Alumni Profile

Reconnected

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Mon, 20 May 2024 15:25:51 +0000

Reconnected HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Mon, 05/20/2024 - 11:25

Recent graduate says getting involved on campus led to success

May 28, 2024

Heather Harris Michonski

In the Spring of 2019, Michael Abreu walked into ��ڿ��’s Academic Achievement Center because he wanted to withdraw from the school.

“I talked with an advisor to find out how dropping out works,” Abreu said. “I had already withdrawn from a couple of classes and felt lost and alone.”

After the conversation, he started walking toward the parking garage. Once inside his vehicle, he paused and didn’t turn on the car.

“I told myself, if I don’t go to class today, then I’ll drop out. But for some reason I went to class and stuck with it,” he said.

Five years later Michael walked the ��ڿ�� commencement stage during ceremonies held at Gillette Stadium on May 11, where he earned a degree in English.

What prevented him from dropping out?

Involvement.

“Aside from academics, the most important thing you can do is be involved,” Abreu said. “It’s not just about going to class, it’s being in tune with what’s going on on campus. Being involved, it really changes the experience.”

Abreu got involved by becoming a resident assistant, a position he held for three years; studied abroad in Greece; worked as a peer advisor in the AAC; DJ’d his own sports talk radio show on ��ڿ��’s WBIM 91.5; and briefly served as president of the Gen 1 club, which serves the school’s first-generation students.

“Being involved helped me meet some amazing people,” he said. “Tapping into what resources the school offered was huge for me.”

There were many who helped Abreu, including Professor Dr. Joyce Rain Anderson for her guidance as an advisor, Area Coordinator Rahbi Iddrisu for her support, Professor Dr. Andrew Holman for his mentorship, study abroad Staff Assistant Emma Lynch for her guidance in that program, and, as he initially transferred to ��ڿ�� from a community college, Director of Transfer Services Jeffery Sarahs, for making the transition seamless.

“For me, it’s important that you connect with people. The more you connect, the better you are able to help each other, to understand what they are going through,” he said.

It isn’t lost on him that he almost didn’t make it to the commencement stage. However, he remains grateful he did and looks forward to what’s next as he embarks on a career in sports media and marketing.

During commencement ceremonies his mortarboard had three words written on it to remind him to keep going.

‘Finish the Story’

“Everyone who graduated from Bridgewater, it was just the beginning,” Abreu said. “We did all of these great things while at ��ڿ��, but our story really starts after commencement. What we do next is really the start of our story.”

Do you have a ��ڿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

Everyone who graduated from Bridgewater, it was just the beginning. We did all of these great things while at ��ڿ��, but our story really starts after commencement. What we do next is really the start of our story.

Michael Abreu, '24

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Alumni Profile

Class of 2024

‘Born to be a Bear’

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 15:05:48 +0000

‘Born to be a Bear’ BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 04/17/2024 - 11:05

Twins follow in parents’ footsteps on campus

April 18, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

Kelsey and Elisabeth Sweeney’s earliest memories of Bridgewater State come from family car rides when their parents drove through campus to reminisce about their meeting in Shea-Durgin Residence Hall.

The Sweeney twins didn’t realize they would one day also call Shea-Durgin home, but they knew there was something special about Bridgewater.

“I always say, ‘I was born to be a Bear,’” Kelsey said.

The Sweeney family’s connection to ��ڿ�� began in the late 1980s, when parents Michelle, ’91, and Larry met through friends on campus. Three decades later, their daughters are on the verge of earning their own ��ڿ�� degrees next month.

“I’m so proud of them and what they’ve accomplished,” Michelle said. “It’s been really nice to go through this all over again. You wish you were back in college.”

Michelle and Larry’s relationship grew and persisted even when Larry left school to serve in the military and later work in IT.

“One of the most important things that you learn in college, especially living there, is how to get along with people who are different than you,” Larry said of what he took away from Bridgewater.

Michelle earned a social work degree and pursued a varied career that included human resources work and numerous roles within the Marshfield Public Schools. No matter the job title, she relied on her ability to help others, a skill honed in social work classes.

