President Lamont Repollet Ranked #8 By NJBIZ

By Jalen Gaynor | Published September 29, 2022

On September 19, President Lamont Repollet, Ed.D., was named #8 on the 2022 NJBIZ Education Power 50 list. In their article, NJBIZ, New Jersey’s leading business journal, noted how Repollet has helped to create new and unique opportunities for students.

Under his leadership, Kean was designated New Jersey’s first urban research university, in a bill signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. This move acknowledged the university’s research in urban areas statewide and raised its status nationwide. .

Repollet understands the importance of this acknowledgement and wants to help make a difference in communities all around the state.

“As the state’s only urban research university, we can also make a real difference in the lives of New Jerseyans living in urban communities as we help urban centers build stronger futures,” Repollet said. “We take responsibility for not just identifying the challenges in our cities but finding the solutions that are replicable, scalable and sustainable to move us forward.”

The university believes this distinction can help to recruit students and faculty as well as boost its ability to gain research grants. Kean recently projected this semester’s freshman class as the largest in school history with more than 2,000 students and Kean online has had increased enrollment. Kean’s campus in China also continues to grow as more than 4,000 students will be studying in Wenzhou.

Kean has also announced multi-year partnerships with both the New York Jets and New York Red Bulls. Both of these teams are high profile and have provided numerous opportunities for students.

Students were able to participate in a course co-facilitated by the NY Jets during the Spring 2022 semester which tasked them with making presentations in front of team officials at MetLife Stadium.

Repollet previewed a bright future due to the connection during the Jets deal’s announcement.

“This connection offers wonderful opportunities for our students to study the business of professional sports, to conduct research, and to obtain internships and other professional opportunities that can lead to truly exciting futures,” Repollet said.

Repollet established several initiatives and programs including the Division of Student Success and Retention which provides support to students on their path to graduation, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Equity in Action Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship. The presidential fellowship was founded to diversify the faculty and boost research at Kean.

“We are seeking scholars who reflect the rich diversity of our student body, whether based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, neurodiversity, disability or otherwise,” Repollet said.

Repollet has shown his dedication and commitment to ensuring that students have every opportunity necessary to succeed regardless of their background.

He vowed to elevate the University to Carnegie R2 research status within five years and has made great strides in accomplishing this. He believes that this fellowship will help the university obtain this status.

“As Kean strives to achieve R2 Carnegie classification, our success will be defined by our ability to cultivate the next generation of academics,” Repollet said. “To innovate through research and scholarship, inspire and be inspired by their students, and promote inclusion and belonging as key components of the academic experience.”

---