jobs - ��ϲʹ��̳

A Legacy of Resilience: Angela Tsuei-Strause

Queens University Communications — Thu, 02 May 2024 19:22:18 +0000

For more than a decade, Angela Tsuei-Strause has served as the executive director of Queens University’s Vandiver Center for Career Development (VCCD). Her leadership in crafting impactful career development programs, alongside her team, has empowered countless students and alumni to embark on meaningful professional journeys.

A native of Chappaqua, New York, Tsuei-Strause jokes that living in the Carolinas since 2013 almost qualifies her as being a “true Charlottean.” However, her story stretches far beyond her journey down the East Coast, reaching back nearly 8,000 miles to a small village in China.

Fleeing the turmoil of the Chinese Communist Revolution, her parents sought refuge in Taiwan. There, her father, Chang Tsuei, earned a degree from the National Taiwan University. After graduating, he received a scholarship to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Believing that education was the key to escaping poverty, local villagers pooled their money together to buy him a one-way ticket on a cargo ship to America. He taught himself basic English during the two-week trip and arrived with just a handful of dollars. Tsuei worked in addition to his studies and eventually secured enough money to bring his wife to California.

After obtaining a Ph.D. from Caltech, Tsuei secured a job across the country in New York. “My parents made tremendous sacrifices and saved everything they could to buy a house near my father’s new job. It was a small, up-and-coming company called IBM,” Tsuei-Strause explained, “And this is where my story truly begins.”

While her father worked, Tsuei-Strause’s determined mother, Holly Tsuei, watched American TV shows such as “All My Children” and “Sesame Street” to learn English. Her mother was motivated to find new ways to boost their income and they eventually saved enough to buy a rental property. “Taking care of the rental property became our way of life. My siblings and I tackled everything from cleaning and painting to scrubbing driveways,” Tsuei-Strause recalled. “Funds were extremely limited and we did everything we could to support our family.”

Tsuei-Strause continued to reflect on her childhood, “As an adolescent with few Asian role models in media, there was a strong desire to assimilate into American culture and this caused a lot of internal conflict for me,” she said. “How was I supposed to stay authentic to my Chinese culture and traditions while striving to fit into a predominately white neighborhood and society?”

It wasn’t until Tsuei-Strause attended Cornell University that she discovered the power of diversity in fostering a vibrant community. “I took Mandarin classes and, for the first time, engaged in discourse with others from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds about shared sentiments of being ‘othered.’”

After graduating from Cornell with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Tsuei-Strause worked in the fashion industry. Eventually, she secured a leadership position in the career services department with the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York City where she was able to develop one of the first internship programs in the country. “Supporting students during this pivotal point in their lives ignited a passion in me I hadn’t known existed,” she said. “Guiding them toward careers that fueled their talents was incredibly meaningful.”

After eight years with Parsons, she moved to Charlotte and accepted a leadership position at Queens. She draws upon her life experiences to inspire her work within the VCCD. When asked how her experiences have shaped her, Tsuei-Strause sits quietly for a moment. “For many children of immigrants, it’s less common to have connections with influential professionals who can make key introductions that can potentially lead to coveted internships and jobs,” she said. “When I work with students who have faced similar challenges, I can relate to their struggles. I know for these students, it’s my job to help them build confidence in the workplace and give them the skills they need to develop professional networks. I remind them that they, too, deserve access to meaningful and rewarding careers.”

Under Tsuei-Strause’s guidance, the VCCD accomplishes this by creating programs designed to help students who identify as BIPOC and other identities navigate the varied dynamics of the workplace. “We facilitate meaningful discussions with students, alumni and professionals on the importance of allyship and being your authentic self,” said Tsuei-Strause. “I am motivated to incorporate these types of programming into our work because of my background and sensitivity to living the minority experience.”

Recently, Tsuei-Strause was asked to be the advisor of the newly resurrected Asian American Pacific Islander student group by student Tina Nguyen. “I’m excited to see first-year students assume new leadership roles and have enjoyed watching them grow. They’ve worked hard to plan events educating Queens students about the beauty and diversity of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures,” said Tsuei-Strause. “They are doing meaningful work on campus and are creating spaces for important dialogues.”

