Hon. Susan F. Maven was sworn in as a New Jersey Superior Court Judge on December 18, 2001.  She was the first African American woman to be appointed to the Superior Court in Atlantic and Cape May County.   She was assigned to the Family Division in Atlantic County and the Criminal Division in Atlantic and Cape May Counties.  Judge Maven served in the Appellate Division from 2012 to 2015.  In 2016, Judge Maven returned to the Family Division where she presides over the juvenile delinquency docket and other family court cases.

 

As a member of the New Jersey Council on Juvenile Justice System Improvements and its juvenile detention alternative initiatives (JDAI), Judge Maven receive the 2016 Spirit of JDAI Award for Excellence in Collaboration.  She was Chair of the Atlantic County JDAI Committee and the Vice Chair of the Atlantic County Youth Services Commission.  At the direction of the Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, Judge Maven directed the development and implementation of New Jersey’s Juvenile Human Trafficking Diversion Program, a pilot program to ensure that trauma informed services are provided to court-involved youth who are involved in or at risk of victimization by human/sex trafficking. 

 

Judge Maven is an active member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ).  She serves on the Diversity Committee and the International Committee. Judge Maven has presented on juvenile justice, interstate custody jurisdiction, and human trafficking topics at NCJFCJ conferences, for state courts and international tribunals. 

 

Judge Maven is a founding member of the National Judicial Network: Forum on Human Trafficking and Immigration in State Courts, a collaborative venture of the National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project (NIWAP) and the NCJFCJ. She serves as a member of the Steering Committee and the faculty. The Network provides a forum for judges to engage in peer-to-peer learning sessions with judges from across the country, through virtual and in-person trainings on issues that arise in state courts involving domestic violence, juvenile justice, human trafficking and immigrant victims. 

 

Judge Maven is an ardent proponent of diversity and equity initiatives for the court system.   Judge Maven was appointed chair of the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage Advisory Committee on Minority Affairs and the Supreme Court Committee on Minority Affairs (SCCMC) in 2004.  In 2009, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner appointed her to Chair the SCCMC for an initial two-year term and reappointed her in 2011.  Judge Maven is the first and only woman to serve as Chairman in the Committee’s 40-year plus history.  She served until her tenure on the Committee ended in 2014.    In January 2011, Judge Maven was appointed Vice Chair of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Access and Fairness Committee.  She served on the Committee until January 2020.

 

Judge Maven was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts (NCREFC) in 2008.  She served as the President/Moderator in 2018-2021.  The National Consortium is comprised of organizations and individual members from across the country dedicated to ensuring diversity, access and equity in legal and judicial systems.  The National Consortium provides technical assistance and expertise to commissions, task forces, and other interested organizations and individuals about racial and ethnic fairness. Toward that end, Judge Maven has participated at diversity awareness conferences, programs and community engagement programs in several states, on Native American tribal lands and virtually for educational webinars and annual conferences. 

 

Judge Maven retired in March 2022 but remains active in the community participating in legal and civic events. She speaks extensively at schools, churches, and community centers on a variety of topics including, civics and basic principles of law, cyber-bully, the impact of adverse childhood experiences and human trafficking, and DEI. She mentors youth, particularly girls, and women, providing motivational talks on various topics including study skills, money management, self-empowerment, self-esteem, career development, resilience, etc.   She is an active Temple Law School alumnus and visits annually to speak to students about “Life after Law School.”  She participated in the Vicinage I “One Judge – One School” programs, speaking to numerous schools in Atlantic County each year.  She judged the Atlantic County Bar Association Mock Trial and Temple Law School Moot Court competitions. Judge Maven is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

 

Judge Maven has been recognized by numerous organizations for her service to the community and legal profession.  She received the Atlantic County Bar Association - Benjamin A. Rimm Award as its Outstanding Young Lawyer of 1992. In 1993, the New Jersey Perspective News Magazine named her Outstanding Black Woman of South Jersey. She received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Volunteer Center of Atlantic County in 1991 and was chosen as one of The City News’ 100 Most Influential Persons in New Jersey in 1999.  Judge Maven received the distinguished “Women Who Make A Difference” Award from the Atlantic County Chapter of Zonta International in 2001.  In 2002, Judge Maven was inducted into the Atlantic County Women’s Hall of Fame for outstanding public service. In February 2022, the New Jersey Judiciary recognized Judge Maven for her many accomplishments as a legal trailblazer, race equity champion, mentor and community advocate.

