Faculty & Student Achievement
Research Collaboration Advances Cancer Treatment Strategies
recently published study in Inorganica Chimica Acta highlights the work of Associate Professor of Chemistry Greg Moehring, Chemistry Professor Datta Naik, and Specialist Professor of Biology Jeffrey Weisburg, whose interdisciplinary research into rhenium-based molecules has shown promise in selectively targeting cancer cells. This long-running collaboration between the chemistry and biology departments not only explores potential advancements in cancer treatment but also provides undergraduate students with hands-on research experience.
The project began in 2017 when Naik identified a study on a unique rhenium molecule with potential anticancer properties. Intrigued, he and Moehring worked with students to synthesize and modify similar compounds, aiming to enhance their stability and effectiveness. The research gained momentum when Weisburg joined the team, testing these molecules on both oral cancer cells and normal cells to determine their ability to selectively kill cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. Their findings showed that two of the newly developed molecules maintained their stability long enough to be effective, mimicking the mechanisms of existing platinum-based cancer drugs.
Building on these results, the team is now working to develop molecules that fluoresce under ultraviolet light, allowing them to track how the compounds interact with cells. They are also seeking external funding to expand their research and provide more students with the opportunity to gain experience in chemical synthesis, biological testing, and data analysis. While their discoveries could inform future cancer treatments, the project is already making an impact by preparing students for careers in science, medicine, and research.
Professor Is One of Five International Artists Chosen for Prestigious Residency
imberly Callas, MFA, associate professor of art and design, was one of five international artists chosen to serve as an artist-in-residence (AiR) at the Arts Quarter Budapest (AQB), an independent art center in Budapest, Hungary, in March 2024. Housed in a renovated factory building, formerly the Haggenmacher brewery, the center has exhibition galleries for contemporary art, studios for local artists, and space for an experimental sound studio and performances. The residency provided opportunities for the residents to integrate into the Budapest art scene and assisted in establishing professional connections that support work and career development.
Callas worked on drawings and digitally sculpted a series of life-size figurative polychromed sculptures and reliefs for a project called “Ocean Bodies,” which she began as an AiR with Monmouth’s Urban Coast Institute. This socially engaged art project and exhibit is designed to raise awareness of the importance of the ocean in climate regulation and stability, and its vital role as a habitat, while exploring ways in which the ocean shapes our symbolic consciousness as a symbol of the cosmos and the deep unconscious. An exhibit of the completed work was shown at Monmouth’s Rotary Ice House Gallery from January to March 2025.
Team Secures Grant to Strengthen Climate Education in NJ Schools
he Monmouth University Climate Education Collaborative (MUCEC) was awarded a competitive grant of over $311,000 from the New Jersey Department of Education to develop a program intended to train and better prepare New Jersey K-12 educators to teach climate change at grade-appropriate levels across all subjects. Monmouth is one of four New Jersey universities to receive a Climate Education Collaborative grant and the only private university to receive funding from this program.
MUCEC was developed by Michelle Schpakow, Ed.D., science education lecturer in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Catherine Duckett, Ph.D., associate dean of the School of Science; and Peter Jacques, Ph.D., Rechnitz Family/UCI Endowed Chair in Marine and Environmental Law and Policy and professor in the Department of Political Science and Sociology, in collaboration with Monmouth University’s Urban Coast Institute, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, and Monmouth Conservation Foundation.
Historian Awarded Grant for National Study on Native American Rights
he American Philosophical Society (APS) has awarded Katherine Parkin, Ph.D., professor in the Department of History and Anthropology and Jules Plangere Jr. Endowed Chair in American Social History, a Phillips Fund for Native American Research grant.
She will be researching “Involuntary Sterilization and the Forced Removal of Children: A National Native American Study, 1960–1980.” The Phillips Fund of the APS provides grants for research in Native American linguistics, ethnohistory—which the committee distinguishes from contemporary ethnography as the study of cultures and cultural change through time—and the history of studies of Native Americans in the continental United States and Canada.
Parkin regularly teaches courses on U.S. women’s history, the cultural history of advertising, and the history of sexuality in America. Her most recent book, “Women at the Wheel: A Century of Buying, Driving, and Fixing Cars,” won the 2018 Emily Toth Award for best book in feminist popular culture. Her first book, “Food Is Love: Food Advertising and Gender Roles in Modern America,” won the same award in 2006.
