Towson University: Finding Out That TU Rocks!

Press release from Towson University:

Kyle Hobstetter

November 17, 2021

International student Rohanna Bowers has come from Jamaica to study geology

Before she even set foot on campus, Rohanna Bowers ’24 felt welcome at Towson University.

Coming from St. Anne, Jamaica, Bowers wanted to study in America to be closer to her
aunt, who had moved to Maryland more than a decade earlier. As Bowers was getting
ready for the big move, she didn’t know much about TU.

Bowers admits she and her aunt constantly called and emailed the International Initiatives
Office with questions—sometimes two to three times a day. Jose Infante, TU’s associate
director of international recruitment & admission, always made sure she had the correct
answers.

In fact, Bowers says she bonded so well with the entire International Initiatives Office staff, she came a day early so she could meet them.

“I wanted time to go faster just so I could get on campus and meet everyone,” Bowers
says. “There was a student worker, Rachida [Koudjra], who gave me advice about coming
to TU and tips about the interview process for my visa.

“When I finally got here, she was so happy to see me. The entire staff was just so
happy I was here.”

Since the start of the fall term, Bowers says one thing that has stood out about her
experience has been the people.

From her professors to her resident assistant to the other people who live on her
floor in Residence Tower, everyone has gone out of their way to make her feel welcome.

The learning experience has even been personalized. As a geology major, she’s thrilled about intimate lab classes with regular intereractions with professors.

“I love my lab classes because the professors are so hands on and don’t mind it when
we ask questions,” Bowers says. “The classes aren’t too big either, so you get attention
from your teacher instead of just having this big lab where the professor doesn’t
even know the students’ names.”

Coming to TU has also allowed her to follow her dreams. Growing up, Bowers thought
that she might want to become a pediatrician, but while flipping through a science
book in fourth grade, she came across a photo of a mineral rock. 

That led her to learn more about geologists and what they do. She also realized she
was more interested in field work than being in an office setting.

After earning an associate’s degree in natural sciences, Bowers finds herself at TU
working on a bachelor’s degree in geology. And she’s already doing what she loves:
working with rocks out in the field.

She’s gone on field trips where she was excited to see metamorphic rocks in the wild
and not just in a test kit. Bowers happily explains that this is a big deal because
in Jamaica there are mainly sedimentary rocks.

Her passion has gotten to the point where she will stop, mid-conversation, and study
rocks on campus.

“I was walking with someone near the University Union, and I stopped and said, ‘Oh
my god, is that a gneiss rock?’ and they just looked at me,” Bowers laughs. “I then
had to explain to them that rock was [pronounced nice], and then they watched me for
a half an hour, admiring the rock.”

This press release was produced by Towson University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.