As a member of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics’ Class of 2022, Ilana Rosen, a management and marketing double major from Metuchen, New Jersey, has not had the typical student experience at UD due to the coronavirus pandemic. Rosen, and her entire class, have shown incredible resilience, maturity and spirit while adjusting to the many unexpected changes that they have encountered as students. Each installment of this series will profile an outstanding member of this class, showcasing their achievements, experiences at UD and what it means to be a Blue Hen.
Rosen was nominated for this series by UD Assistant Professor of Economics Julianna Butler, who said, “Ilana was a dedicated student leader of the Economics Club for almost her entire college career. Her continuous involvement and dedication are especially impressive given that one and a half years were online due to the pandemic.
“Ilana held the position of Public Relations and Marketing Chair and was the communications expert,” Butler continued. “During the last four years, she built the club’s social media presence from scratch, forging connections across multiple platforms to students across the university. Ilana also helped to organize a wide variety of events, including case competitions and networking seminars. I wish her the best of luck in all future endeavors!”
In this profile, Rosen shared her favorite UD memories, how she has changed during her time at UD and her plans following graduation.
Lerner: How have you grown from your freshman year at UD to now?
Rosen: Since starting at UD, I have had the opportunity to meet great people from all over the world. Because of all the people that I have met and the amazing friendships I have formed, I have grown to be a much more confident, well-rounded person and for that, I am extremely grateful!
Lerner: Were you involved in any extracurricular activities? If so, how did they shape your experience at UD?
Rosen: Throughout my four years at UD, I have been very involved in the Blue Hen Economics Club and held the position of Marketing Chair for over three years. Holding this position has helped me grow significantly, gain experience working cross-functionally with others and expanded my professional network. I truly had such an amazing experience working side-by-side with my fellow officers and our advisor Dr. Butler. I have also been very involved with Hillel as Vice President of Challah for Hunger and my sorority Kappa Alpha Theta, through which I have made lasting friendships!
Lerner: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Rosen: To me, “Lifelong Lerner” means forever being a part of something bigger than myself and having an expansive network of professionals who share the same connection to the University of Delaware that I do.
Lerner: What was the most memorable course that you took at Lerner?
Rosen: My favorite class was Negotiation and Conflict Resolution with Professor Sleesman. This class has taught me how to handle conflict in a wide variety of situations, as well as how to be a better communicator and creative problem-solver. Professor Sleesman made the class so enjoyable, and I loved being able to take all the theories we learned and put them into practice during the simulations. I am looking forward to using the skills I have developed in this class and carrying them with me throughout my life and future career.
Lerner: What was your favorite UD experience?
Rosen: It is so hard to choose just one memory, but I would have to say watching UD compete in March Madness was something I will always remember! My friends and I went to Klondike Kate’s to watch the game and had so much fun eating nachos and cheesesteak egg rolls as we cheered on our team!
Lerner: What are your plans following graduation?
Rosen: I am pursuing a career in marketing or human resources. Lerner has helped me obtain three amazing internships with Ascensia Diabetes Care, SiriusXM+Pandora and iCIMS, so I am excited to see what the future has in store!