Stockton News - April 19, 2024 - University Relations & Marketing

Stockton News - April 19, 2024

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

President Emphasizes ‘Building a Community of Opportunity’ at Inauguration

Joe Bertolino wants to build a community of opportunity — for everyone — at Stockton.

“My role, and my goal, here at Stockton is to build meaningful, impactful relationships. Relationships that strengthen our bond with the community; that enable our students to develop into engaged, effective citizens with a passion for lifelong learning; that bolster the positive development of New Jersey,” he said.

Without the traditional pomp and circumstance of an inauguration ceremony, Bertolino was formally installed as the sixth president of Stockton on Friday, April 12. The celebration, including a parade, confetti cannons and a taco bar, was in keeping with the laid-back style of Bertolino, who welcomes being addressed as “President Joe.”

📰 In the News: The Press of Atlantic City, The Courier Post

📸 Viewmore photoson Flickr.

ICYMI: 👀 The debut of Undercover Osprey.

N.J.’s First-in-Nation Holocaust Education Mandate Celebrated

Without a crucial meetingat Stockton, the Holocaust and Genocide Education Mandate in New Jersey may not be in place today.

That’s according to Irvin Moreno-Rodriguez, the interim executive director of the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center. He was one of several people who spoke to an audience Monday, April 15, at Stockton’s Campus Center Event Room to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the mandate.

Moreno-Rodriguez said that early in the 1990s, members of the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education met at Stockton, and they weren’t convinced about advocating for the mandate that would require all K-12 public schools in the state to provide instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides.

“There was one member, Holocaust survivor Margit Feldman, who stood up at the meeting,” Moreno-Rodriguez said. “Margit told the members, ‘If you do not seek a Holocaust education mandate in New Jersey, you will be murdering my family twice.’”

Alum Expands Scholarship for Speech Pathologists

As a young professional, Alex Kaganzev still remembers the awful feeling he would have during work meetings.

“The first thing you do is you go around the room and introduce yourself, and I remember the dread I would feel because I could not say my last name,” said the 1990 Stockton graduate, who has been a lifelong stutterer.

“The closer it got to me, the more nervous I became. It was almost unbearable.”

For years, Kaganzev struggled with his stutter, and as a child he was very shy and quiet.

“For a lot of severe stutterers, it’s easier for us to be mute, or not talk, rather than to stutter. Everything that we do in life is predicated on the ability that we are able to communicate with people,” said the Vineland native, who now lives in Mays Landing.

But a chance encounter with a state speech pathologist named Seeta Voorakkara would change his life.

🧐 Readhow Kaganzev’s life changed, and how he paid it forward.

STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ATLANTIC CITY

🍾 Are You Ready for the Gala?

The Stockton University Foundation’s annual Scholarship Benefit Gala returns to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, April 20, and celebrates the historic inauguration of Dr. Joe Bertolino as the sixth president of Stockton.

There is still to grab your ticket and enjoy a cocktail reception with delectable food and drinks, interactive spaces with Stockton faculty and students, raffles and more. Once you’ve had your fill, prepare to pack the dance floor with groovin’ tunes from Philly’s Finest.

Visit the Gala websitefor more information and to purchase tickets.

SPOTLIGHT ON: JESTINA DRYSDALE

Jestina Drysdale, assistant director of Student Conduct at Stockton, published an articlein the last Celebrate Diversity Digest, which was so well received she was asked to share her story with Heights Philadelphia and her alma mater, Bloomsburg University.

Heights Philadelphia made a significant impact on Drysdale's journey to where she is now, and she presented at the Heights Philadelphia Equity Summit last year.

“I'm very grateful that my article about my journey from being a teenager to a scholar in the Celebrate Diversity Digest had such a positive impact on students at Stockton, Heights Philadelphia, Bloomsburg University and so many others,” Drysdale said. “After the article was published, I had the opportunity to present in student classrooms at Stockton and Bloomsburg University. This experience allowed students to gain valuable insights that can assist them on their journeys. I feel truly blessed to share my story with students and knowing that I made an impact on them has truly reminded me that whatever we go through in life, it is not in vain. There are lessons in our experiences that can inspire others who are going through challenges.”

WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU

trending april 19, 2024 Instagram:We 💙 a sunny day on campus!

Facebook: Studying outside 🌞 > cramming indoors.

LinkedIn: #StocktonGrad GIVEAWAY🎓🎉

FROM THE SIDELINES

Stockton Tops Rutgers-Camden 6-2

The baseball team scored six consecutive runs to erase a 2-0 deficit and post a 6-2 victory over Rutgers-Camden on April 18. The victory moved the Ospreys into a tie with Ramapo for first place in the conference.

Nick Avagnano powered the Stockton offense by going 3-4 with a home run, two runs, two RBI, one walk and one stolen base. Tony Gatti and Robbie Ford rapped two hits apiece. ⚾ Read entire game coverage here.

Stockton Shuts Out Gwynedd Mercy

The softball team extended its winning streak to six on April 18 with a pair of shutouts over Gwynedd Mercy by scores of 12-0 in five innings and 5-0. The Ospreys totaled 23 hits in the doubleheader.

Mia Barone and Stevie Unger combined on a no-hitter in game one. Barone struck out a career-high six batters in three innings pitched for the win. Unger tossed the last two innings.⚾ Read entire game coverage here.

🦅 Read more coverage of spring sports here 🦅

OSPREY NOTES

Interdisciplinarity at Stockton Represented at Annual Colloquium

Three Stockton students were selectedto present their research at the 20th annual New Jersey Women & Gender Studies Consortium’s (NJWGSC) Undergraduate Colloquium on April 12 at Drew University.

Students I’Yanah Barnes, Sarah DeRoide and Victoria Orlowski discussed research they conducted for their courses “GIS 3614: Seminar in Feminist Theory” and “HIST 3103: 1930s America” with School of Arts & Humanities faculty members Deborah Gussman and Sharon Musher.

Betsy Erbaugh, associate professor of Sociology and chair of the Women's Gender & Sexuality Studies program, said the students demonstrate the WGSS program's interdisciplinary nature.

“I’Yanah, Sarah and Victoria have majors in Computer Science, History and Literature. Having that interdisciplinarity represented at the WGS state colloquium this year was unique,” Erbaugh said. “They did a great job representing Stockton, and it’s always exciting to see students networking across institutions with other students and faculty from an array of fields.”

Fun Fact Friday: 🧄 Today is National Garlic Day! Did you know . . . if you rub fresh garlic on the soles of your feet, about an hour later you can actually TASTE the garlic? Ya, I didn't either! How? Because the molecule that causes garlic’s smell, allicin, is small enough to penetrate the skin and blood vessels, where it goes all the way up to your mouth and nose. I know what my big weekend plans are now.