The drive was organized by Wendy C. Nielsen (English Department), in collaboration with Jennifer Dudeck‑Lenis (Social Work and Child Advocacy) and Jeff Gonzalez (English), who delivered the donations to Bridge of Books in Monmouth County. Contributors included but are not limited to the Child Advocacy Club (President Jaclyn Alicea and Secretary Ashley Rahill, mentored by Nydia Monagas and Jennifer Dudeck‑Lenis), the English Club (advised by Jeffrey Gonzalez), Steffi Dippold (History and English), Laura Nicosia (English and ISST), Wendy Nielsen, their students, and English alumna Chloe Driscoll.

Access to books is access to possibility. This collaboration showed what our community can accomplish together—from student leaders and alumni to staff and faculty—so more New Jersey kids can become addicted to reading and the world of imagination.
– Wendy C. Nielsen, faculty organizer

About Bridge of Books Foundation
Founded in New Jersey in 2003, Bridge of Books has grown from a volunteer‑led effort into a statewide partner that collects and distributes books through drives, individual donations, publishers, and community events—always with the goal of getting as many books as possible into the hands of kids who need them.

VOCES, created by Latinos of Montclair, is a Latino thought leaders series dedicated to creating an open space to uplift the voices and perspectives of Latino/e authors, artists, elected officials, community advocates, business leaders, and culture makers. Each gathering is designed to create space to reflect on Latinidad at this moment – its complexities, its beauty, and its future.

The event will take place at ����vlog’s Conference Center and is expected to draw an audience from across New Jersey of community members, students, and literature enthusiasts.

Díaz, best known for his celebrated works The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and Drown, has long been recognized for his groundbreaking exploration of identity, diaspora, and belonging. His writing, deeply rooted in the Dominican American experience, has reshaped contemporary literature and inspired a generation of readers and writers to examine the intersections of culture, history, and imagination. In recent years, Díaz has extended his voice beyond fiction, contributing powerful op-eds that confront the realities facing American Latinos amid an increasingly polarized political climate.

At this special VOCES event, Díaz will discuss “the intersections of culture, history, and imagination in the context of the current political climate,” engaging in a candid fireside conversation followed by an audience Q&A and book signing.

. ����vlog students, faculty and staff can attend for free, but must reserve a ticket and show their University ID at the door. Books will be available for purchase on-site.

�ٲ��ٱ�:��Thursday, December 4
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: University Hall Conference Center

About the VOCES Latino Thought Leaders Series

The VOCES Series, created by Latinos of Montclair, is dedicated to uplifting the voices and perspectives of Latine authors, artists, elected officials, community advocates, business leaders, and culture makers. Each gathering creates an open space to reflect on Latinidad at this moment – its complexities, its beauty, and its future. Through intimate fireside conversations, VOCES celebrates literature, identity, community building, and the power of storytelling to inspire social and cultural transformation.

About Latinos of Montclair

Latinos of Montclair is a New Jersey–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering community, celebrating culture, and amplifying the diverse voices of the Latino community through arts, education, and civic engagement. The organization produces signature cultural programs such as the Latino Heritage Celebration, Día de los Muertos Festival, and the VOCES Thought Leaders Series.

“I began to get more involved in the Montclair community and eventually fell in love with the student body,” she says.

Switching her major to English during her first year opened the door to new opportunities and connections. A class called Great Books and Ideas () made her feel confident and inspired, and a memorable trip through the Literary London class helped her form lifelong friendships.

Faith quickly became a powerhouse presence in the English department: vice president of the English Club, producer of its podcast, and co-creator of the Hawk+ show . She also served as secretary for creative arts magazine and was the first recipient of the Dr. Edwin Fulcomer Internship Award in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

But it’s —the knitting, crocheting, and fiber arts club she founded—that’s closest to her heart. “It’s flourished in such an amazing way,” she says. “The most rewarding part is meeting lots of people.” In 2025, the club was named Special Interest Club of the Year.

