President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (PACDEI)
The Hudson County Community College (HCCC) President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (PACDEI) provides leadership, support, and counsel in fostering a welcoming, diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that embraces our shared values among all HCCC constituencies. PACDEI contributes to the achievement and continuous improvement of policies, procedures, programs, services, and outcomes in support of a college culture that values, respects, and celebrates diversity in all of its forms.
We are happy to share The 2024-2029 Hudson County Community College Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion Action Plan with our community. This Action Plan was made possible by
the dedicated members of the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion (PACDEI), and other key stakeholders.
Please CLICK HERE to access.
PACDEI Pledge
I pledge to be an honorable member of the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (PACDEI). I will protect the confidentiality of the content discussed in meetings with my peers and colleagues while respecting differing viewpoints. Additionally, I will acknowledge and act against forms of racism, discrimination, sexism, and bias and support opportunities for learning, advancement, and growth in the mission, vision, and values of Hudson County Community College.
Find Out More About Us!
HCCC is proud of its diversity, including having one of the most diverse student bodies in the United States. The College is committed to the value and principle that all members of the HCCC community should be treated with respect, dignity, and kindness. Our community celebrates diversity and unity, and welcomes all people onto our campus and into our community. We believe that celebrating diversity benefits everyone.
The HCCC community encourages:
- culturally aware curricula;
- Recruitment of – and opportunities for – diverse populations, including administration, faculty, staff, and students;
- diversity training and education that is available to everyone;
- mediation of differences that may arise among our community to derive the best possible solutions and compromises available;
- encouragement of diverse conversations and philosophical discussions without censure or hostility;
- treating all community members with respect, and encouraging their voices to be heard.
- Review data periodically pertaining to employee, student, and regional demographics; student and employee recruitment and retention; campus climate; and other metrics to inform the work of the Council. Develop assessment tools in order to better understand issues and efforts related to DEI.
- Advise the President and College leadership on all matters pertaining to DEI, including recruitment and hiring, employee success, student retention and student success, services, programming, climate, partnerships with community agencies, and others.
- Advise College leadership regarding ongoing and new initiatives that have the potential to create a more diverse and inclusive campus community.
- Provide advice and counsel to College leadership, and support college-wide efforts to recruit, retain, and promote faculty and staff from diverse and underrepresented populations so that employee diversity reflects the diversity of students; and, similarly, support efforts to ensure that student diversity reflects the diversity of Hudson County.
- Listen to and engage the College community, and its participatory governance groups, in fostering an environment of shared responsibility and accountability for the development and implementation of the Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and subsequent DEI action plans.
- Lead and support efforts to assess the campus climate on issues pertaining to DEI, and offer suggestions and proposals to address climate concerns.
- Actively promote and celebrate a culture that values DEI. Support the ongoing professional development of College employees, and educational opportunities for students, pertaining to DEI.
- Support college-wide efforts to promote student success with a particular focus on achievement and equity gaps within specific student communities.
- Support college-wide initiatives to address issues of food insecurity, homelessness, and specific issues of concern to student, faculty, and staff immigrants.
- Foster cultural competency, intercultural and personal development that is best supported in a climate that respects differences and provides a sense of belonging and inclusion throughout the College community.
- Plan, implement, and support activities and events that heighten awareness of issues related to diversity, and provide greater opportunities for individuals to interact around issues of diversity.
- Formally and publicly recognize students, faculty, staff, and community members who contribute to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion at Hudson County Community College.
- Support and bring visibility to successful efforts to promote the academic and life success of a diverse student body.
- Consider the efficacy of creating an HCCC Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and make recommendations to College leadership.
PACDEI is broadly representative of the HCCC community and reflective of the diversity of its students. Membership includes students, faculty, staff, Trusteed, Foundation board members, and community representatives. Council members and officers are appointed by the President in consultation with the Board of Trustees, All College Council, President’s Executive Council, Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa, and other community members. The President will invite nominations, including self-nominations, for membership. Council members will serve three-year terms that are renewable with the exception of All College Council and student representatives, who will serve one-year terms.
The All College Council (ACC) will appoint two ACC representatives to serve as standing members of PACDEI. These ACC representatives will report to the ACC on the activities of the Council and serve as ACC liaisons for integrating the work of both organizations as appropriate, including the research and proposal of ACC governance recommendations pertaining to the College’s DEI action plan and annual goals and initiatives. The Board of Trustees will appoint a trustee representative, and the Student Government Association and HCCC Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa will each appoint one student representative.
