Stockton University

Richard E. Bjork led the college as it graduated its first classes, expanded programs and achieved accreditation in 1975, the year it completed Phase II of the campus. The next year, the Performing Arts Center, a community and campus resource, opened.[8]

Mitchell led during continued growth as enrollment approached 5,000 students. Housing II, residential facilities for students, opened in November 1981 and the N-Wing College Center in February 1983.[8]

Vera King Farris established the Holocaust Center in 1990, and the first Master's program in the country for Holocaust & Genocide studies in 1999.[8][9] She directed the college to adopt sustainable design and practices, and oversaw expansion during the 1990s, including construction of the Arts and Sciences Building, designed by Michael Graves.

Emphasizing green buildings, Herman Saatkamp directed completion of a campus master plan in 2005 and a major capital program, including construction of the largest building, the Campus Center, opening in 2011. He initiated the 2010 purchase of what is now Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, established the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality & Tourism in the School of Business, and a collaborative agreement in 2011 with the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration to expand opportunities for students at both institutions in hospitality and tourism. Under his leadership, Stockton expanded its geographic reach, opening instructional sites in Cape May County, Ocean County and western Atlantic County, NJ. He led Stockton's first comprehensive fundraising campaign, which exceeded its goals by raising $25.36 million, including gifts that helped transform Stockton's facilities and programs.[10] Saatkamp oversaw Stockton's purchase of the Showboat casino.[11]

On April 22, 2015, Saatkamp announced his resignation, to take effect on or after August 31, 2015. On April 23, Saatkamp received a vote of "no confidence" from a portion of the faculty. On April 28, it was announced that Saatkamp was taking immediate medical leave.[12][13]

Harvey Kesselman, a former provost and executive vice president, was named acting president when Dr. Saatkamp announced his intention to resign and subsequently went on medical leave.[14][15] Kesselman became interim president September 1, 2015, and was named Stockton's fifth president at a December 2015 meeting of the university's board of trustees. Kesselman was inaugurated on September 23, 2016. Under his leadership, Stockton has added new academic programs, such as a doctorate on Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science.[16][17] He guided a major facilities expansion at the Galloway campus and strengthening the university's roots in Atlantic City, where he and other students took their first classes when Stockton opened in 1971.[18]

Construction of the $33.2 million Unified Science Center 2 and a $15.2 million classroom building were completed in 2018, creating three sections of a new Academic Quad and entrance to the university.[19] Kesselman negotiated a public-private partnership with Atlantic City Development Corp., or AC Devco, for a new campus in Atlantic City with residences for 533 students overlooking the beach and Boardwalk.[20] Stockton Atlantic City also includes an Academic Center for up to 1,800 students, and a parking garage. All of Stockton's new facilities opened for classes in fall 2018.[19]

In August 2010, as part of its expansion of its tourism and hotel management program in the School of Business, Stockton announced plans to purchase the nearby Seaview Resort & Golf Course. On September 1, 2010, Stockton completed the deal for $20 million.[22] In 2010, Stockton established the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT), part of the Stockton School of Business in Atlantic City at Stockton's Carnegie Center.[23]

In September 2011, the first students moved into Seaview, which was operated as a hotel by Dolce Hotels and Resorts, an international hospitality organization. The two golf courses were managed by Troon Golf. Students in Stockton's Hospitality and Tourism Management Studies program as well as other students lived there and worked and learned from top professionals in the hospitality and tourism field, which is integral to the Southern New Jersey economy.

Stockton University officially completed the sale of the Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club on July 31, 2018, to KDG Capital LLC of Florida for $21,070,000.[24] The hotel retained the name Seaview Hotel & Golf Club. Dolce Hotels and Resorts by Wyndham will continue to manage the hotel while Troon will continue to operate the two 18-hole golf courses.

The Stockton Atlantic City campus opened in fall 2018 and includes an Academic Center and a Residential Complex facing the Boardwak.

