Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. wasn’t to start with slated to visit Lehigh but can with full confidence say that she made ideal choice immediately following getting recruited to operate to own this new track and field party. Once the a about three-time scholar–making her student, master’s and you will doctoral level all the from Lehigh-O’Connell loans many of the girl experience at the Lehigh to their latest elite group victory due to the fact good superintendent. “Discover no way We could’ve identified it during the time, but some of one’s skills I read as a consequence of becoming a runner, lessons tune just like the a graduate secretary, as well as in brand new class from the Lehigh all are used every day due to the fact an excellent superintendent.”
Already superintendent out-of Palisades College Area when you look at the Top Bucks Condition, Pennsylvania, O’Connell has been diligent on the academic victory, promoting scholar health and you can increasing the curriculum by making use of tech, with an online studying academy for students you to definitely revealed more a decade ago.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. features the new President’s Tailgate with her daughters and Lehigh Chairman Joseph J. Helble ’82 before 157th conference involving the Lehigh and you may Lafayette football teams.
This work has actually gained this lady not just the brand new superintendent name, nevertheless state away from Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the year to have 2022, and while in the an effective pandemic, however. “[This new honor] features my personal label inside it, but it is really in the our very own entire cluster men and women.” O’Connell continues, “I favor my jobs having too many factors. From one to views our company is will able to perform something regarding it.”
With that same time to own caring throughout the some one, she brings chances throughout the each cluster appointment for everybody to display what’s going better privately and expertly, “We enjoy so it part of for each conference,” O’Connell states. “Everyone loves hearing on what is certainly going well within the for every single coworker’s lifetime, particularly while in the difficult situations where we are able to simply live to the bad.”
Whenever i manage students, I want to pay attention to from them what is going better and you may what they would like to find change
O’Connell’s kinds from the Lehigh inside the English and you can anthropology because the an student scholar, and academic leadership at master’s and you may doctoral level, all of the drove home the theory the community from a residential area, or in O’Connell’s instance, a college program, is a must to making a profitable performs and you may discovering environment. O’Connell features good viewpoints one revolve around teamwork, getting people together, networking, partnership and you may management. She says the educational Management Program about University off Education prepared the woman in certain means. “I joke the only category We [possess put at] Lehigh is but one when you look at the meteorology,” O’Connell claims, detailing it might come in handy when she has to make inclement weather calls for the institution program.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. keeps a good Lehigh sports helmet within President’s Tailgate ahead of brand new 157th release of the Competition.
Their appeal concentrates on their deep love dating kik of this new class, people and you may building long-lasting matchmaking with every communications
It absolutely was plus owing to the lady positive knowledge once the a student-athlete one to she attained the opportunity to act as a group master and you can started to know very well what leaders ends up. She loans this as one of the of many identifying minutes regarding her date within Lehigh. As the a chief you might be, “Always provided how-to discuss being deliberate regarding performing the fresh new space to accomplish this so you’re able to bring some one along with her and you will behave as a team.” O’Connell claims the majority of you to routine started due to the fact a master, then given that a scholar assistant, on the track and field party.
O’Connell’s advice about anyone seeking see a management reputation is actually of the wearing feel from the trying to find leadership possibilities in this circumstances they’re currently seeking. She and additionally invited those individuals in search of exercises to make contact with the girl.
An Easton, Pennsylvania, local, O’Connell will continue to sit associated with Lehigh because of the exercises since the an adjunct professor, serving towards the dissertation committees and also as couch of your own Lehigh Studies Council into the University out of Training. She also is the newest 1995 category correspondent getting Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin. She particularly has browsing football, and you can try thrilled to be able to give the lady girl in order to new 157th version of Rivalry ranging from Lehigh and Lafayette inside the November.
So when Lehigh remembers 50 years out-of coeducation, O’Connell shown to the milestone stating that the new potential girls already has are a present from the ladies who showed up just before him or her.