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  • Jamilah McMillan ’17

  • Denisse Quintanilla ’22

  • Lexi Todd ’13

  • Leon Galloway ’23

  • The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music

  • Tag Team

  • Robert Santelli ’73 ’14HN

  • Urban Coast Institute

    Superstorm Sandy wreckage

    Urban Coast Institute

    Exploring the Environment to Protect Our Coasts

    The Urban Coast Institute Charts a Course Forward

    On the morning of October 30, 2012, residents of the Jersey Shore woke to sand-laden streets, downed power lines and bridges, scattered boats, and persistent floodwaters. The lucky ones were only left without power—many for more than a week—but with their homes dry and intact. The less fortunate scrambled to find a safe haven after suffering total property loss, while others desperate for basic medical care sought refuge in local emergency shelters—including the one at the OceanFirst Bank Center on the Monmouth University campus.

    When Superstorm Sandy accelerated toward the Eastern seaboard with winds stretching for more than a thousand miles before making landfall just south of Atlantic City, it left more than 130 dead and damage estimates topping $70 billion in its wake. The coastline was ravaged, and the ecosystem was turned upside down.

    Less than two months later, Monmouth University hosted the conference, “Rebuilding a Resilient New Jersey Shore.” Sponsored by New Jersey Future, the Monmouth University Kislak Real Estate Institute, and the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI), the event marshaled the opinions of professors, planners, scientists, architects, government officials, and others to learn how communities can cope with the decade-long recovery effort, and how to better prepare for the inevitable next storm.

    Man using a laptop to control a Remote Operated Underwater Vehicle

    UCI students practiced using Remote Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROVs) in the pool for a few months, and then took them to Sandy Hook and the Raritan Bay to help clean debris left by Superstorm Sandy, including marine debris like lost lobster pots and crab traps.

    “There are events where we vividly recall in our lives where we were and what we were doing. This was one of those times,” said Peter Reinhart, director of the Kislak Real Estate Institute and chairman of the Board of New Jersey Future.

    UCI Director Tony MacDonald emphasized the urgent need for a stronger community that day. “It’s about building better, not just rebuilding,” MacDonald said, adding that the push for a multi-agency response from both the private and public sectors is imperative.

    His passion as a protector of the environment and his proactive approach to accomplishing his goals have not waned since then.

    Chris Wojcik

    B.S. in Biology, ’91

    President/Creative Director of Animal Exhibits and Design

    “When I look back at my time at Monmouth, I fondly remember it for all of the lifelong friends that I made, the perspectives that I gained, and, of course, for the outstanding science education that was imparted to me by my professors. I feel as though I left Monmouth on a rock solid footing.”

    Since 2005, the UCI has been a staunch supporter of the public interest, serving as a forum for research, education, and collaboration in the development and implementation of science-based policies and programs. The UCI supports the stewardship of healthy, productive, and resilient coastal ecosystems and communities.

    The UCI, a Center of Distinction, builds on the University’s growing strengths in environmental science, business, economics, and public policy, and collaborates with the faculty and students of all disciplines on projects that relate to its mission.

    On an already densely populated coastline, development continues to grow in New Jersey. Although this development is beneficial to the economy, it also places significant strains on already stressed coastal ecosystems and places an increasing number of people at risk from coastal hazards.

    The UCI seeks to balance these demands by educating the public about how better to initiate and steward policy change to ensure natural resources are protected.

    “All the communities are facing big questions and challenges about how we retain everything we love about the Jersey Shore, but also make sure that we’re planning for the future,” said MacDonald.

    “We can take some of the studies concerning the health of the Barnegat Bay, or the New York Harbor Estuary Program, and we can sit down with the communities, and say, ‘What can they do differently at the local level that can have a positive influence on their environment?’” he added.

    In an effort to broaden its scope and carve out significant change in environmental policy and sustainability, the UCI exceeded a $5 million challenge grant in 2014 to support a new marine science and policy initiative. The challenge grant, which was the first of its kind for the UCI and one of the largest for the University, has since funded infrastructure improvements that positioned Monmouth’s marine programs and the UCI to flourish in the future. The grant has also funded new faculty positions, several scholarships and innovative student research projects each year, and a research partnership with The Rockefeller University on topics including ocean exploration, marine environmental DNA and the impacts of noise in the ocean

    “We have to invest in the coast,” said MacDonald, who added that the UCI’s top priority is coastal and ocean policy and management.

    The UCI also received over $2 million in grant funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to continue its work over two years to engage ocean stakeholders in the region in the development of the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal.

