Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. wasn’t in the first place slated to visit Lehigh but can with confidence declare that she generated the best choice immediately after getting recruited to operate to have the brand new track-and-field team. Due to the fact an effective about three-big date scholar–generating the girl undergraduate, master’s and you will doctoral degrees all of the out of Lehigh-O’Connell credits many of her experiences on Lehigh so you can the lady newest professional achievements as an excellent superintendent. “There clearly was not a chance I could’ve understood it at that time, but many of the experience I learned due to being a runner, instruction song because a graduate assistant, and in the fresh new classroom during the Lehigh are all made use of everyday due to the fact a good superintendent.”
Already superintendent out of Palisades College or university Area in the Higher Cash Condition, Pennsylvania, O’Connell could have been patient on academic profits, generating student fitness and raising the training through the use of technical, which includes an online training academy for students one to circulated more 10 years before.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. provides the President’s Tailgate together daughters and you will Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ’82 up until the 157th fulfilling between the Lehigh and you will Lafayette sports communities.
This really works enjoys garnered her besides the new superintendent identity, however the county out-of Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the season to own 2022, and you will during good pandemic, still. “[The fresh new honor] features my term inside it, however it is most about the whole class of men and women.” O’Connell continues on, “I love my personal business getting too many reasons. Out of one to opinions our company is have a tendency to able to perform one thing about it.”
Thereupon exact same time for compassionate regarding people, she brings the possibility while in the per class conference for everyone to share what is actually heading really physically and you will skillfully, “I enjoy so it part of for each fulfilling,” O’Connell states. “I like reading about what is certian really inside per coworker’s lives, particularly during challenging times when we could just live towards bad.”
Whenever i work at youngsters, I would like to hear from them what exactly is going really and you may exactly what they would like to get a hold of changes
O’Connell’s classes during the Lehigh inside the English and you can anthropology as the an undergraduate scholar, immediately after which academic leaders during the master’s and you may doctoral peak, all the drove home the theory that the society from a residential area, or even in O’Connell’s circumstances, a school program, is vital to creating a successful works and studying ecosystem. O’Connell keeps solid opinions you to revolve doing teamwork, getting anybody together with her, networking, connection and you can leadership. She says the training Leaders System in the School away from Education wishing the girl in certain suggests. “I always joke the only class We [may have utilized within] Lehigh is just one during the meteorology,” O’Connell claims, noting it would be useful whenever she’s got and work out inclement weather calls for the institution program.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. keeps a beneficial Lehigh recreations helmet within President’s Tailgate prior to the 157th version of one’s Competition.
Her focus concentrates on this lady strong passion for the new class, college students and you may strengthening lasting dating with each communications
It was including using the woman self-confident feel because the students-runner one to she received an opportunity to act as a group chief and you may began to understand what frontrunners ends up. She credits which as one of the many identifying times regarding their date in the Lehigh. Because the a frontrunner you might be, “Always offered ideas on how to discuss being intentional regarding the starting this new room to do this to bring somebody together and you will act as a team.” O’Connell says a lot of that practice become due to the fact a head, immediately after which while the a graduate assistant, on track and field party.
O’Connell’s advice about individuals seeking receive a management condition was by the putting on sense by interested in frontrunners potential in this factors they truly are currently finding. She along with welcomed those individuals seeking teaching to contact this lady.
An enthusiastic Easton, Pennsylvania, indigenous, O’Connell will continue to stand connected to Lehigh of the training just like the an enthusiastic adjunct professor, offering into dissertation committees and also as settee of one’s Lehigh Research Council for the College away from Studies. She is also brand matchbox reviews new 1995 classification correspondent having Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin. She particularly has probably sporting events, and you will try happy to have the ability to promote this lady girl so you’re able to the 157th version of your own Competition between Lehigh and you can Lafayette within the November.
And as Lehigh honors 50 years out of coeducation, O’Connell reflected towards the milestone proclaiming that the newest options female already provides are a gift from the ladies who emerged in advance of him or her.