University Partners with American Red Cross New Jersey Region

TRENTON, N.J. – Thomas Edison State University is partnering with the American Red Cross New Jersey Region to enable its volunteers and staff members to advance their education and increase their capacity to help prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.

The partnership allows volunteers and staff of the American Red Cross New Jersey Region to benefit from tuition discounts that may be applied to most undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the university, which are designed to work around the unique needs of the organization’s volunteers and staff.

“Our workforce is our most valuable asset,” said Ana Montero, CEO, American Red Cross New Jersey Region. “They are highly dedicated and passionate about carrying out the Red Cross mission. The partnership with Thomas Edison State University will help our volunteers and staff members increase their knowledge and skills.”

Any active volunteer or staff member of the American Red Cross New Jersey Region is eligible for this exclusive partnership that makes transferring credit, taking courses and earning a degree or certificate as seamless as possible.

“This partnership is historic and illustrates why we were a pioneer in providing educational opportunities to the public service sector,” said Dr. Joseph Youngblood II, vice provost and dean of the John S. Watson School of Public Service and Continuing Studies. “Our institution is uniquely equipped to help increase the capacity of the talented and dedicated volunteers and staff of this extraordinary organization, which represents the wide-ranging diversity of specialties that define public and humanitarian service, both here in New Jersey and around the country.”

The American Red Cross New Jersey Region coordinates nearly 5,000 volunteers to serve the entire state through its six New Jersey chapters, and trains approximately 115,000 people each year with life-saving skills. The organization provides disaster services, service to military members and their families, health and safety services and blood services throughout the state and operates the American Red Cross Jane Bente Braille Center in Fairfield, N.J., one of the largest remaining volunteer Braille production centers in the country.

American Red Cross volunteers and staff in New Jersey will have the ability to apply previously earned credits as well as professional licenses, certifications and training that has been evaluated for credit toward the completion of a degree at the university.