Brookdale Community College

Public college in Lincroft, New Jersey, US

Brookdale Community College

Type| Public community college
Established| 1967

Academic affiliations

| Sea-grant, space-grant
President| David Stout
Students| 9,916 (Fall 2023)[1]
Location|

Lincroft

New Jersey

United States

40°19′34″N 74°07′55″W﻿ / ﻿40.326°N 74.132°W﻿ / 40.326; -74.132
Campus| Suburban
Colors| Navy Blue, Scarlet and White
Nickname| Jersey Blues
Website| www.brookdalecc.edu

Brookdale Community College is a public community college in the Lincroft section of Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Founded in 1967, the college also has regional locations in Neptune Township, Freehold Township, Long Branch, and Wall Township.

Brookdale is an open-admission college that admits anyone 18 years of age or older, or anyone who is a high school graduate or holder of an equivalency diploma. The college also offers courses to qualified high school students through its Dual Enrollment Program.[2] It serves the residents of Monmouth County, and the surrounding communities. Brookdale Community College has an enrollment of nearly 10,000 students.[1] The college offers associate degrees in more than 75 programs, as well as non-degree/non-credit classes and certificate programs.[3]

## History

[edit]

In 1967, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders decided to form a community college for the benefit of Monmouth county residents. For this purpose, the 800-acre Brookdale Farm in Lincroft was acquired from Lewis S. Thompson Jr. in 1968. Classes were first offered in 1969.[4][5]

On July 24, 2012, College President Peter F. Burnham, who had retired from a 20-year tenure after corruption allegations surfaced pleaded guilty to two indictable (felony) counts of official misconduct and one count of theft by deception in a plea agreement that called for a five-year prison term.[6][7] Five months later, he was sentenced to a 5-year-prison-term and ordered to make financial restitution to the college.[8]

The college announced on October 5, 2022, that its Hazlet campus had been sold and that the college would seek to open a new branch campus in the region.[9]

## Lincroft campus

[edit]

Main entrance to the campus from the Route 520 roundabout The Donald D. Warner Student Life Center at the Lincroft campus

The Lincroft campus in Middletown consists of 22 buildings, including the Center for the Visual Arts, the Center for World War II Studies, and the Donald D. Warner Student Life Center. The newly renovated Robert J. Collins Arena/Brookdale Recreation and Events Center holds special events, including conventions, concerts, and athletic competitions.

High Technology High School, a magnet school for students from Monmouth County, is located near the eastern edge of the Lincroft Campus. It is operated by the Monmouth County Vocational School District.

The Lincroft campus is home to the Monmouth Museum,[10] the Brookdale Performing Arts Center, and Brookdale Public Radio (WBJB-FM). These institutions offer performances, National Public Radio programming, and music.

## Athletics

[edit]

The Department of Athletics, Recreation, and Intramurals provides a diverse range of programs. Brookdale's intercollegiate program is nationally recognized. The Jersey Blues teams compete in the Garden State Athletic Conference and in Region XIX of the National Junior College Athletic Association. The program has won eight NJCAA Division III National titles: softball (2002, 2005 and 2010), women's soccer (2013, 2014 and 2015) and men's basketball (2013 and 2018).[11]

Sports teams

* Men's and Women's Cross Country
* Men's and Women's Soccer
* Men's and Women's Tennis
* Men's and Women's Basketball
* Men's Lacrosse
* Baseball
* Softball
* Cheerleading
* Women's Volleyball

## Student clubs and organizations

[edit]

There are approximately 50 recognized student organizations at Brookdale Community College. Clubs and organizations are recognized by the Student Life Board, Brookdale's student government, and must re-register every year with the department of Student Life and Activities.[12]

## Coastal Communiversity and university partnerships

[edit]

The NJ Coastal Communiversity, led by Brookdale, was an alliance of New Jersey higher education colleges and universities offering selected associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees, and graduate certificates in Monmouth County.Its members were Brookdale, Georgian Court University, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Classes and services were offered at Brookdale's Wall Higher Education Center (on the grounds of the former US Army installation Camp Evans). Rutgers classes and services were offered at the Western Monmouth Branch Campus in Freehold and Montclair's MBA classes were offered on the Lincroft main campus.

As of 2021, the Communiversity had been replaced by institutional partnerships with Georgian Court University, New Jersey City University, and Rutgers University.[13]

## Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution

[edit]

The Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution is dedicated to fostering the study of the historical, political, social, economic, cultural and military aspects of the World War II era up through the Korean War. The Center examines the key events of the time; the political and military leaders who waged the wars, provided the leadership, made the peace; and those who served on the battlefield and home front.

