Bloomfield – Press Room /newscenter Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:28:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 Making the Most of a Dual-Campus Life /newscenter/2026/07/02/making-the-most-of-a-dual-campus-life/ Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:24:52 +0000 /newscenter/?p=228162 When Ethan Garcia enrolled at , he didn’t just want a degree – he wanted the full, immersive college experience. He went all in.

So what began as a pandemic-era virtual acceptance quickly transformed into a master class on campus involvement. The turning point came when he deposited and was offered a rare first-year student worker position in .

“This is where my story really took off and became a life-changing journey,” says Garcia.

By diving headfirst into campus life, Garcia managed to create a rewarding, dual-campus adventure for himself. He double majored in at Bloomfield and Business Administration at Montclair’s.

“I had the best of both worlds because I had my small campus family at Bloomfield, where everybody knows me and I know everybody,” he says, “and at the same time, I could go to Montclair and meet new people.”

It was hard for fellow Bloomfield students not to know Garcia. Over his five-year academic career, he became a ubiquitous presence across campus. He served as a storyteller, student ambassador, resident assistant, lead studio assistant, president of the Student Government Association and president of the Greek Council – all while maintaining his academic studies and admissions job, a position he held for five years ending this summer. He also cheered on his campus community as Bloomfield’s mascot, Deacon the Bear.

His many efforts earned Garcia the college’s Portrait of Excellence recognition, and he became the first Bloomfield College student to speak at Commencement following the 2023 merger with vlog.

Bloomfield Dean Theodorea Regina Berry, who featured Garcia on her first “Living & Learning” podcast, which he produced at the campus studio, says she was not surprised that Garcia was selected to represent Bloomfield at the 2026 Spring Commencement.

“He truly embodies the balance, dedication and leadership we hope to cultivate in all our graduates,” she says.

 

In cap and gown,Ethan Garcia speaks from a lectern on commencement day.

Why He Chose Bloomfield

Garcia attended a virtual college fair during the COVID-19 pandemic and liked the admission staff’s “vibe,” he says.

“I was looking for a near-home experience that was affordable and had a sense of community,” he adds. He found all of that and more at Bloomfield. The once shy Garcia saw possibilities and decided to step out of his comfort zone. “It was a great experience from the very jump. They gave me opportunities to grow.”

He also credits faculty and staff for supporting him and seeing leadership potential in him, even when he didn’t see it for himself. He’s glad he took them up on those challenges and opportunities. “I’ve surpassed expectations I had for myself and surprised myself over the years.”

Looking Toward the Future

This fall, Garcia heads to William Paterson University to pursue an MBA, having already secured a graduate assistantship and a resident directorship to cover his tuition. As he prepares for a career as an audio engineer, he will continue working part time as an assistant sound technician with a local DJ company – viewing his next chapter as a continuation of his undergraduate education and momentum.

“I could say that I’m leaving Bloomfield going in the right direction,” says Garcia. “I’m going to be working, and I can still use my degree in music technology to continue doing what I like to do on the side as a hobby.”

 

 

A Campus Leader and Storyteller

Garcia’s journey, which started in the Game Design program before he changed majors, was defined by rapid growth. He credits faculty mentorship, particularly from Professor Frank Rivera, with shaping his artistic and professional path. While he prefers to work behind the scenes in music, he also mastered an album as part of his capstone project, successfully compiling and releasing his own EP “Lo Que No Digo,” (What I Don’t Say), which is currently available across major streaming platforms.

Describing it as a “Latino frat boy album” that features a mix of reggaeton, cumbia, hip hop, RB and combines his many musical skills in piano, as well as jazz, concert and marching band, Garcia says, “I don’t intend to be an artist and for the album to blow up but I figured, why not? I learned how to put music out there into the world while in school here, so I might as well do it.”

Ethan Garcia plays piano dressed as Deacon the Bear as Rocky the Redhawk applauds.

Gratitude at Graduation

Garcia is grateful for those who believed in him and “saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself.” He’s also thankful for the sacrifices made by his family, which have made his academic achievements possible. As he told his fellow graduates at Commencement: “Like me, many of you arrived here carrying the dreams of your families and communities. Many of us come from communities where this path was not always clear or easy. But today, we make history in our families. Be proud of this accomplishment and remember, you belong in every room you walk into. Your voice and your story matter.”

