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Dear CHSS Colleagues, 

Congratulations! The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is wrapping up the year with much to be proud of and grateful for—and looking ahead with much to hope and plan for.

Over the past ten months, this College has accomplished the difficult work of positioning itself for a new era. As we face a rapidly changing world, the intellectual agility to interrogate our structures and reorganize with curiosity is a vital skill. I feel deeply privileged to have navigated this essential process alongside you.

I am forever indebted for your trust. You welcomed me warmly into CHSS last summer and generously extended your collaboration as we moved through the restructuring. We engaged in vigorous debates; we did not always agree; yet you never withdrew your engagement. I am deeply touched by that persistent commitment, both personally and on behalf of the University.

Thanks to your openness and collaboration, we were successful in organizing the college into 4 schools with 8 departments. The ensuing requests for shared faculty positions, collaborative curricula, and interdisciplinary institutes tell me that we are on the right path and that the reorganization is bearing its fruit. I know this is only the start. I look forward to seeing what emerges out of CHSS.

As announced last week, Dr. Amy S. Thompson will join us as the next Dean of CHSS on July 8. Dr. Thompson comes to us from Florida State University, where she served as the Mack and Effie Campbell Distinguished Professor and Director of the School of Teacher Education. She was deeply impressed by the talent within this College and is eager to begin her tenure next month.

An accomplished linguistics scholar with an extensive research record in multilingualism and academic leadership, Dr. Thompson’s experience is an excellent match for our mission. I am confident that under her leadership, the foundation we have built together will support a thriving future for CHSS.

With deep gratitude and best regards,

Fatma

CHSS News

Daniela Peterka-Benton (Global Center on Human Trafficking) was featured on a NJ Spotlight News segment to discuss the World Cup and how major sporting events create opportunities for exploitation and human trafficking.

Kudos

Enza Antenos (World Languages and Cultures) gave a series of talks, "From Local Roots to Global Reach: Understanding New Markets Through Educational Exchange," as part of the Erasmus+ Job Shadowing Program at the Istituto Dell'Acqua (greater Milan area).

CHSS Student News

Uncovering the Written Hand: Emily Walker Completes McNeil Paleography Workshop

Selected from a competitive pool of applicants, English undergraduate student Emily Walker completed The Lost World of Handwriting: A Workshop in English Paleography, 1500–1850, offered through the McNeil Center for Early American Studies.

Montclair in Munich and Berlin Faculty-led Trip

A group of thirteen Montclair students and their instructor, Thomas Herold, just returned from Germany, where they spent twelve days in Munich, Nuremberg, and Berlin, visiting memorials, museums, and historical sites

A Feminist God: Madelynn McDevitt Selected for McNeil Undergraduate Research Workshop

English undergraduate student Madelynn McDevitt presented her research on the redefinition of women’s roles in Shaker music at the McNeil Center for Early American Studies Consortium Undergraduate Research Workshop, hosted at the University of Pennsylvania.

Balancing Athletics, Academics and Ambition, Jessica Holler Built Her Own Definition of Success

From Mentorship to Advocacy, Anyllah Zackery Found Purpose in Psychology and Child Advocacy

From Curiosity to Calling: Rozhan Shafiezadeh’s Path to Psychology

Understanding People, Inspiring Change: Noah Festerling’s Path in Forensic Psychology

Years in the Making: A Determined Graduate Earns Her Degree

From an ‘American Dream School’ Education at Montclair to a Future in Policy and Global Studies

Driven by Advocacy and Empowerment, Johana Cruz Is Building Opportunities for the Next Generation

From Myanmar to Montclair: A Graduate’s Journey of Resilience and Purpose

Mariah Ayscue’s Journey Through Community, Care and Liberation

At Your Service

Join an AI Reading List

AJ Kelton is curating a living document of articles on AI in the humanities, social sciences, and/or pedagogy. The document is searchable and each entry includes a citation and a 150-word AI-generated synopsis, organized by topic headings. Those with access receive a brief update on Fridays listing new articles added that week, including the citation and a 50-word summary. If you’d like access to view the document, please complete this form.

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.

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