Senior Brian Martin began Mitchell College as a communication major with an interest in radio broadcasting. He had a radio show on Radio Mitchell for a year, but as he researched the industry, he realized radio wasn’t his calling.

Blind since birth, Brian had been taught over the years by a few people who were also blind or visually impaired, and he recognized their positive impact on him.

“That got me thinking that I would love working with and helping others like myself. Halfway through my time at Mitchell, I changed my major to early childhood studies. I discovered that this is my calling.”

Brian plans to continue on to graduate school, pursuing a master’s degree in special education, with the goal of working in a large public school system, perhaps Boston, either in a middle school or high school.  One of the graduate programs he is looking at also offers a dual certification to be an orientation mobility specialist, teaching blind or visually impaired people how to use a cane and travel on buses or trains, allowing him to work in the field as well.

“A dual degree will open up more opportunities and help me get a job faster. Over the years, I have realized that some people are not getting the proper services they need. They are taught by people who are sighted, but a blind person helping another blind person is a big go-to and really helpful for the individual.”

As part of his degree requirement, Brian is doing a practicum at the Children’s Learning Center at Mitchell College (CLC) for the entire academic year. For the fall semester he is working with the youngest preschoolers in the CLC community, and in the spring he will work with older preschoolers and kindergarteners.

“The CLC is my first real experience working in a children’s classroom with all sighted people. Claudia Murphy, the director, asked how to make the classroom more accessible for me, and I said we could learn as we go. We’re all learning things, and it has been an amazing experience so far.”

Brian has planned several lessons for the students focusing on every sense but sight.

“When I do my lessons I show the students how to use their other senses. That’s how they understand that I can’t see. I did one lesson guessing the object with eyes closed and another uses shaving cream to describe texture and smell.”

When Brian is working with the class, he wants to be sure to interact with every child, which, as a blind person, can have some limitations.

“My challenge right now has been how to know that I have played with every kid in the room. I can be in one area, but because of their age, the kids move on quickly to another area. I think this will be easier when I work with the older kids, because they tend to stay and play in one area.”

“The thing for me, though, is I go in motivated to inspire. I’d like to see the kids happy. The inspiration is the kids and the teachers and that puts a smile on my face. People are liking and understanding what I do, and it doesn’t matter how I was born. It shows that anybody can do anything.”

Showing that anybody can do anything is part of the advocacy work that Brian is also involved in as a board member of the National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut. Through the organization, his work has included travel to Washington, D.C. (or virtually during the pandemic) to talk with members of the Senate and Congress about issues and bills related to blindness. He has also served on the board of the Connecticut Association of Blind Students. “It is amazing to be involved in these organizations and to know there are a lot of people locally who understand what I am going through. I have learned a ton about advocacy and even had the opportunity to present information about the Blindness Accessibility Act during a virtual event. Congressman Joe Courtney was on the call and congratulated me on my presentation and remembered my connection to Mitchell College, which he spoke very highly of.” (Brian had met Courtney at the Red Barn opening a few years ago.)

Brian relishes his advocacy work, but wishes that he had an advocate when he was in high school.

“I have learned so much about advocacy. Now, if I see people struggling, it hits me and I say, ‘What do you need?’ We can do a lot of good for people. In high school I was told that I wasn’t college material. The school just wanted to get me through. When I learned about advocacy, through a post-high school program that I attended to get my life skills on track, I was like ‘Whoa! I wish I knew about this before’ and had the understanding to speak up for proper accommodations and ways to succeed in my life.” 

He researched colleges and landed at Mitchell, which he loves for the academic support and for the inclusiveness of “different people with different disabilities.”

“I’ve visited other schools that are huge. Someone like me or someone with another disability probably won’t get the same support that I get at Mitchell. For instance, I know people who go to bigger schools whose books are not accessible. They are stuck and don’t know what to do. Here, Antaya Lee [accessibility services coordinator] and I work it out right away. My psychology professor also noticed that I do better with verbalization for quizzes. So he offered for me to take my quizzes that way. Not many people can say that. People say to me, ‘I wish I knew about your school.’ It’s amazing to hear that.”

Brian knows that Mitchell has put him on a path to success.

“If I weren’t at Mitchell, I might not have the opportunities I am getting now.”

If you have been following Mitchell College on social media this semester, you have probably seen photos taken by Mitchell Marketing & Communications intern Alex Brown.

“My favorite part of my internship is knowing that my photos will provide a permanent record of Mitchell history. It’s great to attend the many events and meet new people. Taking portraits is new to me and was a challenge, but I overcame that by researching different techniques and practicing through the semester.”

