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Lisa Kaplowitz
Rutgers Center for Women in Business

Kaplowitz is an associate professor of professional practice in the Finance and Economics Department at Rutgers Business School. She is also co-founder and executive director of the Rutgers Center for Women in Business, which works to remove barriers, build community and empower women. Kaplowitz leverages more than 25 years of experience as an investment banker and CFO, during which she established a record of growing businesses and increasing profitability by creating focused strategies, reducing costs and streamlining operations. She began her career as an investment banker at Deutsche Bank and Bank of America. She then transitioned to the company side, where she served as the treasurer of Bed Bath & Beyond, and subsequently as CFO of various private equity-backed startups. She later created Kaplowitz Advisory Group LLC to support executives, at all stages of growth, using finance to help direct corporate strategy and decision making.

Ashley Koning
Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling

Koning is the director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, the oldest university-based statewide public polling operation in the country. She runs and is the face of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll, manages staff, undergraduates, and graduate students to assist with day-to-day polling operations and studies, and oversees all research projects and client relations. She has been a part of ECPIP for over a decade and has spearheaded a large number of innovations within the center during this time. Koning’s research interests are in American public opinion and mass behavior. Additionally, she is an instructor for the political science department at Rutgers. Koning has authored several book chapters and papers on public opinion. Publications include a chapter on survey research in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Political Decision Making, as well as co-authored chapters in Disaster and Emergency Management Methods, Taking Chances: The Coast after Hurricane Sandy, and The American Governor: Power, Constraint, and Leadership in The States. She is also the education chair of the 2024-2025 American Association for Public Opinion Research Executive Council and the president of Association of Academic Survey Research Organizations 2024-2025 Executive Council. She continues to serve on the PA/NJ chapter of AAPOR, which included a term as president from 2021-2022.

Jonathan Koppell
Montclair State University

Koppell has led Montclair State University as president since August 2021, following a successful stint in leadership at Arizona State University. According to the school, Koppell believes that public universities play a fundamental role in advancing society. At Arizona State, he built partnerships with community organizations and launched programs to serve the public interest, increasing student access and success, advancing diversity among the faculty and college leadership, and enhancing research spending and philanthropic support. Koppell also brings to Montclair State a national reputation as a leading scholar of policy, organization and management. He earned doctoral and master’s degrees in political science from the University of California – Berkeley and a baccalaureate degree in government from Harvard University. At ASU he held the endowed Lattie and Elva Coor Presidential Chair as professor of Public Administration and Policy and is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. At Montclair State, Koppell is a tenured faculty member in political science. His research and writing broadly examines the design and administration of complex organizations in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. His book “World Rule: Accountability, Legitimacy and the Design of Global Governance” pulls back the cover on the world of “global governance organizations” –such as the World Trade Organization, the International Organization for Standardization and the International Accounting Standards Board – that have more effect on our daily lives than we might imagine.

Debra Lancaster
Center for Women and Work at Rutgers University

Lancaster is executive director of the Center for Women and Work at Rutgers University, where she leads efforts to advance research, education, and programs that promote economic and social equity for women, families, and communities. Under her leadership, CWW has produced influential studies, including an evaluation of New Jersey’s paid family leave law, a collaboration with the Latino Action Network Foundation on Hispanic Women’s Resource Centers, and research on how unpredictable work schedules affect women and families. Currently, the Center is leading a statewide analysis of New Jersey’s child care system and is a founding partner of the First 1,000 Days New Jersey Policy Coalition, which works to ensure all families have access to affordable, high-quality child care. Before joining Rutgers, Lancaster served for more than a decade in senior leadership at the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, where she spearheaded reforms to strengthen child welfare and family support systems.

