Molloy College opens Bogner Hall, its third residence building

Molloy College’s new residence building, Bogner Hall, has officially opened. Students moved into its dorm rooms for the first time on Monday.

“As soon as you walk in, the wood paneling gives it a homey vibe,” said Sophie Woods, a resident assistant in the hall and a third-year student from Oswego. “It doesn’t feel like a residence hall. It feels like home.”

Bogner Hall, officially called the Drew and Karen Bogner Hall, is named for the college’s president, Drew Bogner, who will retire next year, and his wife, Karen. The residence hall is now a home away from home for 96 students, including five resident assistants. The co-educational building also houses one residence director, who oversees the R.A.s. It is the college’s third dorm. Its first, Fitzgerald Hall, opened in 2011, and Maria Regina, the second, opened in 2014.

Every summer since Fitzgerald Hall opened, the college has had a waitlist of 50 to 70 people seeking on-campus housing, according to Janine Biscari, vice president for student affairs. Bogner Hall fulfills the need to accommodate more students who want to live at Molloy.

“They’ve been in love,” she said of the R.A.s, who moved into the hall a week early for training. “Everyone says it looks like a hotel. It’s so modern, but cozy. Even the parents, especially of returning students who had been in a different hall, are totally excited about the new space.”

All who live on campus will have access to Bogner Hall, with its new amenities that neighboring residence halls do not have. The three-story building has three study lounges and two private music practice rooms equipped with pianos on the lower level, making it more than just a place to sleep after a long day of classes, Woods and fellow R.A. Matteo Itri agreed.

“We can get things done outside of class,” said Woods, who is a music therapy major. “This also helps to keep living space separate from our practice or study space.”

Bogner Hall also has a large social lounge with a television, foosball and ping-pong tables, comfortable couches and a kitchen with a full-size fridge, microwave and counter space. With more areas for gatherings and programs, and centrally located between two other residence buildings, Bogner Hall will be a hub for social activity.

“These facilities give us a chance to connect with one another,” said Itri, who is a third-year student and a special education major from Mineola. This is his first year living on campus. Since Itri’s hometown is only 20 minutes away, he previously commuted to classes. However, the camaraderie and “sense of community” at Molloy inspired him to be a bigger part of campus life.

As an RA, Itri said, he hopes to become acquainted with on-campus students in all three halls. In total, there are about 365 of them, up from about 290 in the 2018-19 school year.

“The halls are designed for [R.A.s] to know as many people as possible,” said Karl Koeppel, director of residence life. “They all have the same resources and same policy procedures, so students have people to go to. We hope they’re able to connect on a deeper level.”

In addition, Bogner Hall is home to Molloy’s new living-learning community, an optional group for first-year students that helps them adapt to college life. Dubbed Molloy Well, the program teaches “physical, emotional and spiritual” wellbeing and provides support in the transition from high school to college, Koeppel said. It will be held on the second floor of the new building.

Molloy College will hold a dedication ceremony at Bogner Hall to honor its namesakes on Sept. 27 at 4 p.m.