Weekly meetings in the Fall will take place on Mondays from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM. The Canvas LMS “community,” to which new faculty will have access once they receive their Montclair email address, provides a space to share information. Any changes to this calendar will be posted there.
As for workshops slated into specific time blocks, we recognize that there may be overlap with religious holidays and understand if colleagues are not able to attend those sessions. Otherwise, we ask that you please keep this time clear from teaching and meetings as the NFP program is both required and greatly valued by the Montclair community. All new faculty members are provided a one-quarter-time reduction in instructional load (one course/3 Teaching Credit Hours (TCH)) in the Fall to attend the NFP program. In the event that a faculty member does not attend the NFP sessions, these 3 teaching credits will need to be made up. Tenure/Tenure Track faculty members receive an additional one-quarter-time reduction in instructional load (one course/3 TCH) in the Spring (see tentative Spring NFP Schedule below).
During the course of the semester, new faculty members should also participate in one or more of the sessions proposed by the Center for Teaching and Academic Innovation (CTAI), which is a new center that will be fully in operation in the Fall. We will discuss your experience of the CTAI sessions when we meet.
2025 Fall Semester Schedule (* denotes dates that NFP resource mentors are especially encouraged to attend)
August 28*
All Faculty Program: Informal Kick-off (9:30 AM; Location: Feliciano School of Business 140)
Informal kick-off session with experienced colleagues and representatives from the Office for Faculty Excellence (OFE), Center for Teaching and Academic Innovation (CTAI), Instructional Technology and Design Services (IDTS), and Sprague Library to answer any last-minute questions you may have.
Team Building Activity then walk over to President Koppell’s Address (10:15 AM)
September 8*
All Faculty Program: Introduction and Welcome (3:30 pm, SBUS 140)
Welcome from campus administrators, representatives, and New Faculty Program staff.
Junius Gonzales, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Emily Isaacs, Interim Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs
Laura Lakusta, Co-Director of New Faculty Program
Christine Giancatarino, Co-Director, New Faculty Program
Tenure Track/Tenured Faculty Resource Mentors: Priya Lalvani (CEEL), Tina Zottoli (CHSS), Hendrik Eshuis (CSAM), Livia Alexander (CART), Ram Dubey (SBUS)
Teaching Faculty Resource Mentors: Gai Grannon (CCOM), Alfredo Toro Carnevali (CHSS), Gail Yosh (SBUS), Tammy Castro (BLFD)
Faculty/Staff Caucus Members of the African American, Asian and Pacific Islander, Disability, and Latinx/a/o Caucuses: Reginia Judge, Jesse Ha, Priya Lalvani, Johnny Lorenz
Group and College Photos (Courtyard at Feliciano School) (~5:00 pm)
September 8
Reception with President Jonathan Koppell (Details to Follow)
September 15
All Faculty Program: Support Services (3:30 pm, SBUS 140)
Dean of Students
Margaree Coleman-Carter, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students
Yolanda Alvarez, Associate Dean of Students
Fatima deCarvalho, Senior Associate Dean, Dean of Students
Representatives from the Office of the Dean of Students will discuss services and present opportunities for faculty to engage with student organizations and campus life.
Break and informal Q&A with Equity and Title IX (4:20 pm)
Paul Apicella, Director of Institutional Compliance and Title IX Coordinator
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) (4:30 pm)
Melissa Zarin, Interim Director of the Counseling & Psychological Services
Disability Resource Center (5:00 pm)
Meghan Hearns, Director of the Disability Resource Center
September 22
All Faculty Program: Get to Know your Dean/Director (3:30 pm or a time TBD that week: Location announced by respective school or college)
Each dean will present their vision and expectations for faculty, describe the different centers and departments, and introduce staff members.
