Global Learning & Engagement

Study Abroad Fairs Inspire Students to Think Globally

According to the Office of Global Engagement, the idea that studying abroad is an experience exclusive to the most privileged of students is not only a myth but a harmful one at that.

“I want students to know that education abroad can be accessible, affordable and for every student,” said Patricia Sagasti Suppes, the office’s director.

She made her point by simply gesturing to the jam-packed hallway of the Campus Center, where the Fall 2024 Study Abroad Fair took place. Tables lined the hallways as students perused and received resources from representatives of different education abroad agencies, including Semester at Sea and the Center for International Studies.

The meeting rooms hosted workshops that explored topics including passport and visa processes, programs that enable students and faculty to study abroad – such as the Benjamin A. Gilman and Fulbright programs – and how to advise students on best practices as a staff or faculty member.

Students like Kira Brown from Marlboro, New York, and Oluwashefunmi Ajayi-Joseph from Lindenwold had the opportunity to consider the logistics of studying abroad and how best it would fit into their college careers.

What began as a way for the Office of Global Engagement to streamline information gathering for Stockton students interested in studying abroad has transformed into a centralized and comprehensive hub encompassing all of the resources and programs available to students.

Just like the fair in September, students explored the tables lining the hallways of the Campus Center to find programs that best suited their interests at the Spring 2025 Study Abroad Fair. Amidst the information and resources were chances to win giveaways, such as a raffle for a new suitcase or a free T-shirt after spinning a prize wheel.

Study abroad options, like the faculty-led programming that takes students to Ghana, South Africa, and Greece, were manned by students and faculty who joined previous excursions, like Criminal Justice major Isabella Campione, who vlogged her time in Italy and Ireland, and Environmental Science major Jayden Hamlet, who visited Ghana through the program just last year.

As someone who possesses an innate adventurousness, Hamlet is hopeful that his role in the fair will encourage students to consider studying abroad.

“As soon as we touched down in Africa, I already knew that I would gain a lot of experiences and a lot of memories from this, and I wanted to share that with the school community,” said Hamlet, who had previously described his study in Ghana as “transformative.”

 

Students Gain Unique Perspectives, Insights on Taiwan Study Course

Through Stockton University’s continued partnership with National Chiayi University in Taiwan, 10 students from the Schools of Education and Business had the opportunity to travel to southern Taiwan for a week of learning and teaching last December.

The students were accompanied by Stockton’s Director of Global Engagement Patricia Sagasti Suppes; Interim Dean for the School of Education Kimberly Dickerson; and faculty members Chia-Lin Wu, Norma Boakes and Pam Kosick.

While the students stayed with the faculty members, Sagasti Suppes and Dickerson met with their counterparts at NCYU to discuss the various ways in which they plan to develop more opportunities for students and faculty to "participate in these productive cultural exchanges."

"These collaborations will include joint research, visits in both directions and exchanging students for semester-long study," Sagasti Suppes said.

During their study course, the students gained valuable classroom experience. They observed typical classroom management strategies in two local elementary schools and then gave lessons on basic math, physical education and American culture.

According to Wu, who led the inaugural faculty-led program to Taiwan in 2017 and has continued to lead it, the study course presented an opportunity for reciprocal learning relationships between Stockton’s students and the students of NCYU.

For Abby Winterbottom, an Education major who has visited Taiwan twice, the experience – particularly of observing lessons – was revelatory, as it showed her firsthand what it is like for a student to experience a school lesson in a language they’re not fluent in.

“It was extremely difficult and even impossible for me to understand what was happening if Dr. Wu and other faculty had not translated the lesson for me,” Winterbottom said. “From that, I learned how important it is to use visuals and different methods of teaching when I have students in my future classroom whose native language is not English.”

Four Stockton Students Earn Gilman Scholarships for Global Study

Four Stockton University students expanded their horizons this past academic year thanks to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a U.S. Department of State program that enables Pell Grant recipients to study abroad.

Seniors Abu Shahariah and Avery Garlic spent the previous summer in Japan, while juniors Shakila Riaz and Victoria Ottinger studied in Morocco and Italy, respectively.

