Cranford, NJ – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ is proud to share that Vice President of Student Development Dr. Demond T. Hargrove is the 2024 recipient of the Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award from the Union County Board of County Commissioners.
Dr. Hargrove, a resident of Union Township, joined by his wife and two sons accepted the award at a ceremony on February 22 at the Hamilton Stage in Rahway as a part the County’s celebration of Black History Month.
The Commissioner Board established the Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award in 2012, in honor of the former County Commissioner and Rahway resident Chester Holmes, who passed away earlier that same year. An accomplished civic leader who loved the Union County community, Mr. Holmes was a former police officer, community volunteer, and member of the Army National Guard.
Dr. Hargrove joined UCNJ in 2017 and serves as the College’s the Chief Student Affairs Officer leading the Student Development Division. This includes overseeing the many student success initiatives at the College, including Project Achievement, Operation Graduation, and Inspire the Future. These initiatives specifically support first-generation college students, African American students, and Hispanic students. Under Dr. Hargrove’s leadership, the College has seen the addition of student success campaigns, a growing diverse student population, and increased graduation rates.
“We are immensely proud of Dr. Hargrove’s accomplishments at UCNJ. This award is a testament to his dedication to our students. Dr. Hargrove is a student-centered administrator who continues to prioritize student needs. The Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award acknowledges his contributions at UCNJ and reaffirms our commitment to transforming our community, one student at a time,” stated UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.
In a recent interview, Dr. Hargrove shared information on his upbringing, his thoughts on fatherhood, Black history, and more. To check out that interview, click here.
UCNJ is a public, comprehensive community college that provides quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater Union County region. It is the first of New Jersey’s 18 two-year colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The College offers a wide variety of academic and extracurricular activities. UCNJ provides many experiential learning opportunities such as access to a Bloomberg Business Center, Innovation Center, and Student Research hub. Additionally, students at UCNJ attend one of the top 25 community colleges in the country for 2023 as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more, visit nor9tez5.jjtox.net.
