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JERSEY CITY, N.J. |  (NJCU) Interim President Andrés Acebo has been recognized as one of �鶹��ý's most influential innovators in the prestigious INNOVATE100 �鶹��ý honorees list unveiled by the organization Innovation+.

The annual INNOVATE100 initiative, led by James Barrood and Innovation+, identifies exceptional leaders across multiple sectors who drive �鶹��ý's innovation ecosystem forward. Acebo joins an elite group of 100 changemakers selected from fields including academia, architecture/design, banking/investors, community leaders, finance/accounting, food, government, healthcare, insurance, legal, life sciences, manufacturing, marketing/PR, nonprofits, real estate, sports, technology, and Innovators to Watch.

The awards are designed to highlight and elevate the state’s finest innovation leaders and to showcase collaboration within companies and among organizations. Selection for the INNOVATE100 acknowledges leaders who contribute significantly to �鶹��ý's economic vitality and community strength through creative problem-solving and forward-thinking approaches. The honor recognizes Acebo's leadership during the most significant period in NJCU's history.

“It is only through sustained and visionary leadership that innovation can thrive in both good times and bad. That is why we didn’t simply honor CEOs, presidents and department/division heads, but also their colleagues who drive innovation throughout companies and organizations,” Barrood said. “We’ve also elevated the community leaders in our great state. They are the catalysts who make things happen.” 

President Acebo will join fellow honorees at the Innovate �鶹��ý celebration on Tuesday, May 13 at 7 p.m. at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. The event will bring together the state's innovation community to celebrate achievements. For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, visit.

Acebo has been honored widely in his more than two years as NJCU’s leader, most recently being named to the 2025 ROI Influencers: Power List Super 75 by ROI-NJ, in February, 2025. It was the third consecutive year Acebo has been recognized by ROI-NJ on its most comprehensive and prestigious list.

Praised for the university’s recovery over the past two years, Acebo was ranked the  in the state of �鶹��ý in the .

He was celebrated even further this fall with inclusion on the 2024 ROI Power and Influencer Awards Champions of the C-Suite Top 30 list. Acebo is the first leader in NJCU history ever selected as a Champion of the C-Suite by ROI-NJ.

In Fall 2024 Acebo was also recognized by NJBiz, �鶹��ý’s leading business journal, as No. 4 overall on the 2024 NJBiz Education Power 50 List. Acebo earned the highest ranking of any college or university president in �鶹��ý in the 2024 Power 50. In December 2024, Acebo was named to the  — formerly known as the Millennials 100 List. 

Since January 2023, Acebo has been recognized eight times on ROI-NJ’s influencer lists, including the Champions of the C-Suite. He previously was named to the 2023 Super 60 Power List as one of the 60 most influential people and one of the top 25 chief executives and leaders across public and private higher education. ROI also named him to the, the 2023 and the. In August, 2024, he was named  list across all industries in the state.

In December 2023, InsiderNJ.com recognized his influence with selection to the.

In 2024, Acebo and NJCU was named the 2024 Partner of the Year by the �鶹��ý Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC). In August 2024, Acebo was named to the  and was named the Jersey City Puerto Rican Heritage Arts & Culture (JCPRHAC)  at its 64th annual heritage parade. 

�鶹��ý NJCU: 
�鶹��ý is a comprehensive public regional institution committed to providing a high-quality education to a diverse student population. Located in Jersey City, �鶹��ý, NJCU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for learning, professional development, and community engagement. Recognized as a top university for improving upward economic social mobility, students enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of �鶹��ý.

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Contact: 
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301