A job or grad school — we guarantee it
The Class of 2022 will be the first to experience Rider’s new Cranberry Investment program. The investment reinforces the University’s longstanding commitment to providing transformative student experiences that lead to career success.
The program guarantees that undergraduate students who fulfill their responsibilities will obtain an entry-level job related to their field of study or be accepted into graduate or professional school within six months of graduation. The Office of Career Development and Success will support current students, prior to graduation, by helping them find internships, co-ops, field work and other professional opportunities.
For any eligible student who does not acquire an entry-level position in their field of study or acceptance into graduate or professional school within six months of graduation, Rider will provide focused career coaching and/or either additional undergraduate coursework (up to nine credits for free) or a paid internship to gain experience in their field of study.
Opportunity brewing
Rider welcomed a new entirely student-run Saxbys cafe to Sweigart Hall this fall. In partnership with the popular Philadelphia-based coffee company, each semester a student cafe executive officer will oversee all operations of the cafe. As the inaugural student CEO, senior management and leadership major Anna Corelli is earning a full semester’s worth of credit and a wage.
“This partnership is tailor-made to provide the kind of engaged learning experiences we prioritize for our students,” says President Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D.
Newsworthy
The University’s student newspaper, The Rider News, raked in awards for the 2020-21 academic year. On the state and regional level, the paper won eight awards in the New Jersey Press Foundation’s NJ College Newspaper Contest and five awards in the Society of Professional Journalists’ Region 1 Mark of Excellence Awards.
Executive editor Stephen Neukam ’21 went on to win the national Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence Award for In-Depth Reporting for small schools. The journalism and political science double major also earned a full tuition scholarship to attend his top choice for graduate school, the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland.
Once, twice, three times a Bronc
Iram Khan ’12, ’13, ’21 became the first student ever to earn a bachelor’s, a master’s and a doctorate all from Rider. Khan, assistant director of Rider’s Office of Career Development and Success, earned two previous degrees in accounting and in May became a member of the second class of Doctor of Educational Leadership graduates.
Rider is a family affair for Khan. She and her sisters, Anam ’12, ’13 and Komal ’18, ’19, have earned seven degrees from the University. Her husband, Ali Raza Khan ’19, also graduated from Rider.
Giving back
Strong support from alumni, faculty, staff and friends led Rider University to another solid year of fundraising, securing more than $13 million during this last fiscal year. The total included the largest gift the University ever received for the sciences and contained a record $3 million in gifts and pledges for Rider’s NCAA Division I Athletics program.
Additionally, since the pandemic began, the University has raised $31 million from its supporters. “This year has seen an extraordinary demonstration of commitment to Rider and its students,” says President Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D. “Having such a strong level of support during this pivotal time is inspiring and demonstrates the confidence of our community in Rider’s mission to provide an affordable, inclusive and enriching education for all of our students.”
Choral ambassador
Joseph Beck ’59, a student of Westminster Choir College Founder John Finley Williamson, died on Aug. 2. He was 86. Beck was committed to the preservation of his teacher and mentor’s musical legacy, writing America’s Choral Ambassador: John Finley Williamson and editing and publishing Selected Writings of John Finley Williamson. On several occasions, Beck, pictured below with wife Sara, who survives him, visited Westminster students to discuss Williamson’s legacy and the importance of his choral vision. A regular fixture at Westminster alumni reunions and a generous supporter of many patron events, Beck received the Westminster Alumni Merit Award and Distinguished Alumni Service Award and was a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council.
Bringing it home
Dream of having your name in Alumni Gym? Now you can as Rider plans to turn the space into a modern Division I NCAA facility. Supporters can name an arena seat for $500, a locker for $1,000 or a courtside padded seat for $2,500 or join other prominent donors on a planned Donor Wall for gifts of $5,000 or more. Additional naming opportunities may be found at rider.edu/bringing-it-home.
Marquee name
Judith Persichilli '80 leads the state of New Jersey in the fight against COVID-19 as health commissioner. A new Department of Health building in downtown Trenton will be named in her honor.
“Now all those who pass through the halls of the Judith M. Persichilli Building will be reminded of Judy's selfless, honorable and dedicated service to our state and its residents during the greatest public health crisis in New Jersey's history,” says Gov. Phil Murphy.
In his lane
Greg Meehan ’01 was the head coach of the 2020 U.S. Olympic women's swimming team. He served as an assistant coach at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. A Rider University Athletics Hall of Famer, Meehan swam the second-fastest 200 backstroke, the third-fastest 100 backstroke and the fifth-fastest 1,000 freestyle at the time he was a student.
Fine dining
Rider Dining was recognized nationally for excellence in dining services. It received a gold award from this year’s Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards in the category of Residential Dining Concepts. The criteria upon which entries were judged included menu; merchandising and food presentation; marketing; and nutrition and wellness.
Chief diversity officer
Barbara J. Lawrence was appointed Rider University's inaugural vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion/chief diversity officer. In this cabinet-level position, Lawrence is charged with leading Rider’s strategic direction as it relates to inclusive excellence.
Lawrence previously served in a similar role at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., where she developed the institution’s five-year strategic diversity, equity and inclusion plan and served as an associate professor. Prior to working in higher education, Lawrence spent 12 years serving as a police officer in the New York Police Department. She is also certified as a Title IX coordinator and investigator.
Soothing sounds
A new program is bringing performances by Westminster Choir College students to local medical centers. Music for Healing, directed by Professor of Music Education Emeritus Frank Abrahams, is a collection of three videos available for patients to watch on a television channel available at Capital Health and Penn Medicine/Princeton Health.
“Music is healing and we appreciate having the opportunity to share such wonderful performances with our patients and guests," says Elizabeth Upham, director of patient experience at Capital Health.