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Kathleen Waldron

Kathleen Waldron served as the seventh president of William Paterson University from 2010 through 2018 when she retired. As president of one the largest public universities in New Jersey with more than 10,000 students, she led the institution's renovation of the academic core of the campus, improved overall student success, increased the number of faculty, enhanced external support, developed a strategic plan focused on academic improvement and student outcomes and introduced new doctoral and master’s degree programs. Under Waldron’s leadership, the University became one of the founding members of New Jersey Campus Compact; established the Paterson Metropolitan Region Research Center, focused on enhancing the economic and cultural development of the City of Paterson; created the Pesce Family Mentoring Institute; and expanded teacher development programs in public school districts throughout the state.

Waldron holds a doctorate in Latin American history from Indiana University and a bachelor's degree in history from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She has lived and traveled extensively in Latin America and has published articles about Venezuelan history. She was a Fulbright Fellow in Venezuela at the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in Caracas, a Ford Foundation Fellow and a Social Science Research Council Fellow. In addition to her focus on Latin America, Waldron is a frequent speaker about women’s leadership at the American Council of Education, including its HERS Institute at Bryn Mawr College, as well as at corporate forums. She is currently researching a book on higher education leadership with Sharmila Ferris, William Paterson University professor of communication, which is expected to be published in early 2021.

Waldron has more than 19 years of experience in higher education and 17 years of experience in international banking. She served as president of Baruch College of the City University of New York from 2004 to 2009, and dean of the College of Business at Long Island University from 1998 to 2004. Prior to her transition to higher education administration, Waldron worked at Citibank for 14 years where she directed strategic planning for the Global Private Bank and served as president of Citibank International in Miami.

Waldron was recognized as one of the Top 50 Women in New Jersey by NJBIZ. She was honored by the North Jersey Federal Credit Union as the first recipient of the Annual Women History Makers in North Jersey Award; received the West Bergen Mental Healthcare Distinguished Service Award; the Executive Women of New Jersey Salute to Policy Makers Award; the Greater Paterson Chamber of Commerce Faith in Paterson Award; the 2013 Garden State Green Award; and the St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital Michael and Yolanda Simonelli Community Award. She served on the boards of the William Paterson University Foundation, the Baruch College Foundation, Accion International, the Fulbright Alumni Association, the New Jersey Presidents Council, the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, NJEDGE.net and New Jersey Campus Compact. She presently serves on the board of the Tinker Foundation, dedicated to promoting democracy, protecting the environment and improving education on Latin America.