The Honors College has a deep network of support to promote student success, from the Honors College deans and staff, academic advisors, and faculty fellows to peer mentors and an entire ecosystem of campus partners, including an embedded counselor, that we collaborate with closely. Through these connections as well as opportunities for community engagement and community building, we strive to:
Learning Objectives
Through mentoring, advising, and programs focused on community building, we teach students the foundational skills and mindsets below to help further overall student success.
Personal Growth
Understand and examine one’s social identities and how they intersect
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Identify one’s strengths and areas of growth
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Employ positive help seeking behavior and coping skills for personal wellness
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Accept and process feedback from others
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Articulate one’s personal and cultural values
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Develop self-efficacy for setting goals and creating plans to achieve them
Relationship Building
Establish trustworthy and supportive relationships with peers, faculty, staff, and alumni
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Use strong communication skills to connect with others representing diverse viewpoints
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Use active listening to understand and empathize with others’ perspectives and experiences
Community Engagement
Demonstrate a commitment to creating a sense of belonging for all
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Understand the authentic needs of communities with which one is engaging
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Interact with the world beyond campus through community-engaged learning
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Identify different ways to advocate for equity, inclusion, and social justice
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Become motivated to remain connected to Rutgers and the Honors community as alumni
Student Leadership
One of the highest impact opportunities a student can have is to serve as a student leader. Leadership provides opportunities for personal, professional, and intellectual growth, as well as the opportunity to serve our community and beyond. Our programs and initiatives are made possible by the work of Honors College student leaders.
Featured Student Leadership Team
Gabrielle Moore
Graduate Intern
James Kwak
Undergraduate Intern
Matt Esaia
Undergraduate Intern
Student Leadership Opportunities
The Honors College provides many student leadership opportunities that involve extensive training and mentoring to support our community in different ways.
Learn More
HC Involvement
In addition to formal leadership positions, Honors College students can lead, connect, and engage across several interest areas that provide more specific ways for students to get involved.
Learn More
QUESTIONS?
Email us at honorscollege@rutgers.edu
Gabrielle Moore graduated with her Bachelors of Public Health and minored in Medicinal and Economic Botany in 2024. During her undergraduate career she was heavily involved within the Rutgers community being part of a variety of organizations. She is pursuing a dual master's degree (MPH/MPP) at the Rutgers School of Public Health and Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Gabrielle is preparing to pursue a career that combines the intersection of public policy, health law, public health, social justice, advocacy, and health disparities.
James Kwak (he/him) is a senior majoring in Cell Biology/Neuroscience with aspirations of becoming a physician. Besides serving as an Undergraduate Intern, James is on the E-board for the Youth Empowerment Club, which works to connect college students to New Brunswick K-8 students at the New Brunswick Free Public Library. He also conducts research at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. In his free time, James loves watching films, listening to new music, and running.
Madison Griffin (she/her) (DRC/HC '26) is an Honors College student majoring in Africana Studies with minors in Latino and Caribbean Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with the intention to work in museums or archives. Besides working as an Academic Affairs Intern at the Honors College, Madison is also the Paul Robeson Living Learning Community Resident Assistant, a Ralph W. Voorhees Fellow, and a Meetings and Events Office Associate. In her free time, Madison enjoys reading, crocheting, and dancing.
Melanie Tan (she/her) (HC ’26) is an Honors College student double majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science. Outside of her work as an Academic Affairs Intern for the Honors College, Melanie is also a Learning Assistant, where she supports professors in Math 300 as well as the Learning Centers in program development. In her free time, Melanie enjoys rock climbing, jamming with her friends on bass guitar, and thrifting used books.
Jakob Pender (he/they) (HC '27) is an Honors College student majoring in Earth and Planetary Science with a minor in Organisation Leadership, on the track to becoming a student affairs professional. Besides serving as the lead of the LGBTQ+ Learning Collaborative and as an Undergraduate Intern, Jakob is the president of Rutgers Queer Caucus, the student advisor for Rutgers Ultra Violet, serves on the Advisory Board for the Tyler Clementi Center, a member of the tech and logistics team for MARK Conference, and works for Student Orientation and Transition Programs. In his free time, Jakob practices self-care through community involvement and meditation.
Matt Esaia (HC '26) is a senior from Mount Laurel, New Jersey studying Mathematics, Computer Science, and Italian. In addition to serving as the Lead Ambassador for Scheduling and Logistics he also serves as a School of Arts and Sciences peer tutor, a grader for the math department, and is part of the Rutgers Italian Club. Matt spent a summer in Italy studying abroad through the RU in Rome program and taught a FIGS seminar last fall on Exploring Computer Science. In his free time Matt enjoys listening to music, finding new recipes to cook, and spending time with his friends and family.
