Featured Mentee

Stephanie Russell ‘19

Major:  Communications

Minor: Writing 

Volunteer Work: I have volunteered for 6 years at my local hospital as a candy striper, I also volunteered throughout my high school career with the special education students that attended there. I also volunteered to teach children how to defend themselves against attackers through Kid Safe for 7 years, I had volunteered a lot with my sorority’s events and continue to find any opportunities to volunteer that I can.

Student Organizations: Zeta Tau Alpha Chapter Kappa Xi, Stockton Argo

Career Goal: Editor and Chief of a fashion magazine.

Favorite thing about Stockton: I love how inclusive Stockton is, I like that everyone that goes here can be accepted for who they are.  

Why I joined the CARE Program: As a student, I went through hardships in my life that no one could have prepared me for. I joined the CARE Program to really help me focus on school and to help me develop better study habits as well as pushed me to become a better student.

Could you share any successful experience or how the program impacted you?

Joining the CARE program, at first, seemed like a stepping stone to get my grades and GPA up but then I realized how much more it did for me in the long run. This program truly changed my life, it made me more responsible, mature and taught me lessons I’ll take with me into my future career. 

 Featured Peer Mentor

Jodie Davis ‘18

Major: Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Education and a minor in Holistic Health 

Volunteer Work: I am a student worker in the Office of Service-Learning. This year, I held the position of AmeriCorp Bonner Leader and Hunger & Homelessness Captain. During this semester, I was able to volunteer with South Jersey Aids Alliance in their Syringe Access Program. I also volunteered with Campus Kitchen which is an after-school program that prepares meals in Atlantic City for those in need.  

Student organizations: President of the NAACP Stockton Chapter; Teacher's Assitant for Organic Chemistry; CARE Program Peer Mentor

Post Graduate Interest or Career Goal: After graduation, I will obtain my Master’s degree in Global Health Epidemiology. I plan on working with underserved communities around the globe. My focus is on healthcare disparities and also food insecurity through the world. 

Favorite thing about Stockton: My favorite thing about Stockton is the number of opportunities given to students. Students are encouraged to participate in opportunities such as applying for the Board of Trustees Fellowship. Gaining acceptance into this fellowship, I will help me be more effective in my community and around the world once I leave Stockton. Also, the amount of support the students and faculty members show each other is very encouraging since I am a transfer student.  

Why I joined the CARE Program as Peer Mentor: I joined the CARE Program as a Peer Mentor to help and encourage students who may feel left behind. These students are going through different scenarios in their respective lives and if I could encourage them in any way to not give up I absolutely wanted to be a part of that.  

 

 

Anthony Pagano ‘16

Major: Criminal Justice

Volunteer Work: Easter Services Workers Association and Coach for Youth Lacrosse Team

Student organizations: Stockton Lacrosse Team.

Favorite thing about Stockton: The landscape and the environment.

Why I joined the CARE Program: For tutoring; additional help in classes.

Could you share any successful experience or how the program impacted you? The relationship with my mentor has been really great and made it worthwhile.

Featured Peer Mentor

Alexandria Dobbin '19

Major: B.S. Health Science

Volunteer Work: I am a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta and Golden Key Honor Societies, both of which are active in community-based activities. I have been a peer mentor in the CARE Program for over a year now and a group study leader for a few months short of that.  Currently, I volunteer in the Writing Center here at Stockton twice a week.  I am also a part of a volunteer fundraising team for David’s Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation.

Student organizations: Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, Golden Key National Honors Society, CARE Program Group Study Leader, CARE Program Peer Mentor, Research Representative for ARHU, Research Representative for CRSLA, Operations Assistant for The Office of Event Services & Campus Center Operations, Geology Club member.

Post Graduate Interest or Career Goal: I plan to attend two years of graduate school after graduation to earn my master’s degree in Communication Disorders.  With graduate level education, I aspire to become a speech language pathologist, particularly in a school setting.

