Meet Iessa Sutton
Berkeley College Campus Operating Officer Partners with Community Organizations to Build the Future Workforce in Newark
Iessa Sutton was named Campus Operating Officer of Berkeley College in Newark, NJ, in 2019. She oversees day-to-day operations of the Broad Street campus, as well as works to strengthen partnerships in the community that build pathways to internship and career opportunities for students. Ms. Sutton recently shared the impact Berkeley College is making in City of Newark, and the role hard work plays in helping students achieve their goals.
Q: Describe how Berkeley College is an integral part of the community in the City of Newark.
Berkeley College is helping to educate the future workforce. The Berkeley College campus sits in the heart of Downtown Newark. We are part of the fabric of the community, with partnerships with NJPAC, The Newark Museum, the Newark Regional Business Partnership, The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (which has an office on our campus), the Newark Public Library, the Newark City of Learning Collaborative and YMCA of Newark and Vicinity – just to name a few of the organizations that we are proud to be affiliated with.
Q: What are some professional lessons you impart to students at the Newark campus?
It is no secret that hard work pays off in one’s life. One of the most important lessons I frequently share with students is that there is no real substitution for hard work; if you want it, you must be willing to work equally hard for it! Our main goal is to see our students succeed, and we will not stop pushing them to the graduation stage and beyond.
Q: March is Women’s History Month. Share your thoughts on the importance of recognizing women in leadership.
Women’s History Month gives us another learning opportunity to further our students’ knowledge about the role of women at all levels in our society. We take time not only to increase awareness, but also to educate the campus of the contributions of extraordinary women, past and present. There are many great women who have broken through barriers, such as jazz legend Sarah Vaughn, a trailblazer in the jazz scene. Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, who was born in Newark and also served as Berkeley College’s Commencement Speaker in 2010, is another example. She is a role model for our students.
