Commencement Highlights
Our counselors are dedicated to each and every one of their students and seeing their successful students walk across the stage is the biggest honor of all. We asked each counselor to tell us what their favorite parts about commencement are.
See what our staff has to say!
Dr. Billie J Bailey
Director of Bridge to Success
"Wow, how time flies! I am always so proud to see our scholars graduating and moving on to the next chapter in their life. For some, this was a life-changing experience. For others, attending college and earning a bachelor's degree was a family expectation. Either way, you did it! Soon you will hold a degree that will open doors that may otherwise have been closed to you. Take your degree and show the world how cougars climb higher. Your Kean University degree is your ticket into employment opportunities that require a bachelor’s degree. You are now armed and prepared to take that leap of success. Don’t forget to come back and share your experiences with future BTS scholars. If you hit the lottery or earn a salary that you can give back to Kean University, earmark it to BTS so we can give scholarships to students. I congratulate all of our scholars and wish them well in their future endeavors."
Christina Reilly
Associate Director
"Seeing my students cross the stage on commencement day is such an emotional experience; I am overjoyed to see them complete their years of hard work, and I am sad to see them move on to the next chapter in their lives, I am hopeful that they will go on to make their mark where ever their journey takes them, and I am fulfilled to know that the work we do as counselors is even the smallest part of a students success story. It is a yearly reminder of why we do what we do!"
Angelica Villalta
Student Development Specialist
As a counselor, it is an honor to witness our students cross the stage at commencement. Seeing their joy, hearing their names called, and watching their families beam with pride is a powerful reminder of why we do this work. Though it is bittersweet to see them move on, it is deeply rewarding to know we played a part in their journey.
T. Jernigan
Student Development Specialist
"As a lifelong educator, it's really rewarding to witness my students graduate with their very first college degree, off to start their careers, marking the beginning of new chapters in their lives. It's especially fulfilling to see graduates who initially struggled with college but persevered and somehow turned those struggles into triumphs."
Ryanne Boyer
Student Development Specialist
"As a counselor, it is so rewarding to see students complete their Kean journey at commencement. Connecting with students semester after semester allows you to see the behind the scenes experiences that students have. Knowing their hardships and successes and knowing that it is all in pursuit of this one day makes it all worth it."
Hiba Khalil
Program Coordinator
"Attending the commencement ceremony was a rewarding experience. I enjoyed celebrating this huge accomplishment with them as I watched them cross the stage. It reminds me of why the work we do at Bridge to Success is so important. Supporting and navigating them through their challenges during the process and seeing them graduate is truly gratifying!"