Nikki Clifford was born and raised in Northfield, graduated from Mainland Regional High School and once worked as a lifeguard for the Atlantic City Beach Patrol — patrolling the same stretch of beach that now fronts Stockton’s Atlantic City campus.
Earlier this month, she had a bit of a homecoming, as she was named dean of Stockton University’s School of Health Sciences.
The move, effective July 13, comes as the school enters a period of growth focused on expanding academic offerings and industry partnerships.
To be a part of that mission – in a community that helped shape her – was not lost on Clifford.
“I’m a local kid. I grew up here, I learned to swim and work on these beaches, and now, after 25 years building a career in higher education, I have the chance to come back and invest that experience in the community that shaped me,” Clifford said. “That’s not something I take lightly.”
Clifford comes to Stockton from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, where she served as acting dean of the Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies. And, since 2022, she served as associate dean for academic affairs, scholarship and strategic initiatives. She led school-wide work on strategic planning, faculty development and succession planning, and co-chaired a committee for Monmouth’s recent reaccreditation review by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Clifford said she plans to help advance the Stockton-AtlantiCare College of Community Health, a partnership announced in May.
“Together with AtlantiCare, we have an opportunity to create stronger connections between the classroom and clinical practice and expand workforce opportunities for students,” she said. “For me, this work is personal. It’s a chance to help improve healthcare access in the region I call home.”
The School of Health Sciences offers undergraduate programs in exercise science, health science, nursing and public health; master’s programs in speech language pathology,
nursing, occupational therapy and public health; and doctoral programs in nursing practice and physical therapy.
Michael Palladino, the university’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, said Clifford is the perfect person to lead it.
“Her leadership, vision and commitment to student success will strengthen our academic programs and deepen our impact in the region,” he said.
