JERSEY CITY – In Hudson County to honor a high school basketball coach today, Gov. Chris Christie announced former acting Education Commissioner Rochelle Hendricks as the first Commissioner of Higher Education.
The post came as a recommendation from Christie’s Higher Education Task Force, and the state Senate Democrats have been calling for a nominee to hear from. Christie said he is submitting Hendricks for the post, so they’ll get their chance.
“I promised when I was running for governor that I would (advocate) for higher education,” he said, someone at the table petitioning for the colleges and institutions of the state. “Rochelle’s going to be that advocate.”
He announced at St. Anthony’s in Jersey City because, “This school for the last 17 years has had 100 percent of its students accepted to college…When folks tell me that we can’t change education in this state…that’s why I came to a place like St. Anthony’s today…You are an example…The goal is to get you to higher education.”
