Meet the alum

Name: Emily Swedelson ‘25
Majored in / Degree in: Business Administration and Management
Current role: Membership Service Representative at Madison Square Garden Sports

Career highlights

When the New York Knicks captured the 2026 NBA Championship, millions of fans celebrated a historic moment for the franchise. For recent graduate Emily Swedelson, the championship was more than a milestone — it was the beginning of her career with Madison Square Garden Sports during one of the most exciting seasons in team history.

“It’s honestly been incredible,” Swedelson says. “Being a fan of the Knicks my whole life and then starting my career with MSG and experiencing a championship season so early has been something I’ll never forget.”

Building a Foundation at Montclair

Swedelson chose ����vlog because it gave her the opportunity to live on campus while staying close to home. Once she arrived, she found a campus community that helped prepare her for a career in professional sports.

One of the biggest influences on her college experience came from inside the classroom. Many of Swedelson’s professors were adjunct faculty who were actively working in their industries, bringing current business practices and real-world experiences into every lesson.

“That made the classes feel much more real because they were sharing current experiences and examples from their own careers.”

Learning from professionals who were actively working in the field gave Swedelson a deeper understanding of the business world and helped prepare her for a career centered on communication, relationship management and creating exceptional experiences for others.

From Classroom to Madison Square Garden Sports

After graduating, Swedelson expanded the role she had held with a youth sports organization throughout college. As her responsibilities grew, so did her experience in sales, operations, customer service and relationship management. Working closely with athletes, families, coaches and organizational leaders gave her a strong foundation in building trust, solving problems and creating positive experiences.

Those skills led her to Madison Square Garden Sports, where she now serves as a Membership Service Representative supporting approximately 800 New York Knicks and New York Rangers season ticket members. Throughout the year, she helps members with everything from ticket requests and membership questions to exclusive experiences, serving as a trusted resource before, during and after the season.

“Those experiences gave me a strong foundation and ultimately led me to my current role, where I continue to build relationships and deliver exceptional experiences for our season ticket members,” she says.

The Knicks’ championship run made her first season with the organization especially memorable. As excitement built throughout the playoffs, Swedelson had the opportunity to help season ticket members experience one of the most significant moments in franchise history, making an already rewarding role even more meaningful.

Advice for Others

Looking back, Swedelson hopes current Business Administration and Management students embrace opportunities to learn both inside and outside the classroom. She believes building relationships, asking questions and remaining open to new experiences can make all the difference when starting a career.

“Ask questions and start networking early. You never know where one conversation or one connection can lead,” she says. “You don’t have to have all the answers — you just have to be willing to learn. That mindset has helped me throughout my career and opened doors I never expected.”

For Swedelson, that willingness to learn helped turn a lifelong passion for sports into a career with one of the world’s most recognizable sports and entertainment organizations. From the classrooms at Montclair to Madison Square Garden, her journey is a reminder that meaningful relationships, real-world experience and a curiosity to keep learning can open doors in ways you never expect.

Learn More About Our Programs

Prospective Student / Parent: Learn more about the Business Administration program, plan a visit to campus and to become a Red Hawk!

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 �ѴDzԳٳ���������’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.

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.”

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.”

“We have a robust offering compared to most of our competitors, and we offer lots of different times, days and modalities,” says Summer, Winter and Early College Programs Director Kirsten Tripodi.

There’s Still Time to Register

You decide how much of your summer you want to spend studying. These Summer Sessions are still available but don’t delay as the classes start soon:

• June 15 – July 14 (4-week session)
• ��July 1 – August 19 (7-week session)
• ��July 20 – August 4 (4-week session)

Whether you want to brush up on or, as our course catalog shows, we have you covered.

If you’re not sure what to take, Tripodi advises: “Check with your advisor to make sure it’s the right class to take.” She also suggests that students check with Red Hawk Central to see if financial aid is available.

