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4th Annual NJ Pathways Summit

  • June 09, 2026
Registration
Watch Video
Agenda
Summit Speakers

Thank You for Attending the Third Annual NJ Pathways Summit

Download Our Summit Materials; Including our Official Summit Program, NJ Pathways Industry Booklets, 
Summit Photos, and National Speaker Presentations

Official Program
Industry Booklets
Summit Photos
Speaker Presentations

Details

Registration
  • In Person
  • June 09, 2026
  • $49.00
  • Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
    1000 Boardwalk
    Atlantic City, NJ 08401
  • njpathways@njccc.org
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NJ Pathways to Career Opportunities Summit
June 09, 2026

In a time of rapid economic change and evolving industry needs, innovative pathways connect skills, credentials, and upward mobility. Join us on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City for the 4th Annual New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Summit, where we’ll explore how education and industry are working together to power New Jersey’s talent pipeline.

The New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities initiative (NJ Pathways) is a statewide model for aligning education with workforce demands. Through collaboration among Community Colleges, employers, labor unions, high schools, four-year institutions, workforce partners, and government agencies, NJ Pathways is expanding access to new skills and credentials of value that lead to meaningful careers and economic mobility.

NJCCOS Highlights (15)

The NJ Pathways Summit on June 9, 2026, kicks off the multi-day New Jersey Community College Opportunity Summit (June 9–11, 2026).

At this year’s Summit, you’ll experience:
When pathways are clear, aligned, and inclusive—learners are empowered, businesses grow, and New Jersey leads through innovation.

WHO ATTENDS | This is your opportunity to join together to help create a more prosperous and equitable New Jersey:

  • Community College Presidents & Trustees
  • Executive College Staff
  • College Faculty
  • Community Leaders
  • Philanthropic Leaders
  • Industry Leaders
  • Labor Union Leaders
  • Government Officials
Become A Partner

Summit Speakers

AARON FICHTNER, PHD

President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges

Catherine Starghill

CATHERINE STARGHILL, ESQ

Vice President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges and Executive Director, New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development

Chris Emigholz

Chief Government Affairs Officer, New Jersey Business and Industry Association

Dr. Yolanda Hutchinson Allen, D.P.A.

Dr. Yolanda Hutchinson Allen, D.P.A.

Assistant Commissioner of Workforce Development, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

Dr. Michael Avaltroni

Dr. Michael Avaltroni

President, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Chair, NJ Presidents’ Council

David Cole

David Cole

Chief Innovation Officer, NJ Innovation Authority

Margo Chaly

Margo Chaly

Secretary, Office of the Secretary of Higher Education

James Horne

James Horne

President & CEO of United Way of Greater Union County (NJ).

Dr. Anthony Iacono

Dr. Anthony Iacono

President, County College of Morris

Rachel Kahn, EdD

Senior Director, Community College Growth Engine, Education Design Lab

Dr. Jonathan Koppell

Dr. Jonathan Koppell

President, Montclair State University

Liat Krawczyk

Liat Krawczyk

Executive Director, NJ AI Hub

Francis Kuhn

Executive Director, Atlantic County Workforce Development Board

Dr. Micheal McDonough

Dr. Michael McDonough

President, Raritan Valley Community College and Chair, New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development

Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin

Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin

President, UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ

Dr. Nicol Nicola

Dr. Nicol Nicola

Director of Economic and Demographic Research at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

Dr. Lovell Pugh-Bassett

Dr. Lovell Pugh-Bassett

President, Camden County College

Senator Andrew Zwicker

Senator Andrew Zwicker

NJ State Senator and Head Public Engagement and Development, Princeton Plasma Physics Lab

Agenda

June 09, 2026

Breakfast Buffet (7:30am) 
 
Welcoming Remarks (9:00am)

  • Catherine Starghill, Esq., Vice President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges and Executive Director, New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development

  • Chris Emigholz, Chief Government Affairs Officer, NJ Business and Industry Association

  • Michael McDonough, President, Raritan Valley Community College and Chair, New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development

  • Margo Chaly, Secretary, Office of the Secretary of Higher Education

  • Julie Diaz, Deputy Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

 
Building Careers Through Credentials (9:45 AM)

  • Rachel Khan, Senior Director, Community College Growth Engine, Education Design Lab

Pathways Projects Networking (10:45 AM)
 
