BCC President Dr. G. 'Jerry' Ryan Appointed Chair of Board of Directors of NJCCC Consortium for Workforce & Economic Develop
By Mel Fabrikant Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 10:13 AM EDT
Dr. Ryan has served as president of Bergen since July 2007 and played a vital role in securing opportunities for businesses to provide employees with training in math, computer applications, writing and verbal communications, and English as a second language through the Basic Skills Workforce Training Program organized by NJCCC Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development, the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, and the New Jersey Department of Labor.
“Businesses benefit by tapping into the workforce training programs and they, in turn, strengthen the economy by hiring more people. It’s a win-win scenario,” Dr. Ryan said. “Enhancing the skills and professional development of the workforce is one of the fundamental missions of community colleges. NJCCC Consortium programs address that mission by enabling employers to provide an added level of education for their employees.”
As the state’s largest community college, Bergen has numerous programs that address workforce development. Last year, the college used a $2.3 million Community-Based Job Training grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to launch the College’s “Employment Pathway Initiative,” which provides employment training and job placement at Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The Meadowlands facility also operates a Regional Center for Disability Employment, known as the MOSAIC Center, to assist job seekers with disabilities and employers searching for qualified employees.
In addition, the New Jersey Small Business Development Center at Bergen’s Ciarco Learning Center in Hackensack provides consulting services and training to self-employed persons and owners of small companies. Last year Bergen’s NJSBDC counseled 368 new clients and 81 continuous clients; conducted 59 workshops attended by a total 838 small businesspeople, and authored nine loan applications with a total value of $5.5 million.
Dr. Ryan has worked for more than 20 years in higher education. He has served as an academic dean, chief advancement officer, research and marketing director, executive director of a statewide college association, assistant dean, and member of an educational research commission. His expertise includes finance and economic development, strategic planning, fund raising, market research, government relations, continuous quality improvement, and staff and board development.
Dr. Ryan is an honors graduate of Hamilton College with a Bachelor’s degree in Government and Speech. He earned a Master of Arts degree from Stanford University in Organizational Development and a Master of Science degree from the State University of New York at Albany in Education Administration. His doctorate is in Higher Education Administration from Nova Southeastern University.
The New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development brings together the vast resources of the 19 New Jersey community colleges for New Jersey companies and organizations to access, develop, and receive workforce education and training for their current and emerging workforce statewide. For more information, visit <http://www.njworkforce.org/>.
Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu) based in Paramus is a public two-year coeducational college, enrolling nearly 17,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip J. Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields.
