Ƶ Works / en Partnership Helps Ƶ Students Pursue Health Care Careers /stories/2025/partnership-helps-bsu-students-pursue-health-care-careers <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Partnership Helps Ƶ Students Pursue Health Care Careers</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="2025-12-01T14:30:40-05:00" title="Monday, December 1, 2025 - 14:30" class="datetime">Mon, 12/01/2025 - 14:30</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 agreement with MGH’s Institute of Health Professions provides pathway to advanced degrees</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="2025-12-04T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">December 4, 2025</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>With more than 13,000 vacant positions in Massachusetts hospitals, the Bay State faces a significant shortage of qualified health care professionals. To help meet that need, Ƶ is offering a streamlined pathway for students to pursue these critical careers.</p><p>Ƶ recently signed an agreement with Massachusetts General Hospital’s Institute of Health Professions (IHP), which offers degrees that complement a Bridgewater education.</p><p>“This is a very, very exciting moment for Ƶ,” Ƶ President <strong>Frederick W. Clark Jr.</strong>,’83, said. “It’s a great opportunity for our students and I think it’s a great opportunity for not just the hospital but the commonwealth as well.”</p><p>The five-year pact provides qualified Ƶ students with guaranteed admission to designated IHP programs, including nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, audiology, health administration, health sciences and health care data analytics. Students can also qualify for application fee waivers, tuition reduction/scholarships and personalized academic advising.&nbsp;</p><p>While the health care industry has made staffing progress, gaps remain in nursing and other patient-facing occupations, according to a recent report from the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association that identified 13,600 vacancies in key hospital roles.</p><p>“We know how critical the health professions shortage is right now. It’s only going to get worse with the aging of the population,” said IHP President Paula Milone-Nuzzo. “We are doing an immense service for the communities that we serve. I am so thrilled that we can do this together.”</p><p>Ƶ and IHP share values of inclusivity, innovation and a focus on transforming lives, Dr. Milone-Nuzzo said.</p><p>With a liberal arts background, Bridgewater students bring intangible skills that are essential to building strong relationships between patients and health care providers, Dr. <strong>Marci Swede</strong>, dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences, said of another synergy between the two institutions.</p><p>“This partnership strengthens our longstanding commitment to student opportunity and to preparing the region’s future health care professionals,” Clark said.</p><p><em>Do you have a Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email </em><a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu"><em><u>stories@bridgew.edu</u></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="field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/mghagreement.webp 469w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="469" height="265"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/mghagreement.jpg 469w" type="image/jpeg" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="469" height="265"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/mghagreement.jpg 469w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/mghagreement.jpg" alt="Ƶ and IHP leaders sign an agreement while sitting at a large tables with flowers in front of them."> </picture> </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--323126 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-323126"> <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>This is a very, very exciting moment for Ƶ. It’s a great opportunity for our students and I think it’s a great opportunity for not just the hospital but the commonwealth as well.</p> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> President Frederick W. Clark Jr.,’83 </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/2808" aria-label="Related stories tagged Health Sciences" hreflang="en">Health Sciences</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged Ƶ Works" hreflang="en">Ƶ 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 Charlie Peters, G’20 </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 01 Dec 2025 19:30:40 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 2553086 at Real Business /stories/2025/real-business <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Real Business</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="2025-11-20T09:43:03-05:00" title="Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 09:43" class="datetime">Thu, 11/20/2025 - 09:43</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>CUBEs initiative brings hands-on experience to over 1,500 students</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="2025-11-20T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">November 20, 2025</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>When <strong>Kara McManus</strong>, G’26, pursues a career as a government or nonprofit administrator, she will inevitably partner with various consultants. Thanks to an innovative Ƶ initiative, she’ll do so with lots of first-hand experience.</p><p>This semester, Kara and her classmates in a nonprofit administration course are helping SouthCoast Community Foundation build a database of nonprofits in the region.</p><p>“This was my first time working on a client-based project,” said Kara, who noted the broad scope was initially overwhelming. “This was the first experience I had trying to ask the right questions on how we can narrow this down but still provide a service that is going to be beneficial.”</p><p>Their project, which is part of Ƶ’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>, will help the foundation assess the philanthropic needs in the region and better distribute funding.</p><p>Launched in 2020 by the Ricciardi College of Business, CUBEs pairs classes with organizations for semester-long projects. The initiative has expanded across the university, having now involved more than 1,500 students and more than 100 projects.