Favorite thing about Stockton: My favorite thing about Stockton are the incredible opportunities it has made available to me.  Not only have I met some of the most unforgettable people in my short time here at Stockton, but I have also had the distinct privilege of traveling to unprecedented places around both the country and the world that otherwise would have remained unvisited by me.  My advice – go outside of your comfort zone and take advantage of Stockton’s resources!

Why I joined the CARE Program: I joined the CARE Program because I am passionate about helping people.  I understand how overwhelming it can be to bite off more than you can chew, and having someone to help you organize yourself and manage your work is endlessly reassuring.  I remember and appreciate the helpfulness of my mentor from when I was freshman and I want to pay that forward.

Featured Peer Mentor

Stephanie Medvetz ‘15

Major: Dual-Degree Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Forensic Psychology

Volunteer Work: I am the 7 year team captain of Team Espoir, a team that participates in the annual City of Hope Michelle Offsie Memorial Breast Cancer walk in Edison, NJ. I am an active participant in Relay for Life, Read Across America and Give a Spit. I also do various other fundraisers to raise money for different organizations through Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society.

Student organizations: Historian for Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society; Golden Key National Honor Society; CARE Program Peer Mentor

Post Graduate Interest or Career Goal: After graduation, I will obtain my Master’s degree and Substance Abuse Certification. I plan on working with criminal offenders with substance abuse problems and working on rehabilitating and reintegrating them back into society.

Favorite thing about Stockton: My favorite thing about Stockton is the welcoming atmosphere. You always see smiling, friendly faces from the students and staff. Everyone is willing to help in all types of situations and there are many activities that make Stockton feel like home.

Why I joined the CARE Program as Peer Mentor: I joined the CARE Program as a Peer Mentor to help others. I feel I am successful so far, want others to benefit from my positive experiences and help others be successful as well. College is the prime-time of our lives and I want to help others make the best of it.

Featured Personal Mentor

 

Name/Position: Steve Kalman, Assistant Professor of Chemistry

 

Education: B.S. in Chemistry from Muhlenberg College, Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Virginia

 

Work experience: Before coming to Stockton, I was a Ph.D. student/research assistant/teaching assistant at the University of Virginia

 

Interest/hobbies: Spending time with my wife and daughter, watching television, listening to music, playing the guitar

 

Favorite album: Abbey Road by the Beatles

 

Favorite things about Stockton: The dedication and commitment of faculty and staff to the success of our students and the strong sense of community

 

Why I joined the CARE Program as a mentor: One of the reasons I am at Stockton is because I care about the success of our students. The CARE Program has provided me with an additional opportunity to personally invest in our students, especially in cases where the students could really benefit from extra guidance.

 

 

Name/Position: Robert R. Heinrich, Chief Enrollment Management Officer

Education: MBA & BS in Computer Science, Ed.D. Organizational Leadership

Work experience: Been employed at Stockton University since July 1998.

Interest/hobbies: Teaching, Sports, Spending time with my four children and wife.

Favorite book/movie: Favorite books are The Bible and Atlas Shrugged; Favorite Movies: Now Voyager and Regarding Henry

Favorite thing about Stockton: Collaborative work environment with great people across the institution

Why I joined the CARE Program as mentor: To provide guidance and leadership to students who are in need of assistance.

Name/Position: Christy Cunningham, Associate Director for Training and Organizational Development

Education: MEd from the University of Maryland in College Student Personnel & a BA from Salisbury University in Psychology.

Work experience: I have had quite a varied and diverse career that I feel helps me tremendously when advising and helping students with their own career planning. Here are the highlights: Career Counselor at Gettysburg College; Assistant Director then Director of Orientation & New Student Programs at Towson University; Resident Director for Semester at Sea; Academic Field Programs Manager for The Scholar Ship; Training Manager for the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia; Director of Learning & Development at the New York Palace Hotel; Freelance Corporate Trainer and Ropes Course Facilitator.