“I felt like Bridgewater really prepared you to go out into the real world,” she said. “It’s one of the reasons I wanted Kelsey to go to Bridgewater.”

Kelsey discovered that benefit as a social work major herself. Having excelled at an internship at the Boys and Girls Club in Brockton, she landed a post-graduation job running a mental health program at the club’s Marshfield location. She’s also going to pursue a master’s degree in social work from ��ڿ��.

Outside of the classroom, Kelsey followed her mom into Greek life: Michelle helped found Bridgewater’s Phi Sigma Sigma chapter while Kelsey joined Gamma Phi Beta.

“You can find a community anywhere in Bridgewater, and that instantly created a new home for me,” Kelsey said. “The sense of community on campus is what draws me here.”

It also attracted her sister to ��ڿ�� as a transfer student. Elisabeth initially went to school in Boston, but she had to live alone in a dorm room due to the pandemic. Seeking companionship, Elisabeth often FaceTimed Kelsey, who had a roommate at ��ڿ�� and introduced her sister to her college friends.

“We tried to go our own different paths, but we love doing things together,” said Elisabeth, a communication studies major minoring in film and digital media. “We both push each other to strive to be our best every day.”

Elisabeth, who is on the cross country and track teams, is also a member of Gamma Phi Beta. Like her sister, she studied abroad multiple times in Europe.

Elisabeth is moving to Italy after graduation to work in marketing for a travel agency – a connection built through a semester abroad in the country.

While an ocean will soon separate the twins, there’s one place that will always bring the Sweeney family together: ��ڿ��.

“It’s nice to have a second home for all of us,” Kelsey said.

Do you have a ��ڿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I felt like Bridgewater really prepared you to go out into the real world. It’s one of the reasons I wanted Kelsey to go to Bridgewater.

Michelle Sweeney, '91

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Student Spotlight

Alumni Profile

Study Abroad

Welcoming Change

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 19:32:40 +0000

Welcoming Change HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Mon, 03/18/2024 - 15:32

Recent alumna uses degree to launch new, exciting career

March 21, 2024

Heather Harris Michonski

For 22 years, Kate Brine, ’23, loved her job working as a dental assistant. However, after enduring three separate hand surgeries, she found she was unable to continue in that profession.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do. I had lost my career,” she said. “I had never been in a position like that, and it gave me a better understanding of others who are in that position.”

As she worked on rehabbing her hand, someone floated the idea of going back to school.

“That was the missing piece,” Brine said.

Prior to working as a dental assistant, she earned her associate degree before enrolling at what was then Bridgewater State College, where she left before earning her bachelor’s degree.

“I really only had a year and a half left of school (to earn my degree),” Brine said.

After reaching out to Bridgewater State, she found returning to school wasn’t going to be as overwhelming as she thought.

“It was a very easy process,” she said, but admits some things had changed since the last time she was in a classroom, particularly when it came to computers.

Despite her unfamiliarity with the newer technology, she found the support she needed.

“I called the IT department and said I had no idea what I was doing and everybody, every single person that I talked to…no one made me feel stupid,” Brine said.

Beyond that, her professors and classmates were equally supportive.

“I wasn’t sure how it was going to go, coming back to school at almost 50,” she said. “But the professors and students were so encouraging, they constantly rooted me on.”

Brine gave a lot of thought as to what she wanted to study and decided to pursue a degree in fine arts with a concentration in photography. Early on, she’d developed a passion for photography, often stealing her father’s camera to take photos.

“I loved photography and throughout my life have always said, I wish I had gone back to school to study photography and fine arts,” she said.

Once back at ��ڿ��, Brine said, being in the classroom helped reclaim a piece of her she thought was lost. As she engaged with other students, critiquing each other’s work, she felt a part of her long buried come back to life.

“It was almost therapeutic. It allowed me to reclaim my youth,” she said.

After graduating in 2023, she took what she learned at Bridgewater to launch her own business and embark on a new career as an architectural photographer.

