��Ƶ News - Feb. 6, 2026 - University Relations & Marketing

��Ƶ News - Feb. 6, 2026

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

$2 Million Gift to Create STEM Scholars Program at ��Ƶ

��Ƶ, in partnership with the Levine and Gormley Family Foundations, announced Friday, Jan. 30, the launch of a new $2 million initiative to expand access to high-quality STEM education for Atlantic County students.

The pledge from the two foundations will create the Levine-Gormley STEM Scholars Pathway Program that will provide scholarships and other support for Atlantic County students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics degree programs at ��Ƶ. Eligible students may receive up to $10,000 per year in scholarships renewable for up to four years.

“This is the kind of giving that lifts students, fuels dreams and ripples outward to strengthen the entire region. Today, we’re celebrating a gift that goes far beyond dollars. It’s about believing in our students, investing in their potential and building a future we can all be proud of. It’s a partnership rooted in care and vision, one that will open doors for generations to come,” said President Joe Bertolino.

Trip Immerses Africana Studies Students in Ghana’s Culture

A group of 10 ��Ƶ undergraduate students, two faculty members and one graduate student returned last month from a study-abroad trip to Ghana that blended academic study and cultural immersion.

The Africana Studies program led the trip from Dec. 29 to Jan. 11. Students had the opportunity not only to learn, but to live within the history, culture and everyday rhythms of the African country.

For seven students, the trip fulfilled a major requirement, while others joined through Africana Studies minors or personal interest. Students described a shared excitement about experiencing what they had studied.

“The classroom can teach you facts, dates and systems, but Ghana taught me what those systems felt like,” said senior Africana Studies major My’Air Henry.

SPOTLIGHT ON: DEBORAH GUSSMAN

Honored for work on the Catharine Maria Sedgwick Online Letters project

Professor of Literature Deborah Gussman, along with her co-editors, were named the first recipients of the Society for the Study of American Women Writers’ (SSAWW) Recovery Hub Digital Edition Prize, a new national award recognizing excellence in the digital recovery and publication of American women’s writing. The honor recognizes their work on the Catharine Maria Sedgwick Online Letters project, a digital archive that recovers and publishes the correspondence of one of the most influential American writers of the 19th century.

The award was announced at the Society for the Study of American Women Writers’ annual conference last fall and highlights the growing importance of digital humanities work in literary studies. 💭 Read the full Q&A here.

PHOTO: Gussman, left, with fellow CMSOL editorial team members Patricia Kalayian and Lucinda Damon Bach, after accepting the Study of American Women Writers’ (SSAWW) Recovery Hub Digital Edition Prize.

FRAME-WORTHY

��Ƶ Celebrates Black History Month with Flag Raising

The raising of the Pan-African flag in Arts & Sciences Circle on Monday, Feb. 2, signaled the beginning of ��Ƶ's Black History Month observance.

“The flag raising is a moment to honor our history, our resilience and the contributions of black people past and present,” said My’Air Henry, president of the Unified Black Students Society, which sponsored the event.

“It took many years of Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Month, speaking up and speaking out to first establish Negro History Week in 1926,” said Professor of Africana Studies Donnetrice Allison, noting this was the precursor to the United States officially recognizing Black History Month in 1976.

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WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU

: Oh great, the overgrown squirrel saw his shadow. Guess I’m stuck being a giant ice cube for six more weeks. 🐿️❄️

: Our girls🩵💪🏼Celebrating all of our female athletes who compete, lead, & inspire this National Women & Girls in Sports Day!

FROM THE SIDELINES

��Ƶ Sweeps NJCU in NJAC Basketball Action

The Ospreys completed a New Jersey Athletic Conference sweep of New Jersey City University on Feb. 5 at the Sports Center, as both the men’s and women’s basketball teams earned home victories.

The ��Ƶ men NJCU, 79–73, behind a balanced scoring effort. The Ospreys opened the game with the first six points and used a 14–3 run late in the first half to take a 38–27 lead at intermission. ��Ƶ pushed its advantage to 53–36 early in the second half before the Gothic Knights answered with an 11–0 run to close within six. The Ospreys held on down the stretch, making timely baskets and stops to secure the win.

Four ��Ƶ players scored in double figures, led by Eriq Campbell with 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Devon Johnson and Charlie Belleach finished with 13 points.

