It's Joe Time

Summer 2024 Issue
Cover Story

It's Joe Time

Stockton inaugurates its sixth president

By Samantha Whitehurst '13

 

 

C olumbia blue, black and white were the prominent colors in the crowd gathered in the Campus Center Event Room on April 12, but they weren’t the only ones. Queens College red, Southern Connecticut Reflex blue, Brooklyn College maroon, Vermont State University cyan, YMCA of the Pines green and more speckled the audience of nearly 750 faculty, staff, alumni, students and friends.

The Inauguration ceremony to formally install Joe Bertolino as Stockton’s sixth president was a celebration of the University, its history and its future. But the event also celebrated Bertolino’s journey, all those who played a role in getting him to his third college presidency, and those present to offer words of encouragement or advice.

The collection of colors and faces provided a visual depiction of the event’s theme and Bertolino’s vision for Stockton: Building a Community of Opportunity.

Members of Southern Connecticut State University's president's office stand in the crowd wearing their bright blue school colors

Southern Connecticut team

Maroon, navy, and cyan of Lyndon State and Vermont State University were prominent at Inauguration

Vermont schools

Stockton-colored pompoms along with orange and blue of Brookdale Community College were some of the colors in the crowd

Cheering in the Crowd

A group of Stockton alumni wear their Colombia blue stoles and wave Stockton pompoms in the Inauguration crowd

Alumni

“To see individuals from every stage of my life here today is overwhelming and humbling. I am a product of my upbringing and the opportunities I’ve been afforded along the way. I honor those relationships by continuing to pay it forward,” Bertolino said.

“Today, I am charging all of you, all who are part of Stockton, to do the same for someone else. By building a community of opportunity, we provide the space and resources that enable our students, faculty and staff to grow, thrive and be a part of something bigger. No opportunity is too small, and no opportunity is too large. When we do certain things, or build certain relationships, we may be providing others with opportunities that we don’t even realize,” he said.

Brian Nelson wearing a blue Stockton stole with a Class of 1999 badge
Brian Nelson '99 represented his class during the Osprey Parade. | Photo by Susan Allen '09, '14

The celebration began with the Osprey Parade led by the Absegami Drum Line and featured alumni representatives from all of Stockton’s 53 years.

“There have only been a handful of presidents at Stockton in 50 years, so it’s a big deal to have a change in leadership and I wanted to be part of Stockton history while representing the class of ’99,” said Brian Nelson of his decision to be part of the celebration. “Also, my oldest daughter had just decided to enroll at Stockton, so it took on an increased importance for me personally.”

Three female alumni stand at a cocktail table in the Campus Center
Kristina Carr '96 (far right) reconnected with fellow alumni prior to the Osprey Parade. | Photo by Vern Ogrodnek

Bertolino has brought to Stockton the value of Cura Personalis, or care for the whole person, which he has carried through his professional career since graduating from University of Scranton, a Jesuit institution.

“We have a responsibility to support one another, to treat each other with kindness, respect, dignity, compassion and civility, to reach out and listen to one another. As an institution of higher education, Stockton wields tremendous power in transforming lives,” he said.

To see individuals from every stage of my life here today is overwhelming and humbling. I am a product of my upbringing and the opportunities I’ve been afforded along the way. I honor those relationships by continuing to pay it forward.”
President Joe Bertolino

Kristina Carr ’96, who also participated in the Osprey Parade, understands that power.

“I came to Stockton because it was close to home, I stayed because of the professors,” she shared. “As a student working a full-time job most of my tenure, my professors were very understanding of my work schedule. There was rarely a time that a professor was not available to revisit a concept if I missed class or was foggy headed during class after working the midnight shift.”

Bertolino’s address to the crowd underscored the potential impact one can have on another.

“Take those opportunities when they’re presented. Say yes, even if you’re scared or intimidated. If a mentor, a friend, a professor or colleague says you’ve got what it takes, they’re probably right. Lean on this community to seize your opportunities,” he said.