She now works with clients that include interior designers, contractors, builders, and others to create images to promote their businesses.

“It’s been an awesome experience,” she said. “I think anyone starting something new, it’s a little scary, but I think that’s a normal feeling. At the same time, it’s super exciting.”

The same could be said for going back to school, but because of the positive environment ��ڿ�� offered, Brine was able to thrive.

“It opened my eyes to many things I had put on the backburner,” she said. “Going back to school, it really helps you to see clearer where you want to be at this age, at any age really. Overall, it’s just an amazing experience.”

Do you have a ��ڿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

Going back to school, it really helps you to see clearer where you want to be at this age, at any age really. Overall, it’s just an amazing experience.

Kate Brine, '23

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Alumni Profile

Nursing Her Way Back

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 21:06:29 +0000

Nursing Her Way Back BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 03/04/2024 - 16:06

Alumna battles back from coma to pursue career in healthcare

March 5, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

When a severe bacterial infection left Mackenzie Giordano in a coma, doctors worried she wouldn’t be able to walk or talk never mind graduate college.

But Giordano wouldn’t take no for an answer. After almost three months in the hospital and intensive physical, occupational and speech therapy, a determined Giordano defied expectations by walking, talking and earning a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from Bridgewater State.

“I wanted to get better,” said Giordano, who completed her degree in December. “I wanted to get my life back.”

After graduating from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School in 2018, Giordano enrolled at the University of Alabama, where she earned a spot on the cheerleading team. During her first semester, she started to feel ill and got into a car crash when she tried to drive herself to the hospital. In addition to bacterial meningitis, she suffered a stroke that weakened her right side and had an abscess on her brain. At one point, doctors didn’t think she would survive.

But Giordano made a remarkable recovery and turned her attention back to college. Bridgewater, which is just five minutes down the road from her home, was a natural fit as she increased her academic load from a couple of courses to becoming a full-time student again.

“I thought I would eventually go back to Alabama,” she said. “I didn’t realize how much I would actually love ��ڿ��. I felt very comfortable there. It was awesome.”

Giordano, who still has some weakness in her right side, praised Student Accessibility Services for help with accommodations such as having a notetaker and extra time to write answers to exams. Professors, she said, were equally supportive.

“They at first helped me ease back into college,” she said. “They were just wonderful. They were so accommodating and nice.”

After exploring degree possibilities, Giordano – who has always been an athlete – found a fit in exercise physiology. She hopes to become a nurse so she can help others just like the many medical professionals who assisted her.

“I think I would make a great nurse,” Giordano said. “I can inspire people because I’ve been through it.”

She’s already doing so just by sharing her journey.

“Never give up,” she said. “Always just fight for your goals because anything is possible.”

Do you have a ��ڿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

Never give up. Always just fight for your goals because anything is possible.

Mackenzie Giordano

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Student Spotlight

Alumni Profile

Student Accessibility Services

Photo by Luis Pires, '24

Bankable Skills

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:03:18 +0000

Bankable Skills BBENSON@bridgew.edu Tue, 02/27/2024 - 09:03

Accounting degree alumnus now bank president

February 27, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

Jim Dunphy, ’89, once thought he would become a dentist. But, while taking an accounting course in high school, he discovered a passion for crunching numbers rather than drilling teeth.

Now the president and CEO of South Shore Bank, Dunphy grew his financial acumen as an accounting major at Bridgewater State, a school that stood out for a reason likely to resonate with many business leaders: value.

“The program at Bridgewater for accounting students was very rigorous,” he said. “They wanted to make sure graduates demonstrated proficiency and strength in accounting.”

It was also affordable and allowed him to commute and work while taking classes. And staying close to home helped him focus on his studies.

Dunphy appreciated the blend of classroom and hands-on education at Bridgewater. He interned at Plymouth Home National Bank and worked as a tax preparer for a CPA firm while still a student. Internships, he said, helped him understand workplace culture and proper dress.

