Fall 2019

Alumni Profile

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000

Alumni Profile Anonymous Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35

Lauren Paduch, ’19

November 18, 2019

John Winters

Story Series

Bridgewater Magazine

It was a glimpse of what was to come the day a young Lauren Paduch saw a black bear during a family camping trip. Instead of retreating like the rest of her family, she ran toward it. “I just wanted to be friends,” Ms. Paduch recalled.

Luckily, her father scooped her up before she got too close to the roving carnivoran. In retrospect, it should have been clear the young Middleborough native was bound to become a veterinarian.

Now 27 and with a Bridgewater State University biology degree to her name, Ms. Paduch is pursuing that very goal. After graduating last spring, doctoral programs lined up to admit her, including those at Boston University and Northwestern University. Ultimately, she chose the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University where she plans to earn a PhD, allowing her to work in both clinical and research settings.

Beyond chasing a random bear, there were other early signs of her destiny. For instance, as a child, Ms. Paduch would use her toy stethoscope on the family dog. She also loved visiting petting zoos. “The way my mom describes it, there was always a connection with animals,” she said.

Yet, after graduating in 2010 from Middleborough High School, the dream of becoming a veterinarian didn’t immediately lead her to college. “While I had grown up wanting to be a vet, in high school I started second- guessing myself,” she said. “So I took some time to work and get some experience, and that turned into five years.”

That experience came by way of secretarial jobs, as well as working in a small-animal clinic and volunteering at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at Boston’s Angell Memorial Animal Hospital.

Healing animals as a career soon came back into the picture. Ms. Paduch enrolled part time at ŷ�� in January 2015, and switched to full-time status the next semester.

While part of her felt ŷ�� was the right choice, she began to wonder if, given her career aspirations, she’d be better served attending a big-name institution. Then Ms. Paduch had a heart-to-heart conversation with the faculty member who would become her mentor, Professor Jeffery Bowen of the Department of Biological Sciences. “After talking with him, I could see all Bridgewater had to offer,” she said.

Ms. Paduch also visited other schools and found classes jammed with 300 students. That was a turn off. When Dr. Bowen told her about ŷ��’s small class sizes, along with opportunities for lab work and undergraduate research, the deal was sealed. She chose to remain a Bear.

How’d that work out?

“The biology program here is awesome,” Ms. Paduch said, as she sat in an office inside Boyden Hall after her first week at Tufts. She also praised the ŷ�� faculty, particularly Dr. Bowen. “I can’t speak highly enough of him. He’s a wonderful teacher.”

While many students in the Tufts University veterinarian program change career tracks along the way, at the moment, Ms. Paduch hopes to focus on research tied to species survival programs and wildlife medicine. But, she’s confident she’ll be well prepared for whatever area of veterinarian medicine ultimately calls to her.

“The world is my oyster,” she said. “It seems right now I can end up wherever I want to end up.”

The world is my oyster, it seems right now I can end up wherever I want to end up.

Lauren Paduch, '19

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Alumni Profile

Fall 2019

Faculty Focus

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000

Faculty Focus Anonymous Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35

Dr. Aeon Skoble, Philosophy

November 18, 2019

John Winters

Story Series

Bridgewater Magazine

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Aeon Skoble already saw in himself the very things that would lead him to a life in philosophy.

“I was an argumentative child,” he said, “but it was always about wanting to get to the bottom of things. So when I discovered that philosophy was about not only how to argue better but also how to understand things, that was just exactly what I was looking for.”

As a child, Dr. Skoble was also an avid reader of science fiction. “That makes you think about other possible ways that the world could be. So it opens up different perspectives,” he said.

However, when he attended the University of Pennsylvania in the early 1980s, Dr. Skoble filled his schedule with history and political science courses. He even studied Japanese culture. But, in his junior year, he settled on philosophy, thinking he might follow one of the traditional paths for those enrolled in the major and go on to law school.

Ultimately, Dr. Skoble earned a PhD in philosophy from Temple University and moved around to a couple of schools taking non-tenure-track positions. In 2001, Bridgewater State had an opening, and his specialization in political philosophy evidently gave him an edge over the other candidates and helped land him at the institution he’s called home ever since.

