Take a walk around the University Center on any given weekday, and you’re sure to see them: lovebirds. Students stand in pairs—waiting at the Starbucks counter, studying, playing pool—all with that certain closeness or look in their eyes that hints at something more.
Countless couples occupy Seton Hall’s campus, each with a unique love story. Here are those stories from the college sweethearts themselves.
Bri and Sean Become More Than Friends
Sean Jean-Francois and Brianna Beck sit in the Fahy TV studio, where Beck worked when they first met | Photo by Lianna Cruz | The Setonian
When Brianna “Bri” Beck asked fellow senior visual and sound media major Sean Jean-Francois out two months ago, the last thing she wanted to do was leave room for confusion.
“Do you want to go out on a date this weekend?” Beck had asked.
Beck and Jean-Francois had been friends for over a year at that point, but things were clearly escalating. By the time Beck asked Jean-Francois out on a date, it had already been six months of them “being way too close to be friends, but also not officially together,” Beck said.
The film students met in the fall of their junior year. Beck was a student employee at the TV studio, and Jean-Francois stopped by to check out some equipment.
From there, the two frequently collaborated on film sets, where Jean-Francois noticed Beck’s strong contributions.
Jean-Francois recalled a moment early on in their friendship when Beck helped him out with a film project that was going poorly.
“She barely knew me, and she was still down to come, even though it was a train wreck at that point,” Jean-Francois said. “And she came back the following weekend too, to reshoot the entire project.”
Beck was not the only one putting in the effort as she recalled a special moment from a restaurant date.
“I remember at one point I didn’t have my glasses, and he read the entire menu out loud for me because I couldn’t see,” Beck said.
The two shared “good chemistry” from day one, according to Beck.
Beck admired Jean-Francois’s confidence, while Jean-Francois appreciated Beck’s willingness to assert herself. Similarly, dark senses of humor sealed the deal on Beck and Jean-Francois’s journey to becoming more than friends.
When it comes to helping other SHU students navigate relationships, Beck’s advice is simple.
“I think that you have to be friends first in every relationship,” Beck said.
Rachel and Ethan’s Instant Spark
Ethan Kassai and Rachel Baumann stand in the Richie Regan Recreation and Athletic Center, where they frequently work out together | Photo by Lianna Cruz | The Setonian
Rachel Baumann, a junior social work and philosophy major, met Ethan Kassai, a junior finance and technology major, when they were paired up for a project in their freshman leadership class at the Buccino Leadership Institute.
Baumann immediately noticed Kassai’s approachability.
“When we were complete strangers, he very much talked to me like he was talking to a close friend,” Baumann said.
Kassai was initially excited by Baumann’s love for CrossFit, which she also said she enjoyed, during a class icebreaker. When they began working together, he came to see Baumann as hardworking, kind and caring.
“As the relationship evolved, I think I just find more and more that I love about [her],” Kassai said.
They had an instant spark—something Kassai and Baumann hadn’t felt in the potential relationships they were both exploring at the time.
“It was very weird how they very quickly fell away when we met each other,” Baumann said. “Suddenly, the other connections that we had been considering exploring just didn’t matter.”
After some back-and-forth flirtation, Baumann finally took the step of putting a label on things. They made their relationship official, going on their first date at BGR (Burgers Grilled Right) that same day.
Once dating, Baumann and Kassai found just what they were looking for in each other.
For Baumann, it was important to find someone who could be a “support system.” As a busy double major, Baumann is grateful for Kassai’s ability to help her “take a breath.”
Kassai was looking for reassurance. Past relationships had made Kassai “closed off and anxious,” but Baumann’s support and understanding helped him work through those anxieties.
Now coming up on two years together, Baumann and Kassai continue to find things they admire about each other.
“I love that he always has a smile on his face,” Baumann said. When things go wrong, Kassai’s positive attitude is a “light in the room” for Baumann.
Kassai loves Baumann’s work ethic.
“You work until it gets done,” Kassai said to Baumann. “You’re always coming up with new ideas, new ways to solve problems.”
When it comes to balancing a relationship with work and school, Baumann stressed the importance of valuing any time spent together, no matter how long. For Kassai, “understanding what the other person needs” helps them overcome stressful situations.
Things aren’t always perfect between the two.
“There have been some serious moments when we’ve butted heads,” Baumann said.
Even in tough times, they make the choice to love each other every morning, Kassai said.
“If you love a person enough and that person loves you, you can get through anything,” Baumann said.
Kenny and Millie’s International Love Story
When Kenneth “Kenny” Roman and Amelia “Millie” Mead traveled to Liverpool, England, for a study abroad trip, neither of them expected it to spark a relationship lasting over 2 and a half years.
Roman, now a senior marketing major, was struck by how comfortable he felt around Mead.
“I was able to be myself around her,” Roman said.
Mead, a senior studying finance, marketing and wealth management, was drawn in by their shared humor.
“He had a cute laugh,” Mead said.
Mead picked up on Roman’s interest in her while in Liverpool, but she was unsure if it would turn into something real.
“At first, I was like ‘Oh, he got other girls,’” Mead said.
She was excited when the trip ended, and Roman continued showing signs of interest.
