VISION BLOG

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 her 11-year old daughter. Here, she talks about her experience entering the MSW program as an Advanced Standing student, and what she plans to do with her degree once she graduates! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what encouraged you to pursue your Master’s in Social Work online? Sure! I’m 30 with three kids; I have an… Read more >>

Dianna Montfort, Ed.D. is a graduate of the UNE Doctor of Education program and was a presenter at last year’s inaugural CGPS Virtual Research and Scholarship Symposium. Here, she talks about her experience in the Ed.D. program as well as what it was like presenting at CGPS’s first Symposium in 2019. Last year you presented at our first Virtual Research and Scholarship Symposium. Can you talk about your experience? I absolutely loved it. It was very eye-opening because it was the very first time that I had ever shared my research with other people outside of my cohort and workplace. To hear the feedback from some of the attendees was very beneficial to me. The symposium would also be… Read more >>

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 the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Congratulations again on graduating last year! What inspired you to go for your MPH in the first place? I’ve always been drawn to health and distance studies. I received my undergrad from University of Washington in medical anthropology and global health, and I was trying to look at health in the bigger picture, the cultural perspective… Read more >>

Mae L’Heureux is a recent graduate of the Master of Public Health program. During her time in the program Mae served as Membership Co-Chair of the APHA-SA, and Member of the Graduate Programs in Public Health Advisory Committee here at UNE Online. Recently we had a chat about her experience in the program, how she liked the online format, and how getting her Master of Public Health is enhancing her professional career in youth mental health management. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Master’s in Public Health? I discovered my interest in public health in a somewhat roundabout way. I began working in the mental health field after experiencing… Read more >>

Bonnie Blake, Ed.D. is a graduate of the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program at UNE Online. Here, she talks about her experience with the online Ed.D. program and how she is putting her dissertation research to work, planning the next steps in her career.  Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Ed.D.? I had been an educator at New York University for more than 25 years; first as an advisor, an instructor, and eventually clinical assistant professor, as well as academic director and coordinating chair for the programs in media industry studies and design. I received my Master’s in Graphic Communications Management and Technology from NYU, and it was my desire… Read more >>

Jesse Bell, MPH, is a UNE Online alumni of the MPH program and is currently working toward getting his Ph.D. We spoke to him about what compelled him to get his MPH, his experience as an online student including his practicum, and his advice for incoming online graduate students. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Master’s in Public Health? For the past 15 years or so I worked in clinical mental health in the ER, seeing patients who are suicidal and homicidal and at general risk to themselves. Over the years I began to realize that the root cause of systemic issues was not being addressed, and I found the… Read more >>

Nicole Petrin is a student in the Master of Social Work program at UNE Online. She has her undergraduate degree in social work, works in the field, and is also very active as a mentor for rising social workers. She just recently returned from an international social work conference in South Africa, and she shares her experiences with us here. Can you tell me a bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Master’s in Social Work? I am originally from Rhode Island, where during my childhood and adolescence I was a very active member of Girl Scouts, even going on to earn the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, the Girl Scout Gold Award. My early exposure to… Read more >>

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 to examine a particular aspect of the prison population in order to look at the problem of recidivism from a different angle. It’s challenging work, but Dr. Wilber’s passion for teaching and serving others is evident through his most recent award: Region II Teacher Of the Year for 2018. We sat down with Dr. Wilber recently to talk about his… Read more >>

Mansoor Shafqat is a public health graduate student at UNE Online, residing in California. He has had many life changes while enrolled in his program, including becoming a new parent, so he finds the flexibility of the online public health program to be essential to his success as a student. We spoke with him recently about his experience with the program. Can you tell me a bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Master’s in Public Health? I received my Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior Health from the University of California, Davis, and I am currently more than halfway through the Master’s of Public Health program here at the University of New England. I… Read more >>

Rachael Flaxman is an elementary school teacher in Maine and a student in our online MSEd program. We celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week by speaking with some of our students who have dedicated their professional lives to education. Teachers make a profound impact on the lives they touch, so we want to honor some of these very special teachers who are also our students, and who are making a difference every single day in their classroom. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Master’s in Education? I was a little bit later coming to teaching. I didn’t start teaching until I was about 30. We lived in California… Read more >>

Recently, we spoke with UNE graduate Kylie Bragdon ’11, Ed.D. ’18 who is running for the Maine State House of Representatives in District 136 this coming November. Bragdon has an undergraduate degree in Mathematics from UNE and is currently working on her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) here at the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. She’s studying the effect of K-12 education on the lobster industry in Maine. Update July 23, 2019: Kylie Bragdon joined Maine Ocean School as executive director and serves as chair of the board of selectman in Winter Harbor. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Ed.D.? I graduated from UNE in 2011 with my B.S. in… Read more >>

