LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

DEAR CALDWELL FAMILY,

In this issue we share the forward-thinking, innovative work of our students and faculty. For example, our honors program, led by Professors Stephanie Sitnick and Tara Harney-Mahajan, is full to capacity as students desire to be a part of an advanced community in which they develop as scholars and researchers.

We hope you enjoy features on faculty members Professor Ranjit Nair, Ph.D., who is at the cutting edge in preparing his students, future leaders in the School of Business and Computer Science, to be resilient and adaptable for the future of the changing workplace, and Henrietta Genfi, Ph.D., who leads her team in addressing students’ needs in the full-service, all-hands-on-deck Academic Success Center.

The University has been busy identifying other opportunities for innovation and growth. The Strategic Planning Committee is developing a five-year path forward for the University, which will be completed by the end of this term. The newly formed Self-Study Steering Committee is embarking on a comprehensive two-year review process that will not only determine compliance with Middle States standards, but will identify opportunities for improvement that are linked to the new strategic plan.

We are happy to continue forging relationships within our local area including the launch of our Counseling Art Therapy Community Treatment Center, which has begun serving adult clients. We have partnered with the Passaic public schools for DataJam in which Business Professor Sal Ferraro is leading our students as they mentor high school students in learning about business analytics, a flourishing industry for which we now have an undergraduate major.

Caldwell’s inaugural Season of Hope, our year-end giving season, capped off at the beginning of this year, and we are very grateful for the response of our alumni, donors and friends who continue to provide essential philanthropic support for student scholarships and experiences. Thank you!

The University is welcoming new Board of Trustees members and new faculty and staff members who are bringing their innovative plans and ideas to campus. Among those, Jose Rodriguez, Vice President for Student Life, and Scott Koskoski, Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs, joined the cabinet, and Christina Bryant, Ph.D. is our new campus minister. Mass is celebrated in our beautiful Sister Mary Dominic Tweedus Chapel on Sundays at 6 p.m. throughout the semesters. Prayer is a foundational Dominican pillar of our campus life. We know the power of collective prayer, as the nation witnessed, for example, with NFL player Damar Hamlin.

I am looking forward to seeing you at our spring events including the annual Research and Creative Arts Day, which has become very popular in showcasing our student and faculty innovation, and the June Dwyer Castano Veritas Awards when we will honor outstanding alumni who have spent decades trailblazing and mentoring others to do the same.

Saint Catherine of Siena said, “For the servant of God every place is the right place, and every time is the right time.” For all who are with us on this journey, thank you! Now as ever, Caldwell University is our place, and this is our time for supporting students in their perennial drive for innovation and discovery.

Wishing you and yours all the best in 2023,