https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1IHUltuWrI
Sophomore computer science major Jehu Ananoria feels most at home at Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship. As a resident of Sussex County, NJ, Jehu moved nearly three hours away from home to come to Rowan.
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Video by:
Peter Planamente & Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism majors
Meet Natalia Panfilova, a 2017 graduate from the Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts. Natalia earned her bachelor’s in Public Relations without paying a single dollar for her degree.
According to Marketplace, roughly 70% of American students end up taking out loans to go to college. It was estimated that the average student leaves school with around $30,000 in debt. Not Natalia, though, and today she will share with us how this transfer student managed to graduate debt free.
Community College
Before coming to Rowan, Natalia went to Camden County College. She chose to attend community college because she knew she would save up more money that way. According to Saving for College, “Students can save as much as $30,000 or more by attending a community college instead of a private four-year college.” During community college, Natalia worked in full-time jobs that were taking care of her tuition payments. Also, during community college, one of Natalia’s friends told her to work with her at one of the Wyndham hotel chains in Atlantic City because the hotel chain would cover a part of her tuition. This opportunity was one of the reasons she managed to graduate debt free.
Tuition Reimbursement Jobs
Wyndham is one of many organizations that offer tuition reimbursements. Tuition reimbursement is when a company agrees to help pay for an employee to further his or her education. “All you have to do is prove that you can somehow apply your career skills to your job,” Natalia says. Natalia also received financial aid, but whatever was not covered by her job took care of it. “They would cover up my books and they would cover up to $4,000 per year. So, I actually didn’t pay anything out of pocket. I got to keep my salary, because I was a commuter,” Natalia says.
Commuter
When Natalia was at Rowan, she chose not to stay on campus and decided to commute from Brigantine, NJ (Atlantic County). She commuted an hour each day, but because she commuted and was able to schedule her classes in two days, she was able to work full time at the hotel.
She recommends students learn about finances: “Educate yourself in all things financial, the more you know the better. Just in life in general, if you know how debt works, how banks work, your life is going to be so much easier.”
What is Natalia Doing Now?
Natalia recently moved to New York City for her new position as a program marketing manager for WebMD. By being savvy with her spending, she was able to graduate debt free and become a homeowner. Graduating debt free allowed Natalia to travel worry-free and so far, she has visited 13 countries.
Like what you see? Learn more about becoming a Rowan transfer student!
Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major
Photos courtesy of:
Natalia Panfilova
Danielle Felicioli, a junior from Glen Rock, NJ (Bergen County) and Erin Campbell, a sophomore from Jackson, NJ (Ocean County) give us an inside look into the Rowan women’s ice hockey team during their practice.
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Video by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
Music by:
Donald DeWitt, junior music industry major
Adam Clark, a senior from Bridgeton, NJ (Cumberland County), is a Radio/TV/Film (RTF) major. Today, we will talk with Adam about his experience with filmmaking and how Rowan has prepared him for his future goals. Year: SeniorMajor: Radio/TV/Film (production focus)Town/County: Bridgeton, NJCommuter: YesJob on campus: No, jobs elsewhereClubs/Activities: Cinema Workshop What inspired you to choose […]
Meet Jamal McPherson from Swedesboro, NJ (Gloucester County), a junior majoring in Radio/TV/ Film (RTF) at the Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts. Jamal is a first-generation college student who loves to get involved in the community and try new things. Last year, he was appointed to the town board committee in Swedesboro. Today, he will share with us his journey to getting appointed and his experience so far at Rowan University.
Before coming to Rowan, Jamal first attended Salisbury University in Maryland, where he was a political science major and football player. Jamal has always had a passion for video production, so at Salisbury he joined their sports media production team, but eventually decided to transfer.
“What I was looking for was not at Salisbury, Maryland. Don’t get me wrong — I had a great time, but sometimes having a great time doesn’t mean you’re being productive,” Jamal says.
When Jamal decided to transfer to Rowan, he also switched majors. “My dad used to wrestle professionally in his day, that is why I’ve always had an interest in sports entertainment,” he adds.
While being back in his hometown, he saw a few vacancies in the board committee. He decided to apply, and he got the job. He is currently a member of the Parks & Recreation Committee and Economic Development Committee.
“I looked at the requirements and I emailed them saying I had great ideas. I joined last year, and I took an oath of office … They are a great group of mentors and they understand that school is first.”
Being a part of the committee is a four-year commitment; after Jamal’s contract is over, he isn’t sure if he will continue pursuing government committee positions. He recently started his own company called Aniville, where he plans concerts and festivals.
“Right now, I do concerts for my company Aniville, that’s what I’ve been working on lately. I had a show in the Pfleeger Concert Hall in October, called ‘Aniville Jam’ and I had a show in Philadelphia over the summer too, it went pretty well. After the show it opened a few doors for me.”
Jamal thinks Rowan does a great job in making sure everyone brings their A-game wherever they go, and he thinks the staff at Rowan University are exceptional.
“I love Rowan,” Jamal says.
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Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major
The daughter of a welder/steamfitter father and a mother who did a little bit of everything, Kristen Cunningham knew she wanted to continue her education after high school, but wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. She also wanted to make her parents proud and be the first person in her family to go to college. Initially drawn to education and journalism, she shied away from those options when her hearing began to deteriorate as a young adult and she felt her hearing loss may hinder her in those areas.
She completed her associate degree at Mercer County College, while working full-time as a cook in a restaurant. Her colleague there, Cheryl Buono, a waitress, told her about then-Glassboro State College and said, “You’ve got to come to this awesome school with me.” Kristen checked out a few options, including other state schools and an art school, but ultimately decided, “If Cheryl’s there, sure. That will make the transition to campus life much easier. I didn’t want to risk not getting a degree.”
Once at Rowan, something just clicked with Kristen with criminology. “It blew my mind. I could still do the writing and the research that I enjoyed, but also focus on justice.” The law and justice studies alumna graduated in 1998, saying that the advice of her professors “saved” her. “I had one professor, Salerno, who asked me, ‘What do you want to do?’ We talked about it for a bit and he said, ‘I can see with your personality you’d be better at this, you’d be better at that.’ And he was right. He definitely geared me toward something that was a fit for me. He cared.”
Another professor taught her the importance of observation. “People never look up and that’s what criminals take advantage of. There’s a lot happening outside of your eyesight. To this day, when I’m walking down the street I always have eyes up. Those little nuggets, those were real-life experiences in that department. It was amazing and I loved it. We had people with years of experience in the field, being investigators, police officers and they were teaching these classes.”
Kristen also considers her involvement in Greek life to be paramount to her success at Rowan. “You went to classes and learned, but after class it was like family. Greek life made me feel like a part of the school.” Kristen affectionately earned the nickname “Sister of Justice” (something she is still sometimes called to this day) and led her sorority, Alpha Delta Epsilon, as president.
Today, Kristen is a 20-year employee of the judiciary within Mercer County. She started as an investigator, moving up to a probation officer after a year. She was voted Probation Worker of the Year in 2003. Two years later she was promoted to supervisor, a position she still holds today. As a court service supervisor in Probation/Child Support, she manages a team of six probation officers. “You get a lot of complaints. But as a civil servant you take the good with the bad. It’s rewarding because once in awhile I’ll get a letter that says that their lives changed for the better. That’s better than a bonus, when you hear that someone’s life has been bettered by an action you did – you go to bed that night feeling pretty good about yourself.”
As for her friend and waitress Cheryl? Successful in her own right as a leader in the marketing industry, she and Kristen are still dear friends 20+ years later.
Today, we speak with five transfer students who have some financial tips to share with future incoming Rowan students. “I took summer classes and that cut-down my work load by a lot during the semester. I was also able to manage my time by taking online courses, so I was able to have time for […]
Moving away from home is scary. I’m not going to sit here and lie 
and say that the transition from high school to college was easy for me. I’m sure other people had smooth transitions and would love to share their stories, but for the people who are scared to move away, I want to let you know that you’re not alone.
The longest I had been away from my parents before moving to college was on a school trip to Europe that was a week long, and by the end of the week, I called my parents crying.
Believe it or not, I was excited to move into college. Buying all the things I needed for my dorm was exciting, but there was always a voice in the back of my mind that said, “What if I’m making a mistake?” My boyfriend who lived close to me was commuting, so why was I going to live on campus? I pushed those thoughts out of my head and told myself I wanted the “full college experience.”
I moved in a day before move-in day because I had a late orientation date. I had talked to my roommate before I moved in and we decided to live together because we were both Theatre majors. My family moved me in, we had dinner, and then they left. Then I was alone in a place I was not familiar with. I had no idea where anything was and I felt alone. I decided to reach out to my friends from home and we hung out all night. I felt a little more comfortable. The next night, my roommate Faith invited me to hang out with some people from the department. Little did I know that I would make a ton of friends that would help me through this rough transition.
During my first week of classes, I met professors who made sure I was comfortable and taking care of myself. I quickly learned that everyone cared about me and I wasn’t alone. I joined clubs, performed in shows and made friends along the way who have changed my life for the better.
If you are scared or anxious about moving away from home, I want to let you know that it’s OK. Once you get to college, you will quickly realize that everyone here wants to help you and they want to see you succeed. So don’t be afraid, call your parents every day, and don’t forget that if you’re having a really tough time, just reach out.
Story by:
Cassidy Anderson, sophomore public relations and theatre major
Photos by:
Scott Anderson
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This article is part of a running series with Rowan University’s Wellness Center. This collaboration aims to educate students about personal well-being options. For further updates, follow @RowanUWellness on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Meet My’yonna Boyd, freshmen Biology major from Camden, NJ. My’yonna hopes, “Students will become aware you can make positive changes in your life and learn to accept themselves for who they are as a person. With a little a motivation and research, a body-positive lifestyle can be suitable for anyone.”
Body positivity has become a movement in our society. For those who are unfamiliar with the newly-coined termed, it means to help individuals embrace their image and learn to love the parts of themselves that makes one unique. Many concerned people have begun pushing the agenda that advertising companies need to be more inclusive, but still it does not seem our voices are being heard.
However, since we can’t go protest every company that doesn’t have someone who looks like us, we can set up steps that will help us achieve our own body positivity goals. Remember the end goal is to be more mindful how we perceive ourselves and gaining confidence in our appearance. The steps listed below will give an idea of where to start and do not have to be followed in any specific order.
Step one: Consider a social media detox. We consume so much in one day, and sometimes we do not notice how impactful it is in our lives. Yes, social media helps us explore the world around us, but it also leaves us in a pool of pity when we begin comparing ourselves to others. Start with getting off the phone by a certain hour. This gives time to reflect the day and increases productivity, which makes us feel good.
Step two: Set up SMART goals. “SMART is an effective tool that provides the clarity, focus and motivation you need to achieve your goals” (MindTools 2020). SMART is an acronym that stands for: Specific (simple), Measurable (motivating), Achievable (attainable), Relevant or Responsible (result-based) and Time-bound (time/cost limit). Ensuring your goal fits the criteria will allow it to be more effective.
Follow this example to structure your own goals.
Specific: I want to have more positive thoughts about myself than negative ones.
Measurable: I will compliment myself more frequently throughout the day.
Achievable: I will say two positive things about myself for each bad thought I had.
Responsible: I will acknowledge when I am being too negative and reevaluate.
Time-Based: I will have weekly journals to record my journey to being more positive and kinder to myself.
Being more body positive is definitely a journey, and the steps listed above can give guidance in the right direction. Each step we take is progress, so celebrate your small victories and note that we are all on the path to love ourselves more each day.
Like what you see? Learn more about our healthy campus initiatives.
Story by:
My’yonna Boyd, freshmen biology major, Wellness Center intern
Photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
References:
Michele, et al. “SMART Goals: – How to Make Your Goals Achievable.” Mind Tools, 4 Feb. 2020, www.mindtools.com/pages/article/smart-goals.htm.
After completing two years at Atlantic Cape Community College, I decided to transfer over to Rowan University to get my bachelor’s in Journalism. Transferring over to a new school can be both exciting and intimidating. You’ll get to create new memories, meet new people and experience new opportunities.
At community college I was involved in many extracurricular activities, like being part of the communication club and assistant editor for the Atlantic Cape Review. For me, getting involved has always been important. It improves leadership and interpersonal skills, but most importantly, it gives students practical experience.
When I first transferred to Rowan, I did not know anyone, but I immediately felt welcomed by all my professors and classmates. I knew I wanted to get involved and create new memories, just like I did at my community college.
I started asking other students what they were involved in, and I checked Rowan’s Student Organization Services page, where I found clubs and organizations that caught my attention. There are many ways to get involved — you’ve just got to be open to new experiences and opportunities.
Here are three ways I’ve gotten involved as a transfer student and commuter.
These are just three ways how I have gotten involved here at Rowan, but there are so many other ways to get involved. It’s all about being open to new experiences and being OK with getting out of your comfort zone.
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Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major
Ketan Gandhi, from Asbury Park (Monmouth County), is well-versed in higher education, so his standards were high when considering the universities he could potentially earn his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree. After completing his undergraduate studies at Bombay University in India, and earning an MBA in general administration at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, he still wanted to learn more about the world of education.
His experience in leadership positions at Burlington County College, Rutgers University and Sussex County Community College (where he is currently the CFO and EVP of Administrative Services) inspired him to explore the differences in leadership styles between private educational institutes and higher education.
“What motivates people in higher education is different than in a private business scenario,” Ketan says. “Understanding the type of leadership required to govern a higher institution could set me up for a more successful career in education.”
He came across the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program at Rowan University through recommendations from colleagues who had had a positive experience in it.
“I also looked at a few other institutions, but what I liked about Rowan’s program is that it is led by faculty members with higher levels of experience and education. The faculty are actual presidents or provosts at universities, and can give me direct, relevant advice based on their experience.”
The quality that secured Ketan’s decision to attend the Rowan Ed.D. program was its concentration in Community College Leadership Initiative (CCLI), which pertains directly to his professional experience and interests.
Though he has not been in school since 1986, Ketan was concerned about the transition back to intense learning. Luckily, “faculty members are open to allowing me to adjust, and I have support from my boss, my wife and my family,” he says.
“Each member of my cohort works at a different college or university, which allows us to share different experiences and perspectives,” he says. “It makes for better discussions and more learning opportunities.”
Leadership Theory, the first course he is taking for the program, has already ignited his passion for education and leadership. “This course has allowed me to truly understand the way I come across as a leader and who I want to be. I’ve already learned a lot about myself,” he reflects. A book that he has read during the course, “Discover Your True North” by Bill George, has also been an inspiration to him on this educational journey.
Ketan’s ultimate goal throughout Rowan’s Ed.D. program is to change and adapt to a new leadership style.
“I was very much a task-oriented leader,” he says. “In just a few weeks, I am already starting to see myself transforming into more of an entrepreneurial leader. It’s all about breaking habits that I’ve already established and improving them, really honing my skills.”
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Story by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
Photos courtesy of:
Ketan Gandhi and Sussex County Community College
Rowan Reset is our Self-Care Sunday series of laid-back videos you can view as you go about your day — play as you study, nap, practice self-care or just veg out. Choose. Play. Reset.
Noel deep cleans her plants every January, but this time she is helped by a cat!
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Video by:
Noel Waldron, senior advertising major
Music by:
Gabe Georges, music industry alumnus
Rowan Reset is our Self-Care Sunday series of laid-back videos you can view as you go about your day — play as you study, nap, practice self-care or just veg out. Choose. Play. Reset.
Noel and Gabe go for a winter hike with the very good boy, Rain.
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Video by:
Noel Waldron, senior advertising major
Rowan Reset is our Self-Care Sunday series of laid-back videos you can view as you go about your day — play as you study, nap, practice self-care or just veg out. Choose. Play. Reset.
Just some good boys hangin’ out in the good boy park!
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Video by:
Noel Waldron, senior advertising major
Music by:
Joseph Murphy, senior music industry major
Noel Waldron walks you through her process of making lavender coffee in the morning, featuring her roommate’s cat, Cthulhu.
Today, we launch a Siblings at Rowan series with sisters Madison and Sophia Agostini.
Names: Madison and Sophia Agostini
Majors/Minors: Madison: Elementary Education and Literacy Studies dual major. Sophia: Business Management major, Law and Justice minor
Years in school: M: 5th year S: Senior
Hometown and County: Washington Township, Gloucester County
Do you commute? If not, where do you live? S: Both. I live on campus, and Madison lived on campus, but now she commutes.
M: I lived on campus for four years, but since I’m student teaching, it made more sense for me to live at home this year since I don’t spend as much time on campus.
Social clubs each of you is a part of: M: I am the President of Kappa Delta Pi, a teacher honors society, and I am a member of Circle K, a volunteer club. I also write for HerCampus, a girls’ college website, and I’m an Admissions Ambassador.
S: I’m on the executive board of the Pre-Law Society. I’m also the undergraduate coordinator for the Food Bank of South Jersey
On-campus jobs: S: We both work in Admissions.
Why did you choose Rowan? M: At first I didn’t like that it was close to home, but then it started to feel nice that I could go home whenever I wanted. I wanted to go further away, but the first year of the Rowan Choice program was my year, so I was able to do that program and not spend as much. It’s great to go to a school with big school opportunities but small school class sizes.
S: I would agree with that, I really like the small class sizes. I didn’t really apply to many schools and I felt I knew Rowan pretty well because Madison already went here and I had already been on campus twice before I applied. It felt like the natural choice.
How has having your sister at Rowan with you impacted your college career? S: It always gave us someone we could go to that wasn’t our roommates. It was good to have a change of scenery and a new voice to 
hear. It was definitely better than having to pick up the phone. It’s nice.
M: My sophomore year and her freshman here I lived in Edgewood and she lived in Chestnut, which was a minute walk from each other, and that year she had no kitchen and no air conditioning so she would come over if her room was hot or she wanted a meal that wasn’t dining hall food or made in a microwave. It was also nice to run into each other on campus or just see each other.
What is your favorite part about going to Rowan together? S: I like that we’re similar and we do similar things on campus, and it also showed us how different we are at the same time. We aren’t really in any of the same clubs despite being on campus together. It allowed us to be strong as 
individuals but still grow side by side.
M: I think that we have similar qualities and we do some of the same things, but we also bring similar qualities to the different things we do. We also have some friends in common, but also different friends. S: We do our own thing, but it’s nice to have someone supporting you along the way.
What are some favorite memories about being together on campus or funny sibling stories? M: Hanging out with our other sister on campus is a nice memory that we have together.
S: It was also nice when Madison invited me over for dinner a lot.
M: It was also cool that when Sophia turned 21 I was able to come over and spend the night with her and her friends.
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Story and photography by:
Rachel Rumsby, freshman communication studies and public relations double major
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
Today, we talk to Dylan Snyder, a freshman Chemical Engineering major from Wilmington, Delaware.
How has your freshman year at Rowan been so far?
“Freshman year has been great! It is so much more interesting than high school. I’ve gotten so many new phone numbers and made so many new friends. If you get yourself out there, you can create the best experience at college.
Have you joined any clubs yet?
“Yes! I am currently a part of five clubs: The Rowan Alternative Music Club, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, MMA Club, Karate and Self-Defense Club and Student University Programmers (SUP). In that club, we plan a lot of the campus and charity events.”
How have you been adjusting to college life?
“I’ve adjusted pretty quickly. It’s a different rhythm, living on your own, for sure. If you’ve ever held a job, it’s similar to that. You just need to be responsible and manage your time well. As an engineering student, I’m constantly complaining about your lack of time; but as long as you know how much time to put aside for yourself and what you need to get done, it’s really smooth sailing. All that matters is that you’re interested in what you’re doing.”
What are some of your favorite spots on campus?
“Favorite spots on campus? Honestly, the beautiful pond out back behind Rowan Hall. The Market Place in the Student Center is really nice too. The Student Center is where all of college life happens at. Most of the clubs will meet around there. Mariachi Grill and Dawn to Dusk on Rowan Boulevard are also some of my favorite spots.”
What is one piece of advice you can give to incoming freshman?
“Don’t be afraid of anything. Go do everything and whatever you’re interested in. I signed up for emails for at least 50 clubs my first day! It’s funny, as soon as you get yourself out there you start making so many new friends. Don’t be afraid to be friendly, get out there, meet new people. Just go for it!”
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Story by:
Bianca Torres, junior music industry major
Photos by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
When Katie Francis, a junior Sports Communication & Media and Journalism double major from Swedesboro, NJ (Gloucester County), discovered the campus radio station her sophomore year, she “knew it was a good path to take.” An email in her student inbox with the subject line, “Are you Rowan’s new voice in Radio?” inspired her to take a leap into an area of journalism she had never considered before. “I knew that, being a transfer student, it might be difficult to meet people. So I signed up for training sessions for Rowan Radio,” she says.
Katie’s family had introduced her to Philadelphia sports early, and she grew up watching the Flyers, but her interest in football picked up as the Eagles made their way toward the playoffs two years ago. “I started to think that I should really learn [football] so I could enjoy it more and fully understand what I was watching,” she recalls. She began to actively follow the games with her dad, learning more and more with each game.
Fast forward to one year later, and Katie is the assistant news director at Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM, and the first female broadcaster on Rowan Radio to cover a Rowan football game in the school’s history!
