President Senese Welcomes Newark Mayor Ras Baraka to Campus to Discuss Partnership for Newark Students

Caldwell President Jeffrey Senese, Ph.D., and the University’s enrollment management team were delighted to welcome Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and representatives of Newark Public Schools to campus November 6 to discuss a partnership for students graduating from the city’s public schools.

The group met with Caldwell students who graduated from Newark high schools and are receiving scholarships and support through the collaboration that began last summer. “Newark is our city,” said Dr. Senese. The President continued that the University is looking forward to welcoming more students from Newark, assisting them in their pursuits of academic excellence and helping the city of Newark and the surrounding area.

Dr. Senese, Jorge Rodriguez, Caldwell’s vice president for enrollment management; Mayor Baraka, Dr. Sharnee Brown, chief education officer for the City of Newark, and representatives of their staffs held a listening session with Caldwell students Jonathan Clark ’27, Jamari Johnson ’27, Priscilla Amarteifio ’27 and Aaliyah Kearney ’26.

Clark, Johnson and Amerteifio shared their experiences as first year students. The University is a “welcoming community … people are willing to help you out,” said Amarteifio, an exercise science major who aspires to become a physical therapist. “Eye-opening—to learn, grow and develop,” said Johnson, a computer science major. Kearney, a sophomore and sociology major, told her peers to avail themselves of the resources the University provides to help students persist.

Dr. Senese encouraged the students to contact the Office of Student Life, Residence Life or the President’s Office when they have ideas for programming and activities and need support. Mayor Baraka said they wanted to engage in the partnership to remove barriers for Newark students to be able to attend a college or university. He encouraged the students to “be successful” so that other young people from their city can believe they can achieve their goals too. The Newark delegation presented the students with care packages filled with snacks, toiletries, school supplies and water–useful items especially as students approach final exam season in the coming weeks.