The Stockton University board of trustees elected new officers and approved the naming of the newest Atlantic City residence hall at its recent board meeting Wednesday.
The new slate of officers includes: Chair Nelida Valentin; co-Vice Chair Nancy Davis; co-Vice Chair Jose Lozano; and Secretary Michelle Keates.
Valentin, Class of 1986, of Trenton, was appointed to the board in 2016. She is vice president of grants and programs for the Princeton Area Community Foundation in Lawrenceville. She served as director of cluster and business development at New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Innovation Institute and as executive director of the Newark Workforce Investment Board. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business studies from Stockton and a master’s in political science/public policy from Rutgers University.
Outgoing Chair Raymond Ciccone of Surf City, a 1979 graduate, was recognized for his service. Ciccone was appointed to the board in 2012 and has served as chair since 2020, helping guide the university through the pandemic and the construction of the Atlantic City Phase II expansion. His term expires in 2027.
“Ray Ciccone is a shining example of what it means to be an Osprey. A first-generation student, Ray used his education and experiences from Stockton to become a leader in his field.” President Joe Bertolino said. “He has spent his career improving the world of business, while also giving back to his community through public service.”
Juan Diego Chaparro Villarreal, of West New York, was sworn in as the new student trustee alternate. Former alternate Shalayby Parsons of Salem becomes the new student trustee.
In other business, the board approved naming the Phase II Atlantic City residence hall Parkview Hall. The new facility opened to more than 400 students last month. It is located at the corner of Atlantic and South Providence avenues in the Chelsea section of Atlantic City with views of O’Donnell Memorial Park.
Bob Heinrich, vice president for enrollment management, shared preliminary enrollment figures for fall 2023. The university welcomed 1,536 first-time students. Total enrollment at the university is 8,727.
Finally, as part of the new “Mission Moment” segment of the meeting, professors Stacey Culleny and Meg White provided an overview of the Future Teachers of Color Conference they organized in May. More than 200 local high school students attended the event and were exposed to careers in education.
Culleny said a recent study found that over 50 schools in New Jersey don’t employ a single teacher of color, even though, according to the New Jersey Education Association, students of color make up over 50% of state schools. She and White reported the event was a successful first step in trying to overcome that disparity.
