Faculty, Lecturer, and Staff Recognition
- The Bursar’s Office plays a vital role in supporting student success by helping students address outstanding tuition balances and meet their financial obligations to the College. When students fall behind on their payment plans, they become ineligible to register for future semesters, placing their continued education at risk. Under the leadership of Bursar Angela Stephens, the office works closely with students to identify reasonable solutions that promote both fiscal responsibility and student retention, ensuring that financial challenges do not unnecessarily derail educational goals.
Through these efforts, the Bursar’s Office recently surpassed a significant milestone, collecting more than 16,500 past-due student payments totaling over $3.5 million. This achievement is due in large part to the dedication of Ms. Ellen Schaffer, Assistant Manager of Accounts Receivable, whose work over the past 12 years has helped thousands of students resolve outstanding obligations and continue their OCC education. Some of these collections were obtained through the State of New Jersey’s Set-Off Individual Liability (SOIL) Program, which Ms. Schaffer implemented to assist in recovering delinquent accounts. Together, Ms. Stephens’ leadership and Ms. Schaffer’s commitment have strengthened the College’s financial stewardship while providing students with the opportunity to remain on track toward achieving their educational goals. - Ocean County College was acknowledged by Kean University’s Center for Community and Engaged Learning at the Community Partner Appreciation Luncheon held on June 4, 2026, at Kean University’s campus in Union, New Jersey. Kean presented OCC with a Certificate of Appreciation award for the College’s collaboration and partnership on the Annual Environmental Sciences Technical Conference that took place on March 26, 2026, at OCC. Mr. Lincoln Simmons, College Lecturer II in Biology, attended the luncheon and accepted the award on behalf of OCC.
- Ms. Jamie Arasz Prioli, Director of Access and Disability Services, has been elected to the Executive Board as President of NJ AHEAD (Association on Higher Education and Disability) for the 2026-2028 term. NJ AHEAD is a highly active statewide resource that connects postsecondary disability service providers and administrators from colleges and universities throughout New Jersey, as well as a few from neighboring states. It is an affiliate of the international organization AHEAD and is coordinated by an Executive Board of elected officers.
- Seven Ocean County College faculty members participated in the New Jersey Council of County Colleges’ AI-Ready Faculty Mini-Grant request for proposals by submitting projects to develop innovative approaches for integrating artificial intelligence into teaching and learning. This project is part of a partnership between NJCCC and the NJ AI Hub, with funding for the initiative from the NJ AI Hub’s corporate partnership with Microsoft.
Forty-seven faculty members from across the state submitted proposals, and 40 were approved. As funding is available for up to 100 faculty members, a second call for proposals will be issued in September 2026.
The proposals reflected a thoughtful commitment to helping students develop AI literacy, use AI ethically and responsibly, and prepare for careers in an increasingly AI-enabled workforce. The creativity and quality of the submissions underscore the leadership of New Jersey community college faculty in advancing teaching and learning.
The faculty from OCC who were selected for funding are:- Maureen Conlon, Associate Director of Web Services, Adjunct Faculty in Management/ Marketing
- Pamela Goldsmith, College Lecturer II in Health Management
- Henry Jackson, College Lecturer II in Student Success
- Justin Pfeifer, College Lecturer II in History
- Jennie Piwowarczyk, Adjunct Faculty in Social Sciences
- Gurmeet Singh, Adjunct Faculty in Computer Science
- Kristyn Stout, College Lecturer II in English
Award recipients will receive a $1,000 mini-grant, paid by NJCCC, to support the design, implementation, and assessment of AI-enhanced instructional activities in Fall 2026. Recipients are required to share information about and a version of their implemented projects or activities for a repository of open educational resources that can benefit faculty across New Jersey.
- As the Dean of the School of Workforce Innovation at Ocean County College, Dr. Aslıhan Cakmak will lead initiatives that strengthen workforce development, expand employer partnerships, and advance the College’s role in supporting regional economic growth.
