Stockton News - July 30, 2026
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
Stockton Names New Deans for Health Sciences and Business
Stockton has appointed two experienced academic leaders to guide its schools of Health Sciences and Business as both enter periods of growth focused on expanding academic opportunities, strengthening industry partnerships and preparing students for high-demand careers.
Shannon “Nikki” Clifford now leads the School of Health Sciences, and Dennis Yu is the new head of the School of Business. Both started on July 13.
“We are delighted to welcome Shannon and Dennis to Stockton University. Their leadership, vision and commitment to student success will strengthen our academic programs and deepen our impact in the region,” said Michael Palladino, Stockton’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “Together, they will play a vital role in shaping the future of Stockton and supporting our mission of excellence, access and opportunity for all students.”
Stockton Again Named One of Money's Best Colleges in America
Stockton has once again been recognized as one of Money magazine’s Best Colleges in America, earning a place on the publication’s 2026 list of colleges and universities that deliver outstanding value through a combination of quality, affordability and strong student outcomes.
Money’s Best College list includes 735 schools nationwide, selected from more than 2,400 institutions. The list does not assign a single numerical ranking. Instead, institutions receive star ratings that recognize colleges providing exceptional educational value based on measurable student outcomes and affordability. Stockton received four stars out of five for the fifth straight year.
“We are proud to be a university that delivers an outstanding return on investment for our students and their families, while serving as an Anchor Institution for southern New Jersey and expanding access to higher education for all,” said Stockton President Joe Bertolino.
SPOTLIGHT ON: NOEL CRISCIONE-NAYLOR
Hospitality is about more than a hotel stay, restaurant meal or special event. At
its heart, the industry depends on meaningful service, human connection and professionals
who understand how to create memorable experiences.
Noel Criscione-Naylor, professor of Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies, was recently named one of the International Hospitality Institute's Global 100 Influential Educators in Hospitality for 2026. Her continuous drive to learn and adapt as this field grows and changes is mirrored in her teaching philosophy and how her students succeed.
Criscione-Naylor was also named a 2026 NJBIZ Leading Women in Business honoree in June.
In an interview, she shares how her work continues to evolve, why hospitality graduates are prepared for careers across industries and where her teaching and research are heading next.
FRAME-WORTHY
Tech Trek Brings Future STEM Leaders to Stockton
Women make up just 27% of the workforce for jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor.
That’s why events like Stockton University’s annual Tech Trek summer camp are so important, according to Claudine Keenan, a professor of Instructional Technology and Tech Trek organizer. The weeklong camp brought 42 eighth-grade students to the university’s Galloway campus this week to immerse themselves in Stockton’s state-of-the-art facilities. The young women from 20 of New Jersey’s 21 counties stayed on campus in residence halls.
“Our partnership with the American Association of University Women brings more young women interested in STEM to Stockton’s cutting-edge facilities where they can work with mentors like Elizabeth Pollock in Chemistry, Jennifer Martin in Biology and Demetrios Roubos in Information Technology,” Keenan said. “Each year, we strengthen our network of connections to empower young women in STEM.”
New to the program in its 11th year is the ability for campers to design their own custom “core STEM class” for the week. Students choose from 10 different options to build their four-day experience, including astronautics, artificial intelligence, medicine, robotics and coding.
📸View more photos on Flickr.
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
InstaFred: A little summer rain never hurts. It just gives me a chance to show off my ripple effect. 🌧️💙
Facebook: Before he was headed to Philly, LeBron James stopped by Stockton University.
Instagram: What fills your cup, Ospreys? ☕🦅
FROM THE SIDELINES
Stockton Earns ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award
The baseball team earned an ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award from the American Baseball Coaches Association for the 2025-26 academic year.
The Ospreys recorded a 3.44 team grade point average, earning the honor for the seventh consecutive year under head coach Rich Gawlak.
The awards recognize programs coached by ABCA members that posted a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher during the academic year. Stockton was one of 196 NCAA Division III teams among 389 nationwide to receive this year’s award.
