Stockton News - Aug. 4, 2023
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
$500,000 Grant Will Equip Coastal Zone
Management Program
As climate change makes storms stronger and sunny-day flooding more prevalent, educating the next generation of coastal zone managers becomes even more important.
Stockton created its graduate-level Coastal Zone Management program in 2020, and a $500,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will provide new resources to enhance research opportunities, said Peter Straub, professor of Biology and Coastal Zone Management.
“Coastal resilience is very important now with climate change,” Straub said. “The biggest concern on the shore is flooding. Besides storm floods, we are now getting a large number of flooding days per year that have nothing to do with storms. They are just high tides that have been reaching up because sea level is rising.”
Student Discusses Waterborne Diseases
at National Conference
Environmental Science major Jayden Hamletpresented original research at a national conference in Salt Lake City in June.
The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Annual Conference gathers more than 2,500 public health epidemiologists and researchers to a conference that includes workshops, roundtable discussions, poster presentations and more. Attendees meet and share their research on timely and important public health topics, such as infectious diseases, immunizations and environmental health.
Hamlet’s research centered on waterborne diseases, like E. coli, and the areas where it is concentrated. He took samples from urban, rural and forested areas and tested the samples to see if the E. coli bacteria was resistant or susceptible to antibiotics. After conducting his research, Hamlet concluded that urban areas had a higher E. coli concentration than others, demonstrating that cities are where water contamination happens the most.
Holocaust Center to Screen Film about WWII Jewish Partisans
It’s a question that Gail Rosenthal hears a lot, especially in her job as the executive director of Stockton's Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center.
Why didn’t the Jews fight back?
“They did! And many were called partisans, and they fought in the woods mostly in Eastern Europe and Nazi-occupied Europe,” she said.
To bring more attention to this part of the Holocaust, the center will host a screening of an award-winning documentary titled “Four Winters: A Story of Jewish Partisan Resistance and Bravery in World War II.” The film uses eyewitness testimonies of Holocaust survivors who were partisans interwoven with archival footage.
STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ATLANTIC CITY
Hughes Center, Press of AC to Sponsor 2nd District Debates
The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy and The Press of Atlantic City will sponsor debates between State Senate and Assembly candidates in Legislative District 2 on Oct. 19.
Both forums will be held the same night beginning at 6 p.m. at the John F. Scarpa Academic Center, 3711 Atlantic Ave., on Stockton University’s Atlantic City campus.
The debates will be held in person and livestreamed on the Hughes Center and Press of Atlantic City websites. A recording will be archived on the Hughes Center’s site.
Major-party candidates in each of the races have agreed to participate. Other candidates who meet minimum campaign finance thresholds and file campaign spending reports will be invited to participate.
Atlantic City Mailroom Has Moved
FYI: The new and improved Atlantic City Mailroom can now be found in Kesselman Hall, B1-15. To support the growth in Atlantic City with the opening of the Phase II Residential Building, this designated space has been redesigned to allow for additional customers and storage space for letters and packages to facilitate the mail pick-up/delivery process for the campus community while enhancing customer experience. Window hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
FRAME-WORTHY
Inaugural GOALS Program
Enables Students to Dream Big
Happiness and excitement filled the room as rising Atlantic City and Pleasantville high school seniors in the GOALS/GEAR UP program found out if they were accepted to Stockton through a new Instant Decision Day (IDD) program on Tuesday, Aug. 1.
“When I opened my folder, and I saw that it was an acceptance letter, I was really proud of myself,” Andres Bayona said. Bayona, a first-generation student originally from Colombia, plans to study Music next fall.
“I just can't wait to tell my parents because this is something that they wouldn't expect from me without their help. I'm a first-generation student, so I did everything by myself and with my friends. We all helped each other out. We got this far and we finally got accepted to our first college. We're just really happy about that.”
📸 View more photos on Flickr.
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
Facebook: Ever since James Gwathney, better known as “Papa Gwath” or “Mr. G,” joined #StocktonU in 1991, he's helped
shape and mold more than 3,500 students into leaders through cultivating a family
environment and making memories outside of the classroom in Intramurals and Recreation.
📢 GONE VIRAL: Footage of 150+ hammerhead sharks captured aboard the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center's American Star was watched 2.6 million times when this reel went viral during #SharkWeek. Thank you to Garrett Testut, a Marine Science junior, for sharing these scenes from his internship.
Instagram: These are a few of our favorite moments from July.
FROM THE SIDELINES
Stockton Earns IWLCA Academic Recognition
The women's lacrosse team and two of its student-athletes qualified for academic recognition from the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA). The Ospreys earned distinction as an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad by registering a team grade point average of 3.2 or higher for the 2022-23 academic year.
Stockton was one of 163 NCAA Division III teams to achieve IWLCA Academic Honor Squad status. The Ospreys went 12-5 under first-year head coach Denise Roessler for the program's highest win total since 2016. Stockton earned the No. 3 seed for the NJAC Tournament with a 3-2 conference record.
Senior Kerstin Axe and junior Drew Coxson, a pair of starters on defense, qualified for the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll. Axe earned a spot for the second straight year, while Coxson qualified in her first year of eligibility.
