Greetings from the dean’s office – as you will see from see this issue of The Essential Elements, there are a lot of exciting things happening in the School of Natural Science and Mathematics here at Stockton. I encourage you to explore the breadth of activities described in ‘NAMS In the News’- here you can read about outreach efforts that connect NAMS faculty and students with partners in the community, as well as some of the research accomplishment of our faculty, staff, and students. The feature articles in this issue also provide a deeper dive into some of our more recent activities and an opportunity to hear more about some of our community members. These stories offer a representative sample of the fantastic work being done by Stockton folks. I will take this opportunity to briefly draw your attention to a few more items of interest:  

Dr. Daniel Ki, Associate Professor of Chemistry, has been selected as a Chemical Communications Pioneering Investigator 2025 by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). This honor recognizes early-career researchers who have made significant contributions to the field of chemistry. Dr. Ki was recognized for work published in the journal, Chemical Communications.  This study describes the identification of a novel complex that can serve as a selective fluorescent chemosensor for ‘forever chemical’, such as perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).  Co-authors on the paper include collaborators from Illinois State University, Purdue University, University of the West Indies, and Rutgers University. We are particularly proud of the fact that three of Dr. Ki's co-authors were Stockton undergraduates, Oliver Baumeyer, Andrew Wu, and Aastha Pandya. Dr. Ki graciously acknowledges that this honor would not have been possible without their contributions.  Congratulations to Dr. Ki and his students, this is a tremendous honor and recognition.   

We are delighted to announce Associate Professor of Marine Science Dr. Anna Pfeiffer-Herbert has been electred Vice President of Education to the national Marine Technology Society board. Dr. Pfeiffer-Herbert served as Secretary of the MTS Education Committee, Chair of the Scholarship Subcommittee, and is a faculty advisor for the New Jersey statewide MTS Student Section. This recognition reflects her dedication and expertise in the field, and we look forward to seeing all she will accomplish throughout her term.

In August, four Stockton students — Ryan Beck (MARS), Ryan Luty (MARS), Richard Robinson (ENVL), and Aaron Simpson (ENVL), participated in the 2025 National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Nancy Foster Student Cruise.  This opportunity brought students from across the country together to collect hydrographic survey data as part of on-going NOAA efforts to map the sea floor. The collaboration offered by NOAA for this annual student cruise has been a tremendous asset to our educational efforts. The fields of oceanography and hydrography play a critical role in the future of our Nation’s blue   

economy, yet many undergraduate students are unaware of the breadth of the coastal sciences field and the many paths before them. Finding opportunities to expose them to these additional facets of ocean and coastal science is critical. Moreover, the opportunity to go to sea for an extended cruise aboard one of our Nation’s finest scientific ships, engaging in hands-on research is simply incredible. We are tremendously grateful to NOAA for continuing to support our students in these endeavors and also for the financial assistance from NAMS’ donors that provided funds to cover student travel expenses.

Finally, I do have some sad news to share- some of you may have heard about the passing of Dr. Dennis Weiss, former Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, earlier this fall. Dr. Weiss served Stockton University as dean for over 14 years from 2001-2015, following a long career in the Geosciences at the City University of New York.  Dean Weiss played a critical role in the growth and maturation of NAMS, where he led an expansion of facilities and academic programs including the Sustainability Program. During his time at Stockton, Dean Weiss also oversaw planning and construction of the Unified Science Center-1 (USC-1) and planning for USC-2.  Dean Weiss was instrumental in the effort to secure grant funding from the state of New Jersey (Equipment Lease Fund) to equip USC-1/2 and fund the construction of the R/V Petrel. Dr. Weiss, along with his wife Susan Weiss, created the "Dennis and Susan Weiss Scholarship" through the Stockton Foundation, to support travel expenses for students attending professional conferences. While Dr. Weiss retired from Stockton before my arrival, many of you have shared your deep appreciation for his leadership and the legacy he built here in NAMS.

As I enter my fourth year as Dean, I continue to be deeply inspired by the dedication of our faculty and staff, and students. Their tireless work shapes not only the academic success of our students but also contributes meaningfully to the broader scientific community. We are also tremendously proud of our students, both current and our graduates, and their accomplishments. Please continue to stay in touch—we love hearing from our alumni and friends, and we look forward to celebrating your accomplishments in future issues.

All the best,

Dr. Amanda Norvell
Dean of the School of Natural Sciences