Presidential Announcements

January 24, 2025 - Spirit of Unity 

January 17, 2025 - Our Shared Purpose 

Dear Kean Community,

As we conclude another week at Kean, I draw inspiration from pastor and author Charles Swindoll's wisdom: "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." By viewing the events around us through the lens of our reactions, we can find greater peace and strength in our own power. At Kean, we approach our mission with purpose and strategic vision, proactively shaping our path forward rather than impulsively reacting to events around us. We embrace our diversity, overcome challenges and guide our growth with student success as our compass. This commitment remains steadfast regardless of external circumstances or changing political climates. I invite you to reflect today on your role at Kean and consider how this mindset can strengthen your own work and our university community.

This week we hosted our first Muslim Heritage Month celebration, exemplifying Kean's commitment to diversity. Our Muslim students, faculty and staff enrich our campus community through their scholarship, leadership and dedication to excellence. During the ceremony, I invited our Muslim faculty members to join me on stage to recognize their vital contributions to Kean. Experience has taught me that meaningful understanding develops through authentic connections with people of different faiths and backgrounds. When you work or study with someone every day, you learn to appreciate their perspectives and beliefs. My thanks to Dr. David Jefferson and others who organized this great event. 

Today, I also had the privilege of joining the Faith-Based Institute of Public Policy for their rescheduled Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. It was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and his commitment to nonviolence and service to the community. The participants assembled 500 care packages of food items, toiletries and more to donate to local colleges, including Kean, and high schools for students in need. My thanks to the team from the Office of Government Affairs and Community Partnerships for teaming up with the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ to organize such a wonderful celebration.

Building on our spirit of unity, Kean will introduce a new tradition this Spring with a combined graduation ceremony for our undergraduate and graduate students on Tuesday, May 13. This consolidated celebration aligns with practices at other research universities and reflects our evolution since integrating the Nathan Weiss Graduate College programs into our academic colleges. Doctoral candidates will participate in a separate hooding ceremony on Thursday, May 8. Every graduate will still walk across the stage and hear their name announced, preserving this important Kean tradition. The size of the Prudential Center allows us to provide four guest tickets per graduate, an increase from previous years for our graduate students. As a first-generation college graduate myself, I understand the significance of this milestone. Commencement season is my favorite time of year, and this unified celebration promises to be our most memorable yet. 

Sincerely, 

Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. 

President 

Dear Kean Community,

"Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education." These words, written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Morehouse College's Maroon Tiger 78 years ago, resonate just as powerfully today. As we prepare to honor Dr. King on Monday, I reflect on how his legacy shapes many facets of life, particularly in higher education and our role as an urban research university deeply anchored in our community. Our commitment is steadfast: deliver academic excellence and support our students' overall personal growth, well-being and mental health.

Yesterday, I joined New Jersey Higher Education Secretary Dr. Brian Bridges and others for an American Federation of Teachers webinar discussing the future of higher education. Our conversation explored the shifting demographics and enrollment patterns across our state. As I shared during the discussion, Kean's innovative approaches to expanding our student pipeline and our comprehensive student support initiatives have become a model for success. Our growing enrollment numbers attest to that. Kean’s position as an anchor institution serving the broader community also emerged as a distinct strength. The dialogue reinforced what we already know: Kean is leading the way in building a sustainable future in higher education.

Kean’s innovation is on full display this first week of the Spring semester. We are hosting an academic delegation from Wenzhou-Kean University, building upon our October visit to China and strengthening the bonds between our campuses. This visit ensures continued engagement and collaboration between our two campuses, and we are delighted to have WKU faculty members and administrators here. I also toured the new home of the Cougar Connections Center for Social Work on the first floor of the Center for Academic Success. This strategic relocation emphasizes how student wellness and support services are a central focus at Kean. I encourage everyone to visit this impressive new space. 

Earlier this week, we welcomed New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and dozens of diverse business owners from across the state to campus. We kicked off a new NJEDA-led program providing essential business development training to construction professionals from all backgrounds. We could not be prouder of this partnership, which demonstrates our expanding vision for strengthening our state's economy through inclusive education.

I also had the pleasure of joining our Physician Assistant Studies students for their white coat ceremony, which marks a pivotal moment in their journey as healthcare professionals. The healthcare landscape is changing rapidly, and I’m so proud of their contributions to equitable patient care. As I told the students and their families, they exemplify the excellence that defines our university.

Our commitment to service and support continues tomorrow. We are hosting the Statewide Dreamers Conference and Resource Fair, organized by the Latino Action Network Foundation in collaboration with CRECE: The Hispanic Leadership Center at Kean. This free event, featuring state Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin as keynote speaker, will provide resources to Dreamers and undocumented immigrants. Find more details here. Additionally, I encourage all of you to sign up for the Faith-Based Institute for Public Policy service event to honor Dr. King's legacy on Friday, January 24.

As we begin this semester, let us remember our shared purpose. Whether you are a student, faculty or staff member, we each play a vital role in fulfilling our mission: "Kean University, New Jersey's first Urban Research University, creates a world-class, innovative and inclusive society through equity and excellence in teaching, learning, global research, and impactful public engagement." By keeping this mission at the forefront of our efforts, we advance toward Dr. King's vision of true education — the powerful combination of intelligence and character.

Enjoy the long weekend. 

Sincerely, 

Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. 

President