Now, let’s hear from Samantha, a first year physician assistant studies student who was already a frontline healthcare worker when she came to Salus seeking the same interprofessional education that a real life hospital setting offers. At Salus, students from all of the universities programs collaborate as soon as their first year. From the classroom to clinical facilities, an interdisciplinary approach is part of the school’s mission in educating well-rounded future healthcare professionals. Samantha, it’s all yours.
– Thanks Alex. Prior to coming to Salus University, I was a respiratory therapist on the front lines of a medical ICU. There, I worked collaboratively with so many different healthcare disciplines that when I decided to go back to school to further my education as a physician assistant, I knew I wanted to go to a program that not only valued but preached interdisciplinary education and Salus did just that. As a first year graduate student, I take a course title evidence-based practice all of the first year students from all of the different healthcare specialties take this course together. I was not only able to meet, but work with students of the various different future health care professions from optometry, to audiology, to speech language pathology and more. But I also felt like I gained a further understanding of each of the different professions which is vital when becoming a future healthcare professional. Salus values that early clinical experience so as a first year student, I’m already assessing patients and shadowing providers across various specialties. This is a decided advantage that other schools may not have to offer. In fact, one of my favorite clinical experiences was at the Speech Language Institute with a speech language pathologist. As a future physician assistant, I’m going to have patients with these medical conditions that I’ll need to refer to a speech pathologist. Now, I feel as though I’m educated and can understand what my patients will be going through once I have to refer them and their care is now out of my hands. Salus students are exposed to patients at all university clinical facilities not just within their own program. Interdisciplinary exposure is really the bedrock of a Salus education. Salus university prepares its healthcare professionals for the real world and interdisciplinary education is a real life skill that we will carry with us into our work in the future. I feel confident as a student interacting with specialty providers, and I feel like that’ll translate into my work as a physician assistant. Back to you, Alex.
– Take it from Samantha. Coming from the front lines, she already knows how important collaboration is among a healthcare team. Rooted in interprofessional education and clinical experiences, Salus students interact with each other from the start of their education. Along Samantha’s path to becoming a practicing physician assistant, she will be exposed to all of the various program curriculum, learning how to treat the whole patient, which is exactly what Salus graduates are known for in the healthcare industry. When you graduate from Salus, you will be Salus strong. Thanks again for sharing that, Samantha.
On deck is Jack of Wood-Ridge, New Jersey. A senior studying television and digital media with a concentration in sports media and journalism. You can find Jack in the press box doing play by play for the Red Hawks and reporting on Montclair’s 18 varsity athletic teams. He’s covered championship teams, and enjoyed his own wins with internships, including one with the New York Mets. Swing away, Jack.
– Thanks so much, Alex. My entire life my number one passion has been sports. So when it came time to choose a school and major, I knew that I wanted to study sports media. The only question that remained was where? And I found the answer to that question the second I walked to the doors at the school of communication and media here at Montclair State University. The school has set me up with all the experience and education I could have ever asked for starting with my first time on air at the number one college radio station in the nation 90.3 WMSC, where I had the opportunity to call live games, host my very own sports talk show. I think he knows what he’s doing. I think he knows what he’s talking about. So I think the pieces are there. And I still serve as the station sports director to this day. I’ve also had the pleasure of helping start the Red Hawk sports network, where I’m able to provide commentary for all the livestream athletics across campus. And I’ve been able to help co-produce a weekly sports news show, Inside The Nest. The combination of hands on opportunities, as well as being able to work with former and current industry professionals as professors, is a recipe that I feel has set me up for nothing but success. And let’s talk about the athletics on campus that have opened up all of these incredible doors for me, Montclair State University feels 18 highly competitive NCAA division three athletics programs, which have been home to over 280 all Americans, as some of those highly touted coaches in the nation. Montclair also offers a host of intermural and club sports as well as indoor and outdoor recreation programs. It’s also the home of the professional soccer and New York Red Bulls II, and the minor league baseball New Jersey Jackles. This past summer, the university helped me land internship positions with not only that Jackles organization, but also with the New York Mets, and the professional commentary job with the American 7s Football League. Hopefully one day you’ll turn on your TV, and hear me calling the big game. It’s been such a blast so far. I can’t wait to see what’s to come. What’s next, Alex?
