Stockton News - Feb. 13, 2026 - University Relations & Marketing

Stockton News - Feb. 13, 2026

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

New Partnership Created to Support Family, Professional Caregivers

Stockton and WeCare4®, a national leader in caregiver education and support, have announced a new partnership designed to develop, promote and deliver innovative education, professional development and certification programs for family and professional caregivers.

“The opportunity to work with Stockton University to develop and deliver much‑needed programs for family, friend and professional caregivers is truly exciting. Together, we will help fill a critical gap in the resources available to the caregiver community,” said Carol Greco, WeCare4® founder and CEO. “The knowledge and experience of the Stockton team will complement ours and together we can provide caregivers the best possible education, training, and certification programs, as well as our emerging WeCare4® Trusted Advisor™ Program.”

The agreement also calls for the development of candidates for the WeCare4® Trusted Advisor™ Program, training students in Stockton’s School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SOCSA). Stockton students, staff, faculty and alumni will also have access to WeCare4®’s comprehensive community platform, portfolio of resources and Job Board/Career Center as part of the new partnership.

Lori Herndon to Lead Stockton University Foundation Board

Lori Herndon, the former president and CEO of AtlantiCare, will serve as chair of the Stockton University Foundation Board of Directors, following approval of her nomination at the Board’s Feb. 5 meeting.

Herndon, a 1992 graduate of Stockton’s Nursing program, has been an engaged and dedicated alumna, having served in numerous volunteer roles at the university. She has been on the Foundation Board of Directors since 2005, is a member of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy board and was part of the search committee that selected Joe Bertolino as Stockton’s sixth president. Herndon also serves as a mentor for current undergraduate students as a member of the Stockton Foundation’s Women’s Leadership Council.

“A lot has changed over these decades, but the passion of the people who support Stockton students is still just as strong and just as vibrant. I'm looking forward to this new opportunity,” Herndon said during the meeting.

Herndon spent more than four decades at AtlantiCare, starting as a staff nurse and moving up to president and CEO of the health system. Prior to her retirement in 2023, she led more than 6,000 staff, providers and volunteers in five southern New Jersey counties.

PHOTO: From left, Stockton Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff Terricita Sass, new Stockton Foundation Board President Lori Herndon, previous head of the board Brigid Callahan Harrison and Executive Director of the Foundation Dan Nugent.

Arts Garage Exhibit Highlights Transformation into ‘Camp Boardwalk’

A new exhibit at the Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University examines Atlantic City’s transformation during World War II into “Camp Boardwalk.”

From June 1942 to November 1945, major city hotels were converted into military barracks, ballrooms into drill halls and Boardwalk Hall into a training facility as Atlantic City became a pivotal part of the World War II homefront.

For curator Patty Chappine, the exhibit, which runs through March 29, grew out of both her research and her teaching. The adjunct faculty member teaches a general education course on women during World War II, and she said her academic work and classroom discussions continually inform each other. Camp Boardwalk has appeared in her work and classes before, but the exhibit allowed her to expand that focus into a public history project.

STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ATLANTIC CITY

Visit Atlantic City Awards $2,500 Visual Arts Scholarship

As a child, Stockton junior Antonio Rodriguez loved vacationing at the beach and Boardwalk with his family in the summer. Now, they can visit to see his artwork on display in the resort’s Convention Center.

Rodriguez recently won a $2,500 scholarship from Visit Atlantic City as part of a new Artist-in-Residence initiative to celebrate the resort through the creative vision of student artists. The collaboration with Stockton’s Visual Arts program highlights Atlantic City’s commitment to arts, education and showcasing the resort in a positive and inspiring light.

“I spent many summers going back and forth between my home and the shore with my family, so the city holds a special place in my heart,” said the Glassboro resident. “Whether it be for the Boardwalk or for concerts, the city has always been a place I enjoyed going to.”

As part of the program, selected Stockton Visual Arts sophomore and junior students were invited to take part in a competition. Participants focused on creating original artwork that reflects their personal perspectives of Atlantic City. Submissions focused on the city’s iconic and natural elements such as the shoreline, lighthouse, pier, nature preserves and city lights.

SPOTLIGHT ON: ALLIANCE HERITAGE CENTER

The Alliance Heritage Center has received an Award of Recognition from the New Jersey Historical Commission, honoring its work preserving and sharing the history of the Alliance Colony, a small but significant Jewish farming community in southern New Jersey.

The recognition highlights the work of the Center under the leadership of Tom Kinsella, who serves as the Elizabeth and Samuel Levin Director of the Center, and Patty Chappine, the Center’s Rudnick Fellow.

“While the Center’s focus is local in scope, its impact reaches far beyond the region,” Kinsella said. “The history of the Alliance Colony represents an essential yet often overlooked chapter in Jewish, agricultural and immigrant history. Recognition from the Commission affirms that the Center’s work is not only preserving this history, but actively engaging communities in meaningful ways.”

The Alliance Heritage Center preserves the narratives of the colony’s founding families and their descendants and connects that history to students, scholars and the public. Through exhibits, public programming, oral histories and a robust digital museum, the Center highlights the social, cultural and agricultural life of the Alliance community across generations.

WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU

Instagram (OspreyPrez): Thanks to all the alumni who joined me at events in California this month. I enjoyed meeting with each of you and sharing updates on how Stockton is empowering students, inspiring minds and cultivating a community of care within the framework of our new Strategic Plan. Special thanks to David G. Brown '78 for the fantastic artwork! 🦅

Facebook: What's your favorite spot on campus?

Instagram: Nothing stops the @stocktonuxctf athletes from getting in their miles. With icy trails and a frozen track, you might spot them on the paved roads around campus.

