Graduate Studies

Passing Grades

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:06:03 +0000

Passing Grades BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 12/09/2024 - 11:06

Counselor education majors well prepared to help others

December 10, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

As she embarks on a career as a mental health counselor, Kristen Gloss knows that an exam no longer stands in the way of her longstanding desire to make a difference in the lives of others.

Equipped with knowledge and skills from ɫ��Ƶ’s counselor education program, Kristen recently passed a critical test that is a requirement to become licensed in Massachusetts.

“The program gives us such a strong foundation in understanding important aspects of counseling,” said Kristen, who is poised to earn a master’s degree in mental health counseling in December. “It’s given me a lot of skills but also taught me how to find the answers when I don’t know something.”

In fact, Kristen is one of more than a dozen recent ɫ��Ƶ students to pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam. Bridgewater students achieved a perfect 100-percent passing rate during the spring semester, a record of success that continued into the fall. The nationwide pass rate last spring was only 77 percent.

Because ɫ��Ƶ’s program is accredited, students can complete the test before earning their degrees – removing an important weight from their shoulders.

“They’re able to take it before graduating, and they’re also wildly successful on it,” said Dr. Nikki Freeburg, a professor of counselor education and the department’s chairperson.

The exam presents written vignettes that simulate interactions with clients. Students must rely on their classroom and fieldwork experience to answer questions about how to handle the situations.

Freeburg credits students’ success to their hard work, a strong group of faculty, and a focus on matching students with the best fieldwork sites to gain real-world experience. The department’s fieldwork coordinator, Dr. Amanda Barudin-Carreiro, excels at reviewing locations for quality and meeting students’ individual needs.

“She helps students find a good fit for their professional goals,” Freeburg said. “We go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure students are thriving in these sites.”

Students also hone their skills on campus in the department’s lab. The facility includes rooms for students to practice mock group and one-on-one therapy sessions that their peers and faculty observe over video from a control room. This setup allows students to receive immediate feedback.

Sessions can even be recorded, enabling students to watch themselves and notice things they would have missed in the moment such as the length of pauses in a conversation, said Theresa Dillon, another December graduate who recently passed the exam.

“It’s helpful to have not only your professors but your peers reflect on what you’re doing,” Theresa said.

Theresa and Kristen are both pursuing career changes, having previously worked as a librarian and journalist, respectively.

They are drawn to counseling because of an innate desire to help others and appreciate the supportive atmosphere at ɫ��Ƶ.

“Everyone is working toward the same goal of helping people,” Kristen said. “It’s been such a wonderful experience.”

Do you have a ɫ��Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

The program gives us such a strong foundation in understanding important aspects of counseling. It’s given me a lot of skills but also taught me how to find the answers when I don’t know something.

Kristen Gloss

Tags

Graduate Studies

Art Speaks

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 20:48:07 +0000

Art Speaks BBENSON@bridgew.edu Thu, 12/14/2023 - 15:48

Graduate students showcase their work and experiences in exhibition

December 19, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

Megan Kenealy’s and Ari Barrett’s graduate school theses explore topics close to their hearts. And the two art students are spreading messages of hope and love far beyond the confines of campus.

Megan and Ari, who are completing master’s degrees in teaching art at Bridgewater State, are exhibiting their artwork at The Ignition Space in downtown Fall River. Ari’s work focuses on climate change, while Megan’s concerns the realities of being a surrogate.

“I love the fact that not only are we showing our work to the Bridgewater community, but anyone who walks in off the street,” said Megan, who teaches at Abington High School and earned her undergraduate art degree from Bridgewater in 2006. “It’s providing that connection between Fall River and ɫ��Ƶ.”

For the Nurture/Nature exhibit, Ari highlighted the American bullfrog, a species that scientists think can thrive amid climate change. Meanwhile, Megan takes visitors on her personal journey as a surrogate by weaving together artifacts and more traditional artwork.

“This enriches the art and culture in Fall River,” said Cate Becker, site assistant for the Fall River Arts and Culture Coalition, which runs The Ignition Space. “Also, it’s amazing to let people see the eclectic exhibit that this is. This show is so unique.”

Megan, who served as a surrogate for a family member who is in a same-sex relationship, incorporated hair and medical documents alongside art made with graphite and frozen breast milk.

“I hope (visitors) realize there’s a lot of different types of family,” Megan said. “I hope they can see the love that this journey was for all of us. I hope they see the hard work that goes into it and the relationship between all of us.”

