As the President of Drew Univiersity since 1990, Governor Kean is shaping Drew into one of the nation's leading small universities. He stresses the primacy of teaching for all faculty, the creative use of technology in the liberal arts, and the importance of international education. He created a $10,000 annual award for outstanding teaching, a $2 million fund for minority scholarships, and a middle-income scholarship award. He has added new faculty in African, Asian, Russian, and Islamic studies, and created a new program to give students increased opportunities for study abroad. Since his time in office, undergraduate applications have increased by more than 50 percent; the endowment has risen more than $50 million; residence halls have been renovated; and a $12-million athletic center and forum has been built and opened.
As Governor of New Jersey (1982-1990), Gov. Kean was rated among America's five most effective governors by Newsweek, noted for tax cuts that spurred 750,000 new jobs, a federally replicated welfare reform program, landmark environmental policies, and over 30 education reforms. He delivered the keynote address at the 1988 Republican National Convention. He served on the President's Education Policy Advisory Committee and as chair of the Education Commission of the States and the National Governors Association's Task Force on Teaching. He holds numerous awards from environmental and educational organizations, including more than 25 honorary degrees.
Gov. Kean has been appointed by President Clinton to serve as Chair of the National Campaign to Reduce Teenage Pregnancy. He is also on the board of a number of organizations, including: the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the World Wildlife Fund, United Health Care Corporation, and the National Endowment for Democracy. He is Chairman of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Educate America, and former chairman of the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation. He holds a B.A. from Princeton University and an M.A. from Columbia University Teachers College, where he is a trustee.
Gov. Kean is the author of The Politics of Inclusion, published by The Free Press. His Star Ledger column with former Governor Brendan Byrne has received the Journalism Award from Washington Monthly.
He also writes a bi-monthly column for The Record and appears as a regular commentator on New Jersey Network News.
He is married to the former Deborah Bye, and they have twin sons, Tom and Reed, and a daughter, Alexandra.
Governor Kean
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