From The Artistic Industry Again To Campus: A Second Act At Montclair – Press Room

February 3, 2026

After a decade in pictures and style, Sociology main Horatio Wauchope is channeling his inventive background right into a extra centered second act, powered by monetary assist and Uber shifts between courses

Posted in: Admissions, Homepage News, Humanities and Social Sciences, Montclair Life

Montclair Life by University Photographer Mike Peters

Horatio Wauchope’s story strikes the best way he does – fluidly, between the humanities, style and social science. Growing up between Jamaica and New Jersey, he discovered to specific himself by music, pictures and dialog, mixing creativity with curiosity about how individuals join.

A decade in the past, after two semesters at Montclair State University, he left college to launch a profession in pictures and style as an agent and director. “I went deep into my career, but after a while I stopped seeing progress and felt my ideas weren’t being taken seriously,” Horatio, 34, explains. 

“Eventually I got fed up and started seeing signs pointing me back to school.”

Montclair’s readmit program helps college students like Horatio return to complete their levels, providing versatile choices to take programs on-line, in particular person or in a hybrid format to allow them to stability college with work, commuting and household commitments.​

When Horatio reapplied, financing his schooling was a significant concern. Montclair offered the Red Hawk Advantage Award, which helps eligible New Jersey college students with tuition in the event that they’re engaged on their first bachelor’s diploma, have below 60 credit and meet earnings and GPA necessities. 

“I had no idea schools had their own funding like that. I thought I’d tried everything.”

Morning Hustle

“Coming back after 10 years, I’ve been surprised by how many people stepped up for me once I was honest about what I needed,” he says.

On a latest winter day, Horatio shared this day, inviting Photographer Mike Peters to trip with him whereas he made deliveries and sit in on his courses. “We met before my first class in Bloomfield so I could grab coffee and then squeeze in an hour of work. I did a couple of trips, picking up someone’s breakfast at Wawa and a pharmacy run for someone’s medication.”

In Class and In Motion

A Sociology main, Horatio took Spreadsheet Essentials on the Bloomfield campus to construct knowledge analyst expertise as a result of that location higher match his schedule. Students from each areas are in a position to take programs throughout campuses. “It was my first time on the Bloomfield campus since the merger, and it was interesting to experience a different environment while still being a Montclair student.”

A decade in the past, when Horatio first attended Montclair, he revealed a pictures e book for a category venture referred to as The Commuter, which mirrored his experiences as a school commuter. “I always had my camera with me, and I’d take photos of people going down the escalator at New York Penn Station or head to Hoboken to shoot birds. I got a really good grade for the class, which inspired me to keep pursuing photography.”

This time round, Horatio is concentrated on new pursuits. Last semester, he accomplished an internship at Montclair’s Project AROS (Applied Research On Social Issues) Lab, mentored by Arnaud Kurze, affiliate professor of Justice Studies and the lab’s director. “It’s an interdisciplinary research program,” Horatio explains. “No matter what field you want to go into – history, technology or medicine – it gives us room to learn how to do real-life research and shadow professionals on their projects.”​

Horatio’s analysis examined local weather change in Liberia. “I learned how to map vulnerabilities and create graphs to visualize where floods hit hardest. It focused on erosion, flooding and how those changes affect communities, especially women who fish and provide for their families.”

Finding Mentors, Building Momentum

In addition to his internship, Horatio is discovering mentorship in his courses. “Professor Parashar has been like a mom to me this semester,” he says. “Her class is tough, very old‑school – pencils, paper, lots of problem sets – but it gave me a strong foundation.”

I don’t know precisely the place I’ll find yourself – knowledge science, analysis or one thing else – however I do know I’m heading in the right direction. I’m taking each alternative because it comes and trusting that the work, the mentors and the connections will lead me to the following step.”

View more photos for a complete look at Horatio’s day.

Photography by University Photographer Mike Peters

As informed to Marilyn Joyce Lehren, University Communications and Marketing

Through this photograph essay, a part of an ongoing sequence, we spotlight how Montclair college students, college and employees embody the University’s mission within the classroom, on campus and past – empowering a various neighborhood by offering broad entry to rigorous studying, advancing analysis and creativity, and forming partnerships for the frequent good.

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