Research News & Events | Kean University

Faculty Awards at the Third Annual Kean University End-of-Year Faculty Research Conference

The following Kean University faculty were honored with awards during the Third Annual Kean University End-of-Year Faculty Research Conference on May 9, 2025 in the Liberty Hall Academic Center (LHAC):

Research Mentor Award - This award recognizes 4 individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to mentoring students, fostering academic and personal growth, and cultivating a supportive and inclusive research environment while promoting research integrity.

Basic Science: Kim Spaccarotella (Biological Sciences)
Applied Science: Pragya Sharma-Ghimire (Health & Human Performance)
Humanities & Social Science: Mansi Brat (Counselor Education)
Creative Arts & Design: Camille Sherrod (Architecture)

Early-Career Award - This award recognizes the achievements and future potential of 4 early career researchers who have demonstrated excellence, innovation, and impact in their fields. They also find time to mentor students and collaborate with colleagues here at Kean as well as other institutions.

Basic Science: Mingjing Sun (Chemistry/Physics)
Applied Science: Galia Shokry (Environmental Science)
Humanities & Social Sciences: Saran Nurse (Management)
Creative Arts & Design: Venesa Alicea-Chuqui (Architecture)

Excellence in Research Award - This award recognizes outstanding and impactful research contributions. These awards honor 4 faculty members for their originality, innovation, and the potential for their research to have broad societal benefit.

Basic Science: Supratik Kar (Chemistry/Physics)
Applied Science: Daehan Kwak (Computer Science)
Humanities & Social Sciences: Ngoc Dao (Public Administration)
Creative Arts & Design: Matthew Halper (Fine Arts/Music)

Urban Research Award - This award recognizes outstanding research that advances understanding, innovation, or practice in urban environments. This includes contributions to urban planning, housing, infrastructure, transportation, sustainability, social equity, education, or the built environment.

Winner: Madji Fall (Bilingual Education, TESOL and World Languages)
Honorable Mention: Sarah Ruel-Bergeron (Architecture)

Computer Science Student Researcher Oluwatunmise Alabi’ — Oluwatunmise Alabi, Computer Science Student Researcher

Computer Science Student Researcher, Finalist for National Award, Graduating from Kean

Kean University senior Oluwatunmise Alabi’s work in research earned her both recognition as a finalist for a competitive national computing award and a job offer as a software engineer at Northrop Grumman.

Kean Receives $800,000 NSF Award to Increase Diversity in Computing

Students in the Department of Computer Science and Technology will learn to design more inclusive software, with a goal of using those skills in the future.

Kean’s 2024 Research Days Highlight Learning

Kean University celebrated research across campuses and academic disciplines at the University’s 16th annual Research Days conference April 15-17.

The University showcased learning and scholarship, at all of the university campuses Union, Kean Ocean in Toms River, Research Days Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU) in China. The conference featured the work of 1,253 students and 46 faculty members.

“Research Days is an exciting way that Kean highlights our commitment to academic excellence through the research and creative work of our students and faculty,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “We are thrilled once again to celebrate our active academic community and our focus on the pursuit of knowledge, especially as we continue on the path toward designation as an R2 research institution.”

College of Education Receives Grant to Create Diverse Teacher Pipeline for New Jersey Schools

Kean University is working to recruit, train and place teachers from diverse backgrounds in three economically disadvantaged school districts across New Jersey through a new grant-funded program. Read more HERE.