Alex also completed a digital photography course at Mitchell.

An avid landscape photographer and junior hospitality and tourism major, Alex hopes to one day integrate his love of photography and travel into a hospitality industry career, “preferably in Central Florida!”

But for now he is happy being at Mitchell, where he has made great friends and loves the waterfront location, campus vibe and individualized academic support.

When it came time to decide on an academic focus at Mitchell College, senior Kelly Nolan looked back at what she was drawn to as a child.

“I have always been interested in the arts, everything from theater to fine art, and I knew I wanted to do something with creativity. I love to build sets for shows and musicals, and I love to be surrounded by art. It is inspirational, and it makes me feel happy and motivated. That’s how I decided on an arts administration major.”

As a student in liberal and professional studies, Kelly built an individualized major, taking coursework in both business and art, from advertising fundamentals and marketing to painting, film study, photography and stage play production.

She is also putting her interests to work through her internship at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London. There she assists the education department with its art workshops and programs offered to children and families.

“I found out about the internship through Mitchell’s Integrative Career Development (ICD) office. Applying for it was a pretty straightforward process, although waiting to hear if I could move on to the next step was a bit stressful. The ICD office, though, was very helpful as I prepared for my interview.”

Kelly spends a full day every Thursday at the museum, preparing for a morning homeschool program and an after-school art class.

“I work with both the outreach coordinator for schools and the education department. I help set up supplies for the morning workshop, then pack up and reset the tables for the afternoon workshop. I also do some computer research work and other organizing.”

Kelly also works at special programs on the first and third Saturdays of the month. The first Saturday, known as Free First Saturday, offers complimentary general admission and art-making for families. The third Saturday, called Science Saturday, offers free science-themed art projects with museum admission.

In addition to assisting with programs, she has been able to spend time in the exhibits. Her favorite one is the permanent exhibition, “Louis Comfort Tiffany in New London,” which looks at Tiffany’s life, art and his connections to this area. Tiffany’s sister Annie was married to Alfred Mitchell. Together, Annie and Alfred Mitchell owned the property where Mitchell College sits today and the college bears their name.

“I found the connection between Tiffany, the Mitchell family and Mitchell College rather interesting and surprising.”        

Kelly’s favorite part of the internship is the variety in each day, and she equally enjoys interacting with the regular homeschoolers each week and the families participating in Saturday workshops together.

“I think an internship is valuable for figuring out a direction to go in after graduation. The process helps me narrow down a goal or a place I see myself working, even later in life.”

For Lucca Ardovini-Brooker, his internship at Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center in New London is serving its purpose.

“My internship has helped me get a better visualization of what physical therapy is all about, day in and day out. Some people realize in an internship that they don’t like the job, but working in mine, I am more motivated to do this as a living.”

The senior health science major and first baseman on the Mitchell baseball team first discovered physical therapy in high school.

“I saw a lot of friends and athletes get hurt over time and didn’t know if they could play after their injuries. Watching them go back to playing with good physical therapy inspired me to be a health science major. I went to a lot of their appointments and saw what physical therapy is. The need for physical therapy will never go away.”

Lucca shadows the physical therapists as they work with patients and go through their exercises in each therapy session.

“My favorite part of my internship is seeing all different types of people walk through the door, with their different stories and different lives. It is amazing how impactful just an hour of exercise can be on their day-to-day life and helping them get back to what they love doing.”

He said the mental challenges of patients, however, can be tough.

“People have mental barriers thinking they won’t get back to where they used to be. It is challenging for a physical therapist to bring them over that barrier, making them know they will get better and stronger over time.”

Lucca sees that many of the skills he is honing at Mitchell are used by the physical therapists daily. Communication between the physical therapist and the patient is essential for a successful outcome.  Critical thinking and problem solving are also key to analyzing an injury and figuring out what will and won’t work for a patient.

With future plans including applying for admission to graduate school for physical therapy, Lucca’s experience is preparing him well. In addition to what he is being exposed to at his internship, he recognizes an important characteristic of Mitchell that will help in working with diverse populations.

“The diversity at Mitchell gives you a better and broader perspective of the world. I went to a small Catholic high school that wasn’t very diverse. Here there is a lot more culture and appreciation of where you come from and where other people come from. Understanding that can only help me as a physical therapist.”

