��Ƶ News - April 24, 2026 - University Relations & Marketing

��Ƶ News - April 24, 2026

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

Alumni to Provide Keynote Remarks at Commencement Ceremonies

��Ƶ has chosen two alumni to be the keynote speakers at its May commencement ceremonies.

Richard Maung '01, '09 will address the graduates earning advanced degrees at the Doctoral and Master’s Ceremony on May 12 at the Galloway Campus.

Roxanne Passarella ’00 will provide the keynote address at the 2026 Baccalaureate Commencement Ceremonies on May 15 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

“Commencement is the most meaningful tradition at ��Ƶ, and we are proud to welcome back two distinguished alumni whose careers reflect the very best of our university,” President Joe Bertolino said. “Richard Maung and Roxanne Passarella have each built remarkable professional paths grounded in leadership, service and a commitment to community. Their stories will resonate deeply with our graduates as they prepare to take the next steps in their own journeys, and we are honored to have them share their insight and inspiration with the Class of 2026.”

David Fuentes Named New Dean of School of Education

��Ƶ has appointed David Fuentes as the school’s new dean of the School of Education, effective April 6.

Fuentes comes to ��Ƶ with more than two decades of experience as a leader, scholar and academic leader. Most recently, he was the Associate Dean of the College of Education at William Paterson University in Wayne. He is also a professor of Teacher Education and has extensive experience preparing primary and secondary educators.

“I’m incredibly honored to join ��Ƶ. I’m energized to advance a vision of transformative education grounded in access, critical inquiry, intellectual rigor and social justice by preparing educators who teach, lead and work for greater equity,” Fuentes said.

Provost Michael Palladino said Fuentes has a history of supporting faculty development and contributing to institutional initiatives focused on equity and student success.

“He brings a strong commitment to inclusive excellence, community partnership and the development of educators who are ready to lead and serve in diverse learning environments,” Palladino said. “I look forward to the leadership and insight that he will bring to the School of Education.”

‘Nothing Prepared Me:’ WWII Vet Reflects on Buchenwald Experience

Sgt. Andrew “Tim” Kiniry landed on Omaha Beach on June 16, 1944, 10 days after D-Day, and later that year participated in the Battle of the Bulge, Germany’s last major offensive of World War II.

But nothing prepared the 45th Evacuation Hospital Combat Medic for what he would witness on April 28, 1945.

“We were put in the back of trucks and not told anything, which was the Army’s deal – you never knew where you were going,” Kiniry said on April 16 during a talk at ��Ƶ. “I didn’t know the first thing (about Buchenwald concentration camp). We pulled inside the gates and we came across an odor of which I can never describe. It was terrible.”

The 104-year-old from Minotola addressed a group of more than 100 students and community members during a talk moderated by ��Ƶ adjunct professor Doug Cervi and sponsored by ��ٴǳ��ٴǲ�’s Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center (HRC), the Jewish Federation of Atlantic and Cape May Counties and the Board of Jewish Education of Atlantic and Cape May Counties.

His testimony was recorded as part of the center’s mission to share the history of the Holocaust and life stories of Holocaust survivors of southern New Jersey. Fewer than 45,000 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II are still living, according to the National WWII Museum.

PHOTO: From left, Irvin Moreno-Rodriguez, the director of the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at ��Ƶ, Kiniry and Cervi.

WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU

: Happy Earth Day from Lake Fred 🌎

: We are savoring these final days of the semester when it's warm enough to study outside!

: We’re not crying, are you crying? 🥹💙🦅

FROM THE SIDELINES

Women's Golf Finishes Season at Conquer the Island Tournament

The women's golf team the 2025-26 season in sixth place at the Conquer the Island Tournament on April 23 at the Shawnee Inn and Golf Course. The Ospreys posted a team score of 389, just four strokes behind fifth-place Arcadia University.

Elenora Byrne finished eighth out of 41 golfers with a round of 85. Byrne birdied two par-5s and made five pars, shooting 44 on the front nine and 41 on the back.

Ava Kinkler tied for 17th with a 95. She recorded a birdie on the par-5 third hole, shooting 49 on the front nine and adding two pars on the back nine for a 46.

Kylie Hague tied for 28th with a 103, highlighted by pars on both par-3s on the front nine. Sophia Mazowski finished 31st with a 106, including a par on the second hole.

��Ƶ completed 12 rounds across 11 tournaments this season, including the inaugural Colonial Women’s Golf Conference Championship.

��Ƶ Falls Late to Rutgers-Newark

The baseball team could not hold a late lead and a tough 6-4 game to Rutgers-Newark on Thursday, April 23. It was the final home game for the Ospreys for the season.

