Dr. Jack Sargent Retires after 25 Years I Published December 15

A beloved veteran of the campus community is retiring this month after 25 years at Kean University. 

Jack Sargent, Ph.D., full professor and chair of the communication department, was hired as an assistant professor in Fall 1999, was named associate professor many years ago, and was promoted last year to full professor – the highest rank a tenured professor can reach. 

He served as both Executive Director and chairman of the communication department over 10 years in addition to teaching a wide range of courses, from statistics to non-verbal communication.

Dr. Sargent recalled that when he first joined Kean, it looked and felt much different than today. The communication department was housed in the Vaughan Eames building before its renovation where it was so cold “the students and the professors would all wear their winter coats and gloves in there.” 

Over the years, Dr. Sargent worked to develop and launch a master’s program in communication studies with an emphasis on organizational communication, published numerous journal articles, and held a number of leadership roles across the university. He is well-liked and well-known on campus.

“The students of course have contributed to some of my best moments here at Kean,” he said. “So many are eager to learn, and some of the crazy thing’s students would say, the things I would learn from the students. So, I was always learning new things from them.”

Over 25 years of academic service, Dr. Sargent has left an impact on many students. Alumnus Michael Milazzo, a partner in the prestigious New York law firm of Latham & Walkins New York, was so influenced by Dr. Sargent’s teachings and support that he dedicated a Kean scholarship to him, and his colleague, Dr. Fred Fitch’s. 

“I graduated from Kean in 2011, and 13 years later I consider Jack a friend,” Milazzo said. “Jack, and my education in the communication department, prepared me for my career and life in general. I would not be where I am if not for Jack and the rest of the communication faculty.” 

Sargent has an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Drake University and is proud to say he worked both at a local newspaper and a TV station for a few years before leaving the field. He has been an ardent defender of The Tower student newspaper through some tough times, including a period when the paper fell into disfavor for printing articles critical of the former administration.  

Using his journalistic background, Dr. Sargent always made a point of connecting communication to current events. He was teaching when the twin towers fell on  9/11 and also taught through the Covid-19 lockdowns.  

“When 9/11 happened, I was teaching… and it was right before (class started), and I don’t know why I had a radio in my office,” he recalled. “Class started at 9:30, and I remember them announcing on the radio ‘a plane has just hit one tower.”

A few days after the attacks, Dr. Sargent and now retired colleague, Dr. Bailey Baker,  visited Ground Zero and witnessed the devastating wreckage as New Yorkers solemnly searched through the debris-covered streets of loved ones. 

“Students would talk about people they knew who were in the towers,” Sargent recalled. “It was a difficult conversation to have, but I think it is important as college professors that we have those discussions. You know, it’s important that we allow students to express themselves.”

Dr. Sargent said some students had family who died in the towers – a tragic loss that he was reminded of again with the Covid pandemic. He recalled teaching during Covid in when some students faced great loss yet remained “resilient.” 

The lockdowns also brought other changes in teaching.  

“The pandemic was a 180-degree shift,” he said. “One of the things I found was that you had to be very engaging conversationally. Because you couldn’t be in the classroom you had to be much more engaged verbally.” 

While teaching remotely, Dr. Sargent would come into class on Zoom about 10 minutes early and then he would play some old-time disco like ‘Disco inferno’, or Donna Summers, just so the students knew class is starting in ten minutes.

“ It was definitely different than the regular class setup for the students and me,” he continued.

After many years spent on Kean University campuses, Dr. Sargent is looking forward to relaxation and getting back into an old hobby he picked up as a kid.

“I’m looking forward to relaxing, getting out of the daily grind, going back to piano playing,” he said. “I don’t know what quite I have planned, but to take a little bit of a pause and maybe do a little bit of travelling. Who knows? Maybe look into real estate. You know, turn the page, but definitely go back to becoming a mediocre piano player again.” 

 Dr. Wenli Yuan, Associate Professor in communication and the incoming chair of the communication department, said she will greatly miss him.

“Dr. Sargent is both a colleague and a friend.  My favorite memories are the fun times we spent outside of the school,” she said. “…He has certainly made a great impact on our department and Kean University…It has been a long trip.  Thank you for all the help and laughs along the way.  I wish you all the best!”

His former student, Malazzo, had similar sentiments. “While I am excited for Jack’s future after Kean, I am sad that future students will not receive the mentoring from Jack (and extra credit questions that the answer is always Nebraska). Good luck Jack, and you will be missed in the Kean community.”

---