Dr. Jennifer Axsom Adler
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JOHNSON CITY (Aug. 7, 2015) – Dr. Jennifer Axsom Adler has been named the first assistant director of the Roan Scholars Leadership Program at East Tennessee State University.
Originally from Bloomington, Indiana, Adler earned an A.B. degree in government from Harvard College and worked as a paralegal with Bear, Stearns and Co. in New York City before beginning graduate studies in religion at Vanderbilt University.
During her time at Vanderbilt, Adler served in a number of roles outside of her own academic program, working as an assistant research coordinator and assistant residential life coordinator with Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth. She also taught for the Vanderbilt Summer Academy.
More recently, she led workshops as a graduate writing consultant and served as the master teaching fellow in the Graduate Department of Religion. Adler held a Vanderbilt University graduate fellowship while she completed both an M.A. degree and a Ph.D. in religion, with a focus on American Religious History. She has traveled on fellowships in Germany, Egypt and Israel.
“We’re very excited to have Dr. Adler joining the Roan family as our first-ever assistant director,” said Roan Director Scott Jeffress. “Her outstanding academic credentials, as well as her experience and passion for working with talented students, make her a terrific fit for this position and someone who will benefit our current scholars and alumni as the Roan program continues to expand and grow.”
Since its first class of Roan Scholars arrived on campus in fall 2000, the program has attracted many of the region’s most promising young leaders and helped develop their potential for excellence. Students are nominated by their high schools and chosen by the Roan Steering Committee on the basis of their overall leadership potential and demonstrated excellence in four areas: character, intellectual curiosity, physical vigor and leadership.
The Roan Scholars program provides both a full scholarship to ETSU and four years of customized enrichment experiences and opportunities, including global travel and study abroad, internships, workshops and seminars, alumni and community leader interaction, and various other programs, all of which are focused on equipping and inspiring students for leadership excellence and positive life-long impact.
For more information about the program, contact the Roan Scholars office at 423-439-7677 or RoanScholars@etsu.edu , or visit www.RoanScholars.org.