D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 V O LU M E 6 I S S U E N O . 7

S T O C K T O N U N I V E R S I T Y

• Sustainability Program Is Growing Globally

• President, First Lady Wish the Stockton Family a Happy Holiday Season

• Stockton Announces New Preferred Name Option for Students

• Foundation Receives $30,000 for Nursing, Social Work Students

• NJECC Breaks New Record, Close to Reaching Donation Goal

• Joe LoSasso Named to Wall of Fame at High School Alma Mater

• Construction Cameras Show Progress on Quad Project in Real Time

• Ryan Schocklin and Wife Christina Welcome Baby Boy

• Save the Dates: Upcoming Stockton University Events

IN THIS ISSUESustainability Program Is Growing GloballyStockton’s Sustainability program is establishing itself on an international scale by creating a sustainable development minor and building relationships with universities around the world.

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) recognized the exceptional work of Stockton’s faculty and students by awarding Stockton the inaugural Excellence & Innovation Award for Sustainability and Sustainable Development earlier this year. (Stockton is featured in an AASCU video starting at minute 9:17.)

One highlight of the program is the exposure given to students on international environmental issues. A field experience to Brazil this January and a volunteer effort providing 40,000 books to students in Zimbabwe will offer global perspectives to students studying Sustainability at Stockton University.

Stockton has signed memorandums of agreement with the Federal University of Technology Parana in Curitiba, Brazil, one of the world’s greenest cities, and with Bindura University of Science Education in Bindura, Zimbabwe. The educational and cultural collaborations will allow student and faculty exchanges between Stockton and the universities, internship opportunities and implementation of community development projects.

Tait Chirenje, associate professor of Environmental Studies, teaches a course in the Sustainability program called International Sustainable Development, which alternates between field experiences to Ecuador and Brazil each January.

Over the past 12 years, Chirenje and Patrick Hossay, associate professor of Sustainability and coordinator of the degree program, have led field experiences that follow the Colorado River, taking students to more than 20 national parks and monuments in 20 states to learn about water, energy and natural resource issues.

Chirenje, who grew up in Zimbabwe, started the Zimbabwe Book Project to collect books from different parts of the world to send to deserving, underserved students in the African nation’s rural schools. In two years, more than 40,000 books were collected. They will be shipped to Zimbabwe in January. Continued on next page

Tait Chirenje (top, center) and Patrick Hossay (bottom, left) visited Chirenje’s maternal grandparents in Guruve, Zimbabwe, in June of this year.

D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 V O LU M E 6 I S S U E N O . 7

Highlights of Sustainability Program Earn New AASCU AwardContinued from previous page

Chirenje, who runs his own non-governmental organization called the Gaia Environmental Trust, visited students in Zimbabwe over the summer, and will return after the spring semester to distribute the donated books to those with the greatest need with help from the trust.

“We are training students for jobs that don’t yet exist, using technology that hasn’t been developed, to solve problems that aren’t fully recognized. A traditional curriculum won’t do it. We are providing an unconventional education for an uncertain future,” explained Hossay.

Stockton Announces New Preferred Name Option for StudentsA new Stockton policy offers students the option to have a preferred first name recognized by the University. The inclusive measure acknowledges that students identify by first names other than their legal first name for reasons including gender identity, cultural background or other aspects of their social or personal identity.

The goal of the Preferred Name Option is to encourage a more open and diverse campus environment, as well as to provide a consistent preferred-name experience across University systems and resources.

The collaborative effort, led by the Division of Student Affairs, allows students to specify a preferred first name to be used on documents that do not require a legal first name. The option will be implemented in the Spring 2017 semester.

For more information, visit Stockton.edu/preferredname.

President, First Lady Wish the Stockton Family a Happy Holiday Season

D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 V O LU M E 6 I S S U E N O . 7

Stockton University employees set a new record by raising $55,195 to date in this year’s New Jersey Employees Charitable Campaign, surpassing last year’s record-setting total of $52,450. More than 200 faculty and staff members have donated thus far, leaving only $360 of the $55,555 goal set earlier this semester.

“Your energy, generosity and commitment is the very reason that the members of Stockton’s ECC planning team volunteer for this incredible activity,” said Peter Baratta, chief planning officer and co-chair of the NJECC committee. “We are so close to the finish line. If you are still thinking about joining the campaign, we need your support in the home stretch. Please join your colleagues and help make 2016 our most successful NJECC year ever!”

The giving deadline is Dec. 31. Donate online or via paper pledge by contacting Peter Baratta.

