Stories Archives

Mitchell Alumni Score Overseas

Jul 25, 2023 | Stories

Completion of a college degree sometimes means a special trip for the graduate to see the world before starting a new job or graduate school. These Mitchell College alumni, who played basketball and baseball for the Mariners, took it a step further and moved overseas to continue to play the sports they loved while soaking in the new cultures around them.

Each credited the excellent education and experience they gained at Mitchell for giving them the ability and foundation to adapt to new environments and pursue their goals beyond playing their sport—from earning an advanced degree to getting a professional job in their area of study.

Parris Hill Jr. ’16

After earning a bachelor’s degree in communication, Parris Hill Jr. ’16, played basketball for Nuovo Cestistica Barletta Basketball in Barletta, Italy.

He said, “Besides the hard grind of basketball practices at Mitch, the communication program helped get me ready for Italy. It really got me out of my shell and more open to things. No one spoke English in my city in Italy, and there were a lot of required duties that I had to fulfill with my team representing the basketball organization. I had to be open to finding ways to interact with my teammates, fans and in my daily travels.”

Currently an environmental consultant specialist for a bio company in Northern California, Hill said his favorite memory of Mitchell is “winning the NECC Championship in 2014. It was the first championship for the program. What a wild day of emotions before and after the game! All worth it. History.”

Colizel Lewis ’18

After earning his bachelor’s degree in health sciences, Colizel Lewis ’18 headed to the United Kingdom, where he played basketball for the Newcastle Knights, part of the British Universities & Colleges Sport league and the National Basketball League, Division 2. But that’s not all he did. While he was there he also earned a master’s degree in regenerative medicine and stem cells from Newcastle University.

Today he works as a researcher at a biotech startup company in South San Francisco, focusing on finding treatment for Parkinson’s disease. He said he looks forward to continuing to grow as a scientist and a professional.

“Mitchell prepared me to live internationally because of the diverse student population that we had. I met so many people during my time at Mitchell with different backgrounds and from various states. Mitchell also prepared me academically to be successful in graduate school in the United Kingdom, and I credit that to the wonderful professors and advisors that I had!” he said.

Markus Melendez ’19

Markus Melendez ’19, an assistant property manager for 33Realty, a Poplar Company, in Chicago, spent three summers living and playing professional baseball in several European countries, including France, Germany, Czech Republic and Sweden.

Melendez felt prepared to go out into the world after earning his bachelor’s in communication and said, “Mitchell’s diverse student body and faculty were a major contributor to my ability to acclimate to the many different cultures I was fortunate enough to immerse myself in. That, coupled with Mitchell’s ability-based learning model, provided me with the confidence to take a chance and go overseas.”

He stresses the importance of ability-based learning not only for giving confidence to immerse himself in new cultures across Europe but also for transitioning back into a job outside of athletics.

“The emphasis on ability-based learning is one of the things I am most grateful to Mitchell for. I firmly believe that in today’s work environment and society, the ability to adapt is paramount. Learning the skills to do so are what afforded me not only the ability to live out my dream as a professional baseball player while living overseas, but now the ability to transfer into the ‘corporate world’ of property management.”

Soaring to New Heights for a World of Good

Jul 10, 2023 | Stories

A piece of advice that Pauline Batista ’14 would give to Mitchell College students and graduates is, “Take advantage of the fact that the college is so small. Mitchell is very unique with an extremely nurturing environment. It gives you the confidence you need to go on with your career. Don’t be afraid. Just go out there and dream as big as you’d like because the sky’s the limit.”

Currently a journalist and producer for the UN News division of the United Nations in New York City, Batista is thankful for the strong foundation she built at Mitchell as she pursues her own big dreams.

“The generosity of the faculty and the small setting of the college made a huge difference for me as someone who had recently moved from Brazil. I am very grateful for a generous scholarship that I received, and when I think about Mitchell it’s fond memories and beautiful things.” Batista said.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication with a concentration in media production and performance and said that she uses skills and knowledge learned from her coursework and extracurricular activities—like drama—regularly in her job today.

“Classes in persuasion, theater production, filmmaking and video production prepared me well for what I am doing today, especially for knowing how to handle getting that critique when you’re out in the field producing and delivering content. It’s really cool that what I learned in the classroom is what I am doing now in my job,” she said.

After graduating from Mitchell, Batista earned a master’s degree in international studies from the University of Connecticut and continues there in a doctoral program in educational policy, a move which led her to her current job with the UN.

“Mitchell, as a school that wasn’t so overwhelming, helped build the foundation that I needed to go on to UConn, which was a super-overwhelming university experience. Now I’m at the UN, with 35,000 employees. It’s huge, and Mitchell was excellent for helping me build my foundation.”

