Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. was not to begin with slated to attend Lehigh but can with full confidence say that she made best choice immediately after are recruited to perform to possess the fresh track and field team. Because the a great three-date graduate–generating their student, master’s and you can doctoral degrees every out-of Lehigh-O’Connell credits lots escort Palmdale of her experiences at Lehigh so you’re able to the lady newest elite triumph while the a great superintendent. “There is no chance We could’ve recognized they at that time, but some of your own experiences I learned as a result of being an athlete, instruction track as the a graduate secretary, plus in the new classroom at Lehigh all are put each day because the a superintendent.”
Already superintendent of Palisades College Area in the Top Cash Condition, Pennsylvania, O’Connell has been diligent regarding the instructional triumph, creating pupil fitness and you can raising the training by applying technical, which has an internet reading academy for students you to definitely released over a decade before.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. possess the brand new President’s Tailgate together with her daughters and you will Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ’82 until the 157th fulfilling between your Lehigh and you may Lafayette activities groups.
This work possess earned their just this new superintendent identity, nevertheless county out of Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the season to have 2022, and you will during a good pandemic, still. “[New award] has actually my personal name in it, but it is extremely on our very own whole cluster of individuals.” O’Connell continues, “I adore my personal job to have a lot of factors. Whenever i work on college students, I wish to listen to from them what is actually going better and just what they want to select transform. Of one to viewpoints we have been will able to do some thing on the they.”
And also as Lehigh remembers half a century away from coeducation, O’Connell reflected into the milestone saying that this new possibilities girls currently features are a gift regarding women who emerged before him or her
With that exact same times getting compassionate on somebody, she creates chances during for each group fulfilling for all to show what is actually heading really actually and you may professionally, “I look ahead to which part of for every fulfilling,” O’Connell states. “I love hearing about what is certian well from inside the each coworker’s life, particularly throughout difficult situations where we can merely stay to the bad.”
O’Connell’s kinds at Lehigh inside English and you may anthropology given that an student college student, following educational leadership in the master’s and you can doctoral level, the drove family the theory your people from a community, or even in O’Connell’s circumstances, a school system, is crucial to making a successful functions and you may discovering environment. O’Connell possess solid beliefs one revolve to teamwork, getting somebody along with her, networking, connection and you may management. She claims the training Frontrunners System on College of Degree prepared their in some ways. “I joke that just class I [may have made use of within] Lehigh is certainly one into the meteorology,” O’Connell claims, noting it can come in handy when she’s got while making poor weather needs the school program.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. retains good Lehigh sporting events head protection at President’s Tailgate before the new 157th model of Rivalry.
It actually was including using their self-confident event since the students-runner you to she generated a chance to act as a team head and started initially to know what leaders works out. She credit which as among the many identifying minutes of this lady time within Lehigh. Because a frontrunner you happen to be, “Constantly considering how-to discuss being deliberate on performing brand new area to achieve this so you can promote some one along with her and work as a team.” O’Connell says most of one to routine been once the a head, after which just like the a scholar assistant, to your track and field class.
The lady notice centers around their strong love of the new class, pupils and you can strengthening lasting matchmaking with every communication
O’Connell’s advice for some one trying see a management condition is by the putting on sense by the selecting management ventures in this situations these include currently looking. She along with invited men and women seeking teaching to make contact with the girl.
An Easton, Pennsylvania, native, O’Connell continues to stand connected to Lehigh by the practise while the an adjunct teacher, offering with the dissertation committees and also as sofa of your own Lehigh Data Council toward College or university off Degree. She is also the latest 1995 category correspondent for Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin. She especially enjoys browsing activities, and you can is actually pleased to have the ability to render her girl so you’re able to the fresh new 157th edition of your Rivalry ranging from Lehigh and you will Lafayette in the November.