Caldwell College Presents Annual Veritas Awards

Caldwell College celebrated its alumni professional excellence at its 25th Veritas Awards Dinner at the Essex Fells Country Club on Friday, March 26.

The Veritas Award is the highest honor the college bestows on its alumni for their professional excellence in diverse fields.

Edward R. Collins, class of 1998, received the Excellence in Financial Management Award, Nancy Costello Miller, class of 1979, received the Excellence in Jurisprudence Award and Mary Jo Codey, class of 1977, received the Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy Award.

Collins is a founding partner of Artisan Wealth Management, LLC. Collins and his consultants provide financial guidance to clients across the country from Massachusetts to Florida and as far west as California.

Collins holds a bachelor's degree in history and psychology, with a minor in political science from Caldwell College and a certificate in government service and administration.

For the past 11 years, he has served as treasurer and trustee of the Brian C. Kull Memorial Foundation, Inc., which issues scholarships to students who demonstrate excellence in the areas of service, leadership and fellowship within their community.

Collins has served on the business advisory council for Caldwell College and recently joined the College Board of Trustees and serves as Trustee Rep on the Alumni Board. 

Miller has spent her legal career representing the State of New Jersey. She is currently the senior deputy attorney general for the State Department of Law and Public Safety, with particular emphasis on administrative law. 

She is primary counsel for the New Jersey Board of Dentistry, providing legal services related to licensing and disciplinary matters, regulatory initiatives and appellate matters. She is also the counsel for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Unit, the Bureau of Kosher Enforcement and a member of the Division of Law hiring committee for applicants seeking the position as deputy attorney general.

She has previously served as counsel for the Board of Social Work Examiners, New Jersey Cemetery Board, the Legalized Games of Chance Commission, the Bureau of Securities, Office of Consumer Protection, the Lemon Law Unit and the Board of Public Utilities. She has been a member of the Caldwell College Board of Trustees since 2003.

Codey has worked to raise awareness about postpartum depression and breast cancer. During her time as First Lady for the state of New Jersey, Codey advocated on behalf of the governor's newly-created Task Force on Mental Health. 

Having suffered from postpartum depression, she helped to launch a statewide campaign offering evidence-based data, as well as local screening and medical resources for women, their families, and health care professionals. The campaign—"Recognizing Postpartum Depression: Speak Up When You're Down"—featured Codey in radio and TV PSAs. 

As a result, New Jersey became the first state to commit resources to uninsured new mothers for postpartum depression screenings and treatment, and the groundbreaking Postpartum Depression Screening and Education law was passed in 2006.

As a breast cancer survivor who lost her mother to the disease, Codey helped launch a statewide fund-raising campaign in support of breast cancer awareness.  After receiving a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Caldwell College, Codey earned a master's degree in elementary education with certification as a learning disabilities teacher consultant (LDTC) from Seton Hall University. She teaches basic skills at an elementary school in West Orange.