On November 6, President Emeritus, Frederick Keating, Ed.D., and his wife, Fran Keating, were joined by Gloucester County Commissioner Director, Frank DiMarco, Interim President, Brenden Rickards, Ph.D., and RCSJ students, faculty, and staff to cut the ribbon on the Dr. Frederick Keating Commemorative Room which is now home to RCSJ’s Keating Family Presidential Institute for First Generation Students.

In recognition of the State of New Jersey's First-Generation College Celebration Day on November 8, 2025, Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) launched The Keating Family Presidential Institute for First Generation Students on Wednesday, November 6, 2025, at the RCSJ Gloucester campus. The Institute is dedicated to supporting the extraordinary journeys of first-generation students by providing resources, mentorship, and a vibrant community for success.

The room, where the Institute is located, was dedicated as the Dr. Frederick Keating Commemorative Room to Dr. Keating, president emeritus of RCSJ, honoring his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to first-generation students. It also recognizes his distinguished tenure as the longest-serving president and marks the first financial support the Institute received – an endowment from the Keating family to support first-generation student scholarships.

Many colleagues, friends, and family members gathered to celebrate the launch of the Institute and the room dedication. Frank DiMarco, director, Gloucester County Commissioners, welcomed everyone to the event and shared his thoughts about Dr. Keating's leadership at RCSJ and his creation of the Institute.

“Throughout his distinguished tenure as president, Dr. Keating made it his mission to ensure that no student ever felt alone along their journey. His vision led to the creation of this Institute . . . designed to empower and guide first-generation students towards success. Today, as we dedicate College Center Room 183, as the Dr. Keating Commemorative Room, we are not just honoring his name, we are recognizing a legacy of leadership, compassion, and a lifelong commitment to students. Dr. Keating's impact will continue to echo through these halls in every student who dares to dream bigger because of the opportunities he helped create," said DiMarco.

The Institute will work to build a supportive campus community for first-generation students. To that end, it will offer networking opportunities and special events on campus so students can begin to build personal and professional connections that will foster success and a sense of belonging.

“With the establishment of the Keating Family Presidential Institute for First-Generation Students, our goal is to connect first-generation students with RCSJ faculty and staff who share similar experiences. We want every student to feel that RCSJ is their home—a place where they belong and can thrive. Building these connections is an important step toward that goal. I extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Keating for his leadership and dedication in bringing this Institute to life. I look forward to seeing it become a shining example of support and community for our students," shared Dr. Brenden Rickards, RCSJ interim president.

Keating is a distinguished educational leader with more than three decades of experience in higher education; but he has not forgotten the hard work, perseverance, and resilience that it took to navigate his initial entry into the college landscape without an experienced parental guide.

​“I'm proud to be a first-generation student. I remember that difficult conversation at the dinner table, but one person reached back and got me, and put me on a path that helped define my future," recalled Keating. “It's my privilege to create this Institute – bearing my family's name – to function as that person and provide that give-back to make educational opportunity easier for the next, first generation," said Dr. Fred Keating, RCSJ president emeritus. 

Judy Atkinson, Vice President, Student Services, reflects upon what the ribbon-cutting event signifies and what a positive impact Keating has made at RCSJ.

“It takes a special person, with unwavering vision, to truly help students. As a first-generation student, it takes even more determination to succeed. Dr. Frederick Keating, president emeritus, demonstrated through a lifelong career that being first is not always easy but with the right determination and the support from others, you can achieve great things and be a wonderful role model for others. Thank you, Fred," shared Atkinson.

Financial support will be provided to members of the institute in the form of scholarships, including the Keating Family Scholarship, Rowan University Flying First Scholarships, and the new OceanFirst Foundation Scholarships. 

“Thank you to Dr. Keating and his family for launching this institute for RCSJ first-generation students and to the OceanFirst Foundation and Rowan University for their collaboration and partnership to support this endeavor. This dedication today is a culmination to honor all the work you have done and all the work you will continue to do in higher education throughout the state of New Jersey. Thank you," stated Cody Miller, executive director, RCSJ Advancement & Foundation.

The cornerstone of the Keating Family Presidential Institute for First-Generation Students is the Kappa Epsilon chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha), dedicated to supporting, mentoring, and celebrating the achievements of first-generation students. RCSJ faculty and staff members will play a key role in providing mentorship and guidance to students through the Institute.

Co-Advisors for the Institute, Dr. Andrea Vinci, RCSJ associate professor, and Danielle Crawford, RCSJ compliance manager, heard about the creation of the institute and immediately wanted to be a part of it.

Reflecting upon 10 years of teaching at RCSJ, Vinci said she continues to be inspired by her students every day. Through her work with the Institute, she hopes to “foster their determination and courage—ensuring that they not only have the opportunity to pursue higher education but also have the support to graduate and achieve success."

“First-generation college students are trailblazers. There are often balancing work, family, and academics while learning to navigate the college experience for the very first time. That's why this new institute exists – to make sure they never do it alone," Crawford said.

RCSJ students are strongly encouraged to become members when they first enroll at RCSJ. Students are eligible to join so long as their parents, stepparents, or legal guardians have not completed their bachelor's degree.

Harmony Herrschaft, an RCSJ 3+1 Applied Professional Communications major and first-generation college student, spoke at the event.

“I've always been proud of my academics. I work hard, and it means a great deal to me, to be successful, do well in my classes, and earn a degree. I'm excited to be a part of the first cohort of the Keating Family Presidential Institute, and I know this will be another resource and steppingstone along my path to success," said Herrschaft.

Interested students are encouraged to reach out to [email protected] or for more information visit RCSJ.edu/campuslife/first-generation-institute.​