Centenary University appoints first African-American, an FDU official, as president

William Westhoven, Morristown Daily Record
·4 min read

A national search for the next leader of one New Jersey college came to an end at another New Jersey institute of higher learning with the selection of Dale G. Caldwell as the first African-American president in the 156-year history of Centenary University.

Caldwell, currently the executive director of the Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Hackensack, will assume his new duties on July 1. He will succeed Bruce Murphy, who announced in September that he'd be retiring after three years leading the liberal arts school in Hackettstown.

“I am grateful for the board’s confidence in my ability to lead Centenary at this pivotal time in the university’s history,” Caldwell said in a news release announcing his selection on Sunday.

Dale G. Caldwell, currently executive director of the Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fairleigh Dickinson University, has been named the new and first African-American president of Centenary University.
Dale G. Caldwell, currently executive director of the Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fairleigh Dickinson University, has been named the new and first African-American president of Centenary University.

Founded in 1867 by the United Methodist Church, Centenary University has about 1,200 students, mostly studying on its main campus in Warren County. The school also has an equestrian campus in Long Valley and two satellite learning centers in Parsippany and Edison.

Prior to his work at FDU, Caldwell served as founding executive director of the Newark Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to economic revitalization in the city. A resident of New Brunswick, where he is president of the local school board, Caldwell's experience includes a term as deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, and work as a senior manager at Deloitte Consulting.

“Dr. Caldwell’s impressive experience leading programs that promote educational access, innovation, revenue generation, equity, and entrepreneurship, and his success in forging partnerships with New Jersey businesses to advance education, align strongly with our mission and the experience sought by students in our region," said Rochelle Makela-Goodman, who chairs Centenary's Board of Trustees. "The board looks forward to supporting Dr. Caldwell’s comprehensive strategy to build on the great work of Dr. Murphy.”

Caldwell holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Princeton University, a master's in finance administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in education administration from Seton Hall University, according to Centenary.

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Caldwell also is a licensed local pastor with the Greater New Jersey Conference of the United Methodist Church. He emerged from "an extremely competitive process" that produced more than 100 applicants, Makela-Goodman said.

Leading the Rothman Institute for the past four years, Caldwell has "led the transformation of the organization to become the state’s most influential entrepreneurial institute serving family businesses, veteran entrepreneurs, and urban enterprises," Centenary added in its announcement.

Centenary College's Seay administration building on its Hackettstown campus, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1867 as a preparatory school and women?s college.
Centenary College's Seay administration building on its Hackettstown campus, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1867 as a preparatory school and women?s college.

“We are very excited to congratulate Dale Caldwell on his appointment as the president of Centenary University,” said FDU's interim president, Michael Avaltroni. “Dale brings to Centenary an illustrious record of service to higher education and throughout society. We will very much miss his leadership, expertise and insights, but we wish him great success and prosperity in his new role.”

Centenary president 'grateful' for support after wife's death

Murphy's wife, Jeanne, was killed in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident while walking her dog in Hackettstown on Jan. 5, four months after he announced his plans to step down. The driver has been charged with aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide and was drunk at the time of the crash, prosecutors said.

Murphy said the support from the Centenary community after losing his wife, a retired Army colonel, has been "phenomenal." The university held a memorial service for her on Jan. 22.

"There were about 400 people there and it was live-streamed," he said. "They really responded. Not just the university but neighbors. Jeanne was the one who walked the dog so there were a lot of people, neighbors she knew that I didn't. People will tell you things you didn't know. Her college roommate. People she served with in the military. It's been so gratifying and in a way, overwhelming. But it does help somewhat to get through this."

Their plan was to retire to Florida, "but obviously that will change now."

Murphy said he already knew Caldwell as a former Centenary trustee who "has a great background, knows the state very well."

"He's got a manner about him that is very presidential," Murphy said. "I think he's a great fit for the face of Centenary. He's a great communicator. He knows the board members which is great for a president coming in. He knows some of the issues and some of the personalities, which is a great advantage for him."

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com Twitter: @wwesthoven

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Centenary University's new president is first African-American in role