About the Event
FDU Forward celebrates our alumni, friends and storied past, with a commitment to our future, all in an effort to provide students with the financial resources to transform their lives. On this special evening where we raise vital scholarship funds to support the future of our students, we honor the alumni and friends who remind us that the possibilities of what you can achieve are limitless and we look to the future to transform the lives of our students and our university.
Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m. - Ceremony Begins | 7:30 p.m. - Cocktail & Dinner Reception
Location: Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus | 1 Mansion Mall | Madison, NJ
Attire: Smart casual
Parking: Valet parking will be available
Questions: Email Jen Herr in the Office of University Advancement or call (201) 692-7011
Can't make the event? Consider a gift to support FDU Forward and student scholarships.
Honor our Past
The PINNACLE Society
Recipients of The PINNACLE award are chosen by past award inductees, based on the following criteria: success or distinction in one’s chosen field of endeavor, significant contributions to society and humanity through public or humanitarian service and outstanding service to the University or reflection of the unique character of FDU in one’s life.
Congratulations to our 2025 PINNACLE Society Honorees
Stephen Bozer, MBA'06
Senior Vice President of Human Health
Flavine North America, Inc.
Camilla Olson, MBA'80
Serial entrepreneur, inventor and former fashion designer
Peter Sacco, BS'94
President and Founder
PTS Data Center Solutions, Inc.
Transform our Future
FDU Forward Transformational Honoree
Andrea Melchiorre
FDU Parent and student with a deep passion for mental health advocacy
Andrea Melchiorre is a graduate student at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling on the Florham Campus. Committed to supporting student well-being, Andrea and her husband, Anthony Melchiorre, made significant philanthropic contributions to help fund FDU’s Transforming College Campuses (TCC) initiative, providing fellowship opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students, fostering a stronger support system for student mental health.
With a deep passion for mental health advocacy, Andrea is proud to contribute to TCC’s mission of reducing stigma, promoting mental health literacy, and creating a community of care. As a parent to Jake Melchiorre who will be graduating in May with his baccalaureate degree, Andrea’s dedication to student success is both personal and profound. Her belief in the power of mentorship and peer support will help ensure that students receive the guidance they need to thrive during their college years and beyond.
Lifetime Achievement Award
For Service to Health
Steven Kirshblum, MD, BS'81
Nationally recognized expert in spinal cord injury rehabilitation and research.
Dr. Steven Kirshblum is the Chief Medical Officer for Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, a Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and the Chief Medical Officer for the Kessler Foundation. He completed his college degree with a BS in Biology at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, received his medical degree from University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School and completed his residency training at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. His entire career has been in NJ since joining Kessler in 1990.
Dr. Kirshblum also currently serves as the Spinal Cord Injury Medicine fellowship program director at Kessler Institute and Rutgers since 1996. He is the co-director of the Northern NJ Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems, and the co-director for the Center for Spinal Stimulation at the Kessler Foundation. He is involved in research, with >250 peer-reviewed publications, editor of three textbooks in the field of spinal cord injury medicine, and a children’s book related to spinal cord injury to help children adapt to their father with a disability. He has served in leadership roles for numerous national organizations including past president of Academy of Spinal Cord Professionals (ASCIP), American Paraplegia Society, Chair of the International Standards Committee for ASIA, and on the Governing Board of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA). He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.
Married to Anna for 41 years, with 3 children and blessed with 8 grandchildren.
Transforming HealthCare
FDU HealthPath Forward
FDU HealthPath Forward is an ambitious new strategic initiative designed to revolutionize healthcare education, training and innovation.
FDU HealthPath Forward addresses the growing crisis of healthcare workforce shortages. We will integrate FDU’s strengths in health sciences, business, hospitality, engineering, cybersecurity and other related disciplines to create innovative solutions to address healthcare challenges. FDU is committed to achieving a far-reaching impact by establishing a coalition of partner institutions and developing FDU’s campuses as hubs for lifelong learning, health and wellbeing.
"We have a vision for the future of healthcare education, and we want to bring together dynamic partners and create an ecosystem of innovation and leadership that empowers individuals and organizations to improve healthcare systems and patient outcomes.” - President Michael Avaltroni
A Special Thank You
Thanks to all of the alumni and friends providing leadership support for FDU Forward 2025.
STUDENTS FIRST SPONSOR
ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR
SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARS SPONSOR
PINNACLE SOCIETY SPONSOR
- Stephen Bozer, MBA'06
- Peter Sacco, BS'94
EXPERIENCE SPONSOR
