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Job Takes Alumna ‘Out to Ballgame’

Oct 5, 2022 | Stories

When Emily Mitchell ’20 began at Mitchell College, she had a goal of becoming a sitcom writer. As time went on, her interest changed.

“I rediscovered my love of sports and started gravitating towards sports media, such as journalism, broadcasting, social media and video production. As a student, I attended a lot of athletics games on campus and made friends watching post-season baseball in the lobby of the residence halls. I’ve always been someone with a lot of ‘school spirit,’ so I loved going to games of any sport, and as a competitive person, I was passionate about winning, especially during the baseball season,” she said.

Emily majored in communication with a concentration in sport management. She was also one of the students who helped to create Mitchell’s sports broadcasting team through Radio Mitchell. After graduation, she found her way to the Hickory Crawdads, a Minor League Baseball team in North Carolina, affiliated with the Texas Rangers, a Major League Baseball team.

She works as both a group sales executive and on-field host for the Crawdads, sharing her passion for the sport with young and old alike.

“As a group sales executive, I love being able to work with my clients, who are often families or businesses, to create the best experience possible for them. The most challenging aspect of that job is finding creative ways to solve problems, but that makes the job exciting,” Emily said.

As the on-field host, Emily emcees while hosting fan games, like Dizzy Bat, Launch-A-Ball and trivia. She also sings “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in the middle of the 7th inning.

“Being an on-field host allows me to interact with so many fans at the ballpark. It’s also a great way to keep the energy high there, but it can be challenging to stay within the allotted time limit and to make sure younger kids don’t get nervous.”

Thanks to her Mitchell education, however, Emily feels well-equipped to handle many situations that arise in her job.

“I spend most of my day communicating with people. At Mitchell, I learned the basics of effective communication in a business setting and sharpened my communication skills by never being afraid to ask questions.”

She also problem-solves and draws on her understanding of diverse perspectives.

“Nothing is predictable in the sports world, and there are always problems to solve, whether it’s an unaccounted-for food order or a fan upset about a rain delay. Working as a Resident Assistant and being in the Honors Program at Mitchell, I learned how to listen to the needs of others and think creatively about how to solve problems. Also, as someone who moved from New England to North Carolina, I’ve had to address cultural differences here – which has been difficult but rewarding – and have worked to make the Crawdad fan experience more inclusive.”

Emily has a goal of pursuing a graduate degree in marketing or sports management/athletic administration. She credits Mitchell College with pointing her in that direction.

“I was drawn to Mitchell for its location between New York City and Boston. Now I know that Mitchell was the best place for me because of its close community, supportive faculty and staff and the ability to tailor my education to what I needed. Mitchell made it easier to challenge myself academically when I needed it and helped me to realize the passion that I am pursuing now.”

Play ball! Radio internship hits home run

Aug 30, 2022 | Stories

Dean Pavlou dreamed of being a Major League Baseball player when he was young. If that didn’t work out, he had a backup plan.

“I used to put the TV on mute and announce the game,” he said. “Announcing has always been fun for me, and I have always had a knack for announcing and following the game. I love listening to and learning from what the announcers would say about a play. Gary Cohen from the New York Mets and Mike Breen from ESPN are announcers I try to emulate.”

Already the game announcer for Mitchell College baseball and basketball and the president of Radio Mitchell, the senior communication major honed his skills at his summer internship with WABC Radio in New York City. Paul Dunn, Mitchell’s integrative career development coordinator, helped Dean imagine what the internship would entail.

“I interned as a radio journalist, writing sports articles and live-tweeting baseball games,” Dean said.

As part of the internship, Dean attended meetings with three to four other people from the sports department to talk about what content would be released through various channels.

“The stories that I wrote went on the Intern’s Corner of the WABC website. Some were also posted on the regular sports page. I like writing sports articles a lot and have really improved my writing. Working in the sports department with other people who are interested in the same things I’m interested in was great, too. I had a lot of fun with it.”

In addition to writing, Dean practiced his broadcasting skills.

“My favorite part of the internship was doing the demos and recording myself speaking. I liked putting them together and writing the headlines. I follow a lot of sports teams, so I stayed up to date with what’s going on. It was easy for me to find information on the internet and say, ‘OK, there it is,’ and then say it in the demo.”

Dean also followed the games and social media of Major League Baseball teams.

“I tweeted baseball games, which means if there was a really good play that a player made, I tweeted it out. I also tweeted out what the teams’ social media teams put out. I went on the Mets page or the Red Sox page, found content and put it on the WABC page. I looked for whatever captured the eye.”

Dean said that communication in the job was key, and he also thought critically about his work.

“You had to figure out if something was appropriate to write about. I learned a lot about that and picked it up really quickly.”

While Dean has the information and knowledge for sports writing, he said sometimes he was challenged to find the right word or correct style when writing an article or doing other work.

“It’s the little things that got me,” he said, “like when I made a demo, I said ‘ah’ too many times.”

But he is right where he wants to be.

“My internship went well. I’ve overcome a lot, thanks to support from Mitchell and the Bentsen Learning Center. I have a learning disability and am grateful to be where I am, having worked at WABC, about to graduate college. My dream hasn’t changed at all, and I’m excited for my next chapter.”

A taste of hospitality work

Aug 18, 2022 | Stories

Senior Annie Gallagher said the three things that stand out to her about Mitchell College are its access to learning opportunities, its dedicated leadership and its strong student supports, such as the Bentsen Learning Center and the tutoring center.

Taken together, they helped her successfully pursue a summer internship at The Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Penn.

“Mitchell does a great job of leading their students to where they want to go in the future,” Annie said.

After submitting her application and participating in a video interview, Annie was accepted as a recreation intern at the resort hotel. The hospitality and tourism major put lessons learned in Resort Management and Introduction to Hospitality to work, as she gained real-world experience in the “chocolate capital of the world.”

“When I started my internship, I heard about how we had to deal with guest complaints. That got me really nervous because I didn’t think I would be able to handle all of that pressure. But as the days went on, it got easier,” Annie said.

She learned that there are ways to handle complaints, such as issuing discounts to appease unhappy guests. In her work with guests and fellow employees, she honed her skills in problem solving, communication and social interaction every day.

A typical day for Annie consisted of making rounds to check on and help with different activity sites on the campus of the historic hotel, including the Cocoa Clubhouse for kids, outdoor pool and sports complex.

“My favorite part of my internship was being able to interact with the guests and kids. Whenever I saw a kid having a good time, it made me so happy. I realized that I love being surrounded by kids, so, when thinking about what I want to do in the hospitality industry after graduation, recreation is definitely an option for me.”

In addition to immersing herself in this five-day-a-week learning opportunity, another benefit of working at The Hershey Hotel were the fun perks, including discounts at Hershey stores and restaurants and free admission to Hersheypark – all in all, a sweet way to spend the summer in “The Sweetest Place on Earth.”

A winning experience with Bay State Games

Aug 12, 2022 | Stories

Nate Chadbourne spent much of his summer as an operations intern at the Bay State Games, a non-profit organization in Massachusetts that offers a variety of amateur sports competitions in an Olympic-style format.

The senior sport and fitness management major worked with other interns to help organize and prepare for the competitions. He said his responsibilities ranged from doing office work, where he helped pack for upcoming events and prepare reminders to athletes, to game day assistance at various sports facilities where games were held around the state.

Nate said that during the peak of the games season, every day was different, and he had to be ready for assignments to change

“One of the phrases that was used in the office is that 60% of the plan won’t go according to plan. It’s important to expect the unexpected and be prepared to adjust,” he said.

Being adaptable to change is a skill that Nate has honed at Mitchell College, along with other transferrable skills that he used regularly in his work.

“At the Bay State Games, I worked with a lot of different people, so being able to communicate and interact effectively and in a professional manner was important. These skills helped the Bay State Games maintain long-term relationships with the people that helped with our purpose. Being able to problem solve and think critically was also important for being able to adjust when plans didn’t go as expected when organizing and preparing for competitions and events.”

Nate found the camaraderie of the other interns and the full-time staff of Bay State Games a highlight of his internship, along with visiting numerous sports facilities around Massachusetts. His internship, however, was not without challenges.

“Meeting my own expectations and those of others around me was sometimes a challenge. At times I doubted my competency, but the staff at the Bay State Games provided me with great mentorship. They guided me and helped me trust in my own abilities, which, over time, made it easier to overcome challenges.”

Armed with his newly-gained confidence, Nate is looking forward to his final year at Mitchell. He knows that he will be prepared for whatever comes his way after he graduates.

“I chose Mitchell because I liked the idea of being at a small school. Its size made it easier for me to focus on developing skills and traits that can help me find success later in my professional career.”

