Stockton University News - December 2015

Dear Alumni and Friends,

It is an exciting time to be at Stockton and I am honored to lead my alma mater as the University’s fifth president! Earlier this year, we introduced ourselves as New Jersey’s newest university. We will soon begin a major expansion on the main campus featuring state-of-the-art facilities that will allow us to accommodate more students and better prepare them for successful careers. As we continue to grow, we will remain committed to our mission of excellence in teaching, support for scholarship and dedication to service. Here are just a few highlights of what has been happening at Stockton:


Stockton’s Fall Commencement

2015 Dec. graduates

Nearly 700 of our students were awarded undergraduate degrees at Stockton’s Fall Commencement ceremony on Dec. 20 on Stockton’s main campus.

Nearly 700 summer and fall baccalaureate students were awarded undergraduate degrees at Stockton’s Fall Commencement ceremony on Dec. 20 on the University’s main campus.

As a fellow Stockton alumnus, I take great pride in watching our students reach this monumental step in their journeys.

Patricia Reid-Merritt, Distinguished Professor of Social Work and Africana Studies, long-time faculty member and a respected author, scholar, community activist and performing artist, gave the keynote address and received Stockton’s Distinguished Service Award.

The ceremony also introduced a re-interpreted alma mater, “Ospreys on Parade.” The project was initiated by Beverly Vaughn, professor of Music, and developed by a committee of faculty, staff and alumni including Dean Lisa Honaker of the School of Arts and Humanities. My wife, Lynne Kesselman, Class of 1982 and Class of 2005, was the honorary chair of the alma mater committee. Bud Noble, a Hollywood Hall of Fame composer and adjunct instructor, wrote a new melody while the original lyrics by Stephen Dunn, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Creative Writing and a Pulitzer Prize winner for Poetry, were adapted with Dunn’s blessing by Joseph Sramaty, Class of 2015 and assistant to the associate vice president for Student Affairs.

Carl Archut Jr., president of the Student Senate and a senior from Paulsboro, N.J., gave the student address. Wendel White, Distinguished Professor of Art, author/photographer and recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship in photography, served as the faculty grand marshal.


Stockton Ranked #6 as ‘Best for Vets’

Best for Vet's image

Stockton was recently ranked at #6 among the best colleges and universities nationwide for veterans by the Military Times’ “Best for Vets: Colleges 2016,” the most comprehensive school-by-school assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement.

Stockton was recently ranked at #6 among the best colleges and universities nationwide for veterans by the Military Times’ “Best for Vets: Colleges 2016,” the most comprehensive school-by-school assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement.

We are proud that our Veteran Affairs program, which serves over 600 veterans and
active-duty service members, has received this national recognition. Our student veterans lead the region with veteran graduation rates at over 96 percent.

“Best for Vets: Colleges 2016” is an editorially independent news project that evaluates the many factors that help make colleges and universities a good fit for service members, military veterans and their families. More than 600 colleges took part in this year’s detailed survey.

Our veterans program, which began in 2008, provides a full-time veteran counselor, a faculty resource team, and a separate orientation for veteran students, as well as a veterans’ lounge. Through the Office of Veteran Affairs, veterans and service members can explore eligibility for G.I. education benefits, receive referrals to a wide range of support services and connect with their fellow veterans by becoming a part of Stockton’s Student Veterans Organization.

To learn more about Stockton’s programs for veterans and students who are currently serving, visit the Office of Veteran Affairs.


Join the Vision Tour in 2016

Stockton's Future

Please join us on our Vision Tour for an inaugural conversation describing A Distinctive Vision: Embracing Stockton’s Future. Be part of the conversation by finding a tour stop near you. The journey begins next month in Philadelphia.

Please join us on our Vision Tour for an inaugural conversation describing A Distinctive Vision: Embracing Stockton’s Future.

As the fifth president of Stockton University and a Class of 1979 alumnus, I am proud to embark on a journey across the states to celebrate the University’s tremendous growth and transformation over the years. I look forward to sharing with you a strategic vision for Stockton’s future, which focuses on “students first.”

Join the Vision by attending a conversation nearest you and learn of the many opportunities for you to contribute to Stockton’s distinctive future. The first stop is in Philadelphia on Thursday, Jan. 14. I hope to see you there!

For more information about the tour, the tour schedule and to RSVP, visit stockton.edu/visiontour

 

I hope you enjoy reading this month’s newsletter!

Harvey Kesselman
President, Stockton University