View more photos

Students in Jarrod Sisk’s macroeconomics class traveled to New York City in April, connecting with alumni and exploring careers in entrepreneurship and finance.

Their day started with a visit to Rowan's headquarters to meet Louisa Schneider ’95, founder and CEO of the ear piercing and jewelry business. Their piercings are performed exclusively by licensed nurses, and all of their products are hypoallergenic. Students learned about entrepreneurship and how to start a business from scratch.

“The students asked thoughtful questions on everything from conducting market research ahead of a business proposal, to the importance of a consistent marketing strategy, to how to prioritize within a growing business,” Schneider said, noting that everyone at Rowan felt “inspired by their curiosity and perspective.”

The classmates then headed to Blue Owl Capital, where a panel of alumni spoke about various jobs in the financial industry, including direct lending, credit, private equity, investment banking, and investment analyst roles covering industries from health care to entertainment to sustainability. Panelists included Kate Albright ’12, Aaron Casella ’17, Adam Casella ’06, Daniel Desouza ’16, Thomas DeSouza ’13, Fred Frank ’12, Stephen Langer ’12, Brooke Macy ’16, Cordelia Peters ’14, Nicholas Piccone ’12, Charlotte Dillon Ross ’10, Alden Schade ’14, and Paul Trethaway ’09.

Students journeyed down to the financial district, toured the New York Stock Exchange floor, walked through the district to learn about its history, and finished with a visit to the 9/11 Memorial Museum. 

“It allowed us to bring the real-world experience of the Financial District into the classroom,” Sisk said.