Directors

Photo of Hepburn Tower Lawn

Directors

Directors

Read about each of our directors below.

ALAN CRUZ HEADSHOT

Assistant Director
GEAR UP Pre-College Program
Grossnickle Hall 418
Acruz6@njcu.edu
201-200-3146

Alan Cruz is the Assistant Director for the GEAR UP Pre-College Program at NJCU. Alan's professional journey has taught him the importance of being a leader, not a follower, and he strives to be a positive role model for all of the GEAR UP scholars. He approaches every space with a curious and open mind, always looking to learn and create his own narrative. His motto for all of the GEAR UP Program is “This investment of scholars growth and success is one that promises to pay off." With an extensive history at NJCU, Alan has his bachelor's degree in Sports Management and is currently pursuing a master's in marketing. Alan has been with the GEAR UP Program since 2021 in multiple capacities, showing his commitment and has always been available to provide support to the GEAR UP scholars and their families. His focus is seeing the GEAR UP scholars progress and enroll into college.

MELISSA FAULKNER HEADSHOT

Director
Career Services
Vodra Hall 101
mfaulkner1@njcu.edu
201-200-2181

Jennifer Fox Headshot

Director
Online Learning
Jfox@njcu.edu | online@njcu.edu
201-200-3449

Jennifer Fox has been an educational technology specialist in higher education for over 20 years. Working closely with instructors, students, higher education administration, information technology professionals, software vendors, and publisher representatives, Jennifer strives to integrate technology into best teaching and learning practices using a practical and realistic approach. Jennifer also provides the technical leadership in the implementation, maintenance, and support of NJCU’s Blackboard Learn online learning management system and third-party educational tools integrated with Blackboard.

JOHN GREW HEADSHOT SMALL

Interim Director
Research, Grants and Sponsored Programs
P - 414
jgrew@njcu.edu
201-200-3364

Dr. John Grew, Professor of Biology and Director of Research, Grants and Sponsored Programs (Interim), earned a B.S. and M.S. at the University of Massachusetts and a Ph.D. at New York University. Since joining NJCU’s faculty in 1995, he held every rank in Academic Affairs from Assistant Professor to Assistant Provost, including Interim Dean of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Grew chaired the Biology Department for 13 years, overseeing the recruitment and retention of 9 full-time faculty members, course and curriculum revisions, 2 floors of departmental facilities, major instrumentation, service agreements, laboratory safety, chemical hygiene, and many other department-specific responsibilities. His research interests are cell biology, biomaterials and the interactions between connective tissues and implant materials.

Dr. Grew is a prolific grant writer, having attracted more than $28 million to date for NJCU’s STEM and other programs. He led projects that were supported by grants and subawards from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Education Department, and N.J. Department of Education. Dr. Grew contributes to many institutional improvement and “student success” projects at NJCU; the Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society; transfer initiatives; and strategic, technology and facilities planning. He serves as on accreditation self-study teams for NJCU and is a peer reviewer for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Craig Katz Headshot

Director, Office of International Programs

Craig Katz has been Director of New Jersey City University’s Office of International Programs since 2010, providing support services to the University’s international students and scholars and managing NJCU’s exchange programs and Study Abroad programs. He has lived and worked in a number of countries and has been an English as a Second Language teacher and ESL program director, an International Student Advisor, and a Study Abroad coordinator at several colleges and universities in the US. Mr. Katz has a Bachelors degree in History from Rutgers University and a Masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) from Temple University.

Dr. Cora Lagos

Co-Director
Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies
K-202
clagos@njcu.edu
201-200-2012

Dr. Cora Lagos is chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures and co-director of the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies. She received a Licenciatura en Letras from the Universidad de Buenos Aires., an MA in Latin American literature from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a PhD in cultural studies from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She has published a book, Confrontando imaginarios: oralidad, pintura y escritura en el México colonial, on the examination of texts which arise out of the conditions of the first encounters in Mesoamerica. Her most recent research and her teaching focus on colonial and contemporary Latin American and Latinx literature, especially on themes of gender and subalternity.

SABRINA MAGLULIO HEADSHOT

Director
Opportunity Scholarship Program- Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF)
Vodra Hall 211
smagliulo@njcu.edu
201-200-2395

Biography for Academic Affairs Webpage
Sabrina currently serves as the Director of the Opportunity Scholarship Program/Educational Opportunity Fund (OSP/EOF). As a proud EOF alumna and first-generation college student who knows firsthand the power of influence one can have on another person’s trajectory, she has devoted her career to supporting students and clients in overcoming obstacles to create a life of opportunities that were not afforded to previous generations. With fifteen years of experience in higher education, she has had the privilege of serving as director of EOF and director of the Center for Student and Academic Success at Hudson County Community College; adjunct professor and clinical supervisor for the Counseling Program at NJCU; and EOF program specialist and EOF interim associate director at The College of New Jersey. Prior to transitioning into higher education, she served as a mental health clinician in outpatient, non-profit, and educational settings in various urban cities. Sabrina holds a Master of Science in Education in Psychological Services from the University of Pennsylvania, an Educational Specialist degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The College of New Jersey; as well as a NJ license in Marriage and Family Therapy. As a Ph.D. student enrolled in the Family Science and Human Development program at Montclair State University, her research interests include intersectionality of first-generation college students, trauma-informed care, and community cultural wealth (CCW).

