Melissa Thomas has been an invaluable resource and contributor to the new 3D Sculpture program at Monmouth University. As a lab tech, she balances seamlessly between the digital and handmade arenas. Already functioning at a professional level, Missy is one of a new breed of creative technologists—the kind who are able to operate 3D printers and any Adobe program while still making clay by hand. As with any creative technologist, she is constantly open to learning new methods and tools, and applying them in innovative ways. When something is not working properly, she researches the issue and often solves it on her own. In the classroom, Missy produces high-quality work and helps foster a collaborative and positive environment throughout the arts community at Monmouth. She has brought these qualities into her leadership role in the Monmouth Review Club, where she served as club president during the 2016-2017 academic year.
During his time at Monmouth University, Hunter Farman, ’17, was very active with The X. He was a national finalist for a Best On-Air Personality Award, and got to interview some of the biggest names in the business.
Since graduating, Farman went on to work with 107.1 The Boss in Neptune, NJ. He was able to seamlessly continue his college radio career directly into the professional arena upon graduation.
“I would not be there today had it not been for everything that I did during my time here at The X. People thought I was crazy for waking up two or three times a week at 5:30 a.m. to go live for X and breakfast at 6 a.m. People thought I was crazy for being on-air three, four, five, six times a week. But I did it because I love it, and I did it because I’m serious about pursuing it. I don’t know what the future holds, but for now, my experiences with The X have paid off,” he added.
Farman’s advice to current Monmouth students is to make the most of their time in the program.
“If you really want to do this, you need to put in the time, and you need to put in the effort,” Farman added.
HUNTER FARMAN, ’17
Degree: B.A. Communication/Radio/TV
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px ‘Times New Roman’} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px ‘Times New Roman’} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px ‘Times New Roman’; min-height: 15.0px}
Mark is currently the Program Director and Morning Drive Host at WRXQ Q Rock 100.7 in Chicago. He got his start in radio at Monmouth University’s student-run radio station, WMCX 88.9 FM and upon graduating worked for local radio, WCHR The Hawk 105.7. Mark was next hired as an on-air talent at WKZQ New Rock in Myrtle Beach and then moved to Chicago where he worked at iHeart Radio and Good Day Chicago TV before taking over first as the host of the Morning Drive at WRXQ. In 2014, he was promoted to the role of Program Director. He was named the ‘RadioContraband’ Under the Radar PD/MD of the Year in 2017.
When asked about his time at Monmouth University and WMCX, Mark said, “Monmouth University gave me the tools for success in radio: from an amazing program concentrating on all aspects of the business, to learning on top of the line equipment, in addition to unlimited time on-air to hone my on-air skills.”
MARK MAILER, ’05
Degree: B.A. Communication/Radio/TV
Employer: WRXQ-FM—Q Rock 100.7 Chicago
