About the Foundation - NJCU Foundation

Where Generosity Meets Opportunity

The NJCU Foundation at Kean Jersey City connects alumni, donors and community partners with opportunities to support student success. Our goal is to expand access to scholarships, programs and experiences that help Kean Jersey City students climb higher.

Our Mission

Our mission is to expand opportunity for students at Kean Jersey City by inspiring philanthropy, engaging alumni and partners, and investing in scholarships, programs and experiences that help students succeed.

Through the generosity of our community, we help remove financial barriers, open doors to new opportunities and give students the support they need to climb higher.

Our Approach

We believe opportunity grows when a community invests in its students.

The Foundation brings together alumni, donors, businesses, community partners and friends who share a commitment to Kean Jersey City students. We turn that generosity into scholarships, programs and experiences that help students learn, grow, connect and prepare for what comes next.

By building strong relationships between students and the community around them, we help create pathways to opportunity that extend well beyond the classroom.

Our Vision

We envision a Kean Jersey City where every student has the opportunity, resources and support to reach their full potential, regardless of financial circumstance.

By strengthening a culture of philanthropy and connection among alumni, donors and the broader community, we seek to create opportunities that endure across generations, helping today’s students climb higher and empowering them to build stronger communities tomorrow.

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Leadership & Staff

Lizette Delgado Polanco

Executive Director

Lizette Delgado Polanco

Executive Director

Lizette Delgado is an accomplished leader with a distinguished career in government affairs, labor relations, policy development, and public service. Currently, Lizette serves as the Executive Director of the New Jersey City University (NJCU) Foundation, where she provides strategic oversight, guides university-wide fundraising efforts, and ensures that the Foundation aligns with NJCU's mission and goals. In this role, she manages donor relations, stewards assets, and collaborates closely with the Board of Directors to drive impactful initiatives. Previously, Lizette was the Vice President of Government Affairs at BioNeat, where she directed strategic planning and strengthened partnerships with governmental entities. As Director of Labor Relations and Strategy at SBM Management, she led initiatives that improved engagement and productivity while serving as a liaison with federal, state, and local agencies.

Her career also includes serving as Senior Vice President of Labor Strategy at Cratos Group, where she provided policy counsel and championed diversity and inclusion. Lizette’s tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority saw her overseeing $12.5 billion in educational infrastructure projects. Additionally, she held the role of Regional Political Director at the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters, managing legislative programs across five states.

As Executive Director of the SEIU New Jersey State Council, Lizette coordinated legislative agendas for seven SEIU locals, advocating for over 40,000 members across various industries. Her experience as Deputy Secretary of State and earlier roles, including Director of Special Projects for U.S. Senator Jon Corzine, further underscore her leadership in public service and community engagement.

Lizette’s pioneering spirit led to her historic appointment as the first Hispanic Assistant Secretary of State in New Jersey in 2002. Her strategic oversight of voter programs significantly boosted Latino voter turnout in gubernatorial elections, solidifying her commitment to civic engagement.

Lizette holds a background in Labor Studies from the National Labor College and is bilingual in Spanish. Residing in Essex County, New Jersey, she is a proud mother of four and grandmother of four, continually dedicated to family, community, and the causes she champions.

Clarinda Joseph-Cumberbatch

Chief Operating Officer, Chief Community Engagement Officer

Clarinda Joseph-Cumberbatch

Chief Operating Officer, Chief Community Engagement Officer

Board of Directors

Peter Hernandez, CPA

Chair

Peter Hernandez, CPA

Chair

Peter Hernandez, CPA, is a finance executive with extensive experience leading financial strategy, operational finance, and enterprise risk in highly regulated hospitality and gaming environments. He partners with executive teams to drive profitable growth through budgeting and forecasting, performance analytics, capital planning, and strong internal controls and compliance. While his career is rooted in financial management, Pete’s passion for corporate responsibility and ESG informs how he leads and why he serves on nonprofit and community boards.

Most recently, Pete served as Chief Financial Officer of Mount Airy Casino Resort (MACR), where he led the Finance Department and Finance Management Team for the integrated resort operation. In this role, he oversaw treasury, budgeting, revenue audit, accounting, and purchasing; ensured compliance with internal control standards and regulatory reporting requirements; and partnered with the COO/General Manager and executive leadership team on strategic planning, financial performance, and sustainable business growth.

Previously, Pete held senior leadership roles at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, including Senior Vice President of ESG and Organizational Effectiveness and Senior Vice President of Managed Finance. In these roles, he led ESG strategy and implementation and directed finance operations for the company’s managed properties division. Pete’s scope also included talent development through Wyndham University and oversight of safety, security, and risk management. Earlier, he served as Group Vice President of Social Responsibility.