Examining the Art of Humor in Presidential Rhetoric
ssociate Professor of Communication Michael Phillips-Anderson, Ph.D., whose scholarship focuses on rhetoric, politics, and humor, as well as the role of public discourse in the creation of active citizenship, published the chapter “Founding Contradictions, Contemporary Expressions: Political Humor in American Culture” in “Political Humor Worldwide.” The chapter examines the interplay between humor and culture in a time of political polarization and division in the United States, exploring how humor is derived from the incongruity between the stated ideals of the country’s founding and the lived reality of its people. Phillips-Anderson demonstrates this phenomenon through examples such as the exaggerated look at local government in the fictionalized politics of “Parks and Recreation” as well as the rhetorical humor wielded by politicians, particularly Donald Trump. In the chapter, Phillips-Anderson also examines “cancel culture” and demonstrates how American comedy wrestles with free speech and accountability.
A Fulbright Experience in Romania
aith Bates ’24M, an adjunct professor in the Department of English, accepted a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. She is spending the 2024-25 academic year in Romania, teaching and assisting with practical specialized English language and American culture classes at higher education institutions while also serving as a resource on American culture and history and literary and nonliterary traditions.
Since 1946, the U.S. Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 participants from over 160 countries with the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
As a Fulbright alumna, Bates will join an esteemed network that includes 61 Nobel Prize laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize recipients, and 40 current or former heads of state or government. Two additional scholars represented Monmouth in the Fulbright semifinal round: Ausirys Alviz, a doctoral social work candidate and adjunct professor in the School of Social Work, and Cierra Spruill ’24M, a graduate of the physician assistant program.
Exploring a Smarter Approach to Sustainability
iacun Wang, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, co-published a study in MDPI’s Mathematics Journal exploring how large language models can enhance reinforcement learning for optimizing disassembly lines. The research incorporates overlooked factors—such as worker fatigue and hybrid assembly environments—into models for recycling end-of-life products. These enhancements aim to improve operational efficiency, minimize environmental impact, and promote better resource reuse. Wang co-authored the article with researchers from Liaoning Shihua University, Shangqiu Normal University, Kean University, and Shandong University of Science and Technology.
Graduate Student’s Work Published by the UN
ocial work graduate student Sophia Caporusso ’23, ’24M co-authored two statements that were accepted and published by the United Nations, alongside associate professors in the School of Social Work Anne Deepak, Ph.D., and Michael Cronin, Ph.D.
The statements were submitted by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) UN North America team to the Commission on the Status of Women and to the Commission for Social Development (CSocD). Each statement was accepted by the respective commission in advance of the scheduled meetings in February and March and are now part of the public submissions of all UN-accredited nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that were also accepted.
Caporusso co-wrote both statements as an intern with the IFSW UN team. Deepak, an IFSW UN team member, served as the lead on the CSocD statement, and Cronin, Monmouth’s graduate social work program director and IFSW UN commissioner of North America, provided feedback and support throughout the process.
Additionally, Caporusso and Deepak joined the NGO Committee for Financing for Development and participated in two of the committee’s work groups: Social Protection and Climate Finance. Deepak co-led the Social Protection group, while both Caporusso and Deepak presented on the IFSW and the People’s Charter.
Bringing Monmouth’s Music Business Model to the National Stage
oe Rapolla ’90M, chair of the Department of Music and Theatre Arts and director of the Music Industry program, presented at the 2024 Association for Popular Music Education Conference at the University of Southern California. His talk explored the conceptual framework, dynamic activities, and real-world impact of Blue Hawk Records, Monmouth’s student-run record label, offering insights on how schools can develop similar programs. The talk, which was delivered to an audience of K–12 and higher education educators, academy directors, and entrepreneurs, demonstrated how schools might develop and benefit from establishing a similar program. A veteran music industry consultant, Rapolla has collaborated with major brands, including Universal Studios, MTV, HBO, and Sony, and was one of four finalists for the Music Business Association’s 2024 Music Business Educator of the Year Award. Under his leadership, Blue Hawk Records has helped Monmouth earn a spot on Billboard’s Top Music Business Schools list since 2020, solidifying the University’s reputation as a leader in music industry education.
Exploring a Storied Military Legacy
elissa Ziobro, curator of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music and adjunct professor of public history, explores the storied past of Fort Monmouth in her latest book, “Fort Monmouth: The U.S. Army’s House of Magic.” Ziobro traces the base’s wartime contributions, its role in technological advancements, and its evolution—including the location’s newest owner, Netflix. She also highlights Walter S. McAfee ’85HN, a pioneering mathematical physicist who worked at Fort Monmouth and taught at Monmouth from 1958 to 1975. Before joining Monmouth, Ziobro served as a historian for the U.S. Army at Fort Monmouth, where she managed archives, developed exhibits, and conducted oral histories.