 

Prior to her appointment to the judiciary, Judge Maven was an associate with the Horn, Kaplan Goldberg, Gorny and Daniels Law firm (1987-89); Development Coordinator with the South Jerersey Transportation Authority (1989-1990); In-House Counsel with the Atlantic County Improvement Authority (1990-1998); Appointed as Vice Chairwoman of the NJ Casino Control Commission (1998-2001).

 

Judge Maven was born and raised on Long Island, New York. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA in 1983 and the Temple University Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia, PA in 1987.   She and her husband Vince live in Absecon, New Jersey.

 

 

Distinguished political strategist and campaign manager with over 30 years of experience directing high-stakes campaigns at local, state, and national levels. As CEO of Voting Works LLC, Stephenine Dixon has been instrumental in guiding nonprofit and nonpartisan entities through strategic planning and training, while maintaining an impressive track record of delivering electoral victories for gubernatorial, presidential, mayoral, and congressional campaigns.

Most recently, Stephenine served as South Jersey Constituency Consultant for the Mikie Sherrill for Governor Campaign (2025) and South Jersey Political Director for Mayor Ras J. Baraka's campaign (2025). In 2024, she was tapped as Deputy GOTV Director for the Southern Region of Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign, directing Get-Out-The-Vote operations across multiple states, and served as Campaign Manager for Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small's successful campaign from 2020-2024.

Stephenine's national campaign experience is extensive. In 2020, she made history as State Director for Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign in Alabama and served as Regional Organizing Director in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where her team achieved 100% precinct captain participation and helped secure victory in the Iowa Caucus, winning back territory lost since Barack Obama's campaigns. She also served as Deputy Organizer and Relational Organizing Director for Maya Wiley's historic NYC mayoral campaign in 2021.

Her political journey includes pivotal roles in the Stacey Abrams gubernatorial campaign in Georgia (2019) as Regional Field Organizer in Savannah, and as an organizer for Pete Buttigieg at the Democratic National Committee (2017). In 2016, she worked as Regional Organizing Director for Hillary Clinton's primary campaign in New Jersey. Most notably , Stephenine contributed to both of President Barack Obama's historic campaigns in 2008 and 2012, earning badges of honor and proudly serving as a delegate in 2012, 2016, and 2024.

Stephenine's strategic involvement in the U.S. Congresswoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman's 2014 campaign led to the historic election of the first African American woman from New Jersey to the U.S. Congress. She has also worked on campaigns for Governor Phil Murphy (2018), Senators Bob Menendez and Frank Lautenberg, Governor Jon Corzine, State Senator Jim Whelan, and numerous Atlantic County and municipal campaigns.

In government service, Stephenine has held significant positions, including Executive Director to Kellie Ledet at Kean University, Senior Program Specialist for Senior Services in Atlantic City, Certified Municipal Registrar for Vital Statistics, City Council Aide to Councilman George Tibbitt (2006-2010), and Administrative Secretary in Mayor Lorenzo Langford's office (2003-2004). She also served as an elected Atlantic City Councilmember in 2002 and as a member of the Atlantic City Board of Education.

On September 3, 2026, Governor Mikie Sherrill appointed Stephenine as Co-Chair of the NJ State Martin Luther King , Jr. Commission. Stephenine's commitment to civil rights was solidified when Acting Governor Richard Codey appointed her to the New Jersey State Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, where she has served for over 21 years. Under her guidance, the NJ State Martin Luther King Youth

 Leadership Conference has engaged over a thousand youths. Her lasting influence was recognized through reappointments by Governors Jim McGreevey, Jon Corzine, Chris Christie, and Phil Murphy. She has been instrumental in organizing the annual NJ State Commemorative Martin Luther King Program at the State House, and a long standing member on the MLK Scholarship committee, earning her the Distinguished Commissioner Award from Hon. Jon Corzine and Hon. Nina Mitchell Wells.