Shahariah, a Computer Information Systems major, and Garlic, a Fine Arts major, connected with Stockton’s Office of Global Engagement to learn about study abroad opportunities. Director Patricia Sagasti Suppes encouraged them to apply for the Gilman Scholarship — and both were thrilled to win.

“Part of me felt like I was missing something in my college experience,” Shahariah said. “When I learned I’d received the Gilman award, I knew it was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” 

Garlic recalled reading the acceptance email in disbelief: “I read it… and then I read it again… and then I read it for a third time. I was shook, but so happy.”

In Japan, they learned hiragana, practiced draping yukata, visited the Meiji Shrine, bathed in an onsen hot spring, and explored Tokyo Tower. Shahariah said the highlight was connecting with local students and peers from around the world.

This summer, Riaz, a Literature major and Anthropology minor, traveled to Rabat, Morocco, to study language, society and culture. “The Gilman Scholarship is the key that’s opening a door I’ve knocked on my whole life,” she said. Ottinger, a Business Administration major, studied international business and marketing in Florence, Italy, building her Italian skills and exploring her heritage.

Suppes praised the students, noting that their success reflects the accessibility and transformative power of global education. More than 70% of Gilman Scholars come from rural or small-town backgrounds, and 55% are first-generation college students.

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Commitment to Career Readiness

Career Fairs Connect Students with Opportunities

Over 1,100 Stockton students printed out resumes and pulled out their most professional outfits for a day of networking and pitching at the biannual Career & Internship Fair on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in the Sports Center.

According to Sofia Abreu ’11, director of Career Education & Development (CED), the fall fair exceeded every goal they set. By 11 a.m., over 300 students made their way through the doors to weave through the tables of over 120 different companies. She expressed gratitude for how supportive and enthusiastic companies were leading up to the fair.

The feeling is mutual – recruiters such as Courtney Jefferson from Spring Oak Senior Living praised the CED team for being a “source of support” for students.

The recruitment and onboarding specialist led a “Working Wednesdays” workshop in the Campus Center just a day before and was able to offer words of wisdom and advice on how to navigate the fair.

“I absolutely loved ‘Working Wednesdays,’ because even if we’re not the right fit for a student, being able to add value to their resumes, roleplaying interviews and helping them build confidence as a recruiter keeps me fulfilled,” Jefferson said.

“Right now, we’re looking for students passionate about people and life. We offer many opportunities for growth, and we’re willing to train. We just need to find the right fit.”  

It’s a great thing that she’ll meet students such as Roberto Vega, a Computer Science major who is eager to embark on his career journey, and Kathlyne Casimir ‘21, an alumna of the Health Science program who is looking to transition from her current industry and remote work position.

“The fair has been awesome! There’s a lot of opportunities here that I can partake in and I’ll, hopefully, land a job with one of these companies,” Vega said. “I’ve only been to four tables so far: GovTech, ASRC, Spencer’s and Withum. They’ve all definitely piqued my interest.”

The spring fair, held March 4, teemed with more than 100 employers ready to connect with more than 1,000 Ospreys. Spring Oak Senior Living returned to recruit students and to sponsor the fair for a third time.

“What I really love about this event is that I have the opportunity to, not only speak to students about Spring Oak, but I also have the opportunity to speak to them about their actual career paths. I have the opportunity to, as a recruiter, recommend what path they should pursue and offer resume, social media and LinkedIn tips,” said Jefferson.

“Honestly, this environment and community is an amazing opportunity to optimize networking, and you just never know how you're going to land your next gig,” Jefferson continued.

Other returning employers, Evolution and AtlantiCare, shared the same sentiments, adding that they enjoyed their interactions with the students they met.

“We've worked with Stockton lots in the past and continue to build our relationship with them,” Kate Mchedlishvili of Evolution said. “This fair is great not only for us but for the students, and the quality of students that Stockton has is just top tier. We look to continue this relationship for a long time.”

Camp Jumpstarts Future Business, Entrepreneurial Careers

“So, who in here currently owns a stock?”

Only a couple of hands were hesitantly raised in the lecture room on the Stockton University Atlantic City campus among the group of 25 rising high school juniors and seniors.

