GRADUATE PROFILE
A BACHELOR’S DEGREE HELPS FUEL MELISSA ROMAN’S ABILITY TO KEEP NEW JERSEY’S BUSIEST ROADWAYS SAFE. Melissa Roman, BSBA ’20 For Melissa Roman, safety is priority number one both in her career and her community, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Roman, an operations communicator for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, is charged with the safety and security of motorists on two of the busiest thoroughfares in the state. With 321 miles of roadway and more than 640 million vehicles using the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway in 2020, Roman knows that it is important to ensure that they are the safest, quickest and most convenient routes for the commuters, truckers and recreational travelers that use them every day.
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“My department is responsible for the management of traffic throughout the state of New Jersey via the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway,”
Roman explained. “We ensure that all signs are functioning, all disabled motorists are assisted, and all accidents and anything impeding traffic are cleared from the roadway in a timely manner.” Despite the challenges of working full time in a demanding career with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of millions of motorists yearly, Roman yearned to return to higher education. “I have always enjoyed the hiring and interview process, and I wanted to educate myself in a way that made me an asset anywhere I go. I learned about TESU from a friend who attended the University and encouraged me to apply. What drew me to continue my education
after many years was the simplicity and quality of the education TESU provides,” said Roman, who earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree in Human Resources Management /Organizational Management in December 2020. “I loved the opportunities the University gave me; I was able to call myself a TESU student and still work and tend to everyday responsibilities,” she continued. “I remained disciplined with time management and organization. It’s easy to become distracted outside of a classroom setting with real life all around you, but I persevered. And I met some great professors and people along the way. I would eventually love to earn my master’s degree with TESU.” In addition to earning her degree and working a challenging full-time position, Roman’s dedication to public service goes a step further. For nearly 10 years,
