Dr. Linda J. Caldwell Epps has been a leader dedicated to public service. She is President and CEO of 1804 Consultants, an organization dedicated to the advancement of educational and cultural organizations. She is a founding partner of the Sankofa Collaborative — an organization dedicated to helping individuals, schools, museums, and libraries present, research, discuss, and interpret, African American history and culture.
Dr. Caldwell Epps served as President and CEO of the New Jersey Historical Society where she was charged with management of a state-wide museum, library, and educational facility preserving artifacts, print materials and documenting the social, political and cultural history of the entire state of New Jersey. During her career, she has also served as a Ford Foundation funded consultant to several institutions of higher learning to include Keene College in New Hampshire and the College of St.
Elizabeth in New Jersey, on issues of diversity and equity in higher education.
Over a 30-year period, she held various positions at Bloomfield College including Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students capped by her role as Vice President for College Relations.
During her leadership, she helped create a campus-wide student assessment project to help assure student and faculty success. In addition, the College successfully completed its first capital campaign and exceeded its goal by raising an $8.4 million during her tenure as VP for College Relations. Linda later became Vice President for Institutional Relations at New Jersey Network Television and Radio where she oversaw the NJN Foundation Development Program.
Dr. Caldwell Epps earned a bachelor’s degree from Douglass College, Rutgers University. She earned a master’s degree in American Studies from Seton Hall University, and completed a doctoral program at Drew University with a dissertation topic, “From Zion to Brick City: What’s Going On? Newark and the Legacy of the Sixties.” She completed the Institute for Higher Education Management program at Harvard University and the American Association of Colleges and Universities Diversity Institute, at Georgetown University.
Dr. Caldwell Epps is an active volunteer for various cultural and educational not for profit institutions. Her current board service includes: The New Jersey Performing Arts Center Theater Square Development Board, Development Committee Chair for the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College, Historical Society of Elizabeth Executive Board, NJ Jewish Museum Advisory Council, and Vice Chair of the Board of Deacons at Bethany Baptist Church in Newark, NJ among many others.
Most recent awards include: 2019 Beulah Oliphant Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to New Jersey History, preservation, education and scholarship, 2018 Woman of the Year Award from Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and the Shirley Chisholm Award in the Arts of the Essex County Civic Club.
Dr. Caldwell Epps was born and raised in Elizabeth, NJ. She has resided in Newark for over 40 years and is married to Mark Epps, Jr., CC’72, and is the mother of two sons, Mark III, and Bryan Epps RC’04.