As an optimistic senior at Rockford High School, Jen Marmo already knew that she wanted to study speech as an undergraduate. Having enjoyed her required high school speech classes, her years as a speech major at Hillsdale College fanned her already sparked interest in the subject and inspired her subsequent decision to get her masters in Communication from Eastern Michigan University. Jen believes that her time at Hillsdale College did a magnificent job of preparing her for graduate school. “Hillsdale’s workload,” she said, “while not only being very demanding, encourages excellence. Students are taught how to be critical thinkers, not just people who memorize information”. Furthermore, she believes that Hillsdale teaches students the professional skill of relationship building—especially with professors and administrators--leaving students well equipped for life after college.

Prior to beginning her doctoral studies in Interpersonal Communication at the University of Arizona Ms. Marmo served as the Assistant Director of Forensics at Hillsdale College.  While in that role she was awarded the prestigious Bob Derryberry Award For Outstanding New Forensics Educator in 2007 by the Pi Kappa Delta National Forensics Honorary.  "This is a great individual accomplishment for Jen, but it also reflects upon the good work that the students have done in the program over the past two years, so it is really a celebration of Individual Events and Debate at Hillsdale College," states Hillsdale's Director of Forensics James Brandon.