When asked about this year’s AAPI Heritage Month theme, “Advancing Leaders Through Innovation,” Tsuei-Strause answered, “I’ve come to understand how diversity plays an important role in innovation. Bringing different backgrounds together and embracing your own authenticity fosters diversity of thought and, ultimately, creates an enriched workforce.”

Over the years, Tsuei-Strause has seen an incredible transformation in career services. “When I first started working in this industry nearly 20 years ago, participating in internships was a novelty. Today at Queens, completing an internship is a requirement – it’s really the new entry-level. We’re incredibly intentional in our work at the VCCD and it’s amazing to see how enthusiastic our students are in preparing for their futures,” said Tsuei-Strause.

Looking toward the future of career advancement, Tsuei-Strause emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning and adaptability. “Sharpening skillsets, pursuing continuous education, and embracing change are the cornerstones of navigating tomorrow’s professional landscape,” she advises. “With technology and industries evolving at rapid speeds, the team in the VCCD is equipped to provide our students with the tools they’ll need to succeed in the years to come.”

The post A Legacy of Resilience: Angela Tsuei-Strause first appeared on ��ϲʹ��̳.

Queens Graduate-To-Be Lands ‘Dream Job’ in Music

Queens University Communications — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 18:46:19 +0000

When Jill Willis ’24 graduated from high school in Long Island, the adults in her life dissuaded her from studying music — despite her obvious love for it — and encouraged her toward a business education instead. Her musical aspirations were postponed, it seemed, indefinitely. It would take more than 30 years before she could revisit them at ��ϲʹ��̳.

“I sort of made my way with sheer grit in life,” Willis said. “I did very well financially and was successful in the fields that I was in, and I raised a family. But my love, my passion and, really, my natural abilities are in music. I have known that my whole life; it just took me a long way to get there.”

Willis was in her fifth year working as a church music associate when COVID-19 hit in 2020. It was a job that was fitting for her church and musical background, yet she felt that she lacked the technical knowledge a formal education would provide. That’s when she decided to stop working full time to go back to school.

For Willis and her husband, it was a monumental life change. In the past, determination had helped her persevere and it would bolster her once again for this challenge.

“I said, ‘I am going to have my degree and I’m going to get this finished. Come hell or high water, I’m going to get it done,’” Willis said.

So, she enrolled at Central Piedmont Community College, attended classes five days a week, worked retail and babysitting jobs to make ends meet, and obtained her associate in fine arts degree.

But Willis realized she couldn’t stop there. She felt compelled to go on to the next level to achieve a Bachelor of Arts in music. Her choices were between Queens and another local, private university that was much more conveniently located for her. Her first visit and audition took place at the other university; however, it was immediately apparent that it wasn’t a good fit for her.

Queens, on the other hand, was a different story.

“From the moment I stepped foot onto the Queens campus I felt welcomed and wanted,” said Willis. “While I am certainly not the typical college student, I did not want to be treated as an anomaly. From the students who led my tour to the faculty who attended my audition, not one person made me feel out of place. I knew I was home.”

Willis’ primary instrument is voice; she also plays piano. She loves leading people in music and — even though it’s not traditionally offered at Queens — her degree allows for a concentration in conducting.

“My senior recital in November was the very first conducting recital that Queens has ever had,” Willis said. “I had to assemble my own choir and choose my music, and it was beautiful.”

She contends that her entire experience at Queens has been exceptional, especially due to the support and of the music and music therapy faculty and staff.

“All I had desired to do was quietly finish my degree and go on about my life,” Willis said. “But Queens has been so much more than that. Without a doubt, I am a far better person than I was when I started.” 

After commencement on May 4, Willis’ musical dreams will no longer be delayed.

“On Sunday, May 5, I start my dream job,” she said. “It’s full time, at a huge church, and I will be in charge of music and worship arts … and that’s what I went to school for!”

By Nicole Ward Beckley

The post Queens Graduate-To-Be Lands ‘Dream Job’ in Music first appeared on ��ϲʹ��̳.

