Whitman Scholar Finds Community, Makes an Impact on Campus by Leveraging Opportunities

Coming from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Jared Dowling’s ’24 (WHIT/NEW) decision to attend Syracuse University was deeply rooted in his desire to find a sense of community and make an impact during his four years of college. After applying to over 30 different universities across the country, Dowling found that the Whitman School stood out to him as the place where he could make a difference.

“My father has always told me to “love those who show you love”, and Syracuse University and the Whitman School did that more than anyone else. Before even stepping foot on campus, I received the Whitman Leadership Scholarship and was provided with a number of student resources that had already made me feel a part of the community,” Dowling says.

Now, as a fourth-year student, it is clear he has made a significant impact with the help of his peers and professors.

On top of his initial scholarship, Dowling was one of 13 students selected to be a Whitman Scholar. This designation recognizes students in the senior class who have demonstrated excellence and high levels of involvement and leadership around campus.

Dowling has shown his involvement at the Whitman School by participating in different opportunities provided to students. He traveled on the first cultural immersion trip to Kenya with Assistant Teaching Professor Elizabeth Wimer in 2022, where he got to immerse himself in the diverse culture and learn more about the global economy. Dowling also visited the West Coast on Whitman sponsored Silicon Valley trip to network and learn more about the technology industry, where he was able to create new connections. On campus, he is a member of Delta Sigma Pi, the professional business fraternity. Dowling believes that the experiences and opportunities he has had at the Whitman School would not be found anywhere else.

Dowling is also one of only 12 students recognized as a Newhouse Scholar for involvement, a high GPA and volunteering opportunities through Syracuse’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, where he is completing a bachelor’s degree in public relations.

“It was an honor to be recognized by both schools for excellence in my dual majors, marketing and public relations. Getting to see the different letters of recommendation written by my professors about my impact on their end—even something as little as putting a smile on their faces during class— plays into the values I have emphasized as a person during the past four years,” Dowling says.

Since the summer after his first year, Dowling has interned at ADP, a human resource software company. His role grew in scope as he continued this internship year-after-year. He wrote press releases, conducted research on the impacts of AI and he also authored a series of bylines for executives to drive engagement across media platforms. Following graduation in May, he will continue his work with ADP as a senior communications specialist on the public relations team.

“One thing that genuinely helped me be successful in college was valuing relationships and being myself,” Dowling says, “It is easy to let the actions of others influence you, but I think it’s important to be secure in yourself and know what you want. I believe that is something that is often taken for granted.”

by Anna Rooney ’24