Studying at ɫ��Ƶ and working on the thesis helped her embrace the use of unconventional materials in her art. Now Megan said she is more confident encouraging Abington students to use their creativity in class and long after they graduate.

Ari, who teaches at King Philip Regional Middle School in Norfolk and once considered becoming a wildlife biologist, made a series of ceramic sculptures of frogs in aquatic, desert and swampy environments to show that life will continue even in the face of climate change. She aims to inspire those who feel it is too late to save Earth.

“I just get so overwhelmed thinking about all the negative outcomes for my future children and grandchildren,” she said, wondering whether they will share the Earth with elephants, polar bears and other animals she loved as a kid. “I’m hoping people think it isn’t all doom and gloom.”

Megan and Ari discussed their thesis work with their students, some of whom may even visit the exhibition.

The two educators met in a ceramics class at ɫ��Ƶ and went on to take every course they could together.

“Meagan has taught me so much,” Ari said. “It’s been such a happy coincidence getting to know her.”

Nurture/Nature will be on display through Jan. 6 at The Ignition Space, 341 S. Main St., Fall River.

Do you have a ɫ��Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I love the fact that not only are we showing our work to the Bridgewater community, but anyone who walks in off the street. It’s providing that connection between Fall River and ɫ��Ƶ.

Megan Kenealy, '06, G'24

Tags

Graduate Studies

Arts

Secure Position

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:42:47 +0000

Secure Position BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 10/11/2023 - 09:42

Graduate college internship leads to career in cybersecurity

October 12, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

Rachel Cullity, ’21, G’23, helps safeguard the financial systems and taxpayer money that power a plethora of Massachusetts government services.

It’s a critical job – and one she may have never found if not for the mentoring of a Bridgewater State cybersecurity instructor.

“I definitely wouldn’t have been where I am today if it wasn’t for Bridgewater,” said Cullity, a compliance officer with the state Office of the Comptroller. “I met a lot of people and learned a lot of leadership skills, and then I also had support of my professors like Dave Marion.”

Cullity began her full-time position in June, soon after earning a master’s degree in criminal justice with a certificate in cybersecurity and cyber-criminology. She protects state financial systems from fraud and cybersecurity attacks and helps agencies follow relevant laws.

“I wanted to have a really important job that gives back to taxpayers,” said Cullity, who also studied criminal justice as an undergraduate at ɫ��Ƶ. “I wanted to play an important role in the commonwealth.”

Cullity’s experience in the comptroller’s office began as a summer intern while in graduate school at ɫ��Ƶ. She helped develop a campaign raising awareness about suspicious emails that was subsequently implemented. For Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, Cullity is continuing to build cybersecurity awareness among state employees.

Marion, who met Cullity in his introductory cybersecurity course, encouraged her to apply for the internship. She credits it with helping her see a way to use her academic knowledge in the workforce.

Cybersecurity internships provide intensive, first-hand work experience in a way that classroom instruction can’t fulfill, said Marion, who also serves as ɫ��Ƶ’s director of information security.

“We can do a lot with simulating the technical stuff,” he said. “What’s more difficult to simulate is relationships and understanding how relationships work in an organization.”

While at ɫ��Ƶ, Cullity also served as president of the Graduate Professional Student Association and criminal justice honor society. Now she is the director of young professionals for the AGA Boston chapter, an organization for workers and students involved in government financial management.

Her commitment to giving back stands out, Marion said.

“Her leadership and willingness to help others really sets her apart,” he said. “The way Rachel does it is in a very collegial, very supportive, very collaborative way.”

Cullity credits Marion’s course with planting the seed that the burgeoning field might hold a viable opportunity for her.

“He told me that I could do it,” she said. “I just had to stay focused.”

Do you have a ɫ��Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I definitely wouldn’t have been where I am today if it wasn’t for Bridgewater. I met a lot of people and learned a lot of leadership skills, and then I also had support of my professors like Dave Marion.

Rachel Cullity, ’21, G’23

Tags

Cybersecurity

Internships

Graduate Studies

Alumni Profile

Broadening Horizons

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 14:30:11 +0000

Broadening Horizons HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Wed, 09/27/2023 - 10:30

First-ever graduate student study abroad class a success

September 28, 2023

Heather Harris Michonski

As she walked the streets of Lisbon, Portugal, this summer, there were moments when Jennifer Mederios, G’24, felt a sense of disbelief: It was hard to accept she was so many miles from home.

