Berkeley College Campus Operating Officer Receives Leadership Excellence Award from Our Way to H.O.P.E.
Monday, January 5, 2026
Marketing and Communications Associate
973-278-5400 ext. 1796
Cara-Daniello@BerkeleyCollege.edu
BERKELEY COLLEGE CAMPUS OPERATING OFFICER
RECEIVES LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD FROM OUR WAY TO H.O.P.E.
Photo Caption: (L to R) LaTysha “Ty” Gaines, Campus Operating Officer, Berkeley College in Woodland Park; Lauren Mantari; Karen Pena, Founder, Our Way to H.O.P.E. (Helping Out People Everywhere); and Benjie Wimberly, New Jersey State Senator, celebrate during the nonprofit’s 10-year anniversary gala on December 10, 2025, at The Venetian in Garfield, NJ. Gaines, a resident of Linden, NJ, received a Leadership Excellence Award for her continued demonstration of leadership as Campus Operating Officer and for supporting the mission of Our Way to H.O.P.E. by helping the community in its time of need.
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LaTysha “Ty” Gaines, Campus Operating Officer, Berkeley College in Woodland Park, NJ, received a Leadership Excellence Award from Our Way to H.O.P.E. (Helping Out People Everywhere) for her continued demonstration of leadership as Campus Operating Officer and for supporting the mission of Our Way to H.O.P.E. by helping the community in its time of need.
Gaines was honored at the nonprofit’s 10-year anniversary gala on December 10, 2025, at The Venetian in Garfield, NJ. Our Way to H.O.P.E., founded by Berkeley College alumna Karen Pena, is a nonprofit organization based in Paterson, NJ, that assists families who have experienced domestic violence and financial hardship.
“Ms. Gaines has shown what a strong leader she is as the Campus Operating Officer at Berkeley College in Woodland Park,” said Karen Pena, Founder, Our Way to H.O.P.E. “Her devotion and commitment to the responsibilities she takes on every day in her position is always demonstrated and reflected back through her actions.”
Gaines, a resident of Linden, NJ, has served as Campus Operating Officer of Berkeley College in Woodland Park since 2021. Gaines joined Berkeley College in 2016 as the Associate Vice President, Student Development and Campus Life. She has worked in higher education for more than 20 years, serving in roles in student affairs, residence life, retention, recruitment, engagement, and conduct.
“Being recognized with the Leadership Excellence Award reinforces my belief that leadership is about building pathways for others,” Gaines said. “This award is not a finish line but a reminder of the responsibility we carry as leaders. This honor means more than a personal milestone; it is a celebration of the students who inspire me every day.”
Gaines received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the United Youth of New Jersey in 2016, the Executive Director’s Community Partnership Award from the Paterson Education Fund in 2024, and was named among the Empowering Women Award recipients by the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey in 2024. Gaines recently spearheaded the second annual Career Exploration Summer Youth Program, a partnership between Berkeley College and Paterson Public Schools.
“I hope this award shows young leaders that their voices matter, their choices matter, and their commitment to growth can transform communities far beyond what they imagine," Gaines said.
Photo Caption: (L to R) LaTysha “Ty” Gaines, Campus Operating Officer, Berkeley College in Woodland Park; Karen Pena, Founder, Our Way to H.O.P.E. (Helping Out People Everywhere); Lauren Mantari; Farhanna Balgahoom Sayegh; and Andre Sayegh, Mayor, Paterson, NJ, celebrate during the nonprofit’s 10-year anniversary gala on December 10, 2025, at The Venetian in Garfield, NJ. Gaines, a resident of Linden, NJ, received a Leadership Excellence Award for her continued demonstration of leadership as Campus Operating Officer and for supporting the mission of Our Way to H.O.P.E. by helping the community in its time of need.
About Berkeley College
Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials.
Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,000 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans for 12 consecutive years. Berkeley College is also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2026 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey. The website address is https://BerkeleyCollege.edu.
The mission of Berkeley College is to empower each student to achieve lifelong success.
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