He still recalls lessons from Professors Kathleen Sevigny and Harold Silverman, who stressed accounting fundamentals and the importance of always being ethical.

“They really cared and wanted to make sure you learned,” he said. “The program was broad enough and deep enough that I could compete with (graduates from) some of the better-known business schools of the time.”

Dunphy even met his wife, Robyn, through the accounting program. They shared many classes and joined the same study groups.

“It created my family,” he said of the impact of Bridgewater State. “It’s been a big part of my career.”

After graduation, Dunphy worked for the national accounting firm Grant Thornton, eventually being recruited by one of his clients into the world of banking. He has worked for the past decade at South Shore Bank, where he appreciates the opportunity to give back to his community. Dunphy serves on the boards of organizations such as the South Shore YMCA and Massasoit Community College.

He recently spoke to ��ڿ�� students about the banking industry, as well as job and internship opportunities. His advice to students? Become well-rounded by taking classes outside their majors that build skills that are essential for serving clients.

Dunphy is also a member of the Business Advisory Board for the Ricciardi College of Business and embraces opportunities to help today’s students find their own path to success.

“The value proposition of my education has been fantastic,” he said. “If there’s a way I can help others with that, I want to do it.”

Do you have a ��ڿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

They really cared and wanted to make sure you learned. The program was broad enough and deep enough that I could compete with (graduates from) some of the better-known business schools of the time.

Jim Dunphy, ’89

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Alumni Profile

Leading the Way

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 18:34:02 +0000

Leading the Way HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Mon, 02/12/2024 - 13:34

Alumnus serves as example for other first-gen students

February 22, 2024

Heather Harris Michonski

There is a sense of pride that sometimes comes with being a first-generation student, but it can also create a certain amount of pressure.

��ڿ�� alumnus Destiny Ihenacho, ’16, was the first in his family to go to college and he shares his experience to inspire others following a similar path.

“I know what fears I faced and hearing from someone who had gone through the same thing always calmed me,” he said. “It let me know that if they can, I can.”

Born in Brighton, Ihenacho’s family moved to Framingham before settling in Brockton.

When his high school career was ending, he considered applying to a different school to study public policy but wasn’t completely sure if that was the right path.

Instead, he decided to get his feet wet, and signed up for one course at ��ڿ��, Intro to American Politics.

While he enjoyed the class, more importantly it introduced him to the Center for Multi-Cultural Affairs, better known today as the Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity.

“I became attached to the center…I really enjoyed the conversations that would happen there,” Ihenacho said. “Eventually I decided to fill out an application and the rest is history.”

While at ��ڿ��, he majored in international relations and affairs and joined the African Student Association and Model United Nation, as well as Men Integrated Brotherhood. He also participated in a service trip to Belize for one week to work at an elementary school.

“These clubs and experiences emboldened my networking skills. It made sure I could walk up to anyone in any room and introduce myself,” Ihenacho said. “It also showed me that the world is more diverse than the world sometimes seems.”

Today, he’s taken his skill set to Washington, DC, where he works as a research director for the Committee for Public Safety & Homeland Security.

His responsibilities include researching transportation, law enforcement, immigration, and firearms. He then takes what he learns and advises the chairperson of the committee on what bills should be advanced and which need more attention.

“I do enjoy influencing (aspects) of our commonwealth’s public safety bill,” he said, which recently involved redrafting a bill related to barriers for people with disabilities.

Often when he’s making these decisions, or any career decision, he reflects on the words ��ڿ�� Professor Shaheen Mozzafar, who once said, What you learn today will manifest, not today but in years to come.

“Well, he was 100 percent correct,” Ihenacho said. “The ability to have real-life experiences at ��ڿ�� meant a lot to me. The opportunity is there. ��ڿ�� teaches you how to get there, you just have to show up.”

Eventually, Ihenacho would like to run for an elected office, as the desire to build a stronger community is what fuels him.

“I would love to put my name in a race, it would be a small reminder to young brown and black youths that, sometimes you need to take a chance and see what you can accomplish,” he said.

And for those representing their families, who are the first to go to college, he hopes to continue setting a positive example.

