For Alicia Plummer ’09, college has been about much more than life inside the classroom. A public administration major, she has managed work study jobs in the offices of political science and bioethics, a weekend job at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and gigs as a Hawk Host and a block captain in her South Philadelphia neighborhood.
“I am proud to be the first member of my family to attend college, let alone a premier institution like Saint Joseph’s,” says the Philadelphia native. Having grown up in a single-grandparent household, her time at SJU has been a testament to overcoming challenges. She has been a standout in her major, and was granted the opportunity to study at the Washington Center this winter and participate in events for Obama’s inauguration.
But even though this busy young woman deserves to celebrate, May 16th, 2009, won’t be about reveling in her own achievements. As a mark of remembrance, Plummer is dedicating her degree to her best friend Marketa Frazier, whom she lost this past October.
“We met on the first day of orientation at Philadelphia High School for Girls, and were best friends from then on,” says Plummer. Frazier was diagnosed with colon cancer her freshman year in college, and Plummer remained by her side throughout the fight.
“I would always take her to her appointments, and the doctors thought we were sisters,” she remembers of Frazier, who attended West Chester University.
“Marketa was closer to me than family,” she says. “All of her professors said she worked harder than the kids in the class who weren’t going through chemo. She remains an inspiration to me and everyone who knew her.” Plummer cites her loss as one of the biggest challenges that she faced during her college career.
However, as an SJU student, Plummer has been nothing short of an inspiration herself. She has made her mark on the University in a myriad of ways, including working closely with Lisa Baglione, Ph.D., professor and chair of the political science department, as a student administrative assistant.
“She has been a member of the political science department as a work study student for two years, and she is always friendly, capable and willing to help,” notes Baglione. “What distinguishes Alicia, however, is her deep love for her family and her friends that comes through in any extended conversation with her. The passing of her best friend affected Alicia to the core, but Alicia put her own grieving aside, and did all that she could to help Marketa’s mom get through her daughter’s loss.”
Plummer’s keen interest in public service was ignited through her role as neighborhood Block Captain, a voluntary position that acts as a liaison between citizens and City Council, in hopes of improving quality of life in Philadelphia, which she began in 2006. “I have grown to have a sincere passion for neighborhood improvement and civic pride,” Plummer says. “This experience inspired me to pursue a career in higher levels of government.”
After graduation, Plummer will devote her attention to making this dream a reality by preparing for graduate school in public policy. “My SJU education has definitely primed me to work in the political sphere,” she notes.
There is no doubt her combination of education and life experience will allow her to ascend to the next challenge that comes her way.
Contact: Patricia Allen, Associate Director of University Communications, pallen01@sju.edu, (610)660-3240
