New & Noteworthy

Campus updates, philanthropic highlights, key hires, and more from the previous year

a group of six students gathered around a rectangular fire pit filled with blue glass rocks roasting marshmallows on sticks.

Nagy Common Opens, Strengthening Monmouth’s Campus Life

he University dedicated Nagy Common last fall, transforming the outdoor space adjacent to the Rebecca Stafford Student Center into a vibrant gathering spot complete with a firepit and ample seating. Made possible through a generous gift from President Emerita Rebecca Stafford ’03HN, who led the University from 1993 to 2003, the revitalized space enhances campus life by providing a welcoming venue for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to gather, socialize, and host events.

The outdoor space honors Mary Anne Nagy ’91M, ’01M, who dedicated 37 years of service to the University, retiring as vice president of student life and leadership engagement in 2023. Throughout her tenure, Nagy championed student-centered initiatives; oversaw critical areas such as campus housing, student clubs, and wellness services; and served as a trusted advisor to multiple University presidents. Her legacy of leadership helped shape a more inclusive, supportive, and engaged student experience at Monmouth.

The dedication of Nagy Common coincided with enhancements to the interior of the Student Center, further strengthening the heart of campus life. Together, these upgrades foster the connections and collaboration that drive student success, creating spaces that support both community and personal growth. The revitalized common area not only honors Nagy’s contributions but also reinforces Monmouth’s ongoing commitment to student engagement and well-being.

A dedication ceremony celebrated the space’s official opening, with members of the campus community gathering to recognize the impact of both Stafford’s generosity and Nagy’s lifelong dedication to Monmouth. Now, Nagy Common stands as a lasting tribute, ensuring that future generations of Hawks continue to benefit from spaces designed to promote connection, inclusivity, and shared experiences.

A paved walkway winding through a green, tree-filled area with students walking along the path in different directions.

New Program Will Expand Access for High-Achieving New Jersey Students

Last fall, the University launched Monmouth Promise, which provides grant funding for New Jersey students who meet certain financial and academic eligibility requirements so that they may enroll at Monmouth with no out-of-pocket costs for tuition and fees.

Monmouth Promise will support full-time, first-year students enrolling in fall 2025 who meet specific academic and financial criteria, including a minimum 3.5 GPA and eligibility for both a full Pell Grant and a full New Jersey Tuition Assistance Grant. Monmouth Promise awards will cover tuition and fees, with additional housing grants available for residential students.

“Making a private education more accessible is at the heart of our strategic plan,” said President Patrick F. Leahy. “Monmouth Promise is a deliberate effort to remove barriers for economically disadvantaged students so that they may benefit from being part of a supportive community with small class sizes and personalized learning opportunities, which often are transformative for students and have the potential for multigenerational impact.”

Monmouth Secures Patent for Student-Developed Flood-Tracking App

Monmouth University has received a U.S. patent for Fludz, a crowdsourced flood data distribution service developed by Raman Lakshmanan, Ph.D., specialist professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, and Ava Taylor ’23, a recent computer science graduate. The patent, granted last December, marks Monmouth’s first in nearly two decades and stems from Taylor’s honors thesis research on the lack of localized flood data and the need for a cost-effective way to track and report flooding in real time.

With Fludz, users can report flooded areas, worsening conditions, road hazards, flood depth estimates, and safe evacuation routes. The system is designed to address gaps in current emergency alert systems, which, according to Lakshmanan and Taylor, often fall short in providing real-time, location-specific flood updates. The app could help fill this void for the 167 million people in the U.S. exposed to flood risks—a number expected to grow due to climate change and urbanization. Beyond flood tracking, the technology behind Fludz could be adapted for other applications, including pollution reporting, tree disease tracking, and reservoir monitoring.

Monmouth’s Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering is also advancing another innovative project, ParkShark, an app designed to help students locate parking spots on campus. Developed in collaboration with Assistant Professor of Communication Amanda Stojanov and Gianna Piroso ’24, ParkShark uses a combination of Internet of Things hardware and software to detect and communicate parking availability in real time. The project gained recognition in Monmouth’s 2024 HawkTank Business Pitch Competition, where it split the top prize. With continued testing, ParkShark aims for a broader rollout and a potential patent filing in 2025.