– Jack, you hit a home run. Thanks for taking us inside Red Hawk athletics. And sharing with us your experiences in sports media. You’ve had quite the run. We look forward to seeing you reach all your goals, cheers Jack. Traditions enhance school spirit, and enrich the student experience. And at Montclair State University, spirit starts with Rocky the Red Hawk, Montclair State’s energetic and extroverted mascot.
Now it is time to welcome one of the most recognizable voices at Montclair State University. Kaya is the general manager of the radio station 90.3 WMC. Kaya is from New Milford, New Jersey. A senior majoring in communication and media arts, and minoring in international studies. WMSC was named the best college radio station in the entire nation. Kaya you’re on air in five, four, three, two.
– I hope you’re enjoying Montclair so far, Alex. As a little girl, I was filled with high spirited energy. And I knew from the start that I would find myself in front of the camera someday. Fast forward to senior year of high school, where I discovered my passion for broadcasting arts, and found that Montclair was the perfect place to reach my desired career path. Campus involvement is woven into every student’s college experience. And my bubbly self took advantage of the diverse and inclusive co-curricular activities. From acapella club to actively attending campus recreation events, I eventually found myself volunteering at the university’s radio station WMSC. Since my freshman year I’ve held several leadership positions that allowed me to maximize on my pre-professional experience. I volunteered as the office manager, executing events and starting up the WMSC monthly newsletter, for which I was personally awarded best business director by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System awards. I continued to move up the ladder from program director to now the station manager of the best college radio station in the nation. I’m happy to use my voice to promote the university. Montclair is all about cultivating a world that we aspire to live in with students and faculty working on research projects, addressing social justice and urban concerns like criminal justice reform, clean water and sustainability, public health and equity in K to 12 education. After all diversity, inclusion and public service is an our culture. If I were to summarize my years at Montclair, it would be that you get out of life what you put into it. With all of the education, resources, mentors, and community offered here, it propels you to work towards the person that you’d like to become. In my case, that is a TV news reporter at a local station. Catch you on the screen the very soon. Back to you, Alex.
– Kaya, that was great, and so is WMSC. You can tune into the station on the iHeart radio app. I love how Montclair students are raising their voice to engage and advance social issues. And Kaya, I know you will have great success. Your energy is contagious, thank you.
Montclair State University’s president. Jonathan Koppell is out to build on the university’s legacy as a place that not only makes a difference in the lives of students, but also in the world. President Koppell it is all yours.
– Thanks for that introduction, Alex, I’m so excited to be at Montclair State University. This is a campus that’s on the move. We’ve got new programs, new facilities, we’re growing in enrollment. This is a place where I’m excited to be, and I know that students will enjoy it. And what a beautiful campus, tons of new buildings, beautiful leafy green spaces. And what goes on in the buildings is even more exciting than what’s going on outside. We’ve built new interactive, technologically advanced spaces, homes for computer science, communications, environmental and life sciences, business, nursing and dance. All of which are intended to create enhanced spaces for student learning. 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students getting the best learning experience available. That’s what makes this place special, it’s the students. I have been so impressed with the smarts, but more importantly, the spirit of students who come to Montclair State University. We’ve got a campus populated with first generation students who are passionate and motivated. And what really moves me is their commitment to public service. Montclair State University students wanna make a difference in the world, and that’s what we are gonna prepare them to do. We’ve got engaged faculty who are excited about working with our students to give them the tools they’re gonna need to thrive, not just in the four years at this University, but in the years beyond graduation. And so what I say to all of our students, including you watching this show is Montclair State University is the place where you can empower your imagination. Your imagination over what’s gonna happen for the next period of your life in college, but much more than that, what’s gonna happen 10 years from now, 20 years from now, 30 years from now? What kind of job do you wanna have? What kind of life do you wanna live? What kind of difference do you wanna make in the world? This is the place where that journey starts. And here’s the thing, Montclair State University is a university committed to its public purpose. We are designing ourselves to embrace our responsibility to the community to make a difference in people’s lives. That starts here by building an inclusive campus community, but it extends to the student experience. You’ll be out in the community, working with our partners, applying the lessons from the classroom in real time to make people’s lives better. That’s what it means to be a 21st century public serving university. And I can’t wait to start working with you to build that future. Back to you, Alex. I think we’re gonna have a great tour.
