Today’s Project 100 entry is from Marie Ayars.  She was born in Bridgeton and raised in Greenwich, New Jersey.  Her father worked at General Motors in Delaware until they closed the plant, at which point he became a long-haul truck driver.  Her mother was a homemaker when she was young but later became a housekeeper at a retirement home in Pennsylvania.  She went to public schools and graduated from Cumberland Regional High School in 1990.  She then attended Cumberland County College, finishing her associate’s degree there in 1992.  She then transferred to Glassboro State, but her time there was interupted and she did not complete her degree in history until 2010.  After this, she enrolled in a master’s degree online program at Liberty University in Religious Education and Youth Ministry.  She finished that program in 2012.  She worked for almost ten years at Cumberland Regional High School. She then worked for one year at Fairton Christian School before moving into human resources.  She is currently the Human Resources Coordinator at Lamonica Fine Foods. 

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When I transferred to Glassboro State, my grandmother worried that if I lived on campus, I would attend too many parties.  So, she arranged for me to stay in the nearby apartment complex, The Crossings.  Ironically, however, the Crossings was the epicenter of partying at GSC.  As a result, I was not as focused as I should have been, and I ended up doing poorly in my classes.  Sadly, in 1993, I was academically dismissed.  I promised my grandmother that I would return and finish my degree.  In the years that followed, I did a wide variety of jobs this, but I eventually got a position as an aide at Cumberland Regional High School.  After a number of years, I decided to return to what was then called Rowan University.  I had to write a letter explaining why I should be readmitted and meet with Dr. Cory Blake.  I was very nervous, but I did attend that meeting and was reinstated.  This was in August of 2008. 

Rowan was a struggle because I was so busy.  In addition to my continuing to work at Cumberland Regional High School, I was also the parent of two young children and was married.  At that time, my daughter, Brianna, was nine years old, and my son, Dylan, was three years old.  Attempting to carry a full load at Rowan while doing all of this was very challenging, but I found a way, usually by sleeping very little.  I remember one day in my Public Speaking class, the other students, all much younger, were complaining about how tired they were.  I told them that they had no idea what tired was and explained all that I was doing, especially the time that my children took.  From then on, they started calling me “Mom,” but they also took the class more seriously, at least around me. 

One memory that stood out to me was your History of New Jersey class, Dr. Carrigan.  As a member of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, I was so thrilled to be able to do a paper on the Brotherton Reservation and learn more about the history of my people.  I also remember well a paper that I did for that class on the role of Native Americans in the Underground Railroad in New Jersey, which was so much fun.  Also, reading “Five Finger Discount,” will forever be a favorite memory, and I have shared it with family and friends. 

I loved Dr. Chanelle Rose and the way that she ran her classes.  She separated the students into two sides, and we had debates.  You had to be prepared to be able to debate for either side, even if you did not agree with that position.  This kept you on your toes.  I loved every single class that I had with her, and I learned so much from her.  The third of my most influential professors was Dr. Kelly Duke-Bryant.  I had no knowledge of African history until I took her class.  I learned so much from her teaching.  Because of Dr. Duke-Bryant and Dr. Rose, I ended up deciding to complete a concentration in Africana Studies.  I thought what I learned in those classes was so interesting to compare to the experience of Indigenous peoples, and I really appreciated all of those courses. 

I didn’t have much time for extra-curricular activities, but I did go to a few meetings of the Student History Association.  Mostly, I was just too busy.  I did make some great friends while at Rowan, and we still keep in touch today. 

The skills that I learned in my history classes, especially with research and writing, have been so helpful to me in my career, especially in human resources.  All of my colleagues go to me when something needs to be researched. I credit my time at Rowan for my proficiency in this area. 

I was very proud that my daughter eventually went to Rowan University as well. She was determined not to go to Rowan for her undergraduate degree.  This might have been because she did not want to go to the same place as me, but there is also a funny story that may have played a role.  In 2010, at the very end of my time at Rowan, I was taking Introduction to Africana Studies, and something came up where I either had to miss class or bring my daughter, Brianna.  The professor allowed me to bring her to class, and I remember her being outraged that the professor did not seem to believe that Native Americans had experienced discrimination to the same degree as had African Americans.  This was the beginning of her not wanting to attend Rowan, and she ended up going to Montclair State.  However, her opposition to Rowan eventually went away.  She decided to enroll in the Master of Arts in History program at Rowan, and I was so excited.  The fact that she ended up having classes with you and Dr. Rose made me so happy.  I was completely in tears when she graduated this Spring, having completed her MA Thesis under your direction, Dr. Carrigan. 

I really enjoyed my second stint at Rowan University.  I did not appreciate the opportunity the first time as much as I should have. I was young, and my tribe was paying for my education.  When I went back, I was older and I was paying for the tuition.  As a result, I took everything much more seriously.  My grandmother did get to see me return to Rowan and saw that I was doing much better, but she sadly passed away before I graduated.  In any event, I just loved my time in those classes.  It was so much fun to study and learn from my professors. 

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This is part of the Department of History’s “Project 100,” the collection and sharing of one hundred memories by Glassboro State College and Rowan University alumni and staff in celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the founding of Glassboro Normal School, later Glassboro State College, and now Rowan University.  Thanks to Laurie Lahey for helping proofread and edit the final versions.  Email carrigan@rowan.edu with questions or corrections.  You can find the Link to all of the Project 100 entries on the Web:  https://chss.rowan.edu/departments/history/alumni_highlights/project_100/