College Leadership

Dr. Eric M. Friedman serves as the eighth president of Bergen Community College, New Jersey’s largest. A dynamic and engaging leader, Dr. Friedman remains well-known across the community college landscape as an innovator and passionate promoter of equitable higher education programs and services. Driven by a consistent focus on how community colleges can have a transformative impact on individuals and communities, Dr. Friedman has led Bergen since January 2021.

With over 30 years of private and public sector experience, he leads Bergen, an enterprising, diverse, nationally-recognized community college. He has a deep commitment to leading with an ethic of care, approaching education through the lens of equity, fostering initiatives that support student success, and living the mission of a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Dr. Friedman seeks to foster belongingness and inclusivity, creating welcoming community environments where students, faculty and staff gather, learn and socialize.

Through forging strong relationships with governmental, educational, corporate and private sector leaders, Dr. Friedman seeks to implement initiatives and programs that translate into students’ upward mobility. A tireless leader, he champions ambitious plans, builds strong teams and partnerships, and possesses a demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement.

At Bergen, Dr. Friedman has prioritized developing initiatives that support expanding the College’s enrollment, serving as a hub site for workforce development initiatives and embracing the institution’s expansive diversity. Dr. Friedman has driven key projects in these areas while navigating external challenges related to funding, student preparedness and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. His record of accomplishments at Bergen includes:

• Launching projects that provide new resources, options and pathways for students as a way to encourage enrollment, success and completion. Among them, Dr. Friedman worked with Bergen County government officials to launch the College’s first all-online degree programs through the Center for Online Learning and has spearheaded the recasting of Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands as an Innovation Center that includes a cybersecurity hub, Bloomberg lab and a gaming center.
• Creating holistic programs that eased pressures on students such as a multi-million-dollar tuition-debt relief initiative, complimentary childcare in the on-campus Child Development Center and the Bergen Cares Center. In recognition of these efforts, and the College’s approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona declared Bergen as an institution for others to model during a January 2022 campus visit.
• A renewed commitment to shared governance and collaborating with stakeholders through transparent and inclusive processes. This work has helped drive projects such as revising the College’s mission, vision, values and goals, establishing a new strategic plan and preparing for Bergen’s Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation evaluation. He also launched the All College Forum, a consistent venue for all members of the College community to provide input and suggestions.
• Enhancing and transforming the College’s physical campus to provide students with a more supportive, comfortable and sustainable environment by upgrading facilities, adding curated artwork to facilities, improving technology resources and offering new hospitality options.
• Prioritizing inclusivity and creating the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity Equity and Inclusion, which resulted in the College’s first DEI action plan.
• Engaging the region’s business community through projects such as the student small business support specialist program and LatinxCEO. Both seek to provide students with exposure to real-world business experiences and assistance for local entrepreneurs.
• An emphasis on forging relationships with federal, state and county partners – including to secure grants and student scholarships. The College has secured grants from agencies such as the USDA, the US Department of Education and New Jersey DEP under Dr. Friedman.

Dr. Friedman frequently lends his voice to national discussions and serves as an advocate for community colleges, speaking at events, conferences and forums. He played a leading role in the New Jersey Council of County Colleges’ 2024 advocacy campaign that resulted in the restoration of a $20 million reduction in funding to community colleges. His work included testifying before the State Senate budget committee, engaging local constituencies and representing the community college sector at awareness events. Dr. Friedman further contributes to the advancement of community colleges by serving as a Middle States Commission on Higher Education Peer Evaluator and Team Chair.

Prior to being named president of Bergen Community College in 2021, Dr. Friedman served for 13 years at Hudson County Community College in Jersey City, New Jersey, holding a series of progressively responsible positions, including executive vice president and provost/chief operating officer. His expansive portfolio of responsibilities included leading the college’s reaffirmation of its accreditation, launching an array of new programs in high-demand fields, and overseeing the expansion of a center for online learning as a key area for fiscal sustainability. Dr. Friedman also created additional enrollment opportunities by leading the development of off-site locations, expanding early college dual enrollment programs, and managing the development of Hudson’s first fully-accredited school of nursing.

Dr. Friedman has taught at community colleges and baccalaureate institutions including Drew University, Passaic County Community College, Hudson County Community College, The New School, and The Art Institute of New York City. Dr. Friedman has presented at numerous national conferences including ACCT, AACC, STEMtech, NISOD, and HACU.

Dr. Friedman is active in numerous professional, business, and civic organizations currently sitting on the advisory boards of the Bergen County Economic Recovery Committee, the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce, the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, and New Jersey Council of County College’s Workforce Committee. Additionally, he chairs the New Jersey Presidents Council Workforce Committee.

A passionate champion of student success in community colleges, Dr. Friedman has been recognized with numerous awards including the 2025 NAACP Metuchen Edison Piscataway Branch Distinguished Honoree, 2022 Phi Theta Kappa Paragon President Award, the 2015 Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished College Administrator Award and, a 2014 Rotary Club of New Jersey City Community Service Award. For his work on the transformation of ESL education, he was honored by the New Jersey Council of Community Colleges with their 2013 Spirit Award.

Under Dr. Friedman’s leadership, Bergen has received an extensive collection of awards that include the:

• 2023 and 2024 Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey – Companies that Care Award;
• 2023 and 2024 Diverse: Issues in Higher Education – Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges Award;
• 2023 Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey – Environmental Leader Award;
• 2024 National Council on Marketing and Public Relations Paragon Award; and
• 2023 Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey – Stewardship Award.