With more than 20 years of higher education leadership experience, Dr. Cakmak has developed workforce and academic programs, secured grant funding, built strong partnerships with business and industry, and championed student success. She has served on statewide New Jersey Council of County Colleges Pathways initiatives and New Jersey Business and Industry Association education and workforce task forces, helping align education with New Jersey’s workforce needs.
Beyond higher education, Dr. Cakmak has worked extensively with immigrant communities and has represented a United Nations affiliated non-governmental organization, promoting educational access, community engagement, and international collaboration.
Dr. Cakmak holds a doctorate in International Business and is honored to serve as the founding dean of Ocean County College’s School of Workforce Innovation, building solutions that will support students, employers, and the economic vitality of Ocean County. - On July 15, 2026, Dr. Aslihan Cakmak, Assistant Director of Workforce Education Sergio Torrico Saniz, and Interim Assistant Director of Workforce Operations Sherry Shearer, attended the New Jersey Council of County Colleges Consortium Workforce and Economic Development annual meeting on the Workplace Literacy and Basic Skills Training Program and other workforce initiatives.
The meeting brought together continuing education leaders from Union College, Camden County College, Rowan College at Burlington County, Rowan College of South Jersey, Essex County College, Passaic County Community College, Middlesex College, and Mercer County Community College to review FY 2026 outcomes, discuss updates to the Workplace Literacy and Basic Skills grant, and prepare for FY 2027 Consortium training initiatives.
Ocean County College was recognized as one of the top performing colleges in the state, ranking in second place for Workplace Literacy and Basic Skills enrollments. This reflects the College’s strong commitment to serving non-English speaking adult learners and meeting workforce needs in our region. OCC’s team shared its approach to tracking student participation across programs to prevent duplicate enrollments. During the discussions, it became clear that OCC Workforce Education was the only group that had been tracking students individually since the beginning of their enrollment. Several colleges expressed interest in our process and sought guidance on how the OCC team successfully implemented this tracking method.
The meeting provided an opportunity to celebrate the College’s success, exchange best practices with colleagues across the state, and prepare for continued growth in workforce education initiatives during the coming year.
Faculty and Staff Professional Development
- The New Jersey Artificial Intelligence Hub Higher Education Showcase was held on June 17, 2026, at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In attendance were Dr. Vandana Saini, Dean of STEM; Ms. Jeong “Julia” Kim, College Lecturer II in Mathematics; and Dr. Maria Hartwell, College Lecturer II in Chemistry. The showcase focused on how New Jersey’s colleges and universities are infusing AI into curriculum, pedagogy, and governance, not as isolated experiments, but as part of a broader strategy for student success and institutional readiness.
- On June 25, 2026, Executive and Artistic Director Heidi Sheridan and Marketing and Sales Coordinator Victoria Buczynski attended the Thrive Conference presented by ArtPride New Jersey. This statewide conference included professional development sessions on Arts Fundraising, Financial Trends in the Arts Sector, Ethical AI and How Arts Marketers Can Use It, Audience Impacts, and Community Resilience.
- Mental Health Clinician Darra Stack became certified in Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS). CAMS is an evidence-based clinical framework specifically designed for treating individuals experiencing severe suicidal ideation.
Student Clubs
- The Ocean County College Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Club competed at the FBLA Collegiate National Leadership Conference from June 5 to 8, 2026. Four Ocean County College students qualified to compete after placing at the New Jersey FBLA Collegiate State Leadership Conference in March 2026. Ms. Laura Paolillo, College Lecturer II in Business and Faculty Advisor for the OCC FBLA Club, accompanied the students to the national competition. Students competed against colleges and universities from across the country, including Rutgers University and Stevens Institute of Technology. Keeley Ploumitsakos earned 6th place in Retail Marketing, placing among competitors from institutions nationwide.
- Five Ocean County College students attended the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) Convention in Atlantic City on June 17, 2026, accompanied by Ms. Laura Paolillo, who also serves as OCC’s Business and Accounting Club Advisor. Six students from Kean Ocean also participated. The convention provided students with professional networking opportunities, educational workshops, and guidance on earning the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential while connecting with accounting professionals and peers from across New Jersey.
