Success Scholars Testimonials
Faculty Feedback
"I think it's a great opportunity to get to know each other on another level and plan for success. If you want to have a greater impact on a student's life, you should consider it."
Instructor of Criminal Justice
"I think the benefit for me is that I get to meet students who are outside of my program. It is interesting to get to work with students from other disciplines. The benefit for the mentees is the same; they may get a different perspective from a different professor than they get from their preceptor or other program professor.
Becoming a mentor is a way to reach out to students and have them feel comfortable with faculty. It allows more personal contact with students we may never have met otherwise."
Associate Professor of Psychology
CHAMP Feedback
"I think Student Success Scholars Program give students the opportunity and support they need to succeed at Stockton.
Becoming a mentor ensures that you are helping someone achieve his or her goals. While the mentees absolutely gain skills from this program that are hard to maintain, the mentor gains a sense of accomplishment as well."
2017, Biology
The Student Success Scholars Program is a great way for students to receive help finding the resources they need. This program allows students to be successful!
It is very rewarding to become a mentor. Someone should become a mentor to help students make the most of their college experience."
2015, Criminal Justice
"I like the program. Mentees are paired with mentors based on their specific major. Mentees get to attend workshops of their interest or informative workshops that give insight to other aspects of attending a university, such as the financial aid process or personal budgeting.
A student should become a mentor because there may student that needs someone that understands their specific situation."
2015, Health Sciences
"It is a very beneficial program for both the mentors and the mentees.Mentees are able to better adjust to college life and academics, while mentors are able to gain leadership skills.
A person should become a mentor so that they can gain leadership skills, teamwork skills, and so they can use their own experiences to help someone in need."
2015, Health Sciences
"I think the program can make a difference for at risk students. In most occupations, we will be called upon at times to advocate and advise someone. Being a mentor in Student Success Scholars Program will help prepare you for that role later in life."
2016, Health Sciences
"I think Student Success Scholars Program is a really great program to have in place here at Stockton. I think it is important to provide struggling students with support from peers, faculty, and staff. These concepts are not taken into consideration at every institution.
Someone should become a mentor because it is a rewarding experience in which you find out a lot about yourself and how to work with others."
2016, Health Sciences
As a Success Scholars Mentor, I provide advising services that are aligned with Stockton University's vision to support students in achieving their academic and career goals.
Featured Faculty/Staff Mentor
More About Benjamin
Name/Position: Benjamin Agyare, PhD
Education: Ph.D. Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Work Experience: I teach both algebra-based and calculus-based introductory physics laboratories and lecture courses, in addition to the general studies course "How Things Work.
Interests/Hobbies: Spending time with family, amateur video editing, do-it-yourself projects, home improvement tasks, watching TV news.
Favorite things about Stockton: The campus community is friendly, and the atmosphere is safe and secure.
Why I joined Student Success Scholars Mentor Program: As a Student Success Scholars Mentor, I provide advising services that are aligned with Stockton University's vision to support students in achieving their academic and career goals. I guide students on their academic journey, with a particular focus on helping them develop personalized academic plans, plan their schedules, and provide guidance, resources, and support to ensure timely graduation.
My favorite thing in the world is a great comeback story, and I hope that by the time I die I will have been at least a small part of 1000’s of folks comeback stories!
Featured Faculty/Staff Mentor
Counselor
More About Nathan
Name/Position: Nathan Morell, Counselor, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Wellness Center
Education: Bachelors of Social Work from Stockton University and a Masters of Clinical Social Work from Fordham University.
Work Experience: In-home crisis work with children and families 2012-23, AtalntiCare Hospice LSW 2006-2009, Atlanticare Child and Adolescent Behavioral health 2009-2012, Stockton University Counselor 2012-23.
Interests/Hobbies: Surfing, skiing, hiking, cooking, and traveling basically any way I can have fun actively engaging with nature and the world. I also am the lesser half if a therapy dog team and I love spending time with Eva our Great Pyrenees, as well as my family and friends.
Favorite things about Stockton: The kindness I find here, also the low-key natural beauty of the campus and closeness to the Forrest and the ocean.
Why I joined Student Success Scholars Program as a mentor: My favorite thing in the world is a great comeback story, and I hope that by the time I die I will have been at least a small part of 1000’s of folks comeback stories!
