Photo by Neidy Gutierrez / SOC Images.
In 2022, Saint Peter’s University did what no other men’s basketball team has ever done in the annual NCAA March Madness tournament: make it to the Elite Eight as a No. 15 seed.
For some, those words might not mean much or hold weight to it. But for the university’s storied community and hometown of Jersey City, Hudson County, it meant so much more than the ESPN, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated mentions. It meant that even a kid from Hudson County, New Jersey can make it big in a world that counts them out.
This is something that Hubert Benitez, Saint Peter’s 23rd president and first-ever Hispanic president, echoed to Slice of Culture. Benitez explained that while he makes history at the over 150-year-old college, it’s not about him—it’s about the team effort of a community.
“This cannot be about me. It’s not about a person, it’s about a team… a team of colleagues, faculty, staff, administrators and the president’s cabinet… It feels good because it shows representation,” Benitez said of his appointment.
“It shows to students that come from diverse backgrounds that there is a pathway to a future. I always say, I am a regular guy that worked very hard, and if I can do it, any other student can do it, and I want to lead by example… If I am able to mentor an individual, mentor a student, and help them understand the pathways to a better future, I’m all about that.”
‘I Understand’
Benitez was born in Colombia where he spent part of his life, and eventually moved to the U.S. because of his father’s job. Benitez spent his elementary years in Mississippi, but went back to Colombia for some time.
Now, the U.S. has been Benitez’s home for him, his wife and family for the last 30 years. He has lived across a number of states because of his academic career including Kansas City, Missouri as Rockhurst University’s Chief Inclusion Officer and Massachusetts as the American International College’s President, but he noted that Colombia will always have a special place.
“Colombia remains true to who I am. It is my birthplace. You know, I’ve had the best of both worlds,” he said. “Coming from a Latino country, we keep the culture, I understand the importance of culture, the language, the food, the music, the sports and then blended with all the professional opportunities that this country has given me and my family.”
Benitez’s father was a first-generation college student, describing him as “an immigrant to the United States, an adult learner who had no idea of speaking English.” And it’s because of this that the population and demographic that Saint Peter’s serves is “personal” to Benitez.
As of 2023, SPU’s undergraduate makeup consisted of 40% Hispanic, 18% Black and 9% Asian. It is regarded as one of the most diverse colleges.
“All my life I worked in creating pipelines, in creating pathways to higher education, not only about Latino students, but first generation college students, rural versus urban students, African American [and more],” he said.
“So it was all about how do we increase the number of underrepresented minority students into higher education? That’s been my area of interest, and I’ve dedicated my academic career to do that.”
Saint Peter’s Community Shows Up For The Rest Of The Community
Benitez, who officially assumed the role in July, follows the foundation laid by former President Eugene Cornacchia, who headed the school from 2007 until this past summer. Cornacchia announced his planned retirement in August of 2023.
And while Benitez isn’t from New Jersey nor Hudson County, he said that he’s dedicated to getting to know the Saint Peter’s community in all aspects: from the local residents to its restless students and historic institution.
Saint Peter’s University is over 150 years old and Benitez noted that with that age comes many people who have gone through the Jesuit college; many people who walked through the doors of McDermott, Pope and Hilsdorf Hall, many people who roamed under and through the “Saint Peter’s University” bridge which connects the two sides of John F. Kennedy Boulevard and the many people who felt pride in different moments, like when the men’s basketball team came home to Jersey City in 2022.
That marks a legacy—one that needs to be respected, Benitez said. The new SPU president, who was inaugurated into the university in October, added that to move the university forward, he must understand the legacy and what it means to different people.
Seeing and showing different kinds of people in leadership roles is crucial, Benitez said.
“When I’m talking about diversity, it’s not only about race or ethnicity, it’s about gender, it’s about where people come from, it’s about socioeconomic status… sexual orientation, faith background [and] you can find everything here at Saint Peter’s University,” he added.
And though students at SPU are shown different worlds, many of them choose to return to their community.
“One of the benefits of Saint Peter’s University is that we attract many students from this geographic area, and therefore, students who graduate from Saint Peter’s tend to go back to the communities and serve their communities,” Benitez said. “That’s important for the younger generation to see that you came here, you were born in this area, came to Saint Peter’s, and you’re now making an impact on your own community.
“It’s important to have the human talent remain in this area, in order for Jersey City, for the state of New Jersey to grow, to continue to flourish and the workforce be more vibrant… And that’s what we’re trying to do at Saint Peter’s.”
SPU has a number of extracurricular programs, clubs and activities that allows students to get involved with their surrounding community. Some opportunities include Campus Kitchen where volunteer students package food and deliver meals; America Reads where students may qualify for work study tutoring positions in local schools like the Resurrection School, Saint Aloysius and the Team Walker Youth Program; and the Petrus Project in collaboration with Rebuilding Together Jersey City, who rebuilds and improves homes for those in need.
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Helping The Students, Even Amidst Trying Times
On Sept. 13, 2023, then-Presidential candidate Donald Trump revealed his plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education to “send all education work and needs back to the States,” essentially threatening billions of dollars of federal funding for low-income students. This agenda resurfaced following his win last month for a second term at the presidential seat.
And while this plan is still in the air and would need approval from Congress, many organizations have begun to analyze what a move like that would mean for schools, especially higher education.
According to the SPU president, currently, 50.7% of Saint Peter’s students rely on federal aid while 100% of its student body receive financial support from the university.
In a follow-up statement to Slice of Culture, Benitez said SPU’s mission to their students would remain the same:
“Given that no specific action has been taken regarding the US Department of Education and the possible changes to federal funding are still uncertain, if any, it is premature to comment on how any potential policy shifts might affect Saint Peter’s University or the students the University serves. In the days and months to come, all colleges and universities will be closely monitoring developments in federal education policy. At Saint Peter’s University, we remain committed to our Catholic, Jesuit mission, values, and identity, and in doing so, we will be supporting our students regardless of external changes.”
Saint Peter’s President Hubert Benitez
The Jersey City institution is also ranked as one of the best value colleges. They award an average amount of $35,256 per year to students, compared to the national average of $7,535. Ninety-percent of their students receive some kind of institution grant aid.
And whether it be a question about financial aid or a campus concern, Benitez emphasized that he’s just a click away.
“We’re always a click away. I say this in open houses [and] in orientation. Any student, any individual that wants to reach us can reach me via email president@saintpeters.edu… we respond to every single inquiry that comes in,” he said.
“And when students at Saint Peter’s email me, I tell ’em, you can always email me. You might not get the response that you want to hear, but you will always receive a response. And that’s how you grow into things. We’re open to any comments, to any questions, to any suggestions.”
