About Us

Established through a transformational gift from the Honorable Frank J. Guarini in 2020, the Institute began at New Jersey City University with a commitment to international education and economic mobility. 

Its work has grown to include international collaborations, university and consular partnerships, faculty exchanges, entrepreneurial fellowships and bilingual college-access resources. 

In 2026, the Institute began its next chapter at Kean University, building on this foundation to serve students, faculty, families, and international partners. 

His Life and Vision 

The Honorable Frank J. Guarini was a congressman, public servant, and philanthropist whose contributions strengthened educational and civic institutions. His life reflected a lasting commitment to service, generosity, and the possibilities education creates. 

Guarini believed that education and international engagement broaden horizons, strengthen communities, and prepare future generations to succeed in an interconnected world. His philanthropy helped institutions turn those beliefs into lasting opportunities. 

At Kean University, the Institute carries this legacy forward through learning, public service, and partnerships that connect people across borders. 

Adrián Franco, Ph.D., is the founding executive director of the Guarini Institute for International Education and Economic Mobility, where he oversees a multimillion-dollar fund and leads international partnerships and education initiatives. Previously, he served as Director of Education at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, overseeing programs for high school and college students, supporting curricula to teach macroeconomics, and engaging business schools in financial-sector culture reform. He also created and coordinated the New York Fed’s Community Advisory Group and the Fintech Advisory Group. 

A founding member and former Executive Director of the Qualitas of Life Foundation, Dr. Franco advanced financial education for Spanish-speaking immigrants. Earlier, he held roles in Mexico’s ministries of Foreign Affairs and Public Education and advised organizations including Sesame Street and the New York City Department of Education on financial education initiatives. He also wrote a weekly personal finance column for New York–based Spanish-language publications. His board and advisory service includes TruFund Financial Services, the Mexican Studies Institute at CUNY, the NJCU School of Business, and the family advisory board at the Komansky Children’s Hospital. He currently serves on the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Patient and Family Advisory Council for Quality. 

Dr. Franco holds a Ph.D. in Comparative and International Education and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, as well as a BS in Business Administration from Boston University. His doctoral thesis examined financial inclusion and education among Latino immigrants. In 2024, he launched the brokenNotbroke initiative to help families affected by childhood cancer access financial assistance. In 2026, Cancer Health named him to its seventh annual Cancer Health 25 for his contributions to supporting families and advancing financial health equity.