Triple Major Makes Major Plans
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| Susie Campbell and students from Kuser Elementary School in Hamilton, N.J. Campbell teaches the children once a week through an educational nutrition program, which she started as a Rider Community Scholar/Bonner Leader. |
“I want to be the Secretary-General of the United Nations,” said Campbell, a junior Political Science, French and Global Multinational Studies triple major. “As long as I get close, I’ll be happy.”
This summer, Campbell will be one step closer to her dream when she interns in the U.N.’s Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)’s partnership to relocate their annual conference from the U.N. Headquarters in New York to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organizational Headquarters in Paris. Campbell will also be responsible for bringing the concept of Rider’s Student Global Village to the table. During her freshman year and last semester, Campbell participated in the Global Village program, which engages students from Rider and the American University in Cairo in constructive dialogue through live video feed. During this summer’s internship, Campbell will organize and plan video conferencing for the NGOs before, during and after the conference.
Like any smart dreamer, Campbell has taken advantage of every opportunity to get closer to her goal, which evolved from watching a film about the U.N. in a high school ethics class. Campbell said she was immediately drawn to the career.
“I always wanted to study international relations since sophomore year of high school,” said Campbell, who has studied French since she was 6 years old.
When it came time to look at colleges, Campbell wanted a school where she could do exactly that. The fact that two Rider professors – Dr. Roberta Fiske-Rusciano and Dr. Frank Louis Rusciano – told her that her dream was possible led Campbell to study in Lawrenceville. Both Dr. Frank Rusciano and Dr. Roberta Fiske-Rusciano have since taught Campbell and call her an intelligent student with boundless energy.
“I can see her as a major influence in world politics,” said Dr. Frank Rusciano, professor of Political Science and Global and Multinational Studies. “She has both the skills and drive to do those kinds of things.”
Besides signing on with a triple major, Campbell is engaged in many activities geared toward civic duty. Currently, she is the president of the Global Multinational Society at Rider, and joined Rider’s Model U.N. Team this year. The team represented the Syrian Arab Republic and received an Outstanding Delegation award at the conclusion of the National Model United Nations Conference in March. Campbell’s hard work with Model U.N. paid off, as she was recently elected the head delegate for next year’s team.
“As someone who wants to work in the U.N., I’m glad I had the opportunity to take the class,” explained Campbell about POL 295 Special Project: National Model United Nations. “The experience teaches you to be in character and how to handle stressful situations.”
Campbell said both Model U.N. and Global Village have helped prepare her for her future career and has taught her how to be diplomatic and work well in a team.
Dr. Mary L. Poteau-Tralie, professor of French, has known Campbell since her freshman year at Rider. Poteau-Tralie described Campbell as an intelligent, happy, gregarious and a people-person.
“She takes full advantage of what she is offered,” she said. “I think she’s a person that won’t sit on the sidelines.”
Her dedication has also led to another opportunity. Campbell will be working with the Lebanese Emigration Research Center at Notre Dame University in Lebanon to collect information on Lebanese who have immigrated through Ellis Island. Dr. Roberta Fiske-Rusciano, adjunct assistant professor of Political Science, Global and Multinational Studies, Multicultural Studies, and Gender Studies, said she recommended Campbell for the project because she is an exceptional student and researcher. Fiske-Rusciano said Campbell will most likely be responsible for collecting personal interviews from the immigrants.
Campbell also gives back to the local community. Since her first year on campus, she has worked at Mercer Street Friends Food Bank through the Rider Community Scholars/Bonner Leaders program. This year, Campbell has helped bring back an educational nutrition program for area school children. The program, offered at six schools in Hamilton, N.J., teaches students healthy eating habits.
“I felt I had done a lot for the food bank, but I wanted to do something on my own,” she explained.
The Bonner Scholar is also quick on her feet. Campbell, who is an international Irish Dancer, has been dancing since she was 10. How quick are her feet? Campbell placed fourth in the All-Ireland championship in Ireland her sophomore year of high school, danced in the European championship in Spain her junior year of high school, and placed 58th out of 300 in her category in the World Championship in Ireland during her senior year of high school. During breaks, Campbell teaches adult classes at home.
After Rider, Campbell hopes to obtain a law and international relations degrees at Tufts University. When it comes to world affairs, Campbell said she’s optimistic, and that as the future Secretary General of the U.N., she would strive to make a difference.
“The genocide in Darfur has pushed me to realize that international relations is important and is something I should pursue,” Campbell said. “I would try to make sure something like Rwanda or Darfur would never happen again if I were in that position.”
