Rutgers-Camden board inducts new member, elects officers

The Rutgers-Camden Board of Directors, a supervisory body overseeing Rutgers University's southernmost campus, inducted a new member Tuesday and elected two others to officer positions.

Lora L. Fong, a trustee who is also on the university's main governing body, the Rutgers University Board of Governors, was sworn in to the board at a meeting Tuesday morning. She replaces Gerald C. Harvey, a trustee and board of governors member who was the inaugural chair of the Rutgers-Camden Board of Directors. Fong is the first new appointment to the campus board since its first meeting in April.

A class of 1991 alumna of the law school at Rutgers-Newark, Fong is a partner at Brown Moskowitz & Kallen, P.C. in Union County. Her term on the board of directors, which runs concurrent to her term on the board of governors, lasts through 2019.

Robert E. Mortensen, a Rutgers trustee, was elected to a one-year term as chair of the campus board, replacing Harvey in that role. His term as trustee and campus board member expires 2016.

Mortensen is considered an ally by many Rutgers-Camden activists. Seen as independent and outspoken, Mortensen's election to the board — and, now, its chair position — was lauded by them as buffering the campus from outside political influence. Earlier this year, Mortensen publicly criticized a different board he serves on for what he saw as actions taken without "proper due diligence."

Anthony J. DePetris, a Rutgers trustee and board of governors member, was elected to the new, one-year position of vice chair of the Rutgers-Camden Board of Directors. His term as trustee is set to end in 2015.

The Rutgers-Camden Board of Directors still remains two members shy of completion. From its constitution, when members said there was a quorum that could make decisions, the board has had two openings that have not been filled. Those slots would be filled by gubernatorial appointment, but Gov. Christie has not yet nominated anyone to the board.

Biographies for Mortensen and DePetris, provided by Rutgers-Camden in a new release, are below:

Robert E. Mortensen

Mortensen's 30-year career with Conrail and its predecessor railroads includes a tenure as president and chair of the Merchants Despatch Transportation Corp. Since his retirement in 1996, Mortensen has worked as an independent transportation consultant advising governments regarding concession options for the privatization of state-owned and -operated railroads. He successfully restructured Malawi Railways in East Africa creating a financially viable and market-focused company and subsequently was appointed the first CEO of the new company. In 2006, Mortensen was appointed managing director of Uganda Railways during the period of transition to private ownership and was later asked by the concessionaire to continue in his management role as chief executive officer of the successor company, Rift Valley Railways.

Mortensen currently serves as president of the Board of Directors of The Philadelphia Singers. He serves on the board of The Philadelphia Orchestra, where he is a member of the finance committee. Additionally, Mortensen is a member of the Rutgers University Board of Trustees and the Rutgers University Foundation Board of Overseers; chairs the Mason Gross School of the Arts Advancement Council; and serves as a member Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors.

A graduate of Rutgers University, Mortensen served in the United States Air Force Reserve until 1993, attaining the rank of colonel. He is the recipient of the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medals.

Anthony J. DePetris

DePetris, a 30-year public management professional, is deputy chief of staff/human resources administration for the LEAP Academy University Charter School District in Camden. He served as vice chair of the board of trustees for Paul VI High School in Haddonfield from 2003 to 2006. He has taught at Rutgers-Camden; Camden County College; Delaware Technical and Community College; and the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Delaware, from which he earned a master of public administration degree.

A 1984 graduate of Rutgers-Camden, DePetris has been a member of the Rutgers Board of Trustees since 1998. He served as chair of that Rutgers governing body during 2008 to 2009, and previously served two terms as co-vice chair. He currently serves on the Rutgers Board of Governors. He is a member and past chair of the Rutgers-Camden College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Leadership Council. He has been a member of the Rutgers-Camden Alumni Association Board of Trustees since 1984 and was its president from 1991 to 1993. In 2001, DePetris received the Rutgers University Alumni Federation's Meritorious Service Award.

His public service has earned DePetris numerous honors over the years, including the 2005 Camden County Dr. Martin Luther King Freedom Medal, citations from the New Jersey General Assembly and Senate, and the 1994 Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Delaware Alumni Association.