Mark E. Lender
Award-winning author, historian, and professor emeritus, Dr. Mark Edward Lender dedicated nearly three decades of his career to Kean University.
When reflecting upon his career, Dr. Lender shared the following, "Historians never retire and the book is never closed." These words couldn't be truer from a man who has authored, or co-authored, twelve books on American history and who is currently working on two new titles, one of them an invited volume in anticipation of the U.S. Army's 250 th Anniversary which will be celebrated in 2025. He also is a member of the advisory panel for the major exhibit the National Army Museum is planning for the Army's role in the War for Independence.
There is no doubt that Dr. Lender's love of American history was inspired at a young age. As a child, Dr. Lender's family vacations often focused on visiting historical locations around the country. One of his favorite memories was of when he ended up lost on a family trip while exploring the grounds at Fort Ticonderoga. He was only twelve years old at the time, but this experience was so impactful that it helped to inspire his authorship of Fort Ticonderoga, The Last Campaigns: The War in the North, 1777-1783 . Published in May of 2022, the book is now a finalist for the Distinguished Writing Award from the Army Historical Foundation. Lender has already won this award for a previous book, Fatal Sunday: George Washington, the Monmouth Campaign, and the Politics of Battle (2017), which also was a finalist for the Washington Literary Prize, one of the nation's most prestigious awards for history.
In addition to his family trips, Dr. Lender also attributes his great interest in the American Revolutionary War to the fact that he grew up in New Jersey ญญ- where more military action during the took place during the war than anywhere else in the country. It should be noted that Dr. Lender is not only an American historian, but he also served in the U.S. Army Reserves, receiving an honorable discharge as captain.
Throughout his career, Dr. Lender had a meaningful influence on countless students. One of his previous students who he remembers well is Dr. Brian Regal. Dr. Regal currently serves as Associate Professor of History at Kean University and has authored several scholarly books. Dr. Lender had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Regal join the History Department while serving as department chair. Lender also mentored close to a dozen students through their theses in the old Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program.
Similarly, Dr. Lender is grateful for the friendship and collegial relationship he has had with Dr. Frank Esposito, a Distinguished Professor of History and Education at Kean University, dating back to their time as doctoral students at Rutgers University. It was Dr. Esposito who personally recruited Dr. Lender to Kean in 1982.
In addition to his role as a Professor of History, Dr. Lender served in several key roles at Kean including Director of Research and Sponsored Programs, Dean of the Nathan Weiss Graduate College, Chairman of the History Department, and interim Vice President for Academic Affairs before retiring in 2011.
Through a generous spirit and wise financial planning, Dr. Lender and his wife, Penny Booth Page, made a life income gift in support of the Kean University Foundation which will have a significant impact on future students at Kean.
Undoubtedly, the couple shares a deep love and passion for higher education. Ms. Page retired from Rutgers University as librarian emerita and has also authored several books. In addition to their lifelong contributions to academia, civic engagement, and philanthropic support, they strongly believe in the importance of providing opportunities for scholarship to future generations. This belief inspired them to make a planned gift in support of Kean University, thereby granting them membership in the Kean Medallion Society .