September 11, 2024

“Changing your name is easy. Changing your soul is impossible.” Keynote speaker and co-author of The Personal Librarian Victoria Christopher Murray encouraged students to be their absolute, authentic selves as they begin their time at Ramapo College at the 2024 Opening Convocation.

by Liz Mendecino ’26

“Students, Class of 2028, welcome to your new home at Ramapo College,” said Ramapo College President Cindy Jebb. All 1,133 new students have been thrust into a new life, a new world, new faces and communities, a new home for the next four years. They funneled into the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center, anxiously awaiting the critical event that kickstarts their journey. Peer facilitators guided their students through the doors, and into the gym. Faculty and staff lined the bleachers, talking amongst themselves about the year ahead. The room was alight with chatter and laughter, all serving as a bated breath waiting for the 2024 Opening Convocation to begin. Assistant Vice President for Student Success Joseph Connell took the stage to welcome students in, signifying the beginning of Convocation with a procession. A beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner was performed, and thus, the ceremony began. Each year, Convocation welcomes the beginning of the new academic year at Ramapo College. It is an academic ceremony that highlights Ramapo’s Summer Reading selection and provides an experiential learning opportunity for all students.

First-year students listen intently to Convocation speakers

President Jebb delivered remarks to the largest class Ramapo College in its 54-year history. It was an historic moment, evidence of the bold ascension outlined in the College’s strategic plan. While each incoming class sits in the same seats and on the same bleachers, each of them holds an entirely different spirit, a different book on their minds, and a different life at Ramapo ahead of them. “At Ramapo we are all committed to help you discover your spark, to help you be the best version of yourself,” said Jebb. “Together as a community that values mutual respect, integrity, and kindness, we aim to elevate the human condition here and beyond.” She encouraged students to get involved, listen and learn from each other, to pride themselves on Ramapo’s core values of boldness, kindness, and being good teammates. Jebb set the tone for not just the rest of Convocation, but for the entirety of the school year, sending a message that love and compassion are values that will always be prioritized at Ramapo.

Chief Dwaine Perry of the Ramapo Munsee Lenape Nation blessed the Class of 2028, and delivered short remarks, briefly touching on Ramapo’s history on Ramapo Lenape land, and asked for this convocation to be a commitment to kindness and to action. “Kindness is the epitome of wealth. It’s not what you carry in your pocket, it’s what you carry in your heart,” he shared. His blessing, and Ramapo’s relationship with the indigenous people whose native land the college resides on, is incredibly crucial and meaningful. The college strives to remember its past, and work with local communities who have been impacted towards the future.

Provost Michael Middleton

“Education is not a passive process, it’s an active dynamic dialogue between you and the world around you.” said Provost Michael Middleton in his remarks. Middleton touched on the importance of traditions, naming convocation as one of the most important annual traditions that Ramapo has. He encouraged curiosity, open-mindedness, engagement, and learning from those around you even when not in the classroom. Provost Middleton then welcomed keynote speaker, co-author of summer reading novel The Personal Librarian Victoria Christopher Murray to the podium.

Christopher Murray’s  presence immediately captivated the room. Her confidence and warmth radiated as she smiled at the crowd. Hundreds of eyes were glued to the woman who created the world they had submersed themselves in this summer. She introduced herself as a writer, but also as someone who took a long time to get to doing what she loves. “We learn from history so we do not repeat the worst parts and we can learn from the best parts,” said Christopher Murray, touching on the genre of the summer reading. “I think one of the best parts you can learn from The Personal Librarian is that you can achieve anything you want, against all odds. No matter what is put in front of us, if you strive to achieve, you will do it. But the worst part is having to hide your authentic self.” 

She stressed the importance of being one’s true self, and for collaborating with those who do not look like oneself so that one can gain a greater understanding of the world around them. Christopher Murray emphasized that the lesson she wanted each person in the room to take away from The Personal Librarian was that while everyone has so much to learn from those around them, they also have so much to teach. She concluded by saying that she is thrilled to be at Ramapo, speaking to the Class of 2028 about The Personal Librarian, and she was ready to hear students’ perspectives on the book after reading it.

The 2024 Summer Reading Essay Contest winners: Tori Sturdivant-Miller ’28, Masayasu Nitta ’28, Author Victoria Christopher Murray, President Cindy Jebb, Student Trustee Kyree Robinson-Banks ’27, Olivia Ha ’28

Along with the assigned summer reading is the annual Summer Reading Essay Contest, wherein incoming students respond to an essay prompt of their choosing for a chance to meet the author and win a prize fund. This year’s winners were Olivia Ha ’28, Social Science; Masayasu Nitta ’28, Engineering Physics; and Tori Sturdivant-Miller ’28, English and Literary Studies. All three of the winners responded to the same prompt: ‘The Personal Librarian’ imagines the inner life of a real woman, Belle da Costa Greene, working in the ultra-rich, male, white world of elite collections as the personal librarian of J. P. Morgan and the first director of the Morgan Library. She was also a black woman passing for white. What aspects of the story resonate the most with you?

“The student essays this year were particularly impressive,” said director of the First Year Seminar program Peter Campbell. “We had a record number of submissions, and those selected made strong connections between Belle’s experiences and the students’ personal stories. They did an incredible job during the Convocation as well, sharing their observations and asking smart questions on a panel with Victoria Christopher Murray.” The winners were then able to ask Chistopher Murray about the book while on stage and engage in meaningful conversation touching on themes of identity, self-sacrifice, and overcoming hardship. Each identified with the main character Belle’s story in their own ways, while recognizing the hardships the real Belle da Costa Greene faced as a white-passing Black woman in early 1900’s Princeton.

The Alma Mater was performed, signifying the conclusion of the ceremony. New and returning students, faculty and staff, were invited to sing along and kick off the 2024-2025 academic year. The students then filed out, some lining up to have their copy of The Personal Librarian signed while others headed straight for the academic buildings, ready to meet their First Year Seminar professors. The three honors sections of First Year Seminar; Once Upon a Time: an Exploration of the Fairytale with Professor Yvette Kisor, Power and Place in Sub-Urban New Jersey with Professor David Coleman, and The Power of the Political Voice with Professor Kaitlin Sidorsky, were ushered to the York Room in the historic Birch Mansion for a private meeting with Victoria Christopher Murray. The students were then able to ask the author their own questions, and she told stories about the ‘behind the scenes’ of the book’s creation.

A key message from The Personal Librarian is that “Changing your name is easy. Changing your soul is impossible.” While the students exited the literal doors from Convocation, they entered the figurative doors to find and embrace who they are, what they want to do, and how they want to contribute as Roadrunners at #HomeSweetPo, and nothing but the best is wished for the Class of 2028 and the entire Ramapo community this year. Remember: Be bold. Be kind. Be good teammates.