In honor of Military Appreciation Month and in recognition of Memorial Day, we celebrate the resilience and sacrifices made not just by our service members, but by the families who support them. In episode 16 of Edison Sound Stage, Maja Mendez, TESU’s Associate Director of Military and Veteran Recruitment and Outreach; Jonathan Sloan, BSBA ’22; and Sherri Hamm, BSOL ’22, MSHRM ’24, discuss the challenges and joys of being military spouses and dependents for a new appreciation of those who serve through their own commitment and responsibilities at home.

Today's schools are evolving at a pace unprecedented in history, shaped by forces distinct from those just a decade ago and forever altered by the recent global pandemic. Speaking to Edison Sound Stage, Dr. Scott Rocco, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators 2022 Superintendent of the Year and Superintendent of Schools for Hamilton Township School District, tackles some of the big questions about what it means to be an educational leader or administrator today, sharing his fresh perspectives about emerging issues, school law, visionary leadership, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in schools. This podcast has been produced by Thomas Edison State University.

Educational administrators are crucial to serving as agents of change while building equitable and just communities in schools. They must be able to articulate a clear vision, strategize, and drive purposeful and sustained change in educationally diverse environments. But if you are aspiring to a school administrator or supervisor position, are you ready to do that? In episode fourteen of Edison Sound Stage, a panel of today’s educational leaders discuss their experiences and insights for those seeking a successful transition into effective school leadership.

In the thirteenth episode of Edison Sound Stage, Ceceilia "Ceil" M. O'Callaghan, Director of TESU's Office of Career Development, and guest co-presenter and professional staffing recruiter, Caitlin Heymann, Vice President and Recruiting Manager at Robert Half International discuss successful job-hunting strategies and how you can develop your interview skills with hands-on advice. 

In in the twelfth episode of Edison Sound Stage, TESU President Merodie A. Hancock joins students, staff and alumni who share the University’s strong commitment to the community in recognition of National Volunteer Week. Panelists Jennifer Hutchinson, Gabriela Mendoza, DJ Weltch and Melody Ward discuss the importance of volunteerism and giving back to their communities in their professional and personal lives.

In this episode, Rev. Dr. Charles Boyer, pastor of Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Trenton and the founder of Salvation and Social Justice, a non-partisan Black faith-rooted organization, joins President Merodie Hancock, PhD, in TESU’s 2nd Annual Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. This virtual discussion touches on topics such as health equity, DEI issues, the pandemic’s effect on Trenton residents and MLK’s mission as it relates to the Trenton community.

In this episode, Ann Prime Monaghan, associate dean, and Dr. Malcolm Oliver, dean, discuss opportunities for Graduate-Level Prior Learning Assessment (Grad PLA) in the John S. Watson School of Public Service with Dr. Christine M. Willard, TESU mentor and Professor of Education, Director of Childhood & Childhood Special Education at Nyack College; and students Joel Heller (BS ‘94, currently pursuing MSM.Public and Municipal Fundraising and GCERT.Fundraising and Development) and Gerard Cardenas (MSM ‘21, currently pursing DBA), both of whom earned Grad PLA credits as part of their degree pursuits.

In this episode, Dr. Merodie Hancock, president of Thomas Edison State University, speaks with Maurice Jones, CEO, OneTen.org; Dr. Lillian Lowery, Vice President, ETS and former Delaware Secretary of Education; and Michele Siekerka, president and CEO, New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) to explore the innovative ways top employers are identifying, preparing and retaining diverse talent for the workforce of today and tomorrow.

In this episode, Ann Prime-Monaghan, associate dean of the John S. Watson School for Public Service, interviews trailblazers from the New Jersey State Library to discuss Fresh Start @ Your Library, a program that aims to prepare individuals for successful re-entry into the workforce after incarceration.

Ann Prime-Monaghan, associate dean of the Watson School for Public Service, joins Matt Hugg (TESU mentor, curriculum committee member and nonprofit organization consultant) and Leigh Clark (Business & Funding Information Librarian at the NJSL) to discuss strategies and opportunities for nonprofits to receive funding.

In this episode, as communities change, Christopher Schultz, Assistant Dean, Heavin School of Arts, Sciences, and Technology, discusses issues of recruitment and retention of fire service volunteers with guest, William F. Jenaway, Ph.D. Jenaway is a 12-year incumbent municipal elected official, former fire chief, former International Association of Fire Chiefs - Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year, and President of the Congressional Fire Service Institute. 

In this episode, moderator Dr. Joseph Youngblood, dean of the John S. Watson School of Public Service, is joined by Ana I. Berdecia, M.Ed., Senior Fellow/Director of the Center for the Positive Development of Urban Children (CPDUC) at the John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy, and Sandra GB Iturbides, supervisor of ESL, Bilingual and World Language Program for Secondary Schools for the Trenton School District, to discuss cross-cultural awareness and practice in our children’s classrooms.

In this Episode, Moderator Dr. Joseph Youngblood, dean of the John S. Watson School of Public Service, discusses the COVID-19 pandemic and how two local hospitals have responded to this public health crisis. Youngblood is joined by Dan Moen, president and chief executive officer, St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton and Michelle Morrison, chief hospital executive at Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin.

In this episode, Ann Prime-Monaghan, assistant dean of the John S. Watson School of Public Service, discusses voter registration history and the importance of civic engagement through voting with Gloria Frederick, PhD., and Barbara George-Johnson, executive director of the The John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy.

In this episode, Christopher Schultz, assistant dean of the Watson School, sits down with Dean Joe Youngblood to discuss the origins, mission, and motivations of the both the Watson School and Institute.

Dr. Jane LeClair, president of the Washington Center for Cybersecurity Research and Development, Cybersecurity advisory board member and Cybersecurity program advisor for Thomas Edison State University, explores why social engineering is a people problem and how serious this threat can be, impacting nearly 4 out of every 5 breaches today. So, what can we do to halt hackers' activities?