Wai Kong (Johnny) Pang, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, and Ryan Sonn ’25M, data science graduate student, recently co-published an article in the International Journal of Business and Management (Vol. 20, No. 8, 2025). Their study, “The Intricacies of College and University Closures: A Generalized Linear Model Perspective,” uses statistical analysis to examine the patterns behind college and university closures.

Pang and Sonn’s research leverages publicly accessible variables through a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) analysis to identify key determinants of closures, which include institutional endowment, tuition, and percentage of in-state students. The authors’ goal of equipping individuals with a method of understanding an institution’s financial health is accomplished through a predictive Z-score model and ranges.

Through their calculations, Pang and Sonn conclude that public institutions with higher endowment and tuition values will experience a positive effect on their final predictor score. Conversely, a higher percentage of in-state students will have an adverse effect, as out-of-state tuition is significantly higher than in-state tuition, thereby negatively impacting an institution’s financial health indicator.

International Journal of Business and Management (IJBM) is an international, double-blind peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research in the field of business and management. IJBM is committed to disseminating impactful and innovative research to a global audience of scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.

Read Pang and Sonn’s full study.

Miriam Abecasis, junior mathematics and software engineering honors student, recently won the Outstanding Poster Award at the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) MathFest in Sacramento, CA. Her poster, “Harmonic Content of String Networks: A Physical Application of Quantum Graphs,” was presented at the Research in Motion Poster Session of the convention on Aug. 8.

Abecasis’ poster was based on her undergraduate research project in the field of quantum graphs, which she developed under the guidance of Torrey Gallagher, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Mathematics. Her work was supported by a competitive grant from the Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey (ICUNJ), which she received as part of the ICUNJ Undergraduate Research Symposium.

As part of her project, Abecasis constructed and tested a physical apparatus to explore how the harmonic spectrum of connected string networks compares to predictions from a theoretical quantum graph model. This hands-on approach allowed her to connect abstract mathematical theory with real-world physical systems.

Abecasis presented her findings at the ICUNJ Undergraduate Research Symposium, held at Bell Works on April 1. Later in the summer, her research gained national recognition when she presented her poster at the MAA MathFest. She is currently working with Gallagher to prepare a manuscript for submission to a physics journal.

The Mathematical Association of America is the world’s largest community of mathematicians, students, and enthusiasts. The mission of the MAA is to advance the understanding of mathematics and its impact on our world. Every summer, MAA MathFest presents the latest in mathematical research and education to diverse audiences worldwide.

On August 7th, the School of Science hosted the 17th Annual Summer Research Symposium. A total of 17 groups of student researchers presented their faculty sponsored research, representing all of the departments in the school. A complete list of the presenters and abstracts of their projects can be found in the 2025 Summer Research Program Abstract Book. To learn more about the Summer Research Program visit our site.

Our keynote speaker was Bruce Kratz, a 1989 Computer Science alum and former member of the School of Science Dean’s Advisory Council. Bruce is a technology executive with over 35 years of experience leading software engineering teams. He currently serves as Vice President of Development at RunSignup, a platform for race registration, fundraising, and ticketing.

In his own words: I’m the Senior Vice President of Development Operations at Health and Wellness Partners (HWP), a global medical communications agency focused on strategy, science, and outcomes. I lead the technical development side of our work, helping to bring client-facing digital platforms and custom solutions to life. I started my career at Hybrid Healthcare Communications while I was still a student at Monmouth, and over the years moved up into leadership roles: first as VP in 2020, then SVP in 2023. That same year, HWP acquired Hybrid and our team officially became part of the larger agency.

What keeps me excited about this work is just how fast everything moves. We’re always adapting, solving new problems, and finding creative ways to meet client needs. No two days are the same. I’m constantly exploring new tools and technologies, and being an early adopter helps me stay ahead of the curve. It’s a space where curiosity, speed, and execution all matter. That combination keeps me sharp and energized.

My experience at Monmouth gave me a strong foundation, not only in technical skills but also in the soft skills that are essential for leadership and collaboration. I double majored in Software Engineering and Mathematics, which shaped the way I think and approach problems. Outside the classroom, I served as president of the IEEE/ACM student chapter, helped new School of Science students adapt to life at Monmouth as a peer mentor coordinator, and was an active member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, where I learned the value of brotherhood, responsibility, and community involvement. Those experiences helped me build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills that have been essential throughout my career.If I could go back, I’d challenge myself to take even more initiative. Jump into more side projects, collaborate outside my comfort zone, and get more comfortable with being uncomfortable. Monmouth opened a lot of doors for me, and the people and experiences I found there played a huge role in getting me to where I am today.

Four full-time faculty from the School of Science applied for and received promotion this year. Mathematics professor Torrey Gallagher was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. Azzam Elayan (Chemistry and Physics) and Emanuel Palsu-Andriescu (Mathematics) were each promoted to Senior Lecturer and Jeff Weisburg was promoted to Senior Specialist Professor. All four are well-deserved promotions recognizing their impact on the school and the students.

Monmouth University was awarded a grant for climate education through the Expanding Access to Climate Change and NJ Student Learning Through Climate Change Learning Collaborative Grant. This $300,000 award will fund professional development activities for NJ teachers and students. The Monmouth University CCLC aims to prepare NJ K-12 teachers to teach climate change in developmentally appropriate ways across all grade levels and subject areas. Monmouth Conservation Foundation, NJ Sea Grant Consortium, and the Urban Coast Institute will offer place-based curriculum and experiential learning opportunities while Monmouth University will offer professional development related to climate science, interdisciplinary instruction, and special interest topics related to climate change.

The Learning Collaborative is lead by Dr. Michelle Schpakow of the School of Education with Dr. Catherine Duckett of the School of Science and Dr. Peter Jacques of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences as Co-PI’s. The grant provides for a comprehensive program of professional development opportunities to teacher in NJ schools. The Climate Change Learning Collaborative website advertises these opportunities and has a repository of climate change teaching resources. The Climate Change Learning Collaborative also cooperates with partner school systems to deliver content at their schools and to host a symposium where teachers and students can showcase the learning and projects undertaken in the last year. A photo gallery of last year’s symposium is below. The grant runs through March 31, 2026. For more information and for video on the program see the Monmouth Climate Change Learning Collaborative website.

On May 15 we celebrated the graduation of ninety-four undergraduates and thirteen masters students. Biology led with forty-two, Chemistry with twenty-nine, Mathematics with ten and Computer Science and Software Engineering graduated twenty-nine and five, respectively. Four students earned M.S. degrees in C.S. and three in S.E. We also graduated three students with Data Science M.S. degrees. We wish our graduates all the best in beginning their journey after Monmouth.  Congratulations to all!  A selection of photos of the ceremony is given below.

The School of Science Peer Mentor program has not only recruited a new cohort of students for the fall semester, see above, but a new faculty coordinator. Dr. Weihao Qu (below far left) from the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering has taken over the faculty direction of the program from Associate Dean Catherine Duckett, below far right. The program will continue to provide support to new and continuing students, professional development programing and an occasional social function.