Garcia represents a “standout example of positive student outcomes,” says Dean Berry, adding, “Ethan found that balance between academic excellence and meaningful engagement, and that is a core part of his success story.”

Ethan Garcia addresses the New Jersey State Assembly Budget Committee. Ethan Garcia, in blue suit, and other students listen to a state official in Trenton. ]]>
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Game-Changer: How Bloomfield Helped Turn a Love of Video Games into a Law Career /newscenter/2026/06/11/game-changer-how-bloomfield-helped-turn-a-love-of-video-games-into-a-law-career/ Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:17:52 +0000 /newscenter/?p=228131 Ciara Donaldson ’24 never imagined she could turn a love of video games into a pathway to law school. At , that unexpected turn became her plan.

“I came for game design, but Bloomfield helped me discover I could rewrite the rules of the game as a lawyer,” she says.

Through Bloomfield’s internship program, Donaldson landed a role where a supervisor casually mentioned that some lawyers specialize in video game law – an eye‑opening moment that showed her she could turn her interest in games into a future legal career.

Double majoring in Game Programming (BS) and Creative Arts & Technology (BA) with a concentration in Game Design and Development, Donaldson gained both creative and technical skills. Ranked nationally by The Princeton Review as a , Bloomfield gave her the foundation for internships and opportunities to present her research at national conferences.

The community, the support and the things I was able to accomplish at Bloomfield changed what I thought was possible for myself.”

From the beginning, Bloomfield was the place that made sense, Donaldson says. “It was strong in my major, affordable for my family and close enough that my parents in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, could still see me.”

Like many students at Bloomfield, she credits the college’s close‑knit community with making a real difference – from small class sizes and easy access to professors to strong peer connections across diverse backgrounds and faculty mentorship that helped her grow more confident.

Today, as a Help Desk Analyst with the New Jersey Courts in Trenton, she is gaining hands‑on experience in the legal system while preparing to begin law school at Widener University Delaware Law School.

“Bloomfield brought me out of my shell and showed me I could achieve things I never thought were possible.”

Ready to Start Your College Journey?

Since Bloomfield College officially became Bloomfield College of vlog, students have gained expanded academic options, more student life activities and access to Montclair’s resources while still keeping their home base on a smaller campus. Learn more about .

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Earn a Scholar Certificate by Studying Your Own Community /newscenter/2026/06/10/earn-a-scholar-certificate-by-studying-your-own-community/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:28:31 +0000 /newscenter/?p=228118 At Bloomfield College of vlog, every new student now has the chance to earn a  by turning their own cultures, experiences and stories into college‑level projects that count toward their degree.

The SCHOLAR Certificate – which stands for Stewardship, Community History and Opportunities for Leadership and Academic Readiness – is a 10-11 credit certificate program that gives students structured, hands-on experience aimed at building professional skills and strengthening local partnerships. It is now required for all incoming Bloomfield College students, with transfer students able to opt in.

By asking students to do rigorous, research‑based work about communities they know best, the certificate is designed to build academic confidence and stronger writing and critical thinking skills from the very first semester. This foundation enables them to complete community‑engaged projects embedded in SCHOLAR‑designated courses throughout the curriculum.

The initiative reflects Bloomfield’s mission as a Predominantly Black and Hispanic‑Serving Institution, helping students connect their coursework with the histories, identities, neighborhoods and organizations that shape their lives.

What ‘Community Co‑Design’ Means

At the heart of the certificate is “community co-design,” the concept faculty developed to guide SCHOLAR courses, says Nora McCook, Cyrus H. Holley Professor in Applied Ethics and Associate Professor of Writing. McCook, whose background is in critical literacy studies and community engagement, sees it as a way to make learning deeply personal and genuinely collaborative.

“If students care about what they’re doing, if they recognize that this is about them, but also about them giving back, it really is powerful to set that tone, right at the beginning of a college career,” McCook says.

The certificate builds on three core elements: 

  1. Reflection and self-awareness
  2. Reciprocity and exchange
  3. Culture and history

The first two come from long-established community engagement traditions. The third – culture and history – is the distinctive piece Bloomfield adds in terms of community engagement, scholarship and practice.

The first course to carry the SCHOLAR designation was Writing 105, Bloomfield’s first-year writing course, which McCook and First-Year Writing Director Freddie Harris piloted last summer. They shifted the curriculum so that students completed a multi-part autoethnographic project centered on a community they belong to.

