Today we speak with Erin Anderson, a junior education and history major from Marlton, Burlington County, who lives off campus. Erin will share her #PROFspective with us on what it’s like to be a Rowan University student and how she’s getting the most out of her college experience as a Rowan Prof.
Name: Erin Anderson
Major: Subject Matter Education: History within the College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Minors/concentrations: Teacher of Students with Disabilities Endorsement within the College of Education
Year: Junior
Hometown and County: Marlton, NJ (Burlington County)
Commuter: Yes
Off-Campus resident: Yes I “commute” from a rented off campus apartment where I live with two of my friends.
Academic clubs: Student Council for Exceptional Children, President
Do you work on campus? If so, where/what do you do? I currently work in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as an Admissions Ambassador giving tours to prospective students and in the Dean’s Office of the College of Education as a Dean’s Office Assistant.
Do you have an off-campus job? If so, where/what do you do? I work at Vera Bradley in the Cherry Hill Mall.
Why did you choose your major? In high school I found my passion for education within my junior and senior years when I participated in the Rowan Urban Teacher Academy (RUTA.) The premise of this program was to introduce high school students interested in education to an urban education setting. This program was eye-opening for me because it exposed me to the joys of being a teacher and how much a teacher can impact a student’s life. I chose history because I have always been interested in the subject matter and it always came easier to me than other subjects.
One reason why you chose Rowan? I actually chose Rowan for two major reasons. The first reason was because of the Rowan University Urban Teaching Academy (RUTA) program that I was lucky enough to participate in throughout the summers of my junior and senior years of high school. The second is because of the education program that Rowan has; it is very well known.
My Typical Day as a Rowan Student
A typical Friday for me involves both class and work on campus; and sometimes off campus. Although I only have one class on Friday it is a very important class for my major, Teaching and Learning B or TNLB taught by Dr. Martha Viator. I love going to this class because it is truly the one of the first education classes that you get to take that starts to put the theories and materials that you have learned into context to the subject that you want to teach. This class also includes a practicum component that involves me getting hands-on field experience in a high school classroom. Throughout the duration of my time in my field placements, either middle or high school, I am able to gain experience working directly with students, planning lessons and working on my classroom management skills. The best part about being a College of Education student is the amount of field experience that we are able to receive throughout the duration of our time at Rowan.
After class, around 12:15 p.m., I go to work in the Dean’s Office of the College of Education. My responsibilities as a 
student worker involve answering phones, making deliveries and completing projects as directed by the Dean and other staff/faculty in the office. I enjoy working with the people in this office because it allows me to see another side to education that I may not have been able to see from just my classes. Typically I will work in the Dean’s Office until about 3:30 p.m. and then I will either return to my apartment or go to my off campus job.
Friday is not necessarily a “busy” day for me. Throughout the week I still have a variety of other history and general education classes and jobs. On Thursdays I wake up around 9:00 a.m. and go to work as an Admissions Ambassador with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. I love being an ambassador more than words can describe. To me, there is something very fulfilling about sharing our wonderful campus and my personal experiences to prospective students and families. Occasionally on Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday nights and then on Saturdays or Sundays, I will work also work at Vera Bradley in the Cherry Hill Mall as a sales associate.
Another important organization in my relatively busy schedule is the Student Council for Exceptional Children, in which I am the president. Our goal and objective as a club is to spread awareness and promote acceptability for all students with any type of disability; or in better term, exceptionality. Our signature events are in the spring with the Bringing Up Down’s Syndrome (BUDS) Prom and the Light it Up Blue Walk for Autism. Every April we host a prom for the children and students of Bringing Up Down Syndrome. It’s a lot of fun because we always have a theme and dance all night. Then at the Light it Up Blue Walk for Autism we raise money for an organization that benefits individuals with autism. This year, we will partner with the Italian American Club to co-sponsor the walk and their signature event, the Autism Benefit Dinner on April 1. I am very excited to partner with the Italian American Club because it allows for a cohesive and collaborative effort to raise money for New Horizons in Autism, which is our chosen organization for this year.
If I’m being completely honest, my schedule does get quite hectic at time trying to fit everything in; but I know it will all be worth it. I cannot even begin to imagine myself at any other university other than Rowan. As cliché as it may be, Rowan has become my home away from home. The friendships, connections and experiences that I have been fortunate enough to make during my time here will last a lifetime and are very difficult to put into words. When I graduate Rowan I know that the academic and social experiences that I have had here have molded me into the person that I am today and I cannot begin to begin thanking all of the people who have helped me along the way.
We are #RowanPROUD and we are Rowan Profs! Not exactly sure what a Prof is? It’s our owl mascot, Whoo RU. Read about him here.
Story organized and photography by:
Jen Green, senior public relations major