Activities: Livingston College Welcome Week Committee - move-in week, tour guide program, orientation
What attracted you to Rutgers University and the Honors/Scholars Program?
I fondly remember my interview with then Dean Barbara Zonitch and was impressed with the academic opportunities. Ultimately it was the honors program that convinced me to come to Rutgers.
Why did you choose your major and minor?
I always had an interest in politics. From the time I was nine years old, I was curious about the inner workings of the political world and had followed politics and current events since that time.
Tell us a little bit about what you're doing now. What was your first job after Rutgers? Where do you live?
My first job after Rutgers was working as a congressional aide for Congressman Rush Holt. I later got my master's degree at the Graduate School of Education and am currently working on my Ed.D. at the GSE as well. I work for the Rutgers School of Management & Labor Relations and have been in my current position for over four years. I live with my wife and two kids in Howell, NJ (Monmouth County). Additionally, I got married on campus at Voorhees Chapel (to, appropriately, a Douglass alum) and the night before our wedding we even had our rehearsal dinner at Brower Commons.
What has been your greatest professional and/or personal accomplishment since you graduated Rutgers?
Having so much of life tied to Rutgers is a source of pride for me. I am working on achieving my degree trifecta, as it were, at Rutgers and look back fondly on having been married on campus to another Rutgers alum.
Was there a class and/or experience at Rutgers that led you to pursuing your current career?
I developed an affinity for student affairs when I was actively involved in orientation activities and in being a tour guide. My work with Dean Robin Diamond comes to mind as one that stands out in getting me interested in the field.
What three words describe your experience at Rutgers and the Honors Program?
Enriching. Challenging. Bonding.
How has your Rutgers and Honors education benefited you in your post-Rutgers life?
One of the advantages of being in the honors program was that there was emphasis on critical writing. That's something that I have taken with me and that has even informed my approach to teaching.
What advice do you have for our current SAS Honors Program students?
Enjoy the experience of being at Rutgers. It's important to balance between living in the moment but also having long-term goals in mind. You have to stop thinking of yourselves as just students and start thinking of yourselves as emerging professionals so be mindful of pursuing as many professional development opportunities as possible.
