¼ϲʿ Works / en ‘Prepared for the Future’ /stories/2024/prepared-future <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">‘Prepared for the Future’</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/bbensonbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>BBENSON@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-07-02T11:11:25-04:00" title="Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - 11:11" class="datetime">Tue, 07/02/2024 - 11:11</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>Recent alumnus excelling at Boston tech start-up</p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2024-07-03T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">July 3, 2024</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson, G'23 </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p><strong>Joseph Defendre</strong>, ’24, arrived at ¼ϲʿ with an interest in technology but little knowledge of computer programming. He recently graduated with the confidence that he can excel in a programming job.</p><p>And the <a href="/department/computer-science" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="f79ad297-9dd1-4213-9a9d-e8db292848e9" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Department of Computer Science">computer science</a> major is already proving his abilities thanks to a special fellowship and internship.</p><p>“The difficulty of the computer science program really prepared me for tasks passed on to me in my current role,” said Defendre, who overcame doubts at Bridgewater State about his ability to succeed. “That adversity prepared me to accept any challenge in the workplace.”</p><p>Before he studies artificial intelligence in graduate school at Northeastern University, Defendre is spending the summer interning for WHOOP. The Boston-based company develops wearable fitness trackers used by professional athletes like LeBron James, as well as everyday consumers. Defendre works on a team supporting the company’s Android app.</p><p>The internship is one component of the Hack.Diversity fellowship, an initiative striving to increase representation for Black and Latinx people in the technology workforce. Fellows such as Defendre complete technical projects and also study resume writing, networking, salary negotiation, and the impact of race in the workplace.</p><p>The organization’s mission resonated with Defendre, who noted the difficulty of “people like us to get our foot in the door.”</p><p>Defendre immigrated to the U.S. from Haiti with his family at age 7. His classmates and a high school teacher recommended attending ¼ϲʿ.</p><p>“I’ve seen the sacrifices my parents had to make to get me where I am,” said Defendre, a first-generation college student. “I always felt obligated to not let them down.”</p><p>But his journey to a bachelor’s degree wasn’t straightforward. Having joined the Army National Guard when he was 17, Defendre temporarily withdrew from ¼ϲʿ. As he focused on his military duties, Drs. <strong>John Santore</strong> and <strong>Margaret Black</strong>, both computer science professors, remained invaluable sources of guidance.</p><p>“I couldn’t have made it without these people,” he said, also praising <a href="/office/military-veteran-student-services" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="c799a49a-c196-40dd-bae8-be931aa62b55" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Military &amp; Veteran Student Services">Military and Veteran Student Services</a> staff. “Because of their support and constant emails and pointing me in the right direction, I was able to enroll back in Bridgewater State.”</p><p>As a Bear, he formed close friendships, persevered through challenging mathematics classes, and learned in-demand skills from computer science professors who were committed to his success.</p><p>Despite studying a different programming language than the one he uses at WHOOP, Defendre said he developed the foundational skills to adapt to any software job.</p><p>“I think Bridgewater had a huge impact on how I turned out on a professional level as well as my social development,” he said. “I feel prepared for the future.”</p><p><em>Do you have a ¼ϲʿ story you'd like to share? Email </em><a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu"><em>stories@bridgew.edu</em></a><em>.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-be71534ad86" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Headshot of Joseph Defendre standing in front of windows" decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/defendre.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--233801 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-233801"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>I think Bridgewater had a huge impact on how I turned out on a professional level as well as my social development. I feel prepared for the future.</p> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Joseph Defendre, ’24 </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/alumni-profile" aria-label="Related stories tagged Alumni Profile" hreflang="en">Alumni Profile</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/taxonomy/term/2765" aria-label="Related stories tagged Internships" hreflang="en">Internships</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/racial-justice" aria-label="Related stories tagged Racial Justice" hreflang="en">Racial Justice</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged ¼ϲʿ Works" hreflang="en">¼ϲʿ Works</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 02 Jul 2024 15:11:25 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 252581 at Granting Opportunities /stories/2024/granting-opportunities <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Granting Opportunities</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/bbensonbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>BBENSON@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-05-21T15:03:28-04:00" title="Tuesday, May 21, 2024 - 15:03" class="datetime">Tue, 05/21/2024 - 15:03</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>CUBEs program takes students into the working world</p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2024-05-23T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">May 23, 2024</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson, G'23 </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p><strong>Anna Dykhoff</strong>, ’26, enrolled in an <a href="/department/english" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="8b25e512-20f7-461b-8c05-be232288e725" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Department of English">English</a> class on grant writing hoping to learn a new skill. By the end of the semester, she was able to add even more to her resume.