Quadruple communication major sets her sights on media career

May 07, 2008

Luticia Hawthorne knows how she's going to celebrate her graduation from Rowan University.

"No party," she says, adamantly. "I'm just going to rest."

Who can blame her? Hawthorne, 43, of Burlington City, graduated from Rowan's College of Communication on Friday, May 16, with four degrees: journalism, public relations, advertising and radio/television/film (RTF).

Completed in five years, that's a 157-credit feat that would wipe out even the most ambitious 22-year-old undergraduate.

"I've been called crazy by so many people, particularly the younger students," says Hawthorne, who took a leave from her job as a postal carrier in Hamilton Township to study at Rowan.

Hawthorne, who earned her GED through the federal Job Corps program in New York after dropping out in her sophomore year of high school in Newark, worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 14 years. But getting passed over for supervisory positions because she didn't have her college degree left her disillusioned...and wanting more from her life.

"After a while, that bag beats you down," says Hawthorne, who worked in the Hamilton Mail Processing Center during the 2001 anthrax scare. "I didn't want to carry mail for the rest of my life. I wasn't going to let them limit me. I wanted to have the degree in my hands."

In the summer of 2003, a full 22 years since she last stepped foot in the classroom, Hawthorne entered Rowan as a journalism major. Quickly, she realized she had many interests in the field of communications.

"Then I found RTF. I realized some of the classes cross over. I saw that if I went an extra semester, I could get a PR degree. And then I looked at advertising and realized, with one more semester, I could have a fourth degree," she says.

Taking 15-18 credits each semester, and attending classes year-round, Hawthorne set out to be a quadruple major. There have been some rough spots along the way-tough economics and American English grammar classes-but Hawthorne persevered. Save for leaving one course 15 minutes early once, she's never missed a class.

"My biggest adjustment was trying to work the computer," she says. "I was diligent in my classes. I kept telling myself, ‘Keep your eye on the prize.' I had my mind set."

This semester alone, Hawthorne completed four group projects. In her journalism class, she worked on a study on how the media influence children. In advertising, she helped develop a campaign for the Battleship New Jersey. In her PR course, she analyzed the differences between presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. And in her integrated marketing course, she worked on a marketing plan for a tiny GPS system her group invented.

Also this semester, she completed a PR internship with Rowan's alumni relations office. After graduation, Hawthorne will begin a production internship with New Jersey Network, located around the corner from the post office where she used to work.

Of all of her majors, RTF is her favorite. Hawthorne would love to land a job working in television.

"I like the editing, working the programs, filming the B-roll," she says. "It's very hands-on and exciting."

This semester, Hawthorne was able to garner advice from veteran broadcaster Dan Rather, who taught a master class at Rowan while he was on campus moderating a panel on nuclear nonproliferation. The panel was part of the University's celebration of the 40th anniversary of the historic Hollybush Summit, which was held on campus in 1967.

"He gave us so many helpful hints, especially that we need to be able to write and think critically," says Hawthorne.

Her multi-faceted communications education gives her an edge in the job market, she believes.

"I do think I have an advantage," she says. "I can go anywhere and I'll be able to function."

Rowan public relations professor Joe Basso says Hawthorne knows how to get the job done.

"Luticia has an amazing work ethic. Her classmates had a lot of respect for her," says Basso. "She's completely fearless."

"My dad always said, ‘Don't commit to anything unless you're going to follow through," Hawthorne says, adding that she gave up many things--dating, family functions, shopping--to concentrate on her schoolwork.

Even with four degrees, Hawthorne hasn't ruled out graduate school.

"Grad school? Yes, but after I take a break," she says, taking a deep breath.