I Do Declare!

While college can come with its own difficulties, students are often wrestling with outside problems – whether they be from their past, or present. Dr. Tamara Massay-Trotz comes on the podcast to share her journey, and how her own story has prepared her for her career as Senior Director of Student Services at Bloomfield College. From East Orange to Miami and up to Montclair State, Dr. Massay-Trotz discusses being driven from a youn...

While often an unseen aspect, finances are a deeply important aspect of keeping college life running smoothly. After all, money makes the world go ‘round – a sentiment Dr. Stephanie Mayer knows well. An adjunct professor and jazz musician by trade, Dr. Mayer also works full-time as Montclair’s budget analyst, converting numbers to easily understandable data that can then be used to improve MSU. She discusses the differences between...

The second season of Adulting for Real starts off strong! Returning host Jane Sanchez-Swain interviews Chris Taite, a writer and poet who returned to Montclair State. His first round of education ended after he left for the workforce, which is where he spent most of his early life. Spurred on by his father’s request and one perfectly timed email later, Chris decided to take the plunge and finish what he’d started. While nerves are ...

This episode’s title is the main message Sunovia Scudder wants listeners to take from her work on campus. After graduating from Rowan University, Sunovia wanted to go into mechanical engineering but, after a temporary setback, explored law and justice. This turned out to be the best decision of her life, as her career path instantly clicked into place. From there she became an accomplished and driven project coordinator, working fo...

While many may think communication and health majors have little in common, today’s episode of I Do Declare! shows otherwise. With an early interest in media, Dr. Chris McKinley went from undeclared to a communications undergrad on the West Coast, spending his early years in San Diego and considering internships in Los Angeles. When his path crossed with a professor studying the effects of advertising on health, however, Dr. McKinl...

“Luck, love, perseverance” is how Serena Kenney describes how she got her credit union job. However, anyone tuning into this episode can agree that these three words are the pillars for not only her job, but her college degree journey as well! In this illuminating and empowering discussion between Serena and Alicia Tucker, they discuss the role intuition plays in discovering what you really want in life, how Serena's intuition led ...

After five years of working in banking and call centers, Dr. Ashante S. Connor decided she wanted more. Her story starts, like so many others, with community college and developing her skills and strengths, and ends with her graduating with a doctorate in 2021. What did she learn in between? How can this knowledge help other students on their own paths? Host Natalie Lopez walks listeners through Dr. Connor’s career, outlining each ...

Jane Sanchez-Swain returns to the MSU podcasting world to interview Liliana Berrocal and Rey Harris, a married couple returning to higher education together. Their perspectives in this unique situation will provide a wealth of information for those in similar set-ups – whether it’s supporting your partner on their academic journey, or finding balance between a couple’s load of classwork! Rey and Liliana also speak to the difference...

When students enter the college world, many times they’re not sure what to do. The question of what major to pursue can be daunting, but Mariam Ibrahim’s story shows that it doesn’t have to be. A current graduate student in MSU’s Business Analytics / MBA Dual Degree Program, Mariam started in Nigeria studying History and Strategic Studies of Diplomacy – a path her school picked for her, but one she enjoyed nonetheless. From there, ...

In the first episode of Adulting for Real, Mariam Ibrahim sits down with Levi Clain to discuss returning to college. A Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (BLS) student at Montclair State, Levi shares insights and information regarding the unique challenges of getting a bachelor’s degree as an adult learner – including health issues and their undeniable impact on academic performance. Other topics of conversation are on-campus reso...

Discussions of diversity, equality, and inclusivity take center stage in the forty-seventh episode of I Do Declare – topics that are important, not only in higher education, but in the world at large. Nowhere is this more apparent than in this interview between host Tabitha Riley and guest Darius Edwards, the current Assistant Director of Advocacy and Outreach for MSU’s Office of Student Belonging (formerly known as the Office for ...

History is an often misunderstood major within the academic community, one that should be discussed more. After all, the connections to the past can be helpful in deciding what to do moving forward. That’s the reason why Jessica Pichardo chose History as her major, and why she began working in nonprofits and government sectors. After a decade in Child Protective Services, she moved into a higher-education degree in the education fi...

Indecision is a common obstacle for college students trying to find out what they truly want to accomplish with their degree. Thomas Barbara, Employer Relations Specialist at Montclair State University, knows this better than anyone. Through his interview with Natalie Lopez, Barbara discusses how a chance conversation with a roommate set him on the right course, and how transferable skills helped get him to where he is today. He of...

For those interested in Psychology, look no further! Nadeen Obeidallah sits down with host Rob Schneider to discuss her early interest in the medical field. Through the influence of a high school teacher during her senior year, Nadeen realized she not only enjoyed Psychology, but wanted to pursue it as a career. They discuss higher education programs like Master’s and Doctorate programs, the difficulty of talking about being a Psyc...

I Do Declare! welcomes host Jane Sanchez Swain, in this wonderful double interview between Dr. Maria José García Vizcaíno and Melanie Lopez. As Chair of Spanish and Latino Studies at Montclair State University, Vizcaíno shares her experiences at Universidad de Granada in Spain, where she discovered her passion for languages and translation, leading to her eventual move to the United States. Melanie, a student pursuing a double majo...

Those interested in psychology and disability advocacy might want to give this episode a listen! Host Tabitha Reilly sits down with Kathryn “Kat” Leonard, Director of the Certificate in General Education Studies Program at Montclair State University, to discuss her work in psychology. While pursuing that major (as well as a double minor in disability studies and cognitive sciences), one class she took stood out in particular, and c...

Figuring out your college path isn’t always straightforward, but unexpected turns can lead to exciting discoveries. Corey Pinto shares his journey from an education background to teaching music and, ultimately, Speech Langauge Pathology in this discussion with host Alicia Tucker. As both a teacher and student, Pinto offers unique insights into the traits suited for SLP and how to take charge of your education. His story highlights ...

The Office of Student Belongings’ Director, Jonnine DeLoatch, stops by the podcast for a heartfelt and enlightening conversation. Interviewed by hosts Tabitha Riley and Natalie López, Jonnine shares her fascinating transition from dramatic arts major to leading figure in Higher Education, along with the best advice for freshmen.

Episode summary by Domenick Castellano, MA in English

Produced and edited by Nick Kessler, Sports Comm...