​​That early decision changed everything. Brzezinski hadn’t expected an answer so quickly. “Then I got the email and I was like, ‘Oh, I got into college.’” In that moment, she says, the whole process suddenly felt real and changed the tone of her final year at Howell High School.

“It was a little more relaxing,” she says. While she did go ahead and apply to other colleges, “It definitely made the application process more manageable and a lot less stressful.” Because the program is non‑binding, Brzezinski could keep exploring options while holding a secure offer at Montclair.

Dana Brzezinski talks with friends on the ����vlog quad on a spring afternoon. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

What Sealed the Deal?

By the time she applied, Brzezinski had already fallen for the campus. “I liked the community, and all of the buildings are beautiful,” she says. “You could tell that the staff, the professors, when you saw them walking around, you could tell that they like their jobs.” She also noticed something different about the students: “You see all the students outside together, talking instead of everyone just looking down at their phones. I feel like it’s just different here.”

Now an aspiring elementary school teacher and first‑year Educational Foundations major, Brzezinski is already getting involved in campus life. She has joined the Future Educators Club and is eyeing the gardening club and other activities. “Overall, my freshman year is pretty good,” she says. “I can already tell that the elementary education program is a great fit for me.”

Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey?

High school juniors who want the same head start can learn more at Early Bird Admissions Program. Submit the online by June 15 to be considered. Look out for admission decisions and preliminary scholarship offers in July. Use early offers to talk with your family about finances and plan your next steps.

“Rose and Ori exemplify the very best of ����vlog,” said Montclair President Jonathan Koppell. “Rose exemplifies the spirit of community and generosity that we seek to cultivate. Ori has had a remarkable career launched by his years at Montclair. In different ways, each has transformed lives and communities while remaining closely connected to the values and mission that define Montclair.”

Rose C. Cali ’80

A proud alumna of ����vlog, Rose has served the University in many capacities, including as a Trustee beginning in 1991, and as a member of the ����vlog Foundation Board and the John J. Cali School of Music Advisory Board. She is also the founder and former President and CEO of the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center.

Her loyalty and love for the University live on through an endowed gift for music student scholarships that Rose and her late husband, John, established. Through the John J. Cali School of Music, the Cali family’s generous support has transformed the University’s music program, strengthening its growth and excellence and impacting hundreds of students through scholarships.

Rose has also dedicated herself to countless causes in New Jersey, including the Montclair Public Library, Montclair Film Festival, Liberty Science Center and Jazz House Kids, among others.

“I love to attend events and concerts at the University and especially enjoy attending performances by the amazingly talented students from the Cali School,” says Cali.

Ori Eisen ’97

Dedicating his life to fighting online crime, Ori Eisen’s distinguished career has seen him serve in prominent roles at American Express and found both companies and charities – all while supporting his alma mater.

After serving as the Worldwide Fraud Director for American Express, Eisen founded 41st Parameter – the leading online fraud prevention and detection solution for financial institutions and e-commerce. After 41st Parameter was acquired by Experian in 2013, he founded Trusona, the company he still operates today.

Also a dedicated philanthropist, he has founded the charity, Ball to All, a charity that donates free soccer balls around the world to children who have never had one, and founded Original Films, partnering with the world’s most creative storytellers to tell stories that need to be told. He also volunteers with Thorn, the digital defenders of children.

Ori and Mirit Eisen, through their generous philanthropy, established the Eisen Mental Health Fund at ����vlog. The fund is currently supporting a pilot project that improves student mental well-being utilizing the evidence-based Penn Resilience Program.

“We wanted to support the students of ����vlog with a groundbreaking program for mental well-being. It is hard enough to get accepted into higher education, and it is harder to stay a student with all of life’s challenges. Giving students the tools to cope with the stress and create more work/life balance is a dream come true.”

