See how Director of Transportation Monica Smith and her team keep Montclair State University moving – one shuttle, one student and one early morning at a time
As Director of Transportation, Monica Smith keeps Montclair State University moving – connecting students, faculty and staff from Bloomfield to Montclair and every stop in between.
Through this photo essay – part of an ongoing series – we highlight how Montclair students, faculty and staff embody the University’s mission in the classroom, on campus and beyond – empowering a diverse community by providing broad access to rigorous learning, advancing research and creativity, and forming partnerships for the common good.
Photography by Mike Peters
After an hour-long commute from her ranch in Princeton, New Jersey – where she lives with her husband and a flock of chickens – Monica Smith arrives at Montclair State University ready to start the day. As the head of a 41-personteam, she leads an operation that keeps Montclair’s shuttles running nearly nonstop, from early morning until late at night.
Together, Montclair’s 17-vehicle fleet– 11 small buses, 6 large buses and one ADA van – travels nearly 1,000 miles a day, moving an average of 1,500 passengers on a typical weekday and as many as 2,500 during large-scale events.
As Director of Transportation, Smith is at the center of it all. From planning and adjusting routes to conducting safety checks and managing a dynamic team of 41, Smith works “to keep the University’s heart and soul – the students, faculty and staff – moving forward.”
The Morning Commute
After her own hour-long commute to Montclair, Smith helps move thousands of people across campus each day.
Morning Rounds
Hopping behind the wheel of a Jeep, Smith begins her morning rounds, inspecting each shuttle stop across Montclair’s transportation system. As she drives along the route, she checks that each shuttle stop is clean and free of damage and graffiti – an essential part of keeping a 187,700-mile-a-year operation running smoothly.
Meetings, Meetings, Meetings
Next, Smith heads to her first meeting of the day, a biweekly check in with University Facilities and Residence Life. She comes prepared with her essentials: sneakers (this job keeps her constantly on her feet), coffee (a necessity), and her ever-present computer bag.
During the meeting, Smith and Thea Dyer, Associate Director of Housing Operations for Residence Life, talk through shuttle routes and daily challenges – with Pebbles, the University’s “pupscot,” keeping a close eye on things.
As the meeting continues, Smith discusses ongoing improvements to the Bloomfield shuttle route with colleagues, including Shawn Connolly, left, Vice President of University Facilities.
Keeping the Fleet Running
At the Facilities maintenance shop, Smith talks with a mechanic about shuttle repairs and routine maintenance – ensuring every vehicle in the 17-vehicle fleet is safe and road-ready for the thousands of daily riders who depend on them.
At Shuttle Dispatch, Smith checks in with a student member of the front-line staff, Dorcas Muthoni Mwaura, to review schedules and troubleshoot service questions. Dispatch serves as the communication hub for Montclair’s transportation network – supporting day-to-day operations and the University’s on-demand Persons with Disabilities (PWD) service, which ensures equitable access for riders who rely on shuttles for mobility and independence.
Planning for The Big Catch
Smith’s job goes far beyond keeping the shuttles running. She also plans logistics for large campus events – like Yogi Berra’s Big Catch, Montclair’s Guinness World Record-setting attempt for the largest game of catch. With aerial maps spread out before her, she finalizes driver positions and route timing for game day, preparing to move more than 2,500 people across campus in a single afternoon.
Before field testing begins for Yogi Berra’s Big Catch, Smith huddles with drivers Yvonne Bell and Moises Caro, and Assistant Supervisor II Frank Rivers to finalize logistics.
Wearing her yellow safety vest, Smith joins Shuttle Driver Yvonne Bell for an on-site dry run of the Yogi Berra’s Big Catch transportation plan. Every route is tested and fine-tuned to ensure a seamless experience on event day.
Long Days, Late Nights
The workday may end for some, but not for Smith – or for the shuttles. While the evening crew keeps routes running late into the night, she’s still answering emails, balancing budgets and managing vendor contracts. With her team of 30 drivers, 4 mechanics, 2 supervisors and several student staff, she keeps a complex operation moving like clockwork – the behind-the-scenes work that keeps Montclair in motion.
Finding Balance
After a long day surrounded by metal, oil, steel and asphalt, Smith looks forward to returning home to her one-acre organic garden and orchard in Princeton. There, she and her husband care for their poultry and practice renewable, sustainable methods – solar power, water reclamation, composting – the perfect antidote to the fast-paced rhythm of campus life.
