What began in 2016 with two students seeking guidance on competitive national awards has grown into a nationally recognized model for scholarship advising at Rutgers University–Camden. Out of that early moment of need emerged the Office of Scholar Development and Fellowships Advising (OSDFA), which formally took shape in 2017 and later became a standalone unit within Student Academic Success.
Since becoming a standalone office within Student Academic Success in 2022, OSDFA has helped more than triple the number of scholarship and fellowship applications and more than double the number of awards earned by Rutgers–Camden students. These efforts have produced the university's first Truman Scholar, Schwarzman Scholar, and Goldwater Scholars. They have also extended to the Gilman Scholarship program, where the office's outreach has increased applications from 32 over the previous decade to 125 in just the last three years, contributing to a record number of Gilman Scholars from Rutgers–Camden.
This incredible evolution was on full display this spring as OSDFA hosted a daylong national workshop on the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, bringing together more than 50 advisors from across the country to share strategies for expanding access to global study. The event was made possible by a $10,000 grant from the Institute of International Education.
“When we started, our goal was simply to ensure that Rutgers–Camden students had the support and encouragement to pursue opportunities they might not otherwise have considered,” said Laura Collins, founding director of the Office of Scholar Development and Fellowship Advising. “To now be in a position to convene advisors from across the nation to discuss best practices for the Gilman Scholarship is both gratifying and a testament to what can happen when institutions invest in student potential.”
The workshop’s theme, “The Gilman Gauntlet,” was inspired by the Marvel superhero franchise, with session titles borrowing from films in the series to guide participants through the various stages of the Gilman journey, including application strategies, pre-departure preparation, and student success abroad.
One of the workshop's highlights was a panel featuring Rutgers–Camden Gilman Scholar alumni, who offered advisors an inside look at the student experience of studying abroad. Through candid reflections, the panelists discussed what inspired them to pursue the scholarship, the challenges they faced throughout the application process, and the transformative impact of their international experiences.
Panelists shared strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome and self-doubt, encouraged advisors to actively affirm students' potential, and reflected on how studying abroad expanded their confidence, reshaped their expectations for themselves, and opened new academic, professional, and personal opportunities.
“Studying abroad helped me discover a part of myself I might never have fully understood otherwise,” said Bielka Gonzales, a 202 graduate of Rutgers–Camden who spent a semester abroad in South Korea. “The Gilman Scholarship provided the opportunity—and the extra push—I needed to pursue an experience that has become an integral part of who I am."
Attendees said the workshop provided practical strategies they could immediately apply on their campuses. For advisors working to expand access to study abroad opportunities, particularly among Pell Grant recipients and other underrepresented students, the sessions on student recruitment, essay review, and alumni engagement offered valuable insights.
Participants also emphasized the importance of strengthening connections between Gilman alumni and prospective applicants, creating peer-to-peer mentoring networks that help students envision themselves as successful scholarship recipients.
“The example set by Rutgers–Camden in connecting Gilman alumni with current and future applicants was particularly compelling,” said David Hoffman, director of the Office of Prestigious External Scholarships and professor of anthropology at Mississippi State University. “Peer-to-peer mentoring plays a vital role in helping students see what's possible for themselves, and it's something we need to cultivate more frequently on our campus.”
As participants departed with new ideas and strategies to bring back to their campuses, Collins reflected on the larger purpose behind the day's conversations.
“Whether it's a Gilman, Fulbright, Truman, or another nationally competitive award, these opportunities can change the trajectory of a student's life,” Collins said. “The most important thing we can do is help students believe they belong in these spaces, encourage them to take that first step, and support them every step of the way.”
Want to learn more about OSDFA?
Students and alumni are encouraged to connect with our office to explore scholarship and fellowship opportunities aligned with their interests. Faculty and staff are also encouraged to referr promising students to OSDFA to help expand access to these transformative experiences.
The 2026 Gilman Advisors Workshop held at Rutgers University–Camden
Photos from the day-long event held on the campus of Rutgers–Camden.
