With the twofold mission of fostering the academic and personal growth of Latino and Spanish-speaking students while also building collaborative relationships with Latin American Indigenous communities residing in New Jersey and New York, CLaSE will serve as a platform to celebrate and promote the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Spanish-speaking and Latin American communities.

More than just a resource, CLaSE will serve as a hub for academic growth, cultural celebration and community engagement, highlighting Montclair’s commitment to multicultural awareness and global competencies and providing a space for learning, cultural exchange and community empowerment. Students will find opportunities to excel academically, professionally and personally through a combination of tailored support, mentorship programs and cultural activities.

About the Center for Latino Heritage and Spanish Language Excellence (CLaSE)

Housed in the Department of Spanish and Latino Studies of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, CLaSE is directed by Antonella Calarota-Ninman and offers resources, tools, opportunities and initiatives for all Montclair students, faculty, staff and administrators as well as off-campus collaborators. Its purpose is to enhance academic success and foster multicultural awareness through an array of services and initiatives that reflect the center’s commitment to bilingualism, cultural diversity and reciprocity.

Key CLaSE programs and initiatives include:

• Spanish Writing Center – Provides tailored support for students to excel in Spanish academic and professional writing.
• Certificates in Spanish for Careers – Beginning fall 2025, certificates will be offered in:
  • Spanish for Business
  • Spanish for Justice Studies
  • Spanish for Health Professionals (Undergraduate and Graduate)
• – An initiative that preserves and shares the stories of Latino and Hispanic communities, to enrich understanding of their experiences and contributions.
• Latin American Indigenous Collaborative (LAIC) – A partnership to meet members of indigenous communities in the region and beyond, promoting mutual understanding and respect.
• HABLAMOS ESPAÑOL – Spanish Conversation Meet-Ups – Informal, twice-a-week meet-ups open to anyone who wants to improve their Spanish conversation skills.

Montclair students, faculty and community members benefit from CLaSE’s blend of academics with a deep appreciation for cultural diversity. With the launch of the Center, the University is poised to continue leading the way in supporting the growing Latino and Indigenous populations across the region while preparing students for success in an increasingly globalized world.

“Through CLaSE, we aim to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive environment that celebrates the Spanish language as a valuable asset,” says Calarota-Ninman. “We are thrilled to embark on this journey together to establish a welcoming space that honors the voices, cultures and experiences of our Latino, Spanish-speaking and Indigenous communities.”

Hispanic Initiatives at ����vlog

In addition to the Center for Latino Heritage and Spanish Language Excellence, Montclair offers many other programs and events through its Office for Hispanic Initiatives. Among those are:

• Hispanic Student College Institute (HSCI)
• Hispanic Student Scholarships, Internships, Fellowships and Pre-college Programs
• Hispanic/Latinx Alumni Network (HLAN)
• Hispanic Heritage Month

Are You A…

Prospective Student or Parent? Learn more about the Center for Latino Heritage and Spanish Language Excellence (CLaSE), the College of Humanities and Social Sciences or take the next step and . Follow .

Journalist? Contact the Media Relations team for assets or to schedule an interview with Director Calarota-Ninman. See more Faculty Experts and hi-res media assets available for download.

Meet Our Students 

Sarai Nam, Senior

• Major: Social Media and Public Relations
• Award: Inaugural Trailblazer Award, Office of Student Belonging, First Generation Initiatives 
• Activities: Orientation leader, University Fellow, College for Community Health representative, Tri-Alpha and PRSSA member

Dulce Meneses, Senior, Bloomfield College of ����vlog

• Major: Biology
• Award: Inaugural Trailblazer Award, Office of Student Belonging, First Generation Initiatives
• Activities: Resident advisor, Association of Latin American Students vice president, McNair Scholar, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, admission ambassador and Greek Council Executive Board member

Andrew Suarez, Senior

• Major: Exercise Science
• Activities: Montclair Veterans President

Sara Castiblanco, Sophomore

• Major: Psychology
• Activities: Next Generation Service Corps, Neuropsychology Club, University Fellow

Angela Castro, Junior

• Major: Child Advocacy and Policy
• Activities: Latin American Student Organization vice president, Office of Commuter Life student mentor, Omega Phi Chi Multicultural Sorority, Commuter Student Advisory Board, Future Professionals in Student Affairs Program

Alumni and Staff Voices

Claudio Josuel Alejo ’19 MA

• Assistant Director, Montclair’s First-Generation Initiatives

Alvert Hernandez ’18 MA

• Assistant Dean for the Center of Inclusive Excellence at Moravian University

Claudio Josuel Alejo ’19 MA, assistant director of Montclair’s First-Generation Initiatives, offers this advice: “Asking for help early is a strength, not a weakness.” (Photo by Mike Peters)

Building a Supportive Community

Sarai: “As a first-generation student, it’s really important to build a supportive community because college isn’t something you should go through alone. Connecting with people who have experience in your field is invaluable for your success.”

