Sue Henderson has resigned as president of New Jersey City University, according to a statement from Joseph F. Scott, chair of the NJCU board of trustees.
Henderson’s resignation will be effective as of July 1, at which time Jason Kroll, vice president & chief strategy officer, will lead the transition in leadership as acting president of NJCU per the board’s request. Kroll has asked that he not be considered a candidate for the permanent post, and the board said it will honor those wishes.
Scott issued the following statement on Henderson’s many accomplishments during her time with NJCU:
Update: Read exclusive interview with Henderson
“We are incredibly grateful for the vision, commitment, and leadership that Dr. Henderson has displayed during her 10-year run as the 12th president — and first female to hold this office — in this institution’s more than 90-year history. We are indebted to her unwavering determination to advance the mission of the university.
“We celebrate the transformational initiatives that have occurred since Dr. Henderson was appointed president in August 2012. These include the establishment of the NJCU School of Business and its relocation it to a state-of-the-art facility in Jersey City’s financial district along the Hudson Waterfront and the implementation of the $400 million University Place project, which is redeveloping the institution’s West Campus into a modern urban village that will aesthetically and economically revitalize the region.
“Additionally, Dr. Henderson spurred the university’s efforts to become the educational partner in the revitalization of Fort Monmouth. This new location opened in August 2021 and makes the university the only four-year public higher education program in the area.
NJCU declares financial emergency; board adopts interim budget
In a message from Joseph F. Scott, chair of New Jersey City University’s board of trustees, the interim budget will allow the university to seek rightsizing solutions to address an existing, and recently intensified, structural deficit. This budget is approved for a period of 90 days.
“Furthermore, throughout her tenure, Dr. Henderson has ensured NJCU tuition and fees would remain among the lowest of all public, four-year colleges and universities in New Jersey, and implemented the NJCU Debt-Free Promise Program to make a college education accessible and affordable — a program which helped inspire the state’s introduction of the Garden State Guarantee. Numerous new academic programs were launched during her presidency, including our General Education program and an Honors Program.
“Finally, Dr. Henderson has also represented the university nationally with distinction on several important boards, including chair of the board of directors of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and past vice chair of the influential NCAA Board of Governors.
“Throughout her presidency, Sue has demonstrated a deep commitment to academic excellence and access to a quality, affordable higher education for our diverse student population. The board of trustees thanks her and wishes her well in her future endeavors.”
Henderson, who welcomed Kroll’s leadership to the senior team in August 2017, said: “I am grateful that Jason will be taking the lead in the work to be done at NJCU. His experience and documented successes at NJCU are clear evidence that NJCU will continue to move forward and come out stronger in service to our students and our community.”
Kroll has over 17 years of experience in multiple senior leadership positions at three distinctly different institutions — Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Monmouth University and NJCU — and the board of trustees said it is confident that he is uniquely capable of leading NJCU during this transitional period.
