First Year Voices: Joining Her Cousins at Rowan

Krishna stands at Rowan University posed with the owl mascot's wings behind her

After hearing good things about Rowan’s engineering program and with two cousins already here, Rowan was a natural choice for incoming freshman Krishna Barot. 

Krishna sits on a bright pink chair with PCI friends

Meeting people and forming the beginnings of lifelong friendships has been the highlight of Krishna’s summer at Rowan University. The first generation college student, from Galloway, NJ (Atlantic County), spent six weeks on campus as a part of the Pre-College Institute (PCI), an academic/residential program to better prepare freshmen for college. 

When Krishna returns to campus in September, she’ll have already earned three college credits through PCI, will have a core group of friends she’ll be reunited with and will already have a familiarity with campus. A civil engineering major, Krishna will live in Evergreen Hall

In September, Krishna says, “I’m most looking forward to learning about the different clubs and activities to join.”

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Alumni Success Story: CEO Steve McKeon

Steve McKeon working on his desktop computer in his home office

An entrepreneurial mindset paired with an interest to solve problems prepared Steve McKeon, a first-generation college student, for a future in the technology business. As CEO of MacGuyver Media, Steve discusses how Rowan University taught him the networking skills and technical foundation that led to the success he finds today leading a software development company from his home office.

“I’m hoping that in five to 10 years MacGuyver Media will be a $50 million company with 300 employees. I hope that many of them come from Rowan University,” he said. 

Steve McKeon posing for a portrait photo on his porch.

As an Engineering major turned Computer Science major, Steve knew that problem solving would be his biggest asset in information technology and that his degree would support him. Because technology is always changing, he found it important to emphasize learning how things work so he could always stay ahead of the technology curve.

“Computer science taught me how to learn and comprehend things quickly. It’s important that I’m continuously learning and reading new things to stay on the cutting edge of technology,” says Steve. “I see what people are looking for and I always try to be a little ahead of the trend. I’m always making sure I’m not just following them, I’m leading them.”

In 2015, Steve launched MacGuyver Media, a software development company dedicated to being on the forefront of technology. To be a leader in his field, he’s immersed himself in all things technology since he wrapped up his degree in 1998.

A benefit to being a business owner is having an in-home office that allows Steve to enjoy the flexibility working from home. With his dog Lola by his side, he supports his family and business.

Steve and Lola the Dalmatian sitting on a grey couch.

Most of Steve’s day-to-day work is based on problem solving. A business may call and need a process or software streamlined, and it’s up to Steve to reverse engineer it to find a tech savvy solution, fast.

It’s most important to him that he and his team can provide value to their clients. From custom web applications that cover accounting, inventory management and reporting, to web redesigns, Steve’s team does it all.

Alumnus Steve McKeon working in his at-home officeBeing a business owner requires Steve to constantly meet other like-minded colleagues at networking events to grow professionally and personally.

“My position as social chairman in Alpha Phi Delta at Rowan helped me immensely as a business owner. In my position, I was in charge of publicity, event planning and Greek relations, which taught me how to work with all different personalities,” says Steve. “I can now confidently find value in people quickly and come up objectives and goals much quicker because of my experiences in Greek Life when I was younger.”

With now 20 years of experience in the software industry and the CEO of his own company under his belt, Steve looks to the next generation of Rowan University Computer Science majors to help support his business.

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Future Pediatrician Shares Her Summer Lab Experience At Rowan

Alyssa Sanders a tbs major in lab room

Translational biomedical science major Alyssa Sanders in her summer lab experience internship

Meet Alyssa Sanders, a rising junior from Pitman (Gloucester County) majoring in Translational Biomedical Science (TBS) from the College of Science & Mathematics. This summer, she was able to take an internship offered at Rowan where she got the chance to do research on many projects, one of which was called The Drug Delivery Project.

“Some people put [TBS] as an advanced biology degree. So, you’re basically taking what you learn in the classrooms and then applying it to research,” Alyssa said.

According to Alyssa, a TBS major needs to take 12 credits of research hours to be able to graduate. With a bachelor’s in TBS there are many things a person can do. “We can go on to getting our Ph.D., go to med school or go right into the working field and become a research assistant,” she said.

Translational biomedical science major Alyssa Sanders in her summer lab experience internshipAlyssa will become the first doctor in her family; both her parents chose different careers outside of the medical field. “I really want to become a doctor, so I liked how it [the TBS major] kind of had a built-in premed track. I want to be a pediatrician,” she said.

This summer, Alyssa worked alongside Dr. Nathaniel Nucci, assistant professor from the departments of Biomedical & Translational Sciences and Physics & Astronomy. “What I did mainly over the summer was purified proteins,” Alyssa said. “So, we purified red fluorescent proteins (RFP), that way we can use it during the school year since purifying protein is very time consuming.”

The Drug Delivery Project was one of the many projects Sanders did research for this summer. For this project, purifying RFP was the goal. “For The Drug Delivery Project, we are trying to find out a new way to deliver drugs to the body. Sometimes proteins are too big, or they are hydrophilic and they really can’t cross your blood brain barrier, or your body ceases them and signals them out because they are too big, even though they are trying to help you get better but the body will destroy them,” Alyssa explained.

“So, we are trying to use a mechanism like a bubble to engulf the proteins to disguise them, so the body won’t send signals out to destroy them. And then it can go to different parts to your body and actually be delivered to the body,” she said.

Alyssa started to do work in the lab last spring because that is when she had to start getting credits for her major. Dr. Nucci saw that she was working hard and doing an excellent job, so he offered her the summer internship.Translational biomedical science major Alyssa Sanders and a biophysics major in lab room

“Nucci would definitely be like a mentor that is coming to my life through this opportunity because he knows so much. He’s a biophysics professor, but he knows everything. He knows stuff about chemistry, organic chemistry and he knows stuff about any field of science basically,” she said.

