Monica Hall, program associate, joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in November 2018. Her work supports RWJF’s focus on developing networks of leaders from every sector who share a vision of what shapes health, and who join together to effect change. She views her work as “supporting tomorrow’s leaders and helping to extend their influence and impact in building a Culture of Health.”

Previously, Monica was the inaugural fellow in her role as program associate with the Victoria Foundation, which seeks to improve the lives of children and families in Newark, N.J. In this role she focused on youth leadership and development and provided guidance in the areas of education, neighborhood development, and the environment. She also presented more than $2 million in grant awards for 31 nonprofits serving Newark children and families. Her work with advisory boards includes the Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship; Leadership Newark’s Junior Fellowship; NJ Jobs for America’s Graduates; a National Community Schools Advisory Board; and Newark Thrives!, the out-of-school time collective impact initiative for Newark.

Monica also served as program coordinator for the Abbott Leadership Institute (ALI) Youth Media Symposium at Rutgers University-Newark. During her three years with ALI she coordinated an afterschool and summer program for high school students in Newark; a youth-led college readiness campaign; and a statewide youth listening tour with more than 150 students in seven cities. She also implemented systems for ALI’s data collection, program evaluation, and emergency protocols.

Monica earned her BA in Africana Studies and Criminal Justice from Seton Hall University, where she was a scholar in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Program. She is currently pursuing an MPA in nonprofit management at the Rutgers University-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration.

Monica is a native of Newark, where she currently resides. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a public service sorority. She founded and is an advisor to Skooled, Inc., a Newark-based afterschool mentoring program, led by local college students, at Central High School. She also coaches cheerleading for Newark Pop Warner Little Scholars program.