Foundation Focus | Long Read
Empowering Futures:
The Transformative Impact of the Educational Opportunity Fund Program
By Nicole Videla | Winter 2024
In pursuing higher education, barriers to college access and affordability have historically hindered motivated students. The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program at Ramapo College intentionally addresses these challenges, reshaping the narrative and offering hope and opportunities for students and families. Established in New Jersey by legislation approved in 1968, the EOF program focuses on expanding access to higher education for low-income, first-generation and underrepresented New Jersey students.
For over 55 years, the EOF program, administered by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) in conjunction with the EOF Board of Directors, has provided support services beyond traditional financial aid for undergraduate students facing historical poverty. The EOF program offers meaningful access and comprehensive support services such as a five-week summer transition program, one-on-one advisement, mentorship and academic support programs and tutoring. Focusing on inclusivity and social mobility, the program currently supports over 300 students at Ramapo College and over 13,000 students statewide.
Transformational Impact on Students:
One key aspect of EOF’s impact is the Pre-College Summer Studies Institute, a five-week summer program that helps first-year students prepare to transition from high school to college. The comprehensive summer experience sets the stage for student success, including living on campus, exposure to college-level courses, peer mentors, programming and networking. Many upper-class students, inspired by their own experiences as incoming first-year students, return to the summer program as student tutors or peer mentors.
The transformative impact of accessible education is evident in the success stories of EOF students. Ossiris Garcia ’27, a first-year biology/pre-med student, attests to the impact of the summer transition, “Being in the EOF Summer Program…has been a life-changing experience. I’ve learned so much from my professors, mentors, supplemental Instructors and advisors. This experience has given me a glimpse into what the next four years will look like.”
EOF Summer Studies Institute 2023
Another aspect of EOF that makes it a transformative experience is that it serves as an extension of family to our students. Keith Hurst ’25, a graduating accounting major, shared his perspective on the impact of EOF on his life: “During my first two years, I struggled socially, academically and mentally. I honestly thought I would have been forced to drop out, but these thoughts changed once I met my EOF Advisor, Ms. Natalie Quiñones. She consistently reminded me that I was supported, having a large impact on my time here.”
EOF has grown a reputation for being students’ home away from home. Being a part of the EOF program not only positively impacts their undergraduate experience, but also empowers them to become engaged alumni as highlighted in the alumni highlights section below.
Left to right: EOF Advisor, Natalie Quiñones ’15 and Keith Hurst ’25
Left to right: EOF staff Dr. Deirdre Foreman, Natalie Quiñones, Tanadjza Robinson-McCray, Dr. Nicole Videla, Keivon Hemmings and Christine Millien.
Empowering the future through accessible education, the EOF program at Ramapo College exemplifies a commitment to inclusivity, social mobility and breaking the cycle of historical poverty. Through comprehensive support services and transformative experiences, EOF continues to serve as a foundation for low-income students pursuing higher education in New Jersey.
EOF Success Stories #EOFWORKS: Alumni Highlights
Eneuri Acosta, ’04
Eneuri Acosta is a marketing, communications and brand expert based in New York City. He is driven to connect with a deep understanding of luxury brands, large corporations, cultural trendsetters and consumers.
In June 2017, Eneuri joined HODINKEE as chief operating officer and currently serves as chief brand officer. HODINKEE is widely recognized as the leading authority for all things wristwatches, including trends, reviews and online sales of vintage and modern watches and accessories.
Before HODINKEE, Eneuri was global manager of marketing communications for Cadillac, where he helped develop and implement strategies to re-introduce the storied brand to a new generation of consumers. Over the years, he filled a number of key positions within Cadillac, managing overall brand communications, including campaigns for fashion and art partnerships and the brand’s main advertising initiative, “Dare Greatly.” Eneuri also led Cadillac’s lifestyle communications work and influencer marketing.
Eneuri has been a featured speaker with TEDx and quoted in The New York Times, GQ, Esquire and Fortune. In 2017, he was also named to the Observer’s American Menswear Power List.
Eneuri is a board member of the Horological Society of New York. He graduated from Ramapo with a B.A. in communications and is fluent in Spanish.