“Being a (successful) first-generation student, enables me to open doors for current students, and more students to come, within my community and my family,” Ihenacho said.

Do you have a ��ڿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

The ability to have real-life experiences at ��ڿ�� meant a lot to me. The opportunity is there. ��ڿ�� teaches you how to get there, you just have to show up.

Destiny Ihenacho, '16

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Alumni Profile

LGCIE

First Gen

One Good Turn

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 14:39:02 +0000

One Good Turn HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Wed, 01/10/2024 - 09:39

Double Bear reflects on the path he took to his ideal career

February 8, 2024

Heather Harris Michonski

In high school, Kyle Bueno, ’18, G’21, dreamed of going to college in Washington D.C., to pursue a career in politics. However, circumstances put his dream on hold. In retrospect, it was one of the best things that’s happened to him.

“I was so determined back then to go to D.C. because public service is what I wanted to do,” Bueno said.

Ultimately, he opted for ��ڿ��, which was close to his Fairhaven home.

“I admit at first, I didn’t see myself there, because I didn’t think ��ڿ�� offered the same opportunities that private schools in D.C. offered,” he said. “But come to find out I was completely wrong. Thank God, because I had the best time at ��ڿ�� and am so grateful I went there."

The draw to public service started one night around the family dinner table. The first generation American sat and listened to his Brazilian father and Azorean mother discuss current events with his brother. As they talked, he asked them,

“Why is that you work 40-plus hours a week to put food on the table, pay the mortgage, the bills.”

His parents’ response was straight forward.

They said, that’s ‘just how our system is,’ and I thought, that’s not fair,” Bueno said. “You came to this county to create better lives for yourselves.

“My parents told me in that moment, if you want to make a change, you have to be the change,” he said.

They were paraphrasing Mahatma Gandhi, and hearing those words became a turning point in their son’s life.

“It ignited me,” he said. “I developed a calling to serve the public. I knew I wanted to help people, bring people together, make positive legislative changes for people.”

He took the first steps toward doing just that as an undergraduate at ��ڿ�� by immersing himself in campus politics and various activities while pursuing a degree in economics.

During his time at Bridgewater, Bueno worked as an orientation leader, joined and eventually became president of Phi Kappa Theta, and was elected to serve as student trustee on the ��ڿ�� Board of Trustees.

As student trustee, he learned a lot about how a university functions at the macro level and developed a relationship with ��ڿ�� President Frederick W. Clark Jr., a connection that proved to be impactful.

“Fred is a really unique person,” Bueno said. “He truly cares about students. We had many one-on-ones where I shared my perspective as a student, and I felt he trusted me when it came to discussing student-related issues. I learned a lot from him about being a leader and how to be a good one.”

After earning his bachelor’s, Bueno opted to stay at ��ڿ�� to earn his master’s degree in public administration. He was able to secure a graduate assistant position, which helped cover his tuition and fees. The MPA program helped him better grasp which direction to take.

“I wasn’t sure how to tailor it: did I want to work more on the political side or administrative side?” he said. “I was able to define what better suited my skill set and what I wanted to do for my career goals.”

Ultimately, his ��ڿ�� experiences helped Bueno fulfill his dream of living and working in Washington D.C. Today, he works as a presidential management fellow and social science analyst within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he crafts legislative proposals for child support and mandatory childcare.

“��ڿ�� really helped me prepare for my future, specifically through my involvement as a student,” he said. “That taught me the importance of adaptability, and how to react positively to create the best outcome.

“Bridgewater also taught me the importance of cultivating authentic relationships with people,” Bueno added. “We all work with people that are very different from us in how we think and act. As we coalesce around shared goals, if we are able to effectively communicate, we then receive big rewards and teachable moments.”

Do you have a ��ڿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

��ڿ�� really helped me prepare for my future, specifically through my involvement as a student. That taught me the importance of adaptability, and how to react positively to create the best outcome.