</p><p>The class challenged students to work with A&amp;A Metro Transportation to support its Bridgewater Cares on-demand public transit system for town residents and ¼ϲʿ students. And, thanks to connections she made, Anna is a summer intern for the organization.</p><p>“It blossomed from something I thought was just a class into a career opportunity,” she said.</p><p>That’s just one of the many benefits of ¼ϲʿ’s <a href="/academics/cubes" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="8e7ecde9-ba08-4015-9f73-7c1edfc38de6" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="CUBEs">Collaborative University Business Experiences (CUBEs) program</a>. In CUBEs classes such as this one taught by Dr. <strong>Lisa Litterio</strong>, students work with local organizations on semester-long projects that are embedded within the course.</p><p>Students visited A&amp;A Metro’s offices and the Senior Center and met with users of the service. They established a TikTok account, produced Instagram posts and wrote a federal grant proposal for Bridgewater Cares, which is currently funded by the state, town of Bridgewater and ¼ϲʿ. They even received feedback on the proposal from Congressman Bill Keating’s staff.</p><p>“It’s mirroring what the workplace is about and what the world is about,” said Litterio, who hopes the course helps students expand their writing and career horizons. “It’s seeing the classroom as a place to do grant writing.”</p><p>Students embraced the opportunity and responsibility that comes with a project whose impact stretched far beyond the classroom.</p><p>“It’s very rewarding,” said <strong>Cam Rodericks</strong>, a marketing major who expects to finish his degree in the fall. “I’m learning something I can apply to real life.”</p><p><strong>Dasia Peters</strong>, ’24, added: “I feel like I’m actually doing something that has a greater purpose. Just the thought of being able to actually get funding that can help the community is really motivating to me.”</p><p>Dasia, a communication studies major and member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, hopes to use her new skills to help her tribe apply for federal grants.</p><p>Anna, who focused in class on enhancing Bridgewater Cares’ social media accounts, looks forward to growing A&amp;A Metro’s online presence during her internship.</p><p>“We’re being trusted as professionals,” Anna said of the course. “It’s not work just to get a grade.”</p><p><em>Do you have a ¼ϲʿ story you'd like to share? Email </em><a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu"><em>stories@bridgew.edu</em></a><em>.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-37e4c0cc3b3" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Four students work together on their laptops." decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/cubes1_0.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--233356 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-233356"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>It blossomed from something I thought was just a class into a career opportunity.</p> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Anna Dykhoff, ’26 </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/cubes" aria-label="Related stories tagged CUBEs" hreflang="en">CUBEs</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/taxonomy/term/2765" aria-label="Related stories tagged Internships" hreflang="en">Internships</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged ¼ϲʿ Works" hreflang="en">¼ϲʿ Works</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 21 May 2024 19:03:28 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 252401 at The Job Ahead /stories/2023/job-ahead <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">The Job Ahead</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/bbensonbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>BBENSON@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-09-18T14:48:13-04:00" title="Monday, September 18, 2023 - 14:48" class="datetime">Mon, 09/18/2023 - 14:48</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Meet new director of Career Services and the&nbsp;Internship&nbsp;Program&nbsp;Office </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2023-09-19T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">September 19, 2023</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson, G’23 </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>Growing up in Hong Kong, Dr. <strong>Gerald Tang</strong> attended schools where test scores played an outsized role in dictating a student’s future. After immigrating to America, he discovered a higher education system focused more on helping students discover their passions.</p> <p>Tang embraced that sense of exploration as a student and professional.</p> <p>“My true calling is helping people understand their skillsets and interest in what they want to do,” said Tang, who immigrated to the U.S. with his family as a teenager.</p> <p>Tang sees ¼ϲʿ as a great place to continue that mission as the first executive director of <a href="/bsu-works">Career Services and the Internship Program Office</a>. He looks forward to uniting the two in order to enhance support for students and alumni.</p> <p>“The community cares about student success,” Tang said of an initial observation of ¼ϲʿ. “Bridgewater is a great institution.”</p> <p>Tang comes to ¼ϲʿ with more than 15 years of experience in higher education, including most recently serving as the inaugural assistant dean for career integration at St. Francis College in New York City.</p> <p>As a first-generation student, Tang found supportive mentors during his undergraduate years who shaped his educational and career journey. Even back then, he served his peers as an orientation leader, resident assistant and career development intern.</p> <p>“I now understand what it takes to help students be successful in their college experience and professional experience as well,” he said.</p> <p>Tang is excited to work for a university with strong academic programs that is committed to innovation and social justice. He looks forward to larger conversations with employers about what comprises a living wage and ways to achieve a more diverse workforce.</p> <p>“Our work isn’t just about short-term change,” he said. “Our hope is (to create) systemic changes across society at large.”