Randall Clarke in a maroon college sweatshirt and Joe Bertolino in a Stockton blue shirt in the Campus Center
Randall Clarke, director of the SEEK Program at Brooklyn College, takes a selfie with his former boss President Joe. | Photo by Vern Ogrodnek

Nelson agrees. His advice to other Ospreys is to stay focused on your goals but remain open to the possibilities that may happen.

“Have goals to pursue so you have a direction to take but remain flexible as you never know what opportunities may arise that may not take you down the path you intended,” the alumnus shared. Like President Joe, “I owe my success to many others who have supported me over the years, so I would suggest that you find mentors whether its someone you work with, a family member, or an acquaintance to talk to about job decisions, career development and life in general.”

President Joe began his address by singing "What a Wonderful World" with the Stockton Music Union. Other performances during the Inauguration included: Student Classical Ensemble, Stockton Dance Company, Stockton Student Chorus, Stockton All-Starz Dance Team, Stockton Cheer Team, Joseph Sramaty ’15 and Keldy Penarda ’24. Student groups also performed during Prez Fest, the after-party scattered throughout the Campus Center.

Delegates from 40 higher education institutions in New Jersey and beyond were represented, adding to the rainbow of colors in the crowd. President emeriti Harvey Kesselman (2015-2023) and Herman J. Saatkamp Jr. (2003-2015) and the family of Vera King Farris (1983-2003) attended.

Drum line members wearing gold and black with white plume hats march into the Campus Center Event Room
The Absegami High School Drumline kicked off the Osprey Parade and brought high energy into the Campus Center Event Room as the crowd awaited President Joe's arrival. | Photo by Susan Allen '09, '14

Speakers included New Jersey State Sen. Vince Polistina; New Jersey State Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald; Dwayne Smith, interim president of Southern Connecticut State University; Hiran Kangaraarachchi, a former student of President Joe’s at Queens College; Richard Helldobler, president of William Paterson University and representing the NJ President’s Council and NJ Association of State Colleges and Universities; Jonathan Vazcones, a former student at Queens College; Randall Clarke, President Joe’s former teaching assistant; and Nelida Valentin ’86, chair of the Stockton Board of Trustees.

Dr. Terricita Sass, executive vice president and chief of staff, and Dr. Bil Leipold, vice chancellor for Enrollment Services at Rutgers-University Newark and Bertolino’s husband of more than 30 years, served as the event’s masters of ceremony.


Regional Summit an Anchor for Local, State Arts Organizations

April 9, 2024
A crowd watches as a dancer leaps into the air in the Fannie Lou Hamer Event Room
Sophomore Jackson O'Brien, of Cape May, performs at the Regional Arts and Cultural Summit on April 8 in the Fannie Lou Hamer Event Room at Stockton Atlantic City. | Photo by Lizzie Nealis

Atlantic City, N.J. — As an Anchor Institution in the resort, Stockton University has had a positive impact on the community and the local economy.

But President Joe Bertolino believes the university’s impact should go beyond that, including serving as a catalyst for artistic and cultural expression in southern New Jersey. That’s why he introduced a Regional Arts and Cultural Summit on April 8, just four days before his inauguration as Stockton’s sixth president on April 12.

“As an Anchor Institution in Atlantic City, Stockton University is dedicated to community engagement and recognizes the opportunities that supporting the arts brings,” he said before a group of about 150 local and state arts representatives at the John. F. Scarpa Academic Center in Atlantic City. “We know the arts and cultural expression have the potential to bridge real and imagined divides in our neighborhoods and around the world.”

Bertolino said the summit was designed around the theme of his inauguration – “building a community of opportunity.” Performances by Stockton student musicians and a group of student dancers kicked off the event before a keynote address by John Schreiber, the president and CEO of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

The attendees then took part in smaller breakout sessions to discuss issues such as funding support, the arts and its role in healing, the arts and the impact it can have on education and the power of the arts as a catalyst for social change and community involvement.

Review the Inauguration website, including a recording of the full ceremony