Alumni and Faculty Spotlights

Kelley MacDonald builds her life around a community of family, friends, colleagues, and fellow students. Her well-being is nurtured through contact with people she values, helping a child recover from trauma, shopping with her mother, or walking the beach with a friend. Although her undergraduate…

A native son of Maine, Samuel Ramus’ career reflects his eclectic personality with a multi-dimensional focus on teaching, marketing, and travel. Ramus’ international inspiration came when he joined a church-based mission trip to Honduras at age 17, to help rebuild a small village church and school…

Finding one’s voice is not always about learning to sing. It is about discovering the inner voice that can identify unexpressed emotions, which in turn allows healing to take place. Nicole Coggins has a talent for helping others find their voice and, in so doing, has found her own. Her positive…

What do karate movies and mental health have in common? In two words: Lisa Brown. If you have an opportunity to meet Lisa, you’ll understand that these two things live comfortably together because her energetic character encompasses a wide outlook, much like her 23-year nursing career. Lisa…

Patience and quiet dedication are the earmarks of Jamie Vander Velden’s spirit when she talks about her work. A resident of Wisconsin, Jamie travels long distances, navigating dirt roads and harsh winter weather to visit patients’ in their homes in nearby rural Minnesota. “I do car yoga,” states…

Her strong sense of purpose shines forth when Michelle Gagne talks about all phases of her life: childhood, education, career, family, goals. Growing up in rural New Hampshire, horseback riding was a touchstone for Michelle. Inspired by these memories, she and her husband have purchased land to…

If you see a slim, curly-haired guy running laps on the track, it might be Joshua Kellogg, a member of UNH Admissions Office staff.  Armed with headphones, Joshua likes to run six miles during his lunch hour and get “into the zone”. Not satisfied with his lunchtime mileage, he once ran in the…

“I like to use logic”, says Vijay Kapuluru. “I enjoy the mental exploration.” Born in India, Vijay emigrated to the United States in 2008. Although he started his working life in mechanical engineering, the explosive growth in IT persuaded him to switch gears and carve out an expanding career in a…

Jennifer Miller loves to travel. But, while global travel is a much-loved pastime, she is passionate about her academic voyages. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Nursing, Jen, a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), is forging ahead with an online …

Cassondra Hulshizer loves a challenge. As a Data Manager with Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, she collects and manages cytogenetic data for tracking leukemia patient treatment results as part of a project with the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group headquartered in Boston, MA. “My work in…

In our visually oriented society, Kathy Blake helps young people with vision impairment adapt to their universe.  Although she originally planned to become a biology teacher, Kathy also enjoyed transcribing Braille for students with vision challenges, an interest that subsequently sparked a desire…

As Assistant Director in the Office of Admissions at UNH, Evan Beals passionately believes in reaching out across cultural landscapes, pushing traditional boundaries, and creating a more inclusive environment by helping students find the right fit for their higher education path. Evan earned his…