A Treat for the Senses

To enjoy an evening of arts and excellence, the University invited members of its President’s Club to a reception on December 3 as a special thank you for their support of Montclair State University.
Held in the George Segal Gallery, the reception featured the Montclair State University Galleries’ exhibition Nothing Under Heaven. Megan C. Austin, director of University Galleries, joined the group to talk about happenings at the gallery and introduced the artist, Joseph Liatela.

The artist’s first solo museum exhibition brought together new commissions and recent works that explore the need for connection, pleasure and agency within oppressive systems. Exhibited alongside photography by Andy Warhol (1928-1987) and religious art by Carlo Dolci (1616-1686) from the University Galleries’ collection, Liatela invokes a range of stories to assess what it means to move together, remember together and repair together.

University Foundation Chair Greg Collins ’79 kicked off the formal program noting, “As members of the President’s Club, you are the core of our support. Last fiscal year, nearly 400 of you, together raised over $3.6 million in support of University priorities. Tonight, we come together to celebrate you and all that you do for Montclair State University.”

President Jonathan Koppell then welcomed guests and thanked President’s Club members for their support, emphasizing that as donors, they make a direct impact in the lives of students and a strong investment in their future. He also shared how the University is well on its way to becoming New Jersey’s premier public service institution, focused on preparing students to address today’s most urgent problems and empowering them to be leaders in the world.

President’s Club members Nancy and Bob Varettoni attended the event and appreciated the sense of community. “What impressed us most was that so many of the attendees (like me) represented the first generation of their families to attend college,” says Nancy Varettoni. “They were grateful to Montclair State University for providing this opportunity to them and wanted to pay it forward to the next generation of first-time college students by supporting the University.”

“Bob and I also have the added perspective of being parents of a Montclair graduate. Our daughter earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education at Montclair. We’ve seen firsthand how the University’s graduates continue to have a positive impact on the community,” she adds.

As part of the program, attendees heard firsthand about the University’s excellence and impact from students and faculty, highlighting the Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The Feliciano Center is a collaborative and dynamic community, bringing together innovative thinking, roadmap design, mentorship and funding, to support current and future entrepreneurs as they launch and grow their ideas.

Stevanie Rhim, a junior business student who was awarded this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year and was the first student to be a featured speaker at the Center’s annual Women Entrepreneurship Week event, shared her experiences with attendees. Rhim is the founder of Conversation Matters, a curriculum utilizing tools, such as a talk show format of interracial students, to offer a safe space to foster discussion about sensitive topics that are not often discussed in school.

“It was an honor to be the student speaker at the President’s Club event…Montclair State University is truly a university of inclusivity, innovation and endless possibilities, and that is in true appreciation of its dedicated alumni and donors who continue to support us as students and the future of our university,” says Rhim.

“Through my experiences with the Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, I have been able to connect with campus leaders, meet and converse with alumni, and make important connections that will positively impact my educational and career endeavors,” she says about her Montclair experience.

Liz Rich, director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at the Center, shared: “It was truly inspirational to be surrounded by philanthropic individuals who are also committed to providing Montclair State University students with the resources and opportunities that will directly contribute to their growth and success.”

Following the reception, guests attended the John J. Cali School of Music’s Choral Winter Concert at Alexander Kasser Theater, featuring the Montclair State University Singers and the Montclair State University Chorale. The University Singers, the University’s flagship choir, presented Highlights from Messiah, which it has the honor of performing with the New Jersey Symphony during the holiday season.

“The fact that Montclair State University is a tremendous resource and asset to its municipal neighbors was reflected in the attendees,” says alumna Barbara McCarthy ’71. “The supporters present, whether or not alumni, were unanimous in their expressions of appreciation for the cultural and artistic offerings regularly provided by the University. It is clear that the University has been doing things right in expanding and publicizing the availability of these terrific programs to the surrounding community. We encourage the community to become more involved with Montclair State University,” McCarthy adds.

View more photos from the event.

For additional information about leadership giving at Montclair State University, please contact Kara Baldwin Brennan ’92 or call 973-655-7492.