NJCU Athletics | May 15, 2015

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University's department of intercollegiate athletics has honored University Registrar Miriam Hernandez-Laria of Neshanic Station, N.J. as the 2014-15 winner of the James J. Kearns Memorial Athletic Appreciation Award.

Video of Presentation 

Hernandez-Laria received the award at NJCU's annual athletics awards banquet which was reintroduced to the community this spring.
 
The James J. Kearns Memorial Athletic Appreciation Award is presented annually to one individual for outstanding continued contributions to the NJCU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics by a member of the University community.
 
It was dedicated in December, 2013 in honor of Kearns, a 45-year veteran of the University who passed away in October, 2013. He was an avid supporter of all of NJCU's athletic teams, and was the 2006-07 winner of the award now named in his memory. Hernandez-Laria, a long-time supporter of Gothic Knight athletics who during the 1997-98 academic year received the ECAC Appreciation Award from NJCU, joined the University in September 1989 as Assistant Registrar/Scheduling Officer after serving as the Registrar at Hudson County Community College.
 
She was Associate Registrar, Registration Services in July 1992, appointed Acting Director in July, 1998 and Director in June, 1999, before her title was changed to University Registrar in November, 2005.
 
Hernandez-Laria continues to work closely with the athletics department on all student-athlete eligibility issues. In the 1990s, she was a member of the Intercollegiate Athletic Council (IAC)—a board composed of staff, alumni and students that reviewed and set policies for the athletic department and worked closely with the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).   
 
In her career at NJCU, she has played an integral role in undergraduate and graduate enrollment management. She has managed the introduction of online registration, online grading, online transcript requests and other systems related initiatives. She also oversees maintenance of all the approved courses for the University.
 
Hernandez-Laria earned a B.A.in Psychology and Spanish from Rutgers University (Douglass College) in January 1981 and a M.A. in Student Services Personnel from Jersey City State College (now NJCU) in January 1983.
 
Married to husband, Jim, for nearly 29 years, the couple has one daughter, Krystina, who was married on April 25. When not working, Hernandez-Laria enjoys traveling, especially cruises and describes herself as a big sports fan. She has special fondness towards the New York Yankees, New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers and Penn State Nittany Lions where her daughter graduated in 2011.