The Undergraduate Review

Jason Entrekin is a Philosophy and Psychology student at Rutgers-Camden, and a member of the Honors College. He is in his third year, and plans to graduate early to enter a career in public service or consulting. He also aspires to study and practice law after gaining work experience, with a particular interest in Intellectual Property Law. In the meantime, Jason is exploring his academic interests in neuroscience, consciousness, and ethics. He spends time reading books on these topics—both through fiction and nonfiction, but is working to participate in research soon.

Outside of academics, Jason emphasizes having a job to fund his undergraduate studies. During and in between semesters he has worked as a manager for a go-kart facility and as a salesperson at a formalwear store. He also enjoys the performing arts, often watching live classical and jazz concerts, playing various instruments in various diverse ensembles, and writing his own music in his free time. He particularly enjoys participating in community bands, which perform concerts free to the public across South Jersey. Some of these groups also play for donations, which fund scholarships for prospective music students.

Calvin C. Nguyen is currently studying Psychology and Economics at Rutgers-Camden. He is a member of the Honors College as well as a member of the Rutgers-Camden chapters of Alpha Chi Rho and the Tri-Alpha Honor Society for first-generation students. 

Calvin has spent the last two semesters working in Dr. Sean Duffy's psychology research lab, where he is helping research topics such as memory and learning, decision-making, humor, sense of agency, and cultural differences in sense of self. In his free time, he trains in martial arts, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and Tang Soo Do — in which he holds a 3rd-degree black belt and teaches kids’ classes. After graduating from Rutgers, Calvin plans on specializing in sports psychology while also competing in martial arts fights as a personal goal.

Nancy Nguyen is a senior at Rutgers-Camden, currently majoring in Psychology and minoring in Childhood Studies. Through the Department of Childhood Studies, she is a Mellon Foundation Intern currently working with Indigo in Green, where she assists with preparing instructional material for nature-based art workshops and classes. Nancy is a member of various student organizations, where she holds the role of secretary for the Vietnamese Student Association. Nancy plans on becoming a research psychologist following the attainment of her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and PhD.

Jochebed (pronounced Yo-key-bed), a Nigerian native, was a triple major in English, Gender Studies, and French at Rutgers University–Camden.

A graduate of The Regent College with A-Levels in Literature-in-English, English Language, Mathematics, and an Advanced Subsidiary (AS) in History, Jochebed served as President of the College’s Student Representative Council throughout both years of her A-Level studies. In 2020, she received the Cambridge Outstanding Learner Award for High Achievement in both AS English Language and Literature-in-English. At Rutgers, she served on the Scarlet Raptor Honor Council, providing a student perspective on cases involving academic integrity and other violations requiring disciplinary action. Listed on consecutive Dean’s Lists beginning in her first semester and a recipient of the International Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship, she worked closely with Dr. Westman as a Teaching Assistant for the Fall 2021 course Global Gender Issues.

Outside of academics, Jochebed served as Secretary of Salvation House of Prayer (S.H.O.P.), a faith-based campus organization designed to provide students with opportunities to learn more about God and Jesus. Crediting God for her accomplishments, she was honored by every opportunity she received to share her faith. An aspiring writer and journalist, she also served as a student writer for The Gleaner, where she focused on issues of gender equity in popular culture. In 2020, she penned articles critiquing the media’s biased coverage of prominent women and examined the legacy of Grease following renewed criticism of its sexist elements. Additionally, she sought to strengthen her leadership and interpersonal skills as a member of the 2021 cohort of the Institute of Leadership and Action, where she learned alongside a collaborative community of student leaders.

Janelle Boakye was an Honors College Biology major at Rutgers–Camden who grew up in New York City. During high school, she participated in a specialized program that allowed her to become a nurse upon graduation. She served on the student council as Vice President and played volleyball and softball throughout all four years of high school. Growing up in New York City, she became infatuated with Broadway plays and saw close to fifteen shows.

She moved to South Jersey to attend Rutgers. Janelle joined The Undergraduate Review because of her love for reading and writing, as well as her interest in journalism. Aside from her work with the Undergraduate Review, she enjoyed playing the piano and watching classic television shows such as The Golden Girls and Good Times. She also deeply enjoyed baking and cooking and experimented with new recipes whenever she could.

In the future, she hoped to attend medical school and become an oncologist because she found the field of cancer research and treatment both vast and critical, and she wanted to do all she could to help those affected by the disease. In her free time, she often visited farmers’ markets and old bookstores in search of first-edition books. 

Isaiah Dingle was an English major and Film Studies minor at Rutgers University–Camden. In addition to serving as a co-editor for The Undergraduate Review beginning in Spring 2021, Isaiah was also a tutor for the university’s Writing and Design Lab, where he assisted students with an array of multimedia projects, including essay writing, audio recordings, and WordPress site development.

He was a member of the Honors College, which greatly enriched his undergraduate experience. Isaiah was also a member of the Alpha Pi Phi chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, as well as Athenaeum, Rutgers–Camden’s Arts and Sciences honor society.

An admirer of the arts, Isaiah was fond of literature, film, and theater, and hoped to work alongside these passions after graduation. A South Jersey native, Isaiah was honored to work on The Undergraduate Review, which served as a collection of Rutgers–Camden’s finest scholarly and creative works.

William, a Taiwanese native, was a triple major in Finance, Marketing, and Management, with a minor in Management Information Systems at Rutgers University.

A member of the Beta Gamma Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa, Beta Alpha Psi, Athenaeum, and Mu Kappa Tau honor societies, a recipient of the International Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship, and a student who appeared on consecutive Dean’s Lists throughout his academic career, William served as a research assistant at the Rutgers School of Business for two years. There, he explored his research interests in mergers and acquisitions, international business strategy, and the impact of democratic erosion on market stability.

