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Alumni News

Category: Alumni Profiles

Taras Petryshyn

Taras Petryshyn ’14 MEd

Assistant principal of Clifton Public Schools proves that achieving the American Dream is possible with hard work and determination, plus good insight from some pretty great teachers.

Nikki Silva

Nicole Silva ’05

2018 Milken Educator Award recipient continues to make sure her students know that they can do anything and are the leaders of their own destiny.

Glenn Tynan

Glenn Tynan ’80

Musician-turned-accountant credits his alma mater for laying the foundation for his future career: being the vice president and CFO of a multi-billion dollar corporation.

Nikita Wilson

Ni’Kita Wilson ’99

Vice president of Ideation and Innovation at Voyant Beauty proves how passionate she is about helping increase the quality of life for women and men from her time in the lab.

Leonard Blessing

Leonard Blessing ’50, ’51 MA

At 99, curiosity and a forward-looking interest still propel an accomplished alum, now as ever.

Newman H. Rochester Jr

Newman H. Rochester, Jr. ’00

Vice president of Business Development in Individual Life Insurance at Prudential Financial never imagined that majoring in philosophy would lead him to a career in finance, but he owes it all to his experiences at Montclair State.

Linda Obenauer-Kutner and her daughter

Linda Obenauer-Kutner ’80, ’83 MA

Pharmaceutical scientist at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) incorporates Montclair State in her extensive professional career that has prioritized advocacy and giving back to the science community.

Nick and Jill Lannitelli

Nick Iannitelli ’99 and Jill Iannitelli ’00

Montclair State Athletics Hall of Fame inductee and Managing Partner at New York Life found love at Montclair State, and they advise current students to take in the college experience while they can.

Bob and Cheryl Downey

Bob Downey ’91 and Cheryl Downey ’91

Alumni couple credits Montclair State for helping them achieve their individual successes, along with their 27 year-long marriage.

Victoria Ankrah

Victoria Ankrah ’06 MA

Executive director of the Acelero Learning Camden Philadelphia Head Start attributes her passion for nurturing young children to her early childhood education instructor from her days at Montclair State.