First generation college student Tatiyana Stubbs, a sophomore bioinformatics and community health double major who commutes from Millville, NJ (Cumberland County) feels most home at Science Hall studying or working on assignments in a lab.
Video by: Edris Forde, junior radio, TV & film major and Vanessa Vause, senior public relations and theatre double major
Music by: Louis Testa, sophomore music composition major
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Luis Acevedo, sophomore dual biology and chemistry major from Camden, NJ, originally entered Rowan as an education major. Luis wanted to teach the people in his community about mobilization – something that is a challenge for many from the city. After a semester into his education career, Luis kept his promise to educate his community, but felt he would be able to make a bigger impact educating them on physical health. He rediscovered his passion for the field of medicine, and is eager to apply his passion at home.
Luis explains, “The general knowledge of health is not known. Not all members of Camden have access to healthcare or are able to communicate their physical aches and pains to doctors. If people aren’t able to describe their pain, they won’t receive proper care to fix their problem.” Luis wants to provide people with the help they deserve, but aren’t receiving yet. Everyone should have the opportunity to a healthy life and adequate medical attention. His degree and skills sets will allow him to properly attend to the members of his community who desperately need it.
Luis appreciates his family members’ encouragement throughout his 
education career and the mentors who’ve built a family full of support at school. After an interview with Dr. Mateo for Rowan’s ASCEND program, Luis felt Rowan was a good choice. Luis’ judgement was right. He explains, “The Camden Campus is a small family. Everyone is welcoming and all are happy to be there. If I ever need help, any one is happy to help me. They are my nest.” Luis, being in the Flying First program, is introduced through the program to professionals and other first-generation college students on campus who advance his academic success. Dr. Mateo, known as “mama bird” to most ASCEND members, meets with Luis regularly to ensure he’s on the right path and connects him to other resources on campus – one of them being the Peer Referral and Orientation Staff (PROS), where he joined as a member of the orientation staff the summer after his freshman year.
After finding PROS, Luis created a tremendous amount of connections on campus. PROS introduced Luis to faculty and students with different backgrounds, and knows learning to communicate with diverse cultures will help him in his future career.
Luis is setting a positive example for the people of Camden. His hometown
holds a negative stereotype for fostering an adverse community. “A lot of people think we’re not prepared for college. The fact that people ask questions about the type of education I had is unreal. It’s important to inform people that we’re all the same and we were all accepted to the same university.” Luis takes advantage of his resources at Rowan, knowing these connections will prepare him to be a successful doctor.
Like what you see, come visit us!
Enter for a chance to win a Rowan t-shirt! Email RowanBlog [at] rowan.edu with the date and time of your upcoming campus tour … we may just email you that we’re going to surprise you while you’re visiting!
Story and photography by: Alyssa Bauer, junior public relations major
Like what you see? Come visit us! VISIT CAMPUS Video by: Vanessa Vause, senior public relations, advertising and theatre majorEdris Forde: junior radio/TV/film major Music by: Bianca Torres, sophomore music industry major
Catch a glimpse into what it’s like dorming with your best friend from Molly (sophomore political science major from Toms River, NJ) and Rikki (sophomore marketing major from Harrison, NJ) who live in the townhouses. Like what you see? Register for a tour or open house. VISIT CAMPUS Enter for a chance to win a […]
Camryn Hadley, a sophomore advertising and public relations double major from Somerset, NJ (Somerset County) shares how her Rowan experience has come full circle, from her first visit as a high school freshman to her role today as a Rowan Prof. I am the youngest of four daughters, so I saw all of my sisters […]
Skylar Calvello, a sophomore advertising and public relations double major from Washington Township (Gloucester County), NJ, excitedly accepts the Disney College Program experience in Florida this spring semester! My hand was trembling as I stared at my phone waiting for the phone call. I don’t think that I had ever been so nervous in my […]
Today, we speak with Luke Altman, a sophomore classical performance major from Westfield, N.J. (Union County) who lives on campus in 230 Victoria Street. Luke will share his #PROFspective with us on what it’s like to be a Rowan University student and how he gets the most out of his college experience as a Rowan Prof. […]
Here’s a secret that no one bothered telling me: it is not easy to meet people in college if you aren’t a social butterfly. Dealing with social anxiety is both increasingly common and increasingly difficult as college progresses. I’m almost done with my first semester of sophomore year and I still don’t talk to very […]
