Stockton News - Nov. 14, 2025
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
Veterans Day Ceremony Full of Reflection and Gratitude
In addition to hosting a week of events that acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of the military and veteran community, Stockton University’s Military and Veteran Success Center (MVSC) holds a yearly ceremony in recognition of Veterans Day, nationally celebrated on Nov. 11.
This year’s ceremony, held on Monday, Nov. 10, included remarks, the recitation of the National Anthem and a small reception.
At the top of the program, Ashley Jones, the assistant director of the MVSC, shared what the day meant to her as a military child and encouraged the audience to reflect on the service and duty required of the military and veteran community.
“Veterans Day is more than a day on a calendar; it is a moment for us to pause, reflect and express our deepest appreciation for the sacrifices made in the name of freedom,” Jones said.
“Let us remember the dedication, courage and selflessness of our veterans. Let us honor their service by ensuring that their sacrifices are never forgotten and the values of their duty, honor and freedom, continue to be cherished by all.”
MVSC Director Michael Barany shared two facts with the crowd: this year marks the U.S. Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary, and April 30, 2025, marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
Gormley, Levine Families Donate $100,000 to MSW Program
Since Stockton started its Master of Social Work program more than 15 years ago, nearly 750 students have graduated with the skills necessary to address social, emotional and behavioral issues in society.
Now, students in the university’s most popular graduate degree program will benefit from a $100,000 fund established this week by Senator Bill and Ginny Gormley, of Margate, and Lee and Sandra Levine, of Longport.
The fund will provide annual scholarships to students, and $25,000 will support the annual MSW Engaged Learning Trip to Washington, D.C., where students meet with members of Congress to advocate for legislation impacting the social work profession.
“I’m delighted to donate this money, especially now when there is such a mental health crisis. We’ve got to support social workers. They’re needed now more than ever,” said Ginny Gormley, who has an MSW and worked for years in the field in New Jersey government, the judiciary and the medical community. “My MSW has served me very, very well over the years. It takes you a lot of places, and so we want to help prepare more people for this important work.”
Career Education and Development Unveils New Suit Closet
Stockton students searching for professional clothing pieces can now browse the racks within the Career Education and Development (CED)’s new suit closet, which was unveiled in a grand opening ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 6.
Throughout the year, CED has raised over $5,000 and collected more than 500 professional items for the new closet through community and on-campus donations. Gently used and brand-new suit jackets, slacks and skirts comprise the space in the CED office at the Galloway Campus Center.
According to CED’s director, Sofia Abreu, the suit closet will be a student-run initiative that will provide students with hands-on experience.
“We have a suit closet manager who's been helping us get things running for the semester,” Abreu said, referring to Criminal Justice major Gianna Balut. “We’re now hiring two additional students to handle operations and marketing – they’ll support running the closet, identifying needs and working on promotion. As this grows, we hope to expand and provide more opportunities, especially federal-work study positions.”
SPOTLIGHT ON: JESTINE DRYSDALE
Drysdale Presents at Women’s Leadership Summit
Jestina Drysdale, assistant director of Student Conduct, presented “The Baggage We Carry: An Exploration of the Invisible Challenges We Face” on Oct. 29 at The College of New Jersey’s Women’s Leadership Summit.
“This presentation stemmed from a session I co-led at Stockton’s Empowered Leadership Conference, which created the opportunity for me to share my knowledge and experiences on this important topic with a broader audience,” Drysdale said.
During the session, participants reflected on the emotional, social and psychological weight people often carry, such as imposter syndrome, family expectations, trauma and societal pressures, and how these unseen burdens can shape leadership, emotional intelligence, resilience and overall well-being.
“We had a powerful and honest conversation about how acknowledging and releasing what we carry can create space for healing and growth,” Drysdale added. “I also shared practical strategies and resources to support continued reflection and balance.”
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
TikTok: What class are you excited to take next semester?
Facebook: We’ve been busy this fall, Ospreys!
InstaFred: Come sit by my shores. Watch the ripples. Contemplate life. Or, more realistically, panic about your assignments. 📚🔥
Your favorite lake's online... have you given @lakefred1969 a follow yet? 👀
FROM THE SIDELINES
Stockton Advances to NJAC Championship Match
The volleyball team advanced to the NJAC championship match with a 3-1 victory over Rowan University in the NJAC Tournament semifinals on Nov. 13. The No. 3 seed Ospreys avenged a regular season defeat by knocking off the No. 2 seed Profs.
Kate Louer led Stockton with a double-double of 20 kills and 14 digs. Jalynn Grant chipped in with career highs of 11 kills and six blocks.