Leveling the Playing Field for Youth Fitness
ealth and physical education faculty Andrea Hope, Ed.D., associate professor; Tamara Rial-Faigenbaum, Ph.D., specialist professor; and Staci Drewson, Ph.D., chair and associate professor, published a service spotlight in the British Journal of Sports Medicine highlighting Monmouth’s All Stars Moving Together (ASMT) program. The cost-free school-university partnership with Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Asbury Park, New Jersey, addresses disparities in access to physical activity for minority and low-income students. ASMT provides both during- and after-school programming to increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity while offering Monmouth undergraduates hands-on experience. Since its launch in 2016, the program has evolved to include nutrition education, mentorship, and social support. The authors credited faculty, students, and community partners for ASMT’s success, emphasizing its role in fostering both youth wellness and experiential learning.
Awards & Accolades
- Corey Dzenko, Ph.D., associate professor of art history in the Department of Art and Design, was awarded the Edna Wright Andrade Grant from the Philadelphia Foundation in support of the fall 2024 exhibition she curated of Sheryl Oring’s social practice art. The exhibition, “I Wish That I Had Spoken Only of It All,” showcases the 20th anniversary of Oring’s project “I Wish to Say” and related pieces.
- Wobbe F. Koning, MFA, associate professor of animation in the Department of Art and Design, received the Best Demo Award at the IEEE CTSoc Conference on Gaming, Entertainment and Media in Turin, Italy, where he showcased the interactive VR Experience Inviting Motion.
- Nicole Mautone ’24, an English graduate, was awarded the New Jersey College English Association’s (NJCEA) Graduate Student Paper Award for the best graduate student paper among submissions by master’s and doctoral candidates from across the state after she presented her research, “Expectations and Subversions: The Semiotics of Psychological Horror in Doki Doki Literature Club,” at the NJCEA annual conference.
- Tara Pomparelli, J.D., adjunct lecturer in the Department of Accounting, won the Best Paper award at the Academy of Business Research 2024 Summer Conference for her paper “The GameStop Short Squeeze as a Case Study in Business Law Education.”
- Mojdeh Rohani, LICSW, a second-year doctoral social work student, was awarded the Council of Social Work Education’s Minority Fellowship, a program designed for individuals with career goals of providing leadership in practice, research, teaching, and policy promulgation in government and private organizations serving underrepresented and underserved persons who have or are at risk for mental health and/or substance abuse disorders.
- Recent graduates of the BFA in Graphic and Interactive Design program Natalie Rolon-Issa ’24 and Madyson Lagotta ’24 were selected as student winners of the Hiiibrand Awards 2023 (Logo Design Category). The awards, which were judged by a team of six international artists and designers, commend individuals and teams that have realized design innovation and excellent performance in the field of communication design.
- Dawn Schultz, adjunct professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education, was named the 2024 Dance Education Teacher of the Year by the New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. She was recognized for her ability to educate creatively and utilize various methodologies, present a balanced and sequential curriculum, and emphasize the significance of dance as an integral cultural component.
- Monmouth University earned first place at the 2024 Student Managed Investment Fund Conference and Competition held in Chicago, Illinois, in October. Monmouth’s fund, managed by students in the Leon Hess Business School, achieved a 45.2% return last year and is currently valued at over $600,000 in assets.
From Policy to Patient Care: Physician Assistant Student Earns Merit Award
hysician assistant student Uroosa Anwaar has been named a 2024 recipient of the Graduate Merit Award from Executive Women of New Jersey (EWNJ), recognizing nontraditional graduate students. One of 11 honorees, Anwaar transitioned from a career as a senior analyst in government health care reform to hands-on patient care, empowering individuals to take charge of their health. Now in the clinical phase of her studies, she serves as diversity chair for Monmouth’s Physician Assistant program. Anwaar holds a bachelor’s degree in biology with a psychology minor and a master’s in public health. EWNJ’s Graduate Merit Award supports women advancing in leadership, reinforcing a pipeline for future female executives.
