"All Roads Lead Back to SC&I": Meet the 2026 Class Speaker, Bella Rose COM, JMS'26
Juggling a rigorous academic schedule by double-majoring in Communication and Journalism and Media Studies and minoring in DCIM did not prevent Bella Rose COM, JMS'26 from becoming involved in her interests beyond the classroom. She has further distinguished herself at SC&I and Rutgers by performing with ShockWave, Rutgers University's only all-female a cappella group, and leading as Vice President of Marketing for ScarletPR, a student-run public relations agency based at SC&I.
In recognition of her achievements and contributions, SC&I selected Rose as the Class of 2026 Class Speaker. She will deliver the Student Representative Address at SC&I Convocation on May 14.
"Addressing my class as the class speaker will be such an honor, not only because I feel such a strong attachment to SC&I, but also because my speech will follow the singing of the National Anthem and Alma Mater by ShockWave. I've joined them in singing at the event for the last three years, and this year it's acting as a send-off for me, which makes it extra special."
Rose said the focus of her speech will be on mindfulness and connectivity, and added, "Without going into detail, I plan to speak about my path and the interconnectivity of the community we've built through SC&I. I hope that my class walks away feeling like they are part of something bigger than themselves, because they absolutely are!"
Elaborating on advice she would offer her classmates as they count the remaining days until they graduate, she said, "I would tell the Class of 2026 to be present in these final moments and not to compare themselves or their path to anyone else's. We are in uncharted territory and deserve to feel proud of our achievements and soak in our hard work paying off."
Looking back on how her successful journey at Rutgers and SC&I began, Rose said she chose to attend Rutgers because of the vast opportunities it offered, not only in the sense that she could pursue any path, but also because of the financial opportunities she received through the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program.
At SC&I, Rose said it was the Intro to Media class taught by Teaching Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Journalism and Media Studies, Steven Miller, that convinced her she should major in JMS. "I fell in love with the idea of my interests in media and pop culture being integrated into my career, and I loved the opportunities to do field work in video and production over time."
However, by the time Rose was a sophomore, she was also interested in studying marketing and public relations. Eager to take the class Principles in Public Relations taught by Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, Communication Mark Beal, she hit an obstacle when she discovered it was open only to Communication majors.
Describing what she loves and will miss the most about SC&I, Rose pointed to the community and support she has gained from SC&I. "From faculty and staff to my peers, to our alumni network, I have had so many amazing opportunities and relationships through SC&I. I'll miss the people the most, but I'm grateful that I've seen how much the people who have supported me have continued to support alumni, and I can't wait to do my best to give back.
Not deterred, Rose said, "I talked to Mark Beal to learn more about the class, since it was major-restricted. He then spent half an hour pitching the Communication program to me and walking me through how the major and PR specialization could be tailored to my aspirations. Having already started my minor in Digital Communication, Information and Media (DCIM), I decided to stay on that path as well. All roads have led back to SC&I!"
Explaining the many ways Rose has earned the honor of class speaker, Miller said, "Bella is the personification of everything a Journalism and Media Studies major and Rutgers student should be, and she is a fantastic choice to be this year’s convocation speaker. She is a great writer, communicator, and person. She is inquisitive, thoughtful, and enjoys learning. Bella is a multi-talented individual whose media interests and influences can’t be put into one box. She is on a never-ending quest to try everything, do everything, and master all of it. Bella is a leader who listens well, a student who craves knowledge, and a dynamic person whose future is as bright as the morning sun."
Describing what she loves and will miss the most about SC&I, Rose pointed to "the community and support I've gained from SC&I. From faculty and staff to my peers, to our alumni network, I have had so many amazing opportunities and relationships through SC&I. I'll miss the people the most, but I'm grateful that I've seen how much the people who have supported me have continued to support alumni, and I can't wait to do my best to give back."
Amy Meerovich, SC&I Undergraduate Student Counselor, said, "I have been advising Bella since the fall of her junior year, my first semester with SC&I. I very quickly learned of her incredible ambition: often having multiple internships and extracurriculars in the same semester, completing a double major and minor, with a near-perfect GPA. She always talked about trying to uplift the people around her, like friends and classmates, as well. She holds herself to a very high standard in everything she does and has taken full advantage of all SC&I and Rutgers have to offer. Since that first advising interaction, it has been so cool watching her grow and build on to her already impressive resume. I truly can't wait to see what she does next."
