She is Simmons: Annie Rothweiler Helps Fellow Students Stay Safe and Healthy
Annie Rothweiler awaited her interview with impeccable posture and a welcoming expression. She first visited Simmons College as a prospective student on a day with "the worst weather for a tour ever," but she enjoyed herself despite the cold, wet day.
"I liked my tour guide, and I figured that if I can like this school on the worst day, then its probably even better on a nice day," she says.
Rothweiler identifies herself as a Simmons student who chose the college despite the fact that it is an all women's institution.
"I'm glad I ended up with that perspective," she says.
As a first year she knew that she wanted to study something in the realm of psychology, sociology and social work. When she came upon the Society and Health major she knew it was a fit.
"[It] really attracted me because it incorporates a lot of disciplines. It actually doesn't exist anymore as a major, now it is a public health program," she says.
During her first semester at Simmons she joined Sex at Simmons, a group on campus working to educate the student body about sexual health.
"I joined on a whim but I ended up sticking with it," she says.
She currently works in the health center as the lead student health educator and office administrator. Some describe her as "The Queen of Health Education," she says.
She decided to join Sex at Simmons and do peer education because it was aligned with her major yet "provides a service to people that can improve their lives," she says.
Rothweiler also belongs to Betsy's Friends, an on-campus organization that promotes healthy relationships and sexual assault prevention program.
"Now I can definitely say that women's health is an interest of mine," she says. "I think that women are very special and I think that the health education program was a big influence on arriving at that."
She was not always so sure about Simmons, however.
Rothweiler almost transferred her sophomore year because the Boston winters just didn't suit her, she says.
After considering moving back to her hometown she started the process of applying to other schools.
"A lot of my decision had to do with being unhappy in Boston, not with Simmons as an institution," she says.
Luckily, she changed her mind.
"It had a lot to do with my involvement in health education," she says. "I went from being one of the peer educators to applying to oversee one of the programs. I didn't know if that kind of experience could be replicated at other schools."
Growing up in New Jersey, New England winters were a big adjustment for Rothweiler.
"[They] were hard for me," she says.
However, she found the connections that she was able to make with professors at Simmons were valuable.
"I have a lot of friends who go to big universities, and they only have one professor who they've connected with," she says.
She appreciates the tight-knit community of Simmons that allows students to have strong relationships with many professors.
She credits Elise Phillips, the director of peer education as her mentor. After working with the Office of Residence Life, Rothweiler says that Jess Faulk, the director of residence life, has also taught her a lot.
"It's a great group of women," she says.
Rothweiler is graduating in December, and plans to continue her education with a masters program in the spring.
She is also toying with the idea of getting her M.P.H. or a Masters in Health Education, she says.
"I see myself as someone who really puts her degree to use," she says. "I know that a lot of people say that your major in college doesn't necessarily reflect the career that you have, but I think I have really found a niche with the jobs I've been doing as an undergrad and with my major."
Though she values Simmons and its peer education program, Rothweiler says she is ready for bigger things.
"I feel ready to leave Simmons," she says. "I'm really close to my degree at this point, and I'm ready to put it to use."
- Kate Clavet
Staff Writer
The Simmons Voice
Find out more about the Public Health major
posted: October 6, 2009