    The Portal provides state-of-the-art mapping and visualization tools to better understand the ocean, reduce potential conflicts, and support regional ocean planning in collaboration with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) and the Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean.

    The UCI continues to stay on the cutting edge with three research vessels, including the 49-foot R/V Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe, and sophisticated sonar and hydrographic mapping equipment.

    With these tools available, MacDonald stresses the importance of education: “Since we’re a mile from the shore, it is a great place to study marine science and to study the real environment.”

    Jim Nickels, marine scientist for the UCI, teaches courses in maritime archaeology and marine science field methods.

    “The students are not only learning about marine biology, but they’re actually learning how to study in the field, which is fantastic,” said MacDonald.

    Looking ahead at the next 10 years, MacDonald said, “Flooding is a huge issue, has always been in New Jersey. That gets worse as you increase impervious surface, and increase development upland in the watershed. How much development can we sustain, and also sustain the environment? We have some big challenges.”

    “I do think you see a change in the next generation to think about how to live sustainably on an individual basis, how to live sustainably in their community, and at Monmouth we increasingly are asking students to have a global perspective. How are we going to have a sustainable world in the future?”

    UCI and Department of History and Anthropology professors and students use Monmouth research vessels and a remotely operated vehicle to examine shipwrecks along the shore and work with local collections of shipwreck artifacts. Students also read about and discuss famous shipwrecks and what they can tell us about history and culture.

    This video contains footage the students took of the wreck of two 1800s locomotives discovered off the coast of Long Branch – just six miles from our campus.
    The Urban Coast Institute works hard to engage communities to protect the coastal habitats while creating a sustainable economy.
  • Polling Institute

    A pen touching down on a polling form

    Polling Institute

    Gauging Public Opinion

    Discover a future career path at the Monmouth University Polling Institute, whose award-winning research influences students, the community, public sentiment, and national policy.

    Polling Internship Drives Career Aspirations

    Interdisciplinary learning is a 21st century imperative, according to a report by the American Association of Colleges and Universities. This type of education encourages students to recognize bias, think critically, and engage in ethical reasoning.

    An internship at the Polling Institute, a Monmouth University Center of Distinction, incorporates this type of dynamic learning through practical application. It ties together statistics and practical research applications with the disciplines of political science, public policy, psychology, marketing, and communications to produce influential reports on a variety of topics.

    “Working at the Monmouth University Polling Institute really helped to take my education and point it into a practical direction. I was able to go from political theory classes and then work on polls at the institute to get a good glimpse at how different policies and political platforms registered with the constituency. Also, there was a significant amount of pride and recognition associated with working with the Polling Institute. You quickly learn that you’re part of a very professional group of researchers who pride themselves in non-biased and quality data collection and analysis.”

    Dave Goldenthal ’14
    B.A. in Political Science
    Manager, Data Intelligence at Rauxa

    Katarina Kneer ’16 knew that she wanted to sharpen these skills when she set out to fulfill the experiential education requirement of her psychology major at the Polling Institute. She knew she had a strong attention to detail, a passion for research, and an interest in finding new and creative research topics. Kneer became a second set of eyes for Timothy Tracey, the institute’s former research associate, and Tina Johnsen, the project coordinator.

    “I would double, triple, quadruple check all of the numbers to make sure that they were entered correctly because the slightest mistake would result in an error that might later be published,” Kneer said.

    Kneer was also able to guide some of the research herself and answer some of her own questions in compared the relationships between post-traumatic distress levels and income levels among victims of Superstorm Sandy.

    “My favorite part of the internship was getting hands-on experience and being able to say hey, I found this result, did you know that? Did you know that despite any difference in demographics, people affected by Superstorm Sandy were still depressed?” said Kneer.

    Kneer was surprised by the outcome and felt that there could be valuable lessons in the results. The original assumption was that participants with more resources who were affected by the storm would have less distress. These findings showed that the emotional impact of the storm may be more widespread than originally thought. She submitted the results to Patrick Murray, director of the institute, to be included in a future, in-depth study.

    Kneer was also able to relate her research directly to her psychology major in many ways. In addition to studying human behavior through statistical patterns and the mental health impact of Superstorm Sandy, she learned the art of creating a survey. Her work at the Polling Institute further inspired her to become part of a research institute.

    “Declaring a minor in marketing made me want to do research on consumer behavior and why people act the way that they do. Interning at the Polling Institute gave me the opportunity to get hands-on experience,” said Kneer. “Tim, Tina, and Patrick inspired me even more. I don’t think I would have been as passionate about it if I did not get that experience and have the three of them as mentors.”

