Stockton News - Dec. 19, 2025
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
A Look Back at 2025
As we close out 2025, we reflect on a year of celebrations, milestones and expansion at Stockton University. Join us in counting down the days to 2026 by viewing highlights from the past 12 months.
University Welcomes New Deans of General Studies, Graduate Studies
Stockton welcomed two new deans to campus in the fall semester.
On Aug. 25, Elizabeth Throesch started as the Dean of the William T. Daly School of General Studies, and on Nov. 3, Naima Hall began a new position as the Dean of the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies.
Throesch comes to Stockton after serving as Associate Dean for Student Academic Success at Central Connecticut State University since 2022. Before her time there, Throesch was the department chair of the Communication Arts Department at the Community College of Alleghany County in Pennsylvania.
Before coming to Stockton, Hall served as Assistant Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging and Assistant Dean of Equal Opportunity and Pathways at Rowan University, where she oversaw graduate and medical student engagement, wellness, and inclusion initiatives that strengthened student belonging and collaboration across campus.
PHOTO: Headshots of Throesch, left, and Hall.
Three Receive Fall 2025 Board of Trustees Fellowships
The three recipients selected to receive the fall Board of Trustees Fellowship for Distinguished Students were announced at the Dec. 3 meeting. The students areHarrie Fehr, Maxim Wunder and Jose Morales.
The students’ projects range from physics to gardening to geology, and they will each receive a $1,000 award to support their projects.
“Whether it’s advancing our understanding of critical minerals, building bridges between Stockton and local classrooms, or creating new tools to detect environmental contaminants, these projects show how undergraduate research can make a real difference in our communities and our world,” said Ian Bouie, director of Academic Achievement Programs. “These students embody Stockton’s commitment to hands-on learning, public service and innovative problem-solving, and the university is excited to support them as they bring their ideas to life.”
SPOTLIGHT ON: AMEE SHAH
Named centennial speaker at national conference
Amee Shah, professor of Health Science, was selected as a Centennial speaker at the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association’s (ASHA) annual convention, held in November at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, in Washington, D.C. Shah was featured in the conference’s Centennial Session, a highly selective honor marking ASHA’s 100th anniversary.
Additionally, Stockton’s affiliated chapter of the National Student Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (NSSLHA) club made a showing with eight students, and their faculty mentors, Diane Laverty, assistant professor of Health Science; and Kelly Maslanik, clinical specialist, Communication Sciences & Disorders. Shah shared that the chapter successfully applied for their own funding through Stockton, allowing them to attend and participate in the conference. The students were Jillian Anderson, Luca Lopresti, Reilly Pizzelli, Ella Blithe, Deesha Chokshi, Natalie Halko, Melody Mercado and Gabriella Vacca.
Shah shared what the conference experience was like, how being picked for such a significant role there impacted her, and how this work continues to evolve.
💭 Read the full Q&A here.
FRAME-WORTHY
Stockton Marches Into the Holiday Spirit
Stockton students and staff helped spread holiday cheer during the Atlantic City Holiday Parade on Dec. 13, representing the university with a festive banner and a decorated trolley filled with spirited performers.
The annual parade brought together community groups, local organizations and spectators for a seasonal celebration through the city.
Photos courtesy of SnapShot Photography LLC.
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
Facebook: We spy 👀 Yitzhak Sharon, Distinguished Professor of Physics! We will miss you, Ospreys! Have a great winter break. ❄️📚
Instagram: Did you know, most college-educated individuals attended public regional universities like Stockton?
TikTok: What was your favorite memory of the semester?
Your favorite lake's online... have you given @lakefred1969 a follow yet? 🌊
FROM THE SIDELINES
Four Ospreys Earn Academic All-District Recognition
Four Stockton volleyball players collected Academic All-District recognition from the College Sports Communicators for the 2025 season. Seniors Kate Louer and Rileigh Wilson and juniors Lauren Sommer andKristen Burton were the honorees.
Wilson and Sommer earned Academic All-District spots for the second straight year while Louer and Burton snagged the accolades for the first time. The quartet led Stockton to a 22-9 record and a third consecutive berth in the NJAC championship match.
The requirements for College Sports Communicators Academic All-District are a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade point average and sophomore or higher standing. Student-athletes must have competed in 90 percent or started at least 66 percent of their team's games this season.
