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SCOSA Director David Burdick is professor of psychology, gerontology, and sustainability studies. He joined the Stockton faculty in 1984 after receiving his BA in psychology and environmental studies from Alfred University (1977), MA (1980) and PhD (1983) in geropsychology from the University of Notre Dame. His community-focused career was cultivated as a staff member in Notre Dame’s Center for Gerontological Education, Research, and Services (GERAS) and strengthened by a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Applied Gerontology with the Gerontological Society of America in 1984. In 2005 he and Professor Linda Wharton led Stockton and community partners through a year-long “Journey Towards Democracy” project funded by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, designed to increase Stockton’s intentionality and focus upon civic engagement and community partnerships. He serves on the advisory committee of the Stockton Center for Community Engagement and on the Stockton Foundation's Scholarship Selection Committee, where he recently stepped down as co-chair.

A regular contributor to several community efforts as a board member, trustee, or consultant, he has held leadership positions for various state and national organizations. He was selected by Governor Christine Todd Whitman in 1995 as a Delegate to the White House Conference on Aging and facilitated a day-long session on “Quality of Life” for the NJ Delegation. A former president of the Society on Aging of New Jersey, he received the Society's Gerontologist of the Year Award in 1997. His scholarly interests center on intergenerational relationships and technology and aging. His scholarly work/publications include a co-edited book entitled Gerotechnology: Research and practice in technology and aging (Springer, 2005), Guest Editor of a Special Issue on Accreditation in Gerontology for the Journal of Gerontology & Geriatrics Education (2012), and co-authored chapters on technology and long-term care in two recent books: (Furphy, K., Lindstrom-Hazel, D., & Burdick, D. (2013). Assistive technology and older adults. In Barney, K. F. & Perkinson, M. A. (Eds.). Occupational Therapy with Aging Adults: Enhancing Quality of Life through Collaborative Practice. London, San Diego: Elsevier, Inc.; Kutzik, D. & Burdick, D. C. (2015). Use of technology in long-term care. In Yee-Melichar, D, Cabigao, E. P. & Flores, C. M. (Ed.s). Long-Term Care Administration & Management: Options, Issues and Trends in Eldercare. NY: Springer.

Dr. Burdick has served two terms on the Executive Committee of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education where he is currently co-chair of the Advancement Committee. He is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) and  serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics Education and the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships.

Burdick received the Dr. Harvey Kesselman Community Impact Award from Stockton University in 2017 and the Clark Tibbitts Award for Outstanding Contribution to Gerontological Education from the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education of the GSA in 2019. 

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Dr. Ferri, is the Assistant Director, and Education Chair for the Stockton Center on Successful Aging, and Coordinator of Gerontological Studies, is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Stockton University. She joined the Stockton faculty in 2005 after earning a B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers, a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Duke University and completing a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Geropsychology at the UMDNJ School of Osteopathic Medicine. She served as Co-Vice President for Education of the Society on Aging of New Jersey from 2008-08, and has been faculty advisor to Stockton’s Chapter of the Psi Chi Honor Society in Psychology.

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Gina earned her Masters in Social Work from Monmouth University and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology & Anthropology from Stockton.  Gina is a Stockton Gerontology Adjunct Instructor. Her areas of expertise include: Counseling, Research, Community Outreach, Biopsychosocial Assessments, and HIPAA Compliance. 

Dr. Rose is Professor Emerita at Widener University and is currently an adjunct professor of psychology and health science at Stockton University. She has taught a variety of classes in the field of psychology with primary interests in developmental psychology. Dr. Rose’s research focus has been on understanding the development of memory, studying individuals from infancy to older adulthood. She currently works in the Stockton Center on Successful Aging championing the age-friendly university initiative.

Patricia W. Collins (Trish) is currently the Community Engagement Liaison for Stockton University Center for Community Engagement (SCCE) and Adjunct Instructor at Stockton University and has worked at the institution since 1999. In her role as Community Engagement Liaison, she assists in the coordination between Stockton (SCCE) and other community engagement initiatives on campus (i.e. Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA) to ensure effective communication and resource sharing, and special projects that align with Stockton University priorities. Prior to this appointment, she was the Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff and Board Liaison, Office of the President. In addition, she is serving in her fourth term as the President of Stockton University’s Council of Black Faculty and Staff (CBFS), and serves on numerous on-campus ad-hoc committees.

