9 minute read
After Class
looking ahead
At any given Regis graduate orientation, students might look to their left, then to their right, and note that, were it not for an innovative partnership program, one in five of them might not be there. Partnerships between Regis and various employers extend substantial discounts toward attaining graduate degrees. More than 60 corporations, health systems, school districts, government entities, and professional organizations offer employees discounts on bachelor completion, graduate, and doctoral programs. That number is growing every month—and for good reason. “The program is a win-win-win,” says Amy Etheridge, executive director of institutional partnerships. “Students save thousands of dollars annually, employers gain a valuable recruitment and retention tool at no cost to them, and professions from health care to education benefit from a more highly trained workforce.” Tuition breaks are just one of the benefits the partnerships provide employees and employers. Every agreement is customized to meet the needs of the organization. At some participating hospitals in Greater Boston, for example, Regis created customized cohorts with on-site “classrooms.” For an organization like Boston Public Schools (BPS), with a staff of more than 10,000, one goal included assisting the school district in becoming more competitive against other employers to recruit and retain a seasoned and diverse workforce. “The sheer fact that we’re able to offer that opportunity to obtain a degree at a discounted rate, which could be necessary to the advancement of their career within BPS, goes a long way to bring potential recruits into the fold and to retain the talent we currently possess,” says Rashaun J.
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Education Collaboration program (Men Educators of Color) and is pursuing
Regis partnerships open doors and forge relationships an EdD. As program director in special education at Community Academy
ADAPTED BY KRISTEN WALSHAlternative High School in Jamaica Plain, he works 65246-Regis College FB 003-Front with students who have disabilities and have experienced race-based and other forms of trauma, including anxiety and various types of depression. In addition to the Regis EdD program’s affordability and flexibility, he values the far-reaching impact of the degree. “I see this as my calling and passion, to work with individuals with disabilities and those who have experienced trauma,” says Humphrey, who has worked at Boston Public Schools for nearly 18 years. “This commitment to continue to serve urban communities at the district level and gain additional knowledge and resources through the EdD course work at Regis will make me a better educator and practitioner.” An Opportunity to Shine It was by chance that Rachel Briden, BSN ’20, MSN ’22 learned about Regis’ partnership program. While attending Regis’ annual Let It Shine Gala in October 2019, she Martin, Retention Specialist for the Office of Recruitment, Cultivation and Diversity Programs at Boston Public Schools. “Not only does this help us with retention efforts, it also can be used as a recruitment tool as well. Our partnership with Regis allows BPS to hone the skills of our human capital further than they may have been able to on their own. And that is something we are incredibly proud of.” Far-reaching Impact Jacqueline Rodriguez, EdD ’23 has spent two decades with the BPS system as a bilingual psychologist working with K–8 students in BPS. “When I think about the work I’ve engaged in for the last 20 years—being the marriage of therapy Jacqueline Rodriguez, EdD ’23 17 SPRING/SUMMER 2021 and Etheridge struck up a conversa- and education as a school psychologist—I think tion. At the time, Briden was a senior about the next 20 years and an EdD in higher educaundergraduate nursing student at tion seems like a natural next step,” Rodriguez says. Regis and considering next steps. It was through a BPS Women Educators of
“Amy was excited to learn that Color executive coaching leadership program I had been working as a patient that she learned about the partnership between care associate at a major BPS and Regis; and her long-term career plan Boston hospital throughout became attainable. my Regis undergradu- “Not everyone can afford to leave their jobs ate nursing studies and for a whole year to complete internships, but the she told me that it was Regis EdD program allowed me to work and 6/30/2021 2:14:30 PMone of the hospitals that study while pursuing the degree,” says Rodriguez. Regis has a partnership “Because of the BPS partnership, it became finanwith,” recalls Briden. “We cially feasible for me.” continued talking and I told Like Rodriguez, Mariano Humphrey, EdD ’23 learned about the Regis partnership at a BPS 65246 Regis College Front 3 6/30/2021 2:14:30 PM Black 65246 Regis College Front 3 6/30/2021 2:14:30 PM Cyan 65246 Regis College Front 3 6/30/2021 2:14:30 PM Magenta 65246 Regis College Front 3 6/30/2021 2:14:30 PM Yellowher about my dream of working