Current PACDEI Members
Anita Belle, Assistant Vice President, Workforce Pathways
Lisa Bogart, Director, North Hudson Campus Library
Jonathan Cabrera, Instructor, Criminal Justice
Joseph Caniglia, Executive Director, North Hudson Campus
Joycelyn Wong Castellano, Academic Counselor, Early College Program
Cesar Castillo, Coordinator, Safety and Security
Dr. David Clark, Dean, Student Affairs
Dr. Christopher Cody, Instructor, History
Sharon Daughtry, Instructor, Business
Claudia Delgado, Professor, Academic Foundations Math
Josefa Flores, HCCC Alumna
Reverend Bolivar Flores, Vice President, NJ Coalition of Latino Pastors and Ministers
Ashley Flores, HCCC Alumna
Diana Galvez, Associate Director, North Hudson Campus
Pamela Gardner, HCCC Trustee
Veronica Gerosimo, Assistant Dean, Student Life and Leadership
Emily Gonzalez, HCCC Student
Joshua Greenbaum, HCCC Alumnus
Jenny Henriquez, Associate Director, Honors Program
Keiry Hernandez, HCCC Alumna and Student Center Assistant, Student Life & Leadership
Dr. Gabriel Holder, Instructor, Medical Billing and Coding
Dr. Floyd Jeter, Chief Diversity Officer, Jersey City Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Dr. Darryl Jones, Vice President, Academic Affairs
Dr. Ara Karakashian, Dean, School of Business, Culinary and Hospitality
Bakari Lee, Esq., Vice Chair, HCCC Board of Trustees
Danielle Lopez, Director of DEI for Accessibility Services
Dr. Jose Lowe, Director, Educational Opportunity Fund Program
Tiana Malcolm, HCCC Alumna
Raffi Manjikian, Instructor, Chemistry
Ashley Medrano, HCCC Student
Neivi Nunez, HCCC Student
Amaalah Ogburn, HCCC Alumna and Director of Faculty and Staff Development
Dr. Angela Pack, Assistant Professor, Education
Tejal Parekh, Assistant Director, Educational Opportunity Fund Program
Doreen Pontius, Director, Mental Health Counseling & Wellness
Dr. Yeurys Pujols, HCCC Alumnus and Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Dr. Christopher Reber, President, HCCC
Nina Maria Resurreccion, HCCC Student
Maritza Reyes, Associate Director, Center of Adult Transition
Luis Reyes Alberto, HCCC Alumnus
Michelle Richardson, Executive Director, Hudson County Economic Development Corporation
Warren Rigby, HCCC Alumnus
Dr. Paula Roberson, Director, Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation
Cayla Rojas, HCCC Student
Suzette Samson, Recruitment Specialist, Nursing & Health Sciences
Mirta Sanchez, Assistant to the Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Kayla Sandomenico, HCCC Student
Shemia Superville, HCCC Student
Dr. Fatma Tat, Assistant Professor, Chemistry
Dr. Kade Thurman, Instructor, Sociology
Sonny Tungala, HCCC Student
Albert Velazquez, Support Analyst, ITS
Michelle Vitale, Director, Cultural Affairs
Richard Walker, Associate Director of DEI Training
Albert Williams, Apprentice Program Coordinator
Elana Winslow, Associate Professor, Business
Dr. Burl Yearwood, Dean, School of STEM
Dr. Benedetto Youssef, Instructor, English
Goal # 1 – Sustaining and Expanding a Culture of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Grounded in Best Practices Throughout the College.
Objective 1: Promote the continuous improvement of employee programs, supports, processes, and services through human resources/workforce practices, outcomes, and DEI best practices.
Objective 2: Weave Diversity, Equity and Inclusion uniformly throughout the College’s administrative and support units.
Objective 3: Enhance the academic life of the College through a variety of DEI trainings and forums grounded in best practices.
Goal # 2 – Enhancing the College’s Efforts of Inclusivity and Its Culture of Care to Create an Environment that is Supportive and Inclusive for All Students, Faculty, Staff, and Community Members.
Objective 1: Grow and develop accessibility services and resources for students, faculty, and staff.
Objective 2: Increase diverse representation within the College that reflects the student population and Hudson County.
Objective 3: Provide support, engagement, and community-building opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Goal # 3 – Emphasizing the College’s Culture of Transparency, Guided by Institutional Commitment to Safety, Security, and Belonging for All Students, Faculty, Staff, and Community Members.
Objective 1: Promote transparency, awareness, and accessibility in all college policies, procedures, processes, and services.
Objective 2: Enhance the safety and security of students, faculty, staff and community members.
Goal # 4 – Applying the Hudson Scholars Program Model to Enhance Retention and Eliminate Completion Gaps for Traditionally Underrepresented Students.
Objective 1: Maximize the participation of traditionally underrepresented students in Hudson Scholars program activities.
Objective 2: Expand engagement opportunities for traditionally underrepresented students.
Objective 3: Increase academic and career pathway awareness for traditionally underrepresented students.
Out of the Box Podcast - PACDEI
October 2020
In this episode, Dr. Reber is joined by Yeurys Pujols, Executive Director, North Hudson
Campus and Lilisa Williams, Director, Faculty and Staff Development to talk about
the President's Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - PACDEI.
Contact Information
Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion71 Sip Avenue - L606
Jersey City, NJ 07306DEIFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE