Spring 2013 issue - New Jersey City University

College of
Professional
Studies
Is on the Right Course to Become
Center of Excellence in New Jersey
By Dr. Sandra Bloomberg
Dr. Sandra Bloomberg
Bill Wittkop
I
began working at New Jersey City
University in the summer of
1998. Like so many, I was first
drawn to this institution because of
its mission of excellence and opportunity,
but had the good fortune to
arrive at an exceptionally exciting
time – a time when it was transitioning
from Jersey City State College
to New Jersey City University and its
three schools were transforming
into three separate colleges.
My arrival marked two firsts:
I was the first external dean ever
hired as well as the first dean of
NJCU’s recently-formed College of
Professional Studies (CPS).
I came to the position with
extensive experience in higher education,
having held leadership positions
in an array of health-related
and professional disciplines, making
me a good “fit” to help the College
of Professional Studies become a
center of excellence for professional
education in New Jersey.
But, I also came to the position as
a first-generation college graduate
myself, helping me to better understand
what the majority of students
at NJCU were going through and
knowing that it was imperative that
our College provide them with the
opportunities necessary to benefit
from an excellent education.
At the time of my arrival, the
College of Professional Studies was
comprised of five departments:
Business Administration, Criminal
Justice/Fire Science/Security, Health
Sciences, Nursing, and Sports and
Leisure Studies. Each department
offered an undergraduate degree
program and the Business Administration,
Criminal Justice, and Health
Sciences Departments also offered
master’s degree programs.
I was fortunate to join a College
where the faculty and administration
were deeply committed to
the University’s mission and to
providing an excellent broad-based
professional education with a strong
liberal arts component. And, we
were all fortunate to have students,
then reflective primarily of Hudson
County and the surrounding region,
who brought a richness of cultural
and work experiences as well as a
Bill Wittkop
The College of Professional Studies is housed in the Professional Studies and
Education Building.
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