- Three student leaders from OCC’s Tau Iota Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa recently traveled to the University of Denver in Colorado to attend PTK’s Honors Institute from June 20 to 23, 2026. New chapter officers Zuleika Hanvey, Isabella Dautrich, and Iriana Ramirez started their summer enjoying the cool mountain air while exploring the new Honors Study Topic, “What’s Next? Imagining the Future,” and the eight themes of focus. The Honors Institute is a unique educational experience that offers members a deep dive into the Honors Study Topic. The program included featured speakers, small-group discussions, and experiential activities to expand their worldview and grow their networks.
Student Recognition and Success
- Mr. Lincoln Simmons, College Lecturer II in Biology, shared a job placement update for recent OCC graduate Julisa Joyner. Ms. Joyner earned both an A.S. degree in Environmental Studies and an Industrial Hygiene/Hazardous Materials Certificate in May 2026. She has successfully secured employment with WSP in New York City, New York. WSP is one of the world’s leading professional services firms, uniting engineering, advisory, and science-based expertise to make a positive impact. Additionally, WSP was an exhibitor at this year’s Annual Environmental Sciences Technical Conference held at OCC in March 2026. WSP representatives had the opportunity to meet and recruit OCC students during the event.
- The School of STEM is pleased to report that several current and former OCC students are recipients of the 2026 New Jersey American Industrial Hygiene Association (NJAIHA) scholarship. The recipients were invited to attend the NJAIHA June 18, 2026, meeting to accept their awards. The meeting was held at the Somerville Elks Lodge, Bridgewater, New Jersey.
NJAIHA awarded a total of $8,000 in scholarships, distributed among seven students from various schools, three of whom are affiliated with OCC:- Ms. Elizabeth Macchioni, Kean University, OCC Graduate
- Ms. Erin Bolger Elizabeth, Kean University, OCC Graduate
- Ms. Olga Miller-Collier, OCC Student
NJAIHA brings together professionals from industry, academia, and government to strengthen the practice of industrial hygiene and safeguard worker well-being. The scholarships were awarded to eligible high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who are enrolled in Fall 2026 in courses leading to a degree in industrial hygiene or allied fields, such as occupational/environmental health and safety.
The NJAIHA is a dedicated OCC supporter, having participated in the Annual Environmental Sciences Technical Conference each year since the event’s inception four years ago. The conference brings together students and organizations, such as NJAIHA, to expose them to careers in environmental sciences and industrial hygiene. Students make connections with these companies, often resulting in job or internship offers, and, in this case, scholarship opportunities. OCC student Olga Miller-Collie was one of the attendees at the conference in March, along with NJAIHA.
The following individuals teach and support industrial hygiene coursework at OCC:- Dr. Brent Altemose, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Science
- Ms. Patricia Jones-Hevia, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Science
- Mr. Richard Lynch, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Science
- Mr. Lincoln Simmons, College Lecturer II in Biology
Student Support Services and Activities
- OCC’s Helping Hands Food Pantry was the recipient of a recent donation of feminine hygiene products from the Period Poverty Project by Soroptimist International (SI) of Toms River. SI is a new community partner for Helping Hands, and we are grateful for their support.
- On July 1, 2026, Access and Disability Services kicked off Disability Pride Month with a flag-raising ceremony. This event celebrated disability as part of human diversity and reinforced OCC’s commitment to access and inclusion, supporting a Stigma-Free Campus as Disability Pride Month began.
- As Ocean County College transitioned into its summer terms, the Counseling Center continued to play a pivotal role in supporting student retention and success. Throughout June 2026, the department maintained a steady operational pace, balancing scheduled clinical therapy, student transition support, and active crisis intervention. In FY 2026, the Counseling Center experienced a 67% increase in student walk-in and crisis support services and a 26% increase in all clinical counseling services compared to FY 2025.