</p> <em>Do you have a ¼ϲʿ story you'd like to share? Email <a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu">stories@bridgew.edu</a>.</em> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-0b7a3499494" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Gerald Tang stands in a hallway below a ¼ϲʿ Works sign" decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/tang1.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--210451 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-210451"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> My true calling is helping people understand their skillsets and interest in what they want to do. </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Dr. Gerald Tang </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged ¼ϲʿ Works" hreflang="en">¼ϲʿ Works</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/taxonomy/term/2765" aria-label="Related stories tagged Internships" hreflang="en">Internships</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/taxonomy/term/2794" aria-label="Related stories tagged Career Services" hreflang="en">Career Services</a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-credit field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Photo by Mackenzie Rubitschung, '21 </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 18:48:13 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 250296 at Cleared for Takeoff /stories/2023/cleared-takeoff <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Cleared for Takeoff </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/bbensonbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>BBENSON@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-09-13T09:12:26-04:00" title="Wednesday, September 13, 2023 - 09:12" class="datetime">Wed, 09/13/2023 - 09:12</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Logan internship prepares senior for career in aviation </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2023-09-14T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">September 14, 2023</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson, G'23 </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>The aviation field requires on-the-job experience that classroom instruction alone cannot provide. And <strong>Sophia Schiappa</strong>, ’24, is discovering there’s no better training opportunity than an internship at New England’s busiest airport. &nbsp;</p> <p>“It’s such a hands-on industry,” said Sophia, an <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="e0386a60-8a59-4306-91b0-0b930a9aec00" href="/department/aviation-science" title="Department of Aviation Science">aviation</a> management major from Wareham who is interning at Logan International Airport. “It’s an environment you have to be in to succeed.” &nbsp;</p> <p>Sophia first worked at Logan for Cape Air, which flies from Boston to destinations in New England and upstate New York. In January, she began what has become a year-long internship with Massport, the public agency that runs Logan. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Sophia works in operations at Terminal E, which handles most international flights. She helps ensure smooth communication and collaboration between Massport, airlines, ground crews and others who help passengers travel to faraway destinations such as Dubai, Tokyo and Paris. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“I’m kind of like a middleman,” said Sophia, who interned this summer alongside fellow Bear <strong>Catherine Cummings</strong>, ’23. “I communicate about delays, weather and irregular operations and assist the airlines with whatever they need.” &nbsp;</p> <p>Every day brings new experiences and challenges – and that’s just what Sophia is seeking in a career. Her internship even coincided with the construction and opening of a four-gate extension to Terminal E. &nbsp;</p> <p>On campus, Sophia is president and co-founder of the Women in Aviation club, which organizes field trips and community service activities. Sophia enjoys helping new students acclimate to ¼ϲʿ and the aviation field. &nbsp;</p> <p>“I remember being a freshman at Bridgewater State and feeling a little lost with what I wanted to do,” she said. “Now it feels like I have a sense of who I am.” &nbsp;</p> <p>During her internship, she helped run a STEM expo for high school students, an experience that further solidified her plans. &nbsp;</p> <p>Sophia aims to continue giving back throughout a career that she hopes leads back to Logan Airport. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“Being able to support such a major facility in the state of Massachusetts would mean a lot to me,” she said. “Plus, I enjoy what I’m doing. I can blend a personal passion and a career.”</p> <p><em>Do you have a ¼ϲʿ story you'd like to share? Email <a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu">stories@bridgew.edu</a>.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-f2fa0411ab5" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Sophia Schiappa stands in front of a large jet engine." decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/airportintern.jpeg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--208971 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-208971"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> I remember being a freshman at Bridgewater State and feeling a little lost with what I wanted to do. Now it feels like I have a sense of who I am. </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Sophia Schiappa, ’24 </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/taxonomy/term/2765" aria-label="Related stories tagged Internships" hreflang="en">Internships</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged ¼ϲʿ Works" hreflang="en">¼ϲʿ Works</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/aviation" aria-label="Related stories tagged Aviation" hreflang="en">Aviation</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 13:12:26 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 250221 at Steps to Success /stories/2023/steps-success <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Steps to Success </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/hharrisbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>HHARRIS@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-05-18T10:05:29-04:00" title="Thursday, May 18, 2023 - 10:05" class="datetime">Thu, 05/18/2023 - 10:05</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> ¼ϲʿPD helps former intern land job&nbsp; </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2023-05-25T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">May 25, 2023</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Heather Harris Michonski </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>Last fall,&nbsp;<strong>Loyalty Cannon</strong>, ’23, walked into&nbsp;the East Campus Commons on&nbsp;the&nbsp;way to pick up&nbsp;her textbooks&nbsp;for the&nbsp;semester&nbsp;when she noticed&nbsp;that&nbsp;members of&nbsp;the&nbsp;¼ϲʿ&nbsp;Police&nbsp;Department&nbsp;(¼ϲʿPD)&nbsp;were hosting a “Popcorn with Police” event. Cannon&nbsp;didn’t think much of it&nbsp;until ¼ϲʿ&nbsp;community&nbsp;liaison&nbsp;<strong>Aboubacar Diakite</strong>&nbsp;offered her a free bag of popcorn.