Empowering Futures: The Launch of the Harold J. Monger Scholarship Fund

Professor Harold Jonathan Monger (June 18, 1950 - January 11, 2013)

Launched on September 10th, 2016 at our Eighth Annual Fundraiser Dinner & Ball in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina.

The purpose of the Scholarship fund is to assist students from Sinoe County, Liberia; who otherwise would not have the opportunity to complete high school and or attend college with all tuition paid.

Professor Harold Jonathan Monger was born to the union of the late Honorable Judge Jonathan Abraham Monger and Mrs. Catherine Pelham Monger on June 18, 1950, in Poor River, Greenville Sinoe County.

From birth he was intellectually astute- curiously exploring everything in the house. Harold started kindergarten at Teacher Elizabeth Mitchel’s School and later Demonstration School.

When he was in the sixth grade, he enrolled in Bishop Ferguson High School in Maryland, where he exceled in academics, public speaking, and sports. He graduated Valedictorian of his class and won the Presidential Scholarship.

This Scholarship afforded Professor Monger the opportunity to attend Cuttington University College where he continued to excel in academics, sports and public speaking. He participated in National and international tennis tournaments. Tennis was his respite!

Professor Monger was also involved in the National Youth Council, while still in college; and gained recognition as a potential leader. This provided him the opportunity to attend international conferences with other more mature youth leaders and, best of all, with President William R. Tolbert, Jr.

Professor Monger graduated from Cuttington University College in 1973 with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Administration and enough credits to receive a degree in Biology as well.

After college, Professor Monger was offered a job at the executive mansion, where he worked until he was awarded a scholarship by the Liberia Institute for Public Administration (LIPA) to pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Administration; specializing in Operations Research, at the University of Southern California -USC. Professor Monger applied himself at USC. He completed his master’s and all of the course work for his Doctorate.

Professor Monger returned to Liberia in 1977and worked a few months at LIPA; and then the Executive Mansion called and requested that he be assigned to the office of the President of Liberia. His stay at the Mansion was brief, because he was appointed Director General of the General Services Agency where he worked until the political unrest in 1980.

After nine months of unexplained political imprisonment, Harold returned to The Liberia Institute for Public administration and worked in Training, Research, and Consultancy. In 1990 he had to flee Liberia to Ghana because of another brutal political unrest. During his stay in Ghana, he returned to Liberia on several occasions hoping and praying to once more reside in his native land, but he had to return to Ghana. In 2000, when things seem to have quieted a little, Harold retuned home.

He worked contracts and grant positions until Liberia returned to normalcy with the election of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. President Johnson Sirleaf appointed him Director of the Institute for Public Administration.

Harold gave his all to his God, his family and his country. He would even conduct management development workshops on weekends and use his limited resources to keep the Institute going.

He went everywhere in Liberia, working-training professionals, to meet the challenge of making Liberia whole again through competent management.

He died traveling in the service of his country.

Harold was married for more than forty years to Mrs. Sandra Clarke-Monger. Their union was blessed with four boys -Harold Monger Jr, Nyenatee Monger (sonee), Kronteh Abraham Monger, Sasha Monger; and one daughter, Sonya Monger.

Our family has been blessed with Harold’s life and so has our County- Sinoe and our Country – Liberia.

But as it is written, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Thanks be to God for Blessing us with Harold!