Data Driving Workforce Strategy (11:30 AM)
  • Dr. Nicol Nicola, Director, Division of Economic & Demographic Research, Office of Research and Information, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Lunch (12:15 AM)
A Conversation of Presidents – What More Can We Do to Collaborate, Align, and Stack for Student Pathways (12:45 PM)
  • Dr. Michael Avaltroni, President, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Chair, NJ Presidents’ Council
  • Dr. Jonathan Koppell, President, Montclair State University
  • Dr. Lovell Pugh-Bassett, President, Camden County College
  • Dr. Anthony Iacono, President, County College of Morris
  • Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin, President, UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ
 
AI in Action: Building New Jersey’s Innovation Economy (2:00 PM)
  • Liat Krawczyk, Executive Director, NJ AI Hub
  • David Cole, Chief Innovation Officer, NJ Innovation Authority
  • Senator Zwicker, NJ State Senator and Head Public Engagement and Development, Princeton Plasma Physics Lab
 
Pathways in Action: Projects Driving Impact (3:00 PM)
  • NJ Micro Business Hydroponics Network
  • Pathways to Careers in Teaching
 
Pathways Projects Networking (3:45 PM)
 
Partnerships Powering Pathways (4:15 PM)
  • Fran Kuhn, Executive Director, Atlantic County Workforce Development Board
  • Retired Judge Sandson, Superior Court of New Jersey
  • James Horne, President, Junior Achievement of NJ
 
Closing Remarks (5:00 PM)
  • Catherine Frugé Starghill, Esq, Vice President and Chief Workforce Innovation Officer, NJ Council of County Colleges
  • Aaron Fichtner, Ph.D., President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges
The 4th Annual NJ Pathways Summit Focuses on Skills, Credentials, and Mobility for New Jersey’s Workforce: 
  1. Strengthen skills by aligning education and workforce training with the evolving needs of industry.
  2. Expand credentials by embedding industry-valued credentials across academic and workforce programs.
  3. Advance mobility  by empowering learners and strengthening collaboration among education, employers, and workforce partners across New Jersey.
NJCCC-Group

Meet National and State Experts

Join us on June 9, 2026, or a full day of insights from national and state experts as they share strategies for strengthening the connection between education, skills development, and career opportunities.

Together, we’ll explore how aligned pathways can expand access to credentials of value and support economic opportunity for learners across New Jersey.

Event Registration

Please use our official Eventbrite registration page to register yourself and any other individuals you are planning on registering. You will be able to add multiple attendees during one session.

Register Now

Accommodations at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Note: Room Block is Open Until Sunday, May 09, 2026

To reserve a room for the conference,  you will need to book your hotel room directly through the Hard Rock’s website with this link.

You can also inquire about a reservation by calling 1-609-449-1000.

Reservations for rooms accessible to guests with disabilities may be made in the same manner.

Directions & Parking

1900 Pacific Ave.
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401

Google Map Directions

The Hard Rock offers a self-park garage for all attendees, the parking rate is updated weekly. We recommend calling the hotel the week of your reservation to confirm the price of parking. The parking fee is to be paid at the time of arrival. The garage is located on Pacific Avenue, stretching from Virginia Avenue to S. Pennsylvania Avenue.

Here is a map of the Hard Rock Atlantic City. The event will take place on the 2nd Floor Meeting Level. Registration will be in the Seminole Ballroom.

FAQs

Where do I register for a room?

Click Here

PLEASE NOTE: The NJ Pathways Summit is a part of a larger three-day New Jersey Community College Opportunity Summit (NJCCO Summit), taking place at the Hard Rock from June 9-11, 2026. If you’re registering for the NJCCO Summit, you don’t need to register for the NJ Pathways Summit (it’s included on Day 1).
 
To register for the full 3-day NJ Community College Opportunity Summit (which includes the NJ Pathways Summit on Day 1), Click here.

Where do attendees park?

Click Here

We understand that circumstances may change, and we strive to accommodate attendees to the best of our ability. Please review our refund policy outlined below.
 
For tickets that were paid through Eventbrite, a refund of the full registration fee will be given for cancellations made by May 28, 2026. To cancel your registration and request a refund, log into Eventbrite, go to tickets, find your order you want refunded, then select “Request a Refund”.
 
The following applies for all attendees: badge sharing, splitting and reprints are strictly prohibited.
 
NJCCC regrets that refunds will not be given for no-shows. NJCCC is not responsible for any change/cancellation charges assessed by airlines, travel agents, hotels or other vendors.

Payment in full is required at the time of registration, with the exception of New Jersey’s Community College attendees. If this applies to you, please reach out to your president’s office prior to registering for further instructions.

You will receive an email confirmation of your registration from Eventbrite (please add noreply@event.eventbrite.com to your safe senders list). If you have not received a confirmation within 10 business days after registering, please contact njcommunitycolleges@njccc.org.