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>She didn’t&nbsp;know it then, but Cannon was about to gain more than just a mid-day snack. The small gesture&nbsp;ultimately&nbsp;led&nbsp;her to&nbsp;an internship&nbsp;and eventual&nbsp;career.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Cannon&nbsp;listened as Diakite explained&nbsp;that&nbsp;his role&nbsp;as liaison&nbsp;on campus was to&nbsp;help bridge the gap between the ¼ϲʿ community and ¼ϲʿPD. A few weeks later, she ran into him again at the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice sponsored Bears Fighting Hunger event.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“I asked how she was doing and offered her my card and told her my door was always open,” Diakite said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>This time Cannon, a&nbsp;criminal justice&nbsp;major,&nbsp;took him up on his offer&nbsp;and shared with him her struggles in finding an internship.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“I had applied for many&nbsp;internships,&nbsp;but nothing was working out.&nbsp;I needed an internship to graduate with my degree in criminal justice and was feeling&nbsp;a bit&nbsp;overwhelmed,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Diakite listened and&nbsp;asked her to bring in her resume and to write up a cover letter.&nbsp;Together they&nbsp;made&nbsp;appropriate edits&nbsp;and sent them off to prospective employers, including the Suffolk District Attorney’s office.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Soon,&nbsp;Cannon&nbsp;heard back and was invited to&nbsp;interview&nbsp;for an internship.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>In short order, she was relieved to be offered&nbsp;a dual internship, working in both the human resources department and the victim women’s advocate program.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“I gained a lot from the internship. I learned a new skill set. I had never worked in administration before and&nbsp;found I liked it,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Cannon also shadowed attorneys&nbsp;in the program&nbsp;and&nbsp;learned how to better help victims by collecting pertinent information in a clear and concise manner to&nbsp;assist&nbsp;victims&nbsp;with their cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“My supervisors were so knowledgeable. I got real-world experience,&nbsp;watched trials, and was able to see&nbsp;firsthand&nbsp;how things work behind the scenes,” Cannon said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>With a month left in her internship, Cannon was approached by her supervisor with a job offer.&nbsp;After weighing her options, she applied for and was offered the position of internship coordinator in the human resource department.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“I’m&nbsp;really excited. A lot of college students don’t get a job&nbsp;offer&nbsp;right after they graduate. I’m very grateful and excited for this opportunity right after college,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Cannon is also grateful&nbsp;that Diakite offered her that free bag of popcorn, without making that connection, she wouldn’t be on&nbsp;her current path.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“I’m so appreciative that he helped me get this internship and after I started the&nbsp;internship,&nbsp;he didn’t throw me to the wind, he checked in and asked how it was going and what I was learning. He has been a great mentor from the first time I met him,” she said. “He’s such a great person to have a Bridgewater State, he’s very resourceful, caring, and genuine in everything he does, not only for me, but for many students at ¼ϲʿ.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Do you have a ¼ϲʿ story you'd like to share? Email <a href="mailto: stories@bridgew.edu ">stories@bridgew.edu&nbsp;</a></em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-b7b9bdddec5" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Loyalty Cannon hugs a bouquet of flowers" decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/loyalty_web_option_2.png" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--197536 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-197536"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> I’m&nbsp;really excited. A lot of college students don’t get a job&nbsp;offer&nbsp;right after they graduate. I’m very grateful and excited for this opportunity right after college. </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Loyalty Cannon, '23 </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged ¼ϲʿ Works" hreflang="en">¼ϲʿ Works</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsupd" aria-label="Related stories tagged ¼ϲʿPD" hreflang="en">¼ϲʿPD</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/alumni-profile" aria-label="Related stories tagged Alumni Profile" hreflang="en">Alumni Profile</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 18 May 2023 14:05:29 +0000 HHARRIS@bridgew.edu 249111 at Life Lessons /stories/2023/life-lessons <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Life Lessons </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/bbensonbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>BBENSON@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-01-25T11:07:26-05:00" title="Wednesday, January 25, 2023 - 11:07" class="datetime">Wed, 01/25/2023 - 11:07</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>New program further prepares students for the future</p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2023-01-26T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">January 26, 2023</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson, G'23 </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>What do you want to do with your life?