Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. wasn’t to begin with planned to go to Lehigh but can with full confidence point out that she generated just the right choice immediately following becoming hired to run to own this new track-and-field class. Since an effective around three-go out scholar–earning the girl student, master’s and you may doctoral values all off Lehigh-O’Connell credits nearly all the lady experience in the Lehigh so you’re able to the girl newest elite success as a beneficial superintendent. “You will find no chance We could’ve known it at the time, but many of the experience We learned thanks to being an athlete, sessions track as a scholar assistant, plus in the brand new class room during the Lehigh are utilized every single day once the good superintendent.”
Already superintendent of Palisades School Area within the Top Bucks State, Pennsylvania, O’Connell could have been patient about academic achievement, creating scholar wellness and you may raising the instruction by making use of technology, with an on-line understanding academy for students that circulated more than ten years back.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. possess the President’s Tailgate with her daughters and you can Lehigh Chairman Joseph J. Helble ’82 until the 157th appointment within Lehigh and Lafayette sporting events communities.
All this functions has actually garnered the girl not only the fresh new superintendent title, nevertheless condition out-of Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the season having 2022, and you may while in the a good pandemic, however. “[The fresh prize] have my identity involved, but it is really on the our very own entire people of people.” O’Connell goes on, “I favor my personal occupations to have a lot of causes. Regarding one to feedback we are tend to capable of some thing about they.”
With this exact same time to have caring regarding anyone, she creates chances throughout each class fulfilling for everyone so you can display what is heading well yourself and you can skillfully, “We anticipate so it element of each appointment,” O’Connell states. “I favor reading on what is going really inside for every coworker’s lifestyle, particularly during difficult times when we can just live towards negative.”
Once i work at people, I would like to pay attention to from their store what’s supposed better and what they wish to see transform
O’Connell’s classes at Lehigh when you look at the English and anthropology as the an enthusiastic undergraduate pupil, immediately after which instructional frontrunners within master’s and you may doctoral level, the drove domestic the concept that the people regarding a residential district, or perhaps in O’Connell’s case, a college system, is essential to creating a profitable works and you will studying ecosystem. O’Connell has good opinions that revolve as much as teamwork, getting some one with her, marketing, partnership and management. She claims the educational Leaders Program on College or university regarding Studies wishing this lady in some suggests. “I always laugh that merely class I [might have made use of within] Lehigh is the one within the meteorology,” O’Connell says, detailing it could come in handy whenever this lady has and work out inclement weather requires the school system.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. holds a Lehigh recreations head protection from the President’s Tailgate prior to the fresh new 157th edition of the Competition.
This lady attention focuses on the girl strong love of the class, students and you can strengthening long-term relationships with each communication
It was also by way of the lady self-confident enjoy once the a student-athlete one she attained a way to act as a group master and you can started initially to understand what management works out. She credits so it as among the of many determining minutes regarding her date in the Lehigh. Once the a frontrunner you will be, “Usually provided simple tips to promote and being intentional on the creating the room to accomplish this to help you bring someone along with her and act as a team.” O’Connell claims much of that practice started as the a chief, after which because the a scholar assistant, into the track-and-field class.
O’Connell’s advice for some one trying to get a leadership reputation are of the wearing experience because of the trying to find leaders potential contained in this circumstances they have been already wanting https://datingranking.net/lumen-review/. She as well as invited people wanting teaching to make contact with her.
An Easton, Pennsylvania, indigenous, O’Connell will continue to stay connected to Lehigh because of the exercises as the a keen adjunct professor, offering for the dissertation committees so when settee of the Lehigh Studies Council into College or university off Training. She is the brand new 1995 class correspondent for Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin. She particularly have planning to sporting events, and you will try thrilled to be able to promote the lady girl so you’re able to the latest 157th edition of your own Rivalry ranging from Lehigh and you can Lafayette inside November.
And also as Lehigh celebrates 50 years off coeducation, O’Connell reflected towards milestone stating that the new potential female already provides are a gift on the women that came ahead of them.