Making the Most of a Husky Journey

Graduate student Ariane “Aria” Rouffignac’s journey to Bloomsburg is unconventional. A native of Angers, France, Rouffignac and her family emigrated to the United States, and she chose Commonwealth University-Mansfield for her undergraduate degree in marketing.

For her MBA, Bloomsburg was the clear choice. While pursuing her studies, she also serves as a graduate hall director—helping new Huskies adjust to life in a new environment.

Before choosing Mansfield for her undergraduate degree, Rouffignac considered attending a larger school. “My sister Alexandra chose Mansfield because she is a biology major—I didn’t want to be too far from her since she’s my only family left in the United States, so I decided to give it a try.”

As a marketing student at Mansfield, Rouffignac knew she needed to work to support herself and gain experience. She found that experience in the strategic communications office, working for Ryan McNamara, senior director of university marketing and brand management. She also served as a resident assistant (RA) on campus. 

“I also worked as a fitness center assistant at the Mansfield campus gym. I knew I had to find a way to gain experience, whether it was directly in my field of marketing or by developing people skills. People skills are constantly evolving, and I believe they are just as important,” she says.

Rouffignac was also a member of the Commonwealth team with Mansfield and Bloomsburg students that won the 2024 Community Bank Case Study Competition.

“Becoming a resident assistant provided me with valuable experience that helped me secure the graduate hall director position at Bloomsburg,” says Rouffignac. “Through my role as a resident assistant, I developed key leadership and people skills that prepared me for the challenges of the GA position. My hard work, along with the connections I made, helped me become a strong candidate for the role.” As a graduate hall director, Rouffignac oversees the daily operations of a building and manages a team of resident assistants, a responsibility that has further enhanced her leadership abilities and personal growth.

Rouffignac has also kept busy on the academically. In her first semester at Bloomsburg, she earned a 4.0 GPA. Additionally, she founded E 2nd Street Digital, a student-run digital marketing and advertising agency that includes students from all Commonwealth campuses.