“As we get older, we don’t have as many opportunities, but the learning you get from going abroad is very different than learning in a classroom,” said Jennifer, who is working toward her master’s degree in social work.

Jennifer, and 17 other ɫ��Ƶ graduate students from across all disciplines, made the journey to Portugal as part of a graduate-level course called Leadership and Wellness. It is the first-ever graduate-only study abroad program ɫ��Ƶ has offered.

The trip was partially funded by the David B. Jenkins Graduate Research Initiative Endowed Fund.

Jennifer also received a social justice award to help partially fund her expenses from The Home for Little Wanderers, where she works as a program director.

During their time in Portugal, students visited organizations to learn more about the country’s social services and mental health offerings, and how they compare to those in the United States.

They also soaked in the local culture, cuisine, museums, and even spontaneously snuck in a Harry Styles concert.

“There was such a sense of belonging with our group,” Jennifer said. “I think there is a different maturity for graduate students, the energy isn’t so much about being in another country, but about learning together. It was just a great experience.”

The program is the brainchild of Dr. Lisa Boehm, dean of graduate studies, and Assistant Director of Graduate Studies Dr. Ally McVickar.

“We’ve been brainstorming unique ways to build community with graduate students who have very busy schedules and spend limited time on campus,” McVickar said. “Last fall we reached out to Study Abroad and found out that an all-graduate student course hadn’t been done before, we had to try.”

In creating the program, Boehm said, they wanted the students to develop connections around the world, global knowledge, and an intercultural skillset.

“All three are crucially important in today’s world,” she said. “Often students from less affluent backgrounds cannot compete with this type of global fluency on the job market when they go up against graduates who may have had the resources to support ample international travel opportunities.”

What they also found in creating the course is ɫ��Ƶ graduate students are hungry for study abroad opportunities. After sending out a student survey to gauge the interest level, more than 100 responses arrived within the first 48 hours.

Inspired, Boehm and McVickar worked with staffers from the Minnock Institute, Study Abroad, the Educational Leadership Department and others to pull it all together.

Once the program became available for applications the response was overwhelmingly positive, so much so, a waitlist had to be created.

“We weren’t sure how many students were going to sign up, but I think it shows there is a desire for graduate study abroad opportunities,” said graduate studies Associate Director Katie-Ann Mason, who accompanied the group on the trip as a chaperone. “It was a hugely successful, engaging trip. Not just from an academic standpoint, but culturally as well. Some students have even shared it was life-changing, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Jennifer would agree, the trip was indeed impactful.

“This experience has truly inspired me to not be afraid to try new things,” she said. “I hope ɫ��Ƶ is able to offer more opportunities like this in the future.”

According to Boehm, the goal is to create similar programs that cover a variety of topics and appeal to a wide range of students.

“We plan to offer this opportunity, or one like it, every other year. We hope that students can plan for adding this experience to their curriculum,” she said.

Do you have a ɫ��Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

As we get older, we don’t have as many opportunities, but the learning you get from going abroad is very different than learning in a classroom.

Jennifer Mederios, G’24

Tags

Graduate Studies

Study Abroad

A ‘Degree in Tenacity’

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 00:51:58 +0000

A ‘Degree in Tenacity’ BBENSON@bridgew.edu Fri, 06/24/2022 - 20:51

Graduate commencement celebrates commitment and persistence

June 24, 2022

Brian Benson

Sam Alloy, G’22, knows what it means to persist.

Once told he shouldn’t be an elementary teacher because he has autism, Sam never gave up. He eventually found a community of professors at ɫ��Ƶ who offered unwavering support and believed in him.

“I have gotten through everything that stood in the way. It’s been a very long road,” Sam said, adding: “Stubbornness is a virtue.”

Sam was one of 490 graduates celebrated at the College of Graduate Studies’ Class of 2022 commencement. With Gillette Stadium towering above them, the newest ɫ��Ƶ alumni reflected on the challenges they faced: adapting to remote learning during COVID-19; juggling classes, work and raising families; and living in a deeply divided world coping with war and economic challenges.

“The fire of adversity has been very hot indeed,” President Frederick W. Clark Jr., ’83, told graduates in his address. “Because of that adversity, you, my friends, are emerging stronger than before.”

Times like these provide the best opportunities to challenge oneself, just as the members of the Class of 2022 did, said student speaker Em Sandman, ’19, G’22.

