December 19, 2023

2023 Year in Review

University highlights: Expanding impact beyond campus; some big achievements; and the adorable addition of Pebbles, the official pupscot

Posted in: Homepage News, University

A man in robes addresses an arena audience with graduates projected on a jumbo-tron. — In three Commencement ceremonies at Prudential Center in Newark in May, Montclair State University conferred degrees on 5,386 graduates, making the Class of 2023 the largest graduating class in Montclair history. The University will celebrate graduates from August and December 2023 and January 2024 in a Winter ceremony on January 8, 2024.

In 2023, Montclair State University continued to extend its impact well beyond campus, collaborating with neighboring communities and colleges on a wide range of issues that included expanding access and opportunity in higher education, improving health outcomes and addressing the state’s teacher shortage. On campus, Montclair students are out-performing their anticipated graduation rate at one of the highest clips in the nation. We welcomed our largest incoming class, as well as students to our newly united Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, and an adorable mini labradoodle named Pebbles, who warmed hearts as the University’s official pupscot. Here are some of the highlights from this past year. (Check out this Instagram reel for more.)

Collaborating with a City on the Rise

Men in baseball caps talk inside an unfinished building. — President Jonathan Koppell speaking with members of the New York Yankees while touring the Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium during Hinchliffe Hope Week in July.

In a partnership with Paterson, the University is working toward a shared vision with community advocates and city leaders to revitalize a concentrated area of the city. The announcement came last February with a $1 million grant for a collective impact initiative called “One Square Mile,” a collaboration meant to advance racial justice and equity and foster student achievement in New Jersey’s third-largest city. Montclair is collaborating with the community on scores of projects, including as the educational partner on the soon-to-open Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium, which will focus on Hinchliffe’s lore and the history of the Negro Leagues and serve as a community hub.

A man and woman talk in front of a Black Lives Matter storefront in Paterson, New Jersey. — Working in Paterson, Professor Jason Williams meets with Brenda “Bre” Azanedo of Black Lives Matter Paterson’s Harm Reduction Center, which supports residents battling substance abuse. In just one of many collaborations, the University’s Social Work and Justice Studies programs provide harm reduction awareness, education and training to those addressing the epidemic.

New Higher Education Partnerships

A man and woman pose with two mascots, a red hawk and a bear. — An opening day selfie to welcome Bloomfield College of Montclair State University: The college mascots and their leaders, Chancellor Marcheta P. Evans and President Jonathan Koppell.

After state reviews and legislation, Bloomfield College officially became part of Montclair State University. The merger, completed in July, was a savior for Bloomfield, the only four-year institution in New Jersey designated as a Predominantly Black Institution, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Minority Serving Institution, but which faced closing due to financial challenges. As a result, Bloomfield’s important mission will continue, with students benefiting from Montclair’s lower tuition and fees and the support of the state’s second largest public research university.

Montclair is also partnering with community colleges to break down barriers that prevent students from completing a four-year degree. The latest academic agreement was signed in October with Bergen Community College to allow students with associate degrees to seamlessly transfer into various Montclair bachelor’s degree programs.

Meanwhile, Montclair and New Jersey Institute of Technology are teaming up to share the costs of renovating Yogi Berra Stadium. In this unique partnership, the baseball teams from both schools will call the field home.

Expanding Mental Health Services

A student laughs with a mini-horse. — Mini horses helped students relieve stress during finals last spring.

A culture of wellness and belonging is being built into day-to-day campus life, with Montclair embracing a variety of approaches: everything from group therapy, peer counseling and telehealth, to arts and crafts, mediation events and petting furry animals to help students de-stress, efforts highlighted in 2023 by a New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education grant for $850,000 to help expand mental health resources for students.

New Avenues for Teaching, Learning and Success

A student and professor sit at a computer. — Montclair partners aspiring teachers with local high school students and young adults in the University’s Increasing Access to College project, a transition program to introduce students with intellectual disabilities to the college experience.

New this fall, two new colleges were created out of the College of Education and Human Services: the College for Education and Engaged Learning to examine what learning looks like in the 21st century and the College for Community Health to address the urgent challenge posed by health inequity in New Jersey and beyond. A new School of Computing launching within the College of Science and Mathematics speaks to one of the most in-demand occupational areas in the coming years.

In a novel pathway, in November, Montclair also launched the state’s first Teacher Certification Apprenticeship Program to address the teacher shortage by creating an earn-while-you-learn pathway for current paraprofessionals to become classroom leaders. A grant from the Lacey Family Inclusive Education Fund formed a partnership to create a new certificate program in General Education Studies to provide students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to earn credits.

Inspiring Art Partnerships

Students dressed in black dance on a black stage. — Montclair theater students perform a scene from Richard III during a “takeover” of classes by The Royal Shakespeare Company.

The curtain rose on a new Royal Shakespeare Company Residency, with the College of the Arts hosting the world-renown British theater company for master classes on performing Shakespeare. Also, the Cali Immersive Residency program continues bringing in world-class musicians to work with students and this month featured world-renowned Cuban jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer Arturo Sandoval. And with a partnership with NBCUniversal’s NBCU Academy, nearly two dozen students received scholarships to work alongside NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC and Telemundo professionals.

Arturo Sandoval plays the trumpet. — Trumpet master Arturo Sandoval plays with the University Wind Symphony at Alexander Kasser Theater as part of the Cali Immersive Residency Program.