“I owe where I am both personally and professionally to the EOF program at Ramapo. It was the first time that I felt my potential to be recognized and celebrated by others.
That confidence from the dedicated EOF counselors and staff helped expand my worldview, shaped my belief in myself and gave me the ability to recognize that my diversity of thought and background was not my shortcoming but rather my unique value offering.
There are a handful of choices I’ve made in my journey that I can point to that have led me to where I am. Being part of the EOF program at Ramapo was the most important choice.”
Juliana Londoño, ’19
Juliana Londoño is a proud bilingual Latina entrepreneur and licensed mental health therapist in New Jersey. Her business focuses on the intersectionality of mental health and the Latino/BIPOC communities. Her mission is to bring awareness, education and resources through various speaking outlets. Juliana has served as a thought leader, keynote speaker and podcast guest. She has collaborated with #WeAllGrow Latina, LinkedIn News and has been featured on Univision and NY Pix11 News. She is a community advocate and volunteers with America Needs You-NJ and Leading Young Women. She enjoys figure skating, completing jigsaw puzzles and spending time in nature during her free time.
Juliana earned her B.A. in psychology from Ramapo and her M.S. in clinical mental health counseling from Monmouth University. She also recently earned her certificate in women’s entrepreneurship from Cornell University.
“You may be the first, but you will not be the last.” Juliana heard this quote when she was an EOF scholar and it has been her inspiration for everything she has accomplished. She continues to break barriers, knowing that EOF gave her a solid foundation of confidence to allow her to pave the way for others.
Malcolm Minor, ’14
A Newark, N.J. native, Malcolm is an actor, singer, poet and public speaking coach who has performed on stages from NJPAC to Madison Square Garden to 54 Below to Radio City Music Hall. He holds a B.A. in theater from Ramapo and an M.F.A. in acting from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. He has been featured at the National Black Theater Festival, JagFest 4.0 and the Williamstown Theater Festival. You can hear his voice on Amazon Prime and other award-winning short films and web series. Currently, Malcolm is a finalist at the Actors Studio.
“EOF provided a space for me to grow amongst family. Which was something I didn’t know I needed. It showed me how to stand on my own as a kid becoming an adult.”
Dr. Alberta “Tamika” Quick, ’03
Dr. Alberta “Tamika” Quick is the assistant secretary for academic & student support programs with the N.J. Office of the Secretary for Higher Education.
Over the last nineteen years, Dr. Quick has worked in higher education in the areas of student affairs and diversity education. Her influential work with diverse groups of students, faculty and staff populations sparked her appreciation and passion for college access, empowerment and mentorship for students from underserved communities. Working at institutions of higher learning, along with serving on the ACE Women’s Network N.J. Board, has encouraged Dr. Quick’s growing passion for empowering, advocating and supporting young women of color. Her experiences have allowed her to mentor young women of color pursuing their academic degrees and career trajectories. She understands the importance of providing representation for young women to see people who look like them achieve success.
Dr. Quick’s growing passion for empowering, advocating and supporting young women of color led her to create her own 501c3 non-profit organization, Leading Young Women, Inc., aims to support black and brown girls in building lifelong learners who want to lead the future. The organization strives to inspire and encourage female empowerment, social education, mentorship and basic life skills and foster partnerships with parents, community members and friends. Last but certainly not least, Tamika is the proud mother of two teenage children, A’Janae and Amir Murray.
Dr. Quick graduated from Ramapo with a B.A. in marketing and communications. She earned an M.A. in counseling with a concentration in student affairs personnel from Montclair State University and obtained her Ed.D. in educational leadership from Saint Peter’s University.
“EOF, for me, has been a community of people that uplift, support and encourage one another to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be. Oftentimes, many first-generation college students don’t fully know or understand the path that lies ahead or that they are currently undertaking. However, being a part of an EOF community, students know they are not alone. There is a feeling of unity as the students and staff push and pull one another forward; oftentimes, students feel a sense of relief because of the representation provided in front of them, with many of their EOF professional staff members being EOF alumni. As an EOF alum and now working with EOF across the State of New Jersey, I stand tall and proud representing all those who have followed and will follow this journey to success.”
