Brenden Rickards, Ph.D., will officially assume the role as RCSJ's Interim President on July 1, 2025, following 17 years of dedicated service to the College.
At the Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) Board of Trustees meeting held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, Brenden Rickards, Ph.D., was appointed interim president of RCSJ. He will officially assume the role on July 1, 2025.
Rickards has been an employee at the College for the past 17 years beginning as a professor in Biology, to Dean of the STEM Division, to Vice President of Academic Services, and finally Vice President and Provost of Academic Services.
Having graduated with his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Princeton University in 2006, he took his first role teaching at the Gloucester campus in 2007. Since then, he has represented the College at speaking engagements within the RCSJ community, at the state level, and internationally.
In 2022, Rickards received the Clio Hall Award from Princeton University for his contributions to graduate student professional development. He also received the Christian R. & Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching at Gloucester for the 2012-2013 academic year
“When reflecting on Dr. Rickards work as a professor and provost, he has a unique understanding of and connection with students and faculty," says Gene J. Concordia, chair, RCSJ board of trustees. “He brings that perspective into big picture conversations with RCSJ leadership that will serve our students well. The Board of Trustees looks forward to working with Dr. Rickards, building upon the success we have created as a team."
Rickards has been integral in securing and maintaining the partnership with Rowan University to benefit RCSJ students, making college more affordable while still maintaining academic rigor and a seamless pathway to a bachelor's degree. He has worked with faculty to develop and revise numerous courses and delivered new degree programs and certificates based on student need and industry demands.
“I'm looking forward to continuing to enhance the Rowan University partnership in this new role, while taking RCSJ projects already in development, including in Manufacturing, the Trades and various Health Care programming already underway through the finish line." Rickards continues, “RCSJ has a long history in both Cumberland and Gloucester County of being an integral part of the community and I look forward to working with both counties to enhance opportunities available to residents to help them reach their goals. By fully immersing the College in the culture of the counties as well as expanding opportunities for students with Rowan University, we look forward to supporting the ever-changing needs of our population."
Over the last six years, Rickards also spearheaded administrative and faculty re-structure and course and program alignment following the Cumberland County College and Rowan College at Gloucester County merger in 2019 forming RCSJ. During that time, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he successfully directed the conversion of Spring 2020 course offerings to fully remote delivery and developed new live online courses with faculty to serve the changing needs of RCSJ students post-pandemic.
While serving in his many leadership roles at the College, Rickards chaired several Strategic Planning Committees, led Middle States Accreditation Committees, including his role as the Accreditation Liaison Officer, completed several accreditation substantive and complex substantive changes as well as worked with New Jersey Council of County College leadership on State General Education courses, new program development, and course funding.
Outside the College, Rickards has worked with several county high schools to develop partnerships to recruit students. He also worked closely with Rowan University leadership and faculty to ensure student programming was aligned with the University for maximum transfer opportunities for RCSJ students.
Focusing on industry workforce needs, Rickards has collaborated with many local businesses in Gloucester and Cumberland counties to establish internship, clinical, and scholarship opportunities for students both attending and graduating from RCSJ.
“Dr. Rickards' extensive experience and knowledge of the communities we serve, his mentorship, leadership, and collaboration with RCSJ students, faculty and staff, as well as his external connections with industry, high schools, transfer partners, and local and state leadership, makes him the ideal choice for RCSJ's interim president. With over a decade of collaboration with Dr. Rickards, I am confident he will take RCSJ boldly into the future," shares Keating, RCSJ president.
For more information on RCSJ's new interim president, Brenden Rickards, Ph.D., visit RCSJ.edu/CollegeOverview.
