Stockton Establishes Community Advisory Board

Stockton assembled community stakeholders for a new initiative emphasizing the University’s role as a regional Anchor Institution. The formation of the Community Advisory Board creates stronger partnerships with leaders who can provide strategic input into advancing Stockton’s mission and help Stockton to better engage and serve the community, according to Stockton President Joe Bertolino.

“This diverse group of leaders will serve as a bridge between the University and the region, offering insight and guidance to advance shared goals and keep our finger on the pulse of community needs,” Bertolino said.

The board will focus on five primary goals, including: engaging with community stakeholders to help ensure University priorities contribute to the well-being of the community; sharing information to provide an understanding of local issues and opportunities; providing advice and recommendations to the University to support informed decision-making that positively impacts both the University and the region; creating relationships that enhance the educational experience, contribute to the vitality of the community, and support for the local workforce, and; empowering community members through educational opportunities, events and initiatives.

“Establishing this community-based advisory board is one way Stockton is recommitting to its role as an Anchor Institution,” Bertolino said.

In April 2016, the State of New Jersey designated Stockton as an Anchor Institution. The decision recognizes Stockton’s impact on Atlantic City and the surrounding region, as well as its potential to contribute to and help stabilize the local economy.

The President’s Community Advisory Board held its first meeting on Jan. 21 at Stockton and will meet once a semester.

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Stockton Foundation Board Names Two New Members, Honors Emerita Dr. Juanita High

The Stockton University Foundation announced two new members to its Board of Directors: Anna Sinclair '09 and Dr. Haitham Dib MBA '15. Their appointments were confirmed at the Foundation's Sept. 25, 2024, meeting.

Anna Sinclair '09, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, serves as Senior Strategy and Planning Manager at Amazon Web Services. She earned her undergraduate degree in Economics from Stockton in 2009.

"Beyond my professional journey, what drives me most is the chance to give back. Particularly in higher education," Sinclair said. "My passion lies in helping students unlock their potential and providing the tools and knowledge to chart their own paths forward."

Dr. Haitham Dib, MBA'15, of Linwood, New Jersey, serves as Director of AtlantiCare Physician Group, Cardiology, and has held numerous leadership roles, including Chief of Cardiology and Chair of Cardiovascular Clinical Integration at AtlantiCare.

"Giving back to the University where I received my MBA degree is going to feel very, very special. Now I feel like I can contribute to the success of future generations," Dib said.

In addition, the Foundation honored Juanita J. High with emeritus status. Emeritus status is reserved for those members of the Foundation Board who have made substantial contributions to the Foundation and the University over their lifetimes. The honor was especially timely, as it was bestowed on what would have been High's 94th birthday. Dr. High held various roles at Stockton, including Affirmative Action Director and Executive Assistant to the President, and served as a member of the Foundation Board from 2002 until her passing in January 2024. 

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Longtime Officer Tracy Stuart Sworn In as New Police Chief

It’s ironic that Tracy Stuart has spent most of her law enforcement career at a place in the middle of the Pinelands National Reserve. Stockton University’s new police chief isn’t a fan of the forest.

“I don’t care for the woods as a whole with all the bugs and things like that,” she said. “But I do love working here.”

The 53-year-old Ocean County resident was sworn in Sept. 4, 2024, by Stockton President Joe Bertolino as the University’s newest top cop.

“Congratulations, Chief Stuart, and thank you for accepting this important assignment to lead this important transition for the University,” Bertolino said at the swearing-in ceremony. “It certainly will not be easy, but from the get-go, you’re our person to lead, and we knew that right away.”

Stuart thanked the audience — which included her mother, Cynthia, and her mentor and retired Stafford Township Police Chief Thomas Conroy — who had gathered for the president’s biannual address to staff in the Campus Center Event Room.

“I’m eternally grateful for your support and trust, for feeling valued, for feeling like my vision is something that you visualize as well,” Stuart said. “We’re going forward, and we’re all coming together. When we go forward, our students go forward, the University goes forward. It’s a ripple effect. That’s the goal.”

After the swearing-in, Conroy said that Stuart always tells him how important the University community is to her.

