R. Barbara Gitenstein is the president of The College of New Jersey. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Duke University ('70)[1] and a Ph.D. in English and American literature from UNC in 1975.[1] Dr. Gitenstein was born in Florala, Alabama, a town of 2000 where hers was the only Jewish family.[2] She attended Holton - Arms School, an all-woman's high school.[2][3]
She started her career in education at Central Missouri State College where she served as an assistant professor in the English department.[4] Gitenstein then moved to SUNY Oswego where she was subsequently named chair of the English department, and later appointed assistant provost.[4] In 1992, Gitenstein moved to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she served as executive vice president and then provost.[4][5] She then moved to TCNJ in 1999 as the first woman president.[1]
Gitenstein also serves on several corporate boards and committees, including the New Jersey Resources Corporation,[1] the Mercer County Holocaust Advisory Committee,[4] the Greater Mercer County and the New Jersey Chambers of Commerce,[4] and co-chairman for the Guardian Angels dinner-dance hosted by Catholic Charities,[4] board member of The Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton.[4]
Dr. Gitenstein has published several articles on Jewish and American literature, authored the book "Apocalyptic Messianism and Contemporary Jewish-American Poetry." [4]
In her spare time, Gitenstein enjoys reading, playing tennis, and opera.[4]