Martha Schultz, Author at Mitchell College

Camara-Harvey Joins Athletics Staff

Mar 8, 2022 | News

Kimberly Camara-Harvey, Mitchell College’s new associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator, recently arrived on campus ready to contribute to the success of Mitchell’s student-athletes.

Camara-Harvey said, “Mitchell’s Department of Athletics has had some amazing accomplishments, and I know there are even more on the horizon. I’m very excited to be part of what next. The staff, both in athletics and throughout the college community, is clearly dedicated to the success of students, and I’m really looking forward to being a part of that. I love seeing the student-athletes reach their goals, not just athletically but also in the classroom and beyond graduation.”

She joins the Mariners following a seven-year tenure at Johnson & Wales University in which she served as both a head softball coach and administrator.

Camara-Harvey will oversee all internal operations for Mitchell’s department, which is comprised of 12 varsity sports and services over 200 student-athletes. She will also serve as the compliance coordinator and Title IX Deputy, and as SWA she will be involved in senior-level management decisions at both the campus and conference levels.

“We are excited and delighted to add Kim to our team. She brings an extensive, successful track record in both the coaching and administrative side of collegiate athletics, and she is already making a positive impact on our student-athletes and staff.”

—Matt Finlayson, Director of Athletics

Prior to taking over the JWU program, Camara-Harvey served as an assistant softball coach and admissions coordinator at Webster University in St. Louis, Mo. She was also the head softball coach at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa. from 2006-12, as well as an assistant softball coach at UNC-Wilmington in Wilmington, N.C. from 2001-06.

Camara-Harvey earned a degree in mathematics at the University of Rhode Island, where she was a four-year letter winner and two-year captain on the softball team. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Webster University.

Mitchell internship nurtured a passion for community outreach

Mar 8, 2022 | Stories

As director of state and local outreach for the CT Department of Public Health, Dave Reyes, Jr. (Business Administration, ’08) found himself back on campus for a COVID-19 Booster Clinic on Wednesday, March 2, in the Red Barn. The clinic was open to the campus community and the general public.

Reyes said his skills in community outreach, so critical to his current job, were honed as a student at Mitchell and as president of the Student Government Association (SGA).

“Mitchell gave me the opportunity to work with SGA and partner with a local senior housing complex, providing Thanksgiving dinner to the residents and painting their apartments. I also did an internship with the Office of Economic Development for the City of New London and learned about the importance of networking. Networking is so critical to the work that I do today – making connections daily to continue vaccinating Connecticut residents against COVID-19,” he said.

“Knowing that my teachers knew if I was in class or not – and caring – mattered to me.”

Reyes said Mitchell’s small campus, close proximity to home and accessible faculty and staff drew him to apply for admission.

Mitchell Basketball—Men and Women—Head to NCAA Championships

Mar 3, 2022 | News

Across the campus, Mitchell College Mariners are celebrating as the school claimed not one but two 2022 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championships for both men’s and women’s basketball, a first in the college’s history.

Both teams will compete in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Division III Championship on Friday, March 4. The men go up against Randolph-Macon College at Randolph-Macon in Virginia. The women travel to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore to take on Christopher Newport University, another Virginia school.

This is the first appearance for Mitchell women’s basketball in the NCAA tournament and the third for men’s basketball.

Men’s and women’s basketball make up two of 14 varsity teams at Mitchell College, where over 40% of the students are varsity athletes. With the two recent championship wins, Mitchell now counts 19 Conference Championships in recent years.

Beyond the court or field, Mitchell’s coaches combine strong professionalism with a commitment to building relationships with each student, supporting them in a game, meet or match and in the classroom.

Coach Todd Peretz, now in his 23rd season as head coach of Mitchell College men’s basketball, said, “Heading to the NCAA Tournament is so special. No matter how many times you go, you can’t help but be overcome with waves of emotion. It never will get old. We are telling our guys there is no pressure on us. Regardless of who we play, we need to play our style and embrace this wonderful opportunity.”

“Mitchell men’s basketball is a unique program in that, for a smaller institution, our team is made up of players from all over. We have kids from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Florida and international students. The group makes it fun to go to practice every day.” —Coach Peretz

Coach Courtney Burns, in her fifth season as head coach of Mitchell College women’s basketball, said, “Mitchell women’s basketball has truly developed a culture these last five years. It’s more than a basketball program. It’s a family. These players play for something bigger than themselves, not only for each other but for the college. It shows in the ways in which they compete and represent themselves on a daily basis. WE>ME.”

