A Message from President Harvey Kesselman

Investing in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education continues to be a national priority. Recent reports have indicated the growing concern that the U.S. has fallen behind other nations in recruiting and educating students in those disciplines. According to the American Association of University Women (AAUW), women and minorities, especially, remain underrepresented in STEM fields.

As a comprehensive University, we realize our responsibility to close the gender gap by offering educational opportunities to a diverse group of students entering those fields. Stockton’s STEM collaborative coordinates STEM/STEAM (STEM with an arts component) initiatives within the various schools in order to recruit and retain talented students.

This issue of Stockton Now e-zine highlights initiatives supported by Stockton’s STEM Collaborative and celebrates our “e-STEAMed” faculty, staff and alumnae who are paving the way in their respective careers.

This year, Stockton’s STEM Collaborative coordinated a number of initiatives with a particular focus on inclusion. For example, Stockton has partnered with the AAUW to host programs that encourage middle school and high school girls to explore the many high-demand, well-paying careers in STEM. Through Stockton’s participation in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP), a team of students will have the opportunity to witness their scientific experiment being launched into space, as it heads to the International Space Station this August.

Throughout these pages, you will read inspiring stories and words of advice from female faculty, staff and alumnae. Chelsea Shields ’15 has followed her passion for marine science and has found herself face-to-face with the sea’s biggest predators. First Lady Lynne Kesselman, a two-time Stockton alumna, shares her personal journey as a technology educator who has inspired students to consider career paths in computer science.

This past spring, we celebrated the groundbreakings of our future campus in Atlantic City and the Stockton Aviation Research and Technology Park (SARTP). Those projects, along with our Academic Quad expansion, will allow us to provide more educational opportunities for all of our students and the region.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Stockton Now e-zine.