Patrick Leahy
Monmouth University

Since joining Monmouth University as its 10th president in 2019, Leahy has navigated through a global pandemic; implemented a five-year strategic plan to become a leader at integrating academic excellence and student access; secured an invitation to join the Coastal Athletic Association; signed a comprehensive strategic partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health; and launched a major capital campaign that aims to raise well over $150 million. As chair of the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, Leahy formulated plans to build a $47 million, 30,000-square-foot-building, and has helped to launch the American Music Honors, an event that brings prominent performers to campus. During his tenure, Monmouth University has enrolled the most diverse and academically prepared classes in its history, setting new year-over-year benchmarks in almost all enrollment measures. Leahy has also engaged Monmouth in national conversations on racial justice and he was recognized as a leader in Higher Education by The National Diversity Council at the 17th Annual National Diversity & Leadership Conference.

Lei Lei
Rutgers Business School

Lei is a professor and has been dean of the Rutgers Business School since 2015. Her research focus includes supply chain network design and optimization, operations planning, scheduling, process recovery after disruptions, demand-supply planning and resource allocation optimization. Lei has over 50 refereed publications – many appeared in prominent journals such as Management Science, INFORMS Journal on Computing, Interfaces, IIE Transactions, European Journal of Operations Research, Journal of Operational Research Society, and Naval Research Logistics, etc. She was the founding chair of the Supply Chain Management Department at Rutgers, honored by NJBIZ as one of the Best 50 Women in Business in 2015 and 2023, and received the 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award from her alma mater, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin.

Teik Lim
New Jersey Institute of Technology

Lim is president of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, joining the Newark school from the University of Texas at Arlington. Since joining NJIT in 2022, he has led the university with a vision of advancing academic excellence, research innovation, and student opportunity, positioning NJIT as a national leader in science, technology, and economic impact. Last year, NJIT, along with its partner New Jersey Innovation Institute, began an effort to expand corporate partnerships by creating “a central hub for managing and nurturing” relationships with industry and business leaders. An internationally recognized scholar in structural vibrations, acoustics, and modeling technologies, Lim is a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Society of Automotive Engineers. His groundbreaking research and leadership in academia have earned him numerous prestigious awards and honors. As a first-generation college graduate and accomplished university president, Lim exemplifies the trailblazer spirit by breaking barriers and creating pathways for future innovators.

Hilary Link
Drew University

Link became Drew University’s 15th president in 2023, replacing Thomas Schwarz. “We are delighted to have attracted a candidate who has spent decades in leadership roles at prominent institutions of higher education with such outstanding pedigrees and reputations,” Fredrick Fuest, chair of the search committee and vice chair of the board of trustees, said at that time of the appointment. Link arrived at Drew after serving as president of Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., from 2019 to September 2022. Previously, she was dean of Temple University Rome and vice provost at Barnard College of Columbia University. She began her career in higher education as director of scholar programs at New York University. According to Drew, the school has added a number of new programs under Link, all designed as responses to student interest and market trends. The College of Liberal Arts added minors in accounting, finance, marketing, and creative art and technology, the school said on its website. Drew also added a dual-degree in Accounting with Seton Hall’s Stillman School of Business, aimed at fast-tracking earning advanced degrees.

John Loyack
Rider University

Loyack took over as president at Rider University this summer. He is the eighth person to hold the title for the Lawrenceville-based school, succeeding Gregory Dell’Omo in the wake of the latter’s retirement. The first-generation college student believes in the transformative power of a higher education, bringing both institutional and private sector experience to his latest post. Most recently, he served as president at Alvernia University. At that Reading, Pa., school, Loyack successfully led a university-wide restructuring. He also implemented a five-year plan, added new programs, and attracted new and expanding student bodies. Other achievements include private sector collaborations as well as completing a $60 million fundraising campaign in 30 months. Rider University’s weekly student newspaper, The Rider News, reported that Loyack kick-started his tenure with a face-to-face social event hosted by the new president at his home Aug. 28. Without detailing enrollment or financial figures, Loyack highlighted the school’s financial security as a main priority, according to The Rider News. He also sees potential opportunities in adding more technical majors as well as experiential learning opportunities.

