A chef by trade, Rowan Global student Jeramie Cooper says he’s combining health and “something he’s always loved” into a new career path through the Nutrition and Dietetics program. “I just want people to be healthy, it’s what I want to be able to bring to other people,” Jeramie says. “So that’s pretty much my […]
First Year Voices: Musical Theatre Majors Olivia Frankenbach and Liz Baginski
Meet College of Performing Arts students Olivia Frankenbach of Lambertville, NJ (Hunterdon County) and Liz Baginski of Metuchen, NJ (Middlesex County), who share the theatre experiences they’re looking forward to this year. “I love Rowan. I knew when I chose this school I would be happy here and my opinion hasn’t changed. I’m looking forward […]
How SMART Goals Can Make Success Easier
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.
Ever heard the saying “Work smarter, not harder?” Well, it’s a phrase that holds true. Here’s why: If one works harder, they will only exert their utmost energy and end up left on E like a car without gasoline. However, if one works smarter, then they work more strategically and thoroughly.
Working hard can only get one so far. That’s why setting SMART goals is conducive to success. Whether or not one believes it, there is such a thing as “SMART” goals. Smart goals are very effective game changers to some individuals who use them. Personally, they have worked for me, and I’ve been able to benefit from them ever since.
According to author Thomas Rutledge from Psychology Today, SMART goals were actually created using an evidence-based formula. “SMART” stands for: Specific—clearly identifying the goal, Measurable—defining the goal in measurable terms, Attainable—choosing goals that are realistic and manageable, Relevant–making sure the goal is something that is important to oneself, and Time-bound—defining the time frame during which one will achieve the goal (Source: Thomas Rutledge). This method requires that one apply each step to a particular goal. SMART goals are convenient because they can actually be used in all aspects of one’s life.
Some examples of how one can use this method are for the gym if one wants to set up workout routines or start a workout plan/program, academics and test taking, job/apartment hunting, cleaning routines, starting one’s own YouTube channel, saving money, spending and budgeting, etc.
A really simple example of how I used SMART goals over this past year was by connecting it to my New Year’s resolution of growing my hair out. I have always cut half of my hair off each year since freshman year. For my senior year, I decided to do something different. Since I haven’t had my hair long in such a long time, I figured to keep it growing until I graduate to see my overall hair growth progress in a healthy way.
The way I set this up was: Specific—no cutting my hair, only small trims and growing it the longest it’s ever been, Measurable—since I will be slightly trimming my hair each month, I will give myself until the end of this semester and the next to grow my hair the longest it’s been before, Attainable—I’ve grown my hair out before so I know I can do it again with additional length this time around, Relevant—I focus a lot on my haircare since I do believe it is my best feature so it is significantly important to me because I can style it in many ways, Time-bound—I will utilize this whole year of 2021 going into 2022 as a timestamp. So far this year, I’m still going strong on growing it out and I’m proud of it because learning to manage a specific hair type or hair in general is similar to that of a chore.
SMART has helped me grow my hair out strategically rather than putting loads of products in my hair and expecting instant growth. Growth takes time and I now think of SMART goals as my accountability partner, which have improved my skills and time management overall.
Reference: Beyond SMART: An Evidence-Based Formulate for Goal Setting
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Story by:
Erika Morales Sanchez, senior psychology major from Bergen County, NJ, Wellness Center intern
Photos by:
Rachel Rumsby, junior communication studies and public relations double major
Finance Major, Management Information Systems Minor Sasmita Prabu
Today we feature Sasmita Prabu, a junior Finance major who is also minoring in Management Information Systems. Sasmita works for the Office of Volunteerism as a Blood Services Coordinator and is also the secretary of the Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging in Business Club. She discusses her major and goes into detail about her involvement in several clubs around campus.
Why did you choose Rowan to study finance?
I chose Rowan because it quickly became my happy medium. It was a school that not only met my expectations in regards to academic opportunity, it also fit my desired needs for professor-to-student ratio. When deciding on a university to further my education, it was important to me to be able to learn in an environment where my professors could dedicate more time to engage with their students.
I also believe that it is important to be located near a major city. The location of Rowan is a short drive to Philadelphia, where I have endless opportunities for internships and future jobs.
Why did you choose to study finance?
I wanted to study a major that utilizes my analytical and communication skills.
What are your future plans and what is your dream job for working as a finance major?
Currently, I am exploring my options for the future through hands-on internship experiences. Last summer I interned for AT&T’s Billing Operations department.
This summer I am seeking an internship opportunity that will allow me to expand on my skill sets further and utilize them in my future endeavors.
What does your role as Undergraduate Coordinator of Blood Services for the Office of Volunteerism entail? How did you get involved with this?
My role as Undergraduate Coordinator of Blood Services includes working closely with colleagues of the Office of Volunteerism team to help organize bi-monthly on-campus blood drives with the support of the American Red Cross.
My freshman year I attended a series of volunteering events where I heard about this opportunity. However, my initial interest in volunteering and working with blood drives started in high school. While in high school, I was the president of my Red Cross club where I also helped facilitate blood drives. These opportunities have been a great way to give back to the community and build leadership skills while doing so.
What does the day of a blood drive look like?
There is so much preparation involved before the day of a blood drive. The work realistically begins many weeks prior with advertising the drive, contacting donors, and recruiting student volunteers. We have immense support from student organizations, clubs and faculty that make our bi-monthly blood drives not only possible but successful. I am organizing these blood drives, but I do have an entire family of colleagues and student organizations supporting and assisting me.
Can you tell us more about the Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging in Business Club? What are your responsibilities as secretary of this club? How did you get involved with this?
This is a newly founded student organization embracing diversity and promoting inclusion and belonging in the workplace. This club provides a sense of community and inclusive professional development resources to all majors. It is important to note that DIBB is not focused on just business majors.
My responsibilities as secretary of this club includes communicating with our members and maintaining club records. I also assist our club Community Outreach Chair in event planning by scheduling guest speakers. Additionally, I look forward to taking on more responsibilities this semester as I was recently promoted to club Vice President.
What is your advice for other women as finance majors that are simply trying to compete in a field that is male dominant?
I think it is important to have confidence in yourself and your questions. There will be times where you may be unsure of yourself, and asking questions and seeking help will only aid you.
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Story by:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Photos by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major
Faculty PROFile: Molecular Biophysicist Dr. Nathaniel Nucci
Learn more about Dr. Nathaniel Nucci, associate professor and Biophysics coordinator within the Physics department at Rowan’s College of Science and Mathematics.
How long have you worked at Rowan?
I’ve worked at Rowan for seven years. This is my eighth year as a faculty member.
What is your area of expertise?
I’m a molecular biophysicist. That basically means that I study the physics of biological molecules. My main area of expertise is focused on understanding how the structures of proteins and the changes to those structures influence how proteins function. This is important because understanding how protein structures relate to function allows us to understand how living systems work, and by “work,” I mean that in the true physical sense.
Proteins are the molecules that do most of the work in our bodies, from moving our muscles to digesting our food to dictating how our tissues develop as we grow. Understanding how structure-function relationships can sometimes go wrong due to mutations or other factors is key to understanding the sources of most diseases.
What inspires you to continue teaching?
I LOVE the process of discovery that students go through in my classes. Helping them grow and broaden their worldview is incredibly fulfilling. Every one of my students leaves at the end of a semester with a different perspective than they had at the beginning of the semester, and with that expansion of knowledge and understanding comes power! Power to affect change in the world and power to pursue career paths that will help them be happy and fulfilled. At least, that’s what I aim for!
What advice would you have for someone who is considering biophysics, but maybe doesn’t quite understand the field or what you can with the degree?
I came to Biophysics as a discipline because I was interested in living things. I thought they were fascinating (and still do!), and I wanted to understand how they work. While my biology and biochemistry/molecular biology courses helped me understand the parts and how they fit together, it wasn’t until I took a Biophysics course and saw the way the math helps quantitatively explain how life works that I found the level of understanding I was searching for.
So, to those considering the Biophysics major, I’d say … if you want to understand biological systems, living things (human or otherwise), or health-related problems and you like math, then the Biophysics major is the best of the bio-related majors at Rowan for you.
Share an “aha!” moment you’ve had within your discipline that made you feel passionate about your field.
This is challenging because I’ve had so many! The first was when I read a book as an undergraduate called “Cells, Gels, and the Engines of Life.” It got me thinking about all of the components of cells, especially the ones that most scientists ignore.
But the biggest moment of amazement for me, I think, was when I saw a talk by Dr. Klaus Schulten at a Biophysical Society meeting about 10 years ago. In his talk, he presented computer simulations of an entire cell where the workings of all the molecules were visualized. This was an amazing achievement that required the efforts not only of his group but of the entire biophysics community because without the hundreds of researchers in the room having learned so much over the previous decades, the simulations would never have been possible.
That moment made me feel like our work was a part of a greater, and incredibly awesome, whole.
What is one thing you wish people knew about your academic discipline or your research focus?
It’s not at hard or as complicated as it sounds! When I tell people that I’m a biophysicist, they usually say something like “wow,” but my training is no different than anyone else’s. The work we do and our field in general is approachable and fun! It’s interdisciplinary, so we get to do lots of different things and focus on the problems we are interested in. It’s like an intellectual playground!
Is there anything that I didn’t ask you about the Biophysics program that you’d like to share with incoming students?
I think it’s important for students to understand that our Biophysics majors get to bridge communities at Rowan. They are integrated in to the Physics department community, but they also get to build relationships with students and faculty in other majors across the college. That’s pretty unique, and it usually helps them have a pretty strong network by the time they graduate.
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Strengthen Your Writing with Strategic Communication [VIDEO]
Brandon West, a Rowan Global student pursuing his master’s degree in Strategic Communication, shares his thoughts on the program. “No matter what field you want to go into, whether it’s public relations, sports communication or being a teacher, this program is applicable to pretty much any career,” he says.
Studying Abroad in Japan: The Best Decision I Have Ever Made
Meet Dominique DiGiacomo, a Rowan Global student pursuing her master’s in education. She graduated from Rowan with her bachelor’s in English last spring. Dominique had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Japan during her fall semester of junior year.
I lived in the city of Machida, a suburban area located just 45 minutes outside of center city Tokyo. My typical days abroad consisted of a delicious breakfast (either homemade or from a convenience store), classes anywhere from 9am-5pm (three completely taught in Japanese and two in English), a workout at the on-campus gym, study sessions with my friends, and a night out in the city with my friends! My time abroad helped me to realize that I was indeed in the right major.
As an international student at JF Oberlin University I had the opportunity to apply for a job at their Brown Bag Cafe, an area in which Japanese students could go in order to learn and practice English. It was there that I confirmed my love for teaching English as a second language, loving every moment as I had the opportunity to talk to my Japanese classmates and help them break down the language barrier. This opportunity confirmed for me that I was on the right path and that my future dream of teaching English in Japan could become a reality.
Rowan has set me up for my professional goal of teaching English abroad by giving me the experience of student teaching and education classes that have helped me to study to become a better teacher. My experience abroad has helped me to work toward my goal of teaching abroad, especially since I received the opportunity while I was there to teach English to non-native speakers. I am hoping that my combination of skills I have learned from Rowan as well as abroad will help me in my endeavors to get a job teaching English abroad in Japan.
My time in Japan is one that I will cherish in my memories for years to come. Studying abroad in Japan was such an amazing experience and despite my slight nerves of living all on my own in a country half way across the world, I absolutely loved every moment I was there and am already counting down the days until I can hopefully return. The transition I had from going to college in Japan instead of America was honestly seamless, the only difficulty being adjusting to the time difference which was something my body eventually just got used to.
Besides my three years of study beforehand of the Japanese language and my experience traveling there once before, I still had some nerves when it came to studying abroad on my own so the on-site staff were super helpful during my transition. There was staff at the airport to pick us up and bring us to our housing, staff constantly on duty throughout the building to help us with anything we needed, and staff throughout campus helping to direct us when we were lost or confused.
Studying abroad in Japan was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and it opened up so many doors for me both academically and professionally. I encourage anyone who is interested in studying abroad to take the leap and go for it! It will be an amazing experience that you will never forget!
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Photos courtesy of:
Dominique DiGiacomo
Transfer to Transformed: Five Students Share
Rowan Blog celebrates National Transfer Student Week and partners with the Office of Student Success Programs in spotlighting five students who have found their new college home at Rowan University. Victoria (Tore) Butler, Elementary Education and Literacy Studies major who transferred from The University of Scranton in fall 2019 Why did you select to transfer […]
Confidence Is Not Always Consistent, And That’s Ok
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.
Being confident is hard, especially as a college student. Transitioning into a competitive environment, navigating through your career goals and personal goals, as well as uncertainty about the future can have a significant impact on an individual’s self-esteem.
College is a unique experience and with it comes a variety of obstacles and adventures. While being a college student can be a very rewarding journey, it can also come with a wide range of challenges that can result in a fluctuating self-esteem, and that’s ok.
Self-esteem is rarely at a constant level, it fluctuates and develops throughout our lives. According to an article published by Mayo Clinic, “Self-esteem begins to develop and form in early childhood … depending on your circumstances it can begin to fluctuate throughout time” (Mayo Clinic, 2020).
Factors such as life experiences, friendships, home life, school life, relationships, how we perceive ourselves and more influence our self-esteem. A majority of these factors are probably significantly different now compared to how they were in childhood. Throughout that time period, a variety of changes and overall growth occurs. The changes physically, emotionally, mentally and socially significantly and greatly impact self-esteem as growth and maturity develops and takes place.
As young adults and adults, that growth has not stopped. During an academic career in college and higher education in general, a lot of changes will occur, both good and bad ones, throughout an individual’s time as a college student. It is ok to experience fluctuation in confidence and self-esteem.
Self-esteem is important and it is something that can affect individual’s greatly, especially if they are experiencing low self-esteem. It is ok to experience both healthy and low self-esteem. Most, if not all, college students go through times where confidence is high as well as times where confidence feels nonexistent. It is important, however, to reach out to trusted resources on and off campus if self-esteem and confidence is starting to affect daily life.
From freshman to senior year of college, there is a significant difference in who individuals are when they first start college and who they are when they graduate college. That change from the first day of college to the last day just shows how individuals change and grow during their college experience. Fluctuations in self-esteem, both the highs and lows, is a part of that growth individual’s experience throughout their time in college. In the end, the high’s and low’s in confidence are valid and ok to experience throughout college and throughout life as well.
Reference:
Mayo Clinic, Staff. (2020, July 14). Does your self-esteem need a boost? Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/self-esteem/art-20047976.
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Story by:
Sarah Mackenzie, junior biological sciences major from Gloucester County, NJ, Wellness Center intern
Photos by:
Joe Gentempo, art graduate
20 Minute Radius: Fall Activities
Fall is here! Get in the spirit with these seasonal activities under 20 minutes from Rowan University. Duffield’s Duffields Farm Market and Bakery is filled with seasonal produce and baked goods. Step outside into Duffield’s Pumpkinland, and you’ll find hayrides, pumpkins and a corn maze! Open Monday-Saturday. Pitman Pitman’s Broadway is home to storefronts and […]
Transfer Story: La’Tonia Carnegie [VIDEO]
Originally from Jamaica, La’Tonia Carnegie transferred to Rowan to pursue a career in public relations. “Because of Rowan, I just launched my business,” La’Tonia says. “Rowan definitely elevated and gave me that push I needed to pursue my career.”
La’Tonia is just one of the thousands of students who choose to transfer to Rowan each year.
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Video by:
Max Morgan, Radio/TV/Film graduate
Andrew Slowinski, 2021 Rick Rosenberg Jr. Memorial Scholarship Recipient
Today we feature Andrew Slowinski, a junior Political Science major. Andrew also minors in Economics and is from Toms River, NJ (Ocean County). Andrew shares his internship experience this past summer as a recipient of the 2021 Rick Rosenberg Jr. Memorial Scholarship.
According to the Rowan Institute of Public Policy and Citizenship (RIPPAC), the scholarship awards $2,500 for a student to take an unpaid summer internship “and aspire to pursue a future political career like the late Rick Rosenberg, Jr., the Republican political operative.”
What got you interested in political science?
Back in my junior year of high school I took a class called Political and Legal Education because the class I originally wanted to take was not available. I decided to take this class after having a few options to choose from. I quickly realized that I really liked learning about the political science field and I thoroughly enjoyed taking the class.
During the class there was a legal chapter where we had to do a mock trial, which I thought was very fun. After that class I decided to make a career out of it.
How did you find out about the Rosenberg scholarship?
Professor Dworkin introduced me to this scholarship and internship opportunity. I met Professor Dworkin through a club I am part of called the Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship (RIPPAC). He told me to check out the RIPPAC internship scholarships available, and that is how I found the Rick Rosenberg, Jr. Memorial Scholarship.
What are your responsibilities in your internship?
I interned at the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, and I had several responsibilities for the summer. First off, my supervisor would send me documents, court reports and testimonies to look over and prepare for upcoming court that we had. I would outline key sections that would be of value to us, write questions for cross-examination and write memos. An example of a memo I have written was a memo for reconsideration and I would apply it to a case we currently have because the judge ruled it not the way we hoped … therefore we ask for reconsideration.
The internship took place over the whole summer, and we had court at least five times a week.
What are your professional goals?
After undergrad I will be attending law school; I am not sure on where I want to get my law degree from yet. From there I am still deciding on whether I want to become a lawyer or a judge for my future profession.
What advice do you have for other students seeking political science internships?
Networking is imperative when it comes to seeking out any internship or scholarship opportunities. I reached out to Professor Dworkin, and he helped me build a well-written resume. In high school I interned for a U.S. congressman because my mom’s friend is a supervisor and she assisted in helping me get that internship at such an early age.
Networking and reaching out to friends or family that may work in your area of interest is huge when starting out.
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Story by:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Photos courtesy of:
Andrew Slowinski
Header photo courtesy of:
University Publications
Active Minds [VIDEO]
“Active Minds is an organization, and our main goal is to educate others about mental health,” says Rowan Active Minds Chapter President Mia Fondacaro. A national organization, the mission of Active Minds is to break the stigma surrounding mental health. The Rowan chapter “is geared toward changing the conversation, supporting one another, building community, and […]
Bringing More BIPOC Students into Higher Education Spaces
Alondra Martinez’s coursework and on-campus position both align with her passion to see more students like her, from underrepresented backgrounds, “achieve anything they want.” Alondra, a student in the M.A. in Higher Education program, works as a graduate coordinator with the Social Justice, Inclusion, and Conflict Resolution (SJICR) office. Alondra is a first generation college […]
Social Media and its Effect on Body Image
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. For someone like me, I cannot go one day without using social media and its features. I check my socials multiple times […]
Alumni Success: Byron Bustos Tells It All!
Today we feature Byron Bustos, a 1999 graduate of Rowan’s Political Science program. Originally from North Jersey, Byron details his journey to Rowan, how he joined his fraternity and how it led him down a path he didn’t know he’d be taking.
When did you graduate from Rowan and what clubs, organizations or activities were you a part of?
I graduated from Rowan University in spring of 1999. I graduated as SGA [Student Government Association] President. I was also a resident assistant, and I worked with the Admissions Office as an Ambassador. I was in the United Latino Association, a member of my fraternity Lambda Theta Phi, BOCO which was the Borough of Cultural Organizations, the student activities board, the Political Science Association, Rowan Christian Fellowship, and Greek Council. I’m sure I was involved in other things throughout the years, but that’s what I can remember.
What have you been up to since graduating from Rowan?
Right from Rowan, I went straight to grad school at Seton Hall University to get my master’s in Public Administration. I got my undergraduate degree in Political Science so I knew I wanted to work in the government but I didn’t know which aspect of it. I was also contemplating becoming a guidance counselor since I got my certification in Secondary Education at Rowan as well. After Seton Hall, I was offered a job in DC with the Office of the Inspector General for postal service. I did 19 years with that agency. This past January, I was promoted to the Director for the General Service Administration of the Office of the Inspector General (GSAOIG) .
I became the national president for my fraternity. I then became the executive director for my fraternity. I was elected to be the President of the school board in my hometown of Passaic, New Jersey. I’ve been involved with different cultural and political organizations as well. I started the New Jersey Young Professionals Organization. Then I moved to Maryland about five years ago, and I’m just as busy here. I’m currently the president of the Homeowners Association.
I also started the Urbana Latino Festival after feeling like I needed to do something cultural in my community. We just had our fifth celebration recently. Other than that, I got married, had two kids, a dog and a few houses.
Did you always have plans on attending graduate school after college or was it just something that you happened upon?
I didn’t know I was going to be going to grad school until I was a senior and that was exposed to me. Mind you, I was the first person in my family to go to college, so college was all new to me. I didn’t have anyone to show me the ropes.
Senior year, I knew graduation was coming and yet I was uncertain about what I was going to do. I wanted to be a guidance counselor, but back then, it was required that you had to become a teacher first. So I got my certification to teach. But, just like everything else in life, there was a crossroad. An opportunity arose for me to go to Seton Hall. Going to grad school gave me more time to think about what I wanted to do with my life.
What was it like being a first generation college student?
In my family, no one went to college. In high school, I didn’t even know if I was going to college. I didn’t have the mindset of: “I’m going to college, I know my next steps, and I’m going to become XYZ.” I just kind of fell into it because I was so involved in high school and exposed to different things. The doors were presented. I just had to walk through them.
The only reason why I went to Rowan was because, back then, Rowan sent buses to North Jersey to communities like mine that would bring high school students down to Rowan to expose us to something that we otherwise wouldn’t have been exposed to. We were able to apply right on the spot. Without that, I would have never been exposed to Rowan since the only colleges and universities I knew were the ones around me in North Jersey.
Were you always super involved as a child?
I always had inklings that I wanted to do things, but it really took off in 8th grade. I found my area of things that I wanted to do, which was community-oriented public service advocacy. Just trying to inspire people to do things. I did things in high school, but I really blossomed in college.
Were there any classes you took or professors you met that you felt helped you achieve your success?
I can’t pinpoint to one specific professor, but in my last semester at Rowan I did student teaching. Although I never fully taught a classroom after I left Rowan, I still had my certification in teaching, which helped me when I became elected to the school board. I had perspectives on [questions like:] What are pedagogies? What is it to teach the curriculum? What is it like to go through the training and be able to have students in front of you? Those things were all crucial to know.
How do you feel being a member of Lambda Theta Phi and the United Latino Association impacted you?
If I didn’t have the United Latino Association while at Rowan, my years would not have been as fruitful or as fulfilling. If I didn’t have Lambda Theta Phi, I don’t know what friends I would have carried on from college. I don’t know what my future would have been like if I wasn’t so involved in my fraternity. I was able to build a great network with both of the organizations. They really shaped a lot of who I am and I helped to shape them as well, so it was a two-way street. I’m glad I had them.
Did you have plans of joining Lambda Theta Phi or was it just something that happened?
When I was a freshman, my family’s attitude was very much: “No, you’re not joining a fraternity,” which, at the time, I didn’t care much about anyways since I didn’t know much about fraternities. However, my sophomore year is when my perspective started changing and I became more open minded. I went to a meeting, heard about it, learned about it, and did my own research.
I learned what the members were doing and how they were giving back to the community and what they were doing for the university, which really propelled me to say, “This can be a way for me to do more of what I want to do, which is advocacy, motivation and trying to get others to change things.” What better than joining a cohort of like-minded individuals?
What was it like going from just a member of Lambda Theta Phi to becoming the National President, then the Executive Director?
It didn’t happen overnight, but I was heavily involved during my undergrad, which propelled me to going to the regional meetings. After that, I would go to the national conferences, which exposed me to the organizations and the leadership, which allowed me to join the alumni board. Getting so involved just propelled me further and further in the organization.
With the fraternity, I wasn’t in favor of a few things and thought things could be improved. So I decided to run for national president to be able to create change from the top down. I didn’t go through the normal process to become the head person, but that’s just the way I am.
Do you feel like fraternities and Greek life in general get a bad rap which deters people from joining?
Definitely. Fraternities and sororities provide more good than what they get credit for. Many times, the media focuses on the incidents that occur rather than the greater benefits that Greek life provides to the campus and the community overall. It’s a disservice to the legacy of those organizations, some that have been here for hundreds of years, to have that legacy erased in a moment.
How do we get minority students more involved in Greek life and make them aware of the fraternities and sororities that are made for them and by them like Lambda Theta Phi?
It’s a catch-22 sometimes. I don’t know if the university needs to shove in people’s faces per se but I think it just depends on the student and what the student wants to be involved in. All the university can really do is make sure that these organizations are available.
Going back to something we discussed earlier, do you care to tell us a little bit more about the Urbana Latino Festival?
When we moved down here to Maryland, we quickly realized that there was a need for a little bit of music and more diverse events. My wife and I decided to put the event together and, within a day, the RSVP was sold out which no one expected. Five years later, we moved it to a different location and had over 600 people attend.
There’s vendors and different food trucks. It just has really blossomed into a beautiful thing. We’ve added more diversity and exposure to what it means to be Latino and everything that comes with it.
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Story By: Bianca Gray, senior English major
Photos and video courtesy of:
Byron Bustos
How To Handle Homesickness: An RA’s Perspective
For most students, college is the first time they are living away from home for an extended period of time. This transition can be tough. Here are four ways students can handle homesickness from an RA’s perspective:
1. Plan to go to an on-campus event
Sometimes, just being around people is comforting. Check ProfLink for any on-campus events that seem interesting to you. This could be anything from a Student University Programmers (SUP) movie night to a Rowan After Hours (RAH) Disney night. Getting out of your room can help get your mind off of things.
2. Attend a Chill n Chat session at the Wellness Center
The Wellness Center offers a wide range of drop-in hours where students can come in/log on to Zoom and talk about their feelings with a group of people. Chill n Chat is designed to be a casual, comfortable environment where students can share what’s on their mind in a safe space. The hope is that in a group setting, students can see that they are not alone and have others relate to their struggles.
3. Call family and friends from home
It is normal and understandable for students to feel homesick. Sometimes, just picking up the phone and calling your friends/family from home is comforting. Consider scheduling a time out of your day/week to spend some time talking to your loved ones on the phone. Carving out time to stay connected to them is important and may help with the feeling of homesickness.
