June 7, 2023

Ramapo College President Cindy Jebb sat down with Aqua New Jersey President Lawrence Carson at the 2023 New Jersey Utilities Association conference to discuss how Ramapo College prepares students for career success with a strong liberal arts education.

With a need to attract students to work in the utilities industry, President Jebb shared the importance of ensuring there is a seat at the table for everyone, especially to increase diversity on the utility spectrum. Of particular importance is how faculty mentorship, a hallmark of a Ramapo College education, and internship programs, such as those offered by the Cahill Career Development Center, provide avenues for students to see job opportunities in industries they might not necessarily have on their radar, such as water, electric, gas, and telecommunications.

Moving towards a green economy creates job opportunities, which means the utility industry needs to change its focus when it comes to identifying skilled talent to fill positions in cybersecurity, sustainability, environmental studies, accounting, finance, mathematics, biochemistry, and biology. Ramapo College offers undergraduate and graduate degrees that help students gain the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to succeed. The interdisciplinary approach of a liberal arts education in all academic programs prepares students for opportunities both in and beyond their major academic focus. This helps fill the skills gaps industries can experience as they adjust what they are looking for, making Ramapo College students ideal candidates to thrive in an ever-changing world and job market.

Rich Henning, president and CEO, New Jersey Utilities Association; Cindy Jebb, president, Ramapo College; Larry Carson, president, Aqua America New Jersey; and Mark Kahrer, senior vice president, New Jersey Natural Gas, and chairman, New Jersey Utilities Association

President Jebb provided the New Jersey Utilities Association with a few historic firsts at the 108^th Annual Conference titled “SHAPING Our Critical Path Forward” held at the Seaview Resort in Galloway, NJ. She was the first keynote speaker from an academic institution and first woman with a military background to address conference attendees. “President Jebb’s insight into how utilities and their associate companies could better work with college students and former military personnel provided a blueprint to our senior leadership about how to communicate with today’s students regarding opportunities in the environmental sector, “said Richard Henning, president and CEO of the New Jersey Utilities Association. “You could have heard a pin drop in the banquet hall as Dr. Jebb outlined her commitment to ethics, values and perseverance as virtues of being a Ramapo College student. NJUA members were very impressed with her dedication to the Ramapo community.”

More than 200 attendees from NJUA company members such as PSE&G, Jersey Central Power & Light, Verizon, New Jersey Natural Gas, as well as members of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and legislators including New Jersey State Senator Andrew Zwicker (D16-Hillsborough).