Odyeli Ramos Tobar drew on her love of pupusas to explore the connections between culture, cuisine and community.

Odyeli’s Story: Culture, Cuisine and Community

Odyeli Ramos Tobar was part of the first group of students to undertake the project. A first-generation college student from West Orange, New Jersey, she chose Bloomfield for its Nursing program and small size, and found her first writing assignment unexpectedly meaningful.

Odyeli chose the Hispanic community she grew up in, but decided to focus even more specifically on pupusas, the traditional Salvadoran dish that connects her to her home and its indigenous history. She researched how pupusas are made, where the best ones are found, and the centuries-old traditions and rituals around them.

“I was really excited about my research because I grew up with pupusas,” she says of her childhood in El Salvador. “It was a tradition for me to buy it every weekend.”

For her, that made the writing feel different from a typical assignment. “You’re not doing it because someone told you to, it’s because it comes from you.” That sense of ownership, her professors note, is exactly what helps students push their writing, research and analysis to a higher level.

Growing a SCHOLAR Campus

For faculty, the pilot confirmed they had tapped into something powerful. McCook believes that in an era of AI, it matters that students see the work as both personal and communal, because that investment helps them do more authentic, deeper academic work.

As the model developed, Bloomfield’s leadership saw that it expressed something essential about the college. Today, Writing 105 serves as the first required SCHOLAR course for incoming students, and Bloomfield is expanding SCHOLAR electives so students can complete the certificate on top of their degree.

Faculty across disciplines have stepped forward to adapt courses. Planned SCHOLAR courses include Introduction to Informatics, a section of Intro to Game Design, a Theater in Practice course that recently culminated in a public monologue performance on the steps of Talbott Hall, Becoming a Changemaker – Intro to Social Innovation, Advocacy in Action, and special topics courses in Writing and Africana Studies. A community garden course with Newark-based nonprofit STEAM Urban is also continuing as a SCHOLAR course.

In Nursing, Foundations of Nursing and Community Nursing will both be SCHOLAR courses, giving transfer students to that program a path to complete the certificate with just one additional class.

“Community-building is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, but it’s also about heart, ethics and practical skills students can carry into their careers,” McCook says.

Ready to Start Your College Journey?

Since Bloomfield College officially became Bloomfield College of vlog, students have gained expanded academic options, more student life activities and access to Montclair’s resources while still keeping their home base on a smaller campus.

Learn more about 

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Small Campus, Big Spirit: How I Balance Classes at Bloomfield and Montclair Cheer /newscenter/2026/03/31/small-campus-big-spirit-how-i-balance-classes-at-bloomfield-and-montclair-cheer/ /newscenter/2026/03/31/small-campus-big-spirit-how-i-balance-classes-at-bloomfield-and-montclair-cheer/#respond Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:50:06 +0000 /newscenter/?p=227654 Informatics major Bryce Antoine ’28 is building real-world tech skills – coding, system design and ethical technology – in small classrooms where everyone knows his name. He also competes on the vlog Coed Cheer Team, a cheerleading powerhouse just a shuttle ride away.

“Even though Bloomfield is a small school, we provide so many major opportunities,” Antoine says. “Everyone is connected. It’s almost like you know everybody from every major, every department, every office you walk into.”

Since Bloomfield College officially became Bloomfield College of vlog, students like Antoine have gained expanded academic options, more student life activities and access to Montclair’s resources while still keeping their home base on a smaller campus.

Two photos side by side show vlog Coed Cheer Team members performing stunts on a sunny campus quad, with bases supporting a flyer in the air as they practice ahead of their April trip to the national cheerleading championships.

vlog Coed Cheer Team members show off stunts on the quad on a spring afternoon ahead of their trip to Florida in April to the national championships. (Photos by University Photographer Mike Peters)

Antoine says Bloomfield matches his personality and day-to-day life. “Montclair is a big school, and I’m low-key,” he says. Because of that, he appreciates how Bloomfield’s size lets him build close relationships with his professors, and those connections helped him rethink his academic path.

Supportive faculty have been central to Antoine’s experience, especially as he moved away from his family’s long tradition in medicine. He originally started at Bloomfield as a Nursing major. “My father was a doctor, my grandmother’s a doctor, my grandfather is a doctor,” he explains. “But even they told me to look more at a computer field because they know me. They thought it was better for me to do something I’m really good at instead of just following tradition.”

