Join 1,253 students from Kean University as they present their findings at Research Days. Learn how our Cougars are studying real-world issues and climbing higher to address critical issues in our communities. #KeanUniversity #ResearchDays #StudentResearch #Innovation

Kean University celebrated the academic accomplishments of high-achieving, first-generation college students, inducting 26 Kean students and others into a new chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha, a national honor society for first-gen students.

Eighteen students, seven employees and an alumna were welcomed into the Iota Gamma Chapter of Kean University at the inaugural induction ceremony held Wednesday, April 17 at Liberty Hall Academic Center. The ceremony was a family affair, with inductees receiving pins and certificates from their parents, spouses and children.

“This chapter of Tri-Alpha creates a supportive community and offers leadership opportunities for students whose families lack experience in higher education, and who may feel isolated when navigating the college landscape,” said Marvin Adames, Esq., assistant vice president for student retention and dean of students, who is also a first-gen college graduate. “It promotes academic excellence, fosters a sense of belonging, and provides avenues for personal and professional growth.”

Undergraduate students must have a 3.2 cumulative GPA to be considered for induction, and graduate students must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA. The students’ leadership qualities were also factored into their selection.

With 46% of students self-identifying as first generation, Kean far exceeds the average of 33% at other institutions around the country. Kean, a First-Gen Forward Institution since 2021, has a number of programs to support students who are first in their families to attend college.

Frederich Ureña, a junior criminal justice inductee from Perth Amboy, arrived in the United States in 2021 from the Dominican Republic. He credits programs like Supera, which allows Kean students to learn English while earning credits, as being a big part of his success.

“The Tri-Alpha ceremony meant a lot to me since it recognizes the effort made by a first-generation student to break a barrier that his family has not yet been able to, due to various circumstances,” Ureña said. “First-generation students often bring unique perspectives and strengths to their studies, such as resilience, determination and resourcefulness.

Senior Vice President for Student Success Katherine Gallagher, JD, also a first-generation college graduate, spoke at the ceremony. She called it a “full circle moment,” recalling how she was “terrified of being ‘found out’” in college.

“When I was an undergraduate, we didn't talk about being first generation. We didn't name it, let alone celebrate it,” she said. “If I could go back, I would tell my younger self to stop hiding and be proud.”

Gallagher noted that each of the inductees is beating the odds. She said statistics show 70% of adults with one parent who earned a bachelor’s degree also graduated from college. For students who did not have a college graduate as a parent, that number stands at 26%.

“The same qualities that got you here – tenacity, determination, the ability to blaze your own trail – will serve you well no matter what path you take,” she said.

Communication studies graduate student Amani Saleem ’02 of Newark delivered the student keynote address. She said it was a significant moment for all inductees.

“For me, being inducted into Tri-Alpha is more than just academic recognition; it symbolizes a culmination of years of dedication and reaffirms my commitment to scholarly pursuits,” Saleem said.

Joseph Coste, a sophomore finance student from Irvington, is another inductee from the Dominican Republic. He came to the United States at the age of 7. As a first-gen student, he said he has to figure out a lot by himself.

“The Tri-Alpha induction was a great experience for me,” Coste said. “Being surrounded by other first-gen students made me feel like I was part of something much bigger than myself, a community that will succeed together. It also motivated me to work even harder in order to motivate those who will come after me.”

For more information on the Tri-Alpha honor society or Kean’s First Generation Student Initiatives program, contact Viviana Zambrano, director of the Office of Student Retention and Educational Innovation at vzambran@kean.edu.

Kean University was recently awarded an $800,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for research aimed at attracting and retaining more diverse students to STEM education and careers, through teaching more inclusive software design.

Kean students studying computer science and information technology will learn to design software accessible to more people, said Professor Patricia Morreale, Ph.D., the principal investigator on the grant who is also chair of the Department of Computer Science and Technology.

As part of their classroom work, students will design software for target users from one of several “personas,” each with a mix of different facets, including learning styles, access to reliable technology, risk tolerance and computer ability.

“This approach is really helping all students be better developers and understand more about the people who will use their software,” Morreale said. The grant co-PI is Dr. Margaret Burnett of Oregon State University.

