�鶹��ý

Founder and Chairman
DiversityInc., West Palm Beach, FL

Managing Partner
MAR Acquisition Group LLC, Warren Township, N.J.

Mr. Salermo was appointed to the �鶹��ý Board of Trustees in April 2024 and has since taken on significant leadership responsibilities within the governance structure. In his first year of service, he has been elevated to Vice Chair of the Board, serves as a member of the executive committee, and chairs the Real Estate Committee, demonstrating his immediate impact and the confidence placed in his expertise and leadership capabilities.

Mr. Salermo is Managing Partner of MAR Acquisition Group LLC, a real estate services company in Elizabeth. He has held leadership positions in several civic and community organizations, including the Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, the Elizabeth Development Corp., the YMCA of Eastern Union County, the Elizabeth Avenue Partnership, and the Union County Workforce Investment Board.

Salermo also serves as a Commissioner on the eight-member Board of Commissioners of the New �鶹��ý Turnpike Authority as appointed by the Governor.

Mr. Salermo attended Elizabeth High School and Union County College. He resides in Warren Township, Somerset County.

President
New �鶹��ý City University

Andrés Acebo, the 13th President of New �鶹��ý City University, is the proud first-generation son of Cuban exiles and a Hudson County native who grew up in Union City, N.J., and has maintained strong ties to the community. In January 2023, he became only the third Hispanic to serve as the leader of a four-year public institution of higher education in the State of New �鶹��ý. He is the youngest known president to ever lead a public university in New �鶹��ý.

Acebo was unanimously appointed president by the Board of Trustees on July 23, 2025, after serving as interim president since January 17, 2023.

In less than two years of widely praised mission-driven servant leadership, Acebo has demonstrated extraordinary vision, guiding �鶹��ý from a fiscal emergency to a remarkable recovery which will be a case study throughout higher ed.

In May 2024, ROI-NJ named him the in New �鶹��ý Higher Education in the 2024 Higher Education Influencers annual publication. In September 2024, he in the 2024 NJBiz Education Power 50 List. Acebo earned the highest ranking of any college or university president in New �鶹��ý in the 2024 Power 50. In October 2024, he was named to the 2024 ROI Power and Influencer Awards Champions of the C-Suite Top 30 and in January 2025 was selected to the 2025 ROI Influencers Power List Super 75 list.

Taking office in the midst of a financial emergency, he has steered �鶹��ý forward. He has helped orchestrate four major strategic initiatives: the release of the �鶹��ý Recovery and Revitalization Plan (April 2023), and introduction of the university's first Academic Master Plan (February 2024) and first Strategic Enrollment Plan (April 2023) and inaugural Student Development and Community Engagement Strategic Plan (December 2024).

In February 2024, the university unveiled a refresh of the University Mission Statement and introduced its first-ever Vision Statement.

Furthermore, Acebo has led to the University's finances being stabilized and the first balanced operating budget since 2017 — less than two years after �鶹��ý reported a $22.7 million deficit. Moody’s agreed, upgrading �鶹��ý’s outlook from “negative” to “stable” in February 2024. In November 2024, Fitch Ratings did the same. These two upgrades in rating and outlook are the first for �鶹��ý in more than a decade.

Additionally, he has forged key partnerships with other colleges, highlighted by the Hudson Connect Program with Hudson County Community College, and similar agreements with Essex County College and Mercer County Community College. He has signed key strategic MOUs, including with the NJEA, Hudson Building Trades, GLACO, AFT Local 1839, �鶹��ý City POBA, Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County, SHCCNJ and HCLACC.

�鶹��ý’s relationship with the �鶹��ý City Public Schools (JCPS) has never been stronger than during Acebo’s tenure, launching partnerships with the A. Harry Moore Laboratory School for its new LIFT program and JCPS Visual and Performing Arts Program — both on the �鶹��ý campus.

Acebo holds a B.A. from Brown University and a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School. A North �鶹��ý resident, he is a proud product of Union City public schools in Hudson County. He’s the proud father to three young children and husband to an extraordinarily dedicated educator — an �鶹��ý alumnae — who proudly celebrate and champion their community and their roots together.

Read President Acebo's full profile

Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs
Fidelity Investments

Ms. Natalie Brathwaite is the Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs for Fidelity Investments, one of the world’s largest financial services providers.  In this role, she is responsible for Fidelity’s government relations, community investing and civic efforts for New �鶹��ý and New York and leads the firm’s advocacy and engagement efforts on a wide range of state-level issues related to investment advice. 