Bryce Antoine stands in a gym wearing a Montclair State Cheerleading T‑shirt, hands on hips, representing his role on the vlog Coed Cheer Team.

Bryce Antoine juggles classes, an Admissions job and student leadership at Bloomfield – then heads over to Montclair to practice with the Coed Cheer Team. (Photo by John J. LaRosa)

Big-school cheer, small-school community

Some of Antoine’s most visible moments happen a short drive away at the Montclair campus. He takes his classes at Bloomfield and heads to Montclair to cheer on the vlog Coed Cheer Team, one of the top Division III programs in the country.

For Antoine, Bloomfield’s home base and shared resources with Montclair let him enjoy the best of both worlds: a small, supportive college community and big‑school spirit. “I don’t have to choose,” he says. “I get both.”

Ready to start your college journey? Explore .

Bloomfield Accepted Students: Save your spot for .

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Finding Her Confidence: How One Shy Bloomfield Graduate Grew Into a Mentor For Others /newscenter/2026/01/12/finding-her-confidence-how-one-shy-bloomfield-graduate-grew-into-a-mentor-for-others/ /newscenter/2026/01/12/finding-her-confidence-how-one-shy-bloomfield-graduate-grew-into-a-mentor-for-others/#respond Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:59:32 +0000 /newscenter/?p=227360 Born and raised in the Philippines, Nicole Yator immigrated to the United States at just thirteen years old. By the time she arrived at as a freshman, she was academically strong – but quiet and reserved.

During her first year, Yator’s algebra professor noticed her intellect and recommended her for a tutoring position. It was an opportunity she had earned, but one she quietly turned down.

“I thought I was too shy,” she admits. “I didn’t think I could do it.”

Four years later, that same student is graduating as a campus leader and mentor, deeply involved in student life and passionate about giving back to the community that helped her grow. Getting there, however, took time, support, and a willingness to step outside her comfort zone.

Lifted by the Bloomfield Community

From the very beginning, Yator found support through Bloomfield’s and Programs.

“I’m super grateful for TRIO and EOF,” she says. “They’ve been there for me since the beginning of my college career.”

Choosing to live on campus helped her immerse herself in college life, but it also made college more expensive than expected. Even after scholarships, financial aid, and grants, there was still a financial gap. That’s where EOF stepped in – helping cover remaining costs and providing mentorship along the way.

“EOF and TRIO always made sure my bill was at zero,” Yator says. “That support meant everything. It allowed me to focus on school instead of constantly worrying.”

The Power of Mentorship

As Yator progressed in her Biology major, she leaned on peer mentors who became both guides and role models. Watching them succeed and support others sparked a realization.

It reminded her of the tutoring position she had declined as a freshman. “Seeing other people doing the thing I was most afraid of made me think, maybe I can do this too,” she says.

Quietly, she began hoping she’d get another chance. She knew tutors had to be recommended and approved by a professor – but this time, she felt more prepared.

A Second Chance to Say Yes

In 2024, a second chance came when another mentor recommended her for a position and this time, Yator accepted – even though the nerves were still there.

“But I had this realization: the students coming to me for help were doing the same thing I do with my mentors.”

That shift changed everything. “I used to hate asking for help. That was my toxic trait,” she says with a laugh. “Once I understood that asking questions is part of learning, it broke me out of my shell.”

Growing — and Giving Back — as a Campus Leader

Yator’s confidence continued to grow, and so did her involvement on campus. In addition to serving as a Biology Tutor, she became a Peer Coach and Lab Assistant, worked as a Social Media Intern for , and earned her Mental Health First Aid USA Certification.

She also found a leadership home in Team Infinite, a student organization focused on helping students – especially commuters – feel comfortable getting involved on campus. Yator served as Vice President for two years before becoming President during her senior year.

Under her leadership, Team Infinite emphasized accessibility, flexibility, and inclusion. In 2024, the club was recognized as Club of the Year.

Looking Forward

Yator will graduate with a degree in Biology and plans to continue her education in healthcare. Whether she becomes a pharmacist or a doctor, her goal is clear.

“After college, I want to continue my career and education in healthcare and science to share my knowledge,” she says.

At graduation, her parents and sister will be there to cheer her on – with extended family in the Philippines celebrating from across the world.

Advice for New Students

Yator’s advice for incoming students is simple, but powerful: “Be friends with people, and don’t gatekeep resources. If you know something that can help someone else, share it.”