The university has built an Atlantic City campus at the Boardwalk and Albany Ave, with student residences overlooking the beach and Boardwalk. Stockton University Atlantic City opened fall 2018 with more than 500 residential students and more than 1,800 students taking courses in the new Academic Center, built on the former site of Atlantic City High School.[25] The project is a public-private partnership with Atlantic City Development Corp., or AC Devco, a non-profit modeled on New Brunswick Development Corp., which expanded Rutgers' New Brunswick campus. The project includes a parking garage topped by new offices for South Jersey Gas, with 879 parking spaces for use by the university, South Jersey Gas and the public; and an academic building that can accommodate up to 1,800 students. The university also owns and operates the nearby Rothenberg Building.[26]

Funding sources for the Atlantic City campus include $50.4 million in bonds from the Atlantic County Improvement Authority from proceeds of almost $70 million in tax credits issued by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority;[27] $17 million from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA); state bond funds for higher education construction; and $18 million from Stockton.

In December 2014, Stockton had purchased the shuttered Showboat Atlantic City hotel and casino for $18 million, with plans to develop a full-service residential campus awarding undergraduate and graduate degrees and other professional training programs.[28][29] The former resort, dubbed the "Island Campus", would have been converted casino and employee spaces into classrooms, cafeteria space and offices for faculty and staff. Several floors of hotel rooms would be renovated into student housing, while the remaining rooms would be operated as a hotel. The House of Blues would be modified to house the school's performing arts programs.[30]

Soon after, it was publicly disclosed that Trump Entertainment Resorts held a covenant to the property, preventing the site from being used as anything other than a casino. It was through this covenant that Trump Entertainment Resorts prevented Stockton's plans to open an Atlantic City campus on the Showboat property. President Saatkamp came under fire for making the purchase despite knowing about the covenant.[31][32] The university reached a deal to lease the property from investor Glenn Straub, who planned to purchase the Showboat. Straub later sued the university to prevent Stockton from backing out of the deal.[33][34] Stockton sold the Showboat property to Bart Blatstein in January 2016.[35]

• In 1999, Stockton offered the first Master of Arts program in the nation in Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
• The Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center fosters research and education in Holocaust and genocide studies to honor victims and survivors, and to educate present and future generations in understanding racism, anti-Semitism, hatred and oppression.
• The Environmental Studies and Marine Science programs were selected by Peterson Field Guides and the Alliance for Environmental Education (ANJEE) for inclusion in Education for the Earth, a guide for top environmental studies programs.
• More than 850 students are now enrolled in Stockton's 13 graduate-degree programs, which include a doctorate in Physical Therapy.
• A 2012 report by an evaluation team for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Middle States noted that "Stockton has attracted a highly qualified, committed faculty who express strong commitment to teaching and precepting as well as increasing their productivity in research, publications, and creative activity".

• The original linear campus was cited as one of New Jersey's ten "architectural treasures" by New Jersey Monthly (April 1999) for its International modernist style, designed in the late 1960s by Robert Geddes of Geddes Brecher Qualls Cunningham Architects.[43] Generous use of glass opens views to the Pinelands setting. The noted architect Michael Graves designed the Arts and Sciences Building (1991–1996) in a Post-Modernist style, with organic colors.[44]
• After the F-Wing renovation in 2006, Stockton received LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
• In 2008, Stockton received the "Green Project of Distinction" award from Education Design Showcase for Housing V (six residence halls).[45]
• The Campus Center was awarded LEED® Gold certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
• The Unified Science Center, a 66,350-square-foot facility that opened in 2013, includes energy-efficient features and three striking artworks tied to the building's environmental and scientific purpose: a Water Molecule sculpture by artist Larry Kirkland; The Wave, a hanging colored-glass installation by artist Ray King; and Sun Sails, a second colored-glass installation by King.[46]
• Ground was broken in 2014 for a 54,000-square-foot expansion, The Unified Science Center 2 and a Health Sciences Center, which opened in 2018.[47]

Stockton is an environmentally friendly campus featuring a geothermal heat pump, fuel cells, and photovoltaic panels. In 2002, Stockton installed a 200 kW fuel cell at an initial cost of $1.3 million. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities provided a grant to cover most of the cost of the unit, with Stockton paying only $305,000. South Jersey Industries (SJI) also provided a rebate of $710,000 for the unit. The fuel cell provides just under 10% of the total energy for the campus; Stockton has the lowest energy cost per student among universities in New Jersey.

