Stockton News - May 1, 2026 - University Relations & Marketing

Stockton News - May 1, 2026

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

Stockton, Hudson County Build New Pathway in Cannabis Studies

A new articulation agreement signed April 28 will allow Cannabis Studies students from Hudson County Community College (HCCC) to seamlessly transfer to Stockton University’s Bachelor of Science in Hemp and Cannabis Business Management program.

The memorandum of understanding expands a 2022 articulation agreement to include students pursuing an Associate of Science in Business Administration degree with the Cannabis Studies Option at HCCC to transfer to Stockton’s School of Business program, which was the first Cannabis Studies undergraduate program in the state when it was launched in 2024.

Total cannabis sales in New Jersey (medicinal and recreational) increased 7.4% from $1.08 billion in 2024 to $1.16 billion in 2025, according to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. There are currently about 270 dispensaries in the state. The latest cannabis jobs report done in 2025 by Vangst, a recruiting and staffing platform dedicated exclusively to the legal cannabis industry, found that New Jersey had the second highest increase in cannabis job gains in the country.

Arcuri Wharton Fund Winners Dedicated to Justice and Service

Two Stockton students received the Arcuri Wharton Pre-Law Fund Award on April 24 during the annual Political Science Spring Reception.

Junior Grace Hatzel, of Riverdale, is a Political Science major and Philosophy minor. Hatzel is also enrolled in the Honors Program where she serves as a Peer Mentor to welcome incoming students and to ensure they have the resources needed to succeed. Last fall, Hatzel interned with the law office of Melissa Rosenblum, a criminal defense attorney in Atlantic City. Hatzel is also a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society, and Phi Sigma Tau, the Philosophy Honor Society.

Hatzel’s motivation for attending law school is to advocate for people who have been underserved by the health care system in the United States.

“Protecting others from exploitation is important to me because I have seen firsthand what can be done to those who are just trying to survive their daily lives,” she said.

The second winner is junior Alicja Schleyer, of Hammonton. Schleyer is a Political Science major with minors in Economics and Historical Studies. She is also enrolled in the Honors Program and is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society.

Schleyer has served as vice president of Stockton University's mock trial team since May 2025. During the fall 2025 semester, Schleyer interned at the A. Harold Kokes Law Office in Pleasantville. Since November 2025, she has also served as a research assistant to Stockton Economics Professor Ramya Vijaya. In this position, she researched national and regional political attitudes toward immigrants.

Cape May Stage Partnership Opens Pathway for Performing Arts Students

A new partnership between Stockton’s Theatre program and Cape May Stage, South Jersey’s lone Equity theater company, hopes to create a pipeline for professional theater jobs in the region.

“For 50 years, Stockton has been bringing the community onto campus to share in our artistic celebrations, whether it’s for music, dance or theater,” said Aaron Moss, assistant professor of Theatre/Directing. “This gives students the opposite experience. Now we’re taking a selected student and giving them professional experience as their bridge into the professional world.”

The center of the partnership is the creation of a full-time paid professional assistantship for a graduating senior theatre student with Cape May Stage from May through August. Cape May Stage is the only Actors’ Equity Association labor union theater in South Jersey, which ensures safe working conditions, living wages and benefits for its members.

The assistantship offers exposure to a variety of aspects of the theater business, including directing, production, stage management and marketing, said Roy Steinberg, the producing artistic director of Cape May Stage.

PHOTO: Antoinette Mozee '25 took part in an assistantship with Cape May Stage last year and it helped her get her current job at The Broadway Theatre of Pitman.

FRAME-WORTHY

Foundation Scholarship Benefit Gala Showcases Student-Faculty Experiences

Stockton welcomed alumni, donors and community partners to campus April 18 for the annual Foundation Scholarship Benefit Gala, raising nearly $340,000 for Foundation scholarships.

Throughout the evening in the Campus Center, guests explored student- and faculty-led interactive demonstrations, including piloting remotely operated vehicles with the Marine Field Station, enjoying dessert and wine pairings curated by the Hospitality & Tourism program, sampling campus-grown produce from Stockton’s Sustainability Farm and exploring the stars through the Harold E. Taylor Observatory’s telescopes.

Guests were also given the opportunity to engage in student-built projects, such as games designed by Digital Studies students and origami folded by students in the School of Education.

In addition to the elegant Grand Hall, exclusive auction and high-energy dance floor, the Coffeehouse was transformed into an art and music café featuring student and faculty artwork available for purchase, acoustic music and poetry performances by students, faculty and alumni and an interactive art installation inspired by Lake Fred.

Stockton President Joe Bertolino and Stockton Foundation Board President Lori Herndon ’92 encouraged guests to explore, engage and connect.

