Richard C. Lecher, MPA '94, Ph.D. (Rutgers, 02)
Chief Executive Officer
SCARC, Inc.
Richard Lecher is the Chief Executive Officer of SCARC, Inc., Sussex County, New Jersey's largest and most comprehensive non-profit organization supporting children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families, serving over 750 families throughout the county. Richard manages (with a team of vital administrative staff) approximately 300 employees and 45 program locations in the county.
Richard earned a Masters in Education (Seton Hall, '69) and was a classroom teacher of special education students for five years before being appointed CEO of SCARC in 1972. A New Jersey native, Richard's undergraduate degree is from West Virginia Wesleyan College and he graduated from the Seton Hall MPA program in 1994.
"The MPA program in non-profit organization management was just what the doctor ordered for me in terms of the development of management and leadership skills and a broader understanding of the important role for finely tuned non-profits within the New Jersey human service and government environment."
Thomas S. Russo, Jr., MPA '96
Town Manager
Town of Newton, NJ
Thomas S. Russo, Jr. completed SHU's MPA program in 1996 while a Graduate Assistant for Dr. Naomi Wish in the Center for Public Service. Russo was a 1994 graduate of Rutgers College with a Bachelors Degree in Communications and Political Science.
After one-year on the Parsippany Zoning Board of Adjustment in 1997, Russo ran and was the youngest person ever elected to the Township Council in Parsippany in 1998 at the age of 25. Russo served two terms on the governing body and served as Council President and Vice President during his successful tenure.
Russo served in the Morris County Sheriff's Office for four years as the civilian Public Information Officer, a development professional for Far Brook School and Chilton Memorial Hospital, and for Randolph Township as the Assistant Township Manager for three years prior to his appointment as the Town Manager of Newton, NJ in August of 2008.
Russo is very passionate about volunteer work and spends his time currently volunteering for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Salvation Army. Russo also proudly serves on the Board of Directors for Jersey Battered Women's Service, Morris County Sheriff's CrimeStoppers and Sussex County Sheriff's CrimeStoppers.
Russo attributes his personal, professional, and volunteer success to his time spent at Seton Hall. "I was extremely fortunate to be able to work as a graduate assistant while obtaining my MPA degree. I learned invaluable life and professional lessons which have enabled me to have much success and for that I am eternally grateful to the staff, professors, and students in the MPA program. My time at Seton Hall and the MPA program taught me how to be passionate about public service and help people with energy, enthusiasm, dedication and determination."
Brian VanVelzor, MPA 01'
Director, International Services
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
In 1999 Brian graduated Cum Laude from Seton Hall with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Upon graduation he went directly into the MPA program as a Graduate Assistant. During this time he was a summer intern in the United States House of Representative's working for my Congressman from the 2nd district of Connecticut. After completing the Public Policy and Governance program in 2001, Brian took his first professional job working in the Grants Department of St. Mary Hospital, in Hoboken, NJ.
During his four years at SMH, he was promoted several times and was eventually made the Director of Corporate Compliance, Contract Management, and Grants Administration. At the same time he also went back to the Center for Public Service and completed the Certificate in Healthcare Administration in 2004. In 2006 he was hired by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital as the Manager of International Services, and in 2009 Brian was promoted to Director.
"My time at SHU has proved to be invaluable to me. The knowledge I gained, the connections I made, and the opportunities provided have guided me on a successful career in public service."
Thomas A. Russomano, MPA `08, MA `08
Assistant Director, Division of Volunteer Efforts
Seton Hall University
Tom Russomano is the Assistant Director of the Division of Volunteer Efforts (DOVE) at Seton Hall. His office is responsible for coordinating all volunteerism and community service on campus. Tom regularly manages a variety of volunteer programs, ranging from soup kitchens in the Greater Newark area to international service trips to El Salvador and Haiti. Prior to his current position, he worked as a project manager for the municipality of Mendham, NJ.
A New Jersey native, Tom graduated with a BA from Rutgers University in 2004. He completed his Master's degrees in Public Administration and Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall in May of 2008. Tom sits on the Board of the Hemophilia Association of New Jersey.
Elisa S. Danielson, MPA '03, NREMT-B
Seton Hall University
Elisa began her undergraduate study at the State University of New York at Stony Brook studying biochemistry; she then transferred and completed her BS in Accounting at Western New England College in Massachusetts. At the graduate level, Elisa attended Seton Hall University and completed her Master's degree in Public Administration, concentration in Health Policy and Management, with a 4.0 GPA.
Elisa began her first position on Wall Street which was then followed by work in public accounting. She held a position as Comptroller for a nonprofit for 11 years; this is when Elisa attended SHU for her MPA. Currently, Elisa works for American International Group as a Manager of Project Management, Regulatory Reporting and Premium Audit. She is also the Captain of a nonprofit Rescue Squad, whereas she not only leads the organization, but functions as a National Registered Emergency Medical Technician.