Andrew: “Navigating college without family members who attended can be challenging. Seeking mentorship from professors, advisors, and peers made a big difference for me. Having their support helped me find my direction and eased the stress.”

Sara: “Professors are here to teach, but they’re also willing to help us with questions. Asking for help costs nothing, and it prevents mistakes.”

Dulce Meneses, a senior Biology major at Bloomfield College of ����vlog, says her hardest hurdle “was not being able to understand what I was doing or what I was getting myself into. Definitely take that leap of faith.” (Photo by Mike Peters)

Taking Charge of Your College Journey

Angela: “The hardest thing for me to navigate as a first-generation student was knowing how to ask for the help and resources I needed. Often, first-gen students feel alone in handling academic and school-related challenges because our parents lack experience in these areas. As a result, we hesitate to ask for support. Looking back, I wish I had sought more guidance early on in my college journey.’

Sara: “Completing college applications and FAFSA was difficult for me because I had to do it alone — my mother doesn’t speak English. I wish I’d known there are YouTube tutorials to help first-gen students fill out financial aid applications step by step.”

Claudio: “As a first-gen and the oldest sibling, I was conditioned to figure everything out alone. But I didn’t have to. Asking for help early is a strength, not a weakness. I wish I’d taken advantage of that sooner.”

Embracing Opportunities and Growth

Dulce: “Taking a leap of faith was scary, especially during COVID, but moving away and living on campus put me on the path I’m on today.”

Alvert: “Lean into conversations you find uncomfortable because that’s really where the growth happens.”

Alvert Hernandez ’18 MA, guest speaker for Montclair’s National First-Generation Celebration Days, advises first-gen students: “Lean into conversations you find uncomfortable because that’s really where the growth happens.” (Photo by Mike Peters)

Montclair’s National First-Gen Celebration

On November 8, Montclair joined colleges nationwide to celebrate National First-Generation College Celebration, honoring first-gen students and staff. This event marks the anniversary of the Higher Education Act of 1965, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at increasing college access, particularly for first-gen and underrepresented students.

Trailblazer Achievement Award Honorees

Montclair’s First-Generation College Celebration hosted by the Office Student Belonging honored the first recipients of the Trailblazer Achievement Award, recognizing exceptional leadership, perseverance, and impact within the first-gen community. In addition to the two student honorees, two staff members were recognized. 

Awarded Staff Members:

• Jerryl H. Sharif: 2006 Bloomfield College graduate, Assistant Director for the Center for Student Leadership and Engagement at Bloomfield College of ����vlog 
• Julia DelBagno: Montclair’s Assistant Dean for Student Engagement.

Guest Speaker

Alvert Hernandez ’18 MA, Assistant Dean for the Center of Inclusive Excellence at Moravian University, shared insights on supporting first-gen student retention and success.

I’m a ____, tell me more:

Prospective Student / Parent: Learn more about what it means to be a Hispanic-Serving Institution, or take the next step and apply to become a Red Hawk!

Journalist: Contact the Media Relations team for assets or to schedule an interview about this topic.

The Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced today that it has once again named the University a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Leader for 2024, one of only 50 colleges and universities in the country to earn the federal designation.

Montclair has earned the designation each year since its inception in 2021. Last year, the University was one of only 46 institutions to receive the recognition.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. Since its inception more than 75 years ago, the Fulbright Program has given more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad, exchanging ideas and contributing to finding solutions to complex international challenges.

Founded in 1946 by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright, the program bestows several types of awards. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants scholarships to U.S. graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals, scientists and artists selected through a national, merit-based competition for study, research, and English teaching abroad. Montclair has been especially active in the English Teaching Assistant Program, which places U.S. students, primarily new college graduates, as English teaching assistants in schools or universities overseas, where they increase foreign students’ English language abilities and knowledge of the United States.

Since 2008, the program has provided eight Montclair students, chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential, with the opportunity to engage in these high-quality educational opportunities abroad. Montclair has also enrolled 90 international students who received the Fulbright Foreign Student award to study at Montclair, and 18 Montclair faculty have become finalists and been awarded with the Fulbright U.S. Scholar award.

Montclair was chosen as a Fulbright HSI Leader for its noteworthy level of engagement with the Fulbright Program and for its success in helping students and faculty benefit from a variety of on-campus Fulbright initiatives, including the U.S. Student Program, the U.S. Scholar Program, the Foreign Student Program, the Fulbright Gateway Program, the Fulbright Outreach Lecturing Fund, the Fulbright Visiting Scholars Program, the Fulbright Development Initiative, the Fulbright Features at Montclair newsletter, and Fulbright Association and alumni events. Most recently, Montclair advised and interviewed a record-setting 32 applicants who “hit submit” for the 2025-26 U.S. Student Program.

