President’s Cabinet
The Caldwell University President relies on a cabinet of campus leaders to achieve the University’s mission-driven goals.
Jeffrey D. Senese, Ph.D.
President
Ph.D., Michigan State University, Methods/Statistics and Criminal Justice
M.A., Indiana State University, Criminology
B.S., Penn State University, Administration of Justice
Jeffrey D. Senese, Ph.D. joined Caldwell University as its 10th President on July 10, 2023.
Prior to his appointment, Dr. Senese was the chief innovation officer at Corvus Education in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He previously served as president of Saint Leo University in Florida and as a provost and vice president for academic affairs at several institutions including Saint Leo prior to serving as its president, Cardinal Stritch University and Johnson and Wales University. He was a faculty member at Indiana University and the University of Baltimore where he was tenured. For more than a decade he has engaged in extensive research with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Defense on use of force and other topics. Dr. Senese was also a tenured faculty member and served as the chief academic officer of one of the Penn State campuses.
President Senese has extensive international work experience in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South Africa. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Penn State, a master’s degree from Indiana State and a Ph.D. in criminal justice/research methods/statistics from Michigan State. He completed the Institute for Higher Education Management and the President’s Institute at Harvard University, the Academic Management Institute at the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems in Boulder, Colorado, and the Penn State University Leadership Academy and earned certificates in fundraising from the University of Pennsylvania and Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.
He has published a methods book, dozens of articles in professional publications, and has delivered papers, book chapters and other works.
Dr. Senese is a member of the Global Listening Center’s advisory board, and has previously served on the boards of the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce including service on the Executive Committee, the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, the Sunshine State Conference President’s Council serving at the president’s council chair, Enterprise Florida and the Urban League of Milwaukee. He has been recognized by the State of Maryland, the City of Baltimore and the Baltimore City Council for his contributions during nearly a decade of service in that community and received the key to the City of Tampa for his contributions.
Dr. Senese and his wife, Alicia, have two adult children.
George Abaunza, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ph.D., Florida State University, Philosophy
M.A., Florida State University, Philosophy
B.A., Florida International University, Philosophy
Dr. Abaunza has a career of serving Catholic higher education institutions with service as the Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of the College at Mount Saint Mary College, a sister Dominican University, where he worked with their faculty, staff, deans, and Board. When Vice President Abaunza was at the College, he served as the MSCHE Liaison, helped them develop ten new programs, the Desmond Center for Community Engagement & Wellness, and successfully led the development of early-admissions and dual enrollment programs.
Before his service at Mount Saint Mary, he was the Dean of Arts & Sciences at Felician University, with service as interim dean of Education, associate dean, and department chair over twenty years at that institution. Dr. Abaunza holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Philosophy from Florida State University and earned his B.A. in Philosophy from Florida International University. He also has successfully led grant writing and execution, including National Science Foundation and National Endowment for the Humanities projects. He has extensive successful teaching experience over the past thirty years and was awarded a Faculty Excellence Award at Felician. His published research and conference work is extensive and broad-ranging. He has been honored by Kappa Delta Pi and Sigma Theta Tau and presented with the Jelani Tree Humanitarian Award.
Mark Corino, M.A.
Assistant Vice President/Director for Athletics
M.A., Caldwell University
B.A., Kean University
Mark Corino joined Caldwell University as Director of Athletics & Head Men’s Basketball Coach in August 1988. He was subsequently named Assistant Vice President in 2017. He oversaw the university’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, a process that began in 1998 and was completed in 2002. Under Mr. Corino’s leadership, Caldwell’s athletic offerings have grown to 17 intercollegiate athletic programs. In 2010, Mr. Corino was named the Jostens ECAC Administrator of the Year and was inducted into the Caldwell Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. He was honored by his CACC colleagues as he was selected as the 2016-17 and 2020-21 CACC Athletic Director of the Year. Mr. Corino also received the prestigious Garden State Award from the Collegiate Athletic Administrators of New Jersey in 2018. He remains actively involved in the intercollegiate athletics community as the current President of the CACC Directors Council and a member of the NCAA Division II Management Council since 2020.
Sheila N. O’Rourke, M.S.
Vice President for Administration and Operations
M.S., Manhattanville College
B.A., Manhattanville College
Sheila O’Rourke joined Caldwell College in 1991 working in financial aid and student employment. She was subsequently named Director and then Executive Director, Human Resources. In 2009, Ms. O’Rourke was appointed to the cabinet and charged with leading the strategic planning process. As Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and subsequently Vice President for Administration and Operations for Caldwell University, her role grew to include responsibility for information technology (IT), campus safety and security, risk management and compliance, and facilities management while continuing to oversee human resources and payroll functions. Most recently, she has chaired the COVID response team for the university. Ms. O’Rourke serves on the Board of Directors for the Employers Association of New Jersey (EANJ) and is a member of multiple professional organizations.
Jorge Rodriguez, M.A.
Vice President for Enrollment Management and Communications
M.A., St. John’s University, Government and Politics
B.S., St. John’s University, Finance
Jorge joined Caldwell University in 2021 with over 30 years of experience in higher education. He is responsible for leading new projects and initiatives to increase undergraduate and graduate enrollment, net revenues, and retention. Jorge previously served as chief enrollment officer at St. John’s University, NY, a private university with over 20,000 students where he held various leadership positions involving undergraduate, graduate, and international enrollment, financial aid and net revenue analysis, retention, student success, registration and bursars. He was instrumental in transforming the University from a commuter to a residential campus, and in implementing a financial aid and enrollment strategy to increase enrollment and net revenues while maintaining its mission of access.
Jose Rodriguez, Ed.D.
Vice President and Dean of Students
Ed.D., M.A., Columbia University
B.S., Manhattan College
Dr. Rodriguez has over 30 years of experience in student life, having previously served as Vice President and Dean of Students at St. Francis College, Albany School of Pharmacy and St. John’s University. At Caldwell University, he is responsible for leading and managing Student Engagement and Activities, Residential Life, Campus Ministry, Student Advocacy and Prevention, Health Services and Counseling Services.
Michael Galvin, CPA, CGMA
Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Finance
BS, Rutgers University
Mr. Galvin joined Caldwell University as its CFO and VP for Finance in April 2024 after a 10 year career with Montclair State University where he was appointed Interim Vice President for Finance and Treasurer in March 2022. He had started at Montclair in 2014 as its Controller and was promoted to Associate VP for Finance in 2017. Prior to joining the higher education industry, Mr. Galvin had a 26-year career in the not for profit industry serving as the VP for Finance and Treasurer for the American Lung Association and Muscular Dystrophy Association. Mr. Galvin earned his bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Rutgers University and is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Global Management Accountant in the State. Mr. Galvin is a member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Phillip A. Keefe
Vice President of Institutional Advancement
B.S., Manhattan College
pkeefe@caldwell.edu
Mr. Keefe joined Caldwell University in 2024. Prior to Caldwell he was Head of Advancement for Habitat for Humanity in Passaic County. He was formerly a senior leader at Borough of Manhattan Community College and Mercy University. He has over thirty years’ experience in senior level positions at both for profit and nonprofit organizations on a national and local level. Previous positions have included being Vice President of Wealth Management at The Bank of New York and JP Morgan. Phil is a member of Rotary International, a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, New York and National chapters, a Habitat for Humanity Home Building Volunteer, and an active member of the Friends of the Library.