Galloway, N.J. – Lori Herndon, the former president and CEO of AtlantiCare, will serve as chair of the Stockton University Foundation Board of Directors, following approval of her nomination at the Board’s Feb. 5 meeting. 

Herndon, a 1992 graduate of Stockton’s Nursing program, has been an engaged and dedicated alumna, having served in numerous volunteer roles at the university. She has been on the Foundation Board of Directors since 2005, is a member of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy board and was part of the search committee that selected Joe Bertolino as Stockton’s sixth president. Herndon also serves as a mentor for current undergraduate students as a member of the Stockton Foundation’s Women’s Leadership Council. 

“A lot has changed over these decades, but the passion of the people who support Stockton students is still just as strong and just as vibrant. I'm looking forward to this new opportunity,” Herndon said during the meeting.  

Herndon spent more than four decades at AtlantiCare, starting as a staff nurse and moving up to president and CEO of the health system. Prior to her retirement in 2023, she led more than 6,000 staff, providers and volunteers in five southern New Jersey counties.  

Herndon replaces Brigid Callahan Harrison ’88, who served as chair since September of 2022. The chair of the Foundation Board serves as the organization’s chief volunteer leader, providing vision and strategic direction in advancing the mission of supporting Stockton University through philanthropy, stewardship and advocacy. The chair partners closely with the Foundation’s executive director, Stockon’s president, the Board of Trustees and others to ensure the long-term health, growth and impact of the Foundation. 

“It has been an honor to serve my dear alma mater,” Callahan Harrison said, sharing how her roles expanded throughout her time at Stockton. “First, I was a student, then I was a faculty wife. Then I was an adjunct professor, and then a board member and chair of the board, and it really has been quite an honor to get to know this side of the university."  

Stockton Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff Terricita Sass, said of Herndon, “We are very blessed to have Lori bring all of her talents, her energy and her heart. We are absolutely thrilled that she's going to lead this board and bring her full self to the work that we do.” 

Dan Nugent, who serves as Executive Director of the Foundation, praised Herndon for her hands-on approach and thanked Harrison for her involved service. 

“Even before officially stepping into this role, Lori has already begun setting ambitious goals for herself and for the board, and I look forward to working closely with her as we continue to advance the Foundation’s mission and support Stockton students,” Nugent said. “Being the chair is, I hope, enjoyable, but it's also a lot of work. It's a considerable time commitment, and you have to truly care about the place and the people. And Brigid, throughout her entire tenure as chair, has shown that she does just that.”  

The Stockton University Foundation Board of Directors is comprised of community leaders, Stockton graduates and other friends and supporters who are responsible for overseeing the Foundation’s more than $60 million in assets. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting Stockton University by providing scholarships, funding academic programs and enhancing the student experience. Through the generosity of donors, the Foundation helps remove barriers to student success.

-- Story by Loukaia Taylor, photo by Nikki Strothers