{"id":219444,"date":"2022-10-26T15:26:34","date_gmt":"2022-10-26T19:26:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=219444"},"modified":"2022-10-28T12:24:36","modified_gmt":"2022-10-28T16:24:36","slug":"we-are-nextgen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2022\/10\/26\/we-are-nextgen\/","title":{"rendered":"We Are NextGen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Building on President Jonathan Koppell\u2019s vision to prepare students for lives of service, Montclair State University welcomed its first students selected for the Next Generation Service Corps, a national movement that expands learning experiences for undergraduates and empowers them to take on the most complex challenges of our time.<\/p>\n

Montclair\u2019s first cohort of 26 students, each with a passion to make a difference, proudly introduced themselves as \u201cI am NextGen\u201d during the October 21 launch event. \u201cIt\u2019s important that people know who we are,\u201d says Omayma Jabara, a freshman Linguistics major.<\/p>\n

The University\u2019s partnership with the Volcker Alliance<\/a> is making that happen. The program allows Montclair students to join with students from universities across the country by providing the resources and educational experiences needed to tackle major issues like climate change, unequal access to high-quality education, food insecurity and trust in institutions.<\/p>\n

\"Chrisostomo
NextGen Director Maziely Crisostomo greets members of Montclair\u2019s first NextGen cohort.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Koppell created the program at Arizona State University that, with partners at the Volcker Alliance, has grown over the past seven years to almost 600 students at seven other universities.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you can imagine, I’m passionate about this,\u201d Koppell told Montclair\u2019s NextGen leaders. \u201cBut more importantly, I’ve seen what it means to students in the program. I\u2019ve seen how it transforms educational experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

The University received a $100,000 grant from the Volcker Alliance to launch NextGen, the first cohort reflecting the diversity of Montclair with \u201ca wide variety of cultural backgrounds and lived experiences,\u201d says NextGen Director Maziely Crisostomo.<\/p>\n

The group will take part in team building, leadership development, experiential learning opportunities, \u201cand most importantly, assisting in the creation of the blueprint for what NextGen will look like for years to come,\u201d Crisostomo says.<\/p>\n

\"Bryan
Associate Vice President for Community Partnerships Bryan Murdock, in welcoming the first cohort, said NextGen is the cornerstone of Montclair becoming a premier public-serving institution.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI believe that with your hard work, your determination and your service, that future generations, the students who are in this program 10 years from now, will be standing on your shoulders,\u201d added Associate Vice President for Community Partnerships Bryan Murdock.<\/p>\n

The remarks inspired the undergrads chosen for the inaugural experience. \u201cIt\u2019s a chance to start a revolution, our chance to educate those around us,\u201d says Ta’Miyah Alexander, a freshman Psychology major. \u201cIt\u2019s the opportunity I\u2019ve been waiting for. You hear, you\u2019re the change that will be the future, but making that happen requires resources. To be in this program, knowing there are resources behind it, it\u2019s very empowering.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brett Hunt, director of Next Generation Service Initiatives, addressed the audience by video, encouraging the service-minded students: \u201cI hope that as you chart this path forward, you’re driven by personal core values. Values like respect, responsibility, integrity and selflessness. This organization is in your hands. It will be as amazing and life-changing of an experience as each of you make it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Koppell
President Koppell takes a selfie with Montclair\u2019s NextGen leaders.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Koppell talked with the students about the benefits of public good. \u201cWe make decisions to invest ourselves in doing things that are good for other people, knowing full well that there are others who are not going to participate in the production of that important public good. We think it’s worth giving of ourselves, even if economically it doesn’t make sense. That’s what public service is.\u201d
He asked the group, \u201cWhy would we take our university’s limited resources and create a program like this? It’s you. It\u2019s the University\u2019s mission to produce something that other people are going to benefit from. You are the public good that we’re producing because you’re going to go out and do great things. You’re going to be benefiting the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Rocky
\u201cIt\u2019s important that people know who we are,\u201d says Omayma Jabara, a freshman Linguistics major.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Story by Staff Writer Marilyn Joyce Lehren<\/a>. Photos by University Photographer Mike Peters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You May Also Like:<\/p>\n