Presenter Dylan Gutowski listened closely to the students’ answers – “I think I have stock in Starbucks!” and “I’m not sure what it’s called.” Soon, the quiet room filled with cheering and clapping as students played a virtual stock exchange game that simulated the high stakes and fast pace of trading in the stock market.

When the students from across New Jersey weren’t diversifying their stock portfolios, they were exploring the campus, learning the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship from local business leaders, and participating in a business plan competition through the weeklong Summer Entrepreneurship and Business Academy (SEBA).

It was through SEBA that Gutowski of Rockland, New York, developed entrepreneurial savvy and relationship-building skills that landed him an internship with the camp just a year after winning the business plan competition.

The 16-year-old spread awareness of the academy at high schools throughout the state and spent the week supporting students in the business plan competition and sharing his own experiences.

“It's really cool to be able to help these students and kind of give back to a program that gave so much to me,” Gutowski said. “It's also a really diverse group; like, some people are building websites for their plans, and others are designing logos, or they're doing heavy research. There are so many different talents here, and a (successful) business needs the things that each person brings to the table. (SEBA) is a really cool team-building experience where you get to focus on using your talents for the bigger picture.”

Mark Rizzo, director of the NJ Small Business Development Center at Stockton, shared the same sentiments about the students. This is the second year that Rizzo has given a presentation to SEBA participants on the many resources available to small businesses.

“What they're doing here is pretty awesome – I like to see young students who want to understand and want to learn, and if they have the willingness to do this for a week, then I've got to believe that they've got something going on that they want to be successful,” Rizzo said.

Students developed business plans that included a diverse production company that uplifts Black and brown talent both in front of and behind the camera, an app that makes lines for brick-and-mortar stores and businesses completely virtual, and a website that uses artificial intelligence to map out one’s career journey with only a couple of prompts. 

Live, Work, Learn Program Boosts Students' Careers

One alarming statistic drives Amiesa Paasewe’s desire to work in a medical profession: Black women in the United States are nearly three times more likely to die during pregnancy or delivery than any other race.

“I want to advocate for not just Black women, but people of color and people in general who can’t speak up,” said the Health Science major from Trenton. “I just want to be an advocate for people in need, especially women. I want to be there to support mothers because a lot of mothers don’t get that support.”

The Stockton Atlantic City Summer Experience: Live, Work, Learn program has given the junior the opportunity to help fulfill her dream. She was one of 256 Stockton students in the program last summer, who was hired by local companies, provided campus housing at Stockton Atlantic City and offered free online training to prepare for success in the workplace. Now in its third summer, the program grew from the 130 students who participated two years prior.

Eighteen employers — including casinos such as Bally’s Atlantic City and Ocean Casino Resort and nonprofits such as Mighty Writers and the Chelsea Economic Development Corporation — partnered with Stockton in the program. That number was up from 15 companies the summer before. The employers provide competitive wages and cover the students’ housing costs.

“We were fortunate again this year to have such a high level of interest and growth in the program — both in the number of student participants and in our employers,” said Brian K. Jackson, Stockton’s vice president for Community Engagement. “Our students are working hard this summer, contributing to the success of their employer, while also developing their professional skills and earning good wages.”

Paasewe participated in the program for the second year as a patient care associate at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City. Associates work closely with nurses in the hospital to provide several levels of patient care — from drawing blood to giving a patient a bath or readjusting a bed.

“It’s really a fun experience. I’ve learned a lot from this job. It’s given me so much background for my upcoming career,” Paasewe said. “When you work alongside nurses and they know you want to be a nurse, they will also teach you things that they’ve learned.”

 

 

Inaugural 'Success Pitch 2024' Draws Student Entrepreneurs

The Stockton Entrepreneurship Club made history with its inaugural pitch competition, "Success Pitch 2024," on Nov. 8, 2024.

The Shark Tank-style event began with presentations in the Campus Center Theatre with a welcome from club President Lydia Kai Adjetey. Dinner and an awards ceremony in the Board of Trustees Room with remarks by Provost Michael Palladino followed.

The competition aimed to spark innovation and entrepreneurship among Stockton students, showcasing creative business ideas to a panel of judges composed of faculty members and community leaders.   
“Participants captivated the judges with pitches that spanned diverse industries, reflecting ingenuity and problem-solving skills,” said Adjetey.