Queens Students Shine at International Model NATO Simulation

Queens University Communications — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 14:25:18 +0000

For more than a decade, Maggie M. Commins. Ph.D., Shelton Professor of Political Science, has accompanied Queens students to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Washington Model Organization of American States conference. This year, however, Commins challenged her students to try something different by participating in the unique educational experience known as the International Model NATO. The event is a simulation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and features students from universities across the globe. Now in its 39th year, the event was held at Howard University.

With the support of Queens adjunct professor and foreign policy expert Dmitry Vovchuk, Commins led fourteen students from her Topics in Model United Nations course to the International Model NATO conference with students representing the member nations of Estonia and Montenegro.

Topics in Model United Nations delves into NATO’s crucial role in tackling global issues like military threats, political instability, and economic challenges. Through the simulation, students gained firsthand experience of how each country’s unique capabilities and limitations shape decisions regarding collective security – the cornerstone of the NATO alliance.

“Representing Queens as Estonia’s head delegate was an enriching experience,” said Natalia Hidalgo ’24, a political science and philosophy major. “As I learned more about Estonia’s values, I realized that while it is essential to defend a country’s integrity, one must also be respectful and conscientious of different ethical values and viewpoints. The biggest lesson? The road to consensus is difficult to traverse, yet possible.”

Students honed their skills through committee work, meetings with State Department officials, and embassy visits. Highlights included an alumni dinner featuring Queens graduates including Ann Brennan, head of the Washington, D.C. alumni chapter.

In addition to the dinner, Queens alumni coordinated visits to Capitol Hill offices, including a tour led by alumni James Johnson ’12, legislative director for representative Frank Pallone, and a meeting with Steve Gonzalez ’09, deputy director for the House Committee on Veteran Affairs, overlooking the Capitol. Students also heard briefings from senior policy analysts at the Pentagon and met with military attaches at the Estonian and Montenegrin embassies.

Queens student James Biggins ‘25, a U.S. Army reservist interested in security policy, was elected vice chair of the military committee. Three students, including Biggins, received Outstanding Delegate Awards.
Hidalgo, who received the Superior Delegate Award, added, “This experience is just one example of how Queens fosters an environment that encourages unique, global learning experiences. During my time at Queens, I’ve used critical thinking, teamwork, and public speaking skills to cultivate humility, open-mindedness, and global awareness.”

“I visited DC when I was about six years old,” reflects student Jasnoor Mundi ’26, a political science major. “Being back as an adult, especially one who is passionate about politics and government, was an eye-opening experience for me. I’ve dreamed of becoming a lawyer for a very long time now, but making visits to embassies, government buildings, and offices showed me that there are so many more jobs available in government, and I truly believe that no matter what you think your career path is, exploring other opportunities is never a bad idea!”

Following the International Model NATO simulation, nine students participated in the regional Model Arab League at Converse University in Spartanburg, South Carolina. There, three Queens students earned Outstanding Delegate Awards.

“This is my second international simulation with Dr. Commins, and her brilliant leadership makes these experiences what they are: insightful and unforgettable!” said Amina Begic ’24, a political science major. “It was great to work with such a talented and fun group of students. We all supported each other to get the most out of this experience.”

Commins is looking forward to next year’s International Model NATO and Model Arab League simulations and is excited to build an even larger program in the future.

The post Queens Students Shine at International Model NATO Simulation first appeared on ��ϲʹ��̳.

Queens University Boasts Impressive Graduate Outcomes

Queens University Communications — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 20:33:42 +0000

��ϲʹ��̳ recently released its First Destination Report, revealing an impressive track record for students after graduation entering the workforce or graduate school. The report, prepared by Queens’ Vandiver Center for Career Development (VCCD), is based on data about the Class of 2023 and highlights the success of Queens’ career development programs in preparing students for meaningful careers.

Royals Rise: A Closer Look at the Class of 2023

97% of graduates are employed, in graduate school, completing an internship, or working for a service organization.
95% of graduates found employment within six months of graduation, demonstrating the strong demand for Queens graduates in the job market.
88% of graduates felt prepared for their careers, indicating that the university’s curriculum and career development resources are effectively equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge for success.
96% of graduates accepted positions related to their career goals, suggesting that students are able to translate their academic pursuits into rewarding professional opportunities.