</p> <p>It’s a question college students often ponder, and one that <strong>Olivia Dunn</strong>, ’24, feels more comfortable answering now that she’s completed a new program at ¼ϲʿ.</p> <p>“I feel less overwhelmed with post-college planning,” said Olivia, a criminal justice major and social work minor who aims to work with children, possibly as a counselor. “I learned steps to take right now to help me feel more prepared and excited about choosing a career.”</p> <p>Olivia recently completed the Life Design program as part of her work as a ¼ϲʿ justice fellow. The new initiative, based off a concept developed at Stanford University, helps students think through decisions and overcome obstacles, such as choosing a career.</p> <p>Life Design takes place at ¼ϲʿ in a variety of ways, including two-day studios, required programming for first-year students, and a one-credit class through the Department of Communication Studies.</p> <div data-embed-button="media_entity_embed" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.full" data-entity-embed-display-settings="[]" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="a3c62336-9032-42e8-b201-b58525e8ab26" data-langcode="en" class="align-right embedded-entity"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image blazy--field-media-image--full field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-d2f771179bc" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Three students sit at a table drawing mind maps during a Life Design workshop." decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/lifedesign2.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>“We see this as a way of helping all our students think early and often about where they’re going in their lives,” said <strong>Carol Crosby</strong>, associate director of the <a href="/academics/internships">Internship Office</a>, and one of several Bridgewater staff and faculty who completed Life Design training with Stanford.</p> <p>Through the program, students learn about their values and personality and how those shape their future. They develop concrete action steps to reach their goals and begin taking those steps.</p> <p>No one can control everything about their future, so students can – and should – use their Life Design skills throughout their lives, said Dr. <strong>Michele Meek</strong>, an assistant professor of <a href="/department/communication-studies">communication studies</a> who teaches the program’s one-credit course.</p> <p>“The work is never done,” said Meek, who incorporates anxiety management techniques into her class. “It’s an iterative process where you’re constantly assessing how things go and rethinking what pivots you might want to make.”</p> <p>Life Design participants also learn about the many resources on campus. Some offices, such as <a href="/office/career-services">Career Services</a>, remain available for alumni.</p> <p>Justice fellows praised several aspects of the program, including exercises to understand their personality and map out on paper aspects of their lives.</p> <p>“This workshop benefited me in not just feeling confident with where I want to go but how what I want to do will impact others in the workplace,” said <strong>Max Bertrand</strong>, ’25, a sociology major and psychology minor.</p> <p>For <strong>Erin McGuire</strong>, ’24, major goals that once seemed scary now feel attainable.</p> <p>"There’s a lot of stress that comes with being a college student and deciding your future in these 4-5 years,” said Erin, a social work major and communication disorders minor. “It eased my anxiety about the future.”</p> <p><em>Do you have a ¼ϲʿ story you'd like to share? Email <a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu">stories@bridgew.edu</a>.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-b483876ac0a" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="A student uses colored pencils to draw a mind map during a Life Design workshop." decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/lifedesign1.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--171816 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-171816"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> I feel less overwhelmed with post-college planning. I learned steps to take right now to help me feel more prepared and excited about choosing a career. </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Olivia Dunn, ’24 </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged ¼ϲʿ Works" hreflang="en">¼ϲʿ Works</a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-credit field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Photos by Zachary Allen, '24 </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 25 Jan 2023 16:07:26 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 248061 at Fair Points /stories/2022/fair-points <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Fair Points </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/hharrisbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>HHARRIS@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2022-11-07T10:16:47-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2022 - 10:16" class="datetime">Mon, 11/07/2022 - 10:16</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Business major talks up benefits of on-campus employment events&nbsp;</span></span></span><span></span></span></span></span></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2022-11-10T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">November 10, 2022</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Heather Harris Michonski </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>After he graduates from ¼ϲʿ,</span></span></span>&nbsp;<strong><span><span><span>Michael Hopkins</span></span></span></strong><span><span><span>, ’25, is confident he will be ready for what’s next. This is thanks to the opportunities he’s been exposed to at ¼ϲʿ as he works toward a degree in business administration.&nbsp;</span></span></span><span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“Getting a degree is more than just a piece of paper, I want to make sure I have a career set up,” he said.</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span>&nbsp;<span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Hopkins recently attended a job and internship fair hosted by ¼ϲʿ after his mentor and assistant wrestling coach,</span></span></span>&nbsp;<strong><span><span><span>Fox Maxwell</span></span></span></strong><span><span><span>, informed him of the event.