• CAC Presentation Series: “Medical Trauma: Emotional Implications and Crisis Intervention”

    CAC Presentation Series: Alumni Status

    Medical Trauma: Emotional Implications and Crisis Intervention

    Presenter: Alison Kulick, M.S., LPC, NCC, CVT

    Price: $20 for Alumni and Professionals, Free for Students

    2 CE Hours Provided

    Traumatic medical events such as illness, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures can have a myriad of emotional consequences which can include PTSD, chronic anxiety, varying somatic symptoms such as panic attacks, and can lead to the avoidance of necessary medical procedures. This presentation will discuss the physical and psychological challenges associated with medical trauma as well as therapeutic interventions which may help mitigate the emotional suffering of these potentially profoundly distressing scenarios.

    Alison Kulick graduated with her master’s degree from the Clinical Mental Health program in 2019 from Monmouth University. She has her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Rutgers University/Cook College. She is a licensed professional counselor and national certified counselor and still maintains her credentialing as a certified veterinary technician.

  • What Does it Mean to Teach Right Now – Social Justice Academy Professional Development Series

    In recognition of the current climate regarding equity in education, the Social Justice Academy will host Cornelius Minor, a well renowned Brooklyn-eased educator.

    Spring Distinguished Speaker

    Book Cover to "We Got This", featuring an illustration of Cornelius Minor in a suit and tie, standing confidently in front of the New York skyline, with a book bag held by one shoulder strap. Text on the cover reads "Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be"
    “My job as a teacher is not to merely teach the curriculum or even to just teach the students; it is to seek to understand my kids as completely as possible so that I can purposefully bend and remix curriculum to meet them.” Cornelius Minor is a Brooklyn-based educator and part-time Pokemon trainer. He works with teachers, school leaders, and leaders of community-based organizations to support equitable literacy reform in cities (and sometimes villages) across the globe. His latest book, “We Got This”, explores how the work of creating more equitable school spaces is embedded in our everyday choices—specifically in the choice to really listen to kids. Minor has been featured in Education Week, Brooklyn Magazine, and Teaching Tolerance magazine. He has partnered with the New York City Department of Education, the International Literacy Association, Scholastic, and Lesley University’s Center for Reading Recovery & Literacy Collaborative. Minor was featured in the documentary “Out of Print”, which made its way around the film festival circuit, and he has been a featured speaker at conferences all over the world. He is a dedicated hip-hop fan, and on some evenings, you can find him online saving the universe with his PlayStation or on paper saving the realm in Dungeons & Dragons. Most recently, along with his partner and wife, Kass Minor, he has established The Minor Collective, a community-based movement designed to foster sustainable change in schools. Whether working with educators and kids in Los Angeles, Seattle, or New York City, Minor uses his love for technology, literature, and social media to bring communities together. As a teacher, Minor draws not only on his years teaching middle school in the Bronx and Brooklyn, but also on time spent skateboarding, shooting hoops, and working with young people. These days, Minor is learning how to bake from his two young children, searching for an elusive pair of Jordan IVs, and is ritually re-reading all of the 1990s era comic books that he c
  • Current Status and Future of the Global Plastics Treaty (Presented by UCI, Global Ocean Forum)

    The Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI) and Global Ocean Forum (GOF) will host the webinar “Current Status and Future of the Global Plastics Treaty” on Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. EST. The webinar will assemble an international group of experts to explore the progress, as well as the failures, toward addressing plastic pollution on a global scale while assessing its various implications.

    Key points of action include identifying and addressing the stumbling blocks to treaty adoption, considering the implications of addressing the entire plastics life cycle, ensuring national commitments and transparency, forming explicit guidelines for establishing baselines, addressing international trade measures, respecting Indigenous rights and knowledge systems, and ensuring a science-based approach while endorsing a living treaty.