If there is one thing that Alyssa has learned through her internship this summer is, “that science does not go according to plan and as Nucci says, ‘A lot is research for a reason. You can’t just search at once, you gotta keep doing it over and over again.’”

Her advice for anyone interested in her major: “It’s very hard. It’s not something that you can be like, ‘oh yeah this will be fun or easy.’ It’s not an easy major, but it’s worth it. If you want to go to medical school or get your Ph.D. it is definitely a major that is going to prepare you for that, because you have to take your harder classes like organic chemistry, biophysics and advanced classes that will prepare you.”

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Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major

First Year Voices: A 4-Year Dream Begins to Launch

Alexis Benitez smiles, sits on a green bench with his bookbag by his side

Incoming freshman Alexis Pacheco Benitez of Bridgeton, NJ (Cumberland County) has waited patiently four years to finally begin his education toward his dream career. “When I was a freshman in high school we had this seminar to find out what you want to do, and ever since then I’ve known that I want to go […]

Where is She Now? PCI Alumna and PR Grad Troi Barnes

PCI alumna Troi Barnes attended the Student Leadership Conference in the Chamberlain Student CenterMeet Pre-College Institute (PCI) alumna Troi Barnes, a 2017 graduate from the department of Public Relations and Advertising. She is from Williamstown, NJ (Gloucester County). Today, Troi will share with us what she’s up to now and how PCI helped her prepare for Rowan.

What are you currently doing? “I am a public relations account coordinator at Skai Blue Media, located in Philadelphia. I lead accounts such as The African American Museum in Philadelphia, I handle all their communications. I work with [teen activist and author] Marley Dias, I lead her account for #1000BlackGirlBooks. I also work with [author and producer] Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni, who does a one-woman show called “One Drop of Love.” She is also a consultant for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck for Pearl Street Films. So, I secure their accounts for speaking engagements and different social media partnerships.”

PCI alumna Troi Barnes attended the Student Leadership Conference in the Chamberlain Student CenterHow did PCI help you prepare for college? “It helped me a lot. My mother is Dr. Penny McPherson Myers [from the Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Rowan]. So, I was 12 when I started coming to the PCI summer program. It helped me to get to know people prior to even before coming to Rowan. And when I was actually in the program in 2013, I met so many lifelong friends. It also prepared me for college with being able to take courses that would eliminate me taking them in the school year, building up my GPA and just having a family going into the school year and college life in general.”

Were there any classes that stood out for you during the summer program? “I took a writing class that really helped me strengthen my writing before I entered college. I wasn’t that strong [in writing], and that helped me to eventually get where I am now, where I am writing press releases and media alerts.”

Any advice you would give to PCI students? “Give your all. As much as you give is as much as you get from the program. So, if you engage with everyone, you will become family. If you put effort to become friends with the people you are here with for six weeks, then you will definitely get a lot out from the program.”

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Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major

Beyond the Classroom: Jesse Panico, an Act for Theatre Arts

Rowan Music Performance major Jesse Panico next to the Henry Rowan statue

Meet Jesse Panico, a junior Music Performance major with a specialization in Voice from Magnolia, NJ (Camden County). He is also the senior student technician for Rowan’s Theatre Arts Management.

Rowan offers many flexible job opportunities for its students. After meeting his (now) supervisors at Theatre Arts Management through other networking, Jesse asked them for a job, filled out some paperwork “and since then it’s been wonderful!” Jesse said.

Jesse helps runs events in both Pfleeger Concert Hall and Boyd Recital Hall

“It greatly benefits me working there because I’m always there and the bookings are often from my own peers. Being able to work a recital (in Boyd Hall) and the person working it is someone you know and trust really takes the pressure off of the person performing,” he said. The work he does in Pfleeger Hall is little bit of everything, from ushering to lighting. 

His behind-the-scenes knowledge with Theatre Arts has helped him with his own student work as well. 

Rowan Music Performance major Jesse Panico in the Rowan Opera

“Knowing everything off-hand helps me plan as a student. When I was planning my Junior Recital, I knew how far to plan in advance, what works and what doesn’t,” Jesse said. 

“Rowan best prepared me by giving me to opportunity work with the technical side of what I want to do. I love to perform. It is very near and dear to my heart. It gives me insight on how to do certain things on stage — such as, many people think to stand right in the middle of the spotlight. But you actually should stand in front of the spotlight so you don’t have the lower half of your body cut off,” he said. 

Jesse noted that Theatre Arts Management tries to emphasize working all parts of the theatre so you get a better understanding of what goes into everything.

“I have developed a lot of people skills from starting as a house manager, which deals with the public saying ‘No ma’am, you can’t bring food in.’ A lot of the training was learning as I go. The high-stress environment helped me to learn quickly. I’ve learned everything from lights and rigging to building the sets.

“I feel at home in Pfleeger Concert Hall,” Jesse said.

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Story and photography by:
Justin Borelli, senior advertising major

PROF Pets: Doby the Chihuahua

Doby the chihuahua smelling flowers Meet Doby. He’s a chihuahua, and he loves to go outside each morning to smell the flowers.

Age: Nine

Owner: Iridian Gonzalez, Journalism major, College of Communication and Creative Arts

Likes: Going on long walks and getting lots of attention.

Dislikes: Going to the vet and getting his nails clipped.

“My favorite place in the whole world is the park near my house because it’s the only park where the grass isn’t taller than me.” 

Doby chihuahua smelling flowers

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Story and photography by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major

Leading Camden Middle Schoolers to “All Pull Together”

Kasey DiSessa of Rowan University sits in the middle of a row of middle school students she teaches

“I’m never going to be afraid to do anything ever again,” says senior Kasey DiSessa. “If I can cheer and sing in front of judgmental sixth graders, I can do anything.”