</p><p>“We’ve seen growth in skills that help students in the job market, and they are more engaged in the classroom,” said Dr. <strong>Stephanie Jacobsen</strong>, an associate professor of <a href="/department/management-marketing" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="e6699c50-6d22-4c75-add4-f9ca924577ba" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Management &amp; Marketing">marketing</a> and a CUBEs coordinator. “They don’t just show up, watch a lecture and go home. They know they have a hands-on, real project.”</p><p>The program benefits both businesses and nonprofits who receive assistance with a project they may not be able to complete in-house.</p><p>“It definitely connects to Bridgewater’s commitment to the community as well as our commitment to our students,” said Dr. <strong>Seth Meyer</strong>, an associate professor of <a href="/department/political-science" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="08696de2-11ca-45ea-b808-1dec96fe24af" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Political Science">political science</a> and a CUBEs coordinator. “It’s not a zero-sum game.</p><p>CUBEs projects provide a safe space where students can take risks and learn from mistakes, said Meyer, who teaches the nonprofit administration class.</p><p>Meyer’s students said this style of learning is emblematic of the public administration program, where professors challenge students to connect academic theories to practical applications.</p><p>“In every single course, you have to take the analytical and textbook material and go into your career and apply them in ways that are beneficial,” Kara said. “I think the MPA program in general does a really good job of that.”</p><p><em>Do you have a Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email </em><a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu"><em><u>stories@bridgew.edu</u></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="field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/cubesmpa.webp 470w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="265"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/cubesmpa.jpeg 470w" type="image/jpeg" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="265"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/cubesmpa.jpeg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/cubesmpa.jpeg" alt="Three students and a professor talk while sitting at tables in a classroom."> </picture> </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--323101 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-323101"> <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>In every single course, you have to take the analytical and textbook material and go into your career and apply them in ways that are beneficial. I think the MPA program in general does a really good job of that.</p> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Kara McManus, G’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="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged Ƶ Works" hreflang="en">Ƶ Works</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 20 Nov 2025 14:43:03 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 1855686 at Launching a Career /stories/2025/launching-career <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Launching a Career</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="2025-10-27T16:02:06-04:00" title="Monday, October 27, 2025 - 16:02" class="datetime">Mon, 10/27/2025 - 16:02</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>Ƶ program helps juniors land internships</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="2025-10-28T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">October 28, 2025</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>As a first-generation college student, <strong>Diamond Hunter</strong>, ’26, is forging a new path for her family as she pursues a college degree.&nbsp;</p><p>Knowing she needed guidance in securing an internship, Diamond participated in Ƶ’s first-ever Junior Career Launch program. Knowing she needed guidance and support from experts, Diamond participated in Ƶ’s first Junior Career Launch program. Run by the <a href="https://careers.bridgew.edu/" data-entity-type="external">Career Services and Internships office</a>, the initiative offered hands-on workshops, guest speakers and resources to prepare students to seek internships.</p><p>“It made a huge difference,” said Diamond, a <a href="/department/psychology" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="37755cc4-c2f2-41f9-8409-2f7d7640f67e" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Psychology">psychology</a> major from the Dorchester section of Boston. “It gave me new experiences. I didn’t know how to find an internship, and this helped me. It made me very aware of how I could become a better version of myself and be successful.”</p> <div class="align-right 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--image-390x230 field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden c-portrait-image field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-67027ae27bb" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Diamond Hunter holds a certificate." decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/390x230/public/media/images/diamond.jpg?h=a6967b5f" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>Diamond completed an internship with Central Boston Elder Services. She participated in community outreach to elderly residents to make sure their basic needs, including the medications they need, were met.</p><p>“It was very rewarding because I was able to make a difference in someone else's life,” she said.</p><p>Diamond is one of 16 students who participated in the career launch. Eleven of those students landed an internship this past summer, with several more securing positions in the fall. Students wrote and revised their resumes, participated in mock interviews and even attended an etiquette dinner that reinforced manners for dining at professional conferences and formal occasions.</p><p>Juniors are ideal for this program because they have begun taking advanced courses within their major and bring other experience such as undergraduate research or relevant part-time work to the table, said <strong>Katie Vagen</strong>, associate director of internships and career development.