Kean President Repollet Joins National Latino Student Success Network, Bolsters Excellence

Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., has joined Presidents for Latino Student Success, raising the University’s profile and elevating it as a national leader serving Latino students.

Repollet joins more than 150 higher education leaders in the national network, which represents only 5% of the colleges and universities across the country. 

As a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), Kean offers specialized programs, such as the Supera Spanish Speaking Program for English-language learners, and conducts research dedicated to boosting the success of Latino students. As of Fall 2023, nearly 39% of Kean USA students are Hispanic, the largest ethnic group on Kean’s U.S. campuses.

“As an HSI, Kean University is proud of our work supporting Latino students as well as Kean students from all backgrounds,” Repollet said. “Through membership in the Presidents for Latino Student Success, we will strengthen Kean’s position as a leading institution for the Latino community, and unlock even more opportunities to help our Kean students climb higher.”

Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, formed Presidents for Latino Student Success to support institutional leaders.

Kean Vice President of Administration Carlos Rodriguez, Ed.D., said the network will allow Kean to leverage expertise and resources to enhance the University’s existing support services, as well as expand on high-impact practices such as culturally responsive curriculum and pedagogy. This approach could foster a greater sense of belonging, and improve retention and graduation rates, he said. 

“It is great to see Kean University have a seat at the table alongside other distinguished Hispanic-Serving Institutions committed to this critical work,” Rodriguez said. “As an HSI, Kean is committed to elevating the academic, personal and professional success of our Latino students. This partnership represents another important step forward in our commitment to serving the needs of our Latino community and developing the next generation of Latino leaders.”

Sarita Brown, the co-founder and president of Excelencia in Education, said institutional leadership focused on intentionally serving Latino students is the “hallmark of the presidents and chancellors in this network. We are proud to catalyze and support them as they advance student success and grow talent for our country’s bright future.”

To learn more about the Presidents for Latino Student Success network and other institutional leaders across the country affiliated with  Excelencia, visit: EdExcelencia.org/leadership/presidents-latino-student-success