Meet the Author: Cheryl Tevlin

Hi Future Dragons! My name is Cheryl Tevlin, and I'm an Associate Director on the Undergraduate Admissions team. My position in the office is unique — I'm actually based in Northern California instead of on campus in Philly. I'm from South Jersey and I worked on campus for seven years, but I moved to the Sacramento area in 2017. Now it's much easier for me to meet with students and families on the West Coast. Specifically, I work with students in NorCal (yes, we really do call it that!) and Nevada. I also work with our homeschooled applicants no matter where they live.  

One of the reasons that I work with our homeschooled students is that I was homeschooled for six years. I had a great experience and so I truly understand the benefits and challenges of a home education. After homeschooling full-time through middle school, I eased myself into a traditional high school before packing it off to central Pennsylvania for college. When I graduated, I thought I wanted to be an English professor and started working towards that goal. But after a couple years, I decided that wasn't the right path for me. I was already working at Drexel, realized how much I love the University, and have been telling students and families about it ever since. 

I've learned a lot during my years at Drexel, and I want to pass on some tips that will be helpful as you look ahead to college. First of all, be flexible and open to trying new things. As I alluded to, I have a degree in English and wouldn't have known that I love data and systems if I hadn't been willing to join new projects. Second of all, find a mentor! I cannot stress this enough. Find someone you can look up to, someone with solid ethics who can help you to grow in your intended field. Finally, don't be afraid to take a leap of faith. That's what I did when I moved to California, and it's the best thing I've done. I'm not saying it won't be hard or terrifying — moving 3,000 miles to a place where I didn't know anyone was both — but it will be so rewarding, too.  

One thing I'm still learning is that I should be myself without holding back. My interests don't necessarily make sense together — I love classic rock, playing the guitar, Victorian literature (especially anything written by Charles Dickens), young adult fantasy, and Star Wars. In essence, I'm a nerd. But I'm starting to wear that badge proudly. Being honest about who you are makes it easier to build strong relationships and find your place in a new environment (California for me, college for you).  

That's all for now. I look forward to telling you more about my adventures in California while sprinkling in some lessons I've learned during my time at Drexel!