Seth Abdallah is a student enrolled in the prerequisite courses at UNE Online. He is currently in graduate school to earn his Master of Public Health, and is taking SPHP courses at UNE Online in order to enter a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Here, he discusses his motivation to get his DPT, his passion for neurology, and the flexibility…

Casey Allen Galey has served in the U.S. Army for over 18 years, and among other honors and awards is the recipient of a Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, three Bronze Star Medals, four Good Conduct Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Assistance Award, and Combat Infantryman’s Badge. As a former 18D (Special Forces Medical Sergeant), he…

Tracy Hirst is the Director of Social Services at a nursing home in Maine. Here, she talks about how the UNE Online SOS field experience model has given the skills that help in her day-to-day job and has also allowed her to gain skills to advance her career. Can you tell us about yourself and what encouraged you to pursue…

Brittany Brown is a student in the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program. Here, she talks about her love of leadership, why she chose to get her MHA, and why she feels that having an MHA gives her an edge.  Can you tell us about yourself and what encouraged you to pursue your Master of Healthcare Administration? I was born…

Olympic hopeful and Veterinary Assistant Taysia Radoslav is moving through her General Chemistry I class quickly and successfully – all the while traveling around and participating in track meets in order to get her qualifying time for the Olympics in the 400-meter hurdles. And with one of the top times in Canada, she is pretty sure to make it! Here…

Ally Loukas is a full-time teacher, full-time mom, and full-time student with UNE Online. Here, she talks about her experience in getting both her MSEd and her CAGS at UNE Online, and how she felt supported and confident throughout her academic journey. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and what encouraged you to pursue your MSEd and…

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…

Can you tell me a little about your background? Sure thing. I grew up in Andover, Massachusetts. As a kid my interests revolved around art, tinkering with electronics and making music. Music eventually became a serious pursuit. In my 20’s I moved to Boston to play in bands, something I continued while studying art at universities in Brooklyn, and Portland,…

Michele Marshall is a Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSIN) student originally from Casco, Maine. With a strong interest in healthcare and science, Michele spent twenty years working as a medical technologist. Michele currently balances working full-time as a microbiology software analyst for a medical technology company with family life and her studies. Hear more from Michele in our…

For a while now I have known that {for me} going back to school was absolutely necessary. It took some time to get to the point where I was comfortable pulling the trigger and picking a program. It also took a lot of soul searching. I looked at topics everywhere from Psychology/Counseling to an MBA. Nothing really seemed to fit. That…

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, MHI is the Manager of Clinical Informatics under Medical Affairs for Maine Medical Center and a 2020 graduate in our Master of Science in Health Informatics program. Here, she talks about what led her to the field of health informatics, what she learned from her studies, and about her experience with the UNE community. Can you…

Toho Soma has two Master’s degrees: a Master of Science in Health Informatics, and a Master of Public Health. This makes him uniquely qualified to work at UNE on program evaluation and quality improvement for various projects in the Center for Excellence in Public Health (CEPH), including Primary Care Training and Enhancement, Chronic Disease Prevention Evaluation, and Statewide Substance Use Prevention Services. He also…

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…