The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced recently that Sandra Strothers was named executive director of the foundation’s Jobs for New Jersey’s Graduates program.
The program is designed to help at-risk high school students develop the skills they need to flourish in college and in the workplace.
“We are fortunate to bring in an executive director of Dr. Strothers’ caliber,” said Donna Custard, president of NJCCF, which manages the program. “She brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective that will benefit the program and the students.”
The program is a chapter of a national initiative called Jobs for America’s Graduates, or JAG. The program offers support for students who are at risk of dropping out of school.
In her role as executive director, Strothers will hold partner organizations accountable for reporting and program outcomes; ensure the program follows the JAG national model; find funding sources; and develop pipelines for students from the programs for employment, military and post-secondary education.
Strothers previously worked at the New Jersey Department of Education, and before that she was in higher education.
The New Jersey program is offered at 10 schools and a nonprofit organization in Newark, Camden, East Orange, Carteret, New Brunswick, Philadelphia and Vineland. There are more than 330 students in the program.
The program is funded through donations by private and corporate partners such as AT&T, Prudential Foundation, Investors Bank, Victoria Foundation, PSEG and Wells Fargo.
