Honoring Emeriti Faculty – April 2019

Two faculty members were resolved as Professors Emeriti during the Montclair State University Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, April 10. Professor Kenneth H. Brook, from the Department of Anthropology in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Professor Ting Ho, from the John J. Cali School of Music in the College of the Arts, were honored at a luncheon immediately following the meeting, which was attended by fellow emeriti faculty, guests and University administrators.

Jeanne Marano, assistant vice president for Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement, welcomed the group.  “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to recognize our newest emeriti faculty members and to celebrate the contributions all of you have made to Montclair State over your many years of service. Your continued involvement is so very important to our success.”

Emeriti faculty are an integral part of the campus community, serving as ambassadors for the University and its educational mission in the community, state and nation, as well as in professional and academic organizations and activities. They serve as significant scholarly resources for the University with their collective wisdom and knowledge, sharing their expertise through professional achievements, publications and community service.

Scott Herness, vice provost for Research and dean of The Graduate School, provided an overview of Montclair State University’s R2 Designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. “Our new designation as a Carnegie R2 institution is a well-deserved validation of what we have already known – that we are a dynamic research university with faculty and students who are producing cutting-edge research.”

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Willard Gingerich provided academic updates which included information about the University’s National Student Scholarship for out-of-state students and University College “Major Madness.” He announced the newly named emeriti faculty, Professor Brook and Professor Ho, and recognized the members in attendance. He thanked those present for their years of service and added, “If you compile the years that each of you here today served Montclair State and our students, the number represents eight hundred sixty-six and one half years of service. Now that is impressive!”

Colleen Coppla, vice president for development, closed the program with an update on Soar, The Campaign for Montclair State University, which currently stands at almost $67 million of a $75 million goal. More than $23.5 million has been raised toward the University’s goal of $30 million for the leading campaign priority of scholarships. Coppla emphasized how the efforts of emeriti to spread the word and to continue participating as donors is critical to the success of the campaign.

We invite you to view photos from the luncheon, which was sponsored by the Office of the Provost and Division of Development. We look forward to continuing to host events and activities that engage our emeriti faculty at Montclair State. For more information, contact Jenna Villani, Office of Alumni Engagement, at 973-655-7872 or villanij@montclair.edu.

Please join us in congratulating our newest inductees as Professors Emeriti! Below you can read some of the focal points of their careers at Montclair State, including their years devoted to the University, awards and achievements.

Professor Kenneth H. Brook

Department of Anthropology

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Professor Kenneth H. Brook served Montclair State University for 49 years. He served as professor of Anthropology, department chair and University senator. In 2017, he was awarded the Distinguished Community Engagement Award for Teaching, Scholarship and Service for the Center for Community Engagement. The award acknowledged his years of support for programs of service learning and community engagement with generations of students. Brook is recognized as a faculty leader whose passion for social justice and unwavering efforts to assure an affordable education for a diverse student body has helped countless students, faculty, staff, librarians and specialists.

Professor Ting Ho

John J. Cali School of Music

College of the Arts

Professor Ting Ho served Montclair State University for 44 years. He served as professor of Music, chair of the Department of Music, graduate advisor, and Auditions coordinator. During his time in the University, he also acted as the coordinator of Montclair State’s academic programs in Music Theory and Composition, in which he mentored student composers and directed contemporary performance ensembles. He has been a panelist and adjudicator for and has received awards and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Music Center and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Ho is an active composer and musician, and has been designated as a Distinguished Artist by the State of New Jersey. He is the recipient of the Eastman School of Music’s Louis Lane Prize. His works have been performed throughout the United States and abroad, including venues such as Alice Tully Hall, Weill Recital Hall, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and they have been featured on Voice of America broadcasts to Asia.