Kyle Bueno, '18, G'21

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Alumni Profile

Hitting the Keys to Success

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 14:32:00 +0000

Hitting the Keys to Success BBENSON@bridgew.edu Tue, 01/02/2024 - 09:32

Double Bear software engineer moonlights as piano player

January 2, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

As a software engineer, Brenner Campos, ’14, G’22, is working on digital tools that help law enforcement keep the public safe. And he credits his time as a ��ڿ�� student with preparing him for such an important job.

“All of my teachers were so passionate about what they were teaching,” said Campos, who earned an undergraduate degree in graphic design and a master’s degree in computer science from Bridgewater State. “It just made the learning process a lot better knowing they cared about what they were teaching.”

Campos works for xFact, a North Andover-based company that provides IT services to public sector organizations. In partnership with Massachusetts public safety agencies, the company developed applications to improve access to criminal record, sex offender and firearms licensing information.

Campos draws motivation from the public service aspect of his work and the overall challenges of the computer science field.

“The type of work itself is so rewarding. You’re always trying to solve a puzzle and figure out how to make something happen in the most efficient way possible,” he said. “It always keeps you on your toes.”

While his computer science classes provided the technical skills Campos uses in his job, a saying by art Professor Mary Dondero still resonates a decade later: “The thing about college is you’re really, at the end of the day, just learning how to learn.”

That mantra certainly comes in handy in computer science as Campos must always remain abreast of the latest developments.

“You always get a chance to learn something from whatever you’re working on,” he said.

Outside of the art studio and computer lab, Campos developed leadership experience by mentoring his peers as a resident assistant and orientation leader.

And, Campos, who is a pianist on the side, recently experienced a full circle moment. During Homecoming, he returned to his alma mater as part of a dueling piano group that performed for fellow alumni.

It was a fitting gig for someone who fully embraced the opportunities that come with a ��ڿ�� education.

“I honestly just loved every aspect of Bridgewater,” he said.

Do you have a ��ڿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

All of my teachers were so passionate about what they were teaching. It just made the learning process a lot better knowing they cared about what they were teaching.

Brenner Campos, ’14, G’22

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Alumni Profile

Home Run

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 19:18:55 +0000

Home Run HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Wed, 12/20/2023 - 14:18

Alumna, coach and adjunct instructor finds meaning beyond the field

February 1, 2024

Heather Harris Michonski

Now a proud ��ڿ�� Double Bear and faculty member, Christine Semler, ’06, G’11, felt lost when she first arrived at ��ڿ��.

“I was supposed to play softball at another school,” she said. “I got injured and transferred to Bridgewater. I was a lost athlete but found my way because of my mentors, it’s part of the reason why I came back to (coach) and teach.”

As a student-athlete, Semler found herself more often in the training room than on the playing field. She would soon learn why.

“I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, it’s a rare condition that kept causing my tendons to tear, I couldn’t function,” Semler said.

When it became clear that her career as a student-athlete was over, Semler struggled in terms of her mental health.

“My entire identity was student-athlete,” she said.

As she worked through a myriad of emotions, a new path revealed itself, one where she could apply her knowledge as an athlete and leader to help others.

She earned a degree in psychology in 2006 then followed it up with a master’s in clinical psychology in 2011.

In between she also began a coaching and teaching career. Semler spent two years as the head softball coach at Massasoit Community College before taking over the reins as ��ڿ��’s head softball coach in 2013.

During her tenure, the team went 92-64 over four years, with a trip to the NCAA Div 3 Super Regionals where the Bears lost to Tufts University.

Semler also started teaching at Bridgewater within the Counselor Education Program, helping mentor students just as former ��ڿ�� faculty helped her.

“Being assessable to students is important to me,” Semler said. "So many students are hanging on by a thread, they have such unique lives...there is so much going on outside of the classroom, it’s critical that we supply them with resources.”

That can be as simple as helping a student locate the Wellness Center, where there are counselors available or even just taking five minutes after class to ask them what’s going on in their lives.

“These things make a world of difference,” she said. “I know it did for me as a student when my professors showed me that they cared. Not only does it help with retention, but ultimately benefits our students and they will come out better than they started.”