September 29*
Tenure Track Faculty Program: Supporting Faculty Research Initiatives (3:30 pm, SBUS 140)
Emily Isaacs, Interim Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs
Office of Research
Stefanie Brachfeld, Acting Vice Provost for Research and Professor of Marine Biology
Frederic “Ted” Russo, Director of Research and Sponsored Programs (OSP)
- Kate Dorsett, Senior Post Award Officer & Research Systems Manager (OSP); Catherine Bruno, Senior Post-Award Officer (OSP); Amanda Loucka, Pre-Award Specialist (OSP); Jonathan Parker, Proposal Development Manager-Major Projects (OSP); Samuel Wolverton, Senior Pre-Award Specialist (OSP)
Kimberly Bazylewicz, Director of Research Compliance, Research Compliance and Regulatory Programs
- Danielle Richardson, Human Research Protection Program Compliance Analyst, Research Compliance and Regulatory Programs; Allisun Romain, Compliance Coordinator, Research Compliance and Regulatory Programs; Francine Seruya, Human Research Protection Program Administrator, Research Compliance and Regulatory Programs
Sarah Kelly, Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Chair of the Institutional Review Board
Finance and Treasury
Sheryline McGee, Director of Grants Accounting
- Tracy Wells, Grants Accountant; Tara Johnson, Grants Accountant; Wissam Morgan, Grants Accountant
Teaching Faculty Program: Human Flourishing Workshop (3:30 pm, Cole Hall 340)
Elenice De Souza Oliveira, Associate Professor, Justice Studies
“Inspired by the transformative work of the Center for Healthy Minds (CHM) … human flourishing is the development of well-being through cultivating mindfulness, awareness, connection, wisdom, and purpose. Well-being is a skill that can be learned and enhanced through training and practice” (OFE, Human Flourishing). This workshop will explore the facets and pillars of human flourishing and investigate ways that we can incorporate these principles into our classroom spaces.
All Faculty: Early Semester Check-In with Resource Faculty Mentors (5:00 pm in SBUS 140 and Cole Hall 340, respectively)
October 6
All Faculty Program: Library Resources and Media Boot Camp – How to Showcase your Work (3:30 pm, Sprague Library)
Three-part event to be held in Sprague Library:
- Part 1: Welcome (3:30-4:00)
- Denise O’Shea, Interim Dean of Library Services, Welcome
- Faculty meet liaisons (everyone)
- Part 2: Faculty will be split into two concurrent sessions: One for Tenure Track (Research) faculty; One for Teaching faculty
- Library Resources, Faculty split into 2 groups (4:00-4:45)
- Siobhan McCarthy, Scholarly Communication Librarian; Catherine Baird, Online and Outreach Services Librarian; Justin Savage, Interim Head for Access Services & Resource Sharing; Drew Wallace, Research & Instruction Librarian; Jacob Bilek, Research & Instruction Librarian (STEM)
- Part 3: Media Bootcamp, Elyse Fernandez, Director of Media Relations and Content Strategy (4:45 – 5:30)
- Library Resources, Faculty split into 2 groups (4:00-4:45)
October 13*
All Faculty Program: Navigating the New and Enjoying Life as a Montclair Professor
(3:30 – 4:30 pm, SBUS 140)
Panelists: Dr. Richard Peterson, Professor Emeritus, Information Management and Business Analytics; Dr. Deborah (Debby) Fish Ragin, Professor Emerita, Psychology; Dr. Jennifer Robinson, Professor Emerita, Department of Teaching and Learning; Dr. Gregory Waters, Professor Emeritus, English
Recent emeriti faculty offer their take on best practices when navigating your new position at Montclair and enjoying your years as a professor at Montclair. The panelist will share their experiences -both the successful and the not-so-successful – efforts they employed on the job; sharing humorous but informative stories as illustrations. A Q & A will follow the informal panel discussion.
All Faculty Program: Question/Answer with Faculty Representatives of the University Senate and American Federation of Teachers (SBUS 140)
University Senate (4:30 pm)
President, University Senate: Shannon Bellum, Department Administrator, Family Science and Human Development
AFT, Local 1904 (4:45 pm)
President, AFT Local 1904: Laura Field, Associate Teaching Professor, Dept. of Writing Studies; Teaching Faculty Representative: Rick Reid, Associate Teaching Professor, Dept. of Writing Studies: Faculty Coordinator: Jonathan Howell, Associate Professor, Dept. of Linguistics
October 20 – Fall Break
October 27
All Faculty Program: Curriculum and Technology Workshop (3:30-4:15 pm, UN 5009)
Instructional Technology & Design Services
Yanling Sun, Associate Vice President
Patrick Scioscia, Director of Instructional Technology
Carolyn Demefack, Director of Instructional Design and Faculty Development
And members of ITDS staff
Hands on activities and group-based discussions with Instructional Technology & Design Services (ITDS). Colleagues will demonstrate programs such as Panopto, Hypothesis, Lightboard, Padlet, and polling software, which can be helpful for engaging students, building learning interactivities and collaborations, and designing assessments. Montclair course design methodologies and pedagogical models will also be introduced.
All Faculty Program: How to Support Student Success Inside and Outside of the Classroom Part 2: (4:15-5:30 pm, UN 5009)
Jessica Murphy, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Success, and Academic Innovation
Danielle Insalaco-Egan, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies and Acting Dean of University College
April Catching, Director of Advising, High-Impact Practices and the First-Year Experience, University College
Julie Mazur, Assistant Provost for Academic Success and Tutoring
Daniel Jean, Associate Provost for Special Programs (EOF and Success Programs)
November 3*
Tenure Track Faculty Program: Faculty Scholarship Program (FSP) and Reappointment, Tenure, Promotion: Part 1 (3:30 pm SBUS 140)
Emily Isaacs, Interim Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs
Teaching Faculty Program: Teaching as Reflective Practice + The Reappointment Process (3:30 pm Cole Hall, 340)
Dr. Catherine Keohane, Associate Director, Office of Faculty Excellence
Faculty will be led through a workshop to reflect and write about the Fall semester. Faculty will reflect on what worked, what they’d like to adjust, and what they want to experiment with in the Spring. Additionally, the workshop will focus on the reappointment process, discussing how reflective practices can help with the preparation of teaching and service reappointment materials.
All Faculty: Faculty Mentors Discussions (4:30 pm in SBUS for Tenure Track Faculty Mentors; 5:00 pm for Teaching Faculty Mentors): Tenure Track New Faculty will bring model narratives and converse in small groups about research agendas and thoughts about FSPs. The Resource Faculty will facilitate and provide suggestions as needed.
November 10*
Tenure Track Faculty Program: Reappointment, Tenure, Promotion (3:30 pm, SBUS 140)
Mary Colón, Assistant Vice President for Academic Personnel Services
Teaching Faculty Program: Managing the Teaching Load (A Panel Discussion) (3:30 pm, Cole Hall 340)
Panelists: Prof. Elsie Alabi-Gonzalez, School of Nursing (NURS); Prof. Laurie LeFever, Assistant Teaching Professor, Speech (CCOM); Dr. Nydia Monagas, Associate Teaching Professor, Social Work and Child Advocacy (SWCA); Dr. Shil Sen, Associate Teaching Professor, Writing Studies (CHSS); and additional panelists TBD.
A panel of faculty across disciplines will share their experience as members of the Teaching faculty at Montclair. They will address how they manage both the teaching and service aspect of the Teaching Faculty position, how they balance the load, and how they’ve learned to take care of themselves in the process.
All Faculty: Check-in and Discussion with Faculty Mentors (5:00 pm in SBUS 140 and Cole Hall 340, respectively):
November 17
All Faculty Program: College/School Session (3:30 pm or a time TBD that week: Location announced by respective Dean/Director’s Office)
November 17
New Faculty members have a one-day, complimentary pass to the Campus Recreation Center. Just bring your Montclair ID with you!
November 24
All Faculty Program: Fostering Student Success at an HSI (3:30 pm in SBUS 140)
Dr. Katia Paz Goldfarb, Associate Provost for Hispanic Initiatives and International Programs
Dr. Blanca Elizabeth Vega, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership
Since 2016, Montclair has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI); in 2023, “Forty-five percent of the incoming class of 2027 identifie[d] as Hispanic.” This workshop will ask us to consider how our role as an HSI translates into our pedagogy. What are some actionable ways we can support student success in the classroom?
December 1
All Faculty Program: Information Exchange and Networking – Part 1 (3:30 pm, SBUS 140)
Center for Community Engagement: Krystal Woolston, Director of Public Service Programs
Corporate and Foundation Relations: Ruth Kunstadter, Associate Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations
Center for Writing Excellence: Melinda Knight, Director and Professor of English and Alicia Remolde, Assistant Director
Information Technology: John Sandella, Director of IT Support Services and Steve Wallis, Quality Assurance Supervisor
Information Exchange and Networking – Part 2 (4:30)
Office of International Academic Initiatives: Timothy White, Director of International Academic Initiatives
University Galleries: Megan C. Austin, Director and Alyssa Leslie Villasenor, Engagement and Outreach Manager
Procurement Services: Shawn Laidlaw, Assistant Vice President of Procurement Services
Office of Inclusive Excellence: Ashante Connor, Associate Vice President of Inclusive Excellence and Special Advisor to the President, and Jayme Ganey, Inclusive Excellence Programs and Engagement Specialist
December 8*
All Faculty Program: Final Meeting and Networking Social (3:30 pm, SBUS 140)
First Semester Reflection (3:30 pm)
Emily Isaacs, Interim Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs
Navigating Curricular Processes (3:45 pm)
Joanne Cote-Bonanno, Associate Provost for Academic Programs and Assessment; Kyle Dobbeck, Senior Director of Curriculum, Academic Affairs; and Carlin Soos, Assistant Director of Curriculum Operations
Words from Acting Provost Dr. Stefanie Brachfeld (4:45 pm)
End-of-Term Networking Social with Deans and Presenters (5:00 pm)
2026 Spring Semester Schedule
Note: Teaching Faculty are invited to attend “All Faculty” and “Teaching Faculty” events below. The events are optional for Teaching Faculty, but we encourage Teaching Faculty to attend, when possible.
February 2
Tenure Track Faculty: Applicant submits FSP Proposal to Department Chairperson
February TBD (Location to be confirmed)
All Faculty: Meeting with President Koppell (3:30 pm)
During Month of February 2026 (TBA)
Tenure Track Faculty: Reappointment Conversation
Reappointment Conversation
Department Chairs and PAC Chairs will arrange for a conversation with each of their first-year, tenure-track faculty member(s) and new Teaching Faculty to: Assess the new faculty member’s progress and performance in his or her first year (first semester for Jan. hires); Offer guidance and mentoring in anticipation of the new faculty member’s application for reappointment in the Fall 2026 semester.
February 12
All Faculty: Kasser Theatre: Complimentary ticket to Camille Brown and Dancers, I AM. RSVP by January 12.
Ten
March TBD
Tenure Track Faculty: Interfolio Session/Demo for Reappointment Application Process (via ZOOM @ 3:30 pm)
Mary Colon, Assistant Vice President for Academic Personnel Services
March TBD
Teaching Faculty: Interfolio Session/Demo for Reappointment Application Process (via Zoom)
Mary Colon, Assistant Vice President for Academic Personnel Services
April 20
Tenure Track Faculty: Panel Discussion: Tenure Experience (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm, SBUS 140)
Recently tenured faculty will share their experiences regarding the tenure process at Montclair.
Panelists TBD
Tenure Track Faculty: Revisiting Reappointment (4:30 pm)
Emily Isaacs, Interim Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs
April TBD
Teaching Faculty: Revisiting Reappointment
Emily Isaacs, Interim Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs
August 28: Opening Day (No Classes)
August 29: Classes Begin (Classes meet on Monday schedule)
September 1: Labor Day
October 18-26: Fall Break
November 26-30: Thanksgiving Break
December 15 Classes meet on a Thursday Schedule
December 16 Classes meet on a Friday Schedule
December 17 Last day of classes