College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Montclair State University

09/18/2026

“It’s not every day that you have someone say, ‘This experience changed my life,’” says Professor Mark Clatterbuck, Co-Director of the Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) program at Montclair State University.

This summer, select students were invited to participate in two transformative experiences -- the 2026 NAIS Summer Field School and the Wisconsin Experiential Learning & Community Knowledge Exchange. Students were encouraged to ask essential questions such as, ‘How do you organize your community? How do you build relationships in ways that change a broken system? How do you build a more just society?’.

“It is such a different way of thinking about doing college. You’re learning so much, it’s intense, but you're doing it in a community,” says Professor Clatterbuck.

Read More ➡

Recapping Native American and Indigenous Studies Summer Trips and Fieldwork

09/17/2026

Where​'s the Dean? 👀

Turns out, she’s everywhere!

From meetings and events to classrooms and conversations across campus, Dean Amy Thompson is always on the move — and she’s usually taking a selfie along the way. 🤳

So, we’ve starting a new series to keep track of her adventures. Welcome to . 📍

➡ Follow along on Instagram to see where the Dean has been and who she’s been hanging out with.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DdFCarTCRZg/?img_index=1

06/24/2026

Montclair students from the cross-listed American Archives course (ENG 501 / HIST 463), taught by Professor Steffi Dippold, recently visited the Morgan Library in New York City, to examine its collections as part of the semester’s immersive exploration of how archives are made and what they conceal.

Read More➡️ https://www.montclair.edu/chss/2026/06/23/what-the-archive-forgets-montclair-students-visit-the-morgan-library/

05/11/2026

🎓Meet Johana Cruz
📚 Master of Social Work

As a first-generation graduate student, Johana turned her passion for advocacy into action through youth programming, mentorship and equity initiatives across New Jersey. Through her work with girls in her community and her leadership at the YWCA of Northern New Jersey, she hopes to create meaningful opportunities that help young women build confidence, develop skills and envision their future paths.

💬 “You never truly know what you’re capable of until you take the chance to try.”

https://www.montclair.edu/chss/2026/05/11/driven-by-advocacy-and-empowerment-johana-cruz-is-building-opportunities-for-the-next-generation/

05/11/2026

🎓 Meet Jessica Holler
📚 Political Science major with a minor in English

🏃‍♀️ A student-athlete, tutor and aspiring law student, Jessica balanced academics, athletics and community engagement throughout her time at Montclair State. From earning conference honors in track and field to tutoring fifth graders through the Ignite fellowship program, she says college taught her that success comes from persistence, growth and giving your all.

💬 “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” — Vincent van Gogh

https://www.montclair.edu/chss/2026/05/11/balancing-athletics-academics-and-ambition-jessica-holler-built-her-own-definition-of-success/

05/11/2026

🎓 Meet Anyllah Zackery 🧠💙
📚 Psychology major with a minor in Child Advocacy and Policy

From mentoring first-year EOF students to leading campus organizations and interning with Make-A-Wish New Jersey, Anyllah embraced every opportunity to grow during her time at Montclair State. The first-generation student plans to pursue her Master of Social Work and continue advocating for children and families through trauma-informed care and social work.

💬 “Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”💬

https://www.montclair.edu/chss/2026/05/11/from-mentorship-to-advocacy-anyllah-zackery-found-purpose-in-psychology-and-child-advocacy/

05/11/2026

🎓 Meet Noah Festerling
📚 Clinical Psychology MA, Forensic Psychology Concentration

Festerling took a leap of faith when he left rural Michigan to pursue graduate study at Montclair. Along the way, he combined research, practicum experience and mentorship to deepen his understanding of human behavior and the criminal justice system.

💬 “All people can — and will — change.”

https://www.montclair.edu/chss/2026/05/08/understanding-people-inspiring-change-noah-festerlings-path-in-forensic-psychology/

05/11/2026

🎓 Meet Rozhan Shafiezadeh
📚 Psychology Major 🧠, Child Advocacy & Policy and Family Science & Human Development Minors

Through research, teaching, childcare and clinical internships, Shafiezadeh turned her passion for psychology into hands-on experience supporting children and families.

💬 “Psychology is not just theory — it is presence, adaptability and trust.”

After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology.

➡ https://www.montclair.edu/chss/2026/05/08/from-curiosity-to-calling-rozhan-shafiezadehs-path-to-psychology-and-purpose/

05/11/2026

Mariah Ayscue’s Journey Through Community, Care and Liberation

A Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies major and NAIS field school participant, Ayscue reflects on identity, scholarship and the power of being fully human.

➡ https://www.montclair.edu/chss/2026/05/06/mariah-ayscues-journey-through-community-care-and-liberation/

03/25/2026

From one major to THREE in four years 👏👏👏

In a German language program for local children and on an archive translation project, Isabella Zarate Gonzalez shows how Montclair’s mix of STEM, world languages and community engagement helped her connect her interests into a single path

See how she made it happen: ➡ https://www.montclair.edu/chss/2026/03/24/from-one-major-to-three-in-four-years-connecting-data-science-german-and-linguistics-at-montclair/