Batista said that it’s rewarding to use the combination of her degrees in the work she is pursuing. Prior to her full-time job at the UN, she did work with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), “an organization that was the blueprint for international relations in the world.” She also said she used filmmaking as “a research method to get the attention of policy makers in Latin American countries.”

Today, she said, “typically the stories that I have to cover have to do with human rights or the intersection of human rights and entertainment. They are stories about what the UN does and about folks who work with the UN as ambassadors. My job is super hectic and super rewarding!”

[Editor’s note: Batista’s interview with Mitchell College Communications was conducted as she waited at the Tribeca Film Festival, hoping to ask questions of celebrity UN supporters. See her UN News tweet to watch her in action!]

Prepared to Pursue Dreams

May 5, 2023 | Stories

As Hana Rihani looks to the fall semester as a first-year student at Mitchell College, she reflects on how her year as a student in the Thames at Mitchell College program has prepared her.

“I heard about Thames when I was creating a list of colleges to consider at the beginning of my senior year of high school. After looking at the Thames website and meeting with the admissions staff, I thought it would be a great place where I would be supported and successful,” Hana said.

Hana came into the Thames program with a couple of challenges to overcome. In addition to figuring out what to bring (“I didn’t know what to pack for it being my first time in college!”), Hana said that she is usually shy when meeting new people. Her social-emotional learning class helped by teaching her how to be social and be a good friend.

“I have learned important skills that can help me be a better person in the world. After the first week of school, I started getting to know people and making them my friends. I didn’t expect to know everybody in my residence hall in such a short time,” she said.

Paint-and-Sip nights, bingo, bowling trips and a ping-pong tournament are some of the activities that kept Hana busy and socializing.

“The ping-pong tournament was a highlight because I had a fun time playing and watching the teachers’ faces when people won or lost,” she said.

Another highlight was a Halloween community service event with her classmates and social-emotional learning teachers.

“It was a fun event because I hung out with my amazing professors and classmates while handing out candy!”

Hana said that she has been challenged by her coursework, but her instructors have worked closely with her to provide direction and feedback. She said that she has grown in independence and confidence while developing skills for life as a college student and as a job-seeker after college.

“Being on a college campus as a Thames student really helped me prepare for college life. I like to be active and do interesting things. Taking college classes, eating in the dining hall and going to school events really benefited me.

I want do something with marine biology or communication and performing arts. I love being around animals, and I also love being on stage and expressing myself, so I will be joining the chorus and auditioning for the play and the musical next year.”

Now that Hana is prepared to take on the first year of college, she can look forward to setting out to accomplish her dreams.

Ready to Fly

Apr 28, 2023 | Stories

Senior Rachel Ricciuti’s internship in the marketing and sales department of Water’s Edge Resort & Spa melded perfectly with lessons learned through her major in communication and her minor in hospitality and tourism.

“Every day was different,” she said. “One day we were writing meta descriptions for the website, and the next day I got to create a post for social media. My favorite part was being surrounded by several managers in the sales office. Each one oversees a different operation—corporate, social and weddings. To watch an event like a wedding or a major corporate meeting was so interesting and fun. It was a bonus of my internship placement to get to see, learn and do so much.”

When Rachel started her internship, she second-guessed herself and her abilities.

“I was worried that, despite years of education and even experience, I wouldn’t be prepared for an internship in the ‘real world.’ But Mitchell taught me to be ready. It sounds cheesy, but all of my classes really helped sculpt me to be and do the best that I could for this internship. From a marketing viewpoint I had to think critically about who we were trying to reach and how we were trying to reach them. I also had to communicate effectively with coworkers and clientele,” she said.

Her internship experience affirms the work that she will pursue after graduation.

“From working at Water’s Edge, I know that I want to work in a place with the same type of atmosphere doing the same kind of work. It is rewarding and fun!”

She chalks up her success as both a student and an intern to Mitchell’s size.

“The small community drew me to Mitchell. I knew I wasn’t going to be just another number in the student population. You truly get to spread your wings and make the most out of the four years. It’s crucial development before going into the real world, being able to build my resume and have support doing it. The opportunities are there, and I knew I had to take advantage of them.”

“Mitchell has challenged me, supported me and helped me network and gain connections. I have come out on the other side stronger from the experiences that I have had,” she added.

Stepping Forward with Confidence

Apr 3, 2023 | Stories

Thames at Mitchell College student Grace Carey dreams of one day working in a preschool. She is enrolling as a first-year student at Mitchell College for the 2023–24 academic year and is confident that early childhood studies and a practicum at the Mitchell College Children’s Learning Center will help her reach her goal.

Her new-found confidence can be attributed to skills she is learning at Thames.

“When I began at Thames, I struggled with uncertainty. I wasn’t sure college would be right for me since academics and time management have been hard for me,” Grace said.

