Monica Iken-Murphy '89

Growing up on the Upper East Side, Monica Reedman now Monica Iken-Murphy ‘89 always thought she wanted to be a teacher. “I taught all my stuffed animals,” she recalled of her childhood. She accomplished that, and much more, as an advocate for the families of those lost in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.

Monica did start out pursuing her dream of teaching. After graduating from Cathedral, Monica studied education at Hunter College, graduating in 1995. She became Board of Ed certified to teach k-5. Her first year she taught at St. Raymond’s Elementary school 6th, 7th, 8th Grade Science, in the Bronx and at St. Brigid’s School in downtown Manhattan. The she got a job for the Board of Ed to teach pre-K at the Bronx Community College campus for District 10 in a program designed for children whose mothers were attending the college.

After a particularly difficult school year, when she struggled to get the resources she needed for a special needs student, Monica made the difficult decision to leave the teaching profession. She worked briefly in real estate and administrative positions before meeting her husband, Michael Iken, on 9/11/99.

The couple was married only 11 months when Michael was killed in the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center. Monica remembered watching the events unfold on television, thinking, “There’s no way this is happening.” She fell into a deep depression, but knew she had to help ensure that Michael’s memory, and the memory of all those lost on that horrific day were not forgotten.

About two weeks after, she felt God came to her and told her she was going to go on a Mission. She quickly announced to her friends and family she was going a Mission. Shortly after an Interview with Bronx 12 she got worldwide media attention when she told the reporter, “I am not going to let them build over dead people.”

In October 2001, she founded a nonprofit September’s Mission Foundation with the help of what she calls her “Angels.” September's Mission was devoted to building a positive and meaningful legacy out of the events surrounding 9/11 by creating a fitting Memorial at the former WTC site. In January 2002, New York Governor George Pataki appointed her to the Family Advisory Committee of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC). She would meet regularly with civic, business, political and family leaders to help establish a proper process for honoring the lives that were lost on September 11, 2001.

In addition, she would seek out the advice and support of families and groups around the world, including Oklahoma City and Hiroshima, who had undergone a similar memorial process.

She worked with consultants from Washington, D.C., who were familiar with the process of building memorials. She learned to take her own emotions out of the equation and negotiate with the many stakeholders involved in the process. She said she made a promise to Michael that if he didn’t come home, there was no way there would be a building on top of him. “I’m relentless. I’m going to fight for what I believe in,” she said.

She said she’s happy with the final design of the memorial and its peaceful water theme. “The power of those waterfalls and the energy is powerful there,” she said. “I can finally celebrate Michael’s birthday (his life) on 9/8 instead of his death.”

For her work on September’s Mission and the memorial committees, the City Council of New York awarded Monica the 2003 Pace Setter Award, and the New York Public Library nominated her for the 2004 Brooke Russell Astor Award. Most recently she was recognized as a Woman of Distinction for her outstanding work on behalf of the community by Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright of New York State.

Monica and her current husband, Bob, have been married for nine years and have two daughters, Madison and Megan. Monica said it’s important to her to set a good example for the girls so they understand they can accomplish anything and create a legacy for them.

“We are that example, we have to show that we woman can do that,” Monica said. “That’s Cathedral’s mission, too.”

In that vein, Monica returned to her roots in education, establishing the Iken Science Academy dedicated to Michael and those who were lost. Her preschool will be the first STEM full day school on the Upper East Side. It is designed for students to explore science and technology in hopes that it will encourage them to pursue those fields throughout school.

With her work on the world class Memorial and Museum advocating for 9/11 victims and families, and establishing a school, Monica said she feels she has accomplished what God wanted for her. “I almost died as a baby,” she said, “and God said to me you are here for a reason. I survived and always felt I was supposed to do something. Now being able to have done this amazing work, being blessed with my Michael, and God giving me the strength to do this job, it’s beyond anything you can think about. Anything else I do beyond this is a gift.