</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span>&nbsp;<span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The fair itself was easy to navigate, Hopkins said, and there was a variety of recruiters that appealed to him.</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span>&nbsp;<span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“I was able to learn about various types of industries, accounting firms, supply chains, marketing and publications,” Hopkins said. “It was really good. It was the first professional step I’ve taken in my young career.”&nbsp;</span></span></span><span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Hopkins’ experience is exactly why ¼ϲʿ hosts these events, said</span></span></span>&nbsp;<strong><span><span><span>Laurent Troland</span></span></span></strong><span><span><span>, career services’ associate director of outreach and engagement.</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span>&nbsp;<span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“It is important for students to have face time with hiring managers, and it puts students into the driver’s seat,” he said.</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span>&nbsp;<span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Instead of applying for a job or internship online, at a job and internship fair students can talk in-person with recruiters and hand out their resumes. It gives them the ability to start a conversation that could turn into a job offer, Troland said.</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span>&nbsp;<span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“It gives them an edge over their competition and shows their initiative to potential employers,” he said.</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span>&nbsp;<span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Talking with recruiters face-to-face helped Hopkins gain a sense of what he wants to do post-graduation.</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span>&nbsp;<span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“It was nice to see the different options. Going to the fair definitely opened up my knowledge more,” he said.</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span>&nbsp;<span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Troland said, it’s important for students from all majors and class years to make an effort to attend the job fairs offered on campus.</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span>&nbsp;<span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“For students seeking internships or jobs it is an ideal opportunity to speak with professionals about potential roles to see if they are right for any of them, and then hopefully setup interviews with those organizations,” he said.</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span>&nbsp;<span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Which is exactly what Hopkins did. After applying for a job as a sales representative, he received a call back for an interview. He’s optimistic that he’ll soon get an offer.</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span>&nbsp;<span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“I would tell students to go to all the job internship fairs, it’s a great opportunity to network. Someone once told me your net worth is your network. Networking is often how you get on a path to succeed,” he said.</span></span></span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span>&nbsp;<span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><em>Do you have a ¼ϲʿ story you'd like to share? Email <a href="mailto: stories@bridgew.edu">stories@bridgew.edu&nbsp;</a></em></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span><span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span><span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-c3824cd4f22" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Michael Hopkins holds a green folder in front of a job fair background" decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/2022.11.07_art_mike_hopkins_news_hh-updated-cp.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--165621 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-165621"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> I would tell students to go to all the job internship fairs, it’s a great opportunity to network. Someone once told me your net worth is your network. Networking is often how you get on a path to succeed. </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Michael Hopkins, '25 </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged ¼ϲʿ Works" hreflang="en">¼ϲʿ Works</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 07 Nov 2022 15:16:47 +0000 HHARRIS@bridgew.edu 246791 at Cyber Secured /stories/2022/cyber-secured <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Cyber Secured</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/bbensonbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>BBENSON@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2022-10-31T13:58:18-04:00" title="Monday, October 31, 2022 - 13:58" class="datetime">Mon, 10/31/2022 - 13:58</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> ¼ϲʿ praised for cybersecurity programs </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2022-11-01T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">November 1, 2022</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>The United States has long relied on oceans and friendly neighboring countries as buffers against security threats. Yet, in an increasingly digitized world, cybercrime transcends geographic boundaries, putting municipalities, states and businesses on the front lines.</p> <p>This new frontier demands an experienced workforce developed through collaborative, hands-on educational opportunities like those coming to ¼ϲʿ, cybersecurity experts said at a recent forum hosted on campus by the MassCyberCenter.</p> <p>Even a representative from the White House left the event impressed.</p> <p>“It’s just terrific,” said Nick Leiserson, an assistant national cyber director. “It’s the kind of thinking we need in this new domain.”</p> <p>At the event, MassCyberCenter and the Baker-Polito Administration announced a $1.2 million grant that will help ¼ϲʿ advance a three-pronged approach to meeting regional and statewide cybersecurity needs. The grant is partly for a Security Operations Center (SOC) that will be built at ¼ϲʿ and will help municipalities, nonprofits, companies, and government agencies monitor, detect and respond to threats.