Montclair State University Launches Presidential Fellows Program
The inaugural cohort will build professional skills through paid placements, mentorship and collaboration with University leadership
Montclair State University President Jonathan Koppell, center, joins the eight students selected for the inaugural Presidential Fellows cohort. The program pairs students with University executive leaders for paid, hands-on experience, mentorship and collaboration on campus initiatives. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)
Eight students will work alongside University executive leaders through Montclair State University’s new Presidential Fellows program, gaining paid, hands-on experience on projects ranging from strategic communications to student success initiatives.
For Alias Ragsdale ’28, joining the inaugural 2026–2027 cohort started with a simple hello.
Shortly after transferring from Bergen Community College, the Social Media and Public Relations major spotted Montclair’s chief of staff, Keith Barrack, on campus and introduced himself.
“Why not just say hello?” Ragsdale recalled thinking. “It won’t hurt.”
Taking initiative was nothing new for Ragsdale. At 19, he became the youngest person elected to Clifton’s Board of Education. That introduction to Barrack led him to apply for the fellowship, and two rounds of interviews later, he was selected for a placement in Montclair’s Office of the Provost.
Bringing Student Perspectives to University Priorities
Organized by the Office for Experiential Education and Career Connections, the Presidential Fellows program pairs students with Executive Council members across key campus divisions.
This inaugural cohort will work on projects ranging from communications and employee development to analyzing data that can help University leaders support student success.
But the benefits go both ways, says Chantelle Wright, assistant vice provost for Experiential Education and Career Connections. Working alongside students gives University leaders a chance to hear firsthand how their efforts affect campus life.
“We're busy doing the work of serving students without having the opportunity to work alongside students to gain their own perspective on how they see what we're doing directly impacting them and their classmates, their colleagues and their friends,” Wright says.
Working directly with students can prompt supervisors to pause, listen and reconsider how they communicate, Wright says. Fellows, in turn, gain mentorship and experience navigating a professional workplace while contributing to University priorities.
“By ensuring student perspectives inform our work, we can help build a more inclusive university community where everyone feels valued and connected and has a sense of belonging,” adds Ashante S. Connor, associate vice president for Inclusive Excellence & special assistant to the President.
That support begins before students are selected. Information sessions offer applicants guidance on resumes and interview preparation, giving them opportunities to build career skills even if they do not land a fellowship.
From Analyzing Data to Understanding Decisions
While Ragsdale discovered the fellowship through a conversation, Shivani Mitul Vyas ’28 found it while searching for jobs and internships on Handshake, Montclair’s student career platform.
An international student from India majoring in Business Analytics, Vyas began getting involved on campus by attending events and joining clubs to meet people. She later became an admissions ambassador, leading campus tours for groups of up to 60 people. Mentoring first-year students through the College of Science and Mathematics and the John Martinson Honors EDGE Program also helped her grow more confident.
“These were wonderful experiences that made me come out of my comfort zone,” she said.
She has also put her analytical skills to work with Montclair’s Canvas team, examining course and student-grade data and supporting projects for the Office of the Provost and the Office for Faculty Excellence.
Now, as a Presidential Fellow working with Margaree Coleman-Carter, interim vice president for Student Development and Campus Life, she expects to help organize data, document processes and develop dashboard visuals. Her work will help create resources that can carry forward beyond her yearlong fellowship.
Through the fellowship, Vyas hopes to learn how University leaders use the reports and graphs she helps create to make decisions.
Finding Opportunities Through Handshake
The Presidential Fellows program is one of many ways students can gain hands-on experience at Montclair. Wright said the University is emphasizing Handshake as its main platform for recruiting students for campus jobs and internships, with postings outlining responsibilities and expectations.
Campus employers are also being required to include learning outcomes in their postings so students can see how each role supports their professional development beyond a paycheck.
“There's a true value statement and commitment from the employer that they're dedicating their time to helping the student learn and grow,” Wright said.
Meet the Inaugural Presidential Fellows
The fellows represent a range of academic programs and will work across seven University offices and divisions:
- Nicole Vasquez ’27, Justice Studies: Office of the President
- Alias Ragsdale ’28, Social Media and Public Relations: Office of the Provost
- Jackie Valdivia ’28, Business Administration, concentration in Marketing: Office of the Provost
- Kyra Washington ’28, Journalism and Digital Media: University Communications and Marketing
- Ona Ugonna-Ufere ’28, Business Administration, concentration in Finance: Human Resources
- Dylan Rodriguez Serrano ’27, History and Justice Studies: Legal Counsel
- Shivani Mitul Vyas ’28, Business Analytics: Student Development and Campus Life
- Jeffrey De Leon Vacca ’28, Political Science: Inclusive Excellence
