Jessica R. Purnell, a trustee at Camden County College, was elected by the presidents and trustees of New Jersey’s community colleges to serve as Chair of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) at its recent quarterly meeting held at Middlesex College.
Purnell earned her associate degree in English from Camden County College in 2009 and her bachelor’s in English from Rutgers University-Camden in 2012. She has served on the Camden County College Board of Trustees since 2017 and joined NJCCC’s Executive Committee in 2020.
A Merchantville resident, Purnell also serves as the trustee co-chair of the NJCCC’s Learning Innovation Committee. She collaborates with college leaders across the country through her work at the annual Association of Community College Trustees National Legislative Summit.
“I am honored and excited to step into the role of Chair of the New Jersey Council of Community Colleges Executive Committee,” Purnell said. “As a proud graduate of Camden County College, my own journey shows the transformative power of community colleges when we invest in students and their futures.
“I want to thank my predecessor, Sheetal Ranjan, for her leadership, and I look forward to continuing the progress already made in supporting our students, strengthening our colleges, and further advancing our strategic partnerships to meet New Jersey’s workforce needs," Purnell said.
Camden County College President Lovell Pugh-Bassett called Purnell a highly valued member of the college’s board.
“Her deep commitment to the college is rooted in her desire to give back to the community that helped shape her success,” Pugh-Bassett said. “We are immensely proud to celebrate her achievement as Chair of the Council for Community Colleges and applaud her continued dedication to excellence and service."
Aaron Fichtner, President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, said the NJCCC was fortunate to have Purnell serving as chair.
“Her vision, leadership, and ability to build meaningful collaborations will strengthen the state’s community colleges and will expand collaborations and partnerships across the state that will expand educational and economic opportunities to more New Jersey residents,” Fichtner said.
