Assistant Professor Efthimia “Effie” N. Christie Celebrates 20 Years at Kean with Gift to the College of Education
September 24, 2026
After two decades on the Kean University faculty, Assistant Professor Efthimia “Effie” N. Christie, Ed.D., marked the milestone with a gift to the Kean University Foundation benefiting the Dean’s Fund for the College of Education.
“The University has contributed a great deal to my growth,” Christie said. “There is a spectacular amount of support from the administration and my colleagues to do the things I want to do, and I learn as much from my students as they learn from me.”
Christie cited her appreciation for the leadership of Sancha K. Gray, Ed.D., acting dean of the College of Education and senior vice president for entrepreneurial education initiatives, as the inspiration behind her gift.
“Sancha is a go-getter who is pursuing focused goals, in part by making collaborative inroads within the university to help our department become more transformational,” she said.
Gray expressed appreciation for Christie’s philanthropy in support of the College of Education’s new, transformational direction, stating that her commitment as a two‑time chair of the educational leadership program is especially noteworthy.
“Dr. Christie brings valuable insight to the classroom,” Gray said. “Our students benefit from the perspective she provides.”
Justin Talavera, a Kean University Foundation philanthropy officer, said Christie’s generosity “affirms her deep belief in supporting Kean students, ensuring that they have the opportunity, encouragement and support they need to make a lasting impact of their own.”
In addition to creating courses, conducting research and teaching, Christie recently published a book with students from one of her doctoral classes, Political Policy Analysis. Titled Democracy at Risk: How U.S. Political Policies and Educational Platforms Cultivated the Thinking and Actions of the Insurrectionists, the book was released in August 2025.
Prior to joining Kean, Christie was one of the first women to serve as a school superintendent in New Jersey. She helped two districts navigate state takeovers and coordinated the Department of Education’s Urban Initiative to improve the basic skills of children in underserved districts. As a bilingual education expert, Christie testified in the historic Abbott v. Burke trial that boosted state funding for urban schools.
She holds a B.S. in secondary education from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. and Ed.D. from Seton Hall University in educational administration and supervision.
Outside the classroom, Christie has been active in the choirs of two Greek Orthodox churches, plays the violin, has exhibited her oil paintings, has sung in several operas and is fluent in Greek. She also enjoys spending time with her three daughters and seven grandchildren.
“The more we're involved in, the more well-rounded we become,” she said. “We can apply what we learn to everything we do.”