What does it truly mean to be a leader? Is it possible for one to set a standard for themselves and strive persistently to meet it? For Kenneth Notarino-Jeffrey, leadership is not temporary nor a title, but a daily practice, pieced together and structured by challenge, triumph, and the ability to uplift others. Kenneth’s story unfolds not overnight, but with a gradual persistence of light—steady, certain, and bright.
Kenneth’s earliest memories begin in the heart of West Haven, where hope and hardship both kept steady beats. Raised by his mother, Angela Jeffrey, and siblings by his side, he grew up distant from much of his extended family—both by physical and emotional barriers— he became aware of his resiliency at an early age. “You can come from a not so perfect life and pull yourself up,” his mother, reflected, remembering how Kenneth, on his first day of kindergarten, befriended a terrified classmate without hesitation or anyone’s cue. A true act of kindness that foreshadowed how he would show up for others—without hesitation, and without any cues.
Growing up with siblings Chuck and Bianca, he learned that sometimes forging your own path means trusting your instincts, even when life tells you to pivot. Everything was set in motion at an early age: when the world said “go,” Kenneth could already envision the finish line.
For Kenneth, a challenge was never a setback; it was the fuel that drove his purpose. During his senior year at the University of New Haven there was a global pandemic, and all throughout the chaos, he fell into a financial hardship. He tackled extra jobs while attending part-time, paying tuition out of pocket to make his December 2021 graduation come to fruition—a test of his will and resourcefulness. Even as the ground caved in, he stayed present for children in New Haven, facilitating virtual activities and lending an ear. He was a guiding hand in a world isolated by screens and uncertainty.
There is a saying that Kenneth created: “If you don’t dot your I’s and cross your T’s, you’ll be left with big and little L’s.” He lives by his words—each action with intention and showcasing possibly where others see limits. His leadership is a beacon: guiding others’ paths, casting away shadows, and highlighting others to feel seen and valued.
Kenneth doesn’t shy away from a storm; he is the lighthouse. “Kenneth is both fearless and compassionate, using his voice to uplift others and drive impactful progress,” said Frankie Roman, his big brother in their fraternity, Latino America Unida (LAU). In addition to being one of his mentors, he was also a former coworker at LEAP, Inc. in New Haven—a place where Kenneth once started as a junior counselor and left as Director of Children’s Programming. From there, his journey brought him to the University of New Haven again, but this time as Assistant Director at the Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion, where he not only showed up, but stood up.
Patterns of praise are present wherever Kenneth’s impact lands. Jade Roman, his current coworker, described him as “the backbone of our center,” noting his instinct to step in, cultivate a sense of belonging, and champion students who were otherwise overlooked. “Kenneth’s courageous leadership in times of uncertainty motivates me to keep going,” she shared—tension transformed into hope.
Timothy Prince details the turbulence Kenneth faced: “Balancing graduate school, an Achilles injury, and the loss of a director, he remained a steady and uplifting presence … a privilege to work alongside someone whose passion and positivity are so deeply rooted in purpose—it’s nothing short of inspiring.”
To students, Kenneth is more than an authority figure; he is the rare kind of mentor whose example reshapes their own knowledge of what is possible. “Whenever I tell myself that I can’t do something, that it would be impossible for anyone to, I sit there and think that Kenny probably could. So, then I drag myself out of bed, and do it. Because if Kenny’s out there doing it, then maybe one day I can also be a Kenny,” said one soon-to-graduate mentee, who now aspires to live life without compromise to authenticity or morals.
Another student adds, “Kenny is a wonderful boss and friend. He always strives to create community … I think we all consider him to be a wonderful uncle to us all at the Myatt. It truly would not be possible to have the Myatt Center as it is now without Kenny.” Through creative programming and direct outreach, his leadership leaves a legacy—the kind that remains after the applause fades.
Kenneth traces his personal code to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Success,” which he took to heart as a Hermano of LAU, and believes “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything”—with lasting wisdom he strives to embody and inspire in others. His drive, as his mother remembers, springs not from a need for recognition, but from the thought that “you can come from a not so perfect life and pull yourself up.”
His own words function as both a rulebook and a rallying cry—his life, a living metaphor for a leader’s craft: careful with details, bold in repairs, undaunted by revision, always building something stronger for others to inherit.
Kenneth Notarino-Jeffery was forged in adversity, honed by compassion, and expresses himself through service—never stepping away from tension but pulling strength from it. From West Haven streets to the halls of the University of New Haven, his is a story crafted with threads of community, advocacy, and personal integrity. In the words of those closest to him—family, friends, fraternity, coworkers, and students—Kenny’s legacy is not solely in achievement, but inspiring others that they can achieve too.
And perhaps, I am biased—after all, I plan to marry this man next year. But to that point, I do stand for something: the best kind of leader is the one who builds more leaders, who makes others feel their own story is worthy of being written in big, bold letters. With Kenneth, we do not just see success—we learn what it means to live it.
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