Brookdale Community College celebrates 50 years

Brookdale interim president David Stout celebrates the college’s 50th anniversary with Freeholder Director Lillian Burry and Freeholders John Curley and Serena DiMaso

LINCROFT – Brookdale Community College celebrated its 50^th anniversary on Tuesday with a birthday cake at the College of Visual Arts among well-wishers, County officials, and members of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), whose members were among the strongest advocates for a community college in Monmouth County half a century ago.

Dr. David Stout, interim president of Brookdale, led the brief program that included Freeholder Director Lillian Burry and freeholders John Curley and Serena DiMasa as well as Middletown Mayor Gerald Scharfenberger presenting resolutions proclaiming July 18, 2017 as Brookdale Community College Day throughout Monmouth County and in Middletown.  Stout presented framed copies of the original Monmouth County resolution establishing the community collegeto the freeholders and representatives of AAUW.

“The college today is an outgrowth of what came before us,” said Stout, who served as emcee for the birthday party program. “The history of Brookdale reveals that the college has its roots in the community. It is a true community college, in every sense of the word.”

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DiBella resigned from Brookdale Board because threats continue

Joe DiBella

Former Howell Mayor Joe DiBella resigned from the Brookdale Community College Board of Trustees because the “personal and professional” threats that prompted him to take a leave of absence last fall have continued and intensified, according to his resignation letter which has been obtained by MMM.

DiBella said that “the loudest voices against” him within the college community “are from those who opposed the needed actions and reforms” that he “recommended as a Trustee…”

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DiBella resigns from Brookdale Board

Joe DiBella

Joe DiBella, the former mayor of Howell, resigned from the Brookdale Community College Board of Trustees on Thursday, according to a report in The Asbury Park Press.

DiBella had been on a leave of absence from the Board since last September following a controversy over his allegedly “liking” racist and sexist posts on twitter. DiBella took his leave of absence after receiving death threats over the tweets.    The tweets had caused an uproar on campus. Students and faculty demanded he resign.

DiBella Resigned From Brookdale Because Threats Continue

DiBella has consistently denied “liking” the tweets.  He has suggested that either his twitter account was hacked or the images were altered to make it appear he “liked” the offensive posts.  At DiBella’s request, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into the alleged hacking.  The status of the investigation is unknown.

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Dr. Maureen Murphy resigns as Brookdale President

Dr. Maureen Murphy PhD

For the third time in seven years, Brookdale Community College is looking for a new president.

Dr. Maureen Murphy resigned today, effective June 30.  She will become president of College of Southern Maryland effective July 1.

Murphy took the helm of Brookdale in 2012 when she replaced interim President William M. Toms.  Toms led the college after Peter Burnham, who had been president for about 20 years, resigned in March of 2011 due a scandal over his padding his expense reports and a student loan for his son.

In 2015, Murphy was a finalist for the presidency of Blinn College’s Bryan, Texas campus.

Murphy said she took the College of Southern Maryland job “for personal reasons,” according to The Asbury Park Press.  She has changed jobs every 4-5 years since 1999, according to her LinkedIn profile.

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DiBella takes leave of absence from Brookdale Board due to death threats

Brookdale Trustee Joe DiBella

MIDDLETOWN – A Brookdale Community College trustee and the center of a Twitter controversy has taken a leave of absence due to a “death threat” aimed at him, the Asbury Park Press reported. Brookdale Community College Trustee Joseph DiBella has been under fire in recent weeks after allegedly “liked” racist post on Twitter. Students at the… Read the rest of this entry »

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The Arnone Report: Too much good stuff for a catchy headline

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Did you know that Monmouth County is the gateway to the Jersey Shore? It’s evident in the more than 50 miles of beaches we have here. I hope you are taking in all that we offer in this beautiful county – from the boardwalk full of rides in Keansburg to the acres of vineyards in Cream Ridge.

Last week, along with Deputy Director DiMaso, I was happy to welcome the brand new anchor team for NBC New York to the Jersey Shore. They stopped in at Keansburg Amusement Park to take in all the sights and sounds – including zeppoles and pizza from the famous Victors Pizza and even got on a few rides! Thank you NBC New York for coming out to the beautiful Jersey Shore and helping promote the region as a vacation destination for all your viewers

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Former Brookdale president details ‘2 years of hell’ in prison, report says

Peter Burnham, the disgraced former president of Brookdale Community College, is out of prison and talking about his mistakes. Burnham spoke last week at the annual meeting of the American Association of Community Colleges in Chicago, according to a report in the Chronicle of Higher Education, an industry publication. “There’s a fine line between confidence and… Read the rest of this entry »

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Year in review: April 2015

Governor Chris Christie pardoned Shaneen Allen, the single mother from Philadelphia who was arrested on gun possession charges in Atlantic County in 2013.

Senator Bob Menendez was indicted on federal corruption charges. Menendez stepped down as ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

State Senator Joe Kyrillos endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.

Brookdale Community College President Maureen Murphy applied for the top job at Blinn College in Bryan, Texas.  She didn’t get it.

The year in review: 2015

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“Shock and Awe” Permeates the July Shore Fine Arts Scene

By April W. Klimley, Art Critic

The July 4^th weekend is a great time for gallery hopping. Many new exhibitions opened their doors last weekend, and I’m going to give you a run down on some of the most interesting—and provocative. The wide variety of artwork may surprise you, and some of it may even shock you.

A good place to start is at AJ Dillon gallery in Atlantic Highlands. The gallery has an exhibition that has been running all month called  “Stars and Stripes Forever.” It ends on July 4^th, but is well worth squeezing into your schedule.

Gallery owner Frank Leahy asked local artists to come up with their own interpretation of the American flag, or what they think of when they ponder the American flag. One interpretation that grabbed my attention was a large America flag hung sideways with Jimi Hendrix face painted on it. It’s called Don’t Tread on Red by Jana Moriarty. You’ll find it hanging in a place of distinction—a pillar-like wall to the right as you walk in the gallery.

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Brookdale Prez Doesn’t Get Texas Job

Brookdale Community College President Maureen Murphy’s search for her next gig continues.

One of four finalists for the presidency of Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, Murphy lost out when the Board of Trustees unanimously chose Dr. Mary Hensly, a 14 year veteran administrator of the Austin Texas Community College District.

Murphy has been the president of Brookdale for three years. In the 16 years since leaving teaching to become an administrator in 1999, she’s held five different positions at four different community colleges. Her contract with Brookdale was extended last October.

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