Graduate Spotlights
Christopher Dudick
Degree: MA in Teaching – Art Education Concentration
Class Year: January 2011
Hometown: Fair Haven, NJ
Christopher founded Small Factory Productions, a state-of-the-art animation and production studio for kids. The idea behind it is that all children have amazing ideas and big stories to tell. He uses technology to make the children’s imaginations come to life. He created classes based on his professional experience in TV and music production.
Rachel Forbes
Degree: MS in Social Work – International and Community Development Track
Class Year: May 2011
Hometown: Belmar, NJ
Rachel was drawn to Monmouth University for its human-rights-based social work program and the fact that it offers the only MSW in International and Community Development in the state. The program has given her the opportunity to take charge of her education. Currently, she is learning and researching in Guatemala City, Guatemala, conducting focus groups with homeless youth in hopes of creating a safe forum for them to voice their opinions on the policies, programs, and services which affect their daily living.
Lauren Grobelny
Degree: MS in Financial Mathematics
Class Year: Summer 2011
Hometown: Middletown, NJ
Lauren’s academic interests include valuing options, futures, and other derivatives. Last semester she worked on a project which required research and statistical analysis in creating a portfolio of five stocks. She is currently employed full-time at ZAIS Group LLC, an asset advisor located in Red Bank, NJ. She utilizes her mathematics education background to help with database management for investor and fund related information.
Sara Van Ness
Degree: MA in English – English Literature Track
Class Year: January 2011
Hometown: Wall Township, NJ
Sara’s interests lie in studying the visual narrative, the history of the interaction between images and words in various works, and visual literacy. She always had a passion for reading and writing and for the visual arts; however, she never truly considered how she could integrate both of her passions into her scholarship until she attended Monmouth University.
