I'm Marina Frazier and it's hard for me to believe that April 2008 was my 10th year of employment at RMU! I've only worked in the Admissions office and have always worked with older, non-traditional students. At first, my job entailed working within our cohort-based Master degree programs. For the past eight years, my responsibility has remained in the development of specialized cohort programs--now at the doctoral level. My main focus has been to help assimilate the adult student into the framework of a cohort model of learning. I've worked with students for the Doctorate of Science in Information Systems and Communications for eight years and for the past four years, I have led the recruitment efforts for the Ph.D. Instructional Management and Leadership program. Recruitment for both doctoral programs require working with people on a one to one level, getting to know them and see how the program can help them pursue what is important in their lives. At the same time, my job has enabled me to bring who I am to the job and gives me a sense of purpose not only in my working environment but also in the lives of the doctoral students. As the student progresses within the program, I can see how meaningful the program becomes and how it affects every aspect of their life. I believe this is the case because of the combined commitment between the student and the RMU doctoral faculty.

What I like most about working with graduate students at Robert Morris.
The intensity! I enjoy every aspect of working with an adult and becoming immersed in listening to their goals for not only their lives but how it affects their family. I find it challenging to be able to take part in the process of a student's decision to enter one of our doctoral programs. My job becomes very rewarding when a doctoral student asks many questions about our programs and openly discusses how it will affect them personally. The wonderful result of being so involved in and getting to know each student individually means that I am able to see them realize their full potential. Growth comes about when the cohort succeeds together while at the same time, their individual career goals and the values that they hold, flourish.

Advice I give to prospective graduate students.
Evaluate what they want to do with their lives, career wise, then take a close look and analyze every aspect of the doctoral program of interest. Discuss the commitment level, not only with myself, but also the doctoral faculty. I want them to understand that the deep level of commitment that will develop for them, the faculty, and their cohort will be life-changing.

Interesting facts about Robert Morris that I bet you didn't know...
Robert Morris actually nominated his friend George Washington as President at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.