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The College of New Jersey Magazine
When Michael Bernstein accepted the role of TCNJ's 17th president
on June 6, 2024, he knew he would be leading through difficult times.
Nationwide, colleges and universities are facing multiple challenges.
With an economics background, a long career in education, and a year
as interim president at TCNJ under his belt, Bernstein is well positioned
to help us navigate the future. He has been tested before. As provost
and senior vice president at Tulane University in New Orleans, he
helped lead the university's recovery from the emotional and physical
devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He also steered Long Island's Stony
Brook University through the taxing unknowns of the pandemic's early
months as its interim president.
Drawn to TCNJ because of its strong academic reputation, Bernstein
quickly took pride in our students' successes. He knows the hallmark of
this place is its excellence and he embraces the opportunity to sustain it.
Yet, he also knows there is work to do.
Here, Bernstein explains the key headwinds confronting higher
education today, especially those schools in the public sector, and shares
some plans for our college to manage them.
