Arden Benner was seeking a calling that would combine a deep reverence for the environment, an emphasis on public health, and a strong commitment to social justice. Benner, now a School of Arts and Sciences senior in the Class of 2020, grew up on a family farm in rural Juniata County, Pennsylvania. At Rutgers, she discovered geography, and as a geographer is assisting in the battle against COVID-19.
Rutgers is known as a diverse place. But not everyone knows Rutgers was one of the first American colleges to enroll Japanese nationals and that in Japan Rutgers graduates contributed to the nation's educational system. Big plans to celebrate the connection were postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, Rutgers students held a first-ever joint video conference with their students in Japan, discussing their research and keeping the spirit of friendship alive.
With the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the economy, Rutgers University alumnus Larry Agron has stepped up to support School of Arts and Sciences students who face financial challenges. “We must stand firm in the face of adversity,” Agron said about the importance of alumni support at this difficult time, describing how important the liberal arts were to inspiring him on his life’s journey.
Thomas Wood, a member of the SAS Class of 2020, has specialized in research that examines the genetic mechanisms that allowed fish to evolve mammals, birds, and reptiles, logging up to 35 hours a week in a genetics lab studying the fish-to-tetrapod transition that occurred some 400 million years ago.
