RCSJ Celebrates the Inauguration of Dr. Brenden Rickards

Dr. Brenden Rickards was formally inaugurated as Rowan College of South Jersey’s (RCSJ) second president during the official ceremony of investiture. This special ceremony took place on September 29 in the Physical Education Center Gym, on the Gloucester campus. 

Local politicians, area community leaders, college presidents, RCSJ faculty, staff, students, alumni, and administrators were in attendance. Several of Rickards’ family members and friends were also in the audience witnessing this consequential event. 

Rickards, who is also the chief academic officer, began serving as RCSJ’s president in January 2026. Prior to his ascension to the presidency, Rickards served as a faculty member, dean, and provost at the College.

“I see so many familiar faces here from all walks of life,” Rickards marveled. “From neighborhood friends to those who have supported me as family, to those who supported me [at] RCSJ … to our employees in the back, and to our students. 

“It’s truly your support that has gotten me to this point … It’s the support and love of others. I want to sincerely thank you for coming.”

Rickards, 49, was born in Morgantown, WV. He graduated from Fairmount Senior High School then went to West Virginia University (WVU) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology. 

During the summer, while still attending WVU, Rickards, who is “intrigued by the why function” of biology, received a research grant from Pfizer. While doing research with faculty members Kay Brummond and Stephen Graber, Rickards realized he was interested in molecular biology. 

He was just like many students stepping into the brave new world of higher educational studies. “When I was an undergrad, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” Rickards recalled. 

“I actually started as an engineering major with a thought on going to medical school. I got into chemical engineering and realized that I could not stand it in any way, shape, or form,” the Burlington County resident added, with a laugh. 

Graber and Brummond gently encouraged him to apply to many schools, including the Ivy Leagues and he eventually decided to attend Princeton University. 

“The reason that I ultimately chose to go to Princeton was that Princeton requires you to teach and I was truly interested in the teaching aspect,” Rickards revealed. 

“Why?” he rhetorically asked. “Because I felt that when you teach, number one, you truly get an understanding of the subject. The second reason is when I was a kid, I always enjoyed explaining things and breaking things down so that people could understand.”

Rickards graduated from Princeton with a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology. 

Gloucester County Board of Commissioner Frank DiMarco congratulated Rickards on behalf of the board. 

“His exemplary record tenure as interim president and chief academic officer demonstrated not only his knowledge and experience, but also his commitment to the students,” DiMarco said about the new president, who started his RCSJ career in 2007 as an assistant professor of Biology. 

“He has also been a driving force in the development of new degree and certificate programs that respond to the changing needs of our workforce, while helping to expand and strengthen RCSJ’s partnership with Rowan University,” the commissioner added. “The Gloucester County Board of Commissioners is proud to congratulate you and wishes you continued success as you lead RCSJ boldly into the future.” 

“On behalf of the entire Rowan community … I would like to congratulate the second president of RCSJ. This is a proud day for Rowan College of South Jersey, and more specifically you and your family,” said Dr. Ali Houshmand, Rowan University president. Rowan University is a flagship partner of RCSJ.

“With the support and guidance of the Board of Trustees and the entire RCSJ community, I’m certain you will continue this institutional legacy of innovation and service for our students and community.”

Driven to teach

Both of Rickards’ maternal grandparents were faculty members at higher educational institutions. His grandfather, Charles Preston Skaggs, worked at WVU and his grandmother, Ruth Marie Skaggs, worked at Fairmount State College (now Fairmount State University). 

The new president shared a story about a statement his grandfather made to Rickards when he was a teen. 

“I remember being on the front porch and he said, ‘People like you have a duty to work and help others.’ At the time, I really didn’t know what he was talking about. It dawned on me a few years later that what he meant is if you have the ability to break down and explain things so people can understand them, you have a duty to help. 

“That was my drive to get into teaching,” he divulged. “I felt that was my calling.”

Rickards’ drive to teach also led him down the path to become RCSJ’s second president. 

“I realized that you have an opportunity to change people’s lives and their trajectories. When you’re in a classroom, there are only X number of students. The further you go up, you now have the opportunity to change things for the better – not only for all of the students you had in class, but all of the students attending RCSJ, as well as, hopefully, the faculty, staff, and the community,” he explained. 

Impact on colleagues and students

A few of Rickards’ colleagues, including one of his former students, spoke about the impact he had on them during the ceremony. 

“I enjoyed working with you as a faculty member. I think that needs to be said because Brenden started in the faculty, so he understands what it means to be in the trenches, also known as the classrooms,” Mary Malinconico, RCSJ–Gloucester faculty senate vice chair and associate professor of Computer Graphic Arts said, eliciting laughter from the audience. 

“As a dean it was a pleasure working with you; as a vice president it was a pleasure working with you, and now I look forward to leading the faculty senate [and working] with you in the future. Congratulations.”

