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George F. Kacenga, William Paterson University's vice president for enrollment management, has been selected for the 2026 Millennium Leadership Initiative, a prestigious leadership development program of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). Kacenga, who oversees admissions, financial aid, registration services, international education, and retention initiatives that support student success, is one of just 29 higher education leaders nationwide chosen for this year's cohort.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to engage with peers from institutions across the nation who are committed to shaping the future of higher education,” says Kacenga. “The experience will help inform and strengthen the work we are already doing at William Paterson to expand opportunity and improve student outcomes.”
Through the yearlong program, participants engage in leadership development, mentorship, and networking opportunities designed to prepare senior administrators for executive leadership roles. Kacenga's selection places him among a distinguished group of higher education leaders from institutions across the country and marks the second time in four years that a William Paterson administrator has been chosen for the program. Its dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Wartyna Davis, was selected for the MLI in 2023.
Since its founding in 1999, MLI has supported the professional growth of 803 leaders,174 of whom have advanced to top executive positions at colleges and universities across the nation.
“MLI has long played a vital role in cultivating a dynamic community of higher education leaders who are prepared to meet the challenges facing our institutions and students,” said Charles L. Welch, president and CEO of AASCU.
“William Paterson University is a true ‘Powerhouse of Progress.’ As an institution, we are committed to expanding opportunity, fostering belonging, and helping students build lives of purpose, stability, and impact,” Kacenga adds. “Our students arrive with extraordinary potential, and our responsibility is to create the environment, support, and momentum that allow them to thrive and lead.”