ESTHER NIR HEADSHOT

Director
NJCU Honors Program
Enir@njcu.edu
201-200-3018

Esther Nir serves as the NJCU Honors Program Director. She is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and the Coach and Coordinator for NJCU’s Mock Trial Team. Esther has been actively engaged with the Honors Program since joining NJCU in 2016, serving as a member of the Honors Program Committee and creating and teaching in a learning community for Honors Program sophomores. She is actively involved in CEL initiatives on campus and partners with members of the Hudson County judiciary to run an interactive CEL court program for Honors Program and Criminal Justice students. Esther received her Juris Doctor from Fordham Law School and her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University. She served as a prosecutor in Queens County, New York. Esther’s research interests include sentencing disparities, police misconduct, and community engaged learning initiatives. She specializes in qualitative research methods and interviews judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys in connection to her research efforts. Her research can be found in various criminal justice, research methodology, and teaching journals.

headshot Nikketta Pressley-Walsh

Nikketta Pressley-Walsh

NAVIN SAIBOO HEADSHOT

University Registrar
H-214
nsaiboo@njcu.edu
201-200-3048

Dr. Navin Saiboo is an accomplished professional with over 20 years of experience in the field of higher education, specializing in student records and registration. He holds a Ph.D. with a focus on Higher Education Administration, which enables him to approach his role with a deep understanding of the complex dynamics of university systems. His passion for helping students succeed drives his commitment to maintaining accurate and confidential student records, ensuring compliance with academic policies and procedures, and facilitating efficient registration processes.

Beyond his administrative responsibilities, Dr. Saiboo has an unwavering commitment to the success of students. He collaborates with university stakeholders to ensure that students receive the support and guidance they need throughout their academic journey. His passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion guides his efforts to ensure equal access to educational opportunities for all students.

Fred Smith headshot

Director
Library Services
Fsmith@njcu.edu
201-200-3474

Mr. Fred Smith is Director of Library Services at the Congressman Frank J. Guarini Library; he has been employed in various positions in the Library for over thirty years. He has memberships in such diverse organizations as the American Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, the Red Dragon Society, the Park History Honor Society, and Beta Phi Mu (library science honor society). He received his undergraduate degree in history, a master's degree in medieval history along with additional studies toward a doctoral degree, all from New York University; he possesses a master’s degree in library service from Columbia University. He was awarded multiple scholarships at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; in addition, he was awarded the Nathan A Schoengood Award for Interest and Achievement in European History and an NEH subvention for archival fieldwork.

LEWIS SPEARS HEADSHOT

Director
Lee F. Hagan Center
Library, Room 225
Lspears@njcu.edu
201-200-2457

M CHRISTINA ROLON

Director
TRiO Learning Community Program
MROLON@njcu.edu
201-200-2214

Christina is a first-generation college student who graduated from NJCU with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Early Childhood Education. Due to her passion of positively impacting others, she continued her education and obtained her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from NYACK College. With over ten years of experience working with first-generation college students, she is driven to provide them with supportive services that will enable them to succeed in life.

YUGENG WEI HEADSHOT

Director, Center for Teaching and Learning

Dr. Yufeng Wei is the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Columbia University. He joined NJCU in 2015, and he is now an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Dr. Wei has been dedicated to transforming the educational experience of historically marginalized students at NJCU, introducing evidence-based practices that promote student learning outcomes. He is a participant in the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL) STEM Leadership Institute, Knowledge Xchange Institute, and Teaching to Increase Diversity and Equity in STEM (TIDES) Institute. He co-led the NJCU’s participation in AAC&U’s Project to Advance Civic Evidence in Higher Education. He is a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award by the National Society of Leadership and Success. He is a current member of the Maximizing Access Committee (formerly Minority Affairs Committee) of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). He received several grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), with the most recent ongoing NSF grant on “Building Capacity to Develop Community-Engaged STEM Learning as an Institutional Transformative Mechanism”.

Email: CTL@njcu.edu
201-200-3027

Midori Yoshimoto headshot

Gallery Director
Visual Arts
A-120
201-200-2197

JACOB ZUMOFF

Co-Director
Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies
K-505
Jzumoff@njcu.edu
201-200-3256