You could say it’s in her DNA. An Oklahoma Sauk Native, Dee Manatowa inherited her passion for social work along with a devotion to environmental justice. Her father—the late Chief Elmer Manatowa Jr. of the Sac and Fox Nation in Stroud, Oklahoma—instilled in her a love for all people and the Earth. As a tribal member, Dee knows all too well the intergenerational trauma that comes with finding your place in a society that is not your own. “I was born into a world that was foreign to me,” she explains. To add to the emotional burden, she says, “I’m not full blood, so I was rejected by both my tribe and greater society.” Like her father, Dee turned to… Read more >>

Darryl Vincent is living proof of the power of integration. Working full-time as the then-Vice President of Programs at the U.S. Veterans Initiative while earning his MSW at UNE Online, Darryl applied his education to the workplace the moment he signed off from class. Now a COO, Darryl credits his UNE Online teachers for the successful changes he’s implemented at his organization — and the improvement of veterans’ lives across the country. Finding a path to service Education was always important to the Vincent family, as they believe that the more investment you put in, the more you get in return. Growing up in New York and the Washington, D.C. area, Darryl earned his bachelor’s degree, as both his parents… Read more >>

Dr. Joel Lowsky is a recent graduate of UNE Online’s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Program. We recently spoke with him about his career, his research, and plans for the future. Can you tell me a little bit about your background? I earned my bachelor’s degree in humanistic studies and English literature; two areas for which it’s tough to find a job! So I went back to school and earned another diploma, this time in Computer Programming. This gave me access to work in the corporate world, in technology. I went on to get a great job implementing software at large corporations, but after a few years, I felt that I wanted a more meaningful work experience. Career twist The… Read more >>

UNE Online Alumna Dr. Vicki Rusbult fulfilled a lifelong dream last May and graduated from the College of Graduate and Professional Studies with her Ed.D. And it turns out that her dissertation wasn’t only interesting to her faculty advisor… The ‘National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Rural Transportation National Newsletter’ recently published a link to her full dissertation in their national newsletter. We’re so thrilled for Dr. Rusbult and her impressive national exposure! We spoke with Dr. Rusbult to talk about her professional career, and how her Ed.D. from UNE Online is opening doors and helping further her work. Here’s a little more about how she is putting her Ed.D. to good use: What was your experience like, getting… Read more >>

Tyler Blankenship, Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR), from Orlando, Florida, is a student in the Master of Science in Applied Nutrition program. Tyler’s background includes working as a chef at Walt Disney World, as a restaurant nutritionist at Sea World and also in nutrition management at a long term care facility. From Chef to Dietary Management Prior to beginning his master’s degree with UNE, Tyler flexed his culinary chops working as both a sous chef and nutritionist at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Armed with degrees in culinary arts and culinary nutrition from Johnson & Wales University, Tyler cooked at Four Star, Five Diamond restaurants at Disney. With a developing interest in nutrition, he moved on to a nutritionist position for… Read more >>

MPH student Alison Braid is more than halfway through her degree, and loving it. After spending over 15 years in the professional translation and website localization industry, she wanted to make a career switch. Says Alison, “I decided that it was time for a change!” Alison is based in New York City, and most recently managed a localization team of engineers, linguists, and graphic designers, evaluating certain websites, translating and adapting them into several languages. Her day-to-day activities involved working across diverse industries and cultures, and making the websites they’re localizing appealing to each culture. With her Master’s Degree in Translation Studies, she started in the firm as a project manager, and worked her way up through the ranks of… Read more >>

UNE Online graduate wins award of excellence Karen Aldworth, recent UNE MSEd: CTE graduate, was nominated for and won the Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education (IACTE) New Teacher of the Year award and represented Illinois at the Region III Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) conference on June 15-17th, 2016. Karen is a Health Science / Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) instructor in Illinois, preparing students to be successful and integral members of the healthcare field. She strives to instill a sense of fun into the learning process, while also incorporating the latest learning technology using a variety of instructional strategies and activities. Shaping the future of career and technical education Karen received her MSEd with a focus… Read more >>

Katy Krings is in her final semester of the MPH program and is an excellent example of how online education can be used as a powerful tool to reach qualified individuals who wouldn’t otherwise have access to higher education. Originally from Wisconsin, Katy now lives and works as a public health nurse in rural Southwest Alaska. In fact, the area in which Katy works is so remote that her patients are not accessible by road or boat for much of the year – she has to fly between these arctic villages to provide her patients with care and public health education. Now that’s going the extra mile. Some background on Katy and her career Katy discovered Public Health nursing after… Read more >>