Since July, junior Tyler Daly has been soaking in opportunity from his work as a research assistant for Dr. Christine Ramsay, associate professor of life sciences. Part of a grant-funded project (by Southeastern New England Educational and Charitable Foundation) to investigate the impact of marine invasive species in local waters, Tyler’s research focuses on bryozoans, “marine fouling” organisms that have made their way to the Thames River from warmer southern waters. Marine fouling organisms attach themselves to underwater objects, such as ropes, boats and other structures, and cause damage.

Tyler, a marine biology major, is gaining practical experience and broadening his understanding of what being a scientist means. He secured the position of research assistant by following up on a request for one from Dr. Ramsay to her marine biology students in January 2021.

“I am elated to be doing this work. I love the fact that I am being exposed to exactly what research and possibly a job in this field would look like.”

His work averages about five to eight hours per week, and he splits his time between collecting specimens from around the Mitchell dock and then conducting experiments in the lab in Bingham Hall.

“The ultimate goal of this research is to determine temperature tolerances for the bryozoans to live and then predict where they might spread, based on the temperatures of the coastal areas around us. An invasive species like this outcompetes native species for space.”

When the water in the river gets too cold for the bryozoans to live on the dock, the experiments will end and the collected data and images will continue to be analyzed throughout the winter months. Dr. Ramsay and Tyler will use that information to write a paper that will be published and presented at a professional scientific conference.

Tyler said that some of the challenges that he has encountered in his work as a research assistant have prepared him well for future work.

“Data analysis was a big challenge. It’s grueling and monotonous, but it’s one of the things that I love because it’s a big part of the sciences. I have gotten used to it, and it’s very practical for me to know. Being a research assistant has also helped me communicate better with a ‘boss.’ At first I wasn’t sure how to talk with Dr. Ramsay and have a rapport, but now I am much more comfortable communicating with her and with others.”

Looking forward to a future filled with science, Tyler also recognizes being in the moment on the Mitchell dock.

“This experience is really helpful in terms of understanding what work in academic or research settings would be like. There are a lot of possibilities. I love science and figuring out how things work, the math behind the interactions of everything, the governing force in the world, and which things make what move. I also love that my job is to go to the dock and do science work on the water. I get to watch the ferry or even a submarine come in or go out as I am pulling bryozoans off a rope for an experiment that I am about to set up. That is very exciting for me!”

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Sophomore Max Mallove recently signed a contract to be a professional player with TeamMETA Esports, playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Super Smash Bros. Melee. As a pro, he will compete in national and state level tournaments, represent Team Meta’s sponsors and partners and participate in training sessions.

In addition to that, he continues to play at the collegiate level for Mitchell Esports, coached by Chris Leonard, who said of Max’s pro status, “Max is an excellent Smash Ultimate player and even better at Smash Melee. He is a natural talent, and we are excited to have him in the TeamMETA family.”

Competing in local tournaments since 2014, Max upped his game when he played in national level tournaments, including Shine 2016 in Boston and EVO 2017 in Las Vegas. Despite this experience, he considered not joining Mitchell’s new esports team last year.

“I almost didn’t play at Mitchell because I had never played Ultimate at tournament level. Somehow, though, I ended up going undefeated, so I’m glad that I gave it a shot,” Max said.

What does Max like most about participating in esports?

“The level of competition drives you to always keep improving and upping your game, making it really satisfying when it pays off. It’s also fun to meet new people that share a common interest in esports. When I first started playing at a tournament level, I was nervous that everyone would be way better than me. Now I just enjoy the challenge. I look forward to learning from my mistakes and from other good players.”

Max offers the same advice to other players, whether novice to professional.

“Always be open to advice and tips from other players or coaches! It’s very easy to overlook small details that can play a large factor in your gameplay.”

When he is not participating in esports activities, Max studies business at Mitchell and works at his family’s store, Mallove’s Jewelers, which he plans to take over one day.

“After graduating from Mitchell, I’m going to work towards getting my degree from the Gemological Institute of America. That way I’d be certified to appraise diamonds and other precious stones.”

In the meantime, Max is enjoying splitting his time between campus and his job.

“Mitchell was an easy choice for me because I needed to stay close to my job. The small campus makes it easy for me to be able to transition between work and my classes. Mitchell is a community-oriented campus. Everyone is very friendly and supportive!”

Current Mitchell or Thames students interested in participating in esports should contact:

Chris Leonard at leonard_c@mitchell.edu OR
Jamie Romeo at romeo_j@mitchell.edu

Prospective students interested in esports, please contact:

Jamie Romeo at romeo_j@mitchell.edu