4. Talk to your RA
Your RA is there to help! Attend one of their programs to get more connected to other people on your floor. Also, let them know that you are feeling homesick so that they can refer you to resources they see fit. I bet they will even offer to go to events with you themselves. They want to see you succeed and be happy in the residential community, so they will do what they can to make it happen.
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Story by:
Loredonna Fiore, an assistant resident director, senior public relations and advertising major
20 Minute Radius: The Music Barn [VIDEO]
Find a concert-like experience without the concert price at The Music Barn! This venue, just 15 minutes from campus in Mullica Hill, brings artists, comedians and performers from all over the nation. It’s a great place to relax and spend time with friends while being outdoors and enjoying some professional live music. The Music Barn […]
First Year Voices: Exercise Science Majors Kim King and Tyler DelSignore
Today, we feature two Exercise Science majors within the School of Nursing and Health Professions. Kim King calls Shamong, NJ (Burlington County) her hometown. Tyler DelSignore, a first-generation college student, is from Cherry Hill, NJ (Camden County). “I went with some friends to Welcome Week … and trivia. I’m looking forward to labs, getting into […]
Strategic Communication Grad Nadya Ramos
Rowan University has a network of alumni thriving in many different fields and professions all around the world. Today, we got a chance to sit down with one of these successful individuals — Nadya Ramos, a 2020 graduate of Rowan Global’s Strategic Communication program.
A young girl sits atop a green chair in her kitchen, her feet dangling off the edge. She’s too young to understand anything it says, and the adults around her are getting more entertainment watching her than she gets out of reading it, but there she sits day after day trying to make sense of the words on the page. There’s something special about that little girl even though she doesn’t know yet. Something unique that’ll come to inspire many other women and girls.
This young girl went from pretending to read newspapers to becoming a wife, mother and the CEO of her own small business.
Rowan alumna Nadya Ramos is the founder of Modern Millennial Mom, a blog to express her own reality and experience being a mother in the modern age as well as a businesswoman and has grown to allow her to create content for others. Modern Millennial Mom has allowed her to reach many other women who are experiencing being mothers in this modern age while simultaneously juggling the whirlwind of this world around them.
An Atlantic City native, Nadya currently lives in Arizona working as content creator, marketing consultant, business owner and full-time mom creating content for companies like Walmart and Office Depot, but life wasn’t always like that for her. When asked about her past, Nadya shared not only her experience being a first generation young Hispanic girl but also explained the multifaceted layers of the word “first.”
She explains: “I was the first person to get a bachelor’s degree, I was the first person to get a master’s degree, the first to start a business. All of these opportunities and ‘firsts’ come with a lot of struggles and challenges. I didn’t have someone to go to in my family to say I needed help or to even ask. It’s a double-edge sword. You dream bigger when you’re the first, but with it comes many challenges.”
Many who can’t relate to the experience of being the first would then ask, “How do you do it?” If Nadya were to respond with the advice given to her by her mother it would be: “Work hard and go to school,” a mantra many of us may know from our own parents. But Nadya felt as though there was more to life than just working hard, going to school and building enough to get by stating: “When my mom came to this country, a single mother of five children, it was all about survival. For me, I wanted to build more than just enough to get by.”
Nadya did face her own set of obstacles and challenges, but instead of treating them like adversaries, she used them as stepping stones to get to where she is today. For starters, Nadya had initially had plans of attending Rowan for her undergraduate degree but was not accepted. Taking the setback in stride, she chose to instead go to school locally working as a blackjack dealer on nights and weekends as well as interning for $10 an hour (and sometimes for free) to put herself through school.
She would eventually enroll into Rowan’s graduate program for Strategic Communication and, while would receive her degree in August 2020, there still came numerous setbacks.
“It took me longer than expected,” she explains. “I got married in the process. I had a baby. I moved. I took a break from work and was a stay-at-home mom for some months. But, looking back now, I can see that everything happens for a reason, and I understand now why it took me longer than expected. I actually ended up writing my master’s thesis after influencer marketing blew up, and so I was able to switch my topic and write about something I was really passionate about after initially choosing something I wasn’t all that interested in. Now, I do this for a living. I work with many influencers. I do brand collaborations. I do influencer marketing campaigns. And now I myself get to work with other brands doing those collaborations.”
On the launch of her own small business, Modern Millennial Mom, Nadya lets us know that it didn’t just fall in her lap and was the result of yet another setback: “I launched my marketing consulting business because I was let go from my job last year. There were things about the workforce that didn’t align with my goals now that I’m a mom with a family to raise. I wanted more freedom. More flexibility. I just didn’t want uncertainty. I want to regain control of my life. Be the CEO of my life. Now, I teach other women how to gain the confidence to market themselves and their business better.”
As a woman of color in a field that is predominantly not filled with faces that look like hers, Nadya has had to deal with her share of misogynoir. For those unaware of what misogynoir is, it is defined as the culmination of racism and misogyny, and it’s something that many women of color are all too familiar with. Nadya was very candid about her experience with misogynoir, holding no punches.
“I’ve definitely experienced misogynoir,” she shares. “I didn’t know how real it was until it was me who was experiencing it. I came home one day and sat in the kitchen talking to my husband and mother-in-law about how this is not something that’s in my head. You know how people say, ‘Maybe that’s just in your head’ or ‘Maybe you’re overthinking it.’ Well, when it’s you on the receiving end, it’s hard to justify it or explain to yourself what just happened.
“Not very long ago, in my last job in the field, I experienced, myself and other women, microaggressions in the workplace. Other women and I started to notice a lot patterns that just didn’t make sense and it felt very targeted. It just didn’t make sense and it felt very targeted. I feel it’s important to give voices to women who own businesses and women of color so they can get out there and create more opportunities. But it’s also important to provide these same women with the resources to be able to do so.”
One of the ways Nadya helps to provide these resources is through her series, Growth Through Conversation. The show, which started out as a Facebook Live series, has now expanded to pre-recorded conversations that are posted to YouTube. Nadya describes the show as: “A conversation you might have with somebody in your living room or at a networking event.”
When asked about how it feels to be able to use her platform to elevate the voices of women, specifically Latina women, Nadya gave an answer this writer wasn’t quite expecting. While she took the time to praise the women who have been able to achieve great success in their field, she reflected more admirably on the women who are still working day in and day out to achieve their end goals.
“So we read these books,” she starts, “about how this person made it or how that person made it and they’re inspiring, but the thing about that is that we’re looking at somebody who is already on the other side. I’m not going to say it’s easy, but it’s a different point of view when you’re looking back. You can say now: ‘I made this mistake but thank God I did because it led me to X, Y or Z.’ And, while there is value in that, I think I find myself more inspired by other women who I either know personally or who I have connected with that are just living life.”
It can be easy for a person dealing with multiple responsibilities to sometimes lose track of them all and just feel beyond overwhelmed. In order to prevent this feeling, Nadya understands that in order to be her best self to everyone around her, she needs to take time for herself, by herself.
She says: “Through therapy, I learned that I can’t be my best self if I don’t take care of myself. I see self care as building time into your day to get out and move. For me, I go on power walks and listen to a podcast or a DIY video about a new skill that I want to learn and master. I listen to that when I first start my walk but then, on the way back, I unplug. I take out the headphones and allow myself to rest. I allow my mind to rest. Overconsumption is very overwhelming to someone like me. I battled with anxiety and depression so I have to build in these moments where I can unplug.”
From the little girl reading the newspaper to the accomplished woman she is today, Nadya doesn’t serve as an inspiration to us because she’s a woman who can juggle it all and has just achieved so much. Nadya is an inspiration because she showed strength and persistence in the face of adversity and has never backed down when it arises.
“That’s who I’ve always been,” Nadya smiles happily as reflects back on the rollercoaster ride life has been. “It took me too long to realize I was special and I am special! And so are you! And so is the person reading this. And if I can say anything to that little girl in that chair, reading that newspaper, I would say: Thank you for being you!”
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Story By:
Bianca Gray, senior English major
Photos courtesy of:
Nadya Ramos
#PROFspective: From Colorado to Glassboro, Biomedical Engineering Major Katie Driscoll
Today, we speak with senior Biomedical Engineering major Katie Driscoll of Durango, Colorado. She holds minors in History, Chemistry and Arabic Studies and is part of the Honors College. Here, Katie shares insights on her major, including the research work she’s been part of since her first year here at Rowan, and talks about the importance of getting involved on campus.
What made you come all the way here to New Jersey?
I just felt really at home when I visited the Biomedical Engineering program. It felt like everyone was super excited about Rowan’s potential for growth. And everyone was really happy to be here, students and faculty alike. So it really kind of felt like a welcoming place.
Why Biomedical Engineering?
I decided to major in Biomedical Engineering because it is a super well-rounded major. I wanted to know about a lot of things, and I wanted to have a lot of skills coming out upon graduation. So that was kind of my focus coming into undergrad.
What do you want to do with this degree?
I’m not really sure exactly what I want to do yet. But that’s a really good thing about this degree is you can do pretty much anything coming out of an undergrad in Biomedical Engineering. There are a lot of different paths open, whether it’s industry, med school or grad school, I feel really comfortable and confident going into anything.
Can you tell me a little about your experience in the lab? Have you done any research?
I started research at Rowan in my freshman year with Dr. Vega, which was really cool, because it’s rare that you get to actually do hands-on research as a freshman in any research university.
I currently work in his biomaterials lab, looking at how the mechanical environments of stem cells affect their behavior. And that is for future use and tissue engineering applications.
Can you share an “aha” moment either with a faculty member or in a class where you knew you made the right decision?
So my freshman year when I started research in Dr. Vega’s lab, he was going over protocols with all of us and teaching us how to do everything. And we were imaging some cells on a fluorescent microscope and one of the labs, and he put the image up on the computer, and I just remember thinking that all the cells against the black background really looked like space. They looked like their own little, little galaxies. And I thought that was the coolest thing ever. Because you always see the pictures or the cells in a textbook, but to see it in real life, and all lit up, that was really different.
What advice would you have to an incoming student who just chose this major?
I would say definitely get connected with faculty in the department as early as possible because they are some of the most supportive people that I’ve met at Rowan. And if you know the faculty, you’re going to feel a lot more at home in the program. And also just get involved super early, whether it’s in research or in clubs, whatever you want to do, just kind of day one freshman year go in with a plan of how you’re going to get involved on campus.
Can you share with me some things that you’re involved in or things that have had an impact on your college career?
I’m pretty involved with research here through Dr. Vega’s lab. This is my third year in his lab. And then I am also involved with Rowan Food Recovery Network. It’s a club that focuses on taking food from the dining halls that would otherwise get thrown away and redistributing it to community partners to reduce food waste and help with community hunger. So that is one big thing that I do.
I’m an assistant resident director through the Office of Residential Learning (University Housing). I also am the Vice President for Rowan Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), which is like a pre-professional club that we have through our department. And that’s been really impactful to get to meet different people from industry and grad school and have them talk about their experiences.
Can you tell me a little bit more about that?
BMES is like our major specific club, and we meet every other week. And we usually have people from industry or have our own professors talk about their research. And it’s just a really great way to get connected within the major. Because a lot of the faculty will come to the meetings, people like freshmen through seniors come, and you can kind of network with each other, and talk to each other.
We also do some community service events. And we also usually, in non-COVID times, we have the BMES games, which is where everyone — it’s like a field day for our department. But all the professors also come out and they compete with us. So it’s a really fun environment.
You said that you’ve been working in a lab for three years. So are you able to start working in a lab early into your college career, you don’t have to be a junior, senior?
You can start day one. I walked in, and I just emailed the head of the department … it’s that accessible. And he set up a meeting with me as a freshman, which I don’t think that’s really found at any other university. And he was able to get me connected with Dr. Vega. And I started in his lab, like my first month, freshman year. We also have other freshmen in our labs, we have sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
As an out-of-state student, do you have any advice for the transition process to come here?
Rowan is a place where it’s really easy to make friends. Even though a lot of people here are from New Jersey, and there’s not as many people from out of state, it’s super easy to get integrated with the community. I’ve never once felt out of place.
Is there anything else that you want to share?
I’d like to reiterate how excited everyone in this department is to be here. And I think that’s really rare in other schools; faculty just kind of like their jobs. But like, every single one of our faculty members are super passionate, not just about their research … instructors are super passionate mentors. I think that’s a really rare combination to find at another university.
See Katie with the Rowan Food Recovery Network in this video.
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Legislative Intern & Scholar: Meet Nick Feldman
Today we feature Nick Feldman, a junior Political Science major with Certificates of Undergraduate Study (CUGS) in Public Policy and Russian. An on-campus resident from Cherry Hill, NJ (Camden County), Nick transferred to Rowan from Rosemont College. He works as a photographer for Rowan Athletics and as a Multimedia Editor for The Whit. Nick interned at NJ State Assemblywoman Patricia Lampitt’s office (District 6) and NJ State Assemblyman William Spearman (District 5), and is one of eight recipients of the Dr. Bruce Caswell Scholars Fund.
Could you share some backstory about yourself?
When I first came to Rowan, in Fall 2020, we were in the middle of the pandemic. I went to campus reluctantly. At first, I thought there wouldn’t be a lot of opportunities, but as I got involved, I realized that there were. I’m really, really excited about this semester. I know there’s going to be so many more opportunities.
What got you interested in political science?
I’ve always liked history. At Rosemont College, the college I transferred from, my major was history education. I was studying to be a high school history teacher. However, I’ve always been very interested in politics.
During the 2020 election, I obsessed over the campaigns, the candidates, the policies, everything. So, I thought it was a logical choice to switch my major over to the political science, which is something that I’ve always really liked. I have always thought about how I can make a difference in the world. Well, if I major in Political Science, and I’m able to intern with the people who represent me, I get to know the ins and outs of the process. Then, hopefully, when I graduate college and go into the professional world, I can make a positive impact on the world. Therefore, it was a natural choice.
How did you find out about the Caswell Scholarship?
I received an email from the Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship (RIPPAC) about the Caswell Scholarship and other scholarships. The scholarship was enticing. I worked on two unpaid political internships this summer. I thought I might as well just apply for any of the scholarships in the email, in order to cover my expenses. I ended up getting the Caswell Scholarship, which is huge. The Caswell Scholarship helped with even just gas money to get from my house to the internships.
Can you tell me about your two internships?
One of my internships was with Assemblywoman Patricia Lampitt, an assemblywoman in the sixth legislative district, where I live. This internship was remote, and more policy and analysis focused. I was given bills as long as 20 pages, and I read through them and categorized where money was being spent. While some people might find this kind of work boring, I found it fun.
My other internship was in the fifth legislative district office in Woodbury with Assemblyman William Spearman. My internship with Assemblyman Spearman was in person. I enjoyed being in person and getting to talk with my co-workers face to face and learning from their experiences. Most of my responsibilities were focused on constituent services, such as answering the phone, transferring calls, and entering callers into our call system. Our call system keeps track of the reason for their call, so we can keep track of their concerns and their contact information. Unfortunately, many people are calling about unemployment, but we were able to track that and help them. I really liked this internship.
What are some policies that you worked on specifically?
Many of the policies I worked on at my internship with Assemblywoman Lampitt were K-12 education based, since the Assemblywoman is the Chair of the New Jersey General Assembly Committee on Education. Something I worked on was keeping track of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, which is the state agency for rebuilding and upgrading our schools and public school system. One project was looking through their massive portfolio and seeing where their money is being spent, and what it is being spent on.
Also, the Assemblywoman did a lot of work regarding childhood poverty. I remember she had me looking at legislative proposals that worked to diminish the effects of childhood poverty in our state. New Jersey, unfortunately, has a high cost of living, so the cost to live here is a lot more than the federal guidelines say it should cost to live. Unfortunately, there are many people in New Jersey who are technically in poverty, but to the federal government, they are not, because the federal government’s guidelines are so low. So she’s working to see if there are any remedies to that so that people who need help can actually get instead of being frozen out of the system.
How has the Caswell Scholarship impacted you?
To be chosen for the Caswell Scholarship felt like validation of everything that I’ve been trying to achieve over these last few years. I hold it in the same regard as making Dean’s list. The scholarship feels like affirmation of those times where I’ve had trouble. I have ADHD, so I have had a really hard time with organization and whatnot. Getting these two internships was a huge moment for me, because it was wonderful to be out in the outside world working. It required great organizational skills so that I could have two different positions. The scholarship made me feel like all the work that I’ve been putting in has come to fruition. Feeling recognized makes me feel really good, not just about what I’ve achieved, but about myself. It makes me feel that even though I have this thing that makes me different and is pretty difficult sometimes with daily tasks, I can accomplish what I want to accomplish.
Could you describe your professional goals?
I really, really want to be in [Washington] DC. DC is the place to be, but I would really love to be on a staff in the federal government, so that I can work on laws and legislation. State and local governments are important, but the federal government is a whole different animal. I would love to be down there, not only working, but continuing to advocate for the causes that I believe in, progressive education policy and progressive health care policies. Then who knows. Maybe one day, I would love to run for office, but that would be in the future.
What advice do you have for other students seeking political science college internships?
I would say don’t be scared and don’t be intimidated. That’s how I felt applying for a lot of these internships. I got rejected by a couple and that got me down; but overall, I was fine in the long run. Don’t get intimidated by the process. It might seem intimidating that someone who’s part of a staff is going to interview you for an internship. However, once you get in contact with these people, you’ll realize that they’re normal people just like you. The staff wants to hire somebody who works hard. They want to bring somebody in who’s affable, who will not be a negative presence in the office. They want somebody who’s going to be a hard worker and will do what is needed to help. If I had to do the process over again, that’s exactly what I would try to emphasize.
Also, don’t be afraid to work at the state and local level. The federal government is cool and all. However, if you think about it, your local government takes care of daily things such as sewage. Your state government provides unemployment. So don’t knock working in the state or local government. It’s very important.
Final thoughts?
I really wish that I had come to Rowan from the start. I love my experiences here, the people I’ve met, and just how welcoming the entire campus has been. I went to a smaller school to start out. There were probably 300 people at my previous school. I like that Rowan is bigger and feels more like a university. One of the best decisions of my life was transferring to Rowan.
I am also thankful for Dr. Dworkin and the entire RIPPAC team. When I first came to Rowan, I didn’t think there was anything for me to do. I got these emails from Dr. Dworkin saying, if you’re interested in Political Science, come on, come out. I thought, “I’ll just go, I have nothing better to do.” It was a brilliant decision for me to get involved with RIPPAC and get involved on campus.
RIPPAC’s been great. They made me feel welcome. They have improved not only my professional development, but they’re also teaching me. Besides just the ins and outs of policy and legislation, they also have been having these great leadership seminars too. They’ve also been an extremely big help for me, and they’ve helped me grow not just in terms of my experience and what I can do, but also in terms of who I am. They’ve been a positive influence.
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Organized and edited by:
Rachel Rumsby, junior communication studies and public relations double major
Photos by:
Nick Flagg, senior theatre and advertising major
Breaking Down Camden Cliches with Alexander Dossantos
Today we speak with senior Alexander Dossantos, a first-generation college student and dual Theatre major with a concentration in Tech and Design and Art major with a concentration in Studio Art. Alex works full-time for One Theatre and several other venues in Philadelphia while remaining a part-time commuting student. Alex proudly hails from Camden, NJ (Camden County) and is part of the Photography Club.
Is there anything you can share as a resident of Camden to dispel the negative stereotypes or talk about your experience?
Rutgers and Rowan have been taking the time, effort and resources to make it as safe as possible and to clean up downtown Camden and turn it back into what it used to be.
A lot of people hear “Camden” and think that there’s still violence and shooting. I sit there and think “Camden used to be the number 1 most dangerous city.” It’s nowhere near the top 10 anymore. Between the police force — being torn down to the basics and being built back up — Rutgers, Rowan, Camden County Community College, Campbell Soup and Subaru, they’re bringing business back. A lot of what people here is old news.
Yes, there are still parts that are iffy but they are nowhere near where the campus is. I had a good childhood.
What are some of the things you liked to do growing up?
I’ve always played baseball. I started playing tee-ball when I was 5 or 6. I played all the way up until I came here. Sports don’t really line up with theatre because of our schedule with theatre. It never lined up for me to even try out for the baseball team or any club sports. That was a sacrifice I had to make. I like working on cars. When I wasn’t playing baseball or hanging out with friends, I was working on cars.
Anything to add about Camden?
What it comes down to is that you get out what you put in. If Rutgers and Rowan weren’t putting in so much effort and money, Camden would still have that really bad reputation. All of the good business and all the people are coming back, it’s making it a place where you can be proud to come from. I don’t hide it.
I’m proud that I was born and raised in Camden. Now, I’m at a university. Anywhere you go, you’ll find the bad things if you look hard enough. The bad things shouldn’t outweigh the good that’s coming out from it too.
I personally went to a youth group growing up and that helped me get to a good place in my work ethic right now [where] I love to learn. Their program is growing and growing. They help more students and kids [get] away from that stereotype [of], “Oh you come from Camden, you amount to nothing.” [And finally get] to, “I live in Camden. I’m proud that I live in Camden. Now, I’m a proud student or graduate of a university.”
How come you did not choose a course on the Camden Campus?
I was part of a test program for Camden High School students where they let the senior students take college courses in high school. I was part of the engineering program at Camden County Technical School on Berlin Cross Keys. [Technically], I transferred in with credits but I came here as a freshman.
They didn’t offer the programs I was looking at when I applied. I applied to the theatre department and the engineering department. They said I have to choose one or the other. I had a conversation with someone from my school about the whole engineering career path and we discovered that it really wasn’t what I wanted to do. What I wanted to do related more to theatre because I always wanted to be part of the design process but also the fabrication process. So [becoming] a theatre technician was the way I wanted to go.
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Story by:
Marian Suganob, public relations and advertising graduate
Photos by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major
Gettin’ Sudsy with Whoo RU [VIDEO]
Laundry service on the ground floor of the Chamberlain Student Center lets our Profs stay spiffy and clean. With 10 washers and 10 dryers that accept quarters or Rowan Bucks, this central location on campus is easily accessible.
Watch as Whoo RU demonstrates how to do laundry.
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Produced and edited by:
John Hunter, junior radio/TV/film major
Video by:
Brian Seay, junior sports communication and media major
Rowan Women’s Lacrosse Through Natalie’s Eyes
Rowan Blog contributor, Public Relations major and student athlete Natalie DePersia shares her experience as a member of the Rowan University Women’s Lacrosse Team.
Like many collegiate athletes, I developed a love for my sport in high school. However, I can easily say that I loved lacrosse in high school for a completely different combination of reasons than the reasons I love lacrosse now.
My high school lacrosse team was ranked amongst the top five teams in the state. My graduating class consisted of nine players, and seven of us continued on to play lacrosse or field hockey in college.
I loved lacrosse in high school for the social aspect, to fuel my competitive edge, because my team was simply … the team to beat.
My love for lacrosse in college became way more than a social experience. Yes, I met friends I know I will have for a lifetime. However, Rowan Women’s Lacrosse gave me a fresh start. Many individuals have a variety of different experiences when they commit to a university to play a collegiate sport. Some experiences are bad, some average, some good, and some are the once-in-a-lifetime … amazing experiences.
As soon as I got to Rowan, I quickly realized I did not only love the sport, I loved the culture that was built up into the program.
There are always pros and cons of playing a sport in college. Cons may include waking up prior to 6 a.m. for Breakfast Club (a conditioning and running workout our team was required to participate in), not having as much time as a regular college student, needing to take classes at specific times in order to attend lacrosse commitments … all the normal things which in the grand scheme of things are minuscule compared to the pros playing a sport has provided me.
I genuinely love practice, I love seeing my teammates, I love my coaches, I love being able to compete, I love how the sun sets as practice ends, and I love so many other things that lacrosse has given me. But simply enough, I mainly love lacrosse because I love the action of playing lacrosse.
Last academic year, my sophomore year, I developed heart complications from Covid-19. This resulted in my inability to play lacrosse for most of the year. As a competitor, this was difficult and mentally defeating. However, this is where I learned that I loved lacrosse even more than I knew. I attended practice with a bright smile and a big spirit. I could not attend physically but I sure attended practice mentally. I listened, I learned to be a good teammate, I tried to help others, I observed. I dedicated myself to being a great sideline leader, which would not have been possible if I was fully cleared.
As a member of the Rowan Lacrosse team, the past year from an outsider’s view could be looked at as a “wasted year” for myself. However, with the help of my coaches, teammates, trainers, and friends and family outside of lacrosse, my efforts were focused elsewhere, and I developed a deeper gratification toward the sport. I realized how much I care about the sport by not playing. I realized I how much I care about the program and the people around me by not being able to be on the field and by being on the sideline.
My absence last year has only made me more excited to come back to the program this year. I may have been unable to play, but regardless, I learned more about myself as a leader, more about the program and our culture, more about the coaches and their compassion, and more about my teammates and their support.
You can follow the Rowan Women Lacrosse Team at the Instagram handle @rowanwlax.
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Story and photos provided by:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Jake McFarland: A Rowan Alumnus with an MBA Fellowship in Data, Technology and Analytics
Jake McFarland earned his bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems at Rowan’s Rohrer College of Business and has returned to pursue his master’s degree in business administration (MBA) through Rowan Global. Jake, an MBA Fellow in Data, Technology and Analytics, shares his journey to the master’s program and his online student experience.
Currently, Jake is an IT project manager at Energy Management Systems. His current project for the company is to retire a legacy billing system to adopt a more modern infrastructure and provide better customer service/easier processes for employees.
In the past, Jake has worked as a full stack developer and saved the company $5.5 million in the first quarter he worked there.
Jake felt like he had hit a personal development ceiling, which inspired him to pursue a master’s degree.
“I knew a master’s degree would make me a more competitive applicant and would open up more opportunities in the workplace,” he says. “Being in a fellowship program is great to get my work and brand out there while also singing the praises of colleagues and the amazing research happening.”