    Panelists will include: Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution Executive Secretary Jyoti Mathur-Filipp; Monterey Bay Aquarium Chief Conservation and Science Officer Margaret Spring; Ocean Voices Programme Head of Science Policy Research Marjo Vierros; and Center for International Environmental Law Senior Legal Campaigner (Upstream Plastics Treaty) Daniela Durán. The session will be moderated by UCI Director Tony MacDonald and GOF Executive Director Miriam Balgos. Scroll below for speaker bios.

    GOF and UCI logos

    The webinar will be the second installment of an Ocean and Climate Action series that the UCI and GOF are jointly organizing in alignment with the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development Vision 2030. The webinars aim to mobilize civil society around critical ocean and climate action identified in the report on Assessing Progress on Ocean and Climate Action 2022-2023 (“ROCA” report). The ROCA report reviews progress made on climate and ocean initiatives, making it a useful tool for discussion of strategies for achieving climate goals moving forward. Click here to watch the first webinar, “Catalyzing Party and Community Action on Ocean, Climate and BBNJ,” held in April.

    The ROCA Report identified plastics as a key issue impacting global marine systems. Thus, the second webinar will discuss the Global Plastics Treaty and explore its implications for the management of land-based marine pollution.

    The webinar is free and open to the public. A Zoom link will be provided upon registration. For questions about the event, contact Aliya Satku at asatku@monmouth.edu.

    Panelist Bios

    Jyoti Mathur-Filipp

    Jyoti Mathur-Filipp

    Jyoti Mathur-Filipp is the executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution and head of the secretariat. Prior to this assignment, she served as director at the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. She has held key roles in inter-governmental processes, leading the work on the new global biodiversity framework. With over 25 years of experience in international environmental diplomacy, she possesses extensive knowledge in environment, climate, and sustainable development networks. She began her career with UNDP and managed groundbreaking partnerships. Her diverse roles include consulting for UNFCCC and senior advisory positions at UNDP. Mathur-Filipp holds an MS and MBA and is an alumnus of esteemed educational institutions.

    Margaret Spring

    Margaret Spring joined the Monterey Bay Aquarium in 2013 to oversee its many conservation and science initiatives, including all ocean science policy work, the Seafood Watch sustainable seafood initiative and conservation research programs, including MBARI. From 2009 to 2013, she held leadership roles at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, first as chief of staff and then as principal deputy undersecretary for oceans and atmosphere. Prior to her tenure in the Obama Administration, Margaret led The Nature Conservancy’s California coastal and marine program. From 1999 to 2007, she served on Capitol Hill as senior counsel, then general counsel, to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where she advised members of Congress on ocean and climate issues and helped develop legislation on major science and policy topics. She is a graduate of Duke University Law School and Dartmouth College.

    Marjo Vierros

    Marjo Vierros is the Ocean Voices Programme’s director of coastal policy and humanities research, which undertakes interdisciplinary research on oceans issues. She is also a senior associate with the Global Oceans Forum and a Research Associate with the University of British Columbia Nereus Program. Previously she coordinated the Global Marine Governance Project at United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability and undertook research with its Traditional Knowledge Initiative. With degrees in biology, oceanography and marine biology, her career has included work with research, conservation and United Nations organizations in countries in the Caribbean, North and Central America, Bermuda and the Pacific. Her research interests include ocean governance and marine biocultural diversity.

    Daniela Durán

    Daniela Duran

    Daniela Durán is a senior legal campaigner focused on the upstream parts of the plastics treaty for the Center for International Environmental Law’s Environmental Health program. She is a Colombian campaigner, with relevant experience influencing national and international plastic policy. She worked as a public policy specialist for The Nature Conservancy, where she helped enhance the voices of Indigenous Peoples in international climate policy. She also served as a policy advocacy manager for MarViva Foundation, where she co-drafted and advocated for the approval of Colombia’s first law to reduce single-use plastic production. Daniela holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the Rosario University in Colombia, and a master’s degree in environment and development from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where she was awarded the Chevening Scholarship for global leaders and researched the frames used for plastic pollution in national policies.

