February 19, 2026

by Lisa Ambrose

Two Ramapo College alumni — from the Classes of 2016 and 2020 — have taken their commitment to the institution beyond graduation and into governance, joining the College’s Board of Trustees (BOT).

Stephan Lally ’20 and Brady O’Connor ’16 were sworn in this month as the Board’s newest members, bringing perspectives shaped not decades ago, but in classrooms, residence halls, athletic fields, and student leadership meetings within the last decade.

Their appointments reflect a broader recognition in higher education: that governing boards are strongest when they include perspectives that understand today’s students because they were those students.

A Full-Circle Return

For Lally, the moment feels deeply personal.

“I’ve always had a deep connection to Ramapo, and that never really went away after I graduated,” he said. “Ramapo shaped how I think and lead, and being able to return now as a Trustee is both humbling and meaningful.”

As a student, Lally immersed himself in campus leadership, serving as president of the Student Government Association and helping lead student relief efforts when Ramapo was one of the first institutions in New Jersey exploring and documenting college student health, hunger, mobility issues, and homelessness. His time at Ramapo also included service as a voting member of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority — an early introduction to the mechanics of higher education policy and access.

Today, Lally serves as Deputy Chief of Staff to Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin in the New Jersey Assembly Majority Office. In that role, he helps advance legislation, manage community projects, and coordinate efforts that deliver results for residents across the state. He also serves on the Woodbridge Township Board of Education — continuing a career centered on collaboration, problem-solving, and public service.

His journey reflects the kind of leadership rooted in service that Ramapo seeks to cultivate in its students.

“It feels like a sign that I’ve built something of value since graduating,” Lally said. “And it gives me the chance to give back to a place that played such an important role in my life.”

From the Field to the World Stage

For O’Connor, the journey from Ramapo undergrad to trustee has taken him to the global stage.

As an undergraduate, he balanced academics with athletics as a member of the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Team and worked in the Civic and Community Engagement Center — experiences that instilled discipline, teamwork, and a deep appreciation for civic responsibility.

Today, O’Connor serves as Chief of External Affairs for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee. In that role, he leads outreach and stakeholder engagement efforts, coordinates intergovernmental affairs, oversees external communications, and collaborates on commercial initiatives. These include managing the Host Committee Donor Program to help ensure the region is prepared to host one of the world’s largest sporting events.

The scale may be global, but the foundation was built in Mahwah.

“It means the world to me to have the opportunity to give back to the College,” O’Connor said. “Ramapo helped set me up for success in my professional career. I want to help ensure that the students here now have the same or better opportunities than I had.”

Fresh Perspectives at the Table

Nationally, research has shown that many college governing boards do not mirror the demographics or lived experiences of their current student bodies, particularly when it comes to age and recent campus experience. 

Ramapo’s inclusion of alumni from the Classes of 2016 and 2020 signals an intentional broadening of perspective — ensuring that conversations about affordability, student life, workforce readiness, and the evolving role of higher education are informed by those who have navigated those realities firsthand.

Lally and O’Connor were sworn in at the Board’s February 9 meeting, which also marked the first meeting presided over by newly appointed Board Chair Albert Nieves.

Looking ahead, both trustees see opportunity in Ramapo’s moment.

“What excites me most is that Ramapo is entering a really important moment,” Lally said. “Over the next few years, graduates will not only be competing with one another and with students from other schools, they will also be competing with artificial intelligence in more and more fields. That makes Ramapo’s focus on a strong liberal arts education incredibly valuable. The ability to think critically, read carefully, write clearly, lead in real-world environments, and create original work without relying too heavily on technology is going to matter more than ever. I’m excited about Ramapo’s opportunity to lean into those strengths and prepare students to succeed in a rapidly changing world.”

O’Connor shares that optimism, describing Ramapo as an institution whose academic rigor, close-knit campus community, and opportunities for hands-on leadership are sometimes understated beyond northern New Jersey.

As someone whose own career has taken him from Mahwah to a leadership role supporting one of the world’s largest sporting events, he sees significant opportunity for the College to continue expanding its visibility and impact.

“I continue to believe that Ramapo College is our State’s best hidden gem,” he said. “I look forward to helping drive the College’s continued growth.”

Ramapo College President Cindy Jebb framed the appointments as part of a broader evolution in governance.

“As we welcome our new Board Chair, Albie Nieves, and alumni trustees Lally and O’Connor, Ramapo College affirms a governance structure designed for the future—agile enough to meet emerging challenges, and anchored firmly in the mission that defines who we are, why we are here, and where we are going together.”

Nieves echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the value of perspective and energy that newer alumni bring to institutional leadership.

“Trustees Lally and O’Connor bring fresh perspective, insight, and enthusiasm to our Board of Trustees,” Nieves said. “As alumni of Ramapo with a wealth of leadership experience in state government, I have every confidence that their service and contributions will strengthen the Board’s fiduciary care of Ramapo and advance our mission.”

He noted that the Board — composed of new, continuing, and reappointed trustees — draws on a wide range of expertise and networks to support Ramapo’s strategic priorities, including expanding the College’s footprint in healthcare and ensuring students and faculty have the resources they need to thrive.

In addition to its newest alumni trustees, the Board reflects both continuity and renewal. Lally and O’Connor join the board following the January 30, 2024 appointment of Marize Helmy. In addition, Trustees William F. Dator, George C. Ruotolo, David G. Schlussel, and Susan A. Vallario were reappointed for additional terms. The 13-member board also includes Trustees Michael Ben-David, Chris Lopez, Albert C. Nieves, AJ Sabath ’93 as well as Student Trustees Sarah Glisson ’26 and Olivia Ha ’27. 

Leadership That Endures

For both trustees, serving on the Board is less about title and more about continuity.

Their leadership journeys began as students: advocating for peers, representing teammates, engaging in civic work. Those early opportunities did more than fill résumés; they shaped how each approaches responsibility and service.

Now, as alumni early in their careers, Lally and O’Connor represent both the present and the future of the institution with voices positioned to bridge generational perspective with long-term institutional vision.

Their service underscores one of Ramapo’s enduring strengths: developing leaders who continue to contribute not only to their professions, but to the College and communities that shaped them.

To learn more about the Board of Trustees and their work, visit ramapo.edu/board.