Designated an HSI in 2016, Montclair has created an inclusive environment to support the success of all Hispanic students, faculty and staff through its Office of Hispanic Initiatives. Approximately 45% of the University’s record-breaking incoming class for the fall 2024 semester and 36% of the total undergraduate student body identifies as Hispanic, reflecting the rich diversity of New Jersey and Montclair’s surrounding area.

“����vlog is committed to changing students’ lives by providing educational opportunities around the world,” says Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Junius Gonzales. “We are honored to receive this recognition for the fourth year in a row, and look forward to realizing all of the incredible possibilities for students that the Fulbright Program provides.”

I’m a ____, tell me more:

Prospective Student / Parent: Learn more about what it means to be a Hispanic-Serving Institution, or take the next step and apply to become a Red Hawk!

Journalist: Contact the Media Relations team for assets or to schedule an interview about this topic.

The U.S. Department of Education designates Montclair as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), reflecting the University’s dedication to providing underserved populations with affordable higher education access.

“Our Carnegie R2 status as a comprehensive public research university, combined with our HSI designation, national ranking in social mobility and focus on public service, positions Montclair to play a critical role both regionally and nationally,” says Katia Paz Goldfarb, Associate Provost for Hispanic Initiatives and International Programs.

Montclair, along with (also an HSI with 31% of students identifying as Hispanic), has consistently earned top honors for advancing the social mobility of its diverse student body. The shared experiences of these students in overcoming barriers to higher education and accessing a support network are a testament to the University’s commitment.

“While we’ve made significant strides in improving access to higher education, it’s equally important that educational outcomes and graduation rates reflect success,” says Jane Sanchez Swain, Director of Degree Completion Programs.

Success means not only degree completion but also strong career outcomes, which are essential for promoting social mobility for students and their families.”

Montclair is ranked first in New Jersey and among the top 10 schools nationally for social mobility, according to U.S. News & World Report. This ranking highlights the University’s success in enrolling and graduating low-income students. Montclair also ranks No. 11 nationally for graduation rate performance, reflecting how well its students exceed the expected graduation rate compared to those at similar institutions.

“There is still much work to be done,” adds Sanchez Swain. “We need to listen, gather data on effective practices, identify gaps and continue advocating for the success of Latine students.”

More than 100 students participated in the processional march and flag-raising event. Featured speakers included Pamela Garcia, left, president of the Latin American Student Association, and Marco Cordova, coordinator for Hispanic Serving Initiatives. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

What Students Are Saying

“One of the pillars of Hispanic culture is family … I can confidently say that the Office of Hispanic Initiatives along with the student-run organizations on campus (, , and ) have provided a home away from home,” says Darielly Suriel-Genao, a senior History major and Dominican Student Organization president.

“To attend an HSI school is to feel comfortable with my parents’ background, the language I grew up with and the culture I was raised in,” adds Jennifer Sanchez, a senior whose family is from Guayaquil, Ecuador. “Having a club on campus where you can share that bond with other students who speak Spanish and come from different cultures is invaluable.”

Sanchez, at a recent Latin American Student Association event, shared her experiences as a Journalism and Digital Media major who interviewed aid workers and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona last spring. Her reporting was featured on NBCU Academy’s national platform and the .

Commitment to Serving Hispanic and Latine Students

High school students arrive on Montclair’s campus for the four-day Hispanic Student College Institute. (Photo by John J. LaRosa)

Hispanic-Serving Institution is a federal designation identifying nearly 600 colleges and universities where at least 25% of the undergraduate population is Hispanic. Since receiving the designation eight years ago, Montclair has seen its Latino student numbers grow and is now the largest HSI east of Chicago and north of Florida.

In line with Montclair’s commitment:

• : A summer program providing high school students with a head start on college, financial planning and career guidance. Workshops for parents are offered in both English and Spanish.
• Pilot program with to apply for and earn the , recognizing its efforts to support Hispanic students.
• First-Gen Initiatives and national designation to First Scholars Network to advance first-generation student success.
• Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution Leader: Montclair is one of only 46 colleges and universities recognized by the U.S. Department of State for its commitment to creating life-changing educational opportunities for all students.

The Hispanic Heritage Month launch featured speeches by State Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez, District 32, left, and Montclair President Jonathan Koppell. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

Hispanic Heritage Month 2024

“We recognize the full strength of our students and the diversity of heritage and how that’s an asset to be leveraged,” President Jonathan Koppell said during the Hispanic Heritage Month opening event. “Montclair’s initiatives take advantage of the fact that so many of our students are bilingual and bicultural. How valuable that will be in science, in business, in the arts?”

