From No Funding to “Recreational Club of the Year” In this first person perspective piece, the president of the badminton club at Rowan University shares how she dedicated herself to succeeding in breathing new interest in the student club. My name is Medha Dabral and I am a current third-year Biological Sciences major with a […]
emergency medical services
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 […]
Beyond the Classroom: Kevin McCarthy and His Time with SGA
Additional Student Wellness Stories Keep reading student wellness stories to learn how Rowan Profs support their mental, physical and emotional well-being. Through Rowan Thrive, Rowan University provides a comprehensive framework designed to help students live in alignment with their values and cultivate resilience across six core areas of well-being. Internship & Experiential Learning Stories Learn […]
Beyond the Classroom: Senior Emergency Medical Technician Maribeth Novsak
Additional Student Wellness Stories Keep reading student wellness stories to learn how Rowan Profs support their mental, physical and emotional well-being. Through Rowan Thrive, Rowan University provides a comprehensive framework designed to help students live in alignment with their values and cultivate resilience across six core areas of well-being. Internship & Experiential Learning Stories Learn […]
#PROFspective: Brett Mayer, An EMT At Rowan EMS
Today we speak with senior Law & Justice Studies and Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management double major Brett Mayer. Brett is an EMT at Rowan EMS. He also lives on campus and works as a resident assistant in the Rowan Boulevard Apartments. Brett is from Manalapan, NJ (Monmouth County).
Are there any professors you feel are a visionary in your field?
Definitely. Dr. Stanley Yeldell in the Law and Justice Studies department, and Dr. Demond Miller in the Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management department. They both send their students job opportunities, and, especially senior year, it is important to look at all the opportunities and try to line up jobs. They have both been big helpers with my internship. They also both gave me a lot of help along the way with helping me decide what courses I should take, and helping me maximize my education.
What career field do you see yourself in after graduation?
As of now, I am still deciding, but I am thinking of going into the Law and Justice field and becoming a police officer, or something in emergency management.
Why did you choose your majors?
I chose my majors because of being an EMT. I knew I wanted to be in the emergency response field, whether that’s the police or EMS. I figured, I love it so much, why not study something in that field? I had an interest in it, and I was already working in the field, so I thought I might as well study it.
How do you feel that your field impacts the world?
Especially today, a lot is going on in the world. Especially in the Law and Justice and police area specifically. The Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management side definitely impacts the world, because disasters happen all the time, and the emergency managers are the people who handle those disasters. Someone is needed to run operations when there is a disaster or big storm, and these events are always going to happen. There is not only job security, but the field has a great impact on the world.
What would you share with a future student that was interested in one of your majors?
Get involved within the major. Law and Justice has a few clubs, one that I know of is the Criminal Justice Preparation Club. In clubs related to your major, you can meet other people in your major, discuss job opportunities. It is a great way to meet other people in your major, as well as get ready for your future.
Like what you see?
LEARN MORE
Story and photos by:
Rachel Rumsby, sophomore communication studies and public relations double major
#PROFspective: Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Major Maribeth Novsak
Maribeth Novsak, a senior Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management major from Cape May Court House, NJ (Cape May County), shares some highlights of her Rowan experience.
What inspired you to choose your major?
I actually started as an Athletic Training student here at Rowan. After my sophomore year, I realized I wasn’t happy in the classroom but I was happy working as an EMT and learning about mass casualty and shelter operations, that’s what really drew me to switch my major to Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, as well as a great group of friends and family.
How are you involved on campus? How does it fulfill you or support your future goals?
I currently volunteer with Rowan EMS as well as hold one of their two student worker positions. When I am there as a student worker I coordinate non-emergency transports for students to doctors’ offices. When I am there in a volunteer capacity, I answer 911 calls, assist in the training of EMTs as well as help with the driver training program. I’m usually at the squad about 48 hours a week.
Could you share with us one moment that made you feel inspired or confident that you’re in the right field for you?
Every interaction that I have with my classmates and professors as well as every time I hand in a quality paper or project shows me that this is where I am meant to be and I made the right choice in changing my major.
Describe for us an experience you’ve shared with a Rowan professor in which you felt like you were working with a visionary in your field.
All of our professors in our program are great. There is one professor in particular that I have connected with, and she has become a great mentor to me. Not only have I had her for multiple classes she has helped me with career advising and has let me talk through all of the different scenarios with her.
The thing with my field is, I feel like learning the curriculum is important but learning the networking and building capital for yourself is even more important because one day you are going to need to use it.
Like what you see?
Story by:
Loredonna Fiore, junior public relations and advertising major
Photography by:
Quintin Stinney, radio/television/film major
Rowan Student Leaders Alexa Bassano, Sydney Ramos and JT Kurtz Share Their Insights
Read firsthand accounts from three Rowan students who talk about the benefits of their on-campus leadership positions.
First up is Alexa Bassano, a junior Biological Science major from Brick Township, NJ (Monmouth County). Alexa is a Resident Assistant at Mimosa Hall, a member of Rowan Emergency Medical Services and the Director of Collegiate Alumnae Engagement of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority. She explains: “Each role has benefited me in a different way. Now more than ever, people are thanking me for my service with EMS. As an RA, my residents tell me how much they appreciate me referring them to resources or just showing them where a building is. To me, those little things are just me doing my job, but that gratification reminds me I am a part of something bigger. Being involved and helping people just makes me so happy, whether it comes with a ‘thank you’ or not.”