Beyond Rutgers, William served as a policy researcher at the University of Pennsylvania for one year under the Lauder Institute and co-published a policy paper with Dr. Mary Martins of the London School of Economics. He also served as an intern with the U.S. Department of Commerce and published a Market Intelligence article on Taiwan’s renewable energy market for the U.S. International Trade Administration.

Nikitha Jeyaprakash was a student at Rutgers University–Camden pursuing a double major in Health Sciences and Nursing. She was a member of the Honors College, which positively impacted her growth as a student. Her contribution as one of the editors of The Undergraduate Review marked her first experience integrating herself into the campus community, and she hoped to expand her horizons throughout the course of her undergraduate studies. Nikitha’s passions lay in public health initiatives and community involvement, and she hoped not only to strengthen her own voice but also to amplify those of her peers through her work with The Undergraduate Review. A recipient of consecutive Dean’s List honors beginning in her freshman year and officially accepted into the nursing program in Fall 2023, Nikitha sought to navigate her undergraduate experience by integrating her career aspirations with her personal passions and interests.

Kaitlin McGee graduated from Rutgers University–Camden with a bachelor’s degree in English and Global Studies in January 2021. She was part of the inaugural edition of The Undergraduate Review, serving as Assistant Editor in Spring 2020 and Co-Editor in Fall 2020. Following her graduation from Rutgers–Camden, Kaitlin pursued a career in public librarianship through Rutgers’ Master of Library Science (MLS) program. She could often be found in local libraries as she worked toward her professional goals in the field. 

Aadith Muthukumar was a first-year undergraduate student at Rutgers University majoring in Applied and Computational Mathematics. With a strong foundation in problem-solving and a passion for quantitative thinking, he was eager to explore how mathematics intersected with emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and its applications in law. He actively sought opportunities in research and internships to deepen his understanding of machine learning, data science, and AI law. Aadith also regularly competed in math competitions and chess tournaments in his free time. He was a passionate filmmaker and video producer, using visual storytelling to express his ideas and connect with others.

Aaron Natividad was a co-editor for The Undergraduate Review. He was an Urban Studies undergraduate in his first year at Rutgers University–Camden. Since arriving, Aaron became co-lead of Cooking for Camden, joined the CCAS Advisory Council and the Honors College Faculty Fellows Proposals Committee, and interned for Preserving Black Haddonfield. He was an industrious student who focused on getting things done, even if it meant occasional sleepless nights. Aaron dedicated much of his academic life to service, earning the Congressional Van Hollen Public Service Award. In his free time, he enjoyed spending time with friends or engaging in quiet individual hobbies, such as cooking or playing piano.

Tim Pan, a New Jersey native, was a Criminal Justice major at Rutgers University–Camden. He was homeschooled from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade before enrolling at Rutgers at the age of seventeen. He was a member of the Rutgers–Camden Honors College, a recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Scholarship, and was listed on the Dean’s List beginning in his first semester; all these accomplishments greatly benefited his undergraduate studies.

Tim utilized his time at Rutgers to help prepare for his goal of entering law school, obtaining a Juris Doctor degree, and pursuing a career as a Professor of Law. He was honored to work on The Undergraduate Review as a co-editor and to witness fellow students represent the diversity of research and creative work at Rutgers.

Gretchen A. Purvis was a student at Rutgers University–Camden studying English with a minor in German, where she was enrolled in an accelerated English BA/MA program. She was a member of the Honors College and an inducted member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). She also gained experience as a teaching assistant within the Honors College.

Her course of study focused on literature, where she developed an interest in Romantic and Gothic texts, genre fiction such as horror, and literary theory, including monster theory. She believed such texts provided new ways to understand oneself and to imagine the world differently. After graduating with her BA and MA from Rutgers–Camden, Gretchen intended to pursue a PhD in English literature and eventually work in academia.

Her research on PATCO, a commuter rail system connecting Camden County and Philadelphia, won the Paul Robeson Library Undergraduate Research Award for Best New Researcher and was also published in earlier issues of The Undergraduate Review, alongside her analysis of monster theory in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

In her free time, she could often be found reading, learning languages, and writing fiction. She held a third-degree black belt, or Sam Dan, in the traditional Korean martial art Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan.
 

Shreyas graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Computer Science and graduated as an Honors College Scholar. During his time at Rutgers, he was actively involved in theoretical computer science and mathematical research while also serving as a community ambassador. During his senior year, Shreyas worked with the Rutgers–Camden Honors College’s student-focused research journal, The Undergraduate Review. The journal served as one of the platforms through which Rutgers students published their academic work. In addition to serving as a journal editor, he worked with a team of faculty members and students to expand the publication’s outreach. Following graduation, Shreyas oversaw the Computer Science program at The Taft School, where he taught students at all levels.

Sophia R. Westfall is currently studying English and Digital Studies at Rutgers Camden, with a minor in both art and writing. Additionally, she is a writing consultant for the WDL and a member of the Honors College. She is an aspiring young writer and two-time award winner for the Young Writers Short Story Contest. Biliterate in both classical and medieval Latin, she conducts translation analyses for historical and religious texts.

Sophia has spent the last few years studying religious history, examining the parallels between religious mythology and its concurrent history. In her free time, she enjoys writing, as she is finishing her first published novel for an expected book series. Upon graduating Rutgers, Sophia plans to continue her education with hopes of teaching at a University one day, whilst publishing both her fiction and non-fiction work as a personal and professional goal.