Photo Flash: Paper Mill's Mickey McNany Receives Kean University's Distinguished Alumni Award

On Sunday, April 26, Kean University honored four of its most successful and accomplished alumni at its annual Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony. The event took place in the University''s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Building. Scroll down for photos!

This year's honorees were:

- Maria E. Bordas ''74 ''80 MA of Clark, N.J., Port Authority of N.Y. and N.J. executive and member and former chair of the Kean University Foundation Board

- Eleonore Kessler Cohen ''64 MA ''71 MA of Livingston, N.J., attorney and former mayor of Livingston

- Edward R. Jajosky ''64 of Hillside, N.J., award-winning industrial designer, president of Design Place, and Kean faculty member

- Michelle McNany ''72 ''86 MA of Springfield, N.J., award-winning arts educator and founder of the Paper Mill Playhouse Theatre School

"Every year, we are pleased to recognize a very select group of individuals who embody our highest aspirations for graduates of this institution," said Dawood Farahi, Ph.D., president of Kean University. "Our honorees this year are a diverse group representing outstanding achievement in public service, transportation, philanthropic administration, education, and the arts. We are delighted to highlight their accomplishments, and we thank them for allowing us to publicly acknowledge them and proudly claim them as alumni of Kean University."

About the Honorees:

Maria E. Bordas '74 '80 MA has worked at the Port Authority of N.Y. and N.J. for the last 34 years, the last 15 in the Aviation Department, where she is currently the general manager for business analysis and departmental performance. In this position, Bordas serves as the senior executive accountable for developing strategic plans that integrate the agendas of the Aviation Department''s six-airport system (Kennedy, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Teterboro, Stewart, and Atlantic City International). She spent her first 14 years at the Port Authority in its PATH (rail transit) division prior to joining the Aviation Department.

She has a long record of community involvement with nonprofit human services organizations in Union County, particularly the Union County YWCA and the Elizabeth Lions Club. Bordas is also a member of the Boards of Directors at the City University of New York (CUNY)''s York College and Aviation Institute. In 2004, she joined the Kean University Foundation''s Board of Directors, serving as its chair from 2008-2012. In 2008, Bordas was recognized by Kean University as a "Woman of Distinction."

Bordas attended then-Newark State College at the behest of her parents, who were both teachers. "They knew that Newark State College would provide a very solid education and would give me an opportunity to enter the noblest of all professions -- teaching," she says. "There is no doubt that both my undergraduate and graduate time at Kean provided me with a firm foundation and the research tools I have consistently used throughout my career to move from one department or position to another."

Eleonore Kessler Cohen '64 MA '71 MA started out as a teacher in the Newark school district. Transitioning into real estate, she was named as the New Jersey Board of Realtors'' "Realtor of the Year" in 1980. But she kept her hand in education as a member, vice president, and president of Livingston, N.J.''s Board of Education. After earning her law degree, she practiced law and served on Livingston''s Board of Adjustment and Planning Board before her election to the Town Council. She ultimately became Livingston''s mayor, serving a total of three terms on the Town Council until 2002. She subsequently was elected as a member of the Livingston Democratic County Committee and has been a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

Cohen has received many honors and awards, including the UJA-MetroWest Business and Professional Women''s Award; the American Jewish Committee''s Outstanding Leader Award; and the Distinguished Achievement Award from B''nai B''rith. She has continued her pro bono service as vice chair of the Essex County Improvement Authority; trustee of the Newark Museum; and board member of Livingston Community Partnership Management. She has also served as trustee and vice president of Congregation B''nai Jeshurun, Short Hills, N.J.; and trustee and counsel to the Livingston Symphony Orchestra.

Cohen spoke warmly of her time at Kean, observing that "once you learn to write a lesson plan, you can organize and determine how to present an idea in a cogent and measured manner. This organizational skill has been invaluable whether presenting an idea to a group of citizens, a judge, a client, family or friends."

Edward R. Jajosky '64 attended then-Newark State College with the goal of becoming a teacher of industrial arts. After receiving his master''s degree in furniture design at Rochester Institute of Technology, Jajosky returned to Kean as an adjunct professor. He taught full time for several years at Murray State University in Kentucky, but ultimately returned to New Jersey, starting a business called Design Place. He designed toys, furniture, and point-of-purchase displays, and also worked at Empire of Caroline Toy Company in New York City as a model development manager. In five years, he helped the company grow its sales from $22 million to over $89 million, along the way winning awards and trade publicity for his products. He enjoyed teaching students so much, however, that he continued to do it at Parsons School of Design and at Kean.

In recent years, Jajosky has focused on teaching industrial design at Kean and has become a noted benefactor of the university. In fall 2014, he created the Edward R. Jajosky Annual Industrial Design Scholarship. In recognition of his years of service to Kean, the Edward R. Jajosky Industrial Design Lab was named in his honor in the Green Lane Academic Building. He recently visited China and taught model making and design to students at Nanjing University of the Arts.

"At Kean I was prepared well and supplied with the skills and knowledge necessary for me to become a teacher at all levels," said Jajosky. "I was empowered to form my own design company and prosper in my chosen field." Jajosky also thanked his students -- several of whom joined him at the podium -- for "allowing me to do what I love."

Michelle "Mickey" McNany '72 '86 MA has shared the joy and magic of live theatre with thousands of students, families, and audiences. As the founding director of the Paper Mill Playhouse Theatre School, she has created hundreds of children''s theatre productions and has grown the school from a single class to a year-round enterprise offering classes to over 500 students each year. She is the instructor, director, and set designer for Paper Mill''s three student touring companies and oversees the Junior Division of Paper Mill''s esteemed Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory.

McNany has received numerous honors and recognitions, including the 2002 New Jersey Theatre Alliance "Applause Award" for Excellence in Theatre Education; the 2013 New Jersey Governor''s Award for Arts Education; and the 2013 VSA New Jersey Education in the Arts Distinguished Service Award. McNany collaborated on the "Lend Your Voice" project, a unique partnership between students with multiple disabilities and Paper Mill Theatre School students; the project received the Cultural Access Network''s 2013 Innovator Award. McNany is a nominee for the 2015 Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education.

McNany chose to attend Kean in large part because her older sister was a student here. "I loved it-everyone I met was so welcoming. I also knew that the art department had an excellent reputation, so I was excited to pursue my three passions, art, music, and education, here. I knew this was where I wanted to go. I felt very much at home." McNany also praised the University for giving her "the chance to work hard and make a difference."

For more information about upcoming Kean University alumni events, visit www.keanalumni.org.

Photo Credit: Patti Banks/Patrician Photography