Galloway, N.J. - Ana Edmondson, director of Student Transition Programs, wanted to celebrate Black History Month at Stockton University by bringing more visibility to African-American stories, artwork, people and history. She decided to decorate the walls and bulletin boards in the lower F-Wing hallway and invited the neighboring offices to do the same.

The result is a variety of exhibits curated by Transition Programs, the Military and Veteran Success Center, the Educational Opportunity Fund, the Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Center and  the Office of Student Conduct that blends. 

"The collaboration has certainly brightened up the hallway and attracted visitors to our shared space," said Edmonson.

Karl Schute, a junior History major who served in the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, wanted to put names to the faces of military heroes, especially those who aren’t front and center in history books, but are no less deserving of the recognition.

He researched notable African-American military heroes and expanded on the Student Veteran Organization's Wall of Remembrance that honors African-American Medal of Honor recipients.

“Private Cathay Williams disguised herself as a man to enlist in the military and is the only woman to serve in the Buffalo Soldiers,” he said.

Williams is highlighted next to other trailblazers like Sergeant William Carney, the first African-American Medal of Honor recipient, Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe, the first African-American Medal of Honor recipient of the Global War on Terror, and Cook Third Class Doris Miller, who was the first African-American to receive the Navy Cross.

Below dozens of stories, he added a timeline showing the support of African-Americans throughout U.S. wartime history. In recent history, he highlighted Colin Powell who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces. 

Rhoa Maarouf, a first-year student majoring in Visual Arts and Communications and an EOF student, chose to celebrate Black artists by showcasing their works.

Shannon Glover, a junior Business Studies major who works in Student Conduct, made a February calendar with each day highlighting a person and their contributions to historical events.

The Student Transitions exhibit features a pop-up museum curated by Alize Thompson for her 2021 Board of Trustees fellowship project. Her posters delve into Black music, fashion and hair; offer a deeper look into the definitions of systemic racism, implicit bias and ethnicity; and highlight African-American civil rights activists.

The Women's, Gender & Sexuality Center's (WGSC) bulletin board gets to the heart of Black HERstory featuring women who paved the way for women today to continue working for equality.

Danielle Ferreri '21, who is now in the Master of Social Work program and a graduate intern for the WGSC, focused on prominent New Jersey leaders for the display. 

Vera King Farris, Stockton's third president, who was the first female African-American president of a New Jersey public college and one of the first in the nation, is remembered for her work right here on campus. 

The offices look forward to creating new exhibits throughout the year to celebrate history and cultural heritage months.  

- Story and photos by Susan Allen