National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15, marking the independence of Latin America countries. Montclair’s Office of Hispanic Serving Initiatives and the will host special events.

At the September 16 flag raising, guest speaker State Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez, District 32, observed that “this year’s theme, ‘,’ highlights the spirit of unity, innovation and resilience in the Latino community.”

Featured Events:

• September 17, 2024 – Artist Reception: Na’Ye Perez, 5-7 p.m., Alexander Kasser Theater Lobby. Na’Ye Perez, a Haitian-Cuban artist, explores themes of community, identity, and accessibility in her work.
• September 28, 2024 – Homecoming: Hispanic/Latinx/a/o Alumni Network, Alumni BBQ, 1-4 p.m., Historic Quad.
• October 12, 2024 –  7:30 p.m., Montclair Amphitheater.
• October 16, 2024 – Hispanic Heritage Month Block Party: 1-3 p.m., Student Center Quad (Rain location: Student Center Ballrooms).
• October 17, 2024 – 3-8 p.m., University Hall Conference Center. Conference details

Find the full schedule: Hispanic Heritage Month Events.

I’m a ______, tell me more…

Prospective Student / Parent: Learn more about scholarships, internships and Pre-College programs offered by the Office of Hispanic Initiatives, plan a visit to our campus and take the first step in applying to become a Red Hawk!

Journalist: Contact the Media Relations team for assets or to schedule an interview about this topic.

As more Latinos pursue higher education, HSCI provides high school students with a head start on college applications and financial planning.

“I always thought college would be in my future, but HSCI made it seem possible and reassured me that everyone’s path to college isn’t the same,” says Subero ’24, who graduated in May with a degree in Business Administration.

Brianna Subero ’24 first came to Montclair as a high school student attending the Hispanic Student College Institute. This summer, as a new college graduate, she leads peer mentors aspiring Latino students to pursue their college dreams. (Photo by John J. LaRosa for ����vlog)

About the Hispanic Student College Institute

HSCI, running this summer from July 7 to July 10, emphasizes the University’s commitment to creating life-changing educational opportunities for all students. Montclair is New Jersey’s largest Hispanic-Serving Institution, a federal designation that identifies close to 600 colleges and universities where at least a quarter of their undergraduate populations are Hispanic.

Montclair has seen its number of Latino students grow since earning the designation eight years ago. In the incoming class of 2028, more than 45% identify as Hispanic.

“HSCI provided my mom and I with so many different resources about financial aid, application tips and networking skills,” Subero says. “It also helped me gain confidence and come out of my shell, which definitely prepared me for attending college and being involved in campus and holding leadership positions,” including working this summer as HSCI’s peer mentor coordinator.

Highlights of the HSCI program include:

• No cost to attend. The program is free for all participants
• Free housing on campus to give students a taste of the college experience
• Sessions on college planning, how to pay for college aid and choosing a major
• Networking events with professional and academic mentors. Students are introduced to a variety of career fields and experts, including professionals from NBC/Telemundo and Deloitte
• Workshops for parents and extended family members offered in English and Spanish

“We want to provide as much information and experiences as possible for these students to be successful and to approach the path to college from an even stronger position,” says Associate Provost for Hispanic Initiatives and International Programs Katia Paz Goldfarb. “At the same time, we want them to see themselves as belonging on campus and to a community that is here to support them.”

The program receives financial backing from State Farm Insurance, Deloitte and Department of Education Full Service Community School Grant in collaboration with Montclair’s Office of Community Engagement One-Square Mile project.

Support continues once students arrive on campus as college freshmen, with Montclair’s helping them overcome hurdles by providing opportunities, resources and support. This commitment is exemplified by:

• A national designation with the First Scholars Network for Montclair’s commitment to ensuring first-generation college student success.
• Research opportunities provided by the American Heart Association’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions Scholars Program and Tri Alpha, the national honor society for first-gen students.  
• Acceptance of University leaders into the Latino Student Success network, part of Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority in efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education.
• Recognition as a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution Leader for three consecutive years, one of only 46 colleges and universities in the country to earn the federal designation.

I’m a ______, tell me more…

Prospective Student / Parent: Learn more scholarships, internships and Pre-College Programs offered by the Office of Hispanic Initiatives, plan a visit to our campus and take the first step in applying to become a Red Hawk!

Journalist: Contact the Media Relations team for assets or to schedule an interview about this topic. See our Faculty Experts and hi-res media assets available for download.