Currently, Jake is enrolled in managerial accounting. “It’s been a decade since I’ve been a student, so I forgot what it was like to be in college. In managerial accounting, I am learning how to read financial statements, and it’s making me more appreciative of learning broader topics in the field that I haven’t gotten through just work experience.”
Jake speaks candidly of the balancing act he manages since starting the program as a full-time employee, spouse and father who does not live near the Rowan University campus.
“It is difficult to juggle all of the responsibilities, but early on I spoke to an inaugural fellow who gave me great advice. They explained that the program wasn’t supposed to be another full-time job. Rowan makes it so easy for us to benefit from the program while doing it at a manageable pace.”
Jake adds, “It is also extremely helpful that the program is online since I do not live locally. Rowan has made it easy to integrate myself into the current student population and alumni network.”
Ultimately, Jake chose Rowan to pursue his graduate degree because of the preliminary research he did on other programs.
“Rowan’s cost is reasonable compared to other schools and just made everything so accessible and easy to apply. I wanted to have the flexibility of an online program but also get a good degree — Rowan gives me this option.”
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Story by:
Loredonna Fiore, senior public relations and advertising major
Photos courtesy of:
Jake McFarland
Frequently Asked Questions About the Rowan Writing Center Answered With Tutor Bianca Gray
Today, Rowan Blog contributor and Writing Center tutor Bianca Gray answers questions people often ask her about the Rowan Writing Center. Bianca, a senior English major with a concentration in Shakespeare Studies, notes: “Spoiler alert! Don’t be surprised by how much I say RWC.”
What is the RWC?
The Rowan Writing Center (often abbreviated as RWC) is the place on campus to go if you need help with any form of writing and is also a nice place to study. It’s open Sunday-Friday and operates throughout the entire school year as well as the summer. Currently, it’s fully virtual, but there are hopes that it will be open for the 2021-22 academic school year (check the RWC site for up-to-date hours of operation).
Where is the RWC?
The RWC is located on the first floor of the Campbell Library.
How did you get hired with the RWC?
Buckle up ’cause it’s a long story: The worst part about being a transfer student was everything I had built for myself at my previous institution being torn down. Before coming to Rowan, I spent the majority of my [first] year at my previous school making a name for myself around campus, specifically with the Writing Arts department. I had won the Freshman essay contest and had snagged an internship working with the Writing Center at that campus before I had to leave the school due to an unforeseen change in my finances.
I came to Rowan because I saw how well the Writing Arts department was and hoped to make the same foothold at this institution as I had at my previous one. My academic advisor placed me in a class called ‘Tutoring For Writing’ where I met one of the nicest professors on campus, Dr. Leslie Allison. I told Dr. Allison about my situation and how I wanted to be involved with the writing department on this campus and, while she couldn’t just give me a job, she helped me strengthen my tutoring skills to make me properly prepared to apply to work at the Writing Center when the time came. Thanks to Dr. Allison’s help as well as my newly strengthened skills, I was able to get a job with the RWC.
Will the hiring process be as dramatic for me?
No, I’m just dramatic by nature. The hiring process is pretty straightforward. Applications go out in the spring, then there’s interviews, then you’ll know if you got the job relatively quickly.
What does your job consist of?
Students from all over the university (both undergraduate and graduate) make appointments with my co-workers and I in order to get feedback on any given writing assignment. We don’t just look over English or writing major papers; we look and give feedback on papers that span across many different majors.
The RWC hires people of many different majors so that we’re better equipped at helping all students. We even have Engineering and Biology major tutors in order for them to help students who need help with lab reports.
On top of that, tutors also work closely with first year writing classes and hold weekly hour-long sessions in order to help first year students with their home/classwork as well going over things they may have been struggling with in class.
So if I go to the RWC for help with a paper, will they edit it for me?
No, RWC tutors are not editors. Editing a paper does nothing to help a student grow. It’s like when a teacher just X’s something you wrote out and writes wrong next to it. If you don’t know what the problem is then how can you be expected to solve it? RWC tutors, however, will go through your paper and mark areas where they see repeated problems and discuss those problems with you so that you can better understand the issue and learn not to make those same mishaps again.
What I do is this: If I see a repeated problem in a paper, I correct it the first time and mark it the next two times but don’t correct it. After that, I don’t correct or mark the problem at all. I discuss the issue with the student and expect for them to go back through the paper and find places where they see the problem and correct it themselves. Editing a paper doesn’t help a student to become a better writer.
What’s the best part about working there?
Definitely my co-workers and supervisors. Celeste, Donna and Cate are some of the coolest people I’ve ever met since being in college. I remember taking Shakespeare my first semester of working at the Writing Center and Cate always taking the time out of her day to better help me understand my work for the class, something she was under no obligation to do. It’s little stuff like that that makes me really appreciate them. My coworkers are cool as well. They’re a very boisterous group of people (more boisterous than you’d expect a group of tutors to be), but they all mean well. I remember my coworker, Nia, going out of her way to make me feel included and help me out when I first started. Having such a positive work environment with friendly faces makes the job so much easier.
What’s your advice to anybody nervous to come to the RWC in fear of their paper being judged or criticized harshly?
The RWC is a no-judgement zone. No tutor wants to read a paper and rip it apart. Everything we say is meant to be constructive and help to make your paper the best it can possibly be. If a tutor does or says something that makes a student feel upset or uncomfortable, report it immediately and it will be handled by the supervisors.
What are some other cool things about the RWC?
They host so many different events throughout the academic year. In a COVID-free school year, the RWC hosts multiple events including movie nights, trivia nights and holiday parties. If you’re ever free, don’t be afraid to come!
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Story By:
Bianca Gray, senior English major
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Alumni Success: Chemical Engineer Jennifer Roddy
Today we speak to Jennifer Roddy, a 2008 graduate of Rowan’s Chemical Engineering program. Jennifer is originally from Franklinville, NJ and now resides in Metuchen, NJ. She lived both on and off campus during her time at Rowan. Jennifer is currently the Director of External Partner Management at Bristol Myers Squibb and has an MBA from Rutgers University.
What is Bristol Myers Squibb?
Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) is a global biopharmaceutical company that drives scientific advancement across multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, hematology, immunology and cardiovascular disease. Our mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. Our patients are at the heart of everything we do!
What was your journey like from Rowan to your current position?
I was offered an internship the summer after my freshman year at a pharmaceutical company called Johnson Matthey (JM). I worked there part time while at Rowan, allowing me to develop real world skills while simultaneously obtaining my formal education. After graduation and two years as a full-time process engineer at JM, I was ready for a new challenge. A Rowan alumnus in my network was working for BMS at the time and referred me for an open position in his group. I joined BMS in 2010 as an Outsourcing Coordinator focused on external manufacturing of clinical supplies. I continued to support our external operations throughout my career, with my roles transitioning over time from a technical focus to a business focus. This transition encouraged me to pursue my MBA with a concentration in Pharmaceutical Management at Rutgers University.
What is your role at Bristol Myers Squibb?
At BMS we outsource certain operations to external partners for many reasons, including but not limited to balancing our capacity, limiting risk, and evaluating unique technologies. I currently lead a team called External Partner Management. We are responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with our partners that develop and manufacture materials that will be used in clinical trials. We also work to identify future partnerships, develop sourcing strategies, and focus on ways to drive value for BMS through these partnerships.
Why did you choose Rowan?
My decision to attend Rowan was driven by the unique program structure and economics. Rowan’s engineering program offered multidisciplinary labs and engineering projects that allowed you to develop real-world skills in the classroom. Small class sizes also suited my learning style and allowed me to develop strong connections with my classmates. In addition to the program offerings, I was also focused on the affordability of higher education. I could not afford tuition without taking out student loans and needed to ensure my education would have a high return on investment. Rowan offered an amazing program at a fraction of the cost of many other universities.
Why did you decide to go into Chemical Engineering?
I initially enrolled as a Chemistry major, but I ended up at an Engineering Open House my first week of school. During the session, one of the professors explained how challenging the program was but that the opportunities after graduation were endless. I switched majors that day and never looked back.
How do you feel that Rowan’s Chemical Engineering program helped prepare you for your career?
Rowan’s Chemical Engineering program not only prepared me for a career in engineering, but it provided a way of thinking that I could apply throughout all stages of my career. The multidisciplinary labs provided technical skills across many disciplines, while allowing individuals to develop the ability to work across peer groups of different educational backgrounds. At the core, Rowan’s Engineering program teaches you to solve problems. The ability to solve problems will make you successful no matter where your career takes you.
Do you have any advice for students who are currently in the Chemical Engineering program?
Persevere!—As a former fifth-year student, I understand firsthand how challenging the engineering program can be. As you struggle through content and coursework, know that hard work and perseverance will be your key to success. Celebrate your success as they come, but also appreciate your failures. If you are able to develop the ability to learn through failure, your growth will be limitless.
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Story written by:
Jennifer Roddy ’08, Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering
Organized by:
Rachel Rumsby, junior communication studies and public relations double major
Photography by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major
Gardening For All: An Inclusive Community [VIDEO]
“Having an inclusive garden makes it easier for other people to access, whether it includes people in a wheelchair, using a walker or a cane,” says junior Charlotte Borgersen.
Inclusive Community Gardens is funded by the Division of Disability Services, New Jersey Department of Human Services.
A Rowan team, under the guidance of Dr. Spencer, has partnered with seven area community gardens, reviewing each and making changes such as reducing sensory stimuli, adding Braille and images to signage and designing paths and beds that are more accessible.
Read more about this project and one of the students behind the research here.
For more on our M.A. in Wellness and Lifestyle Management program, click here.
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Rowan Foundation Scholarships: Which Ones To Apply To and Where To Find Them
Today a member of our Rowan Blog team, Rachel Rumsby, shares advice about Rowan’s Foundation Scholarships. Rachel is a junior Communication Studies and Public Relations double major. Rachel is an on-campus resident from River Edge, NJ (Bergen County). Paying for school is a struggle for some. Applying to scholarships is a great way to help […]
#PROFspective: Theatre and Art Double Major Alexander Dossantos
Today we speak with senior Alexander Dossantos, a first-generation college student and dual Theatre major with a concentration in Tech and Design and Art major with a concentration in Studio Art. Alex works full-time for One Theatre and several other venues in Philadelphia while remaining a part-time commuting student. Alex proudly hails from Camden, NJ (Camden County) and is part of the Photography Club.
What have you been involved in on campus?
I’ve been part of our honors society for the theatre department. We have a couple different clubs related to the theatre department. We have Rowan Lab Theatre, Campus Players, and USITT.
USITT is a national organization for theatre technicians and designers. Every year there’s a conference that [travels] all over like Disney or Busch Gardens. They do open interviews, portfolio reviews, and colleges [attend]. If you want to get your master’s degree, there’s an opportunity to see different colleges that you wouldn’t normally see if you lived on the East coast and were looking at the West coast. You can talk to [school representatives], [receive informational materials], and interview! We’ve had people who have gone to the conference and gotten full rides to universities just for their portfolio.
What’s been your involvement with USITT?
USITT is kind of new to our campus as a club, but for the most part, we usually have a “Tech-spo” where the tech students display what we’ve done throughout the year. Covid canceled our “Tech-spo” last year. Hopefully next year, it’ll be as big as it has been in the past couple of years.
Were you one of the students that brought this to campus?
I wasn’t part of the eboard that pitched the idea, but I’ve been consistently involved in it and trying to get more people involved.
Most rewarding experience with this club?
We got to do the virtual conference this year. We were able to all sit down and get the registration done. The thing that we really liked to do was the “Techspo,” being able to organize all the tables, getting people signed up, and just have our own little miniature conference.
How has that helped you grow professionally?
Our professors have a lot of [influence in] how we go forth in our professional life [during and] after Rowan. Robert Thorpe is my mentor. I chose to focus on lighting. I’ve worked very closely with him. I’ve actually been able to work in Philadelphia because of that.
As vast and as big of a field that theatre is, the technicians are very tight-knit. Our professors know so many different people all over the place. When they need someone, they contact Bob or Tom [who] share those opportunities with their students. I currently work in Philadelphia.
What are you doing over in Philly?
I work as the master electrician in One Theatre and overhire as an electrician in multiple theatres and venues. Hopefully, once things start opening up, I’ll be doing more overhire with the Union.
Another club that really helped me with figuring out what my design style is was Rowan Lab Theatre. We put on three productions every year. It’s all student-run. The design team is made up of students. The directorial staff is students. It’s just a great way to work with people who aren’t our professors. We have guidance from our professors, but here we have free rein to experiment, learn, make mistakes, and then learn from those mistakes.
Are you involved in any other clubs on campus?
I was involved in the Rowan Auto Club, but Covid restrictions closed it down. There are no car shows because we can’t be on campus with many people. I’ve been doing the Photography Club, and we’re hoping to do more with that. We’ve been doing online competitions.
Are you on the eboard for the Photography Club?
No, I figured that we should let someone who is a sophomore or junior to take the reins would be best. [This academic year], I won’t be here as much. I’ll still be a student, but I won’t be here as often. I always say, if anyone has questions or anything, I’d be willing to answer them.
How did all of this in the big picture, shape your Rowan experience?
When I started here, I was a very shy person. I wasn’t really open. [Now I’m hosting] meetings where there are 15 people in a production team and running work calls to get the lights done. It’s definitely developed my workflow and work ethic to more than what it was when I started. For the amount of time I’ve been here, I’ve had a lot of fun.
A lot of people ask, “Why did you go into theatre and art?” I say, “It’s what I want to do, I don’t want to sit behind a desk. That’s not me. I like to work with my hands. If my hands get dirty, that’s okay. I like that. That’s how I was raised. That’s how I like to work. That’s how I am.”
How did you first get interested in this field?
In high school, instead of just going home and doing nothing I started looking at the different [afterschool] activities. One of the guys I did soccer and baseball with did one of the shows in the off-season with our high school theatre department. He asked me to join and I fell in love with doing stagecraft: the lighting, sound and stage construction. By my senior year, I was looking at colleges and one professor suggested Rowan stage production. I wanted to stay close and not go too far. Rowan was one of the most affordable universities in the area. I also had a couple of friends who went to the theatre department at Rowan.
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Story by:
Marian Suganob, public relations and advertising graduate
Photos by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major
Beyond the Classroom: On the Campaign Trail with Political Science Major Stephen Scheuren
Today we feature Stephen Scheuren of Marlton, NJ (Burlington County). Stephen has served in the Army National Guard for nearly six years as a Signal Support Systems Specialist and was on active duty in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria. He transferred to Rowan University in spring 2021 from Rowan College at Burlington County. A Political Science major, Stephen works as an intern on a state senate and assembly campaign in Atlantic County’s second legislative district. He earned a Rick Rosenberg, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, which offsets the costs to take an unpaid internship. Here, Stephen describes his internship experience and his plans for the future.
Have you had time to join any clubs on campus?
I’m very involved in RIPPAC (Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship). I’ve gone to almost every event they’ve scheduled with Dr. [Benjamin] Dworkin. I also joined the Pre-Law Society so I’ve been going to their events as well, and Phi Alpha Delta with their LSAT studying. It’s a law fraternity [for] people who want to go to law school and people who are in law school. I would like to look at what other clubs are at Rowan, but I think due to COVID, you couldn’t really do that.
How did you find out about RIPPAC?
Exactly how, why and where I’m at is because of Dr. Dworkin. I was talking to him, and he asked me, “What do you want to do in life?” I said, “I want to be a prosecutor.” He was asking me why. And then he started giving me advice: “Okay, here’s what you need to do. You need to do an internship now. You have three semesters left, go now. Now, now, now.” And he said, “Join my class, New Jersey Politics.” And I did, I took his class, took his advice and this is where I’m at, because of Dr. Dworkin, and so I attribute it to him, and RIPPAC is why I’m at where I’m at. RIPPAC is a very successful organization. It’s young, and it’s really hit the ground running.
What got you interested in political science?
I just honestly like the functions of government, and not only that, along the lines of foreign policy and domestic issues as well. The justice system is something that especially interests me. And partly economics and international relations, it’s kind of a mix of everything that interests me. I guess one word to sum it up is just government. Just government.
How did you find out about the Rosenberg Memorial Scholarship?
Yes, same answer through Dr. Dworkin, because I’m conservative. I’m interning with the Republican Party out of Atlantic City and their ticket. Well, Atlantic County, second legislative district. He told me, “You should apply for this, you should definitely apply for this.” And because I was new at Rowan, I couldn’t apply to it right away. And so the semester was over, because I had to have the generated GPA. And Dr. Dworkin would say, “Did you apply yet, did you apply yet?” I just finally did, because my GPA came in. And I was shocked when I received that … it was one of the first scholarships I got. It was great, I was very happy about it.
Tell me about your internship.
Stephen had originally interned for another campaign; but when the candidate resigned, the campaign manager connected him with his current campaign under a new manager named Brett Barbin.
I started doing the same thing for him, opposition research, public things, and then I started working more directly with him and the candidates. And I would go with Brett as an aide for Brett when he was aiding the candidates who are Don Guardian, Claire Swift and Vince Polistina.
And so, as more time went on, I was more direct with the candidates. And because my intention with going and interning here, I specifically sought the second legislative district because they looked like they had the highest chance of winning for a Republican nomination.
We had specific lists for people we’d reach out to to volunteer, and I would contact those people as well. And honestly, whatever Brett asked me, I was just jumping on. I wasn’t a volunteer, I was more of an intern because I was working with the candidates themselves.
Whenever I’m at Rowan, and I’m still a representative of that campaign. Anywhere I go, I am a representative of that campaign. We’re still campaigning; I mean, my car is literally filled with literature for the campaign.
You’re right in the thick of it. There is no coffee grabbing for you for sure.
Yeah, actually, it’s funny you say that, because when we were door knocking, it was over 90 degrees. And so what I did was, I said to myself, alright, it’s going to be insanely hot. So what I did was I put in my backpack, like, six large tallboy waters. And then I put ice packs in between them. And I would walk around, I would just say to the candidate, “Don,” and I would just turn around, and he would [go to] my bag and just pull out a water, he would he would say to me, “Steve, you’re moving up in the world. You got water all ready for us.” And then I would have the candidates running over to my bag and just grabbing water out of my bag.
It would help get us through the day. Because when we were at the end, I mean, everyone was just, it was like we were in a rainstorm. We were all soaked. It was great because you kind of learn when you’re door knocking with them, you get the experience of how they’re trying to get someone to come to our side and vote.
How has the Rosenberg Scholarship impacted your internship experience?
It impacted it significantly. I won the Rosenberg Scholarship and [was] very happy about it. But I was able to get the opportunity to introduce Assembly Minority Leader, Jon Bramnick, for the Republican Party, at RIPPAC’s political intern summit MAPIS [Mid-Atlantic Political Intern Summit]. And that helped me talk about the campaign from a public aspect and be a representative of the campaign for and talk to Jon Bramnick.
With the Rosenberg Scholarship it gave me more recognition and solidified that I’m a representative here in Atlantic County and outside of Atlantic County, because of the speech I was able to give and deliver with introducing Assemblyman Bramnick.
What are your professional goals?
This year that’s passing and next year are just all structured around going to law school.
And for anyone that wants to go to law school, I would highly recommend they have at least one campaign trail. Even if you don’t politically identify with anyone, just go with someone. I mean, it is technically a form of public service, in my opinion; I mean, you’re helping people having governments. It’s about following Dr. Dworkin’s advice and get your internships in; that way, I have a better law school resume. Same thing with the Army National Guard, helps me with my law school resume.
And well, doing prosecution, because that’s the one area I want to practice. And if I fall out of prosecution, I will look into whatever I would like to do for private practice.
What advice do you have for other students seeking out college internships, specifically, political science internships?
This is going to be kind of specific, it depends on where you want your career to be. So you kind of have to tailor it. I tailored mine. And, again, Dr. Dworkin helped me tailor it. I tailored mine to law school, and to help me have someone look at my resume and go, I want to interview him.
I would go through RIPPAC, and you can always ask Dr. Dworkin because he is a New Jersey guru on how the state works. And that’s how I went. But once you get in there, it’s a whole different ballgame. You’ve got to be reliable. I live an hour away from where the offices for our campaign and where we’re campaigning, but I’m always there. Whenever they asked me. Always there ready to go.
And I would say flexible would be another good word. But also, I think you should get a an idea, if you’re a Political Science major, where you want to work. You should really have that in your mind. And that will help you tailor to what internships you’re looking for. It’s kind of like a two-step process: tailor it and then just always say yes to what they need every single time.
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Photos courtesy of:
Stephen Scheuren
TRANSFERmation Tuesday: Double Major Rachel Ricci Uses Her Voice for Theatre and Therapy
Today we feature junior Rachel Ricci of Moorestown, NJ (Burlington County), who transferred from Rowan College of South Jersey. Rachel, trained in classical voice, is a double major in Musical Theatre and Music Therapy within the College of Performing Arts. She shares how she first learned of the Music Therapy program and her first impressions of Rowan life.
How did you discover the Music Therapy program?
I had been interested in it because I just heard about it through people for a while. But it was actually Morgan, a friend of mine who … was in the program, and we got to talking about it. She just was telling me about her classes, how much she loved all her professors. And I got even more interested in it from hearing that.
I started looking into music therapy as a general concept, a lot more online research. I spoke to [Professor] Andrea Hunt, I had an interview with her. And they were all super helpful to give you a lot of information about it, hearing about the internships that come afterwards, and all that sort of stuff.
What got you interested in music therapy as a career option?
I really love the combination of areas that it is. It’s all the things that I’ve been really passionate about and really interested in, from psychology to music, and just the different demographics of people that you get to work with. I love working with children. I’ve also spent a lot of times in assisted living facilities, and I love working with older people. And I just like that you have the option to go into a lot of different areas with it.
What is your favorite part so far of being part of this program?
For me, I mean, I’m very brand new to it all. But I love how much I get to do voice with it. Because my instrument … everyone has a different instrument for the program. And mine is classical voice, which I love studying. So I’m very excited about all the voice classes and the choirs, studio days and all that.
How are you meeting people as a commuter?
Actually everyone’s really welcoming. Just last night, I was at a meet-and-greet for my [musical theatre major] and people were very warm. And there’s a lot of clubs on campus and stuff. So it’s not hard to get to know people even as a commuter.
How do you like Rowan so far?
Oh, I love it. A really nice environment. I love the campus. And it’s fun because I’m around here so I have a lot of friends that I knew since before college who go here, so it’s nice to already have kind of a community.
What are you looking forward to?
Just the whole experience because I’ve only done community college so far. I’m very excited to be at a university. I get to spend time with the friends I already have here and to make new friends when I start taking classes here.
Have you thought about joining any clubs or organizations on campus?
It’s hard as a commuter sometimes because you’re going back and forth so much, but I’ve been hearing about a lot of great ones and I definitely want to start looking into to get involved.
Why Rowan?
I really loved the school as soon as I when I was touring campus a few years ago. As soon as I was here, I liked the environment. I really liked it. It’s a medium-size school, you know, so you get the experience of being a bigger-feeling school without feeling too massive. I liked the community. I like the commute from where I live … just a lot about it that was a really good fit for me.
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Photos by:
Nick Flagg, senior advertising and theatre major
In Case You Missed It: Favorite Classes At Rowan
Tell us a little about what the class is. IMC goes over all the parts to an integrated marketing communications plan, such as advertising, public relations, direct marketing, digital/internet marketing, sales promotion and personal selling. You really get to work a lot of different muscles within the communications industry. Is there anything else that made […]
Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Club [VIDEO]
“There’s a lot more skill to it than I think a lot of people realize,” says Ethan Ryan-Kubis, junior Physics major. “It’s definitely not one of those sports where you could just come out and be instantly good at it. “There’s a big learning curve, but at the same time, I don’t think that’s necessarily […]
Tips On Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle And Eating Habits In College
Rowan Blog contributor, Public Relations major and student athlete Natalie DePersia shares how students can make healthy options available in their residence halls and where healthy options are accessible around campus.
Dorm eating can be difficult. The refrigerators that come in your room can only hold a little bit of space between two roommates, and there is no access to cooking in dorm rooms. Despite the adjustment from home living to dorm living, there are many ways to seek out healthy food options and to get the daily nutrients your body needs.
Utilize Holly Cafe in Holly Pointe Commons
This was key for me my first year. Because I was always hustling to get from class to practice, I needed to be able to grab something quick and easy at all times. Holly Cafe always has bananas, apples, bars, and cereal available that can be taken on the go. There is even a yogurt and granola station!
Get snacks that do not need to be refrigerated
You do not need a refrigerator to have healthy snacks. Lots of protein-packed snacks can be stored in a pantry. A couple healthy options can be trail mix, rice cakes, protein/energy bars, nuts, nuts/seeds and popcorn. These snacks are not only guilt free, but they taste good!
Seek out healthy options
There are many healthy options available on campus. My personal favorites are Bowl Life and Freshens in the Student Center. Bowl Life is awesome because you can get foods like spinach, sweet potatoes and whole-grain rice. Freshens offers a wide variety of options like smoothies, wraps, salads and more. There are also healthy places off campus like Playa Bowls.
Meal prep
This is targeted more toward students who live in apartments or off campus. Meal prepping can be difficult in a dorm but still possible. Meal prepping is a great way to stay full and while maintaining portion control. I like to meal prep my food on Sundays and again on Wednesdays so I have fully prepared food for a few days at a time!
Carry a reusable water bottle
Staying hydrated is pivotal to overall health. My reusable water bottle not only keeps my beverages cold, it is environmentally friendly. There are many fill up stations located around campus including stations on each floor of each dorm.
Invest in a Keurig
If you are a coffee lover like me … a Keurig was my saving grace by not only saving money, but by staying away from unnecessary sugar. Instead of going to Starbucks or Dunkin daily, I would use my Keurig to make my coffee. I also like how you can make tea, hot cocoa and other beverages with the Keurig.