Monthly Student Testimonial – ” I truly believe the Counseling Center was a major contributor to my academic success during my time at OCC. Having an accessible and consistent mental health resource allowed me to have a safe space to deal with my emotions and stressors, and by extension, it gave me the opportunity to properly focus on my academics. In addition to the mental health aspect of things, the counseling center and those in it became a source of safety, stability, and community, who were more than glad to give me the tools necessary to find my voice and grow into the person I am today.” 2026 OCC Graduate
During June 2026, the Counseling Center staff provided 89 mental health counseling sessions (50–60 minutes each) and completed 65 case management, student outreach, and engagement interactions. Counseling sessions increased by 89% compared to June 2025, reflecting the continued student demand for mental health services.
Throughout FY 2026, the Counseling Center provided 1,396 mental health counseling sessions (50–60 minutes each) and completed 1,091 case management, student outreach, and engagement interactions. Compared to FY 2025, student walk-in and crisis support increased by 67%, while overall clinical counseling services increased by 26%, reflecting continued growth in student utilization of mental health services.
The leading concerns at the Counseling Center during the conclusion of the Spring semester continued to be stress, anxiety, emotional regulation/coping, academic/finals concerns, self-care, and social/relationship issues.
The Counseling Center is continuing to support the campus community during the summer months by offering programming, sharing mental health resources, and providing professional development opportunities. In partnership with Massachusetts Bay Community College, the Center hosted Trauma-Informed Higher Education training for faculty and staff, introducing an overview of trauma-informed practices. Attendees explored the clinical and educational rationale, the neurobiology of learning, and practical teaching strategies. Two additional trainings in this series will be offered later this summer.
- The Counseling Center partnered with the Committee for Access and Belonging (CAB) to host a wellness activity for students during the campus Juneteenth event. The Center provided an active-meditation labyrinth, allowing students to navigate a single, winding path designed for unwinding, stress reduction, and self-reflection. Staff also distributed mental health resources, emphasizing the vital importance of wellness and continuing to destigmatize access to mental health care.
- The Student Success Team made 5,108 outgoing calls in June, approximately 25% more than it made last year in the same time frame.
- The HUB one-stop shop completed 1,565 transactions in June. The average wait time for a student was just over seven minutes.
- Enrollment Services completed over 8,000 calls to students in June. This included answering over 1,900 incoming calls and making 6,448 outgoing calls. The call campaigns included invitations to Express Enrollment Days, and calls for non-payment, re-registration, and cancellation information.
- To date, there are 129 applicants for Commit to Complete, and 89 students have been approved to take a free summer class.
- The Office of Registration and Records is currently evaluating high school transcripts for higher-level math courses, NJ STARS eligibility, and AP credits. Transcripts have been received from 18 high schools thus far.
- Enrollment Services, in collaboration with Academic Advising, hosted an Express Enrollment Day on July 15, 2026. Students toured the campus, met with academic advisors, and selected their classes for the Fall semester.
- The Recruitment team completed three ESL Registration Nights for non-credit ESL classes on July 6, 8, and 9, 2026.
- In preparation for Suicide Awareness Month in September, the Veterans and Military Resources Center (VMRC) is partnering with the Veterans Administration Suicide Prevention team and OCC Counseling staff to plan on-campus events. The VMRC will be supporting the showing of The American Soldier on September 15, 2026, at the Grunin Center through its partnership with the Veterans Administration. Additional information will be shared in next month’s report.
- From June 17 through July 13, 2026, Advising Services assisted with 268 current/returning student walk-in advising sessions, 129 new student walk-in advising sessions, 11 new student advising appointments, and 189 virtual advising appointments, all to continue assisting students with their academic planning.
- Registration for the Adult Education, Civics, and Workforce Preparation (AECWP/Title II) took place on July 1, 2, and 7, 2026, with test sessions at 3 p.m. or 6 p.m. There were 142 ESL and 65 GED/High School Diploma (HSD) Preparation attendees.
Orientation for these students took place on July 13, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. with 137 ESL and 62 GED/HSD attendees. All ESL and GED classes began on July 20, 2026, for 10 weeks, ending October 1, 2026.
