Galloway, N.J. – Stockton University students searching for professional clothing pieces can now browse
the racks within the Career Education and Development (CED)’s new suit closet, which was unveiled in a grand opening ceremony on Thursday,
Nov. 6.
Throughout the year, CED has raised over $5,000 and collected more than 500 professional
items for the new closet through community and on-campus donations. Gently used and
brand-new suit jackets, slacks and skirts comprise the space in the CED office at
the Galloway Campus Center.
According to CED’s director, Sofia Abreu, the suit closet will be a student-run initiative
that will provide students with hands-on experience.
“We have a suit closet manager who’s been helping us get things running for the semester,”
Abreu said, referring to Criminal Justice major Gianna Balut. “We’re now hiring two additional students to handle operations
and marketing – they’ll support running the closet, identifying needs and working
on promotion. As this grows, we hope to expand and provide more opportunities, especially
federal-work study positions.”
A student looking through the racks of the new suit closet
Abreu also hopes the closet will be a barrier-breaker for students, whether they’re
trying to land their next internship or break into the professional world after graduation.
“I’m overwhelmed with excitement,” Abreu said. “To be able to support Stockton’s mission
in supporting students is everything.
“This was a labor of love that we couldn’t have done without the support we received
throughout the campus,” Abreu continued, expressing gratitude to the countless donors
who provided the clothes, faculty and staff who brought students to the opening, and the Stockton Facilities department for making the space beautiful and functional.
Students preparing for a verified professional opportunity will only need to schedule
an appointment through Ospreys Navigate to explore the suit closet. Appointments will
be available starting Monday, Nov. 10.
Business major Aaron Manning has already made an appointment for next week and looks forward
to suiting up for the spring Career & Internship Fair.
“I didn’t have a suit for the last one. I’m hoping to find some professional attire
for next year, especially since this is free, so I don’t have to go out of my way
to buy one specifically for the fair or for one of the networking events my boss brings
me to,” said Manning, who is a student worker within the Academic Achievement Programs office.
Those interested in donating to the suit closet have the following options:
- Drop-offs can be made during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5
p.m.) in Campus Center Suite 104 or in an on-campus “Suit Closet Donation” box at
any time. - Appointment-based donations and/or donation drives can be organized by emailing Careers@Stockton.edu.
- Additional ways to support the closet include donating e-gift cards from Macy’s or
JCPenney, which will allow the CED team to purchase new professional clothing for
students.
Donation guidelines and further information can be found on CED’s website.
– Story by Loukaia Taylor
– Photos by Laura Leonel of the Osprey Social Team
Career & Internship Fair Fosters Collaboration and Creates Opportunities
October 10, 2025
to attend career-oriented events such as Resume Rush, Working Wednesday workshops
and more throughout the academic year.
Galloway, N.J. – Making a biannual event feel fresh and new is a challenge. Thankfully, Sofia Abreu
is not only up for it but eager to knock it out of the park.
Abreu, a 2011 graduate of Stockton University, serves as director of Stockton’s Career Education & Development (CED).
Since joining the CED office, she has made it her mission to support students in their
career journeys through increasing the office’s visibility on campus, providing networking
opportunities throughout the academic year and making improvements to the biannual Career & Internship Fair through partnerships both within and outside of the university.
According to Abreu, this spirit of collaboration is what made this year’s fair, hosted
in the Sports Center on Thursday, Oct. 9, a success with over 100 employers and more
than 1,200 students in attendance.