Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. wasn’t originally planned to visit Lehigh but can with certainty point out that she made the best decision just after being employed to perform to possess the latest track and field party. As good about three-day scholar–getting their student, master’s and you can doctoral stages most of the regarding Lehigh-O’Connell credit lots of the lady knowledge within Lehigh so you’re able to the lady newest professional profits just like the a beneficial superintendent. “There clearly was no way I could’ve recognized it at the time, but the majority of of your own event We learned owing to getting an athlete, training track given that a scholar assistant, as well as in the fresh class on Lehigh all are utilized daily because the a superintendent.”
Currently superintendent regarding Palisades School Region from inside the Upper Bucks County, Pennsylvania, O’Connell has been diligent on the educational triumph, creating beginner wellness and you will enhancing the curriculum through the use of technical, which has an on-line reading academy for students one to introduced more than ten years ago.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. has the new President’s Tailgate together daughters and you can Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ’82 through to the 157th appointment amongst the Lehigh and you will Lafayette activities teams.
This really works keeps earned the girl not just this new superintendent label, nevertheless county of Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the year to have 2022, and you will during an effective pandemic, however. “[The newest honor] has actually my personal identity with it, but it is very regarding our entire team men and women.” O’Connell continues on, “I really like my business for unnecessary reasons. Whenever i work on college students, I would like to pay attention to from their store what’s heading really and you can just what they want to see change. Of one viewpoints we are often able to do anything regarding the they.”
And as Lehigh honors 50 years out-of coeducation, O’Connell reflected on the milestone proclaiming that the newest opportunities people currently keeps is a present in the women that arrived just before her or him
Thereupon same time to own compassionate on anyone, she produces chances throughout each cluster conference for everyone to express what exactly is heading better in person and you will skillfully, “We enjoy that it section of for every conference,” O’Connell says. “I enjoy hearing on what goes well from inside the for each and every coworker’s life, specifically while in the challenging times when we could only live to your bad.”
O’Connell’s groups during the Lehigh from inside the English and you will anthropology since a keen undergraduate scholar, after which academic management at master’s and you will doctoral level, the drove domestic the idea the culture regarding a community, or in O’Connell’s instance, a college program, is vital to creating a profitable work and you may learning ecosystem. O’Connell features solid thinking one revolve doing teamwork, providing someone along with her, networking, commitment and you will frontrunners. She states the educational Management Program throughout the School of Education wishing this lady in some means. “I joke that the just class I [have made use of in the] Lehigh is but one inside meteorology,” O’Connell states, detailing it might come in handy whenever she’s making inclement weather needs the school system.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. retains a Lehigh activities helmet during the President’s Tailgate in advance of the fresh new 157th version of your own Rivalry.
It had been including adam4adam-recensies using the girl self-confident skills because the a student-runner one she acquired an opportunity to act as a team master and you will started to know what management works out. She credit so it as among the many identifying times regarding her go out within Lehigh. Because the a frontrunner you might be, “Always considering how-to express being deliberate on doing the brand new area to take action to help you offer someone together with her and you can act as a group.” O’Connell states the majority of one to routine come as a chief, and since the a graduate secretary, towards track and field people.
This lady attract is targeted on their deep love of the newest class, youngsters and you can building long-term relationships with each interaction
O’Connell’s advice about anybody looking to get an authority reputation is of the wearing feel by the looking management options inside activities these are typically already wanting. She including asked the individuals looking for exercises to get hold of the woman.
A keen Easton, Pennsylvania, indigenous, O’Connell will continue to stay connected to Lehigh by the exercises just like the an adjunct professor, serving for the dissertation committees so that as chair of your own Lehigh Studies Council to the College from Training. She is brand new 1995 class correspondent for Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin. She especially provides browsing activities, and you can was pleased to have the ability to provide the girl daughters to new 157th edition of one’s Competition ranging from Lehigh and you may Lafayette in November.