MMC Recognizes Faculty and Staff Milestones at 2026 Charter Day

2026 Faculty and staff honorees

MMC honored 19 faculty and staff members, representing nearly 350 years of combined service to the College, at its Charter Day Celebration on March 23.

The event commemorates the day in 1961 when MMC received its absolute charter as an independent four-year institution. Founded in 1936 as a two-year women’s college, MMC initially served as the New York City extension of Marymount College, Tarrytown. It moved to 71st Street in 1948 and began granting four-year degrees, with its first class graduating in 1950.

In addition to celebrating its history, MMC uses Charter Day to highlight faculty and staff milestone anniversaries. This year, 15 employees marked 10, 15, and 20 years of service to the College, with two—Senior Director of IT Infrastructure and Operations Jogy Vathappallil and Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Ellen Orenstein—celebrating 25 years. (See below for a complete list of honorees and photos.)

In their tributes, colleagues praised the honorees for their dedication to students, commitment to excellence, and willingness to go above and beyond in service to the College community.

This year’s celebration was especially significant as the College enters the final stages of its merger with Northeastern University. Interim President Peter Naccarato noted that it marked the final Charter Day under Marymount Manhattan College’s existing charter; next year’s observance will recognize Northeastern – New York City as a chartered entity in New York State.

“One thing that won’t change is that we will continue in whatever way we can to celebrate the amazing staff and faculty of this institution,” he said. “The name may change, but at its core, it’s all of us who dedicate our time, energy, hearts, and souls to this place.”

To emphasize that point, Interim President Naccarato announced a special commendation for the College’s longest-serving employees: Carmen Jackman-Torres, an administrative assistant who has worked for MMC since 1983, and Hallie Cohen, an Art professor and director of the Hewitt Gallery of Art, who has been at the College since 1974, teaching drawing, painting, design, watercolor, and art history to generations of students.

In recognizing their service, Naccarato said, the College also honored “everyone who has served from the day this College opened—and all of the colleagues we’ve known and loved through the years.”

Honorees

Jogy Vathappallil, 25 years
Ellen Orenstein, 25 years
Brian Rocco, 20 years
Christina Bennett, 20 years
Cecilia Feilla, 20 years
Terry Padmore, 15 years
Richard Formosa, 15 years
Nava Silton, 15 years
Christine Riley, 15 years
Cherilyn Lopez, 10 years
Rich Vocke, 10 years
Jason Lin, 10 years
Emily Clark, 10 years
Elisabeth Motley, 10 years
David Cui, 10 years
Dania Smith, 10 years
Jonathan Arevalo, 10 years