Interest/hobbies: I love travelling to different countries and I enjoy anything in the outdoors – hiking, canoeing, camping or relaxing on the beach.

Favorite book/movie: One of my favorite movies is Good Will Hunting and one of my favorite books is Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

Favorite thing about Stockton: One of my favorite things about Stockton is that it is a college that is big enough to offer students a lot of opportunities and resources yet it is still small enough that students can really get to know faculty and staff and receive very personalized assistance and support.

Why I joined the CARE Program as mentor: A big part of my job when I counsel students around careers is to help them connect with resources and people that can help them succeed in their job search or career decision-making. With the CARE program I get to help students in a similar way by connecting them with resources and people on-campus that can support them and help them succeed as a student

Name/Position: Lauren Wilson, Assistant Director of Student Development

Education: B.S. in Psychology & Communication Studies from Towson University, M.S. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University.

Work experience: Before coming to Stockton, I worked in Residence Life at Rutgers University.

Interest/hobbies: Baking, playing Scrabble, hanging out with my 18 month old son, and lounging on the couch under a blanket with a cup of coffee (ok, maybe that last one was more of a dream than a hobby).

Favorite movie: Love Actually

Favorite thing about Stockton: I really enjoy the tight-knit vibe amongst the entire Stockton community. The Annual Students, Faculty & Staff Dinner is one of my favorite Stockton traditions since it truly represents what Stockton is all about.

Why I joined the CARE Program as mentor: It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to connect with Stockton students individually to help them create their own path to success.

 

Cynthia Miller ‘14

Major: Psychology

Volunteer Work: I am currently working with Richard Stockton College Wellness Center to host an Autism Event, to raise awareness for Autism. I am a member of Alpha Phi Omega which is a co-ed fraternity. As a group, we are raising awareness for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). We also, do road clean ups, beach clean ups, and volunteer to other organizations that need our help. I am currently in a class to become a Peer Educator. I am part of the CLAWS Club (Collaborative Learning Advocates of Wellness Center). We promote healthy living styles, such as eating healthy, safe sex, alcohol awareness, and helping students have fun!

Student organizations: Alpha Phi Omega and CLAWS Club

Post Graduate Interest or Career Goal: I look forward to graduating and going straight into Graduate School for my master's in Guidance Counseling. I wish to work with students in a high school and college level to provide leadership, wellness, and education to future generations. I also wish to continue my volunteer work in Autism.

Favorite thing about Stockton: My favorite thing about Stockton is the wide variety of classes and clubs that the school provides. Students are able to graduate with a vast amount of knowledge, as well as be a very well rounded individual.

Why I joined the CARE Program as a Peer mentor: The reason I joined the CARE program as a Mentor is because I wanted to share my knowledge of resources to students whom may not know much about the campus. Some students are unaware of Stockton's awesome Career Center, as well as the services that the Wellness Center provides. The CARE Program is a very beneficial program at Stockton. It allows students to learn about opportunities that they may not be aware of. Such as workshops that can help them communicate, help them with test anxiety, and/or help get them organized. The CARE Program is amazing! I first joined the Program as a mentee a year ago. As a mentee, the Program helped me achieve majority of my goals here at Stockton. This semester I am working with my mentor, Tara Williams, who is helping me establish new goals for my upcoming Senior Year! I am very happy to be part of such an awesome program.

 

Name/Position: Laurie A. Griscom, Director of Event Services and Campus Center Operations

Education: B.A. in Elementary Education/Spanish Coordinate Major from Rowan University, M.A. in Student Personnel Services from Rowan University.

Work experience: I have been working in Student Affairs at Stockton since 1998. During this time, I’ve gained expertise in residential life, event planning, facility management and student programming. I’ve also had the opportunity to volunteer in other areas including student conduct, mentoring, and emergency preparedness.

Favorite book/movie: I love classic movies like Gone with the Wind, Dr. Zhivago, and The Hustler. I find autobiographies, biographies and just plain old “true stories” to be the most interesting books. I like the combination of history and emotion.

