The New Jersey City University board of trustees announced a contract extension Dec. 9 for interim President Andres Acebo.

Salary terms were not disclosed. The 18-month extension takes effect Jan. 1, 2025, for Acebo to serve as interim president through June 30, 2026 – with the option for an additional one-year extension through June 30, 2027.

The 38-year-old was tapped to lead NJCU on the heels of a budget crisis under the watch of the previous leadership. Acebo has been credited with navigating the Jersey City institution through the turbulence, stabilizing its finances and balancing the operating budget for the first time since 2017, just less than two years after reporting a $22.7 million deficit.

In February, Moody’s upgraded NJCU’s outlook from “negative” to “stable” – with Fitch Ratings doing the same last month. These upgrades were the first for NJCU in more than a decade.

No slowing down

Acebo has spearheaded a number of initiatives including:

• The release the NJCU Recovery and Revitalization Plan;
• Introduction of its first Academic Master Plan;
• The institution’s first Strategic Enrollment Plan;
• The unveiling of its first Student Development and Community Engagement Strategic Plan;
• A refresh of the University Mission Statement; and
• Introduced its first Vision Statement.

He has also overseen a number of high-profile partnerships with other colleges such as Hudson County Community College, Essex County College and Mercer County Community College. In addition, the interim president signed MOUs with organizations such as the NJEA, Hudson Building Trades, GLACO, Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, Jersey City Public Schools and more.

“Mr. Acebo shares the Board of Trustees’ commitment to ensuring the long-term sustainability of NJCU’s mission and delivering best outcomes for students, as we seek a potential strategic partnership with another like-minded higher education institution,” Luke Visconti, chair of the NJCU board of trustees, told NJBIZ. “We look forward to his continued leadership at a pivotal time in this institution’s 97-year history. We are grateful we can count on his dedication, passion, and commitment to the mission of NJCU – as we faithfully work to find a path forward.”

See also:

• Long-serving Georgian Court president to retire
• Rutgers President Holloway to step down (updated)