– Thank you, President Koppell. There’s no it to what’s possible. And I’m confident you and Montclair students and faculty will indeed do great things together. That was awesome, thanks again.
Please say bonjour, hola and ciao to Sal from Denville, New Jersey. Sal has twice graduated from Montclair State University. He earned his bachelor’s in business administration, marketing concentration, and certificate in entrepreneurship. And then went on to earn his MBA in marketing and management. As part of the NBA program, he took part in a global experience to Vietnam and Hong Kong. Ni hao Sal, let’s go.
– Thanks Alex, prior to Montclair, I had never left the country before, and only been on a plane one time. Searching for global experiences was key for what I wanted in university. With its diverse student population, proximity to New York City, and year round study abroad programs, exposure to different cultures is a regular part of the Montclair experience. And through it, I traveled twice to three different countries. Global experiences at Montclair, blend the best of business, research and culture. This was a deciding factor when choosing to pursue my MBA here. Through the programs international business trip, my learning was taken outside of the classroom, spending time in Vietnam and Hong Kong, becoming immersed in their cultures. Through regularly scheduled meetings with businesses and nonprofit organizations, team lunches and dinners and excursions along the countryside, it was the learning experience of a lifetime. And the trip culminated when my cohort and I took on the final project of consulting with nonprofits and helping them develop strategic partnerships with local businesses to better serve the community. And that’s just my story. Montclair State University is fostering its students ability to learn and grow in real world environments. With research facilities in Madagascar, the Galapagos Islands, the Antarctic, and study abroad programs all across globe, Montclair State University is making an impact. Coming full circle, studying abroad has added so much to my life and propelled me into my career. Now working as a global account manager for a firm operating in over 40 different countries, these learnings have led to more fruitful discussions with clients and colleagues, giving me the confidence to succeed. Thanks to Montclair and its global experiences, not only by learned and grown as a person, but I’ve created a network of friends and colleagues all across the globe. Back to you, Alex.
– What a wonderful world and experiences, Sal. There are so many ways to study abroad, and with Montclair students and alumni being awarded more Fulbright scholarships than ever before, the university supports students to build careers here, and abroad.
All right, let’s head over and meet Sonja, a traditional optometry student who took a non-traditional route to Salus. She’s gonna spend a few minutes talking about Salus university as a welcome place for students from all walks of life. Despite being in a traditional program, Sonja is considered a non-traditional student at Salus because she came to the university later in life, to pursue a second career. Whether it’s someone who came to Salus after a career outside of health sciences, like Sonja, or an international student looking to expand their studies, the university offers plenty of opportunities for non-traditional students to excel and succeed in their chosen field. Sonja, please take it away.
– Thanks Alex. My path to Salus University has looked a little different than most. I immigrated to the United States from Bosnia when I was nine years old. After getting my degree in communication studies, I was five years post undergrad, trying to find a more fulfilling and challenging career path for myself when I went in for a routine eye exam. I was struck by my optometrist’s passion and her ability to be able to help people in a tangible way. So I returned to work only to spend the rest of the day researching optometry programs. Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University stood out as an all-inclusive welcoming place for all types of students at all stages of their educational journey. Just a few weeks later, I jumped in the car with my best friend and we drove from North Carolina to Philadelphia. I met with the admissions staff for a pre-application visit. We went over my transcript and we went over the prerequisite. So when I left that meeting, I felt reassured, empowered and set with a game plan to start my second career, I could do this. Starting fresh can feel a little intimidating, but at Salus, I immediately felt like I belonged because Salus has a strong non-traditional student presence and offers plenty of opportunities and resources for them to succeed. Honestly, it all took about three years, but when I put on my white coat at the end of that last week on campus I felt a sense of accomplishment and pride. I want those who come here to feel the same sense of inclusion I did when I arrived. So I am part of the peer mentoring program where I help new students adjust to their first year at Salus. I’m also a teaching assistant in the clinical skills lab where I help the first year students hone their skills and bolster their confidence. I wouldn’t change my journey because everything that I’ve done up until this point has grounded me, made me a better communicator and more empathetic. And with the skills that I’m learning here at Salus, every day, I feel more prepared to take care of an advocate for my future patients. Thank you so much for letting me share my story, now let’s send it back to Alex.
