Kim Hunter Reed Receives Presidential Medallion

At the NJCU Commencement Ceremony on May 24, Kim Hunter Reed was presented with the NJCU Presidential Medallion. Currently the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Reed served in President Obama’s administration as deputy undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education, leading postsecondary diversity and inclusion work, supporting strong student- and outcomes-focused policies and aggressive national outreach efforts. She also led the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In her stirring speech, Reed encouraged the graduates to use their degrees wisely and for the benefit of others, a task, she admitted, that is easier said than done. “You must lead in a world where disagreeing without being disagreeable is considered ‘old school.’ And you must lead in a world where candid conversations are needed but are all too rare,” she said. “You are the torchbearers for opportunity, and we know that you will use your time and talent, your kindness and your character, to lead and lead well.” The NJCU Presidential Medallion is one of the University’s highest honors, presented to an outstanding individual who demonstrates a lifelong commitment to helping others. Past recipients include Carlos Lejnieks, the president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties, and Kathleen DiChiara, the founding president and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.