Making a Difference in the World

Students wearing hardhats and red Montclair shirts with the words "Soaring into Service" work at a construction site. — Montclair students work at a Habitat for Humanity site in Paterson as part of the University’s numerous Day of Service projects.

Montclair’s faculty and students collaborated on social justice, health equity, human trafficking and sustainability leadership to improve New Jersey communities. Our reputation as a university with a public purpose was reflected in new initiatives, including the nation’s first program designed to certify students and professionals in the practices and principles of harm reduction strategies to fight the substance use crisis.

Students from universities across the U.S. gathered in Montclair for the NextGen Summit and National Bonner Summer Leadership Institute to inspire tomorrow’s public service leaders. Montclair received a national designation, joining the First Scholars Network, for its commitment to ensuring first-generation college student success. In encouraging future college graduates, the University is enabling Newark high school students to earn college credits in academic and service programs created in response to the pandemic.

A man speaks in front of a sign that says "Future College Graduates" — Motivational speaker Mike Pence inspires Newark high school students during an end-of-semester celebration last January.

Forward-Thinking Research

A woman in goggles and a helmet with a shield tests liquid in a lab. — During the summer months, the University’s labs provided research opportunities for undergraduates in everything from studying the climate crisis to keeping swimmers safe.

Assistant Physics Professor Kent Leunge earned a CAREER Grant from the National Science Foundation to advance nuclear physics. Senior chemistry major Marisa Messina became the first student in Montclair’s history to be named a Goldwater Scholar. Her research focuses on an enzyme that could one day be used to target breast cancer treatments.

Findings from a Montclair-led research team – Led by Assistant Earth and Environmental Studies Professor Ying Cui and visiting PhD student Yuyang Wu – show the origin of history’s largest mass extinction. Earth and Environmental Studies Professor Pankaj Lal is exploring the socioeconomic implications of offshore wind development in the Garden State.

Three people stand on a stage with the words "Space Talk: Cosmic Clues From Gravitational Waves" on the domed ceiling behind them. — As a Liberty Science Center guest astronomer, Physics Professor Marc Favata, right, led an audience on a listening tour of the cosmos during a Space Talk, “Cosmic Clues from Gravitational Waves,” Favata explained how he and other scientists “listen” to the ripples of gravity to learn to observe the mysteries of space and time and about colliding black holes and neutron stars.

Other Bright Moments

Five men stand in a diner with black and white checkered floor. — Montclair professors, from left, Chris Freid, Chris Matthews, Jon Caspi, Glen Fittin and Julian Brash at the Red Hawk Diner.

Montclair professors, students and alumni have found success both on and off campus. We’ve highlighted just a few here. Several professors not only excel in their academic fields, but in the music scene as well. While successfully navigating a Computational Linguistics master’s degree, Raz Besaleli made news in the rapidly changing artificial intelligence landscape. Alumnus Tog Samphel landed a deal on ABC’s Shark Tank for his kitchen gadget, Anytongs. And, 14 School of Communication and Media students were recognized by the College Television Awards, which emulate the Emmy® Awards, for their production of the New Orleans | Raging Storms program. And the University’s radio station WMSC-FM is a finalist for a record 16 national Intercollegiate Broadcasting System awards, including best station in the nation.

More Milestones and Memories

A man gestures at a podium in front of an audience. — The University renamed Science Hall to honor former President Irvin D. Reid, who three decades ago was the driving force behind Montclair achieving university status.

A man, child and woman talk on the set of a talk show. — Among our 2023 graduates, Desmond Durham earned his degree while working three jobs – high school teacher, youth basketball coordinator and GED instructor – and raising his 9-year-old son on his own. Durham’s graduation story gained national attention, including an appearance on *Good Morning America’*s digital platform and on the daytime talk show *Sherri*, above, where he appeared with his son, Desmond Jr., for a conversation with the comedian Sherri Shepherd.

Two soccer players run toward the ball. — Junior forward Amer Lukovic was named the 2023 NCAA Division III National Player of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches organization to cap a winning season for Montclair men’s soccer. The team was ranked No. 5 in Division III and played in the NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament “Sweet 16.” The Red Hawks finished their season with a 19-2-2 record and undefeated in a perfect 9-0-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Montclair women’s soccer team earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Tournament, the Red Hawks’ ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, but their run ended after the first round.

A woman poses for a selfie with a mascot. — In the fall, Montclair welcomed its largest incoming class, total enrollment, and returning student population in its history.

Students pose in Times Square. — New pre-college summer enrichment programs allow high school students to explore careers, passions and interests in New York City and on campus.

Two women have a conversation on a stage in front of an audience. — Women Entrepreneurship Week, which began at Montclair State University and grew into a global event, celebrated its 10th anniversary. The Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation hosts the dynamic entrepreneurial experts, recognizing and celebrating female founders.

An audience in an outdoor amphitheater watch a movie with a symphony on campus. — As part of Hispanic Heritage Month the campus community took to the Amphitheater and celebrated with a night of music, movies and magical fun with Disney Pixar’s *Coco* in concert live to film.

Students line up at a Starbucks coffee truck. — Montclair contracted with Gourmet Dining, LLC, to provide food service for the University, bringing in both local and national favorites, including the first Starbucks on campus.

A red hawk mascot and a bear mascot walked with a puppy. — New BFFs: College mascots, Montclair’s Rocky the Red Hawk and Bloomfield’s Deacon the Bear, take Pebbles, the ‘pupscot’ on a walk across campus.

Compiled by Staff Writer Marilyn Joyce Lehren. Photos by University Photographer Mike Peters and John J. LaRosa.