Behind her accomplishments are mentors who made a lasting impact: Dr. Lee Behlman, Dr. Jeffrey Miller, Dr. Jeffrey Gonzalez, and Dr. Laura Nicosia. “Each of them helped me in a different way—whether it was building confidence, opening doors, or guiding me into the Combined BA/MA program.”

Faith’s journey has changed how she defines success. “It’s not about a bulleted list of achievements—it’s about meeting people and improving their lives,” she says.

With her English BA complete and studies for her English MA underway, Faith’s not done yet – she’s ready to deepen her study of literature and its power to connect, inspire, and make change. Her advice to new students? “Talk to people and go for it. Whatever ‘it’ is, don’t let college pass you by.”

And as for that old myth that English is an “easy” major? Faith says: “It’s not easy—at least not if you care. English teaches you to understand the messages behind what you read. And in today’s world, that’s more important than ever.”

Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey?

Prospective Students and Parents: Learn more about Montclair admissions, our English major and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

As a high school student, she wrote for a local newspaper in Sewickley, PA. There, she wrote features on zoning meetings and other local government meetings. “I knew the importance of being involved and paying attention to what happens locally,” she says. After high school, she received her bachelor’s in English language and literature from Pennsylvania State University, and eventually moved to New Jersey.

After moving to New Jersey, Mundell became the associate director of University and Community Relations at ����vlog. Taking advantage of the tuition benefit offered to employees, she worked full-time while earning her master’s in English. Her thesis, Burning Down the House: Reclaiming Homeplace in Gloria Naylor’s Linden Hills and Mama Day, examined the influence of geographic places and power structures on the development of individuals and communities.

Her education at Montclair gave her the abilities to become a critical thinker and thoughtful communicator. “Humans understand the world in narratives,” she explains. “So that has helped me along the way, to be able to synthesize what I hear from other people and then turn that back to them to find solutions.”

She used these skills to build a career in relationship building. After working in higher education, Mundell transitioned to the healthcare industry. Mundell advanced at RWJBarnabas Health and is now vice president of development for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

While growing a career as a development professional, Mundell held community leadership roles in Bloomfield Township. In 2017, she was appointed to the Township Council. The mayor at the time asked her if she would consider running to be the 1st Ward councilwoman. “I gave it some thought, talked to my husband, and it felt like a good thing to do,” she recollects. “My predecessor at the time stepped down from his seat early, so I was appointed to fill his vacancy.”

When the former mayor decided to run for State Assembly, he asked Mundell if she would consider running for the post. “We had made all this progress together,” she says. “And I know for him, it was really important to leave it in good hands…somebody that would keep that momentum moving. And so he asked me to consider running [for mayor]. And again, I went back to my husband,” she says with a chuckle. “We had the conversation, talked about what that would mean for us and decided that, yes, it was something that I was interested in, because I think I was the best choice to continue to move things forward.”

Mundell won the election this past November, but doesn’t see her gender as the main story. “I’m not here because I’m a woman, but that I am a woman could inspire someone else to try something that they didn’t feel like they fit in the space for,” she says. In her short time as mayor, she recruited more than 70 dedicated volunteers to serve on committees in town and created new committees to increase community involvement, demolished the town’s old DPW building (a 20-year eyesore), facilitated repairs to the roof of the adult library, creatively financed the renovations to the township’s much beloved children’s library without the township taking on new debt and launched senior programming for retired community members.

When contemplating how her time as an English graduate student at Montclair has prepared her for roles in development and as mayor, she emphasizes the transferable skills learned. “Education prepares you for anything,” she reflects. “English majors will save the world – our minds are open to different things.”

For current students, Mundell advises to explore and seize opportunities for growth. “Take advantage of all of it. You’ll never have another time in your life where you will explore and learn things at the pace you want,” she urges. Her career trajectory evolved because of her willingness to try new things. “Take every opportunity that presents itself,” she says. “I worked at Montclair and had the opportunity to further my education, so I took that. I was approached for the town council, I said yes. I was approached to run for mayor, I said yes.”