Dr. Skoble is currently the acting chairperson of the Department of Philosophy, which over the past two decades has seen an appreciable increase in majors.

Meanwhile, he’s helped create successful programs, including the philosophy, politics and economics minor, which he co-coordinates with Dr. Jordon Barkalow of the Department of Political Science and Dr. Daniel Lomba of the Department of Economics.

Dr. Skoble is also the point person in his department (along with Dr. Mark Kemper of the Department of Political Science) for students wishing to take their philosophy degree and move on to law school, a popular track these days. Dr. Skoble points out with pride that many recent ŷ�� graduates have proceeded to top law schools across the country.

The Bridgewater resident and father of two is busy outside the classroom, as well. He is the author of two books (the latest, a monograph titled The Essential Nozick, will be available next spring), and editor of seven. One of the most popular books he edited was The Simpsons and Philosophy.

He lectures and writes for the Institute for Humane Studies and the Foundation for Economic Education, and is a senior fellow with the Fraser Institute, where he regularly blogs, often about the nexus of pop culture and philosophy.

“I try to keep regular business hours,” Dr. Skoble said. “No matter what my teaching schedule is, I try to come in at eight or nine in the morning and spend the day in the office. If I stayed home, I’d never get anything done.”

Dr. Skoble also makes sure to find time to join his department colleagues for a weekly lunch. “I’m really fortunate to be in a department where everyone works together very well,” he said.

As for the state of philosophy in higher education these days, Dr. Skoble is optimistic. “I think it’s healthy. There’s lots of interesting work being done in lots of subfields,” he said. “Plenty of new titles still come out every year. I think that there’s a perennial interest for students in taking ethics classes. Also, a lot of students today are interested in public policy, the environment, business ethics. People are always interested in moral issues. So there’s always a demand for classes that address the issues of ethics and public policy.”

People are always interested in moral issues. So there’s always a demand for classes that address the issues of ethics and public policy.

Dr Aeon Skoble

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Faculty Focus

Fall 2019

Student Spotlight

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000

Student Spotlight Anonymous Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35

Teresa Magan

November 18, 2019

John Winters

Story Series

Bridgewater Magazine

Teresa Magan doesn’t deal well with obstacles. She moves past them with determination and looks ahead to whatever’s next. It’s a trait that has served her well over her 47 years.

Teresa and her siblings fled the civil war in her native El Salvador in 1987, when she was 17. A family on Long Island sponsored them, and she was able to become a United States citizen and graduate from high school, after which she moved to Rhode Island. After marrying, she moved to Massachusetts.

The Taunton resident enrolled in ŷ��’s College of Continuing Studies in fall 2018 via the MassTransfer program, having earned an associate degree at Bristol Community College in arts and general studies, and also studying for a time at Community College of Rhode Island. At ŷ��, she is majoring in sociology and hopes to minor in history.

Teresa works two full-time jobs, raises a family, volunteers at her 10-year-old daughter Emma’s school and at St. Vincent DePaul’s food pantry, and makes much-needed clothing for premature babies in Nigeria. She also deals with rheumatoid arthritis, which she was diagnosed with at the age of 2. But, as you’ll see, nothing keeps her out of the classroom or interrupts the pursuit of her goal to help other immigrants who are struggling to feel at home in the United States.

What made you want to pursue higher education?

It was always in the back of my mind to go back to school. My main goal is to help people coming from other countries not to feel awkward. I know how we struggled when we got here. I knew I needed to get an education to do this, even though when it was time to go back to school I said to myself, ‘This is going to be difficult.’

Also, I want to be a role model for my daughter. She needs to know that if she is going to do well in life, she needs an education. Life is not easy, and I don’t do it because I’m a superwoman. I’m not. But I think education opens doors.

How challenging is it to continue your education at this point?

I don’t see it as a challenge. I think it’s more of a time management issue. I think if you put your mind to it and decide you are going to finish something, you can do it if you manage your schedule the correct way. I don’t go home and complain. It is what it is. I chose this.

What would you say to others thinking about going back to school?

To do the best they can, continue learning and take advantage of the great things this country has to offer, not only the freedom, but also the chance to better themselves. It will be fine if they put their mind and soul into it.