    Moderator Bios

    Tony MacDonald

    Tony MacDonald

    Tony MacDonald is director of the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI). He was previously the executive director of the Coastal States Organization (CSO) from 1998-2005. CSO, based in Washington, DC, represents the interests of the governors of the nation’s 35 coastal states and territories on coastal and ocean policy matters. Prior to joining CSO, Tony was the special counsel and director of environmental affairs at the American Association of Port Authorities, where he represented the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) at the International Maritime Organization on negotiations on the London Convention. Tony also practiced law with a private firm in Washington, DC, and served as the environmental legislative representative for the Mayor of the City of New York.

    Miriam Balgos, Ph.D.

    Miriam Balgos

    Miriam Balgos is executive director of the Global Ocean Forum and concurrent project manager-capacity development specialist of a GEF-funded project on Building and Enhancing Sectoral and Cross-Sectoral Capacity to Support Sustainable Resource Use and Biodiversity Conservation in Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. Formerly associate scientist at the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware and the program coordinator of the Global Ocean Forum, Balgos led the Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy team in the organization and conduct of multi-stakeholder dialogues in integrated ocean and coastal management. Her research focused on integrated ocean and coastal management, marine protected areas, marine areas beyond national jurisdiction, and climate change adaptation. She co-authored and contributed to various publications including “A Comparative Analysis of Ocean Po

  • President’s Lecture on Music History and Contemporary America

    Featuring Acclaimed Historian Sean Wilentz Presenting “‘I Don’t Write Protest Songs’: Bob Dylan, 1963”

    Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music Announces Second Annual President’s Lecture on Music History and Contemporary America

    WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music (BSACAM) at Monmouth University is pleased to announce the second annual President’s Lecture on Music History and Contemporary America, to be held on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 3 p.m. in Pollak Theatre on the campus of Monmouth University, 400 Cedar Ave., West Long Branch, New Jersey.

    The event, which is free and open to all, will feature acclaimed historian Sean Wilentz. Wilentz, George Henry Davis 1886 Professor of American History at Princeton University, will present “‘I Don’t Write Protest Songs’: Bob Dylan, 1963.”

    As Wilentz notes, “To this day, Bob Dylan’s early work gets tagged as political or topical or protest music, despite his own protests about it. He has always refused to be categorized as a protest singer or a political spokesman or anything else other than a songwriter and performer. ‘I don’t write protest songs,’ he declared to the audience at a Monday night hootenanny at Gerde’s Folk City in 1962. Yet that renunciation served as Dylan’s introduction to his first-ever public performance of ‘Blowin’ in the Wind,’ a song that within months would become an anthem of the burgeoning civil rights movement. Although he spoke only for himself, the shifting politics of Dylan’s early output expressed a strong point of view that was essential to his emergence in Greenwich Village, perhaps the most rapid leap into genius of any artist in modern times. That development accelerated early in 1963, led to an extraordinary burst of creativity beginning in the middle of the year, and culminated in a landmark concert at Carnegie Hall on Oct. 26, the end of the beginning of Dylan’s long career.”

    Wilentz’s lecture, drawing on rare and in some cases uncirculated recordings from the time, will assess the tension and energies behind this exceptional formative period in Dylan’s art. Copies of his book, “Bob Dylan in America,” will be available for purchase and signing after his talk.

    Hosted by Monmouth University President and BSACAM Board of Directors Chair Dr. Patrick F. Leahy, this second installment in the annual lecture series comes on the heels of the release of the Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown.” In Leahy’s words, “I am so pleased to welcome Professor Wilentz as the featured speaker for our Second Annual Lecture on Music History and Contemporary America. As one of the leading voices in the study of U.S. political and social history, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music, Professor Wilentz’s insights will undoubtedly enrich our understanding of Dylan’s influence on the connections between music, politics, and the social forces that have shaped our nation’s history.”

    And as BSACAM Curator Melissa Ziobro notes, “We at the BSACAM are thrilled we can continue to bring nationally recognized scholars to our campus for the benefit of our students and the entire community, both on campus and beyond.”

    While the event is free and open to the public, advance registration is required. For group reservations, email Ziobro directly at mziobro@monmouth.edu.

