Stockton News - Oct. 24, 2025 - University Relations & Marketing

Stockton News - Oct. 24, 2025

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

School of Education Conference Encourages Future Teachers

Stockton senior Lacey Wilson grew up around the teaching profession.

“My mom, Stephanie, is a teacher, so I was in and out of the classroom my whole life helping her with her lesson plans and working on her classroom,” said the Galloway native. Her mom is a sixth-grade teacher at Roland Rogers Elementary.

So, it’s only natural that she is studying to become one, too. The Mathematics major wants to make the subject “fun” and help other high school students follow the same path through Stockton’s second Future Teachers Conference on Oct. 22.

“I had a lot of teachers that were really impactful on my life and that helped with my educational journey,” she said. “So just being able to be that for other students and complete that cycle was important to me.”

Wilson and three other Stockton student-teachers discussed why they are joining the education field in one of the sessions at the conference, which featured about 300 students from 14 southern New Jersey high schools.

Prominent Fellowship Celebrates 100 Years, Invites Faculty Applications

Beginning in 1925, the Guggenheim Fellowship has supported over 19,000 artists, writers, scholars and scientists in their pursuit of scholarship under the freest possible conditions. Laura Auricchio, who serves as vice president for the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, hopes to continue this endeavor with Stockton faculty and staff.

At an Oct. 21 event associated with the Art Gallery’s fall exhibition, “Diverse Perspectives in Photography: Four Black Guggenheim Fellows in the Philadelphia Region,” Auricchio discussed the benefits of the fellowship.

According to Auricchio, whose work has been supported through fellowships from Fulbright, Whiting and other notable foundations, the impact of the Guggenheim Fellowship isn’t just monetary – it’s “tremendous” in how it bolsters an artist’s work and opens doors to new opportunities due to its long-standing reputation in supporting the best of the best.

“Our fellows tell us that it is something that has made a great difference in their lives due to the level of confidence they gain in themselves and the confidence that others begin to have in them,” Auricchio said.

National Celebration Reveals Pockets of Writers on Campus

Through a collaborative partnership of writing-centered groups on Stockton's campus, students explored different aspects of the written word through various activities on Monday, Oct. 20.

These activities, which included impromptu haiku creation and sending pre-stamped postcards to friends and family, were part of Stockton’s first foray into celebrating National Day on Writing (NDOW), a day in which all forms of writing and writers are recognized.

Students had the pick of four stations across campus – in addition to the haiku and postcard stations, there was a selfie station complete with cardboard cutouts of esteemed authors Edgar Allen Poe and Emily Dickinson, and an “exquisite corpse” station where students submitted a line of prose that would be utilized in a large community poem.

For Esmeralda Rivera, a Literature major who volunteered for the day with Murphy Writing of Stockton University, the day of celebration across campus was a “motivator” that helped her through a case of writer’s block. It also reminded her how large Stockton’s writing community is.

“Working with Murphy Writing has been a great opportunity,” Rivera said, sharing that she’s looking to intern with the center. “I feel like it's a great way to meet new people who share my same interests and passion for creative writing.”

STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ATLANTIC CITY

Stockton Joins 2nd Annual Good Neighbor Walk

Stockton students and staff joined community organizers, faith leaders, and residents for the Peaceful Pathways Forward 2nd Annual Good Neighbor Walk on Oct. 19 on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

The event was hosted by a coalition of local organizations, including Stockton’s Office of Community Engagement and the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center.

The walk began at Albany Avenue in front of Stockton’s Kesselman Hall and brought together faith-based, civic and educational partners committed to building a more inclusive and compassionate community.

“The event served as a wonderful opportunity for community and faith leaders to join residents, and Stockton students and staff in a walk to show solidarity and encourage community connection and engagement,” said Brian Jackson, vice president for Community Engagement.

Community Day Clean Up and Party in the Park Returns Oct. 25

Stockton and the City of Atlantic City will host the fourth annual Community Day Clean Up and Party in the Park from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 (rain date Oct. 26).