5 Strategic Benefits for Currently Enrolled Students

If you need more good reasons to take a Summer Sessions course, here are five:

1. Core Courses��– Check that prerequisite off your list so you can take that class you’re excited about next semester.
2. ��Boost Your Resume��– Expanding your skills in a particular area or learning new ones can help with your career goals.
3. Learn a New Language��– Speaking more than one language is always a plus, especially if you want to travel or work in other countries.
4. More Attention��– Smaller class sizes during summer means you can get more individualized attention and get to better know your classmates and professors.
5. Love of Learning – If you consider yourself a lifelong learner, there’s no time like the present to learn something new.

Ready to plan your summer?

Log into and register today.

Still have questions about Summer Sessions?��We’re here to help. Reach out to summer@montclair.edu.

Afriyie-Addo’s walk across the stage at 2026 Commencement next week makes him the first graduate of the Cali Pathways project, which launched in 2021 and helps talented young musicians access the guidance, training and resources they need to pursue music in college and beyond.

��“I really appreciate the Pathways program because I wouldn’t be in college without that entry into Montclair,” he says.

He studied music for two years before switching his major to business and sees parallels between the two.����

“There are similarities between music and business, particularly in terms of community, leadership and freedom,” he says. “The best music comes from people sharing a common emotion and playing the music together – and the best businesses come from people sharing a common goal together.”

A late start and a sharp shift

Afriyie-Addo’s path to the stage was anything but traditional. While many musicians begin their training in early childhood, Afriyie-Addo didn’t discover his passion for music until his junior year of high school during the COVID-19 pandemic. While doing some spring cleaning, his mother pulled a keyboard from the closet and Afriyie-Addo decided to teach himself to play by ear.

To support his newfound passion and talent, his mother found him a piano teacher. Afriyie-Addo recalls hearing a fellow student play what he mistakenly thought was an original piece but turned out to be one of Beethoven’s piano sonatas in E flat major.

“I was astonished. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever heard,” he says. That’s the moment he was hooked on classical piano and decided, “wow, I want to sound like that.” He practiced at every opportunity.

Inspired by his choir and piano teachers and bolstered by a scholarship, he began a rapid ascent into the world of performance and composition.

During his time at the Cali School, he also discovered and fell in love with jazz and studied under Adjunct Instructor David DeMotta, who describes Afriyie-Addo as “an inspired student who consistently pushed himself to master the art of improvisation.”

“It was wonderful to watch him develop from his first introduction to jazz piano into a self-motivated and serious student of the art form,” DeMotta says. “Isaac has the type of deeply curious and professionalized approach to learning and achievement that will allow him to find continued success within and beyond jazz piano.”

The composition of commerce

Even after switching majors, Afriyie-Addo stayed involved with the Cali School. His leadership skills were put to the test when he took charge of organizing – and performing in, of course – the Hues Concert at the Cali School’s Leshowitz Recital Hall earlier this year. Even when faced with a snowstorm delay, Afriyie-Addo utilized his networking and marketing acumen to ensure the event was a success, showcasing the business skills he honed in the classroom.

He also wrote original compositions for dancers and others. That’s when he fell in love with and pivoted to jazz. “Jazz is a lot like composition in real time, you’re composing in the moment, and that felt thrilling.” The bigger pivot, however, came when he switched his focus to business partly because he had an interest and could see the commonalities in both, as well as “the influence of my family wanting the best for me financially,” he says.��

The Hues Concert experience fueled an interest in event coordinating; he hopes to continue to fuse his business and music acumen. “I want to create a venue or business that allows artists to be able to perform and put themselves out there,” he says.

A future in fusion

While school kept him busy, he also found time for other interests, volunteering at a hospital and shadowing an executive at a retail store to learn data analytics.

Wherever Afriyie-Addo ends up when he enters the professional world, he knows music will remain a lifelong passion.

“I can’t see myself without it. I’m someone who has a lot of interests, and I can balance doing multiple things at once. Whether it’s performing, creating or building spaces that allow other people to connect, that’s something that really is something that I strive for. One of the best ways to bring people together and comfort others is through the universal language of music.”

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.

Over four months, Hernandez lived and learned at sea, meeting with local leaders through a United Nations‑connected dialogue program – an experience she says changed how she sees both the world and her own future.

