New & Noteworthy

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

Claeyssens Scholarship: Transforming Students’ Lives

he Astere E. Claeyssens Distinguished Endowed Scholarship was established in 2023 when Monmouth received a historic $21 million donation from an anonymous donor. The gift was structured so that $20 million was invested in a perpetual endowment to sustain the scholarship, while $1 million was allocated for immediate use to support students at the greatest financial risk.

Thanks to this strategic foresight, 52 students representing each of Monmouth’s schools received $10,000 Claeyssens Scholarships last academic year. The impact of this support for the students was extraordinary.

By the end of the Fall 2023 semester, first-year Claeyssens Scholars achieved a GPA that was 0.55 points higher than their peers with similar academic and financial-need profiles who did not receive the scholarship. This indicates that the scholarship provided both a strong incentive to excel and the financial freedom necessary to focus on academics. Additionally, the fall-to-spring retention rate for Claeyssens Scholars was nearly three percentage points higher than that of their non-scholarship counterparts.

In the coming year, Monmouth aims to retain and continue providing annual scholarships to the initial cohort of students while increasing the total number of Claeyssens Scholars to 75. By next academic year, the $20 million endowment will enable the University to disburse a full $1 million annually in Claeyssens Scholarships, further enhancing educational access and excellence at Monmouth while forever changing the trajectory of deserving students’ lives.

The anonymous donor named the scholarship program in honor of Astere E. Claeyssens, a decorated World War II veteran who served as a faculty member at Monmouth from 1956 to 1959 and 1962 to 1964. Claeyssens, who established the Creative Writing Program at Monmouth, later went on to teach at other universities, including George Washington and Carnegie Mellon, and won an Emmy in 1969 for his PBS series, “One to One.”

R/V Ocean Hawk

Monmouth Expands Its Research Fleet

Last spring, the University acquired its fastest research vessel yet, the R/V Ocean Hawk. This 32-foot H&H Osmond boat is powered by a Yanmar 440 engine and a 3,000-watt inverter for AC power. It features advanced navigation provided by a Furuno TZT14 touchscreen display with radar and a 9-inch Garmin, and radio communication through two Standard Horizon units, one equipped with an automatic identification system.

Monmouth’s fleet now includes five research vessels with a collection of cutting-edge technologies for measuring, mapping, and exploring subsurface features like shorelines and submerged obstructions. Together, these resources support research activities for students and faculty as well as local, state, and federal agencies; consulting and engineering firms; NGOs; and other institutions.

Monmouth Is Again Tops in the CAA for Academic Excellence

For the second year in a row, the Hawks’ athletics programs earned the most Team Academic Excellence Awards from the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). The awards recognize the institution with the highest collective GPA in all 22 sports sponsored by the CAA.

Five Monmouth teams—field hockey, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s soccer, and men’s tennis—took home 2023–24 CAA Academic Excellence Awards, with each team finishing the school year with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. This was the second consecutive year that the Hawks’ field hockey and women’s golf teams were honored.

an action shot of tennis player about to hit ball with racket

Monmouth Partners with Drexel and Northeastern on Mental Health Research

Researchers from Monmouth, Drexel, and Northeastern universities are collaborating on a project titled “Visualizing Mental Health and Wellness in a Time of Cascading Disasters.” The project team aims to address key challenges in higher education: making course content relevant to the 21st century, supporting diverse learning styles, and helping students navigate mental health issues during difficult times. The project will create multidisciplinary teams of visual artists and social scientists to develop a new teaching approach. This innovative pedagogy will teach students how to visually explore and represent mental health and well-being using social scientific insights into illness and health disparities.

The team’s work is funded by the Coastal Athletic Association’s (CAA) Academic Alliance through its Innovate/Collaborate (IN/CO) Grant Program, which promotes inter-institutional collaboration and research innovation by providing seed funding to projects involving multiple CAA member institutions. “The IN/CO Grant Program provides an outstanding opportunity to support cutting-edge scholarship while also reinforcing the shared values of the CAA Academic Alliance,” said Richard Veit, Ph.D., Monmouth’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.

