The theme of our fall issue, Innovation, reflects three of the University’s core values: vision, creativity and adaptability. Our development over the past century into the thriving university of today has been driven by an evolving vision of what Montclair State can become; by creativity in implementing that vision; and by the ability to embrace change in all forms that nurture excellence.

Nowhere is that excellence more evident than in our faculty research, much of it funded by federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Education, as well as by major corporations such as Microsoft and DuPont. In this issue, you will read about groundbreaking projects that are advancing new ways to treat autism; to prevent and control obesity; and to protect the estimated 300,000 young people who are at risk for human trafficking.

Montclair State’s bold vision for its schools and colleges is the subject of “New Deans Plan for the Future,” a conversation with incoming deans Daniel Gurskis of the College of the Arts and Francine Peterman of the College of Education and Human Services. We are also proud to announce a new Center for Cooperative Media as well as the University’s first fully online master’s programs.

Finally, in “Building for the Future,” you will learn about our plans for a 100,000-square-foot, $55-million research facility, the Center for Environmental and Life Sciences. While the University is engaged in fundraising for the new Center, it is our hope that a portion of the cost will be funded by a statewide bond issue for public and private universities. If approved by voters in November, the bond issue will be the first major state capital investment in higher education in a quarter of a century. I urge you all to vote “yes” for the higher education bond initiative.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Montclair magazine, and I thank you for your continuing support for this and for the next generation of Montclair State students.

Susan A. Cole