Pictured above: Thames at Mitchell College students and their families celebrate the end of the year with program staff at The Red Barn on May 7, 2022.

At their May 7 end-of-year celebration, forty-four Thames at Mitchell students earned a newly created digital badge in recognition of their completion of the holistic one-year program by meeting the following criteria:

• Maintaining a 2.0 or better grade point average
• Independently demonstrating competencies including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision making, executive functioning and academics
• Participating in at least one club or leadership opportunity

Badges are a way of recognizing microcredentials, which focus on a particular skill or competency and can be helpful to both students and employers.

“The Thames at Mitchell badge highlights the tenets of the program and acknowledges that the students met the established criteria. Badges document a student’s progress during an academic program. In general, badges help students show employers that they are ready for the workplace. Badges are collectable and portable. Students can add badges to their email signature, social media profiles, LinkedIn and other public places online.” —Beverly Scully, director of Thames at Mitchell

Mitchell College recently named Keith Padin as business operations manager for the college’s auxiliary services. In his role, Padin will oversee dining services, rentals and event engagement, including operations of Michael’s Dairy and The Red Barn.

Padin most recently served as communications, sales and operations manager for A Thyme to Cook catering in North Stonington, where he led marketing initiatives, guided clients on event planning and contributed to the creation of company policies and procedures. Prior to that, he worked as marketing and hospitality manager for Fort Hill Farms in Thompson, Conn., and Jones Family Farms in Shelton, Conn. He studied communications at the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Tracy Y. Espy, president of Mitchell College, said, “We are excited for Keith to bring his experience and knowledge to this position at Mitchell College. At Mitchell we practice radical hospitality, welcoming everyone to our campus, from our diverse body of learners to our neighbors enjoying Michael’s Dairy. Beyond providing an excellent education to our students, we are fortunate to offer many of the facilities around our beautiful campus for public use. I know Keith will do a superb job connecting with and accommodating community requests.”

“I’m very excited to help reconnect the community back to Mitchell and all we have to offer here. From our legendary scoops of ice cream at Michael’s Dairy, a baseball tournament on our fields, an amazing wedding in The Red Barn or new Airbnb properties we’ll be offering soon, getting to see our neighbors here with us in New London is a special thrill. I’m honored Dr. Espy and my colleagues here at Mitchell have entrusted me with this mission, and I look forward to the adventure.” — Keith Padin

Mitchell College recently welcomed Catherine “Cathy” Hurd as the interim vice president of enrollment. In her role, she will oversee the offices of admissions and financial aid and will also work directly with President Tracy Y. Espy as the assistant to the president, special projects.

Hurd most recently served as the vice president of student enrollment management and student experience at Bennett College, where she was instrumental in providing strategic leadership and direction in admissions, financial aid, the registrar’s office and student affairs. Prior to that, she worked in similar positions at Pfeiffer University and Johnson C. Smith University.

Espy said, “We are thrilled to welcome Cathy to Mitchell College. She brings expertise in developing, implementing and assessing comprehensive enrollment strategies, coupled with a deep understanding of a student-centered campus environment. She comes to us at an exciting time, as we grow our brand and move in a bold new direction. In her role, she will focus on advancing enrollment by enhancing internal and external collaborations and partnerships, especially through effective communications and marketing and branding.”

Hurd holds a master of science in education with a specialization in leadership for higher education from Capella University, where she also completed a post-master’s certificate in enrollment management and Ph.D. coursework. She earned a bachelor of science from Coker University.

“I look forward to telling ‘The Mitchell Story’ as we transition Mitchell College from good to great, expanding our reach and brand across the United States and abroad. Using our diverse student profile — a kaleidoscope of learners — as our market ‘niche’ to grow our enrollment for both Mitchell College and Thames at Mitchell is our top priority.”

— Cathy Hurd

Dr. Alicia Martinez, Mitchell College dean of student experience and belonging, was recently selected to participate in the Executive Leadership Academy (ELA), a year-long program co-sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI). The program, which prepares experienced higher education leaders to move to positions of greater responsibility, including presidencies, is one of the most prestigious opportunities at the national level.