FROM THE SIDELINES

Stockton Competes in Fastrack National Invite

The track & field teams returned on Feb. 6 to the Ocean Breeze Complex for the third time this season and competed in the Fastrack National Invite, with several events drawing more than 100 competitors, primarily from NCAA Division II and Division III.

On the women’s side, Eva Morrison was the highest finisher for the Ospreys, placing fifth out of 37 entrants in the pole vault with a mark of 3.35 meters. Adrienne Austin finished seventh in the 60 meters (8.11 seconds) and 26th in the 200 meters with a personal best of 26.52 seconds. Emma Petrolia placed 33rd in the 400 meters in 1:00.86 and 12th in the triple jump (10.53m), while Kayla Kass was 19th in the 800 meters (2:21.19). Maddy Valasek finished 16th in the 3000 meters (10:37.80). In the shot put, Marie Torode placed 15th (11.01m) and Jessica Bentley was 17th (10.95m). In addition to the Fastrack competition,Elaina Styer andMarlie DiPalmacompeted in the pentathlon at the Utica Blue & Gold Invitational; Styer won the event in a field of 11 with a total of 3,570 points, the best in NCAA Division III this season, while DiPalma finished third (2,741 points).

On the men’s side, Ahmad Fogg competed against the meet’s top performers, finishing second in the Invitational long jump (7.24m) and eighth in the high jump with a personal best of 1.95 meters. Bryant Nelson placed second in the high jump (1.90m), sixth in the long jump (6.28m) and 11th in the triple jump (13.33m). Khalil Turner finished fourth in the long jump (6.34m) and Timothy Lanblues was eighth (6.23m). In the 60m hurdles, Christian Jones placed sixth in 8.95 seconds, and Anthony McCullough was 10th in the 60 meters (7.20 seconds). Jacob Bittle finished 35th in the 200 meters (22.67 seconds), followed by McCullough in 36th (22.69 seconds). In the field events, Ben Laster placed 17th in the shot put (13.06m) and Conor Clifford was 18th in the 800 meters (1:56.02).

Next Up: Stockton will compete in the Widener Indoor Classic on Feb. 13-14.

Six Ospreys Earn NFHCA Scholar of Distinction Status

Six players on the field hockey team qualified as NFHCA Scholars of Distinction from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. The requirements for the recognition are a cumulative grade point average of 3.90 or higher.

Four of the six Stockton honorees have earned the honor multiple years, led by senior EB Rafferty who became an NFHCA Scholar of Distinction for the third time in her four seasons at Stockton.

Fellow seniorsMiana Alessandroni andErika Roura qualified for the academic honor for the second time in their careers, as did junior Maura Somers.

Freshmen Melany Mosier and Meghan Phillips collected NFHCA Scholar of Distinction spots for achieving GPAs of 3.90 or higher in their first semester of college.

Rafferty, Alessandroni, Roura, Somers, Mosier and Phillips were six of the 15 Stockton players who qualified for the NFHCA National Academic Squad, which was announced on Wednesday. The requirements for that honor were a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher.

High academic achievement has long been a hallmark of the Stockton field hockey program. The 2025 season marked the 14th consecutive year in which at least one Osprey player has qualified as an NFHCA Scholar of Distinction.

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

OSPREY NOTES

President Joe's Town Hall Scheduled for Feb. 18

President Joe will host his Spring Town Hall event from 3-4:30 p.m., next Wednesday, Feb. 18, in the Campus Center Theatre. This is a time for the campus community to gather, share updates from around the University, recognize our accomplishments and discuss challenges and opportunities.

There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion with President Joe and the Senior Leadership Team. A Zoom webinar option will also be available.

Annual Tuition Hearing Set for March 3

Prior to determining tuition and fees for the upcoming year, the Finance and Professional Services Committee of the Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing as required by New Jersey statute. The University’s Annual Tuition Hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 3 at 4:30 p.m. in the Michael Jacobson BOT Room in the Campus Center. This is an opportunity for the views of the Stockton community to be shared with members of the Board of Trustees.

University leadership has prepared several tuition and fee scenarios for your consideration. You can view these scenarios in the Portal. You will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed FY 2027 tuition and fee increases during the March 3 meeting. If you would like to make a public comment, either by appearing in-person, or by having your comment read during the meeting, please register in advance to ensure time is allotted for your comment. Registration to attend the meeting is not required. The hearing will also be available via a Zoom webinar, but please refer to the above instructions should you wish to make a public comment. Comments will not be accepted via Zoom.

Reminder: Immigration Resources Webpage Available

Stockton maintains a dedicated webpage with information regarding immigration-related policies, campus procedures, and support resources. Please take a moment to review the page and keep it bookmarked for future reference. Additional information can be found at the New Jersey Know Your Rights Information Hub.

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 Feb. 23, March 3, March 31 and April 14. Additional appointments are offered at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Feb. 19, March 19 and April 9. Evening appointments will be held at 6 p.m. on March 4 and 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.

Important Financial Aid Dates to Remember

It’s that time of year again! Please encourage your students to apply for 2026-27 financial aid by the university's March 1 Priority Date. Filing early ensures students receive their aid offer and have plenty of time to complete requirements before the fall bill due date.

If they can't apply by March 1, let's make sure they don't miss the April 15 deadline! 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.

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

💗 Fun Fact Friday: Galentine’s Day Edition
Galentine’s Day is traditionally observed on Feb. 13 and was made famous by a “Parks and Recreation” episode that aired in 2010. It’s a day to celebrate the women in your life, whether they are co-workers, besties, family members or friends. Happy Galentine’s Day! 💖🦅