Seven-Figure Pledge Supports Student Wellness and Campaign Priorities

Monmouth University received a seven-figure pledge from Tony DaRe, founder and CEO of BSI Corporate Benefits, on behalf of his company, in support of the Student Wellness Center capital project. A signature initiative of the University’s Excellence. Access. Ambition. comprehensive campaign, the project will enhance campus facilities and elevate the student experience.

BSI Corporate Benefits, a nationally recognized employee benefits consulting firm, advises organizations on cost-effective, long-term health care strategies. The company’s support of Monmouth extended throughout 2024. BSI served as a Magna Cum Laude-level sponsor of the Gala at the Great Hall, which raised funds for the Access Fund to provide scholarships for students with unmet financial need. The company was also one of the sponsors of the Monmouth University Golf Outing, which supports the Athletic Director’s Excellence Fund and directly benefits more than 600 student-athletes.

Through this broad-based commitment, DaRe and BSI are helping Monmouth advance its mission of integrating excellence and access while also promoting student well-being across the University community.

Springsteen Archives Hosts Inaugural Gospel Sing-Off

Last June, the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music hosted its first Move on Up Gospel Sing-Off on campus, celebrating one of America’s most influential vocal traditions. Five choirs and praise teams from Asbury Park and Newark, New Jersey, competed in the free event, which honored gospel’s deep roots in the Black church and its enduring influence on genres such as soul, R&B, blues, and rock. Newark-based Dale Ciceron & Psalms of Praise won the $10,000 grand prize, while Encounter Christ Global Fellowship of Neptune earned the $5,000 runner-up award.

The Archives’ Robert Santelli with Psalms of Praise

From the Classroom to ESPN

Monmouth students were featured in ESPN’s 2024 documentary “28 Outs: An Imperfect Story,” highlighting their deep dive into one of baseball’s most debated moments.

As part of Adjunct Professor Lawrence Jones’ Law and Society course, 16 students researched and authored an 82-page report arguing for Major League Baseball to retroactively award Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga the perfect game he was denied in 2010 due to a now-infamous umpire error. While MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred ultimately declined to change the official record, the students’ work caught the attention of ESPN producers, who built the documentary around their research.

Filmed in part on Monmouth’s campus, the hour-long “E60” special explored the students’ efforts alongside new interviews with Galarraga, umpire Jim Joyce, and MLB officials. The documentary aired on ESPN in August 2024 and is still available for streaming on ESPN+ and Hulu.

a filming session in a classroom setting featuring a person wearing a camera stabilizer rig filming a man speaking at a whiteboard at the front of the room

ESPN filming Lawrence Jones’ Law and Society course

Student-Run Record Label Celebrates Milestone Release

Blue Hawk Records, Monmouth’s student-run record label, released its 25th studio compilation, “Vol. 25: Signature Edition,” in December 2024, marking a major milestone for the University’s innovative music industry program. The album features seven original tracks from current student artists, all produced and promoted by students enrolled in the fall 2024 Record Label Strategies course.

two men inside a music recording studio playing guitar and drums

Blue Hawk Records

Founded more than a decade ago by Joe Rapolla ’90M, chair of the Department of Music and Theatre Arts and director of the Music Industry Program, Blue Hawk Records offers students hands-on experience running a professional music label. Open to students of all majors, the program provides real-world opportunities in artist management, production, branding, marketing, and event coordination. Each semester culminates in the release of a new album, recorded at Lakehouse Recording Studios in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and celebrated with a student-produced concert.

Blue Hawk Records has been a driving force behind Monmouth’s inclusion on Billboard’s Top Music Business Schools list since 2020. At the same time, the label has launched the careers of alumni now working at several major companies, including Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, TikTok, Live Nation, and DreamWorks Animation.

Field Hockey Earns Nation’s Top Academic Honors

Monmouth’s field hockey team earned the nation’s top team GPA among all Division I programs, finishing with an impressive 3.84 GPA, as announced by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).

The Hawks led all 57 qualifying programs, surpassing schools such as Harvard, Michigan State, and Quinnipiac. In addition, a program-best 22 student-athletes were named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad, tying for the most in the nation alongside Brown and Villanova. The award recognizes student-athletes who maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher.

