September 2, 2025

Dear William Paterson Faculty and Staff,

I hope everyone enjoyed the Labor Day weekend. In addition to a day off, of course, it was an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the struggles and contributions of the American labor movement, so I want to thank all of you and our union partners – AFT, CWA, PBA, and IFPTE – for all you do for William Paterson and our students.

What better display of that good work than last week’s Welcome Day and other activities that got the semester off to a great start? I want to thank everyone who attended my State of the University that afternoon. Given our many great successes, as well as an increasingly challenging environment for all of higher education, and the fact that we are wrapping up a strategic plan and preparing to develop our next one, I covered a lot of ground. If you were unable to attend or would like to take a closer look at what I shared, please click here for a copy of my prepared remarks and the slide presentation. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to relive the wonderful student musical performance, but I hope everyone will take with them the message of their song: “What’s wrong with being confident?” Nothing!  

Turning to enrollment, as of Monday, Fall 2025 enrollment stands at 10,216 students, a 1.65% increase over this point last year. Main Campus enrollment is 5,844, trending 1.12% behind last year, while WP Online enrollment is up 5.6% year-over-year. Continuing student enrollment totals 6,470, which is 2.47% ahead of last year overall. Main Campus continuing student enrollment is 3,778, a slight (0.24%) decline from this time last year. Ongoing efforts to re-enroll this population remain critical to meeting institutional goals. On the new student side, applications are up 11.56%, and acceptances are up 10.76%, compared to last year. First-year enrollment currently stands at 1,007, and overall new student enrollment is up 1.57%, year-over-year. There are 10 days remaining until Census I on September 12 and continued coordinated outreach will be essential as we enter the final stretch of the Session-1 enrollment cycle.

With the start of the semester comes the return of First Thursday. Please join me and your colleagues from across campus on Thursday, September 4, from 4:00-5:30 p.m., upstairs in Hobart Manor for light refreshments and an opportunity to both reconnect and meet new people. See you there!

I am pleased to share that, for the second year in a row, William Paterson has been named to Forbes’ prestigious “Best-In-State Employers” list, which recognized our University as one of the highest-rated employers in New Jersey, based on nationwide surveys. As I said in our news release promoting this accolade, “I am proud of William Paterson’s dedicated faculty and staff, whose shared commitment to the success of our students creates a strong campus culture, where talented people can grow professionally and advance their careers.”

Please join me in extending our warmest congratulations to the newest Pioneer Award recipients for their exemplary contributions, leadership, and dedication: for Leadership and Innovation, Patrick Ryan (IRT); for Leadership and Team Spirit, Michele Martin (Student Development); for Leadership and Professional Achievement, Johanna Torres (Student Enrollment Services); for Community Leadership, Christie Jaime (Public Health); and for Faculty as Mentor, Professor Krista O’Donnell (History, Liberal Studies & Philosophy). Their achievements will be celebrated throughout the year at various University events, where their impact will be further recognized. Please watch your email for more details from Human Resources.

This week’s WP: We are Proud – Thanks to tremendous work on the part of so many people from across campus and with the help of beautiful weather, Welcome Day 2025 was a great success. I am grateful to every faculty and staff member who played a part in planning, organizing, and welcoming our new students to campus. Special thanks go to Provost Josh Powers and his Academic Affairs team; Vice President Miki Cammarata and her Student Development team, especially AVP Francsico Diaz and Professional Services Specialist Michele Martin; Vice President Gamin Bartle and her IT team, especially everyone in IRT; and, from my office, Senior Administrative Assistant Maira Padula, and Coordinator Safiya Lochan. 

Thanks also to the Deans, faculty, and staff in the four colleges that hosted coordinated College Welcomes on Thursday of last week. This first-of-its-kind event was a powerful way to welcome our new students, both first years and transfers, as well as our new sophomores. Thank you to the many faculty and staff who were there greeting students. 

All of these great events send a strong signal to our new students that they are welcome and included here at William Paterson.

I am excited for a great semester!