The biological sciences and English double major lost her self-consciousness and found her voice this summer as an intern for the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School in Camden. A Servant Leader (teacher) leading a classroom of 11 rambunctious 3rd to 5th graders, Kasey immersed herself in classroom teaching to support her goal of becoming a biology teacher dual-certified in English. 

Kasey DiSessa of Rowan University leans over a table with three students to teach them

Embracing the Kenyan tradition of Harambee, meaning “all pull together” in Swahili, each morning at the Freedom School Kasey, her four fellow Servant Leaders and approximately 50 students in the program got hyped for their day with upwards of eight special chants and songs. “It was a big deal for me to put myself out there like that,” Kasey says. 

A national program primarily focused on reading, the Camden location extends its reach into STEM education too, which suits Kasey well, given her two majors. “I have my two passions,” she says, “and I’ve been able to personalize my education at Rowan to blend both.” 

Kasey DiSessa of Rowan University leans over the shoulder of a girl student working on a computerKasey took classes in children’s and adolescent literature that helped her to prepare for her summer role. “I reached out to my professors and told them, ‘The books I read in your classes are in my curriculum — thank you! Your choices applied to my life in a way I was not expecting.’”

Toward the end of the summer program, Kasey led a two-week project on robotics. Stepping out of her comfort zone to do so, Kasey at first felt apprehensive — but then exhilarated at the project’s completion. “During the finale, parents came in to see their children’s final projects,” Kasey explains. “It was awesome. We had little robots from LocoRobo and we taught the students how to use an online app to drop and drag blocks of code and create shapes on the ground. 

“We all screamed at the tops of our lungs when the robot went through the gates at the maze. They had created the code, using a function they had never used before. We lost our minds we were so excited,” Kasey says. 

Kasey DiSessa of Rowan University stands in front of her decorated classroom door that says Welcome to Ms. Kasey's Forest!From Hackettstown, NJ (Warren County), Kasey stayed in South Jersey this summer solely to complete this internship. With she and her parents’ lacking familiarity with Camden — only knowing what they’ve seen on the news — at first Kasey’s parents had some trepidation about their daughter teaching in the city. “My dad is nervous about everything,” Kasey says. “But, the school was nice. The location was fine. I wasn’t nervous and the drive wasn’t bad at all.

“This program gives the students an edge they might not normally get in their regular school,” Kasey says. “It not just puts them on par with kids from schools with more resources, but also helps them to go beyond,” she says.

“I went in terrified and by the end I knew I wanted to come back and do this again,” Kasey says. “It was hard and there were days that it was emotionally taxing,” she continues. “But thanks to this program I feel more comfortable with teaching this age level and I would consider teaching in an urban setting, which is something I wouldn’t have considered before.”

Kasey will graduate this upcoming fall, a semester ahead of schedule, and plans to attend graduate school.

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Finance Major to Starting up His Own Marketing Agency

Meet alumnus Derek Morgen, a recent graduate with a degree in Finance from Rohrer College of Business. Currently living in East Brunswick, NJ (Middlesex County), he works for Agilis Chemicals as a digital marketing specialist. Today, Derek will share with us his story of how he went from a Finance major to a digital marketing specialist and how he launched his own marketing agency.

Derek first attended Drew University but decided to transfer to Rowan University his sophomore year. “Once I made the decision that Drew wasn’t for me, I immediately went straight to Rowan. My sister also graduated from Rowan, so it was either Drew, Rutgers or Rowan. And then I decided that Rowan was the perfect fit. I didn’t even go to the school [Rowan], since my sister went there, so it was a whole new campus that I found when I transferred there,” Derek said.

Derek decided to major in Finance and minor in Economics because growing up he had relatives working on Wall Street who also taught finance. “So, I grew up wanting to simulate that. Over time I grew out of it, which kind of led me to do marketing. And now I do digital marketing full-time,” he said. 

In 2017, Derek started up his own social media business called Expansion Marketing. “I was bored of doing social media online for different companies, so I ended up making it to a business,” he said. As a sophomore, Derek worked with Hollywood Tans, which is located on Rowan Boulevard, and with Royal Bargains in Blackwood, NJ. “So, I basically started doing social media marketing for them, running all their pages. Then it got into website development, and then I expanded it to SEO [search engine optimization] and things along those lines,” he said.    
As Derek’s agency grew, he knew it was time to register his business. “Now that it’s a full-service digital marketing agency, I got the LLC in April 2019,” he said.       

When Derek first started his business, he said he struggled at times but kept going. “I spent hours each week studying digital marketing and reading on my own, basically all self-taught. So, when I first got started it was pretty difficult, but I just kept going with it. Eventually I was able to grasp most of it,” he said. “Also, when I was struggling at first, I spoke to Professor Jon Vogel, who’s at Rowan and has his own digital marketing company too. He helped me create a plan for my own company.”

Apart from running his own business, Derek is currently working full-time as a digital marketing specialist for Agilis Chemicals. “It’s a tech startup based in New York and New Jersey in the chemical industry. It’s a commerce platform for chemical products, which is new to the whole industry, so it’s a cool start up.”

He also started his own sports podcast with two current Rowan students. The podcast is called This League. “We have a couple of interviews lined up with NFL players and a couple of coaches. It will be on Spotify and Apple Music,” Derek said.

His advice for all future freshmen: “Be very open minded. You’re not going to know exactly what you want to do when you first start. I transferred to a whole new school, became a Finance major and Economics minor and then I ended up moving into marketing, sports and digital marketing at the same time after graduation.”

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Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major

First Year Voices: Growing Up With Rowan

Silas sits in the driver's seat of a Rowan golf cart with one hand on the wheel, looking off camera

As Silas Alston grew up, he watched Rowan University grow up, too. 

“I remember campus before half these buildings were here,” the incoming freshman says. “Whitney, Holly Pointe, Rowan Boulevard, Barnes & Noble — I remember all of them coming up.”

