Atlantic Cape Names Dr. Jason Abreu Next President
Photo of Dr. Jason Abreu courtesy of Atlantic Cape Community College
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
MAYS LANDING – Atlantic Cape Community College announced Monday that its board has approved hiring Dr. Jason Abreu of Texas to become the institution’s next president, making him the highest-ranking Hispanic in higher education in South Jersey when he takes the reins this summer.
Abreu, the vice president of student affairs at Tarrant County College’s Trinity River Campus in Fort Worth, Texas, beat out three other candidates, including Dr. Natalie Devonish, Atlantic Cape’s current vice president of student affairs and enrollment management and the only Black woman among the finalists.
Abreu will replace Dr. Barbara Gaba when she retires on June 30. Gaba served as Atlantic Cape’s first female and first African American president.
“I am honored to join Atlantic Cape Community College and grateful to the Board of Trustees for the opportunity to serve as the College’s next president,” Abreu said in a statement released by Atlantic Cape.
“As a first-generation college graduate, I know how profoundly higher education can change the trajectory of a student’s life. I look forward to working alongside Atlantic Cape’s faculty, staff, students, and community partners to meet the educational and workforce needs of Atlantic and Cape May counties and to become part of the South Jersey community.”
The Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce honored Abreu as one of its “Emerging Leaders” during a recognition event in 2023.
“Dr. Abreu brings more than 20 years of higher education leadership experience, with a strong focus on student success, access, and institutional effectiveness,” Atlantic Cape Board Chair Daniel Money said in a statement.
“The board looks forward to working with him as Atlantic Cape continues serving students and strengthening our communities.”
Abreu has leadership experience across the K–20 education sector and has worked with nonprofit, private, and public partners to support student success, workforce readiness, and community engagement.
He is widely recognized for cultivating collaborative, data?informed cultures that strengthen institutional effectiveness and improve the student experience.
Abreu earned his doctorate in Organizational Leadership and a master’s in Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, and a bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies from Florida International University.
He is also a graduate of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ Certificate in Student Affairs Law and Policy program.
Established in 1964, Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States?accredited, Hispanic?serving institution serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two?year community college, Atlantic Cape offers more than 50 undergraduate degree programs and 34 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City, and Cape May campuses.
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