Alyssa Maurice
Stockton University

As assistant director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University, Maurice leads the Stockton Polling Institute. That makes her responsible for research design, data collection, statistical analysis and reporting on hot topics facing New Jersey residents. Among the center’s most-recent surveys, poll results explore locals’ attitudes toward energy price increases, the state’s recent primary race in the 2025 gubernatorial election and how much we should – or shouldn’t – pay to play on Jersey Shore beaches. The center also tackles national topics, and the Stockton poll is referenced by various media outlets. Maurice also moderates election debates for New Jersey races. Last year, she led an event featuring candidates vying for the U.S. House seat in New Jersey’s second congressional district. Along with her work at the institute, Maurice aims to promote “substantive” political discourse by bridging research, education and public engagement. At Stockton, first-generation college student Maurice also serves as an internship coordinator and mentor for students, helping to cultivate the next generation of civic leaders.

Mark McCormick
Middlesex College

Big changes have come to Middlesex College under McCormick’s tenure as president — with more underway. The seventh leader at the school, he assumed the post on an interim basis in July 2018 (made permanent in 2019) after joining the college in 2014 as vice president for academic and student affairs. Over the last seven years, Middlesex College has turned to faculty-developed or vetted open education resources, reducing or even eliminating the cost of textbooks and other educational materials for students. The school also partners with major Middlesex County businesses – in health care, biopharma and logistics, for example – as well as with school districts and different levels of government. That collaborative constitution is on full display in the county’s Middlesex County Community, Innovation, and Opportunity Strategic Investment Plan, centered on campus in Edison. Currently under construction as part of the CIO Strategic plan: an open-air community venue, new student center and culinary arts teaching lab with restaurant, and a second Middlesex County Magnet Schools high school.

Michael McDonough
Raritan Valley Community College

McDonough took over as president at Raritan Valley Community College in 2014. RVCC enrolls approximately 6,800 students, a body McDonough helped build steadily after the pandemic through aggressive marketing and outreach, as well as on its merits. This year, the school adopted a new, five-year strategic plan, “Leading Change, Inspiring Possibility.” Commenting on the outline, McDonough noted colleges must not only accept change but embrace it amid an evolving learning landscape. The plan focuses on enhancing “academic, community, and corporate partnerships; an investment in resources to keep pace with a changing workforce; and an obligation to deliver an affordable, accessible education.” In February, RVCC was part of the NJBioFutures launch. Johnson & Johnson contributed $1 million as founding sponsor for the public-private workforce development partnership that will serve the state’s expanding cell and gene therapy sector. RVCC is also a leader when it comes to sustainability, recognized at both the national and state levels. For the 2024-25 cycle, its foundation also set records — surpassing the $2 million mark for the first time. McDonough serves as chair of the Executive Committee of the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development and chair of the Academic Issues Committee; he is a board member for Engage NJ.

Margaret McMenamin
UCNJ Union College of Union County

McMenamin leads the first community college founded in New Jersey, UCNJ Union College of Union County, which dates to 1933. Having assumed the post in 2010, she is also its first woman president. Over her tenure, McMenamin has pursued an aggressive agenda centered on student success outcomes and achievement through student services, academic advising, working with faculty to improve learning and more. The results have paid off, with the college more than quintupling its graduation rate with McMenamin at the helm. Under her leadership, UCNJ was also named as one of only 10 finalists for the $1 million 2025 Aspen Prize by the Aspen Institute for Community College Excellence. The latest marked the third-consecutive nod from the organization. Currently, McMenamin serves as chair of the Advisory Board of the Higher Education Research and Development Institute; and as a member of the executive committee of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council, the National Junior College Athletic Association Presidents’ Advisory Council, and the board of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

