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John Castano

Adjunct Faculty, School of Communication and Media

Email:
castanoj@montclair.edu
Phone:
973-655-7471
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John F. Castano joined Montclair State University as an Adjunct Professor of Communications in 2002.

Castano brings experience in prep school and college education, as well as business and nonprofit management and consulting. John holds a BA in English from Villanova University, and an MA in Strategic Communication from Seton Hall University. He is the President + CEO of SEEDS – Access Changes Everything, a non-profit organization that ensures high-achieving, low-income young people have access to the best education opportunities. In its 30-plus years, SEEDS has graduated more than 3,500 young people.

Professor Castano formerly taught English, communications and leadership at Seton Hall Preparatory School. He has also served as a consultant to the Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance at Rutgers University for 15 years. He frequently serves as a speaker and panelist on issues ranging from education access, diversity, communications, strategic planning, fundraising, and organizational communications, in addition to motivational speaking. Castano can also be found working as an emcee for events.

He is the former President of the Jersey Cares board; a past Executive Director of the Griffin Bridges Program at Seton Hall Prep, where he has also served as a mentor and Advisory Committee member; and a has served as a representative on the Senior Concerns Committee for the Borough of Caldwell. He is currently a member of the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees at Mount St. Dominic Academy.

In 2001, Castano was honored by NJ SEEDS for his “ongoing commitment to developing future leaders through education… by providing opportunities for highly motivated, academically qualified, economically disadvantaged students.” He has been the recipient of Seton Hall University’s Humanitarian Award, The Salvatore N. Caprio Award, and the St. Andrew’s College Seminary Humanitarian Award.

He is married to Kristi Castano, VP of Strategic Planning for the award-winning healthcare marketing agency, Area 23 and owner of Castano Consulting, LLC. They are are the proud parents of Bridget and Kara.