Registration, attendance at and participation in NJCCC events constitutes an agreement by the registrant to the use and distribution (both now and in the future) of the registrant or attendee’s image or voice in photographs, videotapes, electronic reproductions and audiotapes of such events and activities by NJCCC and other third parties, including but not limited to the venue. Registration for this event may include technology that monitors your activities throughout the conference, such as session attendance and booths visited.

Please email Lauren Purnell (lpurnell@njcommunitycolleges.org) if you have any dietary restrictions.

Please email njpathways@njccc.org if you have any further questions about the NJ Community College Opportunity Summit.

Dr. Yolanda Hutchinson Allen, D.P.A.

Dr. Yolanda Hutchinson Allen, D.P.A.

Assistant Commissioner of Workforce Development, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

Dr. Michael Avaltroni

Dr. Michael Avaltroni

President, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Chair, NJ Presidents’ Council

Michael J. Avaltroni was appointed the ninth president in Fairleigh Dickinson’s history on April 26, 2023. A long-time faculty member and administrator, he had previously been serving as Interim President since January 1, 2023. 

Avaltroni is a 1999 graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, receiving a B.S. in chemistry, summa cum laude. He is the first FDU graduate to serve as the institution’s president. He went on to complete an M.A. in chemistry in 2001 and a Ph.D. in chemistry in 2003, both from Princeton University. His research interest is in surface science, specifically focused on surface modification of titanium materials to facilitate cell attachment, biomineralization and interfacial adhesion in biomedical devices. His research in this area has led to multiple publications and 10 United States patents. In addition, the technology he has created in this field of study has been licensed for the creation of two biotechnology companies, Orthobond, Inc., Princeton, N.J., and Aculon, Inc., San Diego, Calif. 

Since joining the University in 2003, Avaltroni has worked in a number of different capacities, including as a faculty member and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and he was instrumental in the process to create the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (now the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences). In 2009, he began building the school’s curriculum, experiential learning and programmatic infrastructure as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. He took over as Interim Dean in 2012 and was appointed permanently to the position of Dean in Spring 2013. Since creating the blueprint for the school in 2009, he saw the program accept its first class, worked to put together a first-rate team of faculty and staff, built strong relationships with the pharmacy and health-care communities across the state and the region, and moved the program through full accreditation status with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). He also led efforts to expand health-science offerings across the University through programs in public health, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy and social work. 

Avaltroni was appointed University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs in January 2022. In this role, he laid the groundwork for new community college partnerships; presided over the development of the Hispanic Center and Center for Student Success (which recently had two of its programs nationally recognized by Excelencia in Education); and coordinated the formation of a new academic leadership team. He further created the Transformational Excellence Awards to honor those faculty and staff who have gone beyond the ordinary to serve FDU’s students. 

Since becoming president, Avaltroni has led many important initiatives, including engaging the FDU community in the strategic-planning process that led to the development of the plan titled “FDU Will Soar.” Driving the planning process has been a renewed emphasis on putting students first and on prioritizing those items and initiatives that will most significantly and positively impact students. 

Among other notable recent initiatives during his tenure, the University created FDU Health, a new division uniting programs in the health sciences. It also established Lifelong Learning at FDU, an initiative to educate across the lifespan. In 2025, Avaltroni announced the launch of FDU HealthPath Forward, a new strategic initiative that will build a coalition of institutions to help develop healthcare-related programs, enhance workforce training, foster innovation in the sector and position the campuses as hubs for lifelong learning, health and wellbeing. 

FDU also successfully concluded the capital campaign “One University, Many Dreams,” which raised approximately $90 million, easily surpassing its original goal of $75 million. The University introduced a new fundraising campaign, “Students First,” focusing exclusively on raising money to help students have access to and better afford an FDU education. In 2025, Avaltroni announced the launch of the Humanics Innovation Challenge Fund to blend technological innovation with human literacy, particularly in healthcare education and delivery. 

Active and influential in the higher education sector in support of the need for changes to meet the challenges of today, Avaltroni now also serves as the chair of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council. He has been annually named to the ROI Influencers: Higher Education Power List and cited as an “Outspoken new leader who brings new perspective to higher education. Simply put, he’s not afraid to say the sector needs to modernize.”  