Two Integrated Education and Trainings (IET) will be offered this program year for ESL participants. The first IET, Administrative Office Support Specialist, has seven registered and will run from July 27 to November 25, 2026. The second IET, Medical Management Support Specialist, has 20 students tentatively registered for a winter session from January 4 until June 3, 2027. The IETs are funded through AECWP/Title II, and Workforce Education will provide the training, while the Title II Adult Education ESL Instructors provide ESL and supportive content for the IETs.
Additionally, there are 52 students registered for the summer Achievement Center ESL classes. Students are enrolled in Basic Beginner (13), Low Beginner (10), High Beginner (18), and Low Intermediate (11) classes, which run for ten weeks starting July 27, 2026.
Community Outreach
- The Barnegat Bay Partnership is one of 28 congressionally designated National Estuary Programs established to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance. The Barnegat Bay Partnership is extremely active throughout Ocean County.
In the Spring, 795 volunteers from 24 municipalities collected 17,324 pounds of trash from the watershed as part of the annual Barnegat Bay Blitz. This is an annual event organized collectively among the Barnegat Bay Partnership, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and Ocean County Clean Communities. More information can be found in the May 20, 2026, Barnegat Bay Partnership newsletter.
Fifteen new members of the public graduated from the Partnership’s Master Naturalist Program and will now each complete 40 hours of stewardship service time. The new naturalists learned about the Pinelands, coastal wetlands, shellfish, and many other ecological topics, and can now serve as boots on the ground to further educate the public on behalf of the Partnership and its many partners. See the June 24, 2026, issue of the newsletter.
Eighty-five participants joined the Barnegat Bay Partnership and the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve for the Partnership’s second annual Art x Science Series, designed to spark creativity through science. Participants were educated on a marine topic (for example, marine debris) and then engaged in an art lesson related to that topic (such as, using marine debris to create a collage). Every session reached capacity, and a few staff members from the college joined in this activity.
- The Ocean County College Repertory Theatre opened its summer musical My Fair Lady on July 10, 2026. The production runs through July 19, with seven performances and features Ocean County College students, alumni, and community performers.
- The reception and awards ceremony for the Ocean County Office of Senior Services’ 2026 Annual Senior Citizen Art Show were held in the Grunin Center Mezzanine Gallery on June 26, 2026. The exhibition featured 130 entries across a variety of artistic media. Seventeen first-place winners will advance to the New Jersey State Senior Citizen Art Show.
- The Grunin Center reported total attendance of 26,971 for FY 2026. This figure includes Ocean County College student and staff events, Grunin Center patrons, and community rental organizations.
The Grunin Center attendance peaked in FY24 for post-pandemic recovery at 42,570. In FY 2025, with Center renovation for half of the fiscal year and summer camps leaving the area, it was 25,972. In FY 2026, the increase might seem slight, at 26,971, but that is because the renovation covered two fiscal years, with the Theatre unavailable for nine months, from January 2025 to September 2025. Additionally, the summer musical was performed in the Black Box Theatre, and rental numbers for August were affected. Also, one Spring Repertory Theatre show was cancelled, the number of educational CAMP programs in the summer was reduced, two dance recital rentals (1,840 people) moved to a larger venue; and the Blauvelt Speaker Series numbers were lower because of budget adjustments. With the Theatre again open, attendance is expected to increase.
The new grunincenter.org website features an “In the Spotlight” blog that includes notes from the Executive and Artistic Director and others to highlight various shows and programming, discuss topics in the arts, and share news about the Grunin Center and its many presentations and activities. - During July, the Planetarium is featuring its re-mixed American Summer Laser Show, showcasing popular summer favorites alongside patriotic music. From July through December, the Planetarium will highlight exhibits that showcase American space exploration, including the America 250: Celebrating American Innovators poster series and planetarium video curated and designed by the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami, Florida.
- Access and Disability Services participated in a county-wide resource event hosted by the Ocean County Department of Human Services and the Commission for Individuals with Disabilities. The gathering commemorated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and brought together service providers from across Ocean County. Community residents attended and received valuable information about disability services available through various programs.