</p><p>“By junior year, they have a little more clarity on their career interests,” she said. “They’re more competitive in the internship search process.”</p><p><strong>Waleed Jabak</strong>, ’26, used skills from Junior Career Launch to become an intern at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where the <a href="/department/physics-photonics-optical-engineering" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="fdd356b3-bdc4-4483-b100-b427ceeace14" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Physics, Photonics and Optical Engineering">photonics</a> major assisted with laser alignment and other technical processes that contributed to the facility’s cutting-edge research.</p> <div class="align-right 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--image-390x220 field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden c-portrait-image field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-c4f81b4869f" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Waleed Jabak stands next to a sign for MIT Lincoln Laboratory" decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/390x220/public/media/images/waleed_0.jpg?h=2c8a2b68" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>“I wanted to land an internship during the summer, and I knew this was a great opportunity that would help me achieve that goal,” he said.</p><p>The internship helped him hone skills within his major and positioned him well for the real world, post-graduation.</p><p>“The experience was very important,” he said. “It’s really the first step (toward securing employment after graduation).”</p><p><em>Do you have a Ƶ 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="field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/resumeworkshop.webp 470w, /sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/resumeworkshop.webp 600w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="600" height="338"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/resumeworkshop.jpg 470w, /sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/resumeworkshop.jpg 600w" type="image/jpeg" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="600" height="338"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/resumeworkshop.jpg 470w, /sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/resumeworkshop.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/resumeworkshop.jpg" alt="Students work together on editing resumes."> </picture> </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--322776 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-322776"> <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 made a huge difference. It gave me new experiences. I didn’t know how to find an internship, and this helped me. It made me very aware of how I could become a better version of myself and be successful.</p> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Diamond Hunter, ’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/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged Ƶ Works" hreflang="en">Ƶ Works</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/taxonomy/term/2765" aria-label="Related stories tagged Internships" hreflang="en">Internships</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:02:06 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 990166 at Lighting It Up /stories/2025/lighting-it <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Lighting It Up</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="2025-07-02T11:14:12-04:00" title="Wednesday, July 2, 2025 - 11:14" class="datetime">Wed, 07/02/2025 - 11:14</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>Senior interns with WaterFire Providence</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="2025-07-03T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">July 3, 2025</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>Nora Sperling</strong>, ’26, has always enjoyed visiting Providence for WaterFire, when on selected nights throughout the summer the city converts its three downtown rivers into a mesmerizing display featuring more than 80 glowing bonfires.</p><p>This summer, Nora is experiencing the famous art installation in a whole new way.</p><p>The Ƶ <a href="/department/communication-old" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="1ac8e655-edd3-4c50-8ee4-7699a451756f" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Department of Communication">communication</a> major and <a href="/department/management-marketing-old" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="56406c55-24ee-4b6f-8872-20e097e272d7" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Department of Management &amp; Marketing">marketing</a> minor is a development intern with WaterFire Providence, the nonprofit that organizes the experience and operates an arts center.</p><p>“I realized it really aligned with what I wanted to do,” said Nora, who is from Berkley and aspires to work in public relations and marketing. “This is going to give me a lot of insights as well as experience.”</p><p>Nora helps the organization secure sponsorships and assists with event preparations for lightings. She is putting her writing and design skills to use by developing promotional materials and communicating with prospective sponsors.</p><p>“I’m definitely using my creative side,” she said. “I’ve taken digital marketing classes at Bridgewater and been able to use those skillsets to create things for WaterFire.”</p> <div class="align-right 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--image-400x220 field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden c-portrait-image field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-b6798f5bedf" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Bonfires set on a river light up downtown providence Providence." decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/400x220/public/media/images/waterfire2_1.jpeg?h=b0059216" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>This is a momentous summer for WaterFire, which is celebrating the 30th anniversary of lightings that have captivated more than 10 million visitors. The multi-sensory experience blends flickering firelight on Providence’s arched bridges with the fragrance of wood smoke and the sounds of music.