The goals of the NSF-funded research are both to improve equity and inclusivity in computer science and information technology education, and retain diverse students once they are enrolled. 

“Access to STEM education and courses does not ensure equity,” Morreale wrote in the project overview. “Once recruited, students must be successfully retained in STEM majors. Toward this end, we will address the challenges diverse students enrolled in similar courses face.” 

The three-year grant from NSF was awarded to Kean as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, or HSI. The research project builds on an earlier NSF grant at Kean, which began the work on teaching inclusive software design.

The project is expected to involve about 20 Kean faculty and reach 2,000 students during the three years.

The new research project, entitled HSI Implementation and Evaluation Project: Regular CS x Inclusive Design x HSI Equals Building a Larger CS Workforce, comes as Kean, New Jersey’s urban research university, is working to gain designation as an R2 research institution.

“Addressing the retention of computer science students from diverse backgrounds is vital for a school aiming to become an R2 research institution and for broader societal goals of equity and inclusion in STEM education,” said George Chang, Ph.D., dean of The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, which includes computer science. 

More than 50% of the Kean Department of Computer Science and Technology’s 800 undergraduate students are from groups which are underrepresented in the field, Morreale said. Approximately 26% are Hispanic, 26% are Black, and 20% women.

Using the “Socioeconomic Inclusiveness Magnifier” (SESMag), Kean faculty will further integrate equity and inclusion into regular classroom work. Students will utilize the SESMag personas, such as “Dav,” to work on inclusive software design throughout their four years at Kean. The personas will be used to identify and fix inclusivity bugs, address software bias flaws, and more.

“We’re not going to assume everybody has a full screen monitor. We’re not going to assume everyone knows what all the tabs at the top of the page are for,” Morreale said. “We’re not assuming everyone has the same resources or knowledge.”

Researchers will evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility, sustainability and impact on academic outcomes for students.

“We’re trying to make sure students can see themselves in the computer science space, by talking about different ways people use software,” Morreale added. “The theory is if we teach inclusive software design now, our students will build the inclusive software we need for the future.”

Janiah Fladger ’24 always envisioned having a career in health care when she was growing up, but it wasn’t until she arrived at Kean University that she found her true calling in public health and reproductive justice.

“Everyone has a right to have healthy reproductive health, and a right to their own body,” Fladger said. “I just realized the impact I could have on marginalized individuals.” 

Fladger, of Franklin Township, graduated summa cum laude in January and will take part in Undergraduate Commencement on May 16. This summer she will enter graduate school at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, after also being accepted at Columbia University, Boston University and three other schools. 

Her goal is to become a public health advocate focusing on marginalized communities and communities of color, including reproductive justice. At the University of North Carolina, she will enter the master of public health program with a concentration in maternal, infant and family health.

“My overarching goal is to develop community-centered programs that enhance health outcomes and promote equity in reproductive and sexual healthcare services,” said Fladger, who earned her Bachelor of Science degree in public health with a minor in women’s and gender studies. “I am passionate about expanding research in this field.”

Fladger said she decided to attend Kean on Accepted Student Day when, as a prospective student, she met Professor Consuelo Bonillas, Ph.D., of the Department of Health and Human Performance at Kean. Bonillas is also coordinator of the women’s and gender studies program.

“She was talking about the program, and I thought, ‘I want her as my professor,’” Fladger recalled. Bonillas became her faculty advisor.

Fladger also held several internships. First, at the Center for Health Policy Development at Kean’s John S. Watson Institute, she did research focused on Black maternal health and infant mortality, gathering community input and identifying action areas in Trenton.

Then, with New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture New Jersey program, she helped plan and run “Family Festivals,” held to connect urban families with healthcare resources and support. 

Both internships supported planning for the state’s new Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority, which targets health care for women in marginalized communities.

Kean Senior Vice President for Transformational Learning and External Affairs Joseph Youngblood, Ph.D., lauded Fladger’s commitment and “extraordinary” contributions at the Watson Institute.

"The future of public health and health care in marginalized communities is bright thanks to the dedication of inspiring young scholars like Janiah," he said. "We are extremely proud of Janiah for her well-deserved acceptances to six phenomenal graduate programs and celebrate her as she moves on from Kean to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill." 

