EngageCorps VISTA at Kean University

At Kean University, our mission in the Office of Career Services is to provide students, particularly first-generation and historically underserved populations, with the tools and support necessary to transition successfully from college into meaningful careers. Our Career Services department plays a pivotal role in that mission by working to reduce underemployment and unemployment among recent graduates, key contributors to poverty in our community. Research shows that employers believe recent college graduates are not adequately prepared for the workforce. This preparedness gap is particularly detrimental to low-income and first-generation students who may lack the networks, resources, and confidence to access high-quality employment opportunities. As a result, they are more vulnerable to cycles of economic insecurity. Our Career Services office works directly to address this challenge by expanding student awareness of career readiness resources and improving the quality and accessibility of services offered. We aim to identify and eliminate barriers¿both structural and informational¿that prevent students from utilizing career services. A VISTA member will be instrumental in advancing this work. They will collect and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data to inform a set of actionable recommendations, support targeted outreach campaigns, and contribute to the design of new programming and partnerships. Their efforts will directly support students in securing employment aligned with their degrees, ultimately increasing social mobility and reducing poverty across the student population and surrounding communities. By preparing Kean students to successfully enter and thrive in the workforce, this VISTA member will help tackle poverty at its roots through education, empowerment, and equitable access to opportunity.