Recent UNE Online graduate, Jessica Healy, makes strides against underage drinking in Massachusetts Jessica Healy, Regional Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator for the Health Department in Hudson, MA, is spearheading a five-town substance abuse initiative to fight against underage drinking. Through a 3-year, $300,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, town coalitions have spent the last several months exploring how underage drinking affects their communities. Taking action against underage drinking Working along with the towns of Framingham, Ashland, Northborough, Southborough, and Hudson, the project involves addressing the issue of underage drinking, creating action plans and spreading awareness of this epidemic. “It takes a village to raise a child – and it takes a community to fight substance abuse,”… Read more >>

*NOTE: This Master’s in Medical Education Leadership degree is no longer offered online at the University of New England. For a full list of our online graduate offerings, please visit https://online.une.edu/degrees-and-certificates/. MMEL Student, Ross Little, Hits Career Milestone Professor Ross Little, Surgery Technology Instructor at Quincy College, has been honored by the National Board of Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) for a 15-year milestone in his career. Professor Little has maintained the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) designation for over 15 years, renewing his certification every 4 years by completing 60 continuing education credits. Little’s career began as a traveling surgery technician, gaining practical experience all over the country. In the spring of 2003, Little found himself in Boston… Read more >>

One of the best parts of what I do here at UNE is talking to MPH students. Every grad student at UNE that I’ve ever spoken to has been passionate. Passionate about a job well done, passionate about a new program or initiative that they’ve been able to start directly because of what they’ve learned in class, passionate about their field. Grad students seem to have a laser focus on what they want, and they are determined to get there. At UNE, the two years it takes to get your MPH online is an intense time period and a sizable amount of sacrifice. But you finish with far more than a piece of paper. Your hard work results in a … Read more >>

This August, a group of UNE students and advisors participated in an immersion experience in Ghana. Students worked alongside Ghana Health Service, community health educators and the community to provide healthcare services to the twin cities of Sekondi and Takoradi. Participants of the program engaged in direct health services, interprofessional collaboration, community education and academic and cross-cultural exchange. Here, Brittany Roy gives us a glimpse of her involvement with the program in Ghana, and her most important takeaways from the experience. About Brittany Roy, MPH Class of 2015 I currently live in Biddeford, Maine with my fianceé. I graduated from Stonehill College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree where I majored in Neuroscience and minored in Music. I… Read more >>

Paul Grimaud earned his CAGS in Advanced Educational Leadership (AEL) from the University of New England in 2015. He talks about his experience and how he is currently applying his knowledge in the field. Can you tell us a little about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your CAGS: AEL? I want to further impact lives through administration: improving the system of education, faculty experience, and most importantly overall student development. What did you like about UNE and your major? The flexibility of the program, the guidance I received from Ariel, my Student Support Specialist, and the personal touch and advice from Carol Marcotte. It showed me that I am both valued and supported. What internships, clinicals or class… Read more >>

After going through UNE’s flexible online MPH program, Alexjandro Daviano received his MPH from the University of New England this past December. Here is a little of what Alexjandro had to say about his UNE Online Public Health Programs experience: “My MPH degree at UNE really changed my mind on the career path I’ve chosen, and truly opened my eyes to being able to really use public health to affect change in multiple people.” “I truly see you all (UNE Student Support staff members), and UNE as an academic institution, at the forefront of change in public health. And I am so glad I was able to be a part of it. I really hope we can keep in touch… Read more >>

I found the MPH program at UNE to be well designed for working professionals. I was able to keep my full-time position as a housing inspector while completing the program. I also greatly enjoyed my practical experience at the Maine CDC, which provided me with a new public health skill set that I will utilize in the future. Some Background I grew up in eastern Ohio and graduated with my bachelor’s degree in sociology from Ohio State in 2009. Learning about the social determinants of health in my undergraduate courses, along with having a strong interest in statistics and biological sciences, I decided to pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. In 2010, after being accepted at UNE, I… Read more >>

I grew up in the Adirondacks of New York, in a small town with a big community. I did my undergraduate training at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY where I finally realized my passion for health and medicine. I moved to Maine in 2010 and began my medical training that fall. In my second year of medical school, I decided that the UNE MPH program was a perfect springboard into my clinical education. What do you like about UNE and your major? The UNE MPH program helped me to develop a better understanding of the world I will be practicing in as a doctor. My training as a DO has taught me that there is more to medicine than just… Read more >>

The Public Health major at UNE presented me with a life changing opportunity during the summer of 2012. I traveled to Ghana, West Africa with about 20 people from the UNE community and beyond. We set up a health clinic and served over 100 people in and around the twin cities of Sekondi and Takoradi. The trip inspired a strong interest in global health and health inequities across the globe. It was the end of my freshman year at the University of Maine at Farmington when I realized that health was my passion. After graduating in 2006 with a BS in Community Health Education, I realized that I wanted to be in a classroom sharing my passion with young people.… Read more >>