Hudson County Community College’s Dr. Nicholas Chiaravalloti Receives New Jersey Council of County Colleges Leadership Award

June 10, 2025

June 10, 2025, Jersey City, NJ – The New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) has presented Dr. Nicholas Chiaravalloti, Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Vice President for External Affairs, Strategic Planning and Senior Counsel to the President, with the 2025 Dr. Lawrence A. Nespoli Leadership Award. Dr. Chiaravalloti accepted the honor, which recognizes a senior community college leader who significantly contributed to New Jersey’s 18 Community Colleges, at the Awards Dinner Ceremony during the Second Annual New Jersey Community College Opportunity Summit.

Dr. Chiaravalloti is pictured here with Dr. Nespoli.

Hudson County Community College Vice President for External Affairs, Strategic Planning and Senior Counsel to the President Dr. Nicholas Chiaravalloti was recently presented with the New Jersey Council of Community Colleges’ 2025 Dr. Lawrence A Nespoli Leadership Award. Dr. Chiaravalloti is pictured here with Dr. Nespoli.

“The entire HCCC family joins me in congratulating Dr. Chiaravalloti on this well-deserved honor. He tirelessly advocates for HCCC and New Jersey community colleges as a whole,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “Dr. Chiaravalloti is a key liaison between the College and federal, state, and local officials, and he has fostered strong ties within the broader community. He played an important role in securing funding for critical, student-centered initiatives, including construction of the new HCCC Center for Student Success, technology enhancements, and Hudson Scholars – our national award-winning, comprehensive support program that provides students with personalized academic counseling and other services to help ensure retention and completion.”

As an educator, attorney, and former legislator, Dr. Chiaravalloti brings a set of unique perspectives to promoting progress for community colleges and their students . At HCCC, he provides executive leadership in legal affairs, strategic planning, and the implementation of the College’s priorities; spearheads the College’s government and community relations strategies, ensuring alignment with institutional objectives; monitors legislative developments to safeguard HCCC’s and the community college sector’s interests; and actively promotes the College’s mission through partnerships with external stakeholders. In overseeing the HCCC School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development, he helped increase access to in-demand skills and supported economic mobility through strategic grant initiatives and apprenticeship programs. Under his leadership, HCCC is set to launch its first-ever Athletics program, expanding opportunities for student engagement.

Dr. Chiaravalloti has also helped shape New Jersey’s future with key roles on the New Jersey Broadband Commission, Boy Scouts of America Executive Board, Hudson County Chamber of Commerce Executive Board, and Regional Planning Association New Jersey Committee.

Prior to joining Hudson County Community College, Dr. Chiaravalloti served as Director of Community Engagement in the Advancement Department, and Executive Director of the Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership at St. Peter’s University. A Bayonne native and son of Italian immigrants, he represented the 31st Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2016 to 2022 and served as Majority Whip from 2020-22. He is the recipient of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce 2024 Daryl Harrison Leadership Award.