Dear Colleagues:

As mentioned on last week’s open call, the senior leadership team and I appreciate all of your efforts during this busy time of year.  As a small gesture of thanks for the many ways in which you support our students, we have decided to provide an additional paid day off on Monday, December 23.

We understand that essential employees may need to work on this day, and these individuals will receive an alternate day off in the future.  Please expect to hear directly from your area vice president with more information in the coming days.  If you have any immediate questions, please direct them to the Office of Human Resources.

I look forward to being together once more before the winter break at tomorrow’s holiday gathering, which takes place in the Great Hall from 1:00 – 3:00 pm.  Please join us if you can.  If I do not have a chance to see you, I wish you and yours a happy holiday season.

Sincerely,
Pat

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

I am writing to share an exciting update for the future of Monmouth University. This past Saturday, at our 50th annual holiday gala, we proudly announced the largest fundraising campaign in Monmouth’s history. This $175 million campaign, aptly sharing the same name as our strategic plan—Excellence. Access. Ambition.—will advance our bold goal of becoming a national leader at integrating excellence and access.

The ambitious fundraising goal of this comprehensive campaign is nearly four times the size of the next largest campaign in Monmouth’s history. With its success, we are positioned to accelerate our recent evolution as a university. The campaign will help elevate academic excellence, expand educational opportunities, enhance our campus, and establish Monmouth University as a leading force in higher education.

Please visit our campaign website to learn more about these priorities, and enjoy this short video which chronicles Monmouth’s progression from a small junior college to a comprehensive university enjoying our highest-ever national rankings, and showcasing the transformative goals of this historic campaign.

Monmouth would not be poised for this trajectory of success without such a remarkable community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and supporters. Thank you for your enduring support of our university, and for championing this ambitious undertaking to transform students’ lives and secure Monmouth’s promising future.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

At the 11th hour of the day, on the 11th day of the month, in the 11th month of every year our nation comes together to remember all the men and women who have safeguarded our freedoms through their service in our armed forces. We call it, of course, Veterans Day.

In this year it is perhaps particularly important that we pause to celebrate this day. In the aftermath of a long and at times contentious election cycle, Veterans Day is a day of national unity, providing an opportunity for all Americans to celebrate the sacrifices made by our fellow citizens in protecting our country.

As members of a shared university community, we should take this unique opportunity to reiterate two of our fundamental values here at Monmouth University, inspired by our rights as a nation that so many have fought to protect. First, we will continue to defend the rights of individuals to express themselves, even if their comments are deemed controversial by some. And, second, the expression of opinions on this campus must be offered in a respectful manner, recognizing, and even celebrating the diversity that is representative of Monmouth University. Together, these values—free expression and strong community—are fundamental to the mission of every American university.

So, as we celebrate our nation’s veterans and the sacrifices that they have made for us, let us reaffirm our dedication to fostering greater understanding in an environment of mutual respect here in our small part of the country.

Please join us today in Anacon Hall at 11 a.m. as we gather with the Monmouth University Student Veterans Association to recognize the contributions of military service members within our campus community, and listen as student veterans share stories from their time in service. Additionally, we will toll the bells at 11 a.m., recalling the armistice that concluded World War I. This act of remembrance symbolizes our ongoing gratitude for all veterans and their families and recognizes the sacrifices they all have made.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Colleagues:

As we enter the Thanksgiving break, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for all we have accomplished at Monmouth University this academic year. Our collective dedication and hard work continue to propel us to new heights, and I am so proud to serve Monmouth together with you.

This year, we achieved our highest ranking ever in U.S. News & World Report, marking an incredible rise of 13 places over five years. At the same time, our tremendous progress in social mobility metrics was further recognized by U.S. News and Washington Monthly. We also welcomed our most diverse incoming class, reflecting our commitment to fostering an inclusive and vibrant learning community.

From the groundbreaking of the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music to the ribbon-cutting for Nagy Common, and from outstanding student achievement among the Hawk Capital Fund, Model UN, Debate Hawks, and fall sports teams, to impressive university-wide collaboration as part of the Middle States reaccreditation process, we have much to celebrate as a campus community this Thanksgiving season.

Amid these successes, I remain deeply grateful for our shared commitment to mutual respect, civility, and kindness. These values remain at the cornerstone of our success, ensuring that Monmouth is a supportive learning environment. Please enjoy a restful and well-deserved break, refreshed for the opportunities and achievements that lie ahead. Thank you for all that you do to make Monmouth a national leader at integrating excellence and access.

