Remembrances

These three dedicated faculty members left an indelible mark on Monmouth University through their decades of leadership, scholarship, and service.

Yudhishter Lal Mahajan, Ph.D.

Former Associate Professor, Leon Hess Business School

Yudhishter Lal Mahajan served Monmouth University for four decades, beginning his tenure in 1979 when it was still Monmouth College. A member of the Department of Business Administration—later Economics and Finance—he became a tenured faculty member in 1983 and was known for his warmth, rigor, and enthusiasm for teaching. Beyond the classroom, he contributed to numerous university committees and remained deeply engaged in his field through research and professional organizations.

Mahajan was an immigrant from India who earned two doctorates in economics and finance, and his career reflected a lifelong dedication to learning and to inspiring the same passion in generations of Monmouth students.

John “Jack” Demarest, Ph.D.

Former Professor, Department of Psychology

John “Jack” Demarest dedicated 44 years to Monmouth University, joining the Department of Psychology in 1976 and earning tenure and promotion to full professor in 1989. A scholar of animal behavior and neuroscience, he authored more than 30 journal articles, received 19 grants, and presented over 100 papers at professional conferences. As department chair, he helped shape a research-driven psychology curriculum that remains a hallmark of the program today. In recognition of his vision and commitment to the discipline, he received the department’s Visionary Award in 2009. A lifelong teacher, mentor, and innovator, Demarest left an enduring mark on generations of Monmouth students and colleagues.

Waltraud “Wally” Hieslmair

Associate Professor Emerita of Physics

Waltraud “Wally” Hieslmair joined Monmouth College in 1964 and went on to spend more than three decades shaping the study of physics at the University. Known for her innovation and dedication, she developed and taught courses in thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and general physics, and was instrumental in creating Discovery Science classrooms to enhance laboratory learning.

She managed the General Physics Lab, served on numerous faculty committees, and was among the first on campus to embrace digital tools, publishing the Department of Chemistry’s first webpage in 1997. On her retirement in 2000, she was named associate professor emerita, a fitting tribute to a career devoted to advancing science education at Monmouth.