By Matthew Kaufman
Editor-in-Chief
Michael A. Bernstein was officially inaugurated as the College’s 17th president on Sept. 27 in a ceremony featuring three of the College’s past leaders. Following a year serving as interim president, Bernstein will now continue his initiatives of stabilizing the College’s budget and ensuring the institution’s long-term sustainability.
The inauguration came four days after the death of Bernstein’s partner, Patricia Harp, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. In her opening remarks at the inauguration, Board of Trustees Chair Rebecca Ostrov said it was Bernstein’s decision to go forward with the ceremony.
“Michael, you shared that your decision to move forward with today’s events was guided with your knowing that Patti would have insisted on it,” Ostrov said. “While our community did not have the opportunity to get to know her, we honor her legacy through our assembly here today and our celebration of you as our 17th president.”
Before Bernstein gave his inaugural address, the audience heard from Ostrov, New Jersey Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (’94), Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann, Student Government Executive President Jared Williams, Staff Senate President Colleen Schmidt, Faculty Senate President Abby O’Connor and Alumni Association President Angelica Lamartino (’08). They also heard from Samuel L. Stanley, the former president of Michigan State University and Stony Brook University, where Bernstein formerly served as provost and interim president.
“Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for this distinguished institution, one that has a long foundation of academic excellence, innovation and deep community engagement in our state,” Reynolds-Jackson said. “And I’m proud to support TCNJ on this journey for President Bernstein.”
Bernstein began his speech by honoring Harp, becoming emotional as he spoke.
“For over 20 years, Patti Harp bolstered me, guided me, scolded and corrected me, celebrated me, laughed and wept with me, and loved me,” Bernstein said. “It would be impossible to summarize adequately all the wisdom and lessons she so generously shared.”
Joined on stage by former presidents Kathryn Foster, R. Barbara Gitenstein and Harold Eickhoff, the new leader sought to convey that while the College has previously faced many of the same challenges it faces today, the institution has always been able to overcome them.
“Enrollment declines and funding problems are immediately cited by any college president who refers to the challenges of the next decade,” Bernstein said. “The future holds the first major turndown in the college-era population in more than 100 years. These are not my words. They belong to Harold, who spoke them in 1980.”
Before the crowd moved to the Brower Student Center for a baseball-themed reception funded by the TCNJ Foundation, Ostrov announced that the Board had endowed the Michael Bernstein and Patricia Harp Scholarship Fund, which will support transfer students with financial need from two or four-year institutions.
Bernstein, a New York Yankees fan, also received video messages from John Flaherty, a broadcaster from the YES Network whose son graduated from the College last semester, and Aaron Boone, the Yankees manager. The two congratulated the fan on his inauguration and expressed their support for the College.
“Finally, I just want to say ‘Go Yankees,’” Flaherty said at the end of his video. “But probably more importantly, ‘Go Lions.’”
Read more about President Bernstein's plans for the upcoming academic year here.