In November, Gary Erdelyi, the sports director, shared with her that there was an opportunity to cover a Rowan vs. Christopher Newport University football game in Virginia. With 10 years of experience playing soccer, Katie had done color commentating on two soccer games before, but football was a whole different game — literally. Derek Jones, the station manager and Katie’s sports broadcasting professor, provided the support she needed to succeed at this opportunity. Jones is a mentor and role model for Katie, having first trained her at the radio station and guided her through multiple classes at Rowan, so “from the beginning” she felt “comfortable asking questions as I learned the ropes of broadcasting.”
“I said, ‘if you need somebody to do this, I will step up and figure it out,’” Katie reflects. “At first I was nervous, not sure if I was saying the right things, but the people that I had supporting me were really helpful. They validated me and made me feel like part of a good team there.”
She didn’t realize it at the time, but bravely stepping up and covering the game, despite her doubts, put her in a record-setting position. As the first female at the university to cover a football game, she is paving the way for other women in sports communications and journalism to follow her lead.
Katie is the only woman in both her Sports Broadcasting and Sports Journalism II classes, a field predominantly composed of male students.
“There was never a time where I felt like I wasn’t included, whether in my classes or at the radio station, and I’m thankful for that,” she says. “Being a part of a team of people who are as passionate about something as I am, and being able to meet people through it is a really great experience. It can be weird at times, looking around and being the only girl in a room, but with every experience I’ve had, I’ve always felt like everybody was rooting for me.”
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Story and photography by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
Name: Donn Matthew Garby
Major: Ph.D. in Education
Concentrations: Higher Education
Year: Second year Ph.D. student
Hometown and County: Naples, FL
Resident or commuter: Resident
Academic clubs: Founder and Council Member of Education Student Association (ESA), Graduate Student Government Association (GSGA)
Do you work on campus?: Yes, I am a Graduate Coordinator for the Interfaith and Spiritual Exploration Center & Adjunct for the College of Education
Tell us about your transition into the graduate program. My transition was not too bad. I came directly from my master’s program, so I was still in that “student mindset.” The largest transition was coming from a large R1 university, in a large city, to a smaller institution in a [more] rural town. Saying that, though, the benefits of Rowan, and the faculty interactions make it so that I feel home in the College of Education.
Why did you choose Rowan’s graduate program? I chose Rowan’s graduate program because it offered me the opportunity to connect with faculty on a one-on-one level, provided me resources to conduct my 
research, and allowed me the space to explore different career and research paths. In addition, with it being a new program, it allowed me to help make a difference and work to shape the program for the benefit of future students.
What is one thing you wish people knew about your academic discipline or research focus? One thing I wish people knew about my academic discipline is that we are people outside of our research. A lot of times, people, and students specifically, see us as a researcher or faculty member. But we have lives, we have hobbies, and although our research is a large aspect of who we are, that is not all that we are.
What is one thing this field has allowed you to do, that you either dreamed of doing or thought you’d never get to do? One thing this field has allowed me to do is turn my research into practice. It has been so rewarding to see that happen, and I am so grateful.
On your busiest day, what academic, non-academic and social responsibilities are you juggling? On my busiest day, I am juggling two classes, a meeting for my program and Senate meetings.
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Story and photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
Meet Kipp Matalucci, German adjunct instructor within the College of Humanities & Social Sciences.
What is your area of expertise? I think the biggest strength I bring to the classroom is a knowledge of culture and civilization, particularly of 
Germany and Austria. I’ve acquired this not only through formal study but also through a lifetime of experience in those countries.
The fundamental underlying human value language teachers impart is respect for other people’s differences. We impart it not by preaching but by introducing students to the rich cultural achievements of the peoples whose language we teach.
Share an “aha!” moment that you’ve had within your discipline that made you feel passionate about your field. There are so many “aha” moments in my many years of study that it is hard to single out just one. I must go back to high school, the summer of 1967, when I traveled to Germany and Austria for the first time with my teacher, Frau Cote, and several classmates. It was the overwhelming, life-changing experience one might imagine for a 16-year-old who had never left the country before. We spent three weeks in Germany and three weeks in Austria. I wasn’t back home much longer than a few days before I started thinking of ways I could return! A new world was opened for me. I returned from that trip knowing that I would do something with language and travel. It turned out to be teaching.
Share with us one aspect of student engagement that you enjoy most, and why? I enjoy interacting with students on so many levels. The youthful enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity they bring to classroom inspire me and help me to stay young at heart. Their questions keep me on my toes! They often have a keen interest in aspects of contemporary German culture 
that I know little about, the current music scene, for example. I think of Anna in “The King and I.”
“It’s a very ancient saying,
But a true and honest thought,
That if you become a teacher,
By your pupils you’ll be taught.”
What is one thing you wish people knew about your academic discipline or your research focus? Again, I return to culture in terms of my academic discipline. When many think of Germany, it is Bavaria that comes to mind, the Octoberfest and brass bands, the Alps, and Mad King Ludwig’s fairytale castles. This is an irritant for my German friends. Although Bavaria is Germany’s biggest state, there are 15 other states in the country with diverse cultures.
How long have you taught at Rowan? What has inspired you to continue teaching? I am in my 17th year of teaching at Rowan. I love standing in front of a classroom of young people. Every class is different. Each offers its own rewards and challenges. One’s day is never the same. From my pupils I am taught.
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Story and photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
Today, we hear from Ashley Davis, a junior Communication Studies major from Gloucester County, NJ. Ashley transferred to Rowan her sophomore year and shares the importance of involving yourself on campus.
My spring semester of my freshman year of college, I found myself scroll
ing through Twitter, like most students, waiting for class to start. I saw a post from Rowan University about the transfer deadline and cruised to the main website. I found a big transfer button and thought, “Why not give it a shot?” Rowan was the only school I applied to transfer to, so this was all or nothing for me.
Once accepted, I hoped Rowan would be different than my first year of college. I wanted to be more involved and feel more comfortable with how I spend my time in college. I was already feeling nervous transferring to a new school, especially with a whole new major.
My first day here, I looked on social media and ProfLink for events that either had free giveaways or free food because 1.) Who doesn’t love a free shirt? and 2.) Commuter life somehow always has me hungry, so free lunch is always a plus — especially Commuter Club Waffle Wednesday.
I joined a few organizations such as the Leadership Program, Student Alumni Association, Tau Sigma, Student Government Association and Commuters Club. I also work on campus for the Office of Alumni 
Engagement. Each of these helped me finally step out of my comfort zone and talk to new people. Since Rowan was a new school and I didn’t know many people, going out and creating connections was a big step for me.
Being involved and actually going to events on campus helps me feel like I have a purpose at Rowan and in college. I have gotten to meet so many new people who help and motivate me everyday in different ways. I never thought I would actually want to stay on campus when I didn’t have to be, but now I find myself wishing I had more hours in the day to go to all the events around campus.
Rowan has changed my life forever and made it easy for me to feel like this is a place I finally fit in. I know the people here actually care. My whole experience as a transfer student so far has been such a privilege because I actually take advantage of the resources offered. I am much happier here and encourage other transfer students to get involved. Instead of eating lunch in your car or sitting alone in between classes, go to an event that has free stuff. Maybe I’ll see you there!
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Story by:
Ashley Davis, junior communication studies major
Photos by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major, and courtesy of Ashley Davis
Meet Anjeliah Williams, a freshman majoring in Entrepreneurship, who also attended the Pre-College Institute (PCI) this summer. Anjeliah is from Sicklerville, NJ (Camden County), and she’s about to launch her own lip gloss line called “Anjel Allure.”
Anjeliah decided to major in entrepreneurship because growing up she did not know what she wanted to do but knew she did not like to work for others.
“I realized I wanted be my own boss and I thought entrepreneurship was a great major,” she says.
Anjeliah plans on opening other businesses in the future. “Later on in life, I want to own other small businesses like a coffee shop, a tattoo shop and a nail salon,” she adds.
“Don’t listen to people who are trying to put your idea down,” Anjeliah says. “They might say that it’s a horrible idea or it’s too much money, but If you keep a growth mindset and not a fixed mindset, then you can literally do anything.”
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Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major
Meet TJ Ferry, a senior Computing and Informatics major and Rowan University Social Media team member from Gloucester County. Here, TJ shares how being part of the iconic Mummers tradition has changed his life for the better.
Most people ring in the New Year at midnight with a few choruses of “Auld Lang Syne” and toasting the promise of new beginnings and a new year. That is, unless you are a Mummer. We ring in the New Year with hundreds of thousands of plumes, feathers and instruments.
The Philadelphia Mummers Parade is a culmination of a year’s worth of imagination, hard work and practice that dates back to 1901. No one in the parade is a professional musician, but all take their craft very seriously. Participants in the parade range from eight years old up to 98.
It is a spectacle that entertains many, but to my family and me, it is much more; it represents tradition. The Mummers are so much more than what happens on New Year’s Day.
I was born into this unique hobby thanks to my grandfather. He was not only a musician, but for 32 years he served the needs of the Ferko String Band in a multitude of various positions including President, member of the Board of Directors, and as Ferko’s Delegate to the String Band Association. The String Band Judging Booth has been named in his honor since 2016.
As a tribute to him, I decided that it was my calling to play the banjo as he did. Fast forward to today and I am currently a member of the Quaker City String Band, where my grandfather began his Mummer career.
Early on Jan. 2, 2019, my cousin Joe Ferry was one of the three killed in an automobile accident. This tragic event shook the Mummers community to the core; however, it also showed that we are truly a community. In the honor of the individuals who passed away in this tragic event, a foundation was created to provide scholarships and funds to help those who are suffering in the Mummers community. The Mummers helped the Palandro, Ferry and Wiesley families cope with this event and make it through the tough times.
In Joe’s honor, the Joe Ferry Christmas String Band was created. This band is comprised of members from the Quaker City, Fralinger, Polish American and South Philadelphia String Bands. I was honored to be a part of this band on Dec. 14, 2019, when we spent the day bringing holiday cheer to various hospitals in Philadelphia. To me, this is what Mummery is truly about — spreading cheer and entertaining people, seeing people on the sidelines smiling while you are in a parade or someone dancing and clapping along in their seats while you are playing a concert makes it all worth it.
When I started this hobby, I truly did not expect to take it where it has taken me. Sure, it has educated me musically, but it has taught me social skills, public speaking, social media skills, marketing, you name it.
I continue to learn more every day from the leaders of the hobby. Mummery has brought me out of my shell. I went from being a shy 16-year-old to when I started this hobby to a well-rounded 22-year-old soon-to-be Rowan University graduate at the time of writing this article. I have met my best friends from this hobby, and no matter what, we are all family. Like a family, we don’t always agree on things, we fight sometimes, even drama goes on. We also laugh like family and kid like brothers and sisters.
For almost my entire college career, I have been a part of Rowan University’s Social Media team. This would have never happened without this hobby. I started working for the Ferko String Band social media department in a hand-me-down situation and was not really sure where to begin. Two years later, I created a successful YouTube channel and drove engagement to the band’s social media higher than it ever was before. This helped me land my job at Rowan.
I have also worked on web projects in different capacities for string bands due to my skills through my studies at Rowan. For the past few years, I have been co-operating a database that provides the history of the String Band division. This has taught me to work in a team and helped ease into my courses Applied Database Technologies and Intro To Web Development. Just recently, I was honored to receive Quaker City’s Class – Pride – Commitment award in 2019.
Story by:
TJ Ferry, Computing and Informatics major
Rowan University Social Media student team member
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3. Primitive Axe – Axe Throwing Does your Valentine have a bit of a competitive side? Well, Primitive Axe, Axe Throwing is the perfect place to take your Valentine on Valentine’s Day. Throwing Axes is certainly not the cookie cutter way to spend this special day and will definitely provide your date an experience they […]
Hi there! I’m Nicole, a senior Writing Arts major from East Brunswick, NJ (Middlesex County). I am a student worker for the Rowan Blog through the Division of Student Affairs, and I love my job!
As a freshman newly enrolled in the Writing Arts major, I was eagerly looking for ways to get involved on campus, especially related to writing and communication. One day I came across a message in the daily student email that the Rowan Blog was looking for volunteer writers, and this seemed like a sign. I started writing stories that semester on a volunteer basis, and was asked to officially join the team that spring of my freshman year! I’ve been working for the blog throughout my four years at Rowan, and it’s been an amazing experience.
1. Every day is different and exciting
As a student worker, I have something different to look forward to each day — with every new assignment comes a new experience. One day I’m writing a blog post on why I love my job (hello!), the next day I’m filming the women’s ice hockey team at their practice, and the week after I’m photographing the equestrian team and their horses. I’ve even gone to the Salem County Humane Society to play with kittens and produce a video on student volunteerism! No two assignments are the same, and because of that, I get to learn so much about my peers on campus and all of the diverse interests and activities they are a part of. I’ve met student entrepreneurs, learned about the Vietnamese Student Association, attended informational workshops, and have been a part of a professional photo shoot with a marketing agency!
I also enjoy how much I get to learn about Rowan University through these experiences. In my first semester, I quickly became familiar with all of the buildings on campus and so many of the organizations and activities available to students. Knowing all of this has helped me get my friends involved as well, introducing them to clubs I think they’d enjoy and people with similar interests.
2. I’ve added great skills and accomplishments to my resume
I have always had an interest in taking photos, but never had the chance to pick up a real camera and figure it out before working for the Rowan Blog. For each blog article I write, I have to photograph the students or faculty featured to produce images that really capture the story. Through endless practice I’ve become comfortable using DSLR cameras and editing my photos with Adobe programs, and I love it! I have also started to get more involved in the video production side of the blog, filming and editing videos for YouTube. Though I am certainly a beginner in making videos, my coworkers and peers are always willing to help each other out, since we each have our own strengths.
Focusing on photography has paved the way for me to become a part of many exciting projects through the Division of Student Affairs. The photos that my peers and I have taken are featured on the Rowan Admissions website and in admissions packages that go out to accepted incoming students, which is awesome! I’ve even become more involved with the social media department, and a couple of my photos have been featured on Rowan’s Instagram. It’s so rewarding to see my work improve each semester, and the excitement we all feel when we see our photos throughout campus makes the hard work more than worth it.
3. I’ve made new friends, mentors and connections along the way
With each new lead for an assignment comes a new potential friendship or connection. Most of the time, the leads I am assigned to write about are students I have never met before, so I love having the chance to meet new people I might see around campus. I get to learn about their cool internships, clubs and experiences at Rowan, and can usually find something in common with each lead to form a strong bond! Every lead becomes either a new friend, a LinkedIn connection, or at the very least, another smiling face to see on the way to class.
Through the stories I produce, I’m able to form connections with faculty and staff, too, which has helped me learn about new programs and events on campus. The faculty I’ve met specifically within the College of Communication and Creative Arts and the Rohrer College of Business have played an important role in my education and career path. A few of them have become mentors to me, trustworthy and seasoned professionals that I can always look to for advice.
Working for the Rowan Blog has changed the way I write, work and interact with others. It’s made me a stronger communicator and even sparked my interest to pick up two minors — Marketing and Strategic Communication. Being part of such a talented, passionate team of workers makes me #RowanPROUD, and the experiences I’ve had through the Rowan Blog are memories that I’ll cherish long after I graduate this spring!
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Story and photography by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
Dr. Anna Sun, assistant professor of Educational Services and Leadership, saw the problem in both her teaching and research: how can faculty meet with students outside of class when the course is online?
Her solution — offering e-office hours for her classes — earned her accolades this fall at Rowan Global Learning & Partnerships’ inaugural Excellence in Online Learning awards.
Dr. Sun says she felt a range of emotions upon being recognized for her work.
“I feel honored, surprised and happy. I’m glad I’m recognized by peers, by students, by Rowan at large and as a community. And I’m surprised because online teaching relatively speaking is still new.
“I feel that more and more the community recognizes the importance of online teaching, sees it’s another way to meet the students’ needs, and it could provide the quality teaching and instruction in this pioneering format,” she adds.
The College of Education professor’s research focuses on social justice and school administration leadership in K-12 settings. She also studies how counterparts in other countries approach similar issues, debates and questions in education.
Dr. Sun joined Rowan six years ago, as her department collaborated with Rowan Global to launch an online teaching program to better meet students’ needs. The online courses are called light hybrid because there are two face-to-face times scheduled between faculty and students each semester. Dr. Sun saw how successful this model was and sought to incorporate an element of this in her office hours for online courses.
“I wanted to create a online learning community,” she explains. “The challenge or the debate sometimes would be, there’s no face-to-face time. So that’s the time I thought we need to create with this e-office hours, like the face-to-face office hours.”
Dr. Sun designates the second Monday of the month to e-office hours, where students can make appointments and meet with her via phone, email, videoconference or other digital format to ask questions on or talk about the course.
She says students have appreciated the courses with e-office hours.
“They feel I’m very approachable and I respond to students’ questions right away. They felt that this is exactly what they learned from face-to-face,” Dr. Sun says. “The research [also] shows that in the online setting we should have this instruction presence; I want the students to feel like they can reach me at any time when they have questions.”
Her e-office hours contribution is just one part of a more expansive goal of Dr. Sun’s to prepare future school leaders.
“In my teaching, we have a lot of discussions about social justice school leadership, transformational leadership,” Dr. Sun says. “And I feel my teaching, my interactions with students provide cutting-edge, effective approaches for them to become the reformers, the leaders, to make big changes in education.
“Our program prepares candidates with social justice approaches to make a big impact in the field. Both my teaching and the research are so important in this regard.”
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The Rowan PROS (Peer Referral and Orientation Staff) share their favorite things about our campus and tips for starting out at Rowan. From socializing tips to where to eat on campus, the PROS have it all.
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Video by:
Dean Powers, sophomore radio/TV/film major
Meet Kenneth Whelan, a 2002- and third-class graduate from the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering. Kenneth is the chief operating officer (COO) of Engineered Security Systems, one of the top 100 security integrators in the country. Today, he will share with us his journey, from picking Rowan University to becoming COO.
What inspired you to go into engineering?
My cousin, who is also my godmother, graduated from NJIT (New Jersey Institute of Technology) in engineering when I was 8 years old. I thought it was really cool to know what an engineer actually does. As I got older, I got into computers, so I kind of put them together and got into electrical and computer engineering.
How did you know Rowan University was for you?
When I was looking at colleges, I really thought I was going to go to NJIT like my godmother. I went to two NJIT open houses and two open houses for Rowan. NJIT was a nice sunny day, nice weather, and it still didn’t feel like home. When I went down to Rowan, it was cold, windy and rainy, and yet it still felt like home. I went with Rowan because even on a day like that, it seemed like a nice place to be.
How did Rowan University impact your life?
I was very shy and not outgoing. Between the classes and student community, I really got out of my shell. Every class in the engineering department had a presentation we had to do and work in groups. It really taught me to work with other people and be able to stand up and present what I’ve done and really advocate for myself. I was also active in the electrical engineering society.
I learned to round myself, and it really helped me out in my career. I went from just being an engineer when I first got out to now being COO for a nationwide security company. I really attribute everything Rowan taught me to get here.
Can you tell us more about Engineered Security Systems and your role in the company?
It’s a family-run company, and it was founded in 1971. I’m the first person to be leading it who is not part of the family. We do electronic security like access control, fire alarm systems, burglar alarm systems for businesses, colleges and hospitals. We do very high-end systems that are customized for each client.
In the morning I first come in and talk with the engineering department, I ask what they’re working on and what products are coming down the pike. As the day goes on, I spend time with the operations department. Same thing, I ask what they’re working on, what service call popped up. And I also check in with our sensor monitoring center to see how everything is going and how our clients are doing. As the afternoon goes along, I have meetings and conference calls with our clients and vendors. And I kind of spend my time rotating around all functions of the business.
Any advice for students interested or who are currently pursuing a degree in engineering?
Try to get involved in as much as you can. Don’t try to do just one type of project with engineering projects. Get involved in student organizations on campus and definitely get out of your comfort zone. Join something you don’t think you’ll enjoy — whether it is a fraternity, sorority or some other activity group — just to broaden your horizons and meet people who are not in your major.
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Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major
Photo courtesy of:
Kenneth Whelan
Meet Zazu!
Name: Zazu
Breed: Golden Retriever
Age: 1 year old
Likes: rolling in dirt and mud, being pet and cuddled, playing with other pups, and taking naps!
Dislikes: when people fly by on skateboards — too loud!
“Zazu is a Seeing Eye puppy, and I’m in the Seeing Eye organization of Gloucester County. I’m taking him out for a walk right now while my friend is in class, but I’ve raised a Seeing Eye puppy before on my own, and it was an awesome experience. I definitely recommend getting involved!” – Ben Graham, Piano Performance major from Mullica Hill, NJ (Gloucester County).
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Story and photography by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
Today, we speak with Nam Phuong Nguyen Hoang, a junior Nutrition major from Đà Nẵng, Việt Nam who commutes from Cape May. Nam Phuong 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.
Your name: Nam Phuong Nguyen Hoang
Your major(s): Nutrition
Are you a first-generation college student? No
Your year: Junior
Transfer student: Yes. I transferred my credits from Atlantic Cape Community College.
Hometown: Đà Nẵng, Việt Nam
Where do you live? Cape May, NJ (Cape May County)
Commuter: Yes, this [fall] semester I [commuted] 5 days a week from Cape May.
Academic clubs you are a part of: Nutrition Care Club, student member of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Social clubs you are a part of: Volunteer for the Community Foodbank of New Jersey, Social Media Volunteer for Clinical Nutrition Management Dietetic Practice Group.
Share an “aha!” moment you’ve had within your major that made you feel passionate about your intended field.