Monmouth also led Division I with 12 Scholar of Distinction honorees, awarded to those with a 3.9 GPA or higher. Under 18-year Head Coach Carli Figlio, the program has now produced 233 NFHCA National Academic Squad selections.

Monmouth field hockey

Springsteen Archives Partners with Rutgers University Press

The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University has partnered with Rutgers University Press to publish a new series of books focused on American music and Bruce Springsteen’s enduring legacy.

Through this collaboration, Robert Santelli ’73, ’14HN, executive director of the Archives, and Melissa Ziobro ’04, ’07M, curator, will work alongside Peter Mickulas, executive editor at Rutgers University Press, to expand scholarship on American music. “We’re quite excited to formalize our relationship with the Springsteen Archives—the preeminent center for archival research in New Jersey on popular music,” Mickulas said.

Santelli emphasized that the partnership not only strengthens the Archives’ mission but also promises to deliver more books, author programs, and special events celebrating American music at both universities.

Civil Rights Icon Ruby Bridges Inspires Campus Community

Monmouth welcomed civil rights icon, activist, and author Ruby Bridges to campus last October for a powerful conversation titled “The Courage to Challenge Racial Injustice and Build Equity in Education.” Held in honor of the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the event filled Pollak Theatre as Bridges shared reflections on her historic role as the first Black child to integrate an all-white elementary school and her lifelong commitment to racial equity. “I really feel like my life is not my own,” she said. “I believe in my heart that I am just a vehicle and that what is happening to me is happening through me.”

Ruby Bridges

Monmouth and HMH Launch Strategic Partnership

In July 2024, the University and Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) announced a strategic partnership designed to strengthen health care career pathways and enhance student wellness. The agreement places a full-time academic clinical placement coordinator on campus to support internships and job opportunities across HMH’s statewide network.

The collaboration also expands access to after-hours care through HMH urgent care centers in Eatontown and Neptune, New Jersey, with discounted rideshare options available to students. In addition, HMH secured exclusive naming rights for Monmouth’s expanded Student Wellness Center, part of a $28 million, donor-funded addition to the OceanFirst Bank Center. The project will also feature flexible academic and recreational space and a new sports medicine facility.

The partnership includes ongoing collaboration on annual student wellness initiatives, reinforcing Monmouth’s commitment to student health, experiential learning, and success both in and out of the classroom.

Monmouth Secures NJSCA Grant to Expand Community Programming

Monmouth University’s Center for the Arts was awarded a $136,480 grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) in support of its mission to provide high-quality arts programming and cultural experiences to the community. The flexible, multiyear operational funding bolsters the center’s efforts to present a wide range of artistic and cultural events, including performances, exhibitions, and educational programs. The current Center for the Arts season includes more than 150 events.

Endowed Scholarship Honors Alumna’s Legacy, Supports Future Nurses

The family of Yih-Nan Yang ’82M wanted to honor her legacy while supporting student scholarships at Monmouth—something that was also deeply important to Yih-Nan herself. Her daughter Grace Yuan established the Yih-Nan Yang ’82M Memorial Distinguished Endowed Scholarship with a six-figure gift, which was doubled in impact by a second six-figure gift from another daughter, Beverly Yang Wong.

Yih-Nan and her husband, Jeff Yang, were longtime supporters of student scholarships at Monmouth, steadily increasing their giving for 12 consecutive years prior to her passing—always with a focus on helping students with the greatest financial need.

The new scholarship provides support for high-achieving undergraduate nursing students who demonstrate financial need. It reflects both the family’s values and Yih-Nan’s lifelong commitment to education and service.

Born in Taiwan, Yih-Nan earned a degree in accounting before immigrating to the U.S. to pursue graduate studies. She earned a master’s in computer science from Monmouth in 1982 and enjoyed a successful career in tech while remaining devoted to her family.

Monmouth Students Thrive in NSF’s Prestigious I-Corps Program

Five Monmouth University entrepreneurs advanced their business ideas through the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps), an immersive, experiential training program that helps researchers and entrepreneurs validate market needs through real-world customer discovery. Taïphane Orange ’24, Alex Mykulyn ’24, and Blake Marushak participated in the I-Corps program at Princeton University, while Alexander Kalina and Alexandria Young completed the program at Rutgers University.