</p><p>Nora is now part of the team that makes this a must-see Providence attraction. She has even ridden in a boat during a lighting, an experience she once only imagined.</p><p>Nora learned about the internship through an email from Ƶ’s Department of Communication, a seemingly simple gesture that she said is emblematic of the culture she experiences at Bridgewater State.</p><p>“Something I’ve noticed about Bridgewater is the sense of community,” she said. “Everyone tries to help each other. Especially in the communication department, every professor tries to prepare you for life outside of Bridgewater.”</p><p>While Nora’s internship dovetails nicely with her professional ambitions, she encourages fellow students to be open to trying something new.</p><p>“Go for it. 100 percent,” she said of pursuing an internship. “Even if you don’t think it completely aligns with what you want to do in the future, do it. Experience is experience.”</p><p><em>Do you have a Ƶ 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="field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/waterfire1.webp 470w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="265"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/waterfire1.jpeg 470w" type="image/jpeg" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="265"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/waterfire1.jpeg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/waterfire1.jpeg" alt="Nora Sperling stands in front of windows."> </picture> </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--320771 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-320771"> <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>Something I’ve noticed about Bridgewater is the sense of community. Everyone tries to help each other. Especially in the communication department, every professor tries to prepare you for life outside of Bridgewater.</p> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Nora Sperling, ’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="/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 Ƶ Works" hreflang="en">Ƶ Works</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:14:12 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 360921 at ‘Thinking About the Future’ /stories/2025/thinking-about-future <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">‘Thinking About 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="2025-04-24T09:09:18-04:00" title="Thursday, April 24, 2025 - 09:09" class="datetime">Thu, 04/24/2025 - 09:09</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>Security Operations Center opens and is a boon to region and students</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="2025-04-24T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">April 24, 2025</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>Luis Marin</strong> and <strong>Brian Grier</strong>, both members of the class of 2026, are on the front lines of a battle to protect organizations from potentially devastating cyber-attacks. And they are doing this essential work right from the Ƶ campus.</p><p>Luis and Brian intern at Ƶ’s Security Operations Center (SOC). The SOC provides real-time threat monitoring as well as consulting services to organizations throughout Massachusetts.</p><p>“It feels like real life,” said Brian, a cybersecurity major and Asian studies minor from Milford. “This is not a simulation. We have real clients. Every day of the week we’re solving problems that they deal with.”</p><p>The center is part of a comprehensive program to prepare the next generation of cybersecurity leaders. Ƶ also boasts a state-of-the-art cyber range where students and professionals train using simulated scenarios. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the rapidly growing field.</p><p>The SOC, which opened its permanent space on campus in December, is co-sponsored by Ƶ and the nonprofit CyberTrust Massachusetts, which strives to grow and diversify the cyber workforce.</p><p>“By integrating students directly into real-world cybersecurity operations in a real SOC environment, we’re not only enhancing their educational experience but also contributing significantly to the security and well-being of our local communities,” said Ƶ President <strong>Frederick W. Clark Jr.</strong>, ’83.</p><p>CyberTrust Massachusetts hires students like Luis and Brian for paid internships where they work alongside professionals in serving the SOC’s clients. Those clients currently include an array of municipalities and school districts, with plans to expand to other sectors.</p><p>Ƶ is a strong partner in this effort because of its growing cybersecurity curriculum, said Jeff Cassidy, director of cybersecurity operations for CyberTrust Massachusetts.</p><p>“We’re glad to support what they’re learning in the classroom with hands-on experience,” Cassidy said.</p><p>That is critical to landing a job after graduation, said Brian, who progressed into a more advanced internship where he is helping mentor new interns.</p><p>It is also rewarding to make a positive impact in the community while still in school, Luis said.</p><p>Luis, who completed an associate degree in cybersecurity from Bunker Hill Community College, transferred to Bridgewater State specifically to enroll in the cybersecurity major.</p><p>“Ƶ is thinking about the future,” he said. “They see where the technology is going. With this program, they are preparing so many professionals.”</p><p><em>Do you have a Ƶ 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="field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/soc_0.webp 470w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="264"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/soc_0.jpg 470w" type="image/jpeg" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="264"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/soc_0.jpg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/soc_0.jpg" alt="An intern works at computers in the Security Operations Center"> </picture> </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--320241 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-320241"> <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>Ƶ is thinking about the future. They see where the technology is going. With this program, they are preparing so many professionals.