She practiced what she preaches – even recommending friends for TRIO and EOF. “Community makes such a difference,” she says. “No one should feel like they have to figure everything out alone.”

This story is part of a series celebrating vlog’s graduates – students who embody the University’s mission to broaden access to exceptional learning opportunities and contribute to the common good.

Story by Jayda Brown. Photography by University Photographer Mike Peters.

Ready to Start Your College Journey?

Prospective Students or Parents: Learn more about .

dzܰԲٲ:Contact our Media Relations team to request assets or schedule an interview with a member of the Class of 2026.

 

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How Bloomfield College Graduate Abraham Rubio Turned His Passion For Games Into a Tool for Learning /newscenter/2025/05/06/how-bloomfield-college-graduate-abraham-rubio-turned-his-passion-for-games-into-a-tool-for-learning/ /newscenter/2025/05/06/how-bloomfield-college-graduate-abraham-rubio-turned-his-passion-for-games-into-a-tool-for-learning/#respond Tue, 06 May 2025 15:01:48 +0000 /newscenter/?p=226146 This story is part of a series celebrating vlog’s Spring Commencement 2025 graduates – students who embody the University’s mission to broaden access to exceptional learning opportunities and contribute to the common good.

“I grew up on Nintendo,” says Abraham Rubio.

Now a first-generation college graduate, two-time game club president, and former , Rubio has grown into a natural leader and creative software engineer with a passion for using tech to make an impact.

But long before he ever set foot in Bloomfield College of vlog’s computer lab, he was already writing code – not in a classroom, but in his childhood bedroom, creating custom mods for Minecraft.

Modding is how players change or expand a video game’s features. To mod Minecraft, you have to learn Java – a coding language used by professional programmers. At just 10 years old, guided by YouTube videos, Rubio was teaching himself how code interacts with machines.

“At the time, I didn’t understand anything of what I was typing or the value of what I was learning,” he says.

What started as a desire to make his video games more fun ended up teaching him to think like an engineer – solving problems by writing code to build digital tools from scratch.

From Player to Programmer

At Donald M. Payne, Sr. School of Technology, a game development program helped Rubio realize that creating games could actually be a career. One of his teachers, impressed by his drive, recommended that he apply to Bloomfield College – known for having one of the in New Jersey.

When Rubio arrived at Bloomfield, he originally enrolled as a Game Design major. But after realizing he was more drawn to the technical side of the field, he switched to Bloomfield’s Computer Science and Game Programming majors.

His coursework honed his technical skills, but what really stood out was how much he grew through group work and collaborative projects.

“The biggest thing I learned at Bloomfield was how to work with others,” says Rubio. “I learned how to collaborate with people who have different skills than me. I learned how other people communicate and how to communicate my ideas – especially while leading two capstone projects.”

These new skills were put to the test when Rubio decided to bring back Bloomfield’s Game Club – and quickly learned that reviving a student club wouldn’t be easy.

“I didn’t know what I was getting into,” he says.

At first, he tried to handle everything on his own. But as the club grew, so did his understanding of what real leadership requires: collaboration.

To organize larger tournaments and events, he realized he’d need help – not just from his peers, but from departments across campus. One of his most valuable partnerships was with Bloomfield’s esports coach, who offered equipment and logistical support.

“Without him, some of our biggest events wouldn’t have been possible,” Rubio says.

That shift – from going it alone to building a network of support – became one of the defining lessons of his time at Bloomfield.

Over the next two years as Game Club president, Rubio helped grow the team and lay the groundwork for the club’s future.

“Now there’s a full team behind me that will run the club, even after I graduate,” he says.

Abraham Rubio sits at a computer.

The NASA Internship: Expanding His Universe

Out of more than 600 applicants to program, only four students were selected. Rubio was one of them.

That’s why he encourages students to apply to big opportunities anyway, even when they seem out of reach. “Don’t reject yourself,” he says. “Let them reject you.”

At NASA, Rubio joined a small, cross-functional team that included another programmer, a UI/UX designer, a project manager and climate scientists. Together, they designed a game to help high school students understand how climate change affects the globe over time.

Rubio’s role was on the back end – incorporating real climate data into the game’s front-end interface in a way that would be understandable and engaging for young players.

The experience opened his eyes to how versatile his skills really were.