With many family connections to Rowan, Silas spent much of his childhood visiting campus. Now, as an incoming freshman, he’s beginning to see Rowan through fresh eyes. 

Silas sits with three friends on brightly colored Adirondack chairs on a lawn at Rowan University

This summer Silas earned three college credits through Rowan’s Pre-College Institute (PCI), a six-week academic/residential program to better prepare freshmen for college. 

The New Castle, DE, resident will live on campus in Mullica Hall his freshman year. An exploratory studies major, Silas is looking forward to finding a major and a career he’s interested in. “I’m considering some type of engineering or athletic training,” he says. 

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Alumnus Brian Jones: Man of the Year

Rowan alumnus Brian W. Jones at the First National Bank of Elmer, where he is President and CEO

Today we speak with Brian W. Jones, who currently resides in Woodbury, NJ (Gloucester County). Brian graduated from Glassboro State College in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in Administration Studies. 

Alumnus Brian W. Jones outside of the First National Bank of Elmer, where he is President and CEO.
Alumnus Brian W. Jones outside of the First National Bank of Elmer, where he is President and CEO.

Brian Jones is the human embodiment of hard work paying off. He began his journey in banking at Glassboro State College, which would later become Rowan University, where he majored in Administration Studies. He described this program as parallel to Rowan’s current degree in Business Administration. While in this major, he studied Labor Relations and Law as his minors for the opportunity to gather the full scope of business knowledge. After attending classes at night at Glassboro State and working his way through college, Brian graduated with his degree in 1981. 

A pin on the jacket of Brian Jones that says "Bank of Elmer"
Brian proudly wears his First National Bank of Elmer pin. He has led the bank for more than four years. 

He then took up an internship with the National Bank and Trust of Gloucester County. From there he officially started his career in banking. However, nothing comes for free. Brian started with a janitorial position at the bank. Since working as a janitor, Brian has worked in almost every other field within banking, such as marketing, retail, audit, business development and commercial lending. There’s not much that this man can’t do.

In August 2015, Brian took on his current position as president and director of The First National Bank of Elmer. His knowledge and compassion have led to a wholesome work environment for the whole staff. He believes in the “soft community bank model,” which establishes personal connections with customers so their questions and concerns can be heard.

He is currently an Executive Advisory Council member for the Rohrer College of Business at Rowan, where he aids in the effectiveness and outreach of the business school programs. Brian wants nothing more than to give back to the school that helped him achieve his dreams. 

Brian’s accomplishments and character certainly do not go unnoticed. In 2018, he was named one of South Jersey Magazine’s Men of the Year. The Volunteer Center of South Jersey named him its Humanitarian of the Year in 2015. 

The plague for "Men of the Year" in Brian Jones' office
In 2018, South Jersey Magazine named Brian one of its “Men of the Year” for his many community engagement and fundraising activities.

In Brian’s wise words: “There is no substitute for hard work! You have to differentiate yourself from everyone else. It’s not just about your skill set, it’s about your emotional IQ and your ability to communicate.” 

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Story and photography by:
Chad Wittmann, senior journalism major

Political Science Major Interns for Prosecutor’s Office

Rowan political science major Melissa Kolaski outside of Robinson Hall

Meet Melissa Kolaski, a rising senior from Barrington (Camden County) majoring in Political Science with a minor in Communication Studies. This year, she was able to partake in an internship with the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, which she says helped her realize her true passion. 

Rowan student Melissa Kolaski sitting in the yard between James and Robinson Hall

Upon attending Rowan, Kolaski says she enrolled in an American Government class, which opened her eyes to her love of government. Classes such as Women in American Politics and History of New Jersey gave her the opportunity to study her passion as well as inspire her to become a woman in government.

Kolaski is in her third year of undergrad within the “3 + 3 program,” which allows students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree and attend law school for another three years. She is also an active member in the Pre-Law Society on campus. 

A member of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office spoke on a panel for Political Science majors earlier this year. Kolaski, who was actively looking for an internship at the time, realized that they were offering the perfect internship opportunity she was looking for. Within this investigative undergraduate internship, Kolaski has the opportunity to work closely with prosecutors, detectives and secretaries on many of their various cases. She even gets to attend the courts along with the prosecutors. 

She says, “The members of the trial team at the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office are so helpful and able to answer all of my questions and give me endless advice on law school.” 

Rowan student Melissa Kolaski sitting outside of the Business Hall on campus

After this upcoming school year, she will attend law school and hopefully obtain a legal internship. 

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Story and photography by:
Chad Wittmann, senior journalism major

Communication Grad to CEO

Rowan alumna Denise Vitola with her team at her agency

Rowan alumna Denise Vitola at her agency

Meet alumna Denise Vitola, a 1997 College of Communication and Creative Arts graduate. Originally from Howell, NJ (Monmouth County) and now residing in Myrtle Beach, SC, she is cofounder/CEO of Vitola Strategies. Today, she will share with us how Rowan helped her find her passion for public relations and what inspired her to open her own agency.

Denise started out at Fairleigh Dickinson University and transferred to Rowan University her junior year to play basketball. “I always liked sports, I’ve played sports my entire life. I’m a sports fanatic,” she said.

Growing up, Denise wanted to be an FBI agent. It was not until Rowan that she started to fall in love with the public relations field.

“The way they designed the curriculum with advertising, news and TV … we didn’t have social or digital back then, but all the elements of the marketing mix really gave me many options of where I could take my career,” she said.Rowan alumna Denise Vitola giving out a speech

Denise loved that Rowan was near Philadelphia because she got the chance to do a couple of different internships. Some internships were on TV and one was at a hospital, where she did public relations. “I just really loved the variety of what they taught me under the whole communication discipline,” she said. “And it served me in my career later on because I started out doing public relations, but I’ve evolved in doing more integrated marketing now.”

