KEANmag
11
Kean Ocean
Graduates:
Coming Full Circle
Schiele serves as just one shining example of the successful results
Kean Ocean helps students to achieve, through the opportunities
for growth, leadership, and professional development provided on
campus. As a pioneer among New Jersey colleges and universities,
Kean Ocean has become a model for the new trend in higher
education; one which promotes cooperation and collaboration
between community colleges and four-year institutions.
“We have always endeavored to be responsive to our students’
needs, and this partnership gives so many more Ocean County
students the opportunity to achieve their educational dreams,” said
Kean University President Dr. Dawood Farahi.
Located in Toms River, on the Ocean County College (OCC) campus,
Kean Ocean provides OCC graduates, and other students with
associate’s degrees, easy access to Kean University bachelor’s,
master’s, and doctoral degree programs.
“Kean University and Ocean County College can be justly proud
of the success of Kean Ocean’s graduating students by making
affordable, world-class higher education accessible in Ocean County
and to surrounding communities,” said Dr. Jon H. Larson, president
of Ocean County College.
Over the past decade, Kean Ocean has more than tripled in size from
its inaugural year; growing from just 10 degree completion programs
to 30, as well as including seven master’s degree programs, one Ph.D.
program in Nursing Educational Leadership, and multiple online
course options through Kean Online.
“Many Kean Ocean students are working full or part time, and
piecing their education together around already busy lives,” added
Stephen Kubow, associate vice president for Kean University.
“Kean Ocean offers students the opportunity to stay in a familiar
environment and receive an exceptional college education close to
home in Ocean County.”
James R. Gamvas
Lecturer, Kean University School of
Social Sciences / Kean Ocean
Gamvas received his Associate degree at Ocean County
College in the early 1990s and completed his Bachelor’s
degree at Kean Ocean in 2008. He also received his Master
of Arts in Sociology and Social Justice from Kean Ocean in
2011. Upon graduation, Gamvas was immediately hired as
an adjunct professor, and is now a full-time lecturer at Kean
Ocean.
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“The fact that I could complete my B.A. at a campus less than
15 minutes away frommy house made it all possible. Without
the option of Kean Ocean, I'm not sure I would have been able
to finish my Bachelor’s degree, let alone be where I am today,”
Gamvas said.
Traci Lynne Sicurella
Lecturer, Kean University School of Nursing and
BSN Program Coordinator
Sicurella received her Master of Science in Nursing-Clinical
Management from Kean Ocean in 2014, nearly 30 years after
her Bachelor’s degree. After graduation, she continues to
work with the School of Nursing, now in the roles of lecturer
and program coordinator at Kean Ocean.
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“My educational experience gave me a deeper understanding
of using evidence-based practice to advance the standard of
nursing,” Sicurella said. “Learning from Kean professors raised
my standard for nursing care. I now challenge my staff and
students to meet or exceed those standards.”
Hundreds of success stories have come out
of Kean Ocean in the last decade. Three
of those stories involve the successes of
alumni who came full circle at the school
—from student to full-time lecturer.
