August 21, 2024

Congressman Bill Pascrell served in the House of Representatives for more than thirty years and was a true friend and advocate of Felician University. As our Congressman, he supported Felician’s academic initiatives and competitive federal grant endeavors, including FIESTA, the US Department of Education Fostering Inclusive Excellence for STEM Achievement (FIESTA) grant, and the digital equity grant for Project FELICE (Fostering Equity in Learning Through Inclusion, Connectivity, and Engagement) funded by the US Department of Commerce that followed.

A teacher and educator, he championed excellence in higher education and its importance for strengthening New Jersey’s workforce and advancing career opportunities. And he understood the vital and lifechanging value of a college degree to our diverse population of students, their families, and communities.

Congressman Pascrell also connected with our Felician Franciscan core values. On a visit to his office in Washington, DC, he remarked to me, “You not only educate your students, you also instill compassion and character – I like that.” His legacy is exactly what we instill in our students – a life of service.

We will miss Congressman Pascrell dearly. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, the city of Paterson – his home, and the many constituents he loyally served.

Grace and peace,

Mildred Mihlon, PhD
President