He was named to the 2026 Power Players list and one of the Best Higher Education Leaders in 2026 by BINJE. He was also selected as an NJBIZ 2024 and 2025 Education Power List honoree and in 2024 was named to Innovate New Jersey’s “Innovate 100 List.”  In 2024, the Teaneck Chamber of Commerce honored him as “Educator of the Year.” Over the past several years, he was also selected by NJBIZ as one of New Jersey’s 40 Under 40 and the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences was recognized multiple times by NJBIZ Magazine as the leader for the #1 Best Place to Work in New Jersey. Additionally, he has received awards from the New Jersey Pharmacists Association, the New Jersey Society for Health Systems Pharmacists, the NJBIZ Healthcare Heroes event and by SmartCEO Magazine for its Corporate Culture Awards. He currently resides in Marlboro, N.J., with his wife, Jill, and their three children.  

David Cole

David Cole

Chief Innovation Officer, NJ Innovation Authority

Since 2024, Dave Cole has served as the State of New Jersey’s Chief Innovation Officer and a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. In this capacity, Dave focuses on enhancing innovation in government and in the Garden State’s economy. Using better data, collective intelligence, agile technology, and cutting-edge tools such as AI, the New Jersey Innovation Authority leads projects, designs policies, and advises agencies on innovative strategies to improve the lives of New Jerseyans. 

Dave first joined the team in 2020 to help the State respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and served as a technology co-lead for the State’s COVID-19 vaccination program. He also co-founded and led the team’s Resident Experience Initiative, collaborating with state agencies to design and implement digital services in support of new policies and programs. 

Prior to this, Dave was the Vice President of Strategy and Operations at an AI-based technology startup, overseeing international operations and business development. He played a key role in growing the company from 20 to over 500 employees, launching and managing teams in four countries, and securing multiple rounds of capital investment. 

During President Obama’s first term, Dave served as a Senior Advisor to the Chief Information Officer and Deputy Director of New Media. Notably, he introduced open source technology to the White House, influencing other agencies to adopt similar approaches. Dave also served as a software engineer at 18F, a digital consultancy within the US General Services Administration, where he designed and launched the Federalist platform, supporting federal agencies in creating over 130 modern and efficient websites. 

Dave graduated from Rutgers University and is a native of New Jersey. 

Margo Chaly

Margo Chaly

Secretary, Office of the Secretary of Higher Education

As Acting Secretary of Higher Education, she is responsible for statewide higher education policy coordination and planning. Ms. Chaly brings extensive experience from her five years with the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) under the Murphy Administration, where she advanced efforts to make college more affordable and accessible for residents. She served as Chief of Staff from February 2021 and was later appointed by Governor Phil Murphy to lead the Authority as Executive Director in March 2024. Under her leadership, HESAA awarded close to $1.4 billion in financial aid through grants and scholarships to eligible students attending colleges and universities across the Garden State. She also advanced targeted strategies to strengthen workforce pipelines and retention in high-need career fields. Between 2024 and 2026, the Authority committed $19.9 million to student loan relief and helped students finance training in critical fields with zero-interest, fee-free loans offered by the first-in-the-nation Pay It Forward program. During her tenure at HESAA, New Jersey remained a national leader in FAFSA completion and in the amount of need-based aid it awards to students.

Ms. Chaly dedicates her personal time to uplifting and empowering communities. She is a founding member of AMIGAS, Inc., an organization that supports women through networking and service opportunities. She also serves on the Board of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, where she co-chaired the statewide Women’s Empowerment Leadership & Law Conference and volunteers with the American Dream Pipeline mentorship program for high school students. In recognition of her contributions, Ms. Chaly was named a Top Lawyer Under 40 by the Hispanic National Bar Association in February 2025. Her commitment to public service was sparked while participating in the New Jersey Governor’s School scholars program as a rising high school junior.

Prior to her service in state government, Ms. Chaly was Manager of Litigation and Operations at a law firm and spent more than a decade working for multinational insurance companies.

Ms. Chaly, a first-generation Guatemalan-American and lifelong New Jersey resident, holds a Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Ithaca College.

James Horne

James Horne

President & CEO of United Way of Greater Union County (NJ)

James has over two decades of executive experience directing human service organizations and has spent the past 17 years as President & CEO of United Way of Greater Union County (NJ). During his tenure, James has created an extraordinary record of developing strong community partnerships, increasing organizational efficiencies, building, and retaining board members and financial competence. He has worked hard to maintain the delicate balance of dedication to mission, the need for bold entrepreneurial initiatives, and the application of sound business management needed to run a successful nonprofit organization. 

Dave first joined the team in 2020 to help the State respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and served as a technology co-lead for the State’s COVID-19 vaccination program. He also co-founded and led the team’s Resident Experience Initiative, collaborating with state agencies to design and implement digital services in support of new policies and programs. 

