Stockton students saw a festive day on Friday, April 12, with President Joe Bertolino’s Inauguration. The Campus Center was filled with students, alumni, faculty, staff, and visitors as they cheered and paraded through the Center with President Joe, waving blue-and-white pom-poms in celebration. Many students participated in the parade, representing different organizations like T.A.L.O.N.S, the Stockton Dance Company, the Stockton Cheerleading Team, Stockton Student Senate, The Argo and many others. Stockton also had the honor of having Absegami High School’s marching band who played festive music as President Joe walked with the rest of the company, waving at the cheering students, staff, and other guests flanking the walkway.

The Event Room was filled with Stockton alumni. There were also many special guests, including high school and college friends of Bertolino, which included his college roommate, who wore a shirt they made back in the 80’s that still fit him— which made the President jealous. Other attendees included Stockton’s partners, HERO Campaign representatives, and Bertolino’s family and family-in-law, which included his father, who sat in the front row. Two former presidents, Dr. Herman J. Saatkamp Jr. (2003-2015) and Dr. Harvey Kesselman (2015-2023), were in the audience to witness the inauguration and congratulate their new successor.

On the stage were esteemed scholars, mentees, and close friends of Bertolino, some of which were Dr. Richard J. Helldobler, President of William Paterson University; Mr. Hiran Kangaraarachchi, the Steward Supervisor of the Explore Edmonton Corporation, who told a heartwarming story of Bertolino’s support and guidance in his younger years; Ms. Jacquelyn A. Suárez, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, who read a statement on behalf of Gov. Phil Murphy; and Dr. Bill Leipold, the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services and Experience and Rutgers University- Newark, and Bertolino’s husband. Each speaker recalled fond memories of meeting and working with him, and even joked about his many mannerisms and tendencies they noticed over the years, bringing a heartwarming and familiar air to the room. The President later remarked, “I am completely off-script; that is not unusual for me.” Jonathan Vazcones, the First Vice President and CRA Officer of Amalgamated Bank, commented in his speech, “When we think about leadership, we think about Joe.”

The ceremony included many performances. Kaldy Penarda, a Stockton senior, performed the U.S. National Anthem accompanied by Dr. Beverly Vaughn’s piano. The Stockton Student Chorus performed Walt Disney and Michael Bolton’s “Go The Distance” in honor of the President, later returning to perform the “Ospreys on Parade” Alma Mater anthem by Stephen Dunn and Bud Noble with alumni; this was also accompanied and conducted by Dr. Vaughn. Stockton Music Union also had the honor of performing “What a Wonderful World” with President Bertolino singing with them.

The President also introduced a fun video in which he went “undercover” as a student at Stockton, wearing a wig, hat, and glasses. The video brought hearty laughter from the audience, and featured many prominent and well-known faces of Stockton. Bertolino said in his speech; “This isn’t about me, but about the community.” He thanked every person in the room for their support and love they gave him throughout his life, as well as his many memories and experiences. He especially thanked his father and his late mother, Eileen, who was a 1977 Stockton alumna.

After the ceremony concluded, attendees gathered in the Campus Center Grand Hall for many cultures’ cuisines offered. Mini chicken and waffles, donuts, a candy bar, and other dishes were offered, bringing long lines of guests eager to try anything and everything. The Grand Hall featured a pianist playing classical music, while the Coffeehouse had Stockton Music Union entertaining the masses.

Click here for more information about the inauguration.