Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. was not in the first place slated to visit Lehigh but could with confidence point out that she generated the right choice immediately following getting employed to perform to own brand new track and field party. As a three-big date scholar–generating the girl undergraduate, master’s and you can doctoral level most of the from Lehigh-O’Connell credits a lot of the girl event from the Lehigh to help you this lady current elite achievements as a superintendent. “There clearly was not a chance We could’ve known they during the time, but many of one’s event I learned thanks to are an athlete, training track due to the fact a graduate assistant, plus in the brand new class room within Lehigh are common utilized every single day due to the fact a great superintendent.”
Already superintendent from Palisades College or university Area into the Upper Cash Condition, Pennsylvania, O’Connell might have been patient regarding informative triumph, producing pupil fitness and you can enhancing the courses through the use of technology, which includes an internet learning academy for students one launched over ten years ago.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. keeps the newest President’s Tailgate together with her girl and you can Lehigh Chairman Joseph J. Helble ’82 until the 157th fulfilling between your Lehigh and you will Lafayette activities communities.
All of this work have earned their besides this new superintendent name, nevertheless county off Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the season for 2022, and you can during a great pandemic, nevertheless. “[The new honor] has actually my term inside, but it’s most about our entire people of individuals.” O’Connell goes on mingle2 reddit, “I adore my occupations having too many grounds. Regarding one to viewpoints we have been tend to able to perform things on it.”
Thereupon exact same energy getting compassionate in the anybody, she brings the opportunity during each group appointment for everyone to help you share what is heading really yourself and you may professionally, “We look ahead to so it part of per conference,” O’Connell states. “I really like reading on which goes better during the for every coworker’s lives, particularly while in the problematic situations where we are able to merely stay for the negative.”
When i focus on students, I wish to hear from them what’s supposed really and you will exactly what they wish to pick transform
O’Connell’s classes in the Lehigh inside the English and you will anthropology once the an enthusiastic student student, immediately after which informative leaders on master’s and doctoral level, every drove household the theory that people out-of a community, or in O’Connell’s instance, a school program, is extremely important to creating a successful performs and you can training ecosystem. O’Connell has strong thinking that revolve up to teamwork, providing individuals with her, networking, partnership and you may leaders. She claims the learning Leadership Program on College or university regarding Education wishing the girl in a few ways. “I always laugh that the only class I [have made use of in the] Lehigh is just one from inside the meteorology,” O’Connell states, listing it can be useful whenever she has and come up with inclement weather calls for the college program.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. keeps a Lehigh sports helmet at the President’s Tailgate ahead of the new 157th edition of the Competition.
The lady notice targets their strong passion for this new class, youngsters and you can strengthening long-term relationship with every correspondence
It actually was plus thanks to the lady self-confident feel just like the a student-runner you to she generated the opportunity to serve as a team chief and you will started to know what leadership works out. She credits which among the of many determining moments of the woman day on Lehigh. As a frontrunner you are, “Usually given simple tips to express and being deliberate from the doing the latest place to do so so you’re able to bring people together with her and you can behave as a group.” O’Connell claims much of one to behavior already been once the a captain, and due to the fact a scholar secretary, towards the track and field party.
O’Connell’s advice about some one seeking receive an authority reputation is from the putting on experience by selecting management possibilities inside situations they’re currently selecting. She and welcomed men and women seeking training to get hold of their.
An Easton, Pennsylvania, local, O’Connell will continue to remain connected to Lehigh from the knowledge as a keen adjunct teacher, providing for the dissertation committees so that as couch of your own Lehigh Investigation Council for the College regarding Knowledge. She is also the 1995 group correspondent getting Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin. She particularly possess attending sports, and you will was pleased to have the ability to render the girl girl to help you the newest 157th version of the Rivalry anywhere between Lehigh and Lafayette within the November.
So when Lehigh honors 50 years out of coeducation, O’Connell shown into the milestone stating that new possibilities females already has actually is a present from the women that arrived before her or him.