“If there was anyone who’s a dedicated Stockton employee, it’s Tracy Stuart,” said Conroy. “If my family were coming here to go to school, I’d be proud and I’d feel safe knowing that Chief Stuart was going to make sure that my family was safe.”

Her devotion to Stockton was also clear to Don Hudson, Stockton’s senior vice president for Facilities and Operations, who oversees the Stockton Police.

“I’ve known Tracy for over 11 years, and she has shown nothing but the highest level of professionalism,” Hudson said. “I’m really looking forward to working with her for years to come.” 

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Political Science Professor Tina Zappile Named New Hughes Center Director

You could say politics and public policy run in Tina Zappile’s blood because they literally do.

The new director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University is the great-granddaughter of Malcolm Nichols, who was the mayor of Boston from 1926 to 1930.

“So, I kind of came to this job naturally in some ways,” she said with a laugh.

Zappile, who’s also an Associate Political Science Professor at Stockton, was named the center’s new director on July 1, 2024, after longtime leader John Froonjian retired earlier that year.

“It’s really coming back to my roots in studying public policy,” Zappile said. “All along it had always been part of what I studied, what I taught. I study international organizations and rules for the world. Public policy is the most important thing that impacts people’s lives.”

The Hughes Center was dedicated at Stockton in 2008 and named after William J. Hughes, of Ocean City, whose political career included 20 years as New Jersey’s 2nd District representative in Congress and three years as the United States Ambassador to Panama. He was also a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Stockton.

The center serves as a catalyst for research on public policy and economic issues facing southern New Jersey and has also provided a forum for public discussion to engage citizens and policymakers.

“I see the Hughes Center as leading the way in terms of research on public policy issues that people in the region really care about, whether it’s immigration, energy policy or the cannabis industry, for example,” Zappile said.

Students, Faculty and Staff Encouraged to Show Off Stockton Pride

When asked to tap into the school spirit and pride within Stockton students, faculty, staff and alumni, Candace Mitchell and Ian Bouie of Student Affairs embarked on a mission.

This mission – aptly named the Activate & Motivate Pride or AMP Initiative – seeks to elevate Stockton’s various campus experiences that center on appreciation, motivation and pride for the University. These experiences included Stockton staples such as home basketball games, April’s Inclusive Leadership Conference and Student Development’s annual Woodstockton concert in May.

"The vision for AMP is based upon initiatives I have launched at my previous institutions, which focused on developing school pride via collaborative events and projects," William Latham, interim vice president for Student Affairs, shared. "These initiatives had great success in rebranding the culture of the institution and fostering belonging for both students and staff, and we look forward to creating that experience here at Stockton.”

“The majority of the list that we compiled were events that already existed and show so much Stockton pride,” said Mitchell, who serves as director of Student Transition Programs. “We’re essentially trying to create opportunities for increased collaboration and to help shine a light on some positive experiences that we encourage students to engage with.”  

The initiative also had plans for new events and celebrations on campus, including celebrating the birthday of Stockton’s beloved mascot, Talon, during a home men’s and women’s basketball game against The College of New Jersey on Jan. 29 at the Sports Center. In addition to cheering on our Ospreys, game attendees sang “Happy Birthday” and enjoyed some cake with Talon.

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Board of Trustees Hears Recommendations for A.C. Campus

Following a yearlong study, a higher education consultant shared recommendations for the future of Stockton University’s presence in Atlantic City at the Sept. 11, 2024, Board of Trustees meeting.

“Stockton is not ready to proceed with Phase III expansion in Atlantic City at this time, as the University must first establish a clear identity and purpose for Atlantic City,” said TJ Logan of Brailsford & Dunleavy. Phase III is currently a 2.25-acre parking lot between Hartford and Albany avenues owned by AC Devco.

Logan said Stockton could do that by repositioning the Atlantic City campus, which includes two residential buildings and an academic center, as a pre-professional and professional campus to support upper-division, graduate and nontraditional students in advancing their post-graduate careers.

This would allow the University to position the Galloway campus as a starting point for undergraduate students, Logan said.

The Brailsford & Dunleavy presentation was the culmination of the work of a task force chaired by Trustees Jose Lozano and Ray Ciccone that President Joe Bertolino established during the summer of 2023.

