NJCU President's Community Advisory Council
The New Jersey City University (NJCU) President’s Community Advisory Council is a strategic initiative designed to strengthen the relationship between NJCU and the surrounding community. This advisory council aims to foster mutual trust, collaboration, and support, ensuring that the university and the community work together to achieve shared goals. The council will serve as a platform for dialogue, partnership, and collective action, benefiting both NJCU students and the local community. Formally launched in August, 2024, the President’s Community Advisory Council includes business leaders, community members, and educational partners.
Mission
The mission of the NJCU President’s Community Advisory Council is to enhance the university’s engagement with the local community through collaborative initiatives, transparent communication, and shared responsibility. The council aims to build a stronger, more connected community that supports educational excellence, economic development and mobility, and a justice-oriented inclusive and equitable social well-being.
Prospectus and Charter for NJCU President's Community Advisory Council
NJCU News Announcement Introducing President’s Community Advisory Council
Council Members
Mrs. Silvia Correa Abbato is the first woman and the first person of Hispanic descent to serve as Superintendent for the Union City School District. Before her appointment as Superintendent, Mrs. Abbato has served the Union City Board of Education and the students and parents of Union City as an elementary school teacher, science and math supervisor, school principal and assistant superintendent.
Luis De La Hoz is First Vice President, Regional Director Community Lending NJ at Valley Bank and is responsible for helping local small and mid-sized businesses with their financial needs. He also works with business to develop strategies for growth, with particular emphasis in supporting organizations with Latino and minority leadership.
Throughout his career De La Hoz has worked with major community involvement organization and other groups in various leadership roles. He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of New Jersey Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NJ-SHCC), the largest Chamber of Commerce by membership in the state. New Jersey BNI Hawks Chapter, Chairman of the Hispanic Small Business Council, Business Track Coordinator - Latinos in Social Media Conference, and Board Member of Middlesex County Workforce Development.
Prior to joining Valley, De La Hoz was VP Community Business Development BCB Bank, Senior VP of Lending with The Intersect Fund and a manager at MarMar, LLC, providing personal income tax firm servicing low- and moderate-income families in the community. He is an active media commentator and a top social-media influencer in the Hispanic community, resulting in recurring guest spots on Univision, NJTV, and several radio programs.
De La Hoz earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Autonoma University of Manizales in Manizales, Colombia, and a certificate in Management from the University of the Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. He also graduated from the Entrepreneur Pioneer Initiative from Rutgers in December 2012.
Emory Edwards is president and CEO of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce. A longtime resident of Jersey City, he is committed to driving economic growth and enhancing the quality of life throughout Hudson County.
Edwards has worked in both for-profit and nonprofit roles, including a career in higher education. He studied for a Bachelor of Arts in politics at Washington & Lee University and a Master of Divinity at Yale University.
Dr. Norma Fernandez is the chief school administrator for the Jersey City Public Schools and the first Latina to hold that position in New Jersey’s second-largest city, which has a thirty-eight percent Hispanic population. She grew up in Hudson County and has enjoyed a lifelong career in education with the Jersey City Public Schools.
Dr. Fernandez's journey in education began with her parents' decision to relocate her and her brother to West New York as children, seeking refuge from an oppressive government. Her academic path led her from St. Mary’s Catholic School to Memorial High School, where she earned early admission to college. She seized this opportunity and attended St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York, during the spring semester of her senior year, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and Spanish.
In the fall of 1982, she began teaching with the Jersey City Public Schools. At that time, the district started to offer Bilingual Bicultural Education, and because of her endorsements, the District hired her to work with children who only spoke Spanish. She attended Jersey City State College, completed a master's, and received a certificate in Bilingual Bicultural Education. She later returned and completed a Master of Arts in Urban Education specializing in Educational Administration and Supervision. The district recognized Norma as the teacher of the year in 1994.
Dr. Fernandez's versatility as an educator was evident in her years in the classroom, where she taught every grade level from kindergarten to eighth grade. This breadth of experience allowed her to effectively meet the needs of general education students, bilingual students, and gifted and talented students, demonstrating her commitment to inclusive education.
In 1998, she was promoted to Assistant Principal at Joseph H. Brensinger Public School #17, then principal at PS 33, and later at Christa McAuliffe School #28. During this time, she was integral to the Whole School Reform movement, the Abbott Regulations, and the implementation of No Child Left Behind.