Selected from hundreds of applicants as one of 35 participants, Dr. Martinez will attend two seminars in Washington, D.C., led by current and former presidents and specialists in key areas. She will also benefit from a highly individualized Professional Experience Plan, taking into account her expertise and experience. In addition, she will participate in executive coaching, peer-to-peer participant-led webinars, regional gatherings and other activities.

Mitchell College president, Dr. Tracy Y. Espy, a former participant who nominated Dr. Martinez, said, “A leader among leaders, Dr. Martinez has two decades of experience in higher education leadership. She has consistently made tremendous positive impacts here at Mitchell College, through some of the most challenging times in higher education. Dr. Martinez represents the next generation of leaders, who are critical for long-term higher education success, and it was my absolute pleasure to nominate her for selection to the CIC Leadership Academy.”

Dr. Espy will also serve as a mentor for Dr. Martinez.

“I look forward to connecting with and sharing ideas with other senior leadership from a variety of colleges, as well as the individualized executive coaching and development of the Professional Experience Plan. My hope is to advance my institutional knowledge base and identify areas of personal experience and expertise I can strengthen with a focus on continuous improvement to ensure I can effectively meet the challenges of today’s educational environment and best serve our students.” —Dr. Martinez

Photo: Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz (Courtesy of Office of Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz)

Mitchell College marks its 78th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 14, with Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz delivering the keynote address to the Class of 2022. The ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. on the Mitchell College Green.

Sworn in on January 9, 2019, Susan Bysiewicz is serving her first term as Connecticut’s 109th lieutenant governor. Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz formerly served as Connecticut’s secretary of state from 1999 to 2011. As a state representative in the Connecticut General Assembly, she represented the towns of Middletown, Middlefield, and Durham from 1993 to 1999. A graduate of Middletown High School, Yale University and Duke Law School, she is the author of “Ella: A Biography of Ella Grasso,” Connecticut’s 83rd Governor. Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz and her husband David Donaldson reside in Middletown.​

Dr. Tracy Y. Espy, Mitchell College president, said, “We are honored that Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz will deliver the keynote address to our graduating class. Her values of hard work, education and persistence, her wisdom gleaned from years of tireless work on behalf of Connecticut residents, her recognition of the value of programs that help neurodivergent communities thrive, and her commitment to growing jobs and investing in the future will inspire our graduates.”

In addition to announcing the graduating class of 2022, the ceremony will include recognition of students who received honors, awards and scholarships at Mitchell College for the 2021–2022 Academic Year.

Pictured above: President Espy and Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) meet with other community members to discuss the planned Digital Innovation Hub.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) visited Mitchell College to meet with Mitchell College President Tracy Y. Espy, Ph.D., and other college stakeholders to talk about the planned Digital Innovation Hub for Educational Excellence. The visit included a tour of the Mitchell College Library, which will house flexible learning and collaboration spaces both for Mitchell students and non-student learners, and provide access to computers and support staff for the digital learning supported by the Digital Invitation Hub. The goal of the Hub is to support workforce development needs in the region.

Courtney recently secured $555,000 in federal funding for the program, which will provide new credentialing and coursework in STEM and behavioral health careers for traditional and non-traditional students. The funding will be used to purchase equipment to support in-person and virtual learning as well as STEM education. One staff member would be hired to administer the program, partnering with college officials and professional organizations to develop new programming.

“Education and skills training opportunities are the cornerstone of growing eastern CT’s workforce, and I was happy to work with the City of New London and Mitchell College to secure direct, targeted funding for the college’s new Digital Innovation Hub as part of our Community Project Requests in the 2022 budget,” said Courtney. “Dr. Espy and her team are focused on ensuring Mitchell College remains an integral part of training up the next generation of qualified medical professionals, engineers, programmers and other in-demand professions so that more of their students have the skills to step right into these high-skill, high-pay industries—and that in turn is going to attract even more employers to our region. That’s exactly what the Digital Innovation Hub will be focused on, STEM and behavioral health coursework, and I’m looking forward to seeing the program get underway now that our Community Project Request has finally been made law.”

Espy said, “We are so grateful to Congressman Courtney for supporting our vision to provide our community with more options to prepare for in-demand careers, filling a need in today’s society. Workforce development is critical to the well-being of our region and our state and we look forward to Mitchell playing an important role in that.”