(left to rigth) Dr.Frank N. Elliott, Betsy Wolfe, Jamiyl Mosley, Dr. Minmin Wang and Dr.Mordechai Rozanski

Betsy Wolfe, administrative specialist in Westminster’s Office of Admissions; Dr. Minmin Wang, professor of communication; and Jamiyl Mosley '96, MA '99, area director for residence life, received the 2006 Frank N. Elliott Award for Distinguished Service during the faculty and staff convocation on August 31.

Dr. Frank Elliott, President Emeritus, joined President Mordechai Rozanski in presenting the citation and plaque to each of this year’s recipients. The award, endowed by the Board of Trustees, honors Elliott, who was the fourth president of Rider. He retired in 1990. In addition to a plaque, each recipient received a $500 award.

Betsy Wolfe

Besty Wolfe joined the Rider community in 1998, beginning her University service in both Admissions and Student Financial Services before moving full-time to Student Financial Services. In 2001, she transferred to the Westminster campus and became administrative specialist in the Admissions office where she is often the first meaningful contact for prospective students and families.

Wolfe’s primary responsibility is to schedule audition days for prospective students, an important component of the admissions process at Westminster. She is known as “a problem-solver extraordinaire,” particularly regarding Colleague, the student database. She played an instrumental role in Westminster’s Colleague conversion, working with both the Admissions and Dean of Students’ offices, setting up communication management, providing training, and serving as an on-going resource for questions and follow-up.

Wolfe remains Westminster’s “go-to” person for Colleague questions and problems. She derives tremendous satisfaction from figuring things out on her own and discovering new ways of extracting needed data. It was Wolfe, for instance, who figured out how to enter temporary and international addresses in Colleague when expert consultants said it couldn’t be done.

Of all her attributes, the one that has earned most admiration is her positive attitude. Colleagues describe her as someone who can be counted on to contribute whatever is needed, whether part of her job or not. While Wolfe continually gives her “all” to Rider, she is also busy raising three children, one of whom is currently attending Rider, and another who earned both undergraduate and MBA degrees here.

Dr. Minmin Wang

Joining Rider’s faculty in 1991, Dr. Minmin Wang has made her mark at Rider not only as a professor but as a major catalyst in forging Rider University’s partnership with Sanda University. As Special Assistant for China Programs for President Mordechai Rozanski, Wang’s advice and special relationships with officials in China have proven invaluable in bringing various Sanda initiatives to fruition.

Wang has devoted much of her time supporting the first cohort of 23 students who arrived at Rider in January 2005. Last year, she traveled to China with President Rozanski to secure the second cohort of 29 Sanda students, who arrived last January, and to develop relationships with other Chinese institutions. She was also the driving force behind the six Rider students who traveled to Fuzhou, China this summer to tutor English and teach American culture to middle and high school aged children. Wang continues to advise and support the more than 50 Sanda students now at Rider.

Achieving the rank of professor at Rider in 2002, Wang has taught courses over the years in all areas of communication, including communication theory, intercultural and interpersonal communication, and gender and communication. Her contributions to campus life include spearheading efforts for Rider’s first Unity Day celebration in 1998 and assisting with International Week and gender studies activities. She was also responsible for bringing the art work of Madam Hengyi Aixinjueluo, the grand niece of the last emperor of China, to the Rider Art Gallery in 2002.

Wang earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Xian International Studies University in Shaanxi, China, where she was an instructor for nearly 10 years. In 1986, she earned a master of arts in English Rhetoric and in 1991 a doctorate in intercultural communication from Bowling Green State University. Published extensively in her field, she is the invited respondent for a special panel of the 2006 National Communication Association annual convention to focus on efforts to expand debate and argumentation theory in China.

Jamiyl Mosley

Jamiyl Mosley, an Area Director of Residence Life, thrives on serving students. Known as Rider’s “Ambassador of School Spirit,” he can be found hosting the Freshman Talent Show, serving as emcee of Midnight MAACness, cheering for one of Rider’s many sports teams, and planning numerous University events.

Mosley currently manages Ziegler, the new residence hall, Hill and Conover, and enjoys the energy of Rider’s “after 5” campus life. Mosley has also served in an advisory capacity to a wide variety of student organizations, among them, the Residence Hall Association, Intercultural Greek Council, Association of Commuting Students and the Student Alumni Association. He supervises the Rider Dance Team, mentors the softball team, serves as a freshman seminar leader. He also serves as a member and secretary of the Alumni Board.

Graduating from Rider in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in communication, he went on to earn his master’s degree in counseling services from the University in 1999. As a student, he was a WRRC DJ, a member of Lamba Pi Eta Communication National Honor Society, and Student Center and Rider pub manager, among a host of other leadership roles.

As a graduate student,Mosley served as a graduate assistant for the Student Development Center, working with the Rider Achievement Program (RAP) and the Academic Achievement program, among other first-year initiatives. In his two years with the Center, he served as a counselor, assistant director and at one time acting director. According to Associate Dean of Freshmen Ira Mayo, “Jamiyl has made a career out of helping people.”

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