## Notable people

[edit]

### Faculty and staff

[edit]

See also: Category:Brookdale Community College faculty

* Monica Aksamit (born 1990), saber fencer who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the Women's Saber Team competition[14]
* Jeffrey Ford (born 1955), fantasy, science fiction and mystery author, who is a recipient of the Edgar Allan Poe Award, the Nebula Award and the World Fantasy Award[15][16]
* Laura McCullough (born 1960), author and poet[17]
* Sally Priesand (born 1946), America's first female rabbi, who is on the board of the Center for Holocaust Studies at Brookdale[18]
* Dan Tomasulo (born 1951), counseling psychologist, author, and professor[19]
* Pat Villani (1954–2011), computer programmer, author, and advocate of free software.[citation needed]
* William John Watkins (born 1942), science fiction writer and Rhysling award-winning poet[20]

### Alumni

[edit]

See also: Category:Brookdale Community College alumni

* Lou Brutus (born 1972), radio host, musician and photographer[21]
* Deena Nicole Cortese (born 1987), cast member on the reality shows Jersey Shore and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation[22]
* Dean Ehehalt (born 1964), head coach of the Monmouth Hawks baseball team[23]
* Brian Hanlon, sculptor[24]
* Bill Hill (born 1959), former NFL cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys[25]
* Jim Hunter (born 1959), formerly of CBS Sports and currently a broadcaster on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network that covers the Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles[26]
* Rob Lukachyk (born 1968), former Major League Baseball player who played briefly for the Montreal Expos during their 1996 season[27]
* John Montefusco (born 1950), former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1974 to 1986 who played for the San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and New York Yankees[28]
* Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi (LaValle) (born 1987), Reality-TV star of Jersey Shore, Dancing With the Stars, Celebrity Apprentice, Fear Factor, Snooki & JWoww, Nicole & Jionni's Shore Flip, & Jersey Shore: Family Vacation[29]
* Dave Rible (born 1967), Director of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, who previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly[30]
* Alex Skuby (born 1972), actor best known for appearing on King of Queens[31]
* Kevin Smith (born 1970), film director, screenwriter, and actor, perhaps best known for the cult classic Clerks. Brookdale's Criminal Justice degree program was mentioned during the jail scene in his film Clerks 2. He received an Associate of Letters degree in 2007[32]
* Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino (born 1982), Reality-TV star of Jersey Shore, Dancing With the Stars, Celebrity Big Brother (UK), The Sorrentinos, Marriage Boot Camp, and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation[29]
* James Urbaniak (born 1963), actor of film, stage, and voice. Portrays Dr. Venture, amongst other characters, on The Venture Brothers[33]
* Denny Walling (born 1954), Major League Baseball third baseman for the Houston Astros[34]
* Brian Williams (born 1959), former anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News[35]
* Madlyn-Ann C. Woolwich (born 1937), pastel and impressionist painter and author of several books and articles.[citation needed]
* Jack Yonezuka (born 2003), judoka who competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics[36][37]

## See also

[edit]

