Stockton News - June 18, 2026
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
New Documentary Celebrates Legacy of Former President Farris
“Stockton always ran through her veins.”
That’s how James Farris best described his mother, Vera King Farris, the third president of Stockton University. He grew up on the campus of Richard Stockton College of New Jersey during the 20 years his mother was president from 1983 to 2003.
“Failure on the path to a goal was education, not fatal. That powered her every day of those 20 years,” he said during a recorded message played for about 100 people who gathered in the university’s Campus Center Theatre on June 16. “She loved this place. That love and the people it attracted turned a little-regarded party school in the pines into a nationally ranked environment for excellence where soaring higher is an everyday occurrence.”
The crowd gathered to watch the premiere of “Leading Change,” a new documentary about President Farris and how her vision, resilience and commitment to equity transformed the university. She was the first female Black president of a New Jersey public college and one of the first in the nation. The screening, which was followed by extended applause from the audience, was the culmination of more than nine months of work by nine students and alum Nicholas Georgel ’19, an employee in Stockton’s Production Services department.
“Tonight is more than a screening. It’s a moment of remembrance, gratitude and celebration,” said current Stockton President Joe Bertolino. “It is an opportunity to reflect on the life and legacy of a trailblazing leader whose vision helped shape Stockton into the university we are today.”
Juneteenth Celebrated with Community and Reflection
Stockton’s Multicultural Center celebrated Juneteenth a couple of days early on Wednesday, June 17 with an event focused on education, reflection and community.
The center hosted an afternoon of programming that brought together students, faculty, staff and community members in the quad of Kesselman Hall on the Atlantic City campus.
The event featured keynote remarks from members of the Stockton community, including speakers who shared personal reflections on the importance of Juneteenth and its continued impact today.
Juneteenth honors the day enslaved people in Texas learned they were free on June 19, 1865, nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. The day recognizes the end of slavery in the United States, while also celebrating Black history, culture, resilience and the ongoing pursuit of equality.
“This celebration has taught me that Black history is not the story of struggle, it is also a story of leadership, resistance, achievement and sacrifice,” said Jalynne Smith, a senior Africana Studies major from Piscataway.
FRAME-WORTHY
A Joyful Farewell to Yitzhak Sharon
Friends, family, faculty and former students gathered to celebrate the retirement of Yitzhak Sharon, distinguished professor of Physics, on June 10 in the Campus Center Event Room.
Guests shared anecdotes and memories about Sharon's 54-year career and the impact he made while he sat beaming alongside his wife, Sandy, and daughter, Dina. The evening was filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and community, the perfect testament to Sharon's far-reaching legacy.
📸 View more photos on Flickr.
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
Instagram: Postcards from the one and only Fred. 📬
Facebook: Stockton University wishes Molly and Melody Pugliese good luck as they compete for the Miss New Jersey title this week! The sisters are both Stockton University alumni whose platforms focus on helping youth in the community.
X: Happy National Mascot Day, Talon!
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
Williams & Campbell Achieve Success Playing Overseas
Stockton basketball alumni Sasha Williams and DJ Campbell found success while playing overseas in Spain and Albania, respectively, this year.
Williams helped El Cochinillo Segoviano SL win the Women's First Division championship and then earn promotion to Liga Femenina 2 by leading all players with averages of 13.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, along with 11.3 points and 3.0 steals, across three promotion-phase games. She also topped all players with an average rating of 22.7 per game.
Campbell played in 26 of Apolonia's 28 Albanian Superliga games, leading the squad to the league semifinals. He scored in double figures in all but one contest and surpassed the 20-point mark 15 times. Campbell went for at least 30 points on five occasions, highlighted by a season-high 38 markers against Kamza in November.
While at Stockton, Williams was a 2018 WBCA All-America Honorable Mention and the only player in NJAC history to be chosen NJAC Defensive Player of the Year four times. A 2023 Stockton Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, she is the only basketball player in Stockton history, male or female, with over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
Campbell was a 2022 NABC First Team All-American and the first Osprey ever to be voted NABC District 4 Player of the Year. A three-time NABC all-district and four-time NJAC First Team selection, Campbell finished his career as Stockton's all-time leader in scoring (2,178 points) and three-pointers (335).
Coldsnow Voted CSC Academic All-American
Stockton senior Emma Coldsnow was voted to the 2026 Academic All-America® Division III Softball Third Team by the College Sports Communicators. Coldsnow, a Chemistry major, was selected as the designated player on the Third Team.