Bonillas said Fladger came to Kean with “hope, ambition and a true desire to learn and make a difference.”

“Since the first time I met Janiah, before she started at Kean, she was full of energy and a passion for learning and discovery. That spark only grew as I worked with her at Kean,” Bonillas said. “I am proud to be called one of her mentors and feel privileged if I helped strengthen her resolve to continue her academic and career path in public health.” 

Fladger, also a McNair Scholar and a member of the President’s Advisory Council at Kean, was also involved in campus projects such as an event raising awareness of the need for access to menstrual products for all women.

Her goal is to support and improve community health, particularly in minority communities.

 “I aim to spearhead research projects and community service initiatives aimed at addressing health disparities, particularly within communities of color,” she said. 

“I plan to travel the country and gain global experiences to help expand my understanding of reproductive rights and health equity from different perspectives,” Fladger said. “However, I love New Jersey, and it is my home. I see myself giving back to the communities that have shaped who I am.” 

Explore printmaking with Kean’s artist-in-residence. Watch Ricardo Roig guide students through the artistic process during a recent workshop aimed at fostering creativity and personal growth.

Eight out of 10 Americans have faced trauma at some point in their lives. This statistic opens up profound discussions about the world of trauma-informed care. In this episode of the Urban Impact podcast, Jennifer Vinces-Cua, Ph.D., assistant professor of counselor education, talks about how community support can foster healing and resilience.

Urban Impact is recorded and produced at Kean, New Jersey’s urban research university. The podcast is now available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google, and at kean.edu/urban-impact.

A group of eight Kean University theatre students shared the stage with Broadway powerhouses recently, singing backup on five songs for the original stars of Hairspray at Kean’s Enlow Recital Hall.

The students, unofficially dubbed Kean’s “Broadway Babies” for their theatre aspirations, joined Tony Award-winner Marissa Jaret Winokur and Tony nominees Kerry Butler and Laura Bell Bundy in their concert, Mama I’m a Big Girl Now!, at Kean Stage on Friday, April 12. The three stars, who played Tracy Turnblad, Penny Pingleton and Amber Von Tussle, respectively, in the original Broadway production, reunited on stage for a concert revisiting their origins, careers, family and longstanding friendship. 

“I was excited to sing with these people I idolize, but it was nerve-racking,” said graduating theatre performance student Brandon Luckenbaugh from Hillsborough, who was one of two Kean students who had a solo, singing Link Larkin’s harmony in You Can’t Stop the Beat. “It was a whole new lesson in going out there and doing it. I’m so proud of all of us.”

Christian MontLouis, a sophomore theatre performance student from Woodbridge, took the other male harmony, singing the part of Seaweed J. Stubbs.

“It was fun. I love the song, and I know the Seaweed parts,” he said. “I was thinking if I could sing the solo, that would be really great. And then they chose me. Yay!”

Kean’s Broadway Babies also sang backup on the iconic Hairspray tunes Good Morning Baltimore, I Can Hear the Bells and Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now, as well as So Much Better from Legally Blonde. 

During the ensemble numbers, the students energized the room and impressed both the audience and the headliners. 

“We want to bring them to every concert,” Butler said. “It took our concert up to the next level. They did amazing, and we loved, loved having them there.” 

Winokur echoed Butler’s praise. 

“Honestly, it was my favorite concert so far, because they really brought energy and youth,” said Winokur. “They were such a treat.”

The students had two weeks to learn the music with their professors at the Kean Theatre Conservatory but found little time to rehearse as a group because of conflicting schedules.

“They had four hours to rehearse together and memorize the five pieces of music in four-part harmony. They really stepped up,” said Professor Holly Logue.

The students also worked with Winokur, Butler and Bundy at the dress rehearsal the day of the show. 

“It was really reassuring watching them,” said Riv Dabul, a graduating theatre and music performance student from South Plainfield. “They're human, and we're human, so maybe we can do what these humans are doing. And they were really encouraging, which made us better.” 

The concert was the latest opportunity for Kean performance students to share the stage with Broadway superstars. In past concerts, Kean students sang with Tony winners Alex Newell, Kelli O’Hara and  Patti LuPone, and other well-known singers. 

