Irene is currently the Vice Chancellor of Development for Rutgers University, Newark Campus. In that capacity she serves as the chief development officer for and coordinates the fundraising work of the development officers of Rutgers’ seven colleges and professional schools in Newark. O’Brien earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Rutgers University in Newark: a bachelor of arts in 1991, and a master’s in public administration in 2005.
She began her career at Rutgers University, Newark in 1999 in the Office of Communications as communications/publications coordinator. She served as director of development for the School of Criminal Justice from 2002-2005, and then as director of development for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences-Newark. During that time she completed a two-year fellowship with Leadership Newark, where she studied public policy issues impacting New Jersey’s urban communities, and also served on Leadership Newark’s Board of Trustees.