Prior to joining Fidelity in 2017, Ms. Brathwaite spent a decade working in the public sector. Her past roles in both the nonprofit and government sectors in the United States and Canada included work in external affairs, community engagement, grant-making and public policy analysis. 

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Ms. Brathwaite received a Bachelor of Arts and Masters degrees from the University of Toronto. Ms. Brathwaite currently resides in �鶹��ý City. She is active in her community and proudly serves on the boards of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, the Hudson County Community College Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Hudson County, the �鶹��ý City Arts Council and Saint Peter’s University Board of Regents.

President and CEO
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties
Newark, N.J.

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Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Medical Group
RWJBarnabas Health

Michael Prilutsky currently serves as Executive Vice President at RWJBarnabas Health and President of the NorthEast Region since April 2022. Prior to this role, Prilutsky has held significant leadership positions, including President and Chief Executive Officer at �鶹��ý City Medical Center since August 2016, and previously served as Chief Operating Officer in the same organization. At Montefiore Health System from 2007 to July 2016, Prilutsky was Vice President and Executive Director of the Epic@Montefiore project, overseeing a $250M initiative to implement Epic EMR across multiple locations. Additional roles include serving as Vice President for various medical services at Montefiore Medical Center, Senior Director of the Department of Surgery at North Shore LIJ Health System, and Administrator for Radiology at Beth Israel Medical Center. Prilutsky earned two Master's degrees in Healthcare Administration from the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas Medical Center between 1993 and 1995.

Chief of Staff to Hudson County Executive Craig Guy

Jenny was appointed to the �鶹��ý Board of Trustees in June, 2024. She currently serves as chair of the Academic Affairs and Student Success Committee.

She has nearly three decades of experience in advocacy, government, and politics. A dynamic, collaborative senior leader and strategist, she has produced successful programs and campaigns to enhance public reputation and advance organization goals and policy agendas. 

She currently serves as Chief of Staff to Hudson County Executive Craig Guy. She formerly worked as Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Port Authority of New York & New �鶹��ý, and currently serves on multiple boards of advocacy and charity groups. She is the Chairwoman of the Board of New �鶹��ý Shares, a non-profit that connects low- and moderate-income households with the available resources to help pay for vital services when in need, which include, but are not limited to, energy (gas & electric), water, communications and housing resources. 

Although a native of Philadelphia, she has claimed home in Hudson County for over 20 years. Jenny first engaged in politics as a high school student involved in her local school board campaign. Her involvement in Jewish youth outreach widened her political involvement.  Since that time, she has navigated political contexts, managed key stakeholder relationships, and built partnerships on a local, state and national level.

Her main passion these days is being Mom to her two children, Marcus and Serena, with her husband, Michael. 

EdD, MPH, RN, FAAN, Maj Gen, USAF, Ret 01/20
Former Director
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Center for Women Veterans, Arlington, Va.

President and CEO
Newark Alliance

Newark Alliance, is a private/public sector-led non-profit driving inclusive economic, community, and workforce development in Newark, New �鶹��ý. Since assuming the role in December 2021, he has focused on transformative initiatives such as ending chronic homelessness, cementing affordable universal broadband access, and fostering wealth creation for Newark residents through business, real estate, and equity investment opportunities. 

Weiss is also a Board Member of New �鶹��ý Transit, the largest statewide public transit agency in the US, and New �鶹��ý Community Capital. Previously, as Senior Advisor to Governor Phil Murphy, he tackled the State’s leading economic development and infrastructure challenges, managed New �鶹��ý's COVID-19 fiscal response, and advanced projects like the Gateway Tunnel, offshore wind development, and affordable housing. Before joining the administration, Weiss specialized in turnaround strategies for distressed cities and school districts at the Pennsylvania Economy League and HJA Strategies. 

A graduate of the University of Chicago, he is a published expert in economic development, tax policy, and corporate social responsibility.

John T. Donnellan, DPS
Professor, Co-Chair of Management Department | �鶹��ý Senate President | Fulbright Scholar
ex officio

Dr. John Donnellan is a first generation academic from working class Irish immigrants. He is also a tenured professor and Co-Chair of the Management Department at New �鶹��ý City University (�鶹��ý), where he has played a pivotal role in advancing academic excellence, global engagement, and strategic leadership. As President of the �鶹��ý Senate, faculty appointee to the �鶹��ý Board of Trustees and a member of the union leadership of  Local 1839 AFT., Dr. Donnellan brings a collaborative and solutions-oriented approach to shared governance and institutional advancement.

He oversees seven academic programs serving more than 400 students, leading a team of full-time, adjunct faculty and staff within a unionized AFT/CWA environment. His leadership has guided successful curriculum innovation, faculty mentoring programs, and internship pipelines with industry partners.