Coldsnow became the fourth Academic All-American in Stockton Softball history and first since 2018, as well as the 21st Academic All-American ever for Stockton Athletics. The senior was one of three NJAC players selected for Academic All-America® honors this year (Emily McCutcheon, Rowan; Maya Knasiak, TCNJ).
During her two years at Stockton, she compiled a .395 batting average that ranks third in program history (minimum 180 at-bats) and slugged 12 home runs, which is tied for seventh all-time at Stockton.
STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS
Kramer Hall Hosts Summer Alumni Networking Mixer
Stockton's School of Business Summer Alumni Networking Mixer on Thursday, June 11, brought together more than 40 alumni, faculty, staff, students and local business leaders at Kramer Hall in Hammonton.
The event gave attendees an opportunity to reconnect with fellow Ospreys, expand their professional networks and learn how to remain engaged with Stockton after graduation.
Through conversation and relationship-building, the mixer reinforced Stockton’s commitment to fostering lifelong connections with alumni while strengthening partnerships with the local business community. The evening also highlighted the continued impact of Stockton’s alumni network and the importance of creating opportunities for graduates to stay connected, involved and invested in the university’s future.
OSPREY NOTES
Staff Senate Social Brings Summer Fun ☀️
Campus community members gathered for light bites and summer fun at the Staff Senate Summer Social on Wednesday, June 10, in the Campus Center Overlook Lounge.
Attendees had the opportunity to meet Senate members, play lawn games and enter a raffle.
📸View more photos on Flickr.
REMINDER: Budget and Enrollment Conversation June 22
A Budget and Enrollment Conversation will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, June 22, in the Campus Center Event Room and via Zoom.
President Joe Bertolino and Board of Trustees Chair Jose Lozano will discuss the University’s current budget outlook, enrollment trends, planning considerations and the road ahead.
Campus community members are encouraged to attend in person when possible. The session will be livestreamed but not recorded.
It’s Almost Time to Confirm Your Ospreys in Summer Session III
Happy Summer, faculty! As Summer Session III is about to begin, it's almost time to Confirm your Ospreys!
Faculty are reminded to complete the Academic Engagement process by confirming student attendance/academic activity. The process for Summer Session III is to be completed by Monday, July 6. The Office of Financial Aid will use this information to make adjustments to student financial aid disbursements based on each student's confirmed number of credits.
Each instructor will be responsible for confirming student attendance or participation in an academic activity. For online courses, faculty are reminded to include an assignment or discussion activity during the add/drop period so that the student's attendance can be confirmed.
The link to complete the Academic Engagement process can be found under the faculty tab within the goStockton portal.
For more information and a list of frequently asked questions, visit stockton.edu/academicengagement.
Help Reimagine Stockton’s Alma Mater
Stockton is inviting students, alumni, current employees and retirees to submit original compositions for consideration as the university’s new alma mater.
The Alma Mater Refresh offers the university community an opportunity to help shape a musical tradition that reflects Stockton’s spirit, energy and vision for the future.
Submissions are due by Sept. 16, 2026. The top three entries will be performed on campus during University Weekend, held Oct. 9-11, 2026.
Visit the Alma Mater Refresh website for submission details. For questions, email alma-mater-refresh@stockton.edu.
Did You Know?
June 18 is 🎣 National Go Fishing Day, a chance to slow down, cast a line and enjoy some time by the water.
Lake Fred has long been a favorite spot for fishing and taking in the natural beauty of Stockton’s Galloway campus. Anglers are reminded to take all hooks, lures and fishing line with them when they leave. Discarded fishing gear can injure wildlife and create hazards along nearby trails.
Enjoy the lake, and help keep it safe for everyone who calls it home.
UPCOMING EVENTS
💻 Professional Development Opportunities
🖼️ Art Exhibits hosted by the Noyes Museum of Art
June 18: Alumni Achievement Awards 2026
June 19: Juneteenth at Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University
June 23: Faculty Forum - The Ethics of Creativity in the Age of Generative Media
June 27:Graduate Healthcare Programs - Open House
July 7:Faculty Forum - Sharks: Myth and Reality
July 15: Alumni Author Virtual Publishing Workshop
July 17: 10th Annual Pinelands Summer Short Course
July 21: Alumni Author Summer Social 2026