Three generations of women expect to shed many tears when Iliana Woodhull crosses the stage at ����vlog Commencement on Monday, May 13. They will be joyous tears, celebrating how she’s achieved her American and academic dreams after overcoming years of trauma, including child and domestic abuse, immigrating to the United States illegally and surviving three attempts to take her own life.

When she receives her bachelor’s degree in Family Science and Human Development, Woodhull, 41, also will become the first in her family to earn a degree. Next year, she expects to attend the graduation of her daughter and commuting buddy Angel Bernales, a Montclair Psychology major. Their campus commute will continue, as Bernales, 22, completes her senior year and Woodhull returns to begin her master’s program and realize yet another dream, becoming a licensed clinical social worker.

A smiling Woodhull happily recalls sharing a memorable moment with her daughter when they both graduated from Sussex Community College in 2021. Monday’s Commencement, however, will be Woodhull’s big day, a day of healing individual and generational trauma.

“It’s been a tough road,” Woodhull says, choking back tears. “It’s a huge accomplishment, not just for me but for the women in my family. It’s going to be an unforgettable moment.”

Mother and daughter appreciate that this moment might never have happened. Woodhull’s most recent suicide attempt was just two years ago, and it is still painful for both of them. “That’s the one that woke me up,” Woodhull says, adding that a weeklong stay in a psychiatric hospital “opened my eyes to everything and how blessed I am.”

Being away from her family, especially her daughter, helped her realize all that she has to live for. “My girl. My daughter,” Woodhull says, crying. “I couldn’t keep her off my mind because it wasn’t fair to do what I did. She has always told me that I am a role model for her, that she looks up to me, and she sees strength in me, so I need to show her that I am what she believes.”

Wiping away tears, Bernales says: “I could have lost her. I am very, very grateful that she’s here today, and that Monday, she’s going to graduate. She’s going to get to walk across that stage, and she deserves it. She deserves everything good because she is such an incredible person. She has such a pure heart and good soul and has such love for her loved ones and for strangers. She’s a gem, she really is.”

Woodhull has led a busy campus life. She is president of Montclair’s Tri-Alpha, the national honor society for first-generation college students. She has held two campus jobs: as assistant director for the Hispanic Student College Institute, where she started as a peer mentor, and as a research assistant to Emily Douglas, professor and chair of the Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy, and made the Dean’s List all along the way. As part of her studies, she also completed an internship at a child advocacy center, and has stayed on as a volunteer.

“Iliana has shown us that you can share your vulnerabilities, fears and challenges and build on your strengths to not only succeed but thrive,” says Associate Provost for Hispanic Initiatives and International Programs Katia Paz Goldfarb who has seen Woodhull at work.

Douglas says: “It is a pleasure to know and work with Iliana. She is positive, up-beat, motivated, honest and hard-working. She very thoughtfully incorporates her lived experiences into her academic work and will use it as a launchpad to be part of the next generation of social workers.”

Diagnosed with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, Woodhull is open about her mental health challenges and describes herself as “a suicide survivor.” She shares her story to demonstrate that it’s possible to overcome obstacles and keep moving forward.

She’s passionate about helping people, particularly letting Latinas know about mental health services and reducing the stigma that can sometimes be associated with seeking help. A week before graduation, Woodhull was selected for an interview with Telemundo 47 news to talk about Montclair’s mental health services when New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way and Secretary of Higher Education Brian K. Bridges visited the campus to announce that college students will have free, 24/7/365 access to teletherapy, crisis connection and wellness programming through the remainder of the Murphy Administration.

School as safe haven

As a child growing up in Mexico, Iliana went to live with family friends, who would turn out to be her abusers. Her mother removed her from there and left her in the care of her grandmother, as she left Mexico for the United States. In her teens, Woodhull followed her mother to America, crossing the desert with her uncle, two strangers and the help of a coyote. She eventually made her way to New Jersey, where working as a waitress, she taught herself English by regularly asking customers, “How you say…?” says Woodhull, laughing, and looking words up in the dictionary. Today, one would never know that Spanish was her first language.

She married at 18 and had her daughter at 19. At 22, she divorced her first husband after he became verbally abusive, she says. She worked multiple jobs to provide for her child.

It was from a restaurant customer that she learned she could acquire a GED, which she completed in 2011. She later married her husband, William Woodhull, one of her biggest champions, she says. She received a green card in 2018, and today, she’s a proud U.S. citizen. She’s also proud of her Mexican heritage, as evidenced by her stole depicting the Mexican and American flags.

“The only thing I wanted was to go to school and to make my family proud. As soon as I got my green card, that was the first thing I did – and learned to drive because I was always afraid to drive illegally like a lot of immigrants,” she says. “I started studying for my driver’s license and for school.”

