This post was reviewed for accuracy and revised October 2025. As shared by the New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism, in 2024 Smithsonian Magazine named the town of Glassboro, New Jersey one of the best small towns to visit. Whether you’re coming from up the road, down the shore, Central Jersey, or out-of-state, find […]
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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 […]
20 Minute Radius: 7 Delicious Coffee Stops
Looking for a coffee on campus? We are positively percolating with 7 destinations to get your cup of joe. Stops on Rowan Boulevard: Stops on Campus: Like what you see? LEARN MORE Photos by:Madison Neumann, Rowan Blog contributor
Back-to-School Bucket List of Rowan Juniors and Seniors
From attending sporting events and exploring Rowan Boulevard to getting involved in clubs and reaching academic goals, every student has something they hope to accomplish during college. Rowan University students share the experiences, places and milestones on their college bucket lists. Campus Traditions & Favorite Places “I’m looking forward to everyone moving in and meeting […]
20 Minute Radius: Plant-Based Food
You don’t have to go too far to find great plant-based options near Rowan. Whether they’re on campus or a short drive away, all of these restaurants offer at least one plant-based meal option, with one holding an entirely vegan menu. You don’t have to be vegan to enjoy these delicious dishes.
- Burger Barr | Sewell, NJ
BurgerBarr carries a plant-based burger that is so good the flavor rivals the animal products on their menu, and they cook it on its own corner of the grill so you can be sure there won’t be cross contamination. To order vegan friendly, get the “Veggie” burger with vegan cheese and vegan sauce on a pretzel bun.
- The Wing Kitchen | Glassboro, NJ
The Wing Kitchen is known for more than its chicken wings. Order the “crispy fried cauliflower” in a vegan-friendly sauce and you’re in for a crispy, delicious treat.
- The Monarch Diner | Glassboro, NJ
Located in the heart of Glassboro on Delsea Drive, the Monarch Diner is serving up all kinds of plant-based meals. With specials located throughout their menu you can stop in at any time and find a vegan dish: from breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and even dessert. Fan favorites include their loaded broccoli and seitan potato skins, tofu avocado quesadilla, tofu pasta primavera and eggless veggie omelette.
- Saladworks | Glassboro, NJ
Saladworks has been known as the health food chain for quite awhile but really upped their menu last year with plant-based protein options. They now offer tofu and quinoa amongst their long-standing, vegan-friendly toppings such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
- The Gentle Giant | Pitman, NJ
Last, but certainly not least, The Gentle Giant is Gloucester County’s only 100% plant-based restaurant, making it a vegan paradise! This restaurant dedicates itself to the memory of William Blease, IV, the original “gentle giant,” by supporting the sale of local vegan products and raising money each month for causes such as animal sanctuaries. Their entire menu is vegan and highlights breakfast and lunch items such as wraps, burgers, sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches and more.
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Story and photos by:
Madison Neumann, Rowan Blog contributor
TRANSFERmation Tuesday: From North Jersey To Utah, Chemical Engineering Major Jacob Molinaro
Meet Jacob Molinaro, a Chemical Engineering major with minors in both Math and Chemistry who transferred from the County College of Morris and is originally from Essex County, NJ. He is taking remote classes at Rowan from his current residence in Utah. He shares more about his decision in choosing Rowan and what he loves about South Jersey.
What are your professional goals? And how is Rowan helping to support you in those goals?
My goal is to get my Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and lead research in the field of renewable energy and energy storage. My time at Rowan has provided me with the educational background and experience to be competitive as I apply to my graduate programs and indirectly inspired me to follow this career path.
As a sophomore, my department head sent me an email encouraging me to apply to an REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) program in Ohio. Following his advice, I applied and was admitted to the program and discovered my passions for both research and the field of electrochemistry.
How does your field impact the world? What impact would you like to have on the world in your field?
The field of chemical engineering is extremely diverse, incorporating manufacturing, research and development and process design. Without chemical engineering, we would find many of the everyday products we use would be unavailable. I specifically would like to work in the growing field of renewable energy and energy storage, which is becoming increasingly important as we strive for more sustainable and ecologically friendly alternatives to fossil fuels.
What inspired you to choose your major?
Excellent chemistry teachers in high school (for both Honors Chemistry in 10th grade and AP Chemistry in 11th) fostered my interest for the subject, but I have always been more interested in applying chemistry to real-world problems rather than understanding the technicalities of it. Hence, I went into chemical engineering (applied chemistry).
As a student from North Jersey, how did you become aware of Rowan University?
At the time I applied, there were five strong chemical engineering programs in the state of New Jersey that my community college made me aware of. I applied to all of them, and upon being accepted to Rowan, I came to visit and loved it!
How long is your trip/drive “home” to North Jersey?
This is an amusing question. As the question is intended to be answered, it is two hours up the NJ Turnpike/Garden State Parkway to where I lived in Essex County from my apartment in Marlton. To go visit my parents in Pennsylvania is about three hours.