“But at Thames I found a program that offers academic and social supports. I am learning and working on many skills, including managing time, balancing academic and school life with social life, navigating a college campus and finding the resources I need. It’s been challenging, but I’ve overcome the challenges by self-advocating, using my schedule and map of the campus and just giving myself time to adjust.”

Grace said that she has been “pleasantly surprised” by the level of social-emotional support at Thames and the friendliness of the community. Both helped her gain more confidence in her ability to be a college student and an adult.

“My ability to balance my work and social life has become stronger. I feel more confident in making a homework plan for myself and knowing what time I need for working. The extra support that Thames offers has also helped increase my enjoyment of the classes,” she said.

Managing her time well has made it easy to take part in many of the social activities available to Thames students—both within the Thames program and the wider Mitchell College community.

“The Paint and Sip nights, Play-Doh Night, Open Mic nights and Bingo nights are all campus-wide social events that I have had a lot of fun at. I have also really enjoyed the Thames-specific social events, like our Sunshine Club ice cream party, a trip to Providence and card and games nights!”

Grace is grateful for her time at Thames and looks forward to what comes next.

“At Thames I am part of the Mitchell College community, but I get to take my transition from high school to college more slowly with extra support. The program is my steppingstone to becoming a successful Mitchell College freshman and college student,” she said.

Disney Internship a Dream Come True

Mar 22, 2023 | Stories

Zhane Adams is spending the spring semester of her junior year living a lifelong dream. She is participating in the Disney College Program, working at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

“I have always loved Disney, from the movies to the music and, of course, the parks, so I had a dream to be a Disney cast member for a long time. It was the reason I applied to Mitchell College in the first place. The Disney College Program requires at least one completed semester of college, and I had heard amazing things about Mitchell’s Hospitality and Tourism program. The classes set students up to learn about different areas of the hospitality field to find out what does and doesn’t interest them,” Zhane said.

While her quest to experience working for Disney landed her at Mitchell College, her Mitchell coursework has set her up for success as she works in her Disney internship.

“One class that I apply every single day is Quality Service. Especially at Disney, you learn from Day 1 that you are part of a show. Every single cast member, whether on stage or behind the scenes, helps the show go on. Guests come to Disney for the experience and to have some magic brought into their lives. Our motto at Disney is ‘We create happiness!’ I was already familiar with creating experiences for guest because we learned about it in my class – often using Disney as an example because they do it best!”

Zhane typically works 40 hours per week as a houseperson, supporting the housekeeping process and making sure it’s “in tip-top shape to ensure safety to all of our Walt Disney World guests and cast members.” She also works as a runner, doing pick-ups and deliveries of items like towels, cribs and luggage racks for housekeepers and guests. Occasionally she is “deployed,” or assigned to other locations around Walt Disney World to work.

“Deployments can be a challenge and nerve-wracking because you feel like you are starting over again,” she said. “I have been sent out on two deployments so far, but if you go in with an open mind, every deployment is a learning experience and a great opportunity to see more of Disney and the way other resorts run.”

Another challenge for Zhane, who is a commuter student at Mitchell, has been getting used to doing an internship so far from home.

“Connecticut is definitely not in Florida’s backyard, but nobody does hospitality like Disney does, and I knew when I started Mitchell that this is where I wanted to do my internship. I love getting the opportunity to meet and network with new people and gain knowledge in resort life at a beautiful place like the Wilderness Lodge. I have met a lot of great friends at my home resort, and I enjoy going to work.”

“Of course,” she added, “working for Disney comes great employee perks, like getting into the parks for free! So, on days off being able to explore the parks is an amazing opportunity. There are some days I can work in the morning, and as soon as I clock out I can be in the park 30 minutes later. It’s the definition of ‘Work hard, play harder’.”

Zhane said that she has found parallels between some of the Mitchell Abilities that she has practiced in her Mitchell coursework and The Five Keys that Disney cast members follow: Safety, Efficiency, Show, Inclusion and Courtesy.

“Courtesy and Inclusion are the two Disney keys that remind me the most of the Mitchell Abilities. Working for Disney is an endless opportunity to work with people from all over the world of different cultures, ethnic backgrounds, ages and abilities. Problem Solving, Diversity/Global Perspectives and Social Interactions are Mitchell Abilities that I use every day, whether I am interacting with guests, making a plan to answer five runner calls at once or dealing with other last-minute changes in my job.”

Zhane is grateful for the combination of the small class sizes at Mitchell that helped her focus on her goals and the relationships she made with professors and advisors who encouraged her to pursue her internship dream.

“This internship has made clear that I am in the right field and has opened my eyes to how many options there are for a career in hospitality. Mitchell is an amazing stepping stone in a student’s journey to the rest of their life. It’s somewhere you can find your passions, while building professional relationships along with friendships that can last you a lifetime! “