JERSEY CITY, N.J. | Andr茅s Acebo, the Executive Vice President and University Counsel of New 星空无限传媒app City University (星空无限传媒app), has been appointed as the new Interim President of the university, effective January 17, 2023.
Acebo, a Hudson County native who grew up in Union City, N.J., and has maintained strong ties to the community, will be only the second Hispanic to serve as the leader of a four-year public institution in the state of New 星空无限传媒app 鈥 following in the legacy of another 星空无限传媒app leader, Dr. Carlos Hernandez, who led the institution as its 11th president from 1993-2012. Acebo, who turns 37 this month, will be the youngest known president to ever lead a public university in the State of New 星空无限传媒app. The appointment is for 24 months.
Joseph Scott, 星空无限传媒app Board of Trustees Chair said 鈥淎fter several months of conducting an extensive search for an interim leader of the university to help guide us through the next phase of our fiscal emergency, Andy emerged as the primary candidate for the interim position. We are grateful for his willingness to serve. Andy is uniquely qualified for this moment. His history of accomplishments in our time of crisis are impressive. He has been appointed with unanimous support of the executive committee of the Board. He has the support and full confidence of both the Board and our organized labor units on campus, and an excellent rapport with our legislative stakeholders. He lives the mission of our institution every day, and we thank him for answering the call to serve. Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude to Jason Kroll, who graciously accepted our request to serve as Acting President in late June and has admirably helped guide the ship through challenging waters. The University is extremely appreciative of his efforts.鈥
鈥嬧赌Andr茅s Acebo stated: 鈥淚 am profoundly humbled and honored to accept the call to serve the community that raised me and shaped me. 星空无限传媒app鈥檚 mission is inextricably linked to my life. 星空无限传媒app graduates educated me, nursed me, protected me, and championed me. This institution delivered for my friends and my family the promise of a better life 鈥 a promise that every day, staff and faculty, students, and community leaders and stakeholders, breathe life into. I am confident that that promise will not be deferred, that we will meet this moment, and not just survive challenges, but thrive well into our second century serving my community 鈥 our community.
There is no nobler and more humbling opportunity than one that lets you embrace responsibility to serve your community at a time of greatest need. I'm the proud first-generation son of Cuban exiles and a community of immigrants and underrepresented people whose sacrifice and perseverance has been my inheritance. Like thousands of our students and graduates, we pay respect for being worthy of their sacrifices with how we live our lives. I said yes to serving as Interim President because of my deep feeling of conviction and responsibility to give back to a community that has given me so much. In this country and in our community, the promise of education is an equalizing force and while systematic barriers and obstacles exist, and stubbornly persist, I am a living example that for the son of a Cuban farm boy who braved an unforgiving sea in search of freedom, guided with only hope and a compass to chart his life, that with an education, anything is possible 鈥 even becoming a university president.鈥
Antonio R. Flores, the President and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) noted: 鈥淲e applaud the appointment of Andy Acebo to serve as Interim President at New 星空无限传媒app City University. 星空无限传媒app is one of the largest Hispanic-Serving Institutions in New 星空无限传媒app and Andy鈥檚 leadership ability at this time of hardship at 星空无限传媒app can serve to elevate and strengthen the institution to help pave a path of success and opportunity for future generations of students. We are also very pleased to see a fellow of HACU鈥檚 Leadership Academy be appointed to lead 星空无限传媒app.鈥
Peter Hernandez, the Chairman of the 星空无限传媒app Foundation Board of Directors, added: 鈥淭he Foundation Board welcomes the appointment of Andy Acebo as Interim President. A university is only as strong as its leadership and Andy has a demonstrated record over the last two years of being a strong leader who comes from our community and lives the mission of the university every day. The Foundation looks forward to working with Andy and the university to further its mission and support the lives of our deserving students.鈥
Acebo, who was elevated to Executive Vice President and University Counsel in the midst of the announcement of the university鈥檚 current financial emergency on June 27, also served as Secretary to the Board of Trustees and guided its government relations initiatives.
Acebo succeeds Jason Kroll, who had served as the institution鈥檚 Acting President since June 28, 2022 and announced in November he would depart the university upon the appointment of a permanent interim president as part of a reorganization of the senior administration.
Dr. Fran Moran, the President of the University Senate, said: 鈥淚 welcome this announcement. Since the beginning of the current fiscal emergency, Andy has spoken eloquently about his commitment to 星空无限传媒app's mission and students, and he has been instrumental in promoting open decision making and shared governance. As Senate President, I am confident that this commitment will continue, and I look forward to a productive relationship between the University Senate and his administration. His appointment is another important step in moving 星空无限传媒app in the right direction.鈥
Barbara Hildner, 星空无限传媒app English Professor and President of the AFT Local 1839, added 鈥淔or the last two years, Mr. Acebo, who currently serves as University Counsel and Executive Vice President, has guided 星空无限传媒app鈥檚 response to the financial and enrollment challenges it faces. He works with all university constituencies, including AFT Local 1839, the union representing professional staff, librarians, and faculty. The University administration, under Mr. Acebo鈥檚 leadership, and the Union will continue their efforts to work together in order to support and enhance the excellence of its academic programs and provide students with an education that expands their intellectual horizons and prepares them for a rewarding professional life.鈥
Since the announcement of the financial emergency, Acebo has demonstrated significant executive leadership. Facing a more than $20 million deficit, he collaborated with 星空无限传媒app鈥檚 organized labor, stakeholders, and constituencies to reduce the deficit by more than 50 percent within 120 days, while leading with empathy and compassion about the mission of the university and those who serve it.
