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At the recent Open Forum sessions, I underscored the importance of what I termed a service-oriented presidency to accelerate the success of this institution. I also had the opportunity to introduce the members of my Cabinet, which is the University’s back office service team charged with working with our schools and units to facilitate success in mission-based activities. Following up on an excellent suggestion from a member of the audience, we have developed this web page so that all members of the University community can get to know the members of this critical team, their areas of responsibility, and the means to contact them.
William F. Owen, Jr., MD
Dr. Rodgers was named executive vice president in April 2006. She had served as chief of staff since September 2005 and remains a professor of family medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Prior to becoming University chief of staff, she served as Senior Associate Dean for Community Health at the medical school. Before coming to that school in 1997, Dr. Rodgers was professor and vice chair in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. In addition to her other responsibilities, Dr. Rodgers serves on a number of local, statewide and national committees, including the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Office of Minority and Multicultural Health Advisory Commission, the Governor’s Council on HIV/AIDS and Related Blood-Borne Pathogens, and is chair of that council’s epidemiology subcommittee. Dr. Rodgers received a Bachelor of Arts in psychobiology from Oberlin College. She graduated from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and completed her family medicine training in the Residency Program in Social Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. Dr. Rodgers is board certified in family medicine and is a diplomate of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Summary of Key Responsibilities:
The Executive Vice President for Academic and Clinical Affairs serves as the Chief Academic Officer of the University. The executive vice president works closely with other members of the President's Cabinet and the Deans to ensure collaboration across all schools and clinical units. The office has responsibility for ensuring and promoting excellence innovation in teaching and research. The office is also responsible for overseeing and ensuring quality care throughout the University. The Executive Vice President is responsible for overseeing clinical operations including University Behavioral HealthCare, University Hospital, and Broadway House. The deans of the schools report to the executive vice president, along with the presidents of University Behavioral HealthCare, University Hospital and Broadway House and the vice presidents for academic affairs, research, academic and clinical initiatives, continuing education, and information services and technology.
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Mr. Aron joined UMDNJ as senior vice president and general counsel in May 2007. Prior to joining the University, he was a member of the law firm of Sills Cummis Epstein and Gross PC, where he was co-chair of the firm’s employment and labor practice group. Mr. Aron has been an attorney for more than 25 years and has extensive experience in the area of university governance and affairs. He has represented New Jersey university boards on a wide range of issues. He received an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Aron is a member of the bar in New Jersey, New York, and the District of Columbia. He is a trustee at Kean University.
Summary of Key Responsibilities:
Mr. Aron serves as General Counsel to the President and the Board of Trustees on all legal matters involving institutional governance, contracts, and the management of litigation. He supervises the staff of the legal management department and has overall responsibility and oversight of the University’s legal affairs. Mr. Aron also serves as General Counsel for University Hospital.
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Ms. Mulkern was named senior vice president for finance in April 2006, having served in the position of senior vice president for administration and finance since September 2004. She has been associated with the University since December 1984, holding the positions of associate controller-disbursements and controller. In March 1992, she was named vice president for finance and treasurer. In August 2002, she was named acting senior vice president for administration and vice president for finance and treasurer. Ms. Mulkern received a Bachelor of Science from St. Peter’s College and is a certified public accountant.
Summary of Key Responsibilities:
The Senior Vice President for Finance serves as the senior administrative official responsible for the direction of the University’s financial affairs with particular emphasis on financial planning and resource allocation, the interrelations of finance and the University’s operations, and compliance with state and federal regulations. The office directs the University’s Purchasing Services, Logistical, Printing and Duplicating Services, financial planning and accounting practices as well as its relationship with the financial community.
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In addition to his interim position as senior vice president, Christopher Kosseff is the President and Chief Executive Officer for University Behavioral HealthCare (UBHC)). He is responsible for the initiation, development, and management of multiple levels of care in mental health and addiction for children through senior adults throughout New Jersey. As chief executive officer, he has responsibility for developing and managing a budget in excess of $120 million and approximately 1,500 staff and faculty at 20 sites. Mr. Kosseff also oversees mental health services for the inmate population within the New Jersey state prison. In addition to this contract with the New Jersey Department of Corrections, he is responsible for many other large state-funded and privately sponsored collaborations. They include a contract with Eli Lilly and Company to promote healthy lifestyles for those suffering from chronic mental illness; peer support counseling and help lines for law enforcement officers, first responders, teachers and veterans; and a contract with Middlesex County Family Court to provide educational, therapeutic and job development services for juvenile offenders. Mr. Kosseff has a Master of Science degree from Syracuse University. Additionally, he holds clinical associate professor appointments in the departments of Psychiatry at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and New Jersey Medical School.
Summary of Key Responsibilities:
The Senior Vice President for Administration serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of the University for all administrative business activities. The office directs and coordinates activities across the University for a broad range of functional areas, including Human Resources, Workplace Diversity, Policy and Project Management, Supplier Diversity, Facilities Planning and Construction, Physical Plant, Environmental Services, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Services, and Public Safety Radiation.
