To the Campus Community:

When I joined the Rutgers University–Camden family in July 2014, I knew I was becoming a part of an inclusive and welcoming campus that was home to world-class faculty, ambitious students, dedicated staff, and successful alumni. Rutgers–Camden already had a rising reputation for its civic engagement ethos, and I knew that the university had deep bonds with Camden and southern New Jersey.

As I conclude my tenure as chancellor of Rutgers University–Camden, each day reinforces the remarkable qualities of our institution. We are truly a community that thrives because of our openness to embracing new ideas and diverse backgrounds. Rutgers–Camden also continues to make its mark as an anchor institution that is committed to being of the city and in the city.

During my six years as chancellor, I have loved getting up and coming to Rutgers–Camden each day. This is a place where I know we make a difference – each and every one of us – staff, faculty, and especially our wonderful students. I have often said this is a place of optimism, where the civic leaders of tomorrow are being made today and where our faculty, administrators, and students create the ideas that will become the solutions to some of the most intractable issues facing our world.

Six years may not seem like a long time, especially when juxtaposed against the 254-year history of Rutgers, but I am humbled and inspired by what our campus has achieved during that time. Together, we have transformed Rutgers–Camden and positioned the institution for remarkable visibility and continued growth. A full report of all of the amazing activity that I have seen you generate would require an extraordinary amount of time to both write and read, but here are a few examples:

• Bridging the Gap: In launching our Bridging the Gap program, we knew that we would be providing access to the Rutgers–Camden experience for more students, and that has been true: every year, we have grown our enrollment. An institution committed to providing opportunities for first-generation students, Rutgers–Camden’s student body now reflects the rich diversity of our great state. To enable students to succeed and thrive, we have created a model for student debt reduction that has since been adopted by other universities across our nation.
• Student Success and Support: We have created new support efforts to ensure the success of our students, including programs for our military veterans, an office championing student diversity and inclusion, new learning experiences connected to travel abroad, a robust set of student academic success offerings, and pathways to attract and support international students.
• Faculty Research: Because of the committed work of our research faculty, and redoubled efforts to strengthen our graduate programs, we have achieved Carnegie classification as an R2 research university, placing us among the nation’s premier research institutions. This designation indicates the excellence of our research faculty, whose path-defining scholarship commands funding support from America’s most prominent and competitive foundations and agencies.
• Civic Engagement: Our impressive civic engagement program earned Carnegie classification, a noteworthy honor, but one that pales in significance against the background of the many thousands of children, families, and organizations who have benefited from the outreach of our faculty, students, and staff.
• Rising Visibility: Rutgers–Camden emerged as a true center for thought leadership as we hosted prominent national figures who attracted attention to our campus. Those speakers have included Hidden Figures author Margo Lee Shetterly, The Underground Railroad author Colson Whitehead, and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta. We presented honorary degrees to such influential figures as scholar and author Bryan Stevenson, Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, constitutional law scholar Neal Katyal, activist Sister Mary Scullion, and philanthropist and performer Jon Bon Jovi.

It is because of you that Rutgers University–Camden has risen in national stature and exceeded many of the goals set forth in our ambitious strategic plan. The energy and enthusiasm of our campus community has never once flagged or failed. I deeply value your capacity to support each other and our students as our aspirations aim ever higher.

Serving as your chancellor has been one of the defining honors of my life. When I leave the role of chancellor at the close of June 30, I will do so with great regret that, due to current circumstances, I am unable to shake your hand – or even hug you – look you in the eye, and tell you how much I have appreciated working with you and learning from you.

I am heartened by the ability to conclude this message by emphasizing that I am not leaving this institution or this city that I love. I will continue as a member of the faculty of our law school, and in that capacity look forward to working alongside you on behalf of Rutgers University–Camden.

I am especially enthusiastic about doing so as Margaret Marsh becomes interim chancellor. Her vision for our campus is built on a long-standing commitment to Rutgers–Camden and she has my full support.

We also, as a community, can celebrate the historic occasion of welcoming Jonathan Holloway, our first African-American president. I am confident that our campus will be able to welcome him and offer him a deeper appreciation of the powerhouse attributes of Rutgers–Camden.

Thank you for your support and your energy during my time as chancellor. Now and forever, I am a Scarlet Raptor.

With gratitude,

Phoebe A. Haddon, J.D., LL.M.
Chancellor