Meet the Team

John C. Raue, MPA, CPM, currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, acting as the Deputy to the Senior Vice President of Planning. In his role, he oversees several units within the Division of Strategic Initiatives, including the Office of Career Services and Kean Skylands. Established in 2015, the Strategic Initiatives division plays a pivotal role in coordinating innovative projects, cultivating strategic partnerships, and spearheading special initiatives for the University. Before joining Kean University, John was the Senior Policy Advisor for two different Department Commissioners at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD). In this capacity, he was a key member of the Department’s Executive Leadership team, responsible for overseeing special projects and managing a staff of over 100. His responsibilities included supervising the Appeals Tribunal and the Board of Review areas of Unemployment Insurance. He also represented the department on several boards and authorities, including the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, the New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone, and the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.

A proud lifelong resident of New Jersey, John attended Seton Hall University as an undergraduate and earned his Master’s in Public Administration from Kean University. He currently resides in Allentown, New Jersey with his two daughters Elizabeth and Abigail.

Rita Papaleo Ruiz, M.Ed., is the Director of Career Services at Kean University, which supports 18,000+ undergraduate and graduate students on their career journey. Her work focuses on empowering students and providing the skillset and resources to excel on their own career path and giving them a voice to advocate for themselves in a competitive job market.

Rita previously served as the Director of Career Development at Stevens Institute of Technology, where her work focused on increasing co-op enrollment and opportunities for students in all engineering majors. Prior to that, Rita spent 18 years as a recruiting leader in the early career hiring space at Google, where she developed and managed rotational, research and intern programming for underrepresented students in tech. She began her career in finance at Sanford C. Bernstein, where she conducted research on US and European Media companies.

Rita earned a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and a Master of Arts in International Education from New York University. She lives in Union County, New Jersey, with her husband and three sons.

As the Associate Director of Employer Engagement at Kean University, Paul manages and oversees the development and implementation of innovative programs and partnerships that connect students and alumni with employers and career opportunities. With more than 20 years of experience in the field of education and youth services, he is passionate about making a positive difference in the communities where he lives or serves.

Paul’s core competencies include leadership, strategic thinking, creative problem solving, major gifts, grant writing, nonprofit management, coaching, professional development, training, donor cultivation and stewardship, team building, change management, communication, and program, board and resource development. He has proven record of acquiring and managing multimillion-dollar grants, leading complex multi-state consortia, building a resilient workforce and organizational capacity, and increasing impact and outcomes for diverse populations. Some of his notable achievements include developing a Resiliency Competency Model, a Resiliency Teaching and Learning Guidebook, and a Teaching Resiliency Hub, as well as establishing the relationship for Boys & Girls Clubs to be the charity chosen by the Snowflake Foundation for the NY/NJ Super Bowl.  My most important role is being a father to Sean and Evan.

Laura Hurley earned her graduate degree in Nonprofit Management & Philanthropy at Bay Path University and is PMP certified with the Project Management Institute (PMI).  She is currently a Program Specialist with the Office of Career Services.  Laura assists with the LEAP program, which is a Learn, Earn And Persist “give-back” internship scholarship program, Kean Ocean career advising and the unit’s data and assessment, including post-graduation outcome survey efforts.  She is an adjunct for GE3000: Transition to Kean.

Laura was introduced to Kean University when working with the College of Education Placement Office (COEPO) and was part of the implementation of online clinical placement applications.  Prior to her work at Kean University, Laura worked in the nonprofit sector for 15+ years on both the state and national level focusing on disability health care initiatives.  Some of her accomplishments include: implementing Sibshop programs for youth who have siblings with disabilities, developing and providing training and education opportunities for over 15,000 individuals in NJ over a ten-year period, coordinating the National Caregivers Conference for nine years, overseeing a national multidisciplinary care center grant program and being a project director for a health insurance navigator program for the Affordable Care Act.

While Laura is passionate about mission focused work, she also favors time with her family and being at the beach with a book.

As one of the Career and Internships Coordinators at Kean University, John Caserta supports students in The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, the College of Health Professions and Human Services, as well as students majoring in Accounting, Finance, and Economics.

John is a first-generation college graduate, and has a Bachelor of Art in Political Science, as well as a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and College Student Affairs that he has earned from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. While studying at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, John devoted some of his time outside of the classroom guiding and mentoring undecided first-year students to help them find a major that they would enjoy and succeed in. Through this experience, he became passionate about helping others find their passions and accomplishing their goals!

John has several years of college student support service experience across multiple different areas, including first-year programs, new student orientation, career advising, and academic advising. Prior to starting at Kean in November of 2023, he was the Assistant Director of Student Success at Georgian Court University where he helped students improve themselves academically. Now, he is excited to be a member of the Kean community where he can continue to support students!

Joshua Rivera is a Career and Internships Coordinator at Kean University, supporting students in the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Education, the Michael Graves College, and those majoring in Management, Marketing, and Global Business. A proud first-generation college graduate and two-time Kean alumnus, Joshua holds a B.A. in Psychology, an M.A. in Counseling, and an A.A. in Graphic Design from UCNJ.

With over a decade of experience in higher education, youth development, and student support services, Joshua has served in various impactful roles including Assistant Director at the Center for Veterans Student Success, Student Services Generalist at Union County College, and Art Director for the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton, NJ. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Kean, where he teaches general education courses and mentors students academically and professionally.

Joshua specializes in personalized career advising, NACE-aligned skill development, and internship coordination. His counseling background and deep commitment to equity and wellness drive his holistic approach to career development. He is passionate about fostering inclusive environments where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to pursue meaningful and purpose-driven careers. A results-driven team player, Joshua continuously seeks opportunities to offer valuable insights and encourage positive growth. His ability to facilitate student development and support career advancement has led to improved student engagement and success. With these qualities, he strives to drive positive change and achieve meaningful outcomes in student-centered environments.

As one of the Career and Internship Coordinators at Kean University, Erika supports students in the College of Education, helping future educators prepare for meaningful careers through internships, professional development, and career readiness guidance.

Erika is a proud first-generation college graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Management from Kean University. She is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration through Kean’s Global MBA program, where she continues to expand her knowledge in international business and leadership. Having attended high school abroad, Erika brings a unique global perspective to her work, an experience that shaped her adaptability and appreciation for diverse educational and career paths.

Before stepping into her current role, Erika built a strong foundation in administrative support and career services, contributing to the coordination of programs and resources that enhance student career outcomes. Her passion lies in creating organized, efficient systems that empower others to succeed, whether through behind-the-scenes logistics or direct career development support.

Now, Erika is excited to be part of the Kean community, where she brings her dedication, organizational skills, and commitment to excellence to help students navigate their career journeys with confidence.