Stockton News - March 27, 2026 - University Relations & Marketing

Stockton News - March 27, 2026

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

Engelberg Students Tackle Food Insecurity in Atlantic City

As a lifelong Atlantic City resident, Stockton student Sadia Mahi knows how difficult it can be to find fresh food, especially when you are Muslim and only eat halal meals.

“Atlantic City is considered a food desert. While we do have a lot of grocery stores here, sometimes it’s not always fresh food, so my family and I always have to go out of the city to find stuff,” said the senior who’s part of the university’s Engelberg Leadership Scholarship Program (ELSP).

When it came time for Mahi and the other members of her ELSP cohort to come up with a capstone project that would benefit the city and the communities around it, the lack of access to fresh, high-quality food became very apparent.

“A lot of people don’t have cars or they don’t have time to go to the market because they have young children that they can’t leave home alone,” said Betsaida Viljoint, who’s also part of the ELSP program.

Mahi, Viljoint and the third member of their cohort, Dayanara Villenueva, created Plant It Forward to introduce the community to fresh food options, including growing their own food at home or participating in one of the city’s many community gardens.

📰 In the News: The Press of Atlantic City

TV Star Highlights Neurodiversity Week Events

Stockton’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) recently hosted on-campus events for Neurodiversity Week. This week reminds the community that people experience the world in many ways, and it celebrates and recognizes neurodivergent individuals.

At left, Brooke Zall-Crawford, director of Counseling and Psychological Servicers, hosts a Q&A with Kaelynn Partlow from Netflix's 'Love on the Spectrum'.

Events highlighted coping skills, workshops and supportive environments for the Stockton community. Offerings included a Test Anxiety Workshop, Finding a Job for the Neurodiverse and a Time Management Workshop.

The events ran from Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 20, and concluded with a special guest speaker — Kaelynn Partlow from Netflix’s show “Love on the Spectrum.” The CAPS Wellness Center hosted the week in conjunction with the Alton Mental Health Initiatives Fund, the Learning Access Program and Active Minds, a student club that promotes mental health awareness and education.

“CAPS has been privileged to be supported by the Alton Mental Health Initiatives Fund over the last two-and-a-half years, who co-sponsored this event and all of Neurodiversity Week,” said Brooke Zall-Crawford, director of Counseling and Psychological Services on campus.

📸View more photos on Flickr

Series Brings Local Government to the Classroom

Stockton students get something most Intro to Politics courses can't offer — a seat at the table with the people actually making decisions.

The “Lunch with Legislators” series, organized by Stockton’s Director of Government Relations Amy Swan, brings local and state politicians to campus for open, informal discussions with students. The program is designed to show students that a career in public service is more attainable than it might seem.

“I wanted to bring government to the students and demystify it,” Swan said. “Let them see that government is made up of people that come from all different walks of life, and it's open to everybody.”

The series grew from Stockton's existing Pizza and Politics program, which is affiliated with the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy and centers on federal and international policy. Swan said she partnered with Hughes Center Director Tina Zappile, who’s also a Political Science professor, to create a state and local offshoot, bringing elected officials to campus to have conversations with students.

Associate Professor of Political Science Claire Abernathy later invited Swan to bring the forum into her introductory politics course once a month, providing a built-in student audience. The events remain open to all students who wish to join and engage.

STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ATLANTIC CITY

SWLC Celebrates the Women Behind the Impact

The Stockton Women’s Leadership Council (SWLC) brought together mentors, students and community leaders for its annual awards celebration, honoring the power of connection and impact. The "Excellence in Mentoring Awards" was held on March 24 at Stockton University Atlantic City.

the six "Excellence in Mentoring Awards" honorees at the award ceremony.

This year’s recipients included forensic psychologist Dr. Luz Reyes (Mentoring Champion), Rita and Anthony Mack (Community Leadership), Terri Schneider (Impact Mentor), graduating senior Eleonora Byrne (Student Leadership), and longtime Foundation board member Gayle Gross (Legacy Mentor).

From transformative mentorship experiences to decades of philanthropic support, each honoree reflects the SWLC’s mission to empower women through mentorship, networking and opportunity.

📸View photos from the celebration of Flickr.

SPOTLIGHT ON: BEAU HANCOCK

Spring break looked a little different for the Stockton Dance Company this year, as dancers took the stage in Virginia to perform Sixth Breath, a collaborative work by Beau Hancock and Caitlin Quinn Pittenger, associate professors of Dance at Stockton.

Beau Hancock and Caitlin Quinn Pittenger

The piece was selected for the Small Plates Choreography Festival, a nationally recognized performance series dedicated to advancing the work of dance makers and providing artist promotion through curated performance adjudication by dance professionals.

