Welcoming the Newest Alumni Association Board Members

Three incumbents are joined by six new board members.

The results are in from this spring’s Alumni Association Board of Directors voting, and six new faces will be joining the board while three incumbents will be returning to serve beginning on July 1, 2024.

New members John Amato ’73, ’80M; Ashley Beneventine ’18, ’19M; Mike Fazzino ’20; Kureé Devonne Sheard ’12; Matthew Sheehan ’17, ’18M; and Christopher Walsh ’16 and incumbent members Cynthia (Morgenstern) Daly ’00M; Jihad B. Johnson ’18, ’20M; and Samantha Stillo ’11 were elected to serve three-year terms.

Members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors serve as ambassadors for the 58,000-plus alumni family. Elected by their peers each spring, this diverse group works closely with Monmouth leadership to engage all alumni through events, volunteer activities, and fundraising efforts. More information can be found here.

John Amato ’73, ’80M

Degree: B.A. in Psychology, MSEd in Educational Leadership

Business/Job Title: Independent Education Management Professional

Activities as a student: As a student, Amato was a member of the Student Government Association (SGA), played intramural sports, and pledged and joined a fraternity.

He also served as President of Student Services, and orchestrated several campus concerts and the Arts & Letters Program, while working 32 hours a week.

Ashley Beneventine ’18, ’19M MSW, LSW, CSSW

Degree: BSW in Social Work, MSW in Social Work

Business/Job Title: Head of Guidance & Special Services at Oratory Prep School

Activities as a student: Beneventine was a lead ambassador and student ambassador for the undergraduate admission team; a new student orientation leader (2016-2018); a coach (2018-2019), president/captain (2016-2017) and founding member of the University’s club field hockey team; and was both vice president of academic affairs (2015-2016) and vice president (2016-2017) of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, where she received the Monmouth University Greek Woman of the Year Award, the Outstanding Leadership Award, and the Character and Dignity Award.

Cynthia (Morgenstern) Daly ’00M (Incumbent)

Degree: MBA in Business Administration

Business/Job Title: Senior Vice President, Head of Underwriting and Member of Investment Committee at Four Springs Capital Trust; Senior Industry Advisor to the Kislak Real Estate Institute.

Activities as a student: While pursuing her MBA at Monmouth part-time, Daly was actively engaged in many events and activities within the Leon Hess Business School, including the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society. Additionally, she was involved with the Kislak Real Estate Institute while she earned her real estate certificate.

Mike Fazzino ’20

Degree: B.A. in Communication

Business/Job Title: Admission Counselor at Pace University

Activities as a student: Along with being involved with WMCX and HawkTV, Fazzino was president of the Student Government Association, and a resident assistant for residential life.

Jihad B. Johnson ’18, ’20M (Incumbent)

Degree: B.A. in Communication, MSEd in Educational Counseling

Business/Job Title: Assistant Director of the Intercultural Center at Monmouth University

Activities as a student: In addition to being involved in intramural sports, Johnson was an EOF scholar, a senior class officer, director of events and programming and homecoming chair for SGA and a new student orientation leader. He took part in the alternative break program, was a first year advisor, and member of the Black Student Union (formerly AASU.)

Kureé Devonne Sheard ’12

Degree: B.A. in History/Political Science Interdisciplinary

Business/Job Title: Founder and CEO at Ninalem’s Party 

Activities as a student: As a student, Sheard was a charter member and first president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Tau Eta chapter and participated on the Black History Month planning committee. She was also the president of The National Council of Negro Women, as well as a member of the Debate Hawks and the African American Student Union (now the Black Student Union.)

Matthew Sheehan ’17, ’18M

Degree: B.S. in Business Administration; MBA in Business Administration

Business/Job Title: Accounting Manager at Forbes Advisor

Activities as a student: Sheehan was class president of the 2017 graduating class, served on the Student Activities Board, was a member of TKE, and served on the Greek Week Council, the Inter-Fraternity Council. He was a founding member of the Institute of Management Accountants chapter at Monmouth, attended two alternative break program trips to Guatemala, was a new student orientation leader, a student (and future mentor) in the Student Enrichment and Engagement through Mentoring Activities (SEEMA) program, and a member of the Accounting Honors Employment Program.

Sheehan, who was a member of three honor societies and served as an ambassador of the SHADOW Program, was also an office assistant in the Office of the President and the Office of Student Employment; a tour guide for the admission office; a peer learning assistant; and worked—and volunteered—as a DJ for many events over the course of his time at Monmouth. Sheehan also played on the club baseball team.

Samantha J. Stillo, Esq. ’11 (Incumbent)

Degree: B.A. in Political Science

Business/Job Title: Attorney with Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer

Activities as a student: During her freshman year, Stillo became a member of Phi Sigma Sigma and held several leadership positions including philanthropy chair, where she organized events to raise money for the National Kidney Foundation. She assisted in planning and organizing events for Phi Sigma Sigma and served as membership recruitment chair, where she led and organized recruitment events. Additionally, as a result of her academic achievements, Stillo was inducted into several honor societies, including the Greek Honor Society, the Political Science Honor Society, and the Freshman Leadership Honor Society.

Christopher Walsh ’16

Degree: B.A. in Communication

Business/Job title: Senior Trade Client Associate at Maiden Home

Activities as a student: As a student, Walsh served all four years in the SGA and was vice president from 2015-2016. Also during all four years, he was a member of the professional business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, where he was the vice president of communications and alumni affairs. During the summer of 2014, Walsh worked as a new student orientation leader and in 2013, spent the fall semester as a study abroad student at Regent’s University in London.