May 2024 – As Drew University’s 2024 Commencement nears, we’re taking a look at where some of our outstanding soon-to-be-grads are headed.
Rachel Sirica C’24, who is double majoring in environmental science and French with a minor in international relations, served on the leadership boards of Volunteer Without Borders, Drew’s InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, L’association Francophone, Drew’s Poets’ Society, and has successfully defended her environmental science honor thesis on “The Influence of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates on the Abundance of Batrachochytrium Bendrobatidis.”
Where she’s headed:
Sirica has accepted a position as a Program Director for the Girls Scouts of Northern New Jersey, working at the Jockey Hollow Day Camp.
On her time at Drew:
“Drew Summer Science Institute (DSSI) changed the trajectory of my future career. I’m so thankful to Dr. Barker [Associate Professor and Department Chair of Biology] and Dr. Jess McQuigg [Assistant Professor of Biology] for accepting me into the program to study amphibian disease and conservation. The mentorship of Dr. McQuigg has motivated me to begin my graduate school search after my seasonal position with Girl Scouts this summer. The work of the Environmental Science department as a whole has encouraged me to make connections between my research and the nonprofit sector. Professors like Lisa Jordan [Associate Teaching Professor of Environmental Studies] and Shagufta Gaffar [Assistant Professor of Environmental Science] have reminded me that the most successful applications of science can only go as far as our engagement with local communities. I hope that by supporting the outdoor education and various programs of Jockey Hollow Day Camp this summer I am able to serve a community of young campers and open their eyes to the importance of the environment around us.”
