In the Know – Issue 89

Honoring MLK by Serving Others

Montclair’s 10th annual MLK Day of Service mobilizes University volunteers to honor the Civil Rights leader’s legacy.

The Winter 2024 Issue of Montclair, the University Magazine is Here

Read stories about the University – from our partnership with Paterson to the successful paths of our students and alumni.

WMSC Earns a Record 16 Nominations for the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Awards

“The Voice of Montclair State University” is nominated in 16 categories including, “Best College Radio Station” and “Best Specialty Show.”

In the News

• President Jonathan Koppell appeared on the 50th episode of the Lost in Jersey podcast sharing his perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing higher education, as well as all of the exciting things taking place on campus. He was also featured in the Washington Monthly’s “Higher Ed Q&A” special advertising section, discussing social mobility and how higher education institutions can help students of modest means.
• CEEL doctoral candidate Sara Wasserman was interviewed by local ABC affiliate News 10 in Albany about her work with the Students Together Opposing Prejudice (STOP) Conference, organized by the Anti-Defamation League.
• A recent article in JSTOR Daily about British hunters in 19th-century India features an interview with and discusses research by Ezra Rashkow (History).
• Cortni Borgerson (Anthropology) is featured in the BBC Earth “Our Planet Earth” series, which spotlights people and communities dedicating their lives to building a more sustainable world.
• Bond Benton (Communication and Media) and Daniela Peterka-Benton (Justice Studies) are quoted in an article by global news agency AFP about online retailer Etsy being targeted by child trafficking conspiracy theories; the article was republished by Yahoo! Finance and other outlets.

Important Updates

• The Executive Board of the University Senate is gathering feedback on making significant changes to the academic calendar. The survey links to a draft calendar to review. Responses will be collected until Friday, February 2.
• Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, and Student Development and Campus Life have developed a campaign to raise awareness of the behaviors and actions that strong students develop and implement regularly. The Office for Faculty Excellence web pages and workshops offer pedagogical strategies to support strong students throughout the semester and every week. Support the Be a Strong Student campaign by utilizing the slides that are available to download and customize. Use ONE slide each week, projecting it on-screen as students enter class. See Strong Student Campaign for more information.
• Faculty and staff are invited to submit publications to be entered in the University Authors Recognition Program. Published monographs, textbooks, exhibit catalogs and/or produced creative endeavors resulting in CDs or DVDs in 2023 or 2024 are eligible. To submit publications, use this form. For media (CDs, DVDs), use this form. Submission deadline is January 31, 2024. Publications will be listed in Montclair State University Digital Commons. For questions, contact Paul Martinez, martinezp@montclair.edu.
• The email listservs “For Sale,” “Campus” and “Discuss” are now opt-in only. All members have been unsubscribed and to participate you need to re-subscribe. In addition to changing subscriptions from opt-out to opt-in, please see below for the purpose of each list.
  • Campus: employees may share University events and similar information of broad general interest to faculty and staff.
  • For Sale: employees may post items they want to sell or give away, but this list is strictly for occasional personal use. It may not be used to promote a private business.
  • Discuss: employees may use this forum for the open exchange of views on a wide variety of topics.

Upcoming Events

• Instructional Technology and Design Services (ITDS) invites you to Fridays with ITDS on January 26 at 11 a.m. for a conversation with Christopher Donoghue (Sociology) about how leveraging technology and practicing a pedagogy of care can foster a sense of belonging in your classroom that addresses student needs, creating more supportive learning environments.
• On Friday, February 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the Global Center on Human Trafficking at Montclair will hold its 2nd Annual Legislative Breakfast and Smith/Wellstone Award Ceremony. This year’s breakfast will examine the issue of safe, affordable, and appropriate shelter and housing for survivors of human trafficking in New Jersey. Experts, lawmakers, policymakers and those with lived experience will discuss the challenges and gaps in housing and the impact on survivors’ recovery and reintegration.
• Save the date for Occupational Health’s blood drive on Wednesday, February 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The blood drive will take place in Student Center Ballrooms B and C. Registration information to follow.

Reminders

• Take advantage of the State Employee Discount Program with access to discounts in various categories.
• Worried about a student’s well-being? Please fill out a CARE Report form to connect students to mental health support and resources. Faculty and advisors can complete an alert via Navigate for academic concerns.
• EMS has installed hemorrhage/bleeding control kits and Narcan in Automated External Defibrillator (AED) cabinets on campus and is offering training sessions on how to use the hemorrhage control and Narcan kits. If you or your department would like to participate in these training sessions, contact EMS at 973-655-7836 or ems@montclair.edu.
• Did you know the Center for Writing Excellence is open to all University employees? The center provides free, confidential appointments for feedback on all types of writing including professional documents, emails, memos and improving general writing skills. In-person and virtual appointments are available.
• Land on a broken link or dead end on montclair.edu? Report your experience here.
• The new University Calendar is here. Powered by the University’s room booking system, 25Live, all event listings should be entered here. Still need training? Register for online or in-person training.

Support for Staff and Faculty

• The Employee Assistance Program provides free, confidential support services for employees and their families – including locating resources for substance abuse, mental health and self-help. For more information, view the CONCERN brochure.
• If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988, the nationwide 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Kudos

• To the Global Center on Human Trafficking for being awarded the Most Supportive of Anti-Trafficking Efforts in New Jersey – School/Educator Award at the Survivors are Thriving 2024 Recognition Breakfast.
• To Christabelle Robinson (College of Humanities and Social Sciences), who was awarded the Most Impactful Survivor Leader in New Jersey in recognition of her efforts to create sustainable survivor-led practices and programs nationally.
• To Donna Duardo (Nutrition and Food Studies), who was honored with the 2023 Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors North East Region Outstanding Dietetic Educator Award in the Registered Dietician Nutritionists – Dietetic Internship category.
• To Daniel Jean (EOF and Academic Success), who was selected to participate in the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions fourth cohort of MSI Aspiring Leaders.
• To Dave Bryngil (Campus Recreation and Intramural Sports), who served as a presenter at the NIRSA Region 1 Conference. Bryngil’s presentation was titled “The Long Strange Trip: Examining Your Career Journey.”

Social Media Post of Note

Have an item you’d like included in Kudos or Reminders? Want to nominate a staffer for our spotlight? Use this form to tell us. Read more about our people and programs in the University News Center and in back issues of In the Know. And find out what’s happening on campus in the Events Calendar.