“Tenacious people do not wait around, they find a way to make things happen, and best believe, they get it done,” said Sandman, who earned a master’s degree in criminal justice. “Tonight, we graduate with a complementary degree in tenacity.”

Massachusetts Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago, who received an honorary Doctor of Public Service, drew parallels to his college experience in the 1970s. Then, as now, war and rising gas prices dominated the headlines. But today’s graduates also faced a pandemic.

“I am more optimistic because I look at the graduates and what you have gone through to earn your academic credentials,” Santiago said. “I know that you will bring about a better future than perhaps any of us did.”

Catherine Harvey, ’19, G’22, who studied social work in graduate school, is already making a difference as a crisis clinical coordinator at Aspire Health Alliance, a job that fulfills her longtime career goals.

“I’ve had a passion for mental health and service and just helping people,” she said.

Sandman said the class is ready to make their mark on a world where she hopes equity overcomes oppression and hate.

“We’ve done hard things and we stay ready to conquer even harder ones,” she said, adding: “Our potential is too powerful to conserve.”

Tenacious people do not wait around, they find a way to make things happen, and best believe, they get it done. Tonight, we graduate with a complementary degree in tenacity.

student speaker Em Sandman, ’19, G’22

Tags

Commencement

Class of 2022

Graduate Studies

Photo by Zachary Allen, '24

Lifelong Learner

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 15:31:54 +0000

Lifelong Learner BBENSON@bridgew.edu Tue, 06/14/2022 - 11:31

Graduate student proves it's never too late to further her education

June 16, 2022

Brian Benson

When Lesly Freed, G’22, last crossed a commencement stage, Richard Nixon was president, “American Pie” and “Lean on Me” were among the songs that topped the Billboard charts, and a gallon of gas cost just 36 cents.

Fifty years after her undergraduate graduation, Lesly will again proudly wear a cap and gown, a testament to the fact that it is never too late to further one’s education.

“I always want to be a lifelong learner,” said Lesly, who is earning a master’s degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) at ɫ��Ƶ. “I always want to set another goal for myself.”

Lesly, who received an undergraduate degree in sociology from Boston University, has held music, office support, writing and education positions. Living in the multicultural community of Randolph, Lesly became interested in serving its diverse populace. She has worked in K-12 and adult education for the past decade, primarily teaching English as a second language.

Much of her TESOL knowledge was gained informally on the job, however, Lesly craved a degree in the field.

“The program at Bridgewater was terrific,” said Lesly, who appreciated interactions with her classmates and professors. “They helped me explore questions I didn’t even know I had. … I loved every minute of it.”

Through ɫ��Ƶ courses, she expanded her knowledge of lesson structure and planning, strategies for teaching a second language, and the history of language.

“She was a pleasure to work with, a lovely person,” said Dr. Yulia Stakhnevich, a TESOL professor. “She was very smart and very generous with her time to help other students review their work. That’s very valuable when students can have a community of learners.”

Lesly, who aspires to work with college students or advanced English learners, encourages others to return to school.

“I just think it’s wonderful for the soul,” she said. “Maybe you’ll find another passion to work on. Try to experience as much as you possibly can. Keep your eyes, ears and mind open.”

When she crosses the commencement stage on June 24, Don McLean’s music probably won’t be blaring from the Gillette Stadium speakers. But Lesly will have the support of 14 wildly cheering family members and friends, including her college roommates from 50 years ago.

“I’m delighted,” she said. “I’m thrilled.”

Do you have a ɫ��Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I always want to be a lifelong learner, I always want to set another goal for myself.

Lesly Freed, G'22

Tags

Class of 2022

Student Spotlight

Graduate Studies

Commencement

Photo by Mackenzie Rubitschung, '21

Super Engaging

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 19:07:44 +0000

Super Engaging BBENSON@bridgew.edu Tue, 12/28/2021 - 14:07

Graduate student uses animated characters to connect with students

December 30, 2021

Brian Benson

The children’s animated television program PJ Masks likely isn’t on the binge-watching lists of many ɫ��Ƶ graduate students. But Nikki Maloney, ’16, G’22, has a good reason for immersing herself in the show’s world of superheroes.

For Nikki, an adapted physical education teacher for the West Bridgewater Public Schools, it’s about connecting with and inspiring the special education students she serves.

“I was trying to find a way to engage my students,” said Nikki, who is pursuing a graduate degree in adapted physical education. “I started (in West Bridgewater) last year during the middle of the pandemic where half of the school kids were remote learning. It was really difficult for me to get to know my students.”