Thompson Chosen NFHCA Second Team All-American
Stockton senior Carlee Thompson was recognized for her outstanding play in 2025, earning NFHCA Second Team All-American honors from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.
Thompson became just the second All-American in the 23-season history of Stockton field hockey, joining Allie Palumbo, who earned third-team honors in 2023. Her selection to the second team is the highest national recognition ever for an Osprey field hockey player.
The All-American honor caps an impressive list of accolades for Thompson this fall, including NJAC Midfielder of the Year, NJAC First Team, NFHCA All-Region IV First Team, NFHCA Senior Team and NJAC Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 2, 2025.
🦅 For more athletics news and upcoming game information, visit here.🦅
SOARING FORWARD: IN ACTION
Strategic Plan Update: Objectives & Next Steps
We reached an important milestone in implementing Stockton’s Soaring Forward: Strengthening Community, Advancing Excellence Strategic Plan. At its December meeting, the Board of Trustees reviewed the campus-wide objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) that will guide our work through 2028.
What’s Next?
- Objectives & KPIs: Now posted on the Strategic Plan website (authentication required) for each priority. These outline how we will measure progress and success in reaching our goals.
- Implementation Phase: Divisions will begin refining strategies and developing action plans that align with the new objectives & KPIs.
- Upcoming Work: Action Team Leads (ATLs) for each Division will join the Implementation Teams in January, followed by additional faculty and staff.
- ClearPoint Launch: ClearPoint is a university-wide platform that will track progress on Stockton’s Strategic Plan, improve alignment of existing resources, and reduce duplication across divisions. It consolidates information already being collected and makes it easier to see what is working, where attention is needed, and how efforts connect to institutional priorities. Training will begin soon for those who will use the system directly. In the spring semester, campus-wide dashboards will provide a transparent, high-level view of progress over time to support accountability, transparency, and more informed decision-making.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this success! Stay tuned for regular updates as we move forward together in 2026! Read previous Implementation Updates here.
STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS
SCOSA Celebrates 2025 Achievements
The Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA) reflects on the organization’s 2025 highlights, recognizing key milestones from the past year.
OSPREY NOTES
Confirm Your Ospreys!
Are you teaching a Winter Session I or II course? If you answered “yes,” then this is for you!
Faculty are reminded to complete the Academic Engagement process for Winter Sessions by confirming student attendance/academic activity. The Academic Engagement process for Winter Session I is to be completed by Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. The Academic Engagement process for Winter Session II is to be completed by Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. The Office of Financial Aid will use this information to make adjustments to student financial aid disbursements based upon each student's confirmed number of credits.
Each instructor will be responsible for confirming student attendance or participation in an academic activity. For online courses, faculty are reminded to include an assignment or discussion activity during the add/drop period so that the student's attendance can be confirmed.
The link to complete the Academic Engagement process can be found under the faculty tab within the goStockton portal.
For more information and a list of frequently asked questions, visit stockton.edu/academicengagement.
Winter Break Dining Hours Announced
Stockton Dining Services will operate on modified hours during winter break, which runs from Dec. 18, 2025, through Jan. 15, 2026.
Einstein Bros. Bagels will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., while Burger 609 and Piccola Italia will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For a complete list of dining locations and hours, visit DineOnCampus.com/SU.
❄️🌲✨ The winter solstice on Dec. 21 marks the gradual return of longer days, something to definitely look forward to. While it’s known as the shortest day of the year, it also signals a quiet turning point; from this moment on, daylight slowly begins its reawakening.
Across cultures, people have noticed this shift as a natural reminder that even in the darkest stretch of the year, light is already finding its way back.
🐺 Take a moment to paws and watch:International Wolf Center Live Cam: a serene, real-time view into the world of wolves in their winter habitat.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Professional Development Opportunities
🎭 Winter Programming at the PAC
🖼️ Art Exhibits hosted by the Noyes Museum of Art
Dec. 18-Jan. 16: Winter Session
Dec. 25-Jan. 1:⛄Holiday Break
Jan. 16-19: Murphy Writing Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway
Jan. 19: 🤝🏽🤍 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
✨🎉 Wishing everyone a great winter break and a Happy New Year! Stockton News will return to your inboxes in January 2026.