“One of my first priorities as president was to develop a strong business and strategic plan for Atlantic City,” Bertolino said, noting the Board of Trustees and Stockton administrators will review the recommendations before any decisions or plans are made.

“To be clear, these are recommendations based on the research and study completed by this group,” Bertolino said.

The consultant also advised Stockton to continue building relationships and exploring partnerships in Atlantic City to provide students with experiential learning opportunities and to conduct a master plan for the University District.

“This would enhance the sense of place and improve the pedestrian experience around the Atlantic City campus, inform decision making and reinforce Stockton’s role as an anchor institution,” Logan said.

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Making a Difference Guides New Head of Holocaust Center

“One person can make a difference, and that person can most definitely be you.”

That’s the guiding principle that drives Irvin Moreno-Rodriguez as the new director of the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton University. It’s a variation of a statement his predecessor Gail Rosenthal used to tell students who came to the center for guidance.

“The way to a better future is through education. Holocaust education can really show students that in a tough, sometimes bleak world where everyone is shouting at each other and no one is getting along, they can be solutions,” said Moreno-Rodriguez, who when appointed in July 2024 became the first Hispanic to head one of the 30 Holocaust centers in New Jersey. “They can make the difference, and to never forget that.”

Moreno-Rodriguez had been the center’s assistant director and a member of the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education since 2021. In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Stockton, he also has his master’s in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from the University.

“The Executive Committee of the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center is extremely proud to have Irvin Moreno-Rodriguez succeed the late Gail Rosenthal as the executive director of the center. Irvin, as a Stockton graduate and assistant to Gail, brings years of experience and great continuity to his position,” said Leo Schoffer, a member of the HRC Executive Committee and son of Sara and Sam Schoffer. “As a scholar and teacher in the field, Irvin possesses a special understanding of Holocaust and genocide studies that he transmits to his students and the many people who attend the center’s programs and seminars.” 

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University Continues Strategic Planning Process

Stockton advanced its new strategic planning process in 2024–25 to help chart the University’s course for the coming years. Throughout the year, working groups of faculty, staff and students collaborated to reaffirm the University’s Mission, Vision and Values; review the current plan; and identify priorities for the next phase of Stockton’s growth.

Stockton was also one of five institutions nationwide selected for the Strategic Plan Collaborative sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). This partnership provided an opportunity to incorporate promising practices from across the country into Stockton’s planning process.

Guided by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, the working groups engaged the campus and extended community through surveys, conversations and feedback sessions to shape the University’s five strategic priorities:

• Cultivate a Community of Care: Belonging and Pride
• Inspire Minds: Teaching, Learning and Scholarship
• Empower Student Success
• Anchor in Purpose Serving the Region and Beyond
• Sustain Tomorrow: Stewardship and Innovation

The plan was finalized for presentation to the Board of Trustees in Fall 2025, with implementation to follow.

View a timeline of the planning process, learn more about the steering committee and working groups who contributed to the plan, and review the other supporting documentation that led to the creation of the plan on the Additional Resources page of the Strategic Plan website.

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Esports Innovation Center Names New Board Members

The Esports Innovation Center (EIC) at Stockton announced four new board members at its annual meeting on July 15, 2024, including Jennifer Aarons, Noel Criscione-Naylor, Demetrios Roubos and David Weinstein.

Aarons and Criscione-Naylor, both casino industry veterans, are School of Business faculty members at Stockton University in the Hospitality, Tourism & Event Management program. They assisted with the development and launch of the University's Bachelor of Science in Esports Management program. Aarons will serve as secretary of the EIC's Board of Directors, with Criscione-Naylor serving as treasurer.

Roubos brings over 15 years of expertise in innovation and cybersecurity as the founding director of Stockton’s Office of Information Security. He also established and grew the University's esports competitive program, which finished second in the world for Rocket League in 2022 and won the inaugural Garden State Esports Collegiate Cup in 2024. Roubos will serve as vice chairman of the Board of Directors.

Weinstein is a partner with Archer & Greiner, P.C., a law firm in Voorhees. A significant portion of David's practice is dedicated to esports industry clients. His expertise in esports law and regulations will be a significant asset to the board, ensuring that the EIC remains at the forefront of legal and ethical standards in the rapidly evolving esports landscape. Weinstein will serve as chairman of the Board of Directors.