What caught Denise’s attention about the communication field was that it’s a field where communicating and talking to people is a must. The ability to communicate to a larger audience and being able to share information to them also caught her attention.

Denise’s first job after graduating from Rowan was at the Alan Taylor Communications (now called Taylor Communications), a sports and entertainment PR firm. “It was really event related, so I had the opportunity while I was there to support my clients like Mastercard, Ford, NYC Marathon, the Super Bowl, the Olympics and the Major League Baseball World Series. So, I was able to really do a lot of exciting things like travel the world and meet a lot of famous athletes,” she said.

Before starting her own agency, Denise worked for 20 years in some of NYC’s top 10 agencies. “I started my own agency because I started moving away from doing the actual work. And I became more of a business head in that organization where I was looking at numbers,” she said. “So, I went off on my own to really begin working with the clients again, and that is what I’ve been doing.”

For Denise, the best part of owning and running her own agency is that she gets to call all the shots. “I get to work with clients that I like and love. I get to take on projects that are meaningful, and I get to do the work. I don’t hand it out to anyone else, I do it all. And I have an extremely flexible schedule,” she said.

Headshot of Rowan alumna Denise VitolaShe has recently worked with clients such as P&G, The Home Depot, Purina, Merial, Abbott Nutrition and PayPal.  

Denise has earned several awards for her hard work, dedication and passion for what she does. PRWeek honored her as one of its “40 Under 40” PR professionals, and PRNews named her one of the Top 25 Women in PR. She won the 2016 Stevies Award/American Business Award for Executive and Woman of the Year, and Women’s Health Magazine selected her as one of its Action Heroes of the Year.  

“Well, it’s fantastic. It’s nice to be recognized for the work that you’ve done. I feel very blessed that I won those awards,” she said.

Her next goal is making her clients award-winning brands. “I was able to achieve those things at a young age, and what’s next for me is to do the work for my clients. For me, it isn’t too much about me anymore, it’s about what I can do for my clients,” she said.

Her advice for anyone wanting to major in the communication field is to know how to work with new technology. “I would say that understanding social media and having a good idea about how to work with influencers and how to manage social channels is a must. You want to go into your job knowing much as you can, because your manager who is going to be 44 years old isn’t going to know much as you do. So, technology is key.”     

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Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major

Pre-College Institute Holds Elements of Dance Finale [VIDEO]

wide shot of students in their Elements of Dance class
https://youtu.be/46FOrGeEjLA

This summer students earned three college credits through Rowan’s Pre-College Institute (PCI), a six-week academic/residential program to better prepare freshmen for college. Here, we showcase their Elements of Dance class finale, where students performed in a recital organized by Professor Paule Turner of the Dance department within the College of Performing Arts

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Story and video by: Dean Powers, sophomore radio/TV/film major
Music provided by: JoySpace

Beyond the Classroom: Pre-Vet Club Makes the Trip to Africa

Fiona and Nicolette giving a dewormer injection to a buffalo

Meet Fiona Yueng, a Mount Laurel (Burlington County) resident and first-generation student who became one of four undergraduate students from Rowan University who got to experience the opportunity of a lifetime at the conclusion of the spring semester. Fiona Yeung, Kim Zullo, Emily Beardsley and Nicolette Madonna spent the first three weeks of their summer vacation in the town of Louis Trichardt in South Africa, shadowing professional veterinarians in the field. 

Biological sciences major Fiona Yeung poses with a lion in South Africa

Fiona has been an animal lover since a very young age. She spent her days reading countless books on animals, only because her parents’ allergies prevented her from having any animals of her own.

As she got older, Fiona turned her passion for animals into volunteerism. For the past couple of years, she has volunteered at the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in Medford, where she’s helped diagnose and treat indigenous species.

Fiona is now a rising senior in the Biology department and also a part of the Pre-Vet Club on campus, along with the three other students who attended the trip. These four students took it upon themselves to see real world veterinary care with their own eyes. With the help from the Financial Aid office, and donations from Rowan SGA and the Biology Club, their dream became a reality.

In late May, the four of them boarded a plane and headed to Louis Trichardt, South Africa. The first two weeks of their trip was spent shadowing veterinarians in their field and participating in the processes of veterinary medicine.

The students recalled that, “not only did these vets care for indigenous African species, but they also had the knowledge to care for farm animals as well.” These veterinarians were not confined to a specific area of veterinary medicine. They were fully trained and equipped to care for an array of species. While on this journey, they had the opportunity to see a number of extravagant wildlife, such as giraffes, lions, zebras, antelope, elephants and more.  

Rowan Pre-Vet Club members Fiona Yueng (left) and Emily Beardsley

“You see them in picture books, but it’s nothing compared to seeing them in real life,” Fiona (left) said.  


Rowan Pre-Vet Club members posing next to a buffalo

Their trip concluded with a five-day stay at Care for Wild Africa Rhino Sanctuary. Here, they cared for orphaned rhinos, who lost their parents due to poaching or natural means. 

In late June, the students returned home safely with memories and knowledge that they can take with them in their future careers.

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​​Story by:
Chad Wittmann, senior journalism major
Photos courtest of:
Fiona Yueng

Pre-College Institute Alumna Shares Her Story

PCI alumna Yaniris Patton-Cintron in Chamberlain Student Center

Yaniris Patton-Cintron (right) with a group of PCI alumni at the Chamberlain Student Centerin
Yaniris Patton-Cintron (right) reunited with fellow PCI alumni at the Ascend Pre-College Institute Student Leadership Conference in July 2019.

Meet Pre-College Institute (PCI) alumna Yaniris Patton-Cintron, a 2016 graduate from The Department of Health and Exercise Science. She is from Mullica Hill, NJ (Gloucester County) and works for Inspira. Today, she will share with us how PCI helped shape her Rowan experience.