William Miller
Kean University Foundation

Miller leads the Kean University Foundation as president and CEO, a position he assumed in July 2018. That puts him in charge of securing philanthropic resources to support the school, as well as its students, faculty, research initiatives and facilities. The work has him collaborating closely with the board of trustees, foundation board of directors, executive leadership, faculty, administration, staff, alumni, corporations and other foundations toward instilling a culture of philanthropy at the university’s Garden State and China campuses. Under his purview, the foundation has tripled its team members — and more than tripled its endowment’s resources. Miller’s work has also helped attract several of the school’s largest philanthropic contributions ever. And it’s changed the kinds of support and output possible from the foundation. The organization cites the establishment of student scholarships, endowed professorships, building and renovating facilities, expanding programs and developing a technologically advanced curriculum. Throughout his career, Miller says his work designing, advising and directing philanthropic fund development initiatives and capital campaigns has collectively raised more than $1 billion. During Fiscal Year 2024, Miller said the Kean foundation collected more than $6.2 million in private fundraising activity.

Saymah Nah
Gateway U

The student body at Newark-based Gateway U comprises 40% parent learners; 85% first-generation students; and 93% Black, Latinx or AAPI enrollees. Dating back to 2019, the Newark-based institution works to reimagine the college experience with a supportive-student focus. City native – and Rutgers alumnus – Nah founded and leads Gateway U as executive director. Partnering with Southern New Hampshire University, the organization offers a hybrid approach to higher ed that features personalized coaching and wraparound supports – such as child care, transportation, food assistance and more – for students pursing online college degrees. By offering affordable options and making college accessible, Gateway U aims to improve socio-economic mobility. Its pillars include decreasing the time to earn a degree, increasing on-time graduation rates and unlocking economic mobility. According to Gateway U, it is “committed to providing a high-quality academic experience, flexible course work, and a community of supports to ensure students graduate faster and with little to no debt – no matter if they’re 18 or 65.”

Julia Olayanju
Saint Elizabeth University

As a scientist and assistant professor of biology at Saint Elizabeth University in Florham Park, Olayanju is focused on creating healthier communities via strategic partnerships and educational programming. In 2015, she founded FoodNiche Inc., a company that has brought together food industry stakeholders and relevant experts in academic communities to help drive change at the intersection of food, health and education. As part of that goal, Olayanju has launched initiatives like the FoodNiche Tech Summit and Global FoodNiche Innovation Summit as venues to spark dialogue and progress toward a healthier food system. Just a few of FoodNiche’s industry partners include Fortune 500 brands like PepsiCo, Kroger and Coca-Cola. In addition to her work in cancer research, Olayanju seeks to improve children’s understanding of nutrition and health, fostering lifelong healthy habits through engaging digital educational experiences. In 2021, she launched FoodNiche-ED, an award-winning digital platform designed to help K–12 educators seamlessly integrate food and health education into their classrooms using engaging, gamified learning tools. Olayanju is also widely recognized for her thought leadership and is frequently featured in publications such as Forbes, Business Insider and Entrepreneur.

Tahina Perez
Teach for America New Jersey

Perez doesn’t just lead Teach for America in New Jersey — she’s also an alumnus of the program, one of the nearly 70,000 volunteers that have worked with TFA, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. A leader at the organization for more than a decade, Perez’s experience in education is more than double that. She joined TFA NJ as director of alumni affairs and has also served as senior managing director of program continuum. As executive director, Perez has built a culture centered on collaboration, with stakeholders ranging from students to lawmakers. TFA supports a network of more than 1,800 corps members and alumni in the Garden State. Both members and alumni teach in classrooms, lead schools, advocate for education policy and work with community organizations. Its work here dates to 1993, when TFA NJ launched with 24 corps members. Under Perez’s leadership, TFA NJ recently marked five years of expanding student access to tutoring services via Teach for American Ignite. Last year, 61 tutors worked with 131 students to achieve approximately 2,800 hours of additional learning here, according to the organization.