“We are incredibly proud of our graduates’ successes,” said Angela Tsuei-Strause, executive director of the VCCD. “These results are a testament to the dedication of our faculty and staff, who work collaboratively to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the professional world while providing a pathway to career opportunities.”
The VCCD is an important resource for students and offers a variety of career development services such as industry specific career coaching on the internship and job search process, graduate school planning, and regular employment recruiting activities.

The report also details the types of jobs that graduates have secured within industries such as business, health care, finance, technology, and education. Throughout their time at Queens, students have access to professional development curriculum taught by industry leaders from companies like Novant Health, Ally Financial, Trane Technologies, Wells Fargo, and more. Recruitment representatives share the latest in the workplace and recruiting trends while also getting an early read on talent for their own organizations.

“I am impressed with the high caliber of Queens students,” said Dr. Iain McKillop, director of research at Atrium Health. “It’s hard to make hiring decisions because there are so many excellent candidates. Queens prepares these students well and it shows.”

The VCCD also offers its services to alumni for life, at no cost. Queens graduates are supported every step of the way, and alumni have access to a lifelong community that supports them on their professional journeys, ensuring a network of valuable connections across diverse industries.

“Queens is a place that allowed me to grow as a person and future nurse,” said Anthony Ort ’23, registered nurse at Atrium Health. “The professors truly met my needs as a student and helped me achieve my goals. They were always willing to help me gain a better perspective on patient care and evidence-based practice.”

Learn more about the First Destination Report or visit the Vandiver Center for Career Development website for a complete list of career services.

The post Queens University Boasts Impressive Graduate Outcomes first appeared on ��ϲʹ��̳.

Foreign Policy Expert Creates Immersive Learning Experiences for Queens Students

Queens University Communications — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 21:49:26 +0000

When teaching Queens University students about contemporary U.S. foreign policy, Adjunct Professor Dmitry Vovchuk begins the semester by explaining the basics of U.S. foreign policy, the various diplomatic tools available to the U.S., and the interagency processes that determine how decisions are made and actions are taken. By the end of the semester, students have a better understanding of international conflict management, have refined their ability to write direct purposeful memos, and are eager to participate in a mock session of the U.S. National Security Council.

Throughout his lessons, Vovchuk shares stories from his time working in government agencies such as the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense, the National Security Council, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In addition to teaching at Queens, Vovchuk currently serves as a vice president of the Cohen Group, an organization that provides global business consulting services and advice on tactical and strategic opportunities in several markets. It is through his expertise and experiences that he enriches the learning environment for his students.

“I try to use stories to help students understand how events played out during some very tense times in our recent history,” said Vovchuk. “I find that students tend to be more engaged when I am sharing my experiences than if they just read about a particular situation. They tend to be more comfortable raising important questions and stating opinions. Together, we end up having interesting and rich dialogues in the classroom.”

Political science major Amina Begic ‘24 agrees. “I learn something new every week in Professor Vovchuk’s class. His assignments have a clear purpose and his coursework prepares us for potential careers within foreign policy or international affairs,” she said. “The most interesting part of our class is when he shares his real-life, practical experiences about his work in the U.S. and abroad. The course content doesn’t just sit on the slides — he makes it jump off the screen by contextualizing the information.”

Born in the Soviet Union, Vovchuk hails from the city of Odesa, Ukraine. As a child, his family moved to New York City. He later attended Drew University in New Jersey and studied political science and economics. After college, Vovchuk moved to Salt Lake City and Boston and held positions in financial services.

Then, in September 2001, the city that Vovchuk spent his most formative years in was attacked by terrorists.

“9/11 was personal for me. I had taken classes in the World Trade Center while an undergrad at Drew,” he said. “I knew immediately that I wanted to change career paths and enrolled in Georgetown University for my Master of Arts in U.S. national security policy.

During his final year at Georgetown, Vovchuk was accepted into the Presidential Management Fellowship Program, a flagship leadership development program for individuals committed to public service and interested in improving public policies and programs. His work placed him in the heart of U.S. national security, where he contributed to the development and implementation of U.S. foreign policy on NATO, Afghanistan, and Eastern Europe. In 2006, he received the State Department’s Superior Honor Award and in 2008 he received its Meritorious Honor Award for his work with NATO.

