New Home for the Hawks

Henni Kantor Kessler & John H. Kessler Stadium, the new $16 million facility that is home to more than half of the university’s student athletes, opened in style on Sept. 2 when the football team defeated Lafayette, 31-12. Made possible by a generous gift from Henni ’68 and John ’69 Kessler, the stadium features more than 4,200 seats, including 800 chair-back seats; a full concourse with concession stands; a state-of-the-art press box; and multimedia and coaches’ booths.

The facility also features a 1,855-square-foot Panasonic HD LED video display board thanks to a grassroots fundraising effort spearheaded by football alumni and supporters. More than 100 former players, Touchdown Club members, and friends of the program rallied to raise $750,000 for the mammoth display, which was named The Football Alumni Scoreboard in honor of the group’s efforts.

Mission and Tradition

The annual Founders’ Day Convocation was highlighted this year by the investiture of Grey J. Dimenna, Esq. as the ninth president of Monmouth University. During the ceremony, Henry D. Mercer, III ’87, immediate past chair of the board, received an honorary Doctor of Public Service in recognition of his dedication to the university; William Elliott ’95M received the Distinguished Alumni Award; and John K. Lloyd, co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, received the Maurice Pollak Award for Distinguished Community Service.

Movin’ On Up

The university climbed 10 places in the latest U.S. News & World Report annual ranking of “America’s Best Colleges,” landing at No. 28 out of the 196 institutions that share the category “Regional Universities North.” Monmouth was also named one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education by the Princeton Review (The Best 382 Colleges—2018 Edition) and was featured in Money magazine’s “Best Colleges for Your Money 2017” list.

22

The number of students Monmouth welcomed in the inaugural class of the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership program this fall. It’s the university’s second doctoral degree granting program.

This one goes to II

Ken Womack, dean of the Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, published Maximum Volume: The Life of Beatles Producer George Martin, The Early Years, 1926–1966. This first-ever biography of Martin is part of a planned two-book series by Womack, who is a world-renowned authority on the Beatles and their enduring cultural influence.

Three-peat

Monmouth won its third consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Overall Commissioner’s Cup for the 2016–17 academic year. The award symbolizes overall excellence in athletics in the 25 championship athletic events conducted within the MAAC. During the 2016–17 campaign, Monmouth won the field hockey, women’s indoor track and field, men’s tennis, and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field championships.

Some great PR

The Public Relations program received the Award for Certification in Education from the Public Relations Society of America in October, making Monmouth one of three schools in the state, and one of only 50 in the U.S., to earn such a distinction.

You Read It Here First

Assistant Professor Melissa Febos’ latest book, Abandon Me, which we excerpted in our spring issue, received a social media shout-out of epic proportions from actress Emma Roberts. The American Horror Story star, who co-created the online book club Belletrist, shared Febos’ book with her 11 million Instagram followers.

Perfect

The first graduating class of Monmouth’s Physician Assistant program had a 100 percent pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam last spring.

Green Power

The Environmental Protection Agency recognized Monmouth as the largest green power user in the MAAC for academic year 2016–17. The university’s sustainability practices and achievements have ranged from installing one MW of solar power, purchasing green power, retrofitting lighting in campus buildings and parking lots, upgrading old mechanical equipment, and practicing effective energy management.

Codey’s on Campus

Former New Jersey Gov. Richard J. Codey was named as the university’s 2017–18 Public Servant-in-Residence. Throughout the academic year, he will give lectures on the importance of public service and mental health policy, and participate in public events on campus during the fall and spring semesters. Codey served as governor from 2004 to 2006, and is the longest serving state legislator in New Jersey history.

Fulbright Scholar Award

Professor of Political Science Rekha Datta is spending a portion of this academic year in India as the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Award in Teaching and Research. She will be researching global governance, local and cultural norms, and gender-based violence in India.

Expanding in the region

Monmouth University and the Borough of Rumson unveiled plans to develop a new Monmouth Marine and Environmental Field Station on the banks of the Navesink River. The facility will provide unique opportunities for scientific research and educational collaboration between the professionals and students of the university and local schools.

Fin

Professor Keith Dunton and students from the School of Science tagged sand tigers, sandbars, and other sharks and stingrays along the New Jersey coast as part of a summer research project funded through the UCI’s Marine Science and Policy Initiative. Their work will help shed new light on the behaviors, movements, and diets of these migratory predators, as well as the demographics of the sharks and rays near the Jersey Shore.

 

Top Photo: Karlee Sell/Monmouth University Athletics