Jennie Pu
Hoboken Public Library

Pu has transformed services at Hoboken Public Library since taking over as director in 2021, drawing a national spotlight on its unique services and outreach. Most recently, The Washington Post reported on the Hudson County institution’s “Summer Library of Things.” Expanding borrowing for urban residents, the collection let cardholders check out items ranging from beach chairs to inflatable pools to ice cream makers, telescopes, museum passes and more. Under her direction, the library also completed a $7 million historic – and award-winning – restoration project. Pu’s achievements include pioneering the state’s first book sanctuary library, which helped foster a statewide movement across 47 library systems and four municipalities committed to providing and defending access to challenged and banned books. As chair of the New Jersey Library Association’s Public Policy Committee, Pu also provided instrumental leadership to help pass the state’s Freedom to Read Act. In August, she was tapped as chair of the Federal Advisory Task Force for Urban Libraries Council. That group focuses on advancing policies around literacy, workforce development, digital access, health and mental health resources, and protecting intellectual freedom.

Christopher Reber
Hudson County Community College

Leading Hudson County Community College as its eighth president, Reber has dedicated his entire career to higher education. Across its three locations (Jersey City, Union City and Secaucus), HCCC serves more than 23,000 credit and noncredit students annually and supports 1,000 employees. The college offers more than 90 degree and certificate programs and is nationally recognized for its workforce development efforts, like the HCCC Culinary/Hospitality Management program. A proficient partner, HCCC also has agreements with major four-year institutions to accommodate seamless transfers for continuing students. At the helm, Reber leads and supports HCCC’s local, regional and national engagements with a commitment to transparency and collaboration. In 2024, the American Association of Community Colleges named him Community College CEO of the Year. And while work is important, this month HCCC also kicked off a yearlong celebration in honor of its 50th anniversary. Ensuring success for at least the next half century, Reber led the development of the Hudson County Community College 2024-29 Strategic Plan. The outline focuses on HCCC’s mission to offer inclusive and high-quality education and programs to the diverse communities it serves.

Dr. Annette Reboli
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University

A trained physician, Reboli serves as dean of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and a professor of medicine at the Camden institution. As chief academic officer, she oversees all areas of the school, which holds distinction as the only four-year doctor of medicine-granting medical establishment in South Jersey. CMSRU has also been listed among the “Top 10 Most Competitive” medical schools for admission by U.S. News and World Report. According to CMSRU, it enrolls more than 400 medical students. Since its first commencement in 2016, the school has graduated nearly 750 physicians. Reboli is board certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases and has co-authored more than 180 peer-reviewed publications. Her main research interest is in candidemia and other forms of invasive candidiasis. In her message from the dean, Reboli identifies four founding principals for CMSRU’s M.D. program: education, innovate, lead and serve. Outside of CMSRU, she has served on several committees for Camden County and the state of New Jersey, volunteering her expertise in infectious diseases. Over the course of her career, Reboli has garnered over $15 million in research support from a variety of public and private sources.

Monsignor Joseph Reilly
Seton Hall University

After being appointed in July 2024 as Seton Hall University’s 22nd president, Reilly remains focused on elevating the school’s standing among Catholic higher education institutions. Under his leadership, the university is crafting its next multi-year strategic plan, a pathway that Reilly said will “enable us to achieve an even more intellectually dynamic, spiritually faithful and increasingly service-oriented university” and “help us foster the dreams of our students like never before.” Over the past year, Seton Hall has further energized academic, enrollment, faculty support and campus infrastructure. Along with maintaining its R2 research status, the university’s other recent milestones include continued expansion of global programs, opening an Innovation Hub, investing over $2 million into faculty raises and hiring more than 100 new faculty members, unveiling a new basketball performance center, extending a NIL partnership with Learfield and raising nearly $500,000 in funds to support student-athlete compensation under new NCAA rules. Reilly’s appointment marked the return of a priest-president, which has been a hallmark of the private Catholic university in South Orange for all but 22 years of the school’s 168-year history. Reilly took the helm from interim President Katia Passerini, who was named to the role in July 2023 following Joseph Nyre’s resignation.