  • Rings & Dragons

    Candlelight Concerts were created with the intention of democratizing access to classical music, and the space and performers are illuminated by thousands of candles to create a truly magical experience. Featuring works from Vivaldi, Mozart, and Chopin, and including tributes to Queen, ABBA, Coldplay, and more, Candlelight Concerts allow audiences to connect with the most iconic pieces of the greatest composers and listen to the top hits of well-known artists in a different way.

    The Listeso String Quartet will be performing themes from The Lord of the Rings by Howard Shore and themes from Game of Thrones by Ramin Djawadi.

  • Wine and Stein 2025

    Price: $55 (early bird pricing);

    Our annual wine and beer tasting event is back! Come raise a glass and reconnect with fellow Hawks at this beloved tradition. Don’t miss your chance to receive this year’s commemorative glass, enjoy fine beverages, savor delicious food, and experience live music in great company. Cheers to another unforgettable evening!

    Note: Price includes a $5 gift to the Access Fund, supporting scholarships for students with financial need. Registrations must be paid by the end of the business day on April 15 to secure the early bird discount. On that day, early bird pricing ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT for online payments and 5 p.m. EDT for registrations made over the phone.

    Be Advised: All attendees must be at least 21 years old to participate. Attendees must bring a valid photo ID to verify their age. Current students are strictly prohibited. Payment for registrations not kept or cancelled are non-refundable.

  • First-Time Home Buyer Workshop

    This virtual program hosted by Thomas Vogel, seasoned loan officer with OceanFirst Bank, will inform first-time home buyers on the steps needed to be mortgage ready while discussing budget creation and credit building. Included in this workshop will also be an overview of the process and documents needed, as well as information on several special programs for first-time home buyers and recent changes in the rules for real estate agents.

  • The Fourth Annual Julian Abele “Out of the Shadows” Public History Symposium (Virtual)

    Sponsored by the Public History Minor at Monmouth University

    Free and open to all

    The Public History Minor at Monmouth University hosted the first annual Julian Francis Abele “Out of the Shadows” Virtual Public History Symposium via Zoom in 2021. Free for presenters and attendees alike, the Symposium is intended as a welcoming place for public history practitioners at all levels, established and emerging scholars, and graduate and undergraduate students to share their public history work on individuals or groups in history whose legacies have been purposefully or inadvertently suppressed, overshadowed, or underappreciated. We hope to bring these parties out of the shadows and into the fuller appreciation that they so richly deserve.

    The Symposium is named in honor of pioneering African American architect Julian Francis Abele, who contributed greatly to the design of Monmouth University’s Great Hall (previously known as both Shadow Lawn and Wilson Hall). Everyone who has attended Monmouth University has personal memories of the building, a National Historic Landmark. But if you ask them about it, they are probably more likely to mention Woodrow Wilson’s brief time at the original Shadow Lawn (not “ours”), or the current mansion’s starring role as Daddy Warbucks’s home in the movie Annie than they are the fact that it was designed in large part by perhaps “the greatest American born Beaux-Arts architect,” Julian Francis Abele. Monmouth University’s Fall 2020 Museums and Archives Management Basics class sought to increase awareness about Abele’s role in the creation of what is perhaps our University’s most beloved landmark by creating “The Julian Abele Project.” Now, we hope to honor Abele’s name with this annual virtual public history symposium, designed to bring regular attention to Abele’s story and to highlight work focused on other figures underrepresented in the historical record.

  • Teaching Climate Change to Public School Teachers

    This is the first event of the Fellowship of Environmental Faculty, co-sponsored by the Institute for Global Understanding.

    With:

    • Michelle Schpakow
    • Catherine Duckett
    • Peter Jacques
  • Premier Screening of the 2024 American Music Honors (Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music)

    Featuring the Honorees: Dion, Jackson Browne, John Mellencamp, and Mavis Staples.

    And Presenters: Bruce Springsteen, Darlene Loue, Jon Landau, Stevie Van Zandt, Marc Ribler & The Disciples of Soul Band, and Brian Williams.