If a question about Montclair State ever arises on the show "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" the contestant would want Jesse Young as the "phone a friend" lifeline.
After 31 years at MSU, Jesse calls himself the "answer person" because there isn't much he hasn't seen or dealt with on campus. "If I don't know the answer, I know who to call," he said. Or he could go to one of the dozen storage boxes he's filled with anything printed about University milestones, from a 1950's plan for building on campus and commencement brochures throughout the years, to a Yogi Berra Stadium press kit and inauguration programs. "I collect everything," said Jesse, who also collects stamps, coins and shells.
As executive assistant to the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, Jesse oversees the budget and is the liaison for the deans and administrative units. He also handles student issues, an area he knows about first hand.
"When I was a student here, the administration was talking about increasing housing rates," explained
Jesse '69 B.A., '82 M.A. Determined to prove the proposal was unfair, he gathered a group of concerned students and served as spokesperson. A board member told then-provost Allan Morehead about Jesse's eloquent manner of speaking, so Morehead invited Jesse to his office. The two discussed Jesse's ambitions and that meeting convinced Jesse, who at one time wanted to teach business, to enter higher education administration.
Jesse began his career in what was then the Office of the Registrar and Scheduling and became an assistant registrar for scheduling. He did that for 12 years before moving into his current position.
Whether he's working on the administrative calendar or speaking with a student about grade grievance procedures, each day holds something different for Jesse. "Most of the issues I deal with are challenging," he said. "Each student I speak with has a different take on his or her situation. Issues run the gamut, and they're never dull."
"I try to give students a fair airing of their concerns," he said. "It feels good to be on the other side, to work with and help students have a fulfilling college experience. I like helping them get past obstacles."
And that's his final answer.