Select Page

Alum Offers Insights Into Graduate School

Mitchell alumna Brittney Marcucci (’20) took time out recently from her busy schedule as a graduate student to talk to a Mitchell class about her experiences in graduate school. She offered insights into finding, applying to, and thriving in graduate school to a Graduate School and Beyond class taught by Nancy Parent, Ph.D.

Marcucci always knew she wanted to go into social work. At Mitchell she got her foundation by earning a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. An internship with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families that was part of her Mitchell degree program “opened my mind and made me realize what I wanted to do.”

Now a student at the Boston University School of Social Work, Marcucci will graduate in May with a master’s degree in social work as a licensed clinical social worker. She plans to work in a therapeutic setting with adult and geriatric clients, a group that she says is underserved. As part of her clinical preparation, she is working at the Waterford Senior Center facilitating groups and doing individual sessions.

A third-generation Mitchell College alum, Marcucci credits Mitchell College with honing her critical thinking skills and teaching her the importance of empathy—both essential abilities for the field of social work.

“Critical thinking was stressed in my classes on human development, and it helped me analyze things from different perspectives. Likewise, through the diversity that is Mitchell, I learned to be understanding, empathetic, and patient. There is such a strong sense of community and acceptance at Mitchell, and that stuck with me.”

Marcucci said that, as with anything, the transition to graduate school can be hard and you have to learn how to adjust. She urged students who are looking at graduate school to pay attention to the values and mission of an institution to make sure they align with themselves.

Similar to an undergraduate program, “finding a community in graduate school that supports you and you want to be part of is crucial to your success,” she said.

Children’s Learning Center Welcomes New Director

The Children’s Learning Center at Mitchell College recently welcomed Jill Fidrych as its new director. In her role, she will oversee the operations of the center and lead the staff in providing a nurturing and safe educational environment for its preschool program.  

A Rhode Island native and southeastern Connecticut resident with more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education, Fidrych said, “I have a lifelong passion for educating and shaping the future of our youngest learners and fostering a love of lifelong learning. The Children’s Learning Center at Mitchell College is not just a place of education but a warm and vibrant community where children thrive. I am especially passionate about the Reggio Emilia philosophy for nurturing curious, creative, and confident learners and also look forward to mentoring our Mitchell College students studying early childhood education.” 

The Children’s Learning Center at Mitchell College uses a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach to the curriculum that makes children partners in the learning process. The center also serves as a laboratory school for Mitchell College students, guiding them to achieve their educational and professional goals through diverse and challenging internships. 

For more information about the Children’s Learning Center, go to mitchell.edu/childrens-learning-center. 

Mitchell College Partners with Community to Address Food Insecurity Among Students

Food insecurity isn’t something that only happens in other places to other people. It often happens close to home — in communities where we live and work — including in college communities across the country.

To serve this need, Mitchell College established the Mariner Market, an on-campus food pantry for students. The College increased the capacity of the market recently by joining the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center network in Southeastern Connecticut to serve students experiencing food insecurity. Mariner Market is located in The Cove student center behind Michael’s Dairy on Montauk Avenue.

According to Dr. Alicia Martinez, dean of student experience and belonging and chief student affairs officer, the issue of food insecurity among students came to the attention of faculty and staff members last year.

“During the Fall 2022 semester, I received a couple of emails from faculty and staff regarding students who were struggling with food insecurity. Utilizing different resources, we were able to help each of these students, but it brought up the question: how many other students who are struggling have not opened up to a Mitchell staff member? The question became even more prominent after reviewing results from the Healthy Minds Survey, which is part of our JED [mental health] program implementation. The survey showed 30% of respondents had food insecurity concerns and 15% had unstable housing concerns. If we wanted our students to be successful and be able to focus on academics, we knew something needed to be done and the idea of a pantry on campus developed.”

Professor Kevin Booker was one of the Mitchell community members who contacted Dr. Martinez on behalf of the students.

“We had a conversation about possibly starting a food pantry,” Martinez said. “Kevin reached out to some of his local connections and was able to have a professional colleague come to campus to share some thoughts about how to go about starting a pantry. Kevin also visited other institutions with pantries on campus to identify some best practices, and he helped us acquire some of the first donations offered through the pantry. We launched a pilot program late spring and over the summer to see if students would utilize the pantry, and they did.”

