Jacob C. Farbman, Ed.D., APR

Jacob C. Farbman, Ed.D., APR, serves as the executive director of Economic Mobility for the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, the statewide nonprofit enshrined in state law that strengthens and supports New Jersey’s 18 Community Colleges.

Dr. Farbman leads the Community to Opportunity: Building Community to Expand Opportunity Initiative, a statewide professional learning community supported by The Tepper Foundation to strengthen the campus culture of care and expand access to basic needs services for Community College students. He also leads the Direct Support Professionals Career Development Program, created in state law and supported by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, to strengthen the workforce that supports individuals with developmental disabilities. Dr. Farbman also leads the Council’s Every Mind Project, a partnership with the New Jersey Department of Health and the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, which has provided mental health and wellness professional development to over 1,200 New Jersey Community College faculty, staff and administrators to fortify the culture of care central to strengthening health and wellness supports for New Jersey community college students.

Dr. Farbman has been a member of the Council team since 1999 in numerous roles, including Public Relations Officer, Director of Communications, and Executive Director of the New Jersey Center for Student Success, where he served as a member of the Jobs for the Future National Student Success Center Network Leadership Team from 2019 to 2021.

During the 2022-2023 academic year, Dr. Farbman completed a post-doctoral fellowship serving as Executive Officer in Residence at Brookdale Community College. There he led Brookdale’s first year Achieving The Dream implementation efforts.

In addition, Dr. Farbman has taught as an adjunct professor of communication studies at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in Ewing since January 2001, teaching Introduction to Communication Theory and Strategies of Public Relations. He also serves on the Advisory Board for Rowan University’s Doctorate in Education Community College Leadership Initiative Program.

Dr. Farbman is the recipient of numerous awards, including: the Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors Alumni Achievement Award, Salem Community College Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Mental Health Association in New Jersey Golden Bell Award, the Public Relations Society of America Philadelphia Chapter’s Outstanding Public Relations Educator Award, and The College of New Jersey Adjunct/Part-time Faculty Teaching Award.

Dr. Farbman serves as the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) Chair for the Public Relations Society of America Philadelphia Chapter, and is responsible for supporting Chapter members in their pursuits of the APR credential.

Prior to joining the Council, Dr. Farbman served as a Graduate Assistant at Rowan University, Public Relations Writer for South Jersey Hospital System (now Inspira Health), and Public Relations Assistant at Salem Community College.

Dr. Farbman holds a doctorate in educational leadership, a master’s degree in corporate public relations and a bachelor’s degree in communication all from Rowan University. He also holds an associate degree in communications/journalism from Salem Community College.