“To have Sixth Breath selected for the Small Plates Choreography Festival meant recognition for the work that Stockton Dance is doing, both choreographically and technically,” Hancock shared. “I know that our students are strong performers, and I hope that my work resonates with people — but to have it selected by a peer adjudication panel means that others also see and respect what my colleagues and students are doing outside of the Stockton community. It confirms that what the Stockton Dance program is doing is professional-level work.”

Here, Hancock reflects on the experience for students, the collaborative process with Pittenger, and what it means to see the work continue on a national stage.

PHOTO: Beau Hancock and Caitlin Quinn Pittenger in Palm Springs, where their collaborative work Sixth Breath was first developed.

FRAME-WORTHY

Discover Stockton Day Brings Future Ospreys to Campus

Stockton welcomed more than 600 prospective students and their families to campus for its spring Discover Stockton Day on March 21.

Visitors explored academic programs, toured campus with student ambassadors, connected with faculty and staff, and experienced student life firsthand, from housing and athletics to dining and campus resources. Guided tours of Stockton’s Coastal Research Center and Marine Field Station in Port Republic and the Atlantic City campus were held, as well.

📸See highlights from the day on Flickr.

WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU

Instagram: Talon = Best wedding guest ever! 🩵🤩

Facebook: What are your plans after graduation?

FROM THE SIDELINES

Stockton Sweeps Arcadia, 10-2 and 8-6

The softball team swept Arcadia University in a home doubleheader on March 26. The Ospreys rolled to a 10-2 win in six innings and then rallied to complete the sweep 8-6. Lexi Liquori was the winning pitcher for Stockton in both games.

Camryn Harry rapped three hits and added one run and one RBI in the first game. Caitlin Cetrulo went 2-3 with a double, two RBI, two stolen bases and a run. McKenna George stole four bases and scored three times.

Stockton led 2-1 after the first inning and added to the lead on an RBI double by Cetrulo and RBI single by Harry in the second frame for a 4-1 advantage. The Ospreys scored one run in the fourth frame, three in the fifth and two in the sixth to end the game early at 10-2.

Up Next: Stockton will begin NJAC play with a home doubleheader against William Paterson at noon on Sunday, March 29.

Stockton Nips Arcadia 11-10 in Overtime

The men's lacrosse team nipped Arcadia University 11-10 in overtime, March 25, on a game-winning goal by Alex DeLierre just 28 seconds into the extra period.

DeLierre scored a game-high five goals, followed by Josh Graham with three markers. Defender Shane Phillips netted two goals as well.

An early goal by Colin Wagner and two in a row by DeLierre gave Stockton a 3-0 lead in the first five minutes. Arcadia responded with three straight for a 3-3 tie after one period.

Cole Blum won the faceoff to start OT and Stockton called timeout. DeLierre then potted the game-winner just 28 seconds into overtime to lift the Ospreys to the 11-10 triumph.

Blum won 13 of 22 faceoffs and grabbed eight ground balls.

Next Up: Stockton will play another road game on Saturday, March 28, when the Ospreys visit fourth-ranked Christopher Newport in the Coastal Lacrosse Conference opener at noon.

🦅 For more athletics news and upcoming game information, visit here.🦅

SOARING FORWARD: IN ACTION

Strategic Plan Implementation Midsemester Update

The Strategic Plan Implementation website has been enhanced to provide greater clarity around the members of the Implementation Team, including Priority Co-Leads (PCLs) and Action Team Leads (ATLs), along with their roles and responsibilities. Additionally, team members have participated in professional development through "The Planning Playbook: From Vision to Implementation," a two-hour training session facilitated by Nicole Suprun and Jamael Harrison, co-leads of the Data & Assessment team. The session strengthened our shared understanding of the implementation process.

Currently, the ATLs are working closely with their teams and divisional executives to fine-tune and present their initial strategies by March 31. Following this, teams will develop supporting actions for the remaining strategies by April 27. We are encouraging collaboration across all divisions to ensure both current and emerging initiatives are reflected in this work. For example, recent brainstorming sessions in Academic Affairs and Student Affairs helped shape divisional priorities, which ATLs then brought forward to their respective Priority Teams.

We have also added a Frequently Asked Questions section to the website to address common inquiries and will continue to expand it as new questions arise.

If you have questions or would like to contribute, please contact us at strategicplan@stockton.edu.

Thank you for your continued engagement in this important work.

Read previous Implementation Updates here.

STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS

Mexican Consul Carlos G. Obrador Visits Campus

The Mexican Student Association (MEXSA) and Model UN collaborated with the William J. Hughes Public Policy Center and the Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center to host Carlos G. Obrador, consul of Mexico in Philadelphia, for a campus visit on March 19.

Born in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, Obrador earned a degree in international relations from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Since 1993, he has held posts throughout North America. He has served as head consul in Philadelphia since November 2019.

students and staff with Carlos G. Obrador, consul of Mexico

Nicole Mendoza, president of MEXSA, shared opening remarks. Lindsay Grande, president of Model UN, and Te Sammons, vice president of Model UN, moderated the Q&A portion of the event in the Campus Center Board of Trustees Room. Irvin Moreno-Rodriguez, director of the Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center, arranged the visit and introduced Obrador.

Obrador delivered a policy-rich speech about the deeply integrated economic and cultural relationship between the United States and Mexico, Mexico’s macroeconomic policies over the last 50 years, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and Mexico as a top trading partner of the U.S. The Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia is the second-oldest in the U.S., and it provides services to Mexican nationals, including vulnerable migrant workers and those seeking to be naturalized as U.S. citizens.

As an expert and practitioner, Obrador shared real-world experiences with global and domestic policy that reflect what students learn in the classroom and at home.

Read the SCOSA April Newsletter

Read the Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA)'s April newsletter for interesting upcoming events and newly added programming.

OSPREY NOTES

Murphy Writing Hosts Writing Retreat in Florida

This spring break, Murphy Writing of Stockton University hosted its annual Get Away to Write at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Murphy Writing Co-Director Nancy Reddy led a prose workshop titled "Writing Past What You Know: Creative Strategies in Memoir," and founder Peter Murphy taught "Writing Poems from Myth, Fable, and Fairy Tale." Each workshop included craft discussion, writing prompts, writing time, feedback and conversation.

Nancy Reddy teaches a participant at writing getaway. In addition to these workshops, one-on-one tutorials were held throughout the week for participants, along with evening readings by participants, writer-in-residence Celeste Martin and faculty member Christine Salvatore.

🗓️ The next “Get Away to Write” will be held Aug. 9–14 in Grafton, Vermont. Sliding-scale tuition and scholarships are available for participants, thanks to generous supporters. A $1,000 scholarship is currently available for a first-time participant, with a deadline of April 30 to apply.

PHOTOS: Upper right: Peter Murphy with a participant in his poetry workshop at the Atlantic Center for the Arts. At left: Nancy Reddy during a one-on-one tutorial with a memoirist in the prose workshop.

💳 ATM Location Update

Reminder: Beginning April 1, the ATM located in Lakeside Lodge will be removed due to minimal usage. Students, faculty and staff will continue to have access to ATMs in the Campus Center (across from the food court) and at Stockton’s Atlantic City campus in the John F. Scarpa Academic Center.

Faculty, Staff Discount Available for Scholarship Benefit Gala

The Scholarship Benefit Gala will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18, in the Campus Center. Join colleagues and community members for an unforgettable evening of gourmet food, live music, dancing and entertainment.

To show our appreciation for the difference you make at Stockton every day, a special faculty and staff ticket price is available. Purchase tickets for $200 by selecting “Faculty/Staff” or “Faculty/Staff Friend.”

FAFSA Completion Appointments Available

Do your students need assistance completing their 26-27 FAFSA? The Office of Financial Aid is hosting several FAFSA Completion Appointments throughout the spring semester to assist students in completing their application for financial aid.

Appointments are available at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon on March 31 and April 14. Additional appointments are offered at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on April 9. Evening appointments will be held at 6 p.m. on April 1.

Students and their FAFSA contributors are encouraged to attend ahead of the state’s April 15 deadline. Appointments can be scheduled at stockton.edu/contactfinaid through Ospreys Navigate using goStockton portal login credentials.

Students Encouraged to Apply Early for 2026–27 Financial Aid

It’s that time of year again! Please encourage your students to apply for 2026-27 financial aid as soon as possible. Filing early ensures students don’t miss deadlines, receive their aid offer early and have plenty of time to complete requirements before the fall bill due date.

Anyone who received TAG or the Stockton Promise in the 25-26 academic year must complete their 26-27 FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application by April 15, 2026, to be considered for those funds in 26-27. Please remind your students to file asap or they could miss out on thousands of dollars in free money!

Students can learn more and get started at stockton.edu/fafsa.

🐼 One-Click Break: Panda Cam

A classic for a reason. It’s either chaos or a nap—no in-between. Check out what giant pandas Qing Bao and Bao Li are up to at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Don't forget to check Cam 2, too!