“Not everyone can afford to leave their jobs for a whole year to complete internships, but the Regis EdD program allowed me Mariano Humphrey, EdD ’23 to work and study while 24 pursuing the degree.” JACQUELINE RODRIGUEZ, EdD ’23 FINDING THEIR VOICES As a recipient of the full-tuition Presidential Catholic Schools as a nurse while attending graduate school.” Scholarship, Jennifer, who was It turns out, Briden is doing that now through class valedictorian says, “I wanted Regis’ partnership with Saint Anne’s Hospital to give back to Regis for taking in Fall River, Massachusetts, where she landed a chance on me.” a full-time job as a nurse in the Intensive Care She was a Pride Guide as a first- Unit after graduating with her undergraduate year student, giving campus tours to nursing degree. prospective students. “I was terrified of public speaking,” she says. “But I ended up being surprisingly good at it. When you’re passionate about something, it shines through.” “Between Regis’ online Family Nurse Practitioner program and working night shifts in the ICU at Saint Anne’s, it has been a rewarding semester,” says Briden, who expects to complete The Presidential Scholarship was her graduate degree in May 2022. “When I look also a primary reason for Rachel at pictures at the gala, I am reminded of how choosing Regis. She was initially much has changed since then, not only with hesitant to attend. “I was worried the pandemic, but also in the way that we I’d have trouble carving out my own as a society value online education and the life,” Rachel explains, recalling a work of nurses. I look forward to mentorprofessor’s exclamation early on: ing nurses to show my gratitude for all “You’re an Amaral? You have big shoes to fill!” at Regis who have assisted me.” Pushing aside misgivings, Rachel followed her sister’s lead and joined Pride Guides as a way to pay it forward and step outside her comfort zone. With Jennifer and former Regis staffer James Guaragna ’11, To learn more about ’13 as mentors, Rachel grew in confidence. “I began to embrace Regis’ small size and appreciate the closeRegis partnerships, visit regiscollege.edu/admissionand-aid/strategic-partnerships. knit community.” Rachel Briden, BSN ’20, MSN ’22
LESSONS LEARNED AT HOME In addition to a sense of gratitude, the Amarals brought a strong work ethic to Regis.
“Our parents never had the chance to go to college and wanted more for us. They knew education was the key to success, so they insisted academics came first at home. No TV, no computers, and no sports until homework was done. We became “to-do” list people, writing schedules in our little Hallmark calendars,” recalls Jennifer with a laugh.
The sisters admit they still adhere to a no-procrastination philosophy. “Get the work done and you’ll have time to play,” advises Jennifer, who served as student government class president at Regis.
The Amaral sisters are the first generation in their extended family to receive a college education. Their parents emigrated as children from Portugal to the United States.
“Our dad started working in landscaping and snow removal at 15 and made his way up to operations. Mom has been with UBS Financial for 30 years,” says Jennifer. While their parents worked multiple jobs, Jennifer and Rachel were cared for by their grandparents. “We were
Talking to Jennifer Amaral ’16 and Rachel Amaral ’19, ’21, it’s hard to believe the two affable and articulate sisters once considered surrounded by Portuguese culture— the language, the food, the music. themselves shy. The Amarals—who both It’s a big part of our identity.” Rachel wrote her college admismaintained 4.0 GPAs while double majoring sions essay about her family’s immigration story. She says the difference at Regis—are an outspoken force today. between her life in America and that of her Azorean cousins is stark. Jennifer, 27, a practicing attorney, and Rachel, “They left school to work the family farm. It’s a poor and quiet life with 24, pursuing a graduate degree in counseling little opportunity for growth.” psychology at Regis, say their college years WOMEN IN BUSINESS When it came time to choose majors taught them to speak their truths for the good of others. 65246-Regis College FB 004-W-Tr at Regis, Jennifer and Rachel opted for business management degrees. “It was ingrained in us as little girls that women need to be financially independent and a business degree seemed to offer the most lucrative job opportunities,” says Rachel, who added a second major in communication while Jennifer graduated with another major in law and government. The sisters were active members of the Business Association—Jennifer helped form the group and Rachel later served as co-president. Rachel credits Assistant Professor of Global Business Management Charlene Geary, PhD, with teaching her to think critically. “There are two types of learning: memorizing and regurgitating and thinking things through. Professor Geary pushed and challenged me. She gave me extra support when I needed it.” Rachel says her relationships with college professors such as Colleen Malachowski, PhD, associate professor of communication and Carole Remick Endowed Director, sustained her during difficult times. “It’s hard being a college student. I appreciated that I could drop into Professor Malachowski’s office to discuss classwork and get life advice.” When Jennifer began leaning toward a law degree after college, 6/30/2021 2:14:38 PM she turned to John Christie, PhD, associate professor of management and economics and chair
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REGIS TODAY 65246-Regis College FB 004-W-Tr Nursing school applications are on the rise as people change careers amid a global pandemic
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STORY ADAPTED BY KRISTEN WALSH
