A little more than a decade ago, at the very last moment before fall classes started, Jenna Schellhas veered from her plans to join the military and enrolled at Rowan College at Burlington County.

Interested in science, especially forensics, Schellhas originally planned to join the military as a way to pay for her education to begin a career in criminal justice or as a science teacher.

But the military did not suit Schellhas’ disposition, so she began studying criminal justice at RCBC and accepted a student worker position working for the Office of Student Life. Her main duty was to help students reset their email passwords, but she often fielded misdirected phone calls and learned how to answer most of those questions herself instead of transferring them. Schellhas was also involved with the Student Government Association. She held positions on the executive board of Student Government and the Fiber Arts club.

After graduating from RCBC in 2009 and earning her bachelor’s degree from Stockton University in 2011, Schellhas reconsidered her decision to pursue a career in criminal justice and noticed an open registration position at RCBC. She started her higher education career in 2012.

When reflecting back to the time when she rejoined RCBC, she said, “The community and the family feel were still there. It felt like I never left. I felt warmth, and it was very familiar.”

As a student service specialist, Schellhas is in the familiar position of using her experience as a former student to assist current ones – starting with not waiting until the last moment to register for classes as she did. She also likes to check with students to see what their goals are.

“I try to help them figure it out, before they get too far in their education since mine drastically changed after I graduated,” Schellhas said.

Jenna’s story is part of RCBC’s 50 stories for 50 years. In honor of the college’s 50th anniversary, RCBC is profiling students, faculty, administrators, alumni and the college community. Anyone interested in being featured can contact rcbcnews@rcbc.edu. To follow along on social media, use #RCBC50Stories.