A Conversation with President Dale Caldwell

One thing is clear: this is a year of change for Centenary University. There’s a feeling of revival on campus, inspiring students and staff alike to get involved and work together to forge a stronger community. The shift is marked by the arrival of President Dale G. Caldwell, whose inauguration took place on Oct. 21, 2023.

I sat with President Caldwell in October to discuss his career and his vision for the future of Centenary. 

How are you settling in as President?

It’s wonderful. This is just a wonderful school. I had spent a year on the board and then I was chosen as the next President in February, so I had a chance to volunteer and get to know the school even before I started in July. It’s a wonderful place. It has so much potential. 

Since you got started, have you found a favorite spot on campus? 

Other than the President’s home, which I love, we’re starting a consulting co-op. Right across from the Starbucks in Seay is that empty space, which we have to kind of air out, but we’re going to give every student a chance, whether they’re English majors or members of Enactus, to consult with local businesses or to consult internally. What we want to do is help students develop intellectually, so that space is going to be my favorite, because I think we’re going to do things no other university does there. 

This does seem to be a year of change, and I’ve heard you have a lot of projects in the works. In a University address, you mentioned hoping to secure more partnerships for the University. What’s your vision for that?

In this day in age, collaboration and partnerships are the key to success, and so one venture is the Centenary Consulting Co-Op. We’re going to partner with the Small Business Development Center in Hackettstown. They provide training to do consulting with local small businesses. So, they’re going to be a partner and help us grow our student consulting arm. We’re looking to partner with other universities, too. One of the things I did at my last job was Family Business of the Year awards, and so we’re looking to partner with Fairleigh Dickinson University on that. We’re going to partner with some of our funders to really expand some of our nursing options. We have the RN to BSN program, and we want to build on that. There’s so many different ways that we can partner. It’s exciting. 

Do you have any plans for raising enrollment? 

I love the Skylands region. I love the mountains in the background, it’s so serene. We’ve recruited mostly from this area. And they’re wonderful students, but we have to recruit statewide. I have been on several boards; a school board in New Brunswick, a board in Piscataway, a board in Asbury Park. We should be recruiting students from there, who will stay on campus. We’re looking to recruit from throughout New Jersey. One of the good things about New Jersey is that the state has given a TAG Grant for New Jersey students, making it less expensive for New Jersey residents than for other students from around the country. That’s why we’re focusing on students from Jersey, and we’re hoping to bring in a couple hundred more students. 

What’s your general goal for Centenary?

The key to success in life relates around three things, and we’re transitioning our mission to meet those. The first is emotional wellbeing. To be successful, you have to be able to deal with your emotions. You have to be able to deal with bad things. We want to be a school that helps students with emotional wellbeing. The second is intellectual curiosity. We want every student who leaves here to want to be a lifelong learner. With artificial intelligence, things are changing constantly. You have to want to learn every day. The third is intercultural competence. We want every student to not only be able to work with people who are different, but also to seek out people who are very different than they are, because they are often much more interesting than people just like us. So the idea is to evolve students emotionally, intellectually, and culturally, because those are the three things, no matter what you want to do, that will help you become successful. 

Tell me something Cyclones might not know about you. 

One, I’m kind of like a Cyclone. I come up with ideas quickly, so I like to move quickly. I like to make changes quickly. That’s kind of my modus operandi. Two, I’m big in tennis. I had the chance to be inducted into the Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame with Billie Jean King in 2021. I was ranked nationally in tennis, but really because of my leadership. I was leading the New York/New Jersey section for a while. 

You’re a man of many titles. Pastor, author, doctor, president. Is there one that’s especially dear to you? 

For one, I have a daughter who is 19, and so dad is probably my favorite title. Being a pastor and being a president are different jobs, but it’s an honor to do that. I’ve been lucky to be in that leadership position, and one of the things I’ve learned over the years is from a Chinese saying: the taller the bamboo, the more it bends. I would like to be a servant leader. I want to prioritize the people on campus and their ideas for how we can make things better. I want to try to listen so I can get insights to help this university be all that it can be. 

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As we embark on this journey of change and growth under President Caldwell’s leadership, Centenary University’s community can look forward to a future filled with exciting opportunities, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to nurturing the development of well-rounded, successful students. President Caldwell’s vision and dedication have set the stage for a new era of progress and innovation at Centenary. His rich and multifaceted career poses him as a reliable landmark in a brighter tomorrow for all Cyclones.