In Praise of FDU Florham

Fairleigh Dickinson, New Jersey's largest private university, has two sites in the state: the Metropolitan campus, along the Hackensack River (near my home), and the Florham campus in Madison, which is on the former estate of Florence Vanderbilt and Hamilton Twombly (near my workplace).

I'm a big fan of the latter -- which, it turns out, was the setting for several scenes in a favorite movie, "A Beautiful Mind."

It's also where a professional group I'm involved in -- IABC-NJ -- holds monthly meetings, and where I've been lucky to be invited to speak to classes on occasion about corporate communications.

I know I'm a big fan because I wear my heart on my sleeve on my Instagram account. See here:

#Sunset at #FDU in Florham Park #NewJersey tonight. #SpringBreak = deserted #campus.

A photo posted by Bob Varettoni (@bvarnj) on Mar 18, 2015 at 6:26pm PDT

Thank you #Google Assistant for the #blackandwhite #filter of the #ominous #sky over the #FDU #campus this evening. #NewJersey

A photo posted by Bob Varettoni (@bvarnj) on Jul 15, 2015 at 6:14pm PDT

The #FDU #campus is #wet and lonely tonight, awaiting #students in #Madison #NewJersey.

A photo posted by Bob Varettoni (@bvarnj) on Aug 19, 2015 at 3:07pm PDT

It's not a #sculpture in a #museum, it's the Orangerie Room in the #FDU #Library in #Madison #NJ. This space originally provided Florence Vanderbilt and Hamilton Twombly's estate with a room to store fresh citrus fruit year-round. Looking forward to an #IABC #NewJersey Chapter blogging event here tonight. #njspots

A photo posted by Bob Varettoni (@bvarnj) on Apr 7, 2016 at 2:44pm PDT

Another beautiful night on the #FDU #campus. #Flowers in front of The #Mansion. #NJ #IABC board meeting. #newjersey #njspots #njisbeautiful

A photo posted by Bob Varettoni (@bvarnj) on Jul 20, 2016 at 4:05pm PDT

Board meeting tonight for the #IABC #NewJersey chapter. This is a great spot on the #FDU #campus. Here's info from the #fduflorham website: Hennessy Hall (The #Mansion) is the centerpiece of the campus. This 100-room #Georgian-style masterpiece was designed in the 1890s by Stanford White, and replicates a wing in Henry VIII's Hampton Court. Most of its interior decorations (such as staircases and fireplaces) are in Italian marble, worked by Italian craftsmen. Hennessy also holds the chestnut-panelled Hartman Lounge (the former billiard room) and Lenfell Hall, then a ballroom and drawing room, now used for meetings and special events. #architecture

A photo posted by Bob Varettoni (@bvarnj) on Nov 16, 2016 at 4:14pm PST