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Dear Colleagues, 

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s  TED Talk in 2009 about the Danger of a Single Story resonated deeply with more than 15 million viewers. She articulated the human need for agency in shaping one’s identity and the freedom to resist being boxed in a singular identity. This freedom has historically been reserved for the powerful few who, because of their privileged positions, failed to see and understand the richness of the identities of others.  

These same ideas are articulated by Paulo Freire (Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 1968) in the context of education. According to Freire, education is liberating when the learners are active participants in understanding their context, in shaping their identities and place in the world, and in becoming agents of change, creating just socio-political systems.  

I want to take this opportunity to salute Dr. Junius J. Gonzales, on his last day as our Provost. He made indelible transformational impacts on the education at Montclair State University, notably:

• Recognizing the significant contributions of teaching faculty and establishing an official status and career path for them.
• Supporting faculty pedagogical development through the Center for Teaching and Academic Innovation.
• Leading the design and implementation of the SEEDS program—one of the most distinctive general education initiatives focused on liberatory values.

The multiplicity of social and intellectual identities may be the most powerful asset we can equip our students with. It provides them with the mental flexibility to adapt to new environments, new technologies, and new careers. It enables them to draw on methods, models, and perspectives from different disciplines and to apply them to new contexts and challenges. It also gives them the confidence to learn new disciplines. Exploring other disciplines does not subtract from their disciplinary identity, it multiplies it and magnifies it. The signature of CHSS as a college that nurtures this exploration and study of multiple disciplines is rooted in its traditions and future-proofs our graduates.

As we embark on the selection of the future organization for the college, our disciplinary identities are unshakable. This emerges in every conversation and survey; it is a source of pride and an invaluable asset. Designing for the future calls on all of us to also broaden our professional commitments and embrace more strongly latent and additional identities. Here too the breadth of commitments is not subtractive, but multiplicative. Every additional affiliation opens infinite and exciting possibilities for all of us. We, and our students, gain when we have strong bonds to our disciplines, to cross disciplinary groups, to the college, the university, and our communities at large. Every strong affiliation and loyalty broadens our social connections, expands our intellectual field, and magnifies our impact. A multiplicity of strong identities is the surest way to break away from the status quo and create new opportunities that enrich us all.

As we continue to create a structure that supports this expansive vision, we listen to build on existing strengths and allow the emergence of new ones. This is a preliminary summary of the restructuring survey.

• The survey was distributed to 850 people.
• We received 78 valid responses. An additional 100 responses submitted by the same individual were excluded from the dataset.
• In these 78 responses, the major theme is the attachment to departmental identity, department chairs, and shared governance processes.
• In commenting on the three models, preference was expressed for model 2. The reasons given are its preservation of departmental identity and separation of humanities from social sciences. 

We will discuss this along with the input received from the cards collected at the last college meeting (231 cards) and the student responses to the survey about the vision and tag lines (270 as of last Friday; more are expected this week).

Have a rich and diverse week everyone,

Fatma

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The American Experiment: 250 years and beyond

Save the Date

NJ Center for Indigenous Justice Welcoming Ceremony

Join us in welcoming the NJCIJ, a new center on campus dedicated to upholding Indigenous sovereignty, immersing students in holistic educational experiences, and walking in partnership with Tribal communities to re-Indigenize New Jersey. The event will feature reflections from Tribal leaders, students, faculty, and staff. It will also include a performance by the Red Blanket Singers, a drum and dance group from the Nanticoke Tribe.

Date & Time: Wednesday, October 8, 2-4 p.m.

Location: Student Center Quad, rain or shine

CHSS New Student Mix & Mingle!

Join CHSS faculty, advisors and staff to meet and welcome CHSS first-year students. RSVP here

Date & Time: Wednesday, October 8, 3:30-5 p.m.

Location: Dickson Hall Front Lawn (rain location, Cohen Lounge)

Power of Latinas Conference: Your Rights, Your Voice, Your Future

This full-day event will bring together Latina voices in health & wellness, business, politics, and education. Senator Teresa Ruiz, the New Jersey Legislature Majority Leader, will deliver the keynote. If faculty members are interested in bringing their classes for a portion of the event, please contact Lady Jimenez Torres.

Date & Time: Friday, October 10, 9 a.m. - 5p.m.

Location: University Hall Conference Center

At Your Service

CHSS Resource Guide

This guide is designed to support our faculty, instructors, and staff by providing quick access to the tools, policies, and information you need to carry out your work effectively. Inside, you’ll find resources on office operations, administrative processes, technology support, and campus services all in one place. Whether you’re new or a tenured colleague, this guide will help you throughout the academic year. If you have a question and cannot find the answer in this guide, or don’t know who to contact, start with the Administrative Services Team.