The richest short story prize, new degrees, John Leguizamo, national recognition, Launch and the largest class in seven years.
December 2018 – Stories about star speakers, enrollment growth, athletic honors, new programs, national standing and an award-winning professor were among the most read on Drew.edu in 2018. Here are the top 22.
22. Swimming in Success
Mal Vishwanath C’20 earns honorable mention All-American after competing in the NCAA Championships.
21. Mastering Finance
Drew’s Caspersen School of Graduate Studies introduces a new Master of Science in Finance under the direction of Professor Marc Tomljanovich.
20. They’re Off
BlackRock, Columbia University, the N.J. Senate and a repertory theatre are among the destinations of graduates of the Class of 2018, including Tyler Dorrity.
19. TEDxDrew
Students produce Drew’s first TEDx event, hosted by Trustee Robert Franek C’93. Speakers include Olivia Blondheim C’18 (above), Associate Professor Kate Ott and alumni Ulcca Joshi Hansen C’98 and Ross Michaels C’08.
18. Nursing & Nutrition
The University unveils new combined degree programs in nursing and nutrition.
17. Columbia Worthy
Four more students are admitted to Drew’s combined degree program in engineering at Columbia University, including mathematics major Fabio Ferraz.
16. Fellowship
Ericka Dunbar is among four Drew Theological School students who earn fellowships from the Forum for Theological Exploration—the most ever for the school in one year.
15. Smart Athletes
A whopping 32 athletes in seven sports make the Landmark Conference’s Spring Academic Honor Roll, including 14 baseball players.
14. Public Theology
Drew Theological School’s new Doctor of Ministry in Public Theology offers a path to social justice and features mentors such as Jacqueline Lewis, senior minister at Middle Church in New York City.
13. Black History
Drew celebrates Black History Month with more than a dozen events, including activism training, plays, group trips and talks from the likes of Composer in Residence Mark Miller (above).
12. Top 20%
The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings places Drew among the top 20 percent of schools in the U.S., based on student surveys, outcomes, resources, engagement and campus environment.
11. From Internships to Career
May Manalo C’15 credits her three internships as an undergrad with sparking her passion for counseling school children.
10. ‘Drew students are a welcoming bunch’
The Fiske Guide to Colleges once again features Drew among the “best and most interesting” colleges.
9. Speaking Stars
Drew Forum presents Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead and Morning Joe hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough.
8. Bravo!
The Princeton Review ranks Drew No. 6 nationally in Best Theater and No. 5 in Lots of Race/Class Interaction and features the school its guide, The Best 384 Colleges.
7. Romantic Forest
Six couples who met in The Forest share their love stories, including Gil Arbitsman C’07 and Cayley Barlowe C’10.
6. ‘You Are the Conversation’
In a rousing commencement address to the Class of 2018, actor John Leguizamo salutes the work ethic of immigrants and inspiring activism of Generation Z, noting that it’s an “amazing time because you are part of the conversation. Hell, you are the conversation.”
5. Beautiful
Drew makes College Consensus’ list of the 30 most beautiful campuses in the fall.
4. Student Teacher
Computer science student Bahara Mohammadi C’20 creates a program to help women in her native Afghanistan learn how to code, explaining, “Whatever your love and passion is, you can pass it onto others.”
3. Launch Your Life
Drew introduces Launch, a leading-edge path to undergraduate education that syncs career development with rigorous academics and powerful community. Launch emphasizes real-world learning in the form of internships, New York City semesters and hands-on research, with each student gaining a team of mentors to work toward a career.
2. #Drew22
The Class of 2022—the largest in seven years—settles into The Forest and explores downtown Madison.
1. The Big Short Story
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Photo: Tom Pilston
Courtney Zoffness, director of Drew’s creative writing program, scores the world’s richest short story prize for “Peanuts Aren’t Nuts.” The story, which emerged from an initial 810 entries, “had that precious thing that underlies the best fiction,” said one judge. “It’s not just about giving a voice to the overlooked; it is about valuing the inner world above the outer—dramatically reminding us that this quiet place is where lives are shaped.”
