Alumni Association Takes Monroe Community Back in Time with Virtual History Tour

The Monroe community enjoyed a fun walk through the institution's glorious 91-year history at a fun "pop-up virtual tour" that was unveiled on the Bronx campus, courtesy of the Alumni Association.

The event featured historical photos and artifacts, as well as a compilation video, that harken back to important touchstones in the institution’s history. 

Established in 1933, Monroe has consistently evolved to meet the needs of the communities it has dutifully served over the years. Initially the Monroe Secretarial School, the institution has grown from the seven Bronx students -- all women --  it originally served. Today, there are more than 54,000 alumni all around the world. 

Looking at the breadth of the institution’s history, Director of Alumni Relations Mrs. Leslie Jerome highlighted Monroe’s commitment to serving its community over the institution’s nine decades. 

“It's amazing to see just how much we have evolved since Monroe opened its doors in 1933. We always wanted to be a responsive institution. Everything that was happening on the outside impacted and reflected what we did here, inside the institution.” 

Shanique McKenzie-Daniel, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, is a Monroe alumna who graduated in 2019 with a degree in Criminal Justice, then returned to earn her Master's in Business Administration in 2022. She highlighted the effort to understand history, which helps to shed light on the future for the institution. 

“Last year we celebrated 90 years, which is really a tremendous achievement. But right now, we don’t have a place where people can see our history here on campus,” she said. “We really wanted to do this to make sure our students and community understand where we came from and where we hope to go.” 

Board Chairman and President Emeritus Stephen Jerome beamed as he watched students, alumni, and staff explore the artifacts and take in the video compilation of Monroe’s history during the unveiling event. 

“This event is really a celebration of what we have done in the borough of the Bronx. This institution has transformed this community, and Monroe and the Bronx have grown together over our 90 years together. It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come,” he said proudly. 

Thirty years after Monroe Secretarial School opened its doors, the institution rebranded to the Monroe Business Institute, better reflecting its expanded offerings. Then, in 1972, the institution became a junior college, allowing it to begin offering associate degrees. In 1990, Monroe earned initial accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, becoming Monroe College. As of the start of the Fall 2024 semester, Monroe saw its most recent transformation as it elevated to Monroe University. 

First-year Medical Assisting Student Briana Hunt is a NYC native. She said she had considered several different institutions before selecting Monroe. Once she stepped on campus at Monroe, however, she knew this was the university for her. 

“When you’re here – every class, professor, student, staff – when you talk to them, they are so welcoming. It really feels like one big, happy family here.” 

Briana said she wanted to enter the world of medicine after a medical scare with her own daughter. Thanks to the well-trained medical staff who took care of her, she was able to pull through. 

Reflecting on her own family’s history in the moment, Briana said she hopes to someday become a registered nurse so that she can help others, too. 

“This is how I want to give back to thank those nurses and doctors who saved my daughter.” 

Mrs. Leslie Jerome said the Alumni Association plans to create a Monroe University digitized historical database that is accessible for all to view and learn from. That database is expected to launch sometime in 2025.