Ed Gwazda, formerly executive director of Princeton Healthcare System Foundation, has been named assistant vice president for Development at Rider University. He began at Rider on August 13. Daniel Higgins, formerly executive director of University Relations for Kean University, has been named executive director of University Communications at Rider. He assumed his post August 27. As part of his responsibilities, Higgins will succeed Earle Rommel as University spokesperson.

“I look forward to the leadership Ed and Dan will bring to their respective offices in our division,” said Jonathan Meer, vice president for University Advancement. “I know they are both anxious to hit the ground running and begin contributing immediately to the advancement of key elements of Rider’s strategic plan.”

Ed Gwazda, Assistant Vice President for Development

Ed Gwazda

As a senior member of the development team and a key player in the University’s next comprehensive campaign, Gwazda will be responsible for the day-to-day management of Rider University’s fund-raising program on the Lawrenceville and Princeton campuses. He will manage all aspects of Rider’s Major Gift, Planned Giving, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Annual Giving, and Prospect Research departments.

Prior to joining Rider, Gwazda held development-related leadership positions for the past 23 years, providing overall strategic direction for the Princeton Healthcare System Foundation, and earlier as associate director, and subsequently as director, of Corporate Relations at Princeton University.

At Princeton HealthCare System Foundation, Gwazda led a successful $13 million capital campaign, enhanced yearly giving to the Foundation eight-fold and increased the foundation’s endowment by nearly ten-fold. At Princeton University, he led the post-campaign maintenance and enhancement of corporate giving and was the lead development officer for the first combined multimillion dollar corporate sponsored research/charitable partnership at the University.

Gwazda earned a bachelor’s degree in science and engineering from Princeton University and a master’s degree in science from Rutgers University.

Daniel Higgins, Executive Director, University Communications

Daniel Higgins

Higgins will oversee all aspects of the publications and public relations activities on the University’s main campus. He will also play a leading role in enhancing Rider’s connections with its many constituencies through utilization of electronic communications, and will work toward expanding Rider’s partnerships with civic, governmental and corporate entities.

Higgins brings more than 16 years of experience in media relations, marketing, public relations and governmental relations to the position, having managed the Office of University Relations at Kean since 2001. During his tenure, the office earned more than 40 awards from prestigious national and state organizations, including the Telly Award for best television commercial, the ACE award, New Jersey Advertising Club awards, JASPER awards, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) awards and others.

Previously, Higgins worked in state government, serving as chief of staff for Assemblyman Louis Greenwald (D-NJ), director of political affairs for U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), deputy campaign manager for Lt. Gov. and Acting Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Mark Singel, and special assistant to chief of staff for New Jersey Gov. Jim Florio.

Higgins earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Temple University and a Master of Public Administration from Rutgers University. He is an active participant in the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), PRSA, American Marketing Association (AMA), the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and Pi Alpha Alpha, the national honor society for public affairs and administration.

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