Proceeds from the Gala will establish the President’s Carpe Futurum Fund, which will fund University priorities to help Montclair seize the day and best serve the future. Through the Carpe Futurum Fund, the University will broaden access to rigorous education and exceptional learning opportunities by providing scholarship support, advance research and form partnerships that enhance prosperity, democracy and wellbeing in the communities it serves.

The funds will also count towards �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s ONE DAY for Montclair campaign totals, helping the University create opportunities, elevate achievements and celebrate its students.

“The Carpe Futurum Fund is designed to ensure Montclair continues to expand opportunity, invest in innovation and deepen our impact in the communities we serve. By supporting our students, our research and our partnerships, this fund will help us build a future that is more inclusive and responsive to the challenges of our time,” says Koppell.

Celebrate Montclair is open to the public and will be held in the University’s Conference Center, located on the seventh floor of University Hall. Visit the Celebrate Montclair website for more information.

The Montclair programs that participate in the annual survey include Education, Public Health, Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology, Clinical Psychology, Business specializations including Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing and Supply Chain Management; Fine Arts and the University’s Part-Time MBA program.

Highlights from the 2026 Best Graduate Programs Rankings:

• The University’s Master of Public Health ranked No. 142 overall, up 26 spots from No. 168 in 2025
• �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s Doctor of Audiology ranked No. 49, up 12 spots from No. 61
• The University’s Doctor of Clinical Psychology ranked No. 168, up 8 spots from No. 176
• The institution’s overall ranked No. 104 overall and tied for second in N.J.

�ѴDzԳٳ���������’s Graduate Offerings

Montclair offers 116 graduate and eight doctoral programs across a range of disciplines in its 13 colleges and schools.

“We are very proud of this recognition of the exceptional quality of ����vlog’s graduate programs,” says Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Fatma Mili. “It affirms our mission to provide excellent education and make it accessible to students in our communities and beyond. These programs have been specifically designed to meet the needs of the region’s workforce and to allow professionals to upgrade their skills in ways that fit their lives and careers. These rankings show why Montclair continues to be a top-choice institution for students at all stages of their lives.”

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The change suggests a wider cultural acceptance of the “sinister” hand preference, and offers representation for lefty fans of the beloved animated films.

The findings, “Princess hands: Handedness of protagonists versus antagonists in Disney’s ‘Princess’ animated movies,” were recently published in the academic journal .

Main findings

• Before about 1992, princesses were more right-handed than villains. Over time, princesses got more left-handed, while villains’ handedness stayed the same.
• In general, the characters were less strongly handed than in real life — most would be considered ambidextrous by the researchers’ definitions.
• Tiana (“The Princess and the Frog”) and Belle (“Beauty and the Beast”), both princesses, are the most left-handed; Villains Jafar (“Aladdin”), Dr. Facilier (“The Princess and the Frog”) and Namaari (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) were also left-handed.
• Mor’Du (“Brave”) and Maleficent (“Sleeping Beauty”) — both villains — were identified strongly right-handed.

More about the study

The research team, which included two undergraduate students at Montclair, examined hand use of princesses and villains in 13 official Disney Princess movies. They counted how many times each princess or villain performed various activities with one hand or the other, using three different handedness questionnaires including the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI).

“Our goal was to see if villains were more left-handed than princesses because culturally, evil is associated with the left-handed, and whether any left-evil associations had changed over time, given changes in culture,” says Ruth Propper, lead researcher and professor of Psychology.

Each Disney princess and villain was assigned a handedness score (-100 being perfectly lefty and +100 perfectly righty) and the results show that over time, princesses have become less right-handed, especially after about 1992, while villains have remained stable in their handedness.

Overall, the characters were much less right-handed than the human population.

What the researchers say

Prior to 1992, Propper explains, princesses were more right-handed than villains, while after 1992 princesses became more left-handed than villains.

So, what changed?

“We suspect that there are many factors at play here.” Propper says. “One possibility is that around the early 1990s the ‘Nine Old Men,’ the animators responsible for most Disney movies from the 1930s to the 1990s, retired.