Beyond her commission work, Stephenine has enriched communities through educational initiatives, orchestrating bus trips to the "Black Issues State Convention" for seniors and Ellis Island for children. She founded the annual "HerStory" Women's Day Award Ceremony to celebrate local women's achievements and co-founded the South Jersey Democratic Women's Forum. Her recent formation of the Atlantic County Democratic "Women of Color Caucus" marks another milestone in advancing community engagement and representation.

As a passionate activist, Stephenine spearheaded the first bus to the 2016 Women's March and co-chaired the Atlantic City Women's March in 2024. Her advocacy is rooted in a fervent dream: to dismantle the barriers preventing African American women from attaining pivotal roles in the highest offices. Inspired by Fannie Lou Hamer's poignant assertion of fatigue from marginalization, Stephenine  continues her tireless work to create pathways for the next generation of leaders.

 Stephenine's numerous honors include the NAACP Education Award, the Hoy Sun Ning Young Community Service Award from the Asian American community, the City Council Black History Award, community service awards from Muhammad's Mosque No. 10, recognition from 101 Women Plus, and the School Board Recognition Award from the Atlantic City Board of Education, along with numerous proclamations from elected officials at local, state, and national levels.

A graduate of Atlantic City High School, Stephenine is an Obama Fellow Organizer and has completed leadership training through LEAD New Jersey and ARENA. She currently serves on the boards of the Atlantic City Board of Education, Sid Trusty Center (since 2001), Police Athletic League, and maintains her long-standing role with the New Jersey State Martin Luther King Jr. Commission.

Born and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Stephenine exemplifies the essence of family and community. She is the proud mother of two children, Lenny and Shameera Ross, and cherishes her four grandchildren. She shares her life with her fiancé, Lamont R. Hammie, and is an active member of Faith Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Milton Hendricks and First Lady Estelle Hendricks.

Through more than three decades of dedicated service, Stephenine S. Dixon continues to be a beacon of inspiration and leadership, demonstrating that transformative change is possible when passion meets

Dr. Natalie L. Devonish is a higher education executive, community development leader, and lifelong advocate for educational access, economic mobility, and community transformation. Throughout her career, she has focused on creating pathways to opportunity for historically underserved students, families, and communities by connecting education, workforce development, neighborhood investment, and civic leadership.

A proud Atlantic City native, Dr. Devonish currently serves as Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Atlantic Cape Community College, where she provides executive leadership for enrollment management, student success, financial aid, advising, student engagement, athletics, and campus operations across a multi-campus institution serving approximately 10,000 students annually. Her work has centered on reducing barriers to higher education and building systems that better respond to the needs of first-generation students, adult learners, and populations that have historically faced limited access to educational and economic opportunity.

Among her accomplishments, Dr. Devonish led the development of Atlantic Cape’s centralized One Stop Enrollment model, which increased applicant conversion by eight percentage points while achieving student satisfaction ratings of 4.8 out of 5. She has also helped develop initiatives that strengthened first-year student retention, expanded re-engagement opportunities for adult learners, and grew the College’s athletic program from four to ten sports. Her leadership reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that access to college is matched by the support, guidance, and resources students need to persist and succeed.

Dr. Devonish’s impact extends well beyond the college. As President and Project Lead of the Inlet Community Development Corporation, she has helped redefine how a community college can serve as an anchor institution for neighborhood revitalization and economic mobility. Under her leadership, the organization has secured and deployed more than $3 million in investment supporting housing rehabilitation, small business development, workforce initiatives, neighborhood beautification, parks and public spaces, scholarships, and resident-focused programming throughout Atlantic City’s Inlet and surrounding neighborhoods. Her work brings together residents, businesses, government, philanthropy, and higher education to address longstanding inequities and expand access to resources in historically underserved communities.