Monmouth Professors Present on Equity in Education
icole Pulliam, Ph.D.; Vernon Smith, Ph.D.; and Tina Paone, Ph.D., professors in the Department of Educational Counseling and Leadership, presented at the International Conference on Urban Education (ICUE) in Cancun, Mexico. Their session, “Breaking Barriers Beyond Higher Education: A Twenty-Year Journey of Three Equity-Based School & Community Partnerships,” highlighted the impact of Monmouth’s Central Jersey Consortium for Excellence & Equity, Social Justice Academy, and Empowering Young Black Males Leadership Mentoring Program. Over two decades, these programs have advanced educational equity and racial justice by fostering inter-district collaboration, anti-racist training, and mentorship for Black male students. ICUE convenes over 700 educators worldwide to share strategies for addressing critical challenges in urban education.
Solving for Success: Professor Presents Math Education Research in Australia
ecihi Serbay Zambak, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, presented research at the 15th International Congress of Mathematics Education (ICME-15) in Sydney, Australia, the world’s largest math education conference. Held once every four years, ICME gathers global experts to discuss trends in mathematics teaching and research. Zambak participated in two topic study groups. For the first, mathematics education at the early childhood and primary level, he presented research developed with Lilly Steiner, Ed.D., associate professor of literacy, and Kerry Carley-Rizzuto, Ed.D., associate professor of early childhood education, examining the impact of a five-week program on parents’ support in helping children solve math problems using literacy strategies. For the second, Zambak collaborated with Michelle Schpakow, Ed.D., lecturer of science education, to share preliminary findings from their study on STEM clinics held at Monmouth. The clinics involved undergraduate and graduate students in Monmouth’s elementary education programs working on hands-on STEM problems with fourth and fifth grade students from a partnering school in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The work, conducted with Monmouth faculty and funded by the Urban Coast Institute and the School of Education, highlights innovative approaches to early math education and interdisciplinary STEM learning.
Faculty-Student Collaboration Leads to Published Study on Consumer Psychology
arissa Civitello ’24, ’25M, a recent MBA graduate, and Ashley Bosonac, a lecturer in the Department of Marketing and International Business, co-authored “Catering to the Quiet and the Sociable: A Proposal of Introversion and Extraversion as Emerging Market Segments,” published in the International Journal of Business and Social Science Research. Civitello began the research as an undergraduate Honors School student and continued it as part of her MBA program. The article explores how personality types, like introversion and extraversion, influence consumer responses to advertising and affect other business areas, such as workplace dynamics and customer engagement. The article expands on target marketing and how the method leverages human characteristics to persuade specific consumer groups.
Breaking Down Gender Barriers in Sports Toys
en McGovern, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, and Lisa Dinella, Ph.D., professor of psychology, published an interdisciplinary study in Sex Roles: A Journal of Research exploring how gender stereotypes persist in sports toy marketing. Their article, “Gender-Typing of Children’s Sports Toys Persists: A Mixed-Methods Investigation,” examines adult perceptions of which sports toys are deemed appropriate for boys, girls, or all children. The study also investigates racial stereotypes in toy marketing and how color influences perceptions of gender appropriateness. Undergraduate research assistants McKenna Douglass ’20, Lenien Jamir ’24, Elena Rosas-Azcatl ’22, and Kristen Williams-Libert ’22 contributed to the study, while Jordan Levinson ’15, Ph.D., provided early manuscript feedback. Sex Roles is an international, multidisciplinary journal focusing on gender and social sciences research.
New Book Explores Culture’s Role in Children’s Learning
obyn M. Holmes, Ph.D., professor of psychology, co-edited “Culture, Schooling, and Children’s Learning Experiences,” published by Oxford University Press. The book examines how cultural, historical, political, social, and economic forces shape children’s education globally.
With contributions from over two dozen scholars, the book explores topics such as parental ethnotheories, cultural learning styles, playful learning, and the impact of social injustices on education. The research connects to Holmes’ teaching at Monmouth, particularly in the courses Cultural Psychology and Children’s Play & Culture.
Holmes, a specialist in children’s activities and ethnographic methods, focuses her research on how culture influences development and learning. This interdisciplinary work highlights diverse perspectives, including those of Indigenous, newcomer, and underrepresented children, offering insights for educators, policymakers, and researchers.
New Book Explores Bruce Springsteen’s Musical Legacy
enneth Womack, Ph.D., professor of English and popular music, and Kenneth L. Campbell, Ph.D., professor of history and anthropology, published “Bruce Songs: The Music of Bruce Springsteen, Album-by-Album, Song-by-Song” on Sept. 23—Springsteen’s birthday.