Second Annual Gala Highlights Record-Breaking Fundraising Year

This fiscal year was another historic one for fundraising at Monmouth, with the University receiving nearly $40 million in gifts and pledges. This generous support will enhance several key initiatives including capital projects, endowment, and annual support.

A highlight of this achievement was the second annual Gala at the Great Hall, which raised half a million dollars for the Access Fund. This vital fund provides scholarships for students with unmet financial needs, ensuring that deserving students from all backgrounds can access a top-tier Monmouth education. The evening featured remarks from Olivia Fazio, a first-year student benefiting from donor-funded scholarships, and a moving tribute to former Board Chair Alfred J. Schiavetti Jr. ’11HN. Schiavetti was posthumously awarded the 2023 President’s Medal for his outstanding contributions to Monmouth’s academic excellence and financial stability. His wife and children accepted the award.

Please save the date for the third annual Gala at the Great Hall on Saturday, Dec. 7. This event will offer an exclusive opportunity to learn about the University’s plans for an upcoming significant fundraising campaign.

crowd of people gathered for event at the great hall

Gala at the Great Hall

New Initiative Aims to Improve Student Experience, Empower Student Leaders

In March, more than 70 student leaders from various campus organizations joined more than 20 administrators from divisions across the University for the inaugural Hawk Flight Plan: Conference of University Stakeholders. The daylong conference served as a venue for students and administrators to discuss ways to enhance and improve efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion; career development; student culture and pride; academic advising; campus technology; student retention; and campus planning.

The Hawk Flight Plan conference underscores Monmouth’s commitment to remaining a student-centered institution. By providing a platform for students to contribute to important institutional matters, the University not only aims to improve various aspects of campus life, but also to empower its students, ensuring they have a voice in shaping the future of Monmouth.

Global Support Fuels Monmouth Giving Days

Thanks to the generosity and broad participation of alumni and friends, the fourth annual Monmouth Giving Days was another record-breaking success, raising more than $385,000 in just 48 hours. More than 2,100 gifts came in from around the world, including Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, France, New Zealand, and Spain, and domestically from 39 states.

WMCX Celebrates 50 Years of Broadcasting Excellence

WMCX 50th Anniversary

Monmouth’s student-run radio station, WMCX, marked its 50th anniversary with a special celebration last April in the Plangere Center. The event brought together hundreds of alumni, students, faculty, and supporters and received coverage from multiple media outlets, including News 12 New Jersey.

WMCX has played a crucial role in launching countless careers in radio over the past five decades. Among its successful alumni is Karen Carson ’90, who now hosts the morning show on New York City’s WNEW. Reflecting on her experiences at Monmouth’s station, Carson told The Aquarian Weekly, “I got hired before I graduated because they heard me on the air at WMCX. So that’s how it really helped me get in the door.”

New Space Fuels Entrepreneurial Innovation and Growth

The Center for Entrepreneurship took a leap forward this year thanks to a refurbished space made possible by a $500,000 gift from the Jules L. Plangere Jr. Family Foundation. Jack Conover III, foundation trustee, visited in May to see how the transformations are helping to drive entrepreneurial activities.

Launched in 2022, Monmouth’s reimagined Center supports, inspires, and grows entrepreneurial endeavors. The new space has accelerated that mission by providing a versatile environment for collaboration, innovation, and strategic development. Students, alumni, and community members now have a dedicated area for brainstorming, strategy sessions, and collaborative projects. The space is also being used for new venture development incubation and accelerator programs as well as mastermind groups, boot camps, and small business and entrepreneurial development events that are driving economic development in the region, said Center Director Alison Gilbert.