�ѴDzԳٳ���������’s study abroad and international programs, including Semester at Sea, help students like Pamela gain global experience and bring those insights back to campus.

First Time Seeing the Ocean – and Living on It

Hernandez remembers her first sight of the ship – and of the ocean itself – when she boarded in IJmuiden, the Netherlands.

“I’d never been on a ship, and it was so huge,” she said. “I just stared at it for a good minute thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to be living here for the next four months.’”

On board, she took classes at sea, then stepped into cities and communities around the world, connecting what she learned in class to the people and places she was visiting.

Four Months, 13+ Scholarship Applications – and a Life‑Changing Email

The Semester at Sea voyage comes with a substantial price tag, covering tuition, housing and travel while the ship serves as a floating campus. To make it possible, Hernandez spent about four months applying for more than 13 scholarships, ultimately winning the highly competitive $25,000, which supports students engaged with Chinese language and Chinese studies, as well as U.S.–China relations.

Her application told the story of a first‑generation Mexican American student whose first language was Spanish, who struggled with English as a child, and later added Korean and Mandarin at Montclair – tying her multilingual journey to a commitment to cross‑cultural understanding and global storytelling as a double major in Film & Television and Business Administration, with a minor in Asian Languages.

She learned she had won the scholarship while at work as an intern in Broadcast and Media Operations on campus. “That was the best news of my life.”

With the award secured, everything accelerated. “I only had two months to prepare for the voyage, and you don’t know how to prepare because of how extensive it is,” she says.

UN Dialogue Training: Practicing Difficult Conversations on Human Rights and Education

On top of classes, Hernandez was selected for a United Nations‑connected dialogue program that ran alongside the voyage, part of Semester at Sea’s efforts to build global conversation skills.

Training prior to the trip prepared students to facilitate dialogue on issues such as human rights, food security and education. Once the ship reached each port, the cohort met with local leaders.

In India, discussions around women’s education felt especially personal, and Hernandez noticed how often her opinions as a young woman were brushed aside, reinforcing her desire to advocate for girls’ access to schooling.

Turning 12 Ports into a Global Classroom Through Study Abroad

On her itinerary, Hernandez studied abroad in Amsterdam, Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Ghana, South Africa, Mauritius, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, Cambodia and Thailand. In port, students explored cities and communities, sometimes on their own and sometimes through “in‑port” class days, where professors designed activities that connected course content to local realities.

Those experiences helped Hernandez see how issues like education, gender equity and media representation look different around the world – and how they intersect.

Living in the Moment – and Bringing Stories Back to Montclair

Hernandez is still processing the impact of the voyage.

“One of the biggest takeaways was to just live in the moment because I am such a perfectionist, and when I travel – especially when it comes to safety – I want to know where I’m going, who I’m going with, where I’m staying,” she says.

With no internet during long stretches at sea and last‑minute itinerary changes – like diverting from France to Portugal due to protests – she had to loosen her grip and trust the journey.

“As a first-generation student, I can’t really have control over my entire life,” Hernandez said. “I just have to take risks and be spontaneous at what I’m doing. And so that really helps set my mindset to what I want to do.”

On track to graduate in 2027, Hernandez says the experience clarified her purpose as an aspiring filmmaker.

“I want to continue pursuing my career in film and telling stories about people from all over the world because I realized there are a lot of stereotypes I didn’t even know existed,” she says. “Traveling abroad, I learned so much about people in their communities and cultures that I want to help share those stories and bring awareness.”

Study Abroad: Take Your Education Global

Hernandez’s voyage is one example of how Montclair students turn the world into their classroom. Through International Academic Initiatives, Montclair offers:

• More than in over 50 countries
• , plus semester‑ and year‑long options across disciplines
• Access to to help students fund international experiences

Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey? Accepted students: Make it official by submitting your new student deposit.