Since graduating, Mundell has stayed connected to Montclair as a guest speaker, neighbor and recently, as a member of the President’s Advisory Board for the Bloomfield College integration. She enjoys speaking to students about how an education from Montclair prepares a student for anything. “I have a graduate degree in English, but I don’t teach, I work in health care. You can study literature, you can study liberal arts, and you could become a mayor.”

She encourages students of any background or major to think about careers in public service and get involved in their local communities. Mundell suggests reaching out to local elected officials to build relationships and attending town meetings and events. By being present, students can get inspired to see how they might contribute, and how they can create their own story.

“I’ve always believed that you have the power to make change where you live.”

Paloma’s story is one of resilience, growth, and passion for her field. From navigating academic challenges to speaking at commencement, her journey is an inspiring testament to determination and the transformative power of education.

Paloma chose to major in English driven by her lifelong love of literature. “It’s an art form, and the expression of art is what makes us human. ” She reflects that literature is “a universal way to connect with those before and after us and I think it is such a privilege and I am grateful that I get to study it.”

A turning point in her university experience came during an English Initiatives meeting in October 2023. Having met some of her best friends and closest mentors through the department initiatives, Paloma marks her involvement as a clear pivot point. “I felt like my life at Montclair changed direction for the better.”

Among her proudest accomplishments is her role as the 2025 commencement speaker—a full-circle moment in her academic career. Having started at Montclair on academic probation, the transformation is hard to put into words. For Paloma, it’s proof that you can rise after a fall. “It is one of the most impactful and proud moments of my time at Montclair State,” she says.

Paloma attributes much of her success to the invaluable guidance of key faculty members who profoundly impacted her academic journey and personal growth.

• , associate professor and advisor for the English Club, supported Paloma throughout her time at Montclair State. She credits him with being a hands-on mentor who guided her in co-founding the English Club and provided numerous opportunities for growth. For Paloma, Dr. Gonzalez stood out as a role model in academia and a constant source of support.
• was instrumental in helping Paloma rebuild her confidence after academic probation. He encouraged her to apply for English awards and his classes left a lasting impact on her academic perspective. Paloma shares, “Dr. Miller taught me what it meant to be a reader and a scholar, and I view the world differently after his classes.”
• provided Paloma with a transformative and full-circle experience. During her freshman year, Paloma struggled in one of Dr. Nicosia’s classes, an experience that stayed with her for years. In her final semester, Paloma enrolled in a master class with Dr. Nicosia, where she was given the opportunity to research for Dr. Nicosia on an upcoming project and receive guidance for post-undergraduate programs and master’s options.

Paloma Lupino (center) celebrates with Professors Jeffrey Gonzalez and Laura Nicosia before the Commencement Ceremony.

These professors not only imparted academic knowledge but also provided the mentorship and encouragement that Paloma says were crucial to her personal and academic growth. “I absolutely would not be the student I am today without the support and guidance of professors like these,” she reflects, adding that she is deeply grateful for their impact on her Montclair journey.

During her time at Montclair, Paloma also served as the president of the English Club, creating a space for students to engage with literature beyond the classroom. She balanced the academic and fun sides of English as a co-host of , the university’s first student-run podcast. Through this project, Paloma and fellow students explored topics ranging from Beowulf to book-to-movie adaptations, offering lively discussions that appealed to both casual readers and literature enthusiasts. Additionally, Paloma brought her energy and creativity to , a student-produced talk show streaming on Hawk+. These experiences helped her foster community within the English department and hone her skills in collaboration, leadership, and communication.

Paloma Lupino recorded episodes of the Playne English podcast in the WMSC Studios.