– Wow Sonja, successfully completing your graduate studies in optometry will certainly give you a sense of pride and accomplishment. And the fact that Salus is such a welcoming place for you and other non-traditional students is a tremendous benefit of the university. Thanks again for sharing your story Sonja.
Okay, everyone, now let’s head over and meet Robert who is the Chair and Program Director for the speech language pathology program right here at Salus University. And he’s gonna be talking to us about how graduates of this program and all of the programs Salus offers will receive the necessary education and training to become integral members of today’s healthcare and education teams as well as leaders in their profession. Robert it’s all yours.
– Thanks Alex, speech language pathologists assess, diagnose, and treat people from across the lifespan, from infants to the elderly who are experiencing communication and swallowing disorders. My path brought me to the career because I was looking for a variety of choices in practice settings, a great salary, and the ability to balance work and life. The median salary of an SLP is around $80,000. Research shows that there’s more than 162,000 jobs available for SLPs with an expected 25% growth in employment outcomes over the next decade. And there are many other programs here at Salus experiencing the same growth. It was no wonder to me that speech language pathology was number seven on the list of US news and world report best jobs in 2021. In fact, Salus had three other programs on that list. I joined the Salus university faculty here in 2014 as the department was first formed. Being able to develop a new program with state-of-the-art facilities and begin to teach the next generation of SLPs has been the culmination of all the best parts of working in this field. Here at Salus, all of our programs offer a world-class education with hands-on training in early clinical experiences that move theory to practice. Whether working one-on-one with one of our amazing SLP students or on a research project in the community. My role is to foster critical thinking, apply evidence-based practice and individualized programming for competent care in the real world. The ability to affect the lives of others who are struggling to communicate demonstrates the value of the profession and the rewards of being a speech language pathologist. And the true gift is being able to provide students with a worldview through a Salus education in the field I hold so dear. I’ve always loved the ability to affect change in the lives of my patients and their families. And now watching students go through this, has even deepened my excitement in this career. Back to you, Alex.
– Thanks Bob. With speech language pathology being one of the top professions in the country now that allows students to work in a variety of settings. It’s easy to see why SLP students who receive a world-class education that provides hands-on training with early clinical experiences are well-positioned for the future. Cheers Robert.
Okay. Now we’re going to head over and meet Jacqueline, a first year audiology student at Salus University’s Osborn College of Audiology, who’s gonna share with you, how your Salus degree will help provide you with the tools and career flexibility to pursue your professional dreams. Jacqueline, the floor is all yours.
– Hi everyone. I’m so excited to share with you the many opportunities and directions you can take once you obtain a degree from Salus. As an audiology student, I’m not only given the clinical and theoretical skills I need but I’m also given the tools I need to enter into the profession depending on which career path I choose. Once I receive my degree from Salus, I’m able to delve into the different career settings such as the hospital, school settings or even multitask by becoming a professor while still working at a clinical setting. This gives me the opportunity to not be on call like some doctors and some health science professionals. Salus University has a strong reputation of producing world-class professionals in array of disciplines. The audiology program offered here is diversified and unique and the courses will give me the knowledge and the skills I need to be a great audiologist and also impact the lives of those with hearing loss. Emphasizing a patient centered holistic approach, my doctoral degree of audiology from Salus University will help me appreciate the need to care for the patients I serve. This skill will help me in my career as I plan to extend my services to other parts of the world. With the dream of opening up my own practice one day in West Africa, Ghana, this degree will allow room for a successful work-life balance and still have time for my family. Soon an education within each of the universities programs speaks to the many aspects of disease prevention and the management of chronic illnesses by promoting health and well-being throughout society. Our innovative curriculum here at Salus offers a broad base, interdisciplinary clinical education, presenting students with a wide range of challenging primary opportunities. Our commitment to early clinical training in each program provides advantages for students for when externship placements begin. If you want to be a health professional, and want to be in control of your career flexibility, have no fear, Salus University is here to help. Back to you, Alex.