“NASA’s not known for games, but they wanted this project,” he reflects. “It made me realize I could apply these skills anywhere. What else can I learn? What else can I move forward with?”

He also discovered the potential of games to be more than just entertainment – they could teach, engage and shift perspectives.

“My game programming background can be used for education,” he says. “I can teach others in an enjoyable way without relying on a textbook.”

A First-Gen Graduate, Ready for What’s Next

On May 8, Rubio will receive his Bachelor of Science in and , ready to use his skills to build more than just games.

He’s proud to join his two older sisters as a college graduate, becoming the third person in his family to earn a degree. “It feels like I’m following in their footsteps,” he says. He’s grateful to them for offering advice and encouragement when he needed it most.

He’s also grateful for his parents, who supported him emotionally, financially and logistically.

“They might not understand a lot of the intricacies of college, but they were there every step of the way,” he says. His parents provided rides to school and helped him get a car and his license.

With his degree in hand, he’s aiming for a career in software engineering – and knows the journey might take time, but he’s committed to the process.

“I know it’s coming,” he says. “It may not be today or tomorrow, but the work will pay off.”

The University will celebrate its graduates at Commencement exercises on Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Story by Jayda Brown, University Communications and Marketing

Ready to Start Your Bloomfield Journey?

Prospective Students or Parents: Learn more about .

Journalists: Contact our Media Relations team to request assets or schedule an interview with a member of the Class of 2025.

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Bloomfield College Student-Athlete Daniela Vidal Turns Softball Scholarship Into a Life of Purpose /newscenter/2025/05/01/bloomfield-college-student-athlete-daniela-vidal-turns-softball-scholarship-into-a-life-of-purpose/ /newscenter/2025/05/01/bloomfield-college-student-athlete-daniela-vidal-turns-softball-scholarship-into-a-life-of-purpose/#respond Thu, 01 May 2025 14:34:54 +0000 /newscenter/?p=226055 This story is part of a series celebrating vlog’s Spring Commencement 2025 graduates – students who embody the University’s mission to broaden access to exceptional learning opportunities and contribute to the common good.

For Daniela Vidal, softball isn’t just a game. Driven and tenacious, she credits the sport with teaching her grit – the mindset that defines her approach to life.

“If it didn’t happen the first time, keep on going until it happens,” says Vidal. “I’m 100% sure I got that from softball.”

And if there is any word that describes her, grit is it. As a , student-athlete, peer mentor and team captain, Vidal faced the responsibilities and pressures of college life with resilience and gratitude.

But that worldview wasn’t softball’s only gift.

“Softball’s the reason why I came to college,” says Vidal, who enrolled in Bloomfield College of vlog in 2021 with an athletic scholarship. “I didn’t have to pay much to come to college. And that’s a blessing.”

Learning to Lead: Lessons On and Off the Field

Raised with an early affinity for numbers, choosing Business Administration as a major felt like a natural fit.

“Ever since I was smaller, I saw my grandpa crunching numbers with his calculator,” Vidal recalls. “I was just fascinated with numbers.”

But balancing her coursework with the demands of being a student-athlete was far from easy.

“I was late to practice all the time,” she remembers. “Late to school. Late to everything.”

That’s when Vidal found her first of many mentors: Phil Delgado, her former softball coach whose tough love got her back on track.

“My coach actually pulled me aside and told me ‘you just need to prioritize,’” she recalls.

Delgado’s advice was a turning point. Vidal went on to achieve 100 hits as a junior and started every game throughout her college career – all while balancing two academic concentrations. Eventually, she led the Bloomfield softball team as a captain.

“This year I was telling the freshmen – from the jump, from the first day they came – don’t be late. Learn from my experience,” she says, laughing. “I think it worked. Maybe I spread some fear.”

Her journey on the field taught her discipline – but it was off the field where she discovered how much she loved helping others grow, too.

A Passion for Helping Others

Vidal’s passion for helping others sparked in 2022, when she worked as a counselor at the . She loved taking the kids outside for games – often getting so caught up in a game of wiffleball that they’d run past their scheduled time.

Through this experience, she realized that she loved being a positive influence on the kids.

That desire to help others led to her peer financial consulting role – using her gift for numbers to help fellow students overcome their fear of managing money.

“A lot of people are scared of their finances – scared of losing power over their finances,” says Vidal. “I wanted to let people know that it’s a common fear. It’s not only you.”

