In The Know – Issue 138
Posted in: In the Know
Marc Austin Named Vice Provost and Managing Director of Montclair Unbound
Nationally recognized leader in online education will provide strategic vision and oversight for Montclair Unbound’s initiatives.
Cali School of Music’s Immersive Residency Program Gives Students Valuable Hands-on Experience
Grammy Award winning, legendary Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny is the latest artist to visit the residency program at Montclair.
Request a Library Instruction Session for your Students
Librarians are available to teach students information literacy and other research-related skills such as how to efficiently find quality resources. Two weeks advance notice is preferred.
Updates
Join Tri-Alpha: The First-Generation Honor Society
Were you the first in your immediate family to attend college or earn a bachelor’s degree? If so, we invite you to apply to the Tri-Alpha First-Generation Honor Society (Alpha Alpha Alpha).
Who can join?
- Current undergraduate students who have completed at least 30 credits and have a 3.2 GPA or higher.
- First-generation faculty and staff who earned a bachelor’s degree.
- First-gen alumni who meet the definition of a first-generation college student.
Why join?
Membership in Tri-Alpha is for life. All members receive a certificate and pin recognizing their achievements. As a member you will be able to mentor current first-gen students while networking with first-generation scholars and professionals.
Tri-Alpha membership is a mark of academic excellence, resilience, and leadership, helping you stand out to graduate programs and professional networks.
Join us in building a stronger, more supportive first-gen community at Montclair!
Apply by Friday, March 7, 2025. For more information and to apply, visit the Tri-Alpha website or email trialpha@montclair.edu.
Reminders
Your Voice Matters: Help Shape Montclair’s Future
Montclair is in the process of drafting its Self-Study Report (SSR) for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). This SSR is the central element of our accreditation efforts, and as part of it, faculty and staff voices are integral.
Faculty and staff are serving on and/or chairing the Self-Study Working Groups, which are drafting chapters of the SSR. Evidence for these chapters comes from established databases, university processes, policies and procedures, and reports generated across all divisions and units at Montclair. We invite you to participate in focus groups to help us move this process forward.
Register for a staff or faculty focus group session. If you cannot attend these focus groups, future opportunities for participation and feedback will occur.
Staff sessions:
- Tuesday, March 4, 2:30-4pm
- Wednesday, March 5, 9:00-10:00 am
Faculty sessions:
- Tuesday, March 4, 9:00-10:00 am
- Tuesday, March 18, 3:00-4:30 pm.
Sustainability Survey
The Office of Sustainability invites you to participate in our survey to better understand your knowledge of sustainability and your experience regarding sustainability at Montclair. Your answers will help improve our performance, ensuring that Montclair remains a leader in campus sustainability. When you submit the survey, you will be offered the chance to opt in to a prize drawing.
Faculty and Staff Commencement Registration
Spring 2025 Commencement exercises will be held on Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8 at Prudential Center in Newark. Advanced registration is REQUIRED for all faculty and staff attending Commencement. There are two registration forms depending if you are a staff member working the event or a faculty or staff member participating in the academic processional. Registration will close on Monday, March 31. Due to event coordination needs, faculty and staff MUST register by this deadline—late registrations will not be accepted. For more information visit the commencement website or email officeofspecialevents@montclair.edu.
In The News
(Articles may require a subscription to view)
- Jason Williams (Justice Studies) was featured in this NJ Spotlight News article talking about police accountability legislation in New Jersey. He is also cited by USA TODAY discussing grants supporting the preservation of historic black churches.
- Stephanie Silvera (Public Health) appeared on this NJ Spotlight segment discussing NIH Medical funding cuts and protecting yourself against the flu.
- Arnold Korotkin (Social Work) was mentioned in this Northjersey.com article discussing Clifton’s oral history project and the importance of preserving the stories of longtime residents.
Kudos
- To Darius Edwards (Office for Social Justice and Diversity), who received the Sawubona Award in the Mentorship category by the Pan African Network of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), at the 2025 ACPA Annual Conference. This award honors those who serve as transformational leaders, fostering growth and support for students, faculty, and staff of African diasporic descent in higher education.
- To Tarika Daftary-Kapur (Justice Studies), who will be presenting her research on re-sentencing and release of juvenile lifers at a Second Look Summit in Lincoln, NE. She will also be meeting with legislators in Nebraska to discuss second chance legislation that is being introduced in the upcoming legislative session.
- To Patricia Virella (Educational Leadership), who is serving as the National Chair of the American Educational Research Association’s Educational Change Special Interest Group (SIG).
- To Shevaun Gray (Communication and Media), who received a nomination from the Children & Family Emmys in the category “Outstanding Preschool Series.” This is her third Emmy nomination for her work as the Supervising Producer of “Blue’s Clues & You!”
- To Roman Liera (Educational Leadership), is a recipient of the 2025 Emerging Scholar Award from the American Educational Research Association Educational Change Special Interest Group (SIG).
- To Jin-A Choi (Communication and Media), who was featured on SAGE Publication as an expert voice on social media influencer effects. Dr. Choi discusses the efficacy of social media platforms for influencer endorsements, including research methods used, challenges faced, and key takeaways.
- To Maria Castillo (University Facilities, Bloomfield), who became a United States citizen and for taking the Oath of Allegiance on February 11, 2025. Maria worked very hard to attain this amazing goal.
Social Media Post of Note
No matter how many times I go up the commuter stairs, I don’t think I will ever get used to them
Photo of the Week
Institutional Excellence Summit – University Photographer: John LaRosa
Quick Links
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.