We’re excited to spotlight three employees who will be celebrated on Red Hawk Recognition Day.

Pascale LaFountain

Presidential Excellence Award Winner – Excellence in Teaching, Full-time Faculty Award

Pascale LaFountain is driven by the “pay-it-forward” mindset and the deep belief that every student can succeed and make an impact on the world if given the opportunity. She has been described as “bringing remarkable creativity to the classroom” and meeting students where they are. Thanks to an annual $15,000 grant secured from the Kade Foundation for German Studies, she has been able to support 10 students annually for their summer study abroad. Beyond teaching, she actively engages in the Montclair community through the SPARK program, community garden, collaborations with the Community Engagement Office and Office for Faculty Excellence, and chairs the University Senate’s Student Affairs Council.

On being recognized by the University, LaFountain shares, “It is the greatest honor to be recognized for my teaching, which I could not do without the deep diversity and cultural curiosity our students bring to class every day. Alongside this Presidential Excellence Award, the greatest recognition is seeing my students regularly experience exceptional success on a national and international level. I am particularly proud to see our students show how ready they are to present their research at national conferences, win international scholarships, and thrive in fully funded graduate programs.”

Daniel Jean

Presidential Excellence Award Winner – Inclusive Excellence Award

Daniel Jean co-created and leads the Male Enrollment and Graduation Alliance (MEGA), a transformative initiative aimed at closing enrollment and graduation gaps for Black and Hispanic/Latino male scholars. MEGA’s success has brought Montclair national and international acclaim, with coverage on PBS NewsHour. To expand recruitment, Jean founded and chairs annual conferences that attract over 1,000 high school scholars and educators to the Montclair and Bloomfield campuses. These events connect prospective students with resources and pathways to higher education, advancing inclusive access and strengthening Montclair’s enrollment pipeline.

On being part of the Red Hawk community, Jean shares, “I am a proud Red Hawk alumnus and honored to be a member of the administrative team. I believe every interaction moves a scholar closer to graduation or closer to withdrawal and I am excited to be able to help develop strategy and services to transform the lives of our learners. I am forever grateful for this recognition and excited that the collective work of my team is having a profound impact on the community. As the landscape of higher education changes, we remain dedicated to improving scholar learning, retention and satisfaction.”

Jaclyn Friedman-Lombardo

Presidential Excellence Award Winner – Unsung Hero Award and 25 Years of Service Honoree

Jaclyn Friedman-Lombardo has been described as an “outstanding leader who truly saves lives.” As a member of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), she is on call 24/7 responding to student mental health emergencies while juggling all clinical and administrative demands of student mental health on campus. Friedman-Lombardo coordinates grants and other labor-intensive initiatives to increase student access to broader mental health resources. She will be honored for her 25 years of service at Montclair and has seen paper charts converted to a sophisticated electronic medical record system, watched the therapy program thrive, engaged in meaningful research with faculty and staff and has remained fully accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) since 2007.

On her time at Montclair, Friedman-Lombardo shares, “This acknowledgement comes at a time in which I’m feeling especially grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve had to work with so many dedicated people who have worked tirelessly to support student growth and well-being. As I plan to depart from this wonderful community on July 1, I know Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has made a significant impact on our community and I’m so proud to have been a part of that work.”

In celebration of Red Hawk Recognition Day and Mental Health Awareness Month, all employees are invited to attend the on May 19 at Finley Gallery. Enjoy light refreshments, connect with colleagues and take a moment to unwind as we recognize the incredible contributions of our employees. Free parking will be available at Red Hawk Parking Deck in honor of the day.

The Office of Inclusive Excellence is presenting a in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. We invite you to submit work related to mental health, wellness, or self-care. Submissions are due by Friday, May 9. Review the on parameters and instructions and contacts for drop off and pick up of artwork.

The Sprague Library Archives is a repository for many of the materials relating to the history of ����vlog, including the former Panzer College of Physical Education and Hygiene and . It is available for reference and research by administrators, faculty, students, alumni and outside researchers. Many of the digital collections of the archives are available on the University .

