Spotlight

"I feel passionate about being the instrument of change in a family’s struggle to achieve a satisfying and productive outcome. Building bridges for families is the cornerstone of my life and career." Growing up in Hartford, CT, Journee LaFond (they/them) and their sister were familiar with…

"If you are full within, you have plenty to give others by helping, listening, guiding. I live my calling and it is my joy to serve." Born to Nigerian parents living in England, most of Tai Slyne’s immediate family work in the medical field. Although her original goal was to become a physician,…

Mercy Bashir is grateful for many precious “gifts” in her life. Apart from numerous academic degrees and a thriving career, she has also enjoyed being a teacher, listening to the heartbeat of music, honoring her faith, and exploring the joys of motherhood. Currently an Adult-Gero Nurse…

Raised in New Mexico, Laurel Christensen knows how to handle the heat but the COVID pandemic brought with it unexpected personal and academic challenges. On a broader level, however, it deepened her understanding of the resulting, universal stress and grief that has affected the entire global…

"As the first person in my immediate family to earn a college degree, I broke a long-standing generational cycle since none of us had an education beyond high school. I always say, if you want to hear the universe laugh, tell everyone about your plans." Tasha Humphreys grew up in the southern…

"I enjoy the process of discovery. Nothing makes me happier than conversing with others in an  exchange that inspires me to explore what’s on the next hilltop. Each day I ask, 'What can I learn next?' Collaboration makes me happy because it challenges my brain." Benjamin Peck’s career as an…

Picture a moth winging its nightly flight to find the moon and you have captured the soul of Marie O’Neil. Drawing upon this poetic symbol, Marie weaves an image of a night moth to describe life’s trajectory as each of us stops to explore many small points of light on our personal journey. Musings…

Cesar Toala Veloz has passed many milestones and navigated many changes in his life trajectory. His studies range from architecture to design and communication to education; his career from teaching to translation and back to teaching; his residences from Ecuador and Argentina to the United States…

"As a UNH alumnus, I was drawn to come full circle, back to the University of New Hampshire for my doctoral degree." Born in England, Catherine Loiselle met and married an American serviceman, then emigrated to the United States where she planted strong roots living, working, and raising a family…

Learning is all about play. With so much importance placed on testing and structured education methodology, we sometimes lose our sense of play but students learn best when the objective requirements of teaching are balanced with their individual learning paths. Coming from a long lineage of…

Born in Brazil, Marcelo Castro has logged many miles, from education to career to travel. Although he started his career in the airline industry, Castro’s own health became the catalyst for a lifetime change of focus. A nagging asthma condition that shadowed his life with doctor visits and…

Angela Boswell knows what it means to train hard. A former Pearl iZUMi triathlon team member, she conquered the triad of athletics – swimming, running, biking - by overcoming her fear of water, teaching herself to power walk, and building endurance. Boswell became an ambassador for GOTribal, an…