Olga Mikutina carves deep edges into the ice at the ����vlog Ice Arena, building the speed and rotation that turns heads. Austria’s Olympic figure skater is a Business Administration major at Montclair, working shifts at the campus IT Service Desk, and as she balanced classes with training, she closed out the year by winning her fifth national title at the Austrian Championships, setting up a run to the European Championships and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

“A lot of people were surprised when I decided to leave Austria and study outside the country, but it was my dream to go to the U.S., to be in a new environment close to New York and to meet new people,” she says.

Originally from Ukraine, Olga moved to Austria at age 12 to train with a renowned coach, later gaining Austrian citizenship and an invitation from the national federation to represent the country in international competition.

By the time she applied to Montclair, Olga, 22, had already competed at the Beijing Olympics and was debating whether to keep skating competitively while pursuing a degree. “I was still skating, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue doing it full time,” she says. �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s on-campus ice rink and access to elite coaches helped tip the balance.

“I found an amazing coaching team here (at both Montclair and the Ice House in Hackensack, where many Olympians train). They saw potential in me and believed I could achieve much more. They gave me the belief that I should keep going.”

A typical Monday begins with a walk across campus to University Hall, where Olga works at �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s IT Service Desk to help cover her full tuition. The job is a necessity: she and her family are funding her American education themselves.

Answering IT phone support calls, Olga helps students, faculty and staff with tech issues at �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s IT Service Desk.

On the Ice: Training for Milan 2026

Olga spends about 15 hours a week training on the ice, usually in two one-hour sessions. She qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics at last season’s World Figure Skating Championships and has had a packed competition schedule, including the Austrian national, where she defended her title in December, and the upcoming European championships.

“Each training session is very focused and straight to the point,” she says. “My first practice, I work on my short program routine, second practice on my long program routine.”��

She sometimes skates the full programs; other days she and her coaches break them into shorter sections, repeating difficult jumps or footwork several times with and without music to build stamina and precision.��

For the spring semester, she plans to take a mix of online and in-person courses to better align her class schedule with the Olympic figure skating events. She’ll watch the opening ceremonies from Montclair, where she’ll remain preparing and taking classes, before arriving in Milan a few days before her own competition begins.

Olga’s vision board: “Every time when I look at this picture, I start feeling excitement and joy. The medals are my goal. It requires a lot of work, and every day when I wake up, I know that my work will pay off. I feel grateful for my health and for all the support around me.”

Warm-up to skating: exercise for abs. “To be honest, I didn’t watch figure skating when I was little. I always told my mom, ‘I am the best.’ I don’t compare myself to others, but right now my mindset has changed and I’m seeing a lot of great athletes who inspire me and are role models for me.”

As an elite athlete, Olga does have a dressing room, but prefers to lace up in the hallway. “It’s more fun to be surrounded by people and it’s also warmer,” she says. At the Montclair rink, she shares the ice with members of the Israeli national team and other elite skaters representing countries such as Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

Olga and her boyfriend, ice dancer Misha Nosovitskiy, who also grew up in Ukraine. “When I was moving here, I wasn’t expecting to meet my first love,” she says.

Olga’s Olympic programs show different sides of her skating. “I have two programs: one is to ‘Nothing Else Matters’ by Metallica – it’s a rock style, I love it,” she said. “The other one is very instrumental,” set to Asaf Avidan’s “One Day / Reckoning Song.”

When war broke out in Ukraine, Olga’s birthplace of Kharkiv was among the sites of some of the heaviest fighting. She has said that when she steps onto the ice, she can imagine herself in another world, away from worries about the war. Even today, when she skates, she focuses on difficult jumps, choreography and how her body moves, trying to shut out everything else – schoolwork, news and personal worries – and concentrate only on the work in front of her.

“At the Olympics, I will try to surprise the judges with my charisma. I want the judges to fall in love with my energy and to feel the power of me skating,” she says.

A jump entrance into spin.

Her name engraved on the blade.

Staying Connected to Home and Coaches

After practice, Olga steps outside the arena to call her mother, Victoria, in Austria and say good night before the time difference makes it too late. She is grateful to her mother, who moved with her to Austria so she could train. “She left her own life in Ukraine and was brave enough to take this step.”

