Today we feature junior Sarah Marshall who majors in Communication Studies. Sarah is from Atco, NJ (Camden County) and this past fall was her first semester at Rowan. She is involved in the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and the student-led firm PRaction.
Why Rowan?
My mother was a graduate of Rowan and also went to community college then transferred over. So that was a big factor because she had a lot of personal stories about Rowan. The other big reason is that it is close to home.
How would you tell a fellow student interested in your major that they’re choosing a worthwhile field?
There is so much you can do with communication studies! You can explore any of your interests in your career and easily specialize your degree.
Can you tell me about a time that Rowan felt like home?
With this past semester being online I did not have that feeling initially. But being in the honors college for people who is their first semester at Rowan there is a program called B.L.A.S.T. where you are in a group and there are two mentors. About three quarters into the semester I was having a hard time and the mentors had us play a game one day and we went over an hour past our meeting time playing this game. This made me feel part of a community and like I was finally getting to know my peers even though we were online.
Could you share with us one moment during your time at Rowan that made you feel inspired or confident that you’re in the right field for you?
I have a weird love for dinosaurs, so when I found out that Ric Edelman, the alumnus that my college is named for [editor note: Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts], gifted Rowan University a fossil park, I knew that I chose the right field for me. I love having the ability to learn from other fields without leaving my own.
What has been one happy thing about Rowan that surprised you?
One thing that surprised me was seeing a lot of teachers and faculty list their pronouns on emails. It makes me happy to know that Rowan really is an inclusive community!
What are your professional goals?
Professionally, I would love to work with a nonprofit organization. Right now I am the account manager for a nonprofit through PRaction, a student-run PR firm at Rowan. Plus, there are tons of other opportunities to network and volunteer!
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Story and photography by: Stephanie Batista, sophomore Music Industry major