What inspired you to choose your major? “I have always been in health care, so I came to Rowan wanting to do Physical Therapy (PT), but Rowan did not have the program. So, I switched and stayed with Psychology. After my first semester, I went into Athletic Training. Then I was like ‘No, I don’t want do just [work with] athletes, I want [to work with] special populations, so then — health and wellness.”

What do you do at Inspira?
“I’m a patient engagement specialist for Population Health, where I facilitate transition care from emergency room visit follow-ups to preventative care outreach. Inspira likes to make sure that our patients are not left behind or alone with their next steps in health care.” 

Samantha Noguera (left) and Yaniris Patton-Cintron at the Chamberlain Student Center
Samantha Noguera (left), a 2013 graduate in psychology, mentored Yaniris during her PCI experience.

How did the PCI program help you prepare for the Rowan experience? “They do a lot of outreach with their students. I’m almost considered a first-generation college student, and I still wanted to do something that was not too broad. I wanted to work with special populations. Health care in my family was a little bit different, so I felt, well, ‘What special populations can I reach out to?’ And that is what Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) did.”

How did EOF help you? “I’m a William Myers scholarship recipient through EOF, [which] had a lot of specialized things. They had a lot of workshops that were tailored to what you wanted to do and honed in on what your skills are. EOF allowed you to be your own person. A lot of programs have a set thing they want you to follow and they mold you into something, while EOF allowed you to mold yourself with their resources.”Rowan PCI alumna Yaniris Patton-Cintron at the Chamberlain Student Center

What advice would you give for today’s future freshmen? Keep going. I’m actually still in college, I’m in nursing school. I finished my bachelor of science and now I’m tackling [my nursing degree] at Rowan College of South Jersey. One good thing is that Rowan is diverse, so there are a lot of things you can do. You’re not [restricted] to one major or one program.”

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Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major

TRANSFERmation Tuesday: Psychology Major Greg Joyce

Psychology major and transfer student Greg Joyce

Today we speak with senior Psychology major Gregory Joyce from Alloway (Salem County). Joyce will share his experience in his first year here at Rowan. 

Greg Joyce standing in front of his off-campus residence

Name: Gregory Joyce

Major: Psychology

Year: Senior

Transfer Student: Yes, from Coastal Carolina

Hometown and County: Alloway Township, Salem County

Off-Campus resident?: Yes, I live in a house off-campus

Academic clubs: Applied Behavioral Analysis Club

Social clubs: Tau Delta Phi Fraternity

Describe for us an experience you’ve shared with a professor in which you felt like you were working with a visionary in your field.

“I had a Child Psychology professor who would conduct simple child behavior tests on her own son, which made me notice how seriously she took her job and how much she cared about the course.” 

Why did you choose Rowan?

“It was close to home and I was familiar with the area. I also heard that the Psych program is highly recommended.” 

Greg Joyce pointing at the bumper sticker from the school he transferred from

What’s your favorite thing about your typical Monday at Rowan? 

“I enjoy plugging in my earbuds and listening to my favorite music on my way to class.” 

On your busiest day, what academic, non-academic and social responsibilities are you juggling?

“On my busiest days, I am working, doing homework, studying and helping organize social events for my fraternity.” 

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Story and photography by:
Chad Wittmann, senior journalism major

Engineering Alumnus and Entrepreneur Finds His Dream Job

Peter DAmico at his Rowan graduation in 2013

Meet Peter D’Amico, a 2013 Rowan alumnus from Mays Landing, NJ (Atlantic County). Today he shares his experience in the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering and how far his time at Rowan has taken him. 

“Rowan taught me how to talk to people, be social and gave me the ability to get the job I want.” 

Rowan engineering alumnus Peter D'Amico working for the FAA

After struggling to choose a college, Peter decided to attend Rowan University for its smaller class sizes and more intimate learning experience. Before going away to college, he wasn’t fully set on a career path. The one thing he knew for sure is that he loved to “break things down and figure out how they worked.” 

Eventually, he decided to pursue Electrical and Computer Engineering. Peter noted that he is forever grateful for the College of Engineering, especially Professor John Schmalzel. He recalls spending time in Professor Schmalzel’s office, where they talked about everything under the sun. 

After leaving Rowan, Peter began his career with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), where he worked as an electrical/computer/mechanical engineer. His job was to travel around the country to collect pavement data for the National Airport Pavement Testing Facility. After two years of working as a contractor, he was promoted to a computer engineer position. Now within the test and evaluation branch, he became the first member of the storyboarding team, where his job is to “communicate the complexities of the National Airspace System (NAS).”

Rowan College of Engineering alumnus Peter D'Amico (pictured at right)

“I work directly with the engineers, programmers and human factors experts to tell the story of the NAS. I love the fact that I am on the front lines communicating these elaborate programs to people all over the country,” he said.

Along with being a successful engineer upon graduating, Peter is also a businessman and entrepreneur. A year after graduation, he purchased his first rental property in Glassboro. He has since bought two other properties and provides affordable housing to a number of current Rowan students.

Rowan alumnus Peter D'Amico wearing a T-shirt with his business namePeter also started a YouTube Channel, The Sundae Drive, where he and a fellow Rowan alumnus perform DIY car maintenance tips. This channel currently has more than 5,000 subscribers. On top of all of this, he launched a supplement company, PWR Supplements, with another Rowan alumnus. 

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Story by:
Chad Wittmann, senior journalism major

Photos courtesy of:
Peter D’Amico 

Faculty PROFile: Journalism Department’s Kathryn Quigley

Professor Quigley and a student sit in her office during a meeting

Meet Kathryn Quigley, Associate Professor of Journalism within the College of Communications & Creative Arts and Faculty Advisor for The Whit student newspaper.

