Hi everyone,
Welcome to your junior year experience while living on-campus! This is a critical time in your college years as you continue to plan for your future. Your experience living on-campus will help you succeed.
Our residential area strives to develop a respectful, inclusive and engaged community that is centered on each member’s life experiences and expression of personal identities through advocacy, integration, holistic education, and reflection. Our mission is in accordance with the learning domains of the Department of Residential Education and Housing, we support residents throughout degree completion, assists students with post-baccalaureate transition affects, provides opportunities to develop life skills for the whole person, and to make memories through the development of community.
Our area includes a variety of residential facilities; the College Houses on Carlton Avenue and Pennington Road, Hausdoerffer and Phelps halls, and Townhouses East and South.
Manisha Ford-Thomas serves as the Assistant Director for junior and senior students in residence. She received a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in African American Studies and a Master’s of Education Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Seton Hall University. Manisha has worked professionally as an educational administrator in several organizations, after school programs, extracurricular initiatives and higher education institutions. She is committed to empowering students attending institutions of higher education and works to create agents of change in areas of leadership, critical thought, diversity and inclusion one student at a time.
Curtis Chan is the residence director in Townhouses East and West. Curtis earned a Bachelor of Social Science at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) in Hong Kong and a Master’s degree at West Virginia University (WVU) in Morgantown, West Virginia. Curtis’s previous experience includes working as Graduate Assistant in residence halls and the Residence Hall Association at WVU, instructing the WVU University 101/First Year Experience course, serving as a unit supply specialist in the US Army Reserve, and interning in the international relations department at Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg in Berlin/Potsdam, Germany.
Michelle Crotto works as the Residence Director of the Metzger Drive Apartments and College Houses at The College of New Jersey. Michelle earned an undergraduate degree at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia and a masters degree at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Michelle’s previous experience includes working as a peer coordinator and an assistant area director at Babson College as well as a residence director at Saint Anselm College.
You may want to think about your transition from a traditional corridor style residence hall to the apartment, house, or townhouse style living. It is different because you not only share your bathroom with your fellow students, but you also share a living room and kitchen with your suite or housemates. You will need to think about how you wish to set-up & maintain the shared areas.
For juniors and seniors we focus on monthly themes and events appropriate for your development rather than frequent recurring programs. We encourage students get involved in the “Big C” – the bigger community in and outside the College. We also emphasize the following aspects:
- One-on-one conversation with your student staff member
- Career development
- Graduate and professional studies preparation and finance
- Life after TCNJ
Our staff focuses more on personal connections. They conduct one-on-one conversation with you in order to develop a mature relationship and provide you with opportunities and services available to juniors and seniors at TCNJ. It is also a good chance to establish a good connection with your house group or suitemates in creating a young adult learning community.
You may wonder, “How do I get involved?” Interpersonal relationships are very important because it is not a traditional residential area and the students experience in residence may be more isolating. Your engagement in the community will benefit you and your neighbors. In the coming year you should consider attending events sponsored by ResEd, potentially join Residence Hall Association, and have your student organization collaborate with us.
Are you ready for the new challenge!?! We are looking forward to see you in August!