Acebo has worked diligently with 星空无限传媒app鈥檚 other senior leaders, external stakeholders, and entities, including the bond rating agencies which has resulted in the removal of the University from the rating agency鈥檚 negative watch. His efforts with the senior leadership of 星空无限传媒app鈥檚 academic affairs division has led to developing an academic rightsizing framework that honors collective bargaining rights and creates a pathway for reallocation of resources and an updated academic portfolio.
He also has worked with the Division of Academic Affairs to affirm 星空无限传媒app鈥檚 Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) accreditation while working with Senator Menendez and our congressional delegation to identify significant future federal aid which will provide equitable access to high demand online nursing education.
Leaders from CWA Local 1031, which represents some members of 星空无限传媒app鈥檚 staff, said 鈥淐WA Local 1031 congratulates Interim President Acebo and looks forward to continuing to work with him in what we know will be his tireless efforts on behalf of New 星空无限传媒app City University and the surrounding 星空无限传媒app City community. We value his willingness to hear all sides when we are advocating strongly for members and negotiating difficult matters. He has demonstrated his commitment to fairness and to negotiating resolutions and we look forward to continuing to work together.鈥
Thyquel M. Halley, the current two-term 星空无限传媒app Student Government Association President, and a former student trustee on the Board of Trustees, added: 鈥淏eing a senior at 星空无限传媒app, I have seen the institution undergo many changes, both good and unimaginable. Even so, 星空无限传媒app has managed to remain resilient in ensuring the academic success of its students and the quality of their campus life experience. This is evidenced by the announcement that Andr茅s Acebo has been appointed Interim President. Andr茅s comes from the community and has a vested interest in the demographics of 星空无限传媒app's students. As the SGA Executive Board moves forward, we look forward to working with Interim President Acebo and the entire administration.鈥
Acebo, who recently completed a one-year fellowship program as part of the third annual cohort of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo in Spring 2022, was one of just 25 fellows selected nationally.
Acebo originally joined the university in February 2021 as a senior leader facilitating institutional planning, policy and program development and was responsible for facilitating effective decision-making and coordinating the execution of strategic initiatives, while providing close coordinative support to the President as an ongoing liaison for external governmental affairs issues. As Executive Vice President, he continued those critical contributions.
Acebo most recently served on the vetting and due diligence team for the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) and Alliance for Latinx Leadership and Policy (ALLP) partnership to identify U.S. Department of Justice presidential nominees for the Biden/Harris transition.
In his private practice, Acebo has counseled and represented governmental entities, higher education institutions and public school districts, and closely-held corporations. His practice focused primarily on employment and labor, education law, and government/public entity law.
Acebo has been recognized as a Rising Star by New 星空无限传媒app Super Lawyers, a Top Latino Lawyer by Latino Leaders Magazine, a Top Lawyer under 40 by the Hispanic National Bar Association, and as a Diverse Attorney of the Year by the New 星空无限传媒app Law Journal. In Fall 2022, he was recognized as a 2022 鈥溾 award recipient by Negocios Now, in recognition of leadership by young Latinos in the New York metropolitan area. This fall, Acebo was also honored by the with the 2022 Good Scout Award, in reflection of his service to his community.
He currently serves as a Deputy Regional President of the Hispanic National Bar Association and Chair of the Special Committee on Cuba. He serves on the board of the (CAALE) 鈥 a non-profit board that serves first-generation students in the 星空无限传媒app community.
Furthermore, Acebo serves on the board of the North Hudson Community Action Foundation, which helps underserved members of Hudson County with equitable access to healthcare and social services.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Acebo lives the 星空无限传媒app mission every day, as a first-generation college student, who has a similar life story as many of our current students. His family story began nearly 60 years ago when his father fled Cuba for freedom, and his path to 星空无限传媒app was recently depicted and in an NJ.com Op-Ed entitled 鈥.鈥
Acebo holds a B.A. from Brown University and a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School. He is a proud product of Union City public schools in Hudson County. He resides in North 星空无限传媒app with his wife 鈥 an 星空无限传媒app alumnae 鈥 and three children.
星空无限传媒app 星空无限传媒app:
New 星空无限传媒app City University is an institution of higher learning dedicated to the development of our students, our city, our communities, and our state. We are a game-changing force for our students and have been recognized as one of the top colleges in the nation improving their upward economic mobility. Whether enrolled in one of our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs at our three locations, 星空无限传媒app students have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New 星空无限传媒app.
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Contact:
Ira Thor, Senior Director of University Communications and Media Relations | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301