A college experience for students on a mission. At Gateway U we help you earn your degree online while balancing work and life.
The students at Gateway U are a tightknit group of learners and strivers. Students are broken into cohorts, which help and support each other as they brush shoulders in our coworking student space. Our community is also more than just students, it also includes mentors, coaches, businesses and so much more.
At Gateway U, we are committed to supporting students who’ve traditionally been under served by our post-secondary system. Our students are:
Parent learners
First-gen student
Black, Latinx, or AAPI
Most colleges simply weren’t designed around the needs of real students. Student-advisor ratios can run as high as 1000:1, making it near-impossible for students to troubleshoot challenging course schedules or snags in financial aid. We are here to address key issues to ensure traditionally under served groups like working students, parent learners, and first-generation students can be as successful as possible.
Community colleges
For-profit online programs
State universities
I've always hated applying for the FAFSA. However Gateway U made the process seamless. Kasny (Recruitment and Enrollment Specialist) walked me through every step and broke down what FAFSA was asking for. Thanks to him, the whole process was completed with ease. I am very grateful for all of his and Gateway U's help!
Gateway U began reimagining the college experience in 2019, working towards our mission to provide real support to real students. We believe things get done when we work together. All members of our community are here to help our students succeed in their higher education journey. As a non-profit, we aren’t in it for the money. Ultimately, your success is our success.
We believe that success should be possible for all who want and work for it. We actively challenge systems of routine and inequity.
We strengthen our capacity by helping one another succeed. We use our talents, influence, and ideas to contribute to our community.
We believe that the journey shapes our character and supports our path to achieving our goals. We celebrate little wins just as we do the big ones.
This refers to the net cost of a SNHU BA at Gateway U, after factoring in grants/scholarships (but not loans).
This compares average loans for a BA at Gateway U vs a BA at NJ in-state universities.
We’re your coaches, your admissions specialists, your advocates, and supporters.
Saymah is the Executive Director for the Newark site, Gateway U. Saymah is a lifelong educator and proud Newark native. Saymah has served as part of the founding team for charter schools operated by Success Academy Charter Schools in the Bronx as well as Rocketship Public Schools in DC. Throughout her journey, she has served in various capacities, including senior leadership, school culture and climate, family engagement, and school operations. Saymah is a steadfast family and community advocate and her body of work serves as exemplars for building deep relationships with students, community organizations, and community leaders.Saymah received her Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Howard University.
Karen was born in Brooklyn and raised in Newark by immigrant parents. She is an ordained pastor who serves in a multilingual church in Newark, NJ, and trains youth and adults in leadership development. She enjoys developing programs that help others discover their untapped potential. Similarly, Karen is a founding Board Member of Leaders of the 21st Century whose mission is to develop civic-minded youth leaders in urban communities. In 2005, Karen graduated from Seton Hall University with a BA in Psychology and a minor in English. While attending SHU, she founded Haitian Organization Promoting Education (HOPE).In 2015, Karen earned a Master of Divinity degree from Alliance Theological Seminary with a concentration in Church Development. In Karen's spare time, she enjoys cooking, watching movies, and spending time with her family.
Alnisa is the Office Manager at Gateway U, and a proud Newark native. Throughout her life she has always enjoyed giving back to her family and community. She believes it's better to give than to receive, and is always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. She has helped orchestrate multiple community events in the city of Newark. She is one of the founding members of nonprofit organization The Outreach Experience LLC, where she serves as Director of Outreach Coordination. Alnisa also enjoys developing training procedures to help future employees in the workplace have all the tools they need to be successful in their respected job roles.
Maurene Burrell-Harris, MPA was born in the city of Newark, NJ. She is a wife, an author, and a daughter to parents who are natives of Jamaica, West Indies. Maurene believes in the power of advocating for the voiceless, serving and giving back to the community. It is her desire to leave a lasting impact that will influence current and generations to come. Maurene has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in the dual majors of Criminal Justice and Sociology. In addition, she has earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in Leadership of Public Organizations. Both degrees were acquired from Rutgers University.
Diamond brings forth a wealth of practical experience and a deep commitment to supporting youth in their academic, personal, and social growth. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Communications from Kean University, Diamond's educational background is complemented by hands-on experiences in various educational roles. In her role as a 12th-grade English Teacher, she had the pleasure of working with diverse students, each with unique academic and socio-economic backgrounds. This experience allowed her to develop a strong desire to guide and motivate adolescents, not only academically but also in their personal and social endeavors. She firmly believes that education is the key to opening doors for better career opportunities.
