������Ƶ News - Friday, May 11, 2018

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

 

Congratulations, Class of 2018!

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told the more than 2,000 graduates at ������Ƶ’s Commencement on May 11 to be the “doers” who will become the state and nation’s next leaders.

“It is simply not enough to tweet and consider that as actual participation in our cultural, political and social dialogue,” he said to a crowd of some 13,000 graduates and guests in Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. “In these times, perhaps more than ever in our history, we need doers of deeds, not people who take their comfort in lobbing memes from their smartphones.”

More than 250 students also received doctoral and master's degrees on ������Ƶ’s main campus in Galloway, N.J. on May 8.

Office of Continuing Studies Receives Grant Awards

������Ƶ's Office of Continuing Studies has been awarded a total of $1,580,294 in funding from the Atlantic County Workforce Development Board for three program initiatives.

“This is the third year of these awards, and they are our largest to date,” President Harvey Kesselman wrote in an email to University faculty and staff. “More importantly, they help ������Ƶ fulfill its role as an Anchor Institution in what is an economically challenged region.”

The Workforce New Jersey to Work program ($737,108) offers marginalized and displaced workers the skills needed to re-enter the workforce. This includes adult education classes, as well as – new this year, and in partnership with ������Ƶ’s Levenson Institute for Gaming, Hospitality & Tourism (LIGHT) – specific coursework leading to hospitality-industry-recognized credentials.

The Job Placement and Retention program ($543,186) extends these efforts through job placement and retention services for both ������Ƶ’s Workforce New Jersey participants, as well as other disadvantaged job seekers.

The final grant ($300,000) provides education, training and job placement services to out-of-school youth. LIGHT is also a partner on this program, as is JEVS, a community-based partner, which offers case management services.

Kesselman recognized the work of Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Michelle McDonald, Director of Continuing Studies Bahiya Cabral-Johnson and Executive Director of LIGHT Rummy Pandit.

“This is vital work in our community, and ������Ƶ has earned a reputation for offering quality programming, and strong job placement success rates,” Kesselman said.

AC UPDATE

SPOTLIGHT ON

Three Students Present at Yale University Bouchet Conference

Three ������Ƶ undergraduate students presented their research posters at the 2018 Yale Bouchet Conference on Diversity and Graduate Education held at Yale University on April 26-28. The three participating ������Ƶ students were Tiffany Roach, Emily Descano and Jessica Perez. Valerie Hayes, chief officer for Institutional Diversity & Equity, said it was a great honor for ������Ƶ and the students since it is unusual for undergraduate students to be chosen to present at the conference.

Washington Internship Program

Seventeen ������Ƶ students completed internships in Washington, D.C., this semester, landing placements at the Department of Homeland Security, the Sierra Club D.C., the Federal Trade Commission and more.

Quain Named ‘Mr. Mature America’

Bill Quain, associate professor of Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies, was crowned “Mr. Mature America” on April 14 in Ocean City.

“The entire pageant was a really fantastic experience,” said Quain, who had a chance to meet some of the other recent pageant winners from the area.

As Mr. Mature America 2018, Quain will be making appearances, as well as fulfilling other duties for the next year. This summer, he will be involved with the Miss New Jersey Pageant and ride in a limo in the parade.

“One of the biggest challenges, I faced in the pageant was working within the limits of my disability. But the other contestants helped me all the way,” explained Quain, who is legally blind. “For example, in the opening number, we did a group dance routine. During rehearsals, the guys learned to keep an eye on me. We worked out some ‘cues’ to keep me on the stage.”

Quain was recently asked to participate in The Ms. Senior New Jersey Pageant on June 6. He will play his banjo ukulele and sing “On the Way to Cape May,” which is the act that he did in the talent portion of Mr. Mature America.

FRAME-WORTHY

 

Lavender Graduation Pinning Ceremony

Graduates who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community received a pin and certificate as recognition of their achievements during the inaugural Lavender Graduation Pinning Ceremony on May 7.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holistic Health Minor Graduation

Graduates of the Holistic Health Minor received certificates and pins during a ceremony on April 17. .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jo France Stow Office of Development & Alumni Affairs
Dr. Jo Frances Stow, longtime faculty and Foundation board member, was honored at Seashore Gardens on May 1. The Board of Trustees approved naming the Dr. Jo France Stow Office of Development & Alumni Affairs for her years of extraordinary service to ������Ƶ in February. Pictured from left to right: Executive Vice President & Chief of Staff Susan Davenport; Interim Chief Development Officer & Executive Director of the University Foundation Dan Nugent; Dr. Stow’s nephew Charles Smith ’89; Dr. Jo Frances Stow; Foundation Board Member Gayle Gross; and President Harvey Kesselman.

 

New Citizens Take Oath at Naturalization Ceremony

Thirty-two people took the Oath of Allegiance as naturalized citizens of the United States in a ceremony at the ������Ƶ Campus Center. The ������Ƶ Center for Community Engagement offers naturalization classes and will begin offering those classes at ������Ƶ’s new Atlantic City campus this fall.

 

 

WHAT’S TRENDING #STOCKTONU

: Associate Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management Studies Donna Albano says the new Atlantic City campus will offer students a one-of-a-kind opportunity to live, study and work in a tourism-mecca. “I don’t know if any other program in the country that has something like this.” Many courses toward the Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies degree program will be offered at the new campus

: #������ƵU President Kesselman tells grads to “Remember to be more than just your position. Be more than just your title. Be the one who makes an impact. In other words #BeExtra.”

: “Trust yourself, hold your head high, and put one foot in front of the next and you will end up exactly where you need to be,” student speaker Michael D’Imperio tells fellow grads. #������ƵU #BeExtra #CommencementWeek

FROM THE SIDELINES

������Ƶ Honors Top Student-Athletes

 

Men's track & field standout Jared Lewis, a senior, was voted ������Ƶ Male Athlete of the Year for the third straight time. Women's basketball player Sasha Williams, also a senior, was chosen ������Ƶ Female Athlete of the Year. Senior softball player Daniela Marinaro received the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Unsung Hero Award. .

������Ƶ Teams Each Second in NJAC Championships

������Ƶ’s equaled its best men's finish ever at the NJAC Outdoor Championships, second place, and edged The College of New Jersey by six points for second place on the women's side.

UPCOMING EVENTS

For more information, contact Haley Baum or Brian Jackson.

������Ƶ News | View More News