Single, working mom transfers, forges new career path

May 27, 2022 | Stories

Senior Aicha Santos, who is majoring in criminal justice with a minor in psychology, described herself as “the biggest cry baby” when she took a public speaking class at Mitchell College.

“I cried four times,” she said. “But my professor was tough and she pushed and said, ‘Get up there and be proud of yourself.’ You had to talk about yourself in the class and that’s something I had a hard time doing.”

Today, Aicha is happy to share her story of how much she’s grown at Mitchell College.

“I want to talk about my life now – my transition – which is more important than my struggles.”

Aicha came to Mitchell College as a non-traditional student, having taken some classes at a community college several years ago when her son, now in high school, was a young child.

“It was very difficult and stressful. My son was 5. I had no support, and I failed. But I kept hearing about Mitchell College’s criminal justice program, and I wanted to come here.”

Years passed, and Aicha decided to give Mitchell a try.

“I was embarrassed to apply here. My grades were not that good, and I was afraid I wasn’t qualified. But I talked to [Director of Admissions] , and he never focused on the negative. None of the classes that I did badly in were mentioned. I felt like I was given a second chance. That moment, those seconds, those minutes that I spent in the Admissions office just changed my life.”

Aicha, who came from Puerto Rico to work at Mohegan Sun 21 years ago, works nights and thought she couldn’t juggle full-time classes with work.

“But challenged me. Because of my age, he was realistic with me about what my future was going to look like if I didn’t go full-time. It took me a day to decide, and I said I would do it. The first year was hard, but he kept checking up on me. With the academic support here, I was able to succeed.”

With her newfound confidence, Aicha is setting and accomplishing goals for herself, with an eye towards the future. She recently completed an internship with the State’s Attorney’s Office in New London, where she shadowed several positions, including a bail bondsman, prosecutor and a victim advocacy group. She also had the opportunity to meet three superior court judges, including one who allowed her to go into his chambers and observe a civil case.

“My internship supervisor was open to me learning about any opportunity. Through this process I found that my interest lies with juvenile probation. After a day of working there, I knew it was for me. Even though I completed my internship hours, I can continue to volunteer in that unit until I graduate in 2023. That will make it easier to transition into a job with the State of Connecticut when I am ready to apply.”

Aicha said that her internship helped her focus on her career path.

“Without the internship, I wouldn’t have found what my passion is. I learned that I can advocate for minors and make a difference in their life. During college, we’re taught about our field, but the internship helps put you into your spot. I learned that I can do a lot of things that I never thought possible.”

Aicha is also making other plans to invest in her future.

“I am going to take the LSAT exam this summer, with the goal of being accepted at the University of Connecticut School of Law to pursue a Juris Doctor (JD) degree and passing the bar exam in three years of my Mitchell graduation.”

Aicha is grateful for the opportunities that Mitchell has given her and wishes that others who are in the same shoes she was in could do the same.

“I see single moms at work who are so lost and have no support and don’t know what they are doing. Everyone has a different story. It’s been a long journey for me, but a good journey. If I can do it, thousands more can. They just need to be heard, like I was.”

“Not only has Mitchell been a good school for me, but it’s challenged me to the point that I feel so confident. I feel like I transitioned to an educated person, and I am happy that I did that. Very happy.”

 

Aicha Santos

Nature journaling class educates and inspires

May 11, 2022 | Stories

Mitchell College students in Professor Diane Barcelo’s “Naturalist Journal” class recently spent time at Alewife Cove with members of the Alewife Conservancy, who talked about the cove’s history and importance, as well as the need for dredging to maintain the health of the ecosystem there.

With so many beautiful and interesting natural environments located right in Mitchell’s backyard, the class has had the opportunity to visit several other New London area destinations:

  • Connecticut College Arboretum
  • Lyman Allyn Museum and grounds
  • Waterford Beach
  • Ocean Beach
  • Mitchell Beach
  • Mitchell Woods

Professor Barcelo said her focus for the class is on connecting to the natural environment through observation by drawing, writing and poetry readings and discussion.

In addition to those from the Alewife Conservancy, guest speakers have included professionals from different fields. A biological illustrator from the Smithsonian Institution talked about her career in science and art. A scientist from Save the Sound discussed invasive species in the marshland and explained their effects on the health of native flora and fauna, water rise, and the future of coastal wetlands and communities. Mitchell adjunct professor Peggy Morgenstern talked about invasive plant life at Mitchell Beach and efforts to remediate the problem.

The semester culminates with independent projects that require the students to reflect on their experiences over the duration of the course.