* New Jersey portal

* List of New Jersey County Colleges

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Brookdale Fast Facts". Brookdale Community College. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
2. ^ "Dual Enrollment for High School Students". Brookdale Community College. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
3. ^ "Brookdale Fast Facts". Brookdale Community College. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
4. ^ Petruzella, Dianne; Pollack, Linda; Lott Rizzo, Linda; Karakashian, Meline; Grantges, Joan; Swann, Nancy (2016). A Triangle of Land: A History of the Site, Founding, and Progress of Brookdale Community College (PDF). Northern County Branch of the AAUW and Brookdale Community College. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
5. ^ "Brookdale's History". Brookdale Community College. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
6. ^ Heyboer, Kelly (July 24, 2012). "Former Brookdale Community College president pleads guilty to official misconduct". NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
7. ^ "State vs. Burnham - Legal Accusation Filing" (PDF). 7/24/12. Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
8. ^ Heumiller, Keith (December 6, 2012). "Burnham sentenced to five years". Examiner. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
9. ^ McDaniel, Pat (October 5, 2022). "Hazlet Campus Sold By Brookdale Community College For $5.5M". The Patch. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
10. ^ "Welcome to the Monmouth Museum". Retrieved 18 June 2021.
11. ^ "Brookdale caps perfect season with DIII title", National Junior College Athletic Association. Accessed March 18, 2018. "Brookdale (NY) capped its perfect season with the 2018 NJCAA DIII Men's Basketball National Championship. The Jersey Blues pulled away down the stretch to top second-seeded Nassau 70-57 at the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse.... The Jersey Blues' previous national title came in 2013, a 61-55 victory over Eastfield (TX)"
12. ^ "Active Clubs and Organizations". Brookdale Community College. 9 October 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
13. ^ "University Partnerships". Brookdale Community College. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
14. ^ Baldwin, Carly. "Meet the 35 Olympic Athletes From New Jersey", Woodbridge, NJ Patch, July 11, 2016. Accessed April 10, 2022. "Monica Aksamit, Matawan, N.J. This Matawan Regional High School grad has taught fencing at Brookdale Community College and currently teaches fencing at St. John Vianney. She is part of the U.S. women's fencing team."
15. ^ Jeffrey Fird, Goodreads. Accessed April 10, 2022. "He lives in southern New Jersey and teaches writing and literature at Brookdale Community College in Monmouth County."
16. ^ "Interview: Jeffrey Ford", Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, August 29, 2008. Accessed April 10, 2022. "The people I work with are, to a person, all very cool. Brookdale Community College, where I teach, has stubbornly retained its sense of humanity over the years through the efforts of all."
17. ^ "Brookdale Professor Laura McCullough Releases 8th Book of Poetry", New Jersey Stage, August 10, 2021. Accessed July 22, 2022. "Laura McCullough, professor of English at Brookdale Community College, had her eighth book of poetry, Women & Other Hostages, published by Black Lawrence Press."
18. ^ "HWS: Rabbi Sally J. Priesand". www.hws.edu.
19. ^ "Seriously, comedy's offered at a college", Asbury Park Press, October 12, 1982. Accessed July 22, 2022. "Dr. Dan Tomasulo, a Brookdale Community College psychology instructor, will lead the six-week 'mini course' beginning 8 p.m."
20. ^ William John Watkins, Poets & Writers. Accessed July 22, 2022. "William John Watkins was a member of the founding faculty at Brookdale Community College in New Jersey from which he recently retired."
21. ^ Brutus, Lou. "Lou Brutus Biography". LouBrutus.com.
22. ^ Holt, Bob. "'Jersey Shore' star Snooki helped Deena Nicole Cortese become new cast member" Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine, NewJerseyNewsroom.com, July 29, 2010. Accessed August 23, 2011.
23. ^ Dean Ehehalt, Monmouth Hawks baseball. Accessed August 28, 2019. "Prior to his arrival at ECU, Ehehalt played two years at Brookdale Community College, where he was named first team Junior College All-Region XIX in 1984."
24. ^ "Brookdale Community College graduates more than 2,100 (PHOTOS)", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 12, 2017. Accessed December 27, 2024. "Nationally acclaimed sculptor Brian Hanlon, of Toms River, was scheduled to receive a distinguished alumni award from Brookdale during the afternoon commencement."
25. ^ "Bill Hill Profile". Retrieved February 8, 2020.
26. ^ Broadcasters Archived 2011-08-11 at the Wayback Machine, Baltimore Orioles. Accessed August 11, 2008.
27. ^ Rob Lukachyck, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed March 18, 2018.
28. ^ Edelson, Stephen. "Watch: Shore's greatest high school pitchers ever", Asbury Park Press, April 20, 2016. Accessed August 28, 2019. "Someone like Middletown's John Montefusco, who went on to star for the San Francisco Giants in the 1970s, for instance, was better known as a shortstop in high school. He came of age as a pitcher playing at Brookdale Community College, helping put that program on the map."
29. ^ a b "Did the Jersey Shore Cast Go to College? — The Answer May Surprise You". August 15, 2017.
30. ^ Assemblyman David P. Rible (R) , New Jersey Legislature, backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 25, 2017. Accessed March 18, 2018. "Education: Brookdale Community College (Criminal Justice)"
31. ^ Larsen, Erik. "Alex Skuby: good guys and bad guys", Asbury Park Press, October 17, 1998. Accessed January 19, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Monmouth County native Alex Skuby plays the recurring role of Renato, a Chicago paramedic on NBC-TV's top-rated drama ER, a pushy reporter on last night's CBS-TV episode of Buddy Faro and will portray a crazed wife-beater on the NBC miniseries, A Will of Their Own, starring Lea Thompson, Faye Dunaway and Ellen Burstyn tomorrow at 8 p.m. Skuby, a 1990 graduate of Wall High School and alumni of Brookdale Community College in Middletown, 'never thought about acting in high school.'"
32. ^ Dembicki, Matthew. "Governors take the stage for commencements" Archived July 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Community College Times, June 8, 2007. Accessed June 16, 2008. "Some community colleges tapped alumni to wrap up the academic year. Film director Kevin Smith, who attended Brookdale Community College (New Jersey), reflected on his path to postsecondary success."
33. ^ Sternbergh, Adam (May 21, 2005). "Smarty Pants: The star of Thom Pain is the talk of the town. Will success get James Urbaniak just what he deserves?". New York. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
34. ^ Denny Walling, Baseball Reference. Accessed August 28, 2019. "Schools: Brookdale Community College (Lincroft, NJ), Clemson University (Clemson, SC)"
35. ^ Strauss, Robert. "In Person; The Life Of Brian, Annotated", The New York Times, October 27, 2002. Accessed October 14, 2007. "Early on, Mr. Williams was hardly a striver. After high school he went to Brookdale Community College without much of a plan besides volunteer firefighting."
36. ^ Jack Yonezuka, USA Judo. Accessed July 27, 2024. "Hometown: West Long Branch, NJ"
37. ^ Baldwin, Carly. "Olympian Brookdale Student Jack Yonezuka Competing Monday", Brookdale Community College. Accessed July 31, 2024. "Jack is about as local to Monmouth County as he gets: He grew up in West Long Branch and graduated from Shore Regional High School in 2021. When not training in judo, he is currently enrolled at Brookdale Community College, where he is working towards his associate degree in education."

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brookdale Community College.

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Middletown, New Jersey

Neighborhoods|

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