Stockton News - Oct. 31, 2025
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
A.C. Community Day Draws Hundreds to Cleanup, Celebration
Growing up, Abby Crawley dreamed about living in a city by the beach.
“Living in Atlantic City has been a dream. I’ve always wanted to live on the beach, having that beach view and being able to walk to the Boardwalk,” said the Pemberton native who’s spending her senior year at Kesselman Hall, one of the university’s residence halls in the city.
On Saturday, Oct. 25, she found a way to help the place where her dream came true by volunteering at the university’s Fourth Annual Community Day Clean Up and Party in the Park.
“This is my first year doing the cleanup, and it’s really cool to volunteer for something like this,” the Communication Studies major said. “I really like this area. I’ve always loved the beaches, so it’s nice to be able to give back in a way.”
Crawley was one of hundreds of volunteers who spent the morning picking up trash at several locations in six wards of the city from the beach in front of Hard Rock Hotel and Casino to the Chelsea neighborhood where Stockton’s Atlantic City campus is located.
“It’s been an amazing day. I think we have more people than we expected, so folks are really enthusiastic to be out today,” said Brian K. Jackson, Stockton’s vice president for Community Engagement. The event had previously taken place in April, but Jackson decided this year to try the event in the fall. “It’s a beautiful day, and we’re all about beautifying Atlantic City.”
📸 See more photos on Flickr.
Holocaust Resource Center Creates Visiting Scholar Program
The last time Dienke Hondius spent considerable time at Stockton as a Visiting Professor of Holocaust Studies in 2020, the pandemic forced her to go home to the Netherlands early.
This fall, the Associate Professor of History at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and staff member at the Anne Frank House has returned to create a new visiting scholar program at the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center (HRC).
“Dienke is one of the most prominent Dutch scholars of the Holocaust and also on the experiences of the Frank family and others hiding in the Secret Annex,” said HRC Director Irvin Moreno-Rodriguez.
Since she arrived the second weekend in October, Hondius has guest lectured in Stockton Holocaust and Genocide Studies classes, visited several South Jersey high schools enrolled in the university’s dual-credit program, and taken part in a speaker series at the Jewish Community Center in Margate.
STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ATLANTIC CITY
Film and Panel Explore Vaccine Misinformation at Atlantic City Campus
A free screening of “Shot in the Arm” and a panel discussion on vaccine hesitancy and misinformation were held Oct. 24 in the Fannie Lou Hamer Event Room at Stockton Atlantic City.
Directed by Academy Award nominee Scott Hamilton Kennedy, the film examined vaccine misinformation, trust and the future of global health.
Following the screening, Dr. Paul A. Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Jean Haspel, a nurse practitioner and HIV specialist at AtlantiCare, participated in a panel discussion moderated by Sreelekha Prakash, associate professor of Health Science and president of the New Jersey Public Health Association.
SPOTLIGHT ON: PATRICIA CHAPPINE
Recipient of NJSAA Author Award
Patricia Chappine, adjunct professor of Arts and Humanities and General Studies at Stockton, was recently recognized with the 2025 New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance (NJSAA) Author Award for her book, "New Jersey Women during World War II."
In it, Chappine '06, '09, amplifies the often-underrepresented voices of women during World War II and how their stories of compassion, bravery and tireless ambition helped shape the war effort and life on the home front across the Garden State.
Chappine shared what inspired her research, the discoveries that surprised her most, and how she's helping a new generation of students uncover the stories that shaped New Jersey.
💭 Read the full Q&A here.
FRAME-WORTHY
🌶️Facilities and Operations Turns Up the Heat at Chili Cook-Off
Stockton Facilities and Operations hosted its annual Chili Cook-off on Oct. 28. Staff from Facilities Management & Plant Operations and the Stockton Police Department gathered to cast their votes on the delectable dishes and enjoy some downtime together.
The chefs who remained anonymous during sampling were Mark Butterhof, Melinda Ogando, Lee Blanchard, Craig Bickley, Mike Lugg, Bill Wagner, Marcie Pallanteand Ryan Letizia.
🏆 Awards for spiciest, most creative and best overall went to Bickley, Lugg and Ogando, respectively.
📸See more photos on Flickr.
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
Facebook: Thank you Stockton Action Volunteers for the Environment for getting us in the Halloween spirit.
TikTok: Asking Ospreys- what's your favorite spot on campus?
Instagram: First-year students held an albino Burmese python named Buttercup on their shoulders during a critical thinking course that focuses on the fear factor.
Your favorite lake's online... have you given @lakefred1969 a follow yet? 👀
FROM THE SIDELINES
Stockton Claims #2 Seed with 1-1 Draw
The men’s soccer team finished the NJAC regular season slate with a 1-1 draw against Kean University on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Nico Calambas scored the goal for the Ospreys.
The Cougars struck first on a corner kick that eluded the Stockton defense at 8:19 for a 1-0 lead. Calambas knotted the tense affair at 39:28 when his header hit the back of the net on a corner kick from Aiden Hoenisch. It gave Hoenisch seven helpers on the season and moved him into a tie for third place in the NJAC in that category.
The second half saw the home team outshoot Kean by a 6-1 margin but could not find the go-ahead goal and the match ended in the 1-1 tie.
Stockton will have a bye in the first round of the NJAC Tournament as the Ospreys finished as the number two seed. It is the highest placement for Stockton since 2015 when they were also the number two seed.
Their next match will be Wednesday, Nov. 5, against an opponent to be determined in Galloway.
Stockton Wins 10th Straight Match
The volleyball team swept Rutgers-Camden 25-19, 25-22, 25-15 for its 10th straight victory on Oct. 28. The 10-match winning streak is the longest since 2022 and the first of double digits since the 2019 squad won 18 in a row. Stockton also has won 25 consecutive sets.