    Kneer’s greatest memory from the Polling Institute is also one of her biggest takeaways. Director Murray asked her to collect information on job approval ratings for several politicians and present her findings. At first she found the task daunting, but quickly realized that meeting this challenge would be important to her future in many ways.

    “I think that, in my career, this is going to be a realistic assignment. I’m going to have a boss who needs me to find something and present it in front of esteemed professionals,” said Kneer. “This was just a great experience and although I was intimidated, it was a valuable lesson in the end, to stay calm, cool, collected, find what I was asked, and present it.”

    In the end, Murray gave her positive feedback on her findings.

    Kneer said, “It was a great feeling to have helped an institute that is so much bigger than myself.”

    Katarina’s experience at the Polling Institute proved to be an asset for her future. She was chosen by her classmates to speak about her internship at the Department of Psychology Semiannual Undergraduate Conference and was presented with the Excellence in Internship Award.

    “They’re such a strong institute and they’ve been featured on so many nationally known programs, such as CNN and NBC. Patrick Murray has such a great reputation so I think that when I apply for jobs, people will see that I served as an intern there for months and that I won an award,” said Kneer. “By gaining experience and professional skills through my internship, I’ll be at an advantage.”

    Opinion Taker.
    Opinion Maker.

    Under the leadership of founding director Patrick Murray, the Polling Institute has repeatedly been praised for its ability to accurately and consistently gauge public opinion on both a local and national scale. Murray, who has become a go-to source for the national media, sat down with Monmouth Magazine to talk all things polling.

    Exceptional Hawks: The Polling Institute - Click or tap for more information
  • Music Industry Careers

    Music Industry Careers

    Music Takes Students Around the World

    Students prepare for life in the competitive music industry and participate in several remarkable one-of-a-kind, hands-on learning opportunities both behind the scenes and on the stage.

    The Sound (and Business) of Music

    From Asbury Park, NJ, to the White House and the mountains of Abruzzo, Italy, students from Monmouth University’s music industry program are engaging in remarkable one-of-a-kind, hands-on, behind-the-scenes, and on-the-stage learning opportunities.

    Monmouth students regularly play gigs and intern at the famous Stone Pony in Asbury Park. As part of the University’s partnership with the GRAMMY Museum, students participated in a visit to the White House where they met First Lady Michelle Obama and participated in seminars and workshops on gospel music. They also have their own student-run record label and promotions company that provides hands-on opportunities in all aspects of the industry.

    “Going to Washington, D.C. was unforgettable,” said Ellie Newcomb, music industry major and class of 2018. “We sang with the Howard University Gospel Choir, and listening to Michelle Obama, who spoke to us both honestly and inspirationally, was amazing. This is something that I could have never experienced in a classroom. My eyes were opened to gospel music in a first-hand way.”

    Merging music and study abroad, a group of students traveled to Abruzzo, Italy, in 2014 by invitation to perform and work with peer Italian music students from the Italian music school Impulse Sound.

    “The trip represented the essence of what we’re doing here—to engage our students in hands-on learning,” said Stan Green, former dean of the McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, who also accompanied the students on the trip to Italy. “The students were also teachers while in Italy. It was a fantastic match.”

    He recalled Blue Hawk Records artist Abby Cornero teaching a 10-year-old named Francesco to play an acoustic version of the Led Zeppelin rock classic “Stairway to Heaven.” “It was an experience I will never forget,” Green said. They performed the song for a capacity crowd at a concert in the Piazza that evening, and throughout the region that week.

    “With business and industry continuing to grow and operate on a global scale, these types of experiences are invaluable. We were able to travel the world and create relationships through the very core of our passion for music,” said Mike Burke, a graduate of the music industry program and former president of Blue Hawk Records. Michael is now working at ManMade Music in New York City, who he was hired by immediately after graduating. Like Michael, graduates of the Music Industry program have gone on to work at companies like Warner Music Group, Sony, Viacom/MTV, Google, as well as start-ups and top agencies.

    Additionally, there is a key partnership with Asbury Park-based Lakehouse Recording Studios, where about 20 students in the past two years have had internships and gone on to jobs in the music industry. The closing theme from the film Hunger Games: Mocking Jay, Part I, “Yellow Flicker Beat,” was recorded by the Grammy-award winning artist Lorde at the Lakehouse Studios by one of the department’s adjunct professors, Erik Romero, who teaches Audio Production courses at the studio for the university.

