GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — Joe Bertolino can officially call himself Stockton University’s sixth president.
“During the interview process and my first few months on the job, I felt like I was meant to be here,” Bertolino said Friday. “I believe that you’re going to be where you’re supposed to be if you’re open to it. It’s not a coincidence to me that an opportunity presented itself when I wasn’t looking. It was not lost on me that the opportunity happened to be where I grew up and my mother’s alma mater. For me, this was all part of a plan.”
More than 700 people, including students, faculty, alumni, state officials and Bertolino’s friends and family packed the campus center Friday for his inauguration ceremony.
Bertolino, who was named president in March of last year, replaced Harvey Kesselman, who had been the university’s president since 2015.
People are also reading…
Other past presidents, including Herman Saatkamp Jr. and family members of Vera King Farris, attended the ceremony.
Festivities began with a parade led by the Absegami High School marching band before Stockton’s chorus and music union performed and several of Bertolino’s colleagues gave remarks.
Before arriving at Stockton, Bertolino was president of Southern Connecticut State University.
Dwayne Smith, interim president of Southern Connecticut, moved from Missouri to Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 2020 to become CEO at Housatonic Community College.
Stockton University hosted a Regional Arts and Culture Summit on Monday at its City Campus.
Smith approached Bertolino and asked if his 16-year-old daughter, who was homesick as a result of the move, could use Southern Connecticut’s track to run on.
“The cross-country move was incredibly difficult for her,” Smith said. “She missed her way of life back in the Midwest. Running gave her a sense of emotional and mental well-being, but because of COVID, everything was closed. So I reached out to Joe and asked if we could use the track. He said yes, and when things became difficult for my daughter, she’d put on her running shoes and go to Southern. When she graduated she told me moving to Connecticut was the best thing that could’ve happened, and I like to think Joe played a pivotal role in her embracing her new space.”
The search for a new president started in fall 2022, shortly after Kesselman announced his retirement.
Nelida Valentin, chair of the university’s Board of Trustees, said Bertolino stood out the most following a nationwide search due to his past leadership experience and commitment to students.
“We’re grateful to President Joe because he cares so much about the students and brings a wealth of knowledge into this role. We’re pleased to support and believe in his ability to advance Stockton into the future.”
Hiran Kangaraarachchi, a 2009 graduate of Queens College in New York, where Bertolino had worked at the time, said Bertolino made a profound impact on his life in and out of the classroom.
“I was an international student from Sri Lanka facing difficulties academically and personally,” said Kangaraarachchi, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. “I met with Dr. Joe (Bertolino) in his office and told him I was concerned about not graduating on time because I was behind in my classes. Dr. Joe worked with me to ensure that I would graduate. He gave me the confidence and hope I was looking for. Then, I graduated and moved back to Sri Lanka, I was having family issues, and Dr. Joe made the 24-hour journey to help me resolve those issues. Dr. Joe always touches his students’ hearts and pushes them to become their best selves. Ospreys, you’re blessed to have him.”
Bertolino said his vision for the school is to make it the top college choice for prospective students by building a community of opportunity.
“I am a product of my upbringing and the opportunities I’ve been afforded along the way. I honor those relationships by continuing to pay it forward,” Bertolino said. “Today, I challenge you to do the same for someone else. By building a community of opportunity, we provide the space and resources that enable our students, faculty and staff to grow, thrive and be a part of something bigger. No opportunity is too small, and no opportunity is too large. When we do certain things, or build certain relationships, we may be providing others with opportunities that we don’t even realize.”
Welcome to the discussion.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.