Alumni Accomplishments

Livingston College alumni have contributed to society in their own communities and in many professional realms. We highlight here alumni who have enjoyed success and recognition for their work:

  • Kenneth Leon Niemczyk, LC’70: Author of Nature’s City
  • Tom Terhaar, LC ’92: Coach of the USA Olympic women’s eight rowing team

Please also see the Awards pages of this website for more information.




Livingston College Alumnus Writes on the Struggle Between Human and Nature’s Needs for Land

Kenneth Leon Niemczyk, a member of the first graduating class (1970) of Rutgers University’s Livingston College, has published his book Nature’s City.

Kenneth Leon Niemczyk, a member of the first graduating class (1970) of Rutgers University’s Livingston College, has published his book Nature’s City.

Nature’s City is a commentary on the struggle between the need for land by humans to accommodate an ever-increasing population and the need by Nature for land-based resources.  It  begins with the question: Where can human societies build their cities, towns, and villages and otherwise use land without destroying the resources needed by Nature to maintain the evolutionary trend?

Human societies indiscriminately located, and still locate, their cities and their other uses of land with little or no regard for its effects on Nature. Nature’s City addresses the need to protect the resources needed by Nature to keep the evolutionary trend on track and the biosphere viable for human existence.

Nature’s City proposes that human societies must change the way they build cities, towns, and villages.  In essence, it proposes a paradigm shift in the fundamental philosophy addressing human interaction with Nature.  Human societies must first determine which areas of Earth are resources for natural systems; those areas then are sacrosanct and cannot be touched.  Humans can then use the remaining areas for their cities, towns, and villages.

The Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy Division of the American Planning Association published in the Environmental Planning Quarterly a 3,000-word version in celebration of its 25th anniversary.  The editors noted the philosophical nature of the work that argues forcefully that planners must rethink fundamental premises and structures for planning and be more aware of the need to preserve Nature.

Nature’s City is available for sale from for download to the Kindle and other devices. 

Author Kenneth Niemczyk, of Woodstock, Vermont, earned a master of arts degree in 1983 from San Francisco State University after his graduation from Rutgers. He may be reached via email (ken “DOT” niemczyk “AT” yahoo “DOT” com).

Originally posted January 17, 2014
Revised August 6, 2016




Tom Terhaar, LC ’92, Leads US Women’s Rowing to Gold … Again!

Tom Terhaar

Tom TerhaarWhen the USA Olympic women’s eight rowing team won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the team’s 11th straight Olympic or world title, the team truly had “Jersey Roots and Global Reach” with their coach Tom Terhaar, LC ’92, and his wife Jennifer Dore-Terhaar, RC ’93, having Rutgers University ties.

Rowing has a long history at Rutgers, starting in 1864, when it was the college’s first organization.

Read more about the Terhaars’ careers, family life and ongoing connections to Rutgers in a 2012 interview with Marty Siederer, LC’77, an executive council member of the Livingston Alumni Association. The interview (PDF file) was published in the alumni magazine 1766, courtesy of Rutgers Alumni Association.

Photo of Tom Terhaar courtesy of USRowing.




Notable Livingston College Alumni

Livingston College graduates have been making their mark on the world. Their incredible achievements are a testament to Livingston’s traditions. These distinguished alumni are an inspiration to the overall Rutgers community and the world at large. LAA has also established a “hall of fame” for the college’s Distinguished Alumni.

Livingston College graduates have been making their mark on the world. Their incredible achievements are a testament to Livingston’s traditions. These distinguished alumni are an inspiration to the overall Rutgers community and the world at large. LAA has also established a “hall of fame” for the college’s Distinguished Alumni.

(The Rutgers University Alumni Association previously maintained a list of notable alumni from throughout the university.)

  • James Bailey, LC ’80, retired professional basketball player.
  • Bill Bellamy, LC ’89, Comedian; Actor, How to Be a Player, Fastlane; TV Host, Last Comic Standing.
  • Avery F. Brooks, LC ’73 and Mason Gross School of the Arts (MGSA) ’76, Actor, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Spenser: For Hire; Professor of Theater Arts.
  • Gregory Q. Brown, LC ’82, Chairman of the Rutgers University Board of Governors; CEO of Motorola Solutions; 2010 inductee into the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni.
  • Thomas F. Daley, LC ’75, appellate judge, Louisiana circuit court (deceased).
  • David M. DelVecchio, Mayor of Lambertville, NJ.
  • Gerard Gallucci, LC ’73, former chief of the U.S. embassies in Brazil and Sudan, former United Nations peacekeeper in Kosovo and East Timor.
  • Aurelia Green, LC ’74, Deputy Bronx Borough (New York City) President; former New York State Assemblywoman.
  • Verta Mae Grosvenor, National Public Radio commentator.
  • Mark Helias, LC ’74, jazz musician.
  • Roy Hinson, LC ’83, former Atlanta Hawks basketball player.
  • Eddie Jordan, Rutgers men’s basketball coach from 2013-2016. Formerly a Los Angeles Lakers player and Philadelphia 76ers coach (School of Management and Labor Relations, 2015; originally scheduled to graduate from LC in 1977).
  • Clifton R. Lacy, LC ’75, past Commissioner, NJ Health and Senior Services.
  • John S. Lipori, LC ’77, executive vice president and chief trust officer, The Bank of New York.
  • Shaun O’Hara, LC ’05, Former Center and Captain, New York Giants. (Originally scheduled to graduate from LC in 1999.)
  • Vivian Salama, LC’00, SCILS’00, Baghdad bureau chief for the Associated Press.
  • Harvey M. Schwartz, LC’87, President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of Goldman Sachs; 2014 inductee into Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni.
  • Scott Siegel, LC’74, entertainment producer.
  • Gregg Spiridellis, LC ’93, RBS’93, co-founder Jib Jab.
  • Harry V. Swayne III, LC’90, former professional football player.
  • Tom Terhaar, LC’92, coach of the 2012 Olympic gold U.S. women’s rowing team.
  • Robert Uhrik, LC’78, Mayor of Rocky Hill, NJ (2019).
  • Eric Young, LC’89, RBS’89, former Houston Astros baseball player, current MLB Network commentator.

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