“Every player, every coach and every manager plays a key role in our success as a program. These student-athletes and the women’s basketball alumni have put so much into this program, day in and day out. To watch the group walk up the ladder and cut down their first championship net in the NECC championship was a special moment that I will never forget.” —Coach Burns

MVP Players in NECC Tournament

Junior Mikey Buscetto and senior Amina Wiley were named tournament MVPs.

Peretz said, “Mikey has been a terrific addition to our program as well as many other newcomers and our returning players.”

Burns said, “Amina will finish her career as the most decorated women’s basketball player to ever play here. She’s earned that through her hard work over the last four years. She has continued to improve and perfect her game, and she deserves all the accolades that have come her way.”

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Scholarship recipients work for social change

Feb 14, 2022 | Stories

Mitchell College awarded six of its students the George Floyd Scholarship for the 2021-22 Academic Year, recognizing their leadership ability and desire to effect social change. Nominated by Mitchell faculty for their positive contributions in the classroom, the recipients model Mitchell’s values by their desire to support, serve, protect and help others to build stronger communities and effect social change.

Pictured above (left to right): Aizhene Glenn, Alana Chappelle and Nia Gethers

The latest recipients talk about their goals and how this scholarship has helped them work toward change.

LEARN MORE about the scholarship.

Reforming the Criminal Justice System

Junior Aizhane Glenn, a criminal justice major, works to raise awareness of social justice issues, including racial injustice and poverty and economic injustice. She is currently learning about policing and helping the community as an intern with the Waterford Police Department. Her post-graduation plans include working in the criminal justice field and pursuing a master’s degree in mental health counseling.

Aizhane says, “The George Floyd Scholarship came from a loss of a beautiful person, and it allows people like me to create the change I want to see in the world, preventing similar losses in our community. At Mitchell I am contributing to the change by creating events and a sense of belonging for the diverse community of the college. After college, I hope to create change, helping underprivileged communities and doing my part to reform the criminal justice system.”

A Goal to Help Kids Find Their Way

After she graduates from Mitchell College, Alana Chappelle, a junior criminal justice major, plans to earn a master’s degree and work as a juvenile probation officer.

Alana says, “In this career I would be able to help young kids who can’t find their way by being a positive role model and getting them on the right track.”

Alana supports Black Lives Matter, participating in local protests, donating and signing petitions to help the movement. She plans to complete an internship in her senior year, either with the State of Connecticut or a local police department.

“The George Floyd Scholarship has helped me because it brings awareness to an injustice that people like me have faced for many years and still face to this day. It’s an honor to receive this scholarship because it makes me proud to be who I am.”

Change Starts Here, Now

For Nia Gethers, change in the world begins right here on campus.

She says, “I aspire to help make change by creating events that celebrate the Mitchell College community’s diverse population. The George Floyd Scholarship allows me to continue my education to help others in the future.”

A junior majoring in psychology, Nia is vice president of the Multicultural Student Union and participates in Black Lives Matter protests.

She is currently interning with the school social worker at the Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School in New London.

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A contribution to the George Floyd Scholarship fund will offer more support to students like these who are working toward a better world through social change.

Finding joy through children’s eyes

Jan 19, 2022 | Stories

Senior Samantha Oudkerk, an early childhood studies major, was one of six Mitchell College students who did their teaching practicum at the Children’s Learning Center (CLC) at Mitchell College during the fall 2021 semester.

Samantha planned and presented several lessons to the students in her class – all three- and four-year-olds – and her favorite lesson introduced the children to paleontology.

“During the paleontologist lesson, I read to the children about dinosaur bones. Then, during ‘choice time,’ the children got to act as paleontologists looking for replicas of dinosaurs, bones and fossils in a sensory bin filled with sand. They used their hands and brushes to find the objects and then used magnifying glasses to observe them close up, especially the ‘fossils’.”

Samantha also found joy in outdoor adventure time with the children, which took advantage of the natural landscape surrounding the historic Chappell Cottage at Mitchell Woods, where the CLC is housed, as well as other areas on campus, like Mitchell Beach. At the CLC, the outdoors is an extension of the indoor classroom space.

“Seeing the children explore nature and find new discoveries makes me happy.”

Samantha will complete her final practicum at The Friendship School in Waterford this semester. Looking forward to fulfilling her goal of being a preschool teacher or teacher assistant after she graduates, Samantha is happy thinking about her time at Mitchell.

“Mitchell is special to me because this is where I met my best friend. It’s also where I realized that I wanted to be a teacher.”

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