“It’s possible that the new animators who were hired had less bias against left-handedness, as cultural views about lefties had changed. Certainly there are likely pragmatic reasons as well, and we don’t know the actual handedness of the animators, which could also have been a factor.”

Why it matters

The research and methodology were inspired by existing research Propper encountered analyzing early 1900s documentary footage to estimate rates of left-handedness at that time. Propper and her research team took the innovative approach a step further, utilizing Disney princess films that offer clear distinctions between protagonists and antagonists and allow for meaningful comparisons across character types.

Additionally, “because the characters are animated, handedness is a deliberate choice made by animators, which may reflect cultural assumptions or biases, rather than simply the natural handedness of an actor,” Propper says. Since the Disney princess films span roughly 80 years, this also gave researchers an opportunity to examine potential cultural shifts over time.

Propper says this study demonstrates that research does not always need to be complex or highly technical. And, it speaks to representation.

“Left-handed individuals have often been described as lacking a clear cultural identity and may feel overlooked or negatively stereotyped,” says Propper. “Seeing left-handed traits reflected in familiar and beloved figures, such as Disney princesses, can contribute to a sense of inclusion and reduce feelings of isolation.”

The findings also suggest a societal shift over the last 80 years: left-handedness appears to be more accepted today than in the past, and is no longer associated with the same negative or stigmatized beliefs as it once was.

“These films are culturally iconic, widely recognized, and meaningful to many audiences, which makes them a relevant context for this type of analysis,” Propper says.

For media inquiries

Contact the Media Relations team to schedule an interview with the researcher about this topic. See more Faculty Experts and hi-res media assets available for download.

This distinction is awarded to institutions that develop and implement robust, data-informed action plans designed to increase civic learning, political engagement and student voter participation. ����vlog’s plan earned 31.5 out of 36 possible points on the Strengthening American Democracy Action Planning Guide (SADG) Rubric, placing it among the top-performing campuses nationwide.

Montclair is one of 129 colleges and universities across the country to receive this prestigious recognition for the 2026 election cycle, underscoring its leadership in fostering a culture of civic responsibility and student participation in democracy.

Since joining the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge in 2016, ����vlog has consistently developed and refined action plans aimed at institutionalizing civic engagement efforts. These plans emphasize inclusive, equitable and sustained strategies that extend beyond election cycles and are embedded across academic and co-curricular experiences.

����vlog’s Office of Civic and Voter Engagement developed the action plan submitted to the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. The plan highlights the University’s ongoing work to expand civic learning, increase student voter participation and strengthen nonpartisan engagement across campus. Through voter registration drives, educational programming and campus-wide initiatives, the office works to ensure students have the knowledge, resources and opportunities to participate fully in the democratic process while advancing the University’s broader goals for civic participation.

For more information about the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge and the Highly Established Action Plan Seal, visit .

He shares this year’s honor with Tommy Foster ’23, an associate producer at Good Morning America whose rapid rise in national broadcast media began on �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s campus and now serves as a model for young people imagining careers in journalism and sports media. Together, the two honorees embodied the spirit of the 2026 MEGA Symposium: moving students from access to achievement and from passion to profession.

Trailblazer Award honorees Tommy Foster and Leslie Wilson, center, gather with Montclair leaders Rahjaun Gordon, left, senior director of EOF and Success Programs, and Daniel Jean, associate provost for Educational Opportunity and Success Programs, EOF and Academic Success. (Photo by Ian Peters)

A Historian Shaped by Harlem

Wilson’s journey as a historian began in Harlem, where the streets outside his bedroom window doubled as his first classroom. Surrounded by artists, clergy and scholars, he absorbed lessons in civic and cultural life that would shape his future work. Among his early influences were neighbors such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and Leo Whipper and community figures including Jackie Robinson, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Mabel Smythe.