Rowan Journalism Professor Kathryn Quigley in her officeShare an “aha!” moment you’ve had within your discipline that made you feel passionate about your field

When reporters at The New York Times and The New Yorker magazine produced solid, detailed and hard-hitting exposés of rampant sexual discrimination in Hollywood and other industries, ushering in the #MeToo movement. Good, dogged reporting can produce tremendous results — even in the face of intimidating and powerful people.

Describe an experience you’ve had with a student that made you feel excited about educating the next generation in your field

In July 2016, my colleague Mark Berkey-Gerard and I took a class of students to cover the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Our students worked very hard and had so much fun. They reported on protests, politicians and celebrities. They worked in heat, torrential downpours and wind. The students got to mingle with journalism alumni who now work at NJ Advance Media, Fox News and the Burlington County Times. 

The name plaques of Professor Kathryn Quigley on her desk in her office

What’s your favorite thing about being on campus on a typical Wednesday

Since I have been advisor to The Whit student newspaper on and off for 13 years, a typical Wednesday means Whit production night. That is when the staff of editors and reporters gather in their office to put out the weekly newspaper — in print, on the website and via social media. I love discussing stories with the student journalists and hearing them chatting and bounding up the stairs to their office at 6 East High St.

What is your area of expertise?

I have several. As a journalist, I focus on news and feature reporting — teaching the nuts and bolts of writing and putting together a well-crafted story. As an educator, I focus on media ethics. This involves examining and discussing coverage of current events and how journalists can/should do their jobs in an ethical way. As a researcher, I focus on children and families journalism. My graduate school fellowship at the University of Maryland focused on issues and concerns of children and their families. That can be anything from the rising rate of children diagnosed with autism, to teens and technology to foster care trends. These topics sometimes get the short shrift in newsrooms, and I am passionate about their coverage.

Professor Quigley speaking with Professor Garyantes in her office

What is one thing you wish people knew about your academic discipline or your research focus?

Journalism is NOT “fake news” and journalists matter now more than ever. The printed newspaper as a product may be in steep decline, but consumers’ hunger for news is greater than ever.

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Story and photography by:
Chad Wittmann, senior journalism major

Alumni Success Story: Lauren O’Donnell from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where Rowan alumna Lauren O'Donnell works

Rowan alumna Lauren O'Donnell from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)Today we are speaking with Lauren O’Donnell, a Psychology alumna from the 2000 class. Originally from Chatham (Morris County), O’Donnell now lives in South Jersey and works as a Reward and Recognition Program Lead for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

“What really caught me when I first visited Rowan was how beautiful and comfortable the campus is, it just felt right.

“Rowan really gave me a strong foundation — one class in particular was Organizational Behavior. It really was not at all what I expected it to be, but it was the best class and really confirmed that I wanted to pursue the business world instead of the clinical side of my degree (Psychology).”

How did Rowan help you achieve your goals?

“Rowan always had amazing opportunities to get involved with the university, lots of clubs, events, there was always something going on. I was involved in Greek Life and because of that I met a lot of great friends, who helped me a lot. I also learned a lot of leadership skills and how to work well in group settings.”

How did Rowan help you with any job opportunities?

“The Career Advancement Center was great and helped me set up some of my first interviews. Not only did they help but all of the other connections I made through networking, my World Religion professor wrote me a letter of recommendation.”

What is your favorite accomplishment at your current job?

“I currently am working my dream job and absolutely love it, but my biggest accomplishment would be the event we held at the Philadelphia Zoo and over 11,000 employees were in attendance.”

What is some advice you would give to future graduates?

“Be proactive, ask questions and don’t be uncomfortable with making the initial contact with the job you want.”

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Story by:
Justin Borelli, senior advertising major

First Year Voices: Civil & Environmental Engineering Major Christian Smith

Rowan Choice orientation outside of WIlson Hall
Christian Smith, future freshman and engineering major, at Rowan Choice orientation

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people, seeing the experiences that college will take me and finding a path that will lead to my future.” — Christian Smith, a Civil & Environmental Engineering major from Lawrenceville, NJ (Mercer County)

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Story and photography by:
Justin Borelli, senior advertising major

Pre-College Institute Alumnus Shares His Story

PCI alumnus Minelson Louis-Baptiste

Rowan and PCI alumnus Minelson Louis-Baptiste in the Chamberlain Student Center

Meet Pre-College Institute (PCI) alumnus Minelson Louis-Baptiste, a first-generation student and 2016 graduate from the College of Science & Mathematics. Baptiste lives in Lindenwold, NJ (Camden County) and is currently pursuing two master degrees. Today, he will share with us how PCI helped shape him and his Rowan experience.

Major: Biological Sciences; now studying Biomedical Sciences at Rowan Global 

First-generation college student? YesRowan alumnus Minelson Louis-Baptiste with fellow PCI graduates at the Student Leadership Conference

What inspired you to choose your major? “I always wanted to go into the health field. I love science, I love questioning and figuring out things. Biology was one of my strongest subjects in high school. I really wanted to learn more about biology, so I decided to go into biology.”

What are you currently doing? “Right now, I’m working on my second master’s in public health and looking out for job options.”

How did PCI help shape you and your Rowan experience? “Well, I always look back at my high school self. I was not very outgoing and was afraid to speak in front of people. PCI helped shape me and showed me there’s way more out there and to be open. This is a very lively campus with a lot of things going on. I used to be in my own world, so going into the six-week process, Rowan and PCI alumnus Minelson Louis-Baptistelearning how to talk to people and networking that put me out there and opened my eyes.

I still have some close relationships with some of my PCI sisters and brothers. I thank them all the time because when I’m feeling down, I reach out to them and when they’re feeling down, they reach out to me. I would say my counselor from PCI, Mr. [Israel] Laguer, has been one of my rocks. He’s one person I can go to and talk to. He knows me and knows what I’ve been going through in my personal life and school life as well. He’s always been there for me.”