Judges included Warren Kleinsmith, then-dean of the School of Business; Christy Goodnight, assistant professor of Business Studies, Monica Amadio, assistant professor of Business Administration; Tara Marsh, Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management internship coordinator; Mark Rizzo, director of the New Jersey Small Business Development Center at Stockton; Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt, president of Suasion Communications Group; Chukwuemeka Nnadi, 2013 alum and owner of Mays Landing Grocery Outlet; Shane Cogossi, 2022 alum and owner of Beat the Daily Grind Cafe; and Debra LoFranco, 2016 alum and founder of De’Vora.us and inventor of Scratch Square.

The winners of “Success Pitch 2024” included:  

• First Place ($500): Charles Obirinanwa, who presented an innovative packaging product using graphene oxide.
• Second Place ($250): Aidan Perrone, who proposed a systematic phytoremediation method for using hyperaccumulator plants to remove heavy metals from toxic soils.
• Third Place ($100): Jaylah Rolle, with her pitch for "Bags By Jay," a small business focused on handmade bags and hats.

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Preparing to Lead

Student Inspired, Empowered by Leadership Program

The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University sponsored senior Alyssa Aviles at an esteemed residential conference designed to address women's underrepresentation in politics.

The Susan N. Wilson NEW Leadership residential program is designed to introduce young women pursuing higher education to the world of politics through workshops and lectures hosted and led by successful women leaders.

The program, housed on Rutgers University’s New Brunswick campus, inspires the next generation of women to consider the role that the political process plays in their everyday lives.

When asked about a political experience she engaged in for her application to the program, Aviles, of Manahawkin, discussed three courses she took at Stockton that encouraged her to consider how she can advocate for marginalized people and engage in challenging yet fruitful conversations.

“Each of these classes taught me something different, but they all had one thing in common. They made me think. They made me question. And they made me care,” Aviles wrote in her application essay. “Politics isn’t just about laws or elections – it’s about people, and how we treat each other. These experiences have shaped the way I see the world and the role I want to play in it.”

Aviles, a Computer Information Systems major, also wrote about her anticipation of not only empowering herself to make meaningful changes in her community but also inspiring her daughter to do the same.

“As a mother, I am deeply aware of the importance of modeling resilience, advocacy and leadership,” Aviles wrote. “By participating in NEW Leadership New Jersey, I will not only strengthen my own ability to drive progress but also show my daughter, and young women like her, that their voices matter and that they, too, can lead with purpose and conviction.”

 

Leadership Program Enters Sixth Year, Welcome Four New Scholars

When selecting recipients for a full-ride scholarship program that emphasizes professional and leadership development, Alfred Engelberg isn’t just looking for students with a 4.0 GPA – he’s searching for himself.

Before becoming a successful lawyer who supported and worked to break pharmaceutical patents on behalf of generic drug companies, Engelberg was a young man with humble beginnings in Atlantic City who was trying to become the first in his family to graduate from college.

Thanks to a generous scholarship from the Avoda organization he earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Drexel University and eventually a law degree from New York University. 

Now, Engelberg gets to make students’ academic dreams come true, just as the anonymous donor did for him.

“In his career, Al has been very successful and has spent decades involved in philanthropy to make lives better,” said Rabbi Emeritus David Weis, who serves as Engelberg’s representative. “The Engelberg Leadership Scholarship Program is the result of his desire to assist bright, dedicated young people from Atlantic City in pursuing their dreams with the hope that they will devote themselves to becoming change leaders, creating a better community life for all.”

Established in 2019, the ELSP covers four students’ full tuition, room, board, and other expenses beginning in their sophomore year in exchange for their continuing exceptional academic ability and commitment to civic learning.

Each cohort of students participates in a summer orientation, a common curriculum, professional development activities throughout the academic year, a structured internship based in Atlantic City and a collaborative entrepreneurial capstone project. Since its inception, the program has graduated 11 students and reviewed three capstone projects on topics such as childhood literacy and maternal health.

“The Engelberg Leadership Scholarship Program is a unique three-year program that is grounded in leadership development that then is put into practice through peer mentoring, internships, and a culminating capstone project where the scholars initiate, plan and conduct a project working to make an impact in Atlantic City,” said Susan Davenport, faculty fellow for the program. “This year’s new students join the existing cohorts in their eagerness to find ways that they can make a difference in their communities.”

