NJCU Interim President Andrés Acebo and Campus Community Joined by State Leaders to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU) Interim President Andrés Acebo, administrators, faculty, staff, students, and community members were joined on campus by New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Brian Bridges, Ph.D. and state leaders for the culminating event of Hispanic Heritage Month on Thursday, October 12.
The annual celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 15 to October 15, is a significant time at NJCU where the university celebrates the integral role that the Hispanic community plays at the oldest minority and Hispanic-serving institution in the state — located in the most ethnically diverse city in the country. NJCU's undergraduate population is 45% Latinx and 54% first generation.
“I thank Secretary Brian Bridges, Deputy Secretary Kathleen Comanto, and the entire Office of the Secretary of Higher Education team for celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with our remarkable students, staff, and faculty,” said President Acebo. “During their visit, they witnessed first hand the vibrancy of our campus community and the pivotal role the university and its mission plays in their daily lives. I know that all of our students who participated will not soon forget the opportunity to have shared time and space with educational leaders who choose to make their lives work the fulfillment of their promise."
“Acknowledging Hispanic Heritage Month and the special opportunity and responsibility to lead such a critically important mission of accessibility to higher education — and the life-changing mobility that it delivers for our thousands of students including our significant amount of first-generation students from our most diverse communities that call NJCU home — is a life’s work that I have been privileged to share in service of a community that made and shaped me. In many ways, my personal story as a first-generation son of working class Hispanic immigrants and a proud product of our public school system, is a story that is shared every day by thousands on our campus. It is a tribute to the work that NJCU and the State of New Jersey together champion.”
President Acebo opened the day of celebration with the raising of the multicultural Latino flag by the Council on Hispanic Affairs (CHA) on the front lawn of Hepburn Hall on John F. Kennedy Blvd.
A joint resolution from the State of New Jersey and The State Senate and General Assembly was bestowed by Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro on behalf of Chaparro, Assemblyman Raj Mukherji and Senator Brian P. Stack to President Acebo commending and recognizing his leadership since becoming president in January, 2023.
President Acebo surprised Assemblywoman Chaparro by presenting her with the New Jersey City University Presidential Medallion in recognition of her commitment to university, the NJCU community, Hudson County and the 33rd Legislative District since she was elected in 2015.
Secretary Bridges then joined President Acebo — the only current Latino or Hispanic president in the state of New Jersey — for a student-centered question and answer session with the university's Latino student leaders.
“Students are central to State’s work, so it’s important that we engage them to hear about their experiences and share how the state is working to champion their postsecondary success,” said Dr. Brian Bridges, New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education. “Contributions and personal stories offered by students reinforce the importance of New Jersey’s state-level investments in higher education, which are working to ensure college is more accessible and affordable for students from all backgrounds. We appreciate the opportunity to be alongside the NJCU community to mark the important celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and elevate the Latinx experience in higher education."
Secretary Bridges' participation in the student-centered conversation punctuated the state’s commitment to improving the lives of historically underserved student populations through postsecondary opportunity. Discussions allowed the group of NJCU students to share their experiences and celebrate the ways the university creates an inclusive community for its Latino students.
Engagement between students and Secretary Bridges continued at the JBJ Soul Kitchen on campus. The afternoon concluded with a tour of the Lemmerman Gallery on campus, which has the works of Latino artists on display as part of the Hispanic Heritage Month NJCU Galleries event Artistas de Latinoamérica Sueños y Posibilidades.
A two-hour discussion entitled “Restoring Diversity & Decolonization” was also held and NJCU students participated in a restorative justice circle to explore the Latino & Indigenous culture and learn how to create a more inclusive community.
About NJCU:
New Jersey City University is an institution of higher learning dedicated to the development of our students, our city, our communities, and our state. We are a game-changing force for our students and have been recognized as one of the top colleges in the nation improving their upward economic mobility. Whether enrolled in one of our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs at our three locations, NJCU students have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.
About New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education:
The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) is the leading state agency for higher education policy development and statewide program coordination in New Jersey. Under the leadership of Secretary Brian Bridges, Ph.D., the office works to enhance postsecondary opportunity with a focus on equity, access and affordability for students from all backgrounds. OSHE is dedicated to shaping a strong and inclusive higher education landscape and strategically collaborates with a diverse array of partners to inform best practice, student-centered strategies that empower success. Learn more at nj.gov/highereducation.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications (interim) | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301