Stockton achieved national LEED certification for its new sustainable design. In 2006, the F-Wing expansion, including classrooms, offices and an atrium received the prestigious LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Stockton's commitment to environmentally responsible design has resulted in "green" initiatives that have both saved energy and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. These include the development on campus of one of the largest geothermal heating and cooling systems in the world.[48] The geothermal systems incorporate seasonal thermal energy storage so that waste heat or winter cold can be collected when seasonally available and stored for use in the opposing seasons. A borehole thermal energy storage system (BTES) was installed in 1994 and is used for heating the older half of campus, with waste heat collected from air conditioning equipment there.[49] In 1995 a fuel cell and photovoltaic panels were installed buildings to generate energy.

An aquifer thermal energy storage system (ATES), the first of its kind in the United States, began operation in 2008.[50] The ATES system reduces the amount of energy used to cool Stockton's newer buildings by storing the chill of winter air in the water and rock of an underground aquifer, and withdrawing it in the summer for cooling. (Because building insulation standards have changed over time, the older buildings have a higher heating than cooling need, and the opposite is true for the newer buildings.)

In 2008, Stockton approved an agreement with Marina Energy LLC for the installation of solar panels on The Big Blue athletic center roof to generate electricity. Marina Energy is a subsidiary of South Jersey Industries. Stockton paid nothing for the equipment and signed a 10-year agreement to buy the generated power. In 2009 the job was completed.

As part of the capital plan, Housing V was built in 2009 to accommodate the rising demand for student housing. It incorporates geothermal heating and cooling using closed-loop technology, for a total of 450 tons cooling capacity. To eliminate the possibility of groundwater contamination in the event of a leak, freeze protection is provided in the circulating fluid. The design accommodates future solar thermal heating systems. Sustainable design includes landscaping: upper-story deciduous trees were planted along the south-facing facades of the residence halls to provide shade during the summer months, but allow the warmth of the sun to reach the buildings during the winter. This design received the "Green Project of Distinction" award from Education Design Showcase.

Stockton's next green project was the largest single building project in its history. Designed and built according to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Gold Standard in sustainable design, the new Campus Center, completed in 2011, provides 153,000 square feet (14,200 m²) of space for dining, bookstore, pool, theater, lounges and offices.

It will use 25% less energy than standard construction, and 40% less water. Other features include low-emitting adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings. Additional "green" features of the building include a storm water-collection system to irrigate an on-site "rain garden" landscaped with indigenous and adapted plant species. It also has a sophisticated energy management system for heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting.

In 2013, Stockton received approval from the New Jersey Pinelands Commission to administer the state's first comprehensive forest management plan on public land.[51] Stockton actively manages more than 1,500 acres of forest on its campus, benefiting the local wildlife populations, protecting the campus against fire and pathogens and providing recreation such as hiking and wildlife viewing.

• Paul Lewis was the NCAA Division III 400-Meter Dash Champion in 1981
• 2001, NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Champions. Coach Jeff Haines was named NCAA Division III "Coach of the Year."
• 2003, Stockton student Kim Marino was NCAA Division III Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Women's Pole Vault Champion and record holder.
• Nine NCAA individual national champions in track & field
• Men's basketball coach Gerry Matthews is the winningest college basketball coach in New Jersey history. Matthews retired from Stockton University before the start of the 2016–2017 season. The basketball court was named "Gerry Matthews Court" in his honor.
• Two Olympic medalists held the position of athletic director at Stockton: Don Bragg (1960 pole vault gold) and G. Larry James (1968 4x400 relay gold and 400-meters silver).
• Paul Klemic was the NCAA Division III Men's Long Jump Champion in 2005 and 2006.[52]
• Tiffany Masuhr was the NCAA Division III Women's Javelin Champion in 2005.[53]
• Men's Basketball advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 1987 and 2009.
• Women's Soccer advanced to and hosted the NCAA Final Four in 1995.
• Men's Soccer advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 1999 and the Elite Eight in 2004.
• Jared Lewis was the NCAA Division III Triple Jump Champion in 2017 and 2018.[54]

