When Kean University launched the Center for Rising Excellence and Community Empowerment (CRECE) in 2024, it did so with a simple but ambitious vision: to inspire, educate and empower the next generation of Hispanic leaders.
More than a new campus initiative, CRECE was established as the University's strategic response to an important question facing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): How do we move beyond expanding access to intentionally developing the leaders our communities need?
For more than 50 years, Kean University has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to educational opportunities for students from all backgrounds. Long before earning its HSI designation, the University pioneered programs that reflected the aspirations of Hispanic communities. In 1972, Kean established SUPERA, one of the nation's earliest bilingual higher education initiatives. Three years later, it became the birthplace of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., the nation's first Latino fraternity, and Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., the nation's first Latina sorority.
CRECE carries that legacy forward. Named for the Spanish word meaning "grow," the Center cultivates leaders who are academically prepared, civically engaged, culturally grounded, and committed to strengthening the communities they serve.
The role of HSIs continues to evolve. Expanding access remains essential, but access alone is not enough. Today's students also need opportunities to grow as scholars, professionals, and civic leaders. CRECE was formed to meet that need by providing experiences that extend well beyond the classroom while reinforcing the importance of culture, community, and service.
Since its inception, CRECE has become a vibrant hub connecting students with faculty, alumni, community organizations, business leaders, and national partners. Through leadership development, mentorship, scholarship, cultural programming, and community engagement, the Center creates opportunities for students to develop the skills, relationships and confidence needed to lead with purpose and create meaningful change.
That philosophy comes to life through experiential learning. Students have observed oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court, explored history and culture through Kean's Travelearn program in Puerto Rico and engaged directly with leaders whose experiences broaden their understanding of public service and civic engagement.
Leadership development also continues through the Graduate Leadership Fellows program, which provides emerging scholars with meaningful professional experience while preparing them for future leadership roles. Two Fellows now serve as Academic Specialists at Kean University, while another serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, demonstrating how these experiences can open doors to continued academic and professional success.
Academic excellence is equally central to the Center's mission. As co-publisher of the Middle Atlantic Review of Latin American Studies (MARLAS), CRECE helps connect students with scholarly conversations examining contemporary and historical issues throughout Latin America and the United States. This spring, six students traveled to Pittsburgh to participate in the journal's affiliated conference, and Kean will host the next Middle Atlantic Council of Latin American Studies (MACLAS) conference in March, creating new opportunities for students to engage with scholars from across the region.
Preparing future leaders also requires strong partnerships. Each year, CRECE hosts or co-sponsors approximately 10 programs that bring together students, scholars, policymakers and community leaders.
That collaborative spirit extends well beyond campus. CRECE partners with the New Jersey Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Latino Action Network Foundation (LANF), the Puerto Rican Alliance of Elizabeth (PRAE), the New Jersey Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development (CHPRD), the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), Excelencia in Education and organizations throughout Puerto Rico to expand opportunities for students while strengthening connections between the University and the communities it serves.
The Center continues to broaden its impact through Hispanic Heritage Month programming, the CRECE Gala, Travelearn opportunities and appearances by nationally recognized speakers and artists, including Junot Díaz and Paquito D'Rivera. Each initiative reflects the Center's belief that leadership is strengthened through cultural understanding, meaningful dialogue and engagement with diverse perspectives.
Although CRECE is still in its early years, its purpose has never been clearer. There is a growing need for leaders who understand the richness and diversity of Hispanic communities and are prepared to address the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century.
Degrees can change individual lives, but leadership transforms communities. Through academic excellence, experiential learning, scholarship and community partnerships, CRECE is preparing the next generation of leaders to strengthen communities, institutions and organizations wherever their careers and service take them.
We hope that every student who leaves CRECE carries more than a degree. We want them to leave with the knowledge to lead, the confidence to serve and a deep appreciation for the histories and cultures that have shaped them. If they do, they will be prepared not only to succeed professionally, but to create meaningful change for generations to come.
About the authors
Carlos Rodriguez, Ed.D., is Vice Chancellor of Kean Jersey City and an Associate Professor at Kean University. He is the founder of the Center for Rising Excellence and Community Empowerment (CRECE). His work focuses on expanding educational opportunity, developing future leaders, and building partnerships that strengthen communities through higher education.
Frank Argote-Freyre, recently named Director of CRECE: The Hispanic Leadership Center at Kean University, is a Latin American history professor at the same institution and the author of Fulgencio Batista: From Revolutionary to Strongman. He also coauthored A Brief History of the Caribbean and chairs several nonprofit organizations. He previously served 22 years as Director of the Latino Coalition of New Jersey.