Nicole Palmer returned to the lineup for the first time since Oct. 25 and spiked 11 kills. Helen Murray tied Louer with 14 digs.
Stockton will play in the NJAC championship match for the third straight year. The Ospreys will play at No. 1 seed Kean University at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, with the conference title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.
RELATED NEWS:
🏐 Four Ospreys Voted NJAC All-Conference in Volleyball
Stockton Edges Albright 60-59 on Late Free Throw
The women’s basketball team edged Albright College 60-59 on a made free throw by freshman Bre Evans with just three seconds on the clock on Nov. 12. A steal by Imene Fathi as Albright was trying to take the lead set the stage for Evans' foul shot.
Grace Speer led the Ospreys with team highs of 13 points and seven rebounds. Haleigh Schafer chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Freshmen Zemirah Enalls and Riley Fitzpatrick scored eight and seven points respectively. Evans finished with six points, a game-high six assists, three rebounds and three steals. Stockton led for 36:46 of the game's 40 minutes.
Stockton will have a week before its next game, which will be at home against Washington College (Md.) at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19.
🦅 For more athletics news and upcoming game information, visit here.🦅
SOARING FORWARD: IN ACTION
Measuring What Matters: Stockton Moves Forward on Implementation
The Strategic Plan Implementation Teams continue to make steady progress as we move from planning to measurable action. Over the past two weeks, the Implementation Co-Leads and Divisional Executives have advanced the development of objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) that will define how Stockton measures success across our five strategic priorities.
During a workshop on Oct. 31, EAB helped us sharpen our focus on outcomes over outputs—moving from counting activities to understanding the impact of our work. Teams explored how strong metrics can clarify accountability, celebrate wins and help us make better decisions over time. The training also underscored the importance of acknowledging external factors that influence results and avoiding unintended incentives that can distort behavior.
The Implementation Team has endorsed ClearPoint Strategy as the platform that will help Stockton organize, track and share progress on our goals. The contract is now under legal review, and training for divisional executives and action teams is planned for spring 2026.
Each implementation team is currently finalizing draft objectives for review with Divisional Executives. These will inform the set of KPIs to be presented to the Board of Trustees in December. Future updates will introduce how ClearPoint will support transparency, collaboration and continuous improvement across the institution.
Our shared goal remains the same: to build a thoughtful, inclusive and sustainable framework that helps Stockton Soar Forward—together.
Read previous Implementation Updates here.
OSPREY NOTES
Wear Stockton Wednesday
Don't forget: Show your spirit by wearing Stockton apparel every Wednesday during the semester!
It’s FAFSA time!
The 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available now at fafsa.gov.
The FAFSA is a student’s application for all federal, state and institutional need-based financial aid programs. All students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA each year.
Please encourage your students to file their 2026-2027 FAFSA early to avoid missing any deadlines! Learn more at stockton.edu/fafsa.
Students who identify as an NJ Dreamer will not complete the FAFSA. They will complete the NJ Alternative Application for Financial Aid at hesaa.org.
Financial Aid is here to help. Anyone who needs assistance with their application for financial aid can schedule a FAFSA Completion appointment with our office. Appointments are offered on Fridays and select Wednesdays throughout the fall and spring semesters. Students can make an appointment for the fall at stockton.edu/contactfinaid.
🎬🐠 One-Click Break: Need a moment to catch your breath? Slip into Miami’s underwater “city,” where fish glide past neon corals like commuters with nowhere urgent to be. Calm, colorful and endlessly watchable.
UPCOMING EVENTS
👩💻 Professional Development Opportunities
🖼️ Art Exhibits hosted by the Noyes Museum of Art
Now-Nov. 16:Stockton Theatre Project
Nov. 14-15: 🍁Stockton Maple Project Adopt-a-Tree
Nov. 16-22: Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
Nov. 17:"Rella, Rose and I" Elizabeth Ehrlich Roth's Story of Survival
Nov. 17-21: International Education Week
Nov. 18: 🌱 Celebration of Service, 🌲🎸 Lake Fred Folk Festival
Nov. 20:👢Swift Nation Tribute Show, 41st Student, Faculty & Staff Dinner
Nov. 21:Birckhead, 🥂 Council of Black Faculty & Staff: 41st Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner & Dance
Nov. 26-Dec. 1: 🥧 Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 3: Board of Trustees meeting
Dec. 4: 🥂🎓 Grad Toast
Dec. 4-6: 🩰 Fall Choreography Project
Dec. 17: Fall Semester ends
