I chose Roberts because the faculty and staff here are incomparable; they are ever-approachable, invested in the students, exemplary models of the school's philosophy and veritable ambassadors for Christ. I will always cherish the profound experiences I had as a student. I was blessed to be the recipient of the highest quality of education as every course has made a lasting impression and aided in molding me into who I am today. As a student of Communication theory, I was able to achieve a unique perspective of the human experience.

After interning with the local publication Rochester Woman Magazine last spring, I was offered a position as the Associate Editor and regular staff writer. This opportunity has led to countless interviews with some of the city's most upstanding professional women. It has also given me the chance to delve into the many wonders of Rochester, which I might have not otherwise been persuaded to do. I am very humbled to have been granted this new role, however, I would not have dared proceeded without the encouragement and support from my family and from my professors and peers at RWC. In fact, my favorite assignment to date was writing the June 2012 cover story which featured one of the College's most influential professors: Dr. Elvera Berry.

I chose Roberts because of the accelerated Bachelor’s Degree programs for adults.  I loved that I had the option to take classes online or in a traditional classroom.  I chose online because of my health and my husband’s health.  I needed the flexibility to set my own schedule in order to keep up with doctor appointments.  I completed a lifelong dream and obtained a degree in Organizational Management in 15 months.  The Organizational Management Program and the people associated with the program made it easy for me to succeed.  I graduated with honors and received the Rochester Area Colleges Continuing Education, Outstanding Adult Student award for 2012. I am currently continuing my education at Northeastern Seminary and will complete my Masters degree in Theological Studies in 2015.

I chose Roberts because all of my classes had a faith based aspect that aligns with my Catholic faith.  This past semester I had an Ethics in Criminal Justice course that compares those ethics to our faith.  I agree with the restorative justice distinctive that focuses on making “whole” a situation that is broken, which is what they teach in our program. 

Since I was able to spell the word P-O-L-I-C-E, I wanted to be a police officer. The Criminal Justice program at Roberts has great professors, especially Ron Hallman (Associate Professor Criminal Justice).  He is dedicated to helping me succeed and helped me obtain my internship, which is required at Roberts, with Gates Police Department.   I am also on the Bergen Volunteer Fire Department and serve as the Lieutenant of Student Patrol at Roberts.

On November 9, 2012 I was presented with a letter of commendation from Gates Police for demonstrating a calm demeanor and willingness to help while rendering aid to an unresponsive male.  My internship was an exciting opportunity to apply what I learned in the classroom. I am in the process of going through the civil service application process because my goal is to be a police officer in the greater Rochester area. 

I chose Roberts because it’s faith-based; I wanted a place where I could talk openly about my faith.  I was attracted to the program because of its emphasis on servant leadership. Now, I use many of the tools in my tool kit from the MSL program and apply them daily in my professional and personal life.

One of the things I gained from the program was the emphasis on people skills.  I learned that in order to be an effective leader, one must be open to learn from others to be successful. I continue to look for opportunities to learn and be a mentee in the strategic process and in the development of new initiatives and projects that would be beneficial to my growth.  Throughout my course work, I was also able to create my own personal mission statement which I apply to my job and personal life every day.

I continue to develop as a viable member of MCC and help make a difference in the lives of our students as well as the vitality of the institution.  Outside of Monroe Community College, I participated in the Latino Leadership Development Program in 2006 sponsored through the United Way of Greater Rochester.  In my personal home business, I am a member in the elite President’s Club for AVON products, I am also a Unit Leader, and a trainer, as well a mentor for representatives who want to be successful in their business.

Roberts Wesleyan's faith base environment, wonderful staff and faculty, and structured program helped shaped me in who I am today.

I chose Roberts because the environment felt like home. I wanted to get out of public education and find a Christian school where my faith would be challenged, developed and encouraged. I was able to get my degree in Psychology while also taking Bible and philosophy classes for my own personal growth.

I am currently working at SUNY Buffalo and working towards my Masters degree for Student Affairs Administration. The calling God has placed on my heart matched the mission of higher education. Roberts provided me with the opportunity to witness and get involved with the administrative process as the Student Association President. Through my experiences, I found a confidence in my faith to stand strong in what I believe. Those experiences are priceless because they gave direction to my passions.

