Doug Tallamy’s presentation on January 23rd, 2024 was a strong start to the 2024 Climate Crisis Teach-In with more than 400 enthusiastic people attending the presentation.

Doug outlined how regular citizens could impact both the ecological crisis and the climate crisis. There are more than 44 million acres of turf grass in the U.S. today, an area larger than New England. Turf grass is the worst plant choice for fighting climate change because it is the worst option for sequestering carbon. Our parks, preserves, and remaining wildlands are too small to sequester the amount of carbon needed to impact climate change. Moreover, they are also too small and separated from one another to sustain the native trees, plants, insects, and animals on which our ecosystems depend. These systems must be resilient if we are to have climate resiliency. We now must store carbon outside of parks and preserves, largely on private property, where we live, work, shop, and farm. Thus the concept for Homegrown National Park: a national challenge to create diverse ecosystems in our yards, communities, and surrounding lands by reducing lawn, planting native plants, and removing invasive plants, and, in so doing, fight the biodiversity crisis and climate change simultaneously. Doug introduced the concept of keystone plants, plants that support such a diversity of insects and other animals that they hold up large parts of a food web. Examples he gave were: Oaks, birches, native cherries, blueberries, goldenrod, native asters, black-eyed susan, Coreopsis.

Doug ended the presentation with the request that we each go out and plant a native and ecologically keystone tree this year and that we encourage our friends and neighbors to consider removing some lawn and adding native trees, shrubs and flowers in the space where the lawn was. In the question and answer period he outlined how creating soft landings for insects that eat leaves as larvae and need safe places to pupate in leaf litter under trees. Perennial plantings of shrubs and shade tolerant flowering plants under trees help insects complete their life cycles. He emphasized that healthy plant populations promote healthy insect populations which are necessary for healthy bird and mammal populations as well. And after the presentation was over Doug signed at least 100 books.

For the Teach-in we are proud to collaborate with other units within Monmouth University and with external partners to increase the impact and relevancy of the events; the climate crisis will not be solved by science alone. However, the interest from external partners in Doug’s talk was phenomenal! The Native Plant Society of Monmouth County, The Monmouth University Community Garden and the Monmouth Conservation Foundation all had tables prior to the event. The NJ Department of Environmental protection also contacted us to see if we would document attendance for Community Forestry Continuing Education Units (CEU’s); in the end 50 people earned one CEU for attending his talk. Monmouth Conservation Foundation also sponsored a well attended reception after the where vigorous discussion of planting plans and future projects proceeded until quite late.

The presentation was filmed by the Monmouth University Production Services and is available on vimeo

On Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, at 7 p.m. in Pollak Theatre

The School of Science is proud to host best-selling author Doug Tallamy, Ph.D., professor of Entomology at University of Delaware and author of Nature’s Best Hope and the Nature of Oaks will present on what you can do in your own yard or balcony to fight climate change, create climate resiliency, and create beauty in your own backyard. Fighting Climate Change at Home: Homegrown National Park will present listeners with a road map on how to fight climate change and create a more ecologically resilient landscape.

Today, there are more than 44 million acres of turf grass in the U.S., an area larger than New England. Turf grass is the worst plant choice for fighting climate change because it is the worst option for sequestering carbon. Our parks, preserves, and remaining wildlands—no matter how grand in scale—are too small to sequester the amount of carbon needed to impact climate change. Moreover, they are also too small and separated from one another to sustain the native trees, plants, insects, and animals on which our ecosystems depend. These systems must be resilient if we are to have climate resiliency. We now must store carbon outside of parks and preserves, largely on private property, where we live, work, shop, and farm. Thus the concept for Homegrown National Park: a national challenge to create diverse ecosystems in our yards, communities, and surrounding lands by reducing lawn, planting natives, and removing invasive plants, and, in so doing, fight the biodiversity crisis and climate change simultaneously. 

The talk will be followed by Q&A and a book signing and a reception. The public is encouraged to bring their own copies of Tallamy books for signature. This will be the first presentation of the 2024 Climate Crisis Teach-in and the School of Science. This event is co-sponsored by the Schools of Social Work and the Leon Hess School of Business. The reception is co-sponsored by Monmouth Conservation Foundation.

Parking is available to the public in the Main Campus Lot. One Community and Urban Forestry CEU is also available for attendance at this event, (with sign in).

Dr. Bernadette Dunphy steps down after nearly 15 years of involvement with Pre-Health Advising at Monmouth University.

