Bergen Community College

Bergen Community College student Alicia Brownstein enrolled in the NJ STARS program to study business administration.

Brownstein, of Ramsey, looked at Bergen along with four-year institutions in the northeast region of the country. “Bergen presented itself as the most affordable option to me while offering a quality education to help me obtain my associate’s degree,” said Brownstein.

Brownstein is part of a new initiative called the Thrive Program, which aims to engage students in peer-to-peer mentorship by pairing upperclassmen with incoming and prospective NJ STARS and EOF students. Brownstein is one of these mentors.

“As part of this, I can speak directly with prospective students about my experience at Bergen, deciding if the NJ STARS program fits their educational goals, and providing insight into what has helped me succeed at Bergen,” said Brownstein. 

Brownstein has worked with Bergen NJ STARS Coordinator Julia Gibson to build the Thrive Program, but more than that, Gibson provided Brownstein with immense support. “Whether it was questions about my progress at Bergen, social outreach or financial aspects of NJ STARS, Julia Gibson has always been someone I can turn to for assistance,” she said. “She has checked in with me many times throughout my first and second semesters, making sure I have acclimated to Bergen since entering this fall, and sharing any on-campus events or activities that I may enjoy.”

Prior to attending Bergen, Brownstein joined the New Jersey Collegiate Distributive Education Clubs of America (NJ DECA), an organization dedicated to preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in high schools and colleges. During her four years of high school, she competed in the Hotel and Lodging Management individual roleplay event category. She made it to NJ’s State Career Development Conference for four years and to the International Career Development Conference in 2023 and 2024.

Brownstein also received the Northern Region DECA Scholarship and joined the collegiate DECA as an individual member. “Since joining the collegiate DECA I have not competed, but I have gained access to an abundance of valuable resources through the collegiate DECA+ website, and am looking to further my involvement by competing at the collegiate level,” she said.

Brownstein expects to graduate by 2026.

Based in Paramus, Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu), a public two-year coeducational college, enrolls more than 13,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields. More students graduate from Bergen than any other community college in the state.

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