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Miki Cammarata, vice president for student development, was honored by President Richard Helldobler at the Undergraduate Commencement ceremony on May 28 when he presented her with the President’s Medallion, the University’s highest honor, in recognition of her execeptional service to the University community for the past 12 years. Cammarata is retiring in June,
“Miki has been a central figure in shaping the student experience at William Paterson University for more than a decade, consistently prioritizing student success and well-being,” said Helldobler. “In every aspect of her work, Miki has left a lasting legacy defined by service, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to others.”
Cammarata, who joined William Paterson in 2014, has been instrumental in establishing numerous programs that have led to significant gains in student success. Under her leadership, the Division of Student Development launched the Student Success Teams and the Navigate student success platform, contributing to significant increases in retention and time to degree. She also established the Office of Parent and Family Relations to provide comprehensive resources and programs for parents and families focused on understanding the university experience.
Other visible examples of her leadership in support for students are the establishment of the Pioneer Pantry, the Career Closet, a social worker for student support, and resources to assist students experiencing challenging situations. She oversaw the development and launch of a robust career development plan and offerings, including the Pesce Family Mentoring Institute and a new Career Experience Progam, leading to career outcomes for graduates that are consistently higher than the national average.
Cammarata championed the importance of student engagement, overseeing the launch of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the Black Cultural Center, and the Center for Latinidad to provide programming and involvement opportunities for the institution’s diverse student population, and fostered the expansion of civic engagement and service opportunities both on campus and in local communities.
During her tenure, the Division of Student Development successfully obtained numerous grants designed to provide critical support for students, including two U.S. Department of Education TRiO-Student Support Services grants totaling more than $2.7 million, and a Mental Health in Higher Education: Community Provider Partnerships and Professional Development Grant from the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education of nearly $500,000 to expand student mental health services on campus.
Cammarata served as co-chair of the University’s Strategic Plan 2012-2022 Committee from 2017 to 2019 and as a member from 2014 to 2017, and as a member of the Strategic Planning and Branding and Identity Steering Group for the Strategic Plan 2022-2025.
She is the recipient of multiple awards and commendations for leadership and student engagement work, including the Arnold Speert Students First Award, presented annually by the William Paterson Student Government Association (SGA) to faculty, staff, and administrators who have shown extraordinary service and commitment to the student body. In 2026, the SGA renamed the Benevolence Award to the Cammarata Benevolence Award in her honor; the award is presented annually to a student for overall dedication to creating positive change at the University.