After returning home, Mead suggested hanging out again. Roman planned a trip to New York, where they got Korean barbecue, visited a floating park, and took a walk along the East River. While walking along the river, Roman gifted Mead a necklace. It was their first date.
Now, Roman and Mead have become constants in each other’s lives. They spend a lot of time at Mead’s house—playing Roblox, watching Instagram reels and cooking.
“Simple stuff,” Roman said. “But we enjoy it because we’re together.”
Roman and Mead particularly value each other’s listening abilities.
While Roman doesn’t get stressed often, he finds that Mead’s listening “just kind of takes [the stress] away.”
For Mead, validation is especially important.
“I feel like a lot of people will try to give me answers when I know the answer,” Mead said. “I just want someone to listen and validate, which Kenny does really well.”
When Mead stresses out over studying, Roman talks her down.
“He always says, ‘Who ends up on top?’” Mead said. “And I’m like, ‘Me.’”
After years together, Roman and Mead have learned a lot from each other.
“I’ve become more aware of how I say stuff,” Mead said. She also places more value on other people’s perspectives.
Roman, on the other hand, credits Mead with helping him improve his “people skills” and inspiring him to plan for the future.
He urges other people in relationships to “enjoy the little things” and “be transparent with one another.”
For those at SHU looking for love, Mead had her own words of advice.
“Be yourself, “ Mean said. “Give love—that person will be there, and it might just take a minute.”
Kasey and Julio: High School Sweethearts
Julio Urena and Kasey Zelaya sit in a study room in Walsh Library, where they like to spend time between classes | Photo by Lianna Cruz | The Setonian
After starting their relationship as seniors in high school, Kasey Zelaya and Julio Urena made the decision to continue their schooling together at SHU.
Zelaya, a sophomore diplomacy and international relations major, was the quiet type in high school. Urena, a sophomore accounting major, took notice.
“We were in a school where a lot of people were loud and obnoxious,” Urena explained. “I saw her and she was quiet and to herself. It really stood out to me.”
Zelaya felt a similar pull to Urena. After developing “trust issues” from past relationships, it felt nice to encounter a genuine connection.
“I didn’t feel like my time was being wasted,” Zelaya said.
The two became friends, and Urena asked Zelaya out. They ate Wingstop and went to the park for their first date—the first time they had spent time together without their other friends around.
Now as college students, Zelaya and Urena depend heavily on good communication to balance their relationship with school obligations.
In stressful moments, Zelaya appreciates Urena’s ability to be understanding.
“Not only does it make me feel more safe and secure, but it also just proves how strong our relationship can be,” Zelaya said.
Urena, on the other hand, likes that he can be vulnerable with Zelaya. When Urena feels upset, “[Zelaya’s] presence itself is enough.”
After two years in a relationship, Zelaya has learned how to overcome her past relationship trauma.
“It’s okay to put my guard down and be myself,” Zelaya said.
For Urena, being in a relationship has taught him about the importance of compromise and letting things go.
“Swallow your pride,” Urena said.
Angie and Dom Find Love on Set
Dominick Valentine and Angelina Diaco sit in the university center Starbucks, where they first spent time together outside of Pirate TV | Photo by Lianna Cruz | The Setonian
Angelina “Angie” Diaco was getting ready to host an episode of “Hall Talk” for Pirate TV (now SHU TV) when Dominick “Dom” Valentine first approached her.
Valentine, a sophomore visual and sound media major at the time, was at the studio to record a social media campaign. He walked over to shake Diaco’s hand.
“She doesn’t even look at me,” Valentine said. “I thought she was completely uninterested in me.”
That disinterest turned out to be nerves.
Diaco was a freshman visual and sound media major, and she was new to being on air.
“I was really nervous,” Diaco explained.
Beyond adjusting to the anchoring role, Diaco felt nervous to meet Valentine in person. The two had previously exchanged messages on Instagram, and while Diaco was interested in Valentine, she wasn’t prepared to meet him.
Luckily, the nerves didn’t last long.
Later that day, while filming man-on-the-street interviews together, Diaco expressed interest in joining Blue Crew. Valentine, an ambassador, sent Diaco the application link on Snapchat.
“I didn’t even open it, and I was like ‘Oh, [the link] didn’t work,’” Diaco said.
That was Diaco’s plan to get Valentine to exchange phone numbers. It worked, and they began making plans to hang out again that night.
The connection was instant. Diaco planned their first hangout—a trip to the University Center’s Starbucks, where they discussed their lives and families. For their first official date, the pair walked to the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) to see a “Trolls” movie.
Now in their junior and senior years, Diaco and Valentine are busier than ever. Still, they make a point to prioritize their relationship, which both described as the “best part” of their college experiences.
“My alone is with Dom,” Diaco said. “I’m so busy that when I have downtime, I spend it with him.”
They also continue to bring out the best in each other.
“Ange will always encourage me to do the right thing,” Valentine said.
While Diaco said that Valentine “being so hardworking makes [her] want to work hard.”
Between heavy workloads and previously unmet expectations, Valentine and Diaco weren’t looking for love. However, they said that the “invisible string” of fate drew them together.
“It’ll find you when you least expect it,” Valentine said.
Lianna Cruz is the assistant photographer for The Setonian. She can be reached at lianna.cruz@student.shu.edu.