🕊IN MEMORIAM
The Office of Human Resources shared the following message:
We are deeply saddened to inform you of the tragic loss of our employee, Angelica Reyes Hickson, who passed away on Friday, July 28, surrounded by her family at the age of 31.
As their Stockton family, we offer our collective condolences, prayers, and support to Angelica’s husband, Dan Hickson, IT Specialist at the AC Gateway campus and their six-year-old son, Daniel. Our thoughts are also with Dan’s mom Patricia, a TES in the Facilities and Operations Department.
Angelica, or “Ange” as she is known to friends, worked in the Academic Advising Office as a Program Assistant. A Stockton alum, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and joined us as a full-time employee in January of 2021. As described by her friends and co-workers, Ange was “fiercely loyal” and “always genuine, and complimentary to everyone around her.” She was someone who “put her heart and soul into everything she did.”
The Hicksons and their extended family are extremely thankful for the support the Stockton community has shown them over the last week. Angelica’s services will take place on Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Absecon Fire Department (544 New Jersey Ave, Absecon, NJ 08201). There will be visitation starting at 9 a.m. with a celebration of life starting at 11 a.m.
The family is requesting, if possible, to wear comfortable and bright clothing and to carpool, as there is limited parking available in the immediate area. Parking will be available on the surrounding side streets on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Stockton Mourns the Passing of Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver
President Bertolino shared the following statement on Aug. 1:
It is with sadness that I inform you of the passing of New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver. A distinguished public servant, educator and advocate for social justice, she dedicated her career to making New Jersey a better place for all its citizens.
Oliver spoke at the 2018 Fannie Lou Hamer Human & Civil Rights Symposium at Stockton, where she emphasized the importance of women, especially women of color, in politics.
“If your voice is not in the room, you cannot change anything,” she said. “I like the phrase that leadership is the only ship that does not return to port in a storm. Let us stop the political divisiveness. Let us band together and we can change the course of history in this country.”
Oliver was no stranger to Stockton or our mission of developing engaged citizens. She visited campus and spoke with political science students in 2012 as part of the Legislator-in-Residence program, sponsored by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy. She also celebrated the groundbreaking of Stockton’s Phase II expansion in Atlantic City in 2020, the establishment of the Esports Innovation Center in 2021 and was awarded a Doctor of Public Service degree at Stockton’s 2023 Commencement.
OSPREY NOTES
Meet-Up on AI and Hiring Aug. 10 Open to Faculty, Staff
Career Education & Development invites faculty and staff to attend the Delaware Valley Career Planning group meet-up on Friday, Aug. 10, focusing on the topic “AI and Hiring: Navigating Employer Relations in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” The meet-up will take place 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Room B119-120 of Kesselman Hall at the Atlantic City campus. Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. There will be a keynote speech by Bobbe Biaggio, renowned expert in AI and its impact on hiring practices; a panel discussion with BDO, ChristianaCare and Thomas Jefferson University human resources representatives; and networking opportunities.
RSVP is required and can be completed here. If you prefer to attend virtually, email rosaria.pipitone@stockton.edu.
Changes to the 2024-25 FAFSA
The U.S. Department of Education is implementing a major overhaul of the processes and systems that offer federal student aid, starting with the 24-25 aid year.
As our faculty and staff work closely with our students, we want to make sure you’re aware of the updates being made to the FAFSA, not only to inform students but also because these updates could affect some of your processes.
Visit stockton.edu/fafsa to view a list of many of the changes you can expect to see on the 24-25 FAFSA.
Please note that the 24-25 FAFSA will not be available by Oct.1, 2023, due to the updates being made. Students and families can expect that the 24-25 FAFSA will be available on or before Dec. 31, 2023.
🚧 Pomona Road Detour Aug. 8-11
Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 8 -Friday, Aug. 11, between 7 a.m.-5 p.m., a full detour will be in effect at the intersection of Pomona Road and Vera King Farris Drive for additional county road work. The detour route around the construction area will include Moss Mill Road, Odessa Avenue and Leibig Avenue. Access to the University via Jimmie Leeds Road, Delaware Avenue and Oak Pond Drive will remain available during the detour. Motorists using the Garden State Parkway may want to use Exit 41 instead of Exit 44. All University community members are encouraged to allow extra time for their travel to and from campus during construction hours.
For additional project alerts and updates, visit Stockton University Facilities & Construction Project Alerts webpage.
Shark Sighting! Graphic designer Jena Brignola was the first person to find the hidden shark fin in last week’s Stockton News edition.
The fin was located in the “Fran Lebowitz, 'Rocky Horror,' Freda Payne Highlight Stockton PAC Season” story photo of the July 28 issue.
UPCOMING EVENTS
📚 Summer 2023 Professional Development Opportunities
Now- Aug. 23: America & Vietnam: 1955-1975
Now-Sept. 24: The Souls Shot Portrait Project
Now-Sept. 29: Fred Staloff: Origins of a Modernist
Aug. 5-6: Black Alumni Reunion Weekend
Aug. 6: 🎡Stockton Day at Morey’s Piers
Aug. 10:75 Years of Jewish Agriculture in South Jersey
Aug. 13:Stockton Summer Splash at Wonder Bar
Aug. 16: ✈️Sky’s the Limit
