Rutgers Board of Governors Appoints Vice President for Public Affairs
December 06, 2007
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The Board of Governors of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, today appointed Jeannine F. LaRue, deputy chief of staff to Gov. Jon S. Corzine, as vice president for public affairs – a senior-level position at Rutgers charged with advancing the university’s goals by cultivating and maintaining relationships with key leaders in the public and private sectors. LaRue, who begins her appointment at Rutgers Dec. 17, will serve as the chief adviser to university President Richard L. McCormick, Rutgers’ governing boards and other university leaders on matters involving state, federal and local governments; New Jersey businesses; civic and community groups; and nonprofit organizations. She also will be responsible for developing and directing strategies for outreach and advocacy. Her appointment is part of a comprehensive effort – cited by President McCormick in his 2006 Annual Address to the University Community – to evaluate thoroughly the university’s relationships with government, business and civic leaders across New Jersey. An ad hoc committee of Board of Governors members and university administrators as well as Rutgers faculty recommended the establishment of a senior-level position responsible for developing and executing strategies to enhance the university’s ties to key constituencies across the state. “Jeannine LaRue has extensive experience and knowledge of the inner workings of state government, New Jersey’s business community and nonprofit organizations,” President McCormick said. “The need for increased public and private support for higher education is greater than ever. To best serve our students and the people of New Jersey, Rutgers University must enhance and maintain positive, productive relationships with our elected representatives in Trenton and Washington as well as with leaders throughout New Jersey’s business and nonprofit sectors. Jeannine is extremely well suited to thrive in this important position.” LaRue, a 1974 graduate of Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), has held a series of prominent positions both inside and outside Trenton. Prior to working for Gov. Corzine, LaRue served as senior vice president in the Office of Governmental Affairs for Saint Barnabas Health Care System in West Orange – the state’s largest integrated health care delivery system and its second largest private employer. LaRue also served as director of governmental relations for the New Jersey Education Association and as a member of the Casino Control Commission. In addition, she was the founding executive director of 10,000 Mentors Inc., a Newark-based nonprofit organization that matched mentors with elementary school students. “I look forward to working with President McCormick, the Board of Governors and Rutgers’ faculty, students and staff on behalf of this outstanding university,” LaRue said. “Many business and civic leaders already understand the university’s significant contributions to the state’s knowledge base and economic growth. We will focus our efforts on expanding awareness and appreciation of Rutgers’ value to the people of New Jersey.” LaRue’s duties at Rutgers will include: • Informing civic, community and business leaders; elected officials; and policy makers about university programs and their benefits Established in 1766, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is America’s eighth oldest institution of higher learning and one of the nation’s premier public research universities. Serving more than 50,000 students on campuses in Camden, Newark and New Brunswick, Rutgers offers more than 280 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degree programs. The university is home to 27 degree-granting schools and colleges, and more than 150 specialized centers and institutes. Contact: Greg Trevor |
