Learning by Serving: Graduate Interns Supporting Students Across Rutgers
For future leaders and practitioners in the student affairs field, the most effective education combines outstanding academic theory with real-world practice.
At Rutgers–New Brunswick, that philosophy comes to life through a close partnership between the Graduate School of Education and the Division of Student Affairs. Student’s in GSE’s Master’s in College Student Affairs (CSA) program are required to learn on the job through two-year internships within the Division, taking on meaningful work that directly support students, strengthens campus communities, and shapes the next generation of student affairs leaders.
We spoke with four CSA graduate students—three of whom graduated in May and one preparing to complete her second year—about how this model strengthens both student support and professional preparation.
Supporting Students in Moments That Matter
Before completing her degree in May, Britney Marrugo worked in the Office of Advocacy, Outreach, and Support within the Rutgers–New Brunswick Offices of the Dean of Students. She advocated for students whose lives had been disrupted by unexpected challenges such as injuries, family emergencies, and mental health concerns.
Such experiences can derail a student’s academic progress, but Marrugo said students too often don’t seek help or even respond when Student Affairs advocates proactively contact them.
“We will actively track these students down and follow up until they’re ready to sit down with us,” Marrugo said. "When they’re experiencing challenging times and unprecedented circumstances, our support might include navigating their connections to the right campus resources, advocating on their behalf with faculty and staff, and in all ways reassuring them that they’re not alone.”
The moment when the student realizes someone understands both the system and their lived experience is where Marrugo saw theories of student development and crisis response come to life with real stakes. Marrugo hopes to continue supporting students during times of crisis, especially when they feel overwhelmed or unseen.
Turning Involvement into Leadership Growth
Samantha Jones graduated in May after working in the office of Student Involvement and Leadership within Rutgers–New Brunswick’s Student Centers and Activities department. She served as graduate coordinator for the department’s Lead Up Academy which helps students enhance leadership skills and stand out to future employers through a curriculum that offers new tiers as students advance along their academic journey.
To help students get the most out of the program, Jones worked with the National Association of Colleges and Employers to build an assessment system that asks student leaders to reflect on their skills, receive supervisor feedback, and evaluate their growth over time.
“One outcome we saw is that student leaders became more confident in connecting their communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to their future career goals. They felt more engaged and validated in their involvement, and better able to present themselves as excellent future hires,” Jones said.
Her coursework in the CSA program directly informed her approach to evaluating learning outcomes and advising student leaders through transitions in their personal and professional development. Jones plans to continue working in student affairs roles that help students develop into leaders and recognize the long-term value of campus involvement.
Building Community Where Students Live
James Kaari’s interest in student affairs work began early, when Kaari was an undergraduate student at Rutgers–New Brunswick and took a job as a student orientation leader. While completing the CSA program from which they graduated in May, Kaari served as an assistant residence life coordinator in Rutgers–New Brunswick’s Livingston Quad, supporting a community of some 1,500 students while supervising and mentoring resident assistants.
“One of the most rewarding things has been working with the RAs as individuals, to learn about their career goals and help them shape the RA experience to make it directly transferable to those goals. Lots of RAs want to go into business or STEM fields or medical school,” Kaari said. “They can lean into the RA’s responsibilities of taking the lead on projects, working collaboratively, and other opportunities to get the most value from their work.”
Kaari said this role closely mirrored CSA coursework on student identity development, independence, and community living, and plans to continue working in roles that support student housing and residence life.
Connecting Learning to Purpose Beyond Campus
Dejané Lawrence’s student affairs internship is at the Rutgers University–Newark office of Student Life and Leadership. As graduate coordinator of community engagement, she helps students gain experience by partnering with neighboring communities. She helps organize large-scale service initiatives like Community Engagement Day, through which students, alumni, faculty, and staff work in partnership with organizations across Newark.
She also helps lead Rutgers University Alternative Breaks, a weeklong experience for undergraduate students who travel during their winter, spring, or summer breaks for high-impact volunteer work, and advises Greek and other student organizations on their own community engagement and voter registration initiatives. “Service helps students see themselves as part of something bigger,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence will start her second year as a CSA master’s student in the fall and hopes to continue helping students learn through community engagement.
Marrugo, Jones, Kaari, and Lawrence demonstrate the impact of learning by doing. Through their internships, CSA students not only strengthen the Division of Student Affairs’ ability to support Rutgers–New Brunswick students—they also emerge as thoughtful, prepared professionals ready to serve today’s and tomorrow’s students.