Woodhull says she’s always loved school and learning. Looking back at her elementary school years in Mexico, she now realizes that “I loved it so much because it was my safe haven. It was the only place where I wasn’t experiencing any abuse. No one was hitting me and no one was telling me anything negative.”

Learning and unlearning

Woodhull initially thought she wanted to go into education but realized that she wants “to help children personally rather than academically. As a trauma survivor, I want to give children the voice I didn’t have,” she says. “Helping children and families has been a lifelong dream of mine, and Montclair helped me see that. Through my studies, I’ve developed a passion for advocacy and social work.”

With a Family Science and Human Development major and Psychology and Child Advocacy minors, studies have sometimes proved emotionally difficult for her. “All of the professors I’ve had here at Montclair know a little bit about me; the part that they know is my traumas because I have taken classes like child abuse and neglect, children and justice and poverty and families…everything that has to do with families, which is my major, has been triggering.” Woodhull says she’s had to leave classes related to child abuse and neglect; twice “paramedics picked me up from class and took me to the ER.”

Through it all, Montclair faculty and staff have been “very, very, very accommodating,” she says. “That’s one of the things that I love about this campus.”

Woodhull is still working to heal her trauma, including relearning that she’s worthy of her accomplishments. She copes, she says, with therapy, medication and meditation and mindfulness practices. “When you’re told that you will never amount to anything, you’re worthless, you’re stupid and nobody loves you, you believe that because it’s still in your brain,” she says, “So, when I started hearing the opposite, I’m like, wait a minute…Relearning all of that has been a struggle.”

It helps to have a supportive spouse and family, she says, and again, she credits Montclair faculty as a support system; she says a recent class titled Mindfulness Theory and Practice was “very helpful.”

Bernales also has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and says that while “it’s a difficult topic for me to talk about,” she’s never resented her mother. “I understand her. I’ve always been there for her. Now I’m just coping with just the fear of me possibly losing her, and I don’t like the thought of that.”

Woodhull is proud of how far she’s come and continues to work toward healing, noting it has  been one year and eight months since she even had any ideas about suicide. “I haven’t had a single thought; I’ve had triggers but through mindfulness, I’ve learned to accept and recognize what I feel,” she says.” I accept it as part of my past but not as a part of my future. So, I leave it where it is, and I continue to live in the present and just keep moving forward.”

Today, those who know her have nothing but praise for her resilience and the happiness she exudes. And no one will be cheering her graduation more loudly than her daughter and mother Maria Mendoza. “The bond that the three of us have is very strong,” says Bernales.

Bernales has been her mother’s biggest hype woman, counting down the days to Commencement. “She has walked through fire and come out with some scars but with a smile on her face,” she says. “She’s here to spread awareness and joy to others, and she’s just an incredible woman, an incredible person.”

Woodhull says she’s grateful to be living her American Dream but notes that it also comes with loss. All four of her grandparents have died while she has been in this country, so she didn’t get to see them again. “But my mom will be there,” she says happily.

If you’re struggling, it’s okay to share your feelings. The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline may be reached by dialing or texting 988. New Jersey college students receive free, 24/7/365 access to teletherapy, crisis connection and wellness programming via . For more information on Counseling and Psychological Services at ����vlog, visit the department’s website.

Story by Staff Writer Sylvia A. Martinez. Photos by University Photographer Mike Peters.

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The Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced today that it has once again named the University a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Leader for 2023, one of only 46 colleges and universities in the country to earn the federal designation.

Montclair has earned the designation each year since its inception in 2021. Last year, the University was one of only 43 institutions to receive the recognition.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. Since its inception more than 75 years ago, the Fulbright Program has given more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad, exchanging ideas and contributing to finding solutions to complex international challenges.

Founded in 1946 by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright, the program bestows two types of awards. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program Study/Research Award grants scholarships to U.S. graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals, scientists and artists selected through a national, merit-based competition for study and research abroad. Awarded solely to students, the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program places U.S. students, primarily new college graduates, as English teaching assistants in schools or universities overseas, where they increase foreign students’ English language abilities and knowledge of the United States.

Since 2008, the program has provided nine Montclair students and 88 international Fulbright students who studied at Montclair, chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential, with the opportunity to engage in high-quality educational opportunities abroad.

Montclair was chosen as a Fulbright HSI Leader for its noteworthy level of engagement with the Fulbright Program and for its success in helping students and faculty benefit from a variety of on-campus Fulbright initiatives, including the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, the Fulbright Gateway Program, the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, the Fulbright Visiting Scholars Program, the Fulbright Development Initiative, the Fulbright Features at Montclair newsletter, and Fulbright Association and alumni events. Most recently, Montclair advised and interviewed a record-setting 24 applicants who “hit submit” for the 2024 U.S. Student Program.