Jack Conover III

“Through these activities, the Center is creating a robust ecosystem of support and resources for students and faculty while enhancing the Center’s impact on society and the economy,” said Gilbert.

Tuesday Night Record Club Takes Home National Award

The Association for Continuing Higher Education honored Monmouth University’s Tuesday Night Record Club with its 2023 Distinguished Program Award (noncredit), citing the club’s “originality, innovation, and ongoing success.” Founded in 2016 and now in its ninth season, the club brings music lovers and scholars together each month to discuss and dissect classic albums from across musical genres.

Monmouth Alumna Competes in Paris Olympics

Former Hawks track and field standout Allie Wilson ’18, ’19M represented Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in August. Running in the 800-meters event, Wilson finished third in her repechage heat, missing the semifinals by less than a tenth of a second.

Wilson is the third Monmouth athlete to qualify for an Olympic roster. Christie Pearce ’99, ’05HN (formerly Rampone) competed for the U.S. women’s soccer team four times at the world games, winning three gold medals. Wendy Boglioli, who attended Monmouth from 1973 to 1976, represented the U.S. at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, winning gold in the 4×100 freestyle relay (while setting the World and Olympic Records) and a bronze in the 100-meter butterfly.

Monmouth’s Community Garden Earns National Distinction

Thanks to the efforts of social work students Arely Lazaro ’24 and seniors Erin McDowell and Camryn Levy, Monmouth’s Virginia A. Cory Community Garden earned distinction as a Homegrown National Park for its commitment to biodiversity and ecosystem health. Working with Garden Coordinator Teresa Maltz, the students introduced several species of native plants into the garden this spring.

Monmouth’s community garden serves as an educational opportunity to learn gardening, sustainability, and wellness. Members of the campus and neighboring communities grow their own produce, following organic practices, and donate produce to local organizations and Monmouth County individuals and families dealing with food insecurity. The garden also serves as the site of festivals, garden-to-table cooking classes, and educational lectures throughout the year.

Homegrown National Park is a national collective movement that encourages individual homeowners, property owners, land managers, farmers, and home gardeners to plant native species and remove invasive ones.

man walking down aisle at graduation ceremony while smiling at camera and holding his diploma in the air

The University hosted six Commencement ceremonies this year, during which it conferred 882 undergraduate, 402 graduate, and 55 doctoral degrees to the Class of 2024.

OTD Program Shines with National Ranking and Accreditation

It was a landmark year for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program. Even before its first cohort of students graduated in May, the program earned its first national ranking on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Occupational Therapy Programs. The ranking reflects peer assessments of academic quality and considers factors such as location, environment, cost, financial aid, and job placement.

Last December, the program received initial accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) for a seven-year period. The achievement underscores the program’s quality, curriculum strength, faculty qualifications, and positive student outcomes.

Federal Funding Enhances Monmouth’s Marine Research and Inclusive Internship Programs

Thanks to $625,000 in federal funding secured by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., scientists and students from Monmouth’s Urban Coast Institute are working with NOAA’s James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook to study the impacts of environmental change on marine habitats and living marine resources around the Sandy Hook peninsula. The funds, which were approved in March 2024, are also enabling student interns from underserved backgrounds to engage in research activities and projects.

Sandy Hook, NJ

“This funding will allow the University to build on its excellent research reputation on coastal issues as it bolsters its mission to serve students from diverse backgrounds,” Pallone said. “[It] will also support the University’s Urban Coast Institute, so that we can better understand the impact of the climate crisis on marine wildlife and habitats.”

Through the project, scientists and students from both institutions will conduct essential research to evaluate how climate change affects marine species and their habitats in the lower Hudson-Raritan estuary, using both traditional collection methods and cutting-edge marine environmental DNA techniques. The University will also collaborate with the Howard Laboratory to engage underserved students through diversity internships that build on existing inclusive programs.

