{"id":12890,"date":"2026-01-22T09:14:46","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T14:14:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/?p=12890"},"modified":"2026-01-22T09:15:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T14:15:34","slug":"dr-hubert-benitez-represents-saint-peters-university-at-prominent-new-jersey-government-leadership-events-showcasing-universitys-importance-to-the-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2026\/01\/22\/dr-hubert-benitez-represents-saint-peters-university-at-prominent-new-jersey-government-leadership-events-showcasing-universitys-importance-to-the-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Hubert Benitez Represents Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University at Prominent New Jersey Government Leadership Events, Showcasing University\u2019s Importance to the State"},"content":{"rendered":"

JERSEY CITY, N.J.<\/strong> \u2013 It has been a busy week for Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University President, Hubert Benitez, D.D.S., Ph.D. as he represented the University at multiple events across New Jersey, a testament to how Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s is supporting a career-ready workforce for the state.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Dr. Benitez attended the Latino Leaders Breakfast Reception. The reception was held at Space in Newark, N.J. In attendance was new N.J. Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell. The Lt. Governor emphasized the importance of strong entrepreneurship and community collaboration as the backbone of strengthening the state of New Jersey. During the event, Lt. Governor Caldwell also introduced the concept of \u201ce-zones\u201d, communities designed around education, employment and entrepreneurship. He went on to share more of his experiences in Trenton, including his creation of the term \u201curban traumatic stress\u201d as a way to describe the concentration difficulties faced by vulnerable students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a>After the breakfast, several attendees proceeded across the city to the inauguration of Mikie Sherrill, the 57th governor of New Jersey, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Dr. Benitez is pictured with other leaders of New Jersey institutions of higher education, highlighting the new administration\u2019s emphasis on education across the state.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Dr. Benitez and University leadership had a meeting with Jersey City Mayor James Solomon on campus. The meeting emphasized the partnership between Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University as an integral part of the Jersey City community and how vital it is to the higher education landscape in the city. Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s is also proud to announce that Paula Mercado Hak, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel & Chief External Affairs Officer at the University, will be a member of Mayor Solomon\u2019s transition team.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

JERSEY CITY, N.J. \u2013 It has been a busy week for Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University President, Hubert Benitez, D.D.S., Ph.D. as he represented the University at multiple events across New Jersey, a testament to how Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s is supporting a career-ready workforce for the state.\u00a0 On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Dr. Benitez attended the Latino Leaders […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1293,"featured_media":12892,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3,5,2,6],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-12890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-current-students","category-faculty-staff","category-future-students","category-press-release","tag-press"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDr. Hubert Benitez Represents Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University at Prominent New Jersey Government Leadership Events, Showcasing 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