Earlier in the evening, the ��Ƶ women NJCU, 72–55, on National Girls & Women in Sports Day. The Ospreys led 17–14 after one quarter and took control in the second, using defensive pressure to build a 42–27 halftime advantage. ��Ƶ maintained its lead throughout the second half to close out the victory.

Zemirah Enalls posted her seventh double-double of the season with 19 points and 18 rebounds. Madisyn McNair added 16 points and Grace Speer chipped in 15.

Next Up: Both teams return to action Saturday, Feb. 7, when ��Ƶ hosts Montclair State in NJAC play.

🦅 Athletics Day of Giving set for Feb. 10; Early Giving Now Open

Athletics Day of Giving is Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and early giving is .

Your gift supports travel, uniforms, equipment, and more. Join together for one day, one team & one goal to make an impact on ��Ƶ Athletics. Early giving helps build momentum ahead of the day of giving.

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

SOARING FORWARD: IN ACTION

Team Updates, ClearPoint Readiness, & New Resources

Implementation Team Co-Leads reconvened during the winter term to confirm next steps as ��Ƶ moves from planning to implementation, including role clarity, ClearPoint readiness, and reporting expectations that will support consistent progress through 2028. As shared in December, the Strategic Plan Implementation Team finalized objectives or Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s), moving us forward to the next stages of developing specific strategies and actions within each division.

Introducing Our New Implementation Action Teams!

In January, we finalized Action Team Leads (ATLs) for each division. The ATLs join the Implementation Teams for each of our five priorities (Cultivate a Community of Care, Inspire Minds, Empower Student Success, Anchor in Purpose, and Sustain Tomorrow). Complete rosters are available for each priority on the Soaring Higher website.

Co-Leads and Action Team Leads (ATLs) participated in EAB training sessions on Resilient Leadership and Change Management, held Jan. 29–30 at the John F. Scarpa Academic Center in Atlantic City. To support strong execution of the strategic plan and effective change leadership, they were joined by the Senior Leadership Team.

What’s Next?

Action Teams will collaborate with Divisional Executives and stakeholders to identify and develop strategies to achieve the objectives and goals for all five priorities. This will be followed by commitments to specific actions within each division.

Tracking & Sharing Our Progress

ClearPoint will serve as ��Ƶ’s centralized platform for tracking Strategic Plan progress, connecting priorities, goals, objectives, strategies, and actions in one place with single sign-on access. Mandatory in-person training for Divisional Executives and Action Team Leads (ATLs) will be held Feb. 17–19. Each will choose one of three sessions offered for the two-hour training. We will also use ClearPoint to share progress with the entire campus community at a later date. A new Strategic Plan block is now available on the Employee tab , including a ClearPoint login button.

By March 31, each strategic priority goal is expected to have at least one strategy entered into ClearPoint as an initial step toward execution.

Thanks for staying engaged as we move from planning to action and keep Soaring Forward together in 2026. Read previous Implementation Updates here.

OSPREY NOTES

FAFSA Completion Appointments Available

Do your students need assistance completing their 26-27 FAFSA? The Office of Financial Aid is hosting several FAFSA Completion Appointments throughout the spring semester to assist students in completing their application for financial aid.

Appointments are available at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon on Feb. 23, March 3, March 31 and April 14. Additional appointments are offered at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Feb. 19, March 19 and April 9. Evening appointments will be held at 6 p.m. on March 4 and April 1.

Students and their FAFSA contributors are encouraged to attend ahead of the state’s April 15 deadline. Appointments can be scheduled at stockton.edu/contactfinaid through Ospreys Navigate using go��Ƶ portal login credentials.

Important Financial Aid Dates to Remember

It’s that time of year again! Please encourage your students to apply for 2026-27 financial aid by the university's March 1 Priority Date. Filing early ensures students receive their aid offer and have plenty of time to complete requirements before the fall bill due date.

If they can't apply by March 1, let's make sure they don't miss the April 15 deadline! Anyone who received TAG or the ��Ƶ Promise in the 25-26 academic year must complete their 26-27 FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application by April 15, 2026, to be considered for those funds in 26-27.

Students can learn more and get started at stockton.edu/fafsa.

🧠🥢 Fun Fact Friday: Feb. 6 is National Chopsticks Day, recognizing one of the oldest and most widely used eating utensils in the world, and the cultures and traditions behind it.