Gregory Benedict ’14 wasn’t always a Cougar. In fact, his initial college
plan was to follow in the footsteps of several family members at a
school closer tohomeand familiarity. At theurgingof a friend, however,
he also applied to Kean University. And according to Benedict, after
stepping onto the Kean University campus for a college tour back in
2009, “any thoughts I had about other schools never entered my mind
again.” From that moment on, a Cougar was born.
He loved the castle-like building of Kean Hall, and was especially
excited to see the students working there in the Admissions Office.
He fell in love with the campus, the new residence halls, all of the
student groups offered, and “the possibilities available to me while
attending as a student.” Among these opportunities was The Student
Ambassador Program, which Benedict immediately applied to join.
The Student Ambassador Program at Kean relies on current student
volunteers to act as the first in-person connection that prospective
students have with the University – Ambassadors lead campus tours,
provide feedback and assistance, and showcase the highlights of the
campus and university life to prospective students and their families.
From his work as a brother (and Secretary to the Executive Board)
with the Nu Delta Pi fraternity, to expanding his leadership and
program development skills through the revamping of the Student
Ambassadors Program, to bringing new life to the role of the
Kean Cougar Mascot (including a breakdance routine!), Benedict’s
motivation and commitment to the University kept him entrenched in
campus life from day one.
Because of the leadership experiences he amassed during his time as
a student at Kean, Benedict began to realize that he could reach out
to and mentor students in other roles, beyond the teaching position
he had initially envisioned for himself. So, shifting his focus to a new
goal, Benedict began working on his Masters in Public Administration,
again at Kean University. Shortly after graduation, he was hired at
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Kean as an Admissions Representative in 2015, and promoted to a full-
time Admissions Counselor in March of 2016. “I knew that Kean, the
place where it all started, needed to be the place I gave back to, with
the skills they helped me develop.”
On the whole, Benedict credits his on-campus experiences, especially
with the Ambassadors program, as the catalyst for much of his growth
and development over his years as a student at Kean. “The Student
Ambassador program is simply amazing,” he states, “it has prepared
me for so many challenges…it taught me to be responsible…and
it taught me the value of pride.” He calls the Student Ambassadors
the “face and front door” to the University, emphasizing that first
impressions last the longest and the Student Ambassadors at Kean
do an unparalleled job of ensuring that impression is the right one.
From an involved and motivated student, to a committed and well-
prepared professional, the Ambassador’s program also seems to have
served as the “front door” to Benedict’s future, and to the satisfaction
he now finds in his work; “The Ambassador program opened my eyes
to my own career…I grew up at Kean University, and I could not have
asked for a better experience.”
“I knew that Kean...
needed to be the
place I gave back to,
with the skills they
helped me develop.”
Gregory
Benedict
