ProfPals help students form connections to Rowan—and to each other

Razan Elzain and Julia Lipsett took different paths to Rowan University.

But they’re united in their passion for ProfPals, a student group formed last fall to help students find their place at Rowan.

Comprised of five students across different majors, ProfPals work collectively and individually to connect with students, forming bonds over meals, events, and activities, as well as online and through text and social media.

The vibe is intentionally low key.

There’s an active “GroupMe” social media group and a group chat, but ProfPals also are keen on social interaction and connection.

Being yourself

“The program is about being yourself,” says Elzain, a junior international studies major from Parsippany who transferred to Rowan last year. “People will just say, ‘I’m going to this event or that event. Does anyone want to come?’” says Elzain.

“I know what it feels like to be in a new place, a new environment,” continues Elzain, who came to the U.S. seven years ago from Sudan. Last fall, she organized a ProfPals Zumba class for 10 students.

“Dancing brings everyone together, regardless of background,” says Elzain. “People just danced together and vibed.”

This spring, Elzain is leading a ProfPals end-of-semester celebration that she hopes is as successful as last fall’s Cocoa & Cookies event, an outdoor meet-and-greet that made ProfPals more visible on campus, Elzain and Lipsett agree.

“So many different students came out and it was cool to hear about other people’s aspirations. We met a lot of students and hopefully impacted them in a positive way. And they were connecting with each other, too,” says Lipsett, a junior Law & Justice Studies major.

A student in the Martinson Honors College and a saxophonist in the Pride of the Profs marching band, Lipsett, who grew up in Glassboro, is plenty involved. But her ProfPals work took her involvement in another direction, she says.

‘They want to thrive more’

“I’m much more likely to go to an event now knowing that there will be people there with similar interests,” says Lipsett, who recently produced an Instagram story for ProfPals offering study tips. “A lot of students have told us that they are involved, but they want to thrive more.”

That’s the program’s goal, says Lindsay Johnson, assistant director of well-being at Rowan. Johnson and Chrissy Feil, director of wellbeing and resiliency in Rowan’s Division of Student Affairs, co-lead the ProfPals program, providing training and resources to student leaders. The program supports the University’s robust Rowan Thrive well-being program.

Students are encouraged to reach out and connect with ProfPals, Johnson notes.

“The goal is to get students to meet in person,” says Johnson. “We are doing more informal meet-and-greets and also meeting students where they are, such in the residence halls.”

Making connections

Each ProfPal participates in group events, but also organizes events based on their own interests. While Elzain held a Zumba class, another student is working on an emotional wellbeing event with Rowan’s Dungeons & Dragons Club. Another student uses “GroupMe” to attend Rowan After Hours and recently wrote an article for The Whit, Rowan’s student newspaper, on the importance of taking breaks for self-care.

“We know that social interaction improves motivation and resiliency,” says Johnson. “Social connection is one of the most significant predictors of overall wellbeing. We definitely have students at Rowan who feel less connected and socially isolated. Many don’t feel a sense of belonging right away.

“Connectedness is about genuineness and quality. That’s what the ProfPals do. They have a variety of interests and their own set of values important to them.”

Johnson likens the ProfPals approach to having a trail guide in a park. Students want to “hike,” but they’re hesitant. ProfPals are like those trail guides who “can walk with other students to help them get from Point A to Point B.”

ProfPals earn a stipend and, also, can earn credits through the College of Humanities & Social Sciences.

“ProfPals are highlighting the fact that ‘we’re all trying to figure this out.’ They were hired for their critical thinking,” says Feil, noting that some students are more comfortable interacting virtually at first. “We are not measuring our success by how many people attend events, but by the breadth and depth of opportunities for engagement for our students.”

“Students really love the concept of ProfPals,” adds Johnson. “This generation really does care about one another. More than any other generation, they can empathize with those that are struggling.”