Mount St. Mary College Welcomes Class of 2020

NEWBURGH – A beautiful Hudson Valley day provided the backdrop for some 1,000 students moving into Mount Saint Mary College on Sunday, August 28.

Returning students, about 400 freshmen, and nearly 140 transfer students ascended to the Mount from the tri-state area and beyond.

Freshman Christopher Blackwell of Yonkers, N.Y., a human services major, was excited to begin his college career at the Mount.

“I like the people here,” he explained. “Everyone’s really friendly. It’s a great environment to be in.”

Psychology major Davonte Woodton of Peekskill, N.Y. said he’s ready to take on the challenges of his first Mount classes. “I’m looking forward to a great new experience,” he explained, both academically and socially.

On Monday, August 29, about 2,500 students began or resumed bachelor’s and master’s degree programs at the Mount.

Freshman Facts
The Class of 2020 has a perfect vision of their futures: Nearly 45 percent of incoming freshmen are aiming for careers in health professions, including nursing and pre-professional programs.

Teacher education has long been a Mount mainstay. This fall, nearly 12 percent of the freshmen begin preparation in their major fields for certification in childhood or adolescent education. Likewise, around 12 percent of Mount freshmen are majoring in business, including accounting, business management and administration, finance, marketing, and sports management.

The college also offers comprehensive areas of study in psychology, English, math, sociology, history, biology, chemistry, and more.

New Majors and Courses
The Mount launched a new criminology major in the Fall 2016 semester. Formulated by Mount associate criminology professor Jenifer Lee-Gonyea, PhD, the major explores the varied aspects of crime, from victimization and the criminal justice system to exploring society’s response to criminals and the reasons people break the law. Those who complete the criminology program will have many career options, including positions in law enforcement, corrections, community service agencies, child welfare programs, adult protective services, mental health, and more.

The college also received approval for its 5-year BA/MSEd degree in history and adolescence education, either with or without dual certification in special education. Teachers in New York are required to earn a master’s degree within five years of their initial certification, so the program will help students complete their training in a shorter period of time. It was spearheaded by the Mount’s divisions of Social Sciences and Education.

Students are looking forward to many new courses at the Mount this semester, including: Business Analytics; News Literacy; Radio News and Feature Reporting; Backpack Journalism; History of Street Gangs; The European Union; Poverty in the U.S.; Career Development; Health Care Industry Analysis; Public Policy and Health Care; Introduction to Cryptology; Gerontology: Fit to Frail; Psychology of Birth; and more.

Welcoming the Interim President
The Mount welcomes its new interim president, Dr. David A. Kennett, who began serving his two-year term on August 15. Dr. Kennett comes from Vassar College where he has worked since 1976, most recently serving as the Elizabeth Stillman Williams Professor of Economics. He is an accomplished member of Vassar’s faculty, as well as a sought-after visiting professor at many colleges and universities around the world, an author of many books and papers, a frequent speaker, and a consultant providing his economic expertise to a broad range of both private and public organizations, including the U.S. Justice Department and The World Bank.

“I am very excited to build on the momentum of the Mount by ensuring the continuation of its high standards of academic rigor and the strong values it has always demonstrated,” said Dr. Kennett. “I am deeply committed to always acting in the best interest of Mount Saint Mary College and ensuring that we create an environment that drives it forward and continues its growth.”

Upgraded Dining Experience
Thanks to the Mount’s new food service partner, Parkhurst Dining, students will enjoy expanded options, unlimited meals at the college’s main dining hall, and more. Parkhurst began serving the college on August 1, 2016 and boasts decades of food service experience. Serving 60 client locations throughout the United States, Parkhurst menus include made-from-scratch meals with fresh food from local farms and producers, all within a 150-mile radius of the Mount.

Students will now have unlimited access to meals at The View, the college’s main dining hall. In addition to a build your own salad bar and enhanced “to go” selections, guests of The View will enjoy all day breakfast. Gourmet sandwiches and pizza will also be served up until 3 a.m.

Henry’s Courtside Café and The Dominican Center café will deliver nutritious, customized meals for when students do not have time to take advantage of The View. Diners at Henry’s will enjoy a variety of flatbreads, pasta, deli favorites, and fresh grilled items. The Dominican Center café will serve expanded menu options, including salad, sandwiches, and sushi. In addition, the café in the college’s Kaplan Family Mathematics, Science and Technology Center will now proudly serve Starbucks coffee and espresso drinks.

Students began enjoying Parkhurst meals on move-in day.

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