Orange, a political science graduate, is developing SC, a tech-enabled matchmaking platform for personalized senior home care. Mykulyn, also a political science graduate, explored iCycle, a project focused on transforming food waste into sustainable resources. Kalina, a senior biology major, created LINK, a platform designed to help patients find compatible clinical trials. Young, a junior business administration major, is developing Dialeco, a virtual language immersion tool that helps students strengthen speaking and listening skills. Marushak, also a junior business administration major, is developing AlumLinx, a platform that reimagines how organizations engage alumni and foster lasting connections.

All five honed their ideas with guidance from Monmouth’s Center for Entrepreneurship, which helped them refine their concepts for the HawkTank Business Pitch Competition and prepared them for I-Corps.

Alumni Shine at the 2024 Olympics

Monmouth University was well represented at last year’s Summer Olympics in Paris. Former Hawks track star Allie Wilson ’18, ’19M became the third Monmouth athlete to qualify for an Olympic roster. Competing in the 800 meters for Team USA, she advanced through the preliminary rounds and finished third in her repechage heat, missing the semifinals by less than a tenth of a second. Her journey from Monmouth to the world stage cements her place among the University’s greatest athletes, joining three-time gold medalist Christie Pearce Rampone ’99, ’05HN and Olympic champion Wendy Boglioli as part of Monmouth’s growing Olympic history.

Monmouth alumni also played key roles behind the scenes at last summer’s Olympics. Todd Palladino ’96 worked as a cameraman for NBC, Greg Mescall ’03 managed media for USA Water Polo, and Erik Massimino ’15 operated graphics for Olympic broadcasts—helping bring the Games to millions worldwide.

female track athletes running on track at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Allie Wilson ’18, ’19M at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Women’s Rowing Strikes Gold

In just its third season of competition, Monmouth’s women’s rowing team captured the program’s first-ever gold medal at last fall’s 54th Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. The Freshman 4+ crew of Ashlyn White, Audréanne Gill, Juliette Freure, Ashlyn Fehr, and coxswain Audrey Copeland delivered a dominant performance, finishing 16 seconds ahead of Penn’s second-place boat with a time of 14:32.671 and outpacing teams from Drexel, St. Joseph’s, Fordham, Carnegie Mellon, Lafayette, Pitt, and La Salle. “This was the deepest field in recent memory at the Schuylkill, and it was fantastic to see how we handled ourselves,” said Head Coach Scott Belford.

Monmouth women’s rowing

Monmouth Advances Northwest Campus Development with Police Headquarters Relocation

Last July, the Monmouth University Police Department relocated to a newly renovated facility in the Northwest section of the main campus, improving accessibility and modernizing operations. Formerly the site of Alumni House, the updated space features ADA-compliant facilities, upgraded investigation rooms, gender-appropriate locker rooms, and additional parking.

The move was part of the Northwest Campus Development project, a multiyear initiative launched in 2019 to optimize existing campus infrastructure. The 11-acre project has included reconfiguring building uses, adding new parking, constructing a second driveway to the main road, and enhancing walkways, lighting, and landscaping to create safer and more functional spaces for the University community.

Monmouth Scores Record TV Exposure through CAA

Since joining the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in 2022, Monmouth has seen a significant rise in regional and national media exposure. During the 2024–25 academic year, 53 Hawks games aired on linear TV networks, including 37 produced by the Monmouth Digital Network through partnerships with SportsNet New York (SNY) and NBC Sports Philadelphia. With some games airing on both networks, total broadcasts reached 70.

The University also recorded its highest number of national TV appearances, with nine games featured on major outlets such as the Big Ten Network, SEC Network, FS2, and CBS Sports Network. Monmouth’s four CBS games ranked second-most in the CAA.

In total, 10 Hawks teams had at least one televised game, and all 24 men’s and women’s basketball home games were broadcast on linear networks.

This increased visibility supports Monmouth’s strategic goals to expand recruiting, elevate its brand, and compete on a broader stage.

