Celebrating Strength: Women of Faith in Leadership Panel & Reception

March 31, 2025

Galloway, N.J. – In commemoration of Women’s History Month, a panel discussion featuring local religious leaders will take place in the Stockton University Board of Trustees Room starting at 5:30 p.m. on March 31.

This event, free and open to the public, is an extension of last fall’s Peaceful Pathways Forward Series. A reception will follow the panel discussion.

Confirmed panelists:

  • Pastor Veronica Silver, Grace Assembly of God in Atlantic City
  • Pastor Vicky Ney, Margate Community Church
  • Rabbi Abby Michaleski, Beth Israel Congregation in Vineland
  • Pastor Deborah Blanks, St. James A.M.E. Church
  • Taryn Megronigle, co-president of Stockton Chabad

“Celebrating Strength” is moderated by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy.

Interfaith Panel Tries to Bridge Divides, Build Community

November 5, 2024

Interfaith panel discussion
From left, Kayla Megronigle, co-president of Stockton Chabad; Rabbi Abby Michaleski, of Beth Israel Congregation in Vineland and co-president of the South Jersey Board of Rabbis and Cantors; Andrea Sandoval, president of the Stockton University Student Senate; Pastor Lou Strugala, of Church by the Bay in Galloway Township; Alyssa Hughes, research director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy; Tina Zappile, the director of the Hughes Center; Rabbi Jonathan Kremer, of Shirat Hayam in Ventnor; and Imam Benjamin Marriable, advisor to the Stockton Muslim Student Association and Imam of the Medina Islamic Center in Pleasantville. The panelists took part in a discussion titled 'An Interfaith Perspective: Bridging the Divides & Building Community in the Face of Conflict.'

Galloway, N.J. — Bringing people together in a public space to share different perspectives and listen to others with empathy can be a powerful way to bridge divides and build community.

That was one of the main themes of an interfaith panel discussion held Nov. 4 in the Michael Jacobson Board of Trustees Room at Stockton University. The discussion was part of the Peaceful Pathways Forward series started this fall. Other events this semester included a Good Neighbor Walk on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in front of Kesselman Hall on Oct. 27 and a day of prayer, meditation and understanding on Oct. 7.

“These programs evolved as a result of our commitment to providing spaces for our community to engage in conversations about what’s happening here and throughout the world, and our ongoing collaboration and partnership with community-based Bridge of Faith, which represents a diverse group of clergy and lay leaders from throughout the community,” said Brian K. Jackson, vice president for Community Engagement at Stockton. 

-- Story by Mark Melhorn, photos by Lizzie Nealis 

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Tagged: eventsPeaceful Pathways Forward SeriesStudent Developmentwomen's gender and sexuality centerSara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center2025Womens History MonthAtlantic City CampusEventwgscWilliam J Hughes Center for Public Policy