February 17, 2026

Dear William Paterson Faculty and Staff,

While this past week saw the best of intentions on the part of some in our community, who, out of deep concern for their fellow Pioneers, reported unverified ICE activity on our campus and in our broader community, I want to caution everyone against giving oxygen to unsubstantiated rumors. This is an incredibly unsettling time for our faculty, staff, and especially our students, for whom college should be about learning in class and enjoying co-curricular activities. I again want to urge all of you to review the Feb. 5 letter from Vice Presidents Allison Boucher-Jarvis and Miki Cammarata. Please also review the updated FAQ’s. It does not help our community when we spread unverified sightings or activities. We continue to urge you to notify University Police if you witness ICE on campus, so they can take appropriate action, including communicating with the campus community. If you have not downloaded the Rave Guardian alert app on your phone, please do so. It is the fastest way to contact our Police Department. For those of you who are concerned that we might not be following State directives, please be assured that, as I have said all along, we will comply with the law. Let us be professional and mindful that unverified reports cause needless distress among those we may be intending to help. The safety of our campus is our shared responsibility, so please know the process we have laid out for the community, follow it, and let’s always be kind to one another.    

A reminder that I will host Office Hours for faculty and staff this afternoon at 12:30 p.m.in the Green Room of Hobart Manor. Please bring any questions, concerns, or news you would like to share.

Thank you to everyone who attended my Feb. 5 State of the University address. Again, I want to thank everyone in Shea and with IRT who helped produce the event, in which I shared some highlights from the academic year, so far, as well as encouraging enrollment updates, some final points regarding the concluded 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, and where things stand in the process that will produce our next plan. If you were unable to join us or want to take a closer look at my remarks and the attendant slide deck, you can find them here. As for the wonderful live performance of the classic tune, "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive", by students Kyra Cioffi (vocals), Graham Monroe (drums),Gabriel Balado(bass, and Leon Hsu (Piano) under the direction of Dr. Mitch Butler, well, you had to be there!

This week’s WP: We are Proud – The recent United for Greatness: Black Alumni Celebration marked an extraordinary moment of connection and pride for our community of Black alumni, students, faculty, and staff. We welcomed 158 attendees, which represented both a strong response from alumni and a meaningful expansion of their participation in this campus event. Notably, the celebration catalyzed new alumni philanthropy, culminating in the endowment of the Africana Studies Scholarship—a powerful and lasting investment in our students and in the ongoing celebration of Black history and achievement.

This event was not simply a gathering—it was part of an ongoing celebration of our Black students, alumni, and the enduring impact of their leadership and generosity. Congratulations to Vice President Sandra Diaz and her Institutional Advancement team, especially AVP Roy Garcia, Kim Galvez, and Courtney Como of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy, for organizing a successful event. And, of course, congratulations to the evening’s honorees: Genina Carey ’14 and Jevon “JV” Morgan ’15, MA ’17, recipients of the inaugural Pioneer Leadership & Spirit Award, and the KIR Foundation, recipients of the Alumni Engagement & Philanthropy Award. 

Have a great week!