VISION BLOG

Army veteran Sean Murray is the epitome of hard work and dedication. His plan is to go to veterinary school, and he is taking courses at UNE to fulfill his science prerequisites. Because his home internet signal is too weak for proctoring, he has been driving two hours one way to his in-laws’ house every two weeks to take his…

Tola Ilegbusi is a student in the Science Prerequisites for Health Professions (SPHP) program, taking online science prerequisites to prepare for his application to medical school. Here he talks about what encouraged him to choose UNE, what he intends to get out of his online courses, what keeps him focused, and what he plans for the future. Can you tell…

Kenneth Palmer is a former Navy Independent Duty Corpsman who is using the GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon status to change careers. Here, he talks about his experience with UNE Online, the community among MSW students, and how he intends to move forward in his career as a clinical social worker focused on trauma treatment. Can you tell us a…

Janet Quiring is a student in the Master of Science in Health Informatics program here at UNE Online. We spoke with her recently about her thoughts on the program, how she leveraged her strengths to find her practicum placement, and what aspects of real-life cybersecurity her practicum is exposing her to. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself,…

Meg Cotton is an active duty service member, single mom, Registered Nurse, and an aspiring Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). As a deployed soldier, she has chosen to take UNE’s SPHP classes for the flexibility of schedule and ease of access. Here she talks about being a student while on deployment, her experience with the coursework, and her goals for…

Gail Callahan is a Registered Nurse in a family practice with more than 22 years of clinical nursing experience. She decided to earn her MPH as a way to expand her knowledge of public health and begin to transition her career from one-on-one clinical care to a position where she can make change on a broader level. Can you tell…

Dr. Michael Fischer is a recent graduate of the Ed.D. program at UNE Online and was recently named the president of York County Community College, in Wells, Maine. Fischer was chosen out of a field of nearly 50 candidates to lead this 1,600-student college in southern Maine. Dr. Fischer began his academic journey at UNE in Fall 2016 as a…

Amber Huff has overcome great obstacles to get her Master’s in Social Work online. Not only will she be the first in her family with an advanced degree, but this Mom of three will also be graduating with a 4.0 grade point average. A major source of her inspiration was to be a positive role model for her children, particularly…

Jazmin Soloman is an MPH student on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. She discusses here how the coronavirus has changed her work atmosphere, and how her degree in public health has opened up doors for her. Can you provide a general overview of your position with Pinellas County EMS & Fire Administration? I am a paramedic and the…

Fred Adhaya earned his Master of Public Health through UNE Online, and now he has returned to attain his terminal degree, a Doctor of Education. In this post, Fred discusses why he chose to pursue his Ed.D. with UNE, and how his MPH has helped him along that journey. You earned your MPH at UNE. What attracted you to continue…

Mona Haimour, RN, BScN, MSN, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Canada. As a 2016 inductee to UNE’s Chapter of the Delta Omega Honor Society, she also proved herself to be one of UNE’s brightest Master of Public Health students. From Jordan to Canada Originally from Jordan,…

Katelyn Beeley, RN, BSN is the Manager of Clinical Informatics under Medical Affairs for Maine Medical Center and a student in our health informatics program. Here, she talks about what led her to the field of health informatics, what she is learning from her studies, and about her experience with the UNE community. Can you tell us a little bit…

Toho Soma is the Interim Director and Senior Research Associate in the Center for Excellence in Health Innovation at UNE. He is also the supervisor of a team of evaluators in the Center. Although he is currently pursuing his Master of Science in Health Informatics, his background is in public health. For ten years prior to coming to UNE, he…

In celebration of our Graduate Programs in Public Health’s successful CEPH reaccreditation, we sat down with Monica Huelga, MPH ’18, who found herself at UNE Online rather serendipitously. Monica is passionate about the power of communication to promote global health and equality. She completed her applied practice experience on environmental health literacy at the non-profit MEarth Carmel while working at…

Frank Myers is a student in the Master of Social Work program at the University of New England. We spoke with Frank recently about what attracted him to the field of social work, his experience in the UNE Online program, and what drove him to create and host an outreach event for homeless people in his area. What got you…

Ever since he can remember, Justin has always wanted to be a doctor–but his exceptional musical talent pulled him in a different direction after high school. Justin accepted a scholarship to study classical music at Vanderbilt University, where he graduated in 2014 with a BA in Classical Music. Prior to graduation, Justin started to realize that he couldn’t ignore his…

Annie Lin is a second-year student in the online Master of Science in Applied Nutrition program at the University of New England. We spoke with Annie about her experience in the program, her poster presentation at a nationally-renowned conference for the field of nutrition, and her thoughts on being a part of an online learning community. Can you tell me…

Tannaz Safari Vejin earned her MPH during the gap years she took after pre-med and before med school. Here, she talks about what she feels is an important skill set to master during the program, and how she feels getting her MPH has given her an edge. UNE Online Ambassadors have been recognized by the College of Graduate and Professional…

Jeffrey is currently in his third executive officer role as the Chief Information Officer for Martin’s Point Healthcare. When he felt that he’d reached a growth plateau, he took a year to research before choosing UNE’s Ed.D. to combine leadership skill acquisition, applied science, and applied research. “The way each class builds on the next within the program, it literally…

Ruthie Pearlman is a second-year student in the Master of Science in Health Informatics program. Here she tells us about her experience in the program, her vision for integrating seamless patient experiences with mobile health technology, and her advice for incoming students. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Master’s in…

Stephanie Marcotte is a student in the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program at the College of Graduate and Professional Studies here at the University of New England. She talks about her experience as an online student, how her educational leadership roles have developed throughout her time in the UNE Ed.D. program, and how her identity as a leader has changed…

Donna Stearns is a Maine educator enrolled in the UNE Online Certificate of Advanced Study – Advanced Educational Leadership (CAGS AEL) program. Here she talks about her experience in the program and imparts some words of wisdom. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your CAGS AEL online? I’m currently in my…

Jessica Brousseau is a student in the UNE Online CAGS in Advanced Educational Leadership program. As a high school counselor, she enjoys learning from the diverse perspectives and experiences of her classmates, and she feels that she especially benefits from learning how her classmates in other states deal with common situations in different ways. We spoke with her recently about her…

Dr. Mike Wilber, an Ed.D. graduate, is an Adult Basic Education Instructor at the Delaware Department of Education Adult and Prison Education Resources Division in Wilmington, Delaware, helping inmates earn their GEDs and learn job skills. He is also a GED Instructor in the Adult Education Division of James H. Groves Adult High School. Dr. Wilber’s Ed.D. dissertation was designed…