(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)March 13, 2025

Endowing the presidential scholarship to attract New Jersey’s top-achieving students is one of three transformational initiatives the landmark gift will support

Mahwah, NJ– Ramapo College of New Jersey unveiled a $4 million gift this week, the largest one-time gift in college history, thanks to the generosity of longtime supporters and friends of Ramapo College, Susan and Nick Vallario. Through several endowed initiatives, this visionary gift serves to future-proof the success of students and positively contribute to New Jersey’s economy.

“This phenomenal gift honors the public good Ramapo provides as the state’s designated public liberal arts college,” said Cindy R. Jebb, President, adding “Susan and Nick’s prescient generosity allows us to further the College’s mission by investing in and developing our students to be the empathetic problem solvers, ethical change agents, and responsible leaders our state, our society, and the world so desperately need.”

The gift will advance Ramapo’s strategic plan, Boldly Ascending, by strengthening student success through three key actions:

• Supporting student well-being
• Empowering students for a digital future
• Investing in New Jersey’s brightest minds

That third action is fueled by a $2 million endowment for the College’s existing Presidential Scholarship program, which will now be known as the Susan and Nick Vallario Endowment for Presidential Scholarships at Ramapo College. This investment will help attract top-achieving New Jersey high school students to the state’s premier public liberal arts college and provide them with financial support as they pursue their studies.

The gift is not only an investment in students, but also in the State of New Jersey. It is no secret that New Jersey is the national leader in net out-of-state migration of college students. What might not be as well-known is that almost 75% of students who graduate from a New Jersey higher education institution go on to be employed within the state.

In October of 2024, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) and the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) announced a statewide campaign to raise awareness about the value, affordability, and accessibility of a New Jersey college degree. This gift supports the statewide effort made by Governor Phil Murphy and Secretary of Higher Education Brian K. Bridges.

The economic benefit of the Vallarios’ gift to the College’s Presidential Scholarship Program will be felt by the students as well as New Jersey residents and businesses. The most recent New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU) economic impact study shows that alumni who stay in New Jersey:

• enjoy an aggregate $2.55 billion increase in annual household income
• support almost 15,500 jobs throughout New Jersey
• contribute personal income taxes that translate into $132 million annually in state tax revenues

As active New Jersey residents, Susan and Nick are passionate about keeping New Jersey’s top talent in-state and they are even more passionate about those students selecting Ramapo College.

The Vallarios’ thoughtful involvement in the Ramapo community for more than a decade has been life-changing for students and scholars of past, present, and now future generations. They have provided innumerable hours of support through philanthropy, counsel, and leadership to advance important College initiatives. Susan has served on the Ramapo College Board of Trustees since 2015.  Early in her term, she held the position of secretary, later becoming vice chair, and has now served as chair of the Board since 2020.

“This transformative gift is reflective of Susan and Nick’s steadfast commitment to not only Ramapo College and its faculty, staff and students, but their forward-thinking and visionary philanthropy,” said Dr. Christopher Romano, executive director of the Ramapo College Foundation.  “They are friends and supporters who not only help to think through what is, but challenge and support us in answering what’s next for the students of tomorrow.”

For more information, visit the RCNJ news story.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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