“Dmitry’s teaching combines significant knowledge about U.S. foreign policy with extensive experience in the field,” said Margaret Commins,Ph.D., Shelton professor and political science and chair in the department of political science and sociology. “He connects academic concepts with real world experiences, helping students to understand both the ideas and their application. One significant benefit is that students learn to connect their interests to potential professional paths. There is a debate in higher education about whether we should emphasize academic or professional preparation. The reality is that our students need both – and they get both in Dmitry’s class.”

While teaching about the U.S.’ role in foreign policy, Vovchuk understands that these topics can be emotional and personal and is aware that students may have personal connections to ongoing crises overseas.

“There are difficult challenges that do not have easy solutions and may never be solved, but they are important to think through and talk about. Sometimes, these are life and death situations,” said Vovchuk. “And it’s important for students to get exposure to these issues and to learn from the decisions that were made.”

Professionally, Vovchuk has an extensive network of colleagues that have dedicated their lives to public service, one of them being Maria Yovanovitch, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. For Vovchuk, it’s important for students to hear about the different careers and opportunities that are available to them and the importance that these careers have to national security and foreign policy.

Yovanovitch is passionate about maintaining touchpoints with the next generation of global citizens. On November 29, she’ll visit Queens for a to share her experiences as a well-respected leader in the U.S. Foreign Service.

“I’m looking forward to Ambassador Yovanovitch’s visit. She is someone I admire deeply and is a dear friend and colleague,” said Vovchuk. “I think the students will really enjoy the conversation and am hopeful some may even be inspired to pursue government service or related work.”

For several years, Vovchuk has been an invaluable resource for students at Queens. He’s mentored and helped them to envision and achieve professional goals and attain internships and jobs in defense and foreign policy fields.

“We are incredibly grateful to have someone like Dmitry at Queens,” said Commins. “We value his talent and deep desire to support young people on their professional journeys.”

The post Foreign Policy Expert Creates Immersive Learning Experiences for Queens Students first appeared on ��ϲʹ��̳.

Two Moms. One Scholarship. Two Lives Changed Forever.

Queens University Communications — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 14:34:00 +0000

At 18, Raegan Ferro was a pre-med student hoping to become a doctor. But after two and a half years, she dropped out of college and took on two jobs when a loved one was in desperate need of financial help. She soon opened a daycare center, got married, and had four children. While some might jump to the conclusion that her college dreams were over, the Queens nursing student never stopped dreaming.

Raegan Ferro (right) with her mentor Dagmar Damour, a licensed Realtor and certified associate in project management.

“It was devastating to withdraw from school when you’re on the dean’s list,” Ferro said. “I had these goals and plans set for my life but had to put it all off and work two jobs to help a loved one through a really rough time in his life. But my dream to go back to school never left.”

Years later, after losing her father to COVID complications and having to attend his funeral over Zoom, Ferro was determined to return to the medical field where she could help others.

In 2018, she learned of the Andersen Nontraditional Scholarship for Women’s Education and Retraining (ANSWER). The fund supports working moms in need of support to return to or stay in school full-time while taking care of their families. The scholarship allowed Ferro to finish what she started.

ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. mentors and prepares mothers of school-age children to achieve a college education while inspiring them to be role models of academic, personal, and professional success for their children. Founded by Susan Andersen who, after receiving a college scholarship herself, was determined to give back.

“That scholarship impacted and changed my life,” she Andersen, who serves as the executive director of ANSWER Scholarship, Inc. “When I graduated, I made a vow that I would pay it forward someday. In 2006, I was finally able to make good on my promise. That’s when the ANSWER Scholarship began.”

Since then, ANSWER has helped more than 114 women in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties with over $600,000 in scholarships. In addition to funding, ANSWER includes a Mentors for Mom program as well as several professional development workshops.

Ferro, who was a daycare provider for four years in New York and six years in Charlotte, learned of the ANSWER Scholarship from the financial aid office at Queens. Thanks to the scholarship, she closed her daycare center and enrolled in nursing at Queens to achieve her goal to complete her degree, though not as a pre-med student.

“I’ve always wanted to help people,” Ferro said. “In my nursing clinicals, I was able to help people and the appreciation I received in return was so gratifying. That’s when I knew nursing was for me.”