Can you imagine that day when ŷ��’s president hands you your degree?

It will feel like I’ve reached the light at the end of the tunnel. I was raised by a single mom working two jobs whose four children all went to college. It wasn’t easy for her. Then I can tell her, ‘This is my bachelor’s degree, and now I’m going for my master’s. It’s taken me a long time, but I got there.’

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Student Spotlight

Fall 2019

Alumnus Profile: Filmmaker Chris Sparling, G’05

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000

Alumnus Profile: Filmmaker Chris Sparling, G’05 Anonymous Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35

Ocean State native making waves in Hollywood

April 29, 2019

Heather Harris Michonski

Story Series

News Feature

Many dream of one day giving an acceptance speech or walking the red carpet with flashbulbs popping. For Chris Sparling, G’05, that dream became a reality.

Since sitting in a Bridgewater State classroom 14 years ago, the Rhode Island writer, director and producer has been making a name for himself in the entertainment industry, working with some of the biggest players in the biz.

He hit gold with his breakout script Buried, which was turned into a movie starring Ryan Reynolds. The film won the Best Original Screenplay Award from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.

Since Buried, Sparling has continued to find success, including the home invasion thriller Mercy, which he wrote and directed for Netflix. Following that, he wrote and produced The Sea of Trees, starring Matthew McConaughey and Naomi Watts, and directed by Gus Van Sant.

In 2015, Variety, the entertainment trade magazine and website, included Sparling on its “10 Screenwriters to Watch” list.

In other words, Sparling has “made it.”

Back when he studying to earn his master’s degree in criminal justice at ŷ��, Sparling knew deep inside he wanted to work in the entertainment business.

“I come from a working class background where there is not much room for lofty goals,” he said.

Yet, he couldn’t put down the pen, nor put away those Hollywood dreams.

“I was definitely writing scripts while I was at Bridgewater, but nothing had really caught for me. Essentially during that time I was honing my craft,” Sparling said.

In fact, after earning his master’s degree from ŷ�� he did land a job as an investigator, but couldn’t ignore the call to work in film.

Professor Carolyn Petrosino had Sparling in class.

“I remember him as a strikingly engaged student, attentive to two critical areas simultaneously —furthering the development of his academic skillsets and continually reflecting on his potential career plans,” Petrosino said.

She initially advised him to continue his education and enroll in a PhD criminal justice program.

Sparling pondered her suggestion, but ultimately decided against it and told Petrosino he wanted to pursue a career in film and television.

“I expected her response to be, ‘What?’ Instead she was pretty cool about it. She was in my corner,” Sparling said. “If she had told me she didn’t think it was viable it might have steered me in a different direction or discouraged me.”

Today, Petrosino is thrilled to hear of Sparling’s success.

“Learning that you’ve somehow made an indelible impression on a student’s life journey is simply priceless,” she said. “Chris’ accomplishments are extraordinary and quite impressive. I would only encourage him to continue to pursue that which gives him a sense of fulfillment and contentment to his work. It is clear that he has so much more ahead of him, new challenges and new accomplishments.”

Sparling is currently adapting Proof of Heaven for Lionsgate Films and Stephen King’s The Talisman for Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Pictures.

Additionally, production is slated to begin next month on Sparling’s disaster script Greenland starring Gerard Butler and produced by STX Entertainment.

Sparling appreciates that all of his experiences, including his time at Bridgewater, are part of the process and what has led him to success.

“I’m really proud that I have my master’s degree, it’s something that took a lot of work and time,” he said. “It’s important to recognize that it’s a long journey and to understand that it’s a building process. For some it might come easy, for others it might come harder. For some it’s quick, for most it’s going to take a long time. If you can be okay with that, I think eventually you will get somewhere.”

Do you have a ŷ�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

Tags

Fall 2019

Alumni Profile

Fall 2019

Alumni Profile

Faculty Focus

Student Spotlight

What made you want to pursue higher education?

How challenging is it to continue your education at this point?

What would you say to others thinking about going back to school?

Can you imagine that day when ŷ������’s president hands you your degree?

Alumnus Profile: Filmmaker Chris Sparling, G’05

Can you imagine that day when ŷ��’s president hands you your degree?