Lamont Repollet
Kean University

Since becoming president of Kean University in 2020, Repollet has launched several initiatives to not only raise the profile of the Union County-based public institution, but build a stronger, more vibrant community. Designated three years ago as the state’s first urban research university, Kean seeks to evolve from a respected regional university to an innovative national research university. As part of that effort, it has focused on aligning programs with diverse industries to support enrollment growth and close equity gaps. Under Repollet’s leadership, Kean has hired more than 130 tenure-track faculty, improved labor and government relations, increased philanthropic and grant support, and consistently ranks for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report. It’s also working toward achieving R2 research institution status by the Carnegie Commission in the next year. Recent milestones include becoming the first university in the state to offer a bachelor of science in artificial intelligence and signing a letter of intent in May that advances a proposed historic merger with New Jersey City University. As part of the agreement, Kean would integrate NJCU into its operations and assume the school’s Jersey City location. Kean has also seen several consecutive years of record enrollment, as well as improved retention and graduation rates. It now has more than 18,500 students across its locations in Union, Toms River and Wenzhou, China, as well as online. Kean approved a new five-year contract last fall for Repollet, with trustees expressing confidence in his abilities as the school evolves.

Gigi Schweikert
Lightbridge Academy

As chief executive officer of Iselin-based Lightbridge Academy, Schweikert is at the helm of one of the fastest-growing early childhood education franchises in the country. With over 160 locations either open or in development, the 28-year-old company is regarded as an industry leader in educational child care franchising and consistently earned accolades from trade publications like Franchise Times, Inc. 5000, Franchise Business Review and Entrepreneur Magazine. Schweikert – who was named CEO in October 2021 – believes the brand’s success is “a testament to the dedication of our team and the trust of the families we serve.” She’s also said the recognitions reinforce the company’s “commitment to delivering exceptional early educational child care while fostering innovation and inclusivity across our centers.” As Lightbridge nears its 30th anniversary, Schweikert said the chain remains “focused on empowering children, supporting franchisees and communities, and driving continued growth through our unwavering mission to nurture the whole child.” In addition to her CEO role at Lightbridge, Schweikert is president of the company’s nonprofit foundation, which provides more than $800,000 in grants and scholarships to support the health, education, and well-being of children and their families.

Jeffrey Senese
Caldwell University

Appointed in July 2023, Senese is the 10th president of Caldwell University, a private, four-year Catholic Dominican institution in Essex County. A liberal arts school where the most popular degrees are business, psychology and nursing, Caldwell consistently performs well in value-based and social mobility metrics, especially when it comes to rankings by U.S. News & World Report and Niche. The school has also been recognized for its affordability and diversity. At the school – which enrolls 1,860 undergraduate and graduate students – Senese’s vision for growth includes increasing academic distinction, building a special on-campus experience, and partnering with government entities, other colleges and universities, businesses and organizations in the area. Just a few of the latest initiatives introduced under Senese’s leadership include a summer academy for students in grades 3-11 that spans STEM, esports, theater, music, SAT prep and career-readiness tracks; and a five-year transfer agreement with Essex County College that allows associate degree graduates to transfer with junior status. Additionally, Caldwell just became one of only three institutions to offer a fully online master’s in public health. Caldwell is also continuing a multi-year partnership with the New York Jets that saw the spring 2025 launch of football-themed coursework and independent study projects.

Anne Huntington Sharma
Huntington Learning Center

Sharma serves as president and board member of Huntington Learning Center, the nation’s leading tutoring and test prep provider. Founded in 1977 in Oradell by her parents, former teacher Eileen Huntington and Raymond Huntington, the company’s mission has long been to provide every student with the support needed to achieve academic success. Today, Sharma leads the organization’s strategic vision, focusing on digital transformation, franchise expansion, and partnerships that drive growth and innovation. Under her leadership, Huntington has accelerated its adoption of technology-driven learning solutions, expanding digital platforms while maintaining the company’s hallmark personalized approach. She has guided the development of AI-driven tools, enhanced online learning offerings, and strengthened franchise operations, ensuring consistent quality across the nationwide network, which includes some 300 locations nationwide and around 15 in the Garden State. Her efforts have positioned Huntington to meet the evolving needs of students in a rapidly changing educational landscape.

