NJCU Unveils The Gothic Rack Giving Students Career Clothing Options
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | On October 5, New Jersey City University (NJCU) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐤.
The Gothic Rack will offer career clothing options for NJCU’s students by providing all students access to new and gently used professional attire for interviews, career fairs, networking events and the workplace. Located in Gilligan Student Union Building (GSUB) Room 211, the mission of The Gothic Rack is to remove financial barriers that may prevent students with the highest need from looking and feeling their best during the internship and job search process.
NJCU President Sue Henderson, accompanied by Barbara Ruggieri, Assistant Dean for Social Services and Jennifer Luciano, Associate Dean for Residence Life and Social Services, cut the ribbon during the ceremony.
The Gothic Rack, an initiative spearheaded by Rob Quinones, assistant director of The Center for Community Engagement (CCE), was fast-tracked thanks to a $315,000 gift from Ralph Lauren. Contributing to the partnership is the NJCU Community Center, Office of the Dean of Students, Student Government Association, ASCEND program, the NJCU School of Business and the Center for Leadership & Engagement (CLE).
Quinones said: “Working at an institution that predominantly serves a first-generation and underserved minority student population presents a unique set of challenges. Having the confidence in your skills, education and experience when attempting to enter the workforce is difficult enough for a young adult. The additional pressure of not having the proper attire to make a good impression at an interview or job fair is an obstacle that can easily be mitigated by the combined efforts of dedicated faculty and staff led by an administration that understands what our students are up against.”
The Gothic Rack leadership team includes Quinones, Ruggieri, Dominique Smith, Director of the ASCEND (Achieving Success by Cultivating Excellence & Nurturing Discovery) program, and Josh Iannuzzi, Director of Career Services at the NJCU School of Business.
The Gothic Rack will also continue to accept donations from the NJCU community. Those wishing to donate can contact Barbara Ruggieri and her team at communitycenter@njcu.edu.
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About NJCU:
New Jersey City University is an institution of higher learning with an audacious goal: the development of our students, our city, our communities, our state, and the world beyond. We are a game-changing force for our students and their families. Whether our students are enrolled in one of our 50 undergraduate, 28 graduate or three doctoral programs, NJCU provides an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty—all of which prepares them to be critical thinkers in a global landscape.
We’re also changing the game for our city, our communities, and our state. As the educational anchor institution in Jersey City, we’ve established partnerships to ensure the area’s growth directly benefits our students and community members. We seek to improve the lives of everyone in the Garden State, whether creating a home for the arts, bringing educational programs to K-12 students, offering bachelor’s degrees in partnership with community colleges, or providing professional development opportunities for adults.
At NJCU, we’re not just educating minds, we’re nourishing souls and lifting communities. We’re changing the game.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Senior Director of University Communications and Media Relations | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301