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BELLEVILLE, N.J. | (NJCU) and its Division of Student Affairs was honored by The Commerce and Industry Association of �鶹��ý (CIANJ) and COMMERCE Magazine during the 2022 Companies That Care Awards Reception at Nanina’s in the Park on March 23. The awards breakfast paid tribute to the kindness and generosity of the business community.

NJCU was recognized with CIANJ’s Companies that Care Awards with its Gold Award in the Outreach to Vulnerable & Disenfranchised Communities category.

Barbara Colon-Ruggieri, MSW, LSW, Assistant Dean of Social Services and Jennifer K. Luciano, Associate Dean of Residence Life and Social Services, accepted the award on behalf of NJCU.

In all, 44 companies, including leading manufacturers, retailers, hospitals, banks and colleges and universities, were honored at the reception, attended by more than 100 business executives.

“Giving back and helping those in need is a part of the culture for all of the companies and organizations we are honoring,” said Anthony Russo, President of CIANJ. “We are glad that we can showcase all of their good works and honor them for their commitment to service even through the last two years while dealing with the global pandemic,” Russo added.

Jodi Bailey, Ph.D., NJCU's Vice President for Student Affairs added: “I am so proud of our work. Our team has worked so hard, often while dealing with emergencies. To have the services recognized and to be a gold standard is simply amazing.”

As NJCU returned to in-person instruction during the Fall 2021 semester, an emphasis on student welfare put a spotlight on the efforts of the Division of Student Affairs, led by The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) and the NJCU Community Center.

In October 2021, NJCU held a