Leadership Team

Nancy Cantor, Chancellor of Rutgers University–Newark, is recognized nationally and internationally for her leadership in emphasizing the role of universities as anchor institutions in their communities, especially by forging diverse, cross-sector collaboratives and leveraging publicly engaged scholarship to advance racial equity and equitable growth.

LaToya A. Battle-Brown is currently the Assistant Chancellor of Enrollment Management and Dean of Admissions at Rutgers University–Newark. She manages the Office of Graduate and Undergraduate Admissions and leads a team of thirteen professionals in all aspects of the recruitment and admissions enrollment processes.

Robyn Brady Ince is the Executive Director of the Newark City of Learning Collaborative and Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the Department of Urban Education at Rutgers University–Newark. Robyn has extensive experience in strategic program design, development, and implementation; youth leadership development; philanthropy; college access; higher education; and diversity recruiting.

Jennifer M. Bucalo is the Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives, as well as the Director of the BOLD Women's Leadership Network at Rutgers University - Newark. Prior to this role, she proudly served as a New York City Board of Education teacher for nearly ten years. Her dissertation was nationally awarded for focusing on Resiliency and Factors Contributing to the Latina Collegian Experience. She is also dedicated and has published research that focuses on Hispanic health disparities as it pertains to cancer prevention.

Sherri-Ann P. Butterfield is Executive Vice Chancellor and Associate Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University–Newark. She is a nationally recognized scholar, teacher, and thought leader in race and ethnicity, immigration, and diversity in higher education. Sherri-Ann is also a sought-after facilitator on managing diversity within complex institutions. 

As Senior Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs and Chief of Staff at Rutgers University – Newark, Peter Englot leads the university’s communications efforts and supports Chancellor Nancy Cantor and her leadership team in coordination of activities across their divisions.

John Gunkel is Vice Chancellor for Academic Programs and Strategic Partnerships, Rutgers University–Newark, in which capacity he oversees the university’s offices of academic technology and scheduling, summer & winter session, student retention, and institutional effectiveness and coordinates the university’s academic labor relations, academic advisement, assessment, program development.

Diane Hill is the Assistant Chancellor for University-Community Partnerships at Rutgers University-Newark, with over 30 years of experience in leadership positions. For over fifteen years Diane has administered the Office of University-Community Partnerships (OUCP).

Bil Leipold is currently the Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services & Experience at Rutgers University-Newark. Enrollment Services & Experience includes the Offices of Financial Aid, Registrar and Admissions as well as the Academic Foundations Center.

Shante is a public affairs executive, community advocate and college professor. Her tenure in government, community relations, higher education and grassroots campaigns spans over a decade and demonstrates exceptional experience and professional distinction. By training and professional principle, Shante serves the public interest by acting as a responsible advocate for those she represents.

Charles M. Payne is the Henry Rutgers Distinguished Professor of African American Studies at Rutgers University- Newark where he also directs the Joseph Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Research. His interests include urban education and school reform, social inequality, social change and modern African American history. 

In his capacity as a Senior Vice Chancellor for Research and Collaboration, Piotr Piotrowiak is dedicated to facilitating and supporting all aspects of the research mission, focusing on fostering the continuum of sponsored research, graduate and undergraduate education, and outreach. 

As Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration and Economic Development and Chief Financial Officer, Amber Randolph serves as a leader and change agent for financial management and planning for Rutgers University-Newark, working collaboratively to develop and implement best practices and cultivating strong professionals throughout the organization, the City of Newark, and the surrounding community.

Rutgers Business School professor Jeffrey Robinson is an internationally known author and co-founder of the Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. Robinson holds the Prudential Chair in Business and is Professor of Management and Global Business at Rutgers Business School (RBS).

Robin Semple is Vice Chancellor for Advancement at Rutgers University – Newark. She came into this position in Spring 2022 with more than 25 years’ experience in fundraising leadership from cultural institutions such as the Studio Museum in Harlem, as an independent consultant, and from higher education institutions including Columbia University, City College of New York, and Fordham University.

Corlisse Thomas is the Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at Rutgers University-Newark. Dr. Thomas oversees a range of professionals and departments dedicated to student life and leadership, health and wellness, athletics, diversity and inclusion, and housing and residential life. 

A scholar, writer, and activist, Salamishah Tillet was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 2022 for her work as a contributing critic at large for The New York Times where she has been writing since 2015. Currently, she is the Henry Rutgers Professor of Creative Writing and African American and African Studies and the director of Express Newark, a center for socially engaged art and design at Rutgers University - Newark.