Prior to this, Dave was the Vice President of Strategy and Operations at an AI-based technology startup, overseeing international operations and business development. He played a key role in growing the company from 20 to over 500 employees, launching and managing teams in four countries, and securing multiple rounds of capital investment. 

During President Obama’s first term, Dave served as a Senior Advisor to the Chief Information Officer and Deputy Director of New Media. Notably, he introduced open source technology to the White House, influencing other agencies to adopt similar approaches. Dave also served as a software engineer at 18F, a digital consultancy within the US General Services Administration, where he designed and launched the Federalist platform, supporting federal agencies in creating over 130 modern and efficient websites. 

Dave graduated from Rutgers University and is a native of New Jersey. 

Dr. Anthony Iacono

Dr. Anthony Iacono

President, County College of Morris

Dr. Anthony J. Iacono, a community college graduate, became the third president of County College of Morris (CCM) on September 1, 2016. He is committed to the mission of community colleges because of their ability to strengthen lives and communities through superior academic programs that are affordable as well as their ability to create a pipeline of highly skilled workers for business and industry. 

Rachel Kahn, EdD

Senior Director, Community College Growth Engine, Education Design Lab

Rachel is delighted to bring her background in higher education administration, workforce development, and project management as well as her love for relationship building and storytelling to the Education Design Lab as Senior Director of the Community College Growth Engine (CCGE). 

Rachel began her career in higher education in 2014, and has since held a variety of administrative roles with several higher education institutions. It was during her time serving as the Director of Career Services for Unity College that Rachel discovered her passion for connecting students to gainful employment, and focusing on the outcomes of higher education.  She continued fostering that passion in a cross-functional capacity in the roles of Chief Advancement Officer and Chief of Staff at Unity College as the College leaned heavily into focusing on student outcomes through the lenses of student-centered design and equity. 

Just prior to joining the Lab, Rachel served as the Dean of Workforce and Professional Solutions at Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC). Rooted in her personal mission to help address inequities in access to higher education, the community college setting allowed her to engage in work that directly addressed the needs of New Majority Learners. It was here that Rachel first connected with the Lab while leading EMCC’s participation in the BRIDGES Rural project, geared towards strengthening the capacity of rural community colleges to serve as critical economic growth engines for their learners and communities. 

This engagement with the Lab seamlessly paired Rachel’s professional background with her personal mission in a way that was enlightening.  Now, as a member of the Lab, Rachel is excited to support CCGE and effect large-scale change in the name of equitable education solutions in a sustainable way. 

Dr. Jonathan Koppell

Dr. Jonathan Koppell

President, Montclair State University

Jonathan Koppell is the ninth president of Montclair State University and a nationally recognized scholar of public administration and global governance. His career has been defined by a belief that public universities have a profound responsibility — not only to educate students, but to strengthen democracy, expand opportunity and help solve society’s most pressing challenges. To that end, Koppell is driven to establish Montclair as the model of a public-serving university. 

Since joining Montclair in 2021, President Koppell has led a period of significant momentum and growth. The University has welcomed the three largest first-year classes in its history and achieved record enrollment and retention, reflecting rising demand for Montclair’s distinctive combination of academic excellence, access and public impact. He also guided the historic merger with Bloomfield College — New Jersey’s only four-year Predominantly Black Institution — marking the first merger between a public and private institution in the state and expanding educational opportunity for generations of students. 

Under his leadership, Montclair has advanced as a top-tier doctoral research university and federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, nationally recognized for social mobility and student success. President Koppell has championed the strategic re-imagination of the University’s schools and colleges to align academic programs with the needs of today’s learners and tomorrow’s workforce, while strengthening Montclair’s role as a partner to communities across New Jersey. 

Before coming to Montclair, President Koppell served as Dean of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and Vice Provost for Public Service and Social Impact at Arizona State University, where he led the nation’s largest comprehensive public affairs college. He began his academic career at Yale University, holding faculty appointments in the School of Management and leading the Milstein Center for Corporate Governance and Performance. 

President Koppell earned his doctorate in political science from the University of California, Berkeley and his bachelor’s degree in government from Harvard University. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and author of numerous books and articles including award-winning “World Rule”, and innovative study of global governance. 

Avaltroni is a 1999 graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, receiving a B.S. in chemistry, summa cum laude. He is the first FDU graduate to serve as the institution’s president. He went on to complete an M.A. in chemistry in 2001 and a Ph.D. in chemistry in 2003, both from Princeton University. His research interest is in surface science, specifically focused on surface modification of titanium materials to facilitate cell attachment, biomineralization and interfacial adhesion in biomedical devices. His research in this area has led to multiple publications and 10 United States patents. In addition, the technology he has created in this field of study has been licensed for the creation of two biotechnology companies, Orthobond, Inc., Princeton, N.J., and Aculon, Inc., San Diego, Calif. 

