On Wednesday, November 12, Kean University hosted its Town Hall Meet and Greet at the North Avenue Academic Building (NAAB), inviting both Kean and New Jersey City University (NJCU) students, staff, and community members to discuss and learn more about the upcoming merger.
During October 2025, Kean and NJCU both signed the definitive agreement that will move the merger forward and form a new and unified brand identity, “Kean Jersey City”--expected to come to fruition by July 2026.
Pia Stevens Haynes, Vice President of Student Development & Community Engagement at NJCU, shared her gratitude for NJCU connecting with Kean.
“We are trying to establish connections with student bodies, merging them together as one and getting them comfortable with each other, talking about what their student experiences and creating a culture that speaks to who we are," Haynes said. "This is our first step of building that community for them and with them."
Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet and NJCU President, Andrés Acebo, shared the floor allowing Kean and NJCU students to raise questions concerning academic programs, FAFSA regulations, student organizations, academic opportunities, and much more.
President Repollet stated, “Real change is happening,” as the merger will become a historic show of Kean's outreach and growth..
“By bringing our campuses and resources together, we can offer more academic opportunities, enhanced support services, and a broader sense of community,” Haynes said. “The goal is to create a more connected, innovative, and student-centered environment that helps every student thrive—both inside and outside the classroom.”
Hoong Shern Kong, a third-year Finance major from Wenzhou-Kean University, and member of the President’s Advisory Council (PAC), shared his gratitude for students coming together for Meet and Greet and learning about NJCU student organizations like the school’s Student Government.
“For us Kean students, we want to have an opportunity to know the NJCU students and also know their student government so we can collaborate like events that will evolve for both universities,” Kong said. “It’s a great opportunity for networking because we always wanted to organize something within two schools and right now, we have a platform to know each other.”
Students from both campuses will take part in shared programs involving leadership initiatives and cultural events that will bring the community together. Both institutions are already partnering on activities and exploring new traditions that highlight their growing connection.
“What excites me most is the opportunity to collaborate across a broader network of professionals who share a deep commitment to student success,” Haynes said. “This merger creates space for innovation in student engagement, wellness, leadership development, and community-building—driven by data, cross-campus partnerships, and creative programming that meet students where they are.”
Aman Asad, Project Manager for Student Activities Board at NJCU, said he is looking forward to Kean allowing NJCU students to gain additional opportunities, regarding the Student Life Media Team (SLMT) popularly known as The Cougar’s Byte.
“I am looking forward to productions of different things that are happening on campus; I also would love to see how different forms of media can be integrated into both NJCU and Kean,” Asad said. “[Overall], I do feel that the oncoming and current students are going to have more opportunities in terms of education, different course, and I feel that they will also have a lot of opportunities in campus life, activities on campus, and along with other organizations as well.”
As NJCU and Kean come together, a new chapter begins in creating a unified student experience. Both universities will remain focused on establishing the transition and reflect their commitment to keeping students engaged and supported.