Dr. Dunphy (DPT) is currently a Senior Specialist Professor in Biology teaching Anatomy and Physiology and Biology First Year Seminar. Dr. Dunphy is Owner, Director, and Clinical Coordinator of Dunphy’s Physical Therapy in Red Bank, New Jersey.  She has have been in involved in Pre Health Advising since 2010.   She was on the PHA committee for three years.  She moved on to Co –Director for next two years. For the last eight years, Dr. Dunphy has been Director of Pre Health Advising. Under her direction four affiliation agreements were initiated or renewed, seven new student clubs for students interested in pre-health careers were created, new internship and scribe opportunities for students were identified, and many, many students received thoughtful letters of recommendation from Dr. Dunphy.

We thank Dr. Dunphy for her many years of fine service to our students and all of her accomplishments!

Monmouth University will now be using a committee model in our pre-health advising. Drs. Catherine Duckett, Dottie Lobo and Jonathan Ouellet from the School of Science are joined by Dr. Polina Amburg and Specialist Prof. Stephanie Lynch. Donna Volpetti will continue with her administrative support of the program under the direction of Interim Director Duckett.

In her own words: After graduating from Monmouth , I pursued an MS in Physician Assistant Studies at Thomas Jefferson University. Prior to applying to graduate school, I worked as a medical assistant in a cardiology clinic that saw approximately 500 patients daily for around 2 years. During this time, I gained valuable hands-on patient care experience and deepened my exposure to medicine. I was fortunate to be the first medical assistant onboarded into a cardio-oncology program within the same company, allowing me to work closely with patients and their cardiovascular and oncology treatments.

I began my journey as a Physician Assistant at a COVID testing center in Princeton, NJ, where I served as the sole provider overseeing 3-4 medical assistants. At the peak of testing, we were handling an average of 120-140 patients daily. Later, I transitioned to my first full-time position in a specialized vascular and facial palsy surgical office. Here, I pursued my interest in becoming a surgical Physician Assistant, working in collaboration with Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Ear Eye Nose Throat Hospital in New York City. As the sole advanced practice provider in the office, I had the opportunity to gain extensive hands-on skills and exposure that exceeded my expectations. This included 1st and 2nd assisting in surgeries, post-op discharges and follow-ups, international telemedicine consultations, in-office laser procedures, and administering Botox injections. Approximately a year later, I took a position in an urgent care setting, where I continue to work today, seeing an average of 40-70 patients as the sole provider at the office. During my career as a PA, I explored other avenues, including working as a sub-clinical investigator. This experience was incredibly insightful, allowing me to work with an extremely knowledgeable dermatologist and clinical investigators in a different area of medicine.

Currently, I have successfully completed an intensive 24-week full-stack software engineering program in preparation for a career as a software engineer/software developer. I made this decision after recognizing the integration of technology into our healthcare system and observing the vital role played by software and programs such as Electronic Medical Records/Electronic Health Records (EMR/EHR) in providing and tracking care. I felt there was significant room for improvement, sparking my interest in creating change and making an impact in this field. Balancing a full-time school schedule while juggling two part-time jobs as a physician assistant was challenging, but having completed my program successfully, I now have a stronger sense of drive and motivation. My plan is to apply my software engineering degree to the emerging healthcare/tech field!

My experience and education at Monmouth University have prepared me for continuous education and exploration of my curiosity. During my time at Monmouth, I actively participated in various clubs and activities, including serving as a peer mentor for both the honors school and the school of science. This allowed me to strengthen my ability to guide and teach aspiring students by sharing my knowledge and experience. Additionally, my three years as a research assistant instilled in me the determination to persevere, even when research did not go as expected, and helped me become more comfortable with public speaking through symposiums and presentations to colleagues, professors, and industry professionals in the field of science. Monmouth University provided me with numerous opportunities to express myself and push my boundaries, which I will continue to leverage in my future careers and endeavors.

When I’m not working in the clinic or coding, I enjoy challenging myself with various activities such as running, hiking, and snowboarding. Whenever the weather is good, you will definitely find me outdoors. On days when I prefer to stay in, I enjoy cozying up inside with a good book or spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking.

Nov. 10, Friday at 11 am in Edison 201, Dr. Mary Grace Baker will present “Food Allergy: Current Understanding and Hope for the Future”.

Dr. Mary Grace Baker MU’10 is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Allergy & Immunology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She attended Monmouth University for her undergraduate studies, where she was enrolled in the Honors School, majored in Spanish, and completed her pre-medical coursework. She then earned her medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Dr. Baker went on to pursue her residency training in Internal Medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital, where she graduated with the Clinician Educator Distinction. She then completed her fellowship training in Allergy & Immunology and MS in Clinical Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Baker sees patients with a variety of allergic conditions, with expertise in food allergy and food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES). She also oversees clinical trials aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of food allergy and FPIES and enjoys mentoring trainees interested in research.