SCSU president seeks top job at New Jersey university

NEW HAVEN — Southern Connecticut State University President Joe Bertolino is one of three finalists for the president role at Stockton University, a public university in New Jersey.

In an email Bertolino sent to the university community earlier this month, he said the opportunity was unexpected but he considered it because of his hometown connections.

Bertolino, who has been in the New Haven post for nearly seven years, wasn’t available to comment Thursday.

According to his cover letter for the job, Bertolino was born and raised in south New Jersey, is a current resident of Monmouth County and the son of a Stockton alum.

“Southern has been a welcome home to me for the last seven years, and not one I would consider leaving lightly,” he said, noting no offer has been made. “I am not looking elsewhere.”

In an interview with The Southern News, Bertolino said a search firm approached him in the fall and he doesn’t plan to seek any other job if this opportunity doesn’t work out. He said in the interview he was torn because he loves SCSU, but also wants to be close to his family.

The other two finalists for the New Jersey job are University of Arkansas Chancellor Laurence Alexander and former Rhode Island College President Frank Sanchez, according to the New Jersey university. The search committee plans to extend an offer to a candidate this month.

Bertolino was at the Stockton campus earlier this month at candidate forums for Q&A sessions with the Stockton community, according to Stockton student newspaper The Argo.

He began his role at SCSU in July 2016, and served as president of Lyndon State College in Vermont for four years prior.

In his cover letter, Bertolino highlighted his 32 years of experience in public higher education, his social justice commitment, his leadership style that values a shared governance, his role in raising SCSU’s academic standards and his initiatives for students and faculty retention.

“I am particularly proud of our partnership with the New Haven Public School system,” he wrote, spotlighting the collaboration that resulted in the creation of Barack Obama University Magnet School.

“Despite enrollment and financial challenges facing many institutions, Southern Connecticut State University has maintained a modest budget surplus for the past six years,” Bertolino wrote about his experience with financial stability that he said stemmed from conservative budgeting with a strong team.

He also said with his background as a social worker who’s skilled in listening and communication with a social media presence, he has been able to create “meaningful” relationships both internally and externally.

Stockton University is located in Galloway Township, New Jersey. It has a student population of about 9,900, as of fall 2020.