Michael Antonucci had two of the nine Osprey hits in the game, with an RBI. Nick Avagnano and Yenuelle Rodriguez had the other two RBI on the day. Joe Gmitter, Jimmy Casey, Matthew McCloskey and Avagnano scored the runs for ��Ƶ. Nick Kowalewski had his third straight quality start, tossing seven innings, allowing five hits, two unearned runs and struck out four.

Up Next: ��Ƶ will travel to Newark today, April 24, to finish the home-and-home series. Game time is 3:30 p.m. | Watch live .

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

STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS

Hughes Center Hosts Panel on Black Maternal Health

��ٴǳ��ٴǲ�’s Hughes Center for Public Policy recently hosted “The Future of Black Maternal Health in New Jersey” in recognition of Black Maternal Health Week. The hybrid panel brought together leading experts to discuss policy-driven solutions and community-based strategies aimed at improving maternal health outcomes across the state.

The program featured panelistsLisa Asare, Nicole Vines, Shakira Williams-Linzey and Shanita Alvarez-Crawley. It was moderated by Trina Gipson-Jones, associate professor of Health Sciences and Hughes Center faculty fellow.

The event drew approximately 200 attendees across webinar participants and the in-person audience at the live screening. Panelists emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration to reduce racial disparities in maternal outcomes.

In conjunction with the event, the Hughes Center organized a donation drive to support local families in need. Hughes Center student workers, My’Air Henry, Dylan Caraballo and Rachel Dunlap designed a campaign to promote the initiative.

The effort raised more than $600 worth of essential baby items for the Family Success Centers of Pleasantville and Egg Harbor Township. Representatives from both locations also attended the live screening to share resources with the campus community.

“As an anchor institution, events like this that bring together policymakers, practitioners and local leaders are central to our mission. We’re committed to fostering partnerships that enrich student learning while making a meaningful impact in our community,” said Hughes Center Assistant Director Alyssa Maurice.

Together, the panel discussion and community outreach highlighted the Hughes Center’s ongoing commitment to fostering informed dialogue about critical policy issues.

A recording of the panel is available to view here.

Counseling Meet and Greet at Kramer Hall

On April 20, ��Ƶ Graduate Admissions hosted a meet and greet for students accepted into ��Ƶ's Master of Arts in Counseling Program at Kramer Hall. The incoming cohort had the opportunity to connect with professional staff and faculty, as well as current counseling students.

The event was designed to support students’ transition into the program by fostering connections with peers, faculty and staff. It also aimed to uphold the program’s reputation while supporting student retention, success and graduation rates.

Read the SCOSA May Newsletter

Read the ��Ƶ Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA)'s May for interesting upcoming events and newly added programming.

OSPREY NOTES

Help Future Ospreys Experience ��Ƶ April 25

Join us on Saturday, April 25, as admitted students and their families explore campus, learn about academic programs, and connect with faculty, staff and current students at Experience ��Ƶ Day.

The event includes campus tours, information sessions and an overview of student life. More information is available here.

Rising STAR Awards Honor Student Leaders

��Ƶ students were honored for their academic achievements, leadership and positive impact on the community at the second annual Rising STAR Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, April 14.

The Rising STAR Awards Ceremony is hosted by the Student Transition, Access and Retention (STAR) branch of Student Affairs, which encompasses the offices of Career Education & Development, Military & Veteran Success Center, Academic Achievement Programs, Student Transition Programs, Cultural Engagement Ospreys and the Educational Opportunity Fund program.

For a complete list of awards and honorees, visit here.

Title II Digital Accessibility Deadline Extended

The federal deadline for Title II Digital Accessibility compliance has been extended to April 26, 2027. While this provides additional time, ��Ƶ will continue its strong momentum toward a more inclusive and accessible digital environment.

Progress across campus reflects a shared commitment to accessibility that goes beyond meeting a deadline. This extension allows departments to be more thoughtful and thorough as they continue addressing gaps and integrating accessibility into everyday planning and decision-making.

Resources to support this work are available on the Digital Accessibility website.

Complete Spring Compliance Trainings by June 3

All employees are required to complete their spring compliance trainings in Vector Solutions by June 3.

Required trainings include:

Digital Accessibility Training
Discrimination Awareness in the Workplace
Drug Free Workplace

Please log in to to review and complete your assignments by the deadline.

“You’ve Got Mail” (in that iconic AOL voice)

In 1971, engineer Ray Tomlinson sent the first-ever email as a test between two computers. He also introduced the “@” symbol to separate the user from the machine.

The first message? “QWERTYUIOP.”

→ See the