“What an amazing opportunity for our students,” said Steve Cochran, manager of Kean Stage. “The chance to collaborate onstage with these distinguished performers is unparalleled. Events like these guide and prepare the students for their future careers.” 

Jade Ayala, a junior theatre performance student from Camden, sang previously with Alex Newell, but said the Hairspray concert still brought chills.

“For someone who’s aspiring to perform on Broadway, it’s so valuable,” she said. “We have the opportunity to see what it's like behind the scenes and speak with these Broadway stars. It's such an amazing opportunity to perform with them.”

Kean University students, alumni, friends and employees celebrated the University’s Founders Day with record-breaking gifts that will support the next generation of students at the state’s urban research university.

Kean Cougars showed their pride and support for student scholarships and other University initiatives across the two-day event, which included the Founders Day 5K run on Sunday, April 14, and gatherings at the Union and Toms River campuses on Monday, April 15.

Video: Kean students and President Repollet thank donors

“Founders Day celebrates our proud history and traditions. It’s a wonderful way for us to connect our story with philanthropy and giving,” Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., said. “I’m personally grateful to all those who contributed from across the country. Their generosity will help our students climb higher for years to come.”

The Kean University Foundation, the nonprofit organization that raises funds to support Kean’s students, faculty, programs and facilities, hosts Founders Day to mark the anniversary of Kean’s founding on April 14, 1855.

Begun as the Newark Normal School, Kean started as a teacher-training school and the first public post-secondary institution in New Jersey. Kean grew to become a global University with more than 17,000 students worldwide, at campuses in Union, Toms River and Wenzhou, China. 

“Kean was my first choice, I was so happy I got accepted,” said Ramisha Bhatti of Carteret, a junior biology major, who attended a Founders Day celebration and made a donation. “Kean is already the best. This helps it get even better.”

Many students wrote hand-written thank you notes to donors during the event. Foundation officials collected the notes in a box at the campus celebration.

“Because of you, students are able to continue their education,” one student wrote.

“This university is an amazing place filled with great people!” added a second.

Kean Foundation Chief Executive Officer William Miller said the generosity of the Kean community “continues to inspire and amaze us all.” He said Kean’s annual day of giving has grown dramatically. 

 “Yesterday, our Cougar community again rallied behind the Kean University Foundation to support our students and we witnessed a record-breaking year for Founders Day. I’m deeply grateful for the outpouring of support that will directly impact our students,” Miller said. “Founders Day is a true team effort, and together, the collective giving of our Cougar community makes an immediate and significant difference across Kean."

Kean University Chief Advancement Officer Matt Caruso ’99 said Founders Day connects Kean students to the spirit of giving. He said the “word is also getting out” about Kean – its growth, new programs, focus on research, and more.

“There is a pride growing among alumni that is spreading,” Caruso said, adding that many alumni are taking advantage of opportunities to continue their involvement in the Kean community. “They realize their chapter at Kean might not be fully written yet. They can come back and teach, mentor a student, serve on an advisory board or become involved in the Alumni Association.”  

Some Founders Day donors gave to Kean to honor an alumnus. One of them was Lori Riccio of Howell. Her family foundation, Riccio Pick-Me-Ups, made a gift in honor of the late Kean graduate Brett Christian Coleman ’18, of Jackson, requesting it be directed to the Kean Wellness Center. Coleman, a close friend of Riccio’s daughter, died in February after facing many medical challenges.  

“He and my daughter met at Kean. He was a supporter of our charity, and a great person,” Riccio said. “I just wanted to keep Brett’s name alive. He will continue to help others as he lived his daily life.”

Kean University's Research Days, an annual celebration of research and scholarship, has begun. Kean Ocean kicked off the three-day, in-person event on the Toms River campus on Monday, April 15. The website launched Tuesday, April 16, and presentations, panel discussions and symposiums continue April 16 and 17, at Kean in Union. A total of 1,253 students and 46 faculty are participating.

Learn about David Graham's inspiring journey at Kean University, from a first-generation student to a leader in the pre-med and biology clubs, advocating for underrepresented students entering healthcare fields. His story embodies Kean's mission and the true meaning of "Cougars Climb Higher." Watch now to see how Kean's welcoming community supports future physicians.