College was continuing to become more difficult, and I was struggling with some of the class materials for my science classes. My mentor helped point me in the right direction when I was not sure what to do.
Featured Mentee
Biochemistry and Environmental Science
More About Janus
Janus Liu 21'
Major: Biochemistry and Environmental Science
Minor: Business Studies
Volunteer Work: I have volunteered with Clean Ocean Action to help with Brick Beach Cleanups in college. I also did some reading to children and making crafts with seniors at the Brick Library.
Student Organizations: Environmental Club, Pathways to Healing
Career Goal: Either a job at a nature park or herbal medicine center
Favorite thing about Stockton: I love walking around the campus looking at the trees and listening to the birds. The campus is very quiet and peaceful.
Why I joined the SSS program: College was continuing to become more difficult, and I was struggling with some of the class materials for my science classes. The Student Success Scholars Program helped me plan better communication with my professors about ways to improve my studying for exams, and my mentor helped point me in the right direction when I was not sure what to do about academic and financial resources. The workshops and talking with my mentor helped me develop good study strategies to learn the material and helped me build better communication skills with people so that I could talk about difficult things in the class work that I had been struggling with.
Successful Experience: The Student Success Scholars Program has been an amazing experience that has helped shape me into a better and more well-rounded student. As college reaches its end, I am hoping to maybe work on mentoring other students and maybe work on some community service learning and apply for internships.
I joined the Student Succes Scholars Program as a Peer-Mentor to reach and help more of my peers succeed.
Featured Peer Mentor
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
More About Hari
Hari Acharya
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (Graduation: 2023)
Volunteer Work: I'm a tutor for Stockton's Homework Assistance Program at the Pleasantville Library
(and Zoom!), as well as a Peer-Mentor for the Honors Program and the Student Success
Scholars Program!
Student organizations: I'm the President and Founder of the Pre-Medical Club of Stockton University (@PMCSU
on Instagram!), a member of Stockton's Honors Program, and an Active Member of Delta
Epsilon Mu!
Post Graduate Interest or Career Goal: After graduating I plan to apply to medical school and pursue my dreams of becoming
a physician! My dream medical school is Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
in Camden and I'm still deciding on a specialty as I continue to learn more and more
every day.
Favorite thing about Stockton: My favorite thing about Stockton is the people. Everyone from my friends to the faculty has had a large influence on helping me grow into the best version of myself. I couldn't have asked for a more supportive environment. Not only has this helped me do well but it's also what allows me to continue to help others reach their goals as well. (Shoutout: Dr. Burleigh, Dr. Rajaraman, Dr. Colon, Dr. Brown, Dr. Pollock, Dr. Schroer, and Mr. Itaas!)
Why I joined the Student Success Scholars Program (3S) as Peer Mentor: I joined the Student Succes Scholars Program as a Peer-Mentor to reach and help more of my peers succeed. Efficiently prioritizing your tasks and creating a framework for your goals is essential to one's overall academic success, as well as creating a memorable college experience. I would help many of my friends and classmates overcome gaps in their learning by showing them the methods that worked for me in order to help them perform the best they possibly could. I have always believed in the idea of sharing knowledge and information that can help someone. I felt that I can reach more of my peers and help more students succeed with the help of the Student Success Scholars Program.
Being part of the program allowed me to grow and become a better student.
Featured Mentee
Doctor of Physical Therapy; BS in Health Science
More About Paolo
Paolo Hinahon 23’
Major: Doctor of Physical Therapy; BS in Health Science
Minor: Holistic Health
Volunteer Work: I have volunteered at the Pleasantville Public Library Homework Completion Program to assist elementary to middle school students with their homework and create a fun learning environment. I have also volunteered in the Ditty Bag Community Service Project for Seafarers, donating bags filled with necessities. Additionally, I volunteered for The Food Brigade program to deliver groceries to those who suffer from food security. Lastly, I have volunteered in the 2022 Atlantic City Marathon as a Student PT to serve the competitors with manual therapy techniques to reduce pain and enhance recovery.