• Stephen Dunn, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Creative Writing, received the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for his collection of poems, Different Hours.
• University President Vera King Farris spoke at the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust in 1999, hosted by the Prime Minister of Sweden and attended by 44 national heads of state.[66]
• Larry James (1947–2008), gold medalist at the 1968 Summer Olympics, was athletic director at Stockton for 28 years. In 2007, Stockton's track and soccer facility was named "G. Larry James Stadium" in his honor.[67]
• Dr. Janice Joseph, Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice, serves on the executive board of the International Scientific and Professional Advisory Council (ISPAC) of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Program, a UN Institute held in Milan, Italy[68]
• Dr. William C. Lubenow, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, author and historian, serves as president of the North American Conference on British Studies. Among his many published works are: The Cambridge Apostles, 1820–1914: Liberalism, Imagination, and Friendship in British Intellectual and Professional Life. Cambridge University Press, 1998
• Dr. Carol Rittner, Sisters of Mercy RSM, a Distinguished Professor of Holocaust & Genocide Studies, and considered one of the 50 greatest scholars on the Holocaust. She co-produced the Academy Award-nominated film The Courage to Care based on her book of the same name, and has authored or edited over 15 books. Dr. Rittner spoke at the United Nations twice in 2014, on issues involving genocide in Rwanda and the Holocaust.[69]
• Dr. Patricia Reid-Merritt, Distinguished Professor of Social Work and Africana Studies, is a nationally recognized author and scholar of Africana Studies who chaired the committee to place a statue of civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer in Ruleville, Mississippi.
• Dr. Stewart Farrell is founder and director of Stockton's Coastal Research Center, a nationally known organization that works on coastal zone management issues federal, state and municipal governments.
• The Rev. Dr. Demetrios J. Constantelos, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History and Religious Studies and a retired priest of the Greek Orthodox Church, was an expert on the social and religious history and civilization of the Byzantine Empire. He authored 15 books and edited 10 more. The Constantelos Hellenic Collection and Reading Room, opened in September 2014, houses 3,000 rare and important works from his collection on campus.[70]
• Distinguished Professor of Art Wendel A. White was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2003 for his exceptional creativity in photography.[71]
• Dr. David Lester, a Distinguished Professor of Psychology, is one of the world's leading suicidologists. He is a scholar and author adept in many academic disciplines, with over 2,300 publications worldwide.[72]

• Aimee Belgard (born 1974), is an American lawyer and politician who serves as a judge in New Jersey Superior Court
• Kevin M. Cathcart (Class of 1975), former executive director of Lambda Legal (1992-2016), considered the 'dean' of LGBT leaders,[73] as the longest serving head of a major national LGBT nonprofit. He led the strategy to finally eliminate state anti-sodomy laws that criminalized sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex, leading to the 2003 Supreme Court victory in Lawrence v. Texas.[74]
• Christopher J. Connors (born 1956), member of the New Jersey Senate
• Bob Crawford (born 1971), founding member and bassist for the Grammy-nominated band The Avett Brothers.
• Matthew Pratt Guterl (born 1971), historian, is Professor of Africana Studies and American Studies at Brown University and is an author
• Laurel Hester (1956–2006), a New Jersey police lieutenant who rose to national attention with her successful deathbed appeal for the extension of pension benefits to her domestic partner. Her battle was shown in Freeheld (2007), the winner of the Academy Award for Best Short Documentary, and the feature film of the same name (2015), in which Hester was portrayed by Julianne Moore.
• Harvey Kesselman (born 1951), fifth president of Stockton University, inaugurated in 2016. He is the first Stockton alumnus to become president and was a member of the first class at Stockton. Kesselman was among those students affectionately referred to as the "Mayflower" students, because the first classes in 1971 were held at the Mayflower Hotel, located on the Atlantic City boardwalk, while construction was being completed on the first academic buildings on the main campus in Galloway.[19]
• Bruce Larkin (born 1957), children's book author
• Frederick John LaVergne, was a 2018 Democratic candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 3rd Congressional District of New Jersey.[75]
• Katrina Law (born 1985), actress, Spartacus: Vengeance and Arrow
• Marcus Major, is an American author. He is best known for writing novels pertaining to African-American love interests.
• Tim Lenahan (born 1959), Head Men's Soccer Coach, Northwestern University
• Santiago Solari (born 1976), Argentine football (soccer) player