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Story By:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
What It’s Like to Take a 10-Year Sabbatical from School: Brandon Torres
Today, Brandon Torres gives us a first-person perspective on his journey leading up to how he ended up taking a 10-year sabbatical from school and becoming a Rowan student. Brandon is a senior Public Relations and Advertising major. Just like many of you, I aspired to be a great student at one time or another. […]
Beyond the Classroom: Nutrition Major Keyanna Meade on Her Community-Based Research
Today we feature Keyanna Meade, a senior Nutrition major and transfer student from Burlington Township, NJ (Burlington County). She is part of the Minority Association of Premedical Students MAPS and will be president of Helping Our People Excel through Wellness (H.O.P.E. through Wellness) this year. Keyanna shares her experience as a nutrition research assistant under the direction of Dr. Nicole Vaughn.
Why did you choose Rowan to study your major?
I chose Rowan because it was kind of close to home. After also hearing about all the great programs they had for my major, I decided Rowan was the best place to transfer to prepare me for my future endeavors.
What does everyday life at Rowan look like for you? Can you walk us through a day in your shoes?
My schedule looked pretty similar day to day. I would often start my day by going to work, and then I would come to campus. When coming to campus I would attend class and then typically I would head to the gym. After leaving campus I would usually head home and cook myself something to eat. My day usually ends with completing homework and relaxing.
How did you start your research process? Why did you decide to start research in the nutrition field?
I have always been interested in being part of research and studies that were more community based rather than just conducting research out of a lab. By being a nutrition major, I’ve learned it is important to be educated on topics like, why individuals are food insecure and why certain diseases are more prevalent in certain communities … to name a few.
I was thrilled to find when I was looking on the Rowan Announcer that Dr. Vaughn was looking for a research assistant. I sent over my resume and applied for the position, and that’s how this all started.
Can you talk about what you are researching and why?
This summer I worked on a project that basically created a food system flow chart of all the nutritional programs provided in New Jersey. I was a part of the summer undergraduate research program (SURP), and my day-to-day consisted of a lot of researching, interviewing directors of programs, participants and stakeholders, and I was even part of the funding process.
For the flowchart we used something called Lucidchart. Our chart basically starts off with the Farm Bill, then the USDA, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, and then the bottom of the flow chart is where it reaches the county level and the consumers.
This whole flow chart creation process took about 10 weeks, and we are currently still editing it and sending it over to stakeholders to approve the accuracy.
Can you describe the research methods you have used in the past or are currently using?
One of our data methods is qualitative. We also conduct a lot of interviews for the community-based research we conduct.
What research skills have you acquired during your academic and/or research career?
Throughout this process my communication, critical thinking, writing and leadership skills have definitely improved.
What have you learned so far in your research process?
I have learned a lot through this experience. Specifically, I have learned how important it is to help out in your community and ways that you can give back because a lot of individuals are hungry, starving, homeless … and they are unaware of the programs available to them, so I think it is very important to not only give back to your community, but to spread knowledge on the programs available.
This whole process led me to wanting to get my master’s in Public Health. I want to help more on a community base and a whole population rather than just one individual at a time.
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Story by:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Photos by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industries major
Related posts:
#PROFspective: Nutrition and Exercise Science Major Caroline Lippincott
The Sculpture of Discovery Hall: Studio Art Students Leave an Everlasting Handprint at Rowan with the Installation of Time Sweeps
The introduction of Discovery Hall sees the entrance of a new public art sculpture on Rowan’s campus. Today, we speak to two students who took part in its installation.
This summer, two Studio Art majors — senior Liz Kenlan and recent graduate Jon-Erik Hem — were offered the chance to leave an everlasting mark on Rowan’s campus through the installation of Time Sweeps.
Discovery Hall will be open to the school’s general population for the 2021-22 academic school year. With the new building being described as a way for the university to expand in the STEM disciplines, Jon describes the Time Sweeps sculpture as: “The bond between man made and nature.”
Time Sweeps, located in the East Garden Courtyard at Discovery Hall, is an entirely stone sculpture of winding serpent-like unnatural shapes formed out of individually-placed rocks and stones.
Prior to its unveiling, I was able to sit down with Liz and Jon to discuss not only the installation of Time Sweeps but their experience in helping to bring it to life as well as letting me know what art means to Rowan.
Liz and Jon were both recipients of a paid internship that allowed them to work with Thea Alvin. Alvin is a stonemason and the designer of Time Sweeps.
“I learned so much from her, all about wall making and building,” says Jon. When asked about working besides Alvin, he adds, “It’s awesome to see someone working hard from the minute they get in to the minute they leave.”
Liz agrees with the sentiments about the sculpture’s designer, stating: “From the first time I heard her speak as a guest visiting my Public Art class I got this feeling that lingered with me the rest of the day that things were good and I was alive with artistic inspiration. I sincerely related to her character, motivations, means to make her work, and the connection between herself and the communities she worked in.”
Alvin was not the only person that Jon and Liz got to work with. According to them, they worked with two other students chosen to work on the sculpture from the Geology department as well as a number of professional stonemasons.
“We were immediately hands on with it,” Liz remembers about her first day on the job. “I thought we’d be getting these simple intern jobs but on the first day it was, ‘Oh no, go and start placing the foundation for the wall’ and we were just like what? We got to do the actual work that the masons were doing. I was shoveling gravel and carrying holders. The thing I did the most was smashing boulders. It was actually very therapeutic.”
Jon also spoke on the installation process and similar love of smashing things: “I’ve done a lot of construction work. I’m all about three-dimensional thinking and I’m all about swinging hammers and breaking stuff.”
The sculpture isn’t just a beautiful work of stone. As the name suggests, it’s also an interactive teller of time. There’s a spot under the arch that allows for a person to view the winter and summer solstice, adding an almost magical element to not only Discovery Hall but Rowan as a whole.
Though Jon and Liz remember the summer fondly, Jon spoke candidly about the representation of Rowan’s Art department and the community as a whole.
“More can be done to represent the Art Department here at Rowan,” Jon speaks openly. “They have good faculty, but oftentimes, it feels like many universities want a lot from their art students without giving them respect in return.”
Time Sweeps serves as not the physical embodiment of the hard work and dedication of Jon, Liz, Thea and all those who worked on it but as the tenacity of artists at Rowan as a whole.
“They want us to put paintings in the Business building or for us to do something for the medical building in Camden,” Jon told me as our discussion came to a close. “Everyone needs artists.”
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Story By:
Bianca Gray, senior English major
Photos By:
RJ Wentzell, senior exercise science major and the
Digital Scholarship Center
How Communicating With Professors is Different Than Communicating With Your High School Teachers
Rowan Blog contributor Nick Flagg shares: “Despite being a high school student only four years ago, it feels like a different lifetime. The world of academia opens up when you move on to college, especially when talking about how you both work and communicate with your teachers. And being both a Theatre and Advertising major, I feel as though I can speak on a range of experiences with various professors.”
I have noticed that the biggest difference between college and high school is that high school teachers tend to do a constant check-in with all their students, while professors expect you to reel them in as needed. The transition from high school to college takes maturing in communication skills. If you need help, you need to communicate that more to a college professor than you would to a high school teacher.
Going to college is much more of an individualized experience. It is not that the resources are more limited compared to high school; in fact, there might be even more. Moreover, there is an expectation for you to speak up when you need something. I believe high school is an experience catered to all, whereas college is what you make of it.
Though college is still a place for growth and trying things out, it is rewarding when you know what you want and set up a game plan to reach your goals. The student-to-professor relationship should be nothing less than professional, but nothing short of believing that these people are here to help you succeed. They are here to help you meet those goals and land a job after you graduate.
I have found myself engaging more in conversation with my professors than I did with high school teachers. Hearing about their personal journey is what makes me want to focus on creating my own.
I think I speak for many college students when I say that high school feels like a general educational experience compared to college. Don’t get me wrong, I believe high school is a wonderful educational experience that everyone needs. But here I am as a Theatre and Advertising major, still waiting for the day when I will need to know that the Mitochondrion is the powerhouse of the cell.
All jokes aside, high school allows you to see into many different courses and extracurriculars that should propel you to decide what you want to do after high school. College is where the lens focuses in on your future career, and plops you into a community of people interested in the same work as you.
When I am talking with faculty and students in my college, I feel more at home. When talking with my college professors, I am hearing many first-person experiences that set me up to figure out my own path. Getting to talk to the people who are “doing the thing” is what makes your career goals feel like a reality.
When I talk with my theatre professors, I am talking with people who have done professional work in performance. When I am talking with my advertising professors, I am talking with people who have done professional work with advertising agencies. And in most cases, aside from teaching, they are still working in their given industries. Asking your professor questions shows you are engaged and lets them know you are interested in professional opportunities beyond the classroom.
In my sophomore year at Rowan, I was fortunate enough to be a part of a research project with my Acting and Speech professor, Michael Dean Morgan. I got to work with other students to facilitate interviews with Broadway actors in New York City. Because I was able to communicate with my professor and show that I was interested in getting experience in the field work, I was able to directly hear more about the industry of my work and gain networking tools.
Reaching out to your professors is crucial in college. Always checking in and asking for help is beneficial for all students. We cannot do this alone. Talking with professors forms a connection that potentially brings you closer to a job in your industry.
The first step is always showing up. And each day you show up, treat your attendance like you would treat an interview. Ask questions, engage yourself, and maybe shoot an email or two. High school is where your teachers help you figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life. College professors are here to offer the resources to help you get there.
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Story by:
Nick Flagg, senior theatre and advertising major
#PROFspective: Emergency Management with Kevin McCarthy
Today we speak with Kevin P. McCarthy, a recent graduate from Cranford, NJ (Union County) who earned degrees in Political Science and Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management. He was an RA (Resident Assistant) for three years in Holly Pointe, Chestnut Hall, and Triad Apartments. Kevin was also heavily involved in the SGA as well as Rowan EMS.
What advice do you have for incoming students?
Get involved, especially with hall council your freshman year. Also SGA, that’s how I got my start in leadership on campus. Finding what organizations are good for your major. I’m on Rowan EMS. I got a lot of my connections and experiences through SGA and Rowan EMS.
Now the Disaster Preparedness Major, I remember the last two years of that major were intended to be in Camden, correct?
I’ve actually been taking major-related courses my entire four years. So, I’ve been going to Camden almost every semester.
Has that moved to online format because of Covid?
Yes, everything is online.
So you haven’t been able to go to Camden very much?
Yes, not much this [past] semester. I’m also in the master’s program. I was accepted for next year. We’re seeing what’s gonna happen. If I get a full-time job or if I continue with my master’s or not, I have been taking master’s classes for senior privilege through that.
What have been some of the advantages of going to the Rowan Camden campus for classes (even in a COVID world)?
It’s a really gorgeous building. It’s an old bank! There’s a student lounge in the basement that used to be the old safety deposit room. The area is nice and the shuttle drops you off right there. I also have a friend that goes to Rutgers Camden and it’s only two blocks away. I would go over and meet her in their Student Center every so often. It’s a very nice building.
What is the professional direction you would like to go?
I would like to go into emergency management in some capacity, whether that be for the government or the private sector. I’m keeping my options open.
For those who are not familiar with this emerging major, what does that mean to a layperson? Is it like working for FEMA?
My professor, Dr. Len Clark, said that it’s like being a general without an army. You’re making the plans and you’re in charge during the emergency, the police, the firemen, the EMS. You’re working with their respective leads and coordinating an “all-hazards” approach. If there’s a hurricane coming, you have to work with DPW, EMS, the fire department, the police department evacuating people, and preparing the town with sandbags.
Is a lot of your work preventative? A town would bring you in to develop a plan for them and then you would move on?
Yes, you can! There are some people who do subcontract. You’ll develop a plan for a town or a business and then leave. Or you can continue to work for that town or business, as an internal [contractor]. You would develop plans, run drills, and serve as a liaison.
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Story by:
Marian Suganob, public relations and advertising graduate
Photos by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major
First Year Dance Major Amanda Drayton Performs in String Ensemble Concert
Amanda Drayton, a first year Dance major from Somerset, NJ (Union County), rehearsed on Zoom with Associate Professor Paule Turner for weeks leading up to her first live performance during COVID-19. Amanda walks us through her performance and shares her experience as a College of Performing Arts student this past year. What made you choose […]
Moods: Where To Go On Campus When You Feel A Certain Way
Rowan students and alumni reveal popular spots to eat, hang out and socialize on campus.
Where to go on campus when you want to socialize with friends
“When I want to socialize with my friends on campus, I like to go downtown to different restaurants like Playa Bowls and LaScala’s Fire.” – junior Supply Chain & Logistics and Marketing major Jenna Scarpa
“When I am on campus, I love going to sporting events and the Student Center to get together and socialize with my friends!” – senior Psychology major Lucille Villani
“I enjoy going to Holly Pointe Cafe to socialize with friends because the atmosphere gives off very welcoming vibes through the music and staff. Plus who doesn’t love to get something to eat while they are chatting?” – senior Math Education major CJ Barrett
As you can see above, Rowan offers many different places to socialize with your friends. From sporting events and walkable restaurants to Holly Pointe Commons Cafe, there are so many communal spaces to sit back and enjoy quality time with friends.
Where to go on campus when you want to study/sit in a quiet space
“Whenever I need a place to study or somewhere quiet, I love going to the Campbell Library on campus or Barnes and Noble. It helps me focus and I find that I get a lot more work done when I’m there!” – sophomore Athletic Training major Hannah Lombardo
“Being a commuter, I would sit in my car and study in between classes. The best lot is by Bunce Hall because it’s small, less traffic, and there’s a nice view while working.” – senior Theatre and Advertising major Nick Flagg
“If I have a lot of work to get done or need to study for a test, I usually go to Campbell Library or a study pod in the Science [Hall] building. I work really productively in places that are quiet and aren’t that busy!” – junior Biological Sciences major Harley Rosenzweig
Rowan has many options when seeking out a quiet place to study or have some alone time. Many students enjoy the library or Barnes and Noble downtown to tackle some work, and students can even find a good spot to relax on the lawn chairs in front of Robinson Hall and next to Wilson Hall.
Where to go on campus when you want to grab a bite to eat
“Freshens was always a go to spot. Being able to customize a healthy option along with the convenience of being able to order on my phone made it a staple.” – alumnus and Liberal Studies major Daniel Corvo
“Freshens in the Student Center is my go-to place for food in between classes or after practice! The food is SO good and filling!! LaScala’s on Rowan Boulevard is also really good.” – senior Elementary Education and Biological Sciences major Johanna Diehl
“Whenever I need a healthier option I love going to Fresh off the Grill [Grill Nation] and ordering grilled chicken sandwiches. They have a ton of topping options so you can really make it yours.” – alumnus and Mechanical Engineering graduate Frank Cianciotta
“The Boulevard has so many options of different restaurants to choose from! There’s such a great range of different kinds of food, no matter what I’m in the mood for they have it!” – senior Finance major Bethany Sansone
There are many options available when students are looking for a bite to eat. Students can use a meal swipe at Glassworks Dining Hall located in Holly Pointe Commons, the Student Center, or Rowan Boulevard to restaurants like LaScala’s Fire, Dawn to Dusk, El Mariachi and more.
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Story By:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Select photos by:
RJ Wentzell, senior exercise science major
The Best Study Spots on Campus
From the #PROFspective of Profs themselves, the best places on Rowan University’s campus for studying From the perspective of senior English major Bianca Gray, here is her list of top places to study on campus. She says: “you need to know about these spots.” 5. Campbell Library Since it’s kind of a given, I’ve decided […]
Lexi Jubin Shares Her Experience as an Intern with Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween
Lexi Jubin, a Management and Marketing major with a Certificate of Undergraduate Study in Entrepreneurial and Independent Media, spent her summer learning the ins and outs of e-commerce with national retailers Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween. Here, she shares her experience and how she interned through a pandemic.
What are your responsibilities as an intern with Spencer’s?
As the e-commerce intern with Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween, I did a lot of pulling data and work on different spreadsheets. In the e-commerce marketing department, I learned about paid search, SEO, affiliate marketing, and even worked closely with individuals in merchandising, copywriting and email marketing. I reported directly to the Senior Manager of E-commerce and got to know many people in the department very fondly.
When I first started, two full-time positions were vacant, so I got to have a hand in some of what those positions usually take care of, as well as gain so much brand-new insight and growth for the department during my internship experience as two new awesome individuals joined the team. Regarding my day by day, my mornings usually started off with a paid search report pulling from different analytics platforms. This was something I was super excited to learn about because I never would have thought I enjoyed paid search and going through the data that came with it so much and the only way to know was to try it.
For the SEO side of things, I also did a weekly data pull for our dashboard, which was super cool to learn as well. When I wasn’t pulling numbers for our regular reports, I created a new format for tracking information on our current and new affiliates, and did some individual products and data pulls for specific ideas or problems we had to solve. I attended regular meetings each week, going over different data and getting a feel for the company, as well as going through training for all different facets of e-comm.
Overall, I was completely immersed in the department. My supervisor, Greg, was absolutely amazing at teaching me piece by piece how to do different things. He ran through different platforms with me, taught me how he did the analysis for different daily reports, and was super patient when I didn’t know something. The paid search and SEO managers, which were brought on during my internship, were also so patient, helpful and kind when I had questions. Not only did I have my own responsibilities and tasks day by day, but the people I worked with really took the time to teach me and leave me with some valuable knowledge.
Do you feel like Rowan prepared you for the work you’re doing with the company?
Rowan definitely prepared me in every way they could for this type of work. I think the part of my coursework that helped me the most were the classes that were required for my certificate of undergraduate study in Entrepreneurial and Independent Media. Two classes in particular “Entrepreneurial Media” and “Media Metrics and Analytics” were probably the closest to what I was doing. For my marketing degree, my statistics-based courses also definitely played a role. I did a lot with conversion rates, impressions and other different KPI’s [key performance indicators], so it was important that I knew what they were when I started the internship, and I definitely wouldn’t have without these classes. While Rowan killed it at teaching me the concepts, I learned so much from the hands-on work that I got to do with the company.
Talk about your experience working during COVID.
My internship was sort of hybrid, though the office was technically not fully open during my time there. The first time I got to go to the office was to pick up my company-issued laptop. From there, I generally worked from home most days and went in about once a week. Though I wasn’t there a lot, I really loved the vibe and look of the corporate office, so it was exciting when I did get the chance to go in. I also had the opportunity to help our team out at one of the Spirit stores before it opened, which was insanely exciting, as well as a nice opportunity to meet some of my coworkers in person.
Though I didn’t get to see everyone in person all the time, I still was welcomed to the team with open arms. We had plenty of virtual and in-person meetings, so I still got to meet everyone. Greg also scheduled some time for me to come into the office specifically so I could meet the team, and he was intentional about introducing me to people so I felt like I was included in things. Additionally, when all of the interns first started, we did some meet and greets with everyone in our department.
Outside of normal tech problems you would see anywhere, I felt like Spencer’s did a great job of dealing with the circumstances they were presented with for their internship program, and it was still a super rewarding experience.
What was your favorite part about being on the Spencer’s team?
My favorite part about working for Spencer’s was honestly every single meeting I got to attend, especially the in person ones. We did some small team meetings, a few “Fun Fridays,” individual meetings, and even some department wide. I loved the team I worked with so much, and those meetings were so helpful for me to learn about the company, my job, what I wanted to do with my life, and about so many people I admire. Those meetings allowed me to see the human side of a larger company, and really feel secure in the path I was taking with my career.
The content we were dealing with was stimulating and exciting, but also challenging in all of the right ways. I grew so passionate about the company and the work I was doing over the summer, and gained so much confidence in myself. While I always really loved Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween, the internship experience started out mainly as something to help me gain experience; but the day-to-day work, meetings, and absolutely amazing individuals left me with a career defining experience I’ll never forget.
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Story by:
Loredonna Fiore, senior public relations and advertising major
Photos by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major
Select photos courtesy of:
Lexi Jubin
Alumni Success: Julia Reilly, Chemical Engineer at Dupont
Today we feature Julia Reilly, a Rowan Chemical Engineering alumna who graduated in 2019. Julia is currently a chemical engineer at Dupont, a specialty company that makes products in the safety, healthcare, electronics, mobility, and construction spaces. Julia is from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, but she currently lives in Washington, D.C.
Why Rowan?
My guidance counselor suggested I look into Rowan. Being from Bucks County, I had never heard of it. I went to Rowan’s Honors Accepted Students Day, and Rowan was better than I thought. I met many people at the event, and I loved it.
Did you have any internships while you were at Rowan?
I had an internship at FMC Corporation, an agricultural sciences company, as well as an internship at Dupont. After my internship at Dupont, they interviewed me for a full-time role in the company during the fall semester of my senior year. I got the job, and it was nice to not have to worry about finding a job during my second semester of senior year. The job was in the Field Engineering and Supply Chain Development Program at Dupont, where I still currently work.
Do you have any advice for Chemical Engineering students at Rowan?
I’d advise students to reach out to professors early on and offer to work in their labs. I started working in Dr. Joseph Stanzione’s lab my freshman year, and it was a great opportunity. I built a good relationship with him and gained valuable experience as I was trying to build my resume. This definitely helped me to secure an internship early on.
How did Rowan help to prepare you for the job you have today?
Rowan has great chemical engineering classes that teach good fundamentals. My favorite part of the Chemical Engineering department are the special topics classes, such as mixing and process safety courses. These classes are not commonly offered at other schools and help Rowan’s Chemical Engineering program and Rowan alumni to stand out.
What do you hope to see in the future of Rowan?
I personally hope to see Rowan expand the Chemical Engineering program. Also, I hope they’ll continue to make diversity, equity and inclusion a priority in the engineering department specifically. It is important to me that they improve the diversity of both students and faculty and make the department an inclusive space for all to thrive.
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Story by:
Rachel Rumsby, junior communication studies and public relations double major
Looking Back on What I Learned My First Year of College
Rowan Blog contributor, Public Relations major and student athlete Natalie DePersia shares her take on the first-year experience.
What I learned first year year of college was to take one deep breath in, one deep breath out, and to take a look around.
My first year, just two short years ago … seems like a different universe to the current world we live in. Reflecting back on my past two years as a Rowan student, I have came up with a list of things I learned from my first year of college; what I have learned from starting a normal first year to having it be cut short by a global pandemic.
As a rising junior, so much much has happened in what feels like such a short amount of time. Approaching your first year can be nerve-wracking, exciting, and can come with a mixture of emotions. A way to ease any anxiety or uneasiness is to get involved in some way around campus.
Join college clubs, extracurricular activities, and get involved around campus
Getting involved around campus is imperative to finding new friends and taking a break from your academic course load. I play on the Women’s Lacrosse Team at Rowan, and from this experience I have developed friendships that will last a lifetime. College clubs, extracurriculars and even sports are a great way to find others with the same interests of you.
Staying organized is the key to my success
Being a first-year student in college can be stressful. The adjustment from high school to college can be a very different experience depending on who you ask. Personally, the adjustment had its easy moments and its hard moments. In high school I did homework based off of memory. This worked most of the time. However, I did experience the occasional “Oh no I forgot to do an assignment … let me finish it quickly 10 minutes before the class starts.”
Having a planner and a system to organize myself has been my saving grace as a busy college student. Between lacrosse practice, in-person meetings, classes online or in person, to internship hours and assignments … having a planner is essential to my success and punctuality academically, athletically and professionally.
Be grateful for what you have when you have it
I wonder how I am approaching my junior year as I remember first-year orientation like it was yesterday. Time goes by so quickly and I feel as if I did not truly appreciate what my first year was because I assumed I had three more years just like it. Having a normal college experience the most of my first year to going into lockdown by a global pandemic my entire sophomore year only made me realize that I need to appreciate what I have when I have it. I was taught by Covid-19 to expect the unexpected and to make the most of every moment given.
Apply yourself because you owe it to yourself
This one is my favorite. I was a decent student in high school. I did what I needed to do, and I was ok with receiving any grade from A to B range. When I got to Rowan I realized I was not striving for my maximum potential and I needed to start working harder if I wanted to accomplish the goals I set aside for myself. I can happily say that I am now a 4.0 student successfully balancing academic course work of a major in Public Relations and a double minor in Sports Communication and Psychology, athletic responsibilities of playing on a women’s collegiate lacrosse team, and professional efforts of working two jobs. It took me a little time to realize, but anything is truly possible if you set your mind to it and put in the work.
Networking is imperative
Networking has so many positive outcomes. Networking can bring you internship or job opportunities, introduce you to new friends or a new hobby and more. I found an internship by reaching out to one of my favorite professors, Cristin Kastner Farney. You never know what opportunities can arise if you talk with others and are simply a friendly face. Being kind can go a long way in your academic and professional career.
If you gather anything from this piece I hope you learn to take one deep breath in, one deep breath out, and to take a look around. College and life in general go by fast. Do not let the little things stress you out, everything has a way of working itself out. Be present in the moment because sooner than later you will be entering your junior year writing a reflection piece and wondering where the time has gone.
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Story by:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Photos courtesy of Natalie DePersia and by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major
40 Ways to Get the Most out of Your College Experience
Rowan Blog contributors share their personal tips on getting the most out of your college experience at Rowan University. 1. Join a club Joining a club is a great way to meet new people and to ease the stress of academic course load. 2. Participate in recreational sports Participating in recreational sports can lead you […]
#PROFspective: Public Relations Major, Strategic Communication Minor Kayla Tucker
Today we speak with Kayla Tucker, a senior Public Relations major with a Strategic Communications minor and a concentration in Public Relations in the News. Kayla, from Burlington County, is the Vice President of the Black Cultural League and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.
Have you always wanted to study your major? At what point in time did you realize the major you decided to pursue was the one most adequate for your future goals?
“When I came to Rowan my original major was Marketing. I quickly realized that marketing did not align with my strongest assets. After deciphering my strengths, knowing I love writing, public speaking and everything involving communications; and knowing that Rowan’s Public Relations program is nationally ranked, I realized Public Relations was the major I wanted to study.”
What is your dream profession?
“Working in an in-house public relations firm.”
How has Rowan prepared you for your future? What professors have impacted you the most as a student at Rowan?
“Ms. Cristin Kastner Farney is a professor that immediately stands out to me. I had her as a professor in Intro to PR and I truly enjoyed everything that class offered me. That class taught me interviewing skills and just the basics of PR and she presented all material in an amusing yet educational way. Cristin was also super helpful in terms of career development and assisting me in finding available internships.”