Those early experiences stayed with Wilson as he advanced through Cheshire Academy and the New Lincoln School and later to Cornell University and the City University of New York. Trained in the history of science, Africana Studies and American history, he built a body of work that is intentionally intersectional, examining how race, place and power intersect in American life. His research centers on 19th- and 20th-century American and African American history, with projects on New York City churches, urban and suburban migration, school segregation and environmental racism – issues that continue to shape communities today.

“Dr. Wilson has a gift for making every scholar in the room feel like they belong there,” says Daniel Jean, associate provost for Educational Opportunity and Success Programs, EOF and Academic Success. “His passion for scholar success, especially his unwavering commitment to supporting students in academic jeopardy, is undeniable.”

From Campus Leader to National Producer

Tommy Foster ’23 received the Alumni Trailblazer Award for his achievements in broadcast journalism and his ongoing mentorship of young scholars. While earning dual degrees in Television and Digital Media and in Sports Media and Journalism, Foster balanced his studies with community outreach, mentoring high school students in Newark.

During his junior year, Foster landed a competitive internship with Good Morning America and ABC News in New York City, where he contributed to coverage of major national stories. One day after walking across the Commencement stage at Montclair, he accepted a full-time role at the show. He now serves as a sports producer, covering the Super Bowl, NBA Finals and World Series and booking interviews that bring powerful stories to millions of viewers each morning.

“Tommy was nominated for the Alumni Trailblazer Award for his continuous growth as a leader, from his time on campus to his thriving professional career,” says Rahjaun Gordon, senior director of EOF and Success Programs. “As a Montclair student, his leadership was grounded in learning, hard work and humility. He has carried those values into his work covering marquee events and uses his experiences to guide high school and college students as they navigate their own career journeys.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

The MEGA Symposium, held March 6, brought together more than 350 students from high schools in Newark, East Orange, Paterson, Trenton, Plainfield and across New Jersey, alongside college scholars from Montclair, Rutgers, Princeton, Rowan and community colleges statewide.

MEGA is part of �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s broader effort to improve educational outcomes for all students by moving them from enrollment to graduation and into meaningful careers. Organizers say that honoring Foster and Wilson at this year’s symposium underscored that mission, showing students how passion paired with persistence and purpose can open doors.

Ready to start your Montclair journey? Learn more about our College Access and Enrollment Programs.

Accepted students: Make it official by submitting your new student deposit and registering to attend Accepted Student Day.

“Carpe Diem” is presented by the Office of Alumni Engagement and Development and ����vlog Galleries. On view February 3 through May 3, 2026, in the George Segal Gallery, the exhibition brings together the work of 12 accomplished alumni artists whose practices span more than eight decades – from 1943 to 2024. The visual arts exhibition features a wide range of media, including photography, poetry, portrait quilts, mixed media and video installations.

Among the artists are ’97, whose photography and video work examining mobility and the Black American experience has been exhibited at the Tate Britain and the Studio Museum in Harlem, and Márta Kucsora (2005–06), an internationally recognized painter known for monumental, process-driven abstraction.

Curated by Art and Design Professor Sally Morgan Lehman, founder of New York City’s Morgan Lehman Gallery, “Carpe Diem” highlights the depth of artistic inquiry fostered at ����vlog. The exhibition features nationally and internationally recognized artists alongside emerging voices, underscoring �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s role as a launching ground for creative expression.

“ ‘Carpe Diem’ reflects what we know to be true about Montclair alumni: creativity does not end at graduation,” says Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement Rita Walters. “Whether art was their major or a parallel passion, these artists demonstrate how learning, curiosity, and creative expression continue to evolve across a lifetime. We are proud to celebrate alumni whose work enriches communities locally and globally.”

By celebrating these artists’ achievements, ����vlog reaffirms its commitment to fostering the next generation of visual artists and sustaining a vibrant future for the arts.

Featured Artists

’13

’05

’97

’10

’12

(1943)

(2005–06)

’11

’80

’09

��’78

’24

Programs and Events

All exhibitions and programs are free and open to the public.