Next, Sydney Ramos is a junior Human Services major from East Brunswick, NJ (Middlesex County). When talking about her role as a student leader, she shared her experience from the very beginning. “Overall, I have to thank Res Life for making me the leader I am today. As a freshman, I really kept to myself and didn’t explore what options were out there for me. But as soon as I found RLUH, I knew I was where I needed to be: in a family atmosphere with amazing people I really respect.” Sydney is a Resident Assistant at Mimosa Hall and a new member of the United Latinos Association.
JT Kurtz, a senior Computer Science major from Egg Harbor Township, NJ (Atlantic County), is also heavily involved on campus. He is the Assistant Resident Director of Nexus Properties, a learning assistant for the Computer Science department, a researcher in the Psychology department, and a member of the Filipino Club. “In all of my roles, I want to be a valuable resource for the people around me,” he says. “I want to push people to be the best they can be and get them to success. By coming up with innovative ways to work and help others, I get to learn and grow every day.”
Like what you see?
Story by:
Loredonna Fiore, junior public relations and advertising major
Photography by:
Stephanie Batista, sophomore music industry major
Junior Major Moments: Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Major Connor Crafton-Tempel
Today we feature Disaster Preparedness and Management major Connor Crafton-Tempel from Freehold, NJ (Monmouth County). Connor is a transfer student and commutes to campus.
Could you share your favorite moment with a faculty member or a favorite experience in one of your classes?
Professor Carty, who taught my Disaster Planning, Mitigation, and Recovery course at our Camden campus, was a really big influence on me. When I first came into the program, I knew I wanted to work for the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management (OEM), but I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do with the OEM.
Then, Professor Carty was teaching us about threat and risk assessments, just before the COVID-19 outbreak turned into a pandemic. It was during her class that I realized I wanted to go into disaster planning and specially work on disease-related disasters (mainly epidemics and pandemics).
What is the most amazing or interesting thing you’ve learned in your major this year? 
I think that the most interesting thing I learned this year was how to perform a threat assessment. This is becoming really helpful, since my parish has asked me to help with the reopening.
What pre-professional experiences are helping to support your growth?
I’d have to say my honor society (Epsilon Pi Phi, the DPEM honor society) and Rowan University EMS. Rowan EMS is helping me gain new skills as an EMT, and the honor society is beneficial for getting connections within the industry.
Like what you see?
First Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management Graduate Reflects on His Rowan Experience
Internship & Experiential Learning Stories Learn how Rowan Profs go Beyond the Classroom to grow professionally, as well as personally, through internships and other experiential learning. Experiential learning includes hands-on learning opportunities provided through research, student clubs, campus leadership, student worker jobs, service-learning projects and volunteerism. In addition, Rowan’s Office of Career & Professional Development provides career support that’s more than just […]
EMS Chief Shares How Students Benefit From Volunteering
Vernon Howery, chief of Rowan University’s EMS, shares how students benefit from joining his team. Rowan’s EMS handled approximately 800 calls last year and participates in two dozen on-campus events throughout the year — giving student volunteers real-life, practical, hands-on experience that helps them grow as pre-professionals.
“The students are the best part of my job,” Chief Howery says. “Watching them be trained and watching them evolve, and knowing that when they leave here that they’ll be well trained and easily find employment after graduation.” This organization provides real-world experiences, giving students a glimpse into life after college. Previous students who were Rowan EMTs have gone to medical school, pursued nursing and have become physician assistants. This organization provided those students the experiences that better prepared them for various career paths.
By joining Rowan’s EMS team students join one of the nation’s top collegiate units — standing as the only collegiate unit in the nation awarded bronze, silver, and gold awards from NCEMSF (National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation) for the organization’s preparation and readiness. Volunteers stand among peers who are required to maintain GPA standards, but still managed to accumulate a collective total of 16,000 volunteer hours as a group for the year. This organization operates as a family — relying on one another, helping one another, and laughing with one another.
To join the organization students start by submitting an application. Once accepted, within the first year of becoming a member students are expected to gain their EMT certification. This means the student is already in progress or actively pursuing the certification. After gaining this 
certification a member goes through a six to nine month training program held at the Gloucester County EMT Training Academy paid for by the organization. Chief Howery stated, “In addition to arranging the training at no cost, we have a continual no-cost-training program. So every month, Cooper Hospital, as part of the contract that we have with them, will come to Rowan and hold training classes in various topics we suggest or recommend.”
Typical scenarios volunteers might find themselves in include medical and injury responses, transport services for medical appointments and prescription drug pick-up, emergency medical transport, community engagement, mental health responses, training and awareness spreading of proper CPR techniques and AED usage, and the installation and maintenance of campus AEDs.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Alexander Belli, graduating senior with dual degrees in public relations and advertising
#PROFspective: Advertising Major & Aspiring Nurse Practitioner John Brittin
Today, we speak with John Brittin, a junior advertising major from Upper Township, NJ (Cape May County). John will share his #PROFspective with us on what it’s like to be a Rowan University student, how he’s getting the most out of his college experience as a Rowan Prof, and what helped him to choose Rowan University. […]