Meet Our Staff

Ileana Almaguer
"Saludos a todos" or "Hello everybody!" Ileana Almaguer, Senior Counselor for Special Programs, currently resides in Newark, NJ, and spent 13 years as an EOF Counselor at Saint Peter's College. In addition, Ileana has worked for Aspira Inc., of New Jersey. She serves as club advisor for LASO (Latino/a Student Organization) for the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. She is an alumna of Kean University as an EOF student. Ileana received her M.P.A from Rutgers University-Newark.

Ileana says: "I strongly believe if you have the desire and the vision, you can and will achieve. The Office for Special Programs is the best place to visit to find out more about the resources you will need. Please stop by to say hello and discuss your plans for success."

Dean Frager Foster
Dean Foster is a native of Newark, NJ. He has studied at Shaw University, Montclair University, Berklee School of Music, and the University of Ghana. In 1997, he was a member of the Global Women's Leadership Collaborative of New Jersey (Education Committee) that visited the Republic of Ghana. Dean Foster holds a BA and an MA in Music Composition and Education.

Dean Foster developed the Solid GEMS Chemistry teaching methodology, which was implemented at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences in 1986. The Solid GEMS Chemistry course sequence is currently available to students in the summer, Fall and Spring terms.

Dean Foster is an avid reader of Sun Tzu's The Art of War.

Jacqueline Moore

Jacqueline Moore is originally from Brooklyn, NY. She is a graduate of the State University of New York at Brockport. She earned a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters degree in Public Administration.

She was an EOP (Educational Opportunity Program) Counselor for five years at SUNY-Brockport where she coordinated Summer Program and taught the Freshman Academic Planning Seminar for first-year students. 

Jackie has a great interest in reading and learning new things with her 3- year-old daughter.

“Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. -Samuel Johnson-

Charles Olszewski
A Rutgers MBA, Charles retired from Rutgers University Computing Services at the end of 2002, after over 32 years of service. At Computing Services Charles designed and developed computer applications supporting the student services of the university. He was also a long-time member of the Rutgers University Administrative Assembly, and was serving as president of the body at his retirement.

Dean Foster, who worked with Charles for several years developing EOF-related applications, found that he was still interested in serving the university. The Dean hired him to provide technical support for the Office of Special Programs in May 2003.

Lynn Powell
Lynn Powell has been with the Office of Special Programs since 1997 as a Principal Secretary, and with Rutgers University for 16 years. Prior to coming to the university, she taught Data Processing to adults at a nearby business school.

Lynn says: "I enjoy being at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences because of the diversity of students, faculty, and staff. I look forward to meeting you this semester and hope all have an enjoyable year."

Jenice Sabb
Jenice is the Assistant Director of the Office of Special Programs at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. She is an alumnus of Rutgers University—Cook College (B.S., Economics) and Seton Hall University—Paul W. Stillman School of Business (M.B.A., Finance).

In her eight year tenure at NJIT as the Assistant Director of the University Learning Center, she increased the Center's usage by enhancing services through greater collaboration with faculty and academic departments to promote center usage and maintain departmental ties. She currently holds Adjunct Professor status in the NJIT Mathematics Department and the Office of Pre-College programs.

Prior to her work at NJIT, she spent nine years at the Seton Hall Educational Opportunity Program. There her focus was directed towards the development of the Minority Graduate Access Program (MGAP). The MGAP has provided access to graduate school for many first-generation students.

Dr. Asbed Vassilian
Dr. Vassilian earned a BS degree, with distinction, in Chemistry from the American University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 1969, followed by a MS in 1971; and a PhD in 1976. He taught at American University as an Assistant Professor from 1976-1977, and then accepted a postdoctoral position at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Asbed joined the Rutgers faculty in 1978 as a postdoctoral fellow in the Chemistry department, and currently serves as Lecturer (Associate Professor) and the lead instructor for the Solid Gems Chemistry Program in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.