Monday, February 9, 5:20 p.m.

Art Forum with “Carpe Diem” Curator Sally Morgan Lehman

Art Forum is a speaker series featuring artists, designers, art historians, curators, and art critics from around the world presenting their work and ideas in an open forum, hosted by the Department of Art and Design.

is required.

Opening Reception

Tuesday, February 3, 5 – 7 p.m.

Celebrate ����vlog alumni at the opening of the exhibition “Carpe Diem: Select Alumni in the Visual Arts.” Montclair President Jonathan GS Koppell and Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement Rita Walters will make remarks at 6 pm. is required.

A Cross-Generational Conversation with Alumni Artists

Monday, March 2, 6 – 7 p.m.

This multi-generational panel celebrates the distinguished women alumni of Montclair. Featuring exhibiting artists Nancy Bergman Pantirer ’80, Tiffany Perez ’09, and Maria Valdivia ’24 in conversation about their careers and creative practices, moderated by curator Sally Morgan Lehman. is required.

Visitor Information

George Segal Gallery, ����vlog

Dates: February 3 – May 3, 2026

George Segal Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 12 – 4 p.m. Or by appointment.

The Galleries’ free digital guide offers behind-the-scenes insights from artists and curators. Created by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the guide is available on the web or via the app and can be accessed for both onsite and offsite visits.

����vlog State University Galleries

����vlog Galleries brings together ideas, perspectives, and dialogue to foster curiosity and shared understanding through art. Through diverse and inclusive exhibitions and programs, the Galleries connect the campus experience with local and global communities.

Follow and join the conversation: @montclairstategalleries | #MontclairStateGalleries

Exhibition Support and Contact

����vlog Galleries

Media Contact: galleries@montclair.edu, 973-655-3382

Ready to start your Montclair journey?

Learn more about our programs in the Department of Art and Design in the College of the Arts.

�ѴDzԳٳ���������’s online Master’s in Educational Leadership improved to No. 5 (tie), up nine spots from No. 14 in the 2025 rankings.

For the first time, Montclair also earned a ranking in the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs category at No. 56 (tie), reflecting the University’s growing portfolio of online undergraduate degree completion options which now includes Business Administration, Economics, Family Science and Human Development, Liberal Studies, Nursing RN to BSN and Psychology.

�ѴDzԳٳ���������’s online graduate business offerings were also recognized, with the University’s Best Online Master’s in Business Programs (non-MBA) ranked No. 53 (tie) nationally, an eight-spot increase from No. 61 in 2025. The ranking highlights the strength of �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s online Master of Science programs in Business Analytics, Digital Marketing Analytics, and Human Resource Analytics.

Additional 2026 ranked programs include:

• Best Online MBA Programs: No. 107 (tie)
• Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs: No. 62 (tie)

“����vlog makes everything around learning as simple as possible, from applying, to navigating coursework, to getting student support when questions come up,” says Marc Austin, vice provost and managing director, Montclair Unbound. “These U.S. News rankings reflect the work behind the scenes to deliver a high-quality online experience that’s engaging, well-supported and designed for student success. Students should be able to focus on the hard work of study; we streamline the rest.”

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 across 1,800 online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offered primarily online by regionally accredited institutions.

Are you a:

Prospective Student:��Explore ����vlog’s full range of programs, from fully online undergraduate degrees to online and low-residency master’s and doctoral offerings as well as career-advancing certificates and certifications.

Media Member: Contact the Media Relations team for further details or to schedule an interview.

The classification honors an institution’s commitment to community engagement – which is defined as collaboration and partnership between schools and the larger communities they serve.

Montclair is one of 230 institutions to be awarded the classification, bringing the total to 277 institutions nationwide that have the designation.

