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

Dear Colleagues:

As mentioned on my most recent open call, in recognition of your dedication to Monmouth University and our students throughout the academic year, the senior administration and I are pleased to again offer a revised Summer Work Schedule for the months of June and July, applicable to all eligible staff members.

Full-time staff and administrative personnel may, upon consultation with their supervisors, take advantage of paid Fridays off, commencing on June 7 and concluding on July 26. The adjusted schedule will provide seven additional paid leave days during the summer. Additionally, Juneteenth will be observed as a university holiday on Friday, June 21.

During the period of the Summer Work Schedule, all employees are expected to adhere to their normal working hours from Monday through Thursday. Employees who are presently on a four-day flex schedule will be required to return to a standard schedule starting the workweek beginning Thursday May 30 and may reapply for the flex schedule post the summer schedule period. Employees who work less than 36.25 hours per week or fewer than 52 weeks per year will participate in the Summer Work Schedule on a pro-rata basis.

The University will maintain operations on Fridays throughout the summer, meaning that certain areas will require appropriate staffing. I have instructed division heads to exhibit flexibility with staff members who must work on Fridays, ensuring that suitable alternative days off are provided during the current calendar year.

If you have any questions regarding the Summer Work Schedule, please contact the Office of Human Resources directly at (732) 571-3470.

I hope this modified summer work arrangement will afford you well-deserved rest. I also encourage you to utilize your standard vacation days during this period, to ensure that you return refreshed and invigorated, ready to support our students in the upcoming academic year.

Sincerely,

Pat

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

I am writing with an update on the search for our new Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Over the past several weeks, the seven person search committee—comprised of faculty, administrator, and student representatives—considered nearly 50 applicants from across the country and a wide range of institutions. Following a series of on-campus interviews with three highly qualified finalists, and after reviewing stakeholder feedback on each of them, the search committee was unanimous in its selection. 

I am pleased to share with you the appointment of Dr. Richard (Rich) Veit, currently serving in the interim role, as our new Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Veit’s appointment is effective immediately, and I am confident that he will continue to build on his early successes as Interim Provost.

A 29-year veteran of Monmouth, Dr. Veit is a Professor in the Department of History and Anthropology. Over the span of his career at Monmouth, Dr. Veit has developed extensive leadership experience, serving as an undergraduate program director, graduate program director, faculty athletic representative, Faculty Council chair, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning director, department chair, as well as associate dean and interim dean of the Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences. In addition, he recently served as co-chair of the Middle States Steering Committee.

Dr. Veit’s many contributions to Monmouth have been recognized at several points throughout his career. In 2007, he received the Distinguished Teaching Award and in 2019, was named the inaugural recipient of the Eugene Simko Faculty Leadership Award. He is an esteemed educator and respected administrator, and also a notable scholar whose service to Monmouth has enriched our University community in countless ways.

I look forward to seeing Dr. Veit’s continued contributions as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, and to working alongside him in support of our students towards our goal of being a national leader in the integration of excellence and access. I am also grateful to the members of the search committee—Christine Benol, Ped Daneshgar, Rose Knapp, Bob McCaig, Emily Miller-Gonzalez, Jake Sweeney, and Michele Van Volkom—who worked diligently over the past few months to help narrow a robust and competitive applicant pool.

Please join me in thanking the search committee for a job well done, and in congratulating Dr. Veit on this well-deserved appointment.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Colleagues:

As I shared on yesterday’s open call, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer (Jen) Sansevero as the University’s eighth director of athletics, effective immediately. This decision reflects our confidence in her vision and her proven commitment to our athletic community.

Jen’s impact on our athletics program since her arrival in 2021 has been significant. Academically, our student-athletes recorded the highest grade-point average in history, earning national recognition from the NCAA for academic progress rate (APR) scores. In addition, a total of 451 student-athletes were recognized this past fall by the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) with a spot on the Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll.

During her time as acting director of athletics, Monmouth won regular season championships in field hockey and men’s soccer, with both teams advancing to the CAA title games, along with the women’s soccer program which advanced to the CAA Championship match. Monmouth’s brand visibility has also expanded under her leadership, with 28 home games through the fall and winter seasons airing live on linear TV networks such as SNY and NBC Sports Philadelphia, as well as nationally televised road contests on CBS Sports Network and FS1.

Jen is actively engaged in multiple areas across campus, contributing to the holistic development of student-athletes. She is an adjunct professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education, a member of the University’s Enrollment Planning Committee, and serves on the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity & Inclusion. She has helped organize Monmouth’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day event, the department’s Pride Night celebration, and Black History Month programming—demonstrating her profound commitment to our student-athletes, and her ongoing work to ensure an inclusive environment for all in Monmouth Athletics.

