Memorial for Pam Monn
During her many years of service, Pam Monn left an indelible mark on the people with whom she worked and on the university as a whole. Her contributions to UMass Amherst were many, including her leadership of numerous major events and projects like the annual July 4th Fireworks, Commencement, Student Move In/Out, and logistical support for football games. As Director of Grounds, Pam was instrumental in making the university a model of environmentally sound landscape practices, which led to UMass achieving gold-level certification from the ReWild Your Campus Green Grounds program in 2024.
But Pam's impact on those with whom she worked stands as perhaps her greatest legacy. In the days following her passing, colleagues remembered her as someone who led by example, worked tirele
ssly to see every project through to completion, and always brought out the best in everyone. Despite her many accomplishments, including the Chancellor’s Citation Award in 2022, she preferred to acknowledge praise on behalf of her team rather than keep any for herself. One coworker commented that if a "dream team" were to be assembled from scratch to run a university campus, Pam would be the first person hired.
To put it simply, Pam loved her people, the campus and her job. It showed in everything she did. That selfless dedication was evidenced in the way she guided her team through her final days to ensure a smooth move-in for our returning students.
In remembrance of Pam, a memorial Pinnacle Oak tree will be planted at a time and location to be announced later. The Pinnacle Oak was a favorite of Pam’s due to its ability to store large amounts of carbon, filter air pollutants, and provide essential food and habitat for a vast number of wildlife species. With your help, this tree will stand as a fitting testament to Pam’s long and dedicated service to the university and its people she loved so well.