On the field, Stockton won 12 games during the 2026 season with a young roster that included 22 freshmen and sophomores. The Ospreys earned seven conference victories and tied for sixth place in the standings, narrowly missing an NJAC Tournament berth because of a tiebreaker.
Stockton Earns USILA Team Academic Award
The men’s lacrosse team earned a USILA Team Academic Award from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association for the 2026 season after compiling a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
The Ospreys recorded a 3.40 team GPA and were one of 72 programs honored among 245 NCAA Division III men’s lacrosse teams. Stockton earned the award for the third consecutive year and the fourth time in the past five seasons under head coach Kevin Zulauf.
The Ospreys finished the 2026 season with a 12-5 record, reaching double figures in wins for the 10th time in the past 11 full seasons. Stockton went 10-0 at home and finished 31st among 234 teams in the NCAA Power Index rankings this spring.
IN MEMORIAM
The Office of Human Resources shared the following sad news on July 28:
Peter L. Hagen, former associate dean in General Studies and director of the Center for Academic Advising, died July 24 at age 74.
Hagen joined Stockton in August 1996 and retired in July 2021. Throughout his career at Stockton and after his retirement, he also taught courses in the General Studies program. Fans of the Stockton Faculty Band will remember him on bass guitar and vocals.
Hagen authored “The Power of Story: Narrative Theory in Academic Advising,” published in 2018 by NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising.
According to his obituary, information about a planned memorial event will be shared on Facebook and the Wimberg Funeral Home website.
Our thoughts are with Hagen’s wife, Joyce, his family and his friends at Stockton.
STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS
Read the SCOSA August Newsletter
Read the Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA)'s August newsletter for interesting upcoming events and newly added programming.
OSPREY NOTES
URM Assumes Marketing Video Production
University Relations and Marketing (URM) has assumed responsibility for the University’s marketing video production. As part of this transition, all new marketing video requests should be submitted to URM using the updated Service Request Form.
Event recording requests and other non-marketing inquiries should be routed through ITS Support Services by emailing HelpDesk@stockton.edu.
With a smaller production team, URM is introducing a new process for reviewing and prioritizing marketing video requests to ensure resources are focused on projects that have the greatest impact on the University’s strategic priorities, including enrollment, recruitment, retention and institution-wide marketing initiatives.
Because the process for reviewing and evaluating marketing video requests has changed, campus community members are encouraged to read the Service Request Form carefully before submitting a request.
Palladino Elected to National Board for Academic Leaders
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Palladino was elected to the Board of Directors of the Association of Chief Academic Officers.
The national professional organization brings together provosts, vice presidents for academic affairs and other senior academic leaders from colleges and universities across higher education. Its board provides strategic leadership and governance while supporting professional development, collaboration and the exchange of best practices among academic officers.
Palladino will serve alongside higher education leaders representing a range of institutions and perspectives.
Stockton Named to New Jersey Influenza Honor Roll
Stockton University has been recognized by the New Jersey Department of Health’s Vaccine Preventable Disease Program as a recipient of the New Jersey Influenza Honor Roll for the 2025-26 flu season.
The honor recognizes organizations that promote flu prevention and vaccination and help protect the health of New Jersey residents. Stockton also received the recognition for the 2018-19, 2020-21, 2022-23 and 2024-25 flu seasons.
Kristen Welsh-Capaldi, health educator, gathered and submitted the university’s vaccination data in collaboration with Wellness team members Becky Licari, Stephanie Allen and Stephanie Vega.
Did You Know?July 30 is Paperback Book Day, marking the anniversary of the first Penguin paperbacks published in 1935. The affordable, portable books helped make literature more accessible to everyday readers. Celebrate by grabbing a beach-ready book and finding a shady spot to read. 📖🏖️
UPCOMING EVENTS
🖼️ Art Exhibits hosted by the Noyes Museum of Art
Aug. 2:Stockton Day at Morey's Piers
Aug. 11:Board of Trustees Meeting
Sept. 4-7:New Student Welcome Programs
Sept. 8:Fall Semester Begins
Sept. 10: Richard E. Bjork Library and Learning Commons Grand Opening