📸View more photos on Flickr.

WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU

Instagram: The @hughespublicpolicycenter asked, “What does America mean to you?” View student artwork on display in lower F Wing this week.

Facebook: Thank you to all of our future Ospreys for joining us at Experience Stockton Day! We can't wait to welcome you home this fall 💙🦅

Instagram (OspreyPrez): Environmental Science majors and friends Sam Flatten and Rachel Phillips won the opportunity to join President Joe for lunch.

FROM THE SIDELINES

Stockton Earns First-Ever NJAC Regular Season Title

The softball team clinched the program's first-ever NJAC regular season title by sweeping Rutgers-Newark 20-4 and 11-0 in a pair of five-inning games on April 24. The Ospreys locked up the No. 1 seed for the NJAC Tournament and reached the 30-win mark for the third time in school history.

Alexa Panagopoylos rapped five of Stockton's 21 hits and compiled three runs and three RBI in the first game. Emily Clauss went 3-5 with a grand slam, double, seven RBI and three runs. Camryn Harry was 3-5 with a double, triple, three RBI and two runs.

Emma Coldsnow went 3-3 with an RBI while McKenna George contributed two hits, two RBI and a run. Caitlin Cetrulo smacked a double and recorded three RBI as well.

Stockton led 5-2 after two frames and broke the game open with eight runs in the third inning for 13-2 advantage. After three more runs in the fourth, Clauss launched a grand slam in the fifth to cap the 20-4 victory.

Unfortunately, the Ospreys fell in the NJAC Tournament semifinals 2-1 to The College of New Jersey at home on April 30. But the season may not be over for the No. 16 ranked team in the country. Stockton has a good chance of getting an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament. The selection show takes place at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 11.

Stockton softball coach Mavreen Hering recently appeared on the KYW Newsradio podcast “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” to discuss her career and the team’s record-breaking season.

🎙️ Listen online or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Women's Lacrosse Player Marinello Breaks Goal Record Heading into NJAC Tournament

Women's lacrosse clinched the No. 3 seed in the NJAC Tournament with a 19-4 win against Ramapo College in the last game of the regular season on April 25.

Isabella Marinello (pictured) scored four goals and broke the school record of 133 career goals. Marinello also dished four assists for a game-high eight points.

The game's Senior Day ceremony celebrated Shyanne Nucifora, Anissa Serafine, Jordan Czaczkowski, Gina Marotta, Julia Gibsonand Brianna Robinson.

The game was in control for the Ospreys. After four previous shots on goal, the Ospreys were able to get onto the scoresheet with their first goal of the game coming from Serafine. Stockton then went on a three-goal unanswered run, Maisy Mosier got her first of the game, and Serafine picked up her second.

Seven different players scored for Stockton in the game, and four scored three or more goals. Marinello and Mosier led with four each, and Serafine and Brielle Soltys grabbed three apiece.

Stockton was a force on defense. Soltys had eight draw controls and five ground balls. Marotta also had five draw controls. The Ospreys only allowed eight total shots from the Roadrunners, while they shot 43 total times.

Despite a loss to Rowan on April 30, the Ospreys finished the season with 11 victories, reaching double figures for the fourth straight year under head coach Denise Roessler. Stockton placed third in the conference and earned the No. 3 seed in the NJAC Tournament with a 3-2 league record.

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

SOARING FORWARD: IN ACTION

Stockton Shares Inclusive Planning Process at SCUP Conference

Ashlee Roberts, executive director of Student Affairs Strategic Planning and Initiatives, and Nicole Suprun, associate director of Planning, presented “The Power of Process: Strategic Planning for Cultural Transformation” at the Society for College and University Planning Mid-Atlantic 2026 Regional Conference, held April 20-22 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

Their presentation highlighted Stockton University’s strategic planning process and how it was designed to help reset campus culture around institutional decision-making, build a shared vision for the future and support more inclusive, transparent and collaborative planning. More than 325 faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members have served on committees and working groups to help shape the new strategic plan.

The presentation focused on how Stockton used participatory planning, transparent communication and inclusive engagement to align work across academics, student success, finance, facilities and community partnerships. It also highlighted the Implementation Team’s work to balance priorities, foster authentic stakeholder input and build consensus by assessing campus climate, creating communication and feedback structures, building cross-functional planning teams and facilitating dialogue at key points in the process.

