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Photo caption: Members of WP’s Ace-Net steering committee are, from left, co-chair Jenny Nesenjuk (senior assistant director of career development), Myranda Louis Jean (director for student diversity and inclusion), co-chair Leslie Kropa (assistant director of residence life), Theresa Bivaletz (social worker for student support and resources), Jeanne Arnold (chief diversity officer), Barbara Andrew (dean of the Honors College), Johanna Prado (director of degree completion and adult learning), Loretta McLaughlin Vignier (president’s chief of staff), and Gamin Bartle (chief information officer).
William Paterson University is among more than 40 companies and organizations that will be honored with a 2024 NJBIZ Empowering Women Award on November 14 for their commitment to supporting and elevating women employees.
Now in its second year, NJBIZ’s Empowering Women – Companies Leading the Way awards program recognizes New Jersey-based organizations for their tangible and innovative efforts to advance women in the workplace and community. To be eligible, companies must have 50 percent or more than 100 staff working in New Jersey. The honorees were chosen based on their commitment to a variety of efforts, including focused recruiting, hiring, and promoting of women; mentoring programs for women; working toward systemic change in society to combat inequality; and contributing to advancing the cause of women through outside philanthropic or community endeavors, among others.
“William Paterson is proud to be recognized for our collective efforts to empower women across the University,” says President Richard J. Helldobler. “Women have been instrumental to the growth and success of William Paterson since its very beginnings and will continue to help lead the way in supporting women students, faculty, staff, and administrators, including our Cabinet of senior administrators, more than half of whom are women.”
William Paterson’s commitment to elevating women is consistent with its mission as a proud diverse community, designated as a Hispanic-Serving and Minority-Serving Institution. Founded as the Paterson City Normal School in 1855 to provide professional preparation for teachers—primarily women—in the emerging public schools in Paterson, the institution has been dedicated since its inception to educating and employing women.
The University’s chapter of NJ ACE-NET, a statewide organization committed to women’s professional development affiliated with the American Council on Education, takes an aggressive approach to identifying those who can grow from this network. Established in 2004, it hosts workshops, networking events, and an annual President’s Breakfast focused on professional development and career paths for women in higher education. The campus chapter has received NJ ACE-NET’s Best Chapter Award, several University women have served on NJ ACE-NET’s statewide board, and the University annually sponsor employees to participate in its Women of Color conference.
Numerous academic initiatives include its program in women’s and gender studies, launched in the late 1960s, and its pioneering course in Race, Gender, and Social Justice, first taught in 1982 and among the first such college courses, which led to a University course requirement in diversity and justice. Today, through WP Online, its online learning platform, the University is meeting the needs of adult learners and working professionals, half of whom are women, for whom a college degree is the key to career advancement.
The University is committed to equal employment opportunity and to maintaining an academic and work environment for students, faculty and staff that is conducive to the achievement of educational and career goals on the basis of ability and performance, and free of discrimination. Women comprise 55 percent of all employees. In addition, 8 of the 13 members of the University’s cabinet identify as women, compared to 4 of 10 members in 2017. In addition, half of the University’s senior administrators—associate vice presidents, assistant vice presidents, deans, and associate deans—are women. Fifty-six percent of middle management positions are held by women, and women are regularly promoted into such positions. In addition, the institution’s Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Program, launched in 2021, supports diverse advanced-standing doctoral candidates; of 7 hires since its inception, 5 have been women of color.
Since 1999, the University has supported the participation of more than a dozen faculty and staff women leaders in the HERS (Higher Education Resource Services) Leadership Institute, a transformational, leadership development program for higher education professionals. Other female staff members have participated in programs such as the Association of State College and Universities (AASCU) Emerging Leaders Program and Millennium Institute and the EAB Rising Higher Education Fellowship program. The institution has hosted two women American Council on Education Fellows, a year-long leadership program for higher education professionals. The University regularly recognizes women leaders through its own awards programs, such as the Legacy Awards Gala, as well as through the awarding of honorary doctorates and the President’s Medal at Commencement.
Women currently lead important institutional organizations, including the Faculty Senate, Director’s Council, and the Council for Equity and Justice, among numerous other committees and initiatives. William Paterson was recently included on Forbes Magazine’s list of “America’s Best Employers by State,” one of only four higher education institutions so recognized in the state.
The Women’s Experience Task Force Report found that the majority of women on campus are satisfied with the campus climate, have a sense of belonging, and that support systems are available. A remote-friendly workplace policy, established in 2021, provides is among the support systems that resonate with women. The Summer Learning and Development Program offers women employees leadership programs, such as “Impact Players,” to develop their skills. All employees take required workshops on sexual harassment/sexual violence and on cultivating brave spaces for the LGBTQ community.
Student programs include the Pesce Family Mentoring Institute, WISE (Women in Science and Engineering), and Women’s History Month networking and leadership panels, among others. WP2: William Paterson Women Pioneers, launched in spring 2024 to engage women alumni in networking and development opportunities.
The Center for Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship and Innovation provides an Incubator Program for Women Entrepreneurs, Also, the Passaic County New Jersey Small Business Development Center (SBDC), headquartered at William Paterson and located in Paterson, has been headed by a woman since its establishment in 1997, and provides numerous educational and business resources for minority and women business owners. Also, the Child Development Center provides affordable, quality childcare for employees, area families, and students and is supported by a Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program grant.
