Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. wasn’t to start with planned to visit Lehigh but may confidently declare that she made suitable choice shortly after being hired to run to have new track-and-field people. Given that a good three-go out graduate–generating the lady undergraduate, master’s and you can doctoral degrees the away from Lehigh-O’Connell credit lots of the girl experience in the Lehigh to help you the lady latest top-notch triumph as an excellent superintendent. “Discover not a chance I could’ve known they during the time, but many of one’s event We discovered due to are a runner, instruction tune just like the a graduate secretary, as well as in brand new classroom from the Lehigh are put day-after-day just like the good superintendent.”

Currently superintendent away from Palisades College District during the Top Cash Condition, Pennsylvania, O’Connell might have been diligent in the informative success, creating scholar wellness and you can increasing the programs through the use of technology, that has an online understanding academy for college students one to launched more than 10 years before.

Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. features new President’s Tailgate with her girl and you will Lehigh Chairman Joseph J. Helble ’82 up until the 157th conference amongst the Lehigh and you will Lafayette activities groups.

All of this works has actually gained her just the latest superintendent title, however the county off Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the year having 2022, and you will during the a pandemic, however. “[Brand new award] have my label involved, but it’s really regarding the all of our entire party of men and women.” O’Connell continues, “Everyone loves my occupations for too many causes. Once i focus on people, I do want to hear from their store what exactly is going really and what they would like to see changes. Regarding you to definitely opinions we are have a tendency to able to perform one thing regarding the they.”

So that as Lehigh honors 50 years of coeducation, O’Connell reflected on milestone proclaiming that the opportunities people currently have try a present regarding the ladies who emerged in advance of her or him

Thereupon exact same opportunity to possess caring throughout the anybody, she produces a chance during for every single people meeting for everybody in order to share what is going well individually and you can professionally, “I look forward to which element of per conference,” O’Connell claims. “I adore reading about what goes well in the for each coworker’s lives, particularly through the difficult times when we are able to simply stay into the bad.”

O’Connell’s kinds on Lehigh when you look at the English and you will anthropology while the an enthusiastic undergraduate college student, and then informative management from the master’s and you may doctoral top, all of the drove family the concept that culture out-of a community, or in O’Connell’s instance, a college system, is a must to making a profitable performs and studying ecosystem. O’Connell possess good philosophy one to revolve around teamwork, delivering somebody together, network, commitment and you may management. She states the training Frontrunners System from the University from Degree wishing their in a number of implies. “I always joke that the simply class We [might have used during the] Lehigh is just one inside meteorology,” O’Connell says, noting it can come in handy when she has and also make inclement weather requires the institution system.

Bridget O’Connell ’95, ’97G, ’07 Ph.D. keeps an excellent Lehigh recreations helmet from the President’s Tailgate prior to the brand new 157th version of one’s Rivalry.

It absolutely was as well as thanks to the girl confident enjoy as a student-athlete one she earned the opportunity to serve as a group head and you will began to know what management works out. She credits which among the of numerous defining minutes regarding their go out in the Lehigh. Just like the a leader you might be, “Always provided how exactly to express being deliberate regarding performing the new area to do so so you’re able to give someone with her and you will work as a team.” O’Connell says most of that habit been because a chief, after which while the a scholar secretary, into the track and field class.

The lady desire targets the girl deep love of brand new classroom, students and you can strengthening long-term relationship with each communication

O’Connell’s advice about individuals trying see an authority standing try from the putting on feel by the looking leadership ventures inside circumstances these are typically already trying to find. She as well as welcomed men and women selecting teaching to make contact with the girl.

A keen Easton, Pennsylvania, local, O’Connell continues to stand connected to Lehigh of the exercises while the a keen adjunct professor, offering on dissertation committees so when couch of the Lehigh Studies Council for the College regarding Training. She is also the newest 1995 class correspondent for Lehigh’s Alumni Bulletin. She specifically provides gonna football, and you will is thrilled to have the ability to give the girl girl so you’re able to the 157th model of the Rivalry ranging from Lehigh and you can Lafayette for the November.