The Women's, Gender & Sexuality Center at Stockton University

Yesterday, the WGSC welcomed students into a hands-on Kintsugi workshop as part of Grief Awareness Week—a space to slow down, create, and reflect with care.

Facilitated by Tara O’Keefe from CAPS, students worked with broken pottery, learning the Japanese practice of mending with gold. In Kintsugi, cracks aren’t hidden—they’re honored—reminding us that healing takes time, transformation is possible, and there is beauty in what survives.

Throughout the workshop, students explored themes of letting go, rebuilding, and finding strength in imperfection. What emerged were not only beautifully pieced-together plates and bowls, but moments of connection, gentleness, and shared humanity.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to CAPS for partnering with us to support student well-being.

Grief has many forms—and no one has to navigate it alone. 💛

Galloway, N.J. — Stockton University was recently named one of the top LGBTQ+ Friendly Colleges in the country by BestColleges.com.

Stockton was listed at No. 10 in the website’s 2024 rankings and was recognized for its Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Center (WGSC), which works with a number of LGBTQ+ student organizations, including the Q***r & Trans People of Color Society and the Pride Alliance. According to the website, Stockton ranks among the best in the nation in efforts to support and provide academic, financial and social resources for LGBTQ+ students.

Laurie Dutton, the WGSC director, said Stockton has worked hard to foster a positive climate for the LGBTQ+ population. She’s thrilled and immensely proud of the ranking, which comes at a good time as the center is preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary in March 2025.

“This recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our entire community to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for all students,” Dutton said. “This accolade underscores the progress we've made and further inspires us to continue advocating for equity, diversity and inclusion in every aspect of university life.”

The WGSC opened its new lounge space on the Galloway campus in 2019, creating brave spaces for open discussions on gender, sexuality and intersectionality. Through Safe Zone training for faculty, staff and students, and partnerships with departments such as CAPS (Counseling) and the Speech and Hearing Clinic, the center provides strong support for the transgender community, Dutton said.

She added that initiatives like the “Whole New Closet” help transitioning students with clothing, while LGBT mixers and trips to iconic sites, such as Stonewall in New York City and Philly Pride Fest, help foster pride and preserve LGBTQ+ history. The spirit of Pride Alliance co-founder and Stockton alumna Laurel Hester continues to inspire students as they walk these halls, keeping her legacy alive in every step toward equality and inclusivity, Dutton said.

This is the second recent recognition for Stockton as an LGBTQ-friendly campus. In 2023, Campus Pride awarded the university 4.5 out of a possible 5 stars in its rating index. The index is a nationally recognized assessment that evaluates universities on their LGBTQ+ friendliness.

Since 2013, BestColleges.com has empowered students to make smarter educational decisions and find schools that best fit their needs through proprietary research, user-friendly guides and unique college rankings.

https://stockton.edu/news/2024/bestcolleges-lgbtq-rankings.html

Website Ranks Stockton One of Top LGBTQ+ Friendly Colleges BestColleges.com lists university at No. 10 in 2024 rankings

Stockton University ranked #10 by best colleges.com as one of the best LGBTQ+ colleges in the US!

https://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/best-colleges-for-lgbt-students/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1mpho8-gzJ8WEzK98nIHDpBIJeaSTQOtbkoe2eM8yEyb24uVSYlSvk-UI_aem_r14VbcaZCXcFcunFeVuiqA

The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students | BestColleges The increased visibility of LGBTQ+ students on campuses has increased the need for support networks. Here are the top-ranked colleges for LGBTQ+ support.

So proud of Van and excited to see her bloom in this new chapter!

We are excited to announce that we have another amazing person joining our team! Van Nhi Ho has joined our board as our Resource Coordinator, tasked with the important work of finding -- and more importantly vetting -- resources for South Jersey's LGBTQIA+ Community!

Van Nhi Ho is a dedicated therapist with a strong background in LGBTQIA+ advocacy and organizing. During her graduate studies at Stockton University, she served as the President of the Pride Alliance, where she focused on uplifting LGBTQIA+ BIPOC voices and addressing the unique mental health challenges faced by these communities. She also served with The Women's, Gender & Sexuality Center at Stockton University as the LGBTQ Program & Services Coordinator. Her work emphasizes the intersection of identity and mental health, and she is committed to fostering inclusive and supportive environments for all. Committed to fostering inclusive and supportive environments, she also seeks to help vet resources to connect LGBTQIA+ community members with the right people and services. Van Nhi is passionate about ensuring everyone has access to the support they need.

We are super excited by the passion and vision that she brings to ACQA! We know that the work she's doing is going to greatly and positively impact the Q***r Community of South Jersey!

Here are some ways to stay connected with your community. Take the time be with yourself, and take the time to be with others.

This is a book that can create a difference in our thinking. Through this story, we see the effects of sexual assault and the many types of impact it can have.

For Thoughtful Thursdays we are highlighting the ways in which our community shows appreciation and support. Here are some notes and affirmations students and staff leave for each other creating a sense of belonging.

It’s denim day. Wear your denim with a purpose and take a stand. What a survivor was wearing is not reason for victimization.

Connected Communi-teas! We bring members of our community by curating to our students and creating activities they would want to engage in and BUTTONS!!!Stay tuned for more events coming up. Also… who could forget about Jaxson!

Come and join us today for an amazing discussion. Food will be provided!🥤 🍕 Multicultural Center, multipurpose room 5:00PM - 6:30PM