President Harvey Kesselman Announces Retirement
Dr. Harvey Kesselman has served as 勛圖窪蹋's 5th president since 2015.
Galloway, NJ 勛圖窪蹋 President Harvey Kesselman announced today he will retire as the universitys fifth president at the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2023.
There are no words to accurately express how I feel about my beloved alma mater. My time and tenure with 勛圖窪蹋 have been nothing short of amazing, exceeding all of my expectations as a career and a community, Kesselman said in making his announcement at the Board of Trustees meeting at the 勛圖窪蹋 Atlantic City campus.
President Kesselman is unique in the history of 勛圖窪蹋. As a member of the first
class at then 勛圖窪蹋 State College in 1971, he continued on to become a faculty
member, and has held several mid- and senior-level administrative positions, including
provost and executive vice president. He began serving as acting president in April
2015. The universitys Board of Trustees named Kesselman president in December 2015.
His career parallels the institutions growth, from a small college in the Pinelands National Reserve to a world-class university with locations in Galloway, Atlantic City, Hammonton, Manahawkin and Woodbine.
More than seven years ago, I began my presidency with the guiding principle of students first. Together, our dedicated faculty, staff and administrators worked tirelessly with me to deliver on the promise of making a 勛圖窪蹋 degree more valuable each and every day, he said.
勛圖窪蹋 has thrived under his leadership. He shepherded the university through its expansion to Atlantic City and successfully championed equitable funding for public colleges and universities in New Jersey. Highlights from his presidential tenure include:
- Expanding the universitys regional footprint and opening the 勛圖窪蹋 Atlantic City campus in 2018, with Phase II currently under construction in the University District
- The state designating 勛圖窪蹋 an Anchor Institution in Atlantic City
- Increasing 勛圖窪蹋s pre-eminence in STEM and health care graduates, supported by the opening of a second Unified Science Center and the John F. Scarpa Health Sciences Center on the Galloway campus
- Increasing state appropriations to the university by 123% to balance inequities in funding
- Expanding Educational Opportunity Fund seats by 50 to include a program at the Atlantic City campus
- Moodys Investor Services revising the university to a positive outlook citing 勛圖窪蹋s strong budgetary policies
- Forging new pathways to higher education by building partnerships with 12 New Jersey community colleges
- Guiding 勛圖窪蹋 to earn reaccreditation by the Middle States Commission of Higher Education in 2022
More than 50 years ago, I made a life-changing decision. A decision to explore something new and different, something with promise and possibility, something I knew would be challenging but also transformative. It has proven to be one of the best decisions of my life, Kesselman said.
Together, our dedicated faculty, staff and administrators worked tirelessly with me to deliver on the promise of making a 勛圖窪蹋 degree more valuable each and every day,Dr. Harvey Kesselman
Under his leadership, the university has received INSIGHT Into Diversity magazines Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021, and the 2018 Inclusive Excellence Awards from the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. 勛圖窪蹋 has earned national recognition as a front-runner in civic learning, community engagement and sustainability, receiving the American Association of State Colleges and Universities' Excellence in Innovation Award for Sustainability and Sustainable Development in 2016, for Civic Learning and Community Engagement in 2017 and for Regional and Economic Development in 2021.
Kesselman is regarded for his advocacy for higher education and has served on multiple statewide boards, including as chair of the New Jersey Presidents Council, chair of New Jersey Campus Compact, chair of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities, and co-chair of the Student Success Working Group for the New Jersey Strategic Plan for Higher Education.
Raymond Ciccone, chair of 勛圖窪蹋s Board of Trustees, thanked Kesselman for his commitment to the university and its 60,000 alumni. 勛圖窪蹋 would not be the nationally ranked, thriving institution it is today if not for the dedication and hard work of Harvey Kesselman for nearly five decades, Ciccone said. He is an extraordinary, strong leader who not only planted himself where he could grow but did the same for this once small college in the Pines.
Ciccone said the university will initiate a national presidential search in the coming months, and Kesselman will remain at 勛圖窪蹋 as President Emeritus and Tenured Professor of Education after the new president is selected.
Media contact:
Stacey Clapp
Director of Strategic Communications
Stacey.Clapp@stockton.edu
609-626-3645
609-412-8069