This year, there will be 10 clean-up sites throughout the city as volunteers will work from 9 a.m. to noon. After the cleanup, all volunteers and the public are invited to attend the free, family friendly Party in the Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at O’Donnell Park near Stockton’s Atlantic City campus.

The party will feature more than 50 vendors and community organizations, along with music by DJ Ahmed Kahn, live performances by Stockton musicians, food trucks, crafters, paint your own pumpkins, outdoor games, face painting, a petting zoo, trick-or-treating for kids and more.

Walk-up registration to volunteer for the cleanup is available at 8:30 a.m. the day of the event at the park, 3598 Captain John A. O’Donnell Parkway. For more information, visit here.

SPOTLIGHT ON: DANIEL KI

Named a 2025 Chemical Communications Pioneering Investigator

Daniel Ki, associate professor of Chemistry at Stockton, was recently selected as a 2025 Chemical Communications Pioneering Investigator by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). This international honor recognizes early-career researchers who have made significant contributions to the field of chemistry.

Ki, who has been part of the university since 2016, said it was deeply gratifying to see his research, “Aggregation-induced emission-active indium complex as fluorescent turn-off chemosensor for perfluoroalkyl substances,” recognized by a leading chemistry journal.

FRAME-WORTHY

🏀 Osprey Madness Kicks Off Basketball Season

Stockton students tipped off the start of the men’s and women’s basketball seasons on Oct. 21 with Osprey Madness in the Sports Center.

Fans were greeted with free food, drinks and plenty of T-shirts as they watched the basketball teams hoop it up in a joint scrimmage and 3-point shooting competition.

Some fans even got to join members of the teams in a basketball skills challenge. The Stockton cheerleaders and dance team performed, and students from all of Stockton’s sports teams were honored for their athletic and academic accomplishments.

The men’s basketball team’s first game is Nov. 8 at Salisbury with the home opener on Nov. 19 against Swarthmore. The women’s basketball team’s first game and home opener is Nov. 8 against Penn State Harrisburg in the Sports Center.

📸See more photos on flickr.

WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU

InstaFred: Sure, take your selfies. I’ll be the one doing all the reflecting. 📸🌊🍁

Facebook: Provost Michael Palladino and I made the rounds connecting with our faculty and academic leadership at their school meetings at the start of the semester.

Instagram: Ospreys, how is your semester going?

Your favorite lake's online... have you given @lakefred1969 a follow yet? 👀

FROM THE SIDELINES

Stockton Posts Second Straight Clean Sheet 2-0

The men’s soccer team posted their second straight shutout with a 2-0 victory over Rutgers-Newark on Oct. 22. Ernst Louisius and Thomas Trimble tallied the markers for the Ospreys.

Louisius broke into the scoring column at 9:59 when he took a feed from Kieran Sundermann and tapped in his team-leading 10th goal of the season for the 1-0 lead.

Stockton will travel on Saturday, Oct. 25, for a key showdown against Montclair State. Both teams are tied for first place in the NJAC at 5-1-1. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Stockton Sweeps NJCU for Seventh Straight Win

The volleyball team extended its winning streak to seven matches on Oct. 21 with a 25-19, 25-17, 25-17 sweep of New Jersey City. The victory moved the Ospreys into a tie for third place in the conference standings.

Kate Louer led Stockton with a team-high 13 kills and a .500 hitting percentage on 24 attacks. Nicole Palmer chipped in with eight kills and a match-high nine digs.

Stockton will host a tri-match on Oct. 25 in which the Ospreys will face FDU-Florham at 11 a.m. and CCNY at 3 p.m.

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

STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS

Noyes Museum Hosts One-Day Seaview Plein Air Invitational

The Noyes Museum of Art, in partnership with the Absecon Cultural Arts Alliance, held the Seaview Plein Air Invitational on Sunday, Oct. 19, featuring more than 40 artists from the tri-state region, including Stockton students Siera Ojeda and Joseph Dennis.