Jiovany's identity is deeply rooted in his Taino heritage, strong work ethic, instilled by his parents and fortified by his entrepreneurial endeavors. He is not just a dedicated worker but a visionary leader with a mission to achieve results that break generational curses and secure lasting prosperity. Jiovany's extensive experience ranges from founding and growing a successful business to excelling in high-stakes sales and leadership roles in the telecom industry. He has amassed over $750k in telecom sales as an account manager. As the Founder of Tastebuds Tacos, he turned a modest taco truck into the "Best Tacos in Hoboken" in 2021, generating six-figure revenues and exceeding targets, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jiovany is a leader who believes in the greater good and continually strives to create a positive impact in his work and beyond.
As a lifelong resident of the city of Camden, Shadiyah is intimately aware of the unique financial, academic, and socio-emotional obstacles aspiring Camden city college students encounter on the road to success. Her prior professional experience includes roles as Financial Aid Officer with Temple University, Senior Student Programs Coordinator with the Rutgers University-Camden School of Law, and as College Access Counselor for Project Home. Most recently, Shadiyah spearheaded the design and delivery of wraparound student support services for the Price Family Fellows program at Rutgers University, where she played an instrumental role in project management, budgeting, growth & sustainability. Shadiyah completed her undergraduate studies at Rutgers University-Camden before earning her Masters of Science in Education Leadership & Administration from Nova Southern University.
Sidia leads the charge in providing Camden U students with comprehensive academic support and career counseling services. Previously, as a Teach for America fellow, Sidia served as a Secondary Science teacher for Baltimore City Public Schools. Sidia also served previously served as Secondary Math Special Education Teacher with DC Prep Edgewood Middle School. Sidia is a homegrown product of the Camden city school district. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters in Education Leadership from Johns Hopkins University.
Dominique D. Lee is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Building Resilient Intelligent Creative Kids (BRICK) Education Network. Dominique has been awarded the Leaders and Legends Award for Outstanding Achievement in Early Childhood Education by Programs for Parents, the Russ Berrie Making a Difference award by The Russell Berrie Foundation, and the Young Changemakers Award by the Community Foundation of New Jersey. Previously, Dominique served as a service corps teacher with Teach for America. Dominique received his B.A. in political science from the University of Michigan and his M.A. in education leadership from New York University.
Michele holds over 15 years of experience as a communications and project management professional. Prior to joining the Gateway U board, she led the marketing, student recruitment and development efforts for Marion P. Thomas Charter Schools and the MPTCS Foundation. She honed her project management skills as the associate director of events for ESSENCE magazine, where she worked on a variety of the magazine’s signature events and marketing programs. Michele is a graduate of Howard University, where she received a BA in Journalism, and she holds an MA in Education, Management, Leadership, and Policy from Seton Hall University.
Paymon Rouhanifard is the CEO and co-founder of Propel America, a non-profit organization that empowers young adults with the skills, experiences, credentials, and social networks necessary to transition to a good job with career mobility. Previously, he served as the superintendent of Camden, New Jersey from 2013 to 2018 where he helped lead improvements in student outcomes, reductions in out-of-school suspensions, stronger family engagement, and critical capital investments in school facilities. Rouhanifard started his career in New York City as a 6th grade teacher in West Harlem and went on to work in the central office of the New York City Department of Education.
Mark Comesañas is the Executive Director of My Brother’s Keeper Newark, the policy and advocacy arm of Newark Opportunity Youth Network. Mark is a Newark native with more than 13 years as an educational leader in the city. Before becoming Head of Schools at LEAD Charter School, Mark served as the principal of UPLIFT Academy - formerly known as Fast Track Success Academy - and as a social studies teacher at Luis A. Marin. Along with being a founding Board Member of LEAD, he was also a member of the founding MBK Community Advisory Board. Mark earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University and a Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University. In his spare time, he enjoys coaching basketball and spending time with his wife Leslie and three children Kaitlyn, Jordan, and Jacob.
Diane Adams-White is the Managing Director of the KIPP Through College & Career team for KIPP New Jersey. She leads the high school and alumni counseling departments that support students through their college and post-secondary program application process all the way through their program or degree completion. Prior to joining the KIPP NJ team, Diane served as a Teach for America corps member in Newark where she taught for 4 years at Sussex Avenue School. Diane graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in Psychology and Educational Studies.
Aaron Turner is the Chief Philanthropic Officer at the Community Foundation of New Jersey, where she manages a team that stewards the charitable grantmaking of over 1,100 fundholders who contributed more than $150 million to worthy causes in 2022. Previously, Turner served as the Senior Program Officer at the MCJ Amelior Foundation, where she managed the education portfolio of investments in Newark. Prior to joining MCJ, Turner worked as a Program Officer at the Foundation for Newark’s Future, and she also served for eight years at the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) in a variety of leadership roles. Before joining the NYCDOE, she managed national children’s literacy grants and campaigns at Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and traveled the country to monitor and support program implementation in schools and communities. Turner’s commitment to education equity began after college as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where she served as a literacy tutor and school-to-family liaison to help bridge the gap between school and home learning. Turner lives in Morristown, New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and three rescue dogs.
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