Community service has been a consistent thread throughout Dr. Devonish’s life. She founded Youth Exposure, Inc., a youth development initiative focused on leadership, college preparation, career exploration, and civic engagement for young people facing barriers to opportunity. The program’s first two graduating cohorts collectively earned more than $1 million in college scholarships, demonstrating the impact of early exposure, mentorship, and intentional investment in young people.

Her civic leadership has also included service with the Atlantic City Branch of the NAACP, Atlantic City Housing Authority, Atlantic City Arts Foundation, Atlantic County Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, Atlantic City Rotary Club, and Atlantic County Coalition of Safe Communities. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Atlantic City Alumnae Chapter, continuing the sorority’s longstanding tradition of public service, educational advancement, and advocacy for communities that have historically been underserved.

Dr. Devonish’s leadership and service have earned recognition including induction into the Atlantic County Women’s Hall of Fame. She has also shared her work nationally through organizations including the American Association of Community Colleges and Achieving the Dream, highlighting strategies for adult learner success, workforce development, economic mobility, and community revitalization.

Dr. Devonish earned her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Stockton University in 2020, a master’s degree in Administrative Leadership from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Rutgers University. Her connection to Stockton is especially meaningful, as her doctoral education strengthened a leadership journey already rooted in service to the region she calls home.

Whether expanding access to college, creating pathways to family-sustaining careers, investing in neighborhoods, mentoring young people, or building partnerships that bring resources to communities too often overlooked, Dr. Devonish’s work reflects a consistent belief: education and opportunity should be powerful tools for transforming not only individual lives, but entire families and communities.

 

Founded in Spring 2025, the Africana Studies Club has quickly established itself as a dynamic organization committed to cultural engagement, community outreach, learning, and advocacy. Through its activities and service initiatives, the Club has demonstrated that student leadership can extend beyond campus and make a meaningful global impact.

One of the Club’s most significant accomplishments is its commitment to improving access to clean water in Ghana. Members raised the remaining funds needed to complete a fresh water well that was dedicated to a village in Ghana in January 2026, with several Club members traveling to Ghana to participate in the unveiling. Building on that accomplishment, the Club has now raised more than $500 toward the construction a second fresh water well in Ghana.

These accomplishments reflect the Club’s mission to promote unity, empowerment, and inclusivity while transforming learning into meaningful action. In just over a year, the Africana Studies Club has demonstrated an impressive commitment to service, global engagement, and the belief that student organizations can create lasting change both within and beyond the university community.

 

Dianne Stalling is a resolute administrator with over 40 years’ experience in various aspects of higher education. Ms. Stalling holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University, School of Education, where she majored in Elementary Education. She also holds a Master of Arts in Student Personnel Administration from Howard University.

Ms. Stalling is a proud resident of Atlantic County, where she was born and raised. Her roots run deep as her family has lived in the area for over one hundred years.

Ms. Stalling has a deep passion for creating inclusive communities and has committed herself to helping anyone she encounters. She has done this personally and professionally through various positions such as assistant director, park ranger, assistant teacher, and residence hall director. Currently, she serves as an assistant director in the Multicultural Center at Stockton University of NJ. In this position, she has the privilege of assisting college students in their leadership journey as they strive to reach their maximum potential. She has also served on various committees throughout the college and has noteworthy, served as Past President on the Council of Black Faculty and Staff. Additionally, she has served on three professional boards such as the American Conference on Diversity and is a member of the American College Personnel Association. She is a Life member of the N.A.A.C.P. and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. She is also an active life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Theta Kappa Omega Chapter, and serves on the Protocol Committee.

Ms. Stalling is a member of Union Baptist Temple Church in Bridgeton, NJ under the leadership of Pastor William Turner and Dr. Albert Morgan, Pastor Emeritus. She served as the convener of the Educational Guidance Ministry and is currently Secretary of the Church Sunday School.

As a philosophy in life, Ms. Stalling has adopted the phrase from a popular song, “If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody he is traveling wrong, then my living will not be in vain." She holds this motto close to her heart as she strives daily to shine her light on others.