Montclair State University’s campus is beautiful in the fall and winter – even more so with our improved walkways and landscaping and centrally-relocated Street Crossing sculpture. What’s happening within our buildings and programs, however, provides an even greater incentive for being on campus – both physically and virtually.

Last April, I announced and launched the college’s first Creative Research Center (CRC) – a transdisciplinary online community. Dr. Neil Baldwin, author and cultural historian, was charged with forming and directing the center, including cultivating a community of creative scholars. We’ve yet to find another program quite like this (and we’ve looked all over the globe!). The CRC features an ever-expanding Web Bibliography, a “Virtual Student Center” as well as monthly posted essays and a blog. It is our hope that students, faculty and scholars everywhere will find this resource to be of tremendous help to their interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary work.

If you are physically visiting the campus, be sure to enter from Normal Avenue through our re-designed entrance promenade to see the improvements and experience "Street Crossing" in its new location. After seeing what’s outdoors, why not stop by the George Segal Gallery to view the art on exhibit? The gallery recently hosted a retrospective of the renowned American artist Will Barnet. Will, whose son, Peter Barnet, teaches at Montclair, will be celebrating his centennial birthday this spring. The exhibition featured important examples of the artist’s work created over a span of eight decades.

Upon leaving the campus and turning the corner, you can also experience Montclair State in Montclair. In cooperation with the township’s Montclair Arts Council, our students and faculty created a 35-foot mural, installed near the eateries in the Upper Montclair business district.

This is just a sampling of what is happening in the College of the Arts this fall. Be sure to look at our “Departments On the Move” section where you can find news about your favorite professor and alumni making names for themselves - plus new developments in all of our programs. Then don’t miss the unique offerings of Peak Performances and stimulating Art Forum and Film Forum events. All this and more is made possible only because of the support of our friends, donors, and patrons.

My very best wishes,

Dr. Geoffrey W. Newman
Dean, College of the Arts