Passaic Today

Jodi Cotugno, an employee at Montclair State University, is fulfilling a lifelong dream as she graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, focusing on Education Studies. Originally set on becoming a teacher, Cotugno's education journey was paused due to life commitments. After high school, she studied liberal arts at Bergen Community College but later shifted her focus to family life, marrying and raising two daughters. Over time, she joined Montclair State University as a pre-enrollment specialist in Undergraduate Admissions.

Motivated by Montclair’s employee tuition waiver, Cotugno embarked on completing her degree in 2022 through the University's Degree Completion Program. The journey was challenging as she balanced various roles in her personal life, prompting her family to support her. "I realized, I’m working full time, I’m doing school. I need the help," she shared, emphasizing the importance of seeking assistance.

Cotugno’s education not only advanced her professional skills but also enriched her personal life, especially through her minor in Family Science and Human Development. Her course on business writing and critical thinking directly enhanced her work at the University. "It really helps with emails, corresponding with students. It was so helpful," she noted.

The degree program’s supportive community kept her motivated to complete her studies. Now, as she prepares to graduate, becoming the third Cotugno woman to do so from Montclair, her plans to decorate her graduation cap with a checkmark symbolize her accomplishment. Her colleagues, like Jordanna Maziarz, director of Undergraduate Admissions, express pride in Cotugno’s achievement: “Jodi is the kind of team member who makes each work day brighter.”

Cotugno’s feelings of relief and pride are shared by her family, who will be celebrating alongside her at Montclair State University’s Commencement on May 7 and May 8, 2025. "This was a bucket list thing, something I always wanted to do," Cotugno remarked about achieving her goal.

The story, by Jayda Brown of University Communications and Marketing, is part of Montclair State University’s Spring Commencement series, which celebrates graduates embodying the institution's educational mission.