Mr. Zajda possess a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting from St.
John’s University, Bachelor of Science degree in Finance, and a Masters
of Arts degree in Liberal Studies both from the College of Staten Island.
Currently he is pursuing a PhD in Higher Education Administration from
Capella University. He was the Deputy Registrar of Veterans Affairs and
Information Technology at the College of Staten Island for the past
fifteen years, and Adjunct Professor of History and English for the past
eight years.
Vito Zajda Hired as Director of Veterans' Affair
He developed new innovative programming and enhanced support
services to assist student veterans in their transition to the campus
environment. One of his biggest achievements was creating a Military
Friendly College for the past six years, and developing a “One Stop”
center to assist all Veterans and dependents from the admissions
process to graduation. He worked closely with local and nationally
elected officials, community organizations and the media to advocate
for veterans and their families.
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“Kean is truly one of the most remarkable institutions in the United
States of America because it offers such fruitful pathways to success
for all Americans, regardless of your background,” said Booker. “When I
think of the Kean mission, it really is about empowering the best of who
we are. There is no better place than here to have a veterans’ forum.”
Booker told the veterans in the audience that they have “proven their
grit and their strength,” and are owed a debt from the nation. The goal
of the forum was to help the veterans who have returned to civilian life,
after their time in service, to develop their own opportunities to serve in
new and fulfilling ways.
“We have a lot of resources to send our men and women overseas to
serve, but when they come home, we don’t do what we should be doing
to empower them, and that is an American shame,” Booker said.
Kean University, with the Veterans Services Lounge and opportunities
like the Veteran Small Business Forum, is using its resources to promote
and encourage veterans on campus, and in the community. In his
welcoming remarks at the business forum, Kean President Dawood
Farahi, noted that it is simply the right thing to do -- “Those who sacrifice
their time, their limb, and their energy to protect us – who put their lives
on the line to protect our freedom – whatever we do for them pales in
comparison to what they do for us.”
