Thursday Talks: Monica Williams-Riley

This Thursday, we are featuring senior management assistant Monica Williams-Riley.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do here at RSDM.

Monica Williams-Riley

I am the senior management assistant at the Office of Chief Operating Officer. I have been here for 22 years! I first started working at the School of Nursing and then I came here to the dental school around 2003.

For how long have you been here, and why did you decide to come to RSDM?

I was born here in Newark and moved to Irvington at age of 6. I went to Irvington public school system. My first job was actually working at Macy’s. I also worked as a manager for the cosmetic department at Sears for 5-6 years. I was always on the look for advancement in my career.

My father was one of the police captains here which was known as CMDNJ, the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, at the time. I got to see the behind-the-scenes with my father. It is amazing to see how much the campus has changed over all these years! Through his connections, I was introduced and that is how I was hired here.

What do you enjoy doing outside the school?

I am a licensed minister. I teach, preach, and do intercessory prayer groups outside of school. I am a wife. I have 2 daughters. Family time is super important for me. I love spending time with my family, planning trips to the beach and just spending time by the water. I also love to travel. I like going to the shore and amusement parks.

What do you like the most about RSDM?

The people! I made a lot of connections here. It is the people that keep you going, the relationships you build here. We are all always together, help each other out, and work as a team.

The relationships I made here over the last couple of years were amazing, and I made a lot of “work moms'' and “work sisters.” I made connections ranging from the mailroom to housekeeping, you name it! I am blessed and privileged to have these connections and bonds throughout campus!