– Jacqueline, great job. Thank you for detailing the diversified and unique audiology program here at Salus University. You’ll be equipped with the necessary knowledge, experience and skills to succeed as an audiologist And I’m sure you can’t wait to get out there in the world and make a significant impact in the lives of individuals and families with hearing loss. Cheers Jacqueline.
Most of us would be lost without our phones, right? We do everything with them. Hail rides, restaurant reservations, banking, and booking flights, you name it, we do it with our phones. The tech and finance that happens behind the scenes to make all that possible, is intense. So how does it all work? Let’s find out about it by meeting someone who launched a FinTech startup all while still a student right here at NJIT. Samir, please take it away.
– I appreciate the intro Alex. Hey there everyone. How are you doing? In high school, I had developed my first app. It was used to help the faculty log where students would enter in specific parts of the building. Accomplishing this, I knew I needed a great tech school on my radar. I chose NGIT for the great focus in STEM. Not only do they have amazing resources, but the amount of help that we received from here is tremendous. We have great professors with very relevant industry experience, small class sizes, and not to mention New York City is right across the pond. Outside of the classroom we have an amazing student base where everybody shoots to do great things in their careers. This is where I met my few closest friends in which we had started our own startup. This was a domain that I had no prior experience in whatsoever. But with the help of NJIT and each other, we have come very far. Our startup glide is an online ordering platform to help restaurants make their ordering process much more seamless. NJIT has increased its focus on entrepreneurship with its business incubator VentureLink. We were the first student startup here and got access to office, lab and coworking space. NJIT is also now a top 50 university for entrepreneurship and the only one in New Jersey to accomplish such a feat. Eventually link is also now home to over 50 established companies. With the help and support of NJIT, the City of Newark Glyde has launched its online ordering platform called OrderNewark to help support the local restaurants. We have also learned how to fundraise, with our first round of investment successfully completed and our second round of investment on route to come soon. Glyde hopes to give back to the community by offering both the students and faculty, a way to connect with these local businesses and support them. In this light, also these local restaurants will be able to save time and money. Well, that was my NJIT startup story. Let’s start up the next portion of the tour. Take it away, Alex.
– Okay. Hold on a sec, Samir. I’m downloading Glyde to check out some of those dinner spots. Amazing app back to the show, everyone. Thanks so much Samir. You leveraging all that you have available here at NJIT to not only study, but to also found a startup, gives a clear path for many other students who will be following your lead. That was fantastic. Take care of Samir.
Okay everyone, let’s meet Jason, a Mechanical Engineering major and the captain of the Aerospace Club. He’ll take us on a personal tour of the NJIT Makerspace. Over 21,000 square feet of state-of-the-art equipment ranging from industrial machines that can 3D print metal and water jets that can slice through steel to smaller prototyping equipment. Okay Jason, it is all yours.
– Thank you, Alex and hello everybody. My college search in high school was a nerve wracking experience, but I fell in love with NJIT from the moment I started here. NJIT offers strong programs that are backed by a student body that is driven to do well and accomplish great things. I’ve always been one, to wanna get involved in as many clubs and activities as possible. As a student in Mechanical Engineering, I wanna take the things I learned in class and apply them to the projects I work on. Joining the ASE Aero Design team, as the structural design lead, has given me the opportunity to explore an area of engineering that I love, as well as collaborate with bright students from a range of disciplines. Along with NJIT solar car, Baja and concrete canoe teams, the Aero Design team spends a year designing and building a model to compete in a nationwide competition. Most of the work we do is here in our Makerspace. NJIT’s Makerspace is the largest of its kind in New Jersey. It gives students a place to do hands-on work on school related or personal projects alongside a staff of experienced makers and state-of-the-art equipment. They’re constantly expanding campus. And the latest addition to the Makerspace, was a lounge with breakout rooms, for students to come and create in a relaxing environment. The skills I’ve learned in only two years have allowed me to stand out in clubs, research groups, and internships. For engineers at NJIT, the possibilities are endless and I look forward to how my next two years will unfold. That’s it for me at the Makerspace. Back to you, Alex.
– Jason, wow. What you and your fellow members of the Aerospace club can build in the Makerspace, is amazing. And it’s not just members of your club, but everyone, faculty, students, and staff who are all encouraged to become makers here at NJIT. Thanks again, Jason.