To current and future English students, Paloma offers words of encouragement: “Getting a degree is difficult, and most of us don’t finish the degree on a straight path. Life throws you curve balls and obstacles that we need to juggle on top of being students. Embrace the journey, trust in yourself, and don’t forget to celebrate your progress.”

Looking ahead, Paloma hopes to continue her education through graduate and doctoral studies, with aspirations to work in academia. “Montclair really showed me that you can come back from anything if you work hard enough, and believe that you can. Some of the best and most life-changing opportunities are out there… all you need to do is go out and find them.”

Congratulations to Paloma Lupino and the Class of 2025!

From writing one or two stories for his Weehawken High School newspaper to being the sports editor for two years at the Montclarion, he “wasn’t the traditional English major,” Zimmerman explained. Intrigued by his father’s stories about famous baseball heroes of the time, and inspired by his love of reading sports magazines, Zimmerman had ambitions to become a sportswriter.

While he never became a full-time sportswriter, he went on to major success at The Record. He began as a regional news reporter when he first joined its staff. “I didn’t know what story I’d get, but it was exciting,” he stated.

His assignments got him into many interesting situations, which included Zimmerman getting the opportunity to meet legendary Yankee players Yogi Berra and Elston Howard while writing a story about the building of the largest Yoohoo! bottling facility (at the time) in Carlstadt, NJ.

Zimmerman was also inside the Yankee locker room to do stories on other players. But his most interesting sports interview came when he met and interviewed Elston Howard at Howard’s home in Teaneck. Zimmerman got an early-morning assignment to cover a story about the Yankee catcher and left fielder, as he’d just won The American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1963. “The sports department didn’t do a story about this, so they asked me to go to his house and interview him,” Zimmerman said.

He fondly remembered not wanting to wake up Howard for the story since it was eight in the morning, but later found out that the Yankee player was already up; he’d been baling water from the basement since 3A.M. As a result, “I was the first person who interviewed Elston Howard for that award,” Zimmerman laughed.

He also covered stories that had him traveling to New York City, specifically remembering writing about and interviewing a seminary student from Yonkers who was a longshoreman on the docks of New York during the summer. Zimmerman’s journey also brought him to Norfolk, Virginia, to land on an aircraft carrier via a WW2 fighting plane, with six other journalists who were invited onto the excursion. He recalled bringing a “Send Help” banner that was folded inside a road map in his car, as a joke. While on that assignment, Zimmerman met a lieutenant commander from Bergen County who rescued United States astronaut Gus Grissom after a sub-orbital flight mission.

Zimmerman’s focus changed when he was assigned courtroom coverage for the paper. “I would go to the courthouse every day to check lawsuits,” he stated during his presentation. During this period, he discovered a lawsuit with examples of racial and ethnic bias in real estate practices in Wayne, NJ, which became a major story.

Another experience came when Zimmerman covered the murder of two policemen in Lodi at a local bar. Because Zimmerman was headed home and the bar was on the way, he got there before any other reporter and before the scene was ready: “I saw bodies under blankets, before being escorted away. I worked late in the night and co-wrote the story about the murders.” Zimmerman said. “I also covered the murder trial.” The crime that Zimmerman covered was the Trantino Murder, one of the most famous of the era.

Zimmerman later became a political writer during his time for The Record. Covering political figures who came into Bergen County and New Jersey, he had the opportunity to meet eventual president Gerald Ford when he was the minority house leader, and covered large political events in other states and territories, such as Kentucky, Idaho, Puerto Rico, and Missouri. He also covered the Republican National Convention.

His biggest achievement was his coverage of the United States – Soviet Union Summit in Glassboro, NJ in 1967, earning himself a White House press badge. He would later donate the badge to Rowan University during its 100-year anniversary.

Zimmerman later left the newspaper business and focused on politics and coordinated campaigns for New Jersey politicians. Because Leon had so many stories to tell about the first part of his post-Montclair career, he told the audience he would be willing to come back again to talk about those other experiences.

