R. Barbara Gitenstein

R. Barbara Gitenstein is president emerita of The College of New Jersey, where she served for nineteen years as the first woman president in its 160-year history, following roles as provost and executive vice president at Drake University.[1][2][3] She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Duke University (1970) and a Ph.D. in English and American literature from UNC Chapel Hill (1975), with over 40 years as a college professor and administrator.[1][2] Since retirement, she has authored memoirs including *Experience is the Angled Road* (2023) and *Portrait of a Presidency* (2025), along with works on Jewish American literature.[2][6]