Setting priorities and a strategic plan, developing campuswide buy-in and telling Bloomfield College’s story are the biggest challenges facing Dr. Marcheta P. Evans, she said in her first news conference since becoming the school’s first African-American and woman president June 1.
And she’s eager to face those challenges, she said Monday to an audience of faculty, staff, trustees and other guests assembled in the college’s library.
“I am filled with excitement when I think of the college’s future,” Evans said, noting that Bloomfield is the only predominantly Black institution (PBI) in New Jersey and also a Hispanic serving institution (HSI).
Paying homage to grandparents who raised her in Alabama and a grandmother who taught her the importance of higher education, Evans noted only about five percent of U.S. college and university presidents are women of color. She said she hopes to be a role model for students while promoting their success.
“My passion is student affairs,” she said, referencing years of experience as a counselor, professor and administrator. “That’s the reason why we’re here – their success.”
U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr., whose Congressional district includes Bloomfield, lauded the college as one of New Jersey’s best and most diverse. In Evans, he told guests, the school has gained “an insightful leader with a deep commitment to inclusive excellence.”
Evans arrived at Bloomfield with experience in private counseling and 25 years in leadership roles at public and private universities, including 20 years at MSIs in San Antonio, Texas.