What is the Black Cultural League?
“The goal of this club is to have conversations and discussions on issues concerning African-American studies outside of of the classroom.”
What advice would you give to your first-year self?
“My best advice would be to get involved early. Rowan offers countless amounts of club ranging from sports clubs, community and service clubs, clubs that promote diversity and inclusion, and many more. Getting involved around campus led me to meeting so many amazing different people.”
What do you like to do in your spare time?
“I like to cook, listen to music, and spend time with family and friends. This year I also started a small business on campus named K. Kooks where I make and sell food to students.”
What makes you unique from others?
“Probably the fact that I love public speaking. I know many people that dread giving speeches or speaking in public, but I love everything about speaking in front of large audiences. It honestly is a big contributor to why I chose public relations as my major.”
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Story by:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Photos by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major
- Campus Life
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Who Would We Be Without Whoo RU?
Meet Whoo RU! What would Rowan be without him? He is the face, spirit and pride of Rowan University. As we return to campus, let’s take a moment to remind ourselves who we are as a community and what Whoo RU means to us.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Whoo RU!
Whoo RU, or “The Prof,” is the official mascot for Rowan University. Standing at 6 feet, the magnificent brown and gold owl has been the face of our institution for over 50 years! He is mighty and strong with a wingspan of 6-foot-5 and an appetite for lions, making him the perfect candidate to intimidate the competition of our school’s different sports teams. But he is also an old and wise owl serving as a source of motivation for our students to continue with their academics and one day walk off Rowan’s campus with their degrees in hand.
Our mascot isn’t something to just be toted out at sporting events like with some other schools. He is the perfect embodiment of our community. Like our beloved owl, the Rowan community is a group of multifaceted individuals who can’t be confined to a single box. We’ve each walked many different paths in life that all have converged on one small corner of Glassboro and expanded to touch all around the world.
Whoo RU reminds us of the power that we hold as Profs. Profs are multifaceted and not people who are bound by the age-old saying of “the sky’s the limit.” No, the skies are our stomping (or flying) grounds, and we possess the ability to reach far beyond. We are scholars, athletes, teachers, friends, parents, musicians, business owners, artists, writers, doctors, etc., with one thing that binds us together: Prof Pride.
As we return to campus, let’s keep Whoo RU’s spirit and pride in mind. Adversity is bound to challenge us in these trying times, but, never forget that our Prof Pride is unshakable and will see us through any challenge we may face.
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Story by:
Bianca Gray, senior English major
Finally Face to Face!
Today, we speak to Rowan students who are excited about being physically present in class when we return to campus in the fall.
“I’m really looking forward to going to more in-person classes and looking to join clubs. It’s been hard to get involved and talk to people in my classes because everyone is behind a screen. In the few classes that I have in person, I’ve already made connections, and it makes a huge difference. I can’t wait to make more friends next fall!” says Rachel Bonhomme, a Math and Education major from Brick Twp. (Ocean County).
“I would really love to join a sorority next year. Just being part of a sisterhood sounds amazing!! I am really excited to open that chapter of my life at Rowan,” says Bri Solomon, a Biochemistry major from Brick Twp. (Ocean County).
“I’m currently in the Vietnamese Student Association at Rowan. I encourage people who’s interested in learning the culture/language or anyone down to have a good time to join. I really enjoyed being in this club so far,” says Tammy Nguyen, a first-generation college student and Early Childhood Education major from Lawnside, NJ (Camden County).
“I am most looking forward to being able to have classes and more activities in person. As a current [first year], I am really looking forward to in-person activities to be able to get the full college experience,” says Jayshalie Jennings, Secondary Education (Mathematics) major from Williamstown, NJ (Gloucester County).
“I am looking forward to dancing, of course. I could dance, thankfully, at home in my basement all school year, but I hope to dance in a studio. The last time I did that was March 10, 2020,” says Gabrielle Langevine, a Dance major from Middlesex County, NJ.
“Being able to work in the studios again and have more free time by doing so!” says Sumayyah Hayes, first-generation college student and Art major from Burlington County.
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Story by:
Bianca Torres, music industry graduate
Interesting Clubs To Check Out At Rowan University
Rowan University has countless of clubs ranging from staying active clubs, diversity/inclusion clubs, major-specific clubs, residential assistant clubs and more. Rowan Blog contributors each share a club on campus that students should check out!
Outdoors Club
The Outdoors Club is all about exploring the wilderness and connecting with nature. The club takes multiple trips throughout the year to go hiking, kayaking, camping and more. Trips are really cheap and can be free or cost $5-10.
ProfLink: https://rowan.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/outdoors
– Reshaun Timmons, senior Marketing major
Get FIT Club
The Get FIT Club is a great way to volunteer and help an underserved population. If you like staying fit and helping others, this is the club for you. In this club you act as personal trainers for local individuals with special needs.
– RJ Wentzell, senior Exercise Science major
Student University Programmers (SUP)
Help brainstorm campus events, help advertise and work events. Meets the first Wednesday of every month at 9:15 p.m, usually in the Student Center. There are various committees that plan certain events and help with [planning] events. Committees include special events, live events, charitable events, technical services, off-campus events, cinema and marketing. You can meet new people, make friends, and build camaraderie while volunteering and having fun. Their signature programs you can help with and enjoy are Hollybash, Movie Nights, Food Truck Festival, Battle of the Bands and more!
Student University Programmers – ProfLink (campuslabs.com)
– Rachel Rumsby, junior Communication Studies and Public Relations major
Women of Color Collective
Held every other Tuesday of the semester, the Women of Color Collective (often abbreviated as WOCC) serves as a safe space for Rowan’s women of color to openly and honestly discuss their feelings and experiences. It’s sponsored by SJICR and is held in Hawthorn Hall.
ProfLink: https://rowan.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/123
– Bianca Gray, senior English major
Athletic Training Club
This club delves into everything related to the athletic training field. Whether you are an Athletic Training major or just simply interested in the field/major, this club teaches members about rehab, responsibilities as an athletic trainer and rehabilitation for athletes. This club is also useful for athletes looking to develop a deeper understanding of personal recovery.
ProfLink: https://rowan.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/atc
– Natalie DePersia, junior Public Relations major
Residential Learning University Housing (RLUH)
RLUH is an organization catered to residential life on campus. To be a part of RLUH, you can apply to be a Resident Assistant, or RA. RAs are responsible for programming to residents, helping them through their transition from high school to college and connecting students to campus resources. Some major perks of being an RA are the amazing transferable skills learned and free room and board.
ProfLink: https://rowan.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/rluh
– Loredonna Fiore, senior Public Relations and Advertising major
PRSSA
The Public Relations Students Society of America is an organization for students pursuing careers in the communication field. The club provides networking opportunities as well as special events such as virtually meeting with PR practitioners, participating in Organ Donor Day and even picnics. Meetings are held bi-weekly on Wednesdays at 5 p.m.
ProfLink: https://rowan.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/rowanprssa
– Nene Diallo, senior Public Relations major
RU Puppet Artists (RUPA)
RUPA was founded in Fall 2020 by TJ Jacobs to cultivate the art of puppetry at Rowan University and beyond through sustainable and accessible practices. We are an experiential and collaborative organization dedicated to the puppetry and artistic growth of our community using proven educational techniques. Members can expect to learn not by sitting in the classroom or in virtual meetings, but by actually creating artistic experiences for their communities.
Contact: RUPUPPETARTISTS@gmail.com
ProfLink: https://rowan.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/rupa
– Nick Flagg, senior Theatre and Advertising major
Rowan Photography Club
Rowan Photo Club is a great place for ANYONE interested in art, photography, modeling and more. We host meetings with fun games and activities. We have photo contests and the winner gets featured on our instagram. We plan to have in person photo walks and photography meets. The club is a fun environment with cool people.
Follow us on instagram! @RowanPhotoClub
– Stephanie Batista, junior Music Industry major
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Story by:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Back-to-School Bucket List of Rowan Juniors and Seniors
We’re so close to the beginning of the new semester, let’s kick it off with a college bucket list by sharing some students’ ambitions.
“I’m looking forward to everyone moving in and meeting more new people since my freshman year got cut short. One of my must do’s when I get back on campus this fall is to attend more basketball and football games. Also I can’t wait to go to the engineering building and go to the pond, I find it very relaxing.” – Anais Holguin, junior Marketing major from Perth Amboy, NJ (Middlesex County)
“My friend and I are on a mission to find the best lunch specials for $15 or under around campus. So far Alaura Kitchen or Family Mediterranean (both located in Pitman) are the winners! There are so many different places to explore around campus and it is so much fun to do it with friends. Also thrifting is a hoot. The lunch spot I’m excited to visit again is Au Bon Pain, it’s opening back up and I NEED their croissants.” – Meena Young, senior Biological Sciences major from Sickerville, NJ (Camden County)
“I am extremely excited to be student teaching this year and to finally have in-person classes again. I miss interacting with my peers and being on campus. I miss studying at James Hall, the education building and the library and those are spots I look forward to visiting again.” – London Raikes, senior Inclusive and Elementary Education major from Deptford, NJ (Gloucester County)
“I am involved in quite a few organizations on campus. I’m most looking forward to continuing my role as the Blood Services Undergraduate Coordinator for the Office of Volunteerism. There are many things on my bucket list this year and that includes living in an on-campus apartment, seeing my South Jersey friends, walking near Town Square, taking most of my core Finance and MIS courses and exploring campus with my friends.” Sasmita Prabu, junior Finance major from Somerset County, NJ
“I’m looking forward to finally being in person again. Looking at a screen for 18 months has been really sad, it feels like so much of the college experience was lost. At least I’ll be less tempted to fall asleep during class. I am going to be an RA this year, so I am excited to meet new people and help others have a great return to Rowan. I have many things on my bucket list and that includes: going to the Fitness Center and working out with my friends, having movie nights with my friends in their apartments, going to Cookie Munchers and eating more calories in 10 minutes than you’re supposed to eat in two days, riding the shuttles to the movie theater, having an advisor meeting in person, taking free electives to pursue other passions rather than fulfilling requirements, plus eating at Smoked again.” – RJ Wentzell, senior Exercise Science major of Pilesgrove, NJ (Salem County)
“A couple of things I look forward to this school year are my campus event Emo Night, planning concerts, writing music and finishing my junior year. I haven’t seen Dennis Diblasio [since before COVID], I’m looking forward to seeing him.” – junior Malachi Prillerman of Palmyra, NJ (Burlington County), Music Industry major and transfer student from Hampton University
“This year, I hope to get accepted as a transfer ambassador. A must do is to visit a restaurant during a social hour. Academically, I look forward to receiving high grades, building connections with my professors and receiving a letter of recommendation.” – De’Ja Morris of Woodbury, NJ (Gloucester County), senior Finance major and transfer student from Salem Community College
“This September, I look forward to going back to regular class, walking around and seeing new faces. A few things I would like to do again this semester are seeing all my friends from freshman year, visiting the Rec Center, eating at the Student Center and playing sports.” – Hualsy Paredes, junior Construction Management major from Fort Lee, NJ (Bergen County) and transfer student from Utica College
“I am really excited to graduate. I’ve been working really hard since COVID to maintain my grades just for this moment. I really like the club fair every fall. I’m excited for that! I’m also really excited to study in the library again. I am most looking forward to in-person classes.” – Alexa Wentworth, senior Psychology major from West Windsor, NJ (Mercer County)
“Being able to go to clubs, meeting up at the Student Center and getting food together, being able to see my professors in person, and visiting Science Hall again.” – Andrew Pinto, junior Physics major from Hammonton, NJ (Atlantic County)
“I came into Rowan as a transfer so I haven’t tried anything yet. I’m sad because I lost a year so I want to be as involved as possible. This year, I’m looking forward to seeing my fellow peers, raising my GPA and attending football games.” – senior Tara Preston of Camden County, NJ, Economics major and transfer student from Delaware County Community College
“A must do with my friends is going to RoBo and getting pizza. Academically, I look forward to staying busy with classes and making new friends in class.” – Maria Espejo, junior Psychology major from River Edge, NJ (Bergen County)
“I’m most looking forward to seeing Discovery Hall this year and to go to football, basketball and hockey games with my friends.” – Lauren Blaze of Branchburg, NJ (Somerset County), senior Civil and Environmental Engineering major
“Being able to socialize with new classmates and professors! I haven’t seen Dr. Bhatia in person since before COVID, I am very much looking forward to seeing him on campus this fall. Looking forward to social events, clubs and projects.” – senior Hayley Lomas of Woodbury, NJ (Gloucester County), a Mechanical Engineering major with a CUG in Aerospace Engineering and transfer student from Rowan College of South Jersey
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Story by:
Nene Diallo, senior public relations major
Photos by:
Reshaun Timmons, Stephanie Batista, RJ Wentzell and Anthony Raisley
Rowan Football photo courtesy of:
University Publications
Out-of-State Students’ Returning to Rowan Bucket List
Many out-of-state students are coming to campus for the first time since COVID, while some were able to come to campus last year. Here are some things that out-of-state students are looking forward to when campus opens up a bit more this semester.
Magdelyn Kelly is a senior Musical Theatre and Theatre Education major from Inwood, West Virginia. Magdelyn transferred to Rowan from Blue Ridge Community College. Magdelyn is a first-generation college student and an off-campus renter. She says she’s most looking forward to seeing all her peers and learning face to face again. When asked if there was someone she hasn’t seen in person since before Covid who she is very much looking forward to seeing on campus this fall, Magdelyn replied, “My voice teacher!” Magdelyn is involved with Campus Players and Rowan Lab Theatre, and she adds that Rowan Lab Theatre will be putting on some great shows this year. Magdelyn can’t wait to take part in Rowan After Hours (RAH) and Student University Programmers (SUP) events again, such as Bingo. She can’t wait to take senior pictures with her friends and hang out on campus on Bunce Green.
Nick Kreuz, a senior Electrical and Computer Engineering major from Quakertown, Pennsylvania, is looking forward to working back in the labs with other students. Nick says, “I am looking forward most to going back to a campus that feels alive,” and he notes being on campus last year felt less warm and welcoming than it has been in the past. Some campus must-dos for him include activities put on by the Rec Center (where he will work as a Building Manager) and shows returning to the Planetarium. Nick is also looking forward to visiting Einstein’s Bagels in the mornings for coffee.
Petro Skrypnyk has never been to campus before, and he is excited to see the place he has been studying at for a year. Petro is a senior Computer Science major and commutes from his home in Philadelphia. Before attending Rowan, Petro transferred from Rowan College at Burlington County. Petro wants to get involved with Rowan’s Association for Computing Machinery and the Volleyball team. Petro is excited to earn his bachelor’s degree and meet up with people in between classes.
Samuel Jolade, senior Computing and Informatics major from Deer Park, New York, is excited to come back to the Rowan campus after nearly two years. He can’t wait to get back into Gaming Club and visit the Game Room in the Student Center. Samuel hasn’t seen his friend Max and a few other friends since before COVID, and he is excited to see them.
Ashleigh Jankowski is a junior Biomedical Engineering major with a Chemistry minor from Catonsville, Maryland. Ashleigh is living off campus this semester. Ashleigh says while “virtual learning was a great way to proceed in learning while continuing to be socially distanced, nothing can replace the friendly, bustling campus atmosphere.” She is looking forward to taking classes that are major specific this year, and because most of them are engineering labs, hopefully having them in person! She is looking forward to Outdoors Club getting started again, as she is hoping to go on a few trips with them this semester. She’s also looking forward to RAH events like Bingo and SUP activities like Outdoor Movie Night. Ashleigh also can’t wait to hang out at Einstein’s Bagels again.
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Story by:
Rachel Rumsby, junior communication studies and public relations double major
Philadelphia photo courtesy of:
Pixabay
What is Rowan Boulevard?
Grab a bite or go somewhere fun with friends at Rowan Boulevard, Glassboro’s downtown area at the edge of Rowan University’s campus. Editor note: reviewed and updated 2025 and 2023 Rowan Boulevard is a one-third mile strip built to reinvent downtown for students and area residents. In 2000, visions for Rowan Boulevard began, but it […]
A Look Inside the Rowan Men’s Club Lacrosse Team
Today we feature three members of the Men’s Club Lacrosse team as they share their experiences and touch upon why Rowan Men’s Club Lacrosse is a great extracurricular to participate in.
Participating in sports at the high school level is important to students as it fuels their competitive edge, allows individuals to make new friends, and simply teaches students about leadership and confidence. However, being recruited by collegiate sports teams and continuing to play at college can be physically rigorous, difficult to manage socially, and requires an immense amount of time.
Rowan University does not have a collegiate Division III Men’s Lacrosse team; however, the university does offer a Men’s Club Lacrosse team. Today we feature several members of the team to hear their insights on the program.
Ryan Meiluta is a senior long stick midfielder majoring in Civil Engineering from Delran, NJ (Burlington County).
Why did you choose to play men’s club lacrosse?
I wanted to continue playing lacrosse and compete.
What is your favorite thing about being a member of the men’s club lacrosse team?
The bonds we have with our teammates.
Do you play on the team more so for the social aspect or because you love the sport?
I started because I love the sport, but the social aspect makes it a lot better.
How many days a week do you practice?
Two days a week.
Christian Boylan is a senior midfielder from Hillsborough, NJ (Somerset County) majoring in Environmental Science and Sustainability and minoring in geology and environmental planning.
Why did you choose to play men’s club lacrosse?
I really enjoy playing lacrosse and wanted to continue to be a part of a team.
What is your favorite thing about being a member of the men’s club lacrosse team?
My teammates.
What is a pro of playing for the team?
Winning games and winning the games without a coach is definitely a pro.
If Rowan had an NJAC/ NCAA men’s lacrosse team, would you pursue that or try to walk on?
Yes.
Ryan Collins is a junior defender majoring in Marketing and is from Lacey Township, NJ (Ocean County).
Why did you choose to play men’s club lacrosse?
I chose to play lacrosse at Rowan because I wanted to continue playing the sport after high school. I felt it was a good way to meet new people and to continue playing.
Do you travel and play other schools?
Yes, we travel to different tournaments and colleges playing other club teams from all different schools.
How competitive would you say the team is?
I’d say the team is very competitive. Every practice and game we have we all give 100%, and our goal is to be the best we can.
Do you play on the team more so for the social aspect or because you love the sport?
I’d say a little bit of both, they’re both great factors that come with playing on the club team. I’ve always loved lacrosse and have played my whole life so I knew I wanted to play in college. But, I think club lacrosse was the perfect thing to do because I am able to focus a ton on school while still playing the sport and spending time with teammates.
To learn more, visit:
https://rowan.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/mensclublacrosse
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Story by:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Related posts:
First Person Perspective: Women’s Lacrosse at Rowan University With Natalie DePersia
Rowan RAs Share Tips for Creating a Positive Environment while Living with a Roommate
For most people, college is the first time students live with a roommate. Resident Assistants (RAs), who are trained with mediation tactics, share some tips on how students can create and maintain a positive environment in their spaces.
Senior RA in Townhouse Apartments Alyssa Putiri thinks the key to a positive roommate relationship is “all about being open to communication. Discussing boundaries and personal preferences are crucial to making sure both you and your roommate are comfortable with each other. Remember, you don’t need to be best friends with your roommate, but it’s important to create a comfortable environment for the both of you to live in.”
Alex Jackson, a senior RA in 230 Victoria Nexus Apartments, says to “pick your battles. There’s always going to be disagreements, as people in general have different living styles. But if you and your roommate can learn to compromise on things that aren’t too important, you will both be sure to take important issues much more seriously.”
Whitney Center RA senior Mathew Mcgrath says “first and foremost, it is essential that roommates maintain respect for one another. Roommate agreements provide a framework for what roommates want and expect from one another. Having respect for each other will make developing personal bonds both a less complicated and less intimidating venture.”
Sam Eloy, a junior RA in Rowan Boulevard Apartments, challenges students to “make sure they are as transparent as possible. Address any issues immediately rather than letting them simmer. Drawing lines of respect and understanding is important to make sure no one is ever offended or gets hurt.”
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Story by:
Loredonna Fiore, senior public relations and advertising major
National Dog Day: August 26 Is a Day For The Dogs
Rowan Blog contributor, Public Relations major and student athlete Natalie DePersia captures Rowan’s beloved Prof Pets.
As tribute to National Dog Day, we would like to highlight some of the pets of our Rowan students and alumni.
National Dog Day is more than just a day to have a bigger incentive to post a cute picture of your furry friend. This national day is a holiday that is also celebrated to bring awareness to the canine population that needs adopting and rescuing. National Dog Day is a day to celebrate every dog breed at every stage and age.
While purchasing an owning purebred dogs in America is common, it is important to be educated on the importance of adopting a dog. There are many shelters around that have purebred adoption options available as well. By adopting a furry friend, you may not only save the life of your dog, you are contributing to breaking the system of pet overpopulation, you will be paying way less than buying a dog from a breeder, and you can be potentially inspiring others to adopt as well.
Dogs are important because they also provide company and companionship. Whether you are trying to sleep through a windy storm, afraid of the dark, or simply having a bad day, a dog can not only help you feel better, they can relieve stress and anxiety as well. Dogs provide endless positivity; the simplest adventures are viewed as the greatest joy from a dogs point of view.
Dogs are also amazing by their ability to help their owners. There are many different types of service dogs ranging from; diabetes assist dogs that can detect low blood sugar levels, autism service dogs that assist those with autism by helping them with everyday tasks, hearing dogs that assist individuals with hearing problems, seizure response dogs who assist their owner during or after a seizure, guide dogs who assist visibly impaired owners, and more.
Dogs truly are amazing and provide so much love and presence in our everyday lives. Whether you have a dog of your own, are looking into adopting a furry friend, or just love these companions from afar, make sure to send some love to a dog today.
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Story By:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Melody Wozunk Named Student CEO of Saxbys New Campus Cafe
Today we feature Melody Wozunk, a senior Management major from Vineland, NJ (Cumberland County). Melody is the inaugural Student Cafe Executive Officer for the new student-run Saxbys cafe at Rowan’s Rohrer College of Business.
Saxbys is a Certified B Corporation and coffee company in over 10 different locations. Saxbys’ mission statement is “Make Life Better.” With their mission statement and the up-and-coming workforce in mind, Saxbys created the Saxbys Experiential Learning Platform. Within the Experiential Learning Platform, one undergraduate student will be the student CEO of the campus cafe for a semester.
Melody Wozunk is the new Student CEO for the Rowan University Saxbys campus cafe located in the Rohrer College of Business. Melody goes into detail about the Experiential Learning Platform, discusses how she found out about this opportunity, and shares future plans.
I understand that Saxbys has partnered with Rowan University in an all new student-run café starting this fall, and you are the new SCEO. How did you get involved?
I was in a career planning and development class back in Spring 2021, and my professor encouraged me to attend an online career fair. I went ahead and went on and scrolled through the employer list. This is when I came across Saxbys, a company I was vaguely familiar with. Originally, I was just looking for a summer internship. It just so happened that this opportunity turned into something so much greater and way beyond just that. I am so grateful that I logged onto the career fair that day because I was instantly informed of this Student CEO position and it has been a dream come true.
What are your feelings as the first Student CEO of Rowan’s Saxbys Experiential Learning Platform?
I feel a mixture of emotions when I think about this opportunity. I feel extremely excited, blessed, honored, challenged, and simply just so happy to be here and part of this experience of the Experiential Learning Platform. I know I am going to learn so much and will be able to utilize the skills I learn in my future endeavors.
From your understanding, what are your roles and responsibilities as the SCEO of the campus cafe?
Saxbys breaks it down into what they call the three pillars. The pillars include financial management, community leadership and team development. I have a lot of different responsibilities as the SCEO, but they all fall into the three pillars. For example, for financial management, I will constantly be tracking costs of goods sold in the cafe and evaluating revenue. For team development, I will be working a lot on the floor as a “team lead,” which is viewed as a management position. For community leadership, I will focus on getting Rowan involved and interested in this new cafe.
What are your professional plans post graduation? Do you plan on working for a company like Saxbys long term?
It is hard to say what the future holds for me. I am still going to be a student and I obviously will not be going into the full-blown workforce until after I graduate; however, I would be honored to work for Saxbys long term. I have loved working with Saxbys so far, and just their mission statement alone of “Make Life Better” truly resonates with me.
What personal goals do you have for working as the SCEO for the Rowan Saxbys campus cafe?
I really want to provide an awesome experience for guests that are coming in: the Rowan community. Our goal at Saxbys, as stated previously, is to “Make Life Better.” However, I can accomplish that through my team, for the community is really important to me. I also am looking forward to developing my team. Starting up as a brand new cafe is an exciting experience; however, it can also be a little intimidating. Therefore, a personal goal for me is to spread confidence, create a fun working environment and a motivating atmosphere.
Personally, I am looking to improve my time management skills, professional communication skills, and my overall drive and focus as a professional who is practically starting their first full-time job.
The grand opening of Rowan’s Saxbys campus cafe was held on Sept. 21. The cafe is looking for outgoing, detail-oriented, disciplined and passionate workers.
To find out more information on the Saxbys Experiential Learning Platform, you can click the website linked below. For information on how to apply and join the team you can click the following;
https://www.saxbyscoffee.com/how-to-apply/
Learn more about the Saxby’s SCEO program here:
Like what you see?
Story By:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Photos courtesy of:
Saxbys
Related posts:
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Rowan Abroad: Recent Graduate, Chloe Senatore, Talks Acceptance into Trinity College in Dublin
English major and Rowan Blog contributor Bianca Gray sat down with fellow English major and recent graduate, Chloe Senatore, to talk about her acceptance into Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Chloe not only discusses the journey that led her to Trinity College but how the English Department at Rowan helped her along the way.
Can you tell us a little bit about your graduate program and what you’ll be studying?
I’m studying Irish writers. I’ll be focusing on Irish literature and Irish writing at Trinity College in Dublin where many of those writers went to school. It’s a one-year program but it’s going to be really cool and I’m really excited. I definitely feel as though the classes I’ve taken at Rowan and the professors I’ve worked with have prepared me to do something like this.
Was it always your intention to study abroad for graduate school?
No, actually. I wasn’t even fully planning on going to graduate school. I just wanted to apply to this one singular program to see if I could get in. It’s a difficult program to get into but I knew if I didn’t apply then I would never know and spend the rest of my life sad about it. I didn’t apply to any other programs. If I didn’t get into Trinity then I was just going to enter the workforce but, lo and behold, I actually did get accepted and that’s what I’m doing.
Why did you choose Irish Writing to be your field of study?
That’s very personal to me. I’m Irish. I have a big mane of red hair. You’ve seen me. I have Irish heritage on both sides of my family. Irish literature often gets lumped into British literature but Irish literature is its own separate thing, and I really wanted to dive into it more. I chose Trinity specifically to learn more about this field. I literally have a quote by W.B Yates tattooed on my body.
I’m very into not only Irish poetry but the Irish experience in general. I dove into the history of Ireland when I was supposed to go abroad through a program Rowan was hosting before everything happened with COVID. The program was a law class called International Terrorism and, though it wasn’t something affiliated with my major, I was going to take it as a free elective. Since COVID shut down the trip, I’ve just been yearning to go and experience the culture and history of the country.
Can you tell me any specifics about the program you’re enrolled in at Trinity?
It’s a small program. It only accepts around 20 students a year. It’s not a traditional English program. There are multiple different paths I could take, and I could choose to study one specific author. The general structure is that the first semester is just studying all of Irish literature in general, and the second semester is going to be spent with me writing a dissertation on whichever path of Irish literature I choose to study.
Who are your favorite Irish poets/writers?
Seamus Heaney and W.B Yates. They’re just the best.
What inspired your initial interest in literature?
Oh gosh, that takes me back to being a kid and reading Harry Potter. I’ve always been a book nerd. I love to read, and I think it’s something I’ve just always naturally gravitated towards. It’s just been my thing for as long as I can remember.
Why did you choose Rowan to pursue your passion?
I actually transferred to Rowan. I did my first two years of college at a different university but I didn’t like it there. I ended up transferring to Rowan because it was closer to where I lived and I could easily commute to school. My decision to transfer was one of the best decisions I ever made. Rowan’s English department is just so superior to the English department at my other school. I just think that it’s really awesome that I got to be a part of the Rowan English program. The professors are just so cool and knowledgeable. They push you to improve.
Who was your favorite professor to work with overall?
I loved so many of the professors, but I’d have to pick Dr. Falck. She’s just amazing and phenomenal. She’s one of the best teachers I ever had. The feedback she gave and the way she taught was just incredible. I learned so much from her. She even wrote one of my recommendation letters to go to Trinity.
What was your favorite course?
Probably Multi-Ethnic Literature of the U.S. It opened my eyes to see that American literature isn’t just Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman. There’s so many people of different ethnicities that wrote some great works that should be more heavily acknowledged in the canon.
How do you feel the Rowan English Department prepared you for graduate school?
They couldn’t have prepared me any better to handle my academic career moving forward. The professors at Rowan don’t just give you an A or a B. They genuinely see you and see your writing and they help you to improve. They aren’t just going off a rubric. They’re genuinely interested in helping people improve on an individual level. There was a time or two where I had a professor give me a B on an essay when I knew for a fact that I did better than some people in the class who got the same or better grades than me. I would voice my opinions to the professor and they would just tell me that I got the grade I got because they knew I could do better.
What advice would you give to a student thinking about pursuing an English career at Rowan?
Whatever you put into it is what you’re going to get out of it. I can admit that I’m a try hard, but what I put into it was what I got out of it. I put a lot of hard work into essays and things like that so I got a lot out of it. My professors gave to me what I gave to them.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
After this next year of grad school, I’ll have a bit of a beefier resume. My goal is to work for a publishing company or work as an editor. I’m not really sure where I’ll be led but I like the idea of reading and editing books for a living.
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Story by:
Bianca Gray, senior English major
Photos courtesy of:
Chloe Senatore
Related posts:
The Rowan Writing Arts 4+1 Program: Students Share Their Experiences
Mic Worthy: Earning a M.A. in Writing While Inspiring Students
Ten Ways to Avoid Getting Lost on Campus
Are you new to campus? Is it your first time taking in-person classes on-campus? As any new place is, Rowan’s campus may be confusing at first. To help you out, here are 10 ways to avoid getting lost!
1. Visit the information desk
The Information Desk at the Chamberlain Student Center provides directions and other useful resources to students, parents and any other visitors on campus! The Information Desk is located on the main floor of the Student Center.
2. Tour campus before the semester starts
Even if you are already committed to Rowan, taking a campus tour is a great way to get to know the campus and have questions you may have answered. Rowan is currently offering guided personal and multi-family campus tours, as well as self-guided audio tours. There are also virtual opportunities to learn more about your major and campus culture!
3. Walk your class schedule
Can’t get to campus for a tour before moving in? No problem! A great idea is to walk around campus and find the buildings your classes are in before the first day of classes.
4. Check out the campus map
Already out and about and lost? Check out the campus map on your phone!
5. Look for landmarks
Try to associate certain landmarks on campus with certain buildings. For example, when I see the Prof statue, I know I am next to Robinson Hall, and Science Hall and Savitz Hall are across the path.
6. Read the signs around campus
There are signs in front of buildings telling you their names, as well as signs around campus pointing you in the direction of other buildings. Find one of these signs to figure out where you are.
7. Ask an RA for directions
If you live on campus, you will most likely get your RA’s contact information during your floor meeting. If you need directions, your RA is there to ask for help!
8. Stop into Admissions at Savitz Hall
There are Admissions Ambassadors that work the front desk for Admissions. The Ambassadors give tours of Rowan. They know where most buildings are, so they can give you directions.
9. Find a PROS member
PROS (Peer Referral and Orientation Staff) are the staff members in the yellow polos that you see at Orientation and during Welcome Week. They don’t wear yellow polos during the school year, but they do wear big braids on their bags to identify themselves. PROS members are trained on how to answer questions from new students and families, including where buildings are located! If you see a PROS member with a braid on their bag, you can ask them any questions you may have.
10. Stop in the Welcome Center on Rowan Boulevard
The Welcome Center is located at the end of Rowan Boulevard. Staff members know the layout of campus. If you are lost on that end of campus, popping in there and asking for directions can be helpful!
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Story by:
Rachel Rumsby, junior communication studies and public relations double major
Related posts:
The Best Study Spots on Campus
Summer Session: Painting Campus Landmarks with Art Education Major Brooke Bryant
Inside Look: 230 Victoria Apartments [VIDEO]
Take a tour of 230 Victoria Apartments, a Nexus Properties student housing option for sophomores, juniors and seniors, and get a glimpse into student life.
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3 Rowan RAs Share Their Favorite Programs
Resident Assistants, or RAs, are tasked with creating programs to connect residents with each other and the greater Rowan community. Each program is designed specifically and intentionally by the RA of the floor to promote a sense of belonging in the residence hall. Here are some programs that RAs loved to host for their residents.
Junior Keianna Williams, an RA in Chestnut Hall, shared her favorite program titled “Self Reflection.”
“I displayed a mirror outside of my room and then made a heart full of sticky notes. Each resident was asked to write something they loved about themselves in a sticky note displayed on the wall. I then handed out tiny pocket mirrors for them to keep. I told them that every time they opened the mirror, they should say something nice about themselves. This program helped promote self-esteem and self love. I also loved that it included Rowan Thrive, a wellness initiative on campus attributes of purpose.”
Sydney Ramos, a junior RA in Mimosa Hall, shared that her favorite program that she has done is a Black Lives Matter Brave space.
“This was a program that encouraged an open discussion on issues surrounding racial injustice in our communities. It also was a space where those who did not know much about the BLM movement could understand what it was and gain information and resources to have a better understanding as to why the BLM movement is so important. I had a decent outcome with residents, and they were happy to be able to have a discussion on issues that sometimes are hard to talk about. I was even interviewed by The Whit for a featured article about my program.”
Alyssa Salera, a senior RA in Holly Pointe Commons, described her favorite program that combined fun with important conversations about relationships.
“We had a Bachelor finale watch party. My residents all loved the show, both my male and female students, so we all got together, snacked on a bunch of food and desserts, and talked about the show and everything it encompassed. I loved seeing how excited they got about who the star chose to get engaged to, as each of my residents had a personal preference. We then talked about toxic relationships and the importance of mental health in regards to how it pertains to the show, they were all so involved in the conversation! It was the most I’ve heard some of my residents speak and be engaged in all semester, so it was great seeing them come out of their shell.”
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Story by:
Loredonna Fiore, senior public relations and advertising major
Behind the Camera with Recent Radio/TV/Film Grad Adam Clark
Today we feature December 2020 graduate Adam Clark. Adam graduated with a degree in Radio/Television/Film. He also commuted from Bridgeton, NJ (Cumberland County). He tells us about his work since graduation and his upcoming plans. What have you been up to? Before I graduated I started working on this film that continued long after I […]
Sneak Peak into the Theatre – Design/Technical Program and its Stagecraft Class
Today we share moments from our conversation with College of Performing Arts students Michael Landolfi and Jenna Hope during a session of their Stagecraft Fundamentals class. We asked them about their favorite parts of their majors and the course itself.
Michael Landolfi is a sophomore Theatre major with a concentration in Theatre – Design/Technical.
Why did you come to Rowan?
“I recently just transferred from the Music Industry program so it was actually the major that made me want to come to Rowan. I also like that it is fairly close to home but not too close. It was important to me to be close enough to home where I could see family but still be able to explore a new area.”
In the Stagecraft Fundamentals course, have you found anything you are particularly passionate about that you did not think you would like?
“I definitely have taken an interest in woodwork and carpentry more than I thought I would have.”
Can you tell me about the relationships you have between the staff here?
“Especially the staff in the theatre department and the staff in the music program … [t]hey all have been pretty open with communication. Several professors have helped me figure out what trajectory I am taking in terms of what I am learning here and what I want to do in the future.”
What made you change your major?
“I personally did not like taking business classes … [t]here were quite a few of those classes I had to take. Also I have also always loved live sound, and that is mainly what I am trying to get a career in because those jobs are more secure than trying to land a job as a music producer or a performer in general.”
What is your favorite class so far?
“Stagecraft Fundamentals is pretty great. Starting to get involved in the theatre department and stuff has been a really good experience. I also enjoy a Social Problems class I have taken that is completely not related to my major. I just needed to take it for credits, but I heavily enjoyed it.”
Jenna Hope is a transfer junior Musical Theatre major; however, she will be switching to the Theatre – Design/Techical major.
What made you want to change your major?
“What made me change my major was the fact that I felt like I was not able to use my hands as much, and getting to take classes like Stagecraft Fundamentals in my first year was something that really made me realize that design and tech is something that makes me really excited. Things like carpentry and costuming are so interesting and also simply fun for me.”
Out of all the elements in design and tech, what would you say your favorite is?
“Out of all of them I would say carpentry, but I really have a soft spot for costuming even though I have not gotten to do it yet.”
Can you tell me about some things that you have made in your Stagecraft Fundamentals class?
“We made a couple of different things … sadly most of the things we make in class are for productions we are holding in the semester, but with Covid we were unable to put on the amount of productions that we would have liked to so we did not have that many sets or props to make. With that being said, we have been making birdhouses this semester as a little project for everybody.”
What advice would you give to a person who is interested in the major but unsure of design and tech?
“I think they should just take Stagecraft because it gives total insight to the major. Asking for help is also so important. Just because you need assistance or help does not mean you cannot partake in something you enjoy.”
See more from the Stagecraft Fundamentals class in this video.
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Story By:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
5 RAs Share the Benefits of Living on Campus
Living on campus can open a door of opportunities for Rowan students. Resident Assistants, or RAs, are an integral part of the on-campus community. They are trained to guide and support students in their transition to Rowan residence halls. Here, five Rowan RAs reveal the perks of on-campus living.
“Especially in a time where online learning is more prominent, it is crucial for our students to feel like they have a space to connect with other students and staff. We offer events that different offices and organizations hold for students to be able to unwind and enjoy their time on campus. We have internship opportunities here on campus, jobs, and so much more to offer all for our students. These connections are something that they can take with them well into the future.
“My job as an RA is to be able to know the resources on campus and connect my residence with what I feel they need or would like to try. I offer events that SUP put on, connections to the Wellness Center, the Academic Success Center and so much more. As an RA I am the point person to help students understand each of the departments that we offer. I even get the opportunity to get to know my residents by attending events with them or even just eating at the student center. It is one of the most impactful student leadership roles on campus.” – Sydney Ramos, an RA in Mimosa Hall
“Living on campus was one of the best decisions I made when I first arrived at Rowan. Not only do students who live on campus possess opportunities to develop as an independent, but they may also forge bonds with one another. The communities fostered by Rowan’s residence halls are strong, making it easier for students to thrive socially when they first arrive at college. RAs are responsible for making residents feel comfortable in their new environment. We facilitate and promote programs and other events tailored toward the diverse interests of our community.” – Matthew Mcgrath, an RA in The Whitney Center
“Living on campus gives a whole different perspective of life! It’s not for everyone, keep in mind, but it’s a great way to meet new people and get super involved. Rowan has so many fun campus events that it’s just easier to enjoy if you live on campus. Academically, it can be a lot more convenient to walk to class instead of trying to find a parking spot or if you need to run into a lab for whatever reason. RA’s can play a huge role in the college experience, as they are usually the first resource you go to for any advice or announcements regarding events on campus. They try their best to really integrate you into the community and make you feel at home.” – Alyssa Putiri, an RA in Townhouse Apartments
“Living on campus is an integral part of the college experience. It provides a smaller community of students who you might not otherwise get to meet if you weren’t living on campus. Rowan’s residence halls are great communities for students, and as RAs, we help run this community. Fostering an environment for residents to interact with one another and feel connected to the community is one of our goals, and this is an experience you don’t get to have if you aren’t living on campus.” – Rachel Galing, an RA in Magnolia Hall
“Living on campus was the best choice for me, 100%. Living in a residence hall freshman year was a unique experience that introduced me to so many different types of people and brought me closer to people on my floor and in my major. I was also close to everything on campus, so meeting up with friends or classmates to do homework or hang out was always convenient.” – Alex Jackson, an RA in 230 Victoria Apartments
Even though living away from home can seem scary, Rowan RA’s and the greater campus community can help make it worthwhile.
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Story by:
Loredonna Fiore, senior public relations and advertising major
Must Haves For Your On-Campus Apartment
Today we hear from Rachel Rumsby, a junior Communication Studies and Public Relations double major from Bergen County, NJ. She has lived on-campus in Mimosa Hall and the Rowan Boulevard Apartments. In this story, Rachel shares her must haves for upperclassmen apartment living. Hi! My name is Rachel Rumsby, and I have lived in an […]
7 Must Haves For Your First Year Room
Today we hear from Rachel Rumsby, a junior Communication Studies and Public Relations double major from Bergen County, NJ. She has lived on-campus in Mimosa Hall and the Rowan Boulevard Apartments. In this story, Rachel shares her must haves for first year residence hall living. During my first year at Rowan, I lived on campus […]
#PROFspective: Brian Seay, Double Major and Rowan Admissions Twitch Streamer
Today we feature Brian Seay, a double major in Radio/Television/Film and Sports Communication and Media from Cumberland County. Brian also has a certificate in undergrad study (CUGS) in Esports. We interview Brian as he touches upon his involvement with the Rowan Admissions Twitch streaming account through his job as a Digital Content Contributor for Rowan’s Marketing and Enrollment Management team.
Why did you decide to get a certificate in undergrad study (CUGS) in Esports?
“I love video games. My friends and I play very frequently, and during quarantine I got interested in competitive 2k (basketball video game). When I was looking at my Sports Communication and Media major and the credits I needed for it, I came across the CUGS for Esports. I quickly realized that obtaining a CUGS in Esports was only one more course in addition to all my courses I have already taken for my major in Sports Communication and Media, so I thought why not?”
What is Twitch?
“Twitch is simply just a place where you can stream something live — it does not necessarily have to be video games. It started off as ‘Justin TV’ where this guy named Justin just basically streamed his everyday life on this website that he created. It has now turned into a place where content creators can stream videos; Twitch is primarily used for videogames but can be used for anything.”
What do you do for Rowan as a content contributor?
“My primary task is to create videos and to help Rowan’s Marketing team to draw students in. One of the projects we did a few weeks ago was that we went in a filmed some of the residence halls so we can create a video on all the different resident and housing options Rowan offers. These videos are our most popular because they appeal to a big population of students, while club videos and certain sport videos are geared to a smaller target audience.”
What do you do to prepare for each Twitch stream?
“Setting up for my streams takes a decent amount of time. I stream on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. so I usually start setting up at 5 p.m. This allows me enough time to make sure all my equipment and software is running smoothly before I go live. Set up consists of sound checks, microphone checks, controller checks and more.”
How does your CUGS in Esports help with your job for Rowan as a Twitch streamer?
“As I stated previously, I only needed one class to obtain a CUGS in Esports because of all the classes I have already taken for my major in Sports Communication and Media. With that being said, my Intro to Esports class not only equipped me with a lot of knowledge on Esports but made me very interested in playing Esports.”
What is your favorite part of streaming on Twitch?
“As stated previously, I just love video games, so this job is honestly not looked at as work for me. I am doing something I enjoy, and it makes my streaming sessions go by so quickly.”
What is your favorite Esport game to play for Rowan Twitch?
“First off, it is important to note that I have to play games that are educationally appropriate. However, I like to play games that are popular in Esport streaming. Therefore, I enjoy playing Rocket League as it is a very popular Esport game.”
What is your favorite game to play on your free time?
“I have to say, my favorite game of all time has to be Minecraft. I am very creative and I love how the game caters to what your needs are. I think it is so cool how you can spend weeks and months on a world and you create your own environment and atmosphere and I think it is really cool how you can truly make it your own.”
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Story By:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Photos courtesy of:
Brian Seay
Senior Reflects: RTF Major Riel Dioquino on Finding True Friends
Today we speak with Riel Marc Dioquino (he/him) who recently graduated with a degree in Radio/Television/Film (RTF) and a concentration in Production. Riel hails from Burlington Township and is a first-generation college student. He also participated in Cinema Workshop and earned recognition for this short documentary, Beyond His Closet, in the Edelman College of Communications & Creative Arts Student Showcase. Beyond His Closet follows Adam Kowalski in his journey after coming out. Riel also earned recognition for his narrative film, Lost & Found, at the 7th Annual RTF Media Festival.
What was your favorite social memory?
I did a photoshoot the other week with my Ate [meaning older sister in Tagalog] Rizza on the [Glassboro] campus. I was feeling very nostalgic because walking around there for the last time reminded me of my first year at Rowan. In my first semester, I was only friends with Kyle Foor and Sam LaFlamme. It was just the three of us at the time because we knew each other from RCBC (Rowan College of Burlington County) and we transferred at the same time.
In between classes, we had 3-hour long breaks before he had to go to our next class together. We would hang out by this big tree on Bunce Green. Kyle and I would climb in the tree and just chill there while Sam sat in the huge yellow Rowan beach chair next to us.
I don’t mean to sound all emo but it was just nice and cool because it kind of hit me that, “Wow, I have friends.” Back in high school, I had one best friend Vishali Patel who I’m still very close to today. I had, still have, really bad social anxiety and I thought I would never have friends, especially going into college. I never really had that experience of, “I’m going to go hang out or get an iced coffee with my friends before class.” I think that’s what makes the best of my college experience. Once I allowed myself to let people in my life and be myself, I was able to find people that I can truly be comfortable with.
Who was your favorite professor and what class did you take with them?
I love Jenny Drumgoole! I had her for Video Art. It was one of the first classes where I was able to express myself and do whatever I wanted for all of my projects. She’s very unfiltered and open about anything. She pushes us to be comfortable with being uncomfortable because it helps a lot with discovering our self-identity. It’s more about exploring the possibilities of how you can express yourself. I think she helped me and my classmates with that.
Usually, when we have classes, I don’t talk to a lot of people because of my social anxiety. Jenny helped me to let loose in the projects that I wanted to make and share them with the class. They were very accepting of me. Jenny Drumgoole is an amazing person overall.
Do you want to give a thank-you shout-out to your family, friends, advisors or mentors?
Shout out to Sam LaFlamme, my best friend, because we’ve been through a lot together these last few years. I met her sophomore year of college at RCBC through a documentary class where we had to produce the film together. Our group won a few awards and had screenings in a few film festivals such as New York, Florida, Australia and more. We got closer because we happened to share classes every semester until my senior year. We then worked at this internship together later that year and transferred to Rowan at the same time! We talked about everything in our lives the closer we got and that was that. I always say I couldn’t imagine going through college without her because we’ve gone through so much together.
What advice would you give to incoming first year students and transfers about making the most out of their college experience?
Coming from my experience, it sounds very simple, but don’t be too scared. This applies to everything that your anxiety tells you to be anxious about. You can’t control anything that you can’t control. Everything is going to be ok. Everything will fall into place as long as you follow your gut feeling on how you want your future to look. My mindset was that I’m just there to take my classes and get my college degree. Then I can start my life and do whatever I want after.
Yes, you can start planning for the long term, but also take care of yourself mentally and physically because it’s going to be a wild ride for the next four years.
Also having your friends and your family close will help you through it mentally and physically. Keeping that drive and motivation in your gut aflame will help push you to be whatever you want to be in the future. Also, don’t forget to drink lots of water and take care of yourself because some people like me would forget to do the most simplest yet important thing in the world!
Check out more of Riel’s work at:
Instagram – @rmarc99
Portfolio Website – https://rieldioquino.myportfolio.com/work
Like what you see?
Story by:
Marian Suganob, public relations and advertising graduate
Photos by:
Riel Dioquino, radio television film graduate
What Is Bunce Green?
Bunce Green is an iconic spot on campus and the setting for quite a few Rowan activities. Read more about what happens at Bunce Green and why it is a popular Rowan destination. What is Bunce Green? In order to answer this question, we must first define what a green is. According to the Merriam-Webster […]
#PROFspective: A Chat with Public Relations Major Nene Diallo
Today we feature senior Nene Diallo, a Public Relations student with a minor in International Relations who is originally from Guinea, West Africa but currently resides in Sicklerville, New Jersey (Camden County). Nene discusses with us the perks of her major and plans for her future after graduating.
Why did you choose your major?
I love interacting with different people, and that is basically the public relations major. I feel like I can learn alot about different mindsets and ideas. I like the environment. It’s creative and not a one-track thing. There are a lot of opportunities in the field and various paths for interaction. This is also why I added on the International Relations minor. I get to interact with different people who are outside of my country and culture.
Why did you choose Rowan?
Well, Rowan’s close to home. My guidance counselor actually recommended it to me. Most of my teachers from high school graduated from Rowan and they told me how good the school was so I said, “Ok, I’ll give it a try.” Plus, its location allows me to easily go to school and work at the same time.
On your busiest day, what academic, non-academic and social responsibilities are you juggling?
So I’m usually doing schoolwork, going to work, and/or doing chores around the house. I wake up around 9 a.m., eat breakfast and clean up the house before heading off to school. I have work around 3 p.m. and my shifts can last either six to eight hours and I’m on my feet the majority of the time. Then I have to find a time between work and school to figure out when to do my homework, but I usually end up doing it when I get home from work around midnight. Then, I go to sleep and wake up to do the same thing over again.
Did you ever have a moment of uncertainty within your major? How did you get through the challenge?
I once got this assignment from this professor that was super frustrating. I usually don’t like not completing my schoolwork but when I’m frustrated I sometimes give up on it. There was a 10-page essay that needed to be done that required citations from the course textbook, but I forgot to buy the textbook. I was debating whether or not I should complete the assignment. I really care about my grade but I was so frustrated, which caused me to wait until the last minute to complete the assignment even though it was given a month before. I still didn’t have the book to do the citation after putting off buying it to the point of forgetting about it entirely. I wasn’t sure what to do. But, eventually, I decided anything was better than a zero, did the assignment, and ended up with a C. That was like the final project of the class and worth most points. Getting a lower grade on it dropped my grade from an A to a C. It was really bad, but I got through it.
What’s something people wouldn’t expect to know about you?
I’m not gonna lie, despite being a Public Relations major I can also be anti-social. Just because I enjoy interacting with different people doesn’t mean I want to do it 24/7. I have a social battery. I’m pretty sure a lot of people do. It’s like I can talk to people for a certain amount of time and genuinely enjoy it, but then I want to go home and just be in my room.
What would you share with a future student interested in your major?
I would definitely say to seek help especially from your professor and upperclassmen. Doing that really helped me and allowed me to get different opportunities at Rowan that I wouldn’t have known anything about. Asking questions can lead you somewhere that you didn’t know you needed to go. Nobody’s perfect. We’re humans. Sometimes, we need help from other people in our field. Don’t feel like you need to figure things out on your own. Also, get involved in different clubs and activities. Like I said, I’m a pretty busy person, but I still find the time to be involved on campus. It helps you make connections.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself as someone who is in the Public Relations field … like coordinator or manager. I can start out small. That’s perfectly fine with me, but I definitely see myself being a part of an organization that is a comfortable environment to work in that I’m hopefully happy to work in. I see myself financially stable and surrounded with lots of love and happiness. I know it’s not going to be a fairytale and that there’ll be problems and issues, but I hope that I’ll be able to face any challenge that is thrown at me.
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Story by:
Bianca Gray, English major
Photos by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major
Lauren Kirk: A Mother, Career Woman and MBA Student
Lauren Kirk is a Rowan Global student earning her Master of Business Administration. She also serves on the Rohrer Graduate Student and Alumni Advisory Board (RGSAAB), which aims to enhance the student and alumni experience through networking, seminars and industry nights. Here, Lauren shares her story about being a career woman, a mother and a student all at the same time.
Although Lauren is already working as a Credit Portfolio Manager at TD Bank, she is in pursuit of continuing her education and growing professionally. Her motivation comes from her goals within her career.
“In a male-dominated industry, I want to be a competitive counterpart. I have many years of professional experience, but an MBA will set me apart from others,” she says.
Working toward this goal isn’t always easy, as one can imagine. Lauren faces some unique challenges, being a mother and a businesswoman.
“I work over 40 hours a week at my job with TD Bank while also keeping up with classes. Since I take 8-week classes, the coursework is really fast-paced. If I don’t do schoolwork every day, I risk falling behind. It’s also really difficult to take time for myself and create boundaries. Work and school are very demanding so I’m always worried about devoting enough time to my kids, but I know I’m doing it all for them and our family,” she explains.
Lauren talked about why she chose to earn her MBA at Rowan. “Rowan has such a positive repertoire, especially in South Jersey. I work with people who went to Rowan and had positive experiences. It was a cost-competitive program, which was also important to me.”
She adds, “What really set Rowan apart was how fast and easy it was to talk to someone. Rather than getting an email, I got a phone call; this showed me I wasn’t a number, I was a person. Jason Salvatore, the Program Coordinator of Graduate Studies, has been so helpful with my situation as a career woman and mother.”
Currently, Lauren is using her professional work experience to help her complete coursework. “My work experience has actually helped me with school assignments. Since I’m currently working in the corporate world, I use those experiences. As a Credit Portfolio Manager, I deal with commercial lending. This can be anything from businesses needing loans to real-estate loans, municipality, educational loans, and other complex deals. With that being said, an MBA would help me get to my goal position of Head of Credit Management or a Commercial Credit Manager.”
Lauren offers some advice to other adult learners like herself. “I want a woman like me, that feels like they can’t earn a degree while working and being a mother, to know that they can. It may not happen overnight, but don’t let anything stop you because a school like Rowan will help you through — they understand and support non-traditional learners.”
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Story by:
Loredonna Fiore, senior public relations and advertising major
Photos courtesy of:
Lauren Kirk
Related posts:
Finding My Place at Rowan as an Adult Learner
M.A. in Criminal Justice Student Says it’s “Never Too Late” to Earn a Master’s Degree
My Favorite Class: American Material Culture
This story is a part of the “My Favorite Class” series.
Today we speak with recent graduate Anthony Raisley. He earned a degree in History with a concentration in U.S. History and multiple minors in Entrepreneurship, New Media, International Studies as well as a CUGS (Certificate of Undergraduate Studies) in Italian! Anthony comes from Middletown, NJ in Monmouth County and lived on campus all four years of college.
Tell me about your favorite class at Rowan.
There are a few! I have a favorite class for [each of my concentrations]. As far as History courses, one of my favorite classes was the U.S. Since 1945. We studied recent history. That’s my favorite period of American history, post-World War II and on to the present. Even now, I’m taking a class with Dr. Jennifer Janofsky called American Material Culture, it’s an aspect of history that a lot of people don’t realize — for example, the music, decor, and clothes.
A lot of people think of History majors and history in general as date-oriented or event-oriented, but there’s so much more to it. The development of different things is also part of history. I find that class very interesting because it’s basically from the Civil War and on.
Can you share why history is relevant to people who are not History majors?
For example, we can look at technology and how much of a role it has played in our lives, and its development. Fifty to 60 years ago, the refrigerator, oven or microwave were just starting to develop. Now we obviously see with our computers or phones just how that has certainly changed over time. The computers were massive, and now we basically have a computer in our pocket.
I think it’s important for non-history majors to realize that we live in history, and we’re living through it now (obviously with Covid). It’s certainly all around us. Even in car culture, there’s so much technology now within cars, the role of cars, and how that has changed in the development of our neighborhoods. [There is] so much around us that a lot of people don’t realize is history.
Do you ponder on the sociological impact of technology in history?
The first [TVs were in] black and white, now we have color TVs. Now the TVs are even smaller, thinner and bigger. Just the channels and the content you can watch [now] have expanded over time. There used to be only six or seven channels 40 years ago; now we have over 500. There are so [many] things out there for people to see and learn.
What makes the professor of this class so wonderful?
She’s been teaching this class for a while so she’s very knowledgeable. This is her area of expertise. She really connects it to the present as well. It all ties back to the present. We actually just did a class discussion on the Coney Island Amusement Park. Over a hundred years ago when Coney Island first opened up, it was a totally new concept. Now we [have] places like Six Flags. A hundred years ago that would have been a totally foreign thing.
How did this class help to support your academic or professional growth?
I really like public history because of this class. I had never taken too many courses focusing on public history, especially on material culture. I think that definitely prepares me for my master’s degree next year. It’s a great foundation and will help prepare me going forward.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I hope to work in communications for either a private company or for public officials in the government. I see myself working in media, [although] I’m not entirely sure [on the specifics] yet, but I [have] a general idea. Most likely for a public official doing communication or research for them. I think that’s something that I see myself doing since I’m going to be down in DC.
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Story by:
Marian Suganob, public relations and advertising graduate
Photos by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major
How College Classes are Different than High School Classes
Rowan Blog contributor Bianca Gray is a senior English major with a concentration in Shakespeare Studies who transferred to Rowan from a private college. She shares her advice on what first-year students can expect when taking college classes.
The transition from high school to college can be nerve-racking in more ways than one. Traditional first year college students are thrown from a lake to an ocean with no firm understanding of how different high school is from college with only secondhand accounts to go off of. However, these secondhand accounts can be used as points of reference when navigating your first steps of adulthood.
Today, let me help you to better understand the differences between high school and college classes to better prepare you for your college experience.
For starters, the size of a college class can greatly differ from that of a high school class. Key word: can. Dispel the widely perceived misconception that all college classes take place in huge amphitheaters with 100 other students and a professor who doesn’t know your name and never will. While this is the case at larger institutions, it is not true to all colleges and universities.
Many universities hold classes that are only 30 students max, relatively similar to high school classes. For example, Rowan University currently has nearly 20,000 students enrolled at their school now and averages about 20 students to a class. This is the norm for many different schools. Not to mention, the more you progress in your major, the smaller these classes usually become. And, if you choose to go to a small or private institution, the average class size would probably be 15 students.
Moving onto how the classes themselves differ, let’s talk about the differences between the instructors. Of course, there will always be the professors who are tough graders, sticklers for rules, and maybe a little boring. That’s inevitable. But trust me, the positive experiences with professors will greatly outweigh the negative. Most of them are super understanding of how difficult students’ lives can be and are always willing to make accommodations within reason. Some professors don’t even ask to be called by their official title of ‘professor’ or ‘doctor’ and actually prefer to be called by their first names. That isn’t to say that high school teachers can’t be laid back. In my experience, I find them to be more by the rules of the school, whereas college professors have the freedom to run their classrooms by their own set of rules.
A college class usually runs about 15 minutes longer than a high school class. However, you don’t really notice the time difference because you most likely won’t be having your classes back-to-back like you do in high school. On any given day, a college student can have four classes to no classes depending on their major and how they make their schedules. Not a fan of Mondays? Well, you can schedule your classes for Tuesdays and Thursdays. College allows for students to have control of their schedules in a way that high school doesn’t.
The most similarities these two types of classes have to each other is usually through their grading systems, but there are still differences present there as well. Speaking from personal experience, the grading system at my college is more relaxed than it was at my high school. However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are higher expectations in college class and the work is more challenging which is probably the reason for the differences in grading.
Just like high school, attendance is important and a major determinant factor for your grade. While a college professor won’t hound you as much about your attendance as a high school teacher, a lack of attendance at class can show your professor that there may be something going on in your personal life or that you aren’t taking the course seriously. In either case, the professor is going to reach out once the absences become excessive. However, if it’s a one-off thing, a professor isn’t going to care if you oversleep and miss your morning class with them but attend your afternoon class that same day. They put trust in you as an adult and that you’re aware of what’s expected of you and that there are consequences to your actions.
These are just a few of the differences that I noted between college and high school classes, but keep in mind that your experience may be different from mine. Every college experience is unique in some way and that’s the great thing about it. I just hope that my words can make your transition from high school to college a bit easier.
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Story by:
Bianca Gray, senior English major
My Interesting Student Worker Job as the Rowan University Mascot
Today we feature Sean Scott, a Rowan alumnus who studied Finance and graduated in May 2020. Sean touches upon his experience as being the university mascot, Whoo RU.
How did you end up being the mascot for Rowan? Did someone reach out to you or did you seek the opportunity yourself?
To start off, I was the school mascot for my high school. Fast forward a few years and I worked for the admissions office as an admissions ambassador for Rowan. The summer between my sophomore and junior I was informed by my boss in admissions that they were looking for people to try out for ‘the mascot.’ In a nutshell, I thought, ‘I go to the sporting events anyways, I might as well go to these games dressed in a mascot costume, have some more fun at these events, and make a little money while doing so.’
What kinds of events did you attend for being the Rowan mascot? Was it just sporting events or was it all kinds of events?
The experience of being a mascot was really cool because of the wide range of events I attended. I went to a lot of men’s and women’s basketball games, many football games, and other sporting events. However, I also did events like Hollybash, St. Baldrick’s Day, SUP events, open houses, and accepted students receptions. This experience made me well versed with student life around me.
How long were you the mascot for Rowan?
I was the mascot from August 2018 up until March of 2020.
What are pros and cons about the experience?
There were definitely more pros than cons during this whole experience. For sporting events, obviously you attend to watch the players compete. It was really cool for these events to be on the court or field alongside the players and coaches. As a mascot I was able to experience these events differently than just a normal fan in the stands. Another positive was simply knowing what was going on around the university. By working as the mascot I was always up to date on upcoming events and involved with them.
The only downside to working as the mascot is how hot it is inside of the costume. However, I did burn a tremendous amount of calories when working as the mascot that I like to think made up for it.
Did you tell people you were the mascot or did you keep yourself incognito?
Yes my friends, family and fellow coworkers in admissions knew I was the mascot. Other than that, no one really knew who was inside the mascot costume, which was pretty cool. I am a pretty extroverted person, but I definitely could not bring out the dance moves I did as the Prof without my costume on. I was free to express myself without anyone putting a face to me. The experience I had as the Rowan mascot was extremely fulfilling and one I will never forget.
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Story by:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Photos courtesy of:
Sean Scott
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First-Year Student Amanda Drayton Performs in String Ensemble Concert [VIDEO]
Amanda, a first-year Dance major, rehearsed on Zoom with Associate Professor Paule Turner for weeks leading up to her first live performance during COVID-19. She steps out onto the stage for the first time and shares her experience as a performing arts student this past year.
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Video by:
Christianna Arango, Radio/TV/Film graduate
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major
Senior Reflects: Recent Writing Arts Graduate Kassidy Tirelli Heads to Law School
Today we speak to Kassidy Tirelli, a recent Writing Arts graduate with concentrations in Creative Writing and Publishing and Writing for the Public. Kassidy is a first-generation student from Pittsgrove, NJ (Salem County).
Could you share your favorite moment with a faculty member or a favorite experience in one of your classes?
My favorite experience in one of my classes was in a Self-Publishing course I took during the Fall of 2019 with Professor Jason Luther. He’s the coolest professor ever. One of our assignments was to create a zine, which we then produced and sold at the Collingswood Book Festival! It was such an awesome experience!
Could you share your favorite social memory?
My favorite social memories were Hollybash and RoGlow during my freshman year! The Chamberlain Student Center and Campus Activities put on both programs.
What are your career aspirations?
I will start school at Rutgers Law School this fall. I hope to work as a family law attorney after graduating from law school, particularly in the realm of divorce and custody disputes.
Do you want to give a thank-you shout-out to your family, friends, advisors, or mentors?
Absolutely! I can’t thank my parents enough for everything they’ve done for me not just in the last four years, but throughout my life. Their support absolutely made it possible for me to earn my degree!
Who is your favorite professor? What class did you take them for? Why is this person your favorite?
My favorite professor was Professor Jade Jones. I took her for Creative Writing I. She’s my favorite because she was one of the kindest and most supportive people I’ve ever met. She was also such an incredible professor and truly went above and beyond for her students!
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen or transfers about making the most out of their college experience?
The advice I would offer is that it’s absolutely fine and probably even normal to not know what you want to do after graduation when you start college. I changed my major three times during my freshman year before finding something that I loved. Other than that, just enjoy your college experience and get involved in everything you can. It really goes by incredibly fast, and you’ll be graduating before you know it!
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Story by:
Rachel Rumsby, junior communication studies and public relations double major
Photos by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major
#PROFspective: English Major Bianca Gray Shares Her Rowan Experience
Today we feature senior Bianca Gray, an English major with a concentration in Shakespeare Studies. Bianca is a commuter student from Sicklerville, NJ (Camden County). Bianca shares her experience at Rowan after transferring from a private college in Spring 2019.
Do you commute or live on campus?
“I used to live on campus, but because of personal reasons, I will commute next school year.”
What are some likes and dislikes of your major?
“I enjoy reading, writing, and studying English. The professors in the English department aren’t only supportive in class, but they also help students get jobs in the department. One of my professors recommended me to the Academic Integrity Board after I showed my interest. I got the position instantly, and that wasn’t something she had to do. She placed me in a position where I can interact with higher ups from Rowan and have better recommendations when I apply to grad school. So far, I don’t have any dislikes about my major.”
Why did you transfer to Rowan?
“I transferred from a private college in New York. The school was very expensive, I had complications with the staff and the problem with small colleges is they run it like a boarding school. The college felt just like high school and I didn’t really like that you could be labeled for something you did your [first] year. Rowan is the opposite, it’s a public university, I feel free here, and it’s been very convenient for me.”
What has your experience at Rowan been like so far?
“At first, Rowan seemed culture shocked because it didn’t feel as diverse as I imagined it for a public university. As for friendship, I reached back to high school friends and most could connect since they live close to campus. Overall, I am having a good experience. People at Rowan show they care about the Rowan community, especially my RA.”
What do you like to do for fun?
“I enjoy writing short stories and hanging out with friends. I also like watching old TV shows such as ‘Gossip Girl’ or ‘Pretty Little Liars.’ The older TV shows are just blunt, whereas newer TV shows show faux diversity.”
Do you have any jobs on campus?
“I work at the Writing Center, assist professors with writing, and I intern at the Rowan Blog as a Digital Content Contributor.”
What do you look forward to after graduation?
“My goal is to attend graduate school. There’s a competitive program that offers not just your master’s but your doctorate as well. After that, I would like to work in the higher education field. I would like to become a resident director, vice president or even a dean. I also want to be involved in academia, self publish, and hopefully write novels.”
What is one piece of life advice for current Rowan students?
“Honestly, live your life to the fullest. Do what makes you happy.”
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Story by:
Nene Diallo, senior public relations major
Photography by: RJ Wentzell, senior exercise science major, and Stephanie Batista, junior, music industry major
Why Psychology Major Leah Boyle Chose to Study Close to Home
Today we speak with Leah Boyle, who recently graduated with a degree in Psychology. Leah comes from Haddonfield, NJ in Camden County and is a first-generation college student. She had been an on-campus resident all four years and worked as an RA (Resident Assistant) for the LGBTQIA+ Learning Community in Holly Pointe for the last two years.
Why did you choose a university close to home?
My sister went [to Rowan]. She’s a year older than me and she graduated last year. We are very, very close and when she went to Rowan, I knew that they had a great psychology program. We were roommates in Holly Pointe my freshman year. We had an apartment together with our friends. She’s one of my best friends. That was why I chose [Rowan] and it ended up being a great opportunity. Everything about it has been awesome. It was more for family.
How do you carve out an identity for yourself if you are with a sibling in the same place?
Shannon, my older sister, specifically was an Art major. She was working on that, and I became interested in the Social Justice office. [I] started working at the office of Social Justice Inclusion and Conflict Resolution (SJICR). I worked on their programming and it got me thinking about what we do for our queer students, which got me to becoming an RA. She ended up making a club for women in our arts programs (Women of Westby, W.O.W). I was able to get my residence to come to W.O.W. events and she was able to bring the arts to my residence. So we were able to connect a lot [that way]. She was really successful in her art. I was doing my psychology and social justice stuff. We started out the same but went in different directions.
Did you ever feel overshadowed by having a sibling here?
Well, I’m not an artist! I didn’t really know much about how Shannon is such a good artist until I would meet with her in the art building. [We’d] go get food together, see her stuff and [witness] people talk about her and her art. She is an incredible oil painter. So I didn’t [feel] overshadowed because I don’t do a lot in the arts. I took an oil painting class last semester on Zoom and had to call her every day to get tips. We had our own things that we specialized in. It was good to see her grow in her art. She got a lot of involvement in social justice too.
What was it like to live with your sister in a university location after living together for your whole life?
It was much messier because we had bigger rooms now. We’ve shared a room since I was seven. I say everything that is hers is mine. She lives in Maryland now. It’s a lot more arguments about where things should be put, but it was great. My sophomore year we had an apartment with four other friends in university housing. It was really great because there’s no one you could be more honest with than your sister. I could say, “I can’t be around you right now.” I can be honest with my roommate because she is my sister.
Rowan was really accommodating to [me] living with a sophomore my freshman year. They had no problems and they were so happy for us. I’m happy we were able to do it because now she’s doing her own thing. I’m moving after this. I’m going to grad school at Montclair State University.
Do you have any other majors, minors or CUGs?
I took Child Life courses at University of California Santa Barbara, where I study hospitalization. I’m going to Montclair State for Child Psychology.
What is it like not living with your sister?
In the beginning, it was kind of a bummer. I’m happy I didn’t have to go live with someone who wasn’t her. I got used to it. It’s a little far (I’m up near New York) so we make weekends to see each other. She calls me and I call her probably a little too much. It’s not so bad, we’re [still] in constant contact.
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Story by:
Marian Suganob, public relations and advertising graduate
Photos by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major
My Favorite Class: Collegium Musicum
Today we feature Liva Savaiinaea, a senior Music Performance major from Paulsboro, NJ (Gloucester County). Liva’s favorite class was Collegium Musicum within Music Department taught by Dr. Lourin Plant. Liva was also a transfer from Rowan College of South Jersey. Tell us a little about what the class is. It is an ensemble open to […]
Alumni Success: Sena Pottackal Launches PR Career, Seeks to “Improve Inclusion Within the Consumer Experience”
Today we feature Sena Pottackal, a 2015 Rowan graduate who has persevered through personal adversity. Sena majored in Public Relations and minored in Advertising and Communications Studies while at Rowan. She participated in activities such as PRSSA and PRaction and was a member of several societies, including Lambda Pi Eta and Delta Alpha Pi.
Do you mind talking about when and how you lost your sight and what that transition involved for you?
I became legally blind when I was 15 due to a genetic disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa. The disease is progressive, and I lose vision every few months. Over the years I had to learn how to use assistive technology, such as a screen reader, which has enabled me to complete school work and work professionally.
Why did you choose to study Public Relations at Rowan?
I went to community college for undergrad. During my time there I took basically every communications course they had to offer. Public Relations resonated with me the most because it gave me great opportunity to pursue my passions in writing and business while utilizing my analytical skills. When I was looking to transfer to a four-year school, my teacher who taught my Public Relations course recommended Rowan.
How do you believe Rowan has prepared you for your future professions and endeavors?
Rowan has given me the skills to be successful in Public Relations and in particular, writing. Professor John Moscatelli was my Advanced Public Relations Writing teacher, and he really helped me to develop my writing skills and confidence in my writing.
How did you and how do you continue to persevere through adversity? What advice would you give to other individuals trying to seek a job while having a disability?
Something that was helpful for me was having mentors. Networking makes a huge difference. I was unable to get an internship while at Rowan, which inspired me to pursue grad school. Fortunately, I was involved with NY Women in Communications and I went to their annual student conference and I found out they have a scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students. Then I proceeded to win the NY Women’s in Communication Scholarship, which is how I broke into the industry. This scholarship also came with an internship to work at one of the IPG agencies. If I did not network and try to be part of different clubs, I would not have found out about many internship and job opportunities.
How did you manage to balance academics, social responsibilities with clubs, and your involvement with your community? Do you have tips for students who may be struggling with creating a balance?
Outlining when meetings were and when assignments were due was important for me to stay on task and up to date with my work. I also had to be honest with myself and the people I was working with about my time constraints. Professor Cristin Kastner Farney was very helpful. She taught me in Journalistic Writing. There was a book I needed for my advertising and account planning class. The book was not available through any platform that offered accessible textbooks. So she scheduled an hour on Monday, Wednesday and Friday every week to read me the textbook so I could take the class. Teachers like Professor Cristin Kastner Farney got me through because they invested in my future.
What lessons have you learned from your disability?
Everyone is different. We all have our own struggles, and this disability taught me to approach people with compassion. You never know what someone can be dealing with, and I can attest to the fact that some days can be harder than others. Being kind and compassionate can go a long way.
What were your initial visions for pursuing a career in public relations? Do you believe you are working in and/or toward your dream job?
When I graduated from Rowan, I was truly just looking for any job in communications. Back then I was aware that employment for people with disabilities was very low. After graduating Rowan I attended a blind training session while taking a year off. This is where I realized that by practicing PR, I could do more than just write. I could use this field to promote awareness about the capabilities of the disabled community and to overall improve inclusion within the consumer experience and the workforce.
What is your role/what do you do as working as a Junior Associate at Current Global?
Right now I am presenting research that my company just did about the lived experience of consuming content as a person with a disability. So I have been presenting that research in webinars. I also have helped write accessible communications guidelines.
What is your life motto that keeps you striving for more?
Be kind to yourself and give yourself the time and the room to grow into the person you were meant to be.
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Story by:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
Photos courtesy of:
Sena Pottackal
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Inside Look: 57 North Main Apartments [VIDEO]
Take a tour of 57 North Main Apartments, a Nexus Properties student housing option for sophomores, juniors and seniors, and get a glimpse into student life.
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Inside Look: 223 West High Apartments [VIDEO]
Take a tour of 223 West High Apartments, a Nexus Properties student housing option for sophomores, juniors and seniors, and get a glimpse into student life.
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Inside Look: 220 Rowan Boulevard Apartments
Take a tour of 220 Rowan Boulevard Apartments, a Nexus Properties student housing option for juniors and seniors, and get a glimpse into student life.
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Inside Look: 114 Victoria Apartments [VIDEO]
Take a tour of 114 Victoria Apartments, a Nexus Properties student housing option for sophomores, juniors and seniors, and get a glimpse into student life.
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Inside Look: Holly Pointe Commons [VIDEO]
Take a tour of Holly Pointe Commons, one of Rowan University’s first year housing facilities, and check out a glimpse into student life.
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5 Interesting On-Campus Jobs
Finding the right on-campus job can change your whole college experience, leading you to important connections, helping you discover your career goals or letting you find the right school/work/life balance. Five students share their experiences in some of the most interesting, beneficial and well-paid jobs on campus!
Summer Conference Assistant – Chase Campbell
Advertising major Chase Campbell of Burlington County worked as a Summer Conference Assistant for the Office of Conference & Event Services in 2019. As part of a staff of eight students, Chase worked and lived with his teammates! This job offers a stipend and free summer housing. He found this job through the Rowan Announcer and attended an informational session.
Some of the responsibilities in this job included helping people check into the conferences, preparing residential and event spaces and taking turns being the 24/7 customer service representative for the events. Chase learned the importance of being himself rather than just being the “perfect customer service representative.” He enjoyed speaking with clients and helping them feel welcome to the university with kindness. Look out for this job if you enjoy working on a team and assisting people!
Academic Success Coach – Alee Rebillon
Alee Rebillon, a senior Psychology major from Mercer County, worked as an Academic Success Coach her junior year for one semester. She found this opportunity through an email listing Federal Work-Study (FWS) options. She also spoke to their department staff at the on-campus Fall Job Fair. As a psych major, Alee felt this would give her great experience in working with people one-to-one. Although, Academic Success Coaches come from all different majors and walks of life!
Alee worked with fellow students who needed guidance in lots of different areas! Such as, who to speak to if they want to change majors, where to find a student organization, or even how to make a schedule for themselves. She learned so much about herself, other students, and the university from this job. She has helped people receive supports through the Wellness Center and Tutoring Services; she also walked students through how to use The Shop or Prof Jobs. If you want to help other students by being a relatable source of guidance, this job is for you!
Picking Peppers with President Houshmand – Dyone Payne
Public Relations major Dyone Payne, a senior from Gloucester County, worked for Dr. Houshmand, Rowan University’s president, on his local farm picking peppers and several other vegetables. They use the peppers to create the famous Houshmand’s Hazardous Hot Sauce, which is processed in a factory (by professionals) in Bridgeton. All proceeds from the Hot Sauce go towards the Student Scholarship Fund. The amazing part of this job is that they work to support students on all levels of operation in the making of this hot sauce. A team of students, Houshmand, and his staff go out to the West Campus farm throughout the spring and summer to begin the process.
Dyone remembers enjoying the hands-on experience and learning so much about the different kinds of peppers and sauces. The ghost peppers went into the hottest flavor, the mushroom peppers were the mildest peppers, and jalapeno peppers also went into the mildest sauce. She also shared how kind the staff was, always making sure the students were hydrated and offering transportation to and from the farm. Another responsibility of this role was selling the Hot Sauce (and Hot Sauce merch) at university football games, basketball games, and university holiday parties. She enjoyed being able to connect with the university staff and see that they truly understand the students’ struggles.
Dyone found this job through Rowan emails and contacted the president’s staff. She learned important life skills such as the importance of patience and taking your time. She also appreciates the president’s mission, even more, knowing that he is genuinely kind and interested in caring for Rowan students. Dyone also recalls the students having to leave their phones (because the pepper residue may get to your eyes and face through your phone). This helped the students to connect with each other and forge strong friendships. She absolutely adores plants and keeps a lovely mini garden oasis in her room now!
Engineering Intern – Jed Vergara
Students working in the RU Sustainable Facilities Center with faculty (Jed Vergara not pictured).
RU Sustainable Facilities Center – Rowan University + NJARNG (NJ Army National Guard) Building Information Modeling (BIM) Intern
Jed Vergara worked as a Building Information Modeling (BIM) Intern for more than two years as a Rowan undergraduate. This internship was under Rowan’s Sustainable Facilities Center in contract with the NJ Army National Guard (NJARNG). It’s offered as both a part-time job as well as an engineering clinic on campus. He first discovered this role at the beginning of his sophomore year after a professor shared the opportunity because of Jed’s stellar grades.