The book offers a deep dive into Springsteen’s discography, combining historical context, literary analysis, and meticulous research. The book also includes a detailed analysis of each album, essays on their historical significance, and chronological examination of every studio song, in addition to featuring contemporary insights and rich visuals. Robert Santelli ’73, ’14HN, executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music, calls it “an essential work for everyone from fans to music scholars.”
Womack is a leading Beatles scholar, having published his research about the band with such vaunted presses as Oxford, Cambridge, and Cornell. His book, “Living the Beatles Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans,” was named Music Book of the Year at the MiCannes Awards held in Cannes, France, in June 2024. Campbell, a historian with expertise in music and cultural studies who has taught multiple courses on the Beatles and Bruce Springsteen, authored the chapter “Speaking Words of Wisdom: The Beatles and Religion,” which offers a comprehensive exploration of the Beatles’ connection to religion, drawing on philosophy, cultural studies, music history, and religious studies.
Appointments & Elections
- Jacky Bruno, a political science student and current chair of the Monmouth University College Republicans, was elected to be the next chairman of the New Jersey Federation of College Republicans.
- Priscilla Gac-Artigas, Ph.D., professor in the Department of World Languages, was named cultural ambassador by the Fondation Européenne Mihai Eminescu and the Académie Internationale Mihai Eminescu after participating in the XIII Mihai Eminescu World Poetry Festival in Craiova, Romania, in June. Gac-Artigas was presented with a diploma and designated as a cultural ambassador in recognition of her significant contributions to the dissemination of poetry in translation.
- Golam Mathbor, Ph.D., interim dean and professor in the School of Social Work, was appointed president of the North American and Caribbean Association of Schools and Social Work as well as vice president of the International Association of Schools of Social Work. For both roles, he is serving a four-year term from 2024 to 2028, through which he will help shape global social work education and policy.
- Beatris “Betty” Ortiz-Drace ’15M, a Doctor of Social Work student, was appointed to the Steering Committee of Human Rights Education (HRE) USA. The mission of the organization is to grow a network dedicated to building a culture of human rights by providing an innovative forum for HRE practitioners and supporters to learn, network, and exchange professional expertise.
- Richard Veit, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and professor of history and anthropology, was appointed to the advisory board of the MonmouthNJ 250 Committee, which is helping guide the county’s commemoration of America’s 250th birthday in 2026. He also began a two-year term as president of the Society for Historical Archaeology, the largest scholarly organization dedicated to the archaeology of the modern world (A.D. 1400–present).
Professor Explores Translanguaging in Bilingual Education
athy Wong, Ph.D., professor of TESOL and bilingual education, published an article in Language, Culture, and Curriculum examining how a novice teacher used translanguaging within the Multimodalities-Entextualization Cycle model to teach science in a Chinese dual-language classroom. The study, co-authored with Michigan State University doctoral student Vashti Wai Yu Lee, also highlights the role of teacher-researcher collaboration in lesson planning.
Wong, whose research focuses on effective pedagogies and second-language teachers’ perspectives as they support students’ learning in various aspects, was also recently featured on the Published Researcher podcast, where she discussed her journey as a teacher educator and researcher. In the episode “I Was Scared to Speak English,” she shares how her lived experiences inform her work in multilingual education, offering insights on fostering inclusive classrooms that affirm linguistic diversity.
Examining Redlining’s Lasting Impact on the U.S. Housing Market
obert H. Scott III, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Economics, Finance, and Real Estate and Arthur and Dorothy Greenbaum/Robert Ferguson/NJAR Endowed Chair in Real Estate Policy, explores the persistent effects of redlining in the article, “The Evolution of Redlining in the United States Housing Market,” published in the Journal of Economic Issues.
Despite being outlawed in the 1970s, redlining—discriminatory practices in homebuying and lending—continues to shape economic inequality today. Scott’s research examines how these patterns have evolved and proposes public policy solutions, using data from the Federal Reserve Bank’s 2023 Survey of Consumer Finances, to foster a more equitable housing market.
Scott’s recent publications also include a study on New Jersey craft brewery clusters (Journal of Wine Economics), co-authored with Geoffrey Fouad, Ph.D., adjunct professor of sociology at Manhattan College, which found that breweries that tend to cluster in key areas benefit from shared resources and customers, fostering local economic growth.
Additionally, he and Mikhail Sher, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Management and Leadership, co-authored an analysis of poker tournament chip values (Journal of Gambling Business and Economics) concluding that players reaching the final table typically start with 50% more chips than the average stack after day one, demonstrating the importance of early chip accumulation.