Designated an HSI in 2016, Montclair has created an inclusive environment to support the success of all Hispanic students, faculty and staff through its Office of Hispanic Initiatives. Approximately 45% of the University’s record-breaking incoming class for the fall 2023 semester and 36% of the total undergraduate student body identifies as Hispanic, reflecting the rich diversity of New Jersey and Montclair’s surrounding area.

“����vlog is committed to providing transformational opportunities for students from all corners of the world,” says Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Junius Gonzales. “We are honored to once again receive this recognition, and look forward to continuing our efforts to enhance our relationship with the Fulbright program.”

For more information on Montclair’s International Initiatives, visit .

In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through October 15, the members of the campus Latinx community came together (indoors because of inclement weather) for the University’s annual commemorative flag raising on Monday, helping to kick off the month-long celebration of Hispanic heritage and Latinx culture on campus as well as this year’s theme: “Latinxs: Driving Prosperity, Power and Progress in America.”

The ceremony included speeches by students, staff, Montclair President Jonathan Koppell and State Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, District 29.

The Office for Hispanic Initiatives, along with Hispanic/Latinx student and faculty/staff organizations, will celebrate the month and the University’s diverse and dynamic Latinx community with a series of events focusing on both culture and challenges, while also commemorating Latinx pride.

As Associate Provost for Hispanic Initiatives Katia Paz Goldfarb explains: “This month gives us an opportunity to share, recognize and celebrate de donde venimos y a donde vamos (where we come from and where we are going) as an intrinsic part of the society.”

A full list of events can be found on the Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month Calendar.

University leaders will explore that question during Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Week (September 11-17). HSI Week is a lead-in to Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs mid-September to mid-October to coincide with independence days of many Latin American countries.

Associate Provost for Hispanic Initiatives and International Programs Katia Paz Goldfarb says Montclair is solidifying its role as an HSI. “As our Latino student population continues to grow, it’s important that Montclair delves into how serving these students plays into being a leading Hispanic-Serving Institution in our region,” she says “HSI Week provides us an opportunity to both celebrate our achievements as an HSI and examine our goal of increasing our servingness as an institution.”

The College for Education and Engaged Learning will host “The Purpose and Significance of a Hispanic-Serving Institution,” a virtual discussion via Zoom, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 13. After graduate students speak about their experiences at ����vlog, Blanca Elizabeth Vega, associate professor of Education Leadership, and Jane Sanchez Swain, assistant director of degree completion programs with University College, will provide an overview of the significance of HSIs in the northeast and how Montclair’s campus community can embrace its HSI status. (To register, visit the .)

Montclair’s HSI standing has become a topic of discussion as its enrollment of Latino students continues to boom. Forty-five percent of the incoming class of 2027 identifies as Hispanic, an increase of 4 percentage points from last year. To be designated an HSI, at least 25% of a university’s student population must be Hispanic or Latinx.

Vega said future plans call for gathering the Higher Education Student Council, Chi Sigma Alpha and the Latin American Student Organization together “for a more formal HSI training and celebratory event dedicated to building community, enacting servingness and supporting community awareness of the significance of HSI status at ����vlog.”

These deeper conversations began last spring when two nationally recognized Hispanic leaders visited Montclair to talk about how the University, the largest R2 HSI east of the Mississippi and north of Florida, can do more to ensure Latinx student success in higher education. Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities President and CEO Antonio Flores and Gina Garcia, an HSI scholar, activist, author and speaker, both met individually with President Jonathan Koppell and other top leaders, faculty, staff and students.

Flores said he seized the opportunity to visit Montclair, which also was recognized as a Fulbright HSI Leader for the second consecutive year in 2022, making it one of only 43 colleges and universities in the country to earn the federal designation.

“I wanted to get to know the leadership, the president, the provost and others and to really also express our gratitude for what they do as an institution for the Latino community,” Flores said. “Montclair is a very special Hispanic-Serving Institution because it is one of the largest in this region of the country. It’s very engaged with the work that we do as an association, which is really to promote Hispanic success and higher education. Montclair is setting the pace in that regard.”

����vlog’s efforts, Garcia said: “The HSI movement has now started. The president, the provost and students actually are saying they care about HSI, so, I think the moment is now. The window is open, and folks like Katia [Paz Goldfarb] and others are taking advantage of it and saying it’s time.”

A professor at Berkeley School of Education, Garcia visited campus at the invitation of Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Junius Gonzales. Garcia, a leading scholar on Hispanic-Serving Institutions and author of two books on the subject, delivered a presentation titled “Transforming Hispanic-Serving Institutions for Equity and Justice” – also the title of her latest book – to an audience of faculty, staff and students at the School of Communication and Media’s Presentation Hall.

