Camden Connation’s: Teaching and Transforming by Talking

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Every day on campus, many students wonder, after long periods of class, the following question: What should I eat today? While some people may choose the dining hall or halal truck, one option is very popular in the market. But what makes the market so popular is not just the convenience, but the person working the shop, which many know as Terry. Whether you know her for her uplifting attitude or red hair, Terry can always be found in the Marketplace shop outside the dining hall. How Terry came to that role may surprise you, as she has been on campus for quite some time, specifically in the dining hall area.

Growing up in Barrington, New Jersey, Terry was born and bred in the South Jersey area. After graduating from Haddon Heights High School and attending Camden County College for a year, Terry soon found her place in the workforce. However, a common factor around her craft was food, specifically guest services in the mining industry. After working in several retail stores, Terry felt most at home in the dining services and soon found a newspaper ad from almost 15 years ago for Rutgers-Camden.

Since then, Terry has worked in the dining hall, helping serve and feed thousands of scarlet raptors on campus. Further, Terry feels that the students help her bring light to her life as she interacts with multiple personalities. When Terry is working, she says she enjoys encouraging the students who come to her shop to talk with her. It gives her great energy when she hears about their dreams and their progress in their various classes. Furthermore, Terry gets excited when she sees so many people daily while working. Whether it’s a student, staff, or faculty member, she looks forward to all conversations with them. When Terry is talking with other people, she feels that she is building a relationship with them, allowing her to develop stronger connections in the Camden community.

While Terry has long days, she feels blessed to have a great team to help her through the long hours. Within dining, Terry thinks that she is never alone and appreciates her helpful team every step of the way. With “scarlet” often symbolizing passion, Terry has a great passion outside of work for music. Terry is an avid concertgoer and enjoys what music does to her soul. Mainly, she feels that music brings joy to her soul whenever she hears it. When Terry is eating on campus, she prefers the salad and fruit bar in the dining hall.