Jacob Christian Farbman, M.A, APR Director of Communications, New Jersey Council of County Colleges Adjunct Professor, Communication Studies Department, The College of New Jersey Professor Farbman's Curriculum Vitae Jacob C. Farbman, MA, APR, serves as the director of communications for the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, where he oversees the Council's statewide internal and external communication programs for New Jersey's 19 community colleges. Jacob successfully manages the Council's statewide public affairs campaigns, blending elements of public relations, marketing, advertising, and grassroots communication to inform the public, the legislature, policy makers, and state leaders of the importance of community college programs, such as the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Rewards Scholarship (NJ STARS) program, the Chapter 12 community college construction and renovation program, financial aid for part-time community college students (Part-time Tuition Aid Grants), the New Jersey Virtual Community College Consortium, and the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development. He also manages all of the Council's special events, including Phi Theta Kappa Day, where the Council honors the best community college students throughout the state each year. In 2002 and 2006, District I of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) honored his work at the Council with Silver and Bronze Medallions of Achievement. In addition to his duties with the Council, Jacob has taught as an adjunct professor of communication studies at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in Ewing since January 2001, teaching Introduction to Communication Theory and Strategies of Public Relations. During this time, he has helped over two dozen of his best and brightest students land internships, graduate assistantships and entry-level positions in the communication, education and high-technology fields. In 2005, TCNJ's chapter of the Sigma Pi fraternity honored Jacob with one of five Outstanding Faculty Awards. He was the only adjunct to receive the award that year. During the spring 2007 semester, Jacob taught Introduction to Public Relations, Basic Public Relations Writing and Advanced Public Relations Writing undergraduate courses in Rowan University's Public Relations/Advertising Department in Glassboro, NJ. He was also an advisor to PRaction, the department's student-run public relations firm. Jacob is one of a few public relations practitioners in the country who represents community colleges to hold an Accredited in Public Relations (APR) distinction awarded by the Universal Accreditation Board of the Public Relations Society of America. The APR recognizes exemplary standards of character and competence in the practice of public relations. Jacob graduated from Rowan University's nationally-recognized graduate public relations program in August 1999. While working as a graduate assistant, Jacob was the first student to ever serve as guest-editor of The Journal of Educational Relations, a national journal read by school public relations practitioners, school administrators and school board members. Before attending graduate school, Jacob spent two years as the public relations assistant at Salem Community College (SCC) in Carneys Point. As the PR assistant, Jacob served on teams that helped expand SCC, first with the addition of a distance learning center in 1998 and later the addition of a state-of-art glassblowing building (dedicated in 1999). Along with daily public relations activities, Jacob served as the editor of Inside, the quarterly newsletter, and as a co-host of SCC Today, a monthly radio program that informed Salem County residents about happenings at the College. In 1997, District I of NCMPR honored his advertising concept and design work for SCC's summer children's program with a Silver Medallion of Achievement. In August 1998, SCC honored him with its Spring 1998 Employee of the Semester award. In May 2006, the Salem Community College Foundation honored Jacob with its Distinguished Alumnus Award. He currently serves as the president of the Salem Community College Alumni Association. Jacob also spent the summer of 1998 as a news writer in the Public Relations and Marketing Department at South Jersey Health System in Bridgeton. In addition to his master's degree, Jacob earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Rowan University in 1998 and an associate's degree in communications/journalism from Salem Community College in 1996. He is also a graduate of the Chair Academy's 2006-2007 NJ Community College Leadership Program. Jacob has given presentations on public relations, communications, and college and career planning to organizations including The National Council for Marketing and Public Relations, the Philadelphia chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, The New Jersey Self-Help Group, the New Jersey School Public Relations Association, and the Pittsgrove Township Democrat Committee, among others. Jacob belongs to the Philadelphia chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (where he serves as the New Jersey representative on the District 1 Council), the New Jersey Business & Industry Association Education Committee, the New Jersey Press Association, and the New Jersey Farm Bureau. He also serves as a trustee on the Don Bagin Foundation. Jacob spent most of his life in Elmer, Salem County. He was a member of the Elmer Fire Department from 1994 to 2000, where he served as president in 1997. He also volunteered as an emergency medical technician with the Elmer Ambulance Corps from 1995 to 1999. Jacob now resides in Mount Laurel, Burlington County. When not working, Jacob enjoys playing several musical instruments, exercise, attending music concerts and sporting events, and spending quality time with his fiancée, Ms. Ritamarie Weiss of Philadelphia. The two are currently planning an October or November 2008 wedding.