After serving 10 years as NJCU’s president, Sue Henderson announced that she will be moving on “to the next opportunity.”

The Board of Trustees announced later that Jason Kroll, the current vice president and chief strategy officer, will succeed Henderson who will be leaving effectively on July 1.

Henderson is the first female president at the university. During her tenure, NJCU expanded in various ways, including the addition of the School of Business at Harborside, the West Campus project, and the Fort Monmouth satellite campus in South Jersey.

“Throughout her presidency, Sue has demonstrated a deep commitment to academic excellence and access to a quality, affordable higher education for our diverse student population,” said Joseph F. Scott, the chair of the Trustees. “The Board of Trustees thanks her and wishes her well in her future endeavors.”

As NJCU’s 12th president, Henderson reflected on her 10-year tenure including making sure that students leave debt-free, expansion efforts, improved student outcomes, the growth of athletics, and more.

“As I bid farewell, I look forward with pride and confidence to the impressive future that lies ahead for NJCU,” said Henderson in the email sent out to the NJCU community which announced her leaving.

“No one knows how higher education will evolve in the coming years. We just know that it will be a time of unprecedented change and considerable stress. Yet we can be confident that NJCU will be a shining light for years to come.”

Recently visiting Washington D.C., Henderson joined First Lady Jill Biden and other university leaders from around the country to celebrate the 10th anniversary of DACA. While there, she advocated for new legislation related to Dreamer students.

She currently serves as the chair of the governing board of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities which recognizes NJCU as a Hispanic Serving Institution.

Since Henderson became president, the four-year graduation rate increased substantially from 7 percent in 2014 to 23 percent in 2022.

Prior to her time at NJCU, Henderson served as the chief operating officer and vice president of institutional advancement for Queens College where she was also the vice president of institutional advancement.

In fall 2021, Henderson received a vote of no confidence from the University Senate citing a lack of shared governance and concerns about the university’s finances.

Henderson said in a statement on Kroll, “I am grateful that Jason will be taking the lead in the work to be done at NJCU. His experience and documented successes at NJCU are clear evidence that NJCU will continue to move forward and come out stronger in service to our students and our community.”