Honoring Our Employees on Red Hawk Recognition Day
Posted in: Red Hawk Spotlight
On May 19, the University will honor our employees on the inaugural Red Hawk Recognition Day. This special occasion brings together three key events: The Presidential Excellence Awards, the Employee Milestone Celebration, which recognizes those with 25 or more years of dedicated service to Montclair, and the “ME Time” Employee Mixer at Finley Gallery. The goal of this day is to thank and recognize each other for our commitment to our students and our mission.
We’re excited to spotlight three employees who will be celebrated on Red Hawk Recognition Day.
Pascale LaFountain
Presidential Excellence Award Winner – Excellence in Teaching, Full-time Faculty Award
Pascale LaFountain is driven by the “pay-it-forward” mindset and the deep belief that every student can succeed and make an impact on the world if given the opportunity. She has been described as “bringing remarkable creativity to the classroom” and meeting students where they are. Thanks to an annual $15,000 grant secured from the Kade Foundation for German Studies, she has been able to support 10 students annually for their summer study abroad. Beyond teaching, she actively engages in the Montclair community through the SPARK program, community garden, collaborations with the Community Engagement Office and Office for Faculty Excellence, and chairs the University Senate’s Student Affairs Council.
On being recognized by the University, LaFountain shares, “It is the greatest honor to be recognized for my teaching, which I could not do without the deep diversity and cultural curiosity our students bring to class every day. Alongside this Presidential Excellence Award, the greatest recognition is seeing my students regularly experience exceptional success on a national and international level. I am particularly proud to see our students show how ready they are to present their research at national conferences, win international scholarships, and thrive in fully funded graduate programs.”
Daniel Jean
Presidential Excellence Award Winner – Inclusive Excellence Award
Daniel Jean co-created and leads the Male Enrollment and Graduation Alliance (MEGA), a transformative initiative aimed at closing enrollment and graduation gaps for Black and Hispanic/Latino male scholars. MEGA’s success has brought Montclair national and international acclaim, with coverage on PBS NewsHour. To expand recruitment, Jean founded and chairs annual conferences that attract over 1,000 high school scholars and educators to the Montclair and Bloomfield campuses. These events connect prospective students with resources and pathways to higher education, advancing inclusive access and strengthening Montclair’s enrollment pipeline.
On being part of the Red Hawk community, Jean shares, “I am a proud Red Hawk alumnus and honored to be a member of the administrative team. I believe every interaction moves a scholar closer to graduation or closer to withdrawal and I am excited to be able to help develop strategy and services to transform the lives of our learners. I am forever grateful for this recognition and excited that the collective work of my team is having a profound impact on the community. As the landscape of higher education changes, we remain dedicated to improving scholar learning, retention and satisfaction.”
Jaclyn Friedman-Lombardo
Presidential Excellence Award Winner – Unsung Hero Award and 25 Years of Service Honoree
Jaclyn Friedman-Lombardo has been described as an “outstanding leader who truly saves lives.” As a member of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), she is on call 24/7 responding to student mental health emergencies while juggling all clinical and administrative demands of student mental health on campus. Friedman-Lombardo coordinates grants and other labor-intensive initiatives to increase student access to broader mental health resources. She will be honored for her 25 years of service at Montclair and has seen paper charts converted to a sophisticated electronic medical record system, watched the therapy program thrive, engaged in meaningful research with faculty and staff and has remained fully accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) since 2007.
On her time at Montclair, Friedman-Lombardo shares, “This acknowledgement comes at a time in which I’m feeling especially grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve had to work with so many dedicated people who have worked tirelessly to support student growth and well-being. As I plan to depart from this wonderful community on July 1, I know Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has made a significant impact on our community and I’m so proud to have been a part of that work.”
In celebration of Red Hawk Recognition Day and Mental Health Awareness Month, all employees are invited to attend the “ME Time” Employee Mixer on May 19 at Finley Gallery. Enjoy light refreshments, connect with colleagues and take a moment to unwind as we recognize the incredible contributions of our employees. Free parking will be available at Red Hawk Parking Deck in honor of the day.
The Office of Inclusive Excellence is presenting a gallery exhibition of employee art, design, and creative creations in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. We invite you to submit work related to mental health, wellness, or self-care. Submissions are due by Friday, May 9. Review the FAQs for Artwork Submissions on parameters and instructions and contacts for drop off and pick up of artwork.