With nearly two decades of experience in Division I athletics, Jen embodies the depth of knowledge and passion required for this role. She was a standout softball player at Mount St. Mary’s University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science and a minor in history, graduating Cum Laude in 2004. She later worked at Mount St. Mary’s from 2008-12, in the role of assistant athletic director for NCAA compliance/senior woman administrator. Her experience includes Division I leadership positions at Wagner College and UNC Greensboro. In 2008, she earned a Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law.

Please join me in congratulating Jen on her promotion, and in offering her our enthusiastic support as she leads Monmouth Athletics into a promising future.

Sincerely,

Pat

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Colleagues:

I hope the spring semester is off to a strong start. Thank you for all the ways you continue to challenge—and support—our students.

I write today with an important update regarding the senior administrative team. In the coming days, we will launch searches for the permanent Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs position and the permanent Director of Athletics. Before we initiate these two senior-level searches, I wanted to share an overview of the intended search process for each position.

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs: Following recent conversations with the Faculty Council, I have decided to launch the search for the permanent Provost, commencing as soon as practicable. While I will be focused on identifying internal candidates for this position, this search will also be open to external candidates, consistent with our hiring policies for academic leadership positions. An eight-person search committee will be comprised of 3 faculty members, elected by the Faculty Council; 3 administrators, appointed by me; and 1 student, appointed by the Student Government Association. I will personally chair the committee. Once we identify all of the members, the committee will convene soon after the position is officially posted.

Director of Athletics: As is my customary practice since I started at Monmouth, I will launch the search for the Athletic Director first for internal candidates. We have a deep talent pool among our employees at Monmouth, and internal searches allow valued members of our University community to step into new roles and to advance their careers. If an internal search does not yield a successful candidate within the designated timeframe, then I will expand the search to include external candidates. Similarly, I will chair a small search committee, which will be comprised of administrators, coaches, and a student/athlete.

As always, if you have questions, please reach out to me directly at president@monmouth.edu. We look forward to initiating these important searches soon.

Sincerely,

Pat

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

It is with deep sadness that I inform you of the death of one of our students, Madison Rochelle Alfano. Madison was a first-year student in the Honors School pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Communication. She was also a highly valued member of the University Athletics Equipment student staff. She died on Saturday, January 13, 2024 as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

The University grieves the tragic and untimely loss of a member of our community and extends its deepest sympathies to her family, friends, and fellow students at this most difficult time. Flags on campus have been lowered in Madison’s honor.

As the Monmouth University family mourns Madison’s passing, support services are available for students, faculty, and staff through Counseling and Prevention Services at 732-571-7517 or the Office of Student Life at 732-571-3417. Students can also utilize Uwill services—our mental telehealth provider offering night and weekend support—for free and confidential teletherapy at 833-646-1526.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. at the Scarpaci Funeral Home in Staten Island, New York. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Holy Child R.C. Church in Staten Island, New York.

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact the Office of Student Life. And, please take a moment today, in your own way, to think of Madison and her family.

Thank you.

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his extraordinary commitment to social justice and racial equality. In his address at Monmouth on Oct. 11, 1966, King remarked, “Somewhere we must come to see that human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals…”

We are fortunate to be part of a community that develops, challenges, and supports individuals dedicated to ensuring that human progress continues to move forward towards inclusivity, equality, and social justice. With that good fortune comes the responsibility to confront the realities of rampant economic inequality, racial and social unrest, political divisiveness, global climate change, and financial uncertainty.

As part of our ongoing commitment to understanding these issues, I hope you will set aside time on Wednesday, Jan. 31 for the 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Lecture on Social Justice, organized by the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion. The featured speaker is Anneliese Singh, Ph.D., LPC, professor and chief diversity officer/associate provost for Diversity and Faculty Development at Tulane University, author of “The Racial Healing Handbook,” and co-founder of the Georgia Safe Schools Coalition and the Trans Resilience Project.

I am grateful for the persistent work of our students and colleagues and the intentional efforts across our campus to foster a truly welcoming and inclusive community.  

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

As we near the end of another remarkable semester and year, I invite you to take a moment to reflect on our shared achievements throughout Monmouth’s 90^th year, and draw inspiration from the promise of our future. Please enjoy this short video celebrating our collective accomplishments from the past year.

Our students continue to thrive under the caring guidance of our faculty, with the support of staff, coaches, and our entire campus team. Together, we continue to reflect the spirit of excellence that has been the hallmark of our institution for nine decades. I look forward to the New Year and the many more achievements that lie ahead.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President