Board Members

Executive Committee

Richard Garcia, Chairperson
Public Member, term expires May 24, 2011*

Richard Garcia has a long and distinguished career in the banking industry. He currently serves as vice president of business banking for Capital One Bank. Mr. Garcia has served on a variety of business and educational foundations, and as chair of the Hispanic Business Council of the Commerce & Industry Association of New Jersey. He is a former president of the Bergen County Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce and serves as a trustee for the Foundation for Free Enterprise and the Commerce & Industry Association of New Jersey. He is a member of the Bergen County Chapter of the New Jersey Organization of Women Business Owners. Mr. Garcia earned his Bachelor of Science degree from William Paterson University and an associate degree from Bergen Community College.

Gabrielle Charette Esq., Secretary-Treasurer
Executive Director, ex-officio (non-voting)

In May of 2011 Governor Chris Christie appointed Gabrielle Charette as executive director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. She previously served as chief of staff of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Prior to joining the Department, Ms. Charette was a partner in the Megna Law Firm and co-founder and owner of Definitive Insurance Management Services, Inc. Additionally, she served as legislative director for Senator Kyrillos, chief of staff at the Department of Banking and Insurance, counsel to Governor Whitman’s chief of staff and director of Government Relations at Montclair State University. Ms. Charette received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Drew University and her Juris Doctorate from Rutgers, the State University. She is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and the District of Columbia.

Andrew P. Sidamon-Eristoff
State Treasurer, ex-officio

Mr. Sidamon-Eristoff is an accomplished leader in public sector budget, revenue and tax system administration. Prior to his nomination, from 2003 to 2006, Mr. Sidamon-Eristoff served as commissioner of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. From 1999 to 2002, he served as New York City commissioner of finance and as a three-time elected member of the New York City Council from 1993 to 1999. Between 2006 and 2008, he performed a series of short-term consulting assignments. Mr. Sidamon-Eristoff earned a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Princeton University and a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center. He also earned an advanced professional certificate in information technology from New York University.

Christy Van Horn
Public Member, term expires May 24, 2013

Ms. Van Horn has over 25 years' experience as a mediator, facilitator, manager and policy analyst in private and public sector organizations. As a mediator in private practice, she has worked with a wide variety of public and private organizations. She was a senior manager at New Jersey Transit. She was the founding executive director of New Jersey Future, and was appointed to the State Planning Commission by Governor James Florio. She served as director of Urban Programs at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and director of the Edison, New Jersey, Economic Development Authority. Ms. Van Horn taught in public schools in Oregon and led teachers in collective bargaining, mediation and arbitration. She earned a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree in public policy from Rutgers University. She also holds a graduate certificate in labor and management relations from Rutgers.

Dr. Harvey Kesselman
Representative, State Colleges and Institutions, term expires May 24, 2006*

Dr. Kesselman is provost and executive vice president at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and has more than 30 years of experience in higher education. His leadership roles at Stockton include dean, School of Education, interim vice president for Administration and Finance, vice president for Student Affairs, and CEO of the Southern Regional Institute and Educational Technology Training Center, which provides professional development to more than 40,000 educators throughout central and southern New Jersey. Dr. Kesselman has served on numerous national and state boards, has authored and promoted policies for legislation, and is a nationally-recognized authority on campus judicial processes.

Board Members

James Allen CFE
Public Member, term expires July 1, 2012

Mr. Allen has 30 years of proven leadership experience in the financial services industry. A former banking executive and mortgage broker with strong management experience in determining valuation and negotiating the purchase and sale of large multi-million dollar loan portfolios. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) well versed in providing expert testimony and litigation support services. Mr. Allen has a demonstrated a record of success in resolving numerous financial, legal, compliance, and risk issues for many banking institutions and municipalities throughout New Jersey.

Fr. Michael L. Braden S.J.
Representative, Independent Colleges & Universities, term expires June 26, 2011*

Father Braden has served as vice president at Saint Peter's College since 2008. Prior to coming to Saint Peter's College, he taught in the mass communications programs at both Loyola University in New Orleans and Loyola University of Maryland, where, in addition to teaching, he oversaw the construction of the University's radio station and television studio, and the development of the media production curriculum. He graduated with a Ph.D. from the Institute of Communication Research at the University of Illinois-Champaign. His research interests focus on the cross-cultural transfer of media technologies, particularly in an Asian context. He has an abiding interest in inter-religious dialogue as a result of his experience in Asia, especially China.

Liscet Duran
Vice Chair, Student Advisory Committee (SAC), ex-officio

Ms. Duran was a member of the 2010-2011 SAC, and has been elected to serve as vice chair for 2011-2012. She is a senior at Kean University, majoring in mathematics education at the New Jersey Center for Science Technology and Mathematics. Ms. Duran plans to continue her education in graduate school. Presently, she is a resident assistant and the secretary of the university's chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ. After graduation she plans on teaching middle or high school mathematics.

