The Rutgers Board of Trustees—charged with advising the governing body of the university, the Board of Governors—consists of 41 voting members, who also have a vital fiduciary responsibility to help Rutgers retain its operating independence. Formerly the governing body of the university, from the founding of Queen’s College in 1766 until its reorganization under state law in 1956, the board today benefits from the varied professional expertise of its members and their unique perspectives. For Anthony Covington SAS’15, Nimesh Jhaveri PHARM’90, Roberta Kanarick DC’64, GSE’92, Tolulope Oyetunde EJB’11, and Jose Piazza (father of Michael RBS’14), membership on the board has been a chance to return a favor to the university that helped each of them in many ways.

 

Roberta Kanarick

Roberta Kanarick DC’64, GSE’92
 

RUTGERS MAGAZINE: What motivated you to join the Board of Trustees?
Roberta Kanarick: I am fortunate to have had a wonderful personal and professional life and enjoy giving back to the university that has helped to make so much possible for me. Serving on the Board of Trustees was the culmination of many rewarding years of involvement in alumni affairs at Rutgers, beginning in 1994 when I joined my class reunion committee at Douglass. It led to my becoming class vice president, president, and member of the Douglass Alumnae Board.

I earned my doctorate and made many career connections at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education (GSE), and for the last 15 years I have held leadership positions on the GSE Alumni Association (GSEAA) Board, including four years as president. My universitywide perspective and my Rutgers pride increased significantly when I became GSEAA representative on the Rutgers University Alumni Federation (RUAF) board and subsequently RUAF president and member of the Board of Overseers Executive Committee of the Rutgers University Foundation. In 2011, I was honored to be elected a Loyal Daughter of Rutgers in recognition of my service to the university. I have frequently participated in Rutgers events universitywide and in other states and established relationships with so many interesting alumni, including university trustees who encouraged me to serve with them.

RM: What personal experiences have you brought to your role as a board member?
RK: I bring the knowledge gained from my undergraduate and graduate Rutgers degrees; experiences with my husband, Robert RC’63, whom I met during my sophomore year, and other close family and friends who are Rutgers alumni; and my background as a longtime alumni leader and career educator. My father and many family members came to the United States in order to escape persecution, and the importance of education was emphasized throughout my youth in New York City and New Jersey. In addition, I bring my background as a teacher of K–12 and adult students, as a graduate school professor, and as a consultant at several New Jersey universities, including Rutgers. I also have experience as a supervisor of K–12 multilingual/multicultural education; a consultant at the New Jersey Department of Education; an elementary, middle, and high school principal; and a superintendent of schools. The knowledge gained and personal contacts made as a result of my current membership on the School of Arts and Sciences Advisory Council and the GSEAA Board are also helpful.

RM: In what ways do you enjoy serving, and why should others consider serving?
RK:
I value the opportunity to participate in university governance. I enjoy keeping up-to-date with the dynamic field of education and working to further enhance the excellence that is Rutgers. I enjoy the multitude of worthwhile academic, athletic, cultural, and social events to which we are invited. I care about Rutgers, believe in its mission, and feel good about advocating for and donating to our university. Through knowledge, participation, decision making, support, and advocacy, a trustee can have a significant impact on the Rutgers community and New Jersey.

RM: Tell us something about you, perhaps an interest, that readers would find interesting.
RK: I enjoy theater, and since the mid-90s have been a member of the advisory board of the New Jersey Women’s Theater Company, a professional company that promotes involvement of women in all phases of theater. I love meeting diverse people and experiencing new places and cultures, and I have traveled in 48 states and on six continents.

 

Anthony Covington SAS’15

Anthony Covington SAS’15

 

RUTGERS MAGAZINE: What motivated you to serve on the Board of Trustees?
ANTHONY COVINGTON: I was advocating for students as a member of the Rutgers University Student Assembly. Soon, undergraduates elected me to serve on the Rutgers University Senate. It was then that I learned about the Board of Trustees and jumped at the chance to serve on it. I joined in 2013 as a junior with the designation of student charter trustee.

RM: What personal and school experiences have you brought to your role as a board member?
AC: During my five years serving on the board, three experiences stand out the most. First, I was raised by a single mother who worked two, sometimes three, jobs and made many sacrifices to give me the opportunity to be the first in my family to attend college. She has taught me, through hard work and dedication, that you can affect the lives of others. Second, most board members are established in their own careers, but there are only three who are student charter trustees. Being a student and hearing the concerns of my friends gave me a perspective that has helped ensure that student concerns are still heard in the administration. Third, my professional career at Deloitte Consulting LLP has allowed me to develop many skills in leadership, business development, change management, and conflict resolution. They make me a better board member.

RM: In what ways do you enjoy serving?
AC:
Serving as a trustee is unlike anything I have done. Being able to give back to the university, one that has given me so much more, is an amazing feeling. I work with some of the country’s best leaders—and also learn from them. Although board members don’t always agree, we always have the best interests of the university at heart.

RM: Why should others consider serving?
AC: It’s a great honor. Many people think that you have to be wealthy or uniquely talented to serve, but the most important requirement is to have a passion for Rutgers, which is great because it brings people from all walks of life and backgrounds to a common place where everyone becomes better.

RM: Tell me something about you, perhaps an interest, that readers would find interesting.
AC: I was a volunteer firefighter for six years, first at Mission Fire Company in Bordentown, New Jersey, and then at Rutgers Emergency Services. I have always wanted to help others. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are; if you want to help, get involved. Never be afraid to stand up for what you believe. A mentor of mine once said: “If you want something you have never had, you must do something you have never done.”
 

Nimesh Jhaveri PHARM’90

Nimesh Jhaveri PHARM’90

 

RUTGERS MAGAZINE: What motivated you to serve on the Board of Trustees? 
Nimesh Jhaveri: As a son of immigrant parents from India, I have been blessed by what this country has provided my family and me. New Jersey was, and will always be, home for me (even though I live in Illinois). Rutgers became one of those platforms that allowed me to flourish, providing me and my wife, Sejal Jhaveri NUR’98, with a world-class education and lifelong friends.

I have a genuine conviction about the importance of education—and the role of Rutgers to provide it. If I can give back to this great institution so that another student (maybe even another immigrant) can reap the benefits that I have been afforded, I will have achieved my goal.

RM: What personal and professional experiences have you brought to your role as a board member?
NJ: In addition to being a New Jersey native and alumnus, I am a pharmacist. As the university continues its transformation into becoming a top medical institution, I can bring the experience from my role overseeing health services development at Walgreens Co. and my experience as a clinician.

RM: In what ways do you enjoy serving?
NJ: Several ways: interacting with board members; playing a role in decision making; and being an ambassador for Rutgers.

RM: Why should others consider serving?
NJ: There are intangible rewards such as friendship and collaboration with board members; the opportunity to improve one’s knowledge and skills; and the ability to pass on skills and knowledge to students, board members, and administrators. It’s gratifying to have an impact on a cause greater than oneself. There is no more noble effort than to help guide a young adult into the future.

RM: What is something about you that readers might find interesting.
NJ: I am a lifelong New York Yankees fan—as are my wife, daughter, and son. Our family dog is named Yankee. By dad took me to Yankee Stadium as a boy when I was 10, and we sat high in the stands, even though he was afraid of heights. Years later, I took my son, who was then 10, to his first Yankees baseball game along with my dad: three generations of baseball fans at Yankee Stadium. And we sat right above the Yankees dugout. No height issues for my father!

 

Tolulope Oyetunde EJB’11

Tolulope Oyetunde EJB’11
Student at New Jersey Medical School
 

RUTGERS MAGAZINE: What motivated you to join the Board of Trustees?
Tolulope Oyetunde: I’ve always loved serving the students of Rutgers, a university that has played such a major role in my life: while here, I have grown into the person I am today. I have met people who will be in my life forever, and I found a family in the Rutgers community, which supports my academic and personal growth. I not only gained a degree that is globally respected, but also many intangible skills. I wanted to serve on the board to give back to the university that gave me so much. The ability to help improve the already great student experience and to have input in the direction of the university is a great honor and privilege.

RM: What personal and professional experiences have you brought to your role as a board member?
TO: As a minority student who immigrated from Nigeria, a recent graduate of Rutgers, and now a graduate student at New Jersey Medical School, I add a different voice to the conversation. I represent the voice of students and can be an unbiased party contributor in complicated discussions. 

As an undergraduate at the School of Arts and Sciences, I served as a community assistant supervisor; at the graduate level, I serve on student council and as the president of the Student National Medical Association. These experiences allowed me to cultivate my passion for student affairs and wellness, diversity, and excellence.

RM: In what ways do you enjoy serving?
TO: As a member and a student charter trustee, I get insight into a lot of what the university is doing to better the student experience. I enjoy being a part of that team.

RM: Why should others consider serving?
TO: If you have the passion for students and want to make an impact on the lives of young adults, you should consider serving. Giving back to the university that allowed many of us to grow and be successful lends to a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

RM: What would people find surprising to learn about you?
TO: In my spare time, I help people find their dream engagement rings. In my past life, I was a professional chef: I love to cook, and I travel to experience different dishes from different cultures.

 

Jose Piazza

Jose Piazza

 

RUTGERS MAGAZINE: What motivated you to join the Board of Trustees? 
Jose Piazza: Prior to joining the Board of Trustees, I had served on a number of boards for professional associations and a nonprofit in New Jersey. I feel it’s important to give back and help others. Serving on the Board of Trustees gives me the opportunity to do that for an institution of higher education. I believe that a solid college education, like the education that Rutgers offers, provides individuals with the tools that they will need to succeed. An added bonus for me was that my son, Michael RBS’14, was attending Rutgers at the time, and joining the Board of Trustees gave me the opportunity to contribute to the institution that was giving him his college education.

RM: What personal and professional experiences have you brought to your role as a board member?
JP: I have a financial background and have worked for public companies during my professional career. I have been able leverage that experience to contribute to the various committees that I have served on during my years of service as a trustee. I have also been able to leverage the experience that I have gained in my career running and executing projects for a couple of key initiatives undertaken by the Board of Trustees.  

RM: In what ways do you enjoy serving?
JP: I enjoy working with the other trustees and learning from their experience, and working on various committees to help provide advice for the betterment of Rutgers. 

RM: Why should others consider serving?
JP: It’s a great opportunity to get involved and help make a difference.