Prior to WHR, Pete was Senior Vice President and Division Controller for Wyndham Destinations, where he oversaw accounting and financial operations for the hospitality services division. Previously, Pete spent more than 17 years at Wyndham Vacation Ownership in progressive finance leadership roles and served as an executive sponsor for mentoring and affinity initiatives.

Currently, Pete serves as Chair of the New Jersey City University (NJCU) Foundation Board of Directors and as a Board Member of JBWS, a nonprofit organization focused on domestic violence prevention and support services.

Pete is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University and completed executive leadership programs at The Wharton School (Global Leader Program) and West Point’s Thayer Leadership Development Program.

Edward P. O’Connor

Vice Chair

Edward P. O’Connor

Vice Chair

Ed is a seasoned wealth management executive with a distinguished record of building and transforming retirement and investment businesses across major financial institutions. As Principal Partner at Princeton Financial Consultants, he leads strategic initiatives in regulatory response, public policy advocacy, and fintech advisory, guiding large-scale projects.

Previously, as Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and UBS, Ed oversaw product development and management, crisis management efforts, advisory programs, and led significant asset growth—eventually overseeing $0.5 Trillion in client assets. His earlier roles at JP Morgan Chase and Merrill Lynch include pioneering managed account platforms, structured solutions, and international wealth management expansion. In addition, Ed has an MBA, is a non-practicing CPA, and holds several securities licenses.

Finally, Ed is Vice-Chair of the NJCU Foundation Board and is a Co-inventor with the US Patent Office. He utilizes his experience from a non-voting member position of the OECD Private Pensions Committee and testiments on tax policy to the House Ways & Means Committee of the 107th Congress to effectively execute his current positions.

Ashley L. Atkins

Director, U.S. Corporate Responsibility, Novartis

Ashley L. Atkins

Director, U.S. Corporate Responsibility, Novartis

Ashley L. Atkins, Ph.D. is Director, US Corporate Responsibility at Novartis where she is responsible for the company’s community engagement strategy in the US, including corporate giving, the Novartis U.S. Foundation and employee engagement efforts. She joined Novartis in 2018 following 16-years at Johnson & Johnson as part of the company’s Global Community Impact Team, where she led local community-based partnerships related to education, food security, urban green space, arts & culture, and community health. Ashley is committed to driving social change through a collaborative systems approach.

Ashley holds degrees from Duke University, University of Massachusetts, and Rutgers University, where she received a Ph.D. in art history. She recently published the white paper “Arts, Health, and Well-being Across the Military Continuum: White Paper 2.0 – 2020 and Beyond” for Americans for the Arts. The paper chronicles the achievements of the National Initiative for the Arts & Health in the Military and articulates the need for an increased focus on how to serve the most underserved military-connected communities, using arts interventions to create better health outcomes. She lives in Central NJ with her husband and 2 sons.

Will Eaves

Partner, PwC

Will Eaves

Partner, PwC

Will Eaves brings to NJCU a robust background in governance, regulatory compliance, risk management, and technology assurance through his role as Trust Solutions Partner at PwC’s Digital Assurance and Transparency practice in New York. He specializes in operational oversight for asset managers, banks, and financial institutions — with deep experience in regulatory and reporting frameworks.

Throughout his career, Will has served in various people and inclusion-related roles. Most recently, he served as the people and inclusion leader for a team of over 200 professionals. As the lead Human Resources and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion partner for his practice, Will brings a strong commitment to justice, inclusion, and ethical leadership — qualities that align with NJCU’s mission and values. As a licensed CPA in New Jersey and New York and certified as a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Will blends technical, financial, and governance expertise. He joined the NJCU Foundation Board in late 2022.

Will is a Queens, NY native and received his Bachelor of Science in Commerce (Finance & MIS) from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. Will serves on the board of St. Peter's Orphanage and is an active, lifetime member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

Will’s presence on the board strengthens the NJCU Foundation’s capacity for oversight, transparency, and ethical stewardship — reassuring donors that their contributions will be managed with integrity, professionalism, and accountability

Nicole Leon

Director, Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Con Edison, Inc.

Nicole Leon

Director, Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Con Edison, Inc.

Nicole Leon serves as Director of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion at Con Edison, Inc., where she drives corporate diversity strategies, equitable practices, and compliance with anti-discrimination and EEO policies. Her career reflects deep engagement with inclusion, fairness, and organizational equity.