Any advice for future freshmen? “Make sure you take every opportunity seriously and make the best use of it, because you never know where a connection might come from or where you might get your next opportunity.”

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Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major

First Year Voices: Computer Science Major Nikolas Vasiliadis

Rowan Choice students meet at an orientation outside of Wilson Hall
Future freshman Nikolas Vasiliadis at Rowan Choice orientation

“I’m looking forward to finding new clubs and interests, meeting new people who share those interests and getting to know them.” — Nikolas Vasiliadis, a Computer Science major from Cherry Hill, NJ (Camden County).

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Story and photography by:
Justin Borelli, senior advertising major

Vegetarian Eating at Rowan

Heidi Newell in the Chamberlain Student Center Marketplace cafe

Author Heidi Newell at the Marketplace in Chamberlain Student Center

My daughter and I decided to eat a vegetarian diet about four years ago. It’s not always easy finding a variety of options when go out to eat, so we wondered what she would eat her freshman year at Rowan. I interviewed her for this blog, and her number one tip is customization! Hopefully, these places and tips will help your vegetarian or vegan student. 

🥬 Glassworks in Holly Pointe Commons (HPC): the pizza and salad bars are always available. Students can also make their own omelets or paninis. Don’t forget to visit the many stations for add-ins or condiments to spice up any meal.

🥬 The Starbucks in HPC: accepts the dining card as a meal swipe and there are vegetarian/vegan options (i.e., a beverage and food option counts as one swipe).

🥬 The student Rec Center: SHAKE’D UP is a hidden gem that offers customizable fresh fruit smoothies available for a meal swipe.

Author Heidi Newell, parent of a Rowan sophomore🥬 The Student Center: students use an app called Tapingo to place several orders at several kiosks so everything is made to order. About once a month, there is a pop-up kiosk voted in by students. For example, last year there were kiosks devoted to salads, soups, sandwiches and pasta. Check out the bean and cheese quesadillas at Sono; Freshens for a kale Caesar flatbread wrap; Jersey Mike’s for a veggie sub that comes with chips, cookies or fruit; and Bowl Life for vegans specializing in beans, grains and veggies in a bowl, of course!

🥬 Downtown: several local restaurants with vegetarian options accept the Rowan dining card. On Saturdays and Sundays, Ry’s Bagels accepts meal swipes for breakfast. Newly opened Monarch Diner has an entire menu page full of vegetarian options!

Feel free to talk to our head dietician, Melissa (Hudock) Eaton at Dining Services, about individual dietary needs and preferences. 

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Story by:
Dr. Heidi L. Newell, parent of a Rowan sophomore

Edited by:
Justin Borelli, senior advertising major

Journalism Alumna Tells Her Story of Giving Back

Callie Condo and her fellow Whit employees during a fire drill during her time at Rowan University

Calista Condo, a 2008 alumna, has made her way from working at Rowan’s The Whit student newspaper to her role as an outreach specialist for Temple University’s Career Center. She has Rowan’s Journalism department to thank for her communication skills and her ability to transmit information to the public. 

Condo began her journey as a commuter from Deptford, New Jersey (Gloucester County). At her time at Rowan, she studied Journalism with a concentration in editing and publishing. She also had a minor in Art with a concentration in photography. Classes such as Media Studies and News Reporting impacted her professional career. Within those classes she learned how to analyze our society and the way we view media. She developed a close relationship with Professor Kathryn Quigley, who was not only one of her favorite professors, but the faculty advisor for The Whit. 

Condo and her husband on their wedding day
Calista and her husband on their wedding day.

She also met her husband at Rowan!

While at Rowan she also participated in two intensive internships. The first was an internship with Next City, a nonprofit organization about city planning. She was an art intern whose main job focused primarily on copy editing and design editing for their magazine.

She then ventured on to intern for the South Jersey Times as a photojournalist. According to Condo, both internships were amazing experiences that really prepared her for the field of journalism. In fact, the South Jersey Times appreciated her efforts so much that they offered her a part-time job after her graduation in 2008. 

Rowan alumna Calista Condo volunteering with a youth soccer league in Camden.
Volunteering with a youth soccer league in Camden.

In the midst of working for the South Jersey Times, she developed a strong connection to her community. She started volunteering for a nonprofit youth soccer organization in Camden. After some time of volunteering, she became a board member for this organization and eventually helped run the program.

Her passion for community, volunteerism and youth, in addition to her keen communication skills, led her to eventually begin working for Big Brothers, Big Sisters. While working there, she helped recruit volunteers for their school-based programming. Through this organization she worked with student organizations all over, one of them being the Temple University Career Center.

After this long journey of giving back, Condo eventually landed a position with the Temple University Career Center as an outreach specialist for employer partnerships. In this position, she helps students find employment through career fairs and special events. 

Rowan alumna Calista Condo with her relatives, who are also graduates of Rowan
Condo (left) with her relatives, who are also Rowan graduates.

Her time at Rowan, especially as a Journalism major, made her able to look at information and make it digestible to the public. She believes, “Journalists are some of the most intelligent people [she] has ever known, which makes them so versatile and with those important communication skills, they can settle into any position with ease.” 

She still holds the fun and goofy times, working late at night for The Whit, near and dear to her heart. 

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Story by:
Chad Wittmann, senior journalism major

Photos courtesy of: Calista Condo

First Year Voices: Kyleigh Bell

Kyleigh Bell (right) with other Pre-College Institute (PCI) students after their Elements of Dance class

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,” says Kyleigh Bell (pictured at right), a freshman Athletic Training major and Pre-College Institute (PCI) student from Waretown, NJ (Ocean County). Kyleigh will live in Holly Pointe Commons her freshman year and is a first generation college student. 

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Story and photography by:
Justin Borelli, advertising senior