Monmouth University’s board of trustees has announced its president, Dr. Rebecca Stafford, will retire at the end of the 2002-03 academic year, after having served as president since 1993.
"I am so honored to have been a part of Monmouth University’s amazing transformation over the past decade," said Stafford. "With direction from the board of trustees and help from faculty, administration and staff, we have accomplished many of the goals we set forth when I arrived here. I will retire knowing I have left Monmouth University in good hands, poised to continue its ascent to greatness."
During her presidency, Monmouth achieved university status.
Monmouth’s full-time undergraduate enrollment doubled and its graduate enrollment increased almost 40 percent under Stafford’s tenure. Its operating budget and endowment have doubled since Stafford became president, and the university is currently the 15th largest employer in Monmouth County.
Monmouth has added more than 100 full- and part-time faculty members since Stafford began, and has created new programs in nursing, software engineering, criminal justice, communications, psychological counseling and social work. Its school of business administration, chemistry program, nursing program and the undergraduate and graduate social work programs all received accreditation during her tenure.
Four athletic division I programs — football, lacrosse, field hockey and women’s golf — were also added for a total of 19 sports teams, and Monmouth has been one of the top three schools in the northeast conference commissioner’s cup standings in each of the last six seasons.
The school’s facilities have also undergone major improvements while Stafford has been president, including construction of three new residence halls, two new academic buildings and the renovation of the Edison science building, Guggenheim memorial library and Wilson hall.
The university has also implemented technology initiatives such as a freshman laptop program, Web-enhanced and online courses, an automated library system and the upgrade of classrooms to laptop environments.
Prior to joining Monmouth, Stafford was president of Chatham College, Pennsylvania, and president of Bemidji State University, Minnesota, before that. She also served as executive vice president of Colorado State University.
She is a magna cum laude graduate of Radcliffe College, and holds a master’s of art degree and doctorate of philosophy form Harvard University. She was also a visiting scholar in Harvard’s department of sociology for the year prior to joining Monmouth.
Stafford is board chairwoman of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey, as well as trustee of Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. She is past president of the Northeast Athletic Conference, a member of the five state regional board of First Union National Bank, and has been associated with more than 50 academic, civic and professional organizations during her career.