When Rowan Eiselman, BA ’26, arrived at Chapman University unsure of which major to choose, she wasn’t sure exactly where her path would lead. She knew her interests centered on community and adult education, and once she learned about Attallah College’s new Community Educational Studies (CES) major, Eiselman became one of the inaugural students who will graduate this spring. 

This fall, Eiselman will begin the Master of Studies in Law program at USC Gould School of Law. She plans to continue her education beyond that degree through additional master’s programs, doctoral work or potentially a J.D. with a long-term goal of working as an educator and researcher within the criminal justice system. 

Eiselman shares her journey through Chapman’s Community Educational Studies major and how it is preparing her for the next chapter ahead. 

Finding the Right Fit

Eiselman initially connected with faculty at Attallah College to learn what major could accommodate her interest in community and adult education. Initially, she declared the Integrated Educational Studies major and began tailoring her academic path toward her postgraduate goals. When the Community Educational Studies (CES) major began to take shape, she recognized it immediately.  

“When I learned about the development of the CES major, I immediately recognized that it aligned more closely with the work I hoped to pursue,” she said. “It felt meaningful to earn a degree that explicitly reflects my dedication to community-based work.” 

A Course That Changed Everything

Ask Eiselman which experience most shaped her thinking, and she returns to her freshman year. “CES 102: Social Construction of Difference,” she said, remains one of the most influential courses she has taken. The class solidified her commitment to engaging with communities in ways that are curious, reflective and intentional, particularly around understanding how difference shapes lived experiences. 

That foundation sent her in several directions at once, guiding her toward a minor in Law and the Liberal Arts, deepening her work at the Public Law Center and pushing her to explore issues related to the criminalization of difference and disability. 

“It empowered me as both an advocate and an emerging educator,” Eiselman said. 

She describes her peers as creative, driven and committed to meaningful academic and career goals, a collaborative spirit that has defined her time at the university. 

Most recently, Eiselman is being recognized with the 18th Annual Kevin and Tam Ross Undergraduate Research Award from the Leatherby Libraries for work completed in Professor Quaylan Allen’s “CES 203: Introduction to Research Methods in Education.” Her research project is titled, “Gaps in the Academy: Evaluating Pre-Service Criminal Justice Training for Interactions with Vulnerable Populations.” 

Attallah College is thrilled to celebrate Rowan Eiselman this spring at Chapman’s Commencement and Degree Ceremony. She leaves Chapman with a strong community behind her as she pursues graduate studies at USC Gould School of Law.