Favorite thing about Stockton: My favorite thing about Stockton is the sense of community; where everyone works toward creating and maintaining a “Stockton Friendly” environment.

Why I joined the CARE Program as a Peer mentor: The best part of what I do every day is connecting with students. Joining the CARE Program as a mentor gives me the opportunity to help support and advocate for our students.

 

Name/Position: Amy Brennan '17

Major: Social Work

Volunteer Work: I am currently involved with the Residential Hearing Board as well as the Honors Program and the CARE Program.

Student organizations: Residential Hearing Board, The Honors Program, The CARE Program, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.

Post Graduate Interest or Career Goal: Once I have graduated in the spring, I plan on attending Stockton once again for my Master's Degree in Social Work. I hope to be going into graduate School with advanced standing and to complete my master's in one year and hope to work with children in some capacity. I want to give back to my community and help better our future generations.

Favorite thing about Stockton: I love Stockton. I love that the classes are small and the campus is gorgeous. I love the friends and the memories I have made here. My favorite thing about Stockton would have to be Lake Fred. Whenever I am stressed or need to breath I just take a walk around the lake and feel peaceful.

Why I joined the CARE Program: I am a part of the CARE Program because I am a firm believer in giving back. I love to help people, that's why I'm going into Social Work, and I thought that being a Peer Mentor would be excellent practice for my future career.

 

Name/Position: Kristen Bollinger '16

Major: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Volunteer Work: Aside from the CARE Program, I am a member of Stockton's Honors Program where I am required to do at least 2 service projects each semester. I have participated in multiple Days of Service at Stockton, volunteered at the Atlantic County Animal Shelter, made crafts with the children at the Ronald McDonald House in Camden, and various other service projects throughout the local community.

Student organizations: Member of Stockton's Psychology Club, Stockton Honors Program, Career Ambassador in the Career Center, and CARE Program Peer Mentor.

Post Graduate Interest or Career Goal: After graduation, I wish to obtain my Master's Degree in College Counseling or Student Affairs. I plan on becoming a career counselor in a college or university setting and many years down the road have my own life coach practice.

Favorite thing about Stockton: My favorite thing about Stockton is the amount of opportunities students have to become involved, connect with professional employers and faculty, and make friends. There is something for everyone at Stockton and that is what I love about this school.

Why I joined the CARE Program: I joined the CARE Program as a Peer Mentor because of my interest in counseling and helping college students succeed. The 20's are a very important time in a person's life, so I want to help my mentees reach their full potential, do well in school, and make the most of their time here at Stockton.

Name/Position: Lauren Fitzpatrick '14, '17

Major: (Current) Doctor of Physical Therapy; (Past) B.S. Biology

Volunteer Work: I am a teacher for the Camp Joy children’s program at my local Church, which integrates physical activity and the arts into education of Catholicism. I am also an active participant in Stockton's Unified Sports, a Special Olympics program that brings together unity and sportsmanship between athletes with special needs and others students in the community.

Student organizations: Golden Key National Honors Society, Tri-Beta Biological Honors Society, APTA, CARE Program Peer Mentor, Graduate Physical Therapy Club e-board member, Stockton Unified Sports Program.

Post Graduate Interest or Career Goal: Upon graduation, I plan on working as a physical therapist with the future goal of opening up my own practice. I am eager to improve each patient’s quality of life. I would enjoy becoming a part-time Stockton DPT faculty member, so I can give back as an alumna. I also plan to become a clinical instructor in order to help students reach their full potential during their clinical experiences.

Favorite thing about Stockton: My favorite thing about Stockton is driving into campus. As a commuter, I am fortunate enough to ride down Vera King Farris Drive every weekday through each season. I love passing under the “canopy” of trees and watching them change colors or collect with snow. It is truly breathtaking.