McNair Scholars: Expanding Her Horizons

Her sophomore year, Vidal received an email from the and at first dismissed it as a scam. But a conversation with Bloomfield’s McNair Scholars program director, Beverly Fields, changed everything.

“I never knew a PhD was for me,” Vidal admits. “As soon as I heard, ‘We’ll help you on your PhD journey,’ I was like, wait, this is a possibility? And I think this program is going to help me do it.”

She applied immediately, and to her surprise, she was accepted.

Mentorship That Mattered – In and Out of the Classroom

While the McNair Program gave Vidal the tools to thrive academically, some of her most meaningful support came from unexpected places.

“My boyfriend, Anibal, was my biggest support. He kept it real,” she says. “He’d say, ‘Study for it or you’re going to fail.’ I needed that.” He also coached her through job interviews, asking her hard questions and helping her prepare.

Vidal credits her growth to the tough love of the people who believed in her – from her softball coaches to her McNair mentors – and who pushed her to believe in herself.

On May 8, 2025, she will earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with two concentrations – Marketing and Finance.

On her mortarboard, she’ll wear a picture of herself and her grandfather with the words, “Gracias a lo que sembraste, hoy me graduo con honor.”

In other words, thanks to what you planted in me, with honor today I graduate.

It’s a tribute to the grandfather who instilled in her both a love of numbers and the grit she needed to succeed.

What’s Next: Merging Finance and Criminal Justice

After graduation, Vidal will begin working full time at , the division of BNY Mellon where she interned in the summer of 2024.

But her educational journey isn’t over. Her next goal is to combine her passion for finance with her budding interest in law.

After being accepted to more than six graduate programs, she chose the University of New Haven’s online master’s program  – the only one of its kind in the United States.

And yes, a PhD is on the horizon.

Inspired by her own experience, Vidal hopes to one day coach girls in softball – passing down the confidence, discipline and grit the sport gave her.

“Because sports did such a big thing in my life. I want to give back, you know?” she says. “Whatever way it may be, I just want to give back somehow.”

The University will celebrate its graduates at Commencement exercises on Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8, 2025 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Story by Jayda Brown, University Communications and Marketing

Ready to Start Your Bloomfield Journey?

Prospective Students or Parents: Learn more about .

Journalists: Contact our Media Relations team to request assets or schedule an interview with a member of the Class of 2025.

 

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How Alumni Launched a Record Label /newscenter/2024/03/04/how-alumni-launched-a-record-label/ /newscenter/2024/03/04/how-alumni-launched-a-record-label/#respond Mon, 04 Mar 2024 13:30:06 +0000 /newscenter/?p=223313 In what may be the first collaboration between alumni of vlog and  Bloomfield College since the historic merger of the two institutions, Corey Morgart ’18 Bloomfield and Therese Sheridan ’19, ’23 MA Montclair have co-founded a company to help up-and-coming artists navigate the music industry.

The alumni have merged their talents – expertise in Music Technology (Morgart at Bloomfield) and Journalism and Public Relations (Sheridan at Montclair) – to form their record label, .

After graduating from Bloomfield, Morgart, better known by his producer name, MATRIXX, worked as head engineer of a local record label with productions featured on MTV, BET and radio stations such as HOT 97 and Power 105.1.

Sheridan studied Journalism and then went on to pursue a master’s degree in Public and Organizational Relations, where she focused her research on social media within the music industry.

Together, “we understand the importance of not just creating great music, but also creating a strong brand identity and connecting with audiences,” Sheridan says.

Corey Morgart and Therese Sheridan hold a sign that says Space Hound Records with a logo of a dog wearing a space helmet.

Morgart and Sheridan met as teenagers in the Bloomfield youth band, where Morgart played the bassoon and Sheridan and her saxophone sat two seats over.

“I was way too shy to talk to him and vice versa, but then there came a point where we had a concert. He forgot his sheet music and ended up having to look on with my sheet music. That kind of forced us to start talking and now we co-own a record label together,” Sheridan says.

In February, released its first R&B single, “Like Me,” from the rising Newark star, RNBHunter. And to make their collaboration complete, in January Morgart and Sheridan also became engaged, nine years after first meeting in band. “It’s not every day that you get engaged to your business co-founder. We’re looking forward to this new chapter – both for Space Hound Records and for us,” Sheridan says.

Story by Staff Writer Marilyn Joyce Lehren.

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