Brenden Rickards was recently appointed interim president of Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) following a board of trustees meeting. He will officially assume the role on July 1.
Rickards has been an employee at the college for 17 years beginning as a professor in biology, to dean of the STEM division, to vice president of academic services, and most recently vice president and provost of academic services.
After receiving his doctorate in molecular biology from Princeton University in 2006, he took his first role teaching at the Gloucester campus in 2007.
Rickards has been integral in making the college more affordable while still maintaining academic rigor. He has worked with faculty to develop and revise numerous courses and delivered new degree programs and certificates based on student need and industry demands.
“He has a unique understanding of and connection with students and faculty,” says Gene J. Concordia, chair, RCSJ board of trustees. “He brings that perspective into big picture conversations with RCSJ leadership that will serve our students well.”
Rickards said he was “looking forward to continuing to enhance the Rowan University partnership in this new role, while taking RCSJ projects already in development, including in Manufacturing, the Trades and various Health Care programming already underway through the finish line. RCSJ has a long history in both Cumberland and Gloucester County of being an integral part of the community and I look forward to working with both counties to enhance opportunities available to residents to help them reach their goals.”
Over the last six years, Rickards also spearheaded administrative and faculty re-structure and course and program alignment following the Cumberland County College and Rowan College at Gloucester County merger in 2019 forming RCSJ. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he directed the conversion of spring 2020 course offerings to fully remote delivery and developed online courses with faculty to serve the needs of RCSJ students post-pandemic.
Rickards chaired several strategic planning committees, led Middle States accreditation committees, completed several accreditation substantive and complex substantive changes as well as worked with New Jersey Council of County College leadership on State General Education courses, new program development, and course funding.
Rickards has worked with local high schools to develop partnerships to recruit students. He has collaborated with many local businesses in Gloucester and Cumberland counties to establish internship, clinical, and scholarship opportunities for students both attending and graduating from RCSJ.