Ashlee and Nicole were joined at the conference by other members of the Implementation Team, including Dr. Heather Swenson-Brilla, supervisor of Community Programs and Engagement Assessment and co-lead for Anchor in Purpose; Dr. Jamael Harrison, director of Student Affairs Assessment and Communication and co-lead for Data and Assessment; Rhianon Lepree, director of Facilities Administration and Real Estate, and Dr. Naz Onel, professor of Business Administration, co-leads for Sustain Tomorrow; Dr. Alfred Mueller, assistant dean of the William T. Daly School of General Studies and Graduate Education; and co-lead for Empower Student Success and Dr. Terricita Sass, executive vice president and chief of staff.

As implementation continues, the Strategic Plan remains dynamic. Priority Teams for Cultivate a Community of Care, Inspire Minds, Empower Student Success, Anchor in Purpose and Sustain Tomorrow are finalizing strategies and action plans ahead of the June 24 Board of Trustees meeting, following an extension from the original May deadline.

Please visit the Strategic Plan website for the complete set of priorities, goals and objectives, and stay tuned for more updates as we continue making progress.

Questions or ideas may be sent to strategicplan@stockton.edu. Thank you again for your continued work and contributions to Stockton’s strategic plan.

Campus Morale Working Group Updates Now Available

The Campus Morale Working Group’s Recommendations spreadsheet has been recently updated to reflect the current status of all recommended initiatives. The document provides a comprehensive overview of efforts related to communication, training and professional development, policy and procedure updates, organizational changes, and employee well-being. Faculty and staff are encouraged to review the latest progress, including status updates and ongoing actions, by visiting the announcements in the Employee tab of the Portal.

STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS

Poll: Large Majority of N.J. Voters Support Social Media Regulations

Nearly all New Jersey voters think social media plays a major role in children’s mental health challenges today and overwhelming majorities support new regulations on social media platforms, according to a poll released April 30 by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University.

A majority of voters in New Jersey think children’s mental health is a very serious (58%) or somewhat serious (31%) problem today, and 91% think social media is having a major impact. Most voters (77%) are very concerned about children being exposed to harmful content online.

That concern is translating into strong support for government action. Three in four voters (75%) support stronger regulations to protect kids online, even if it limits some online freedoms, while 17% prioritize protecting online freedom over additional safeguards.

The findings come as New Jersey policymakers intensify efforts to address the impact of social media on young people, an issue that has been a central focus for Gov. Mikie Sherrill.

Hughes Center to Host 2nd District Debate May 20

The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy and The Press of Atlantic City will host a Democratic primary debate for New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District at 6 p.m. May 20 in the Campus Center Event Room.

The event is open to the public and will be livestreamed, with a recording archived online.

Candidates Tim Alexander, Zack Mullock, Terri Reese and Bayly Winder will participate. Alyssa Maurice, assistant director at theHughes Center, and a Press representative will moderate, and public questions will be accepted in advance.

Voter registration for the June 2 election closes May 12. Early voting runs May 26-31.

For more information or to propose a question, email the Hughes Center at HughesPublicPolicyCenter@stockton.edu.

OSPREY NOTES

Graduate Students Showcase Research at Spring Symposium

The Office of Graduate Studies hosted its Spring 2026 Graduate Research Symposium on April 27 in the Campus Center Event Room, bringing students from across the university's graduate programs to present original research, capstone projects and creative work.

This year's event featured more than 100 students across 45 presentations, with participants given flexibility to present using digital posterboards, physical displays, slideshows or any other format meeting guidelines set by their instructors. The event, organizers said, reflects the continued strength and growth of Stockton's graduate community.

The symposium opened with remarks from Dean of Graduate and Continuing Studies Naima Hall. Hall framed the afternoon as a moment of collective recognition, calling it "a celebration of depth, rigor and impact" and adding that the work on display represented more than academic achievement.

Shuttle Schedules Shift for Summer

The last day of Galloway shuttle service will be Friday, May 8. The current Atlantic City–Galloway schedule will conclude on that date.

A modified shuttle schedule will run Saturday, May 9, through Monday, May 18, with service between the Galloway campus and Stockton Atlantic City.

The summer shuttle schedule begins Tuesday, May 19, and continues through Sept. 7, with weekday and weekend service between Galloway and Atlantic City.

For updates and full details, visit stockton.edu/parking/shuttles.html.

Dining Services Updates

Dining hours will shift for Finals Week (May 4–8), with adjusted schedules across campus locations and the last day for meal plans set for Friday, May 8.

Looking ahead, summer dining hours begin Monday, May 11, with limited Monday through Thursday service at select locations. Campus dining will be closed Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day.

For full hours and location details, visit dineoncampus.com/SU.

One-Click Break: Sloth Cam 🦥

Need a minute to move at a more reasonable pace? This week’s One-Click Break features a live look at the sloths of Toucan Rescue Ranch in Costa Rica. Watch them nap, snack and generally refuse to participate in hustle culture.

️ Watch the sloth cam