This is my first semester at Rowan as a Dietetics student. I have to say that the Department of Health Sciences keeps me excited every week with weekly emails about different opportunities for internship/jobs/volunteer experiences for Rowan students in our field. Recently, I received an email about an internship for students who are interested in attending the Health Promotion Conference in South Carolina. The chapter will cover the transportation and hotel fee for the accepted interns, and the conference fee is waived for interns. How cool is that!
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 really enjoy my Intro to Nutrition Profession class with Dr. [Christina] Riccardo. In this class, we are encouraged to develop our professional philosophies, making connections, identify both professional and personal future goals, as well as build positive growth mindset. As we are still in the preparation for the program, I think it is very important for each of us to reflect and know what we really want to do in the future, as we don’t want to enter the program and realize it’s not what we thought it to be, right?
Describe for us an on-campus experience (academic or non-academic) in which you felt that your future goals are supported.
The Office of Career Advancement (OCA) in Savitz Hall is very helpful and valuable for me as well as anyone who is a current Rowan student. Most of the time a good GPA is not enough to get the job that we want; it is also about how we present ourselves in person and on paper. It is sometimes quite intimidating for many students to create a professional resume, prepare for an interview or search for job opportunities. The OCA helps students learn how to write a proper cover letter, résumé, do mock interviews and find jobs and internships. I think this service is absolutely amazing. I received a lot of help and I am very grateful for all the feedback and suggestions from the faculty in this office.
Could you share a moment you’ve experienced in which you have felt that Rowan is a welcoming environment for you?
Rowan has a diverse college environment where people with different backgrounds, personalities and perspectives come together. The diversity is a great opportunity for students to learn and grow from each other. In the midst of diversity, there are associations for students with particular interests, and that made me feel like I belong. The second week at Rowan, at the Fall Festival, I met the Vietnamese Student Association. That made me feel so happy when there is diversity and ethnic integrity.
Why did you choose Rowan?
I want to be a Registered Dietitian and the first thing to do to become one is to get my education at an accredited institution. I did my research and found that Rowan is one of the 62 accredited colleges in America that offers the program I am pursuing, which I think is so awesome. I had a chance to talk to my current academic advisor, Ms. Dwyer, a year before I applied to Rowan. She helped me with what I should expect and what I should do to prepare for the program. As I learn more about the program, I am so excited to see Rowan expanding the opportunities for Dietetics students.
What’s your favorite thing about your typical Monday at Rowan?
I am taking 17 credits this semester, plus 15 hours commuting per week, so currently my favorite thing to do during the week is enjoy my coffee and podcast as I drive to campus. Some days I listen to Spotify, and other days I listen to podcasts. One of my favorite things about my days at Rowan is my studying time at the Campbell Library between classes. The staff is very friendly, and there are a lot of quiet study spaces for individual use as well as group use. Also, the printers at Rowan are awesome.
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Story by:
Nam Phuong Nguyen Hoang, junior nutrition major
Photography by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
Jayce Williams, a senior Music Industry major from 4333, a student-run music collective, tells us about his fundraising holiday show featuring Tigers Jaw, Oso Oso, Twentythreenineteen, Sweetpill and Typopro. The show raised more than 400 cans of food for the Glassboro Food Bank.
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Video by:
Dean Powers, sophomore radio/TV/film major
Two generations of #RowanPROUD alumni live in the Wilner household.
Lisa, from West Deptford (Gloucester County), earned her degree from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) in Communications — with a minor in Advertising and concentration in Marketing — in 1986. Her son, Ben, graduated with a Music degree in 2018 and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Higher Education at the College of Education.
Lisa’s seasoned career included high-level management roles among nonprofits such as the Children’s Miracle Network and the Arthritis Foundation and production credits for Warner Brothers and Suburban Cable (now Comcast).
“I had access to things because Rowan was on my résumé,” Lisa said. “At that point I was competing with students from Syracuse and other [top-tier communication] schools.”
When it came time for her son to choose a college, Lisa’s alma mater was one of a few on Ben’s radar. He was also accepted to nearby Temple and received scholarship money from several other universities. But it was a chance meeting with John Woodruff, director of the Academic Success Center, that changed everything for Ben and soon, for Lisa, too.
“When [Ben] came to the Accepted Students Reception, and he sat down with John, he said, ‘They have the support systems here that I need to be successful.’ And obviously there are because he graduated magna cum laude,” Lisa proudly shared.
As a student with disabilities, Ben required individualized help for his specific needs, and the Academic Success Center was there to guide him. He utilized extra test-taking time in the Testing Center and sought the help of an academic coach. The Academic Success Center coordinated with the the Music department, which took great care in pairing Ben with an appropriate advisor. Lisa also noted that although Ben ultimately opted to commute, the Center had matched him with a roommate.
“These are steps above and beyond that Rowan does. What I have seen here through the Academic Success Center has just been outstanding,” she said.
Lisa is a featured speaker for the Academic Success Center’s College Prep Transition Conference and a parent network member with Rowan’s Autism PATH program, which aims to strengthen employment outcomes and networking opportunities for neurodiverse students.
“What I’ve seen [at Rowan] in the last four years, as a parent who sat through IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meetings for 14 years … I have never seen services like exist here. They may exist at other places, but it’s done right here. I talk to parents’ groups. Ben talks to high school students for New Jersey’s Dare to Dream conferences every year. He talks to students and says ‘You can go to college, this is the route to get there.’”
Lisa shared that, through his own academic advisor experience, Ben enrolled in the Higher Education advising track program so he could help fellow students down the road. In addition to his coursework, he’s now working as a part-time academic advisor at an area community college. She said there is “no doubt in [her] mind” Ben will find employment after earning his graduate degree this spring. Lisa also hopes Ben will eventually complete his doctorate in music theory after his successful undergraduate work in Rowan’s “incredible” music program.
“Rowan’s growth and support of all students make me incredibly proud to be an [alumna],” she said.
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Future college students will be fortunate to have Ben Wilner as their academic advisor.
The Gloucester County native and aspiring academic counselor, who will complete his master’s degree in the College of Education’s Higher Education track this spring, didn’t initially set his sights on the program until his own interaction with an advisor.
“He’s been nothing but a huge help during the undergraduate process,” Ben says. “I want to give back because of my experiences in the undergraduate setting.”
Ben graduated magna cum laude from Rowan’s highly competitive Music program after what he revealed was a difficult transition to college life as a student with disabilities. He’s now empowered to “inspire students with disabilities to stay in college, so they can break obstacles to get where they need to go in the college setting because I’ve broken every obstacle up until this point,” Ben explains.
Ben says he wouldn’t be in college without a love of music, for which he’s a triple threat in voice, guitar and piano. He had just graduated from high school to pursue music at Rowan when the overwhelm set in.
“I overcame it that first semester, and my entire undergraduate years I got help when I needed it and asked for assistance for the resources I need to obtain, like the Disability Resources office [also called the Academic Success Center] or academic coaching or my professors,” Ben says. “I always say to have connections with your professors. I feel like this transition showed me that it’s a lot different.”
After his first semester, Ben, working with the Academic Success Center, met regularly with his academic coach, who he says honed his writing, editing and organizational skills.
He also registered with the Testing Center, which he says helped him with both test-taking and studying. The Testing Center was “welcoming and allowed me to do my tests and quizzes in a quieter space,” Ben adds.
Ben’s academic career flourished after that first semester. He joined the Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society and Sigma Alpha Lambda, a national leadership honor society. He presented at Rowan’s College Prep Transition Conference, which offers workshops and tools to support students with disabilities and their families as they head toward college life.
His own advising experience, along with the guidance he received through the Academic Success Center, pivoted Ben’s career path from music to counseling. He’s applying his graduate coursework to an internship this year with the Academic Success Center, working with students who may be struggling as he once was — which speaks to why he’s so passionate about his future career:
“I really was inspired by how much I have learned in the college setting, the resources I used to succeed in the college environment,” Ben says. He hopes to “help students advocate for themselves, making sure they do what they need to do to succeed. It’s not easy, but they’ve got to take one day at a time to break those obstacles.
“I’d like to help those students to keep going and never give up. Every student, no matter their differences are.”
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Meet Jennifer Chin, a 2015 graduate from the College of Science & Mathematics. She is from Clarksboro, NJ (Gloucester County) and works for FMC Corporation, an agricultural sciences company, as an associate scientist doing formulations. Today, she will share with us her journey from her Rowan University experience to her work at FMC.
What inspired you to major in BioChem?
Initially when I started, I was pursuing teaching math. As I took courses, I felt like I needed something more. Then I switched to bio and then after that I was like, ‘I think this is OK.’
Then I saw biochemistry and said, ‘Wow, this is interesting.’ I switched to BioChem and I really loved it. I feel like at Rowan especially when I was here, it was much more chemistry based for biochemistry, which I really enjoyed and liked.
Why did you choose Rowan University?
I chose to come to Rowan because they offered smaller classes. I could get more information, it was more one-on-one. I know that for [larger schools] they have massive classes and I felt like I would have drowned, especially when I was first starting out because of my personality. I wanted something smaller, I didn’t want to get overwhelmed.
How has Rowan University impacted your life?
Rowan has given me more exposure — meaning, the people I have been connecting with, networking. When I was here at Rowan, I was under [Dr. Gregory] Caputo, he was my research adviser. It was my junior and senior year that I was in his research lab. In his research lab there were other students, and we all got really close. After college we all diversified, but we are still constantly learning from each other and meet up. Every person has their own industry experiences and we all talk about science. So, now post-college I still have all those connections and networks and still count with them.
How has Dr. Caputo impacted you?
I can’t even begin to say how much he has helped me. I think Dr. Caputo was my very first instance of how the industry actually works because there is a huge difference between academics and industry. By being in his lab, you get exposed to experiments that aren’t always going to work out 100% of the time, like they are supposed to. And I think that really helped me realize what to actually expect and to have that scientific mind of going through the process.
How well do you think Rowan prepared you to go into the industry?
I would say it prepared me in terms of knowing how to do research or how to figure out an answer. Academically it did prepare me for basic knowledge, but when you go out in the industry is a lot of how you figure out how you’re going to figure it out. So, I think Rowan helped me by knowing how to research a problem and how to figure it out.
What are you currently doing?
I work at FMC, and it’s an agricultural company. We make crop protection products like fungicide, insecticides and herbicides. Graduating college agriculture was nowhere on my list, I didn’t even know it was a thing. But then I got hired for a temporary position and I was under formulations. I got exposed to a lot of chemistry formulations and I absolutely fell in love with it.
What I tell a lot of people is yes, you want to enjoy your work, but find an environment where you are comfortable with the culture. It’s the people you work with and I feel like any job is 70% the people and 30% the job.
As a formulation chemist, what does your daily routine look like?
Recently, it has been going in really early, but it depends how much chaos happens during the day. The earliest I’ve gotten in, has been between 5:30 and 6 a.m. There have been times where I have been doing 80 to 90 hours a week. That is why you have to love what your doing.
My day consists of going in and checking emails, then I stay at the lab from sun up to sun down trying to get lots of things done. There’s formulation making, then physicals are performed on them, to see if they actually turned out the way you wanted them to be.
What is your favorite thing about Rowan or your favorite experience?
The people, and I think what I really loved was my research group. I would definitely recommend it to new students of biology and chemistry to join a research group, because that definitely has helped me a lot in the industry and it’s just great exposure to science.
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Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major
Destiny Sheard, a senior Marketing major from Jackson, NJ (Ocean County) and a first-generation college student, feels most at home at the barn with the Equestrian Club.
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Video by:
Dean Powers, sophomore radio/TV/film major
Music by:
Jayce Williams, senior music industry major
Meet Ciara Sikking, senior Public Relations and Mathematics double major, from Buena, NJ (Atlantic County). She shares how her summer internship at Holman turned into a full-time position post-graduation.
In October of last year I sat down with my public relations advisor, Lori Block, to discuss class registration. I did not expect this very routine meeting to land me a full-time job.
In the PR department, the word “internship” is a huge deal, so it did not surprise me when Lori asked if I was looking for one. She suggested that I apply for the Holman Enterprises summer internship program, one I hadn’t even considered applying to due to its notoriously competitive selection.
Three months later I landed an interview and two months after that received one of the 50 positions out of over 500 applicants.
During my time at Holman, I worked in the client relations department and assisted with projects for the company’s most profitable clients including United Rentals and FedEx. Within the first four weeks I conceptualized, programmed and presented a tracker to organize information for United Rentals. Speaking in front of the upper management team was nerve-wracking, but it gave me the chance to utilize the presentation skills I have learned in many of my PR classes.
Aside from my client relations projects, I worked with a team of interns to research and create start-up recommendations for Holman Auto’s mobile 
service initiative. My team and I delivered an exciting presentation to a roomful of company leaders and, as a result, the company decided to move forward with the ideas we presented in our project. It is thrilling to know that the executives loved all of our hard work, especially Mindy Holman, granddaughter of the company’s founder.
Interning at Holman helped me grow in every way possible. It allowed me to mature professionally, gave me the confidence to tackle real-world problems and provided me with impressive projects to add to my portfolio. To add icing on the cake, I recently received a full-time position in the client relations department for after graduation.
I know that I could not have gotten this far without Lori Block and the strong education that I have received over my last three years at Rowan University. I encourage every student thinking about an internship to be bold and never sell yourself short. You can accomplish fantastic things if you just take a chance.
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Story by:
Ciara Sikking, senior public relations and mathematics double major
Photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
The SHOP (Students Helping Other Profs) is Rowan University’s first ever on-campus food pantry and resource center available to students in need. With a particular focus on addressing issues of food insecurity, The SHOP offers a range of free and confidential support services that can connect students with appropriate campus and community resources.
Video by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major
Dean Powers, sophomore radio/TV/film major
Music by:
Louis Testa, junior jazz studies major
“If you’re into music, this school is awesome!” says Devin Saienni, a freshman Music Industry major with a concentration in Music Technology from Wilmington, Delaware (New Castle County). He currently lives in Mimosa Hall and is a first-generation college student.
Devin says he came to Rowan specifically for the music program, and he heavily credits his humble experiences here so far to his professors.
When asked about his shift from living in Delaware to New Jersey, he said the people here make him feel right at home. He also wasn’t nervous at all coming into college because he knew a few people already.
His best advice to future students is to “tour your schools” and “really put your full focus on really finding out what school fits you.”
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Story and photography by:
Enzo Ronchi, senior public relations major
Today, three students from the Rohrer College of Business Human Resources Management program tell us what excites them about their major.
“I am learning to be [in] one of the most important roles in any business.” – Tuan Anh Phan, junior, Human Resources Management major, transfer from Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ), Vietnam
“What excites me about my major is being able to stand up for the people that would work for us. Making sure they are not being discriminated against and they are all being paid equally and any other law that is implemented to help the work environment to be fair and peaceful. I also get excited about recruiting and being the person to find the best fit for the company and our team.” – Lindaura Cristo, junior, Human Resources Management, transfer from Rowan College of Burlington County (RCBC), first-generation college student from Brazil
“The idea that I will have the ability to help people, being able to help them grow to become their true selves, I’ll be a leader guiding future leaders.” – Amanda Holzlein, junior, Human Resources Management major with a minor in Management Information Systems, first-generation college student from Jackson, NJ (Ocean County)
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Story by:
Bianca Torres, senior Music Industry major
As public relations and marketing spokesperson for New York Transit, communicating news for the bus division that transported seven million passengers a day, Stephen Nacco saw his long-term career prospects heading on a different path — toward higher education.
Nacco traded media for academia, where he rose to top administrative positions at two New Jersey-based community colleges.
His career moved further ahead while enrolled in Rowan’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership: Community College Leadership Initiative (CCLI). “I never wanted to be a community college president until that program,” he said.
Now, Dr. Stephen Nacco uses the skills he learned in his cohort from more than 750 miles away.
As president of Danville Area Community College (DACC), about 2.5 hours south of Chicago, Dr. Nacco leads a school that serves more than 6,100 part-time and full-time students. While the city of Danville has seen its population steadily decline over the years, DACC has seen its enrollment and graduation rates increase — which Dr. Nacco credits to his faculty and board, with whom he has built a collaborative leadership team.
“It’s the coalescing of ideas here, and that to me is what makes working at this college rewarding,” Dr. Nacco said. “Every month we do something — this is straight out of something I learned at Rowan — where a different department comes out with a ‘Big Hairy Audacious Goal.’ And it’s got to be out there. It might seem impossible, but you’re going to try to figure out a way to make it work.
“I think collaboratively in a small community college, it’s really a lot of fun to be able to work this way,” he added.
Convenient classes, offered right on the campus in which he worked at the time, initially attracted Dr. Nacco to the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program. Yet the longer he immersed himself in his coursework, the more Stephen felt compelled to seek a community college president position post-grad.
“I was able to study my own leadership and look at leadership theory,” he said. “As I was in the program more and more, I wanted to continue to move up in community colleges … that they’re not ‘junior colleges,’ what they do for workforce development and what they do for turning around lives.”
Dr. Nacco noted Rowan’s teaching faculty included community college presidents, who enhanced the program through their “war stories” and mentorship. He also acknowledged Dr. James Coaxum, associate professor in the College of Education, whom he said had “a style that was calm for people, not just with me, but for many students who were anxious to go back to college.”
After completing the Ed.D. degree part-time in three years, Dr. Nacco ultimately secured the top spot at DACC in 2016. The importance of the job is not lost on him.
“Being in DACC, you can’t imagine how important this college is to this community,” he said.
For future students considering the Ed.D. program, Dr. Nacco offers this advice: “Whatever your niche is, don’t be constrained by that niche. Go into it with the idea with you can be surprised with what you want to do. It doesn’t matter what your job is, if you know what you’re doing is important to the people around you, then it’s a good career. And Rowan can help you get there.”
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We spoke with juniors Shirley Celi-Landeo, Jackie Charlton, Julia Majerscak and Liz Kenlan about making the change from living in North to South Jersey. Their answers varied slightly except for one collective opinion: it’s different here in Gloucester County!
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Story by:
Luke Garcia, junior music industry major
Photos by:
Stephanie Batista, sophomore music industry major
Quintin Stinney, sophomore Radio/TV/Film major
Name: Thai Nghiem
Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Minor: Computer Science
Year: Senior
Are you a first-generation college student? No
Hometown and county: Hanoi, Vietnam
Commuter: Yes. I’m commuting from Franklinville, NJ (Gloucester County)
Academic clubs you are a part of: Bantivoglio Honors Concentration, Tau Beta Pi – Engineering Honor Society
Social clubs you are a part of: Rowan Cru – Secretary
Do you work on campus? I worked in the library as a Technology Desk Specialist for a year.
Share an “aha!” moment you’ve had within your major that made you feel passionate about your intended field. I was always good at math and physics in high school, and since Rowan offered an outstanding engineering program, I did not hesitate to choose engineering as my major.
Describe an on-campus experience (academic or non-academic) in which you felt that your future goals are supported. I found the Career Fair on-campus very helpful, as I landed many interviews and two internships. The two engineering internships were with Ellenby Technologies and American Water. Both of them offered me competitive pay and treated me as a regular employee; they trusted and assigned me with great responsibilities. I had a great time interning with them and gained a great deal of practical knowledge and industrial experience. I would recommend everybody of all majors attend the Rowan Career Fair.
Could you share a moment you’ve experienced in which you have felt that Rowan is a welcoming environment for you? My freshman year (2015), Rowan Cru held a Halloween party at the International House, where I used to live. As an international student, I did not have a lot of friends back then, especially those who are American. The event was a great deal to me, as I got to meet and talk to new people who were very friendly and helpful. Since it’s hard for an international student to get a car and a driving licence, many of them offered me rides to ShopRite whenever I needed. Furthermore, they invited me to be a part of their club — Rowan Cru, where I continued to make new wonderful relationships and great memories.
Why did you choose Rowan? Actually, Rowan found and chose me. I uploaded my resume on a merit-aid website, and Rowan officials contacted me. Due to the generous international scholarship, I was able to attend Henry Rowan College of Engineering.
On your busiest day, what academic, non-academic and social responsibilities are you juggling? On my busiest day, I am juggling between exams, my part-time job at the library, and leading a Bible study session at Rowan Cru. There are tough times, but those are what make us a better person. My friends in Cru, as well as my classmates, help each other through stressful times. I really appreciate these people and always enjoy spending time with them.
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Story by:
Thai Nghiem, senior electrical and computer engineering major
Photography by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
This article is part of a running series with Rowan University’s Wellness Center. This collaboration aims to educate students about personal well-being options. For further updates, follow @RowanUWellness on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Meet Allegra Giannini, junior English major, who wrote this article about grief because it is a common, yet misunderstood, process.
Grieving is something human beings must encounter at some point in their lives. It is inevitable; however, it can be manageable. 
There seem to be many misconceptions about grief. Often times people tend to think grieving is only applicable when someone dies, like a family member, friend or pet.
In reality, people grieve a variety of things all the time. Grief can be defined as the immense pain accompanied with loss — it does not always accompany death.
The five stages of the grieving process are practically universally known. They are taught in school. “Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance” — that is the Kübler-Ross model introduced in the late 1960s. Since then, it has remained in textbooks and been regarded as accurate, but what if it isn’t per se?
Sometimes it’s easy to apply those five stages, to have that formula. It can be easy for anyone to think, “I’m in the depression phase now, next will be acceptance in a few months.” It’d be nice if it worked like that.
Help Guide, a nonprofit mental health and wellness organization, published an article in June 2019 by Melinda Smith, Lawrence Robinson and Jeanne Segal. In the article it states loud and clear, “You do not have to go through each stage in order to heal” (Robinson, Smith, Segal, 2019). Grief can be a rollercoaster, with peaks and valleys. Some times can be easier than others, and that is perfectly common. It can be argued that while the five stages make sense, instead of stages, they are merely aspects. They can be a guideline for grief, but not set in stone.
If it’s been years, months, weeks, days … even if it has been three seconds, there may often be an aching and heart-wrenching feeling, and it’s okay. The idea that grief is a linear process that will one day be over is simply not true, and that’s also okay. The worst thing a grieving person can do is push themselves into feeling better, it takes time. It takes introspection and guidance from peers, family and possibly professionals.
Grief does not always accompany death. It accompanies loss — loss of a friendship, loss of a house, a car, etc. Whatever loss it may be, it is valid and real. The most important thing is that a grieving person takes the time to heal, however their individual process is.
Like what you see? Learn more about our healthy campus initiatives!
Story by:
Allegra Giannini, junior English major, Wellness Center intern
Photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
References:
Smith, M., Robinson, L., & Segal, J. (2019, June 17). Coping with Grief and Loss. Retrieved from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/coping-with-grief-and-loss.htm#
Students volunteer their time to the Saint Bernard disaster relief program, to repair and hurricane-proof houses damaged by Hurricane Sandy.
Through the summer First-Year Connection: Volunteerism program, incoming students — both freshmen and transfer — embrace togetherness and philanthropy to build community and provide service. Once the school year starts, the volunteerism continues. The Office of Volunteerism hosts monthly projects for five nonprofits, as well as a host of additional activities both on- and off-campus.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Video by:
Dean Powers, sophomore radio/TV/film major
Music by:
Don DeWitt, junior music technology major
Meet Matthew Penn, a junior at Rowan who majors in Advertising 
and says video games have played an important role in his life since he was very young.
By the time I was in third grade, I was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a form of autism that primarily affects an individual’s social skills, from poor eye contact to social isolation.
Since I was very young I have always had an interest in video games and they’ve always been my comfort. For the longest time I never really wanted to leave my house until I started to meet friends who shared similar interests in video games just like me. Since coming to Rowan University I’ve never felt more comfortable. The Game Room in the Student Center is such an amazing place for me to go, where I can be myself or play video games with so many people.
When I’m at the Game Room, I forget that I even have Asperger syndrome and I believe that the Game Room is perfect for anyone looking to make some new friends.
The Game Room offers all students many great games to play — not just video games, but plenty of regular games as well, including billiards, shuffleboard, ping pong, foosball, darts and plenty of board games. There are approximately six video game consoles: two Nintendo Switches, two Xbox Ones and two Playstation 4s. There are plenty of choices for video games to play and plenty of people to talk to and possibly play a couple games with.
The overall design of the Game Room is very inviting. When a you first enter, you see a great mural on the wall signifying this is the room for anyone looking to play some games and have some fun. The first section of the room is comprised of billiards tables and a mini shuffleboard table. After that you will be greeted with a large selection of video games. You’re more than likely to see a group of students playing a video game, and any student is more than welcome to ask any group of students if they can join in. However, if video games aren’t quite your thing, there are plenty of board games and tabletop games such as foosball, ping pong and air hockey.
Things are very upbeat and exciting here with plenty of events and tournaments. Tournaments range from multiple genres of video games, including fighting games, first-person shooters and sports games. However, it’s not limited to just video game tournaments. The Game Room offers a few distinctive and simplistic tournaments as well such as Jenga tournaments and even classic arcade game tournaments such as Dig Dug.
The Game Room has a very symmetrical worldview when it comes to how it runs things. The staff here are very open to the idea of bringing in new features events to keep the Game Room exciting. At the front desk there’s a jar where students can write down their ideas to what they would like to see added, whether it be different events or even offering additional classic video game consoles.
The Game Room is very open to looking into any and every student opinion to see what can be done to keep people happy who walk through those doors and come back every day.
If you don’t really know where to start to meet other gamer students, this is the perfect place to start. If you have any kind of social anxiety, asking to join in a group of people playing a video game is a perfect starting point. With tons of games to play and a large quantity of people to talk to, social interaction is impossible to avoid.
There’s no doubt about it, college can be very stressful with all the assignments and the pressure of tests and finals. The Game Room is the perfect place for students to reduce stress. Here you can forget about your busy life for an hour or two and enjoy some games for a while. Having a place where you can go to take some time off is great, whether it be playing any of the games or just sitting down and taking some time to spend with your thoughts.
In the time that I’ve been at Rowan University, the Game Room has been my go-to place to hang out, to take some time away from all the work I have or just a nice spot for when I’m just having a really bad day. I hope other students will have similar experiences as mine and I hope that it can help them get over their social anxiety and help relieve their stress from school as much as it did for me.
Story by:
Matthew Penn, junior advertising major
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#PROFspective: Bio Major Alyssa Putiri Talks Campus Life, Diversity of Clubs
Name: Jeff McConnell
Major: Music Industry
Year: Senior
Hometown and County: Marmora, NJ (Cape May County)
Commuter: Off-campus
Social clubs you are a part of: E-board member for Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship
Do you work on campus? Director of Live Events for the Student University Programmers (SUP) and Building Manager at Rowan Rec Center
Share an “aha!” moment you’ve had within your major that made you feel passionate about your intended field. The first class I took for my major was Business of Music 1, and as soon as the class started and we got into the course material I knew I had made the right choice.
We started learning about the “ins and outs” of the music industry, and all of my professors experiences while working in the music industry with some of the biggest names in music. Once this class started in addition to the other classes I was taking once I transferred into this major, nothing felt like homework anymore and I just wanted to know more about everything we were learning. Ever since then, I have loved every class I have taken and each one has made me more excited to get a job and start doing everything my professors have been telling me about the past three years.
Describe an on-campus experience (academic or non-academic) in which you felt that your future goals are supported. I think getting my job as the Director of Live Events for the Student University Programmers really helped support my goals. I’ve had the opportunity to plan and execute events, concerts, comedy events and committee meetings.
In addition to that, I’ve been able to work with so many graduate students and professional staff members who have helped me so much on my path with encouragement and insight. Lastly, this position has afforded me the opportunity to work with outside companies for my events and I have made so many good on-campus and off-campus connections that I will definitely keep up, even after graduation.
Could you share a moment you’ve experienced in which you have felt that Rowan is a welcoming environment for you? Honestly, as cliché as it may sound, I think I have always felt welcome and as if Rowan was a home for me. With being involved in so many clubs in my time here, as well as working many different jobs on campus, I feel like I have always had a space to feel at home and a group of people that I know 
are always going to be there for me. I think one club that has really done this for me above any other has been Chi Alpha. I have been a part of Chi Alpha for the past four years and it has given me so many lifelong friends and amazing memories and experiences. I will be forever grateful for the people that are in my life now that I met through my undergraduate time in Chi Alpha.
And lastly, why Rowan? My freshman orientation leaders were the ones who told me that college was going to be what you make of it: “You will get out what you put in,” they told me. Since then, I took that and ran with it, working in three different offices in my undergraduate time, as well as being a part of about 10 clubs. Rowan had so much to offer and I really think I took advantage of it.
As a senior headed into my last semester, I look back so fondly on my time at Rowan and am so grateful for a school that has so much to offer. I have loved my time here and made so many friendships with students and professional staff members and it makes me sad to think about leaving. But I am so grateful for everything I have learned and truly feel as though Rowan has prepared me well to be successful in whatever I decide to pursue post graduation.
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Story and photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
wrote this article to start a health discussion.“You’re becoming a woman.” As wonderful as this sounds, this is the first introduction to period shame young people with uteruses experience. Even in America, a more period-tolerant country, our language surrounding periods barely ever includes the word ‘period’, or —God forbid — ‘blood.’ Advertisements for period products had never even shown blood on their products until 2011 and even now, even mentioning periods can get met with a groan of disgust, or an accusation of oversharing. But why are they so taboo?
Period shame is the social stigma surrounding menstruation created by misconceptions and misunderstandings. One study conducted with backing from THINX, a menstrual product company, concluded that its effects have an incredible reach. For example, the research survey showed that 58% of women have felt embarrassed simply for being on their period and 44% refer to their period by different, ‘more palatable’ names. By being made to feel ashamed, people with uteruses are less likely to have fact seeking behaviors surrounding their period. And, since not many people speak freely about them it can be hard, especially for young people, to get real information about what is happening with their bodies.
Later in life, these same people continue to experience ridicule over their periods. Almost half, 44%, of men have admitted to making comments about their partner’s mood while they were on their period. These stereotypes reinforce a need to keep periods a secret. However, periods also come with a lot of pain — which is expected to be masked by those enduring it. If it isn’t spoken about and it’s supposed to be a secret when it’s happening, how can it be fully understood and accepted as a healthy and normal?
In a society where people with uteruses make up half of the population, it doesn’t quite make sense why something the vast majority experience is seen as something to be ashamed of. There is no reason to be ashamed of a healthy body performing its natural functions. Without periods and uteruses, humankind would not exist. Conversations had about periods are not inappropriate — they are vital to providing factual, empowering information, to counteract the societal shame we have instilled in people with uteruses.
Like what you see? Learn more about our healthy campus initiatives.
Story by:
Autumn Bowman, senior communications studies major, Wellness Center intern
Photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
Reference
Siebert, V. (2018). Nearly half of women have experienced ‘period shaming’ . Retrieved from https://nypost.com/2018/01/03/nearly-half-of-women-have-experienced-period-shaming/
Students volunteer at the Humane Society of Salem County, cleaning the facility, feeding the animals and most importantly: playing with the animals.
Through the summer First-Year Connection program, incoming students – both freshmen and transfer – embrace togetherness and philanthropy to build community and provide service. Once the school year starts, the volunteerism continues. The Office of Volunteerism hosts monthly projects for five nonprofits, as well as a host of additional activities both on- and off-campus.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Video by:
Dean Powers, sophomore radio/TV/film major
Music by:
Don DeWitt, junior music technology major
Looking for a quality spot to get breakfast, lunch or dinner? Fireside Family Restaurant in Pitman may just be the place for you! Located just 10 minutes off of Rowan’s campus, this hidden gem is just off of Woodbury Road and has a homey atmosphere inside that offers a variety of dishes.
I transferred to Rowan last fall. During my first semester, a few of my friends and I would always try to find a local breakfast place to go to on Saturday mornings. After a bit of curiosity, I found Fireside through Google recommendations, so we decided to check it out.
As soon as you walk in, you’re immediately greeted with the warmest enthusiasm by the hostess. There are booths and tables for preference to sit at. The menu contains many options to choose from, which range from breakfast items such as bagels, pancakes, omelets and hash browns to lunch and dinner items such as burgers, pasta and steak.
Fireside Family Restaurant became my go-to place for breakfast every Saturday morning with my friends and we’ve been going back there ever since my first semester. This past weekend, I was there.
I got an order of French toast that came with a choice of eggs and meat. I chose my eggs over easy and ordered sausage and bacon for the meat. It’s definitely a delicious meal that I highly recommend to get here. When I’m not ordering that, I like to get a breakfast sandwich in the form of a sausage, egg, cheese and bacon sandwich on a plain toasted bagel with a side of hash browns.
The best part about Fireside is the student discount! If you bring a student I.D. you get 10% of your bill.
Fireside Family Restaurant is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Be sure to check it out if you’re in the area!
Fireside Family Restaurant
401 Woodbury Glassboro Road
Sewell, NJ 08080
Story and photography by:
Enzo Ronchi, senior public relations major
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Music Industry major and guitarist Gabe Georges, brings vocalist Rachel Martin and pianist Rocco Fiorentino into Rowan’s studio to record a cover of Baby, It’s Cold Outside for the holiday season.
Like what you see? Learn more about the College of Performing Arts.
Video by:
Noel Waldron, senior public relations major
Dean Powers, sophomore radio/TV/film major
Meet Dr. Matthew Lund, Associate Professor of Philosophy within the College of Humanities & Social Sciences.
What is your area of expertise? I am primarily a philosopher of science, and my principal work to date is concerned with epistemological issues in science. Philosophers traffic in questions, and here are the ones I am most concerned with: how do theory and observation relate? How are new scientific theories discovered? How do we distinguish good science from phony science?
My most significant publication is N.R Hanson: Observation, Discovery, and Scientific Change (2010), which is a study of the thought of N.R. Hanson, an important philosopher, who was both a renaissance man and a wild man, and who passed away in his early forties. I also teach Epistemology, Symbolic Logic, Philosophy of Physics and Nietzsche. My first publication was a translation of an article by the German Expressionist poet, Gottfried Benn, on Nietzsche.
One of my favorite courses I teach at Rowan is American Philosophy. For some reason, Americans are either unaware or ashamed of their philosophers. Folks like Thomas Paine, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, C.S. Peirce, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, William James, Alain Locke and John Dewey are deep and interesting thinkers who can be read both for serious study and pleasure. I echo Tolstoy’s complaint that Americans celebrate politicians and industrialists to the exclusion of their fine writers and scholars.
Share an “aha!” moment that you’ve had within your discipline that made you feel passionate about your field. My moment really came before I had ever studied philosophy in any serious capacity. I have always loved math and science, and it came as a surprise to me when I worked as an electrical engineer that those marvelously elegant theories and methods I had learned only applied to the real world in the most partial and approximate ways.
I think that a philosophical analysis of background assumptions and expectations is part of any sophisticated process of inquiry, whether it be in science, ethics, politics or personal decision making. I find the feeling of doubt and disillusion stimulating since this is often the first step on the way from error to the truth.
Describe for us an experience you’ve had with a student that made you feel excited about educating the next generation in your field. Most of us drift through the world as sleepers or sleep walkers. We are told what to believe, what is valuable, what we should do with ourselves. I am always inspired when students are roused from these “dogmatic slumbers” and realize they have voices; they have their own lives and their own destinies that they must make real. I think of philosophy as the most potent source of empowerment. Emerson said in “The American Scholar” that each generation has to think through the problems of life for itself and write its own books. I love it when I see that process at work.
What’s your favorite thing about being on campus on a typical Tuesday? I greatly enjoy walking to class with my head abuzz with all of the interesting ideas and arguments of the day’s lesson. How things will be framed, how students will respond and where the discussion will lead is always an adventure. There’s a reason that so many people forsake lives of mindless comfort for philosophy. When one is in the grips of a legitimate philosophical problem, one is most truly and vigorously alive. When I was in college, I had many 3 a.m. discussions of the big questions. I am lucky enough to have these kinds of discussions every day when I teach.
What is one thing you wish people knew about your academic discipline or your research focus? There’s an odd perceived belief that getting a philosophy degree is an invitation to the life of a useless ne’er-do-well. I could cite data that show the opposite to be true, that philosophy majors score the highest, on average, on post-graduate exams and that their lifetime incomes are among the highest of any major.
However, I think that is not the right approach, since philosophy is rarely chosen for these ulterior reasons — students choose it for intrinsic reasons: the study of philosophy enriches one’s life and can make even the most mundane experiences redeemable via philosophical reflection. Many students have told me that they didn’t really comprehend what other disciplines were for until they had studied philosophy. After that, they knew what kinds of questions to ask and where the other disciplines were coming from. The university evolved out of philosophical schools, so it is not a mystery that philosophy still provides the conceptual glue to bind everything together.
Finally, and I hate to wax apocalyptic, but I believe that humanity only has about a century left to walk the earth if it continues on its current path. How are we going to deal with the destruction of the environment, intolerance, terrorism, increased surveillance, the erosion of human rights, ceaseless war, incompetent and violent political leadership? I agree with Dewey that technology cannot save us since our capacity to develop new things always outstrips our capacity to understand and deal with their social consequences. I honestly don’t think philosophy will save us from final destruction. However, just as I think sober reflection on one’s own personal mortality is necessary, if fundamentally unpleasant and terrifying, so too is sober reflection on the mortality of our planet and species. All we can hope for is that the life of humanity be as good and meaningful as possible, and philosophy contributes essentially to that goal.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Chad Wittmann, senior journalism major
This article is part of a running series with Rowan University’s Wellness Center. This collaboration aims to educate students about personal well-being options. For further updates, follow @RowanUWellness on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Meet Roxy Urso, senior Biology major, who wrote this article with the inspiration of the Rowan Thrive campaign that has been around campus this semester. Roxy shares: “Oftentimes, people get caught up in the idea of mental health and the awareness of it, and while it is extremely important, mental health has many other factors that play into it to make a total person. As college students, our lives are always crazy, so by taking a step back and working on different aspects of wellness on a small scale, we will have a greater impact on our mental health and ourselves overall.”
Over and over again it has been stressed to college students to practice good mental health, to have a strong mindset in the chaos that is the world of academia. Topics of a person’s wellness and well-being are constantly thrown in with these ideas to make it sound like these topics are no more than mental health. However, people often forget that a strong mental well-being is hard to achieve without all elements of well-being having their own presence.
Well-being is an encapsulation of a person through all aspects of their life, as they work together to create an individual, no matter the mindset. However, the more positive each area is on their own, the more likely the individual will have an overall positive well-being. These eight areas of well-being include: emotional, financial, social, spiritual/purpose, occupational, physical, intellectual and environmental. Understanding that well-being is not just a mental state, but the state of a person that is developed by each of these eight areas, can allow a person to work on each one, ultimately working on all, to better themselves as a whole.
For example, by setting a goal to study everyday for a class, a person would be working not only on their intellectual well-being, but their sense of purpose by preparing more for school to be able to graduate, and their occupational because they are most likely trying to graduate to find a job.
Although the idea of working on eight areas of a person’s life may seem overwhelming, it only takes small steps towards each to reach a state that not only betters their mental state, but their person as a whole.
Like what you see? Learn more about our healthy campus initiatives.
Story by:
Roxy Urso, senior biology major, Wellness Center intern
Photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
References
Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. (n.d.). Eight Dimensions of Wellness. Retrieved from https://cpr.bu.edu/living-well/eight-dimensions-of-wellness/
Together with the Ronald McDonald House Southern New Jersey, students prepare and serve food for families in need.
Through the summer First-Year Connection: Volunteerism program, incoming students — both freshmen and transfer — embrace togetherness and philanthropy to build community and provide service. Once the school year starts, the volunteerism continues. The Office of Volunteerism hosts monthly projects for five nonprofits, as well as a host of additional activities both on- and off-campus.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Video by: Dean Powers, sophomore radio/TV/film major
Music by:
Don DeWitt, junior music technology major
Name: Mattie Ballard-Millet
Year: Freshman
Major: Theatre, Musical Theatre Concentration within the College of Performing Arts
Hometown: Biloxi, Mississippi
Where do you live? On-campus, Holly Pointe Commons
What first surprised you about Rowan?
“I think how nice everyone is, because they say that northerners aren’t always the nicest. It’s a stereotype, but that’s not true. Everyone, especially within the Theatre and Dance Department, has been really sweet and encouraging.”
How is New Jersey different from Mississippi?
“Everybody here is very into what they are doing. It’s a very dedicated space for theatre. In high school, there are so many people that do theatre who are just doing it for the credit, and now it’s so nice to be surrounded by people who are just as passionate about theatre as I am. Students care so much.
“I guess there’s an energy that’s different, where everyone’s got something to do.
Whereas in the south, everyone’s kind of like content with living in their hometown forever and staying put. I feel like up north there’s kind of a ‘go-getter attitude,’ where everyone’s like ‘Let me go make a career for myself’ or ‘Let me shape my own path.’ Yeah, it is more fast-paced, and it’s very refreshing.
“Also, my teachers are more chill and laid back. There is a respect thing — where it could just be like a college thing or a north vs. south kind of thing. But it’s like the teachers understand that we’re people, and it’s not like ‘I’m your elder, so you have to respect me.’ Oh, and people don’t say ‘yes, m’am’ or ‘yes, sir.’ It’s such a weird feeling because I’m so used to saying those things.
“In the south, there’s an expectation for younger generations to speak that way to older generations. But here, there’s just a general respect for everyone. And Rowan is very progressive, so it made me super happy to see that people were using pronouns to introduce themselves and address each other. It just felt new and right.”
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Faith Lynn Diccion, sophomore theatre & radio/TV/film double major
“Rowan was actually my transfer institution. I went to another school for my first three semesters,” says Cory. “It was a liberal arts school, so I realized that it wasn’t the right place for me.” Cory had friends who attended Rowan and were raving about how they liked it. Since it was an in-state school, […]
On Dec. 6, 2019, in partnership with Kingsway Church, Glassboro held its annual “Boro in Lights Festival.” Entertainment included a tree lighting ceremony, carriage rides, a live sculptor, photos with Santa, live music performances, free food, and an animal pet show all in the Glassboro Town Square and along Rowan Boulevard from 6-9 p.m.
Local businesses attended to give away free items (I got lightup reindeer antlers).
Rowan University’s Student Government Association (SGA) attended the event for its “Stuff the Bus” fundraiser. SGA members collected food items, hygiene products and winter apparel for The SHOP, Rowan’s student food pantry and resource center.
I definitely recommend checking out next year’s festival!
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
Sleep is a fundamental part of our everyday lives. It’s what helps humans 
function, grow and recharge within just hours. When students decide to go into the next step in their lives and go to college, one of the things students lose is sleep. Most college students get an average of six hours of sleep each night, while the recommended amount of sleep for young adults is 7-9 hours a night (MayoClinic). When a person doesn’t get enough sleep each night, it can come with consequences.
Why do we need sleep? Not getting enough sleep can result in things like feeling physically, mentally and emotionally drained, along with weight gain, lower academic performance and more. All of these things can be detrimental to the mind and body, and here’s why. When people don’t get enough sleep, there is a lack of focus and alertness. This can cause things like lower academic performance and car accidents. Someone who doesn’t get enough sleep is more likely to gain weight because it causes changes to hormones that regulate hunger and appetite. The hormone leptin helps to regulate energy balance by restraining hunger. When there is a lack of sleep, this causes leptin to encourage the body to eat more, which leads to weight gain. Overall, getting a good night’s sleep can help humans function and live an overall better life.
Here are some tips on how to get a good night’s rest!
For a college student, perfect sleep can be hard to achieve, but there are many ways to help aid in getting a good night’s sleep!
Like what you see? Learn more about our healthy campus initiatives.
Story by:
Autumn Vilches-Cruz, junior psychology major, Wellness Center intern
Photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
References
“How Many Hours of Sleep Do You Need?” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 June 2019, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/how-many-hours-of-sleep-are-enough/faq-20057898
Students work together with the Food Bank of South Jersey sorting and organizing food to provide for the food-insecure.
Through the summer First-Year Connection: Volunteerism program, incoming students — both freshmen and transfer — embrace togetherness and philanthropy to build community and provide service. Once the school year starts, the volunteerism continues. The Office of Volunteerism hosts monthly projects for five nonprofits, as well as a host of additional activities both on- and off-campus.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Video by:
Dean Powers, sophomore radio/TV/film major
Music by:
Don DeWitt, junior music technology major
Ten toes in. This is the motto of First-Year Connection: Leadership, and how I tried to live during my transition into college. For me, this meant getting as involved as possible to meet a lot of people and get acclimated to campus.
The first home I found on campus was First Year Connection: Leadership (FCL). This is a four-day program for freshmen and transfer students that focuses on kickstarting your leadership journey at Rowan. This program allowed me to move into Mimosa, my freshman dorm, early, which really set me up for success here at Rowan. By the time the semester started, I had 40 new friends and was all moved in! FCL also jump-started my leadership Rowan career, where I am currently working on my Bronze Leadership Certificate. I still hang out with these people now, even though FCL ended months ago!
The second group that I joined at Rowan is Student University Programmers (SUP). SUP is a group that makes programs and events happen for students by students here at Rowan. One of the FCL mentors is the president of SUP, and my RA is the Director of Charitable Events for SUP, and they really encouraged me to join. I don’t attend every event or meeting, but when I do they are always super friendly.
Joining Rowan’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, a national pre-professional organization, and PRaction, Rowan’s student-run public relations firm, also helped me in my transition to Rowan.
Being on a team for a PRaction client as a freshman really makes me feel like I am going to be professionally prepared after leaving Rowan. I am learning about the profession that I would like to go into, so I can be sure that public relations is actually what I want to do.
My team on-campus is the Crew Club team. We are an up-and-coming club that welcomes people of any skill level in rowing. We are working toward earning enough money to buy a boat so that we can start competing. We are preparing to compete by working out, erging (rowing on a machine) and team bonding. I have found the members of the crew team to be my closest friends on campus. We are always looking for reasons to be together!
All of these clubs are family because they have helped me transition into having a successful start at Rowan. However, my college experience would be very different if I didn’t live on campus. My RA has been amazing with helping me through everything from roommate issues to how to use the laundry machine. My floormates are also becoming like family to me as well. I am so thankful to have this experience living on campus with them.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story by:
Rachel Rumsby, freshman public relations major
Photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
Today, we speak with Marko Minic, a senior Marketing major and Sports Communication and Media minor from Belgrade, Serbia who lives on-campus. Marko will share his #PROFspective with us on what it’s like to be a Rowan University student and how he’s getting the most out of his college experience as a Rowan Prof.
Name: Marko Minic 
Major: Marketing
Minor: Sports Communication & Media
Year: Senior
Transfer Student: Yes, I transferred to Rowan from the University of Rio Grande.
Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia
On-Campus Resident: Yes, I am an RA in Mimosa Hall.
Academic club: Secretary, Sports Communication and Media Club
Athletic club: Basketball Club
Social club: Treasurer, International Club
Do you work on campus? If so, where/what do you do? Yes, I am a Resident Assistant, an Admissions Ambassador and I work at the Rec Center.
Describe an experience you’ve shared with a professor in which you felt like you were working with a visionary in your field. There are a handful of professors at Rowan who I have had meaningful conversations with. Professor Kate Harman made a big impact on me when I took her Intro to Sports Communications class. She was always a great mentor and I am still in contact with her through the Sports CAM club. One thing that made her stand out was her high energy and her ability to see the big picture.
Describe for us an on-campus experience in which you felt that your future goals are supported. 
Every week, as a part of the Sports CAM club, I attend the “Pizza with the Pros” session where outside employers in the sports industry come and talk to us about their careers. It’s a great networking opportunity and is helping me a lot with my employment opportunities and career goals.
Could you share a moment you’ve experienced in which you have felt that Rowan is a welcoming environment for you?Meeting Charles Barkley, a retired NBA player, through Pizza with the Pros, and having a private reception with him.
On your busiest day, what academic, non-academic and social responsibilities are you juggling? 
Monday is a packed day from me. I have classes back to back from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. I always go for a workout before my busy day starts at 7 a.m. After that I usually go either to the admissions office or the Rec Center to do some work before our weekly meeting at 6 p.m. Finally, I come back to my room in Mimosa Hall, usually around 8 p.m, and see how things are going with my residents. Sometimes, as a part of my RA job, I am on duty for the building or assisting residents. If not, I use some time to catch up on some homework or just relax.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
“In high school, I was extremely interested in chemistry and 
pharmaceuticals. I thought about first going to pharmacy school, but I was more interested in how drugs were actually made rather than the dispensing of drugs to patients,” shares Casey Wagner, senior Chemical Engineering major from Sicklerville, NJ (Camden County).
Four years later, she’s conducting research for ExxonMobil.
While working as a research assistant at Rowan over the summer, Casey bumped into her past professor, Dr. C. Stewart Slater. He encouraged her to join his fall clinic team to help ExxonMobil with a project involving the flushing operations of its lubrication plant. Casey explains, “It seemed like an awesome opportunity as a student who wants to go into industry.”
She continues, “The project is still in the beginning stages of development. So far our team is researching how we can relate other industries to the oil industry. Being able to visit the lubrication plant in Paulsboro, NJ and see 
how the operations are completed was an awesome experience. Being able to contact engineers and operators who are working at this plant to ask them questions and learn from their experiences has been a great experience for my future.
“Overall, I’ve been very happy with the professional experience I’m gaining from being a part of this project. I’m extremely happy with the way the communication is between the students and ExxonMobil workers. I feel like we are slowly narrowing our focus as a unit and getting closer to finding plausible options for the plant.
“I have gained some very valuable research experience from being a part of this project. Obviously, as engineers, we have to create unique ideas for our own experiments all the time. Reading about previously done work in contrasting industries and finding correlations between those different industries within the oil industry is very important for this project. This procedure is important no matter where I work in the future.
“Also, working with different groups of people whether it be within the same company or at a different company has given me valuable professional experience. Learning different terms and expressions used by other engineers and chemists has been helpful.”
Casey feels Rowan best prepared her for this opportunity through the engineering clinics. Every semester, all engineering majors are enrolled in clinics, which provide students with an opportunity to join projects they are interested in. She continues, “It definitely prepared me for work after college and for deciding whether I want to continue my education or move on to working in the industry.”
She knows if she ever has any questions, Dr. Slater or Dr. [Mariano] Savelski will always answer them. She shares, “Dr. Slater this past year has been a guiding hand for me and is someone who I know I can always go to for help with future careers.”
Like what you see, learn more about chemical engineering!
Story and photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
This article is part of a running series with Rowan University’s Wellness Center. This collaboration aims to educate students about personal well-being options. For further updates, follow @RowanUWellness on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Meet Mariana Cardenas, senior Psychology major, who wrote this article because of what she’s observed around her. She explains, “I have seen my friends go from saying that they vape because it is just water vapor (it’s not) to then being worried from seeing others in hospitals over vaping and wanting to quit so badly. But many struggle with quitting because they don’t know how to start or they have attempted many times but it being too difficult to deal with the nicotine withdrawals.”
Know it is time to quit vaping, but don’t know where to start?
At this point, we have all seen the social media posts of friends in hospitals vowing to quit vaping. It may have been unclear in the past of the effects that these devices could have on our bodies. Older people talking about the effects just seemed ridiculous. But the research is out now, and it has become apparent that the stuff coming out of vapes should not be going anywhere in our bodies.
Along with all too well known physical effects the chemicals in vapes have on our bodies, there are also several behavioral effects. This includes anxiety and permanently lowered impulse control (thetruth.com).
You may be in a mindset where you know you should ditch the vape, but not know how to start. For some, quitting can feel overwhelming. It may be difficult to imagine yourself without your vape (teen.smokefree.gov).
First, set up a plan and take on your quit journey one step at a time. Most importantly, establish a support system, which can be as simple as letting your friends know about your plans to quit.
Do not be discouraged by slip-ups; instead, celebrate the progress you have made.
Identify triggers and try to avoid them if possible — feelings, things, people or places that give you the urge to vape.
Get ready for withdrawals. Mood changes due to nicotine withdrawal are typically temporary while your body adjusts to being nicotine-free. Keep in mind that the longer you go without nicotine, the better you will feel. When you are having an especially tough day, think back to why you chose to quit in the first place.
Create a simple phrase of your reason for quitting. Write it down somewhere you will constantly see, like your phone’s lock screen, to remind you of your goals.
These are all suggestions. Some of these steps may work well for you and others may not. Do not compare your quit journey to others because all our bodies work differently.
Best of wishes to you in your future healthier life.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story by:
Mariana Cardenas, senior psychology major, Wellness Center intern
Photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
“I love that Rowan’s campus is dog friendly!” – Tamia Tsapouris, Business major, Cliffside Park, NJ “I love the sushi in the student center. Try the Rowan Roll!” – Carter Dernier, Radio TV Film major, Florham Park, NJ “I love the size of Rowan’s campus. Not too big, not too small.” – Missy Pavorsky, Radio […]
Spend just five minutes with Matt Corsi, and it’s impossible not to smile — this Psychology major’s positivity and enthusiasm are infectious.
The transfer student from Deptford, NJ (Gloucester County) arrived on campus one week early this semester as part of College Compass, a program that provides students with disabilities with a transition into college life through early housing, workshops and campus tours.
Matt has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, but for him, helping others plays a far more important role than his own disabilities.
“I’m here to rip the label off, break the label. We’re more than that with hard work, with a heart, with passion,” he says.
A new student himself, Matt actually served on College Compass as a peer mentor. He received accommodations as a student at Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ), which referred him to Rowan’s Academic Success Center (ASC, also known as the Disabilities Resource Center) when he enrolled at the university.
When he arrived at Rowan, he met with ASC Director John Woodruff, who said, “‘I want to have you on our peer mentoring team,’” Matt recalls.
In this role, Matt guided freshmen and fellow transfer students starting out at Rowan. He reveals he didn’t have to know everything on campus to be a good mentor; it was counseling students in areas where they struggled and helping them grow where he felt he could be most useful. Matt says he left the group with this quote: “Maximizing your potential will lead to your success.” He sees himself reflected in this message.
“If I can implement that to them, and they can see that I’ve done it, then I hope they’re more willing to do it, because they can, if they’ve really put everything into it,” Matt says.
Matt hopes to grow his leadership skills through Unified Sports, which he was part of at RCSJ for multiple years and for one as president.
“Unified Sports. That is my heart. I know Rowan has a championship school. It grows them socially and in so many aspects than in just sports. I have seen students who had anger issues who are now helping other students out,” Matt says.
Matt wants to be a mental health counselor post-grad, working with those with issues who he says “can [still] contribute” despite a social “stigma.”
So how does Matt stay so positive? He draws strength not only from helping others, but from defying the odds.
“Doctors told me my whole life I wouldn’t make it through college, and if I did, I would barely make it,” he shares. “And I graduated RCSJ and represented the whole class when I graduated.
“A lot of times we don’t know how much we can do. But when we say we’re going to give it our best and we do it — it doesn’t matter, that’s a victory.”
Like what you see, come visit us!
This article is part of a running series with Rowan University’s Wellness Center. This collaboration aims to educate students about personal well-being options. For further updates, follow @RowanUWellness on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Meet Grace Van Cleef, senior Psychology and Communication Studies double major, who wrote this article because she recently started consistently meal prepping. She shares, “My meals are more consistent and healthy now, and I think about my diet in a way I never did before. I know a lot of college students who skip meals simply because they don’t have the time or money to eat, and I wanted to write something addressing that.”
We’ve all been there. It’s 8 p.m., you just got home after a long day 
of classes, and a complaint from your stomach reminds you that you haven’t eaten a meal since last night. Sometimes class schedules cut straight through normal meal times. Sometimes homework that’s due in a few hours takes priority over finding time to eat. Sometimes the 10-a-week meal plan just doesn’t cut it. But one way or another, sometimes we fill up on our morning coffee and don’t eat a meal for 18 hours or more. Perhaps the meals were replaced with snacks: a granola bar, goldfish, maybe a banana. Oh, well. It can’t be that unhealthy, right? Our culture is always pushing diets that rely on intermittent fasting and calorie cutting. Using this logic, it’s easy to justify skipping meals as healthy.
But how does skipping meals truly influence your health? According to the Health Sciences Center at the University of Louisville, skipping meals is not a good tactic for weight management. In fact, it can have several negative impacts on overall health, both physically and mentally. Skipping meals means the body has less energy to run on, because bodies get their fuel from food. This can cause headaches and feelings of fatigue, sluggishness, weakness, or shakiness. Then, skipping meals can lead to getting — so hungry that all the brain can think about is food. However, this means that once eating is finally an option, our bodies and brains push us to overeat or choose whatever is fast and easy, which usually isn’t very healthy. Finally, as a response to not eating for long periods of time, the body lowers its metabolism and conserves energy by burning fewer calories. This means that eating a large, unhealthy, meal at the end of a day of involuntary fasting will retain more of those calories and actually cause weight gain, contrary to the goal of popular diets such as intermittent fasting. Skipping meals can lead to all sorts of health detriments, and worst of all, it feels terrible.
As a busy, broke college student, skipping meals might feel necessary just to get through the week. However, there are a number of ways to manage a busy schedule while still eating well. First, it is important to understand what to eat in order to stay satisfied longer. A good meal will have a combination of protein, carbs and fats, and will satisfy hunger for 4-6 hours. Fruits and vegetables are important for the vitamins and fiber they contain as well. Bodies need all of these components to create blood sugar, and when blood sugar drops too low, it contributes to feelings of hunger. If meals or snacks lack one of these components, blood sugar will drop sooner and our bodies won’t be satisfied for as long. For example, eating a banana alone will only satisfy hunger for an hour or two, while eating a banana on toast (a carb) with peanut butter (which contains protein and fat) will satisfy hunger for much longer. In order to stay satisfied on a busy schedule, make sure every meal contains these components.
Plan classes around meal times so there’s time to use Tapingo. Alternatively, plan meals and snacks in advance to take to class or work. Having a well fed, well fueled body means more energy and strength to make it through a long day of running from class to class. Eating consistently is healthier and feels better than skipping meals.
Like what you see? Learn more about our healthy campus initiatives.
Story by:
Grace Van Cleef, senior psychology and communication studies major, Wellness Center intern
Photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
References
University of Louisville Department of Family and Geriatric Medicine. (2005). Perils of Skipping Meals [Pamphlet]. Retrieved from https://louisville.edu/medicine/departments/familymedicine/files/L081611.pdf
Today, we speak with Brianna Nghiem, a junior Biological Sciences major from Cherry Hill, NJ (Camden County) who lives on-campus. Brianna 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: Brianna Nghiem
Major: Biological Sciences (3+4 BS/DO Program)
Minors and concentrations: Bantivoglio Honors Concentration in the Honors College
Year: Junior
Hometown and County: Cherry Hill, NJ (Camden County)
Resident: Yes, I live in 220 Rowan Boulevard
Academic clubs: Bantivoglio Leadership and Service Training Program (Mentor)
Social clubs you are a part of: Vietnamese Student Association (President)
Share an “aha!” moment you’ve had within your major that made you feel passionate about your intended field. One moment in my major that made me feel passionate about my intended field was in my Intro to Cellular Biology class with Dr. [Gregory] Eaton. Learning about the different cellular processes in life and its complexity was an extraordinary experience. Although I have always known that I wanted to go to medical school, this class truly furthered my love for medicine.
Describe an experience you’ve shared with a professor in which you felt like you were working with a visionary in your field. When I was a freshman, I had a biology professor who I was very intimidated by on the first day of college. However, upon getting to know him during class and visits to office hours, it was apparent that he truly cared for his students and genuinely wanted us to all succeed academically and personally. Over the semester, he helped me develop proper study habits, manage my stress and ease my transition to college. He really helped to shape me into the student I am today. I have nothing but appreciation to have had him as a professor.
Describe an on-campus experience (academic or non-academic) in which you felt that your future goals are supported. When I was in high school, I was the President of my school’s Vietnamese Culture Club, where I developed passions for my culture as a Vietnamese American. During Summer 2017, as I was about to enter college, I always aspired to start a Vietnamese organization at Rowan with similar values to my high school club. The mission was to have an organization where interested students can unite and appreciate the beauty of the Vietnamese culture and traditions.
By fall 2018, three other students (Catherine Nguyen, Jessica Do, Jessica Liu) and I worked together to form the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA). Dr. Thanh Nguyen, our advisor, has been incredibly supportive with this journey and with all of VSA’s goals. I am so blessed to have met such amazing individuals who are my biggest supporters and who constantly push me to become a better person of myself. As a result, VSA has made me realize my true potential and capabilities as a leader, as well as becoming my platform to connect with and provide support to others.
Could you share a moment you’ve experienced in which you have felt that Rowan is a welcoming environment for you? Through the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), I was able to meet a family of unique yet compatible individuals, each of whom I am so grateful for. VSA embodies empowerment, inclusivity and cultural advocacy. Over this past year, VSA has become an outlet and safe space for not only my creativity, but also for my growth as an individual. The people I have met through VSA have helped mold me into the person I am today. I’m so privileged and honored to go through this journey in celebrating such a beautiful culture with them. Everyone in VSA has made me feel at home at Rowan.
Why did you choose Rowan? While I was applying to colleges, I had a close friend who was completing his education at Rowan. He shared with me his experiences and all of the wonderful opportunities he received through Rowan. As I researched more, I found that Rowan would provide me the best college experience in preparing me for medical school. The 3+4 BS/DO Program with Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine allows me to receive my bachelor’s degree and medical degree in seven years. Being here, I have met a community who is incredibly supportive of my dream and passion in becoming a physician. Deciding to come to Rowan was one of the best decisions I could have ever made.
What’s your favorite thing about your typical Monday at Rowan? My favorite thing about a typical Monday at Rowan are the Executive Board meetings for the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA). Normally, our E-board meets on Monday mornings and everyone brings their favorite breakfast foods. At the meeting, we eat together, plan for upcoming events and bond with each other. My goals during these E-board meetings are not just to plan for events, but also to have time to connect and support each other on a personal level. VSA is more than a just club, it is family!
On your busiest day, what academic, non-academic and social responsibilities are you juggling? Along with a full course load, I am currently studying for the MCAT, which I plan on taking in January. On a typical day, after doing MCAT practice, I usually take time in preparing for Vietnamese Student Association events, where each task varies depending on the upcoming meeting. In addition, I am a mentor for the Bantivoglio Leadership and Service Training (BLAST) Program, where I have the privilege of mentoring first-year students in the Honors College. My hope is not only guide them, but also to encourage and support them in the best way I can. Lastly, as a Music Director of the South Jersey Vietnamese Alliance Church, I spend a portion of my day coordinating plans in preparation for the next weeks.
Interested in joining the Vietnamese Student Association? Follow them on Instagram to get connected!
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Story and photography by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
Jeff Dever, a 2017 alum from Moorestown, NJ (Burlington County), has many reasons to be #RowanPROUD. He made Rowan history as the first student to graduate with a degree in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, and has made countless contributions to campus safety throughout his undergraduate years. But where did his success begin?
The walls of Robinson Hall were the sign he was looking for to launch a successful career. During his sophomore year, they were adorned with posters advertising the new Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management program at Rowan University.
“At the time, I was a volunteer firefighter, working part-time in emergency medical services (EMS). I’d always had an interest in the field, so I thought, why not go talk to my advisor and give it a try?” he recalls.
The advisors and faculty within the department were eager to help an interested — and experienced, as a bonus — student transition into this exciting new major.
“I had originally started at Rowan with a dual major in History and Education. I was headed down the teaching track when I realized maybe that wasn’t what I wanted to pursue,” Jeff says. “I spent a lot of time that semester in their offices as they helped me figure out how to incorporate the credits that I had already earned as an Education major into my progress in the emergency management program, as well as my experience as a first responder.”
The role models Jeff grew close with over the next few years in the program shaped the positive experience he had as one of the first students to enter the realm of disaster preparedness and emergency management. He credits his professors and advisors within the major for helping him explore careers in the field and find his place in the program.
“They wanted me to graduate on time and grow as a person, but also encouraged me to bring my outside experiences as a first responder into their learning environment,” he says. “I don’t think you get such personalized attention and assistance like that at many other universities, especially one that is growing as quickly [as Rowan is].”