Ojeda and Dennis were recommended by Associate Professor of Art Jacob Feige. Unlike festivals that stretch over several days, this event was a high-energy, one-day competition where selected artists had just four hours to complete a finished piece of artwork on-site.

The compressed timeline heightened the creative stakes, pushing plein air painters to trust their instincts, respond quickly to changing light and atmosphere, and work with speed and intention.

Artwork created during the competition will be on display at the Noyes Gallery at Seaview, A Dolce Hotel, from Oct. 28 through Feb. 2.

SCOSA Hosts Poverty Reduction Lecture

The Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA), with support from the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy and the School of Education, hosted the Notre Dame Club of South Jersey’s annual Hesburgh Lecture titled “Using Evidence to Fight Poverty in America.”

Presented by Jim Sullivan, professor of Economics at Notre Dame, the lecture drew about 100 guests, including Stockton students from sociology and anthropology, social work, general studies and environmental studies courses, along with faculty, staff, community members and club participants.

Sullivan teaches undergraduate and graduate economics, directs Notre Dame’s Strategic Framework Poverty Initiative, and co-directs the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO). His lecture focused on how LEO builds partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the U.S. that have innovative solutions to poverty, tests the effectiveness of these interventions, and uses evidence to inform program design, scaling and policymaking.

Event organizer Dave Burdick, retired SCOSA director and emeritus professor of Psychology, said, “The lecture was especially relevant for Stockton’s audience, given the university’s Community Engagement Elective Classification from the Carnegie Foundation and its designation as an Anchor Institution for Atlantic City.”

The evening concluded with a Q&A session that reflected the audience’s strong interest in the topic, including many student questions about getting involved in their communities.

Read the SCOSA November Newsletter

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

OSPREY NOTES

Wear Stockton Wednesday

Don't forget: Show your spirit by wearing Stockton apparel every Wednesday during the semester!

Getting to Know New Faculty: Part 5

Each week, we’ll highlight new faculty members who have joined the campus community, sharing details about their on-campus work and off-campus life. Today, we spotlight Amanda Jones-Layman, assistant professor of Organizational Leadership, LEAD Program.

What courses or subjects will you be teaching at Stockton?

This fall, I am teaching Engaging Communities & Stakeholders in the LEAD program and Community Schools: Urban Change Agents in General Studies.

What is your area of research or professional specialty?

My research focuses on institutional and organizational change efforts in educational and nonprofit organizations. I use qualitative methods to study a variety of contexts including municipal and state social welfare programs; teacher activist organizations; and philanthropic foundations.

What drew you to Stockton?

I was drawn to teach in the LEAD program and to continue my previous work with Ed.D. students to develop their skills as researchers, so they are positioned to make positive change in organizations and communities. I also have a background in the humanities. I earned an MFA in poetry and began my career teaching high school Literature and Writing, and was attracted to the strong General Studies program here at Stockton.

What’s on your Kindle or nightstand right now?

A pile of New Yorker magazines!

What’s one fun fact about you that students or colleagues might be surprised to learn?

My family tells me that I dance like the character Elaine from the TV show Seinfeld.

Atlantic City Honors Rita and Anthony Mack with Street Dedication

On Oct. 22, Atlantic City honored current Stockton University Foundation Board member Rita Mackand her husband, former Board memberAnthony Mack, with a street dedication on Arctic Avenue between Arkansas and Michigan avenues.

The recognition celebrates the couple’s outstanding leadership and service to the community. The street is located in front of the McDonald’s restaurant in The Walk Tanger Outlets that the Macks previously owned.

Stockton University 2025 Annual Report Now Available

The 2025 Annual Report highlights the Stockton community's dedication to teaching, learning, and student success. Read more about what our students, faculty and staff accomplished in the 2024-25 academic year.

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.

Midterm madness:The term “midterms” wasn’t widely used until the early 1900s when U.S. universities started adopting semester systems instead of yearlong courses. Before then, most students were graded only once — at the end of the year.