Kate Louerled the Ospreys with a double-double of 14 kills and 13 digs. Rileigh Wilson tied Louer with 14 kills, which was a season high. Louer and Wilson combined for a lofty .511 hitting percentage.
In the first set, Stockton trailed 16-15 before closing with a 10-3 run that featured five kills by Louer.
The Ospreys fell behind 11-6 in the second set but erased the deficit with a 16-5 onslaught. Wilson smacked three kills while Louer contributed two kills and two aces during the spurt.
Stockton will play a tri-match at Albright College on Saturday, Nov. 1, facing Keystone College at noon followed by Albright at 2 p.m.
🦅 For more athletics news and upcoming game information, visit here.🦅
SOARING FORWARD: IN ACTION
Turning Priorities into Progress
Stockton University's Strategic Plan, Soaring Forward, was officially endorsed by the Board of Trustees in September 2025. At the State of the University Address, PresidentJoe Bertolino introduced the Strategic Plan Implementation Co-Leads who will work closely with Divisional Executives to guide the work ahead. Together, they will help shape Stockton’s next chapter through five key priorities:
- Cultivate a Community of Care
- Inspire Minds
- Empower Student Success
- Anchor in Purpose
- Sustain Tomorrow
This fall, our primary focus is the development of objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs). The KPIs will be presented to the Board of Trustees in December. These metrics will guide our progress and shape our work for the next three years and beyond.
This week, the Implementation Co-Leads and Divisional Executives are participating in a series of working sessions with EAB, focusing on KPI development and aligning our collective efforts.
In the coming weeks, Divisional Executives will assemble their respective action teams. These teams will help define how each unit contributes to our shared priorities — and how we measure success along the way.
We are committed to a process that is thoughtful, inclusive, and clear. A visual roadmap has been added to our internal calendar to help orient us in this phase of work.
Stay tuned for future updates as we continue to Soar Forward — together.
STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS
SCOSA Hosts Discussion on Power of Intergenerational Connections
In October, the Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA) hosted “The Power of Intergenerational Connections” for Ageism Awareness Day. Founder & CEO of Ageism Is Never In Style®, Jacynth Bassett, led a discussion on Oct. 10 at the Galloway campus, attended by 72 students and older adult community members.
After encouraging students and community members to sit together, socialize and connect, Bassett spoke about the value of intergenerational relationships, the challenges older adults often face, and steps they can take to strengthen connections across generations. She encouraged action by actively reflecting on how much they currently engage with people of other ages, identifying the opportunities and barriers in place, and committing to one new way they can connect more with people of different ages.
“We’re deeply proud to be partnering with SCOSA- a true beacon of research-driven, educational, and community-led work in aging and inclusion,” said Bassett.
“Following the large group session, a group of select students and older adults (spanning four generations) discussed how intergenerational projects can drive positive change and tackle real-world issues, which will inform SCOSA’s Spring Service-Learning Project,” Gina Maguire, senior operations specialist at SCOSA, shared.
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 6
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 Stanford Howdyshell, teaching specialist, Philosophy.
What courses or subjects will you be teaching at Stockton?
I am teaching philosophy courses focusing on ethics.
What is your area of research or professional specialty?
My primary research interests are Virtue Ethics and Phenomenology, specifically in the constitution of normativity and virtue.
What drew you to Stockton?
I was drawn to Stockton by our diverse student body and the opportunity to develop as a teacher and scholar.n.
What’s on your Kindle or nightstand right now?
"To Green Angel Tower" by Tad Williams.
What’s one fun fact about you that students or colleagues might be surprised to learn?
I spent two years living and teaching in Bangladesh.
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.
👻 Fun Fact Friday: Haunted Higher Ed
Many colleges have their own ghost stories, from centuries-old buildings to haunted residence halls and eerie libraries. According to College Consensus’ Top 10 Most Haunted Colleges in America, schools like Smith College, Kenyon College and Gettysburg College top the list with long-standing paranormal legends.
At Smith, students reportedly still search for a hidden staircase used by “star-crossed lovers” in a building from 1751. At Kenyon, the 1949 dorm-fire ghosts are said to wake residents late at night. 👀 Ready to see if your alma mater made the list?
POLLING ALL OSPREYS
🍂⏰ It's almost time to fall back: This is your friendly reminder to set your clocks back one hour, as Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m., this Sunday, Nov. 2. Inquiring minds want to know: 😴 Extra hour of sleep? Yes, please!, 🌅 No thanks — I need my sunshine fix!, and Can we retire this time-warp tradition already?
UPCOMING EVENTS
🌈 October is LGBTQ+ History Month
👩💻 Professional Development Opportunities
🖼️ Art Exhibits hosted by the Noyes Museum of Art
Now-Nov. 8: “Diverse Perspectives in Photography: Four Black Guggenheim Fellows in the Philadelphia Region”
Nov. 1: 🎼 Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway, Dia de los Muertos Celebration
Nov. 5: Preceptorial advising day, Winter Information Session Webinar
Nov 6: 📖 Stephen Dunn Visiting Writers Series: Gregory Djanikian, 🕯️Annual Kristallnacht Lecture
Nov. 11:An Evening with Melissa Jacoby: "Unjust Debts: How Our Bankruptcy System Makes America More Unequal"
Nov. 13:Expressive Art Therapy: Chalkboard Art, Hughes Center Honors
Nov. 17: "Rella, Rose and I" Elizabeth Ehrlich Roth's Story of Survival
Nov. 18: 🌱 Celebration of Service
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