The internship also offers different roles in the operation. Some interns would inspect recruitment centers across NJ for the Army National Guard, and others like Jed worked on building information modeling (BIM). BIM is basically cataloging several parts of a building such as spatial measurements, construction materials, HVAC, electrical or plumbing. In the 50 years the buildings have been around, there have been so many refurbishments added that no single catalog of the buildings records all of the changes. Rowan was contracted to change this and catalog every NJARNG recruitment center in the South Jersey area.
Jed was able to work with a 3D laser scanner and connect individual room scans into a large model of the building on a program called Revvit. The basic three-step process of his internship was to scan the building, consolidate all of the scans, and finally add the details. He greatly appreciates this internship experience because he works with images of building scans as a Structural Engineer. He also found that his experiences with different computer programs proved to be very valuable in his career. Many times, Jed had to quickly learn how to use a program and help others learn how to use it as well. Another valuable lesson he learned was how to plan effectively and efficiently. This internship is open to civil engineering majors, electrical & computer engineering majors (ECE) and mechanical engineering majors. This department is located within Rowan Hall (the original Engineering building).
Rowan Blog Digital Content Contributor – Bianca Torres
Lastly, we speak with Bianca Torres, a Music Industry major and senior from Morris County, who works as a fellow Digital Content Contributor for Rowan Blog. Bianca helps the blog run smoothly in so many different ways! She not only creates content for the Admissions page, but she also contributes to the Humans of Rowan Instagram and other Rowan social media platforms. Bianca finds ways to market the school to incoming first year and transfer students. She loves sharing the vibrancy of campus life through stories. She started off creating music for the background of Rowan’s YouTube videos. She has since branched out into photography, writing articles, interviewing leads and strategy (planning stories and Google Ads). Bianca appreciates how much knowledge she has learned about journalism and marketing in this role.
She really enjoys working with fellow college students and diving into the campus culture (which helps her with networking). The schedule is super flexible and was perfect for working during the pandemic because it can be remote and you can work whenever you choose. She enjoys how much freedom she has gotten in this job, being able to pitch stories and share so many unique perspectives at Rowan. This real-world experience has taught her how to market effectively to different target audiences. Knowing that the skills she uses every day, such as blogging and creating graphics for social media, she feels confident in her career goals. Without this job, Bianca would not have known that she wants to do digital marketing for the music industry.
Bianca found this job through an email from the program director of the music industry program. She advises students looking for student jobs to start looking as soon as possible and ask their professors if they know of any openings! Many professors have side gigs and know other connections on campus. She also says to check if you qualify for Federal Work-Study (FWS). If you enjoy connecting with people and making creative content, working for Rowan Blog is for you.
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Story by:
Marian Suganob, senior public relations and advertising double major
Related posts:
Roommates Reflect | Anthony and Nasir | Holly Pointe Commons [VIDEO]
Roommates Reflect is a series highlighting campus living, how new students bond together and the stories they share.
“The reason I like it here is because it’s very close to home,” says sophomore Civil Engineering major Nasir Brown. “It’s good to get the experience of living on your own and having the real college experience despite all the difficulties.”
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Video By:
Brian Seay, sophomore sports communication and media major
#PROFspective: Natalie DePersia, Public Relations Major and Lacrosse Athlete
Today, we feature junior Natalie DePersia, a Public Relations major with minors in Psychology and Sports Communication and Media. Natalie shares her experience at Rowan as a student and lacrosse athlete.
Do you live on campus, or do you commute?
“I live off campus in a house across from the football field.”
What are some likes and dislikes of your major?
“I was originally a Communication Studies major, but it was too broad for me. I enjoy writing because it forces me to come out of my shell. Since I just started in this field, I don’t have any dislikes yet.”
How is your experience at Rowan so far?
“All of my professors, especially Professor Cristin Kastner Farney, Professor Sherry Hicks and my coaches are genuinely caring and are very helpful. As a student-athlete, I started off as a defender even though I wanted to be a midfielder. Because of Covid, I could not play from September to February. Eventually, I progressed my way back to playing lacrosse, but it’s been inconsistent and challenging. I hope to start back up in fall 2021. Overall, I have had a good experience at Rowan so far.”
Why Rowan?
“I first looked into Rowan because my brother attended the school as a basketball athlete. I live pretty close, which makes it convenient as well. In my junior year of high school, I played lacrosse and wanted to play it at Rowan. Everything Rowan offered was convenient. I ended up liking the school after visiting.”
Do you have a job?
“I’m a server at PJ Whelihan’s in Medford, and so far the job’s been cool.”
What do you like to do for fun?
“I enjoy hanging out with friends, spending time with my dog, playing lacrosse and working out. I also like writing and singing my own songs, just not in front of people.”
What is one interesting fact about yourself?
“I have a twin brother, but we don’t share the same birthdays. I was born at midnight and he was born the hour before. I also have two older twin brothers.”
What is your dream job?
“My dream job is to travel, meet people, hear and write their stories.”
Do you have any life advice for Rowan students?
“You are capable of more than you think you are. Challenge yourself.”
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Story by: Nene Diallo, senior public relations major
Photography by: Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major, and Reshaun Timmons, senior business major
It’s National Cheesecake Day!
It’s the yummiest holiday of the year! Here are 3 cheesecake bakeries worth a try that are less than 20-minutes away from campus.
Yhanne’s House of Cheesecake: Located in Clayton, NJ, 7 minutes from campus, is a family-oriented cheesecake business best known for the cheesecakes that are “handcrafted and made from scratch.” Yhanne’s House of Cheesecake provides more than 50 flavors such as pumpkin, coconut, s’mores, strawberry, and even sweet potato, all at an affordable price. Specialties include sugar-free, gluten-free, heart-shaped cheesecakes, cupcakes, and even wedding cakes. The business is rated 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google, and many consumers claim they have the best cheesecakes with so many varieties and must give it a try. Yhanne’s House of Cheesecake’s goal is to provide a cheesecake suitable for anyone’s pop, and based on consumer reviews, it seems that they surpassed this goal. They’re open from Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am-5 pm.
Chloe’s Creme Puffs: Muffins, jumbo cookies, creme puffs, cannolis, scones, and the ultimate caramel apple cheesecake bar layered with seasoned apples, streusel topping, and homemade caramel sauce are just some of what Chloe’s offers. A family-run establishment just 6 minutes from campus, in Pitman, NJ, customers reviewed the shop as welcoming, friendly, and adorable. Chloe’s is open from Thursday through Saturday 10 am-5 pm.
Liscio’s Italian Bakery: Across town from Rowan is Liscio’s Italian Bakery, a family-run business for over 20 years, just 4 minutes from campus. Filled with amazing flavors, the company provides various cheesecakes such as chocolate chip, caramel apple, and plain. For customer convenience, Liscio’s Italian Bakery allows you to pre-order to avoid waiting in line. The bakery is open every day from 6 am-7 pm. With over 500 reviews, the shop is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars. Customer reviews claim that Liscio’s staff are very welcoming as they pour their passion into the delicious cheesecake.
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Story by: Nene Diallo, senior, Public Relations major
Photo courtesy of: Pixabay
Alumni Success: Mitch McDaniels on Finding Your “WHY”
Today we speak with Mitch McDaniels, who graduated from the Honors Concentration with a degree in Biochemistry in 2020. Mitch also minored in German Studies throughout his time at Rowan University. He grew up in Hammonton, NJ (Atlantic County) but now lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Mitch was a Resident Assistant (RA) for three years and lived on campus for all four years. He was also actively involved in the Honors College, B.L.A.S.T. Mentoring, the Keck Behavioral Lab at Cooper Medical School, the Academic Associate Program at Cooper University Hospital, Rho Alpha Sigma, and Alpha Epsilon Delta. He was also a volunteer at the Kitchen of Hope Food Bank (Glassboro), and a Chemistry Learning Assistant for four semesters.
What did being an RA and Assistant Resident Director (ARD) mean to you?
Res Life [meaning RLUH or working for Residential Learning and University Housing as an RA, ARD, graduate role, or professional role] is such a unique field and it’s such a diverse and unique group of people that come together to do so much more than just run a building. I absolutely loved it throughout my time at Rowan — the opportunity to be a part of flourishing communities of residents in their first year of college, and hopefully being that go-to guy for my residents for the good, bad and everything in between.
My experience through Res Life has definitely been one of my favorite memories at Rowan because I met so many new, and now lifelong, friends through it. I love when my residents come back and tell me how much fun they had their freshman year or a favorite memory they had from their year in our pod. A few even went on to go into Res Life themselves; it makes me so happy to hear that!
For me, it was really special to see the ways in which my communities grew together, and the ways they found to make a difference together.
What advice do you have for current students?
I think every first year student should take a little bit of time to find what it is they want to do at Rowan, until they really find their “why,” both on campus and off. I’m still learning exactly what that is for me, honestly. No matter what you do, who you hang out with, or the classes you take, I’ve learned that it’s best to keep an open mind because those moments came when I was least expecting them.
My first year, I was really quite quiet, but I thought that being an RA would be a really unique way to meet people and be part of a community. Lots of people become hyper-focused on the free housing and food, which is pretty sweet, to be honest, but I also wanted to find a place to help in building that welcoming environment I found on campus. I often forget that I had a meal plan and free housing as an RA because I just enjoyed getting to meet everyone and get connected and involved in a way that was different from any other role on campus because their home also becomes yours.
No matter what you do at Rowan, you really have to take the time to find your “why” [your purpose] at Rowan. There’s this proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” I really believe that Rowan’s spirit comes from that small-campus community, where friends, colleagues, and professors all have your back.
My best advice would be to enjoy college for the people and experiences you’re surrounded by — go together, not alone. I’ve found that the best way for me to get things done is when I’m passionate about it and that I want to see it through to the end, together. For me, the Res Life community was that “thing.”
Now stepping into the real world and getting off of the college campus, finding your “why” comes with the territory for everything you do.
Where do you work now?
Now, I work as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Sanford Health, a big hospital system in the Midwest, but mostly in the Dakotas and Minnesota. I’m on a team of four coordinators that are working on a portfolio of COVID studies. We have two different studies that we are mainly working on for the moment. One is for different treatments that focus on outpatient settings, where patients actively have COVID and are sick, but they’re not sick enough to be hospitalized. This study, sponsored by the National Institute of Health, is an Adaptive Platform Study, which means that we are evaluating multiple investigative treatments that can change from time to time, to quickly and safely identify medications that could significantly improve a patient’s COVID-19 diagnosis.
We’re also doing inpatient work with people who are in the ICU on ventilators, high flow oxygen or other life-saving measures to support them throughout their battle with COVID-19. It’s another adaptive platform study evaluating various medications for people suffering more severe COVID, and who have received advanced life-saving therapeutics or interventions to keep them alive or better support them.
I was always asking myself “why” because I wanted to pour all that I could into any activity I was doing. I didn’t want anything to be just a checkbox for my resume. It really needed to be something that I cared about and believed in.
Part of my “why” for medicine is that I want to be a resource for people wherever I go. That’s something I saw in my family with my father being an FBI agent. I want to be able to carry my skills into underserved areas at some point in my career and make a difference within those communities.
What do you hope to do in the medical field?
It really hit when I had the chance to really immerse myself in the Camden community through Cooper, first as a student at MEDacademy at Cooper Medical School, and later as an Academic Associate at Cooper University Hospital. I really began to see that a physician doesn’t work in a bubble, they are someone who’s active and embedded within the community that they are trusted to serve. Ever since, I saw medicine as an opportunity to expand upon the skills, mindset and joy that Res Life has brought me, to help better build a community.
Of course, Rowan has always supported and nourished my curiosity for science and the human body; it’s also helped me to find my voice in leadership. But what my time at Rowan and Cooper has gifted me with has been the opportunity to think, grow excited and imagine how I wanted to give back to the community at the intersection of science, leadership, education, research and policy.
Part of my “why” for medicine is that I want to be a resource for all people wherever I may go. That’s something I saw, and valued, in my family with my father being a Special Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I hope to be able to carry my skills into communities (especially those underserved) throughout southern New Jersey, our nation, and the world throughout my career and in hopes of making a difference within those communities by empowering the people of those communities through all I learn from them. No matter what field of medicine I pursue, there’s nothing more important to me than to help these communities I hope to serve to thrive and grow.
Tell me about your favorite memory from Res Life?
My favorite moments were those that were unscripted where I would just hang out with my residents on a random Tuesday night in a hallway or lounge of Holly Pointe. We would have the best conversations! I would always leave my door open because I wanted people to be able to walk in and just sit down. I wanted them to know my room was theirs too, and that it was a safe space where they could unwind, have fun, or talk anything over. The most organic moments were the times when I felt true friendship forming between myself and my residents, and it was not any longer just me “supervising” their freshman experience.
One of my favorite memories in these communities as an RA and an ARD was bringing my residents to the food pantry. I really loved the idea of getting into the Glassboro Community and all of us volunteering together and seeing the ripple our pod could make in the greater community. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention the awesome staffs I worked with throughout my three years in Res Life. I couldn’t think of a better group of people to program with, spend time with, or occasionally deal with those 3 a.m. fire alarms. Those unscripted moments, with my residents and RAs alike, made every moment worth it. I owe it to them for helping me to find my why throughout undergrad.
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Story by:
Marian Suganob, public relations and advertising graduate
Photos courtesy of:
Mitch McDaniels, biochemistry graduate
Related posts:
Alumni Success: “What’s Good” with Isaiah Showell ‘15, Multimedia Journalist and Local Storyteller
Alumni Success: Byron Bustos Tells It All!
Alumni Success: Melissa Miller ’02 Ensures Penn Dental Medicine Technology Stays Up To Speed [VIDEO]
My Favorite Class: Fundamentals of Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
This story is a part of the “My Favorite Class” series.
Khrissy Seay is a recent graduate and first-generation college student. While at Rowan, she was a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) major with minors in Geography and Planning. She is from Mays Landing (Atlantic County) and transferred from Atlantic Cape Community College.
What was the name of your favorite class at Rowan?
This is not an easy question. I really like my major and narrowing it down to just one is very difficult. However, by a very small margin, Fundamentals of GIS.
What department was the class in?
Department of Geography, Planning, and Sustainability (GPS)
Who taught the class when you took it?
Dr. Ashley York
Tell us a little about what the class is.
Fundamentals is the next step up from the introductory course. This class allows the student a little more freedom to explore new tools and apply them to topics of choice.
Share with us a few details on why this class was interesting or special to you.
I bonded with the professor and the students really well. I also worked on one of my favorite mapping projects during my time at Rowan.
What makes this professor great?
Dr. York is very knowledgeable and she is always willing to help. I told her my idea for the project, and she helped me develop that idea. I also worked with her during my Senior Seminar project (taught by Dr. Meenar) because she is somewhat of an expert in the topic — sea ice/glaciers.
How did this class help to support your academic or personal growth, or your professional goals?
I learned a lot about myself and the topics that are really important to me. I also felt well prepared for the next class in the sequence – Applications of GIS.
What are your professional goals?
I have recently secured a job as a GIS Analyst. I also want to pursue a master’s degree in Geography.
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Story by:
Caitlyn Dickinson, senior public relations and advertising major
Photos by:
Joe Gentempo, senior art major
National NJ Day: Are You From North, South, or Central Jersey?
Rowan Blog contributor, Public Relations major and student athlete Natalie DePersia touches upon the common debate between North, South, and Central Jersey.
The debate about North, South, and Central Jersey is somewhat silly until your friends and even acquaintances get quite annoyed on your opinion. Being from South Jersey my entire life, I believe a tasty dessert is water ice, a breakfast food is pork roll, and water is pronounced how it is spelled.
In honor of National New Jersey Day, I am curious on where the line is drawn between North, South, and Central Jersey.
The debate between pronunciations and geographical locations is all fun and games until a friendly debate turns into turmoil. If an individual from South Jersey calls the breakfast food pork roll and an individual from North Jersey calls the food Taylor Ham … what does an individual from Central Jersey call it? If they call it pork roll does that mean they live closer to South Jersey? Is that a plausible argument? I do not think the answer to those questions will ever be known.
Where is the line drawn to split South Jersey from Central Jersey from North Jersey? I understand that North Jersey versus South Jersey is can be associated with location. For instance, South Jersey has Philadelphia as its neighbor while North Jersey is closer to New York City. For individuals that have somewhat of a split distance between those two major cities … would it be fair to say they live in Central Jersey?
Truly every Jersey resident has a different answer. Some residents say they are visiting the beach by saying “I’m going down the shore,” when others say “I’m going to the shore.” Other differences in word choice can be associated with what an individual calls a sandwich — a hoagie or a sub.
Geographical distinctions are endless. Do you have good bagels in your area? You must be from North Jersey. Prior to college, I believed South Jersey bagels were delectable. However, fellow peers and friends quickly explained that South Jersey does not produce a GOOD Jersey bagel and I need to taste one from New York and/or North Jersey.
Whether one is from South, Central, or North Jersey, the feud will go on and the differences in pronunciations and word choices will remain. Which part of Jersey are you from?
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Story by:
Natalie DePersia, junior public relations major
#PROFspective: Biomedical Engineering Major Danny Tepper Reflects on College
Today we speak with Danny Tepper of Atlantic County, who recently earned his degree in Biomedical Engineering. Danny transferred to Rowan his sophomore year from Atlantic County Community College and will be going onto his master’s in engineering at Rowan next year. He is an off-campus resident. Danny was homeschooled until he attended ACCC at 17 years old.
What has been your favorite class at Rowan?
That’s hard to pick! I’ve taken a few interesting ones, mostly technical ones. One of my favorite ones that were different from the rest was a class on regulatory practices of the FDA. For example, learning the details about how to get through the FDA approval process of new drugs. This is a topic in some engineering and medical courses that is not covered very well. It’s not a required class but it should be. Dr. Erik Brewer, a BME professor, taught this class. I took this course last fall.
What excites you about your major?
The idea of being at the front of research really excites me and sort of creating the future to some extent and really helping people. I’ve always had some interest in medicine, but I’ve also never wanted to be a nurse or doctor working with people like that. I like the concept of being on the back end and making the things that doctors use. Also, both my parents have master’s degrees in engineering. It’s only appropriate that I go into something within engineering. My brother also has a bachelor’s in engineering!
If there was anything you wish you knew beforehand about your major, what would you share?
It is a lot of work, but it is even more than I expected. There were some weeks where you had absolutely no social life if you wanted to get any of your homework done. It’s unfortunate, but it happens. You learn a lot though.
Do you have any internships or clubs you are involved in?
I have not had any internships, but I’m involved in some club sports here. I’m on the frisbee team. I’m also on the e-board of the Rowan University College Republican Club.
What did your activities add to your college experience?
The sports club definitely added a lot to my friendships. I met my first friend group as a first-year in intramural frisbee. One of those friends became my best friend and we still hang out together a lot. I still talk to all of them periodically.
What’s the last song you listened to?
“All the Way Up” by David Guetta
What are you looking forward to this summer?
Graduating, for one thing, and being back in Wildwood. Hopefully, with fewer restrictions than last year. I’ve been in Wildwood the past five summers working at a waterpark. Last summer, I turned 21 but everything was closed. Hopefully, we don’t have that again.
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Story by:
Marian Suganob, public relations and advertising graduate
Profs Abroad: Stephanie in Paris (and Other Parts of France)
Today we speak with Stephanie Ibe, who graduated in the Spring of 2020 and majored in Biological Sciences with a minor in French and an Honors and Pre-med concentration. Stephanie stayed in Le Havre, France for seven months while working as a teaching assistant through the TAPIF Program. Stephanie comes from Franklin Park, NJ in Somerset County. She was involved in MAPS (Minority Association of Premedical Students), Res Life as an RA/ARD, research labs, tutoring, RUPAC (Rowan University Philippine American Coalition), Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED – Premed Honors Society), University Chorus, and mentoring through the Dr. Harley E. Flack program.
What happened after you arrived in France?
After I arrived, I had to go through all these different transportation modes to go from Paris to Le Havre and my phone wasn’t working! I had to navigate the entire thing just by talking to people and from reading signs. I don’t know how I ended up making it to Le Havre. It was raining, too. It was a bit of a shock to just be thrown in and use [only] French right away.
I had a Prof Référente (Referent Teacher) with whom I could communicate through Facebook. She was so helpful. She helped me find my place to stay because the high school that I worked at didn’t have housing available for me. So she asked another high school nearby if I can stay there and it ended up working out. She picked me up from the train station once I arrived. She gave me bed sheets and a week’s worth of groceries. I was lucky to have good support over there.
Was it scary having to talk in French to French people?
I was honestly really scared when I first arrived because it wasn’t the same as “classroom French.” I’ve never studied abroad before, so I never knew what it was like to actually speak French in France. I went to France once when I was in high school, but I always had my teachers there to help us. This time, I was by myself. I had to use my French, especially when I had to explain things to my students. Sometimes they didn’t understand what I was saying in English, so I would have to translate in French.
You get used to it after a while. There’s a lot of slang I need to learn as well as very technical vocabulary. I had to open a bank account in France and I didn’t know any banking vocabulary, so it was a bit difficult. I also observed the biology lab classes in one of the high schools. Even small things, like DNA, were switched. It was ADN.
Your brain automatically switches to your second language after being immersed in it for a while. It’s also easier to learn different languages when you are able to see the connections between languages. When I was there, I tried to practice my Spanish with the Spanish assistants. It’s a lot easier when you’re talking to someone that’s native to that language. They can tell when I am making a mistake and they don’t feel shy to correct me and give me feedback because they are teachers. It’s what they do.
What other countries were your fellow assistants from?
I met assistants from Spain, Germany, England, Northern Ireland, Los Angeles, Colorado, New York, Kenya, Russia and Jordan.
What was your favorite memory (outside of being a teaching assistant)?
Spending all of my time with the assistants because that’s all we really had. Everything was closed after one week of me being there. We didn’t have museums or restaurants to go to. All we had was each other. I was lucky to live right next to the beach, so I had a lot of beach days. It was only a 20-minute walk to the beach. Having that space to get out, explore new places, and take my beach days were fun.
I worked 12 hours a week, 5 days a week, a few hours each weekday. In France, they start school at 8 a.m. and finish at 5:20 p.m. They get two 15-minute breaks as well as an hour and 20 minutes for a lunch break. They can do whatever they want during their break, like walk around town and eat anywhere. A lot of my students would go home and eat lunch. They also take the public bus to school, not a singular school bus.
What was your favorite meal in France?
I ate a lot of vegan food because most of [the assistants] were either vegan or vegetarian. I really liked it because I never knew you could do so much with such little ingredients because the vegan diet is so restricted. They can’t eat any meat or dairy, or even honey. But, you can do so much with spice. We would always have potluck dinners. Also, the food at my high school was so fancy because [the students] are training to be proper chefs. They would practice making fancy French desserts and sophisticated dishes. French school meals are also very balanced and affordable.
What was the most interesting thing you learned about France?
I guess, how welcoming everyone was! I watched Emily in Paris right before I left and I had this idea in my head. “I’m going to be all by myself and they’re going to shoo me away because I’m American.” But no, everyone was so welcoming! When you’re walking down the street, everyone says “Hello, how are you?” Even though you’re complete strangers. When I first got back, I wanted to have a conversation with my cashier like in France.
What was your favorite souvenir?
My favorite souvenir was a ukulele. I had to get rid of a lot of clothes and a pair of shoes to fit the ukulele! I only came with one suitcase, one carry-on, and one backpack. I ended up leaving a lot of shirts. I traded with other assistants. For example, I gave some of my Rowan shirts. I traded them for a Spanish white sweatshirt from Granada as well as a Spanish jean jacket. I also bought real lavender. It is really cool because it keeps its scent for a really long time. It made my luggage smell amazing!
Is there anything else you’d like to tell me about your time in France?
The overall experience made me think about how it felt like to be a foreigner in another country, which is something that a lot of us have not experienced. It made me really think about how it might have felt for my mom who came from the Philippines to the U.S.
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Story by:
Marian Suganob, public relations and advertising graduate
Photos by:
Stephanie Batista, junior music industry major and Stephanie Ibe, biological sciences graduate
Related posts:
Calysta Laurente’s European Study Abroad Experience
Studying Abroad in Japan: The Best Decision I Have Ever Made
Rowan Emergency Medical Services: Student Leadership [VIDEO]
“Anyone is able to join Rowan EMS, you don’t have to be a specific year. Just anyone that has interest we will get you in,” says Luke Heisler, the captain at Rowan EMS, and a Biological Sciences major. Catch a glimpse into the life of Luke who works in the field with Rowan EMS.
Learn more about clubs and activities at Rowan here.
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Video by:
Joshua Hedum, Radio/TV/Film graduate
#PROFspective: Theatre and Advertising Major Nick Flagg
Today, we speak to Theatre & Advertising double major Nick Flagg from Williamstown, NJ (Gloucester County). Nick has a concentration in Theatre Ed, Acting/Directing & Musical Theatre, and will graduate next spring. He shares with us why he heavily enjoys studying his majors and the endless opportunities Rowan has offered and equipped him with. Why […]
Meet #Rowan2025: Accounting and Finance Major Christopher Lechuga
Meet incoming first year Christopher Lechuga, an aspiring Accounting and Finance major from Camden, NJ (Camden County). He tells us more about what he’s looking forward to at Rowan!
Welcome to Rowan! Could you share with us one thing you are looking forward in college?
I’m looking forward to the college experience as well as learning a lot about finance.
What is one hobby, activity, sport or club you were a part of in high school that you’d like to continue in college?
I was the Treasurer of Student Government.
Is there anything you’re hoping to discover about yourself in college?
Hopefully grow new skills.
What majors are you considering and why?
Accounting and Finance because I want to potentially own some businesses of my own and I want to know how to run it and do all the finances myself.
Do you have advice for other high school seniors who haven’t committed to a school yet?
Look for the best option financially.
Where are you going to live next year?
Commute from home.
What is one thing about Rowan itself that you liked?
Rowan from my experience has heart, is competitive, and shows that they want you in their school.
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Story by:
Bianca Torres, music industry graduate