Dean of Students

Marvin Adames, Esq., Assistant Vice President for Student Retention & Educational Innovation

Marvin Adames, Esq., is currently the Assistant Vice President for Student Retention & Educational Innovation. 

Marvin was born and raised in the City of Newark, N.J. where he attended Arts High School. He later received his Bachelor's Degree in English from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), where he was a proud student of the Educational Opportunity Fund Program (EOF). He then went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from Rutgers Law School in Newark. Thereafter, he served as a law clerk in the Criminal Division of the New Jersey Superior Court, Essex Vicinage; he also was an Assistant Essex County Prosecutor in the trial section and later in the Gang Unit; he served as the Chief Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Newark under former Mayor Cory Booker, who then appointed Marvin to the bench as a judge of the Newark Municipal Court. He continued to serve in that capacity under Mayor Ras Baraka until Marvin moved from the practice of law to academia where he believed he would have a greater impact on younger generations. Throughout his legal career, he remained true to a motto taught to him by a TCNJ staff member, mentor and friend - James "Butter" Allen. "Each one, reach one. Each one, teach one," are the words that brought Marvin to consistently give back to his community, particularly our youth. He has mentored countless young people and pushed them to be their very best, but also to consider his adopted motto and to give back. Marvin brings this passion and purpose to Kean University, where instead of seeing young people prosecuted and incarcerated, he works to see them prosper, excel and achieve. When he is not engaged in work, he is at the side of his wife and three children. When he is not by their side, he can be found in his garden or with a tool in one hand and a 2x4 in the other - ready to work on his next project.