Since joining the University in 2003, Avaltroni has worked in a number of different capacities, including as a faculty member and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and he was instrumental in the process to create the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (now the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences). In 2009, he began building the school’s curriculum, experiential learning and programmatic infrastructure as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. He took over as Interim Dean in 2012 and was appointed permanently to the position of Dean in Spring 2013. Since creating the blueprint for the school in 2009, he saw the program accept its first class, worked to put together a first-rate team of faculty and staff, built strong relationships with the pharmacy and health-care communities across the state and the region, and moved the program through full accreditation status with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). He also led efforts to expand health-science offerings across the University through programs in public health, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy and social work. 

Avaltroni was appointed University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs in January 2022. In this role, he laid the groundwork for new community college partnerships; presided over the development of the Hispanic Center and Center for Student Success (which recently had two of its programs nationally recognized by Excelencia in Education); and coordinated the formation of a new academic leadership team. He further created the Transformational Excellence Awards to honor those faculty and staff who have gone beyond the ordinary to serve FDU’s students. 

Since becoming president, Avaltroni has led many important initiatives, including engaging the FDU community in the strategic-planning process that led to the development of the plan titled “FDU Will Soar.” Driving the planning process has been a renewed emphasis on putting students first and on prioritizing those items and initiatives that will most significantly and positively impact students. 

Among other notable recent initiatives during his tenure, the University created FDU Health, a new division uniting programs in the health sciences. It also established Lifelong Learning at FDU, an initiative to educate across the lifespan. In 2025, Avaltroni announced the launch of FDU HealthPath Forward, a new strategic initiative that will build a coalition of institutions to help develop healthcare-related programs, enhance workforce training, foster innovation in the sector and position the campuses as hubs for lifelong learning, health and wellbeing. 

FDU also successfully concluded the capital campaign “One University, Many Dreams,” which raised approximately $90 million, easily surpassing its original goal of $75 million. The University introduced a new fundraising campaign, “Students First,” focusing exclusively on raising money to help students have access to and better afford an FDU education. In 2025, Avaltroni announced the launch of the Humanics Innovation Challenge Fund to blend technological innovation with human literacy, particularly in healthcare education and delivery. 

Active and influential in the higher education sector in support of the need for changes to meet the challenges of today, Avaltroni now also serves as the chair of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council. He has been annually named to the ROI Influencers: Higher Education Power List and cited as an “Outspoken new leader who brings new perspective to higher education. Simply put, he’s not afraid to say the sector needs to modernize.”  

He was named to the 2026 Power Players list and one of the Best Higher Education Leaders in 2026 by BINJE. He was also selected as an NJBIZ 2024 and 2025 Education Power List honoree and in 2024 was named to Innovate New Jersey’s “Innovate 100 List.”  In 2024, the Teaneck Chamber of Commerce honored him as “Educator of the Year.” Over the past several years, he was also selected by NJBIZ as one of New Jersey’s 40 Under 40 and the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences was recognized multiple times by NJBIZ Magazine as the leader for the #1 Best Place to Work in New Jersey. Additionally, he has received awards from the New Jersey Pharmacists Association, the New Jersey Society for Health Systems Pharmacists, the NJBIZ Healthcare Heroes event and by SmartCEO Magazine for its Corporate Culture Awards. He currently resides in Marlboro, N.J., with his wife, Jill, and their three children.  

Liat Krawczyk

Liat Krawczyk

Executive Director, NJ AI Hub

Liat Krawczyk is the inaugural Executive Director of the New Jersey AI Hub, a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership between Princeton University, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), Microsoft, and CoreWeave, designed to accelerate innovation in artificial intelligence and position New Jersey as a global leader in the field. Its aim is to bring together AI researchers, entrepreneurs, industry, educational institutions, and the public sector to advance world-class research and development; drive transformative AI innovation; empower the workforce for the AI era; and shape the future of responsible AI deployment.  

Previously, she served as Senior Advisor for Workforce Strategy and Head of Child Care at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Program Office, supporting the rollout of a $300M workforce effort aligned with $37B in semiconductor investments and shaping the care economy strategy. Before that, Liat was Vice President of Innovation Industries at the NYC Economic Development Corporation, where she led workforce strategy across emerging tech, the green economy, and life sciences. She founded the NYCEDC Childcare Innovation Lab and co-led Cyber NYC, a $100M public-private initiative focused on inclusive talent pipelines and R&D to grow NYC’s cybersecurity ecosystem. She also served as Head of Strategy for a machine learning PropTech startup. 

