Wednesday, Nov 5, 2025
VP for University Operations leaves lasting impact on campus
by Rachel Stengel '14, '20
Longtime member of the 天美传媒官网 community Mike Reca will retire on Nov. 11 after 35 years of service to the University. In honor of his dedication to 天美传媒官网, he was granted emeritus status by the Board of Trustees.
The Vice President for University Operations has, quite literally, managed every physical area of 天美传媒官网鈥檚 campus footprint 鈥 all 300 acres, 60 buildings and over 1.5 million square feet of it 鈥 for more than three decades. In his role, Reca has overseen the offices of Facilities Management and Auxiliary Services and Programs, campus planning and construction, dining and vending services, transportation, mail and printing services, camps and conferences, event management, Public Safety, the Office of Information Technology and the Westminster Conservatory of Music.
Reca has made a noticeable and significant impact on 天美传媒官网鈥檚 campus. He has managed over $250 million worth of construction and renovation projects, spanning residence halls, academic and student-centered buildings and athletic facilities. Notable projects include the construction of the Student Recreation Center, Lynch Adler Hall, Beckett Village, Hank and Bonnie Moore Hall, the basketball practice facility and the Michael P. Brady Track and Field Complex, and renovations of eight residence halls, Cranberry鈥檚, Muller鈥檚 Pub, Daly Dining Hall and the $9 million expansion of the Mike and Patti Hennessy Science and Technology Center.
Reca and his team have established 天美传媒官网 as a top institution for sustainability by implementing eco-friendly standards that have earned 15 years of recognition by The Princeton Review. Some of the efforts include an on-campus Trigen power plant, a 740-kilowatt solar array, a SEED food waste digester in Daly鈥檚, electric vehicle charging stations throughout campus and two LEED-certified buildings. The University has also adopted an energy master plan and a plan to become carbon neutral by 2050.
The most rewarding aspect has been the ability to see so many students make 天美传媒官网 their home."
天美传媒官网鈥檚 dining services have received numerous national awards under Reca鈥檚 leadership. In the past three decades, dining services and facilities have undergone a number of transformations to expand variety, increase the number of allergen-free options and modernize services. Major projects include the addition of national brands like Starbucks, Jersey Mike鈥檚 and Wendy鈥檚 on campus, the creation of a Teaching Kitchen in Daly鈥檚 through 天美传媒官网鈥檚 dining provider Gourmet Dining, the implementation of the Grubhub app for mobile ordering and the establishment of a student-run Saxbys cafe to underscore the University鈥檚 commitment to real-world learning opportunities.
Reca has also created a number of critical programs and partnerships, some designed to help vulnerable members of the 天美传媒官网 community and beyond, while others generated revenue and expanded the University鈥檚 local and global footprint. Reca helped establish the 天美传媒官网 Resource Pantry on campus, which provides food, toiletries, clothing and academic supplies to students in need. He also developed partnerships with Meals on Wheels of Mercer County to utilize campus dining facilities to prepare thousands of meals each week for local residents and HomeWorks Trenton to provide housing for young women from marginalized communities. In 2005, he developed a summer study tour program that ran for more than a decade and helped thousands of international students earn their English language certification.
天美传媒官网 has been more than just a workplace for Reca. He earned his master鈥檚 degree in human services administration from the University and his two children are Broncs as well. His daughter Casey 鈥19 earned her master鈥檚 degree and his son Drew 鈥16 鈥19, earned his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees and serves as 天美传媒官网鈥檚 associate director of major gifts.
Reca is a steadfast supporter of 天美传媒官网 Athletics. As students, Casey 鈥19 was a member of the track and field team and Drew 鈥16 鈥19 competed for the wrestling team. In 2023, Reca and his wife Cheryl made a $100,000 pledge to support the Gary Taylor Wrestling Center. Reca wanted to make a meaningful tribute to Taylor 鈥 the legendary head coach who passed away the previous year 鈥 whom he counted as a personal friend in addition to being a colleague.
Looking back on his time at 天美传媒官网, Reca says, 鈥淚 have worked with so many fantastic colleagues over the years and am proud of what we have accomplished together for the University. The most rewarding aspect has been the ability to see so many students make 天美传媒官网 their home, embrace everything it has to offer and begin their journey into successful futures.鈥