Brookdale Community College

{{Infobox university

|image_name =Brookdalelogo.png

|name = Brookdale Community College

|type = Public community college

|academic_affiliations = Sea-grant, space-grant

|established = 1967

|president = David M. Stout

|campus = Suburban

|city = Lincroft

|state = New Jersey

|country = United States

| coor = {{coord|40.326|-74.132|region:US-NJ_type:edu|display=inline, title}}

|enrollment = 9,916 (Fall 2023){{cite web|url=https://www.brookdalecc.edu/about/about-the-college/brookdale-fast-facts/|title=Brookdale Fast Facts|work=Brookdale Community College|date=5 January 2014 |access-date=January 16, 2024}}

|colors = Navy, Scarlet, White {{cite web |title=Quick Facts - Brookdale Athletics |url=https://www.brookdaleathletics.com/information/quick_facts |publisher=Brookdale Community College |access-date=15 Apr 2025}}
{{Color box|#1F3D7D}} {{Color box|#AC202D}} {{Color box|#FFFFFF}}

|sports_nickname = Jersey Blues

|website = {{URL|https://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.{{cite web |title=Dual Enrollment for High School Students |date=7 March 2013 |url=https://www.brookdalecc.edu/admissions/getting-started/dual-enrollment-for-high-school-students/ |publisher=Brookdale Community College |access-date=23 May 2021}} It serves the residents of Monmouth County, and the surrounding communities. Brookdale Community College has an enrollment of nearly 10,000 students. The college offers associate degrees in more than 68 programs, as well as non-degree/non-credit classes and certificate programs.{{cite web |title=Brookdale Fast Facts |date=5 January 2014 |url=https://www.brookdalecc.edu/about/about-the-college/brookdale-fast-facts/ |publisher=Brookdale Community College |access-date=23 May 2021}}

History

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.{{cite book |last1=Petruzella |first1=Dianne |last2=Pollack |first2=Linda |last3=Lott Rizzo |first3=Linda |last4=Karakashian |first4=Meline |last5=Grantges |first5=Joan |last6=Swann |first6=Nancy |title=A Triangle of Land: A History of the Site, Founding, and Progress of Brookdale Community College |date=2016 |publisher=Northern County Branch of the AAUW and Brookdale Community College |url=http://www.brookdalecc.edu/documents/college-relations/A-Triangle-of-Land-2016-web.pdf |access-date=23 May 2021}}{{cite web |title=Brookdale's History |date=27 April 2016 |url=https://www.brookdalecc.edu/about/about-the-college/brookdales-history-2/ |publisher=Brookdale Community College |access-date=23 May 2021}}

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.{{cite news|last=Heyboer|first=Kelly|title=Former Brookdale Community College president pleads guilty to official misconduct |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/former_brookdale_community_col.html|access-date=October 3, 2015 |website=NJ Advance Media for NJ.com |date=July 24, 2012}}{{cite web|title=State vs. Burnham - Legal Accusation Filing|url=http://www.prosecutor.co.monmouth.nj.us/press/2012/072412a.pdf|work=7/24/12|publisher=Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office|access-date=October 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004153448/http://www.prosecutor.co.monmouth.nj.us/press/2012/072412a.pdf|archive-date=October 4, 2015|url-status=dead}} Five months later, he was sentenced to a 5-year-prison-term and ordered to make financial restitution to the college.{{cite news |last=Heumiller |first=Keith |title=Burnham sentenced to five years |url=http://mexa.gmnews.com/news/2012-12-06/Front_Page/Burnham_sentenced_to_five_years.html |access-date=October 3, 2015 |newspaper=Examiner |date=December 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210926/http://mexa.gmnews.com/news/2012-12-06/Front_Page/Burnham_sentenced_to_five_years.html |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}

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.{{Cite news |last=McDaniel |first=Pat |date=October 5, 2022 |title=Hazlet Campus Sold By Brookdale Community College For $5.5M |work=The Patch |url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/holmdel-hazlet/brookdale-community-college-sells-hazlet-campus |access-date=November 7, 2022}}

Lincroft campus

File:Brookdale Community College entrance.jpg roundabout]]

File:Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ - Student Life Center.jpg

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 Brookdale Performing Arts Center and Brookdale Public Radio (WBJB-FM). These institutions offer performances, National Public Radio programming, and music.

