New Jersey

Highlights

2,500+

Fellows SERVED

10

YEARS OF IMPACT IN NEW JERSEY

+26

Percentage Points

Uplift in strong job attainment within 6 months of graduation (compared to peers nationally)

Empower New Jersey’s rising talent

Braven New Jersey collaborates with innovative institutions like Rutgers University–Newark and Kean University to equip college students with the skills, network, confidence, and experience needed to thrive after graduation. Together, we’re preparing New Jersey’s emerging leaders to excel in the workforce and contribute meaningfully to their communities and careers.

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Higher education partners

A woman talking to a group of people at an event.
Logo of Rutgers University Newark featuring a large "R" symbol to the left and the text "Rutgers Newark" to the right on a light background.

Launched in 2015, Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N) was Braven’s second national college partnership, and its first on the East Coast of the United States. Braven and RU-N share a deep commitment to opportunity and expanding access.

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Kean University logo featuring a circular university seal on the left and the word "KEAN" in large capital letters on the right.

Kean University, New Jersey’s first urban research university, joins Braven New Jersey as a new partner. With a bold mission to connect knowledge with opportunity, Kean is committed to preparing students to thrive in today’s workforce and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Launching at Kean in Fall 2026, the Braven Career Accelerator will be embedded as a 3-credit course within Kean’s curriculum, giving students access to real-world skill building, professional mentorship, and career-connected experiences. This partnership reflects Kean’s “Cougars Climb Higher” ethos–and Braven’s shared belief that talent, when supported with opportunity, drives economic mobility.

Upcoming courses

Enroll in a Braven course at your college or university and jumpstart your career!

Braven Accelerator

Kean University logo featuring the university seal on the left and the word "KEAN" in bold capital letters to the right.

Dates:

Fall 2026

Priority Deadline:

Schedule:

Thursdays 6:00 – 8:00PM ET

Final Deadline:

Eligibility

Starting Fall 2026, the Braven Career Accelerator will be open to:

  • All students at Kean University, but recommended for sophomores, juniors, and transfer students.
  • More options will be added as the program expands.
  • Earn college credit while getting career-ready.

Details
The Braven Career Accelerator (BLA 3299) is a 3-credit course that prepares students with the essential skills, networks, and confidence to land internships, jobs, and prepare for grad school. In this course, you’ll:

  • Create a strong resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile
  • Develop your professional skills through mock interviews, networking, team projects, and more
  • Build community and confidence
  • Earn 3 credits toward your undergraduate degree

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

  • Exercise habits to persist through and thrive beyond college
  • Know and demonstrate the skills and mindsets employers hire for
  • Navigate the workplace
  • Build a record of achievement and apply skills to land a career-accelerating internship or research opportunity
  • Expand personal and professional networks
  • Lead with their assets and values

Location

Hybrid – three in-person classes (9/3, 10/8, 12/10) 

Braven Accelerator

Rutgers Newark logo with a large letter "R" on the left and the words "Rutgers Newark" on the right.

Dates:

Fall 2026

Priority Deadline:

Schedule:

Tuesdays 6:00-8:00 PM ET | Wednesdays 6:00-8:00 PM ET | Fridays 11:30 AM- 1:30 PM ET

Final Deadline:

Eligibility

Students can take the Braven Career Accelerator at any time. All RU-N students will be auto-enrolled in either their sophomore year or early in junior year to ensure that you have enough time to get a strong internship experience before your senior year. This will give you more time to apply the skills, confidence, and networks gained during the course to inform your choices in college and beyond, and make the most of the rich opportunities that RU-N has to offer. Learn more here: The RU-N Braven Experience

Course Description
This course prepares students for the increasingly competitive, globalized job marketplace. Through online and peer learning, interactive experiences, and reflection, students will build meaningful networks, discover their innate leadership, and cultivate the “hard” and “soft” skills and habits of mind needed to thrive in twenty-first-century workplaces. This course will require your commitment. Nothing good comes easy, but this course will be equally rewarding as it is challenging.

Course Section
The Braven Leadership and Career Accelerator is a 3-credit elective course.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students should be able to:

  • Exercise habits to persist through and thrive beyond college
  • Know and demonstrate the skills and mindsets employers hire for
  • Navigate the workplace
  • Build a record of achievement and apply skills to land a career-accelerating internship or research opportunity
  • Expand personal and professional networks
  • Lead with their assets and values

Date/Time

  • Tuesday 6:00-8:00 pm ET (Hybrid) 
  • Wednesday 6:00-8:00 pm ET (Hybrid) 
  • Friday 11:30 am-1:30 pm ET (Hybrid) 

*The Braven Leadership and Accelerator course offers a hybrid format, with only the first and last sessions held in person. All other sessions will be conducted virtually.

Interested in bringing Braven to your campus?

Leadership

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Samantha Crockett

Executive Director, New Jersey

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Alison Minion

Director, External Affairs

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Anastasia Hardin

Senior Director, Rutgers University-Newark

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Andy Berry

Senior Director, Kean University

Board of Directors

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Harry Li

Owner, Relational Tech Partners and Sneaky Fun Studios

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Jackie Rider

Executive Director and Private Banker, J.P. Morgan Private Bank

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Lisa Amato

Braven- Newark Board Member (Newark Chair)

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Lynn Selassie

Community Volunteer

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Matt Iversen

Associate Vice President, Wells Fargo

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Rina Desai

Vice President of Strategy & Planning at Panasonic North America

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Ryan Hill

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, KIPP New Jersey and Miami

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Solomon Steplight

City Administrator, East Orange

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Susan Dunn

Semi-Retired Teacher, Newark Community Volunteer (National Board Treasurer, Newark Board Member)

We couldn’t do it without you

Higher Education & Employer Partners

UNIVERSITY PARTNERS
Rutgers University – Newark

EMPLOYER PARTNERS
LEAD
($250K+ and programmatic support)
Apollo Opportunity Foundation
Barclays
Deloitte
Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women
LinkedIn
NBA Foundation
Prudential Financial

ANCHOR
($100K+ and programmatic support)
JPMorgan Chase
ServiceNow

KEYSTONE
($25K+ and programmatic support)
ADP
AEA Investors
Amazon
Audible
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
Blackbaud
Lazard Asset Management
Panasonic
UBS

INNOVATION
($5K+ & programmatic support)
Fortune Media
GLG
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Indeed
IPG Health Network
IQVIA
McKinsey & Company
RSM 

IMPACT
(<$5K and/or programmatic support)
RWJBarnabas
Wipfli

Supporters ($10K+)

Anonymous
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
Deloitte Foundation
John & Wendy Cozzi
Lisa & Joseph Amato
New Profit, Inc.
Susan & Thomas Dunn
Victoria Foundation

Interested in learning more?

We’d love to connect with you to share more about our model and partnership structure.