I chose Roberts because of their strong history of combining exceptional academics with the spiritual component. I wanted to grow as a student, professional, and human being, and Roberts provided the comprehensive educational experience that I was looking for.

I took many things away from my time at Roberts, but I learned two things important for continued growth as an educator: self-reflection and collaboration/consultation. My training as a school counselor helped me to develop the counseling skills to assist students in all three ASCA domains: Academic Development, Career Development, and Social/Personal Development. I use those skills that Roberts helped me develop on a daily basis, and I find that they enrich my work and life in general.

I have had to think outside the box here in Beijing, China to find student resources, especially for students who need special education. There are no special education programs at my school, and there are cultural stigmas associated with any type of disability. I have joined a professional development community for special educators and have found professionals who are able to provide evaluative procedures in the area.

I chose Roberts because I knew it would provide me with a Christian environment in which to explore new ideas and to develop my individual skill while not forgetting that self-betterment is only worthwhile if you become a contributor instead of a consumer. I stayed at Roberts because of great friends who didn’t think anything of sitting up at 3:30am to discuss theology, football, politics or whatever topic of the day arose.

Today, I use the skills I learned as a proud member of the Department of Communication in my daily role as a Community Relations Coordinator for Monroe County by working with constituents, fielding press calls, and doing event planning with a wide range of community groups. A strong understanding of communication theory, marketing, and even some psychology help me to serve the residents of Monroe County effectively every day.

I chose Roberts because I was told that 1) students at Roberts had an amazing chance to take advantage of a tremendous wealth of opportunities at the college and 2) you get so much more personal attention as an undergrad at a liberal arts college than at a large research university. I found both to be very true. Roberts was an environment that helped build my academic style of creativity and the pursuit of new ideas. 

After Roberts, I completed a masters in mathematical economics at Southern Illinois University and a PhD in economics at Cornell.  I then moved to Sydney, Australia with my wife Sarah to take a tenure-track position at the University of Sydney, one of the top research universities in Australia.

I am involved in exciting, cutting-edge projects on issues of poverty and international development from East Africa (Kenya and Ethiopia) to southeast Asia (especially Indonesia) and beyond. I count some of the world leaders in my field, from institutions such as Yale University, Cornell University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among my co-authors and closest collaborators.

I feel tremendously blessed to be at the cutting edge of creating and sharing new knowledge in international development, hopefully to the benefit of the world’s poor.

I chose Roberts because I could complete the degree while being employed full-time.  I also was not prepared for the "business" aspects of church management from my prior theological formation.  Advertised as one night a week for 14 months, I suspected that the program would be easy, but nothing could be further from the truth.  I worked very hard and came to appreciate the hard work as my skill sets and knowledge expanded.  One additional benefit of attending Roberts was the ability to pray before each class and to share my faith without fear of reprimand.

After Roberts, I earned a doctorate in transformative leadership.  The organizational and personnel leadership strategies I learned in the Roberts program provided a solid foundation for my doctoral work.  I have been invited to consult with churches and dioceses across the country in change management, helping church membership to adapt to changes, and giving church leadership the skills and strategies for bringing about desired changes in their communities.  I find myself constantly referring to the change management strategies I learned in the Roberts program to help these churches and dioceses. 

I chose Roberts because I could study a bit of everything while I figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up. During my first semester my freshman year, I took Philosophical Ethics with Dr. Koehl. That class changed my life. Dr. Koehl gave a lecture one day about social justice-- I had never heard those two words spoken together before and the concept blew me away. I was intrigued and spent four years interning, volunteering, and learning more about this world.

My work inside and outside of the classroom at Roberts had a direct effect on my life today. I took classes on language and persuasion that helped me develop the skills necessary in my role today. Outside the classroom I held several internships working on grant writing and direct marketing for hunger and mental health advocacy organizations that allowed me to have a big kid resume when I graduated. (I got a job!)

I am the Director of Development, in charge of fundraising and communication aspects, with Bread for the City in Washington, DC. Bread for the City is the District's largest food pantry. We also distribute clothing, operate medical and dental clinics, provide legal advice and full representation, and offer comprehensive social services for free to about 32,000 low-income DC residents each year. I have the best job in the world.