After learning about students’ favorite heroes, Nikki made activity books based on those characters’ worlds. Students eagerly completed challenges cleverly designed to improve their gross motor skills (defined as tasks that involve large muscles in the upper body, as well as whole-body movements). A student needing to work on balance, for example, crossed a balance beam to help a favorite character escape a predicament.

“They got to take over a little more,” Nikki said. “It was more self-directed.”

This out-of-the-box thinking is a great way to relate to students, said Dr. Matthew Patey, an assistant professor of health and kinesiology.

“Sometimes that’s all you need,” said Patey, who specializes in adaptive physical education and is advising Nikki on her thesis. “It’s a brilliant strategy on Nikki’s end to incorporate things kids like and get that fun factor.”

Nikki excels at connecting classroom lessons to her job and has the right attitude for a successful career, Patey said.

“This whole area is clearly Nikki's passion,” he said.

Serving students with disabilities runs in the Maloney family. Nikki’s mother, Maura, ’17, has worked in special education classrooms as a paraprofessional, and, more recently, teacher. And Nikki befriended students with disabilities while growing up in Foxboro.

As an undergraduate, she appreciated a course with Dr. J. Edward Carter that covered the developing of individualized education programs and working with parents.

“We had such great conversations because it was a small class,” recalled Nikki, who majored in special education and psychology. “It was a safe environment to ask questions.”

Now in the adapted physical education program, she praised Patey for highlighting how physical education lessons transfer to other classes.

Nikki sees that on the job as her students apply the confidence they gain in physical education to other courses and interactions with their peers. They grow and flourish, just as she did at ɫ��Ƶ.

“I learned so much in terms of being an educator and how to create an inclusive environment for my students,” she said.

Do you have a ɫ��Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I learned so much in terms of being an educator and how to create an inclusive environment for my students.

Nikki Maloney, ’16, G’22

Tags

Graduate Studies

Student Spotlight

Alumni Profile

Focus on Diversity

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 18:37:14 +0000

Focus on Diversity BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 12/01/2021 - 13:37

Graduate programs see 71 percent increase in students of color

December 2, 2021

Brian Benson

At her previous university, Hind Al Jurf, ’20, G’22, focused her time and energy on passing exams. Now, as part of an increasingly diverse graduate student body at ɫ��Ƶ, she’s also mastering the very skills she knows prospective employers will demand.

“I’m not the same person I was when I entered the university,” said Hind, who came to ɫ��Ƶ as an undergraduate transfer student and is working on a Master of Business Administration degree. “The amount of opportunities and activities and assignments you can do really helped me learn.”

As the region diversifies, ɫ��Ƶ has seen the number of its graduate students of color increase 71 percent between fall of 2016 and fall of 2020. As of 2020, there were 248 such students enrolled, comprising 15 percent of the graduate student body.

The growth partly reflects a focus on encouraging Bridgewater undergraduates to continue their studies with an advanced degree. Early admission allows some undergraduates to take courses that count simultaneously for master’s and bachelor’s degrees.

College administrators also focus on hiring more faculty of color. Meanwhile, agreements with schools and employers such as the University of Cabo Verde; Dean College; and the human service organization, Justice Resource Institute, encourage their students and workers to further their education.

“We’re all working to make sure our students in graduate programs reflect the population in Southeastern Massachusetts,” said Paul Cincotta, graduate admissions director. “Having a diverse population in any graduate program really leads to a more enriching education for all students because of the perspectives everybody brings.”

Kemi Taiwo, G’23, appreciates interacting with classmates and professors in the public administration program.

“You can take whatever it is you have been talking about in class and put it into your personal life,” Kemi said.

Kemi, who took classes online from her native Nigeria for much of the pandemic, remained committed to her education even during Zoom meetings at midnight Nigerian time.

Now studying on campus, she also works in the Academic Achievement Center, building the confidence of students whose first language is not English.

Being a ɫ��Ƶ graduate student, in turn, helped Kemi come out of her shell.

“It’s exposing me to America,” she said.

Hind, whose undergraduate math professors recommended the MBA program, appreciated the realistic simulations in Dr. Stanley Ross’ strategic management class.

“We do case studies and write reports and discuss it as if it’s a real company,” she said. “It’s a challenge, but I like it.”

Both students praised the broad applicability of their graduate work.