Martinez has worked at the University since 2008. He earned his Master of Arts in History from Montclair, a Master of Library and Information Science from Rutgers University and his bachelor’s from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. During his time at Montclair, he has enjoyed the community and camaraderie that the University offers. 

“I particularly enjoy connecting members of the Montclair community with their personal and family history,” Martinez says. “It’s a wonderful feeling to show someone a photograph, a newspaper story, or another document that mentions a family member from years past.”

Outside of being a wealth of information for all things Montclair, Martinez is also a historical fencer (also referred to as Historical European Martial Arts) and a drummer in a bagpipe band. 

He has been married for 21 years, and has a daughter who is a senior at Montclair High School and a member of the varsity fencing team. 

An interesting historical fact about Montclair:

The Spanish mission style architecture on campus was advocated by Edward Russ (namesake of Russ Hall). Russ was a prominent lawyer and chair of the New Jersey  Board of Education’s building committee. Inspired by a recent trip along the California coastline, Russ suggested the mission style to architect George E. Poole, who designed College Hall.

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Edwards has worked at Montclair since August 2022. He earned his bachelor’s in Mass Communication and master’s in Media Management from Virginia State University.

He has more than a decade of experience working in higher education and student affairs. He previously worked at Stockton University for nine years, serving as the inaugural coordinator for Inclusive Communities and Social Justice Education. With experiences in many functional areas including residential life, student involvement, college access and retention, service-learning, conduct, and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging – he aims to provide a well-rounded approach to holistic student development.

One of the reasons Montclair appealed to him was its designation as an Hispanic-Serving Institution.

“We’re leaders in student belonging, engagement and resources for students with queer and/or trans identities, amongst many other identities/demographics,” Edwards says. Montclair ranks among the nations and “a lot of that comes from the work the OSJD does with the LGBTQ+ Center along with amazing campus partners like Residence Life and the Student Health Center.” 

Edwards serves as an advisor to student organization Daughta Speaks, the Black LGBTQ+ Alliance. Daughta Speaks is the only LGBTQ+ student organization at Montclair, and the first and only Black LGBTQ+ Alliance at any New Jersey college or university. He was part of the inaugural cohort of Leadership University at Montclair, an eight-week intensive training program that empowers participants to lead and manage others.

He also is a member of the directorate board of the Pan African Network of ACPA: College Student Educators International, the Board of Directors for the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey and the North Jersey chapter of the VSU Alumni Association.

Beyond work, Edwards describes himself as “a son, grandson, big brother, dog and plant dad, proud two-time HBCU alumnus, South Jersey native with Southern Baptist roots, an avid traveler, ballroom spectator, shower singer, semi extreme couponer and lover of all things culturally Black.”

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Peters has worked as a photographer at Montclair for over two decades. Before joining the University in 2000, he was a freelance photographer with clients that included The New York Times, Pearson Publications, McGraw-Hill, the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center and numerous design firms and advertising agencies. Peters finds the best part of his job is interacting with all the people on campus. He is able to “peek behind the curtain” and see the process of how things are done along with capturing the outcomes.

Peters has been married to his wife, Mary, for 40 years and is a proud dad of two sons, Kyle and Ian, as well as Emma and Dory, two sisters who came to them as young adults and now call them “Mom” and “Dad.” Kyle and Emma also happen to be Montclair alumni. He finds joy in his personal photography projects and also taking his motorcycle for long rides on country roads whenever time and weather permit.

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Joseph Brennan, Vice President, University Communications and Marketing, recently sat down with Ben to learn more about him.

Tell me about your upbringing.

I was raised by parents who were passionate about public service. My mother taught eighth grade English and Civics in the public school system, and my father served his country as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. I have two brothers and a sister. As a military family, we moved quite a bit when I was a kid, and we settled in North Carolina just before I entered high school. I ended up going to college and graduate school and starting my career there.

How was the transition from North Carolina to the New York/New Jersey region?