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Ms. Miller-Armbrister joined UMDNJ in April 2005 as senior policy analyst in the Government Affairs department. She was named acting vice president of government affairs in December 2005 and was permanently appointed to that position in May 2006. Just prior to joining UMDNJ, she served as a healthcare consultant for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services; before that she was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Plainfield Neighborhood Health Services Corporation for 19 years. Ms. Miller-Armbrister has an undergraduate degree in sociology from Douglass College, a master’s degree in healthcare social work from the Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work, and is a PhD student at UMDNJ-School of Nursing in urban systems, a joint program with Rutgers and NJIT.
Summary of Key Responsibilities:
The vice president for government affairs is responsible for carrying out the functions of state and federal government relations. Government Relations activities include advocacy and resource development, logistical and information support services, and policy development and analysis. This office develops, coordinates, and executes government relations activities on behalf of the entire University and in support of school/campus specific initiatives. Under the direction of the Vice President, the office formulates an annual University-wide government relations strategy that is designed to: develop external funding support for the University’s research and other programs; enhance collaborative partnerships with government leaders to promote state-wide initiatives; and communicate—internally and externally— the University’s position on key policy, regulatory, and legislative issues that affect the operations, policies and practices of the University. The vice president helps to assess the need for new legislation, regulations and policies to further the University’s goals, and analyzes all proposed healthcare and education-related federal and state legislation for impact on the University. The vice president also oversees liaison activities with the U.S. Congress, the New Jersey Legislature, the Office of the Governor, and federal and state government agencies.
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Mr. Rowan was appointed chief of staff in September 2008. He had served as vice president for internal audit since July 2007 and prior to that was vice president and chief of staff in the president’s office. Before joining UMDNJ in November 2005 as the University’s executive director of the Office of Compliance Auditing, he was deputy chief inspector for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, where he worked for nearly 32 years. Mr. Rowan started as a postal inspector in the New York Division and concluded at a senior executive level as deputy chief inspector for headquarters operations, where he managed more than 400 employees. He has more than ten years experience leading internal audits focused on fiscal integrity, internal controls and operations/performance. He played key roles in the Postal Service response and security management of the post 9/11 and anthrax crisis. Mr. Rowan received his Bachelor of Science from Gannon University and his MBA from St. John’s University.
Prior to receiving his appointment as UMDNJ’s first University Ombuds, Mr. Schorr had served as Interim Vice President/Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer for the University. He joined UMDNJ's Office of Ethics and Compliance in October 2006 as Senior Compliance Officer for Privacy & Security, and was responsible for ensuring that the University and its component units adhered to all federal and state laws dealing with information privacy and security. Before coming to UMDNJ, Mr. Schorr had a long career with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. He began in 1978 as a postal inspector, served in increasingly responsible managerial and field supervisory positions, and was named special advisor to the Chief Postal Inspector of the United States in 2003. Mr. Schorr earned a B.A. in Economics from Lehman College of the City University of New York, and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and a number of professional organizations including the International Ombudsmen Association and the American Society for Industrial Security.
Summary of Key Responsibilities:
The position of University Ombuds was approved by UMDNJ’s Board of Trustees in September 2008. His office was established as a confidential, independent, and neutral, resource for all members of the University community. It serves as a voluntary, informal and alternate channel of communication from the more formal options available, to address any University-related concerns.
The Office of the Ombuds assists people who seek a confidential channel for discussing or addressing an issue of concern, and who may do so without fear of retaliation. The Office also helps promote ethical conduct and values; to alleviate distractions caused by disputes; and, to identify policies, practices, or issues where a systems change may be appropriate. The Office provides a safe place for people to seek guidance on how to report actual or potential violations of the University’s policies, practices and legal obligations, and, if they wish it, to do so anonymously.
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973-972-0169 |
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In October 2008, Diane Weathers joined UMDNJ’s Executive Management Team as Senior Vice President of University Advancement & Communications. Diane is a proven leader and creative thinker who as Editor-in-Chief of ESSENCE Magazine, oversaw the planning, execution and helped shape the strategic vision of this mass circulation magazine targeted to African American women.For six years, she has also worked overseas as a press officer with the Rome-based United Nations World Food Program. At UMDNJ, Ms. Weathers will oversee a University-wide marketing and communications team who will assist her in fulfilling one of her main objectives – to spread the good word about the amazing research, clinical care and the wide range of outreach programs that positively impact the lives of the many people throughout New Jersey. Diane Weathers is a graduate of Syracuse University where she’s a member of the Board of Trustees.
Summary of Key Responsibilities:
As Senior Vice President of University Advancement & Communications, Diane Weathers directs the University News Service, Marketing Communications, and Media Relations. Functions of the University Advancement & Communications Department include development, writing, editing, printing, and distribution of University reports, magazines, periodicals, and special publications. In addition, Ms. Weathers implements special events and programs designed to enhance the University’s image with its constituencies, like students, faculty, alumni, state and federal government leaders, health care professionals, the news media, and general public on a state-wide and national basis.
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973-972-4546 |
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