The newly implemented Monmouth University Distinguished Scholar award celebrates and encourages sustained excellence in scholarship and research. This year, three university faculty were named as co-recipients who are each exemplary in their scholarship achievements. 

Dr. Jay Wang, Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering – Dr. Wang’s scholarly interests include artificial intelligence, software engineering, formal methods, discrete event systems, and service computing. In particular, Dr. Wang’s outstanding contributions to the field of artificial intelligence (AI) research has played a pivotal role in advancing AI applications to address real-world challenges, particularly in healthcare and emergency management.  His success in grant writing, and securing multiple IEEE grants for his AI research, are commendable.

Dr. Keith Dunton, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology – Dr. Dunton is a marine fisheries ecologist with over 15 years experience leading large acoustic telemetry projects focused on endangered Atlantic sturgeon and prohibited sharks to evaluate movements, migrations, and effects from anthropogenic factors. He is currently working on using eDNA as a tool to evaluate biodiversity of offshore fish communities. In the last five years, Dr. Dunton has received several monetary awards from diverse funding sources (federal, state, NGO) totaling over 8 million dollars, with additional grants under review.

Both Dr. Wang and Dr. Dunton successfully included students in their work, often leading to joint presentations and publications.

Dr. Hettie Williams, Associate Professor in History and Anthropology, in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, was the third recipient.

In her own words: I’m a biotech development consultant with a background that bridges biotech and finance. As an undergrad at Monmouth University, I spent four years researching harmful algal blooms under Dr. Jason Adolf. After earning my B.S. in Biology, I began consulting in pharmaceutical financing strategy and micro-cap IPO preparation for oncology biotech companies. Over time, I expanded into other sectors and industries; controlled environment agriculture, energy, security and defense, and environmental goods and services. ESG investing has been a priority throughout my career. While I gained valuable experience with financial institutions, I eventually shifted toward startups to pursue my passion for developing monetization pathways for climate-focused technologies. My work centers on translating science into compelling narratives for investors while ensuring compliance and connecting business with academia. I also support private investors by analyzing data through a scientific lens to guide decisions.

By coincidence, a client in my network was interested in seaweed aquaculture and climate-resilient infrastructure; a serendipitous intersection of my academic experience and professional niche. Without my research foundation, I wouldn’t have been able to step in and help move that business from concept to execution. That kind of work, diverse, meaningful, and self-directed, is what I find most rewarding. And yes, the travel and scuba diving in our quarry acquisitions are a big bonus.

Monmouth shaped who I am. My first-year seminar introduced me to climate science, and my research taught me how to communicate complex work, a crucial skill in investment settings where years of scientific discovery and innovation often comes down to a 15-minute pitch. My time at Cape Eleuthera Institute also strengthened my connections with the Ocean Research Education Foundation and other international collaborators I still value today.

To me, success is about finding happiness. I entered Monmouth as a pre-med student; a noble pursuit, but I felt disenchanted because I truthfully was not as passionate about that career objective as other students were. I wanted a career that made me feel like it was my purpose.  I was worried about financial stability too, but my professors helped me figure out what I was willing to work hard for. Once I leaned into my curiosity and found alignment with my path, the monetary rewards followed. In a sense, it was by accident that I cultivated my dream job. Every factor that led me towards it really traces back to Monmouth University. If I could do it all over again, I’d tell myself that fulfillment is the priority so I could savor that journey again. 

The 23rd Annual School of Science Student Research Conference was held on Friday, April 18th. This event showcased 32 research projects by teams of students and their faculty mentors from across the School of Science. The conference highlights the results of applied research, independent studies, and thesis projects being conducted by students in the departments of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Computer Science and Software Engineering, and Mathematics. The conference serves as one of our many commitments to providing experiences that extend beyond the traditional classroom. KerryAnn Kelly (Software Engineering BS 2018 and MS 2019) delivered the keynote address to kick off the day.

The abstract book can be found on the SRC page.

This February, several Computer Science students, accompanied by CSSE Department Chair, Professor Ling Zheng, attended the WECode Conference in Cambridge Massachusetts. WECode (Women Engineers Code) is an annual event organized by undergraduate women at Harvard University. This conference, an initiative of Harvard Women in CS (harvardwics.com), is the largest student-run Women in Computer Science conference in the United States. WECode’s goal is to cultivate the next generation of technical leaders, foster a network and community among collegiate engineers, and promote more female representation in the technical industry.

Two Undergraduates: Mar Elbanna and Estania Blanc-Doblas and Graduate student, Gnanika Yalamanchili, from Monmouth’s Computer Science program were given the opportunity to apply and attend this 2-day event where students, speakers, and industry professionals gathered to support women thrive in the technology industries.

“I had the chance to meet knowledgeable mentors who were eager to guide and support those with a genuine interest in learning. I also connected with fellow students, Harvard attendees, and industry professionals, which reinforced how important networking is for growth and future opportunities.” Gnanika Yalamanchili, MU CS Graduate Student

Mar Elbanna, a senior CS student explained, “The speakers invited were down-to-earth and very willing to share their experience and struggles in the industry. I learned a lot about the interview process and the state of the current job market for computer science and software engineering fields. As attendees were able to interact with the speakers through questions, many fears regarding AI and similar topics were addressed.”