“My experience at Drew has been exceptional, especially in terms of accomplishing a lot more than I thought I would within my first year”
April 2025 – For Dejanayha Hill C’26, transferring to Drew University was the beginning of a transformative experience. Pursuing a double major in sociology and psychology with a minor in international relations, she has fully embraced academic and campus life—active in multiple student organizations and athletic programs.
While earning an Associate’s Degree from UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey, Hill was drawn to Drew through its strong presence at frequent college fairs, information sessions, and collaborations with organizations like American Honors and Phi Theta Kappa. A pivotal moment in her decision-making process was attending a campus tour and student panel at Drew. Here she heard about the transfer experience from former UCNJ students who had successfully made the transition.
“The panel put everything into perspective, especially since I trusted the people who shared their experiences,” she said. “Knowing that I wouldn’t be alone and would have people to support me at Drew was a great feeling.”
In addition, Drew’s beautiful campus, small class sizes, and strong sense of community checked all the boxes for Hill.
She credits Director of Transfer and Continuing Education Sunita Bhargava and Transfer Student Service Coordinator Katie Murray for guiding her through the transfer. “They made the transition a lot easier,” she said. “It was nice to know that they offer continuous support, not just there when we transfer and get admitted, but throughout our whole time at Drew.”
Once at Drew, Hill wasted no time getting involved. She now serves as the Vice President of the Sociology Club and the Secretary of the newly-launched Transfer Student Organization, which is dedicated to supporting transfer students and celebrating their accomplishments. Additionally, she is a thrower on the Women’s Track and Field team and a tour guide for the Admissions Team.
“My experience at Drew has been exceptional, especially in terms of accomplishing a lot more than I thought I would within my first year here,” she said.
One of her proudest moments has been joining Drew’s Women’s Track and Field team—achieving a personal goal she had set for herself in high school but hadn’t been able to pursue until now.
For students considering a transfer to Drew, Hill suggests getting involved and embracing new experiences. “One of my biggest pieces of advice is to put yourself out there and go with the flow,” she said. “Being active in the community is very beneficial, especially since Drew is such a small school.”
She also stresses the importance of exploring interests outside of academics. For her, playing intramural volleyball has been an excellent non-committal activity that bridges her academic and student-athlete obligations. “Having something purely for fun with no expectations is something I believe every student should have,” she said.
After Drew, Hill plans to pursue a Master of Social Work with an interest in public policy. She believes her studies at Drew will provide a solid foundation for her future career as a grief therapist. “Psychology will help me with the clinical and therapist aspect of social work, while sociology teaches me the theoretical framework necessary to understand society,” she explained.
“International relations has helped me see the current state of global politics, especially on a humanitarian level. It’s interesting to see how much the international world influences domestic policies, which in turn impact social work.”