In 2009, Norma completed the Executive Doctorate in Education at Seton Hall University. Then, the superintendent promoted her to work at the Central Office as a Special Assistant for Division B and later as an interim Associate Superintendent supervising 22 schools.
In 2012, under the leadership of a new Superintendent, she was the Division’s leader responsible for 15 schools, mainly in the Heights and Downtown Jersey City, and a key stakeholder in the operations of the Jersey City Public Schools. As the leadership changed, the superintendent promoted Dr. Fernnadez to Deputy Superintendent and spoke person for the Jersey City Public Schools. On July 1, 2022, the Jersey City Board of Education gave Dr. Fernandez a contract as the Chief School Administrator.
She has been married to her high school sweetheart for over 40 years and is the happy mother of two adult sons, Albert, his wife Beverly, and Adam, his wife Kelly. She is also the grandmother of Matthew James and Charlotte Rose. Dr. Fernandez is committed to learning and empowering others to acquire the skills and strength to follow their passion.
For over 45 years, Gary Greenberg has dedicated his life to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County. Starting out as a part-time Youth Supervisor and Van Driver, Mr. Greenberg was consistently promoted to positions of increasing responsibility and authority.
His ingenious and innovative methods enabled the youth organization to move forward in size and importance during his long time association with the agency.
Many of yesterday’s baseball, basketball and football stars first cut their teeth playing at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County. That outstanding tradition continues to this day with
Gary Greenberg as the Executive Director/CEO of this highly respected and admired youth development organization. If it weren’t for the Club and Gary Greenberg, many kids would have become members of street gangs and gained prominence for bad behavior or worse. Some people have been known to call Gary Greenberg the “Savior of Kids”—a much deserved accolade.
Since he first joined the staff at the Jersey City Boys Club in 1975, he has initiated programs that have greatly benefitted the youth of the community, many of them considered high-risk youth, enabling them to be successful in life in whatever fields they have pursued. Mr. Greenberg introduced programs at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County tied in with both private and public agencies in Hudson County. These agencies and private sector companies include the Jersey City Board of Education, the Jersey City and Hoboken Housing Authorities, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and some of the biggest corporate entities on the Jersey City Waterfront.
In 1981, Mr. Greenberg was selected by Boys & Girls Clubs of America for a Woodruff Fellowship which enabled him to obtain his Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University.
Mr. Greenberg does not let any challenge stand in his way of serving youth to the best of his ability. When Hurricane Sandy floodwaters caused over $250,000 in damage to the Hoboken Clubhouse, he mobilized his staff and the entire community to restore the Club and even improve some areas. The Clubhouse was back in operation in a matter of weeks and was even featured on the Katie Couric Show.
In addition to his accomplishments with program initiatives, Mr. Greenberg has multiplied the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County funding fourfold and expanded services to youth throughout Hoboken and Jersey City. He created a unique approach to individual services for youth to prevent juvenile delinquency that has been continuously funded since 1983. In 2014, he completed a dream of opening a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility through a unique public-private partnership. In the ensuing years, he oversaw the opening of new extensions with NJ Department of Education funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers at PS 15 and PS 41 in Jersey City, five new units in conjunction with the Jersey City Housing Authority, and STEAM City at Whitlock Mills.
Mr. Greenberg is the recipient of numerous awards in the community including the Jersey Journal’s Everyday Hero Award, the Rotary Award for Community Service and the Christopher Columbus Award for Outstanding Community Service, the Dan Finn Classic Person of the Year, and the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce Legend Award.
Dr. Floyd Jeter was born and raised in Jersey City and still resides. Dr. Floyd Jeter received his Bachelor of Arts and his Doctorate in Community College Leadership (Ed. D) from New Jersey City University, and Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Fairleigh Dickinson. Dr. Jeter in his role as Chief Diversity Officer for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for the City of Jersey City serves as a leader in diversity and inclusion. Dr. Jeter is responsible for promoting equity in the workplace through the Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board. He has been an adjunct professor at New Jersey City University for the past 10 years. He is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). Prior to joining Jersey City Municipality in 2017 he was a teacher assistant with Jersey City Board of Education working with children with Autism for 9 years. Dr. Jeter also worked for Pepsi Cola for 15 years in various positions and was a liaison between Pepsi Cola and Frito Lay for the urban market. Dr. Floyd also sits on a host of boards:
- Dr. Jeter is the 2nd Vice President of the NAACP of the Jersey City chapter.