One of the first professors Jeff met in the program, Len Clark, quickly became a mentor throughout his college experience.
“At the time [I was in Clark’s class], I was working part-time at the Gloucester County EMS. He was the former emergency management coordinator of Gloucester County, so we would always go into class and swap stories about our experiences,” Jeff shares. He stayed in touch with Clark beyond graduation, as he continued on to work with the Camden EMS and with FEMA.
Jeff credits the outstanding education he earned in the major to the variety of wise, experienced faculty members who taught him. Many of his professors were first responders and emergency management authorities throughout South Jersey themselves, as were his peers and classmates in the program. This is what contributed to such a tight-knit, collaborative environment within the program that led to lifelong friendships and impactful careers.
“The professors I had were all very invested in the success of their students, because they realized that these were the students who would be taking over their roles once they’ve retired. They want to leave people in good hands,” Jeff says.
“You see a lot more camaraderie in the program, because you have professors who are retired firefighters or police officers teaching current or aspiring firefighters and police officers. Of course you have professional expectations to get your work done and come to class, but you also know that these people genuinely care about your wellbeing and your success.”
Jeff attributes his accomplishments in his career so far to the rich experiences he gained through an on-campus internship with the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) at Rowan and as a line officer in the Rowan EMS. As an intern with the OEM, Jeff made numerous contributions to the safe environment Rowan students appreciate today, such as managing inventory for Rowan’s shelter stockpile and updating the campus emergency operations plan, in the case of any major incident on campus.
But his most memorable accomplishment as an intern was his role in Rowan earning the HeartSafe Campus status, which there are signs posted for throughout campus. Through this program, a certain percentage of students are trained in CPR, and CPR training events are held regularly on campus. It’s one of the many ways Rowan sets itself apart from other universities in terms of safety.
“All these experiences I had as a disaster preparedness and emergency management student not only helped me in my professional development, but it made the campus that I love a safer place. It was a really cool, win-win experience — and something I take a lot of pride in.”
As Jeff sets off to continue his career as an Emergency Management Specialist at the Wake County Department of Fire Services in Raleigh, North Carolina, he encourages more students to look into the disaster preparedness and emergency management program at Rowan.
“As we see more disasters being declared in the United States, a lot of jurisdictions and nonprofit agencies are seeking more formal education with their emergency management team.
What Rowan offers in this program — with accessibility to opportunities like Rowan EMS and internships — is a mix of that formal education as well as practical experience, which is so important in this field.”
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
First-generation college student Manuela Jiménez has always had plenty of ambition and little free time. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, the Perth Amboy, NJ (Middlesex County) teacher knew that she wanted to continue her education. She earned her master’s in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University while teaching secondary students, and attained her school principal and supervisor credentials. Jimenez believes that learning is a lifelong process, and in an effort to reflect on her practice as an educator, she decided to continue her studies.
A simple Google search led Manuela to discover the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) program at Rowan, and she dove right in. “I came across this top-rated hybrid doctoral program and was thrilled to hear about it!” she says. “Being a full-time working individual, it’s so convenient to be in a program that gives me the flexibility I need to have face-to-face classes and online classes that allow me to also work.”
Flexibility was a requirement when it came to Manuela’s decision to enroll in a doctorate program. She currently teaches English to seventh graders at a local school, and is the Chair for the elective department — two time-consuming positions that require a lot of work and dedication. She met with a Rowan University advisor in order to determine the perfect schedule that would integrate with her work preferences. The face-to-face class meetings are convenient to her schedule, and she prefers to complete the online portion of her learning during her breaks from teaching. “Having access to all of my learning materials and professor office hours online is very helpful to me because of my schedule,” she says.
Though this schedule may sound overwhelming, Manuela loves every moment of it. “It’s a very rigorous program, but it makes me want to learn more! The more that I read, the more inquisitive I become about my current methods as a practitioner. My professors provide thorough feedback for every assignment, and prepare me to feel more competent and confident in the workplace,” she says.
The most rewarding part of the program is that the content Manuela learns through her courses can be applied to her teaching the very same day! Since she completes her online work throughout the school day, the lessons she learns are fresh in her mind, allowing her to apply the theories from her readings to her classroom to see real results. And since she’s started the Ed.D. program, she is already noticing a difference in the quality of her interactions with students and faculty.
“It’s not all about the concept but the implementation of it in the teaching environment,” she says. “I am becoming a more reflective practitioner, learning the difference between theory and practice by applying the curriculum of these courses to my real-life interactions.”
“I’ve definitely made the right choice with Rowan,” Manuela says. “The program is hard but it’s worth it, because the quality of the education I’m receiving is truly impactful. It’s inspiring that first-generation college students like myself can make it in their career, and pursue a higher education degree while juggling everything else in life.”
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
This article is part of a running series with Rowan University’s Wellness Center. This collaboration aims to educate students about personal well-being options. For further updates, follow @RowanUWellness on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Meet Jessica Hassell, a second-year Higher Education Administration track graduate student who wrote this article to start a discussion about toxic friendships. She shares, “I hope that this article will help Rowan University students become more conscious about how they are treated by others and whether or not they like that treatment.”
College students tend to not think much about the health of their relationships. When building friend groups, individuals can find 
themselves displaying patterns of behaviors that may or may not reflect their values.
Friend groups are social relationships that have complex dynamics, where everyone plays a role. There are some friends who play positive roles that help keep the group active and engaging. These friends act as the initiator; the one that always suggests something fun to do, or the consensus tester who checks to see how everyone feels about the next course of action (Benne, 1948). However, there are also friends who aggressors who dominate, degrade or distract others to get what they want out of the group. It is important for young people to be able to recognize toxic friendships that can negatively impact their wellbeing.
There is minimal research on toxic friendships, but there are a multitude of tactics that toxic individuals use to control others. Some of these tactics include being passive-aggressive to make the victim change without having an open dialogue, never apologizing when they overstep boundaries, and even holding grudges and using past favors or mistakes to guilt the victim into changing their behaviors (“Types of Abuse – Loveisrespect,” 2017). It is helpful for every person in a social circle to think about how these relationships make them feel and evaluate which members of that friend group make them feel empowered and disempowered.
Often, it is easier for young people to recognize abuse in intimate partnerships than in their immediate social circles. Commonly referenced in literature surrounding domestic abuse is the power and control wheel developed by the Domestic Abuse and Intervention Project in Duluth Minnesota (“Power and Control Wheels,” 2017). It details eight methods of power and control: coercion/threats, intimidation, emotional abuse, isolation, obfuscation, economic abuse, using children and using male privilege. While some elements of the Power and Control wheel may only apply to heteronormative intimate partnerships, others can be applied to all relationships.
Although many college friend groups may not have to worry about physical abuse or children, issues surrounding digital abuse, financial abuse, and emotional/verbal abuse can cause anxiety and be signs of toxic friendship. Many people have online access and digital abuse means using online means to take away an individual’s autonomy. It can include directly or indirectly putting someone down in status, spreading rumors online or video recording someone without their consent. Regarding financial abuse, it can include someone watching over another friend’s finances.
By one friend asking for money repeatedly or another friend using money to hold power over another person’s actions, or a friend making another feel guilty about their purchases — these are ways of controlling others. Even exerting emotional/verbal abuse can manifest itself in friend groups as individuals within the group tell members what to do or who to talk to, name-call and allow individuals to be degraded, or even those that make any member feel like their feelings are unimportant (“Types of Abuse – Loveisrespect,” 2017). Once an individual recognizes these toxic behaviors, they can speak out or exit.
College is full opportunities. If an individual finds themselves in a toxic friend group, it’s simple to create distance between oneself and the unhealthy relationship to find new friends elsewhere. Others might choose to use this time to practice their communication skills and attempt to confront the behaviors that make them feel controlled and powerless. No matter the choice, everyone should consider the role that they play in their friend group, take time to consider the health of their social circle and the impact that these relationships are having on their wellbeing.
Like what you see? Learn more about our healthy campus initiatives.
Story by:
Jessica Hassell, second-year higher education administration graduate student, Wellness Center intern
Photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
References
Benne, Kenneth D, and Sheats, Paul. “Functional Roles of Group Members.” Journal of Social Issues. 4.2 (1948): 41–49. Web.
“Power and Control Wheels.” Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs, 2017, https://www.theduluthmodel.org/wheels/.
“Types of Abuse – Loveisrespect.” Loveisrespect.org, National Domestic Violence Hotline, 2017, https://www.loveisrespect.org/is-this-abuse/types-of-abuse/.
Senior Studio Art major Leann Carlson had always stayed close to her home in Vineland, NJ (Cumberland County). But when the opportunity of a lifetime popped into her Rowan email inbox last year, she took it as a sign to step out of her comfort zone and explore all that the world of art has to offer. Little did she know that one semester later, she’d be traveling solo to several countries, making lifelong memories and friends, and enhancing her art skills in Florence, Italy!
Leann applied to the Seward Johnson Artist Development Travel Scholarship on a whim last winter, remembering how fascinated she was with the award after hearing about it during her freshman year. And when her best friend, Joe Cimino, received the award last year, she was so excited to hear all of his stories and see his work from the trip. It is a prestigious art scholarship for upperclassmen in the Art Department to study at Studio Art College International (SACI) in Florence, Italy for a whole semester, covering tuition, transportation, housing and more.
“When I first applied, I wasn’t 100% sure I would be right for the opportunity, but I knew I would regret it if I didn’t at least try,” she reflects. “And when they told me I got it, I knew I couldn’t give it up, no matter how nervous I was.”
Leann spent the next weeks preparing for the trip any way that she could. She studied Italian using apps such as Duolingo and Babble, and received translation books for Christmas. Joe told her stories of his time in Italy, and advised her on what to pack for the trip. He even shared a list of recommendations for restaurants, cafés and attractions to visit while she was there!
“It was terrifying at first. To travel alone, it takes a lot of courage and confidence. You have to be smart about what you’re doing and consider the language barrier,” Leann says. “This was a big jump for me. I didn’t even know who my roommates were until the day I moved in!”
Even in such a beautiful country, being thousands of miles away from the campus she grew to love was not always easy. “I have a lot of friends on campus at Rowan and know all of the faculty, since we’re a relatively small department we all get to know each other very quickly. I have a network of people at Rowan, so when I got to SACI it felt like I was starting from scratch, which was a little intimidating,” Leann recalls.
Luckily, Leann’s roommates at SACI quickly became her good friends, exploring and traveling with her during their time off from classes. They spent their free days visiting local museums, trying out the restaurants nearby and planning weekend getaways. Together, they even visited many places students dream of going, including Ravenna, Rome, Venice, Paris, Budapest, Dublin and more! “Once I got used to [being away from home], I couldn’t believe there was even a time when I was unsure about doing this.”
And even while she was enrolled at a university across the world from her home base, she found ways to incorporate her #RowanPROUD attitude into her experiences abroad: “There were times where I’d be walking through Florence and the buildings would remind me of Philadelphia, so it was a nice little piece of home while I was so far away.”
Leann’s art classes at SACI helped her stray from her comfort zone once more, introducing her to new materials and techniques she had never used before in her work. She learned the arts of etching, serigraphy (screenprinting), book making and batik, but her love of printmaking only increased with her exposure to new techniques. She returned to Glassboro at the end of the semester with a mental list of classes she wanted to get into at Rowan because of her experimentation with different media at SACI.
“This scholarship opportunity changed me as an artist and as a person,” Leann reflects. “I met a lot of different types of artists while I was away, like printmakers, which influenced me to get a lot more into printmaking myself. My roommate was a ceramicist, and I don’t know many ceramicists at Rowan, so it was interesting to hear about something I previously have not had a lot of expertise in. She even made me a mug!”
Leann credits her “incredible” experience abroad to the skills she developed through her four years at Rowan. “I learned how to network and socialize at Rowan, how to get to know my professors and classmates by going to events and speaking to as many different people as I can. My time in Italy would not have been the same without the ability to meet new people that I’ve gained here.”
Networking is also the reason Leann secured a job at the Rowan University Art Gallery on campus! “I started going to events and talking to people to get involved more in the Art Department. I learned to make it a point to get myself out there even though it’s really scary,” she says. “If you could just go out of your way to have one conversation or make one friend a day, your goal will be completed.”
Though Leann’s time abroad is over, the memories she made will stay with her for years to come, and she is looking forward to seeing who receives the Seward Johnson Artist Development Travel Scholarship this year.
“I can’t wait to just bombard them with information and advice like I was so lucky to get from Joe. I just want to pass along that information to somebody, because I definitely needed a lot of help with packing for the trip, finding my way around, learning the culture. I hope I can help the next person as well and keep that tradition going for future winners of this opportunity.”
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
Additional photos courtesy of:
Leann Carlson
Pack some trail mix and water and slip on your sturdiest shoes, because it’s National Take A Hike Day and we’ve got three awesome trails near campus for you to explore!
Hiking is a great way to get a breath of fresh air and exercise on a nice weekend day. And with plenty of nature and parks near Glassboro, there are always many options for trails. Grab some friends and head out there to disconnect from the stress of technology and finals season, and see all of the beauty that the area has to offer!
1. Ceres Park – Mantua, 7-minute drive
Ceres Park makes for a scenic, more intense hike, with steep hills, high ledges and winding paths. Tiny streams and creeks weave throughout some of the trails, providing a peaceful place to rest. No matter which season you visit, the view from the many overlooks and beyond the twisted tree branches is one of a kind.
Also, if you like mountain biking, this is the place to go! There’s a great community of bikers and you can always find a friendly face to guide you through the many hills and obstacles of the park.
2. Washington Lake Park – Washington Twp/Sewell, 12-minute drive
When there aren’t any exciting performances happening at the amphitheater stage in Washington Lake Park, plenty of adventure can be found on the trails behind it! This location is ideal for beginners, because of its simple path and smooth walkway. Small bridges run over the marshy areas of the park, and you’ll probably see a few families with their children and dogs throughout the path.
Regardless of your skill level, this beautiful trail is the perfect study break or a remedy for a case of the Sunday Scaries.
3. Blueberry Hill Trail – Gibbsboro, 30-minute drive
Though this trail may be a longer drive away than the other two, the one-of-a-kind view and terrain at the end make the trek worth it. Follow one of the many trails up the steep hill and wind through the woods until you get to the clearing. This is an ideal spot, up in the trees overlooking an open field, for golden hour. And if you’re feeling adventurous, make your way down the hill through the path to check out the rocks below!
What are some of your other favorite hiking trails nearby?
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
Gwyneth Blackley, Kaersten Garner and Emma Shea are three freshmen students who have already formed a tight friendship together with the help of school clubs. Today, they share their stories on how they met, talk about their campus life and reveal what they look forward to in the near future.
Name: Gwyneth Blackley
Major: Psychology
Year: Freshman
Hometown and County: Neptune, NJ (Monmouth County)
Off-campus resident? No, I live in Holly Pointe
First-generation college student? No
Name: Kaersten Garner
Major: Radio/TV/Film
Year: Freshman
Hometown and County: Teaneck, NJ (Bergen County)
Off-campus resident? No, I live in Willow Hall
First-generation college student? No
Name: Emma Shea
Major: Radio/TV/Film
Year: Freshman
Hometown and County: Middletown, NJ (Monmouth County)
Off-campus resident? No, I live in Holly Pointe with Gwyneth
First-generation college student? No
Emma met Gwyneth through an incoming freshmen Facebook group where they instantly got to know each other through their love of music before they even got to Rowan.
How did you meet?
“I met Gwyneth way back in January and it was off of the roommate [form] where people put their descriptions. One of the things she said was that she was in a band, and I was like, that’s all I need to know! So we both exchanged numbers at some point and we had a lot of similar interests, like music taste. It was all based off of music first, which is a lot of my friendships, and then we talked for months.
Then we ended up meeting in Asbury Park and we just really clicked well. We had really similar personalities, the same humor, and then from that point we just hung out almost everyday in Asbury Park because she lives like five minutes from there. So we just hung out every weekend until we moved in. We had a really strong friendship coming to Rowan.” — Emma
“Yeah, I kind of just said everything I was interested in and put up some pictures of things I like such as my tattoos.” — Gwyneth
Emma and Kaersten, who are both Radio/TV/Film majors, met through their major-related clubs.
Are you guys a part of any clubs together?
“Me and Kaersten are a part of clubs together since we’re both in RTF. We’re both in the Rowan Television Network and I’m in the Cinema Workshop.” — Emma
What’s the Rowan Television Network like?”
“It’s student run so all the students show up and they have a slideshow presentation of all the things that are going on and how you can sign up for different things going on around campus.” — Kaersten
How do you like Cinema Workshop?
“I really like it! I started writing a script for a short film I want to do so I’m excited about that. It’s nowhere close to being done but I really want to be in a film festival, that’s the end goal. I just really want to have one of my scripts come to life, because I have so many scripts written.” — Emma
Kaersten is a part of Rowan Radio and has really been enjoying her experience there.
What’s Rowan Radio like?
“It’s fun! I didn’t know what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted to join the radio station.” — Kaersten
Gwyneth and Emma are both a part of Rowan Alternative Music, a music club focused on bringing as music scene to campus.
What is your favorite part about clubs here?
“The clubs here are really inclusive, especially Rowan Alt cause I know other colleges have groups like this, but that’s something that’s going to make my experience a lot better and at home because it’s something that I know I’m very passionate about: music and alternative music. So I think that’s going to be a big part of my college experience.” — Emma
“I like the variety of people here, there’s people for everyone.” — Gwyneth
How has the past month been at Rowan?
“So much fun! I love college.” — Kaersten
What other things do you hope to accomplish during your time here at Rowan?
“I want to be a social worker. I also want to join the dance team here.” — Gwyneth
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Enzo Ronchi, senior public relations major
This article is part of a running series with Rowan University’s Wellness Center. This collaboration aims to educate students about personal well-being options. For further updates, follow @RowanUWellness on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Meet Caleb Jones, junior Psychology major, who wrote this article to bring awareness to an issue not often talked about. He shares, “There is increased recognition and desti
gmatization of eating disorders, but still little discussion about disordered eating behaviors that may not seem so obvious or extreme.”
At least 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the U.S. (Hudson, Hiripi, Pope & Kessler, 2007). In recent years, various groups have been working to end the stigma associated with eating disorders. Many of us are aware of the types of eating disorders there are and their symptoms. However, we rarely discuss disordered eating behaviors. Those who partake in disordered eating behaviors may not fit all criteria necessary to be diagnosed with an eating disorder, but this does not mean that these behaviors should be ignored.
It is also possible that individuals may not even recognize their disordered eating behaviors, especially if these practices have been a part of their lives for a long period of time. This is why it is important for us all to check in with ourselves when it comes to how we think about food. What are our attitudes, opinions and feelings about what we put in our bodies? How does this relate to how we feel about ourselves?
Disordered eating behaviors may include but are not limited to: restricting, excessive calorie and macronutrient counting, rigid rituals and routines surrounding food and exercise, shame and guilt associated with eating, and hyperfixation on weight and appearance. It is important to note these patterns in ourselves as they may be a sign that we have the potential for developing a full-blown eating disorder.
Recognizing these behaviors before they get worse gives us the opportunity to protect our mental and physical health from declining before things spiral out of control. There is no shame in struggling with an eating disorder, nor disordered eating behaviors, and everybody deserves the support or treatment they need in regards to bettering their relationship with food.
Like what you see? Learn more about our healthy campus initiatives.
Story by:
Caleb Jones, junior psychology major, Wellness Center intern
Photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
References
Hudson, J. I., Hiripi, E., Pope, H. G., & Kessler, R.C. (2007). The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the national comorbidity survey replication. Biological Psychiatry, 61(3), 348–358.
Erin DeBiasse, a sophomore Marketing and Supply Chain & Logistics major and Spanish minor from Denville, NJ (Morris County), is highly passionate about her field. When she was growing up, she always went to work with her dad at Snap-on Tools, which saw her traveling a lot, inspiring her to develop a hard work ethic. “I wanted to do something where you put so much work into it that you get something out of it,” Erin says.
Coming into Rowan University, her intro business courses were super general and informative, which allowed her to explore marketing and supply chain logistics in a more in-depth manner. This helped her decide where she wanted to be within those fields. Currently, she works at Rowan University’s Business Hall. This past summer, she worked in a recruiting agency in Parsippany, NJ, which she found through ProfJobs. She plans on working in a supply chain and logistics internship next summer, which she found through her marketing professor.
Erin pointed out Kelly Young, her academic advisor, as a role model and mentor who supported and motivated her to push her boundaries to their fullest potential. She was extremely helpful in navigating her schedule and in helping her decide what she wanted to do.
Erin is a part of University Innovation Fellows, a Stanford University run program where students are recommended by their university business or engineering professors to get involved in. She was one of the four students chosen from Rowan to join the program. The four students are tasked to find a problem with the university and attempt to fix it by getting funding. Erin chose to focus on solving the hunger problem at Rowan. She devised a plan in which students can donate their meal swipes to other students in need. This is in its beginning stages, and if it passes, the group will be sent out to Stanford in the spring and go to Google’s Headquarters to present.
Erin’s time at Rowan has only been very brief so far, but she already has highly enjoyed her time here. She looks forward to her next two years at Rowan and advises others to take risks. “Identity which risk to take and go 100% with it,” she says.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story by Enzo Ronchi, junior public relations major
Photography by Adam Goskowsky, junior advertising major
Meet Mary Gomez, an international freshman student from The Republic of The Gambia. This is her second semester at Rowan University. She is currently majoring in Community Health from the School of Health Professions. Today she will share with us her experience on becoming an international student and how Rowan has become her second home.
