Cranford, NJ – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ Board of Trustees Chairman Victor M. Richel will receive the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) 2025 Northeast Regional Award for Trustee Leadership at the 56th Annual ACCT Leadership Congress in New Orleans. By receiving the Northeast Regional Award, he is eligible to receive the national M. Dale Ensign Trustee Leadership Award. The national winner will be named at the Leadership Congress.
Mr. Richel is a distinguished banking executive, civic leader, and philanthropist, whose lifetime of service has left a profound impact on the greater Union County region. Mr. Richel was a Vice President for Elizabethtown Gas, and it was under his leadership that the company gifted its building in Elizabeth to the College. He has been a member of the UCNJ Board of Trustees for more than 40 years and has served as Chairman for 30 years. Mr. Richel also serves as Chairman of the Board of RWJBarnabas Health Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth. His leadership was instrumental in facilitating Trinitas’ merger in 2022 with RWJBarnabas Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in the state. In addition to his many civic and business accolades, he is a beloved husband, father, and grandfather.
In 2021, Chairman Richel received the ACCT Trustee Leadership Award for the Northeast Region for the first time. Mr. Richel was recognized by the New Jersey Hospital Association as Hospital Trustee of the Year in 2018. He was honored by the YWCA of Union County in 2017 for Advancing Education & Economic Empowerment for Girls and Women. In 2016, he received the Ronald D. Winthers Community College Trustee Leadership Award from the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. In addition, Mr. Richel received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 1999 – an award given to notable American citizens who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to serving their communities.
It is a testament to Mr. Richel’s leadership and commitment to student success that UCNJ was named as one of only 10 finalists nationwide for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges.
“We are honored by ACCT’s two-time recognition of our devoted Board Chairman Mr. Richel. He has devoted more than 40 years of service to the College community. We are indebted to him for the invaluable leadership he has provided to UCNJ. He loves our students, our community, and our College,” stated UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.
The ACCT represents more than 6500 elected and appointed trustees who govern more than 1000 community colleges throughout the United States. The ACCT annually recognizes trustees and other community college leaders in each of its five regions for their contributions.
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 programs and extracurricular activities. UCNJ provides many experiential learning opportunities such as access to the Bloomberg Business Center, Innovation Center, and Student Research Lab. Additionally, students at UCNJ attend one of the top 10 community colleges in the country as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more about UCNJ, visit www.ucc.edu.