In honor of Black History Month, we’re reflecting on the experiences of Black students at Douglass. Photos from The Douglass Century, Scarlet and Black, and more, paint a story of Black student life at Douglass and Rutgers—a story of student organizing, steadfast advocacy, and critical contributions that have made the campus community a more celebratory and inclusive place for students of all backgrounds. Check out some of the archives below!
Bridget Perez DRC’27 grew up at Rutgers, traveling along the banks of the Raritan with her mother.
The child of a longtime Rutgers bus driver, Bridget spent her girlhood afternoons riding her mother’s bus across the University and back again as students traveled to and from class. Her Rutgers journey, which now includes an impressive research resume and a Douglass externship at AtlantiCare, began on the aisles of those buses where she admired her mother as a role model for family, leadership, and the future.
“Rutgers has been part of my life since I was young—my mother worked long nights as a Rutgers bus driver,” Bridget said. “Attending Rutgers feels like honoring her sacrifices and completing a full-circle moment for my family.”
The 2025 edition of Douglass Now magazine is here! This issue highlights the new strategic plan that will continue Douglass’ legacy of academic excellence into the future. Meet the empowering leaders in our community, including published author and prison reform advocate Marisa Syed DRC'27 and NJ Teacher of the Year, Stefanie Lachenauer DC’06. Additionally, enjoy a special interview featuring Chancellor Francine Conway and Meghan Rehbein, discussing the significance of women’s leadership. Read about students from various majors as they outline their four-year pathways at Douglass. All this and more can be found in this year's edition of Douglass Now!
Corporate sponsors like PSEG and the PSEG Foundation make Douglass programs strong. With partners like PSEG, Douglass has taken science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) living-learning communities to the next level and provided vital mentoring to a new generation of STEM leaders. Since 2014, the Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), New Jersey’s leading energy provider, and the PSEG Foundation have supported Douglass STEM programs, including the Reilly Douglass Engineering Living-Learning Community, the Computer Science Living-Learning Community for Women (CSLLC), the Bunting-Cobb Sciences Living-Learning Community (Sciences LLC), SUPER Undergraduate Research Program, and a formal mentoring program that connects PSEG employee mentors with Douglass students in both academic and real-world settings.
This month, Douglass students teamed up with local Girl Scout troops to celebrate the arrival of the Fall season while learning about the principles of flight.
“As a lifetime member of Girl Scouts, I find that my experience as a National Council Delegate and a member of the Board of Directors aligns perfectly with Douglass Residential College's goal of connecting girls with greater opportunities for community engagement,” said Olivia Ivy Altidor DRC’28, an economics major.
The Estelle Lebowitz and Ann Beneduce-Lebowitz Artist-in-Residence program brings a distinguished artist to campus for a year to present a solo exhibition of their artwork, give artist talks, and collaborate with Douglass students on hands-on creative projects and workshops. The program was endowed in 1999 by Professor Joel Lebowitz, Director of the Center for Mathematical Sciences Research and George William Hill Professor of Mathematics and Physics at Rutgers University, in honor of his late wives—artist Estelle Lebowitz and author and editor Ann Beneduce-Lebowitz.
A Visual Arts major who specializes in illustration and drawing, Danielle Cole’s DRC’27 love of art and passion for the Douglass community have contributed to fostering a lively and creative arts culture at Douglass.
During her time at Douglass, Danielle has been involved in a number of arts programs. As a first-year student, she worked with the Estelle Lebowitz and Ann Beneduce-Lebowitz Artist-in-Residence program under visual artist Amina Ross. She’s also been a member of the Global Village Africana House. Both programs have celebrated her creativity and perspective as a young artist and scholar.
Lily Barber DRC'28, a history major and student artist at Douglass, examined the intersection of photography, textile arts, and archival work through her piece, Douglass Ghosts. The photo book is an exploration and tribute to the history of Douglass campus, the intergenerational ties of our community, and its effect on current students’ sense of place and home here on campus.
This is absolutely my favorite time of year. There’s a palpable sense of possibility in the air–it’s a new beginning for those of you joining us for the first time, and a return home for those coming back to the distinctive mix of routine and discovery that college life brings. And, as a lifelong Jersey Shore resident, I’ll admit I also love this season because it’s “local summer,” when the beaches are at their quietest and best.
