Brian K. Bridges

Brian K. Bridges has extensive experience in higher education leadership, currently serving as the Secretary of Higher Education for the State of New Jersey since November 2020, overseeing operations that impact over 380,000 students and managing a $2.9 billion budget. Previously, Brian worked at UNCF from March 2012 to November 2020, initially as Executive Director of the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute and later as Vice President for Research & Member Engagement, expanding operations significantly. Prior roles include Vice Provost for Diversity, Access and Equity at Ohio University, Associate Director at the American Council on Education, and Assistant Professor at George Washington University. Brian holds a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Indiana University Bloomington, an MPA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a BA in English from Francis Marion University.