One such program is NOAA’s Inclusive Fisheries Internship Program (IN FISH), which aims to build a diverse and inclusive workforce of scientists and managers.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to host NOAA’s IN FISH inclusive internship program on Monmouth’s campus the past two years and to contribute to the important task of increasing the participation of diverse and underrepresented students in marine science,” said Jason Adolf, Ph.D., endowed associate professor of marine science. “We look forward to expanding these educational programs and research in collaboration with our colleagues at the NOAA Sandy Hook Lab.”

2024 Golf Outing Boosts Support for Student-Athletes

Thanks to the generosity of title sponsor DefinedLogic and the philanthropic support of hundreds of sponsors, players, and auction participants, the 2024 Golf Outing at Metedeconk National Golf Club raised nearly $250,000. The funds will benefit the Athletic Director’s Excellence Fund, which directly supports over 600 student-athletes across Monmouth’s 24 Division I teams, enabling them to reach their full potential both academically and on the field.

Golf Outing

Seven-Figure Pledge Bolsters Monmouth’s Kislak Real Estate Institute

In the two decades since the Kislak Family Foundation’s transformational gift helped establish the Kislak Real Estate Institute (KREI) at Monmouth, the foundation’s ongoing support has continuously fueled scholarship and development at the University. This year was no different, as the foundation pledged $2.125 million in additional funding to the University.

Of this pledge, $1 million will support the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music, while another $1 million will fund the Kislak Family Scholarship. This scholarship provides need-based financial aid to undergraduates pursuing a business degree with a real estate focus.

Additionally, $125,000 of this pledge will continue to support the annual KREI Academic Challenge, an intercollegiate real estate competition. At last May’s competition, student teams from five universities, including Monmouth, were tasked with redeveloping a section of the Carteret, New Jersey, waterfront. Monmouth students finished in second place, just behind Villanova University and ahead of Princeton and Rutgers universities and the University of Baltimore.

In other KREI news, Cynthia Daly ’00M was appointed as the institute’s senior industry advisor earlier this year. Daly, the senior vice president and head of underwriting for Four Springs Capital, has been involved with KREI since its inception. She earned her real estate certificate in one of the program’s first cohorts and has also served on its Advisory Council. In her new role, Daly will interact with students and real estate industry leaders and play a key role in several projects, including the annual KREI Leadership Excellence Awards Dinner. At this past May’s dinner, Donald M. Moliver, Ph.D., was honored as the Leadership Excellence Awardee, and Andrew W. Janiw, principal at Beacon Planning and Consulting Services LLC, was honored as the Service to the Industry Awardee.

John Kessler’s Legacy Lives on through Endowed Baseball Fund

In September 2023, Monmouth dedicated the home dugout on the baseball field in honor of the late John H. Kessler ’69, celebrating his legacy of service, professional success, and enduring commitment to his alma mater. Made possible by a generous pledge from John’s wife, Henni K. Kessler ’68, along with support from family and friends, the dedication created the John H. Kessler ’69 Baseball Endowed Fund. This six-figure fund will provide ongoing support for Monmouth’s baseball program and its student-athletes, honoring John’s passion for the sport and inspiring future players. John, who passed away in November 2021, was a Trustee Emeritus and loyal advocate for Monmouth, remaining deeply involved with the University alongside Henni.

Henni K. Kessler and President Leahy holding scissors together to cut a white ribbon

Henni K. Kessler ’68 and President Leahy

Appointments & Accolades

Patrick F. Leahy, Ed.D., was named to the 2023 NJBIZ Education Power 50 list. NJBIZ praised Leahy for his leadership during the pandemic, securing record philanthropic contributions, and implementing the ambitious “Excellence. Access. Ambition.” strategic plan. The publication also commended him for guiding Monmouth’s move to the Coastal Athletic Association and overseeing significant campus transformations, all while the University climbed national college rankings.
Tony MacDonald, director of the Urban Coast Institute, was named one of the Jersey Shore’s Most Influential People by the Asbury Park Press in the Beach Advocates category of the 2024 list. MacDonald was also appointed as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Marine Policy Center.
Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, was named to the 2023 NJBIZ Education Power 50 list as well as the 2024 NJBIZ Power 100 List. Christopher Maher, CEO of OceanFirst Bank and chair of the Monmouth University Board of Trustees, was also recognized on the Power 100 List.
King Rice, head coach of the Monmouth University men’s basketball team and a native of Binghamton, New York, was inducted into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 class.