It’s my first time living in the North, and I am still getting used to driving. Just getting on the highway here is probably the riskiest thing I have ever done! One pleasant surprise about this area is the diversity, particularly in Jersey City where I currently live. I love the diversity!

How do you like to spend your free time?

I am a huge sports fan, especially basketball. My favorite teams are the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, and in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors. I really admire their star player Steph Curry, both for his athletic ability and his personal values. My mother loves him too. Oh, and before you ask, I’m not related to Kevin Durant. People confuse my athletic skills with his, but we’re not related.

Favorite book? Native Son by Richard Wright. I discovered it in graduate school. It is a powerful, eye-opening account of what it was like to grow up poor and black in the inner city and how those conditions can systematically alter your life and chances for success.

Favorite movie? Last of the Mohicans, with Daniel Day-Lewis. It’s a compelling story and shows what lengths someone will go to when they love another person, including sacrificing their own life for the person they love.

Recently I watched Air, about the unique partnership that Nike developed with Michael Jordan, which changed the way endorsement deals were done from that point on. For me, the movie was more than a sports biography, as it had a lot of powerful themes. It showed Nike as a company with a strong vision of the future and the willingness to take risks and do the unheard of to bring that vision to fruition. It also stressed how important it is for you as an individual to know your own value and to not apologize for it, but expect to be rewarded fairly and equitably for it. In the end, both Nike and Michael Jordan prospered, and that’s the way it should be. As a basketball fan and a finance guy, this movie really appealed to me.

This interview was edited for clarity and length.

Chiappa has worked at Montclair since 2015. He earned a Master of Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where he served as chapter president of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) and later went on to serve on its National Board of Directors.

From developing master plans that look decades into the future to selecting paint colors and furniture finishes, through his work, Chiappa is able to collaborate on all aspects of design projects. “No two days are alike,” he says, and finds the biggest reward of his work is “the opportunity to be a part of a dedicated and talented team.”

When he is not working on planning initiatives, his interests include photography, travel, wildlife, and improvisational theater (both performing and teaching). He is active in the architecture community through continued service with professional organizations such as the NAAB (National Architectural Accrediting Board), AIA (American Institute of Architects), and AIAS as a legacy member. As a true architect at heart, he often enjoys walking the campus whenever possible and getting to see projects that were once on paper come to life.

A few fun facts to know about buildings on campus:
– ����vlog was the first in the country to have a diner on campus (Red Hawk Diner).
– A number of buildings on campus, including Café Diem, the School of Communication and Media, and the Student Recreation Center, have received architectural awards.
– The campus is also home to what (Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center).
– The oldest campus building (Bond House) predates the founding of the University.

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Connor has worked at the University since 2021 and has enjoyed working with staff and aiding them in resolving conflicts with empathy and grace in addition to overseeing the Title IX Compliance program. No stranger to higher education, she previously served in various capacities including diversity, equity, student affairs and higher education administration at William Paterson University, Towson University and Berkeley College.

As a first generation college graduate and first to earn a terminal degree in her family, Connor earned her doctorate from Abilene Christian University in Texas. She earned a Master of Science in Human Resource Development from Towson University in Maryland and aBachelor of Arts in Public Administration from Kean University in Union, New Jersey.

When she’s not working to amplify marginalized voices and encourage new perspectives, she enjoys being a proud pet parent along with her husband, Sean, to their two dogs, Bruno Mars and Justice, their parrot, Sasha, and their hairless cat, Mr. Sphinxxx. She also enjoys traveling, live music and fine cuisine.

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John comes to ����vlog from Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, where she developed and implemented internal communications strategies in her role as the Marketing and Public Relations Specialist. She was also a key member of Mountainside’s diversity, equity and inclusion council where she assisted with developing initiatives to build a more supportive and inclusive workplace culture.

John graduated from William Paterson University with a degree in journalism and public relations and is looking forward to developing a robust internal communications program for Montclair.

In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts, traveling and spending time with friends and family.

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