The English Department and Office of Alumni Engagement were pleased to have Leon return many decades after his graduation. His story took him from Montclair to the Yankee locker room, to an MVP’s living room, to an aircraft carrier, to a notorious murder scene, to the Republican National Convention, and to a major geopolitical summit–and that was just the first part of his remarkable career.

Leon’s wife, son, and granddaughter attended the presentation to watch him tell his story, along with a fellow 1950s English major and current English majors and faculty.

– Written by Victoria Ribarich

����vlog English Professor Jonathan Greenberg and correspondent have come out with a new book titled , which is a collection of stories that feature the inspiring lives and achievements of some of these exceptional elders who made their mark late in life.

Profiling people like Colonel Sanders, who was in his 60s when he founded the restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken, or Mary Church Terrell, who at 86 helped lead sit-ins at segregated Washington, D.C., lunch counters in the 1950s, the book is a celebration of those who live life to the fullest.

Here are some highlights from Roctogenarians, Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs and Greenberg’s thoughts…

…On Roctogenarians and what makes them special

It’s not just advanced years that make a person a Roctogenarian, Greenberg says, but an outlook on life – a certain mindset.

“A Roctogenarian is a person who rejects the basic cultural narrative that age is necessarily a story of decline and diminishing powers, and instead sees every new phase of life as a chance for new opportunities, a return to forgotten or neglected dreams and ambitions, or just a chance to build further on things that they already have accomplished,” explains Greenberg.

Going against the cultural norms of what older people should be and do is also very Roctogenarian, Greenberg notes. “We’re looking at a culture that says by the time you round into maybe your third act of life, it’s time to start packing it in, and here we’re saying, “Here are dozens of stories of people, famous and not famous, who have done just the opposite.’”

…On a few Roctogenarians featured in the book – famous and not

The lives and achievements of Mel Brooks, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Diana Nyad, Clara Peller, Peter Mark Roget and many others, some with household names, some without, are featured in Roctogenarians. Here are three that Greenberg highlights:

• – After working a lifetime in different jobs – including a roadside chicken and biscuit eatery in Georgia – at age 65, starting with nothing but a couple pressure cookers, a bag of seasoning, his $105 Social Security check and his ambition, Harland David Sanders set out and founded and turned it into a worldwide franchise empire. He is a good example of someone who took an idea and did something brand new, becoming a pioneer in franchising.
• – A hugely talented artist, Tyrus Wong exhibited his paintings and also worked for numerous companies, most notably Disney, for which he was the lead production illustrator for the 1942 classic animated film, . He revolutionized the Disney look but wasn’t officially recognized for it until 2001, when he was inducted as a at age 91. Wong continued to create art and receive awards until his death at 106.
• – One of the great French artists of the 20th century, Henri Matisse was successful and celebrated throughout his life but a series of struggles when he was in his 70s – including divorce, World War II, cancer and the resulting surgeries – left him unable to paint. Instead of giving up art, he turned to a new medium, cut-outs or cut paper collages. With help from his assistants, he would cut shapes out of sheets of colored paper and arrange them to form compositions. It became an entirely new and celebrated phase of his career that continued until his death nearly 15 years later.

…On what Roctogenarians have in common – 3 shared attributes

Although no two individuals are entirely alike, Greenberg speaks of three attributes or qualities that are common in Roctogenarians and shared by most of them:

• Freedom. As people get older, they tend to stop caring as much about what other people think – a kind of freedom from needing the approval of others.
• Awareness. Awareness of time becomes more acute for many Roctogenarians and they may become aware of their own mortality in a new way, resulting in a “now-or-never” attitude. One such person was , who wrote as a first-time author at 65, saying “If I hadn’t finished it, I would’ve died howling with despair.”
• Drive. There are certain people who just don’t want to stop and was one of them. He had already enjoyed a remarkable career when, at age 76, he was approached to design a museum for New York City. He didn’t have to do it; his legacy was already ensured, but he took on the challenge and spent the next 15 years working on the .

