alumni highlight
Dr. Rebecca (Homol) Rook
Class Year: 2001
Major: Mathematics
Current Job Position: Assistant Professor, Director of Education at Franciscan University
How did you decide to come to Franciscan to study?
As a native of the Steubenville area, I was blessed to grow up around the university. Early in my childhood, my parents discovered the rich spirituality and sense of community present at Franciscan, and they started bringing our family to weekly prayer gatherings at Christ the King chapel, where I was able to hear Fr. Michael Scanlan and the TOR friars preach. I was shaped and formed by the beautiful spiritual fatherhood of the friars.
I'm the second of 8 children, so when it came time to choose a college to attend, I decided to let the scholarship money I received drive my decision. Unfortunately, this meant that I didn't initially attend Franciscan University. Instead, I began my studies at another Catholic university. This experience was really eye-opening, as it allowed me to see all that I was missing at FUS. Spiritual accountability, true committment to the faith, and a sense of joy present throughout the campus - these were things lacking at the school I was attending, but so incredibly evident at Franciscan. A longing to "return home" grew within me, and by the end of my sophomore year, I decided to transfer to Franciscan. It was one of the best decisions of my life! I'll never forget my first day walking across campus as a student. Almost every person I passed greeted me with a smile. Saint Theresa of Calcutta said, "Peace begins with a smile." I experienced this peace immediately and knew that I was exactly where the Lord wanted me to be.
What did you study, and what have you been doing since graduation (professionally)
When I was in high school, I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher, so I majored in mathematics and secondary education at FUS. I received such incredible mentorship from Dr. Mary Salter, a former math professor at Franciscan. She encouraged me to go on to graduate school and consider teaching at the university level some day. Following my undergraduate graduation from Franciscan, I initially taught high school mathematics while working on my masters degree in math and science education. I then began teaching college-level mathematics and quantitiative methods courses in the graduate business program at Franciscan. While serving as the chair of the developmental mathematics program at a local community college, I felt called to begin my PhD. At the same time, I was asked to teach a math pedagogy class at Franciscan. This experience made me realize how much I enjoyed teaching aspiring teachers about best practices in math education. This inspired me to pursure my PhD in instructional management and leadership. Shortly thereafter, I joined the education department full-time at Franciscan, where I currently serve as program director and teach math pedagogy and teaching strategy and assessment courses. My research to date has largely focused on online instruction and educational assessment and accreditation, but I'm beginning research on imbuing the Pk-12 Curriculum with a Catholic worldview, which is a great passion of mine.
What has Franciscan meant to you and your family?
Franciscan is where my family began. Twenty-one and half years ago, my husband, Phil (also an FUS alumnus), asked me to marry him in the Marian Grotto behind the Portciuncula Chapel. We have been blessed with six children - Jack, Michael, Benjamin, Gianna, Joseph, and Daniel. Franciscan University has been an anchor for our family - the relationships we have cultivated here are a priceless, eternal treasure. God has revealed his love and presence to us through so many people - classmates, students, coworkers...it's a gift that continues to give. We see this same treasure being bestowed on our children, as our oldest two have just begun their college careers at Franciscan. What a dream come true to see our children attend FUS!
How long have you been on the Alumni Board and what has been your role on the board (awards etc)?
I served on the Alumni board from 2011-2017 and began serving again in 2020. I currently chair the alumni awards committee.