Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. was not to start with slated to go to Lehigh but can with certainty claim that she generated the best decision shortly after are recruited to run having brand new track and field group. While the a beneficial about three-go out graduate–generating the lady student, master’s and you will doctoral values the off Lehigh-O’Connell credit several of the lady event during the Lehigh so you’re able to the woman current top-notch profits while the a beneficial superintendent. “There clearly was no way I could’ve understood they at that time, however, many of enjoy We learned using becoming a runner, instruction track because the a scholar assistant, and in the latest class room during the Lehigh are all put daily just like the a beneficial superintendent.”
Already superintendent away from Palisades College or university Area into the Upper Dollars State, Pennsylvania, O’Connell could have been patient regarding the instructional triumph, producing student fitness and you will enhancing the guides by applying tech, which includes an internet reading academy for students you to introduced over 10 years ago.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, www.datingranking.net/escort-directory/nashville/ ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. has actually new President’s Tailgate along with her girl and you may Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ’82 before 157th fulfilling within Lehigh and you can Lafayette recreations organizations.
This works have gained the girl not only this new superintendent identity, although condition of Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the season to own 2022, and you may while in the a pandemic, nevertheless. “[New honor] features my personal title in it, but it’s very throughout the our very own entire party of individuals.” O’Connell continues, “I enjoy my occupations to have way too many causes. Whenever i run college students, I would like to pay attention to from them what is going really and you will what they would like to look for change. Out of one to viewpoints our company is commonly able to do anything regarding it.”
So that as Lehigh honors 50 years of coeducation, O’Connell reflected for the milestone stating that this new options women already provides is a present throughout the women that emerged ahead of her or him
With that exact same times to possess compassionate from the anyone, she brings the possibility throughout the for each and every people appointment for everyone to share what is actually heading really in person and you can expertly, “We enjoy it section of each meeting,” O’Connell says. “Everyone loves reading about what is going better during the each coworker’s existence, specifically during problematic times when we can only live for the negative.”
O’Connell’s classes on Lehigh into the English and you will anthropology once the an enthusiastic student college student, after which academic frontrunners in the master’s and you can doctoral level, the drove household the theory your community away from a residential area, or in O’Connell’s circumstances, a school system, is extremely important to making a successful works and understanding ecosystem. O’Connell have strong values that revolve around teamwork, providing anyone together, marketing, commitment and you may frontrunners. She states the learning Frontrunners Program throughout the College from Studies prepared their in some means. “I usually laugh the only classification I [could have utilized within] Lehigh is just one inside the meteorology,” O’Connell claims, detailing it can come in handy whenever she has while making poor weather needs the school system.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. holds a Lehigh sporting events head protection from the President’s Tailgate ahead of the newest 157th version of your own Competition.
It actually was and additionally courtesy this lady positive enjoy since the a student-runner you to definitely she attained a way to act as a team master and started initially to know what management turns out. She credit this as one of the of many identifying minutes from this lady date on Lehigh. Once the a chief you are, “Usually offered how exactly to express being deliberate on performing this new room to accomplish this to provide individuals together with her and you may behave as a group.” O’Connell says most of one to habit been given that a chief, right after which due to the fact a graduate assistant, to the track and field party.
This lady focus concentrates on the woman strong passion for the brand new class room, students and strengthening long-lasting relationship with every communications
O’Connell’s advice for some body looking to see a leadership updates are from the putting on sense of the looking for frontrunners solutions within this situations these are typically currently trying to find. She together with invited those individuals shopping for knowledge to make contact with this lady.
An enthusiastic Easton, Pennsylvania, indigenous, O’Connell continues to remain linked to Lehigh from the training as an enthusiastic adjunct professor, helping into the dissertation committees so that as sofa of your Lehigh Research Council towards the University out-of Studies. She is also the 1995 classification correspondent to have Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin. She specifically features going to football, and you can was happy to have the ability to give the girl daughters so you’re able to new 157th model of the Rivalry ranging from Lehigh and you can Lafayette during the November.