Trish is the recipient of multiple awards including the 2017 Community Service Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Atlantic City Chapter, Burlington-Camden Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi’s African-American Woman Achiever’s Award in Higher Education, and The Council of Black Faculty and Staff’s Merit Recipient Award.

Trish graduated with honors from Ashford University with a Master of Arts in Organizational Management (concentration in Human Resources); and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Forbes School of Business.

Pam Puerto is a native of New Orleans, LA, and has  been living in New Jersey now for 27 years. Her professional back ground includes forming part of the Resource Development team for United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey where she was the Giving Officer and worked with many southern NJ agencies and the community in the Atlantic, Cape and Cumberland counties. Prior to this position, she worked with the Atlantic City School district as a school secretary. The casino industry was my first career choice upon moving to New Jersey where I learned the majority of my work skills and most importantly honing in on my people person skills. Pam enjoys meeting new people and networking to establish long lasting relationships throughout our community. 

Pearl (Peppy) Margolis received her Master's of Arts from the Department of Social Sciences with a specialized degree in Jewish/Christian Studies and Holocaust History at Seton Hall University. She also earned a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Education from The College of New Jersey. Peppy also has a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language and taught English as a Second Language in at an International School in Germany and to Adult Students earning their High School Diplomas in New Jersey.

As Director of Community Programs at Raritan Valley Community College, Peppy led three Institutes: The Life Long Learning Institute. The Paul Robeson Institute of Black Studies, and The Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Peppy wrote NJ’s First Elementary K-8 Holocaust and Genocides Curriculum: Caring Makes A Difference and produced three films about the impact of The Holocaust and Genocides on families of Survivors. As a member of the New Jersey State Holocaust Commission, Peppy was a Teacher Trainer of the New Jersey Curriculum on Holocaust Education. As A Temporary Employment Specialist (TES) with SCOSA, she will plan and/or present a variety of SCOSA programs.

Over the last 6 years, Don Swenson has worked to make art more accessible to the greater community.  In 2016, he started Free Art Friday Hammonton, which encourages artists to donate pieces free from commerce to lucky “art hunters” in the community.  To date Free Art Friday Hammonton has placed over 200 free pieces into the community.  Don is also president and co-founder in 2020 of Art Club Hammonton, which has curated several gallery shows, produced The Hammonton Arts and Music Festival, and hosted bi-monthly drawing sessions. 

In addition to his community efforts, Don is a trained scenic designer, whose work has been seen throughout the tri-state area, and a fine artist, who explores themes of isolation. Don will assist SCOSA in developing and presenting programs in the Cape May County Senior Centers, in Hammonton, as well as our other program locations. 

Dr. Cox, is a Professor of Social Work at Stockton University. She joined the Stockton faculty in 1999 after earning a double major in History/Political Science & Spanish from Bridgewater College (VA). Dr. Cox received her MSW, Graduate Certificate in Aging Studies, and her Ph.D. in Social Work and Social Policy from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Social Work and School of Allied Health. She has served as the National Association of Social Workers liaison to the Joint Commission on Long-Term Care. In addition to her clinical social work and medication adherence research interests; she also studies the intersection of health issues with gerontology, spirituality, and family. She edited a book entitled “Narratives of Positive Aging: Recipes for Success” published by Cognella Academic Publishing, which is used in courses taught at Stockton University.  In addition, Dr. Cox routinely teaches an undergraduate course entitled “Aging & Spirituality” and a graduate course entitled “Clinical Gerontological Social Work Practice.”

Duo (Helen) Wei is an associate professor of Computer Science in the School of Business and affiliated faculty for Master of Science in Data Science & Strategic Analytics at Stockton University. She has been a visiting professor at Columbia University and visiting research fellow at the National Library of Medicine. Her research focuses on knowledge discovery & representation, medical terminologies, and ontology-based data analytics.

Dr. Wei has been a member of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) for 14 years and currently serves as co-chair of the Women in AMIA (WIA) Mentoring, Networking, and LifeCycle Committee and a member of WIA Steering Committee. Dr. Wei recently published, ” Assessing perceived effectiveness of career development efforts led by the women in American Medical Informatics Association Initiative" in the Journal of American Medical Informatics Association (Impact factor: 7.942).  This publication was the collaborative work of faculty from Washington University, the University of Utah, Harvard Medical School, Saint Louis University, Arizona State University, Mayo Clinic, and industry members. The publication can be accessed via PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35773963/.