Throughout a six-week training program that began in August 2023, these Fellows sought opportunities to unlock their creative potential using a design-thinking mindset to realize impactful change on campus. Their proposed project is a Rowan Multicultural Innovation Day to be held in March 2024, which will be an inspiring celebration designed to weave a tapestry of diversity and unity with the spirit of innovation. The event's mission will be to cultivate an inclusive campus environment where students, faculty, and staff can engage in a transformative experience that celebrates and promotes the innovative global richness of our Rowan student community.

 “We are incredibly grateful to have been selected for the University Fellows Program as it has given us the opportunity to collaborate with and most importantly learn from established faculty from the Rowan Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the UIF network”, said Joshua de Guzman, Biomedical Engineering major. “After completing our training, we have decided to develop an event that unites our diverse student body to celebrate the wealth of cultural differences that define us. We are committed to creating original ideas to improve our campus and are eager to work with the student body and administration to execute these fun plans.” 

Fellow Marisa Pestritto said, “The University Fellows Program has given us a wonderful opportunity to beneficially change the Rowan campus community.  Using the knowledge and resources provided to us through the UIF program, in conjunction with Rowan faculty and student feedback and participation, we will design an experience that will unite our campus culturally.  Together, we are going to help promote a campus climate that celebrates learning from others differences to strengthen the collective potential impact of the Rowan Community; to both better support the individual needs of the students, and to strengthen the unifying spirit throughout all of Rowan. “

Advised by Dr. Michael Dominik from the Rowan School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, these Fellows will also travel to the University of Twente in The Netherlands in April 2024 for a meet-up with the other 237 new Fellows from 63 higher education institutions in 15 countries, where they will engage in further learning and action with their peer Fellows. Learn more about Rowan’s University Innovation Fellows and their accomplishments here and about Rowan's student organizations here.