Nicole joined the Foundation Board in December 2021, bringing not only her corporate leadership and talent for building inclusive workplaces — but also a strong sense of social responsibility and justice.

Her professional accolades include recognition for advancing diversity and mentoring in major organizations, marking her as a generational leader in corporate inclusion efforts.

As a member of the NJCU Foundation Board, Nicole strengthens the institution’s commitment to equity, representation, and opportunity — values core to NJCU’s mission of accessible, inclusive higher education. Her presence on the board helps ensure that the Foundation’s philanthropic work reflects the diverse backgrounds and needs of its students and community.

Stephanie Lezcano

Government Affairs Specialist, International Brotehrhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

Stephanie Lezcano

Government Affairs Specialist, International Brotehrhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

Stephanie Lezcano is an experienced government affairs specialist currently working with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Besides being a member of the NJCU Foundation board, she volunteers as a board member of the Cuban American Alliance for Leadership & Education and serves as the secretary/director of public and civic engagement at the Latino American Democratic Association of New Jersey, Inc.

With her B.S. in Political Science, Stephanie has established a well-rounded advocacy career. She has interned in government and political roles for U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Congressman Bill Pascrell, State Senator Nellie Pou, Hillary for America, and Change.org

Stephanie brings her experience and education in government affairs to create opportunities and change for the NJCU community.

Jose Lozano

Executive Vice President, Chief Growth Officer , Hackensack Meridian Health

Jose Lozano

Executive Vice President, Chief Growth Officer , Hackensack Meridian Health

Jose Lozano is Executive Vice President, Chief Growth Officer for Hackensack Meridian Health. Previously, he was President & Chief Executive Officer of Choose New Jersey and Chief of Staff & Vice President for Corporate Services and Governance at Hackensack Meridian Health, where he managed several critical executive office functions, including corporate relations, strategy development, operations, board relations, public relations and communications.

Jose served in the Obama Administration as Deputy Chief of Staff and homeland security advisor at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, leading an immediate staff of 100+ in the development and implementation of the agency’s environmental agenda domestically and abroad.

His years of experience in these positions and others, including as Executive Director of the 2017 Transition for Governor-elect Phil Murphy, Director of External Affairs for the newly created New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, Director of Operations for New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine, and Transition Staff for Obama/Biden, have given Jose unique expertise in building and managing organizations through times of crisis, transition, merger and consolidation.

Jose received his Bachelor of Arts from Stockton University and a Master’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Jeffrey Martinez

Executive Vice President, Head of Branch Banking, PNC Bank

Jeffrey Martinez

Executive Vice President, Head of Branch Banking, PNC Bank

Jeffrey (Jeff) Martinez is executive vice president and head of Branch Banking at PNC Bank. In the role, Martinez is responsible for more than 2,200 physical branches, nearly 15,000 employees through PNC’s coast-to-coast footprint, and a fleet of 22 mobile branches serving key low-to-moderate income (LMI) neighborhoods and disaster relief efforts. Also, he oversees sales strategy for PNC’s branch banking capabilities. In addition, Martinez serves as the executive sponsor of PNC’s Multicultural Employee Business Resource Group and PNC UNIDOS Hispanic and Latino Leaders Forum.

Martinez joined PNC in 2014 and has over 20 years of retail banking experience. Prior to PNC, he held various roles at JPMorgan Chase for more than 10 years. Martinez served the country for nine years in the U.S. Army National Guard. He deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and has been awarded three Army Commendation Medals and New Jersey’s Distinguished Service Medal.

Martinez is passionate about giving back to the communities where he lives and works. He is the treasurer of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and the NJCU Foundation board. He is a board member of LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Hackensack Meridian Palisade Hospital and treasurer and member of the Hudson County Community College Employer advisory board. Martinez serves as an executive advisor to Cuban American Alliance for Leadership & Education (CAALE) and works with the Association of Latino Professionals for America at New Jersey and New York universities.

Martinez earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Rutgers University and completed the CBA Executive Banking School Program at Furman University.

Joseph Nyamwange

Financial Strategist

Joseph Nyamwange

Financial Strategist

Joseph (Joe) Abuga Nyamwange is a notable financial strategist, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist that credits his current success to his humble beginnings in Jersey City. Born to Kenyan parents who migrated to this country in the 1980s for better opportunities, Joe has learned that with grit, hard work, and faith, all things are possible.