Dr. Friedman earned his Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Denver and his Master’s degree in Humanities and Social Thought from New York University. He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the New School for Social Research, and a certificate from the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education at Harvard University. A published author and sought after speaker, Dr. Friedman currently serves as a volunteer editor for Narrative.

Presidential Goals 2026 – 2027
Strategic Plan 2024-2029

With nearly two decades of experience – most of them at Bergen – Tyler Beebe became the institution’s CIO in 2026. Throughout his career, he has managed major initiatives including learning management system migrations, cloud modernization efforts and cybersecurity enhancements that support the College’s long-term goals. Beebe earned his master’s degree from SUNY Empire State University.

After nearly three decades in Bergen County law enforcement, David Borzotta joined the College as its top public safety and security official in 2021. Borzotta began his career in the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in 1992 and worked in numerous special units before obtaining his final rank as captain of detectives in 2018. Borzotta then worked for three years as undersheriff in the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, managing the department’s daily operations. A lifelong Bergen County resident, Borzotta serves as a Bergen County Utilities Authority commissioner as well. He earned a B.A. in political science/sociology from East Stroudsburg University and an M.A. in criminology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Since arriving at Bergen in 2015, Cinzia Parise D’Iorio has provided critical leadership for the Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development. Now as its executive director, D’Iorio has elevated the College to the region’s leading provider of training, education and learning solutions for industry, nonprofits and government. D’Iorio joined Bergen after two decades in market research and marketing roles in the pharmaceutical industry and a successful self-owned consulting firm. Outside of the College, she remains an active member of civic, government and community groups in the state of New Jersey. She served as chair of the inaugural Seton Hall Market Research Center Advisory Board and currently serves as a board member. D’Iorio served as a public official for the Ho-Ho-Kus School District Board of Education as a vice-president and trustee. D’Iorio holds a B.S. in business administration from Seton Hall University and an M.S. in information design and strategy from Northwestern University.

Dr. Tonia McKoy began her career at Bergen in 2002. As dean of research and institutional effectiveness, she leads the College’s system of data collection, research, assessment, evaluation and reporting that supports strategic academic and operational reporting and planning. Dr. McKoy also oversees assessment and specialized accreditation initiatives to support Bergen’s commitment to continuous improvement. McKoy has also become a leading maternal mental health advocate. She seeks to raise awareness about postpartum anxiety, black maternal mental health, equity and cultural respect. Dr. McKoy holds an Ed.D. in higher education administration, community college leadership from Morgan State University and an M.A. in applied sociology from Montclair State University.

Nathaniel “Nat” Saviet provides leadership for the institution’s physical plant, aesthetic and built environment, which spans three locations – including the 167-acre main campus in Paramus and sites in Lyndhurst and Hackensack. Saviet most recently served as a senior administrator at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in New York City. He holds an M.P.A. with a focus in conflict resolution/collaboration and environmental policy and a B.S. in biology with a focus in environmental science and public affairs from Syracuse University.

Bergen’s chief financial officer, Wilton Thomas-Hooke, provides executive leadership for the institution’s business operations including its $155 million budget, accounting services, fiscal audit, student financial services, purchasing and grants. Prior to joining Bergen, he held leadership positions in finance and business administration at New Jersey City University, and also has corporate experience at Nabisco/Kraft Foods, where he began his career as a systems developer. Thomas-Hooke also provided leadership for the Green Brook Board of Education, where he ended his tenure as vice president. He graduated from Rutgers-Newark with a bachelor’s of arts in computer science and a minor in mathematics; he earned an M.B.A. from Rutgers Business School and is currently pursuing a doctorate at Rowan University.

Now in his second stint as Bergen’s chief academic officer, Dr. Andrew Tomko has served the institution in numerous capacities since his 1994 hiring. Dr. Tomko has remained a consistent presence in the classroom for 30 years, teaching courses such as Composition I, Shakespeare and World Literature. Administratively, he has worked as a program coordinator, dean and department chair, providing trusted expertise in both his curricular and operational responsibilities. Dr. Tomko holds a B.A. with a dual major in English and Rhetoric and Communication from the State University of New York at Albany and an M.Phil. and a Ph.D. in English from the City University of New York Graduate Center.

Dr. A.J. Trump has the responsibility for overseeing a division that features critical areas such as enrollment management, support services and athletics. Dr. Trump comes to Bergen after nearly 20 years at Ocean County College in leadership roles such as executive director of student services, director of admissions and athletics director. He also served as an adjunct faculty member at Ocean and Kean University. Dr. Trump began his career as a science teacher at Brick Memorial High School. He earned a B.S. in physics from The College of New Jersey, an M.S. in sports science from the United States Sports Academy and an Ed.D. in higher education leadership from Rowan University.

Suzanne M. Wetzel leads the External Affairs division, overseeing marketing and communications, community affairs and scheduling, government relations, and development. She also serves as the College’s Accreditation Liaison Officer to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Before joining Bergen, she held leadership roles in finance and operations, institutional advancement, and marketing and communications at Monroe County Community College (Michigan), where she also served as a peer reviewer and team chair for the Higher Learning Commission. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University, double majoring in broadcast and cinematic arts and journalism, and a master’s degree in public relations from Michigan State University.

Carol Clarke began her career at Bergen Community College in 2003, providing administrative support in the Continuing Education Department. Prior to joining Bergen, Ms. Clarke worked in both the corporate and academic arena serving as the Administrative Assistant for the associate provost and dean at Mercer University, Atlanta, Georgia. Before that position, she worked as a cash management officer at Republic Bank Ltd., Island of Trinidad & Tobago for 14 years.

She has completed coursework toward an A.A.S. in business administration at the College.