Mitchell College then applied to partner with the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center as a partner agency and received approval on June 6, 2023.

Martinez said the students voted on the name of the pantry and Student Affairs Fellow Luis Ramirez ’22 created the logo design for the Mariner Market.

Antaya Lee, director of student engagement and orientation, said that students can visit the market once a week

“The inventory of the Mariner Market varies,” she said, “but there are usually a variety of snacks, easily microwavable meals, like soups and mac and cheese, sodas, sports drinks, and seltzers. The market was also able to participate in a non-food giveaway with the United Way and received school supplies, toiletries, and cleaning supplies.”

She added, “We can ‘shop’ with the Gemma Moran United Way food center weekly to get items to supply the Mariner Market. We can also accept outside donations if they meet the requirements we have to maintain in terms of expiration dates, etc.”

Mariner Market is currently seeking donations of reusable shopping bags. Donations can be dropped off at The Cove student center during regular business hours, or arrange a time by emailing  Antaya Lee, director of student engagement and orientation, at lee_a@mitchell.edu or Rachel Ricciuti, student affairs fellow, at ricciuti_r@mitchell.edu.

 

Shelving stocked with food at the Mariner Market

Students Pulling Over at ‘Academic Rest Stop’

After conversations about the increasing prevalence of mental health concerns on college campuses, Dr. Tracy Y. Espy, Mitchell College president, and Dr. Betsy Beaulieu, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, sought to create a quiet place for students to decompress and feel welcome on campus. 

In Spring 2023, a space was identified—Duques 100, a former conference room—and this promise was shared with students: “In Fall 2023, Duques 100 will become the Academic Rest Stop, a place for students to ‘pull over’ and decompress from the pressures of their academics. We invite you to visit this space where you can set aside technology, breathe deeply, and re-center and re-commit to your academic purpose.” 

In deciding what should go into the room to make it an inviting space for students, Beaulieu said, “I began to think of the room as a place for students to relax and re-charge and particularly as a space for our neurodivergent students to feel comfortable. I looked online to research sensory spaces on other campuses. A colleague recently opened a sensory space at Hiram College and shared some ideas with me. I also browsed autism-specific sites for materials that might support the vision for the space.” 

The room received a fresh coat of paint in a soothing color, “Agreeable Gray,” and was outfitted with a sensory wall, a cascading bubble wall, soft furniture, gel mats to create soothing patterns, coloring items and fidgets. The intent of the room is for students to “chill out” and not study. So far, it has received lots of traffic. 

Jada Bain, a first-year student, said that she uses the room at least two to three times per week. Sometimes she is alone; sometimes she is with other students, depending on the time of day. 

“I like that the room is calming and not the hustle and bustle of class time. I have tried all of the different stress-relief tools in here, but I like the stress ball the best,” Bain said. 

Others agree. 

“As a commuter, I like to come here between classes. Sometimes it’s not worth going home, and it’s easy to sit here and relax,” said senior Robyn Higley, noting that the fidgets and the bubble wall are favorites. 

Kingsley Higley, a junior, added, “When I get the chance I come here, sometimes right before I have to go to my BLC [Bentsen Learning Center] appointment. I tend to hyper-fixate on things, so I find playing with the gel mats is good for me.” 

 “Students actually seem physically different in there,” Beaulieu said, “and I’ve noticed a few making connections with each other. The beanbag chairs and the Yogibo lounger are big hits. Snacks are popular, and we’re making arrangements for a therapy dog or a ‘drop-in dog’ to visit periodically. “ 

“I’m very pleased with the use so far, and I am incredibly hopeful that this space will make a difference for our students. The room is for everyone. There are sensory items, but the overall goal is stress reduction and mellowing out across the board. Even the staff want to use it!” she added. 

Ventresca Named Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach

Kristin Ventresca has been named the next head coach of the Mitchell College women’s lacrosse team, as announced recently by Director of Athletics Matt Finlayson. Ventresca will make her collegiate head coaching debut for the Mariners, who posted a 3-9 record in 2023, the most wins for the program since 2018. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Kristin Ventresca as our next head coach for our women’s lacrosse program,” said Finlayson. “Her passion for the sport, coaching experience, and dedication to providing a first class-student athlete experience will all have a positive impact for our women’s lacrosse program. Kristin has proven the ability to build successful programs and recruit quality student-athletes, which is exactly what this team needs as we enter the GNAC.” 