Name: Mary Gomez 
Major: Community Health
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Washington Township
Resident: Triad
Academic clubs: African Student Association, Leadership Rowan and Public Health.
As an international student, where are you coming from? I’m from The Republic of The Gambia. We call it the smiling coast of Africa.
How did you hear about Rowan? My uncle works here, Dr. Banutu-Gomez, he’s a business professor. Last year, I was kind of confused on which schools to look into, and my mom was like ‘Oh, your uncle works at Rowan.’ He told us about Rowan, and then I started the application process.
Why did you choose to come to Rowan? First, I chose to come to Rowan because the application process was so easy to fill out. Other schools can be complicated and hard to know where to find information. Sometimes, you have to call 10 times just to talk to someone. But here, the application process was so easy to do. Every information I needed was online, like literally everything.
As an international student, you can imagine I can’t keep calling every time. They [Rowan] had the live chat right there, so I could talk to pretty much anyone. It’s pretty expensive to call from an international phone number to the U.S. so the live chat was perfect, and the people were so nice from the international center. I was like, ‘This is definitely the right school for me.’
What else caught your attention about Rowan? The school was pretty diverse. I’m from Africa and in Africa we always treat each other like family, and we are all about feeling welcomed. So, I wanted to be in a place where people were welcoming and where I wouldn’t feel left out.
Also, I’m a twin. So, I was looking for a school that had both majors we wanted. A major that would go into biochemistry for my sister and public health for me.
Tell us about one moment that made you feel like Rowan was the right fit for you. After I applied to Rowan and came here, I didn’t have any friends at all. But I got enrolled in this class called Rowan 101 and my professor was Jessica Syed. She basically made me fall in love with this school. In the class we had to go to five events and write about them. When I started going to these events, I got to meet so many people. And Professor Syed got people from the Rowan Leadership program to come talk to the class and from then I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is the correct school for me,’ because I’m all about leadership and public speaking. And that’s when I knew Rowan was for me. I recommend any student that comes here to take Rowan 101.
Favorite thing about Rowan? One thing I like about Rowan is that you can go to any event, and if you 
don’t know anyone at the event you come back knowing about 10 people. There was one time I went to this event, I think the African Student Association hosted it, I didn’t know anyone — at the end of the day I knew like 10 different people. I didn’t feel like an international student anymore. Everyone is included here; all the opportunities are for everyone.
What’s your biggest life goal? Since I’m studying public health, my biggest life goal is to be able to change the healthcare system in my country. I want an institution where no one has to say ‘I’m not going to the hospital because I don’t have money.’ I don’t want money to be the reason why people don’t have access to healthcare. Afterwards, I want to go into global health and probably work with the United Nations and improve the healthcare system at large, so after helping my country I want to go bigger.
Any advice for international students? I would tell them not to be afraid to ask questions. That’s one limitation I used to have during my first weeks. I used to worry about what people would think if I was asking a question, but don’t be afraid to ask questions, ask as many questions as you can. And for your accent, don’t let your accent be a barrier and don’t ever worry about how you speak. Nobody really cares, as far as you can get your information out there.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major
This article is part of a running series with Rowan University’s Wellness Center. This collaboration aims to educate students about personal well-being options. For further updates, follow @RowanUWellness on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Meet Allison Niemiec, a first year graduate student in the Higher Education Administrative Track program, who wrote this article because cosplay has been […]
Taylor Nagelski, a sophomore Communications Studies major from Ocean City, NJ (Cape May County), is one of Rowan’s newest transfer students. She previously attended Atlantic Cape Community College. Today, she will share her experiences on her first month at Rowan University.
Name: Taylor Nagelski
Major: Communications Studies
Year: Sophomore
Hometown and county: Ocean City, NJ (Cape May County)
Off-campus resident? No, I live in Holly Pointe Commons
First-generation college student? No
Tell us about your first month at Rowan!
“It’s been really fun! I’m with all my friends now, I like all my classes and I like the college life instead of going to community college and commuting. I really like living here.”
What was it like transitioning from community college to Rowan?
“It wasn’t that different because I visited here a lot so I kind of knew what was happening and knew what it was all like but classes are pretty much the same. I guess I’m just adjusting to not being around my family all the time.”
Why did you choose your major?
“My aunt was a communications major in college and she kind of sat me down and said, ‘Listen, I just see you doing this’ and I looked into it. This was early high school and then I looked into it and I really enjoyed it. That’s why I chose it.”
What’s your favorite thing about Rowan?
“Just all my friends and being in a place where everyone is just like me!”
Why did you choose Rowan?
“Because I had visited a few times last year and I really enjoyed it and I could imagine myself being successful here.”
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story by Enzo Ronchi, junior public relations major
Photography by Adam Goskowsky, junior advertising major
Name: Anne Marie Fernandez 
Year: I would say that I’m a “super senior,” but I’m in the graduate portion of my combined BS/MS degree program.
Major: Bioinformatics
Hometown and county: Stratford, NJ (Camden County)
On-campus resident or commuter: Commuter
Where do you live (on or off campus): I live off-campus, at home, with my parents and younger sister.
First-generation college student?: Kind of! My mother graduated with her nursing degree in the Philippines, but I’m the first in my family to go to school in the U.S. and graduate with a degree.
Academic clubs: I am a member of the Tau Sigma Transfer Honor Society, Biology Club and Rowan University Philippine American Coalition (RUPAC).
Job on campus: I work in the Holly Pointe Commons office as a Service Assistant.
What inspired you to choose your major and the 4+1 program? When I was in the process of transferring to Rowan I was torn between Translational Biomedical Sciences and Bioinformatics, but the interdisciplinary aspect of bioinformatics is what won me over.
During the spring semester of my junior year, I felt that I wasn’t prepared enough to go into the job market after my senior year and I also was interested in taking more classes. Those two reasons pushed me into applying for the 4+1 program. I was especially interested in the new biology classes that were offering in the fall at that time, which are now offered under the Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) department.
How does your field impact the world? What impact would you like to have on the world in your field? The field of bioinformatics has ties to several different disciplines in the scientific community. A few major ones are: biology, chemistry, computer science, information technology, mathematics and statistics. Most research is based on biological or chemical data done on a molecular level. In the biological aspect, research is usually done on genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics.
Did you ever have a moment of uncertainty within your major? How did you get through the challenge? I feel that every student at one point questions whether they chose the right major, and I was definitely one of them at several points of my undergraduate career. When that happens, for me personally, it’s usually because I’m burnt out due to school and stress. To get through it, I typically take a break from my work and go over the reasons why I chose my major in the first place and recall all the great experiences I had by choosing this path, such as the people I met and made connections with and all the interesting topics I learned during the courses 
I took. But the major proponent that always puts me right back on track is my family, and how I would choose bioinformatics over nursing in a heartbeat.
What is one thing about Rowan that was a happy surprise for you? I loved the feeling/vibe the campus gave off. I’m not much of a city girl and can only withstand the busy atmosphere for short spurts of time. So, I really wanted to go to a university with a suburban feel like the community college that I attended, and Rowan ended up being the perfect fit for me.
Tell us about one club, organization or group of friends that make you feel like Rowan is home. I already felt comfortable with Rowan when I transferred, but what really made it feel like home were the friends I made through RUPAC (also known as PAC). The club and its members are so welcoming and lively that there’s never a dull moment at general board meetings (GBMs).
But the great thing about PAC is that the time spent with members is not solely isolated to club meetings. You are able to create connections on a deeper level (if you choose to do so) with them due to the time spent with them outside of GBMs just by playing games, studying together or just by talking with each other about anything and everything. The people in this organization really do create a safe space for others to flourish and be themselves and this family atmosphere is what makes Rowan feel like home to me.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
The Rowan University Social Media Team is looking for a student photographer. This position will assist with visual content creation to be used on Rowan University’s social media platforms, website and print materials. Tasks include taking photographs of campus, events, student life and more. The student photographer will also be responsible for some editing and cataloging photos.
As a photographer you will have the opportunity to attend a variety of University events, gain professional experience and have your work featured on many different Rowan University platforms.
You must be a full-time Rowan University student enrolled in the spring 2020 semester. This is a part-time, paid position. Duties include:
HOW TO APPLY
Submit a cover letter, resume and photography portfolio to socialmedia@rowan.edu. The deadline to submit your application and video is January 31, 2020.
P.S. If you happen to feature your photography on your social media please share your handle with us!
The Rowan University Social Media Team is looking for a student vlogger. If you love starring in your own videos, editing videos and getting creative we want to hear from you! Specifically, we want to hear from you via a one-minute video showing us why you’re the perfect fit.
JOB DESCRIPTION & REQUIREMENTS
Rowan University’s student vlogger is responsible for representing the university through biweekly vlogs that are hosted on Rowan’s official YouTube channel. The student vlogger must be a full-time Rowan University student enrolled in the spring 2020 semester. This is a part-time, paid position. Duties include:
HOW TO APPLY
Submit a cover letter, resume and a one-minute video to show us why you should be Rowan’s next student vlogger. Your video can feature a day in your life, give a tour of your favorite spots on campus/South Jersey or just simply introduce yourself. Submissions should be sent to socialmedia@rowan.edu. The deadline to submit your application and video is January 31, 2020.
P.S. If you happen to have your own YouTube channel be sure to share that with us too!
Meet the partners and leaders of Rowan for Bernie at Rowan University — President Ryan Clare, a junior in Music Composition from Jackson (Ocean County), and Vice President Ian Nielsen, a senior with a major in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Allentown (Monmouth County).
Rowan for Bernie is a group dedicated to canvassing and talking to individuals around campus about their political ideals on Bernie Sanders and to help upcoming voters build their opinions leading to the upcoming election. Their mission is to network with as many people as they can to persuade and educate them in the hope to get votes for Bernie Sanders.
Ryan and Ian first met at a Bernie Sanders networking program, which helped students start groups and organizations in their colleges and provided the support and tools to help students understand canvassing. Through this meeting, Rowan for Bernie was created.
They were able to support a decent following on-campus with around 20 dedicated members going to club meetings as of now, and they look to further expand the organization.
Ryan explains his passion for his position: “Bernie Sanders has inspired me to really get involved with the political process, and I feel like he is our one chance to get somebody into the White House that has been this consistent for his entire political career…”
Ryan further adds, “…he has motivated me, and I feel like I have to fight as hard as I can to get this man elected.”
Ian also shares why he wanted to get involved: “I wasn’t really super political, [but] I always was somewhat into politics all throughout my high school years.”
Ian also explains his viewpoint: “I just really believe that it’s our responsibility as citizens to participate in the democratic process and make sure that people are taken care of. Bernie has 
been consistent over the decades, whether it comes to talking about healthcare he’s been pushing for Medicare for all these years. He was on the right side of civil rights, which is something we can not say for other candidates. He has been pushing for $15 an hour wage, that’s something he has been pushing for years … He is not only pushing for these things in Congress but he is actually doing them right now.”
One of their upcoming goals is to become a chartered organization at Rowan. As of now they have a petition with 200 signatures and are looking to propose their organization to the Student Government Association for further advancements.
With all the time put into the organization, they truly share a passion and work hard toward creating a bigger following and sharing some amazing experiences in the field. Ryan adds: “I’ve just really enjoyed canvassing and talking to new people, we openly will discuss ideas to people from very different political backgrounds … just really enjoyed sharing my views and backing them up with facts as opposed to just how I feel about things.” Ian further adds his most favorite experiences so far, “Just hearing people’s personal stories is just really moving and it really inspires me to keep pushing and try and make things better for everyone.”
For now, they look to further expand their club and to help people understand the importance to participate in the election and to have fun doing it!
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Adam Goskowsky, junior advertising major
Looking for plans this weekend? Check out Fahrenheit Ceramic Studio in Pitman, NJ. Just a five-minute drive from campus, Fahrenheit is the perfect place to unwind by painting your own ceramic work of art. It offers a 
wide variety of ceramics, color glazes and ideas to spark your creativity.
With a relaxed and homey feel, customers are welcome with no reservation necessary. You pick out a pottery piece and glazes and start painting! Your options are endless, and the workers are really helpful in sharing how the entire process works.
For this trip, I chose a mug and an owl (shoutout to our Rowan mascot, Whoo RU the Prof). After painting for a little bit over an hour, my friend I finished our pieces and returned a week later to pick them up. I’ve been using my hand-painted mug for morning coffee every day since, and look forward to filling my cabinet up with more.
Most ceramic pieces range from $3-$20, plus a studio fee of $8. Luckily, Fahrenheit offers discount specials throughout the week, so make sure to bring your student ID.
On Wednesdays, Fahrenheit offers half-price studio fees for students. On Thursdays and Fridays, customers 21+ paint for half-price studio fees from 6-10 p.m. and on Saturday nights, students are eligible for a buy one, get one free studio fee from 5-10 pm.
This is definitely going to be my go-to spot during the winter. For more information check out its website! www.fahrenheitceramicstudio.com.
Fahrenheit Ceramic Studio
8 South Broadway
Pitman, NJ 08071
856-269-4931
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
Meet Kelly Kirk, a freshman from Riverside, NJ (Burlington County). Kelly, a Bioinformatics major, lives in Holly Pointe Commons.
Kelly loves looking forward to going to the Equestrian Club! She attends the club during the weekend, where they practice and compete with other schools on performance.
When asked if she was ever nervous with starting Rowan, Kelly says she was never nervous but was instead very excited to begin college life!
Some advice Kelly would give to her high school self about college is, “You have a lot more time on your hands and need to learn how to budget that better.”
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Adam Goskowsky, junior advertising major
Today we speak with Chelsea Chaet, a sophomore Elementary Education and English double major with a minor in Theatre. She recently transferred from James Madison University.
Name: Chelsea Chaet
Year: Sophomore (Class of ‘22)
Major: Elementary Education and English
Hometown(s): Voorhees, New Jersey / Virginia Beach, Virginia / Solon, Ohio
Transfer Student? Yes
Where do you live? On-campus, Rowan Boulevard Apartments
How did you end up here at Rowan?
“When I was in high school in Voorhees, NJ, I could not wait to go to school out-of-state and get out of here. I never in a million years thought that I would be going here because I always pictured myself going somewhere out-of-state. Then I found out the summer before my senior year that I had to move to Virginia, which was a crazy transition. That was probably the hardest change I’ve had to go through so far, just moving states from somewhere that I lived my whole life. 
I went to James Madison University mostly because my family was in Virginia, and I thought it would be my new home. I didn’t think that we were moving again. But my family moved again to Ohio this past May. So I visited my friends here in South Jersey this past summer, and I got the idea to transfer back to school in New Jersey.
I knew that JMU just wasn’t the right fit for me because Virginia really wasn’t my home. For months I felt lost at JMU, like a fish out of water. And being back here, I just felt this overwhelming sense that I was supposed to be back here. I prayed a lot for guidance. Then I applied to Rowan, not really thinking that I would end up going here. It was just kind of on a limb, but I got in and I just felt so excited. 
Being back here, I just felt really compelled to go here, and that being back in South Jersey was what I was meant to do. But I felt that I really needed to grow and experience new things, which I did when I moved. So I feel like I was supposed to come back here as a changed, grown person. It felt so right, and honestly, I wasn’t afraid of things that I didn’t understand anymore. I always knew my home was here.”
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and Photography by:
Faith Lynn Diccion, sophomore theatre & RTF double major
Meet Amaal Khan, a sophomore enrolled in the BS/MD program through CMSRU who is majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She is from Moorestown, NJ (Burlington County) and lives on Rowan Boulevard. Amaal will share her #PROFspective with us on what it’s like to be enrolled in the BS/MD program and how she’s getting the most out of her college experience as a Rowan Prof.
Name: Amaal Khan
Year: Sophomore
Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology
Hometown: Moorestown, NJ (Burlington County)
On Campus or Commuter? Lives on Rowan Boulevard
Academic clubs? Rowan Pre-Health Society
Social Clubs? Rowan University of Philippine American coalition (RU PAC) and Rowan Rangeela
Why did you decide to major in Molecular and Cellular Biology? Molecular and Cellular Biology seemed like a different major, it wasn’t something I saw in a lot of schools and the curriculum involved other classes that reached other subject areas. It’s a different experience, because I just didn’t want to be with STEM majors, I wanted to be with people who were outside of wanting to be doctors. Currently I’m taking bioinformatics and that’s with a lot of bioinformatics majors, so I get different aspects of programming. A little bit of statistics and a little bit of engineering, so it’s a much more variable major.
Where do you see yourself in eight years? I know I will be a doctor, but I don’t think I want to work in a hospital. I do think I want to do research for a few years and maybe get a Ph.D., then probably work in a private practice, somewhere underprivileged … areas where it’s a little more difficult for people to get inexpensive healthcare.
What would you share with a future student interested in your major? I would tell them that Molecular and Cellular Biology is definitely a little harder than regular biology, because the engineering base classes, or statistics-based classes, are harder than the classes that biology students take. I would say that you get a better variety of subjects, you get to learn so many other things than what a regular bio major does. If you are looking to branch out in college in your education, but not to an extreme degree and if you don’t have enough time to take on a minor then taking a major where you have some flexibility in your classes is really good. If you want to experience something else besides regular science classes, then you should try Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Would you recommend someone to do the BS/MD program? Definitely, only if you are set on being a doctor. This is my career path, so it makes sense in saving a year of college. I know I want to be a doctor, but if you’re in this program you should be sure you’re going to be a doctor; otherwise you just waste your time.
How does your field impact the world? It’s very research based A lot of my professors that teach my classes actually do research, like cancer research, different blood pathogens research, different diseases research. There’s a lot of research that goes into it.
What impact would you like to have on the world in your field? I definitely want to work in an area with underprivileged people or low-income people. Where I can provide healthcare for them at an inexpensive cost, because I know that is super difficult nowadays. I don’t think I’ll ever find the cure for cancer, but I do want to help study diseases, [to] try to find the best diet that is safe for people with diabetes, since that runs in my family. Bettering the quality of life — that’s the impact I want to have.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major
Meet Dr. Angela Beale-Tawfeeq, Associate Professor of Health and Physical Education Teacher Education within the College of Education.
What is your area of expertise? My area of expertise is program 
development and evaluation for minority communities, drowning prevention and aquatic safety among African American and Hispanic/Latino populations, youth development and culturally responsive teaching.
I currently serve as a member of the American Red Cross, Scientific Advisory Council, Aquatic Sub Council, and the director of education and research for Diversity in Aquatics, a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization whose mission is to save lives and reduce the incidence of drowning through global efforts.
Share an “aha!” moment you’ve had within your discipline that made you feel passionate about your field? When I came to realize that I could transform the perception of the field of health and physical education by showing how physical education can have a positive effect on public health. The perception of physical education and health education often times has been limited to stereotypical images of the “coach” with a whistle using their “outside voice” to encourage students to participate in physical education classes, hence physical activity. When I came to understand that I could become a “change agent” in my community, combining my love of family, culturally relevant pedagogy, social justice, to encourage youth through physical education/health and wellness, I strive to teach my students to view themselves as agents of change who will teach in classrooms with more than walls and balls.
Share with us one aspect of student engagement that you enjoy most, and why? The opportunity to empower communities and students to empower themselves with relevant and inspiring educational experiences that will enable them to take control of their lives, shape their career goals, imagine future endeavors and become active participants in their scholastic journey.
Describe an experience you’ve had with a student that made you feel excited about educating the next generation in your field? One of the most challenging aspects of academia is finding out how you will be able to add to the body of literature in one’s professional field in the areas of research, service and teaching. At times, I have struggled with finding my voice among the structured parameters of research which defines worth by one’s ability to “conduct a systematic investigation of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.” It is my belief that as an educator one must have or be willing to gain a true knowledge of the students and their world to present content that can evoke an intrinsic response.
From 2008 – 2013, I developed Project Guard: Make A Splash E.N.D.N.Y, an aquatic and water safety initiative developed for schools and community organizations to foster respect, responsibility and relevance. Project Guard: Make A Splash E.N.D.N.Y was a collaborative venture among the (ARC) American Red Cross of Long Island, USA Olympic Swimming: Make A Splash Initiative, Adelphi University, the Teaching for Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) Alliance and a neighboring local school district. It was this collaborative opportunity with students, at both the university and K-12 levels, that I believe that whether we are teaching in the local public schools or in an institution of higher education that we are supposed to provide students with relevant curriculum that will be meaningful and not dehumanizing to them. I believe we should design programs and opportunities because we believe that if we do not lead by example, we cannot expect our students to follow and model what they have learned and been taught.
I believe we teach because we believe that students are supposed to be researchers, problem solvers, critical thinkers, learners and much more. I believe we teach because we believe that students should be able to believe that goals in life are always achievable as long as they do not give in. I believe we teach because we believe that 
providing relevant physical education and physical activity may require collaborations beyond school. We do it because we know that students must be “global citizens” and culturally aware and be prepared to use strategies that will sustain them whether in the classroom and in life, for “a new world order is in the making, and it is up to us to prepare ourselves that we may take our rightful place in it” (el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, Malcolm X, 1963).
