A Brief Conversation with Community Assistant, Student Government AVP & Admissions Ambassador Emma Redmond
[Fall 2024 update – congratulations to Emma, who graduated and accepted a systems engineering position in Rhode Island.]
Even though Emma Redmond, of Mantua, NJ (Gloucester County) lives within driving distance of Rowan University, she and her family decided that Emma would live on campus, and maximize her college campus experience through immersing herself in Rowan’s community through academics, leadership, and student clubs.
As a community assistant in a dorm, the graduating mechanical engineering major has spent the last three years creating positive living environments for her fellow students, two of which were at Holly Pointe Commons and one at Whitney Center. This competitive, on campus student worker position allowed Emma the privilege of living in a residence hall without cost, as CAs earn free housing as well as a stipend. Community assistants are undergraduate student staff who live on-campus to assist students with acclimating to the university, building a positive community and navigating interpersonal concerns. CAs also assist with roommate mediation, crisis response, and policy enforcement.
“Seeing my residents go on and thrive is definitely the most rewarding part of being a CA.” One of her favorite memories is the time she and her residents teamed up with another CA to build a catapult and put it to the test on Holly Pointe Green. “It was a hands-on, collaborative activity that everyone enjoyed and learned from,” she recalls fondly.
Emma is also the AVP of Facilities and Operations for the Student Government Association. As Emma describes on her LinkedIn, she oversees facilities and campus planning projects, as well as the master plan committees, and she leads the facilities project to create an outdoor space for students to hammock and connect with nature.
In addition to these roles, Emma has also served as a mentor in the honors college, secretary for Prism (Rowan’s LGBTQIA+ activism club), and was an admissions ambassador.
“Being an admissions ambassador means I often get to share my passion for Rowan with prospective students. I might have even been your tour guide!”
She is also involved in model rocketry projects through the engineering department and co-leads the Honors Dungeons and Dragons group.
Emma’s typical day begins with returning the on-call phone if she had it overnight, morning CA office hours, and a much needed breakfast at Saxby’s. In the afternoons, she attends classes, club meetings, and works out at the Rec Center. She usually spends her evenings socializing with residents.
Emma encourages students to take full advantage of the resources their CAs offer. She says, “A lot of us are super involved and can give you great advice, resources, and resume help.” She also advises those considering becoming a CA to be honest with themselves. “Go into that interview being your honest self. We want people who are sincere and diverse. We need people of all different backgrounds and personalities to be inclusive and supportive of all of our residents!”
Interview by Connor Bicknell, senior Communication Studies major
Written by: Valentina Giannattasio, senior double major in marketing & dance