 

Conference Continues to Empower Students

With a renewed energy for enriching student experience in higher education, the Cultural Engagement Osprey (CEO) program returned for its third annual Empowered Leadership Conference on April 4.

The conference, which included a panel discussion, keynote presentation, multiple concurrent workshops and an awards ceremony, was designed, marketed and executed by this year’s CEO interns, who were selected in an application process that required good academic standing and a commitment to professional development and service-learning activities.

According to Ana Edmondson, the founder of the CEO program, the conference was designed to empower the students in charge of leading the conference and the students, some from area institutions external to Stockton, participating in the day-long event.

The CEO interns develop their skills in problem-solving, critical thinking and team building, and learn about concepts like inclusion and equity through participating in weekly professional development and educational activities, collaborating in their committees and reflecting on their lessons weekly.

“The interns become equipped and empowered to lead the conference and, in turn, become prepared to go into any interview thereafter,” Edmondson said. “All aspects of the internship stretch and sharpen their talents to the point they feel prepared on the day of the conference to serve the people and speak in public.”

After an interactive lunch that connected participants to on-campus resources, conference attendees had a choice between six concurrent breakout sessions, each with a distinct topic. These topics included discovering one’s inner power, the importance of accessibility, navigating invisible challenges, techniques for approaching unfamiliar situations, exploring mental health and coping strategies and developing one’s personal and professional brand.

The conference concluded with an awards ceremony held in the Campus Center Event Room, recognizing various members of the Stockton community. One by one, recipients were called up to accept their reward and praise for going above and beyond in their roles as a student leader, organization and faculty/staff member.

"The Empowered Leadership Conference is a reminder that leadership isn’t a title, but it’s a mindset," said Yesenia Pacheco, coordinator for Student Transitions, Access and Retention (STAR). She helped the CEOs throughout the planning and execution of the conference. "It’s about showing up for yourself and your community, even when it’s hard. Our goal is that every student leaves knowing they belong in every room they enter, and that their voice, their story, and their vision for change matter." 

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Celebrating Community & Connection

Community and Student Service Celebrated

Stockton celebrated community service and engagement with a week of activities that included a documentary screening, community murals, and participation in various service projects last fall.

The week ran from Monday, Nov. 18, to Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.

"The Week of Engagement aims to focus on the value of community engagement within Stockton and between Stockton and our external community, reflect on our best practices, including the high impact of service-learning, and chart new approaches," Merydawilda Colón, associate dean for Accreditation & Experiential Learning, said.

The Michael B. Jacobson Board of Trustees Room provided an intimate environment for Nov. 19’s Celebration of Service event as students shared and discussed the service-learning projects that they worked on throughout the fall academic term and the impact that these projects had on the local community.

In his remarks shortly before the program began, Provost Michael Palladino emphasized the significance of undergraduate research and service-learning, saying that projects such as the ones highlighted during the event were high-impact practices (HIPs) that “make a difference” in a student’s collegiate experience.

“Experiences like this help students select their vocation, gain a greater sense of purpose, find their passion, majors, careers,” Palladino said. “For me, undergraduate research was one of those HIPs, and I had experiences that were far better than any didactic class I had, and it propelled me to graduate school and to work in different higher education institutions.”

Palladino also shared a surprising statistic: nationally, less than one-third of university/college students participate in service-learning. He urged students not to take their experiences or the opportunities presented to them for granted.

 

Living Learning Communities Build Bonds Beyond Classroom

Starting college can be exciting but also daunting. At Stockton, a revived residential initiative is helping first-year students find their footing, their people and their purpose.

Formerly known as Themed Living Communities, the reimagined Living Learning Communities (LLCs) are designed to create intentional spaces where students live together in the same dormitory halls, learn with one another in the same first-year seminars, and grow together as individuals.

Now piloting with three focused communities, the updated LLC model prioritizes student connection, retention and success through shared experiences and support.

