Four New Members Appointed to TESU Board of Trustees
Thomas Edison State University is pleased to announce that four new members have been appointed to the University’s Board of Trustees. The gubernatorial appointments were confirmed by the Senate on Feb. 25, 2025. These appointments underscore the University’s commitment to excellence in governance and its mission to serve the public interest alongside the New Jersey State Library.
Gregory Brewer, of North Carolina, is president and CEO of Right at Home Care and Assistance, where his responsibilities include overseeing budgeting, sales, profit and loss management, accounting, data collection, record maintenance and employment practices. He manages ongoing public relations and marketing to increase community awareness as well as improve relations with community partners and business referral sources. He is also an associate senior consultant with Guttman Development Strategies, where he advises C-suite level and mid-range management employees on management development, executive coaching, organization development and training practices. Additionally, Brewer is a personal and executive coach, trainer and speaker utilizing the John Maxwell Group Team methods to add value and significance to those seeking professional and personal growth. Brewer is a graduate of Thomas Edison State University, where he earned a Master of Business Management in organizational leadership in 2000. He also holds an undergraduate degree from Cornell University in Industrial and Labor Relations.
He replaces Johnnie Whittington for the term prescribed by law, currently set to expire June 30, 2029.
Dr. L. Diane Campbell, a Trenton resident, retired as vice president for Student Affairs at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) after 44 years of service. Her extensive board experience includes the Shiloh Community Development Corporation, the United Way of Mercer County and Building ONE New Jersey. She also served as a member and as president of the Trenton Board of Education and played a pivotal role in the construction of the new Trenton Central High School. She has experience in online education, having served as the first director of MCCC’s Virtual Campus (now Mercer Online), and was president of the New Jersey Virtual Consortium, a joint effort among the state’s community colleges to provide distance learning. Campbell holds a bachelor’s in education from Morgan State University, a master’s in education from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) and a doctorate from Rutgers University. She replaces Dr. Kemi Alli for the term prescribed by law, currently set to expire on June 20, 2029.
Marc Citron of Princeton is a partner with Saul Ewing LLP, a Princeton law firm. During his more than 45 years of legal practice, Citron has advised clients ranging from real estate developers, retailers and the hospitality sector to manufacturers and software developers on commercial and industrial projects, including those involving redevelopment and brownfields. He has extensive board experience, including service on the Board of Trustees for Central Jersey Business Organization; Sustainable Jersey and Eden Autism. Citron holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. He fills a vacancy on the board for the term prescribed by law, currently set to expire on June 30, 2030.
Frank Lucchesi of Manahawkin is the director of External Affairs South at PSEG, where he is responsible for developing and implementing strategic outreach and communication plans in support of critical PSEG, PSE&G and PSEG Transmission priorities. Lucchesi manages a team of regional Public Affairs Managers who advocate and gain support for key business priorities and manage a range of external audiences, inclusive of elected officials, public policy influencers and community organizers. He is Commissioner and Vice Chair of the Mercer County Improvement Authority and serves on multiple boards, including Hamilton Area YMCA, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, Central Jersey Junior Achievement and the New Jersey State Police Memorial Association. Lucchesi is a graduate of Rider University. He replaces Lydia Stockman for the term prescribed by law, currently set to expire June 30, 2030.
Chair of the TESU Board of Trustees Dr. Michael Toscani expressed enthusiasm about the appointments, stating, “We warmly welcome Gregory, Diane, Mark and Frank to our board. Their extensive experience and dedication to higher education will play a pivotal role as we continue to advance Thomas Edison State University’s mission.”
“It’s an exciting time to be joining the TESU board,” added TESU President Merodie A. Hancock, Ph.D. “The University has recently expanded degree programs, including mental health nursing and cybersecurity as well as a new doctoral program in Organizational Leadership, Culture and Change. Additionally, the University, with board guidance, has launched initiatives to enhance student success and engagement, strengthened partnerships and is preparing updates to its strategic plan. We look forward to working our current board members, student trustees and these new members as we prepare for the future landscape of higher education.”