Highlights and Thoughts from Outgoing President, Steve Reynolds
A little over five years ago today, I walked into the ICUNJ presidency knowing I was stepping into unfamiliar territory. The opportunity was exciting, but it also carried a profound sense of responsibility. My appointment represented a leap of faith by the presidents of the institutions we serve. I came from a corporate legal background, where the ultimate beneficiaries of my efforts were shareholders. While that work was important, it was not always deeply fulfilling.
As I prepare to move on from this role, one conclusion stands above all others: serving as President of ICUNJ has been, without question, the most rewarding and meaningful job of my 44–year professional life.
Over the past five years, I have had the privilege of working alongside some of New Jersey’s brightest minds—our college and university presidents, dedicated campus professionals, elected officials in Trenton and Washington, corporate leaders and, most importantly, our remarkable students. I have also had the pleasure of working with an exceptional ICUNJ team whose commitment to our ‘mission’ and passion for improving the lives of more than 63,000 New Jersey students has been truly inspiring.
This position provided me with an opportunity to champion causes that matter deeply to me: supporting student mental health, addressing the troubling outmigration of New Jersey’s best and brightest students, advancing thoughtful conversations about the impact of artificial intelligence on education and careers, and advocating for greater recognition and support for our independent colleges and universities from our government officials and New Jersey corporate partners.
Much work remains. Ensuring that future generations of students continue to have access to the unique educational opportunities provided by New Jersey’s 13 independent institutions will require sustained leadership and commitment – – particularly during this period of unprecedented change and challenges in higher education. My only regret is that I will not be in a position to help lead those efforts. That said, I am fully confident in the exceptional successor who has been selected. ICUNJ’s future is in very capable hands.
The selection of former Treasurer of New Jersey, Elizabeth (‘Liz’) Maher Muoio, as the next President of ICUNJ, comes at the perfect time. Liz brings to ICUNJ and our member schools critically needed experience based on her background as a two-term State Treasurer and her earlier stints as a member of the state’s General Assembly. She is also a graduate of two independent institutions. Her unique knowledge of how state government works will be put to great use on behalf of our schools and their students.
One of the highlights of my final weeks in this role came on June 10 at the magnificent Princeton University Art Museum, where I had the opportunity to address our presidents, Corporate Advisory Board members, legislators, and supporters. It gave me the chance to thank so many people for taking a chance on a retired—and recovering—lawyer who loves New Jersey deeply and believes passionately in its future and in the future of every student in our state, especially those who may not have the resources or financial ability to attend colleges like ours that have significantly smaller faculty to student ratios which, for many, is essential for their success.
Perhaps most importantly, it allowed me to publicly recognize the extraordinary colleagues who have made this journey so meaningful: Dave Rousseau, MaryAlice Breuninger, Linda Uhrig, and Yvette Panella. Their professionalism, dedication, and friendship have been invaluable. I will miss working with them tremendously, and I know they will continue to be a source of strength and success for the organization.
As I reflect on these past five years, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude—for the opportunity, for the people, and for the ‘mission’. Supporting the work of New Jersey’s independent colleges and universities has been both an honor and a privilege.
This truly was my “best job ever.”
Steve Reynolds