- Co-Founder, Boys Undergoing Intensive Leadership and Development B.U.I.L.D
- Commissioner, Hudson County Planning Board
- Member, Hudson County Mental Health Board
- Member of Hudson County Community College Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (P.A.C.D.E.I)
- Member of Hudson County Community College Cannabis Advisory Board
- Member African American Community Outreach Committee
Dr. Jeter hobbies include traveling, good conversions, and smoking Camacho cigars with the brothers of the Leaf Joint. The motivation behind Dr. Jeter’s life is God and his family. Dr. Jeter has 7 grandkids who he adores. Dr. Jeter lives his life by two mantras; “failure is not an option” and “if your friends around you don’t change, then change the friends around you.”
Suraj Kaufman owns Sneaker Room, a sneaker store at 410 Central Avenue in Jersey City. He is also the founder of the Sneaker Room Foundation. This nonprofit organization supports the community by supporting causes like the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County, Jersey City Public Schools, and Jersey City Medical Center. Suraj has a heart for the community. He has worked on collaborations between Nike and former New York Giants players Victor Cruz and professional basketball player Kyrie Irving. All of the proceeds from these collaborations support his annual back-to-school block party, Thanksgiving turkey drives, and annual holiday toy giveaways. Because of his community involvement, Suraj serves on the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation board, where he is the treasurer, he is also on the business advisory boards for County Prep and High Tech High School and the board of trustees at the Jersey City Medical Center.
Carlos Medina is a Graduate of Rutgers Newark and Rutgers Law School Newark. He is the President of Robinson Aerial Surveys, Inc., a firm, with a long and rich history in New Jersey specializing in mapping and engineering. An advocate for volunteerism, Mr. Medina also serves on various non-profit boards.
In January 2019, Mr. Medina became President and CEO of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ), having served as Chairman since 2012. The SHCCNJ is the voice of the 119,000 Hispanic-owned businesses in New Jersey that contribute over $20 billion annually to the State’s economy.
To raise awareness, and promote diversity in entrepreneurship, Mr. Medina regularly discusses issues important to the members of SHCCNJ and the business community, during appearances on various TV Networks, including ABC 7, WWOR 9, and NJTV. In 2018/19 Mr. Medina acted as Executive Producer and Co-Host in resurrecting a defunct PBS/NJTV show. He recently served as Executive Producer and Host for “Que Pasa NJ?”, which airs on PBS stations. Mr. Medina also serves as a Corporate Board Member of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ.
Superintendent of Bayonne School District. John has a graduate degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University, graduate certificate in advanced educational leadership from Harvard University, and an undergraduate degree from Kean University. John was a teacher in the Monmouth County Vocational School District, administrator at Saint John Vianney High School and Superintendent of Keansburg Schools before coming to Bayonne. John was previously a Director for a Department of Homeland Security contractor and is a retired Police Sergeant from the Freehold Police Department.
Mr. Prilutsky is the President and Chief Executive Officer at the Jersey City Medical Center, a member of the RWJBarnabas Health. Mr. Prilutsky is an experienced healthcare executive with exceptional Management and Leadership skills and has demonstrated results operating in a complex service environment, maintaining and improving existing services, as well as designing, implementing, and marketing large and small scale growth initiatives to enable mission goals of his organization.
Ward B Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey is a local civic leader and an active member of the Ward B community. She served on the executive board of Jersey City Parks Coalition where, among her many achievements, she worked with Feed JC to facilitate the “Dinner in the Park” series designed to bring awareness to important city issues. For the past five years, she has been a trustee of the West Side Community Alliance and co-founded WSCA’s farmers market.
Dr. Christopher M. Reber has devoted his entire 43-year career to higher education. On July 1, 2018, he became the eighth president of Hudson County Community College (HCCC).
Dr. Christopher Shamburg is a professor in the Graduate Program in Educational Technology and a Coordinator of the Ed.D. in Educational Technology Leadership at NJCU. The author of several books on educational technology. Dr. Shamburg is Secretary of the NJCU University Senate, the past Vice President (2021-2023) and past President (2017-2021).
