Alumni Engagement Launches MONTCLAIRconnect: The Podcast

The Montclair State University alumni engagement team collaborated with past and present students to produce a new podcast series. Season 1 of MONTCLAIRconnect: The Podcast launches this November and features a range of guests, topics and stories about Red Hawk pride.

“MONTCLAIRconnect:The Podcast gives our alumni a vibrant new platform to share their voices and experiences,” says Jeanne Marano, associate vice president for Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement. “It’s about celebrating who they are today, reconnecting them with the university community and showing current students what’s possible with a Montclair education.”

The dynamic series celebrates the achievements, stories and impact of Montclair alumni. Each episode spotlights inspiring graduates who are making a difference in their fields, while also featuring the latest university programs, initiatives and opportunities to stay connected. Designed to inform, inspire and engage, MONTCLAIRconnect: The Podcast invites listeners to rediscover their Montclair pride and strengthen their lifelong connection to the university.

In true Red Hawk spirit, the podcast is a collaborative effort between the Office of Alumni Engagement and the College of Communication and Media, bringing together the creativity and expertise of students, faculty, staff and alumni. This partnership provides students and recent alumni with hands-on experience in podcast production, storytelling and media strategy—while showcasing the power of collaboration across the Montclair community.

Nino DeNino ’25 served as the associate producer and editor. He assisted with the conception, direction and production of all episodes, lending his creativity and professionalism to the project. “As a recent alumnus myself, working on a project like this really helped me feel like I was giving back. It was honestly the least I could do after Montclair gave me so much in my time there. I can’t wait to stay involved in any way I can!” DeNino is featured in an episode that highlights the Recent Alumni Network alumni affinity group.

Rozin Abdat is currently a junior studying film and television. At Montclair, he directs weekly episodes of Montclair News Lab, in addition to other projects that appear on Hawk+. Abdat recorded several episodes of MONTCLAIRconnect: The Podcast using the vMix studio on campus. “I always like meeting new people, and even though the alumni are working in different industries, I learned something new every time,” says Abdat.

The full schedule of MONTCLAIRconnect: The Podcast is listed below. Catch each episode on Hawk Plus, YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

November 1: Team Rocky featuring Eliza Andrus ’24 and Taylor Risley ’21

November 12: Alumni and Corporate Partner Spotlight: ADP featuring Oscar Garcia ‘06 and Nova Pierre Louis ’24

November 19: Physics and Astronomy Spotlight featuring Marc Favata, Chairperson, Physics and Astronomy, College of Science and Mathematics, and Kevin Johansmeyer ’17 ’22 MS

November 26: Hawk Connections featuring Keith Green, Professor and Director of Communications and Strategic Operations, College of Communication and Media, and Rachel Aquino ’21

December 3: Recent Alumni Network (RAN) featuring Mike Wasik ’19 and Nino DeNino ’25

We want to hear from you!

Tell us what you think about the podcast and featured alumni stories. Email your thoughts to montclairconnect@montclair.edu.