2022 Pennsylvania Superintendent of the year Bridget O’Connell Stimulates Relationship, Society Society
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. wasn’t to begin with planned to go to Lehigh but may with confidence declare that she produced suitable choice immediately following are hired to operate getting the fresh track-and-field people. Given that a good three-date graduate–getting the girl student, master’s and doctoral amounts all the regarding Lehigh-O’Connell loans several of the woman skills at the Lehigh to help you their most recent top-notch success since the an excellent superintendent. “You will find not a chance I could’ve understood they at that time, however, many of one’s feel I discovered courtesy being a runner, instruction track as a scholar secretary, plus in the newest class room on Lehigh are utilized each and every day because an excellent superintendent.”
Already superintendent of Palisades College Region into the Top Cash State, Pennsylvania, O’Connell has been diligent regarding educational achievement, promoting scholar wellness and you can raising the guides through the use of technology, that has an internet training academy for college students one to released more ten years before.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. enjoys the latest President’s Tailgate with her girl and you can Lehigh Chairman Joseph J. Helble ’82 through to the 157th fulfilling between the Lehigh and you may Lafayette football organizations.
All of this works features garnered their not merely the brand new superintendent label, but the condition of Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the year to own 2022, and you may during an excellent pandemic, nevertheless. “[The newest prize] has actually my title on it, however it is very on the all of our entire team of people.” O’Connell continues, “Everyone loves my personal job for way too many factors. Whenever i work on people, I would like to hear from their website what is actually going really and you can exactly what they wish to select changes. Regarding you to definitely views we’re often able to do one thing about it.”
And also as Lehigh celebrates 50 years out-of coeducation, O’Connell mirrored with the milestone proclaiming that the new options females already has is something special regarding the ladies who arrived prior to them
Thereupon exact same time for caring from the some one, she produces a chance during the for each party fulfilling for all so you’re able to express what is going really yourself and you may skillfully, “We look forward to it section of each appointment,” O’Connell states. “I favor reading on what is going better in for each and every coworker’s lifestyle, specifically during the difficult situations where we can simply stay on the bad.”
O’Connell’s categories in the Lehigh inside English and you can anthropology while the a keen student student, then academic frontrunners at the master’s and doctoral peak, the drove household the idea the culture out of a community, or in O’Connell’s case, a school system, is essential to creating a profitable really works and you will learning ecosystem. O’Connell keeps solid opinions one revolve around teamwork, taking individuals along with her, network, connection and you can leadership. She states the learning Management System on the University away from Degree waiting the lady in a number of means. “I laugh that the only class I [have utilized on] Lehigh is but one in meteorology,” O’Connell states, noting it can be useful whenever she’s got while making inclement weather need the school system.
Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. retains a good Lehigh activities head protection within President’s Tailgate just before this new 157th version of your own Rivalry.
It was together with as a consequence of the woman positive skills while the students-athlete one she received an opportunity to serve as a team head and you will started to know very well what leaders ends up. She credit this as one of the many defining minutes away from the woman go out in the Lehigh. Given that a chief you happen to be, “Always offered ideas on how to discuss and being deliberate throughout the performing the latest area to do this to help you offer individuals together with her https://www.datingranking.net/escort-directory/manchester and you can become a team.” O’Connell claims a lot of you to practice been because a head, after which as a graduate assistant, for the track and field cluster.
Her focus focuses on the woman deep passion for the brand new class room, college students and you will building lasting relationships with each telecommunications
O’Connell’s advice for some one trying to receive an authority updates is by wearing feel of the shopping for frontrunners possibilities within this situations they’ve been currently in search of. She together with welcomed the individuals finding practise to make contact with her.
An Easton, Pennsylvania, native, O’Connell continues to remain associated with Lehigh by teaching since an enthusiastic adjunct teacher, serving for the dissertation committees so that as couch of Lehigh Data Council with the College or university away from Education. She also is this new 1995 category correspondent to own Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin. She especially possess attending sporting events, and are thrilled to have the ability to provide the lady girl so you can brand new 157th model of your own Rivalry between Lehigh and you will Lafayette from inside the November.