Exciting Developments in Student Development and Community Engagement

Dear NJCU Community,

I hope this email finds you energized and you are enjoying the start to our new academic year. I am thrilled to offer you the first of what will be regular communications and updates from the Division of Student Development and Community Engagement.

As many of you know, I recently rejoined the NJCU community after previously calling our campus home from 2011-18. My first 30 days back at NJCU have been filled with reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones. It has been a wonderful homecoming that inspired and reaffirmed my decision to return to this vibrant community. 

I truly hit the ground running on my first day on July 29 and things are already moving in a steady and positive direction. I am eager to share some very significant updates on the division, strategic plan, and continued commitment to enhancing the student experience, supporting student persistence, and fostering a campus atmosphere worthy of the community we serve, which will set us apart from other colleges and universities in New Jersey.

The first exciting division change is that the Office of University Communications and Marketing has moved from under the umbrella of the Office of the President and will now be part of the Student Development and Community Engagement family. This multifaceted unit, under the leadership of Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing, will continue to work collaboratively across all divisions as it always has with the excellent work you have come to expect from this team. 

Now, this team will refocus its energy on sharing the incredible stories, voices, and positive news of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and highlighting our increasing engagement with community partners. Furthermore, this department will continue expanding and evolving our social media reach, overhauling our campus branding, and its collaboration with our colleagues in enrollment management as we explore meaningful brand and recruitment marketing efforts.

In addition to marketing and communications, the Division is thrilled to welcome Dr. Cinthia Diaz who will be the new Assistant Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations. Cinthia, in her new role, will strengthen our ties with community partners and reignite our connection to our alumni with the goal to forge meaningful relationships to support and further enrich the campus experience for all students, employees, and internal and external constituents. Cinthia, who has long done tremendous work with the NJCU Foundation will continue to collaborate with the Foundation while further supporting the division by addressing funding needs through fundraising, partnerships, and in-kind support. 

I'm also happy to announce that Robert Cole has been elevated to Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics. Bobby, now in his 13th year at the university, has led the department since June 2022 and served in an administrative role since 2018. Under his leadership, the Gothic Knights have developed champions, on and off the field, in the classroom with award-winning academic success, and with their commitment to community service. I applaud the exemplary work by Bobby and his entire team and encourage you to join me in rooting on our student athletes as they compete throughout the academic year.
 

Next, we are pleased to announce that the Center for Leadership and Engagement (CLE) will be rebranded and re-imagined as the Center for Student Persistence and Success. The day-to-day efforts of the Center will be led by Jeffrey Dessources, who has been promoted to Assistant Vice President for Campus Life and Student Engagement. Jeff joined NJCU in 2012 and directed CLE until this September. In his new role, Jeff will oversee a wide range of programming that specifically engages our first-generation, commuter, transfer, and non-traditional aged students. His work will now focus on strengthening student satisfaction, improving community relationships, and furthering an overall sense of belonging at the institution. 

The Center for Student Persistence and Success will continue to house our Leadership Honor Society, the Student Government Association (SGA), Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) and the university’s clubs and organizations. In addition, it will be the home to new programming — including our First-Generation Student Initiatives, the Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (BIDE) Committee, and the KnightLink Leadership and Mentoring Program for first- and second-year scholars. 

The Center will work closely with Dr. Joy L. Smith, our newly introduced and inaugural Associate Vice President for Student Persistence, in our division, while working collaboratively with the Division of Academic Affairs to eliminate the barriers that impede a student’s ability to complete their degree in less than five years. 

Finally, our division is conscientiously working on the fourth of our four strategic plans, the Strategic Plan for Student Development and Community Engagement. These efforts began in the spring prior to my arrival at NJCU and is now moving into the final two phases. The next step in our planning efforts is the Gallery Walk, which will be held on Tuesday, September 17 from 12-4 p.m. in Gilligan Student Union Room 129. As the community previously did during the development of the Academic Master Plan and Strategic Enrollment Plan, we would like your input and recommendations on key measurable organizational actions (KOAs) and key performance indicators (KPIs). I want to sincerely thank our amazing Provost Donna Breault for giving us such a strong foundation and educating the community on this process through her division's powerful strategic plan efforts. 

I am confident these divisional changes and future strategic plan will have a lasting, positive impact as we work together to strengthen our community and provide meaningful programming and support systems for our deserving student population. I look forward to bringing the strategic plan to life with you all. 

Thank you for your warm welcome, continued support, and unending enthusiasm. Here’s to a year of growth, collaboration, and success!

GO KNIGHTS!

Erin J. McCann
Vice President of Student Development and Community Engagement