- The Recruitment team participated in several off-campus events over the past few weeks. On July 1, 2026, Ms. Calleigh Kearns, Enrollment Services Advisor, attended the Hackensack Meridian Health College Fair. On July 8, 2026, she also attended the downtown Toms River Farmer’s Market. Ms. Carolina Newman, Multi-Language Interpreter, spoke with Lakewood Preferred Group on July 8 and 21, 2026. Ms. Lauren Simon, Enrollment Services Advisor, visited the Lacey Library College Fair on July 16, 2026.
- Director Richelle Corbo represented the Counseling Center at the New Jersey College Counseling Association (NJCCA) conference held at Monmouth University on June 9, 2026. The training focused on Introduction to Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT) for Disorders of Over-Control.
- Ms. Madison Caldwell, Coordinator of Early College, attended the OCVTS Academy of Law and Public Safety Freshman Orientation on July 19, 2026, to share information with students about the pathway to OCC’s Associate in Science in Behavioral Science and Public Service degree prior to high school graduation. She connected with 30 first-year students and their families to provide guidance on opportunities, payments, and degree completion.
- Letters were sent to the households of all Early College students, informing the families of the savings students achieved by taking advantage of the Early College opportunities at Ocean County College. Similar letters were sent to school superintendents to share the total district savings from the benefits of Early College. The savings were determined by multiplying the number of credits taken by the students in the high school academy year by $365, the average savings based on a per-credit tuition rate at a four-year public New Jersey college. Below are the student savings, by partner district, for the academic years 2024-25 and 2025-26:
| District | 2024-2025 Savings* | 2025-2026 Savings** | Difference |
| Ambassador Christian Academy | $10,512.00 | $35,040 | $24,528 |
| Arborbrook Christian Academy | $79,716 | $135,050 | $55,334 |
| Barnegat Township School District | $26,280 | $36,500 | $10,220 |
| Brick Township School District | $412,304 | $386,535 | -$25,769 |
| Central Regional School District | $570,276 | $725,620 | $155,344 |
| Donovan Catholic High School | $276,816 | $240,535 | -$36,281 |
| Jackson Township School District | $78,840 | $56,210 | -$22,630 |
| Lacey Township School District | $563,852 | $744,600 | $180,748 |
| Lakewood Township School District | $425,736 | $371,205 | -$54,531 |
| Manchester Township School District | $197,100 | $264,260 | $67,160 |
| Plumsted Township School District | $68,036 | $116,435 | $48,399 |
| Ocean Academy Charter School | $0 | $18,615 | $18,615 |
| Ocean Township School District | $0 | $365 | $365 |
| Pinelands Regional School District | $318,572 | $562,465 | $243,893 |
| Point Pleasant Borough School District | $333,172 | $840,595 | $507,423 |
| Point Pleasant Beach School District | $555,676 | $704,450 | $148,774 |
| Hazlet Township Public School District | $0 | $29,565 | $29,565 |
| Southern Regional School District | $120,596 | $234,695 | $114,099 |
| Ocean County Vocational Technical School District | $1,150,480 | $1,521,320 | $370,840 |
| Toms River Regional School District | $634,516 | $805,555 | $171,039 |
| Total | $5,822,480 | $7,829,615 | $2,007,135 |
Security Report
In accordance with New Jersey Public Law 2015, Chapter 220, and College Policy #2332, Reporting of On-Campus and Fire Events, the monthly statistics report of crimes, fires, and other emergencies on campus for the reporting period of June 19, 2026, through July 13, 2026, is as follows:
1.) A count and classification of all criminal incidents (defined as reportable crimes under the federal Jeanne Clery Act) which occurred on campus and which were recorded by campus security, campus security authority (CSA) or local police departments.
| Date | Crime | Summary | Status |
| Nothing to report |
2.) A list of campus alerts, threats or emergencies which occurred on campus.
| Date | Alert/Threat | Summary | Status |
| Nothing to report |
3.) A count and classification of all fire incidents which occurred on campus and which were recorded by campus security and local fire departments.
| Date | Fire Incident | Summary | Status |
| Nothing to report |
Security Report submitted by Thomas Desimone