From Union City to University President
This podcast interview features Andrés Acebo, a Hudson County native and son of Cuban immigrants who reflects on his upbringing and his path to leadership at New Jersey City University (NJCU). Acebo discusses how his parents’ sacrifices and his public school background in Union City instilled in him a resilient “hustle” and a deep commitment to education as an equalizer. After becoming the first in his family to graduate from college, he returned to his roots to serve as a lawyer and eventually the youngest leader in NJCU’s history. He details the institution’s recent struggles with debt and enrollment, highlighting the strategic merger with Kean University as a way to preserve the campus’s mission for future generations. Acebo emphasizes that his leadership is driven by a profound love for his community and a desire to see local institutions reflect the ambition of their students.
