By Naidelly Coelho
Staff Writer
What is your educational and professional background?
I'm actually an alumni of Framingham State. I graduated in May of this year, so literally like five months out of college. I started off at MassBay Community College and I ended up doing three years there just because of the pandemic and graduated in May of 2020. I also changed my major halfway through. So, I started off as pre-med bio, and then completely did a 180 and thought I was going to major in psychology, but then I ended up transferring to Framingham State as a criminology major, and minor in psych. I did my two years here, graduated, and took the summer off. I didn't think I would go into higher education - but when I was a student at Framingham State, I did my internship over at the Center for Inclusive Excellence. Then the job opened up for the program coordinator of CIE, and my old boss told me about it and I was like, “why not?” I just loved interning at Framingham State and I would essentially be doing the same thing - just with more responsibilities. So right now, I'm doing part time over here at Framingham State and then part time at MassBay as an educational coach, so I help disabled students transition from high school to college.
Can you tell me about the Center for Inclusive Excellence?
We're here to help Framingham State commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion work. I see us as under the umbrella of DICE. I see us being the department on campus that deals with students, so we do programming and presentations, and training that students like to see. So for example, today, we held a race on campus forum, where students could come and talk about just their different experiences on campus in regards to racial issues. And then, we also do training for microaggressions and implicit bias. We're just really here to make sure the University is up to the diversity, equity, and inclusion standards that they claim to be.
What does your job at the CIE entail?
I'm the program coordinator, so I help them come up with different types of programming that students might like to see. … I also do a lot of the social media work. I see myself coming up with ideas for programming and presentations and the social media part.
Do you have any goals and dreams you want to achieve in the next couple of years?
First of all, I never saw myself in higher education. When I graduated, I thought for sure I would go into nonprofit work or something like that. So doing the complete 180 and going to higher education, I think my main goal is just to be happy. I like to be happy with the work that I do, and right now, I'm really happy with the work that I do. I feel it's very impactful, and it's very meaningful. My overall goal is to just be happy and to be paid a decent amount. I don't care about climbing the corporate ladder - I only care about having a job that pays me enough for me to live and then doing something that I like. I don't have a specific career goal. I’m just vibing.
I really liked the criminology program at Framingham State because most people that are into criminology want to go to law school and that was never for me. I 100% see different job opportunities because I have that criminological lens. I think I would love to be able to apply my criminology major to something I do in the future, but in a critical way.
What do you enjoy doing outside of your work? Any hobbies?
I have a service dog. She's a golden retriever named Dixie and you might see us around campus, but in my free time, I love taking her for walks. She is such a good hiking buddy. I also love to read. I could take off every day and just read all day. That's one of my favorite things to do. I like baking. I love finding new music but I will always go back to Taylor Swift. I don't have a lot of free time, so when I do, it's kind of relaxing and decompressing.
Do you have any advice for students?
Get involved 100%. I know it sounds like the type of advice that everyone gives, but I cannot advise enough to get involved like whether that be with your professors during office hours or clubs or organizations on campus. I can't imagine what my life would be if I had not gotten involved - not only in regards to my career and getting references, but also getting to know my professors and campus leaders, and also just friendship-wise. You make a lot of great connections when you get involved, and you make a lot of great memories.