Faculty Lead Teach-In Series on Civic Engagement and Social Change

As part of the DiMattio Gallery’s fall 2024 exhibition “I Wish That I Had Spoken Only of It All,” Monmouth faculty led a teach-in series exploring themes of civic engagement, social change, and artistic activism. The exhibition showcased artist Sheryl Oring’s long-running social practice project “I Wish to Say,” in which she invites people to dictate and mail postcards to the U.S. president, fostering dialogue and democratic participation.

Faculty from disciplines including history, mathematics, education, sociology, studio art, and English hosted discussions on topics such as sexism in mathematics, fostering students’ civic voices, Native American reproductive rights, and the power of socially engaged art. These events provided students and the community with an opportunity to engage in critical conversations that connected art, activism, and scholarship.

The semester-long teach-in series was part of a larger program surrounding Oring’s exhibition, which also included a performance of “I Wish to Say” and an artist talk, reinforcing Monmouth’s commitment to interdisciplinary learning and public discourse.

Sheryl Oring

Appointments & Accolades

Patrick F. Leahy was named to ROI-NJ’s 2024 “Champions of the C-Suite list,” which honors the top 140 business leaders in the state based on their “impressive achievements, strategic foresight, and significant impact on their respective industries and communities.” He was also named to the 2024 NJBIZ Power 50 Education list for his integration of the University’s five-year strategic plan to become a leader of integrating academic excellence and student access.
Tony MacDonald, director of the Urban Coast Institute, has been appointed chair of the Monmouth Conservation Foundation’s Educational Outreach Committee. In this role, he will help develop an education and outreach plan focused on environmental sustainability and quality of life, advancing the foundation’s mission to preserve open space and natural habitats.
Four Urban Coast Institute staff members were appointed to leadership roles in the newly reorganized New Jersey Coastal Resilience Collaborative, a network of over 80 organizations working to foster sustainable and resilient coastal communities and ecosystems through informed action. Tom Herrington is serving as co-managing director, Tony MacDonald was named to the board of directors, Meredith Comi leads the Ecological Restoration and Science Workgroup, and Karl Vilacoba leads the Communications Workgroup.

New Hires and Appointments

Bobbie Edgar ’07, ’17M was named director of the Monmouth Edge Program in April 2024. The student support program helps academically at-risk students transition to university life. Edgar also continues her role as a professional academic advisor in the Office of First Year Advising.

Linda Rossi, GPC, was named grant manager of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs in April 2024. She collaborates with faculty to align grant opportunities with the University’s strategic plan, oversees the grant life cycle, and implements best practices. She has 19 years of experience in grant research, writing, and management.

Kathleen Stein ’10 was appointed associate vice president of human resources in October 2024. Stein has been part of the Monmouth University community since 2003, previously serving as compliance coordinator, senior benefits administrator, director of benefits, and executive director of human resources.

Golam M. Mathbor, Ph.D., was appointed interim dean of the School of Social Work in July 2024. A professor and director of the Doctor of Social Work in Human Rights Leadership program, he previously served as associate dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and founding chair of the Department of Philosophy, Religion, and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Morgan Royer was named head softball coach in July 2024. She was an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts from 2022 to 2024, helping the team reach the 2024 Atlantic 10 Tournament semifinals, and previously coached at Marist University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Cait Wetmore was named head coach of the women’s basketball program in April 2024. Prior to Monmouth, Wetmore spent four seasons at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the last two as associate head coach, and before that held coaching positions at UNC Greensboro and Columbia University.

Milton G. Morris ’11 was appointed chief of the Monmouth University Police Department in July 2024. A 31-year veteran of the department, Morris previously served as sergeant and has been a dedicated member of the campus community throughout his career.

John Sonn was appointed associate vice president and chief information officer in July 2024, assuming primary leadership of the Division of Information Management. A 35-year Monmouth veteran, Sonn has held various IT roles, most recently as associate vice president.

Minna Yu, Ph.D., was appointed director of Monmouth’s Institute for Global Understanding in July 2024. She leads its efforts in cultural literacy, citizenship, interdisciplinary research, and community partnerships. Yu is a professor of accounting in the Leon Hess Business School.

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