</p> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Luis Marin, '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/cybersecurity" aria-label="Related stories tagged Cybersecurity" hreflang="en">Cybersecurity</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged Ƶ Works" hreflang="en">Ƶ Works</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/taxonomy/term/2765" aria-label="Related stories tagged Internships" hreflang="en">Internships</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 Charlie Peters, G'20 </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:09:18 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 254916 at First and Lasting Impressions /stories/2025/first-and-lasting-impressions <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">First and Lasting Impressions</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="2025-04-09T16:31:00-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - 16:31" class="datetime">Wed, 04/09/2025 - 16:31</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>Senior looks back fondly on her time on campus</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="2025-04-10T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">April 10, 2025</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>When <strong>Savannah Lavigne</strong>, ’25, first set foot on the Bridgewater State campus, she had a feeling it would become her home. Now preparing to graduate, Savannah confidently says that initial gut reaction proved correct.</p><p>“Bridgewater has had an immense impact on me,” the political science major and marketing minor said. “I’ve made so many incredible connections and lifelong friendships. I’ve been able to find out what I want to study. I’ve learned a lot about myself as a person and feel like I’ve matured a lot.”</p><p>Savannah grew up with her parents in Hong Kong, but knew she wanted an American college experience. While going to school thousands of miles away from home seemed scary at first, Savannah has family in Connecticut and thrived in the supportive community she found at Ƶ.</p><p>“I really admire how American schools value well-rounded students,” she said. “Developing soft and hard skills and developing as a person is so valuable. Bridgewater taught me a lot.”</p><p>Savannah most remembers all the opportunities she has had as a Bear. She studied abroad in England and brought Asian culture to campus by helping lead the Asian Student Union.</p><p>As an intern with the nonprofit Inclusive America, she helped advocate in Washington, D.C., for stronger anti-harassment and discrimination policies at the State Department. At Ƶ, Savannah discovered a passion for international relations that she hopes to pursue in graduate school and through a career as a diplomat or policy analyst.</p><p>In the classroom, Savannah stands out as a highly engaged student, said Dr. <strong>Chien Yu</strong>. Savannah is in his international marketing course, and the professor worked with her while advising the Asian Student Union.</p><p>“She actively participates in class and talks about her opinions on issues and current events,” said Yu, a professor of management and marketing. “Her points are sharp and great.”</p><p>Yu even nominated her to become a Green Room Scholar at WorldBoston, a nonprofit that aims to spark engagement around international affairs. Savannah helped run an event about the connections between science and diplomacy and contributed to the organization’s blog.</p><p>She appreciates the support of Yu, Dr. <strong>Sidita Kushi</strong>, an assistant professor of political science, and the many other faculty members who left indelible marks on her development as a student.</p><p>“I’ve had amazing professors,” Savannah said. “They have truly been academic and personal guideposts for me.”</p><p>She has also given back to Ƶ by helping students acclimate to campus as a resident assistant in Scott Hall and an orientation leader.</p><p>She encourages new Ƶ students to become involved and socialize. Savanah met as many people as she could during her first year, and those connections helped shape her undergraduate experience.</p><p>“Listen to your heart. That’s what I did” she said, adding: “I knew Bridgewater was where I wanted to be.”</p><p><em>Do you have a Ƶ 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="field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/lavigne_0.webp 470w, /sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/lavigne_0.webp 705w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="705" height="397"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/lavigne_0.jpg 470w, /sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/lavigne_0.jpg 705w" type="image/jpeg" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="705" height="397"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/lavigne_0.jpg 470w, /sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/lavigne_0.jpg 705w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/lavigne_0.jpg" alt="A student stands outside of the Department of State"> </picture> </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--313906 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-313906"> <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>Bridgewater has had an immense impact on me. I’ve made so many incredible connections and lifelong friendships. I’ve been able to find out what I want to study. I’ve learned a lot about myself as a person and feel like I’ve matured a lot.</p> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Savannah Lavigne, ’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="/taxonomy/term/2766" aria-label="Related stories tagged Student Spotlight" hreflang="en">Student Spotlight</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 Ƶ Works" hreflang="en">Ƶ Works</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 09 Apr 2025 20:31:00 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 254861 at Business Opportunities /stories/2025/business-opportunities <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Business 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="2025-04-02T10:24:23-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 2, 2025 - 10:24" class="datetime">Wed, 04/02/2025 - 10:24</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 campus organization prepares students for 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="2025-04-03T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">April 3, 2025</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>In high school, <strong>Sophia Pinarreta</strong>, ’27, was heavily involved in the Business Professionals of America as she expanded her workplace skills and thrived at conferences and competitions. She didn’t want the experience to end when she became a Ƶ student.