What is one thing you wish people knew about your academic discipline or your research focus? One of the things that I wish people knew about the field? It is more than a field of play. One purpose of health education physical education methods courses is to help preservice teachers develop an understanding of, and acquire, the pedagogical skills needed to facilitate learning through movement. As a professional, I strive to engage stakeholders in the K-12 experience. I believe that through the creation of innovative programs, embedded in the richness of the culture, curricula, and communities, that we are all a part of, we will begin to create the next generation of effective teachers who are truly reflective of the students and communities they serve.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
Meet Amanda Yannarella, a sophomore majoring in Biomedical Engineering from Burlington Township, NJ (Burlington County). This summer, Amanda became a student leader for this year’s Rowan’s First-Year Connection: Volunteerism Program. Today she will share with us her experience in the program and what she’s learned from being a student leader.
Why did you decide to join Rowan’s First-Year Connection program?
“Last year as a freshman, I wanted to get acclimated to campus and wanted to start of my year well by volunteering.
I volunteered a lot in high school, too. I was in Key Club, so I did a lot of volunteering then and I wanted to continue here. I was a leader this year because I loved it so much my freshman year. I wanted to do it again and have a positive impact on the incoming first-year students, because that was really important to me.”
What kind of activities did you do?
“We went to the Food Bank of South Jersey and we helped sort all the donations they had into proteins, soups and grains. Two people went into the bakery to bake muffins, so that was really cool. We also helped with the Saint Bernard’s [disaster relief] Project, which is similar to Habitat for Humanity, in which I am also involved in. We went to someone’s house that was damaged by Hurricane Sandy and we helped fix up their house. We did flooring, drywall, spackling and hurricane clips, which is supposed to help the roof stay on with strong winds.
“Then we helped with the Little Owls Preschool at Rowan. We were cleaning their classrooms to prepare for the school year. It took us about two hours, which would have taken all the Little Owl teachers all day. Then we did SAIL Bowling Night; they do activities for adults on the autism spectrum. We had a great time bowling with them and making conversations — just hanging out and having fun, but it was important because I feel like we were making everyone’s day better. I’m not good at bowling, but still had a good time.”
What was your favorite activity?
“The Saint Bernard’s Project was my favorite because you learn skills that I feel you can transfer to your own house. Now I know how to put in hardwood flooring, and that’s pretty cool.”
What knowledge or skills have you developed through this program?
“When we went to the food bank [someone] told us the amount of food we sorted, which was a lot, was between 2,000 to 5,000 pounds. The guy was like, ‘Congratulations guys, you really helped us out, but there are still families going to bed hungry tonight. And even though we worked so hard there is still a lot of work to be done.’ Then you’re like, ‘Wait what? I just did this whole work and you’re telling me that there’s more?’ It’s kind of eye opening. That is why I like doing stuff like that because you get impacted and it’s good to get reminded with that kind of stuff. And as a leader I learned leadership skills, like learning to communicate. I use to hate talking. I was so quiet when I was younger, but this actually helped me get more comfortable talking to bigger groups of people.”
What did being a leader for Rowan’s First-Year Connection program mean to you?
“I liked being able to have an impact on incoming students and setting them off into a positive way. We were focusing on the volunteering stuff all week and the importance of that, but we were also getting them ready for campus. And it just meant a lot to get that kind of leadership experience under my belt.”
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major
Today, we hear from Jenna Fischer, a junior Public Relations major who recently transferred to Rowan from Middlesex County College. Read Jenna’s account of her first few months on campus.
If someone told my quiet self in high school three years ago I would be striving as a public relations major and living on campus at Rowan University, I would have called you crazy. The only thing I knew three years ago was I was going to Middlesex County College for Communications. I knew I was going to transfer to a four-year school but pushed it as far back in my mind as possible.
Before I knew it, application season was upon me. I had my heart set on a specific school. In addition to that, I applied to Rutgers New Brunswick as my backup (like every other East Brunswick graduate does). But as deadlines quickly approached, the school I had heart my set on made the transfer process difficult.
With a few days left until the application deadline, I decided to apply to Rowan. I remembered touring it with my brother a few years prior and enjoying how it was a small and quaint school. Most people think applying as a transfer can be confusing, and it can be. However, Rowan’s process made applying simple and painless. I even received my acceptance letter a just few days later.
When I emailed with questions about transferring credits or housing, Rowan’s staff was quick and kind to answer. But it wasn’t until I came and toured campus that I saw myself living here and feeling safe in the environment that I was now ready to call home. The puzzle pieces began to fall into place.
Before I knew it, I was all moved in. I cried as I didn’t want my family to leave because I was still scared to start this new chapter. But within a few days my worries subsided, and I found myself getting into the swing of my routine. I was starting classes, working on Rowan’s social media team and joining clubs, such as PRSSA and PRaction. In only two months, I am stepping out of my comfort zone, doing things I never thought I would do.
So, to the quiet student sitting in high school about to start county college or someone who’s ready to transfer but scared … you’re going to be alright.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story by:
Jenna Fischer, junior public relations major
Photos courtesy of:
Jenna Fischer
Name: Gianna Witasick
Major: Psychology with a Pre-Med concentration, might pick up an Anthropology major!
Year: Junior
Hometown and county: Ocean City, NJ (Cape May County)
Off-campus resident? Yes
First-generation college student? No
What are you listening to right now?
“I chose five songs that remind me of this time of year for the whole fall vibe. I chose “Petulia” by The Kooks, “Livewire” by Oh Wonder, “Mykonos” by Fleet Foxes, “Pale Blue Eyes” by The Velvet Underground and “Heavenly” by Shoobies, which is a new song they just released!
Why did you pick these songs?
“I think that they all have a very similar fall-type vibe, like when you’re walking down the street and it’s starting to get colder outside and there’s all the colorful leaves on the ground. These are the songs I want to be listening to to put myself in the mood for this time of year. It’s a very specific type of mellowness that’s a little bit more calm than the summer. I have playlists for every time of year!”
Do you have a favorite from those five songs you picked?
“That’s a really good question! I really like ‘Petulia,’ I think it’s upbeat for a fall song. I think a lot of fall songs tend to be on the sad side for some reason because I guess it’s the end of the summer season. It makes me happy, it’s a really good feeling. Also the new Shoobies song ‘Heavenly’ is so good. It’s a bit different from their other music and their old sound but in a really good way. Shoobies are a local band from the Asbury Park area and they rock! Shameless plug, they’re the best band in New Jersey and the world.”
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Enzo Ronchi, senior public relations major
If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush or an exciting rainy-day activity near campus, check out Primitive Axe! Located here in Glassboro (only five minutes away in the strip mall by Samurai), Primitive Axe is a great place to step out of your comfort zone and enjoy a unique experience with friends.
The name might give it away, but this place is centered around throwing axes. Each participant gets an axe when it is his/her turn, and a throwing coach to lead you through the adventure. Every coach is helpful and experienced, and there to make sure everything runs smoothly and everyone is having fun! You’ll be taught how to hold the axe, how to throw it at the target and get tips and tricks from your coach. It looks much easier than it actually is, but it only takes 10 minutes to get the hang of it and start getting bull’s eyes!
Primitive Axe’s indoor Glassboro facility is brand new and beautiful, with a rustic feel and 20 targets. It’s a great place to relieve the stress of homework and exams, and have an unconventional experience to share with family and friends! And for your inevitable safety concerns about throwing axes, the staff goes out of their way to explain the safety precautions and supervise your throwing. There are rules and barriers to separate each thrower and keep everyone out of harm’s way.
Tuesdays at Primitive Axe are College Night! Bring your Rowan ID for a special rate of $15 per person for an hour of axe-throwing, an awesome deal compared to the $25-40 price for other days and walk-ins. They even accept Rowan Bucks. Plus, it’s BYO everything but the axes — which means Taco Tuesday just got even better!
Grab a few friends and book your reservation at Primitive Axe!
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Story and photography by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
Meet Alyssa Salera, a junior from East Greenwich, NJ (Gloucester County) majoring in Biochemistry from the College of Science & Mathematics. This summer, Alyssa interned in Israel at a rehabilitation hospital, where she worked closely with physical therapists and patients. Today, she will share with us her experience abroad.
Where did you intern this summer?
“The hospital is called Herzog Hospital and it’s in Jerusalem, Israel. It’s a rehabilitation hospital.”
How did you hear about this internship?
“I went to Israel last summer on a trip called ‘Birthright.’ I was at Barnes and Noble getting coffee with the on-campus Rebbetzin [a rabbi’s wife or a teacher], and we talked about ways on how I could go back to Israel. I told her that I want to go to PA (physician’s assistant) school or med school one day, and she told me about this program that would get me back to Israel and they would set me up with an internship where I could be in a hospital and get both things that I wanted.”
What’s the name of the program, and how was it structured?
“The program is called ‘Onward IsraeLinks,’ and it is a mixture of an internship component and also with that a learning portion. We had a Rabbi and Rebbetzin on the trip with us, who were from Georgia and who taught us in the first 10 days. We talked about what you’re supposed to believe as a Jew and how that translates to life now and modern society. And the last six weeks was just straight internship.”
What kind of things did you do at the rehabilitation hospital?
“I worked with a lot of chiropractic patients, who had just had strokes, and I worked with a lot of kids who were in the ICU. With the chiropractic patients, we worked on getting them started to being able to sit up on their own, to stand up and to walk with our assistance.
There were a few patients, but one in particular, she could barely open her eyes on her own when I first got there; by the end we were able to have her walking on her own with a walker. There was another patient I worked really closely with and he again on my first day in the hospital could barely lift his legs. I worked with him and the physical therapist to have him standing. And on my own we did our own stretches together and exercises. I got to choose pretty much what I wanted to do with him and by the end of the summer he got his red dot, meaning that he can walk on his own with his walker unassisted. So, I was just an extra set of hands, I would get to help them with different sections.”
What did you learn or gain from your internship in Israel?
“It Is really hard to communicate with people who don’t speak the same language as you, and I know very little Hebrew, so it really helped me gain a greater appreciation for working with people who come from all diverse backgrounds and who don’t have the same story as I do. And it just really taught me a lot about confidence in what I’m doing and in that this is what I want to do with my life.”
What’s one memory you will always remember from interning at the hospital?
“That one patient who got his red dot saying that he could walk. I was the one to give him his red dot, because I worked with him every single day over the summer and just watching him barely being able to move his legs and then being able to walk on his own, that was incredible.”
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Story by:
Iridian Gonzalez, senior journalism major
Today we speak with Joseph Scafiro, a senior History major from Cinnaminson, NJ (Burlington County) and programming coordinator for Rowan After Hours (RAH). Joseph will share his #PROFspective with us about what his job entails and why you should get involved each weekend. Name: Joseph Scafiro Major: History Minor: None Year: Senior Where do you […]
Meet Dr. Nina Krey, assistant professor of Marketing within the Rohrer College of Business.
Share an “aha!” moment you’ve had within your discipline that made you feel passionate about your field.
“Before I became a professor when I was still studying marketing, I had an ‘aha!’ regarding international marketing. The fact that even large corporations sometimes neglect to adjust their strategies to different markets and then fail to be successful was very interesting to me. Plus, it leads to some funny examples of failed translations or cultural mistakes! No matter how large or successful a company might be in their home country, consumers are different and companies have to adjust their strategies to specific regions.”
Describe an experience you’ve had with a student that made you feel excited about educating the next generation in your field.
“For me, the best feeling is helping my students get a job and be successful in their career. Often times I get emails from students who say that they applied methods I taught them in their current positions. It makes me so happy to hear from them and know that I contributed to their success.”
What’s your favorite thing about being on campus on a typical Wednesday?
“I love the atmosphere and nature on campus. I enjoy taking moments to myself and walking through certain stops on campus — especially by the pond behind the Engineering Building, I enjoy looking for turtles in that lake when walking back from picking up coffee.”
What is your area of expertise?
“One of mine is sensory marketing. I study how the environment and the effects influence value perceptions and shopping behavior. Another area is more quantitative. I develop scales so other researchers can use them in their surveys. I also work with new technologies. I’m currently studying how augmented reality (AR) affects consumer experiences.”
What is one thing you wish people knew about your academic discipline or your research focus?
“Marketing is not just sales or advertising. It’s not only for creative people, it involves a lot of math and writing that you wouldn’t think of. There are so many subsections of marketing and one of them is marketing research, which drives everything else. If you don’t know who your consumers are, then you do not know how to get them in the door and to buy your product.”
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Story by:
Chad Wittmann, senior journalism major
Photography by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
Today we talk to Erin O’Grady, a freshman Exploratory Studies major from New Milford, NJ (Bergen County).
What has been the best part of your freshman year so far?
Definitely making new South Jersey friends and joining the Rowan Softball team! Joining the team was one of my main goals, so it was super exciting to make the team.
Any advice to future students?
Get the unlimited meal plan. The smoothies on-campus are the best. And don’t let your schoolwork pile up! Do it way before it’s due so you don’t have to rush to get it done later. Also, try not to go home every weekend.
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Story and photography by:
Bianca Torres, junior music industry major
Name: Sarah Sosa
Major: Biology
Minors or concentration: Environmental Studies and Environmental and Sustainability Studies
Year: Junior
Hometown and County: Elizabeth, NJ (Union County)
Resident: Rowan Boulevard Apartments
Academic Clubs: Pre-Vet Club, REAL Club
Tell us about your travel home up to North Jersey and how you get there using public transportation:
The first time I had to go home from Rowan to Elizabeth, I think it was just to see some friends. I didn’t have a car so I didn’t know what to do. We always talked about “How am I supposed to go home?” Nobody knew and nobody was going to volunteer to come pick me up and take me all the way home. So I went to the front office of the Student Center and I asked them about the route to go home. They showed me the route and what to do. They had bus schedules and maps that I could take a look at … but I also did my own research too.
I downloaded the NJ Transit app (this was before I knew about the Rowan-Camden shuttle), but for my first entire year I would take the NJ Transit bus that stops at Campbell Library to Camden. Using the public bus does take a little longer than the shuttle. However, I didn’t find that out until the end of the semester when I had missed the bus and finally used the Rowan shuttle.
From Camden, I take another bus from the Camden-Walter Rand Transportation Center to the Trenton train station, which is about an hour. From there you take the Northeast Corridor line which goes all the way to New York City, but I take it to get to the second-to-last stop, Elizabeth.
I always let people know about my commute and let them know that it does take about three hours, but I’m so used to it already it doesn’t bother me that much! I usually go by myself, but recently I bumped into a friend who was going home too, so we ended up leaving together. It’s nice to have a buddy to go with you for the long ride.
Why did you choose Rowan?
I chose Rowan because I liked being someplace not too close but not too far away from home. There’s a good amount of distance. I also felt like Rowan was the only school really reaching out to me. There was a program called the Rowan Select Program, which helped students get more of a push into college life. I liked that Rowan had a program like that and that my Rowan Select orientation was two nights and three days so we could get more assimilated. During that orientation we actually started listening to lectures and during the summer we took a two-credit online class, which was a good head start. I liked that Rowan was doing something different.
Why did you choose Environmental Studies?
I have always been into the environment — green everything, conservation biology, animal extinction and the reasons why they’re going extinct. I’ve also just been interested on how pollution and climate change are affecting us.
What advice would you give to your high school self about choosing the right school?
Just relax! It’s not the end of the world. I can’t remember how many times I stressed out about deciding before May about what I wanted to choose! I thought I had to choose an entirely different lifestyle for the rest of my life. You have options! Be confident about your decisions, and don’t be afraid to do whatever you want to do.
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Story and photography by:
Bianca Torres, junior Music Industry major
This is Nikola Berardo, a junior Music Industry major with a concentration in Music Technology from Absecon, NJ (Atlantic County). Today, he will share his experiences on his first month at Rowan University.
Name: Nikola Berardo
Major: Music Industry with a Music Technology concentration
Year: Junior
Hometown and County: Absecon, NJ (Atlantic County)
Off-campus resident? Yes
First-generation college student? No
Tell us about your transition into Rowan. Were you nervous?
“I was not nervous initially, but as the first day approached, I grew a little jittery. But the first day went really well! I had a great time and transitioning was fine. Pretty straightforward.”
Why did you choose Rowan?
“It was the cheapest option, and it was pretty close to my hometown. I looked into Stevens Institute of Technology and The University of the Arts as well.”
Why did you want to major in Music Industry?
“Because I’m a musician, I play in various bands, I play various instruments and I’m a huge fan of music.”
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Story and photography by:
Enzo Ronchi, senior public relations major
For senior international student Marko Minic, a Marketing major from Serbia, (basket)ball is life! He came to the United States in 2016 to pursue an education in business and to continue playing the sport he loves.
“It’s business-oriented in America, and I felt that I could prosper here with an education in some sort of business, but I didn’t know what I wanted to study specifically,” he says. “I came to the conclusion that marketing was a good fit for me because I enjoy communicating and interacting with new people. I don’t just want to do the behind the scenes work; I want to be in the field of action.”
Marko decided to look into the Sports Communication and Media minor, which was brand new at the time, to combine his passion for sports and his knowledge in marketing. Dr. John Giannini, founding director of Rowan University’s Center for Sports Communication and Social Impact, was a mentor of sorts to Marko throughout his first year in the program, guiding him to find his niche in the industry.
“I got to know Dr. Giannini through my involvement in the Sports Communication Club, and he introduced me to an organization called Hoop Group. We decided it would be a great fit for an internship for me because of my interests. He connected me to the group and encouraged me to reach out for an opportunity he knew of, and the rest is history.”
This past summer, Marko accepted an offer as a marketing intern for Hoop Group, a renowned basketball training camp located in Pennsylvania. He spent his days capturing all that Hoop Group has to offer through its prestigious programs — photographing training sessions, managing the company social media accounts and staying in touch with camp alumni. He conducted player interviews each week for spotlights on the company blog, dabbled in Lightroom and Photoshop and weighed in on web design decisions.
But for Marko, the best part of the internship was the hands-on involvement with both basketball and marketing. “Being able to watch the games and be part of the action in an environment that I’ve grown up around, and being able to provide valuable materials to the company was the most rewarding part for me,” he says. “I learned a lot about editing and content design and had a nice mixture of both behind-the-scenes work in the office and being out in the action, photographing players and getting to know people. To see things from the other perspective, being on the production side of things, was pretty cool for me, since I had never thought about the detailed work that goes into events like this.”
As Marko enters his senior year, his schedule is brimming with a combination of academic and athletic commitments: “Nowadays, I have less time to dedicate solely to sports, so luckily Rowan has so many options to still play on club or intramural teams while balancing everything else in life.”
The “everything else in life” just happens to consist of more great opportunities for Marko, such as an internship this semester with the Rowan Recreation Center and with Rowan Athletics next semester!
“I’ve learned that my professors are really here to support my career. That small positive word of mouth really put me on top and helped me stand out among the rest of the applicants [for Hoop Group],” he reflects. “Everything I’m doing is pretty exciting and rewarding right now, so I’m looking forward to the future.”
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Story and photography by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major
Meet Salem!
Breed: Black shorthair
Age: 11 months
Owner: Justin Borelli, Advertising major, College of Communication and Creative Arts
Lives in: Pitman, NJ (Gloucester County)
He’s very energetic and playful and loves napping in the sun.
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Story by:
Justin Borelli, advertising senior
Meet Elizabeth Hudak, a freshman Radio/TV/Film major from Manchester, NJ (Ocean County). She moved into Holly Pointe Commons in September.
Elizabeth says attending freshmen orientation made it easier to meet people once she started on campus this fall. She was happily surprised at “how easily I made friends and how open everybody was to getting to know one another.”
Campus life is one of her favorite aspects of Rowan because she feels it makes it so that there’s always something to do every day.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story by Enzo Ronchi, junior public relations major
Photography by Adam Goskowsky, junior advertising major
Shreya Shah, a sophomore Marketing major from Hightstown, NJ 
(Mercer County), is charging through college in the Degree in Three Marketing program, and she’s making sure she gets the most out of her three years here.
With two parents in the computer and science industries, Shreya took a lot of science-related courses in high school. Shreya quickly found out she didn’t like any of them … at all! After talking to one of the marketing managers at Citibank where her dad works, Shreya dove into her family’s unknown territory into the business world.
After taking a marketing class in her senior year of high school and shadowing at Citibank, Shreya applied to Rowan’s Marketing Degree in Three program, where Rowan University students are eligible to graduate in three years (saving around $22,000 in tuition fees).
Last semester, Shreya visited the Rohrer Center for Professional Development (RCPD) for resume help before applying to a Social Media Services Manager position at EveryDayEspo LLC, a one-stop-shop for all multimedia and marketing needs. After receiving an offer for the job, Shreya went into the Center to thank the intern who helped her. The intern encouraged Shreya to apply to work at the Center in the fall, which is exactly what she did. Fast forward a few months and Shreya is now a marketing intern for RCPD.
Shreya is in charge of coordinating the International Business Industry Night happening in November, checking in students for resume, cover letter or career-related help. Shreya says: “I’m learning very quickly what I have to say as a female, and at my age, is factual and true in terms of what I am doing. It’s important to formulate your own ideas when you’re in a place that traditionally welcomes robotic personalities. I’m glad I have a job that loves my own individual thoughts and ideas.” 
Shreya attributes her confidence to the marketing four-year plan of Career Development Modules. Each workshop or programming, networking event provides her with the necessary tools to succeed in the workforce post-grad. The modules help her become a better speaker and professional, competitive employee. “I’m able to apply these skills to my everyday routine,” Shreya says.
Shreya is excited to see what else she learns while being a part of an incredible network of students. She advises, “The most important thing you can do at any job is to be yourself, as cheesy as it sounds … and networking.”
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Story and photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major