Internationally recognized for his work in global education, Dr. Donnellan has received two Fulbright Specialist awards and one Fulbright Scholar award in Finland. His teaching and research have centered on sustainability, innovation, and circular economy across institutions such as Lapland UAS, Turku UAS, and Satakunta UAS. As a board member for the New �鶹��ý Fulbright Chapter and a Friends of Fulbright Finland Council member, he actively builds bridges between �鶹��ý and global partners.

Dr. Donnellan’s extensive teaching résumé includes lectures at over 20 universities across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the U.S., emphasizing leadership, ethics, and sustainability in global business. He was selected as a U.S. Exchange Alumni Fellow by the U.S. Department of State and received a national grant to support cross-cultural initiatives in rural America.

Prior to academia, Dr. Donnellan held senior executive roles at JPMorgan Chase and Prudential Financial. As Vice President at JPMorgan, he reported on daily liquidity balances exceeding $285 billion and led regulatory initiatives in compliance, AML, and Dodd-Frank. At Prudential, he served as Director of Public Relations and Senior Project Manager, receiving the Dalbar Communications Award for excellence in customer communication.

A thought leader and prolific scholar, Dr. Donnellan has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals including Managerial and Decision Economics, Financial Markets, Institutions & Instruments and Journal of Higher Education Management. He has also contributed to TheStreet.com and the AAC&U’s Academic Minute.

Dr. Donnellan holds a Doctorate in Professional Studies from Pace University, an MBA from Nova Southeastern University, and a BBA from Pace University. He is a proud member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Delta Mu Delta honor societies and continues to mentor emerging leaders through the Clinton Global Initiative University and National University’s doctoral programs.

Chair, �鶹��ý Foundation
ex officio

Peter (Pete) Hernandez is an executive leader who successfully develops effective strategies and executes deliverables across a diverse group of functions, partners, and stakeholders. He has implemented innovative financial strategies that optimize operational efficiency, mitigate risk, and maximize profitability.

Pete drives Environmental/Social/Corporate Governance (ESG) initiatives, strategic planning, leadership & development, and team building to create sustainable, long-term shareholder, employee, financial, customer, and societal value. 

Pete leads, mentors, mobilizes, and motivates team members to align with and engage in a vision and mission to drive results and achieve business objectives. He fosters an environment of professional development and high performance.

Hernandez joined the �鶹��ý Foundation in 2013 and was elected to his first term as chair in 2018, and in 2021. In Summer 2023, Pete was named as an ex officio member of the �鶹��ý Board of Trustees.

In his most recent role, Pete served as Senior Vice President of ESG and Organizational Effectiveness at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (WHR), where he led the strategic direction and implementation of the company’s environmental, social, and governance pillars focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion; protecting human rights; sustainability; and philanthropy. Additionally, Pete oversaw Wyndham University, managing team members and franchisee talent development and training. He also oversaw the Safety, Security, and Risk Management team.

Prior to this role, Pete served as Senior Vice President of Managed Finance, overseeing the finance operation for WHR’s managed properties division. Previously, he served as Group Vice President of Social Responsibility, accountable for WHR’s social responsibility efforts.

Before joining WHR, Pete was Senior Vice President and Division Controller for Wyndham Destinations, overseeing the hospitality services division’s day-to-day accounting and financial activities. Pete also held progressive leadership positions in accounting and finance at Wyndham Vacation Ownership for more than 17 years while serving as executive sponsor of the iFuerte! Affinity Business Group and the Wyndham Worldwide mentoring circle.

Pete's passion for social responsibility is palpable, as evidenced by his active participation in several public speaking engagements on key social responsibility topics, including the Tri-State Diversity Council Leadership Summit, diversity panels, and Wyndham Affinity Business Group functions. He was pivotal in developing Wyndham Worldwide’s Learning Empowerment and Development (LEAD) mentoring program at �鶹��ý. Pete's commitment extends beyond his professional life, as he also serves as a Board member for — a private, confidential service welcoming ALL survivors of dating, domestic, or partner abuse.

Pete's professional qualifications testify to his expertise and commitment to excellence. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New �鶹��ý Society of Certified Public Accountants. Pete earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University and further honed his skills at the well-regarded Global Leader Program at The Wharton School and the Thayer Leadership Development Program at West Point.

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Branda Logan (Non-Voting Student)
Major: Accounting | Class of 2026
Hometown: East Orange, N.J.
High School: Donald M. Payne Tech 

Trustee Emeritus
1933-2022

Trustee Emeritus