Athletics

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).[http://njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2017-18/div3/national_championship/recap "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)"

;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
Baseball
Softball
Cheerleading
Men and Women's Volleyball

Student clubs and organizations

There are approximately 60 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.{{cite web |title=Active Clubs and Organizations |date=9 October 2012 |url=https://www.brookdalecc.edu/student-life-activities/clubs/ |publisher=Brookdale Community College |access-date=23 May 2021}}

University partnerships

Brookdale has institutional partnerships with Georgian Court University, New Jersey City University, and Rutgers University.{{cite web |title=University Partnerships |date=10 September 2013 |url=https://www.brookdalecc.edu/regional-locations/university-partnerships/ |publisher=Brookdale Community College |access-date=23 May 2021}}

Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution

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

=Faculty and staff=

Monica Aksamit (born 1990), saber fencer who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the Women's Saber Team competitionBaldwin, Carly. [https://patch.com/new-jersey/woodbridge/meet-20-olympians-new-jersey "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."
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[https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19305.Jeffrey_Ford 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."[https://www.sfwa.org/2009/08/29/interview-jeffrey-ford/ "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."
Laura McCullough (born 1960), author and poet[https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/2021/08/10/brookdale-professor-laura-mccullough-releases-8th-book-of-poetry/ "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."
Sally Priesand (born 1946), America's first female rabbi, who is on the board of the Center for Holocaust Studies at Brookdale{{Cite web|url=https://www.hws.edu/about/blackwell/priesand.aspx|title=HWS: Rabbi Sally J. Priesand|website=www.hws.edu}}
Dan Tomasulo (born 1951), counseling psychologist, author, and professor[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106100657/dan-tomasulo-of-brookdale-community/ "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."
William John Watkins (born 1942), science fiction writer and Rhysling award-winning poet[https://www.pw.org/directory/writers/william_john_watkins 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."

=Alumni=

Lou Brutus (born 1972), radio host, musician and photographer{{cite web|last=Brutus|first=Lou|title=Lou Brutus Biography|url=http://loubrutus.com/bio.html|publisher=LouBrutus.com}}
Deena Nicole Cortese (born 1987), cast member on the reality shows Jersey Shore and Jersey Shore: Family VacationHolt, Bob. [http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/movies/jersey-shore-star-snooki-helped-deena-nicole-cortese-become-new-cast-member "'Jersey Shore' star Snooki helped Deena Nicole Cortese become new cast member"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721141303/http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/movies/jersey-shore-star-snooki-helped-deena-nicole-cortese-become-new-cast-member |date=2011-07-21 }}, NewJerseyNewsroom.com, July 29, 2010. Accessed August 23, 2011.
Dean Ehehalt (born 1964), head coach of the Monmouth Hawks baseball team[https://monmouthhawks.com/staff.aspx?staff=53 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."
Brian Hanlon, sculptor[https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2017/05/brookdale_community_college_graduates_more_than_21.html "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."
Bill Hill (born 1959), former NFL cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys{{cite web| url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerh/hill00400.html | title=Bill Hill Profile | access-date=February 8, 2020}}
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[http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=bal Broadcasters] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811155813/http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=bal |date=2011-08-11 }}, Baltimore Orioles. Accessed August 11, 2008.
Rob Lukachyk (born 1968), former Major League Baseball player who played briefly for the Montreal Expos during their 1996 season[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lukacro01.shtml Rob Lukachyck], Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed March 18, 2018.
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 YankeesEdelson, Stephen. [https://www.app.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/04/20/jersey-shore-greatest-pitchers/83246478/ "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."
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{{Cite web|url=https://www.lifeandstylemag.com/posts/did-jersey-shore-cast-go-to-college-139393/|title=Did the Jersey Shore Cast Go to College? — The Answer May Surprise You|date=August 15, 2017}}
Dave Rible (born 1967), Director of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, who previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly[https://web.archive.org/web/20170625140737/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=275 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)"
Alex Skuby (born 1972), actor best known for appearing on King of QueensLarsen, Erik. [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/143619300/ "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.'"
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 2007Dembicki, Matthew. [http://www.communitycollegetimes.com/article.cfm?TopicId=9&ArticleId=335 "Governors take the stage for commencements"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704030711/http://www.communitycollegetimes.com/article.cfm?TopicId=9&ArticleId=335 |date=July 4, 2008 }}, 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."
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
James Urbaniak (born 1963), actor of film, stage, and voice. Portrays Dr. Venture, amongst other characters, on The Venture Brothers{{cite web|last=Sternbergh|first=Adam|title=Smarty Pants: The star of Thom Pain is the talk of the town. Will success get James Urbaniak just what he deserves?|url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/theater/11457/|work=New York|access-date=October 4, 2009|date=May 21, 2005}}
Denny Walling (born 1954), Major League Baseball third baseman for the Houston Astros[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wallide01.shtml Denny Walling], Baseball Reference. Accessed August 28, 2019. "Schools: Brookdale Community College (Lincroft, NJ), Clemson University (Clemson, SC)"
Brian Williams (born 1959), former anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly NewsStrauss, Robert. [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/27/nyregion/in-person-the-life-of-brian-annotated.html "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."
Madlyn-Ann C. Woolwich (born 1937), pastel and impressionist painter and author of several books and articles.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
Jack Yonezuka (born 2003), judoka who competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics[https://www.usajudo.com/profiles/jack-yonezuka Jack Yonezuka], USA Judo. Accessed July 27, 2024. "Hometown: West Long Branch, NJ"Baldwin, Carly. [https://www.brookdalecc.edu/brookdale-student-jack-yonezuka-competing-in-paris/ "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."