Kean University
News Archive
'Kean Research' Spring 2026 Message from the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
'Kean Research' Spring 2026 Message from the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Colleagues and Students,
Kean Students Help Build Immersive Virtual Tour of Nantucket’s Old Gaol Using XR
Kean Students Help Build Immersive Virtual Tour of Nantucket’s Old Gaol Using XR
Two Kean University students are helping transform Nantucket’s historic Old Gaol into an immersive virtual experience, allowing users worldwide to explore the site through 3D modeling and extended reality. The project blends digital capture with storytelling, giving users interactive control while expanding access to historically significant spaces.
Student Researcher Q&A: Samantha Dreissig
Student Researcher Q&A: Samantha Dreissig
Samantha Dreissig conducted research on transient paralysis in football players, focusing on the importance of diagnosing spinal shock and differentiating it from more severe spinal cord injuries to ensure timely and appropriate treatment. In Fall 2025, Dreissig worked with the National Football League’s (NFL) New York Giants as a student athletic trainer.
Kean Senior Olga Lopez Explores Nostalgia Therapy as a Tool to Reduce Stress
Kean Senior Olga Lopez Explores Nostalgia Therapy as a Tool to Reduce Stress
Kean University senior Olga Lopez researched how watching childhood television shows can reduce stress, presenting her “Nostalgia Therapy” project at 2026 Research Days. Lopez, a psychology major, plans to pursue a career in forensic psychology and credits Kean for strengthening her research skills.
Kean Researcher Expands Access to STEM Education
Kean Researcher Expands Access to STEM Education
Kean University’s Matthew Niepielko, Ph.D., is advancing an inclusive STEM training model through the NJ-RAISE program, giving students early, hands-on research experience and financial support to help them stay in STEM fields. His work reimagines labs as training spaces that build career-ready skills from high school through college.
Kean Ocean Student Veteran Builds Lasting Legacy for Fellow Veterans
Kean Ocean Student Veteran Builds Lasting Legacy for Fellow Veterans
Retired U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Clayton, a Kean Ocean student and public administration major, founded the campus Student Veteran Organization to build community and support for fellow veterans. Graduating with honors, Clayton leaves a lasting legacy at Kean Ocean and will continue his work supporting veterans in a full-time role at Brookdale Community College.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education Advances Historic Merger of Kean University and New Jersey City University
Middle States Commission on Higher Education Advances Historic Merger of Kean University and New Jersey City University
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) has advanced the merger between Kean University and New Jersey City University (NJCU).
Kean University x NJCU Sneaker Ball Builds Community in Jersey City
Kean University x NJCU Sneaker Ball Builds Community in Jersey City
Kean and New Jersey City University came together in Jersey City for a vibrant Sneaker Ball celebrating student creativity, sneaker culture and community.
Finding Belonging Through Poetry
Finding Belonging Through Poetry
Ameenah McKiethen, Kean’s inaugural Poet Laureate, explores moments of anxiety and disconnection through three poems presented at Kean Research Days, examining how poetry transforms those experiences into a sense of shared understanding.
Kean Student Turns Adversity into Achievement, Earns Doctorate During Cancer Treatment
Kean Student Turns Adversity into Achievement, Earns Doctorate During Cancer Treatment
Lauren Dennis, a doctoral student in speech-language pathology, is expected to graduate this spring following treatment for stage-three breast cancer, demonstrating remarkable resilience. Despite the challenges of her diagnosis, she remained enrolled without taking a leave of absence, drawing strength from her late father's inspiration and strong support from faculty, classmates and family.