Prior to her arrival in New London, Ventresca spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Conn. During her tenure with the Warriors, she coordinated and implemented offensive strategy and skills, organized and managed team fundraising activities, and identified and cultivated high level potential recruits through clinics, tournaments, the transfer portal, and correspondences. Ventresca’s roles also included developing and presenting in-depth scouting reports for all opponents, as well as maintaining academic progress reports for student-athletes.  

“I would like to thank Matt Finlayson, Ashley Kishorn, Todd Peretz, and the entire search committee for this opportunity,” shared Ventresca. “The support I have felt within this community is amazing. I am excited to build the women’s lacrosse program here at Mitchell into a program that is competitive in the GNAC, while enhancing our student-athletes experience both academically and athletically.” 

Additionally, Ventresca has extensive experience at the high school level, having served as the head girl’s lacrosse coach at Montville High School in Montville, Conn., from 2012–2020. Under her guidance, the program made its first appearance in the CIAC Class S tournament in 2015 and went on to make it back to the state tournament in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. The team also took home a pair of Eastern Connecticut Conference division titles in 2016 and 2018.  

Ventresca and her husband Jon have four children: Shay, a graduate student at the University of Connecticut; Sean, a junior at Eastern Connecticut State University; Jack, a freshman at American University; and Liam, a high school senior at the Pomfret School.  

Award-Winning Journalist to Record Podcast with Students

Award-winning journalist Julio Ricardo Varela will produce a “Latino Rebels Radio” podcast focused on neuro-inclusivity, belonging, and radical hospitality as a social justice movement in conversation with Mitchell College students on Fri., Sept. 22, 1–2:30 p.m. in the Weller Center at Mitchell College. The public is invited to attend.

Six Mitchell student guests will share personal stories of the joys and challenges they experience attending a college committed to embracing and celebrating difference. Representing many identities, the students include Tommy Simmons, David Arbuckle, Will Dreier, Olivia DeCicco, Alyssa Hovey, and Joseph “JuJu” Volkerts. The event is made possible through support from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut.

Inclusive experience extends to neuro-inclusivity
As the college population becomes increasingly diverse, institutions are grappling with how to create more welcoming, accessible living and learning environments. Mitchell College, whose mission is ‘developing and celebrating the power of unique minds,’ has long prided itself on offering students an inclusive experience that extends to neuro-inclusivity. Close to half of Mitchell College students are neurodivergent. At Mitchell, neurodivergent and neurotypical students take classes side by side, participate in campus activities together, and share the same residence halls and playing fields.

Dr. Tracy Y. Espy, president of Mitchell College, said, “Mitchell College is known for welcoming all students into a supportive, nurturing learning environment where it’s possible for them to take risks to find their true potential and discover what a meaningful life means to them. This kind of environment encourages growth and lays the foundation for personal and professional success after graduation. We are proud to be at the forefront of a contemporary social justice movement centering on beloved community, radical hospitality, and powerful individuality. And we are excited and grateful for the opportunity for our student voices to tell this story through the podcast with Julio Ricardo Varela and Latino Rebels Radio.”

Preceding the podcast, Varela will spend the morning meeting with faculty and students and will host a roundtable conversation with Mitchell’s First-Year Experience and college writing faculty to talk about using podcasts in the classroom. He will also discuss career opportunities with communication majors and Radio Mitchell club members.

About Julio Ricardo Varela
Julio Ricardo Varela is a seasoned, award-winning journalist and founder of Latino Rebels, one of the top U.S. Latino digital media sites in the world. He is currently an MSNBC opinion columnist and has worked in various leadership, operational and editorial roles over the course of his career with organizations including Pulitzer Prize-winning Futuro Media and Al Jazeera USA. He has contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC News, Quartz, Le Monde, WGBH, WNYC, Face the Nation, Fusion, Univision, and Telemundo. In 2015 he was honored by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists with its inaugural DALE Award for going “above and beyond to ensure Latinos are fairly and accurately represented.”