Growing up in Jersey City, Joe experienced firsthand that being Black in America comes with specific challenges unique to our culture. He has developed a burning passion for helping people of color overcome the racial and economic disparities that have kept them far behind their respective counterparts for centuries. The Nyamwange Foundation was founded because of this desire to be a catalyst for systemic change in the Black community. Nyamwange Foundation’s focus is on building a generation of leaders who positively influence others with empathy and advocacy.

He has an extensive career in the technology sector as an Enterprise Account Executive. Over the last 15 years he has worked for fortune 100 companies which include Amazon, Microsoft, and Dell.

Joe’s greatest joy is marrying his best friend, Sasha Wilson, and being the father of his children, Jade, Nia, and Wilson.

Adam San Miguel '18

CEO, Cortaditos Coffee, Social entrepreneur & Soldier

Adam San Miguel '18

CEO, Cortaditos Coffee, Social entrepreneur & Soldier

Adam San Miguel is a CEO, Social entrepreneur, and Soldier. As CEO of Cortaditos Coffee, Adam owns and operates seven Cuban style coffee shops in New Jersey with over 70 employees. Also, as founder and chairman of the Cuban American Alliance for Leadership & Education, a local nonprofit organization recognized as the Nonprofit of the Year by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of NJ in 2020, Adam leads scholarship giving and leadership development programming for students nationwide. For this work, CNN has recognized Adam as a “Champion for Change", which is an annual broadcast event that highlights the stories of innovative individuals making a positive impact addressing various societal challenges, demonstrating the power of ordinary people to reshape the future.

Prior to opening Cortaditos, Adam spent over a decade in the technology sector working for Google, Microsoft, and Dell, where his responsibilities included technology for social impact. Also, as a civic leader, Adam is a member of the Cuba Study Group, a Miami based non-profit organization aimed at promoting civil society development in Cuba. Also on the international stage, Adam is a member of the Cuba Emprende Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization that supports the Catholic Church of Cuba's Proyecto Cuba Emprende in offering entrepreneurial training and business advisory services to Cuban entrepreneurs. Adam is also a commissioned Officer in the United States Coast Guard Reserve.

Adam earned a B.A. in finance from Monmouth University, where he also holds the school record for most receptions in a single season as well as career (Football), a B.S in Spanish from New Jersey City University, and an MBA from Fordham University.

Timothy White ’99

Vice President, River Crossing Strategy Group, Public Affairs, Government Relations and Communications

Timothy White ’99

Vice President, River Crossing Strategy Group, Public Affairs, Government Relations and Communications

Timothy White is Senior Vice President at River Crossing Strategy Group, where he leads public affairs, government relations, and strategic communications efforts for clients in real estate development, energy, and public utilities. He specializes in complex issue advocacy and regulatory approval campaigns, using stakeholder engagement, coalition building, and strategic navigation of legislative and regulatory environments to deliver results.

Tim previously founded and led the public affairs practice at Beckerman and served as Vice President at MWW Group. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles in political consulting as a communications director and campaign manager for numerous statewide, legislative, county, and municipal campaigns. His government experience includes serving as Special Assistant to Bergen County Executive William “Pat” Schuber and Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham, Political Director for the New Jersey Republican State Committee (2004), and a member of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s 2013 transition team.

He serves on the New Jersey City University Foundation Board and holds a B.A. from New Jersey City University and an M.P.A. from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Judith Wodynski, '76, M.A. '77

Retired Director of Development and Community Services, Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation

Judith Wodynski, '76, M.A. '77

Retired Director of Development and Community Services, Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation

Judith (Judy) Lipka-Wodynski is a seasoned advancement professional with more than 28 years of experience in fundraising and alumni relations. Now semi-retired and based on Nantucket Island, she runs a fundraising consultancy focused on helping small nonprofits strengthen boards and staff, adopt best practices in fundraising, conduct strategic planning and program assessment, and design effective campaigns.

Previously, she served as Director of Development and Community Relations for the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation in Leesburg, Virginia, where she oversaw membership, publications, public relations, special events, and development, while also serving as liaison to key board committees and managing the Equestrian and Museum Education programs. Before that, she was Director of External Relations at the Nantucket Historical Association, with responsibility for membership, publications, events, development, and trustee relations.

Earlier in her career, Judy spent 24 years in higher education and independent schools, including roles at New Jersey City University, Drexel University, The College of New Jersey, and Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child. She currently serves as Secretary of the NJCU Foundation Board.An NJCU alumna twice over, she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University and even attended its Laboratory School as a child.

Judy and her husband, fellow NJCU graduate Michael Wodynski, are members of the Royal Knight Society and avid travelers, having literally gone around the world on the Queen Mary 2.

Where Generosity Meets Opportunity

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