Twice a week, Olga heads to the campus track where she sets up her phone for a Zoom session with her main coach Elena Romanova in Austria, who sends training plans, reviews video and works with her live on jumps and technique. She also trains in the U.S. with coaches Roman Serov and Anna Zadorozhniuk at the Ice House in Hackensack.

On the track, she practices her jumps off the ice, working on height and rotation while her coach watches on video and corrects mistakes. She often draws curious looks and comments – “How can you turn so fast?” – from students passing by.

Finding Her Place on Campus

“It was my dream to come study and train in the United States. Was it everything I thought the experience would be? Well, the expectations were different. But the reality has over-met the expectations,” she says. “I’ve met a lot of great people, made friends. I wasn’t expecting to have such great conditions for sports and coaching, and that everyone would be supporting me, helping me on my way.”

Taking a Business Strategy class, Olga says, “I also wasn’t expecting the studying process to be so fun and interesting. I thought it would be much harder, to be honest. But I like the way professors are teaching us here.”

Olga and her friend Milena Ladeishchikova, an international student from Russia studying Accounting at Montclair, connected as freshmen. “We had a lot of the same issues or same things we were going through,” Olga says. “We could compare the American style of life with a European one. We could discuss the food, the university itself, the people here.”

Olga and Milena meet for dinner at the Freeman Dining Hall, where they value the healthy food options.

The day isn’t over yet. Olga heads to a study session for a project in her Entrepreneurial Mindset class, where the group rehearses a presentation on their business idea.

“For this project we put in a lot of work. We created a website, a prototype, slides,” she says of the “Joy Journal” concept her group developed to support students’ mental health.

Finally, back in her Blanton Hall dorm room, Olga unwinds with her roommate since sophomore year, Madison Rowley. “She’s funny, friendly, very kind. She also skates. It was a big surprise when we came together. We were put together randomly by Res Life, and I can remember before I moved in, she texted me asking if I’m a figure skater, if I’m an Olympian. She came last year to the World Championships in Boston to support me.”

On track to graduate in December 2026, Olga is focused for now on the Olympics and then on internships with companies looking for Business Administration majors. She is concentrating in International Business and speaks four languages – Russian, Ukrainian, English and German – and hopes to use that international background in whatever comes after Milan 2026.

As told to Marilyn Joyce Lehren, University Communications and Marketing

Photography by University Photographer Mike Peters

Through this photo essay, part of an ongoing series, we highlight how Montclair students, faculty and staff embody the University’s mission in the classroom, on campus and beyond – empowering a diverse community by providing broad access to rigorous learning, advancing research and creativity, and forming partnerships for the common good.��

for a complete look at Olga’s day as an elite athlete, student and friend.

Ready to start your Montclair journey?

Accepted Students: Secure your spot and register to attend Accepted Student Day.

Prospective Students: Visit and .

Journalists: Contact �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s Media Relations for photographs or to schedule an interview.

����vlog MBA students Katarina Rodriguez and Nova Pierre Louis believe that meaningful change doesn’t happen all at once. It starts with a single idea, a single story – a single domino.

That’s why they’re bringing to life on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at Montclair Mezzanine, an event space on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair.��

“It’s about the small things that lead to something bigger,” says Rodriguez. “Everything that happens in our lives, good or bad, can come from a small action.”

The TEDx Montclair event will bring together thought leaders, creatives and changemakers to explore how small actions can spark powerful, lasting change – in individuals, families and entire communities.

A Domino Starts It All

Rodriguez and Pierre Louis are applying what they’ve learned at �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s Feliciano School of Business to elevate the voices and ideas. Their vision for The Domino Effect is grounded in lived experience and a shared commitment to making opportunity more accessible.

Both Rodriguez and Pierre Louis earned their bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration from Montclair in 2024 and are on track to complete their accelerated MBAs in August. They also balance full-time roles: Rodriguez serves as an assistant for Faculty-Led International Programs in Study Abroad and, starting in July, Pierre Louis will join Feliciano Global as a programs associate.