As another way to reach students, Semler recently collaborated with Lululemon’s Global Ambassador program to bring a day of “Movement for Mental Health” to ��ڿ��.

Throughout the day, mental skill building sessions and events were offered, including a trail-running workshop that exposed students to the Great Hill Trails, located behind the Adrian Tinsley Center.

“Events like this create more awareness and show that supports for mental health are more accessible and approachable than what students might think,” Semler said. “We have resources here at ��ڿ�� and can help you seek out those resources because we want you to be the best version of yourself.”

Making connections, being part of a community, it all helps.

“It’s an honor and privilege to serve our students and make those connections,” Semler said. “Sometimes all you need is to be heard, that you matter and belong.”

Do you have a ��ڿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

So many students are hanging on by a thread, they have such unique lives...there is so much going on outside of the classroom, it’s critical that we supply them with resources.

Christine Semler, '06, G'11

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Faculty Focus

Alumni Profile

Mental Health

Photos by Zachary Allen, '24

Case Study in Perseverance

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 15:15:47 +0000

Case Study in Perseverance HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Mon, 12/11/2023 - 10:15

��ڿ�� helps complete alumna's journey to become a lawyer

December 14, 2023

Heather Harris Michonski

It took her 11 years and five colleges before she graduated, but it was at ��ڿ�� where Steffani Langston, ’14, was able to accomplish the goal of earning her degree.

Today, Langston is a successful senior attorney for Wasserman Family Law LLC, in Townson, Maryland, and recently found herself reflecting on her educational journey.

“It dawned on me that I am prouder of my undergraduate degree than I am of my law degree,” she said. “Bridgewater was accommodating to a non-traditional, commuter student who had a full-time job. I failed more times than I care to count, and Bridgewater always let me come back.”

As a first-generation student with very little support from her family, Langston admits that upon graduating high school, she floundered trying to find her footing.

Watching her peers earn degrees in a timely manner and move on to thriving careers while she bounced from school to school, unsure of what major to settle on, caused her shame.

“I was ashamed because it took me so long to finish,” she said. “I was ashamed because I had mountains of student debt. I was ashamed because all of my friends completed their studies ‘on time.’”

Yet, something inside of her refused to quit and eventually she decided she wanted to be a teacher and knew Bridgewater had an excellent reputation for its teaching program.

“I ended up changing my major three or four times,” she said, “But even Bridgewater was going through a lot of change at that time.”

When Langston came to Bridgewater in 2006, it was then Bridgewater State College. When she graduated it had evolved into ��ڿ��.

With the support of her professors, Langston eventually earned a degree in English, and in 2014 graduated cum laude.

“Bridgewater never made me feel like I took a step back,” she said. “I think that’s why I’ve been reflecting on it now. I mentor law students and always tell them, it’s okay, you can change your mind and it will all be fine.”

During her final semester at Bridgewater State everything finally clicked, and Langston could clearly see the path she was supposed to be on: law school.

She took the LSAT (a standardized test for prospective law school students) and went off to the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Upon earning her law degree, Langston opted to work in family law and strives to help parents in high conflict cases to mitigate harm that divorce can often cause children.

“I try to tell my clients to not get so wrapped up in the now, but to keep the children’s best interest in mind,” she said. “I really do like educating parents on the impact their decisions will have on their children because that’s what drew me in to have a career in this field.”

Now immersed in a successful and meaningful career, Langston recently purchased a frame for her ��ڿ�� diploma to display in her office. The document serves as a reminder of the hard work and perseverance it took to earn it.

“I loved my time as an undergraduate because it gave me hope,” she said. “Hope that there was something more and better for me out in the world. Bridgewater was the only place that made me feel I could do it, that getting my degree was an attainable goal and I had the tools and resources available to do it.”

Do you have a ��ڿ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

Bridgewater was the only place that made me feel I could do it, that getting my degree was an attainable goal and I had the tools and resources available to do it.

Steffani Langston, ’14

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