Holiday Card

Wishing the NJCU Community Happy Holidays


Dear Members and Friends of the NJCU Community,

While the 2020 holiday season will undoubtedly look different this year, the meaning and significance of this magical time of the year is steadfast. Even in an unimaginably difficult year, please consider all that is good in the world, in our lives, and with our loved ones.

“The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our blessings and seek out ways to make life better for those around us.” – Anonymous

As we break for the holidays and the winter, please celebrate this joyous time of year while being mindful of keeping yourself and your loves ones safe.

From my family to yours, I wish you and your family peace and joy this holiday season and a Happy New Year.

Sue Henderson, Ph.D.
President

NJCU NEWS & INITIATIVES

Bob Antonicello
NJCU Receives $200,000 Gift from Bob Antonicello
NJCU President Sue Henderson has announced that the University has received a gift in the amount of $200,000 from Jersey City native Robert P. Antonicello — a prominent figure in Jersey City real estate for several decades and a member of the NJCU Foundation Board of Directors.

Antonicello’s generosity will support its campaign to develop its Center for Music, Dance and Theater (CMDT). It is the second substantial gift Antonicello has made in the last five years.
#GivingTuesday
#NJCUGivingTuesday Results in Record Donations
#NJCUGivingTuesday was a monumental success on December 1 as the NJCU community displayed its profound generosity by shattering the #GivingTuesday records with 211 donors contributing $54,737 —  36.8 percent higher than the starting goal of raising $40,000. All proceeds benefited the NJCU Fund, which supports our students’ immediate and greatest needs. The $54,737 included two $10,000 matching gifts from NJCU Foundation Board Members Stephen Hess and Edward P. O’Connor. 
2020 STARS Awards
NJCU Honors Faculty and Staff at 2020 STARS Awards
The NJCU Foundation Board and President Sue Henderson honored the faculty and staff of the university for their service and outstanding achievements on December 3 during the 7th Annual Special Thanks and Recognition of Service (STARS) Awards. The event was held in a hybrid virtual event format on campus. Watch the awards broadcast.

The Information Technology Department was awarded the Making It Happen Award while Delia Matos was bestowed the Presidential Award: Top Knight. The Rising Star went to Walter Nugent while Ana Aponte was named the Hidden Hero. The Community Service Award was presented to Robert Quinones for his work with food insecurity.

Milestone Awards for Continuous Service and Retiree Awards were also presented.
Public Safety Banner
NJCU Campus Safety Ranked Among Top 15 in America
New Jersey City University is one of the safest urban campuses in the nation, and the NJCU Department of Public Safety has been recognized for its efforts in increasing the safety and security of the campus community.

NJCU's Department of Public Safety were ranked No. 2 in the state and No. 15 in the nation in the 2020 Top 25 Safe Campus Summit list recently unveiled as part of The National Campus Safety Summit.
NJCU was the highest ranked public school between 5,000 and 10,000 students in the nation.
2020-Platinum NJCU Homeland Security Awards
NJCU Security Studies Receives Homeland Security Award
The NJCU Professional Security Studies department has received the 2020 ASTORS Homeland Security Award for Cyber Defense, National Security and Intelligence programs.

NJCU received a Platinum Award in the Excellence in Public category as announced on December 11 by American Security Today. NJCU is the only institution of higher education in the nation honored by the organization.
NJCU School of Business (800x460)
NJCU and Mercer County College Enter into Transfer Agreement
New Jersey City University and the NJCU School of Business have strengthened its long-standing relationship with Mercer County Community College (MCCC) by entering into a transfer agreement.

MCCC students who complete an associate degree in Business Administration will be admitted with full junior status to NJCU’s School of Business. Students can plan their transfer during their first semester at MCCC in preparation for the completion of their associate degree.

NJCU ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Nikki Taheri `98, FastSigns
Monthly Endowed Scholarship Focus
Nearly 30 years after emigrating to the United States from Iran, Narges “Nikki” Taheri, ’98, was drawn to give back to her alma mater. In 2019, the owner of FASTSIGNS on Broadway in Bayonne, N.J. created the Narges Taheri '98 Endowed Scholarship, with the assistance of the NJCU Foundation. The $5,000 annual scholarship benefits students in a creative field, particularly those majoring in art.

“I am so grateful, being at this place in my life,” said Taheri. “Starting this scholarship is in alignment with my purpose of being a person of service. As an alumnus, sharing my triumphs, my challenges and hardships as well as my experiences can help others emulate my successes while helping them avoid pitfalls.”
Blandine Kenah CLE
Young Alumni Feature: Blandine Kenah `20
You can’t help but smile when you meet Blandine Kenah `20. And nothing makes her happier than making others faces light up. Her innate desire to volunteer and give back to others is drawn from how she was treated when she emigrated to the United States from her native Cameroon in 2013, and first-hand experiences here at NJCU.

Because of the experiences she had as an undergraduate in the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) and as a student in the University Ambassador program, Kenah, a May 2020 graduate of NJCU with a degree in Psychology, joined the staff of NJCU’s Development office as assistant director of annual giving on September 14.

NJCU CENTER for the ARTS

Panepinto Galleries is partnering with Canopy by Hilton
Call for Art: Round 2; Panepinto Galleries at Canopy Hotel
Panepinto Galleries is partnering with Canopy by Hilton to support the robust culture of the Arts District to provide a new hub for the fast-growing creative community in Jersey City. As a tribute to the Powerhouse Arts District, Canopy by Hilton is showcasing the exceptional work of talented local artists selected by the hotel’s Art Curator, Stefania Panepinto. The NJCU Center for the Arts invites students, alumni, faculty and staff to submit work for potential inclusion in the program, which will include a digital installation display. Digital work, mixed media and photography are among the mediums being accepted. The deadline for submission is January 5, 2021 at 5 p.m.         Learn more about how to make a submission.
RAE Comics
NJCU Center for the Arts to Feature The Art of Comics
Have you ever wanted to be a comic book artist or book illustrator? If you love comic books, you’ll want to mark Sunday, January 31 at 3 p.m. on your calendar for a special free, virtual event discussion “The Art of Comics”. The NJCU Center for the Arts has gathered some of the best artists for an afternoon of conversation and art. Join the event for an inside look at the world of creation, publishing and promotion to fans!

The event will feature artists TJ Sterling, `10, NJCU Professor Dennis Dittrich and Tom Daly. It will be moderated by writer Edie Nugent. Sterling is a 2010 NJCU alumni with a BFA in Illustration. Today, he is the president and lead artist for raecomics.com.
Visit NJCU.edu/arts for more information.

CITY of JERSEY CITY UPDATE

City of Jersey City
Earlier this month we marked the one-year anniversary of the City of Jersey City suffering the worst domestic terror attack in the history of the state. We will continue to remember and honor JCPD Detective Joseph Seals, Mindy Ferencz, Douglas Miguel Rodriguez, and Moshe Deutsch, who were lost on December 10, 2019. The Wall Street Journal discussed how the city is better prepared, its police department is better trained, and community leaders are further engaged to counter hate of all forms in Jersey City.

Mayor Steven Fulop said: “It was clear that Jersey City would not let the actions of two people who were filled with hate define who we are. While that day highlighted the worst traits that are prevalent in some people, it also highlighted the outstanding community and city we live in. Our city rallied together in the days and months after. The men and women of the JCPD showed unparalleled bravery that day and I thank each and every one of them. Through it all, the police department continues to keep our City and residents safe. Despite a tough year, Jersey City is stronger than ever before and we remain an amazing, diverse city with different communities working together toward building an even better future.”
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