An Elizabethtown College education is for people who feel the pull to contribute to the world. With a network of 24,425 living alumni, our graduates leave Etown to become the influential advocates and changemakers the world needs more of.

Meet Andrew Sproule ’08, an International Business alumnus and Associate Director, Marketing Production – Cardiovascular at Bristol Myers Squibb. Defined by the connections he made at Etown as a student and member of the Men’s Lacrosse team, Andrew credits their lasting impact on his personal and professional achievements.

Andrew Sproule ’08 (left)

“Etown is a rare and perfect sweet spot that has fueled my success in ways I couldn’t have imagined.”

What defined your Etown experience?

My Etown experience was defined by relationships and relationships alone. It was my relationships with incredible professors like Dr. Varamini and Carole Isaak that gave meaning to my education. It was my relationship with friends and teammates that molded my character during a time of life when it felt like an enormous new light was pouring out of who your true being is and your character is coming into picture. It was also was my relationship with the place itself – the chocolate smell, the paths streaming throughout campus, the dormitory halls, the lacrosse field, the streets in and out, the sky and all its different faces I remember taking in over the crest of the library roofline at all different times of day, the farmhouse where I lived, the surrounding town. It was my relationship with the place itself that carved out a notion of home away from home.

How has your Etown degree benefitted you and your career success?

The relationships I built, whether in Germany during my study abroad, in newfound love, or within myself, shaped me in ways I never expected. But it all truly began the moment I stepped onto Etown’s campus. Those relationships, whether in memory or in life, continue to guide my path. My Etown education has proven itself time and again, standing strong among peers from all backgrounds. Etown is a rare and perfect sweet spot that has fueled my success in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

How have you made a difference in the lives of others through your career and/or personal life?

I’ve been given so much. So many people have influenced, inspired, and helped me. I’ve never forgotten how blessed I am.

Before my first week at Etown, my dad wrote me a letter. He told me how proud he was but also reminded me of how fortunate I had been, and how important it was to give to others in the same way I had been given to. This lesson wasn’t just his – my mom, my brothers, and my closest friends have all exemplified it as well.

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to hold leadership roles. I’m not the numbers-driven leader, the finance wizard, or the tech guru. But if there’s one thing I hope my peers and colleagues would say, it’s that I’ve always emphasized staying true to yourself, pursuing your best without cutting corners or chasing success at the expense of integrity.

In my personal life, I dedicate time to my mom, my brothers, my family, and my lifelong friends. I support causes that matter deeply to me: veterans’ programs, Big Brother, homeless shelters in Philadelphia, animal rescues, and the National Down Syndrome Society. More recently, a close friend has opened my eyes to the importance of investing in disease research.

At my last agency, I was appointed as the lead project manager for a diversity and mindfulness program. And in every aspect of my life, I try to be the brother, son, friend, or even stranger that people can confide in – anytime, about anything.

What is your passion? Where do you place your energy besides your career?

I create anything and everything I can in the hope of inspiring someone to reflect on the last time they changed their mind about something important. In trying to open others’ minds, whether in intimate conversations, professional settings, or through creative expression, I open my own. It humbles me, recharges me, and fuels me to take on another day with eyes wide open in a world where so many seem to be closing theirs. I’m passionate about music, writing, outdoor adventures, and exploring new places, but above all, I’m passionate about reading.

View more Etown Changemakers at etown.edu/125.