Anthony Falcone
Public Member, term expires May 24, 2014

Mr. Falcone is a CPA with a private practice in accounting, tax and financial planning. With more than 25 years of experience in public accounting, he has an extensive background in business operations, financing matters, business and real estate acquisitions, succession planning and tax minimization strategies. He earned a degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, where he serves on the Federal Taxation and State Taxation interest groups. He is an associate financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial, and is licensed in securities and health and life insurance. Mr. Falcone has also served as a member of various charitable organizations and is a past Board Member of the Lincroft Youth Athletic Association.

George L. Garcia Esq.
Public Member, term expires July 1, 2015

George L. Garcia is a founding member of Garcia & Turula, LLC. His practice areas are primarily redevelopment and land use law, real estate and governments relations. In 2010, Mr. Garcia served as a member of Governor Chris Christie's Transition Team, Department of Community Affairs. Mr. Garcia attained his juris doctorate from New York Law School in June 2000, Cum Laude where he served as Articles Editor for the New York Law School Law Review. Mr. Garcia obtained his B.S. in Business Management from St. Peter's College, Jersey City, New Jersey in 1995. Mr. Garcia was also recognized as one of New Jersey's top 40 lawyers under 40 by the New Jersey Law Journal in 2010.

Rochelle Hendricks
Secretary of Higher Education, ex-officio

Rochelle Hendricks was recently appointed New Jersey’s first Secretary of Higher Education. She has more than 20 years of experience working on education issues in the Garden State. Secretary Hendricks previously served as Acting Commissioner of New Jersey’s Department of Education, having been named to that post in August 2010. Prior to that assignment, Secretary Hendricks served in the Department of Education as Assistant Commissioner for the Division of School Effectiveness and Choice, Director of the Professional Development Office, Manager of the Office of Policy and Planning in the Administration Division, assistant to the Deputy Education Commissioner, and Director of the Office of Vocational-Technical, Career and Innovative Programs. Prior to joining the staff of the Department of Education, she worked for over 15 years at Princeton University in numerous capacities, including assistant dean of students, Director of the Educational Opportunities Program, and Interim Director of the Women’s Program. Secretary Hendricks began her career as a teacher in the Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School District before joining the Department of Education in 1987.

Julio Marenco
Representative, Educational Opportunity Fund, ex-officio

Julio Marenco is an associate member of the New Jersey State Parole Board, as well as an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Montclair State University, a Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University Law School and a Master of Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for the Educational Opportunity Fund, Mr. Marenco serves on the North Bergen Board of Education and the Montclair State University Alumni Association Executive Board. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal upon his honorable discharge.

Elaine Papas-Varas
Representative, UMDNJ, term expires June 21, 2014

Ms. Varas is director of Financial Aid at UMDNJ, where she also serves as director of the Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program New Jersey. With more than 29 years of experience in the financial aid industry, she is a member of the New Jersey Dental School Admissions Committee, where during her tenure she has chaired the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Committee on Student Assistance Reauthorization Task Force and the AAMC Northeast Group on Student Affairs Financial Aid Committee. She has served as member of the Sallie Mae Advisory Committee and is founder and chair of the New Jersey Association of Financial Aid Administrators Graduate and Professional Concerns Committee, as well as chair of the Federal Relations Committee. Currently Ms. Varas participates in the Department of Education Negotiated Rule-Making sessions for student loans.

Jean McDonald Rash
Representative, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, term expires May 24, 2006*

Ms. Rash is presently university director of financial aid at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She began her career as an information technology project manager for Rutgers Computing Services in 1981, before moving into financial aid administration in 1988. Ms. Rash earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University, and a Master of Arts from New York University. She also graduated from the Chubb Institute of Technology.

Maria I. Torres
Public Member, term expires May 24, 2012

Ms. Torres worked as a guidance counselor at Oakcrest High School at Hamilton Township in Atlantic County, from 1980 until her recent retirement. Ms. Torres has a passionate interest in education, and has worked with students in grades 9-12, including special populations such as limited-English students, migrant and special education students. She is certified in New Jersey in both special education and student personnel. Fluent in both Spanish and English, her experience includes teaching elementary school pupils and teaching social studies to high school students in Puerto Rico. She is extensively involved in community activities, including serving as a board member of the Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic County, of which she is chair of the Education Committee. She also serves as a member of the Atlantic County Chapter of the American Conference on Diversity. Ms. Torres has been a member of the Board of Trustees for the Atlantic Cape Community College since 2003, currently holding the office of treasurer.

Wilmot Wilson
Chair, Student Advisory Committee (SAC), ex-officio

Mr. Wilson served as vice chair of the 2010-2011 SAC and has been elected chair of the 2011-2012 SAC. Mr. Wilson is a junior at St. Peter’s College, majoring in political science and sociology. He is currently the vice president of finance for the Student Government Association and has aspirations of one day becoming a U.S. senator.