Sheetal Ranjan Honored for Leadership as Chair of New Jersey Council of County Colleges
Sheetal Ranjan, Ph.D., who has served as Chair of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges since 2023, will be recognized for her leadership and service to the state’s community colleges and their 250,000 students this evening at the quarterly meeting of the Council as Middlesex College.
Ranjan has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Bergen Community College since 2017 and has served as a member of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) Executive Committee since 2019. Ranjan has been active leader in the Council since 2017 and been active on the national level with the Association of Community College Trustees. Ranjan holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Madras, an M.A. from John Jay College, and a Ph.D. from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Ranjan is a an internationally recognized scholar in the field of criminal justice, with research interests centered on violence prevention and intervention, particularly through applied research.
In recognition of her service, Ranjan will be presented with a glass acorn, which was created by Salem Community College’s Glass Art faculty member and studio specialist Douglas Ohm with assistance from his students.
Under Ranjan’s leadership, the Council advanced its mission to provide strategic leadership for the state’s 18 community colleges, to expand collaboration among the colleges, and to expand partnerships with a wide array of statewide organizations. Under her leadership, the Council developed the Opportunity Agenda, a shared vision for the state’s community colleges, in spring 2024 and updated that vision in fall 2025. New Jersey’s Opportunity Agenda: A Collective Roadmap for Action and a Future Ready New Jersey was adopted unanimously by the 18 colleges and is guiding the work of the Council. To further collaboration and partnerships, the Council hosted its first ever statewide community college Opportunity Summit in Atlantic City in June 2024 and then its second statewide summit in June 2025. The Council also hosted its first ever Student Leadership Summit in spring 2025. In addition, the Council continued to build strong partnerships with a wide variety of statewide business, labor, community, and social justice organizations, launching the Future Ready New Jersey Coalition in November 2025, which brings together more than 25 partners committed to working together to expand economic opportunity.
“Ranjan’s unwavering belief in the transformative power of community colleges has set a standard of excellence for all in the Council. She has inspired community college leaders across New Jersey to work together toward a common vision and purpose. All 18 community colleges thank her for her leadership and commitment to community colleges,” said Aaron Fichtner, President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges.
