Inauguration of Dr. Harvey Kesselman

About Dr. Kesselman

Harvey Kesselman is the fifth President of Stockton University. He has more than 35 years of experience in higher education and is a tenured Professor in Stockton’s School of Education.

In his previous role as Provost and Executive Vice President, Dr. Kesselman implemented Stockton’s Essential Learning Outcomes initiative, extended the community and global reach of the institution, and supported faculty initiatives and scholarly innovation through the University’s 2020 strategic planning process.   

Dr. Kesselman’s other executive leadership roles at Stockton have included: Dean of the School of Education, Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance, CEO of the Southern Regional Institute (SRI) and Educational Technology Training Center (ETTC), and Vice President for Student Affairs.

Dr. Kesselman remains involved in many national academic organizations. He is a frequent presenter at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the American Council on Education (ACE), and the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP).  He also serves as a reviewer for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Dr. Kesselman has been active in the New Jersey educational landscape for several years.  On the state level, Kesselman has been appointed by New Jersey governors and state education leaders to  provide expertise on several authorities, committees and task forces. Currently, he serves on the Goals and Objectives Committee of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU), is a co-chair of the Board of Directors for New Jersey Campus Compact, and serves as the senior public college representative on the New Jersey Higher Education Leadership Team (HELT) that considers policy questions and recommends strategies regarding the implementation of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).  

As a former member of the Executive Committee of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), Dr. Kesselman helped oversee New Jersey's $1 billion student financial aid program. He also provided his expertise on the Governor's Task Force to improve the NJ STARS program, and helped develop the NJ Student Unit Record Enrollment (SURE) statewide data and monitoring system.

He has advised the New Jersey College and University Presidents' Council regarding accountability and assessment, participated on the New Jersey College and Career Readiness Task Force, and represented the senior public colleges and universities in the NJ Committee of Experts on Campus Sexual Assault Issues.  In addition, he founded and chaired the SRI & ETTC Consortium, which includes more than 90 school districts throughout New Jersey.

Dr. Kesselman also has served on numerous national grant reviews, authored and promoted policies for legislation, maintains a strong record of successful grant preparation, and continues to serve as a consultant and speaker.  He is actively involved in his community, including elected positions on the Township Committee and the School Board, and appointed positions to numerous public and civic organizations.

Dr. Kesselman received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Stockton, his master’s degree in Student Personnel Services/Counseling from Rowan University, and his doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Widener University.