Beyond The Brown & Gold

Rowan alum Megan Hilbert talks about launching Red’s Rolling Restaurant, expanding from one truck to multiple units, and shifting to a successful fried‑food menu. She also shares how she bought Eclipse Brewing, learned business lessons on the fly, and now supports other entrepreneurs. This episode covers her college years at Rowan, the challenges of running food trucks and a brewery, staffing and...

Tony Cattani '98, M'02 details his remarkable journey with co-hosts Jessica Kanady and Rob Lightfoot on a new episode of Beyond the Brown & Gold. Cattani describes his path from playing football at Rowan to a career in education, becoming Lenape High School principal and the 2025 National High School Principal of the Year. He discusses mentors who guided him, his leadership approach (recognize...

Hosts Rob Lightfoot and Jessica Kanady chat with Rowan alum Jessica Lundrigan '08 about her path from art student to packaging designer for major toy brands, including Barbie and Disney. Jess explains the packaging design process, sustainability and production challenges, trends like blind-box collectibles, and how internships and networking launched her career. The episode also touches on Jess's...

Rowan University graduate Adam Chazen '08 joins Beyond the Brown & Gold to share his path from Old Bridge, New Jersey and Rowan’s Radio, TV, & Film program to a career in visual effects. He discusses early college experiences (including booking shows for Bob Saget and Zach Galifianakis), internships at The Onion, moving to Los Angeles, working on Game of Thrones in Northern Ireland, and hi...

Liz Faircloth '00 joins Beyond the Brown and Gold to share her path from psychology major and student government leader to real estate investor and entrepreneur. She discusses building a national portfolio, founding InvestHER to support women investors, lessons from the 2008 crash, practical investing tips (house-hacking, team-building, financing), and her continued ties to Rowan University. Inves...

Chanelle Rene '99 discusses her winding path from biochemistry and broadcasting studies to a career in communications, wellness, e-commerce, and finally full-time visual art. She explains how classes and internships shaped her skills (including advice she received from a Rowan professor), and led to unexpected pivots.  She describes teaching herself painting during the pandemic, creating portraits...

Brianna "Bree" Jacobs '19 joins the latest episode of Beyond the Brown & Gold. Jacobs, an accounting major and dance minor during her days at Rowan University, spends her time these days working at KPMG as an audit manager. However, she spends her down time cultivating her passion - dancing. On the new show, Jacobs discusses how she fell in love with dancing, the process of starting her own da...

Ed Delesky ’18, MD ’22 spent his days at Rowan University balancing biochemistry with being a track and field athlete. Years later, Delesky is now a family medicine physician with Cooper University Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine.  The newest episode of Beyond the Brown & Gold welcomes Delesky in to discuss his time as a Rowan University student and why he decided to jum...

Steve Calabro '80 traded in the chilly weather of New Jersey for the sunny skies and warm weather of Florida. However, his passion and career path did not change. Calabro has been a part of the casino and entertainment industry since the 80s. These days, Calabro is an executive vice president and General Manager at Hialeah Park Casino in Florida.  A new episode of Beyond the Brown & Gold catch...

Claudia Abate '93 joins the Beyond the Brown & Gold to share her incredibly unique journey from Glassboro to working for the United Nations. Abate's desire to work for the United Nations began at a young age and eventually developed into a reality. During this episode, she talks about how her worldly experiences at the UN led her to meeting presidents and notable political figures along the wa...

Ahead of Valentine's Day, Beyond The Brown & Gold gets you in the mood for love. Listen to the 2026 edition of Prof Sweethearts stories from Rowan alumni across generations, featuring tales of longtime commitments and surprising challenges. Part 2 of these heartfelt love stories includes:  Lisa (Williams) ’83 & Kevin Crichton ’84 Kelly (Fitzpatrick) ’00 & Wayne Trojanowski ’00 Sydnee (...

Ahead of Valentine's Day, Beyond The Brown & Gold gets you in the mood for love. Listen to the 2026 edition of Prof Sweethearts stories from Rowan alumni across generations, featuring tales of longtime commitments and surprising challenges. Part 1 of these heartfelt love stories includes:  Colleen (Kulik) ’03 & Tom Marroletti ’04 Diane (Lisa) ’69, M’80 & John Mazzei ’69, M’75 Aaliyah W...