Liat brings over a decade of experience across government, startups, and nonprofits at the intersection of technology, workforce, the care economy and industrial policy, driving the creation of inclusive innovation ecosystems. 

Francis Kuhn

Executive Director, Atlantic County Workforce Development Board

Dr. Micheal McDonough

Michael McDonough, Ph.D

President, Raritan Valley Community College and Chair, New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development

Dr. Michael J. McDonough joined Raritan Valley Community College in June 2014, becoming the institution’s eighth president. Before joining RVCC, McDonough served as provost and vice president of academic services at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY (2011-2014); as dean of Liberal Arts at Monroe Community College (2007-2011); and as the Fred H. Gertz Professor of English at Alfred University in Alfred, NY (1987-2007). He has also taught at Pennsylvania State University and Oklahoma State University.

Currently, McDonough serves as the chair of the NJCCC Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development; he is the chair of the Academic Issues Committee; and is a board member for Engage NJ. He is a past chair of the College Board’s National Academic Council and a former College Board Trustee.

McDonough received his B.A. (Hons) in Film and Drama and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education from Reading University in England; an M.A. in English from Oklahoma State University; a Ph.D. in English from Pennsylvania State University; and an I.E.M. from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.

In his next career, he will be a professional golfer and rock critic.

Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin

Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin

President, UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ

Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin is the President of UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ, the first of New Jersey’s 18 community colleges, founded in 1933. She is the College’s first female president. 

Since her appointment as President in July 2010, Dr. McMenamin set forth an aggressive agenda centering on improving student success outcomes. She revitalized student services, strengthened academic advising, partnered with faculty to improve teaching and learning, and engaged the entire campus community in renewing their collective commitment to student success. During her tenure at UCNJ, the College has more than quintupled its graduation rate.  

In 2020, Dr. McMenamin was named the National Marie Y. Martin CEO of the Year by the Association of Community College Trustees. President McMenamin was named to the 2024 NJBIZ Education Power 50. This list profiles the most influential education professionals in New Jersey. Under her leadership, UCNJ was named as one of only 10 finalists for the $1 million-dollar 2025 Aspen Prize by the Aspen Institute for Community College Excellence. This award is the nation’s signature recognition of strong performance among community colleges. The College was selected for this honor among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide. This is the third consecutive time UCNJ has been recognized by the Aspen Institute. 

In 2019, Dr. McMenamin served as Chair of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. She also previously served as Chair of the American Association of Community Colleges’ Presidents’ Academy Executive Committee. Currently, she serves as Chair of the Advisory Board of the Higher Education Research and Development Institute, a member of the executive committee of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council, the National Junior College Athletic Association Presidents’ Advisory Council, and the board of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. 

Dr. McMenamin is involved with numerous community organizations, including the Boards of Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Union County Performing Arts Center, Union County Crime Stoppers, Elizabeth Development Company, Union County Workforce Development, Montgomery Academy, and the NJ-PBS Community Advisory Board. In 2015, she was honored to serve as the Grand Marshal of the Union County Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. 

 

Prior to arriving at UCNJ, Dr. McMenamin was employed as a professor and VP of Academic and Student Affairs at Lehigh Carbon Community College and Executive Vice President and Acting President at Brookdale Community College. Dr. McMenamin attended Temple University and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. She earned a Master of Science from the University of Scranton and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University. 

Dr. Nicol Nicola

Dr. Nicol Nicola

Director of Economic and Demographic Research at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

Dr. Nicol Nicola is the Director of Economic and Demographic Research at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, where she leads a team of economists, analysts, and survey specialists. She oversees the collection, analysis, and dissemination of labor market and demographic data that inform policymakers, businesses, and researchers at the state and national levels. In addition to her leadership role, Dr. Nicola is an adjunct professor at The College of New Jersey, where she teaches business statistics and artificial intelligence.   

Dr. Lovell Pugh-Bassett

Dr. Lovell Pugh-Bassett

President, Camden County College

When Dr. Lovell Pugh-Bassett became the sixth president of Camden County College on July 1, 2022, she brought with her not just a wealth of experience, but a philosophy rooted in purpose, advocacy, and service. 

 A lifelong educator and leader, Dr. Pugh-Bassett’s journey has spanned both higher education and K–12 systems. Before assuming the presidency, she served as Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, Advancement, and Strategic Initiatives at Camden County College—her return to higher education after two transformative decades with the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE). There, she rose through the ranks to become the Executive County Superintendent of Schools for Camden County, shaping educational outcomes across an entire region. 

