A Place to Call Home

Surrounded by family, friends, former colleagues and University staff, Lise M. Greene ’74, MA
’81, TESOL ’06 returned to campus on Nov. 20 for a dedication event commemorating her
generosity and service to Montclair State University. After stepping foot on campus as a student
more than 50 years ago, Greene maintained strong ties to her alma mater, serving as a
University employee for 25 years and recently donating a gift to establish the Dr. Lise M.
Greene Archives Research Fund in the Montclair State University Libraries.

A plaque marking appreciation for Greene’s years of service and generous support now adorns
a bench in front of Cole Hall, a meaningful spot for Greene.

“If you sit on the bench, you’re looking directly at Chapin Hall, where I spent the first seven
years of my Montclair State University career,” says Greene. “And if you stand in front of the
bench and look toward the original campus building, the president’s office where I spent 18
years is right there on the second floor.”

“This place belongs to you… because of your talent, hard work and tenacity… for everything
you offered over all these years, you are part of Montclair,” said Vice President for Development
and Alumni Engagement Rita Walters in her remarks at the dedication gathering. “You set a
shining example of the community and culture of Montclair…and we are grateful for you.”

Greene majored in English, and after completing her bachelor’s degree, she spent a year as a
graduate student in Chicago and then returned to New Jersey, working a series of part-time and
short-term jobs. Her path back to Montclair began when she saw an ad in the newspaper for
employment opportunities. She applied and secured two part-time jobs in the School of
Education – serving in the Educational Leadership Department and in the Curriculum Resource
Center, a special library for aspiring teachers.

She later served as assistant director of Project THISTLE, working with teachers in the Newark
Public Schools, and assistant to the dean of the College of Education and Human Services, now
the College for Education and Engaged Learning. In 1985, she was appointed assistant to the
president, where she worked until her retirement in 2004, serving with interim presidents and
presidents Donald Walters, Richard Lynde, Irvin Reid, Gregory Waters and Susan Cole.
“We are grateful to recognize Lise’s extraordinary relationship and commitment to Montclair
through her decades of learning, working and providing that unique gift of service that she is
known for,” says Dr. Irvin Reid. “As a student, alumna, employee and donor, she rightfully can
call Montclair home.”

In addition to her undergraduate degree, Greene obtained a master’s in counseling, human
services and guidance at Montclair, and she credits Reid for encouraging her to pursue a
doctorate, which she earned in higher education administration from New York University. She
relied on Montclair library resources to complete her doctoral research, which focused on the
experiences of African American students at Montclair from its beginning as a normal school
through 1957, the year before it became a state college. Her husband, Mark, is also an
alumnus, earning a master’s degree in counseling, human services and guidance in 1981 as
well.

Greene’s gift to establish the Archives Research Fund supports collection development and the
digitization of archival materials so they are accessible to the wider community, as well as
grants to support graduate students and external scholars in working with Montclair archives
materials.

“Technology has come a long way since I began researching in the 1990s,” says Greene. “I
hope my gift for the Montclair State University archives will enable future researchers to
discover more about this University that we love and appreciate…with the goal of continuing to
make it even better.”

View photos of the event here.