Mercer County Community College, NJ Black Women’s Collective Enter Partnership for New Leadership Institute

Program to develop Black women leaders launches in March

WEST WINDSOR, NJ – Mercer County Community College (MCCC) and the New Jersey Black Women’s Collective (NJBWC) will launch a program designed to cultivate and develop the next generation of Black women leaders, the new NJBWC Leadership Institute, March 15 on MCCC’s West Windsor Campus.

The Leadership Institute, which runs from March through June 2024, is a partnership between NJBWC and MCCC. A steering committee that includes members of NJBWC, executives from MCCC, and MCCC President Dr. Deborah E. Preston will serve as the planning board for the Leadership Institute.

“Tremendous opportunities can be created through education, and I applaud the NJBWC for launching this exciting new initiative,” Preston said. “We are proud to be their partner.”

Developed for emerging leaders in any sector, the Leadership Institute is designed to help participants gain the skills and strategies needed to address current problems in real time, actualize their skilled vision, and build effectiveness, while developing a talent pipeline for Black women leaders in New Jersey.

The Leadership Institute will launch with a welcome reception for participants on March 15, followed by 14 intensive curated sessions led by keynote speaker and facilitator Melody M. Fogarty, Managing Partner and Chief Business Strategist, Dakota Gray, LLC. The program will conclude with the presentation of capstone projects presented by Leadership Institute participants.

The curriculum will feature Black women executives, senior leaders, and guest speakers as presenters and experts in numerous fields, including business and finance, corporate strategy, marketing and communications, and politics and government. Specific topics include Decoding Your Leadership EQ; Strategic Mindset; Think Like a CFO; Marketing: The Creative Journey; Applying Leadership to Fulfill Your Mission; Power Structure and Little “p” in Politics; Creating High Impact Coalitions; and Wellness Treat. The Leadership Institute will be hosted on MCCC’s West Windsor Campus.

Guest speakers for the inaugural series include Pastor Tiffany Williams Brewer, Esq., Assistant Professor of Law and Chair of NJ State Commission of Investigations; Corein Carter, Chief Operating Officer CultureMakers I.N.C.; Michellene Davis, Esq., President and CEO, National Medical Fellowships; Brenda Ross Dulan, Managing Principal, Ross Dulan Group; John Harmon, President and CEO, African Chamber of Commerce NJ; Natalya Johnson, Senior Counsel, Johnson & Johnson; Jeannine LaRue, lobbyist and public affairs executive; Michele Meyer-Shipp, Esq., CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide; Maggie Moran, strategy consultant; and Paula Taylor, owner of Arlee’s Raw Blends in Princeton, N.J.

“We are thrilled with the opportunity to help shape and grow the next generation of Black women leaders through the Leadership Institute,” said Tennille R. McCoy, NJBWC co-founder and chair of the Leadership Institute. “Having the right skills is one of the keys to success, and that begins with having the support and guidance of those who have walked the path. We are fortunate to have assembled such a distinguished group of mentors and senior leaders to serve as guides on this journey.”

The deadline for applications to the Leadership Institute is Feb. 23. For more information or to apply, visit: www.mccc.edu/njbwc.

About Mercer County Community College:
Established in 1966, Mercer County Community College is a publicly supported comprehensive institution that provides opportunities for higher education through an open-door admission policy. The scenic 292-acre West Windsor Campus was opened in 1972 to serve the needs of Mercer County residents. MCCC’s James Kerney Campus, located in downtown Trenton, serves as an educational and cultural hub for city residents that meets the changing needs of thousands of students and community members seeking educational fulfillment and personal and career growth. Deborah E. Preston, Ph.D., President. www.mccc.edu

About New Jersey Black Women’s Collective:
New Jersey’s first comprehensive advocacy organization solely dedicated to the proliferation of Black women leaders in New Jersey. With a vision to garner, harness and strengthen the economic, social, and political power of BLACK WOMEN in New Jersey, by directly investing in and advocating for BLACK WOMEN in leadership roles. njblackwomenscollective.com