Sincerely,
Pat

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Colleagues:

As mentioned on yesterday’s open call, I am pleased to share an important update on the Office of Human Resources. Earlier this month, Robyn Salvo left Monmouth University for another opportunity. After a successful internal search, I am delighted to announce that Kathleen (Kathy) Stein, will be stepping into this critically important role for the university, effectively immediately.

Kathy first joined the Monmouth community in 2003 as the compliance coordinator in the Office of the General Counsel. During her 21 years at Monmouth, Kathy has served as coordinator of benefits, senior benefits administrator, director of benefits, and executive director of human resources. Her progressive leadership experience at Monmouth coupled with her collaborative and compassionate approach to supporting and resolving employee issues make her an exceptional candidate for the associate vice president for human resources position.

I look forward to seeing our efforts and initiatives in human resources flourish under Kathy’s vision and leadership. Please join me in congratulating Kathy on this well-deserved appointment.

Sincerely,

Pat

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

I am pleased to invite you to the dedication of Nagy Common—the newly refreshed patio at the Rebecca Stafford Student Center—on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. This space will honor the indelible legacy of Mary Anne Nagy ’91M ’01M, former vice president of student life and leadership engagement, who retired in June 2023 after nearly four decades of service to Monmouth University.

A two-time alumna of Monmouth (M.S. Ed, MBA), VP Nagy demonstrated her commitment to Monmouth in countless ways during her 37 years of service to the university, including her personal philanthropy.

In recognition of her impact, and thanks to a generous gift from President Emerita Rebecca Stafford ’03HN, Monmouth will dedicate the new outdoor gathering space at the Rebecca Stafford Student Center as Nagy Common next Thursday, October 16. I hope you will be able to join us for this special event.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

As we officially begin a new academic year today, I want to warmly welcome our outstanding faculty, our dedicated staff, and our ambitious students—both those who are returning to Monmouth and those who are joining our community for the first time.

We have been busy this summer making progress on several exciting projects that will enhance the Monmouth experience for all. The installation of Nagy Common, a beautiful outdoor space for connection, is nearing completion. In addition, significant improvements to the interior of the Rebecca Stafford Student Center are well underway, ensuring that this hub of student life continues to serve as a vibrant gathering place.

We have completed the buildout of the new Monmouth University Police Department facility, including the Parking and ID Services Office, which is now located on the main campus next to the Northwest Parking Lot. This provides much improved space for our police department in its round-the-clock efforts to protect the campus.

I am also thrilled to announce that we will soon break ground on the new Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music. This state-of-the-art facility, which will be funded completely through outside donations, will celebrate the legacy of some of America’s most iconic artists, enriching our academic offerings, and further elevating Monmouth’s national—indeed international—profile.

Our incoming first-year class continues our commitment to integrating excellence and access as outlined in our current strategic plan. This class boasts the greatest diversity ever, the second highest average GPA in our school’s history at 3.62, the third highest percentage of out-of-state students, and the highest SAT scores among those who submitted test scores as part of their application. And, fully one half of our incoming students are FLI students—that is, either first-generation or low-income. These impressive achievements reflect the talent and dedication of our incoming students and the growing reputation of Monmouth University as a destination for a rigorous and supportive education.

In this new academic year, I also want to emphasize the importance of fostering a community where diverse perspectives and respectful dialogue are valued. Our strength lies in our ability to listen to and learn from one another. As such, I encourage each of you to approach every interaction with an open mind and a commitment to understanding.

I am confident that this will be another successful year, filled with great achievements for our students, faculty, and staff. Welcome back!

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Colleagues:

I write today with an exciting update for our campus community. Yesterday, several Monmouth University officials met with the senior leadership team at Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) to execute a multipart affiliation agreement that will significantly enhance our health and wellness offerings for students, employees, and the community at-large. The three primary components of this agreement are outlined below.

Academic Opportunities. The agreement is anchored by an academic affiliation designed to provide increased clinical and non-clinical experiential opportunities for Monmouth University students in a variety of health and allied health programs. HMH will employ a full-time clinical academic placement coordinator onsite within the Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies to help foster the successful placement of students and new graduates in internship and employment opportunities with HMH. We are pleased to offer these increased experiential learning opportunities with HMH, in addition to our existing array of field placements and healthcare collaborations.

