Podcasts

In the third President’s Studio episode of the Edison Sound Stage podcast, listen as 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 the second President’s Studio episode of the Edison Sound Stage podcast, watch or listen as 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.

Episode 1

In the inaugural Edison Speaker Series episode of the Edison Sound Stage podcast, listen as Dr. Merodie Hancock, president of Thomas Edison State University, speaks to 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) explore the innovative ways top employers are identifying, preparing and retaining diverse talent for the workforce of today and tomorrow.

Episode 8

In this episode, John S. Watson School of Public Service moderators 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. They are joined by 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. Graduate-level PLA allows students the opportunity to earn graduate credit for graduate-level knowledge acquired through work; corporate, military or industry training; workforce development programs; in-depth professional research; and other learning experiences.

Episode 7

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.

Episode 6

In this episode, Ann Prime-Monaghan, associate dean of the John S. Watson School for Public Service, joins Matt Hugg and Leigh Clark to discuss strategies and opportunities to receive funding for nonprofit organizations, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hugg is a TESU mentor, member of the Watson School’s Curriculum Committee and a consultant for nonprofit organizations. He teaches a number of classes on nonprofit management and hosts a website of resources called Nonprofit​.Courses.

Clark is the Business and Funding Information Librarian at the New Jersey State Library Information Center. She regularly assists nonprofits with funding research and coordinates the State Library’s Funding Information Center.

Episode 5

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, PhD.

Jenaway is the chair of the TESU John S. Watson School of Public Service, Curriculum Committee. He is a 12-year incumbent municipal elected official, served as a fire chief in two communities, and counseled fire and EMS around the U.S. A former International Association of Fire Chiefs – Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year, he also serves as President of the Congressional Fire Service Institute and manages the Pennsylvania Firemen’s Association Recruitment and Retention Grant program. As a long-time collegiate educator, established author and lecturer, he is the author of the monthly “Recruitment and Retention Tip of the Month” in Pennsylvania Firemen magazine.

Episode 4

In this episode, moderator Dr. Joseph Youngblood, dean of the John S. Watson School of Public Service, is joined by Ana I. Berdecia, MEd, Senior Fellow/Director of the Center for the Positive Development of Urban Children (CPDUC) at the John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy of Thomas Edison State University 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. Berdecia is the program director for New Jersey Cultural Competency and English Language Learners Institute and Mentoring Program of the Center for the Positive Development of Urban Children (CPDUC). CPDUC strives to bridge the voices of teachers, practitioners, school leaders and families with policy initiatives that impact the positive development of New Jersey’s children by utilizing a holistic approach of best practices, policy analysis and research. Iturbides holds a BS in Clinical Psychology from Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Ureña of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, her native country; a master’s in ESL Education from Trenton College of New Jersey, and a master’s in Education Administration from Grand Canyon University. With 25 years of experience as an educator, Mrs. Iturbides advocates for biliteracy and equitable access to education for all children.

Episode 3

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.

Episode 2

In this episode, Ann Prime-Monaghan, associate 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. Dr. Frederick has more than 30 years of experience in community development programs, non-profit and organizational development, management and training and serves as mentor and online course developer at Thomas Edison State University as well as a member of the University curriculum committee.

Episode 1

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.