Like the seasons and the years, teachers come and go. Some are more memorable than others, and there is probably one or two you wish you could forget. It’s not until we age do we start seeing our teachers not for what they do but for who they are.

Jennifer Drumgoole, known as Jenny, is an associate professor and the program coordinator of the photography program, and she’s been with Rowan since 2007. In addition to her artistic duties, she coordinates with other colleges within the university, branching out to contact artists and corporations, and is also the faculty lead for an innovative program called Creatives 230.

“Over here, in Creatives 230, I work with our amazing students to run all the programming and everything we do in here,” said Drumoogle

Creative 230’s goal is to unite creative individuals with those who have a more business-minded approach, creating a synthesis where each side may gain a new perspective and, with any luck, tangible life skills

And this semester, the program will launch a class that bridges business and the arts as a unified entity.

The point of these programs is to teach art students how to market, drum up sales, and build their portfolios while providing services such as logo design for business students..

“In the world, you sort of need to know how to do that stuff, and you don’t sort of want your passion to fall away,” said Drumgoole.

This information didn’t come packaged with a bow in her case, though.

“I’m an artist, I sort of learned this stuff the hard way, out in the real world. This is where this is a sort of great incubator to really help a student’s ideas, help a student’s initiative, and get them all working together,” said Drumgoole.

While she never anticipated wanting to teach, she feels that she’s in her groove.

“I found a real home here in the school of innovation and entrepreneurialship … it’s not necessarily about wanting to start a new business, it’s about problem solving,” said Drumgoole.

However, this is all she does. What about who she is?

Having grown up as the middle child, sandwiched between an older brother and a younger sister, in a rural part of Maryland, Drumgoole was part of the grunge scene as a teenager. She wholeheartedly believed there were bigger things waiting for her out in the world.

“I just knew that I wanted to be in New York for college, so I went to Fordham University,” said Drumgoole.

While she specializes in video today, photography holds a fondness in her core being, as that’s the focus of her degrees. Black-and-white photography will always have a special place in her heart, as it was her first true love. 

“I think how I see myself is very different from how others see me. I’m a little dorky, I’m really kind, look really goofy. I’m really passionate about things, and I’m driven. Once I get an idea, I’m like, ‘No, no, no, we’re doing this thing. We’re going to figure this out,” said Drumgoole.

Speaking of figuring things out, this artist concocted a way to combat the seriousness of the times, from injustice to politics, and she continues to do so through a silly character named Soxx — for a bit of elaboration, Soxx is a clown.

“It’s a character that I’ve been working with for maybe the past ten years, my own artwork, and I started that character after a long project that was very much about what consumerism was and what was the path that we were on … where you sort of see that consumerism, social media, the internet and all these things are sort of pushing us in one direction, and it was a little dark for me,” said Drumgoole.

Drumgoole dreamed up the character Soxx, modeling this clown after herself as a young girl, back when anything was possible and no fears existed, to the extent that many of Soxx’s costumes are her old dance costumes.

“[Soxx] really centered around this idea of the power of being a good citizen versus this idea of consumerism,” said Drumgoole.

For a little perspective, one of her first projects was throwing surprise parties for sanitation workers to thank them for the important, often unnoticed work they do. She even garnered some interest from the press because, in the artist’s words,

“It was so bazaar,” said Drumgoole.

But at the center of it all lies her cherished students.

“I’ve never had her as a teacher. I’ve just known her as the boss [at Creatives 230].” Said 20-year-old senior Anna Muhihu, a marketing major.

Regardless, Muhihu sang praise for the professor.

“I think she’s so different from any other professor that I’ve ever met. You can tell Jenny really cares about her students in a way that…she genuinely goes the extra mile…something that a lot of other professors don’t do, and it’s especially important to artists,” said Muhihu.

Muhihu wasn’t the only student to appreciate Professor Drumgoole and her quirkiness.

“I really love Jenny. She’s done a lot for me, opportunity-wise … I wouldn’t be in creatives if she didn’t, like, scout me out … I felt really special, I was like, ‘no one’s ever been that curious about

what I’m doing, artistically’ … it’s just been a pleasure to work in the same space as her,” said 21-year-old senior Alexandria Bailey, who’s a graphic design major.

While the students all expressed gratitude and love for the good professor, as it turns out, that sentiment is very much reciprocated.

“The students know I would do anything for them…I learn more from my students than I teach them, seriously, and it’s really important to me,” said Drumgoole. 

For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email [email protected]