{"id":227449,"date":"2026-02-03T09:27:50","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T14:27:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=227449"},"modified":"2026-02-03T09:34:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T14:34:08","slug":"from-the-creative-industry-back-to-campus-a-second-act-at-montclair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2026\/02\/03\/from-the-creative-industry-back-to-campus-a-second-act-at-montclair\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Creative Industry Back to Campus: A Second Act at Montclair"},"content":{"rendered":"

Montclair Life<\/a> by University Photographer Mike Peters<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Horatio Wauchope\u2019s story moves the way he does \u2013 fluidly, between the arts, fashion and social science. Growing up between Jamaica and New Jersey, he learned to express himself through music, photography and conversation, blending creativity with curiosity about how people connect.<\/span><\/p>\n

A decade ago, after two semesters at Montclair State University, he left school to launch a career in photography and fashion as an agent and director. \u201cI went deep into my career, but after a while I stopped seeing progress and felt my ideas weren\u2019t being taken seriously,\u201d Horatio, 34, explains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEventually I got fed up and started seeing signs pointing me back to school.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Montclair\u2019s readmit program<\/a> helps students like Horatio return to finish their degrees, offering flexible options<\/a> to take courses online, in person or in a hybrid format so they can balance school with work, commuting and family commitments.\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

When Horatio reapplied, financing his education was a major concern. Montclair provided the Red Hawk Advantage Award<\/a>, which helps eligible New Jersey students with tuition if they\u2019re working on their first bachelor\u2019s degree, have under 60 credits and meet income and GPA requirements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had no idea schools had their own funding like that. I thought I\u2019d tried everything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Morning Hustle<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Two
Horatio begins his mornings making deliveries to help meet his college costs. \u201cI\u2019m a full\u2011time student, so in between classes, before and after, whenever I have a break, I drive for Uber or Uber Eats to help make everything work.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Horatio
Picking up medication on an Uber run.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cComing back after 10 years, I\u2019ve been surprised by how many people stepped up for me once I was honest about what I needed,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

On a recent winter day, Horatio shared this day<\/a>, inviting Photographer Mike Peters to ride with him while he made deliveries and sit in on his classes. \u201cWe met before my first class in Bloomfield so I could grab coffee and then squeeze in an hour of work. I did a couple of trips, picking up someone\u2019s breakfast at Wawa and a pharmacy run for someone\u2019s medication.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In Class and In Motion<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"A
Horatio took a class on advanced Excel skills at Bloomfield College of Montclair State University. Here, he charts and organizes data for a class project analyzing companies and their inventories.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Sociology major<\/a>, Horatio took Spreadsheet Essentials at the Bloomfield campus to build data analyst skills because that location better fit his schedule. Students from both locations are able to take courses across campuses. \u201cIt was my first time on the Bloomfield campus since the merger, and it was interesting to experience a different environment while still being a Montclair student.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gustavo
After his class in Bloomfield, Horatio heads to Montclair, where he meets up with his friend and fellow Sociology major, Gustavo Quintero.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Two
The friends grab lunch in the Student Center and walk across campus to a favorite study spot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Horatio
Horatio and Gustavo eat together, study and help keep each other motivated. \u201cWe push each other to stay focused and get through the semester.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A decade ago, when Horatio first attended Montclair, he published a photography book for a class project called The Commuter<\/em>, which mirrored his experiences as a college commuter. \u201cI always had my camera with me, and I\u2019d take photos of people going down the escalator at New York Penn Station or head to Hoboken to shoot birds. I got a really good grade for the class, which inspired me to keep pursuing photography.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This time around, Horatio is focused on new interests. Last semester, he completed an internship at Montclair\u2019s Project AROS (Applied Research On Social Issues) Lab<\/a>, mentored by Arnaud Kurze, associate professor of Justice Studies and the lab\u2019s director. \u201cIt\u2019s an interdisciplinary research program,\u201d Horatio explains. \u201cNo matter what field you want to go into \u2013 history, technology or medicine \u2013 it gives us room to learn how to do real-life research and shadow professionals on their projects.\u201d\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

Horatio\u2019s research examined climate change in Liberia. \u201cI learned how to map vulnerabilities and create graphs to visualize where floods hit hardest. It focused on erosion, flooding and how those changes affect communities, especially women who fish and provide for their families.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding Mentors, Building Momentum<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"A
In the late afternoon, Horatio attends Statistics of Social Research with Sociology Chairperson Sangeeta Parashar, who has become a guiding voice in his journey.\u200b<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition to his internship, Horatio is finding mentorship in his classes. \u201cProfessor Parashar has been like a mom to me this semester,\u201d he says. \u201cHer class is tough, very old\u2011school \u2013 pencils, paper, lots of problem sets \u2013 but it gave me a strong foundation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Horatio
Horatio, who expects to graduate in either May or December 2027, doesn\u2019t yet know what shape his next chapter will take \u2013 but the direction feels right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I don\u2019t know exactly where I\u2019ll end up \u2013 data science, research or something else \u2013 but I know I\u2019m on the right track. I\u2019m taking every opportunity as it comes and trusting that the work, the mentors and the connections will lead me to the next step.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View more photos for a complete look at Horatio\u2019s day.<\/a><\/p>\n

Photography by University Photographer Mike Peters<\/a><\/p>\n

As told to Marilyn Joyce Lehren<\/a>, University Communications and Marketing<\/p>\n

Through this photo essay, part of an ongoing series, we highlight how Montclair students, faculty and staff embody the University\u2019s mission<\/a> in the classroom, on campus and beyond \u2013 empowering a diverse community by providing broad access to rigorous learning, advancing research and creativity, and forming partnerships for the common good.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ready to start your Montclair journey?<\/strong><\/h2>\n