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Rutgers Board names William J. Castner executive vice president for legal affairs; new governors sworn in
Summary
At its July 1 special meeting, the Rutgers Board of Governors unanimously approved William J. Castner as Executive Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel. The meeting also included the induction of Hollis Copeland and Amy Mansue and marked President William F. Tate IV's first Board appearance.
The Board of Governors of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, on July 1, 2025, unanimously approved the appointment of William J. Castner as Executive Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, the board said.
The action came at a special virtual meeting called to begin at 8:30 a.m. and presided over by Ms. Amy Towers, chair of the Board of Governors. Ms. Towers said the meeting marked President William F. Tate IV’s first meeting with the Board since he began his tenure as the university’s 22nd president.
Dr. Dougherty, a member of the Board of Governors, presented the proposed resolution recommending Mr. Castner for the post. The resolution recited that John Farmer had served as interim senior vice president and general counsel, that the university engaged the search firm WittKeifer, and that the firm presented twelve candidates from which the search committee identified three finalists for President Tate’s consideration. After President Tate selected Mr. Castner, the Board voted to approve the appointment.
The resolution states that Mr. Castner holds a law degree and a master’s in public policy from Rutgers and details prior roles in New Jersey government—chief counsel to former Governor Jon Corzine, general counsel to the New Jersey General Assembly, chief counsel to the New Jersey Redistricting Commission—and private-sector experience including time at Gibbons PC, regulatory leadership at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and a leadership role at Connell Foley, LLP. The Board’s resolution approves Mr. Castner’s appointment as effective immediately.
Mr. Castner thanked the Board of Governors and President Tate, acknowledged the work of his predecessors John Hoffman and John Farmer, and described the appointment as a “special opportunity” tied to his experience as a Rutgers Law student, the minutes record. Robert Roesener, Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, administered oaths earlier in the meeting when Hollis Copeland and Amy Mansue were sworn in as members of the Board of Governors.
Secretary Kimberlee Pastva announced that public notice of the meeting was filed June 29, 2025, under Public Law 1975, Chapter 231 (Open Public Meetings Act), was posted at the Alexander Library (New Brunswick), Dana Library (Newark) and Robeson Library (Camden), and was posted on the Rutgers governing boards website pursuant to Public Law 2020, Chapter 11. The Board indicated no conflicts of interest for the meeting.
The meeting concluded with the Board reporting no old business and no new business; it adjourned at approximately 8:50 a.m.
