Leading Change: Dr. Vera King Farris Documentary
Leading Change, the student-led documentary chronicling the life of Stockton’s longest-serving president, Dr. Vera King Farris, premiered on June 16, 2026.
Spearheaded by the Office of the President under the guidance of Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff Dr. Terricita Sass and Deputy Chief of Staff Heather Watkins-Jones, the project brought together nine students from programs ranging from Africana Studies to Nursing. They spent several months combing through boxes of archives provided by Special Collections Librarian Heather Perez, creating the storyboard that became the foundation for the 45-minute film.
In collaboration with Nicholas Georgel ‘19 of Stockton’s Production Services department, the students traced Dr. Farris’ journey from a brilliant young student in Atlantic City to the first African American woman to lead a four-year institution of higher education in New Jersey. The result captures the essence of who she was as a leader, colleague, mentor, mother, and friend.
Stockton has long been an institution of “firsts,” and it is only fitting that we honor such a trailblazer. Dr. Farris believed deeply in access, opportunity, and the power of higher education to change lives. Her leadership helped shape Stockton into the caring, student-centered community we are today.
Student Production Team
Jamiah Bailey, Melanie Chin ‘26, Angel Elefante, Nyla Johnson, Sarah Kropinack, Christian Lopez ‘26, Elizabeth Macklin ‘25, Nana Otoo and Condoleezza Scott ‘26
Be sure to visit the Dr. Farris exhibit during the Fall 2026 semester in the Special Collections area of the Richard E. Bjork Library & Learning Commons.
Documentary in the News
