Stockton News - Dec. 12, 2025
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
Adler Aphasia Center Meetings Moved to Galloway
An Adler Aphasia Center communication group for stroke and brain injury survivors with aphasia offered by Stockton has moved to the university’s Speech and Hearing Clinic at 10 W. Jimmie Leeds Road.
The group meets two Fridays of each month for two hours and was previously held at Stockton’s Kramer Hall in Hammonton.
The communication group provides those diagnosed with aphasia an opportunity to socialize with others who share similar experiences, provides tips to communicate more effectively, and time to practice communication skills in a natural environment. Aphasia is a language disorder caused by stroke or other brain injury. It affects spoken language, reading and writing, but does not affect one’s intellect.
Members of the group have varying communication abilities, but some have expressed the benefits of attending.
“This is one of the places that makes me feel very comfortable, and my speech has improved dramatically,” said Rod Bourne, of Mays Landing.
The meetings are facilitated by MaryAnn Schiattarella, a licensed speech-language pathologist who is also certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, along with supervised graduate student clinicians from the Master of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders program at Stockton.
E-Book Published on Former State Sen. William Gormley
A new biography on former New Jersey State Sen. William Gormley, whose work had major influence on the Atlantic City region and public policy statewide, has been published online as a free downloadable e-book.
The biography, “A Son of the City,” was written by John Froonjian, a longtime journalist and former New Jersey Statehouse reporter for The Press of Atlantic City, which serialized the book last summer. After leaving journalism in 2011, Froonjian served as an analyst and director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton until his retirement in 2024.
SPOTLIGHT ON:
Faculty Present at GSA Conference in November
Stockton students and faculty attended the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting held in November at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, where they also presented exciting research. This year’s conference theme was "Innovative Horizons in Gerontology."
“There were over 4,500 attendees, featuring more than 625 paper presentations and 1,975 scientific posters. Amid this vast exchange of ideas, Stockton stood out with five presentations that highlighted the university's collaborative research model and its commitment to training the next generation of experts,” Helen Wei, professor of Computer Science, shared.
Wei presented her work, “GenAI Outperforms Human Reviewers in Classifying Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Research,” which was co-authored with Riya Goyal ‘25, Stockton studentsTasnim Raisa and Jeannine Elmasri, and Jessica Fleck, professor of Psychology at Stockton.
PHOTO: From left to right, Jeannine Elmasri, student; Riya Goyal ‘25; Jessica Fleck, professor of Psychology; Duo Helen Wei, professor of Computer Science; and students Tasnim Raisa and Yater Henry at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting.
FRAME-WORTHY
❄️ Holiday Spirit Shines at Annual Celebration
Faculty and staff enjoyed food and festivities at President Joe’s Holiday Party on Dec. 11 in the Campus Center Event Room and Grand Hall of the Galloway campus. Partygoers brought nonperishable goods that would be donated to the Student Food Assistance Program.
📸 View more photos from the event on Flickr.
This year’s holiday video, which debuted at the party, captures the heart of Stockton through the voices of students, faculty and staff, each sharing an accomplishment that shaped their year. From academic milestones to personal growth, these reflections offer a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we support and uplift one another.
In case you missed it, you can watch and listen here.
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
Instagram: Finals have you stressed? 😩 Let’s find out what’s you’re looking forward to over the winter break!
Facebook: Good luck on your final exams, Ospreys!
Your favorite lake's online... have you given @lakefred1969 a follow yet? 👀
FROM THE SIDELINES
Stockton Basketball Youth Day on Dec. 13
Stockton will host Stockton Basketball Youth Day for its doubleheader against Rutgers–Newark on Saturday, Dec. 13. Admission to both games is free for all children 13 and under.
The men’s game begins at 1 p.m., followed by the women’s game at 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors. The purchase of one ticket includes admission to both games.
Stockton utilizes cashless ticketing through its partnership with HomeTown Ticketing. Tickets for Saturday’s games can be purchased in advance here or here. Tickets also can be purchased electronically upon arrival.
Stockton men’s basketball (3-3, 2-1 NJAC) has won two straight games and three of its last four. Stockton women’s basketball (4-3, 1-2 NJAC) opened the season strong by winning its first three games and four of its first five.
Thompson, Bailey & Wokocha Receive All-ECAC Honors
Three student-athletes from two teams received All-ECAC honors from the Eastern College Athletic Conference for the fall 2025 season. In field hockey, Carlee Thompson was voted to the All-ECAC Team for the second straight year and was joined by teammate Kirsten Bailey.
Stockton men’s soccer player Uche Wokocha was selected to the All-ECAC Second Team. Bailey and Wokocha earned All-ECAC honors for the first time in their careers.
The ECAC is an 86-year-old intercollegiate athletics organization with roughly 200 member schools across all three NCAA divisions. It seeks to enhance the student-athlete experience by sponsoring championships, tournaments and postseason honors. The ECAC footprint stretches from Maine to Virginia and west to Ohio.
🦅 For more athletics news and upcoming game information, visit here.🦅
OSPREY NOTES
Council of Black Faculty and Staff Honors President Collins
The Council of Black Faculty and Staff at Stockton University recognized its long-time president Patricia Collins at its 41st Annual Scholarship Award Dinner and Dance on Nov. 21.
Collins, a community engagement liaison and site supervisor at Stockton, received the Dr. Juanita High Life-Time Achievement Award and was one of six people recognized at the dinner at The Carriage House.
Self-Service Banner 9 (SSB 9) Is Coming Jan. 1
The university will transition from Self-Service Banner 8 to SSB 9 on Jan. 1, 2026. Employees are encouraged to log in now and explore the updated system, which features a modern layout and more intuitive navigation for accessing timesheets, pay stubs, leave balances, tax forms and other employment information.
Helpful Links
SSB 9 Tutorials:
Questions about navigating timesheets or calculating “use or lose” time can be directed to payroll@stockton.edu.
Commencement Speaker & Honors Nominations Due Today
As we look ahead to the 2026 Commencement, this is your last chance to submit nominations for our Commencement Speaker, Honorary Degree recipients, and the Presidential Medal of Distinction — nominations close today, Friday, Dec. 12.
These honors recognize individuals who reflect Stockton’s mission, uplift and inspire our graduates, and make meaningful contributions to their fields, their communities, and the world around them.
To submit a nomination, visit the Commencement Speaker, Honorary Degree & Presidential Medal Nomination website.
One-click break: Feeling the winter chill?
Take a second to watch penguins socialize and splash at Pittsburgh Zoo — it’s pure joy in black and white. 🐧❄️✨
UPCOMING EVENTS
Professional Development Opportunities
🎭 Winter Programming at the PAC
🖼️ Art Exhibits hosted by the Noyes Museum of Art
Now-Dec. 13:🎨✨ BFA Senior Visual Arts Exhibition
Dec. 12-13: 🩰🎁 The Nutcracker
Dec. 14: 🎤🎵 Sing in the Holidays
Dec. 15: 🎷🎄 A Charlie Brown Christmas: Ed Vezinho & The Jim Ward Big Band
Dec. 17: Fall Semester ends
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