Joyce Strawser
Seton Hall University

A longtime member of the Seton Hall University community, Strawser joined the Stillman School of Business in 1995 as an associate professor in the department of accounting and taxation. She went on to become an associate dean in 2001 and then acting dean in 2010 until her permanent appointment as dean less than two years later. Under her leadership, Stillman has maintained dual Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation in business and accounting, consistently appeared among top-ranked undergraduate business programs and expanded its influence locally and globally through academic partnerships and thought leadership in business education. Some of the latest initiatives include developing a six-week entrepreneurship accelerator for underserved early-stage founders from North Jersey and joining the NSF I-Corps Northeast Hub as a way to give faculty and graduate students access to training, commercialization support and mentorship across tech-enabled innovations. Stillman also became the first private four-year university affiliate of America’s SBDC New Jersey, offering entrepreneurship counseling, training and resources to students and local small business owners. In May, Strawser was among three Seton Hall leaders recognized on New Jersey’s 2025 Innovate100 list for forward-thinking leadership.

Brian Strom
Rutgers University

As the inaugural chancellor of Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences and executive vice president for health affairs at Rutgers University, Strom has brought significant growth to the program. His achievements have included uniting the university’s clinical care programs as a single entity and establishing a new affiliation with RWJBarnabas Health in 2018. With eight schools and 11 major centers/institutes, as well as academic, patient care and research facilities, it is the state’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system. He’s also considered the founder of the field of pharmacoepidemiology, which applies epidemiological methods to the study of drugs and their effectiveness within populations. And, Strom helped develop the International Clinical Epidemiology Network, responsible for fostering the establishment of epidemiology units in medical schools throughout the developing world. His numerous honors include election to the National Academy of Medicine, the American College of Physicians’ John Phillips Memorial Award, the Heart of BioNJ Award for leadership during the pandemic and being named to the New Jersey Innovate100 in 2024. One of his most recent accolades came in August, when he was named “Educator of the Year” by the Research & Development Council of New Jersey for his transformative impact on medical education in the state. He’s among a group of trailblazing leaders and researchers set to be recognized in November at Bell Works during the 46th annual Edison Patent Awards, the state’s highest honor for invention and innovation.

William Tate
Rutgers University

Following a six-month search by Rutgers University leadership, Tate was named as successor to outgoing president Jonathan Holloway this past spring. In July, Tate officially began as Rutgers 22nd president. He spent the past four years as president of Louisiana State University, where he guided record-setting achievements in research, enrollment, philanthropy, athletics and legislative support. Now, at the helm of New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive university, Tate manages academic, research, finances and operations across campuses in New Brunswick, Newark and Camden. The role also calls for ongoing collaboration with state and federal governments and close work with faculty, labor unions and student groups. After being named as president, Tate said, “I am honored to join the Rutgers family, where the Rutgers Edge is more than a concept. It is reflected in a history of leading with outstanding research, clinical excellence, insightful pedagogy, innovative partnerships and storied athletic feats. Together, we have an opportunity to align our efforts and push to greater levels of impact. We can compete and win at new heights if we work together.” Tate – whose background includes leadership posts at the University of South Carolina and Washington University – has been praised for both his focus on public impact and student success. He also holds advanced degrees in education, mathematics and psychiatric epidemiology and is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the National Academy of Education.

Lisa Tirrell
Scarlet Assets Management Co.

