Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. wasn’t to begin with planned to attend Lehigh but could with confidence declare that she produced best choice after are employed to operate to have the new track and field team. As the a beneficial about three-go out scholar–getting the woman student, master’s my review here and you may doctoral levels most of the out of Lehigh-O’Connell loans several of the lady experience on Lehigh so you can their latest elite profits just like the a superintendent. “There is no way I could’ve understood it at that time, however, many of one’s event We learned using becoming an athlete, coaching track once the a scholar secretary, plus the class room on Lehigh are typical put everyday because a beneficial superintendent.”
Currently superintendent from Palisades College District when you look at the Higher Dollars Condition, Pennsylvania, O’Connell has been diligent from the educational achievements, generating student health and you will enhancing the curriculum by applying tech, that has an online learning academy for students one to introduced over ten years back.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. has new President’s Tailgate with her girl and you may Lehigh Chairman Joseph J. Helble ’82 before the 157th meeting amongst the Lehigh and you may Lafayette football groups.
All of this work enjoys earned her not merely this new superintendent title, however the condition off Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the year to own 2022, and you will during the a good pandemic, nonetheless. “[The latest award] provides my name involved, but it’s most regarding the our very own entire party of people.” O’Connell continues on, “I love my personal employment for unnecessary causes. Once i work at college students, I would like to tune in to from them what exactly is going really and you can what they would like to pick alter. Out of one to opinions our company is tend to able to perform something regarding the they.”
So that as Lehigh celebrates 50 years out of coeducation, O’Connell shown with the milestone stating that the fresh new opportunities ladies already possess is actually something special regarding women who appeared in advance of her or him
With that same energy to have compassionate throughout the individuals, she produces the possibility through the for every party conference for everybody to help you express what is supposed well personally and you may expertly, “We look forward to it part of per fulfilling,” O’Connell states. “I like reading on what goes better inside the per coworker’s lifestyle, specifically through the problematic times when we could only stay on negative.”
O’Connell’s categories at the Lehigh in English and anthropology because the a keen undergraduate beginner, right after which instructional leadership during the master’s and you may doctoral level, all of the drove domestic the idea that the people out-of a residential district, or even in O’Connell’s instance, a school system, is essential to making a profitable works and you may discovering environment. O’Connell features good beliefs one to revolve to teamwork, getting anyone along with her, marketing, union and you will leaders. She says the training Management Program on the University off Education prepared her in some suggests. “I usually laugh your simply class We [might have used at] Lehigh is one within the meteorology,” O’Connell claims, noting it could come in handy whenever she’s got making inclement weather requires the institution program.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. holds an effective Lehigh recreations helmet at the President’s Tailgate ahead of brand new 157th release of the Rivalry.
It actually was including through the lady positive skills since the students-athlete you to she received the opportunity to serve as a group master and you will began to know very well what leadership looks like. She loans it as among the of a lot determining moments off their time during the Lehigh. Since the a frontrunner you will be, “Constantly considering how-to express and being intentional throughout the starting the newest area to accomplish this to help you render anybody with her and behave as a team.” O’Connell says much of one routine become just like the a chief, and because a graduate secretary, for the track-and-field cluster.
The girl attention focuses primarily on the lady deep passion for the brand new class, children and strengthening long-lasting dating with each communications
O’Connell’s advice about anybody trying to receive a management position are by the putting on feel by the finding frontrunners ventures inside affairs they are already wanting. She also invited men and women looking exercises to contact the lady.
An enthusiastic Easton, Pennsylvania, local, O’Connell continues to sit connected to Lehigh by knowledge while the an adjunct teacher, offering to the dissertation committees so when settee of your own Lehigh Research Council into the School away from Knowledge. She also is new 1995 category correspondent to have Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin. She particularly provides gonna sports, and you can try pleased to manage to give the girl girl to the fresh 157th version of the Rivalry anywhere between Lehigh and you may Lafayette when you look at the November.