Dr. Hettie Williams '94, an associate professor, author, and podcaster, discusses her journey on a new episode of Beyond the Brown & Gold. The MLK Unsung Hero Award winner details her journey from Glassboro State College to a tenured position at Monmouth University. She shares memories of influential mentors, her research on African-American history and how programs like EOF/MAP and AmeriCorps...

Jon J. Vogel '11 is an entrepreneur, marketer, philanthropist, and educator who earned his BS in Entrepreneurship from Rowan University and an MBA in Marketing from Drexel University. He is the co-founder and principal of 215 Marketing, an award-winning Philadelphia-based marketing agency recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies in America (2023), Adweek’s Top 50 Faste...

Dr. Laura Grossi's path to becoming a forensic evaluator at a state psychiatric hospital was not a straight path. Her varied educational background, which included psychology, led her into the world of law & justice. Grossi's job includes performing forensic evaluations to assess competency of people to stand trial and evaluations to see if defendants qualify for the insanity defense.  The new...

Rasheed J. Daniel '00 is the CEO and founder of TeamSheed Productions, an independent Black-owned company dedicated to advancing inclusion in the television industry. Daniel is the guest on a new episode of Beyond the Brown & Gold.  He recounts his fun days at Rowan University; how Dr. William H. Myers impacted his life in Glassboro; and how he got started in the television industry. Also, he...

Meet Josh Schneider M’18, a podcaster, advocate, and proud College of Education alumnus. While pursuing his master’s degree at Rowan University, Josh began to experience vision loss: an event that would reshape his path and inspire his life’s mission. Josh shares his story of navigating his vision loss to discovering the world of blind hockey. Hear how his experiences led to co-founding The Dented...

Chris D'Angelo '07, M'10, Rowan University's Director of Alumni Engagement, joins the latest edition of Beyond the Brown & Gold. Family has always been a big part of Chris's Rowan story. Whether it was following the footsteps of his twin sister or building a family environment in Rowan's Alumni Engagement office, D'Angelo's passion for his position started long before becoming a Rowan Universi...

Devón Coles '21 stops by Beyond the Brown & Gold to share his experiences as a Rowan University online student. Coles gained his Law & Justice degree from Rowan University and parlayed that into a career as a probation office. His talents are not limited to one kind of court. Also, Coles trains basketball players and currently has a business that develops the next generation of hoops talen...

Danielle Roberts '11 is known as the Anti-Career Coach. Her professional experiences led her to thinking about how people work and workplace culture. As a TEDx speaker with a vast knowledge of social media platforms, she continues to help shape the future and humanize workplaces everywhere.  Roberts joins the Beyond the Brown & Gold crew to share her experiences at Rowan University as a studen...

Joe Marakowski '18 works in government as a logistics management specialist but that is not his claim to fame. Marakowski created and donated a scholarship, published a book, and even started his own business. Known as "Joey Cannoli in the wedding entertainment, Marakowski parlayed his love of fun and food into a side business that allows people to share in his love of cannoli.  Before his busines...

Brian Kulak '98, M'12 turned an educational concept into a new book and he shares his wisdom a new episode of Beyond the Brown & Gold. Following his days at Rowan University, Kulak embarked on a career in education. As a teacher, he wanted to connect with students and developed "The Hot Seat" - a thought-provoking concept that allowed his students to freely share their thoughts.  Kulak explain...

Long daily commutes from the Jersey Shore to New York City didn't stop Jon Lavengetto '14 on a path towards working in sports. Currently, his hard work and dedication landed him a position as the senior content manager for the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans. The newest episode of Beyond the Brown & Gold finds Lavengetto talking about his work in The Big Easy and his days at Rowan...

Troi Barnes '17 currently serves as the director of media relations at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the nation's premier legal organization. Also, she Is a part of the Rowan University Black Alumni Network. A new episode of Beyond The Brown & Gold highlights her time at Rowan University and what the Glassboro means to her family - including why it has a special meaning to her parents. Also, B...

Acclaimed financial advisor and best-selling personal finance author Ric Edelman ’80 hosted the country’s longest-running personal finance radio show, The Ric Edelman Show, and subsequent podcast, The Truth About Your Future with Ric Edelman. Jean Edelman ’81 is an author and host of the Self-Care with Jean podcast. They continue to build a legacy at Rowan University and beyond. The latest edition...