Cranford – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter Iota Xi, is featured in the sixth edition of Change Makers: Phi Theta Kappa Journal of Student Leadership, a national publication recognizing outstanding student-led leadership initiatives at community colleges.
Published annually by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK), Change Makers highlights college projects that demonstrate student leadership, campus collaboration, and meaningful impact on local communities. This year’s edition features just 16 projects selected from over 450 chapter submissions across PTK’s global membership.
“These projects begin with a simple question: What does our college need, and how can students help?” said PTK Chief Student Engagement Officer, Dr. Samantha Levy. “The answers are different on every campus, but each project shows what PTK members can accomplish when they listen, lead, and work alongside their college community.”
Iota Xi’s project, ‘Assets for Life: Empowering Students Through Financial Literacy,’ supported the College’s priority of preparing students for success after graduation by connecting them with professionals and alumni who have navigated personal finance and the transfer process. The chapter organized two interactive question-and-answer workshops, one on personal finance and one on the financial side of transferring.
Forty students attended the first workshop. After partnering with the campus mentorship program Project Achievement, the chapter drew 90 students to the second workshop, which the College recorded for its YouTube channel.
The chapter’s leadership project can be read here: Change Makers 2026 Edition.
“The College Project gives our students a chance to demonstrate leadership in action,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. “They work alongside college leaders to identify a need, build a response, and make a difference on their campuses. Along the way, they see that their ideas and their leadership matter.”
“This recognition reflects the caliber of our students and their commitment to making a meaningful difference,” said UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “I also want to recognize our PTK faculty advisors, whose guidance and encouragement help students translate their potential into meaningful contributions to the College and their communities.”
About UCNJ
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 community colleges in the country as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more about UCNJ, visit www.ucc.edu.
About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the first honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 4.4 million members and nearly 1,250 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 220,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.