</p> <p>“Our students are going to actually work in the SOC,” said <strong>Steve Zuromski</strong>, ’04, G’09, ¼ϲʿ’s vice president for information technology and chief information officer. “They are going to get that hands-on, practical experience and be able to walk out the door and get a job.”</p> <div data-embed-button="media_entity_embed" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.full" data-entity-embed-display-settings="[]" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="e61c2f66-7676-4c76-9d4a-fe64ee110967" data-langcode="en" class="align-right embedded-entity"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image blazy--field-media-image--full field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-a9ce13d4b0b" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="¼ϲʿ, state and federal cybersecurity experts gather under a sign announcing ¼ϲʿ's new cyber range" decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/cyberevent.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>¼ϲʿ is also developing new graduate and undergraduate cybersecurity programs, including a bachelor of science degree set to begin accepting students for fall 2023. It is building a sophisticated cyber range that will enable students and professionals to experience simulated ransomware, malware, and other attacks.</p> <p>“For us, it’s a winning formula,” said ¼ϲʿ President <strong>Frederick W. Clark, Jr.</strong>, ’83. “We know that our role is critical as it relates to workforce development.”</p> <p>There are approximately 20,000 open, well-paying cybersecurity positions in Massachusetts.</p> <p>And cybersecurity workers are needed at the federal, state and local level and in the private sector, said Stephanie Helm, director of MassCyberCenter.</p> <p>"Cybersecurity is needed more than ever because it is a national security issue,” Helm said, adding ¼ϲʿ stands out for its commitment to serving southeastern Massachusetts.</p> <p>Building a diverse cybersecurity workforce is also important, and ¼ϲʿ is well positioned to help because 50 percent of its students are the first in their families to attend college, Leiserson said.</p> <p>“We need good talent,” said Curtis Wood, Massachusetts’ chief information officer. “We need people invested in public service. … Experience is the biggest thing you can have.”</p> <p><em>Do you have a ¼ϲʿ story you'd like to share? Email <a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu">stories@bridgew.edu</a>.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-47bce604646" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="A rendering of the planned cyber range, showing users at computer desks with an instructor by monitors in the front of the room" decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/bsurange_0.png" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--165506 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-165506"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Students "are going to get that hands-on, practical experience and be able to walk out the door and get a job." </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Steve Zuromski, ’04, G’09, vice president for information technology and chief information officer </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged ¼ϲʿ Works" hreflang="en">¼ϲʿ Works</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/cybersecurity" aria-label="Related stories tagged Cybersecurity" hreflang="en">Cybersecurity</a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-credit field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Group photo by Ben van der Voet, '26 </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 31 Oct 2022 17:58:18 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 246711 at Hands-On Training /stories/2022/hands-training <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Hands-On Training </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/hharrisbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>HHARRIS@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2022-10-31T11:42:58-04:00" title="Monday, October 31, 2022 - 11:42" class="datetime">Mon, 10/31/2022 - 11:42</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p><span><span>Alumna says ¼ϲʿ prepared her to become physical therapist&nbsp;</span></span></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2022-11-03T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">November 3, 2022</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Heather Harris Michonski </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p><span><span><strong><span><span>Lamia Hamie</span></span></strong><span><span>, ’17, said, when she first arrived at ¼ϲʿ, she was an average student. However, thanks to the resources and support she received, she was able to flourish and find her path to career success. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“I was never an advanced student, so having the support of my professors, having them push me, was really important,” said Hamie, who earned a degree in physical education. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>One of those professors was <strong>Daniel Rezendes</strong>, ¼ϲʿ assistant athletic director for recreation and wellness. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“I take my role as a mentor to our students very seriously. I try to be a good role model and share the lessons I have learned,” Rezendes said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>One way Rezendes does this, is by helping students secure internships. In Hamie’s case, he helped her obtain an internship with Bryant University where she worked as part of the school’s strength and conditioning team. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>For Hamie, the internship validated her intentions to work as a physical therapist. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“Internships are important, they give you hands-on experience and help you decide if you want to pursue that career,” she said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Rezendes also referred Hamie to Physical Therapy U (PTU), a Bridgewater business owned and operated by alumna <strong>Kelly Duggan</strong>, ’06. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Duggan hired Hamie to work part-time while she pursued a doctorate from the University of Rhode Island. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Over the years Rezendes has referred many students to Duggan, who often employs them as PTU interns.