INFORMATION FOR
NJBIZ has selected William Paterson University Board of Trustees member William J. Pesce ’73, the retired President and CEO of John Wiley & Sons, as a 2024 NJBIZ ICON Honoree.
The ICON awards honor New Jersey business leaders over 60 for their notable success and strong leadership within and beyond their chosen field, resulting in outstanding contributions to their industry and community.
Pesce is among 37 individuals from across the state who were recognized.
A 1973 graduate of WP and a member of its Board of Trustees since 2002, Pesce and his family established the Pesce Family Mentoring Institute at William Paterson University.
Entering its tenth year, the Pesce Family Mentoring Institute prepares students for their careers or graduate education by individually matching them with a mentor who provides career advice and guidance. The mentors are successful professionals, including William Paterson alumni and community partners, who share their experiences and life lessons. The Institute has a strong track record of success: Roughly 97 percent of student mentees go on to careers or graduate school within six months of graduation.
Pesce, who is a member of the New Jersey Business Hall of Fame, continues to serve on Wiley’s Board of Directors and chairs its Executive Committee.
He was awarded the President’s Medal and Legacy Award at William Paterson University, where he and his family support students with multiple scholarships. He was the first in his family to earn a college degree and went on to receive his master’s from New York University.
Pesce is also managing director of Pesce Family Ventures, LLC, which invests in early stage, entrepreneurial companies.
He and fellow ICON honorees will be recognized at an awards ceremony hosted by NJBIZ in August.
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We have exceptional faculty at William Paterson, and in addition to being experts in their fields, our professors strongly emphasize and prioritize mentorship. Here, students refine and grow in their skills while working alongside and building meaningful relationships with faculty.
We equip our students with the skills and resources they need to thrive, as both thoughtful members of society and career-ready graduates. See how you can excel at William Paterson.