New Hires and Appointments

Richard F. Veit, Ph.D., was named provost and senior vice president for academic affairs in April, a role he has filled on an interim basis since July 2023. Veit was unanimously selected by a committee of faculty, administrators, and students from a pool of nearly 50 applicants nationwide.

During his 29-year career at Monmouth, Veit has developed extensive leadership experience, serving as an undergraduate program director, graduate program director, faculty athletic representative, Faculty Council chair, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning director, department chair, and associate dean and interim dean of the Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences. He also recently served as co-chair of the Middle States Steering Committee.

As a professor in the Department of History and Anthropology, Veit received the Distinguished Teaching Award in 2007 and was the inaugural recipient of the Eugene Simko Faculty Leadership Award in 2019.

Nina Anderson was appointed director of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Office of Human Resources in November 2023. In this role, Anderson provides oversight of nondiscrimination policies; compliance with state and federal laws and regulations related to equal opportunity and affirmative action; investigations of violations of policies and procedures for discrimination and sexual harassment; bias incident reporting involving employees or visitors to campus; and compliance with the University’s Title IX, ADA 504, and protection of minor children on campus policies.

Amy Arlequin was appointed assistant dean of students within the Division of Student Life in November 2023. In this role, she provides oversight of the following areas: compliance with state and federal regulations involving students; cases involving students who are alleged to be in violation of the Student Code of Conduct, including violations of the University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures and the Title IX Harassment Policy; and bias incident reporting involving any student(s).

Meredith Comi joined the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute as its coastal resilience and restoration practitioner in August 2023. Comi has over 25 years of experience in designing, implementing, and directing aquaculture, oyster restoration, and living shoreline efforts. She previously served as the coastal restoration program director for NY/NJ Baykeeper from 2006 to 2023.

Peter J. Jacques, Ph.D., joined Monmouth as its Rechnitz Family/Urban Coast Institute endowed chair in marine and environmental law and policy in September 2023. Jacques has over two decades of experience teaching political science connected to environmental issues, most recently at the University of Central Florida. He is a senior fellow with Earth Systems Governance and a past president of the Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences.

Jennifer Sansevero, J.D., was appointed director of athletics in February, a role she had filled on an interim basis since July 2023. Sansevero, who joined Monmouth in 2021, previously served as the senior associate athletics director for student development and senior women’s administrator. She is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education, a member of the University’s Enrollment Planning Committee, and serves on the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity & Inclusion.

Jarred Weiss ’09, ’11M was appointed director of institutional compliance, enterprise risk management, and special projects in May. In this newly created position in the Office of the General Counsel, Weiss assists with oversight of the institutional enterprise risk management program, institutional compliance, campus community trainings, assistance with union matters, and other special projects. He previously served as the senior associate director for business in the Department of Athletics.

Cait Wetmore joined Monmouth as the head women’s basketball coach in April. 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. Wetmore has earned several accolades during her coaching career, including being named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) 30 Under 30 in 2017, a WBCA Next Up honoree in 2019, and a Top Connect selection in 2020.

Minna Yu, Ph.D., was appointed director of Monmouth’s Institute for Global Understanding (IGU) in July. In this role, she leads the IGU’s work of promoting cultural literacy and citizenship through academic and arts programs, interdisciplinary research and events, community partnerships, and service at the local and global levels. Yu, a member of Monmouth’s faculty since 2010, is a professor of accounting in the Leon Hess Business School.

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