Partnering for progress

In partnering with Montclair State University as one of the higher education institutions it supports, the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation is helping make the college journey more accessible for students with disabilities. The Montclair State University Foundation received a generous grant for the 2024-25 academic year in support of scholarships for students with disabilities.

Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation Executive Director Gianna Durso-Finley and Associate Executive Director Lindsey Bohra visited the Montclair campus in November, hearing from Montclair leadership including President Jonathan Koppell, Vice President of Student Development and Campus Life Dawn Meza Soufleris and Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Margaree Coleman-Carter, who expressed their gratitude for the Foundation’s support of Montclair students and how it reinforces the University’s commitment to ensuring that students with disabilities can fulfill their highest potential in a responsive, accessible and inclusive community at Montclair.

“For over 40 years, the Newcombe Foundation has partnered with institutions to intentionally support student populations that have been underserved by traditional models of funding and student services,” says Durso-Finley. “Montclair State University epitomizes the positive impact that can be achieved through faculty and staff working together to understand the diverse needs of nontraditional students – and then developing programs and services to deeply engage with students to promote their success. The Newcombe Trustees are honored to fund scholarships at Montclair and at Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, knowing that the students are well supported and strongly positioned to achieve their goals.”

“We are immensely grateful to be part of the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation family and to partner with the Foundation to continue Mrs. Newcombe’s inspiring legacy,” says Meghan Hearns, director of the Disability Resource Center. “Mrs. Newcombe was a trailblazer in a time when access to education was severely limited. Her selfless dedication to increasing access aligns with the Disability Resource Center’s mission.”

“Our students’ academic success and their desire to ‘be the change they want to see in society’ in their emerging professions, ensures her legacy continues for generations to come,” says Hearns.

Foundation leadership also met some of the scholarship recipients who benefited from the Foundation’s support and visited the Sensory Space at Sprague Library, a unique space designed to create a safe, comfortable environment for individuals with particular sensory needs.

“With the financial support from the Newcombe Scholarship, I am able to continue my education so I can become a counselor for those who struggle with learning disabilities and/or mental illness,” says senior Gabby Brescia, a Psychology major.

“Unfortunately we can’t guarantee people with disabilities never face discrimination, but what we can control is the support and resources we give,” says Brescia. “I want to be a part of this change…and with this scholarship support, I know I will be able to make the difference.”

The Disability Resource Center assists students in receiving the accommodations and services necessary to equalize access, providing assistance to students with physical, sensory, learning, psychological, neurological, and chronic medical disabilities.‌ The Center also provides a variety of resources for additional support in and out of the classroom, including academic coaching, testing referrals, specialized academic advising, career development and planning.

The Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation is a private foundation located in Princeton, NJ and has awarded grants for scholarships and fellowships in higher education since 1981.

The Newcombe Foundation has a long history with Bloomfield College, providing a scholarship for mature students for more than 30 years, as well as an endowment that continues to provide support for Bloomfield College of Montclair State University students. Montclair received the Scholarships for Students with Disabilities grant for the first time in 2023 and received the second award for the 2024-25 academic year.