Dr. Jennfier Riggio, RCSJ–Cumberland faculty senate secretary and assistant professor I, Computer Graphic Arts, said: “As faculty, we especially appreciate his commitment to shared governance and to ensuring that faculty voices remain an important part of the conversations and decisions that shape our institution.

“On a personal note, Dr. Rickards was a mentor to me as I was going through my doctorate journey in leadership, and he’s also been an excellent resource for our Phi Theta Kappa chapters on both campuses. We look forward to continuing that tradition.”

“For me one of the most meaningful parts of Dr. Rickards’ vision is his emphasis on service,” said Joe Spencer, RCSJ–Gloucester College Assembly chair and director of the Academy of Adult Literacy. “The RCSJ Serves initiative represents something I strongly believe should be at the heart of what we do, here at RCSJ. We serve our students, we serve our communities, and we serve one another. 

“Dr. Rickards, your history with this institution gives you a unique understanding both of where RCSJ has been and where it can go …,” he added, “and as a proud West Virginia Mountaineer, you know a thing or two about climbing mountains. While we may have mountains to climb here at RCSJ, I am confident that under your leadership, we will continue reaching new heights.”

Rounding out the speakers in the Greetings portion of the ceremony was Thaddeus Palmer, a 2018 Gloucester campus graduate and current assistant professor of Biology and Chemistry, at the College. He delivered heartwarming remarks during his speech. 

“I stand here today as a faculty member for Rowan College of South Jersey, and I’m equally honored to count myself among the alumni of the College as well, where I consider myself very fortunate to have found some of the greatest professors that I had throughout the entirety of my academic career,” Palmer said. 

“I think anyone that may have had the privilege of having Brenden as a professor, or may have seen him conduct a classroom, would know that his knowledge – and I would say mastery of the subject and his ability to convey that information to his students – was maybe matched only by his genuine care and compassion for the students. I wish nothing but the best for him,” he continued.

“I’ve always been grateful to him for where I am today.”

Reshaping RCSJ’s future

Rickards, a Princeton University GradFutures Clio Hall award winner, is astutely aware that a thriving college begins with meaningful connections. The president is committed to engaging with students, employees, alumni, industry partners, and community members through open dialogue, shared experiences, and collaborative opportunities. 

The president’s vision focuses on hands-on opportunities, transformative innovation, and servant leadership. RCSJ Serves is at the forefront of his servant leadership initiatives. 

“The idea behind RCSJ serves is to encourage all of our employees and students to volunteer in things they are passionate about,” Rickards said. “I think volunteerism and serving others is a huge, fulfilling part of my life, and I’d like to extend that fulfillment to others on campus. 

“I think at the core of a community college, we have to be here to serve the community – whether that’s providing education, training, enrichment, or holding events that people in the community can come to learn and enjoy. It’s a long-term commitment to integrate RCSJ more into the community.”

Passing the torch

Rickards ran down a long list of people that he thanked for helping to guide and mentor him on his journey to the presidency. Included on that list was the first president of RCSJ, Dr. Fred Keating. 

“I can’t say enough about the mentorship that Fred provided over the years,” Rickards said, during the ceremony. “When you’re moving up through different roles, you have to listen and learn from others. So, the help and support that Fred gave me as the provost and ultimately in this role – I cannot say enough.” 

The erstwhile president had nothing but kind words to say about Rickards. 

“What I take away and am appreciative to see is his success. We go back at least 17, 18 years. I supported him when he wanted to be the president. I’ve watched his growth and I’d like to think that we learned a lot from each other,” Keating said. 

“He helped me a lot when I was the president. I think we had a good relationship and I’m very happy for him and his family.”

Family ties

Several of Rickards’ family members – including his mother and father who traveled up from West Virginia, his siblings and sisters-in law – were at the ceremony to witness his ceremonial ascension to RCSJ president. The emotions of the moment began to surface in Rickards’ voice when he thanked his family. 

“I know I could not be here without the love and support of my family, my wife Jill, my daughter Lauren and my son Ben …,” he said. “It’s the love and support that you get at home on a daily basis that allows you to progress.

“My wife and I have been together for 20 plus years. She was with me when I was an undergrad, and she supported and pushed me, so Jill, I love you. Thank you very much. To my kids, Ben and Lauren … seeing you grow up has been the happiest days of my life. What I want you to think about is that you too can make a true difference and that’s ultimately what life is about.”

“I’m very proud of him,” Jill, a social worker at Virtua Health, said. “Our parents predicted this would happen as he advanced at the College starting as a professor and moving to dean and the various positions he’s held. 

“I’m not surprised. He’s a very hard worker, very intelligent, and sincere. I think he’ll do great things for the College.”

For information about Rowan College of South Jersey programs, visit RCSJ.edu.