Ferro earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing in December and wants to continue to make her children proud.

“I want to set an example for my kids that it doesn’t matter how old you are or where you are in your life, you can go back and you can finish and make something of yourself,” she said.

Ferro is returning to New York where she hopes to work as an ICU or emergency room nurse.

Amanda Thompson ’22

After graduating a year early from high school, Amanda Thompson enrolled at East Carolina University. As a biology major, she aspired to be in the medical field but was unsure of what discipline. For financial reasons, she had to drop out of college. She joined the U.S. Marine Corps where she met her husband and later had three children. When Thompson nearly died while giving birth to her third child, the extraordinary care of a midwife renewed her dream to help others through nursing.

Amanda Thompson (left) with her mentor Lori Myers, a senior director at TIAA.

“It was my midwife who saved my life,” she said. “She was the reason nursing was even on the table. The way she took care of me was amazing. When I knew things were severe and even knowing I could have died, she didn’t let it phase her and she was right there. It was the extra push I needed to finish what I started.”

As a result of that experience, Thompson is already reaping the benefits of the bachelor’s degree in nursing she earned from Queens in December. She’s working as a labor and delivery nurse and is also considering working as a nurse educator.

“I just wish I would have found ANSWER sooner,” Thompson said. “The mentoring, the workshops and the programs are something that all moms should be a part of. The life lessons are invaluable – even to go home a teach your own kids. It helps them grow as well and that’s what we want to do – we want to raise better citizens and that starts with parenting.”

Though both Ferro and Thompson agree that going to school as older adults with school-age children is a challenge, they found the small classes and individual attention at Queens to be valuable. They also found that their younger classmates looked up to them.

“You come to school and see your friends going to parties while you’re going to birthday parties with your kids,” Thompson said with a chuckle, “It’s two different spectrums but I feel like the other students looked up to us and even came to us for advice – including relationship advice!”

“It’s challenging, especially when you’re balancing the lives of your children,” Ferro said. “ANSWER doesn’t just give you financial support. They also give you support in life. The workshops were really helpful. Growing and evolving as a stronger, better woman, I feel like I’ve walked away with a lot.”

To learn more about the ANSWER Scholarship, visit .

The post Two Moms. One Scholarship. Two Lives Changed Forever. first appeared on ��ϲʹ��̳.

Weighing in on North Carolina’s Future with White House Officials

Queens University Communications — Sat, 08 Oct 2022 17:45:00 +0000

Linda Goodliffe ’15, MFA ’17 recently had the distinct privilege to rub elbows with senior White House officials at the “Communities in Action: Building a Better North Carolina,” event in Washington, D.C. Hosted in each state by the Biden administration, the event centered around the benefits and impact of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act for working families in the state of North Carolina.

The half-day forum offered participants the opportunity to speak with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials, as well as representatives from state and local governments.

“It was beyond an honor to be invited,” Goodliffe said. “After speeches from White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff (pictured above), and others, they asked the press to leave. They then opened the discussion up for us to talk about how recent policies have helped our state and what can be done going forward to help even more.”

Goodliffe was able to bring up two issues; the high prices by big restaurant supply stores that are hurting small food businesses and the problem of plastics in the food business

“I believe we should be making all plastics from sustainable materials that are grown, not petroleum,” she said. “Dr. Regan said that when he talks with young people the first question they ask him is about plastics.”

Linda Goodliffe with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan

Goodliffe’s decision to join the Navy dates back to her competitive swimming days in high school and college when she competed for the Olympic trials in synchronized swimming, then took on long-distance freestyle. She wanted to be a deep-sea diver at a time when less than 1% of Navy divers were women.

“I was the first woman from my hospital corps school in San Diego to earn her way into the elite Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center,” she explained. “Women have been Navy divers since the 1960s, but I was the first from my school.”

Though Goodliffe wanted to make the Navy a career, things did not go as planned for the New Jersey native. She was injured in dive school and became a disabled veteran at 24.

An accomplished writer, Goodliffe took on teaching roles while also working to be published. However, things took another negative turn as the world faced the challenge of COVID-19.

“When the pandemic hit, I lost both of my teaching jobs, the publishing industry froze, and my mom lost her job as a nurse case manager for workers comp,” she explained. “We realized we had to do something different. Neither of us had gotten where we wanted to go in life by working for other people. We wanted to finally take our destiny into our own hands.”

