International BAASANA Conference at Berkeley College Highlights Campus Safety and the Future of Higher Education

INTERNATIONAL BAASANA CONFERENCE AT BERKELEY COLLEGE
HIGHLIGHTS CAMPUS SAFETY AND THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Photo Caption: George J. Cherubini, EdS, Senior Managing Director, Global Security Consulting, T&M USA, New York, delivers the keynote address on "The Tragedies We Prevent: Leadership Before Crisis - Building a Culture of Campus Safety through Prevention and Preparedness" during the Business and Applied Sciences Academy of North America (BAASANA) International Hybrid Conference on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Berkeley College in Woodland Park, NJ.

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Attendees explored the future of higher education, including campus safety, adaptive learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) ethics during the Business and Applied Sciences Academy of North America (BAASANA) International Hybrid Conference on April 24 and 25, 2026, hosted by Berkeley College in Woodland Park, NJ.

"Our conference theme, Global Higher Education Practices and its Future, challenges us to think beyond traditional boundaries and consider how institutions can evolve to better serve learners, societies, and economies worldwide," said Jet Mboga, PhD, DBA, President of BAASANA. "This conference is a space for dialogue - where diverse perspectives meet, where assumptions are tested, and where new approaches begin to take shape. It is through these exchanges that we move from insight to impact."

George J. Cherubini, EdS, Senior Managing Director, Global Security Consulting, T&M USA, New York, delivered the keynote address on "The Tragedies We Prevent: Leadership Before Crisis - Building a Culture of Campus Safety through Prevention and Preparedness."

"Academic campuses are symbols of openness, exploration, accessibility and opportunity. They are designed to welcome, not to defend. And that is their beauty, but also their vulnerability," said Cherubini, who also serves as a BAASANA Board Member. "The most effective strategies begin long before a crisis unfolds. They start with awareness, communication, culture, leadership, and the courage to act when something feels wrong."

The conference featured more than 50 presenters covering a wide range of topics, delivered both on-site and through a hybrid format. Several Berkeley College student leaders attended the sessions.

Photo Caption (L to R): Jet Mboga, PhD, DBA, President of the Business and Applied Sciences Academy of North America (BAASANA), and Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College and Board Member, BAASANA, deliver opening remarks during the BAASANA International Hybrid Conference on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Berkeley College in Woodland Park, NJ.

"For 95 years, Berkeley College has taken great pride in being a student-centered institution that values innovation, inclusion, and real-world impact," said Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College and Board Member, BAASANA. "Hosting this conference aligns closely with our mission to create opportunities for learning, collaboration, and professional growth - not only for our students, but for the broader academic and professional community."

Berkeley College presenters included:

• Barbara Crump, PhD, Professor, Nursing, Berkeley College School of Health Studies - "Dignity-Centered Nursing Framework for End-of-Life Care"
• Monika Skiba, Professor, Global Alliance, Berkeley College - "Shaping the Future of Learning through Global Higher Education Policy in the Digital Era"
• Andrea Kennedy, Lead Faculty, Fashion Merchandising and Management, Berkeley College Larry L. Luing School of Business®; Cara Ruggiero, Senior Director, Center for Curriculum Instruction and Technology (CCIT); and Victoria Ghilardi, Senior Learning Experience Strategist, CCIT - "The Student User: Course Design as Product Development"

Conference papers will be considered for publication in the BAASANA International Journal of Business and Applied Sciences. The proceeds from the 2026 International Hybrid Conference will be published and indexed by the Library of Congress.

Photo Caption: Board members and leadership of the Business and Applied Sciences Academy of North America (BAASANA) attend the International Hybrid Conference on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Berkeley College in Woodland Park, NJ. Pictured are (top row, L to R) Donald L. Crooks, PhD, Chairman of the Board; Jet Mboga, PhD, DBA, President of BAASANA; Sharath Kumar Jagganathan, PhD; Kathryn Woodbury Zeno, PhD; George J. Cherubini, EdS; Madhav Sharma, PhD; and Michael Driscoll, EdD. (Bottom row, L to R) Suzanne Shiobara; Diane Recinos, EdD; Chanaz Gargouri, PhD; and Alfred Ntoko, PhD.

About Berkeley College

Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master's, Bachelor's, and Associate's degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials.

Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,000 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor's Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans for 13 consecutive years. Berkeley College is also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2026 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey. The website address is https://BerkeleyCollege.edu.

The mission of Berkeley College is to empower each student to achieve lifelong success.

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