Music Legends Shine on Pollak’s Stage

Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Steven Van Zandt, Sam Moore, and Darlene Love and acclaimed singer-songwriter Steve Earle were honored at The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music’s inaugural American Music Honors.

Jon Stewart hosted the event, which was held in April in Pollak Theatre. The honorees were introduced with speeches from Springsteen (who sent his tributes by video after a positive COVID-19 test precluded him from attending), E Street Band bassist Garry Tallent, and Southside Johnny Lyon. Gov. Phil Murphy was also on hand to officially proclaim September 23 as Bruce Springsteen Day in New Jersey.

Record-Breaking Success

The third annual Monmouth Giving Days, held in March, raised over $225,000 through more than 1,500 gifts in support of students, making it the University’s most successful Giving Days yet. Gifts came in
from alumni and friends around the world, including Argentina, Germany, Mexico, and New Zealand, and domestically from 38 states.

Fun Factor

A recent study by psychology Professor Robyn Holmes, Ph.D., and Tori Hart ’21 found a strong connection between adult playfulness and emotional intelligence. Published in the Journal of Play in Adulthood, the study found that people who scored highly on standardized playfulness scales also scored highly on standardized emotional intelligence tests, showing that adults who regularly engage in playful activities—however they may define “playful”—are better able to perceive, manage, and utilize emotions as well as manage the emotions of others.

Overheard on Campus

“Your… questions were absolutely outstanding. I wish when I did a press conference, I had such intelligent questions. That’s often not the case.”

– MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaking to Monmouth pre-law students via Zoom about the legal and social challenges confronting Major League Baseball.

Faculty and Staff Retirements

Four individuals whose contributions to Monmouth touched the lives of generations of students, faculty, staff, and supporters of the University retired in June.

William “Bill” Craig, Vice President for Finance

Craig joined Monmouth as controller in 1981 and was promoted to vice president for finance in 1988. In that capacity, he led the Division of Finance, which includes the accounting, investment, and treasury functions of the University including budgets, grants fiscal management, the mailroom, the University Store, the Central Box Office, the Digital Print Center, and the Office of Purchasing. He also served as the administrative liaison to the Audit, Finance and Budgets, and Investment Committees of Monmouth University’s Board of Trustees. During his tenure, Monmouth completed nearly $300 million in new construction, yet thanks to his careful financial stewardship, the University has virtually no accrued debt at the time of his retirement, an accomplishment that was recently touted in Inside Higher Ed.

Nancy Mezey, Ph.D., Dean of the Honors School

Mezey was a member of the University community for more than two decades. She joined Monmouth in 2002 as an assistant professor and coordinator of the sociology program and was instrumental in developing the sociology minor and bachelor’s degree program. She later served as the program’s director as well as a first-year advisor, curriculum coordinator and director of gender studies, chair of the Faculty Council, and associate director and director of the original Ic. In 2011, she was awarded the Distinguished Teacher Award. Mezey moved into full-time administration in fall 2014 as the associate dean of the Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the same year in which she earned full professorship, and in 2019, she was appointed dean of the Honors School.

Mary Anne Nagy ’91M, ’01M, Vice President of Student Life and Leadership Engagement

Nagy joined Monmouth’s program services department in 1986 and, following a series of promotions, was elevated to vice president of student life and leadership engagement in 1994. In that role she oversaw the areas of campus safety, conference and event services, counseling and prevention services, crisis management, fraternity and sorority life, health services, judicial affairs, off-campus and commuter services, residential life, student engagement and student center operations, transitions and leadership programs, and student support and veteran services. She also twice served as interim vice president for advancement, overseeing the areas of advancement services, alumni engagement and annual giving, development, and stewardship and donor relations. From 1991 on, Nagy managed the University’s Commencement programs, and her tireless leadership of the crisis management team was critical in helping Monmouth navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jeff Stapleton, Director of Athletics

Stapleton was an integral part of the success and advancement of Monmouth’s Division I athletics program for more than three decades. For the last two years he served as director of athletics, during which time he led Monmouth’s transition into the Colonial Athletic Association and stewarded the addition of the women’s rowing program. Prior to that he served as deputy director, during which time one of his key responsibilities was overseeing the development and construction of some of the top fields and facilities in mid-major Division I athletics. He was a key component to the construction of the OceanFirst Bank Center and Kessler Stadium, and oversaw renovations to all of Monmouth’s athletics facilities, including most recently the varsity weight room, the field hockey facility, Boylan Gymnasium, and the outdoor track.