As president and chief executive officer of Rutgers subsidiary Scarlet Assets Management Co., Tirrell has guided the organization since its 2023 inception with the mission of expanding available revenue streams and driving commercial profitability via new corporate partnerships and naming rights opportunities for the public university. In addition to managing multimedia and naming rights, SAMCO handles merchandise and ticket sales for the athletic department. It is also in charge of signage, broadcast inventory, new gameday experiences, premium offerings, sponsorships and marketing efforts. During the first year of operations, Tirrell and her team grew the business by 15%. SAMCO also landed its first athlete marketing partnerships with the United States Women’s National Soccer Team and Casey Murphy, an Olympic Gold medalist, Rutgers alumna and professional soccer player. Before being tapped to lead the new entity, Tirrell served as Rutgers’ associate athletic director for marketing and business development. In that role, she oversaw naming rights of both SHI Stadium and Jersey Mike’s Arena, as well as managed partnerships with corporate sales, multimedia and merchandise.

Oya Tukel
New Jersey Institute of Technology

Now in her seventh year as dean of the Martin Tuchman School of Management at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Tukel spearheads the launch of new degrees and programs that align with marketplace needs, such as a fintech bachelor’s and master’s, a tech MBA, and a concentration in business and sports data analytics. One of NJBIZ’s 2025 Leading Women in Business honorees, Tukel also oversees the Leir Research Institute within MTSM, which integrates research and education to address critical global challenges and support sustainable economic development, fostering corporate and business continuity and growth. In a recent feature published by NJIT, Tukel described MTSM as “nimble and flexible with a simple organizational structure.” She attributed its success to a clear vision, the support of business leaders and a strong partnership between the dean’s office and faculty. Alongside her administrative duties, Tukel is a professor of operations and supply chain management where she has contributed extensively to the academic field, publishing numerous manuscripts and book chapters in leading international journals. She joined NJIT after 27 years at Cleveland State University, where she served as associate dean and chair of operations and supply chain management. Her 30-plus year career includes numerous teaching, service and research awards, including the Applied Business Scholar Award and two Fulbright Specialist honors.

Brian Varela
Growing Seeds Learning Academy

A serial entrepreneur with a focus on education and early childhood development, Varela is working to expand Growing Seeds Learning Academy into a brand recognized for its dedication to creating meaningful experiences. Since its founding in December 2019, the company now has 10 locations that serve roughly 600 families across North and Central Jersey. Supported by a passionate team of early childhood educators, GSLA aims to provide a high-quality program of fun learning activities in a nurturing environment and is guided by Varela’s belief that early learning is one of the most powerful tools to close opportunity gaps and uplift entire communities. Under Varela’s leadership, GSLA has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the 5,000 fastest-growing companies in the U.S. (No. 1835) and in the Northeast region (No. 49). Besides serving as CEO and co-founder of GSLA, Varela has launched and scaled several other businesses, including consultancy Childcare Administration, digital marketing firm Kidnection, skincare spa Nuskin Laser Solutions and medspa Hello Skin. A New Jersey Business & Industry Association 2023 Award of Excellence recipient, Varela is also a longtime Democratic organizer and currently running for a congressional seat in the 7th District.

Keli Zinn
Rutgers University

After being named Rutgers University’s new athletic director in July, Zinn assumed control of 24 men’s and women’s varsity sports for the state university. The position has been vacant since August 2024, when Pat Hobbs abruptly resigned amid a cloud of controversy. Previously, Zinn spent three years as deputy athletic director and chief operating officer at Louisiana State University, during which the Tigers won four national championships including women’s basketball, gymnastics and twice in baseball, as well as multiple SEC titles in track and field and gymnastics. Her work also included revenue generation, capital projects and strategic initiatives. Before LSU, Zinn spent more than a decade at her alma mater West Virginia in various roles, including deputy athletic director from 2016 through 2022. She was assistant athletic director at the University of Maryland from 2005 to 2010 after being a compliance assistant for the Big East in 2003 and 2004. During her career, Zinn has celebrated 15 national championships and 34 conference championships. In New Jersey, Zinn is reunited with William Tate IV, a former LSU president who was just tapped as Rutgers’ newest president. Tate, who began his tenure July 1, said Zinn “brings the strategic drive, operational excellence, and championship pedigree we need right now for Rutgers Athletics.”

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