Gonzales said Garcia’s research “centers on issues of equity and justice in higher education, with an emphasis on understanding how Hispanic-Serving Institutions embrace and enact an organizational identity for serving minoritized populations. She also seeks to understand the experiences of administrators, faculty and staff within HSIs and the outcomes and experiences of students attending these institutions – and her research looks at the ways race and racism have shaped the experiences of minoritized groups in higher education.”

Garcia said institutions are in the process of transforming into true HSIs. “It is a very individual sort of soul-searching and inward reflection that needs to happen.”

She noted that she’s usually not invited to HSIs unless leaders are ready to transform into high-producing and high-serving institutions when it comes to student outcomes. “Hispanic-Serving Institutions needed to be transformed at the organizational level,” she said.

During her visit, Garcia covered everything from how most HSIs are still predominantly white when it comes to faculty and retention of faculty of color to a university’s policies and mission to how a school allocates resources. “If we are not distributing resources to the things we say we care about, then we’re actually not committed to those things,” she said.

She urged students to use their voices as a community and ask University administration for things they’d like to see on their campus.

Garcia challenged Montclair faculty and staff to think about the larger higher education picture. “The question I want you to grapple with is: ‘Can we create equitable and just colleges and universities?’”

Goldfarb noted the importance of Flores’ and Garcia’s visits to Montclair: “The ecosystem of an HSI includes students and their families, their communities, the faculty and staff; we support our students and hold their success as our own. At the same time, we need scholars like Dr. Garcia to help us understand, make sense of our ecosystem and engage in the next critical and necessary transformation. We also need to be part of the national HSI conversation. Dr. Flores’ visit allowed for a space to envision Montclair’s crucial role as an R2 HSI, as a regional and national leader.”

A related discussion will take place on September 26, when the Office for Hispanic Initiatives will host another panel discussion at the Feliciano School of Business: Driving Prosperity, Power and Progress in America.

Montclair supports Latino students through its summer Hispanic Student College Institute and helps students with research opportunities to advance their academic careers through programs such as the American Heart Association’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions Scholars Program.

More recently, President Jonathan Koppell joined the Presidents for Latino Student Success network, which is part of Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority in efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education. Gonzales has been named Lead Affiliate for the institutional team and committed to support the University’s engagement with Excelencia in Education. Goldfarb and Vice President for Student Development and Campus Life Dawn Meza Soufleris, have been named Additional Affiliates for network opportunities.

For more events, visit the Hispanic Heritage Month Events Calendar.

Story by Staff Writer Sylvia A. Martinez. Photos by University Photographer Mike

Peters and John J. LaRosa.

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• Hispanic Heritage Month Events Calendar
• HSCI Introduces Students to College Life
• President Koppell Joins Excelencia in Education’s Presidents for Latino Student Success Network

In addition, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Junius Gonzales has been named as Lead Affiliate for the institutional team and committed to support the University’s engagement with Excelencia in Education. Associate Provost for Hispanic Initiatives and International Programs Katia Paz Goldfarb and Vice President for Student Development and Campus Life Dawn Meza Soufleris have also been named Additional Affiliates for network opportunities.

Montclair, the biggest R2 HSI east of the Mississippi River and north of Florida, joins this important national network comprised of college and university presidents and chancellors who commit to making their institutions learning environments where Latino students thrive.

Through the network, Koppell will collaborate with Excelencia to leverage collective expertise and resources, foster partnerships and amplify current efforts at the national level.

“As the largest Hispanic-Serving Institution in New Jersey in terms of total enrollment and with 44% of our incoming class identifying as Hispanic, Montclair is committed to providing transformational opportunities for our diverse student body,” said Koppell. “I’m proud to join Excelencia in Education as a partner in their mission to elevate and ensure the success of Latino scholars, and look forward to collaborating on strategies that will take our efforts to new heights.”

Of the thousands of colleges and universities across the country, the more than 150 leaders of the 175 institutions in the network enroll one in four of all Latino students in higher education and one in three of all Latino graduates. In fact, a subset of the Excelencia network – 30 institutions that have been certified with the Seal of Excelencia – represents 13% of all Latino enrollment and graduates 14% of all Latinos in the U.S.

Excelencia professionals, the leadership network and their campus teams actively collaborate to put evidence-based practices and strategic analysis of student data to use supporting and advancing the talents, skills and contributions of Latino students and the institutions.

Sarita Brown, Co-founder and President of Excelencia, said, “Higher education leaders with skills and vision are fundamental to our country’s strong recovery. Those prepared to engage and intentionally serve Latino students, while serving all their students, will lead the way.”

To learn more about Presidents for Latino Student Success network and the other institutional leaders across the country affiliated with Excelencia, visit:
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For more information on Hispanic initiatives at ����vlog, visit .