</p><p>Bridgewater State didn’t have a formal connection to the organization, but Sophia took matters into her own hands: The political science and criminal justice major from Taunton started Bridgewater’s own BPA chapter.</p><p>“Ƶ is so good about allowing students to flourish and create the things they want to create,” said Sophia, who praised funding and support from the Student Government Association and other offices.</p><p>The new chapter is already achieving success. All 10 of its members excelled at a state leadership conference and qualified for a national competition in May in Orlando. Many were never involved in BPA in high school.</p><p>“I’ve never done anything like this before,” said <strong>Gillian Misner</strong>, ’27, a psychology major from Townsend, who earned first place in ethics/professionalism and human resources events. “I found the events were really helpful and related to a lot of things I’m learning in my major.”</p><p>Competitions require students to respond to hypothetical scenarios, take exams and produce videos and podcasts, among an array of other challenges. Students are judged by business leaders and attend workshops that facilitate networking and skill building.</p><p>Ƶ started a chapter at a time when postsecondary membership is rapidly growing, said <strong>Makenzi Tiberii</strong>, ’17, who studied business management at Bridgewater State and is now the executive director of BPA’s Massachusetts organization.</p><p>“When I heard Sophia was looking to create a chapter, it was really a full-circle moment. I literally cried,” Tiberii said. “I was a shy little student who didn’t even know what they wanted to do in college and had a great experience at Ƶ. Now I’m helping current students.”</p><p>Tiberii thrived with small class sizes in the Honors Program and the many opportunities to become involved on campus. She appreciated the mentorship of Associate Professor <strong>Todd Harris</strong>, who is now the advisor for Ƶ’s BPA chapter.</p><p>She is excited to see Ƶ students perform so well at the state level, especially in the chapter’s first year.</p><p>The students are focused on preparing for the national competition and raising funds to travel to Florida. And they’re eager to see the chapter grow in the years ahead.</p><p>“Everyone can find something they’re interested in and that’s helpful in their career,” Gillian said of a reason to join the club. “There’s definitely a space for any major and any student.”</p><p>Sofia, who was part of a team placing first in podcast production, added: “It’s a great way to get your feet wet and get involved at Ƶ.”</p><p><em>Do you have a Ƶ 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="field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/bpa.webp 470w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="265"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/bpa.jpeg 470w" type="image/jpeg" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="265"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/bpa.jpeg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/bpa.jpeg" alt="Several students smile while wearing medals around their necks and holding certificates."> </picture> </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--306921 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-306921"> <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>Ƶ is so good about allowing students to flourish and create the things they want to create.</p> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Sophia Pinarreta, ’27 </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/clubs-campus" aria-label="Related stories tagged Clubs on Campus" hreflang="en">Clubs on Campus</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged Ƶ Works" hreflang="en">Ƶ Works</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 02 Apr 2025 14:24:23 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 254831 at Trail Blazing /stories/2025/trail-blazing <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Trail Blazing</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="2025-03-07T14:41:28-05:00" title="Friday, March 7, 2025 - 14:41" class="datetime">Fri, 03/07/2025 - 14:41</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>Geography interns help develop path near campus</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="2025-03-13T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">March 13, 2025</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>When a professor asked her to collaborate with an environmental organization on creating a new walking trail in town, <strong>Shayla Flaherty</strong> jumped at the chance to put her geography knowledge to use in the real world.</p><p>“I wanted to expand on the skills I’m learning in class…” said Shayla, who is majoring in geography with a concentration in environmental planning and conservation. “When I graduate and get a job, I’ll be working in a community. It’s really important to get that hands-on experience now.”</p><p>Shayla is one of several geography students who completed internships working on the development of the Old State Farm Trail, which will stretch 1.8 miles through fields and woods off Summer Street in Bridgewater. The project follows years of advocacy by the nonprofit Natural Resources Trust of Bridgewater to preserve a large parcel of land that was once a farm associated with the nearby state prison.</p><p>Students researched the area’s Indigenous roots and its development as a home for Irish immigrants crowded out of Boston in the 1850s. They also studied natural features and developed a nature-based scavenger hunt for kids to complete as they walk the trail.</p><p>Students mapped the path and developed materials that will be installed on kiosks. They even created an interactive digital guide that explains how the project fits into the wider fabric of conserved land in Bridgewater and West Bridgewater – including trails on the Ƶ campus.