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Duggan’s role as mentor to ¼ϲʿ students is invaluable, he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“Kelly and her PTU family are not only seasoned professionals, but they are also caring mentors to our students,” Rezendes said. “It is so very critical for students to gain hands-on experience. There really is no substitute for watching and learning from seasoned professionals.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>The ¼ϲʿ connection came full circle when Duggan recently hired Hamie to work at PTU as a full-time physical therapist. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Looking back now, Hamie said she can see how Bridgewater State helped direct her toward a clear career path. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“At the time, I’m not sure I realized it, but ¼ϲʿ did provide the tools I needed, I definitely saw this when I went into the grad program and was prepared,” Hamie said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>She encourages other students to get involved and take advantage of the opportunities Bridgewater State provides.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>“Find at least one professor you really like, create that bond because you never know what the future might hold,” she said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><em>Do you have a ¼ϲʿ story you'd like to share? Email <a href="mailto: stories@bridgew.edu">stories@bridgew.edu&nbsp;</a></em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-d0773eab5ed" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Graphic featuring lamia hamie and kelly duggan" decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/lamia_2017_0.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--165496 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-165496"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Internships are important, they give you hands-on experience and help you decide if you want to pursue that career. </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Lamia Haime, '17 </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged ¼ϲʿ Works" hreflang="en">¼ϲʿ Works</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/alumni-profile" aria-label="Related stories tagged Alumni Profile" hreflang="en">Alumni Profile</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 31 Oct 2022 15:42:58 +0000 HHARRIS@bridgew.edu 246696 at New Major Launched /stories/2022/new-major-launched <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">New Major Launched</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/bbensonbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>BBENSON@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2022-10-19T13:52:33-04:00" title="Wednesday, October 19, 2022 - 13:52" class="datetime">Wed, 10/19/2022 - 13:52</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Childhood studies takes interdisciplinary approach </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2022-10-20T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">October 20, 2022</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>By pursuing a newly launched major in childhood studies,<strong> Erin Nichols</strong>, ’24, and <strong>Karen Beaudry</strong>, ’24, will gain multidisciplinary perspectives into the complex lives of the youngsters they aim to one day teach.</p> <p>“This gives me a lot more knowledge in different areas,” said Erin, who is from Middleboro. “It’s good to have an interdisciplinary approach … so you can be an effective teacher.”</p> <p>As ¼ϲʿ’s first interdisciplinary major, childhood studies brings together education, the arts, social work, psychology and other fields to help students understand childhood from infancy through age 18. Students take electives in a variety of academic departments.</p> <p>“They have some say in the courses they can take toward their major,” said Dr. <strong>Sue Eliason</strong>, an elementary and early childhood education associate professor and the coordinator of the childhood studies program. “They can customize it and make it meet their needs. That’s the most exciting part.”</p> <p>¼ϲʿ already offers a childhood studies minor. The university developed the new major in response to student interest, and more than 50 people are already enrolled.</p> <p>“This major is about you,” Provost <strong>Karim Ismaili</strong> told students at a recent celebration of the program. “It’s about providing you with the best possible education. It’s also to fill an important need in society.”</p> <p>The major prepares students to work with children at schools, recreation programs, museums, social services organizations and other employers. Students can also continue their education at graduate programs in psychology, education, law and health.</p> <p>It comes amid high demand for social service workers, preschool teachers and other professionals who serve children. In 2019, the Providers’ Council estimated there were about 28,000 unfilled human services positions in Massachusetts. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these trends, Eliason said.</p> <p>Karen and Erin are double majoring in childhood studies and early childhood education. They see childhood studies as a perfect complement to their education classes and an opportunity to broaden their career prospects.</p> <p>“This gives you more options after you graduate,"&nbsp;said Karen, who is from Whitman.</p> <p><em>Do you have a ¼ϲʿ story you'd like to share? Email <a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu">stories@bridgew.edu</a>.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-159a4b0cac8" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Two students hold a childhood studies t-shirt showing a globe." decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/childhoodstudies_0.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--165061 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-165061"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> This gives you more (career) options after you graduate.&nbsp; </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Karen Beaudry, ’24 </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged ¼ϲʿ Works" hreflang="en">¼ϲʿ Works</a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-credit field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Photo by Jack Ames, '24 </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 19 Oct 2022 17:52:33 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 246546 at