Kean University Establishes First Endowed Professorship in College of Education Honoring Betty C. Elrod Cobb ’75

Kean University is honoring the legacy of devoted educator and community leader Betty C. Elrod Cobb ’75 with the establishment of the University’s first endowed professorship in the College of Education, a milestone made possible by a generous gift from her daughter, Karla C. Elrod of Greenville, South Carolina.

The Betty C. Elrod Cobb ’75 Endowed Professorship in Early Childhood Education will advance Kean’s mission as New Jersey’s first urban research university by enhancing academic excellence, supporting innovative teaching and preparing future educators through scholarship and mentorship. 

“This endowed professorship is an investment in the future of every child whose teacher will be inspired, trained and supported through this role,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “Betty C. Elrod Cobb’s story embodies the values of service, leadership and excellence that define Kean. We are proud to carry her legacy forward in a way that will impact students for decades to come.”

In recognition of the gift, Kean’s Board of Trustees voted to rename Kean’s Child Care and Development Center the Betty C. Elrod Cobb ’75 Center for Early Childhood Education. The newly named center, serving children ages 2 1/2 to 5, will be officially dedicated later this fall.

This tribute comes during a year of significant anniversaries for Kean: the 50th anniversary of Elrod Cobb’s graduation, the 50th anniversary of the Child Care and Development Center and the 170th anniversary of the University’s founding as New Jersey’s first teachers college.

“As the first endowed professorship in the College of Education, this gift elevates our mission to prepare extraordinary educators who will lead with skill, compassion and vision,” said Sancha K. Gray, Ed.D., acting dean of the College of Education. “Betty C. Elrod Cobb’s life and work exemplify service to our students, faculty, and all mankind, a legacy that enriches our community.”

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Elrod Cobb was a trailblazer, graduating in the top 10 of her high school class and becoming the first in her family to earn a college degree, which was awarded cum laude, from Morris Brown College. During her more than 40 years serving children in the Newark Public Schools she earned her master’s degree in reading from Kean in 1975.

Elrod Cobb was certified by the State of New Jersey Department of Education State Board Examiners as an Elementary School Teacher, a Reading Specialist and Teacher of Nursery School. She championed literacy, early childhood development and equity in education throughout her career.

“My mother devoted her life to helping children build strong foundations educationally, emotionally and spiritually,” Karla C. Elrod said. “This professorship and the center that now bears her name are powerful reflections of everything she stood for. I am deeply grateful to see her work live on through the students, educators and young children who will be touched by her legacy. She always believed in planting seeds that, when nurtured, would grow into something beautiful. This gift ensures those seeds will continue growing for generations to come.”

Elrod Cobb’s well-rounded life was guided by purpose and enriched by deep connections to faith, community and service. From birth, she was anchored in the Methodist faith and, upon settling in New Jersey, became a member of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Vauxhall for nearly 60 years. She was a Pearl and Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – the nation’s first Greek letter sorority for African American college-educated women – and an active member of the Beta Alpha Omega Chapter. Her civic spirit led to more than five decades of service as a member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Club, a chapter of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc. She also advanced the cause of education through her involvement with professional associations, such as the International Reading Association and the New Jersey Education Association.

Her commitment to service extended into retirement. Elrod Cobb was a charter member and volunteer of NJPAC and co-led an on-site nutrition program at Bethel for Union County seniors. She also delivered Meals on Wheels and gave her time to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in Hillside and the House of Love Soup Kitchen in Newark. In addition, she was a member of the Newark Board of Education Employees Credit Union (NBEECU) Supervisory Committee and the Newark Teachers Union Retiree Chapter.

“This professorship is a remarkable tribute to an educator who devoted her life to ensuring that young children had the tools to succeed,” said Bill Miller, CEO of the Kean University Foundation. “Karla Elrod’s generosity honors her mother’s legacy in a way that will have lasting impact, not only on Kean and our students, but on communities far beyond our campus.” 

The endowed professorship will support faculty leadership in early childhood education, expand mentorship opportunities and drive research innovation in the field, continuing Elrod Cobb’s legacy of nurturing young learners and preparing educators who will inspire generations to come.

(Photo of Betty C. Elrod Cobb courtesy of her daughter, Karla C. Elrod.)