Why I joined the CARE Program: I originally joined the CARE Program as a way of giving back to the Stockton community for all that my fellow students, faculty, and staff have given to me over the past 4 ½ years. However, through this journey, I have learned countless, invaluable lessons from my mentees. I am honored to have gained their trust, and I value my responsibilities in helping them succeed. It is important for CARE mentees to realize that we are in this together to help each other reach our goals.

 

Name/Position: Kathryn Evey '17

Major: B.S. Biology

Volunteer Work: I am involved in Alpha Lambda Delta and Golden Key Honor Societies, both of which participate in many community-based activities. I have personally been involved in a Kitten Drive, collecting much needed supplies for stray cats in Atlantic City, as well as book drives for the Stanley Holmes Foundation. I have participated in Stockton's annual Day of Service event and assisted with grounds maintenance at the Tuckerton Seaport. At home I volunteer at my local SPCA, to spend time with some very deserving animals.

Student organizations: Golden Key National Honors Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, CARE Program Tutor, CARE Program Peer Mentor, Undergraduate Physical Therapy Club member, Undergraduate Biology Club member.

Post Graduate Interest or Career Goal: Upon graduation, I plan on attending medical/osteopathic school and pursue a career as a cardiologist. My main focus would be in the field of rehabilitative cardiology, as it is my hope to touch and improve the lives of each patient I will encounter. I have always believed in patient-based care with an honest and holistic approach. I hope to return to Stockton in the future as a faculty member to teach human anatomy/physiology/pathology courses and labs, as that would surely be an unforgettable fruition.

Favorite thing about Stockton: My favorite thing about Stockton is the unity of the student body. From my first days at Stockton I have always felt as if I were a part of a community. Each day when I walk through the halls to my classes, I am greeted by the smiling faces and eager waves of my friends and peers. It is this feeling of equality and harmony that makes me so proud to be an Osprey.

Why I joined the CARE Program: I joined the CARE Program as a way to extend my reach within the Stockton community. I aspired to help as many individuals as possible, so that they were able to get the most out of their experience at Stockton. Throughout my CARE involvement I have gained so much insight from my mentees, and these lessons I will take with me wherever I go. I cannot express enough my gratitude for the opportunity to be involved in a program like this, in which mentors and mentees can work together to help realize their individual ambitions.

Name/Position: Alexandra Normil ‘16

Major: Sociology and Anthropology

Favorite thing about Stockton: My mentor, preceptor, professors and definitely the staff at the Tutoring Center.

Why I joined the CARE Program: At the time I joined CARE, I felt like giving up with all the struggles that I had faced. I joined because I knew that the mentor that they assigned to me could help me stay focused and on track with my classes.

Could you share any successful experience or how the program impacted you? One successful experience that I’ve gotten from the program was learning about all these services that exist to help me stay focused and on track with my courses here at Stockton University. I was not aware that so many of them existed. If I haven’t gone through the CARE Program, I would not be able to graduate and participate in the Fall 2016 Commencement Exercises. My mentor helped me with all my hardships, stress, and never once let me go. I’m proud to say that my mentor, Dr. Dedra Williams, has been my biggest supporter and I will always keep in touch with her even after I graduate from Stockton University. Thank you so much to all the CARE Program staff. Most importantly thank you to Mr. Itaas for everything and for believing in me through all my struggles.

 

Name/Position: Rick Mulvihill, Tenured Instructor of Criminal Justice

Education: BA & MSc Criminal Justice

Work Experience: 26 years in law enforcement, 13 as chief of police; 8 years as county director of public safety; 3 years research center director for the U.S. Department of Justice; 9 years adjunct instructor; 5 years instructor.

Interest/hobbies: Spending time with my family; amateur radio.

Favorite book/movie: Anything by W.E.B. Griffin / Hunt For Red October

Favorite thing about Stockton: The relationships between the student and the faculty.

Why I joined the CARE Program as mentor: I teach to give back to the university that propelled my career. I want all students to have the same level of success that I have enjoyed.