“It helps very much,” Hind said of the MBA degree. “You’re a generalist. You can work in a bank, do accounting, or have a management role. It opens up options to do everything.”

Do you have a ɫ��Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

We’re all working to make sure our students in graduate programs reflect the population in Southeastern Massachusetts. Having a diverse population in any graduate program really leads to a more enriching education for all students because of the perspectives everybody brings.

Paul Cincotta, graduate admissions director

Tags

Graduate Studies

Success Stories

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 14:51:53 +0000

Success Stories BBENSON@bridgew.edu Tue, 07/20/2021 - 10:51

Graduate students look back over their time at the university

July 22, 2021

Brian Benson

Members of the College of Graduate Studies’ Classes of 2020 and 2021 are bringing compassion, tenacity and ingenuity to the world. And they credit their ɫ��Ƶ education with making it possible.

We asked several graduates to reflect on their time as Bears and how ɫ��Ƶ set them up for success.

A Lesson in Perseverance

Jessica Mello’s advisees at Argosy Collegiate Charter School will not have far to look for inspiration: Mello’s higher education journey shows that obstacles are merely things to be surmounted.

The Somerset resident worked on her master’s degree in student affairs counseling while working, pregnant, raising her three children, and coping with a learning disability that makes reading more difficult.

“It was really hard being a non-traditional, first-generation college student with a disability most people didn’t know about,” said Mello, a visual learner who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from ɫ��Ƶ after graduating from Bristol Community College.

Mello, who is finishing her fieldwork this summer, didn’t share with others her disability until graduate school. The counselor education curriculum includes lessons on serving students with disabilities, prompting Mello to open up about her personal experience.

“They were super supportive,” she said. “I can’t say enough about the counselor education professors. That’s one of the things I love about the graduate program.”

Through mock counseling sessions and other hands-on learning, faculty brought out her confidence.

“I felt very prepared thanks to professors like Dr. (Katherine) Bender, Dr. (Nikki) Freeburg and Dr. (Victoria) Bacon who really challenge you in unique and encouraging ways,” she said.

As Argosy’s new dean of college and career readiness, she will serve students taking dual enrollment college classes and encourage middle schoolers to reach for their dreams. She looks forward to sharing her own story to illustrate what is possible.

“They’re capable of doing anything if they put their mind to it,” she said. “I know achieving my degrees is something that can never be taken from me.”

Illuminating new opportunities

Dr. Gale McCall, G’20, once didn’t know Bridgewater State even existed. The South Carolinian wasn’t familiar with northern schools.

Fortunately, her mentor was Michael Akinbola, G’17, an assistant athletic trainer and physical therapist for the New England Patriots. The ɫ��Ƶ graduate recommended his alma mater’s athletic training program.

“I feel like I developed a lot of good relationships,” said McCall. “From everyone in the College of Graduate Studies to my professors and classmates, it was pretty tight-knit.”

She appreciated the funding available to students, which she said is superior to what she sees elsewhere. So too were the clinical rotations, where McCall worked at Harvard University, Stonehill College, and the Texas Legends of the NBA G League.

McCall, who earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Emory University, is already achieving her goal of working with professional athletes: She was head athletic trainer for the G League’s Long Island Nets this past season. And McCall knows her Bridgewater connections will be there for her into the future.

“If you say you want to do it, someone in that network is going to help you do it,” she said. “Every person I’ve met at ɫ��Ƶ was a little bit of sunshine amid all the snow and rain in Massachusetts.”

Commitment to service

Cassandra Laslie, ’16, G’20, and Christopher Welch, ’18, G’20, came to Bridgewater as undergraduates unsure what their futures would hold. They graduated with Master of Public Administration degrees and a new outlook on rewarding careers.

“ɫ��Ƶ has reshaped my life and my worldview,” said Welch, who is from Fall River and aims to earn a doctorate in environmental public policy.

Laslie, who is from East Bridgewater and studied art as an undergraduate, knew little about public and nonprofit work until graduate school.

“The word ‘constituent’ wasn’t even in my vocabulary,” she recalled. “It’s opened up my eyes to a totally different world.”

Laslie interned at Massachusetts Wonderfund, a nonprofit supporting children served by the state Department of Children and Families. She teaches high school art and plans to continue her ɫ��Ƶ education in the fall to advance her teaching skills. Welch gained hands-on experience at Cape Cod Commission, a regional planning agency. He is a management fellow in the General Manager's Office for the Town of Norwood and aims to become a regional planner or a town manager.

