Beyond The Brown & Gold

Dr. Keisha Stephenson Taylor ’98, M ’00 on Education, Parenting, & Leadership

Dr. Keisha Stephenson Taylor '98, M'00 is the Senior Director of Alumni & Postsecondary Engagement at NAF. She stays on the go but managed to stop by Beyond The Brown and Gold to talk about her time as a Rowan student, her career in education, and more. Also, find out how she managed to balance a career, family, and find time to obtain her doctorate degree. Plus, she provides parenting tips, how she met her husband, and tells us how her parents impacted her decision to attend Rowan University.

Jason Dennen ’98 on Surviving a Near Death Experience & Thrill-Seeking

Jason Dennen '98 is an author and a thrill-seeker but most importantly, he is a survivor. A nearly fatal skydiving accident almost cost Dennen his life. However, he lived to tell the story and he does just that on a new edition of Beyond the Brown & Gold. Dennen discusses his time at Rowan University in the late 90s and how he became a triathlete. Also, he talks about how his ill-fated skydiving accident led to his own holiday; learning experiences from the injuries he suffered; and becoming the author of a book called "8 Days Till Sunrise."

Dr. Kay Yoon-Flannery DO ’11 on Becoming a Doctor, Dollhouse Rehab, & Breast Cancer Awareness

Beyond the Brown & Gold welcomes its first graduate from Rowan University's School of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Kay Yoon-Flannery. Dr. Yoon-Flannery reveals the difficulties of balancing family and becoming a surgeon. Also, she discusses her motivation for becoming a doctor and her parents' thoughts about tackling a challenging career path. With a background in breast surgical oncology, Dr.  Yoon-Flannery offers advice on when to screen for breast cancer as well.

Steven Calakos ’08 on Education, Teaching, & His Love of Theater

A member of a Glassboro State College/Rowan University legacy family, Steven Calakos '08 stops by Beyond The Brown & Gold to talk about the world of theater and how his education background helped him in the arts industry. Elsewhere, Calakos covers life in Naples, Florida during the COVID pandemic, a stop in reality TV thanks to Grease, his unique proposal to his wife, making a career change, and more.

Adam Woodhull ’03, M’07 on Cars, Glassboro, & Family

Adam Woodhull '03, M'07 spends time supporting all things brown and gold by serving as a member of the Rowan Alumni Board. Also, Woodhull cultivates his love of cars by working at Subaru. In a new episode of Beyond the Brown & Gold, Woodhull reflects on his time at Subaru so far, his time at Rowan University, meeting his wife, cars, and more.

Megan Brown ’02 & Mike Melniczuk ’03 of Farmers and Bankers Brewing

Meet two Rowan alumni behind a new South Jersey brewery on the newest edition of Beyond the Brown & Gold. Megan Brown '02 and Mike Melniczuk '03 are two of the people behind Farmers and Bankers Brewing in Woodstown, New Jersey. Melniczuk (an owner) and Brown (the brewery's Director of Outreach & Events) talk about how Farmers and Bankers Brewing came to be including their unlikely meeting thanks to their children. Also, the duo discusses their time at Rowan, how it impacted the creation of the new brewery, challenges, and more.

Dr. Peter B. Contini ’66, M’71 on Education, Glassboro, & Leadership

Dr. Peter B. Contini '66, M'71, the longest-serving president in the 50-year history of Salem County Community College, joins Beyond the Brown & Gold to talk about his career in education. He takes us back to his days at then-Glassboro State College including how he met his wife on campus, the Boro Boys, and much more. Also, Dr. Contini discusses the difference in students during his long and storied career in education.

Cincinnati Reds Play-by-Play Announcer John Sadak ’00, M ’03 on Life in the Big Leagues

John Sadak '00, M '03 almost ended up taking a far different career path than sports broadcasting. While he originally had eyes on the math and science field, sports broadcasting became his calling. A new episode of Beyond the Brown & Gold finds Sadak detailing how he became a nationally renowned sports broadcaster. From his roots at Rowan University and Rowan Radio to his current job as the television play-by-play voice of Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, Sadak covers all points in between. Also, he offers advice to young broadcasters, talks work/home balance, traveling on the road, and more.