Healthcare Access. The affiliation also provides for collaboration on physical health and wellness education and outreach for students, and offers after-hours urgent care options for the University community. With this agreement, HMH will also provide direct health services at the Hackensack Meridian Urgent Care Centers in Eatontown and Neptune—as options—when the University’s Health Center is not open. In support of its commitment to Monmouth students, HMH will offer discounted rideshare vouchers to ensure that transportation to those facilities is not a barrier to care. Officials from HMH and Monmouth will also partner on the development of an annual Student Wellness Week designed to better educated students on health and wellness best practices, and how to navigate the resources available to them on and off campus.

Student Wellness Center. HMH also secured title naming rights for the addition of a student wellness center that we are planning as part of an expansion of the OceanFirst Bank Center. This project aims to expand the fitness center, offer much-needed flexible space for academic programming and intramural/recreational sports use, and to upgrade the University’s sports medicine facilities. Details on this project—including scope, funding, and impact—will be rolled out more formally in the coming weeks.

Please join me in thanking and applauding all of our colleagues involved in the thoughtful planning and strategic discussions over the past 15 months which culminated in the partnership launch with Hackensack Meridian Health yesterday. In particular, I am grateful for the vision and leadership of Amanda Klaus, Charlene Diana, Jim Pillar, Kristine Kelly, Nikki Clifford, Rich Veit, and Susan Gupta in bringing this affiliation agreement from concept to reality.

Sincerely,
Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

In the early morning hours of July 23, 2024, the Monmouth University Police Department (MUPD) received reports from multiple students and employees indicating that they received an email from an individual alleging a bomb threat and claiming to be armed and hiding on campus.

MUPD immediately issued a lockdown order and members of the campus community were instructed to shelter in place. The Monmouth County Emergency Response Team was activated, and multiple law enforcement agencies were called in to assist in searching and securing the campus, including the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, the Monmouth County Rapid Deployment Force, and the Aberdeen, Asbury Park, Deal, Fair Haven, Long Branch, Manasquan, Marlboro, Ocean Township, and West Long Branch police departments.

With assistance from these agencies, MUPD conducted a search of campus buildings and found no evidence to substantiate the threat. An “all clear” alert was issued to the campus community at 9:05 a.m.

The University will have a delayed opening for offices at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Classes with start times at-or-after 11 a.m. will meet as scheduled. The Department of Athletics’ morning sports camps have been canceled today and will resume as normal tomorrow.

All of us are thankful that this situation was resolved safely and successfully, and we appreciate the support and cooperation we received from our students and staff who adhered to the shelter-in-place restriction. On behalf of the University, I would like to express my appreciation for the efforts of the responding law enforcement agencies who assisted in our investigation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Colleagues:

I write today with important administrative updates within the Division of Information Management. As shared on my previous open calls, Ed Christensen will soon be stepping down as Vice President for Information Management and returning to faculty in the Leon Hess Business School, where he first began his career at Monmouth University nearly three decades ago. Ed is looking forward to his return to teaching, and to reigniting his research and scholarly activities in the area of Management Data Analytics and Operations Management.

For 14 years, Ed has adeptly overseen and grown the Division of Information Management as its first-ever leader. Under Ed’s leadership, the division has implemented nearly $20 million of technological improvements across the University. In particular, Ed and his colleagues played a vital role in disaster recovery and business continuity in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, Superstorm Sandy, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the diligence of Ed and his team, the University was able to make a swift move to remote work and learning during the pandemic, for which they were later recognized by FAMCO with the Donald Warncke Award in 2020.

Effective July 1, 2024, John Sonn will assume primary leadership for the Division of Information Management as Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer. John has been an important member of Monmouth University for the past 35 years, having served the community in various IT-related roles ranging from Programmer/Analyst to Associate Vice President for Information Management, a position that he has held for the past year. John is a demonstrated collaborator, having spearheaded several important system implementations and integrations, including the EAB Navigate Student Success system, the Colleague Self-Service Student Planning and Budget system, the myMU Portal, and the Slate Admissions systems. I look forward to working more closely with John as he joins the senior administrative team and reports directly to me, for the immediate future.

Please join me in thanking Ed for his 14-year tenure as Vice President for Information Management, and wishing him well in his return to teaching and scholarship, and please join me in congratulating John on this well-deserved opportunity to lead the division.

Sincerely,

Pat