“ɫ��Ƶ helped me to understand what my purpose is and what career I would like to pursue,” said Welch, who has a graduate certificate in applied anthropology and bachelor’s degree in history.

Both benefited from ɫ��Ƶ’s commitment to student success. Welch, whose mother survived COVID-19, received assistance paying his rent during the pandemic from the Student Emergency Fund. He appreciated the help of many political science professors, especially during the uncertain summer of 2020. Laslie praises the support of Dr. Melinda Tarsi, who she says will be a mentor and friend long after graduation.

“Bridgewater State overall has made me a more confident person,” she said. “They’ve introduced me to a ton of people who I know will be there for me when I’m looking for jobs.”

Twice as Nice

Patriots fan Taylor Schon, ’20, G’21, is eager to show off her accomplishments at commencement on the Gillette Stadium field. Thanks to her determination, she gets to do it twice.

“To me, it’s just a whole different feeling and experience because I am able to go and celebrate myself with my classmates,” said Schon, who will be recognized for her Master of Business Administration degree on July 29 and bachelor’s in management the next night.

But she knows her time at ɫ��Ƶ was about more than a ceremony.

“I think Bridgewater overall has shown me with my education what I can do in the real world,” said Schon, who is from Stoneham and completing her coursework this summer.

She’s a marketing assistant at engineering firm Weston & Sampson, a company for which she interned. Schon, who played ice hockey as a Bear, hopes for a career tied to her passion for both athletics and environmental protection.

She praised Dr. Kathleen Ferris-Costa, an associate professor in the Department of Management and Marketing, for her unwavering support and encouragement.

“Grad school is a lot different than undergrad,” she said. “It really opens your network and allows you to meet a lot more people.”

Do you have a ɫ��Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I think Bridgewater overall has shown me with my education what I can do in the real world.

Taylor Schon, ’20, G’21

Tags

Commencement

Class of 2020

Class of 2021

Graduate Studies

Bus photo by Zachary Allen, '24

Early Start

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:21:23 +0000

Early Start BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 03/17/2021 - 11:21

Student makes the grade thanks to early graduate school admission

March 18, 2021

Brian Benson

Lishanna Postell, ’21, G’22, loves studying the human body, however she faced a financial roadblock to earning an advanced degree. That is until she discovered ɫ��Ƶ’s early admissions program.

“It saved me,” said Lishanna, a physical education major with an eye on a graduate level strength-and-conditioning degree. “Financially, where I am right now, I wouldn’t have been able to graduate with a master’s.”

Early admission allows ɫ��Ƶ undergraduates such as Lishanna to take graduate courses that simultaneously count toward their bachelor’s and master’s degrees, thereby reducing the number of courses they need to take to earn both degrees.

That’s a big deal for Lishanna, who receives tuition reimbursement for serving as a senior airman in the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 203rd intelligence squadron. She would have used up her reimbursement funding before completing graduate school were it not for the early admissions program.

Now, she sees a path to continue her studies and reach her eventual goal of serving soldiers, police officers and others engaged in physically demanding careers.

“I want to work with people who have to use their bodies for their job,” she said. “I’m obsessed with the human body. I am obsessed with learning.”

That passion for education might have surprised a younger Lishanna, who once struggled to concentrate on schoolwork. She took some online college classes after graduating high school in 2011 and then entered the National Guard.

Studying nutrition, neuroscience, exercise, and related topics helped her focus on academics.

“It was through these different avenues of learning about the body that I discovered my potential,” said Lishanna, who is also a personal trainer.

Her potential is apparent to Dr. Ellyn Robinson, a professor in the Department of Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies.

“She’s been a great role model for the new kids,” Robinson said. “Lishanna really, genuinely seems to be here to learn.”

Her career ambitions perfectly combine her military experience and a strong ɫ��Ƶ education, said Robinson, who has helped Lishanna in her quest for post-graduation employment.

While Lishanna misses the hands-on learning impossible in online classes, she praises professors such as Robinson for going the extra mile to ensure students continue to receive a valuable education in a pandemic.

“The learning experience has not wavered,” she said. “I feel I'm walking away with an excellent level of education because of all my professors.”

Do you have a ɫ��Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

(Early admissions) saved me. Financially, where I am right now, I wouldn’t have been able to graduate with a master’s.

Lishanna Postell, ’21, G’22

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Graduate Studies