NJECC Breaks New Record, Close to Reaching Donation Goal

Cenon Jacob, a retired veteran of the U.S. Navy who was inspired by the work of his late wife, Jemima, a nurse, recently pledged $30,000 to the Stockton University Foundation to benefit Nursing and Social Work students. The funds will endow the Jacob Family and Friends Nursing/Master in Social Work Endowed Scholarship to support students pursuing a bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN) or a Master’s in Social Work (MSW), with a preference for those who belong to historically underserved populations and have shown a commitment to work in diverse communities. Jacob, a Filipino-American immigrant who was once a recipient of scholarships in the Philippines, had learned of the need for scholarships to students in practice professions such as nursing and social work from Guia Calicdan-Apostle, associate professor of Social Work.

Jacob, who had a career as a medical technologist in Vineland after retiring from the Navy, was accompanied by his daughter Crystal, a nurse at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, and his sons, Carl, a software engineer at AT&T, Christopher, an expert at an Apple store, and Christopher’s daughter, 3-year-old Penelope Jemima.

He wanted to do something lasting to honor the memory of his wife, who worked at the Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation over 20 years before her death 2011, and said he was “lucky to bump into Guia,” (Calicdan-Apostle), a member of the South Jersey Filipino community. Through that connection, he realized “the best thing is to establish a scholarship on my wife’s behalf. Her name will always be there.” Calicdan-Apostle said, “I really appreciate that Crystal, Christopher and Carl are a big part of this.”

Susan Davenport, executive vice president and chief of staff, said of Calicdan-Apostle: “She’s so committed to service, she puts in time way above and beyond, and this is just one example.”

“It can be so difficult for those on a graduate level,” said Assistant Dean Mary Beth Sherrier of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, who noted that those students often are working and paying off undergraduate debt. “Social Work and Nursing students have the biggest hearts. This is a real tribute to your wife and mother.” Mary Padden, coordinator of the Nursing Program, said: “This will be so meaningful for any one of our students, but probably for the Accelerated Nursing students, it will be most beneficial.”

From left: Guia Calicdan-Apostle, associate professor of Social Work, Penelope Jemima Jacob and her father, Christopher Jacob, Carl Jacob, Crystal Jacob, Cenon Jacob and President Harvey Kesselman at the Stockton University gift-signing ceremony on Dec. 2.

Foundation Receives $30,000 for Nursing, Social Work Students

D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 V O LU M E 6 I S S U E N O . 7

Send Us Your News!We want to know about things going on in the Stockton community. Do you have an unusual hobby? Did one of your co-workers win an award or perform outstanding public service? Births, weddings, graduations and the like are all good things to submit to The Stockton Times. Also, tell us what you think of the new design! Contact the editor at 609-626-5521 or email StocktonTimes@stockton.edu.

News about distinguished students can now be found at Distinctive Stockton Students. To contribute a news item for the blog, please contact the editor at distinctive@stockton.edu

Ryan Schocklin and Wife Christina Welcome Baby BoyRyan Schocklin, graphic artist, and his wife, Christina, welcomed their first child on Dec. 3. John Ryan Schocklin weighed in at 8 pounds, 1 ounce and measured 22 inches long. Congratulations to all!

Save the Dates: Upcoming Stockton University EventsFriday, Dec. 16: Annual Stockton Holiday Party - Remember to bring non-perishable food items for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.

Sunday, Dec. 18: Stockton’s Last Fall Commencement Ceremony

The Office of Facilities & Construction recently placed web cameras to show a live feed of construction work covering both the Unified Science Center 2 and the new Academic Building job sites.

View the construction progress in real time at Webcams.stockton.edu.

Construction Cameras Show Progress on Quad Project in Real Time

Joe LoSasso Named to Wall of Fame at High School Alma MaterJoe LoSasso, registrar, was recently named to Oakcrest High School’s Wall of Fame for athletics. LoSasso graduated from the Mays Landing, N.J. high school in the Class of 1973 after earning four varsity letters in football and spring track.

During his tenure, LoSasso was named to the All-County team; Most Valuable Defensive Back in 1972; and Most Dedicated Player in 1972. He broke the school record for interception returns for touchdown.

LoSasso later earned a varsity letter in football at Glassboro State College, which is now Rowan University, where he earned a degree in History with a Social Studies teaching certificate. While there, he was a member of the team that won the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) championship in both 1976 and 1977. (Stockton football remains undefeated since 1969.)

In addition to serving as registrar and adjunct instructor at Stockton, LoSasso has served as head girls track coach at Absegami High School in Absecon, N.J., and assistant football coach and assistant track coach at Mainland High School in Linwood, N.J.

Joe LoSasso (center with plaque) with his family after being named to the Oakcrest High School Wall of Fame for his athletic achievements in football and track.