</p><p>“I was so impressed,” said the students’ mentor, Dr.<strong> Boah Kim</strong>, an associate professor of geography. “This is a real project where they collaborate with a nonprofit organization. They’re helping create something of value.”</p><p>Kitty Doherty of the Natural Resources Trust of Bridgewater is pleased with the breadth of the students’ work and hopes they learned more about the community in which they attend school. They took the project much further than would have been otherwise possible, Doherty said.</p><p>Shayla appreciated the opportunity to hone her communication skills and become more adept at GIS, a computer-based technology to create maps and analyze data. Work on the trail project is emblematic of the many opportunities students have at Ƶ, she said.</p><p>“Once you make that connection to a professor, what I have noticed is they will come to you with projects,” she said. “They’re really attentive to students’ needs and interests.”</p><p><em>Do you have a Ƶ 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="field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/trailproject_1.webp 470w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="265"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/trailproject_1.jpg 470w" type="image/jpeg" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="265"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/trailproject_1.jpg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/trailproject_1.jpg" alt="Two people walk through a field next to woods."> </picture> </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--275881 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-275881"> <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>Once you make that connection to a professor, what I have noticed is they will come to you with projects. They’re really attentive to students’ needs and interests.</p> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Shayla Flaherty </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 Ƶ Works" hreflang="en">Ƶ Works</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Fri, 07 Mar 2025 19:41:28 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 254726 at First Steps in STEM /stories/2024/first-steps-stem <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">First Steps in STEM</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="2024-11-21T09:17:23-05:00" title="Thursday, November 21, 2024 - 09:17" class="datetime">Thu, 11/21/2024 - 09:17</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 trains students for in-demand biotech careers</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="2024-11-21T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">November 21, 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>A new, free program aims to prepare students for in-demand biotechnology jobs – and a science background is not necessary to apply.</p><p>Ƶ, in partnership with Northeastern University and Waltham-based cell and gene therapy company ElevateBio, is launching the<a href="https://pathmakerbio.sites.northeastern.edu/"> Pathmaker Biotechnology Program</a> with funding from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.</p><p>“The hope is we’re really going to change some people’s lives,” said Dr. <strong>Martina Arndt</strong>, dean of the Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics. “This could lead to really solid, well-paying positions. It’s a great way to support our region and community.”</p><p>Ƶ will teach 22 participants over eight weeks from February to April 2025 as one of three course sequences in the program. Those studying at Ƶ will learn fundamental skills needed to be a lab technician. Students will attend two in-person classes and one remote class per week.</p><p>The program welcomes high school graduates who are interested in the biotechnology field and demonstrate skills such as attention to detail and a commitment to safety protocols. It also offers potential stipends to cover childcare, transportation and other costs.</p><p>Hands-on instruction begins at a basic level as students learn measurement and storage techniques and how to avoid contamination. The curriculum progresses into more advanced topics such as growing cells in culture, said Dr. <strong>Ken Adams</strong>, a <a href="/department/biological-sciences-old" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="1812ac34-0f63-4d1b-a4c5-c2888cee1700" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Department of Biological Sciences">biological sciences</a> professor.</p><p>“It’s opening the doors to people who didn’t know about STEM as a career possibility or didn’t see themselves in a STEM career,” said Dr. <strong>Meri Krevosky</strong>, another biological sciences professor.</p><p>The initiative comes as life sciences jobs in the Bay State are projected to grow by 32 percent by 2033, according to a report from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation.</p><p>Krevosky, Adams, and <strong>Kim McCoy</strong>, associate director of the Center for the Advancement of STEM Education, will teach the Ƶ courses with assistance from Bridgewater biology majors. Students will use equipment Ƶ purchased through a separate grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.</p><p>Participants will even receive Bridgewater State credits that can transfer into a Ƶ degree program.</p><p>“I’m hoping people say, ‘I’ve already got my foot in the door, why don’t I go to Bridgewater,’” Arndt said.</p><p><em>Do you have a Ƶ 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="field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/bioprogram_1.webp 470w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="264"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/bioprogram_1.jpg 470w" type="image/jpeg" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="264"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/bioprogram_1.jpg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/bioprogram_1.jpg" alt="A student adjusts a sample under a microscope."> </picture> </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--237451 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-237451"> <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>The hope is we’re really going to change some people’s lives. This could lead to really solid, well-paying positions. It’s a great way to support our region and community.