“My Master of Public Administration from Seton Hall University has not only provided me with my knowledge as a leader, but allows me the credibility in dealing with Hospital and EMS Directors, Law Enforcement and Town Officials in public service.”
Brian Vaughn, MPA `92, MBA
Global Franchise Director - Health Economics & Reimbursement
ETHICON Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company
Brian Vaughn entered the Department of Public and Healthcare Administration in 1989 as a full-time, pre-service candidate working as a Graduate Assistant in the Undergraduate Admissions Department. He came to Seton Hall with a BA in History and a great deal of interest in healthcare policy. Since graduating from SHU in 1992, he has been working in the business of healthcare. Brian kicked off his career in managed care at Oxford Health Plans. His managed care experience culminated in his role as Regional Manager of Medical Delivery Systems leading the team responsible Oxford's Medical Delivery System in New Jersey, including all hospital and health system contracting.
Brian began working at ETHICON Inc, a Johnson & Johnson company that develops and manufactures medical devices, in 1999. ETHICON has provided him the opportunity to utilize his MPA and managed care experience on the industry side of healthcare. As Global Franchise Director, Brian currently leads the ETHICON Products Global Health Economics & Reimbursement Team.
Since graduating from SHU, Brian has had the opportunity to be a guest speaker for a number of classes and was honored with an Alumni Service Award.
“Working in healthcare has been and I have no doubt will continue to be challenging, rewarding, lots of fun, and a never-ending learning experience.”
Mark A. Habana, MPA ‘04
Project Officer (PO)
Columbia University
Mark Habana received his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology and English from The College of New Jersey and his Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Seton Hall University. He brings diverse experiences from the corporate sector, the service industry, and the nonprofit field with leadership roles at both the college and professional levels.
Mark is currently the Project Officer (PO) for Columbia University and is responsible for a broad range of pre- and post-award activities that relate to research funding. Mark is assigned a group of departments, centers, institutes and schools, and he reviews all grant proposals for consistency with University and sponsor policies and assure that the information and financial proposals are revised accordingly. In addition, Mark is assigned the authority and responsibility as official signatory and he serves as a liaison with sponsoring agencies.
Mark is also actively engaged in community service work by volunteering for special events coordinated by groups like the Asian Women in Business, the Asian American Writers' Workshop, and the Asian American Federation of New York.
Jill Grob, MPA '90, PhD
Director, Student Success Center
Weber State University
Jill Grob completed SHU's MPA in 1990 while a Graduate Assistant in the Center for Public Service/DPHA. Jill then served as the department's Assistant Director until hired as an Assistant Dean of Seton Hall's Stillman School of Business. After completing her doctoral course work at Rutgers University's Graduate School of Education, she moved to Arizona where she ran a distance learning campus for Northern Arizona University. For the past 6 years, Jill has been Director of Weber State University's Student Success Center. The Student Success Center provides academic advisement to general studies associate degree students, serves academically at-risk students, and serves freshmen enrolled in Weber's "Introduction to the University" course taught by the Center's First Year Experience (FYE) Department.
“I have applied the breadth of knowledge and skills I gained through my MPA to my doctoral course work and fulfilling employment in the public sector. I promote the MPA to current and prospective higher education administration personnel.”
James “Jim” Elekes, ‘80/MPA ‘89
Founder/Principal, Trans-Access Associates, LLC
Jim received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a specialization in Health Policy and Management from Seton Hall University. Less than one year after receiving his BA Jim became totally blind due to complications related to insulin-dependent diabetes that he developed in 1965. Despite his disability, Jim completed his MPA and at that time was the only disabled individual to have completed the degree.
In the 28 years since the loss of his sight, Jim’s accomplishments toward advancing quality of life and mainstreaming individuals with disabilities include serving as:
- Community Education Officer, New Jersey Department of Human Services;
- Working with former Seton Hall President, Bishop John Dougherty to establish the Electronic Information Educational Service (EIES) of New Jersey;
- Project Manager, Accessible Services, NJ TRANSIT;
- Chairperson, New Jersey Governor’s Committee on the Disabled, Policy/Legislative Sub-Committee;
- Vice Chairman, New Jersey Commission on Recreation for the Disabled;
- Chairperson of the Paper Mill Playhouse’s Disabled Theater Access Committee;
- Private Consultant;
- Presidential Appointee/Public Member, United States Access Board, Washington, D.C.
Presently, Jim devotes his energies to Trans-Access Associates, LLC, the consulting firm he founded in 2005 to meet an identified unmet need in academia, public and private sectors in mainstreaming people with disabilities into all facets of activities of daily life.
Since 1980, Jim has freely given his time and expertise to the University community responding to all requests for his knowledge, skills and abilities in service to his fellow alumni, administration, faculty, staff and students.
