Advisory Team Spotlight
Enrollment Management
Led by La Toro Yates, Ph.D., Vice President for Enrollment Services at Kean and Jose Balda, Assistant Vice President for University Admissions at NJCU
The Enrollment Management advisory team brings together admissions, recruitment, financial aid and enrollment services from Kean and NJCU with a clear goal: to create a single, seamless process for students and their families. By aligning policies and systems, the team is building a framework that ensures everyone experiences clarity and fairness at every step, while laying the foundation for Kean Jersey City to serve Hudson County and beyond.
In just a few months, the team has compared admissions processes across both institutions, begun creating consistency in transfer credit policies and drafted a plan for unified data reporting. The group has also launched shared forecasting work, analyzing enrollment trends over the past five years to guide decision-making. These early milestones are helping the team stay on pace to meet regulatory deadlines while keeping students at the center of their planning.
Looking ahead, the group is focused on finalizing common recruitment and admissions policies, strengthening transfer pathways from high-volume community college partners and preparing data systems to ensure consistent, accurate communication with applicants. This work will result in predictable, transparent enrollment practices that make it easier for students to navigate their path to Kean, no matter which campus door they enter.
Culture of Care
Led by Erika Charles, Vice President of Wellness and Chief Wellbeing Officer at Kean, Itunu Balogun, Vice President of Innovation and Engagement and Deputy Chief of Staff at Kean and Pia Stevens-Haynes, Ed.D., Acting Vice President of Student Development and Community Engagement at NJCU
The Culture of Care advisory team is designed to create a vibrant, equitable and inclusive environment where all members of the community on both campuses feel supported and empowered to thrive. This work promotes student success, encourages engagement and ensures that every voice is heard throughout the integration process and beyond.
The team quickly established strong working relationships through strategic planning, information sharing and participation in campus events. Notable collaborations include partnering with the University Relations advisory team to develop and share the Kean-NJCU Merger Survey, as well as supporting student events such as Green and Gold Day, Kean Day and the HBCU game at MetLife Stadium.
Looking ahead, the team is planning town halls on both campuses to give students, faculty, staff and community members opportunities to engage directly with leadership. The NJCU Town Hall is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 2 p.m., with details for the Kean event forthcoming. By creating these touchpoints and opportunities for feedback, the Culture of Care advisory team is helping to build lasting connections that will strengthen the community across both campuses.
Academic Affairs
September 4, 2025
Led by David Birdsell, Ph.D., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Kean University, and Donna Adair, Ph.D., Interim Provost and Senior Vice President at NJCU
The Academic Affairs Advisory Team works to align programs, policies and practices across Kean and NJCU to build a unified academic foundation for the integrated institution. The team is reviewing every degree program to identify the strongest offerings for students. Kean has commissioned Hanover Research to assess the attractiveness of degree programs at both universities. The team will begin diving into that data next month.
The advisory team is also looking at how the two institutions nurture faculty from recruitment through tenure and promotion to facilitate the creation of fair and consistent standards across both campuses. This work has already produced comprehensive inventories of syllabi, faculty CVs and academic policies from both universities.
Through this process, advisory team members have gained an appreciation for the complexity of bringing together two institutions with different Carnegie classifications, while recognizing shared commitments to first-generation students and to serving as anchor institutions. The team is looking forward to designing an academic portfolio that strengthens the combined institution and supports student success well into the future.
Student Affairs
September 4, 2025
Led by Kerrin Lyles, Vice President for Student Affairs at Kean University, and Pia Stevens-Haynes, Ed.D., Acting Vice President of Student Development and Community Engagement at NJCU
The Student Affairs Advisory Team is aligning programs, services and experiences that shape campus life to ensure students feel connected, supported and able to thrive during the Kean–NJCU integration. The team is examining student-facing resources at both institutions, including clubs, organizations, facilities and support services, to minimize disruptions and foster a seamless campus experience.
The advisory team conducted a meet-and-greet and campus visits that built trust, introduced colleagues and provided firsthand insight into how the institutions welcome and support students. The Kean team also visited New Student Orientation at NJCU. Building on that foundation, the advisory team is now developing joint civic engagement projects, leadership retreats and community conversations, along with a shared programming calendar to connect students across both campuses.
The team finds that Kean and NJCU closely mirror one another in their student support and services, which strengthens collaboration and unity. As the integration progresses, this spirit of cooperation will ensure that students remain at the center of this transition.