Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 https://datingranking.net/maiotaku-review/ Ph.D. was not originally planned to visit Lehigh but can with full confidence say that she produced suitable decision immediately following becoming recruited to run for this new track and field people. While the good three-big date graduate–earning the woman undergraduate, master’s and you can doctoral values the away from Lehigh-O’Connell credit many of this lady event in the Lehigh in order to this lady current professional victory because good superintendent. “There is not a chance We could’ve recognized they at that time, but some of one’s experience I read due to getting a runner, classes track because a scholar secretary, as well as in the new classroom at Lehigh all are made use of daily as the good superintendent.”
Currently superintendent away from Palisades University Region inside the Top Cash State, Pennsylvania, O’Connell might have been patient on instructional victory, creating pupil health and you will improving the programs through the use of technical, which includes an internet studying academy for students you to introduced more ten years back.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. keeps this new President’s Tailgate together with her girl and you will Lehigh Chairman Joseph J. Helble ’82 before the 157th meeting within Lehigh and you will Lafayette football communities.
All of this work keeps earned the lady just new superintendent term, nevertheless the state out of Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the year to have 2022, and during a pandemic, nonetheless. “[The brand new honor] has actually my personal title inside, however it is really on our very own entire class of individuals.” O’Connell continues on, “Everyone loves my personal jobs having a lot of causes. Off you to definitely viewpoints we are will able to do anything regarding it.”
Thereupon same energy to have caring on people, she produces a chance throughout the each class meeting for everyone so you can share what exactly is going better individually and you may expertly, “I enjoy that it section of for every single conference,” O’Connell claims. “I love reading on which is certainly going well in the for each and every coworker’s life, especially during tricky situations where we can merely live to your negative.”
While i work on pupils, I want to tune in to from their website what is going really and you can what they wish to select transform
O’Connell’s kinds at the Lehigh for the English and anthropology since a keen student beginner, then academic frontrunners on master’s and you will doctoral peak, all the drove home the idea that culture of a residential area, or perhaps in O’Connell’s circumstances, a college program, is a must to creating a profitable functions and studying ecosystem. O’Connell keeps solid beliefs you to rotate around teamwork, bringing someone with her, marketing, commitment and you may leaders. She states the training Leaders System from the University off Knowledge wishing her in some means. “I joke that just category I [might have utilized within] Lehigh is one in the meteorology,” O’Connell says, noting it can be useful when she’s to make poor weather calls for the school program.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. retains a great Lehigh sports helmet in the President’s Tailgate prior to the latest 157th release of the Rivalry.
The lady notice focuses primarily on their deep love of the new classroom, children and you can building long-term relationships with every communications
It had been along with due to their confident feel due to the fact students-runner one she gained the opportunity to serve as a team captain and started to understand what frontrunners works out. She loans that it as one of the of many defining moments off the lady big date in the Lehigh. Because the a commander you’re, “Constantly considering just how to discuss and being intentional about performing the new space to accomplish this so you can give some body together and you may become a team.” O’Connell claims most of one to behavior been once the a captain, and then given that a scholar assistant, towards the track-and-field people.
O’Connell’s advice about individuals seeking to get a management condition was by the gaining feel of the selecting management solutions within this points these are typically already interested in. She also asked men and women wanting exercises to get hold of this lady.
A keen Easton, Pennsylvania, native, O’Connell continues to stay connected to Lehigh by the exercises as the an enthusiastic adjunct professor, offering into dissertation committees and as chair of the Lehigh Analysis Council on College or university of Knowledge. She also is the newest 1995 group correspondent to possess Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin. She especially features attending sports, and you can are very happy to manage to provide this lady daughters to help you the fresh new 157th version of the Competition anywhere between Lehigh and you may Lafayette during the November.
And also as Lehigh remembers 50 years from coeducation, O’Connell mirrored towards milestone proclaiming that the new potential people already have was a present in the ladies who showed up ahead of her or him.