Forman Scholar Bria Lewis Calculating Ways to Integrate Future Accounting Career with Love for Community

From an early age, Bria Lewis loved math far more than her other school subjects. Her courses have been far from easy, she says, but the challenge of dissecting problems and solving equations excites her. She hopes to apply the analytical and critical thinking skills she’s picked up crunching numbers for class to a future career in accounting. But first, the Forman Scholar must earn a college degree at Rowan University, a feat she’s diving headfirst into this fall. 

At the outset of her college search, Bria was not expecting to select a school in her home state. However, after researching and visiting universities along the East Coast and across the Midwest, she knew the Garden State – and specifically Rowan – was where she belonged.

“I narrowed my list down to three schools,” Bria said. “But at the end of the day, Rowan came out on top. The school has everything I could ever ask for, and it’s located closer to home to boot.” 

Only a short distance from Salem in Glassboro, Rowan University is one of the largest and most well-known universities in South Jersey. Bria admires the school’s tight-knit campus community and the way it positions Glassboro as a ‘college town’ where all facilities, buildings and even restaurants are accessible by foot. In addition to providing a fresh start, Bria looks forward to partaking in what she hopes will be a transformative learning experience.

“At Rowan, I don’t expect my workload to ever be too out of control,” Bria said. “College won’t be a walk in the park, for sure, but I like the fact that I’ll be able to build a course schedule that aligns with my goals, interests and preferred activities.” 

Bria’s higher-education pursuits extend beyond her time as a Prof. She hopes to eventually earn a master’s degree in accounting.

“Even though I’m just starting out, I’m determined to one day make a difference in the field,” Bria said. “I’d love to establish my own accounting firm or even a school aimed at educating members of the Salem community about financial literacy and management.” 

While a student at Salem High, Bria maintained a packed schedule, excelling in and out of the classroom. She played on the tennis, bowling and softball teams. On top of that, she sang in the school’s choir and played flute in the marching and concert bands.

Of all her many activities, Bria says she’ll miss tennis the most. The team’s victory at the county championship her sophomore year remains an unforgettable moment. 

Bria credits much of her success at Salem High to the incredible educators she had the good fortune of learning from along the way, especially the many math teachers who helped her realize her passion for the subject and a desire to make it the basis of a future career. 

“Ms. Hudock, who I had for math, remains one of the best teachers I’ve ever had because she taught in a way that made every skill easier to understand,” Bria said. “She was always open to answering questions, and she never made me feel like less of a person for being confused.”

As Bria eagerly looks forward to all the people she’ll meet and places she’ll visit as a Rowan student, she says much of that future would not have been possible without the support of the Forman Acton Foundation. The impact of the organization’s guidance, nourishment and encouragement, to her, is indescribable. 

“Because of the Forman Acton Foundation, I am the first person in my family to attend college debt-free,” Bria said. “I am confident in the path before me because I know the Foundation will never leave my side, even after I walk across the stage on graduation day four years from now.”