    “The Monmouth University music industry program has done a great job preparing me for my current line of work. The applied instrument lessons and workshops helped me refine my technique so that I can be a capable and skillful teacher at Lakehouse Music Academy, and the business classes prepared me for the day-to-day business of being in my band, The Color Atlantic. Right now a lot of what I’m doing is a result of the work I did at Monmouth, and I am thankful for that.”

    Bryan Haring ’14

    The phrase “something is happening here” is often heard around Monmouth’s Woods Theatre, where the music industry program is housed, as both a nod to pop culture and a statement of fact. The music industry program is without doubt making things happen that are benefitting students as performers, producers, marketers, and more.

    Monmouth is one of only a handful of institutions in the country to offer a concentration in music industry. Few students have this opportunity to study applied music along with the business methods behind music production and distribution.

    Driving the energy of the program for the past two years is the chair of the Music and Theatre Arts Department, Joe Rapolla, who himself is a talented musician, music industry veteran, world-class marketer, and a passionate teacher.

    But what Rapolla brings most to the students at Monmouth University is his personal charisma and confidence. He has been where students want to be, and he knows how to get them there.

    “There are a new economics, a new language, and a new structure to the music business today,” Rapolla said. “The merging of all those elements means students have got to be able to organize, collaborate, and execute the direct exposure of themselves or the artists they will be working with. Students come away from this program knowing they can be in control of their careers.”

    Rapolla said that by providing students with direct exposure to what is going on in the music industry today, they will be able to reach and engage audiences across all platforms.  To that end, students at the University can become involved with the student-found and student-run Blue Hawk Records.

    Blue Hawk Records is an independent record label and music organization designed to provide music and hands-on experience for the students. Its mission is to equip music industry majors, as well as others in the University, with relevant, real-world experience and familiarize them with the typical workings of different occupations in the music industry. Students are able to capitalize on this specialized experience as they function in performing and recording, talent, scouting, artist promotion and development, live music and record release, as well as artwork, packaging, sales, and marketing.

    Music industry graduate, Kitty Dorsey ’13, said, “I chose the music industry concentration because it had exactly what I wanted: music AND business classes in one major. I felt that having both types of classes would prepare me for any role in the music business, whether it’s performance, management, producing, publishing, or marketing.”

    And it is that mix of music, entertainment, and business that makes the program exceptional. “As music, media, and new technologies continue to converge, we are continually updating our program to keep pace with the changes that are happening in the business,” said Rapolla.

    He added that it is a goal to have students “real world ready” by not only nurturing their creative talents and energy but by also ensuring their critical thinking and networking skills are honed to a sharp edge. “With the growing number of platforms and devices, it is essential to be able to leverage elements like data to improve customer contact and to efficiently spark the interest of music fans,” Rapolla said.

    Rapolla is a lover of music and the joys of performance, but he has one eye firmly on the developments that are making up the “new normal” of the industry, and the broadening base of opportunities they are creating.

    Monmouth University Is a University Affiliate of the GRAMMY Museum

    One of only 21 universities in the world to participate in this partnership, this association provides access to GRAMMY Museum content to all Monmouth students for educational purposes, curriculum resources, research programs, professional development seminars, collaborative marketing and promotions, project-based learning, and unique student internship opportunities.

    Symposia on Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, and More

    Symposia are held throughout the year on topics such as Bruce Springsteen and Frank Sinatra. Rock scholars and fans participate in panel discussions, enjoy live music from Monmouth University students, art exhibits, and more.

    More to Explore

    Students Visit the White House for “History of Gospel Music” Workshop

    “This is the kind of lesson that can’t be taught in a classroom,” said Joe Rapolla, professor and chair of the Department of Music and Theatre Arts. “To be invited to the White House and have the First Lady help make that connection is an experience all the students will remember for the rest of their lives.”

    Introduction to the Music Business Ecosystem

    “I re-developed an “Introduction to the Music Business Ecosystem” class for a group of wide-eyed young people with a somewhat limited, but not completely unexpected, world view of what our business is today. I wanted to present all facets of our evolving business, and highlight the skills they’d need for a variety of possible career paths.” Professor James Donio, president of the Music Business Association.

    Real World Experience Prepares Students for Jobs in the Industry

    “The music industry program prepares students to better manage their careers as artists and prepares students to pursue business opportunities in the evolving and broadening music and entertainment industries.” Joe Rapolla, MBA, Monmouth University, 1990, chair of the Department of Music and Theatre Arts.