President Emeritus of Rowan College of South Jersey Dr. Frederick Keating addresses a crowd of more than 70 people at the launch of The Keating Family Institute for First-Generation Students on Nov. 6.
As a young PSE&G laborer breaking mud with an air gun in 104-degree summer heat, Frederick Keating had enough.
“What’s wrong? This is your life,” said his co-worker, adding that if Keating wanted to change his situation, “you might want to go to college.”
“I was a project who needed work,” remembered Keating, who went home to talk to his parents. “They asked, ‘What are you going to do?'”
It was a moment that changed his life.
Keating decided to be the first person in his family to further his education, and the Camden Catholic High School graduate showed up at The College of New Jersey with a basketball in his hand. But, he did not have anywhere to stay. He told his mom, “I need a place to sleep.”
The experience was “overwhelmingly scary,” Keating told a crowd of more than 70 people at the dedication of The Keating Family Institute for First-Generation Students at Rowan College of South Jersey on Nov. 6.
During his speech before school officials cut the ribbon at the new room on Rowan’s Deptford campus designed to make the college journey easier for first-generation students, he teared up a little.
“This is the legacy I wanted to leave behind,” he emphasized.
Keating told everyone that he was able to find a room in a person’s attic nearly two miles away from the TCNJ campus in Ewing. Thankfully the basketball coach realized he could not get to and from practice, and arranged for him to get a room in the college dorm.
The newly dedicated Dr. Frederick Keating Commemorative Room honors Keating, president emeritus of Rowan, for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to first-generation students, school officials said.
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.
Founded in 2024, the institute provides first generation students mentorship, networking, an honor society, professional development, scholarships, and transfer support to obtain a baccalaureate degree.
“I’m proud to be a first-generation student,” Keating said. “It’s my privilege to create this Institute – bearing my family’s name – to provide the give back to make educational opportunity easier for the next first-generation students.”
“Look at this beautiful space,” enthused Judith Atkinson, RCSJ vice president of Student Services. “It’s been a year in the making.
It’s a permanent room for first generation students and it honors Dr. Keating.”
“This is a great day,” added Sarah Palese, director of the Rowan Foundation. “My dad, John Zeck, was a first-generation student at St. Mary’s College in Maryland.”
“This is a proud moment for the Rowan College of South Jersey and Gloucester County,” said Board of Commissioners Director Frank DiMarco. “I would like to thank Dr. Keating for his perseverance, his vision and his heart.”
“A first-generation student has no idea what college is like,” offered RCSJ Interim President Dr. Brenden Rickards. “There is a confusion and intimidation factor. This program will help new students connect with advisors who were also first-generation students.”
Keating asked the audience how many of them were first-generation students, and the majority of the guests raised their hands.
It has been a long education journey for Keating from his first uncertain days at college. Thanks to his efforts, that journey will be a litte easier for students like him at Rowan.
Dr. Frederick Keating joins his wife, Fran, to watch Rowan’s Interim President, Dr. Brenden Rickards, unveil the plaque dedicating a new room in the College Center on campus.
