Cranford, NJ – The Elizabeth I. Kellogg Building, one of the buildings on Union College’s Elizabeth Campus, reopened for the fall semester. The Kellogg Building sustained significant water damage after Hurricane Ida flooded the lower level of the building with over four feet of water. Damages were repaired throughout the year and on December 1, the reopening of the Kellogg Building was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
On September 1, 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall in Union County, with more than 40 Union faculty, staff, students, and members of the public sheltered overnight across the College’s three campuses in Cranford, Elizabeth, and Plainfield waiting for the storm to subside. Due to the flooding caused by the storm, the Kellogg Building sustained electrical, structural, and equipment damage.
Over the next year, Union’s Finance and Operations team worked diligently to reopen Kellogg as quickly as possible. The operations housed in Kellogg, including the Trinitas School of Nursing, had to be relocated until renovations were completed.
On December 1, Union’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin was joined by members of the Union College and the Union County community to officially reopen the building. Attendees included Union Board of Trustees Chair Victor M. Richel, Union Board of Governors Chair Mary M. Zimmermann, Foundation donor Jimmy Kellogg, Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, Chief of Staff for Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis (LD-21) Kean MacLelland, Dean of the Elizabeth Campus Dr. Elizabeth Ramos, Vice President of Finance & Operations Dr. Lori A. Wilkin, and Dean of the Trinitas School of Nursing Dr. Roseminda Santee.
“We are proud of the effort and commitment to reopen the Kellogg Building and are here to celebrate that accomplishment,” stated Union’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “We thank the City of Elizabeth and Mayor Bollwage for their assistance in this process. The Kellogg family’s donation and legacy lives on in this building, and it helps secure Union’s presence in Elizabeth for many years to come.”
Speakers included Mr. Kellogg, Chairman Richel, and Mayor Bollwage. Following remarks, the ribbon was cut, officially reopening the Kellogg Building. The event concluded with a tour of the Kellogg Building.
The Kellogg Building is one of two buildings on Union’s Elizabeth Campus. The College also has Campuses in Cranford, Plainfield, and Scotch Plains. In addition to physical campuses, the College offers more than 20 programs that can also be completed online as part of our emerging Virtual Campus. Union College 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. Union was named a semifinalist for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. For more information on Union’s Elizabeth Campus, go to https://www.ucc.edu/admissions/visit-campus/elizabeth-new-jersey-college-courses/.