…On how anyone can become a Roctogenarian

Greenberg has some suggestions for anyone who wants to make the most of their later years and become a Roctogenarian.

“Sometimes it’s as simple as going back to what you loved doing at 16, 25 or 30,” he says. “My cowriter, Mo Rocca, did a bit on WNYC public radio in New York and people were calling in and saying ‘I’m a Roctogenarian!’ and telling their stories. For some people, it’s the artistic side of themselves, for some people it’s even athletics.”

Greenberg says another mini-narrative in the book is about people who had basically dropped their dreams or ambitions and later returned to pick them back up. An example from the book is the guitarist of the rock band .

“Brian May, when he joined Queen with , was working on a PhD in astrophysics in London,” Greenberg relates. “Obviously, he couldn’t do both so he gave up the astrophysics and became a rock star. When he was nearing 60, he mentioned it in an interview and the chairman of his old department wrote to him and asked ‘Do you want to pick up your old research?’ May went back and completed his PhD in astrophysics at 60 and became a consulting expert in the field of .”

Images from May 2024 Heterogeneous Ireland Symposium.

Poet and Professor Harryette Mullen of UCLA

Denise O’Shea of Sprague Library and Ellen Flanagan, Vice Consul General of the Consulate General of Ireland, New York

Ashim Dutta ’13, Associate Professor of English, Dhaka University, Bangladesh (M.A. , ����vlog)

These are the words of Sam Selvon, author of The Lonely Londoners, which the students of Literary London were assigned to read in anticipation of their study abroad trip, and the passage couldn’t have served as a better prophecy of what was to come. For ten days of their 2024 Spring Break, sixteen Montclair students of various majors traveled to London and Stratford-upon-Avon with their professors, Dr. Jonathan Greenberg and Dr. Lee Behlman, pursuing literature and culture beyond the classroom.

Students followed an itinerary that was centered around their class instruction. Greenberg and Behlman taught pivotal pieces of English literature from classics such as Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol to riveting works such as Sam Selvon’s Lonely Londoners and Quentin Crisp’s memoir The Naked Civil Servant.

A tour following Mrs. Dalloway’s day trip allowed students to walk through London and see historic locations such as Buckingham Palace and St. James Park. Similarly, students also toured areas like the East End and Brixton and attended a performance of The Big Life, all of which addressed the rich and complex history of Caribbean immigration and the city’s working class.

The comprehensive education on London was intentional: “We wanted not only to show London represented but also to give a sense of different perspectives over time and from the point of view of different populations and subcultures,” says Greenberg.

Furthermore, the value of art was not limited to the written word. The class attended four performances, three plays and one musical, two of which included Othello at the historic Shakespeare’s Globe and A Midsummer’s Night Dream at the Royal Shakespeare Theater in Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. Students received a backstage tour of the theater and also visited Shakespeare’s home amongst other locations during their two-day excursion in the town.

Professor Greenberg and students onstage at the Royal Shakespeare Theater in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The daily integration into English literature not only taught students many new things, it also furthered their developing perceptions of the works they’d already studied.

Behlman says, “Having a sense of the geography of London, the look and sounds and feel of places, is indispensable to an understanding of its cultural and literary history. We wanted to give students a sense of pleasure and accomplishment in visiting these new places and connecting them to what they already knew. Ideally, visiting the places enriched their understanding of our texts and reading the texts made those visits more exciting and educational.”

According to junior Matheo Santos, the experience lent him an entirely new perspective on English and the humanities. Having never considered becoming an English major before, Santos was surprised to find himself fully “engaged in the works and dialogue surrounding them.”

He particularly enjoyed visiting the various sites with Greenberg and Behlman: “For those less adept at itinerary planning like myself, having the professors plan a trip and offer their own particular insights on the topics we explored was a unique boon that we would have missed out on if the trip was not faculty-led.”