However, at the moment my wife and I are living in Orem, Utah while I do all of my classes remotely. My wife, Kaitlin, is a travel nurse and is supporting a hospital here in Utah. Back to New Jersey from HERE is about 35 hours of driving.
What are some of the benefits for you, living this distance from home?
When I’m back in NJ it is nice to be close enough to my parents to go visit over the weekend and help out around the house, but far enough away that we’re not getting unexpected dinner guests every other evening while I need to be studying for an exam or my wife is getting home from a long shift at the hospital.
Here in Utah, the largest benefits are by far the accessibility of my favorite hobbies. I’m a runner, climber, mountaineer and skier; the whole Salt Lake City area is absolutely amazing for these activities. In the past two weeks I’ve been to the climbing gym, two different ski resorts, been up two mountains, and been able to run and hike in between classes.
Between my own personal travels and moving around with Kaitlin’s travel nursing, I’ve been to 49 of the 50 states, and Utah is probably tied for second with Montana among my favorite states (only second to Wyoming!). Utah residents are also doing a great job with social distancing and mask-wearing, so COVID-19 cases are low here and places like the ski resorts and climbing gyms are able to stay open and operate at reduced capacity.
What are a few interesting or new things (to you) about Rowan’s South Jersey area that you would share with future out-of-state students?
After living in the “sixth borough on NYC” in Essex County, I’ve really appreciated that South Jersey is much more rural. If it hasn’t come across yet, I’m not at all a city person and really appreciate some good nature. The accessibility to different parks and preserves throughout the Pine Barrens has been really special. There’s also a great running community, some really awesome little towns (I work as a barista in Haddonfield and love it there, for example), and a bit more of a laid back feel than you’d be used to in North Jersey.
What off-campus, local fun places do you recommend students check out?
Parallel to 322 and off of Delsea Drive there’s a really awesome bike path that runs about seven and a half miles to Sewell. That’s a fun ride/run, and I would definitely recommend students check it out. Duffield’s Farm Market in Sewell is a great place to visit in the fall for pumpkin picking and year-round for affordable fresh produce. It’s a bit of a drive, but I love the Black Run Preserve a bit north in Evesham Township.
Closer to campus, Pitman is always worth a visit for great restaurants and a fun main street. Overall, I’d encourage any new students to just drive around and get to know both Glassboro and the surrounding towns. There’s a lot of neat stuff to be seen, regardless of whether you’re interested in getting outdoors or visiting a town.
Why did you choose to transfer to Rowan University?
Of the three schools I was accepted for transfer to, Rowan was the most affordable (by a long shot!) and the most rural. I had spent two years at that point living in the extremely urban sections of northern New Jersey and was ready for a little farmland nearby!
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Story by:
Bianca Torres, senior music industry major
Header photo courtesy of:
Unsplash
We are #RowanPROUD to be included on Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s 2021 Transfer Honor Roll, which recognizes select nationwide colleges and universities that foster dynamic pathways for transfer students.
TRANSFERmation Tuesday: Chemical Engineering Major Jean Han
Today, we speak to transfer student Jean Han. Jean is a Chemical Engineering major from Fort Lee, NJ (Bergen County) who transferred from Bergen Community College. She shares with us why she chose Rowan and tells us what she likes about South Jersey.
What are your professional goals? And how is Rowan helping to support you in those goals?
I would like to work in the medical device field or within biotechnology. My major allows me to be qualified for these positions as an engineer. I’ve received a lot of professional advice from my professors and academic advice from my peers.
How does your field impact the world? What impact would you like to have on the world in your field?
I think chemical engineering is a broad field that allows various career paths, all of which are pretty innovating. I would like to contribute to society by improving upon medical technology.
What inspired you to choose your major?
I really enjoyed my high school calculus/chemistry classes and wanted to choose a major that would have me take more courses in both subjects.
As a student from North Jersey, how did you become aware of Rowan University?
I Googled top engineering schools, and Rowan popped up as one of them for undergrad.
How long is your trip/drive “home” to North Jersey?
About two hours, an hour and 45 minutes on a good day.
What are some of the benefits for you, living this distance from home?
I’m not distracted by my usual friends or family members. There are less places here to go to.
What are a few interesting or new things (to you) about Rowan’s South Jersey area that you would share with future North Jersey students?
South Jersey seems quieter and less busy than North Jersey. It would be a nice area to chill in without too much distraction for someone who is looking for that kind of environment.
What off-campus, local fun places do you recommend students check out?
I like going into Pitman. It’s a quaint area with some cafes and restaurants to eat at. I would also recommend going into Philly, of course.
Why did you choose to transfer to Rowan University?
Rowan was the most affordable option for me. I also had a bad impression of other in-state schools.
Like what you see?
Story by:
Bianca Torres, senior music industry major
Photography by:
Joe Gentempo, senior art major
We are #RowanPROUD to be included on Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s 2021 Transfer Honor Roll, which recognizes select nationwide colleges and universities that foster dynamic pathways for transfer students.