Celebrating Monroe’s Bahamian Scholars and Community

We were delighted to recently hold our annual dinner honoring distinguished guests from The Bahamas, celebrating a partnership spanning more than a decade and opened doors of opportunity for hundreds of Bahamian students to pursue higher education.

Hosted at Hotel NoMa in New Rochelle, the evening brought together Deputy Consul General of The Bahamas Nestor Sands, 75 of Monroe’s Bahamian students, President Marc Jerome, and members of the University’s leadership and staff. 

Since 2015, Monroe has partnered with the Bahamian Ministry of Education, welcoming students through national scholarship programs designed to expand access to higher education. Over time, this collaboration has fostered a vibrant and growing Bahamian student community on campus.

“The purpose of the dinner was to bring together the Bahamian students on campus and provide an opportunity for them to connect with one another,” said Denzel Daniel, Director of Residence Life and one of the first students to attend Monroe in The Bahamas. “It also served as a chance for many of them to meet President Jerome and representatives from the Consulate of The Bahamas here in New York.”

Creating a true “home away from home” for international students remains a defining feature of the Monroe experience, and the evening reflected that commitment. 

Guests enjoyed a lively musical performance by a Bahamian group, featuring piano, drums, guitar, singing, and dancing. It was a wonderfully immersive celebration of culture and community.

“I would say the highlight of the evening was definitely the musical performance,” Daniel added. “The energy in the room was incredible.”

Vice President of Admissions Operations Michele Mumma underscored the broader significance of such gatherings, both for students and for the University’s global partnerships.

“Events like this are incredibly important because they bring our partnerships to life in a meaningful way,” Mumma said. “They allow us to strengthen our relationships with the Bahamian government while also creating a space where our students feel seen, supported, and celebrated.”

It was a truly magical evening and we thank all who attended!