The opportunity to travel with the class also created bonds that had otherwise not existed. For Santos, those bonds developed between his classmates, professors, and “surprisingly, with locals of the area as well.” Beyond the organized​​ activities, Santos found that most of his favorite memories were made with classmates while wandering the streets and experiencing London’s nightlife in areas not frequented by tourists.

Similarly, fellow classmate Aubrey White, an English major, favored visiting independent bookstores, gathering firsthand how literature is a global experience by seeing locals shopping at the same stores and purchasing the same books as her and her classmates.

Not only was the geographic gap between the Montclair students and Londoners bridged during this time, but so were the divides between generations, the living and the dead, and the fictional and real. White especially noticed how Mrs. Dalloway suddenly became very alive while walking the same path as the titular character.

Students Rebecca Eshuis and Andres Lopez take photos of a plaque commemorating a site where author Virginia Woolf once lived.

This got to the very core of the trip’s intention. For Greenberg, students often miss aspects and details of novels because they’ve never been to their settings. The ability to contemplate the art and conversations that took place “in the very neighborhood or even building” where one might be standing completely changes the depth of that appreciation.

For Paloma Lupino, an English major in her senior year, this trip was one she always wanted to venture on: “I had always dreamed of studying London writers…I think it changed my perspective on the world as a whole and it made me realize how much is out there to explore and experience, not only in London, but the entire world.”

Payton Hall, a senior majoring in Psychology and minoring in English, says the experience in England broadened her perspective on a future abroad: “I had such a limited view of the world because I have spent most of my life only in the United States…being on this trip has made me want to see what else is out there.”

Like Santos, Lupino appreciated being able to travel with Greenberg and Behlman, saying, “Going with the professors was beneficial in terms of guidance and recommendations for restaurants and museums to explore. Knowing they had both been to London numerous times put my mind at ease going on this trip for the first time.”

“I did not expect to build such a strong relationship with the professors throughout this trip. Although they were our supervisors, by the end it felt like a big group of friends,” says Lupino.

These newfound friendships and memories are where the lasting effects of Montclair’s 2024 Spring Break trip to England are seen best. Behlman felt lucky to travel with his students, citing their kindness, generosity, and engagement as enriching factors of the experience.

Students Sarah Ramirez and Samantha Barros in front of Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

“My favorite part was spending time with the students and seeing London anew through their eyes,” he says. For Behlman, the goal of studying literature and studying abroad is to expand “the understanding of the world and how we’re all connected to it. To draw comparisons with our own cultural contexts and learn to respect others’ all the more. This is at the heart of the humanistic project.”

As for Greenberg, the “‘out of the library’ and ‘out of the classroom’” experiences remind us how the humanities are not “secondary to things like making money or creating a more just society.” Seeing the enthusiasm of his students, many of whom pledged to one another to explore live theater in New York City upon their return to the United States, made him hopeful for the future of literature.

“I was thrilled at the way they all threw themselves into the experience, and sought out experiences on their own above and beyond our scheduled itinerary,” says Greenberg. “Knowing that there are young readers who want to see where Virginia Woolf grew up or who will travel on their own to Freud’s house makes me feel as though our future may be in good hands after all.”

Written by Sarah Ramirez

In the vein of their previous collaboration, the New York Times bestseller Mobituaries, is a collection of entertaining and unexpected profiles of these unretired titans—some long gone (a cancer-stricken Henri Matisse, who began work on his celebrated cut-outs when he could no longer paint), some very much still living (Mel Brooks, yukking it up at close to one hundred). The amazing cast of characters also includes Mary Church Terrell, who at eighty-six helped lead sit-ins at segregated Washington, DC, lunch counters in the 1950s, and Carol Channing, who married the love of her life at eighty-two. Then there’s Peter Mark Roget, who began working on his thesaurus in his twenties and completed it at seventy-three (because sometimes finding the right word takes time.)

Roctogenarians, Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs debuted at .

Read More

Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving