FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 3, 2023
Contact: Ellen Zitis
Executive Director
973-200-1085
Ellen-Zitis@BerkeleyCollegeFoundation.org

Berkeley College Foundation announces new board members

March 3, 2023
images of Jonathan Santiago, Mike Lamendola and Edison Jaquez

Photo Caption (L to R): Jonathan Santiago, Executive Director, Transition and College Access Centers, New York City Department of Education; Mike Lamendola, Vice President, Community Engagement, Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc.; and Edison Jaquez, Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Passion Care Center, have been appointed to the Berkeley College Foundation Board of Directors.

The Berkeley College Foundation recently announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors.

New members include Jonathan Santiago, Executive Director, Transition and College Access Centers, New York City Department of Education; and Mike Lamendola, Vice President, Community Engagement, Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc. Edison Jaquez, Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Passion Care Center, has been named President of the Berkeley College Alumni Leadership Council and an Ex-Officio on the Foundation Board.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jonathan, Mike, and Edison to the Berkeley College Foundation board,” said John Phillips, Chair, Board of Directors, Berkeley College Foundation. “Each brings a high level of unique skill sets, passion, and enthusiasm and we look forward to seeing the impact they will have on our mission.”

Jonathan Santiago joined the New York City Department of Education in 2011 and rose through the ranks to the position of Executive Director of Transition and College Access Centers (TCAC), where he manages community resources that can broaden college and postsecondary opportunities for students across the five boroughs. Santiago was named Berkeley College Alumnus of the Year in 2022. He is a resident of Gillette, NJ. Click here to read more about Jonathan Santiago.

Mike Lamendola was named Vice President, Community Engagement, for Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc. (GBCA), in March 2022. He is responsible for the growth and sustainability of programs to serve clients of underserved neighborhoods in northern New Jersey, as well as revitalization efforts in Bergen County business districts. He joined GBCA in 2017 and previously served as Director of New Program Development, Neighborhood Preservation Coordinator, and Grant Writer for the organization. He is a resident of Wayne, NJ.

Edison Jaquez is a Drug and Alcohol Counselor with the Passion Care Center in Perth Amboy, NJ, as well as Solstice Counseling in Pemberton, NJ. He is also the CEO/Founder of Blessings From Above, B-Men, and Co-Founder of BYOUtiful – mentoring organizations designed to enhance the lives of today’s youth – as well as a motivational speaker and author. Jaquez was named Berkeley College Alumnus of the Year in 2016. He is a resident of Perth Amboy, NJ.

About the Berkeley College Foundation

The mission of the Berkeley College Foundation is to provide support and resources to students pursuing quality experiences in higher education. Scholarships are awarded to current and prospective students to help defray the cost of tuition and to enhance participation in educational enrichment activities. The Foundation also awards grants to other worthy educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. Based in NJ, the charitable organization received 501(c)(3) status in 2015. The website address is https://berkeleycollegefoundation.org.