New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill Named 2025 L’Hommedieu Award Winner

New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill has been named the 2025 Paige D. L’Hommedieu Award recipient by Middlesex College.

Named for the founding chair of the Middlesex College Board of Trustees, the award, established in 1974, recognizes community leadership and is the highest honor given by the College. The award was presented during Fall Convocation on August 25.

“As a dedicated public servant, Mayor Cahill embodies all the qualities the Middlesex College Board of Trustees looks for in bestowing the L’Hommedieu Award,” said Middlesex College President Mark McCormick. “We are grateful for his support of our mission and the students we serve.”

Cahill is a Middlesex College alum who has spearheaded a wave of economic and social growth in New Brunswick since becoming mayor in 1991. He’s done so by forging partnerships with multiple members of the private sector and with Rutgers University and Middlesex County.

“Middlesex College provided me with a strong foundation, both academically and personally, and to be recognized with the L’Hommedieu Award by the very institution that helped shape my journey is deeply meaningful and a tremendous honor,” said Cahill. “I am grateful to the College for its enduring commitment to excellence and for its vital role in empowering generations of students across Middlesex County.”

“As a proud alumnus, Mayor Cahill understands first-hand the value that a Middlesex College education offers to the residents of Middlesex County and beyond,” said Praful Raja, chair of the Middlesex College Board of Trustees. “We are blessed in Middlesex County to have public servants like Mayor Cahill who value education and support Middlesex College.”

Cahill has reshaped education in New Brunswick through an innovative school construction strategy. This includes redeveloping Lord Stirling School and opening the new New Brunswick High School in 2010. Working closely with the State’s School Development Authority and the City’s Board of Education, he also oversaw the creation of Redshaw Elementary School and a three-story expansion of the Paul Robeson Community School for the Arts, more than doubling its size. His leadership brought a major addition to McKinley Community School, the establishment of the Health Sciences Technology High School, the launch of the P-TECH (Pathways in Technology) program, and the opening of Blanquita B. Valenti Community School—expanding educational access for local students. The city also enhanced after-school opportunities, including the award-winning Youth Services System program.

Beyond education, Cahill has helped make New Brunswick a hub for health care innovation, home to institutions such as Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Saint Peter’s University Hospital, and the PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital. These partnerships created enduring outreach programs serving neighborhoods directly. Recent milestones include the Ambulatory Medical Pavilion and the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center—New Jersey’s first freestanding cancer hospital. The HELIX, a cutting-edge research complex, is under construction, while the new U.S. headquarters for Nokia reinforces the city’s role in 5G and telecommunications leadership.

Cahill has also championed open space preservation and expansion, ensuring safe, vibrant areas for residents. Under his guidance, improvements have been made to the Youth Sports Complex, Alice Jennings Archibald Park, the Raritan River Conservation Area, and the HUB Teen Center. Most recently, the city opened Welton Street Park and is preparing to debut Liberty Square Park, developed in partnership with Middlesex County. These efforts strengthen recreational opportunities and access to nature, enhancing quality of life in New Brunswick.

Cahill is now in his ninth term as the mayor of New Brunswick, and is the longest serving mayor in the city’s history.