 Her career began where her heart first found its calling in higher education. At Temple University, she served as an academic instructor and inspired future first-generation scholars as the program coordinator for the Math/Science Upward Bound Program. Later, as program director for Upward Bound at the Community College of Philadelphia, she deepened her passion for opening doors of opportunity to underrepresented student populations. 

 Today, Dr. Pugh-Bassett serves in multiple leadership roles across New Jersey’s higher education landscape, including the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, the New Jersey Presidents’ Council, and boards for Rowan University’s College of Education, the Camden Community Partnership, and the Camden County Chamber of Commerce. 

 Her guiding philosophy, “I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy.” beautifully reflects her approach to leadership. To Dr. Pugh-Bassett, service isn’t a duty; it’s a privilege. 

At Camden County College, she sees her role as both a steward and a servant empowering students, uplifting communities, and reminding everyone that the true mission of a community college is, at its heart, to serve its community. 

Senator Andrew Zwicker

Senator Andrew Zwicker

NJ State Senator and Head Public Engagement and Development, Princeton Plasma Physics Lab

Andrew Zwicker is a scientist and educator at Princeton University’s Plasma Physics Laboratory. As your Senator, Andrew works to find sensible solutions to improve our quality of life today and for future generations. He uses evidence to author legislation that creates high-quality jobs, fosters innovation, combats climate change and protects a woman’s right to choose. 

Aaron Fichtner, Ph.D.

President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges

Aaron Fichtner, Ph.D. is the President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, a nonprofit organization, enshrined in state law, that supports and strengthens the state’s 18 community colleges. 

Fichtner served as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development from September 2016 to January 2018. He joined the Department in 2010, serving as Assistant Commissioner for Labor Planning and Analysis and Deputy Commissioner.

Before joining state government,  Fichtner  was the Director of Research and Evaluation at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University. Fichtner earned a Ph.D. in Planning and Public Policy from Rutgers University, a master’s degree in City Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a bachelor’s degree in History from Vassar College.

Catherine Starghill

Catherine Starghill, ESQ

Vice President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges

Executive Director, New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development

Starghill was on the list of New Jersey’s 25 Most Influential African Americans by South Jersey Journal in 2017 as one of the “State’s leaders who stand head and shoulders above others and boldly reflect the rich diversity and excellence of the African American community throughout the Garden State.”   

As Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships for NJCCC, Starghill leads the statewide coalition of partners for the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities initiative aligning education to the needs of the workforce to build a stronger economy.  

Starghill was named Deputy Commissioner of the NJDOL in October 2016. As Deputy Commissioner, she led many of the Department’s program areas including Research and Information, Income Security, and Labor Standards and Safety Enforcement. She started with the NJDOL in 2012, previously serving as Executive Director of Workforce Operations and Business Services where she oversaw the day-to-day operations of the One-Stop Career Centers and the integrated business outreach of workforce field staff with other state and local workforce partners. In that role, she was responsible for more than 300 employees and a $45 million budget.  

Prior to joining the NJDOL, Starghill was the Acting Director of the Division of Housing and Community Resources and Equal Employment Opportunity Officer at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Much of her state government career was spent as the expert on the Open Public Records Act on the Government Records Council and the Privacy Study Commission.   

Before joining the public sector, she spent many years in the private sector, working in Tax and Legal Services at PricewaterhouseCoopers and on the Corporate Finance Staff of Ford Motor Company.  

Starghill simultaneously earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Accounting from the University of Michigan. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University Law School and a Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.  

She was married to the late Rev. Dr. Britt A. Starghill and is the mother of two children, Britt Andrew, and Brie Alexandra. 

Christopher Emigholz

Christopher Emigholz

Chief Government Affairs Officer, New Jersey Business and Industry Association

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Christopher “Chris” Emigholz is Vice President of Government Affairs covering taxation, budget, and economic development, of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), the nation’s largest state-level business association whose member companies collectively employ 1 million people.   

Prior to this current job, Emigholz worked in state government for 10 years. He was a budget director for the State Senate Republican Office for 8 years and directed education policy and legislative affairs in the New Jersey Department of Education prior to that. This is his second stint at NJBIA having served for years as their workforce development and education lobbyist earlier in his career. He was also a teacher through the Teach For America program in a high school in Atlanta, Georgia, and community liaison/volunteer coordinator for an elementary school in Baltimore City.  

Emigholz has a Master of Public Policy degree from Rutgers’ Bloustein School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University. He currently lives in Robbinsville, NJ with his wife and 3 children, where he is active in the community including coaching youth sports and having been elected to the school board.