The pilot program streamlines seven previous community themes into three mission-driven LLCs:

• Honors — for students enrolled in the Honors Program, offering a rigorous academic environment within a close-knit, supportive peer group.
• TogetHER — a retention initiative supporting women of color, building sisterhood, academic confidence and leadership.
• Sankofa — a retention initiative for men of color, fostering a sense of brotherhood, promoting health and wellbeing and academic empowerment.

While the previous model focused on broad themes, the new LLC structure hones in on what matters most, belonging, mentorship and community-building, said Michael Slaza, coordinator for Student Success Initiatives.

“You live together. You take a class together. You're able to be very in close proximity of peers that are in a class with you,” Slaza said. “You'll have community in a class that supports your success.”

Ian Bouie, director of Academic Achievement Programs, believes the Sankofa and TogetHER LLCs create an environment for students to thrive and be themselves without fear of judgment or shame.

“LLCs are not just a brotherhood or sisterhood, but a family as well,” Bouie said. “The friendships that formed during their time in the LLCs will hopefully last, not only during their college years, but for a lifetime.”  

Rising STARs of Stockton Celebrated in New Event

Stockton students from six different departments and programs were recognized for their academic excellence, leadership and impact at a ceremony on April 14.

The Rising STAR Awards Ceremony was a new event, spearheaded by the Student Transition, Access and Retention (STAR) branch of Student Affairs. STAR encompasses many student support offices and programs, including the offices of Career Education & Development, Military & Veteran Success Center, Academic Achievement Programs, Student Transition Programs and the Educational Opportunity Fund program.

According to Ana Edmondson, assistant vice president for STAR, by combining all student-recognition celebrations under the Rising STAR umbrella, she and the teams that make up STAR can honor the “rising stars of Stockton.”

“I may not know each of you personally, but I do know what it feels like to sit where you are,” Edmondson said, referencing late study nights and balancing multiple deadlines. “I see you, I get it, and I’m so deeply proud of what you all accomplished.”

During the ceremony, student speaker Jayden Hamlet, recipient of the Sankofa Champion Award, reflected on the many opportunities he experienced as an undergraduate student. Highlights included travelling and presenting research at conferences, studying abroad in Ghana, and hosting programs like a campus-wide drum circle.

For Hamlet, getting involved allowed him to find mentors who supported his growth and development and gain a community of peers.

“My time at Stockton was full of community building and engagement and sharing new ideas and creations with the campus so that more new ideas and creations can flow,” he said. 

EOF Peer Mentoring Proves Successful in Retention, Belonging

“Growing up, I felt like I was never heard. With my mentees, I always felt heard. They would take my advice and apply it to their lives, whether it was something small or something serious. I could tell that I was really their comfort person when they needed someone to talk to.”

When pitching the idea for a peer mentorship program designed to build connections between cohorts of Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) students, Student Success Coach Naheel Naber couldn’t have predicted the positive impact that it would have on students like Biology major Emelie Mayorga, who signed up to become one of the first mentors of the program.

With encouragement from her colleagues, Naber submitted a grant application to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education’s Special Project Fund, proposing a program designed for students to receive academic and social/emotional support and career guidance while developing their leadership skills and getting involved on campus.

Now in its second year, the EOF peer mentorship program is supported by a total of $79,250 in grants.

After undergoing training that emphasized relationship building, progress assessment, reporting logistics and Stockton University-specific policies and procedures, peer mentors like Mayorga were then matched with peer mentees based on self-assessment profiles.

The mentors and mentees were both responsible for meeting at least once a week. Following each meeting, mentors submitted meeting logs to share mentee progress with – as well as relay any concerns to – the EOF staff.

There’s no better demonstration of the positive impact that the program has on students than through their experiences. Out of the 17 student mentors who piloted the program in 2023, 15 of them (including Mayorga) decided to continue being mentors and reapplied.

They are now a part of the 50 student mentors currently enrolled in the program, thanks to the supplemental funding Naber secured last October.

“One of my favorite things about being an EOF mentor was honestly just being there for my mentees,” Mayorga of Toms River said. “I loved to listen to them talk about what was going on in their lives, what plans they had for the future, or anything random. I really enjoyed my time getting to know every single mentee I had. Not only did I help them out, but they helped me out, too: I took some of their stories as advice and learned from their personal experiences.”