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

[email protected]

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

[email protected]

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.

Bob Herr

Vice President for Enrollment Management

B.A. Susquehanna University, History

rherr@caldwell.edu

Bob Joined Caldwell University in 2026 bringing over 35 years of admissions and enrollment management experience in higher education.  He oversees undergraduate and graduate admissions, student financial services, and assists with retention and net revenue initiatives.  Bob most recently served as the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management at St.  Joseph’s University, New York.  Prior to his tenure there, he was the Vice President for Enrollment Management at Paul Smith’s College and Drew University.  He also previously worked at Wagner College, Seton Hall University, The George Washington University, NJIT, and Stevenson University. Bob serves as the co-chair for the School-College-CBO Relations Committee for the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC) as well as the Admissions Practices Liaison to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

Anthony Grosso

Dean of Student Life

M.A., Montclair State University, Educational Leadership
B.F.A., Montclair State University

Mr. Grosso joined Caldwell University as its Director of Admissions in 2024 after a more than 20-year career in public education across New Jersey. He served as a classroom teacher, school principal, and superintendent in multiple school districts, where he focused on building supportive learning environments that addressed the diverse academic needs of students.

During his tenure as a superintendent, Mr. Grosso collaborated with Caldwell University to establish a dual enrollment program, providing high school students with early access to college-level coursework and a head start toward higher education. His career reflects a strong commitment to expanding educational access and strengthening pathways from secondary to postsecondary education.

Mr. Grosso earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University. 

Michael Galvin, CPA, CGMA

Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Finance

BS, Rutgers University

[email protected]

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.