As the event approaches, TEDx Montclair speakers gather for a group photo during a rehearsal break. Back row, from left: Jade Walters, Chris W. Fitzpatrick, Gary J. Nix, Paige Swanstein. Front row, from left: Kathleen Culver, Nick Fuentes-Zuluaga and Anjali Badrinath. Not pictured: D’vorah Graeser. (Photo courtesy of Nev Trinajstic, Nev Photography)

Final Touches

Rooted in the belief that social mobility is a shared responsibility, TEDx Montclair invites audiences to consider new perspectives on progress – and who has the power to shape it, Rodriguez and Pierre Louis say. The event will feature that challenge the status quo and encourage action.

Two of the featured speakers have strong Montclair ties:

• ’04 will explore mentorship as a catalyst for transformation
• ’24 PhD will speak about empathy as a tool for collective change

The conference is volunteer-driven, with Montclair students leading efforts in merchandise, media, design and logistics.

“Planning TEDx is like running a business,” says Pierre Louis. “I’m using both what I’ve learned in class and what I’ve done in previous jobs.”

While TEDx Montclair is independently organized under license from TED, the values woven into it reflect ����vlog’s mission to broaden access and opportunity. “Although this is non-affiliated to the University itself, we cannot discredit the fact that this ideology of social mobility is something Montclair emphasizes,” says Rodriguez.

“In many ways, the University influenced us as people,” she adds. “It’s shed light on what this word – social mobility – really means. And it doesn’t always look a certain way.”

Attend TEDx Montclair

• Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 6 p.m.
• Montclair Mezzanine, 486 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
• Limited tickets and information available at

Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey?

• Prospective Students: It’s not too late to apply! ����vlog is and deposits for fall 2025.
• Looking Ahead? The application for fall 2026 opens August 1. Plan your visit and in applying to become a Red Hawk!
• Interested in Business? Learn more about the Feliciano School of Business and our MBA options.

“I don’t like to leave things unfinished,” says Ralph Castellano, a retired firefighter who just completed a journey nearly five decades in the making – earning his degree in Business Administration from ����vlog.

Castellano has worn many hats: mason, firefighter, small business owner, husband, father – and now, proud college graduate. He began taking night classes at Montclair in January 1975 while working full time in construction.

“I was accepted part time and went at night for about six years,” he recalls. “Then I got on the fire department and said, ‘I’ll finish this some other time.’ And I did – 50 years later.”

Though he initially pursued a degree in accounting, Castellano wasn’t sure how he’d adapt to corporate life. “I was never one for sitting,” he laughs. But following advice from his father – a mason and deputy fire chief – he took the firefighter exam. “The benefits were good. It was a solid job. I took the test, and I’m glad I did – I stayed 40 years.”

A Life of Service

His roots in the Belleville Fire Department run deep, even helping as a mason to build parts of the station with his father before officially joining. Over the years, Castellano became a fire prevention specialist, giving safety talks in schools and community centers, and collaborating with The Burn Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.

In 2012, Castellano received the prestigious Valor Award, which honors first responders who go above and beyond in life-threatening situations. While en route to a fire inspection, he responded to a call about an apartment complex fire in Belleville. Without protective gear, he rushed into the smoke-filled building, knocking on doors and helping residents escape – including an older woman overcome by heat and smoke.

“It was the right place at the right time,” he says humbly. “I believe any firefighter would’ve done the same.”

While he considered retiring after 30 years, life had other plans. “Today is actually a sad day,” he shared during his spotlight interview. “It’s been 15 years since my first wife, Marianne, passed away from ovarian cancer.” Together, they raised two children, Kimberly and Christopher. Castellano extended his career after her passing, finally retiring in 2020.

Retirement brought time for reflection – and renewal. He remarried. His wife, Joan, a certified Laughter Yoga teacher and adjunct professor, along with his sister Marion Bergenfeld, encouraged him to finish what he started.

Many of his original courses – including one in key punch computing – no longer exist, but Castellano learned he was fewer than 30 credits away from earning his degree. Over the past four years, he took one class per semester.

