of education in New Jersey, and her work at Berkeley College that has enabled thousands of people to realize their own “American Dream.”

Ms. Duda began her Berkeley career in 1991 as the Administrative Director of the Bergen Campus. Over the years she has worked as Director of Agency Relations, Vice President of Workforce Development, and Vice President of External Affairs.

An active Rotarian for more than ten years, Ms. Duda is well-known and respected in local communities where she serves in a variety of leadership roles. She implemented and chairs the Annual Mayor’s Economic Development Summit for Bergen and Passaic Counties.  She is Chair Emeritus of the Board of Directors for the Greater Paramus Chamber of Commerce, and is that Chamber’s Vice President of Government Relations and Legislation. In Passaic County, she serves as Vice President of Education for the Greater Paterson Chamber of Commerce; is a member of the Board of Directors for the Passaic County 200 Club; and is President Emeritus of the Paterson Education Fund, where she served on its Board for nine years.

Ms. Duda is especially proud of her role as Chair of the East Side Children’s Park Restoration Committee which resulted in the construction of the Frank R. Lautenberg Park, a gated state-of-the art handicapped-accessible city park in Paterson. The park serves more than 500 children a day.

Ms. Duda holds a B.A. from San Diego State University; an M.A. from the University of Wisconsin; and is a Bloustein Fellow of the John Heldridge Leadership Institute on Workforce Development from Rutgers University.

A leader in business education for more than 75 years, Berkeley College currently maintains an enrollment of 5,500 students, including 500 international students, in its Baccalaureate and Associate degree programs.
The College maintains two New York campuses in Midtown Manhattan and White Plains, and four New Jersey campuses located in West Paterson, Paramus, Woodbridge, and the newest location in Newark. In addition, the College operates an Extension Center in Lower Manhattan in the Wall Street area and offers the Berkeley College Online degree program. The College’s website address is www.BerkeleyCollege.edu.