</p> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Dr. Martina Arndt, dean of the Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics </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 Ƶ Works" hreflang="en">Ƶ Works</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:17:23 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 253681 at Focus on Future /stories/2024/focus-future <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Focus on 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="2024-11-13T16:29:23-05:00" title="Wednesday, November 13, 2024 - 16:29" class="datetime">Wed, 11/13/2024 - 16:29</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>Growing Life Design program garners recognition</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="2024-11-14T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">November 14, 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>Life can often feel like a blur for <strong>Anna Rice</strong>, ’28. A forward on the women’s soccer team, Anna juggles practices, games and classes – a balancing act that leaves little time for self-reflection.</p><p>But thanks to a rapidly expanding program called Life Design, Anna and her fellow first-year Ƶ soccer players are exploring their futures – and taking concrete steps to turn those dreams into reality.</p><p>“It means a lot and it shows that Ƶ really cares about all the students and student athletes as individuals,” Anna, a <a href="/department/health-and-kinesiology-old" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="289e4e7b-4b5f-4672-b852-34719237a270" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Health and Kinesiology">physical education</a> major from Weymouth, said of Life Design. “They care about making the most out of each student’s experience.”</p><p>Launched at Bridgewater last year, Life Design is based on a concept developed at Stanford University to help people systematically think through big decisions such as choosing a major or career and making the most of their time in college.</p><p>Stanford officials have recognized Ƶ as a trailblazer for integrating Life Design throughout the university, from classes to advising to workshops with athletes, club leaders and others.</p><p>“You guys are really leading the way in implementing our ideas about self-efficacy and Life Design across your student population,” said Bill Burnett, co-founder of the Life Design Lab at Stanford.</p><p>Ƶ, Burnett said, is doing a “phenomenal job.”</p> <div class="align-right 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--image-400x220 field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden c-portrait-image field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-14adc889d2d" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="A student and instructor talk to each other." decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/400x220/public/media/images/lifedesign2_0.jpg?h=af598d2c" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>Bridgewater students use an architectural concept called design thinking, where they study a problem, ask questions, brainstorm solutions, take concrete action and review their progress. They learn to be curious, trust their gut, dream big and ask for help.</p><p>“When they leave school, they will be able to use this approach for a lifetime,” said <strong>Carol Crosby</strong>, associate director of Life Design at Ƶ.</p><p>All first-year athletes are taking part in Life Design during the 2024-2025 academic year. During a recent workshop for soccer players, students learned about opportunities at Ƶ such as studying abroad, undergraduate research and internships. Crosby highlighted ways athletes can work these hands-on experiences into their schedules.</p><p>“This really helps by taking a step back and looking at everything that’s in front of you,” said <strong>Emily Lehane</strong>, ’28, a health science major from Braintree, who refined her school, career and life goals.</p><p><strong>Hope Montgomery</strong>, ’28, credits the program with improving her time management and confidence in classes. She’s now interested in studying abroad through a one- or two-week travel course.</p><p>“I think it’s amazing that Ƶ does this,” said Hope, an <a href="/department/elementary-early-childhood-education-old" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="c26fd3db-e146-4b75-9c8f-6b833371587c" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Department of Elementary &amp; Early Childhood Education ">elementary education</a> major from Abington. “They’re actually looking out for our mental health and not just shoving us into the college experience. It definitely shows how much they care about us.”</p><p><em>Do you have a Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email </em><a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu"><em><u>stories@bridgew.edu</u></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="field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/lifedesign1_0.webp 470w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="266"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/lifedesign1_0.jpg 470w" type="image/jpeg" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" width="470" height="266"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_705/public/media/article_featured_image/lifedesign1_0.jpg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 33vw" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/article_featured_image_max_470/public/media/article_featured_image/lifedesign1_0.jpg" alt="Three students work together while sitting at a table."> </picture> </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--237216 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-237216"> <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 means a lot and it shows that Ƶ really cares about all the students and student athletes as individuals. They care about making the most out of each student’s experience.</p> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Anna Rice, ’28 </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 Ƶ Works" hreflang="en">Ƶ Works</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:29:23 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 253616 at