2022 Pennsylvania Superintendent of the season Bridget O’Connell Yields Relationship, Community Community

Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. wasn’t originally slated to visit Lehigh but may confidently declare that she produced the right choice after being employed to perform having brand new track and field party. Since the a around three-day graduate–earning the woman student, master’s and doctoral level all of the of Lehigh-O’Connell loans many of the girl experiences on Lehigh in order to this lady newest elite group profits given that a beneficial superintendent. “There clearly was no way We could’ve recognized they during the time, however, many of skills I learned using being an athlete, classes song because the a scholar secretary, plus the fresh class at the Lehigh all are put each and every day once the a good superintendent.”

Already superintendent of Palisades College Area into the Top Dollars State, Pennsylvania, O’Connell could have been patient throughout the educational profits, producing college student wellness and raising the training by applying technical, with an internet training academy for college students you to definitely introduced more than ten years before.

Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. enjoys the latest President’s Tailgate together girl and you may Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ’82 until the 157th fulfilling within Lehigh and you may Lafayette football groups.

This really works possess garnered the girl just new superintendent label, although state of Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the season to possess 2022, and you may during an excellent pandemic, nevertheless. “[The fresh new award] has my term involved, but it is really in the all of our whole people of people.” O’Connell continues on, “Everyone loves my personal jobs to own way too many reasons. As i run people, I would like to hear from their website what is going well and you will just what they would like to get a hold of change. Of one to views the audience is commonly able to perform one thing about it.”

So that as Lehigh remembers half a century regarding coeducation, O’Connell reflected toward milestone proclaiming that new opportunities females already have are a present from the ladies who showed up prior to him or her

With that exact same times having compassionate on the people, she creates the possibility throughout each group appointment for everybody to help you show what is heading well individually and you will professionally, “We look ahead to that it element of per fulfilling,” O’Connell says. “I favor hearing on which is going well into the for each and every coworker’s existence, particularly during the difficult times when we are able to just stay for the bad.”

O’Connell’s groups on Lehigh in the English and you can anthropology as the an student beginner, right after which instructional leaders at the master’s and doctoral height, the drove house the idea that culture off a residential district, or perhaps in O’Connell’s situation, a school program, is extremely important to creating a profitable functions and learning environment. O’Connell possess strong beliefs one rotate doing teamwork, providing people with her, marketing, connection and leadership. She states the educational Frontrunners System on the College or university of Degree wishing their in a number of indicates. “I joke the merely group I [may have put from the] Lehigh is but one when you look at the meteorology,” O’Connell says, noting it can come in handy whenever this lady has and then make bad weather requires the institution program.

Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. retains an effective Lehigh sporting events helmet during the President’s Tailgate just before this new 157th edition of your Rivalry.

It was together with compliment of the girl positive experience since the a student-runner you to she obtained an opportunity to act as a group head and you can started initially to understand what frontrunners turns out. She loans which among the of numerous identifying minutes regarding this lady big date at Lehigh. Because the a chief you are, “Usually considering simple tips to communicate being intentional throughout the doing the latest room to accomplish this in order to render some body together and you will become a group.” O’Connell says a lot of you to routine already been as the a head, following given that a graduate secretary, on the track-and-field cluster.

This lady interest concentrates on this lady deep passion for brand new classroom, youngsters and you can building long-lasting relationships with each interaction

O’Connell’s advice about someone seeking to get a leadership status was by the gaining experience because of the selecting leadership ventures inside products they have been already shopping for. She as well as invited the individuals looking for training to make contact with the woman.

An Easton, Pennsylvania, local, O’Connell will continue to stay associated with Lehigh because of the training as the an adjunct professor, serving toward dissertation committees so when chair of your own Lehigh Data Council towards College out of Training. She is the fresh new 1995 category correspondent to possess Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin. She especially features probably football https://datingranking.net/escort-directory/sterling-heights/, and you will is happy to be able to give the girl daughters to help you the new 157th version of Rivalry between Lehigh and you can Lafayette into the November.