“The work we are doing has put Drew at the forefront of the future of higher education.”
September 2026 – NJBIZ has named Drew University President Hilary L. Link, PhD, to their 2026 Power List for Education.
NJBIZ’s list highlights individuals who “shape, lead, and elevate New Jersey’s academic community.”
The list is created by NJBIZ’s editorial team and draws from reporting, peer nominations, and industry expert sources.
“It is a tremendous honor to be chosen for this list,” said Link. “At a moment when higher education is facing many headwinds, it is gratifying and exciting to see the experimental, innovative, and impactful work Drew is doing to reimagine higher education for a very different future being noticed, both within and beyond The Forest.”
In the first three years of her presidency, Link guided the University through an intensive, inclusive strategic planning process that thoughtfully and innovatively prepared for Drew’s successful future.
Link recently spearheaded the creation of a new college within Drew that focuses on longlife, intergenerational learning opportunities designed for people across all life stages. Included in the college are:
A new undergraduate degree-bearing microcollege focused on individualized learning where students co-design personalized pathway programs with a faculty mentor, enabling tailored educational outcomes fully centered on the student.
The Drew School, a recently-launched grade 1-8 school created in partnership with 2HR Learning focused on building the human skills needed in today’s rapidly-changing world.
Drew’s Empty Nester Semester®, a 10-week on-campus educational programming for individuals entering a new chapter of life, whether they have children leaving home, are facing a career transition, or are simply seeking new opportunities for learning.
The addition of certificate and credential programs for career preparation and upskilling for individuals in the workforce.
“The work we are doing has put Drew at the forefront of the future of higher education,” said Link. “Having Drew seen as a modern Renaissance-style learning academy for all ages is just one of the ways that we are reimagining, thinking creatively, and adapting in real time to drive Drew into higher education’s future that we are helping to define.”
