On the western bank of the Hudson River and offering stunning views of the New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty, Jersey City is one of America’s most racially and ethnically diverse cities. “That’s what attracted me here,” says Christopher Reber, Ph.D., president of Hudson County Community College in Jersey City, New Jersey. “I’ve always been passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion. I wanted to be at an institution that was diverse,” says Dr. Reber, who began his presidency in July of 2018.

HCCC’s demographics are the polar opposite of the school Dr. Reber led just before coming to Jersey City. Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Dr. Reber served as president of the Community College of Beaver County before his appointment at HCCC. “In western Pennsylvania, which is largely white, the challenge on the DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) front was recruiting a more diverse student population and (educating) a community that has not been exposed to diversity,” says Dr. Reber. At HCCC, an HSI with a student population that is 55 percent Latino and 87 percent non-white, he finds himself on the other side of the DEI equation. “Here, you don’t have to convince our students, faculty, staff, or the community about the importance of diversity. They have lived an experience of learning to respect people who are different,” says Dr. Reber. HCCC offers 70 degree and certificate programs and more than 300 daytime, evening, and weekend classes on its three campuses in Jersey City, Secaucus, and Union City.

Learning from Those Who Came Before

Dr. Reber calls himself a “servant leader,” and attempts to create an environment in which individuals can thrive, which he believes is the most important outcome of strong leadership. “It’s not what I do as an individual, but what the organization is able to do with my support,” says Dr. Reber. As a leader, his goal has always been to foster respect and celebrate individual contributions.

By their nature, humans strive to outshine their peers, which can sometimes lead to competition that compels individuals to point out the weaknesses of their predecessors. With 25 years as president of HCCC, Glen Gabert, Dr. Reber’s predecessor, gained significant respect. “He led the development of the campus. He literally built the school. He built the programs. He has a legacy here,” says Dr. Reber.

Dr. Reber refuses to draw any comparisons between him and Gabert. Instead, he’s content to acknowledge Gabert’s accomplishments and continue the work he started. Some educators view education as a zero sum game, says Dr. Reber. They assume that if they’re succeeding, then someone else is failing, a mindset that is detrimental to education. Instead of fomenting competition and one-upmanship, Dr. Reber seeks partnerships that offer “win-wins” and create opportunities for everyone. “When we approach it that way, we’re going to be more successful,” says Reber. “We’re building upon the foundation of my predecessor to move to the next level…(We’re) learning from and benefiting from the experience of those before me,” says Dr. Reber.

The Gateway to the American Dream

The mission of any community college, and HCCC is no exception, is to meet the needs of the community it serves through open access to education. HCCC does this by meeting students where they are and helping them advance toward their academic and life goals. Given the fact that community colleges serve many students who are financially challenged, don’t speak English, are first-generation college students, and have marginalized backgrounds, this presents a challenge. “We take the word community in our (name) very seriously. And it’s hard work. We work with every student to supply the support, the encouragement and the environment to not just succeed but to soar. I think the community college is genuinely the gateway to the American dream. Students who come through our doors are seeing transformational opportunity,” says Dr. Reber.

Engaging with the Latino Community

Known as PACDEI (pronounced pac day), the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion promotes principles of excellence in all college activities and outcomes on the HCCC campus. Launched in early 2019, the council created a climate summary and shared it with stakeholders. “Total transparency,” says Dr. Reber.

After hosting a number of focus groups, the council developed four goals, one of which was to refine and update DEI policies and procedures, especially for screening committees. The council then provided implicit bias training at the beginning of the screening process, ensured diverse representative screening committees, and created DEI checkpoints on recommendations. “A whole culture of care has come out of this,” says Dr. Reber.

One of the most meaningful decisions Dr. Reber made has been to engage with the larger Latino community through the school’s Latino Advisory Council. This body comprises about 50 clergy, community leaders, and teachers that share a common goal: “To see the post education attainment rate increase. Education is fundamental to family-sustaining wages and life satisfaction,” says Dr. Reber.

Hudson is Home

Under Dr. Reber’s leadership, HCCC joined Achieving the Dream. Schools in the network are provided with a data coach and a leadership coach, who visit the school three times a year, either virtually or in person. During their week-long stay, the coaches mingle with a variety of groups and constituencies and offer feedback for continuous improvement.

Through their interactions with HCCC students, the coaches began hearing a common refrain. Students kept insisting that HCCC was not only a place to earn a degree by attending classes. People care about you here, they were saying. “I get goosebumps when I talk about this…Students shared with our coaches a feeling that this was actually an extended family or, in some cases, it felt like their family. They quickly felt the love, compassion, caring, and respect,” says Dr. Reber. “This feels like home.”

Realizing the power of these feelings, the Achieve the Dream coaches suggested plastering the slogan “Hudson is Home” everywhere on HCCC’s three campuses. “So that’s become our tagline. It was coined by students. It’s on our vans, it’s on our buildings. It resonates with people,” says Dr. Reber.

HCCC’s Jersey City campus is just a short boat ride from the Statue of Liberty. This symbolism is not lost on Dr. Reber. “It’s an important metaphor. Our mission is to welcome everyone in our community and help every person move forward in a way that will lead to the achievement of their dreams,” says Dr. Reber.