“Here I am,” he says, smiling. “It’s been great – the professors, the students. Coming in as an older student, I wasn’t sure how I’d be accepted. I studied every night to keep up with the kids. But I loved it. It kept my mind sharp.”��

He’s not done learning. Castellano, 68, is now enrolled in a hybrid MBA program at New Jersey City University and is planning a safari next year in South Africa.��

He remains active in the community through his local Knights of Columbus chapter and continues working part time at the firehouse.

His advice to other older adults thinking about returning to school? “Do it. It’s absolutely worth it. You’re never too old.”

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 Marilyn Joyce Lehren, University Communications and Marketing

Ready to Start Your Montclair Life?

• Prospective Students or Parents: Learn more about Montclair admissions and the Feliciano School of Business.
• Journalists: Contact our Media Relations team to request assets or schedule an interview with a member of the Class of 2025.

Highlights from the 2025 Best Online Programs Rankings:

• �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s online Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program is ranked No. 14 in the nation and No. 1 in New Jersey. The education programs survey also ranked certain specialty areas, including Educational Administration and Supervision, in which the University also ranked at No. 13.
• �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s ranked at No. 100 in the nation. The , Master of Science in Digital Marketing Analytics and Master of Science in Human Resources Analytics programs ranked at No. 61 in the nation, up 10 spots from 2024.
• The University’s Master of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in Applied Information Technology (Professional Science Master’s) is ranked No. 50.
• The University’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, launched in 2018, had another substantial increase, improving nearly 20 spots to No. 58 and ranked No. 2 in New Jersey.

U.S. News & World Report program rankings are based on scores from five categories – student engagement, services and technologies, student excellence, faculty credentials and training, and opinions of academic experts.

“We recognize that no two pathways to a degree are alike, and our educational options reflect that reality,” says Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Junius Gonzales. “These latest rankings by U.S. News & World Report are demonstrative of our efforts to be leaders in offering curricula that best serves the 21st-century student. We are honored to be ranked among some of the best online degree programs in the country.”

Montclair’s Online Program Offerings

Montclair also offers several other online graduate degree and certificate options designed to equip working professionals with career-enhancing skills, including:

• A Master of Arts in Child Advocacy and Policy
• A low-residency Master of Fine Arts in Dance
• A Master of Arts in Social Research and Data Analysis
• A Master of Arts in Mathematics Education
• A Master of Science in Accounting
• A Master of Social Work
• Graduate certificate and certification programs in advocacy, business, education and technology for those who want to build out or update skills to enhance their careers.

For more information on all of ����vlog’s online graduate programs, visit montclair.edu/online. Learn more about �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s rankings by visiting .

New online degree programs at Montclair:

• Online Bachelor’s in Psychology, a fully asynchronous program which allows graduates to find success in a wide variety of career paths including roles in social services, marketing research, counseling, mental health, education, business, finance, human resources and more.
• Online Bachelor’s in Business Administration, a highly ranked and AACSB-accredited program with concentrations in Marketing, Management, and Finance. The program’s innovative courses help students master the business theories and best practices that promote continuous advancement in the fast-paced workforce of the future.
• Online Master’s in Accounting, designed for career changers looking to enter the accounting field or those interested in preparing to sit for the New Jersey CPA examination. This AACSB-accredited program allows highly qualified graduates to go on to work in corporations, nonprofit institutions and in the public sector.
• Online Master of Social Work (MSW), which prepares graduates to provide social work practice and advocacy services to help individuals, families, groups, and communities. The Children, Youth and Families concentration is uniquely focused on supporting children and families within diverse groups and populations.

The university offers more than 30 online degree and certificate programs in a wide range of in-demand fields, including:

• Educational Leadership
• Applied Information Technology
• Nursing
• Social Research

Students in these online programs receive comprehensive support, with access to advising and career resources, all while enjoying the flexibility to earn their degrees while balancing work and other responsibilities outside of the classroom.

“At Montclair, we believe in breaking down barriers to success for our students,” says Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Junius Gonzales. “Offering these new bachelor’s and master’s programs in flexible learning modalities allows us to set up our graduates for careers in many in-demand fields.”

For more information about �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s online degree programs, visit: montclair.edu/online/online-degree-programs.