“At ����vlog, we’re achieving clear, mission-driven goals and demonstrating that universities can pursue a complex set of socially critical objectives without compromise. We are pleased to be recognized again for our commitment to community engagement. This recognition is all the more meaningful, having recently been among the first institutions designated with the Carnegie Foundation’s Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose,” says President Jonathan Koppell. “This makes us one of four federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Carnegie-classified research institutions to hold both the engagement and public-purpose imprimaturs. I am so proud of the work done by Montclair staff and faculty to demonstrate what it truly means to be a public-serving university.”

Community Engagement Opportunities at ����vlog

Established by Koppell in 2023, �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships oversees the University’s various community engagement initiatives, including its Community Action Nexus, public services programs and community-engaged teaching and research opportunities.

From Paterson One Square Mile to and countless other initiatives, Montclair is serving the public good throughout New Jersey while creating opportunities for every member of the University to engage with community partners and help to solve their most pressing challenges.

“The Carnegie elective classification acts as the outward representation of the significant community engagement we know is happening here at Montclair,” says Director of Public Service Programs Krystal Woolston. “Putting together the application, I was so inspired by all of the projects, programs, and initiatives that are happening across both campuses that truly exemplify what it means to live out the public purposes of education serving in and with our local communities.”

How You Can Get Involved

In keeping with �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s mission and in addition to hands-on learning and public service opportunities, all students can take advantage of community engagement programs including:

• The Bonner Leader Program, which challenges and supports students to take their passion for service and continue to provide service throughout college
• NextGen Service Corps, which offers students an opportunity to learn about complex challenges from different perspectives while preparing them for public service careers
• Community-Engaged Learning, which links academic study to real-world experiences in community settings
• An undergraduate minor in Leadership Development Through Civic Engagement, which is designed to train students in any major how to engage and lead others in their chosen field by actively participating in their community to facilitate their development as leaders.

Faculty can also engage in �ѴDzԳٳ���������’s Community-Engaged Teaching and Learning (CETL) Fellows program, which is a two-year professional development program for faculty interested in attaining a deeper knowledge of community-engaged teaching, learning and research.

“Being recognized as a Carnegie Community-Engaged campus reflects the depth of our partnerships and our shared commitment to advancing opportunity and the public good,” says Montclair Associate Vice President for Community Partnerships Bryan Murdock. “This designation affirms the collaborative work of our students, faculty, and community partners to create meaningful, lasting impact.”

Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey?

Prospective students: Learn how our students get involved through the Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships.

Journalists:��Contact the Media Relations team��for assets or to schedule an interview.

The DNP at Montclair is designed to educate working RNs for direct care as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to provide care as family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners.

Master’s prepared Certified Nurse Practitioners will enter the program without a concentration.

The program can be completed in 2 years (6 semesters), 3 years (8 semesters), or 5 years (14 semesters) depending on the student’s previous level of education and choice of full or part time study.

“Launching our new DNP program is a significant step forward in the evolution of the School of Nursing,” says . “Our experienced faculty look forward to working with nurses who seek to advance their clinical practice by coordinating and managing care to address the needs of individuals, families, and communities across settings and over time.�� This program will give practicing nurses the tools they need for leadership as the next generation enters the field.”

Classes are fully online and asynchronous to fit a working nurse’s busy schedule. In-person clinical hours and three on-campus immersions ensure hands-on rigor and real-world readiness.

The online DNP is the first online doctoral program at ����vlog. for ��Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 and are accepted on a rolling basis.

“We know the demand for healthcare practitioners in New Jersey is growing, and the need for doctorate-prepared Family and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners is especially high,” says Marc Austin, Vice Provost and Managing Director for Montclair Unbound. “These new degrees have a ‘healthcare multiplier’ effect for the state. We are very pleased to offer them fully online so working professionals can advance their knowledge and their careers without disrupting their already busy lives.”

I’m a _______, tell me more…

Prospective Student: Learn more about the Doctor of Nursing Practice at ����vlog or take the first step towards applying to become a Red Hawk.

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