Student Organizations: Graduate PT Club, Intramural Basketball/Volleyball, PASAS Filipino Club
Career Goal: To become the best physical therapist I can possibly be and rehabilitate those in need!
Favorite thing about Stockton: Sunsets at Lake Fred and the nature around Stockton. Also, the big windows all around campus for natural light to enter.
Why I joined the SSS Program: I joined the Student Success Scholars Program during graduate school as I was struggling to maintain proper grades. From undergraduate to graduate school, there was a large increase in difficulty in the curriculum and expected outcomes that I was not prepared for. The SSS program gave me the opportunity to learn new study strategies, test taking tips, mental health coping strategies, leadership skills, and more through a mentorship program and workshops. Having a mentor provided an accessible resource for advice, knowledge, and assistance when needed about school, financial resources, or simply a person to talk to.
Successful Experience: The Student Success Scholars Program had a large contribution to my success throughout my doctoral program. I will be a graduate for the class of 2023, and the SSS program guided me to make my dreams become a reality. Being part of the SSS program allowed me to grow and become a better student, but most importantly a better version of myself than when I started.
The program helped me pass all my classes with awesome grades.
Featured Mentee
Physics
More About Kurtis
Major: Physics (Graduation: 2027)
Volunteer Work: I work at the library
Student Organization: African Student Organization
Career Goal: Electrical Engineering
Favorite thing about Stockton: I love to join any club organizations and events
Why I joined the Student Success Scholars Program: I struggled with some classes and time management. The program helped me pass all my classes with awesome grades.
Successful Experience: The Student Success Scholars Program has been an amazing academic support program for me and everyone. I love to be in this program.
That little encouragement that I received when I was 19 years old has been a part of my story of completing the highest formal education in social work. It just makes sense to keep the ball rolling.
Featured Faculty/Staff Mentor
Associate Professor of Social Work
More About Guia
Name/Position: Guia Calicdan-Apostle, Associate Professor of Social Work
Education: Doctorate in Social Work (Clinical Social Work), School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania (2011); Master of Science in Social Work, Asian Social Institute (1994).
Work Experience: Before coming to Stockton, I was a school social worker in the poorest county of New Jersey. I also worked in a refugee camp, state prison, facilities for the disabled, aging, and mental health. I ran a program on American Stop Smoking Study for the Prevention of Cancer (ASSIST), an NIH-funded program in the 1990s.
Interest/hobbies: I play guitar and banduria, cook international food esp. vegan recipes, forest walk, and if more time is available, travel to places where tourists do not often go.
Favorite albums: What's Going On by Marvin Gaye; Amor a La Mexicana by Thalia
Favorite things about Stockton: The pedagogy on liberal arts education, the strong faculty and staff, and their commitment to service to the university and the community. Stockton is strategically located in the pinelands and near the ocean.
Why I joined the Student Success Scholars Program as a mentor: When I was in college, it took one faculty to tell me that I could do it. That statement strengthened my belief that I could change my life out of poverty through education. It just makes sense to keep the ball rolling by becoming a mentor to someone who needs encouragement. In the words of a Persian educator, "little by little, day by day." That little encouragement that I received when I was 19 years old has been a part of my story of completing the highest formal education in social work.
One of my favorite things about Stockton is being able to say, "Now is a really exciting time to be at Stockton," continually over the past 20+ years.
Featured Faculty/Staff Mentor
Executive Director of Event Services & Campus Engagement
More About Laurie
Name/Position: Laurie A. Griscom, Executive Director of Event Services & Campus Engagement.
Education: Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, Master of Arts in Student Personnel Services, Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education/ Spanish Coordinate Major.
Work Experience: Dr. Griscom served in a variety of roles within the Division of Student Affairs since her 1998 arrival to Stockton University. Her doctoral dissertation research project was titled, "Parental Perspectives on Student Preparedness to Self-Manage Food Allergy at College: A Quantitative Study."
Interests/Hobbies: Spending time with family, listening to classical music, and playing pool; also a cat lover!
Favorite things about Stockton: Being able to say, "Now is a really exciting time to be at Stockton," continually over the past 20+ years as Stockton has grown.
Why I joined Student Success Scholars Program as a mentor: To help students feel supported and to help connect them with the many programs, services, and resources that Stockton has to offer.