Refusing to give in, even while many businesses were closing, Goodliffe and her mother shifted to the baking business.

“My family is filled with gifted bakers dating back to ancestors in Germany and Austria, including a bakery in Vienna,” Goodliffe explained. “Women in my family have talked about opening a bakery for as long as I’ve been alive. So, when the pandemic hit, we had a family meeting and decided it was time to start the bakery. We had no idea how we were going to pull it off, but we were going to figure it out as we went along, and so far, we have.”

opened in December 2020. The Communities in Action event also turned into a win for the business.

“I was thrilled to meet Mayor Vi Lyles. Thanks to her, Mommom’s Bakery may be supplying city events with artisan baked fare,” she said. “I also met the CEO of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and we were able to talk about a possible partnership going forward.”

Though she chose Queens to pursue a degree in English, Goodliffe credits the university for much of her business success. Despite being diagnosed with ADHD by a doctor who discouraged her from majoring in English, Goodliffe graduated Cum Laude with a BA in English. This boosted her confidence in more ways than one.

“I had lost my confidence after many years of being a disabled veteran with a long list of serious struggles, and Queens gave that back to me, and then some,” she said. “The confidence to know what I want to make happen in my life is possible, is the greatest gift.”

Goodliffe also earned an MFA in poetry from Queens. Though she credits several professors for her love of literature, she is most grateful for Morri Creech, a Pulitzer Prize-finalist and writer-in-residence at Queens.

“Though becoming a poet is an impractical thing when it comes to making money, I’ll be grateful for the gift he gave me for the rest of my life,” she said. “I love to say ‘I’m a poet.’ It’s such a short sentence, but it means so much. I’ll always cherish my time at Queens. It’s truly a special place with professors who love to teach, and an administration that wants to do everything for students they can. Another thing that stood out to me was its support for veterans. For me, Queens has meant rebirth and a special connection for life.”

The post Weighing in on North Carolina’s Future with White House Officials first appeared on ��ϲʹ��̳.

Finding Identity and Inspiring Others; Ronal Daniel Garcia Lopez ’22 Looks to What’s Next

Queens University Communications — Mon, 02 May 2022 17:55:00 +0000

Ronal Daniel Garcia Lopez ’22 looks forward to standing before his class at Queens University’s 2022 commencement as senior class president.

“As a first-generation American and first-generation college student, the pride that I feel for my education does not come strictly from a place of self-love, but rather from a place of gratitude as I look to the sacrifices my parents have made to help me achieve this reality,” said Garcia Lopez.

When the Rockwell, North Carolina native came to Queens, he dreamt of working in the medical field. As he refined his interests with the help of professor mentorship and extracurricular involvement, he decided to major in health education and promotion with a concentration in communication as he believed it was the perfect intersection of leadership and public health.

“My dream is to represent my country and provide education to people on the best approach they can take,” said Garcia Lopez. “I often tell people that I want to become the next Dr. Fauci. I would love to start working with the Department of Health locally with a goal of working at the World Health Organization one day.”

Garcia Lopez has already begun setting the framework for his career. As senior class president in the Student Government Association and co-president of Rotaract, a student organization focusing on professional development and community outreach, he has learned lessons about leadership and communication that he will carry with him for years to come.

“I have learned who I am during my time at Queens and really had space to explore my identity,” he said. “I have learned a lot about professionalism during my time on campus. It was so eye-opening to come to a school with such a diverse student population. It has taught me what it means to be a global citizen.”

For Garcia Lopez, the road to commencement has been marked with gratefulness and grit. He currently works as a manager at Target and has held various other jobs throughout his time as a student that have provided valuable insight outside the classroom about how to work as part of a diverse team and lead change.

After commencement, Garcia Lopez plans to begin graduate school at Queens where he hopes to earn his Master of Science in Talent and Organization Development while serving as a graduate intern in the Levine Center on campus.

The post Finding Identity and Inspiring Others; Ronal Daniel Garcia Lopez ’22 Looks to What’s Next first appeared on ��ϲʹ��̳.

jobs - �������ϲʹ�����̳