Presenting at the CREATE research conference not only helped me develop my professional communication skills, but has also allowed me to learn from watching other students give talks and see how they used their creativity to find new research topics to explore within their areas of interest. It serves as an inspiration to see other students work hard and overcome the obstacles they’ve faced to accomplish something they are passionate about.”

“Presenting at CREATE helped me grow as a researcher, communicator, and storyteller. My project, Jazz in Japan: Cultural Exchange, Identity, and Anime, brought together a lot of what I care about: music, media, culture, history, and communication. I was able to explore how jazz traveled across cultures and became part of Japanese identity and media, especially through anime like Cowboy Bebop and Kids on the Slope.”

“Some of my most memorable moments have been the multiple conferences that I have been privileged to share my thesis work at. Besides the Eastern CREATE conference, I have also gone to the COPLAC conference and MLA conference funded through Eastern, as well as Eastern’s English Night. I also went on the Florence, Italy Creative Writing trip Summer of 2024 which was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

“Every opportunity presented to me today can be attributed to my experience at Eastern. Over four years, I was challenged in many ways—whether it was taking rigorous psychology courses or intellectually-stimulating English courses—that ultimately shaped who I am today. I am leaving Eastern as an informed citizen and a better future educator.”

Aidan is a Ph.D. student in Musicology at Duke University, where he is conducting academic research regarding early 20th century French modernism, “coordinating my interests with fellow graduate students, faculty, and staff members to cultivate a positive, curious, and engaged intellectual environment. Eastern taught me to balance music practice, research and work with academic responsibilities; the importance of independent undergraduate research; and the value of interdisciplinary scholarship.”

“At Eastern I learned how to create a plan, coordinate resources and execute on a deadline, all while effectively communicating with colleagues, which has proved beneficial in positions I’ve held. My writing skills apply to communicating internally but externally as well in an organization. I also learned research and public speaking skills that serve me well in every day and in professional settings.”

“I chose to go to Eastern because I heard good things about its science program, and I knew I wanted to study the brain in some capacity. Also, the smaller size of a school like Eastern made me confident I would receive more focused attention from professors and have more tight-knit classes than I would at a large school. My experience at Eastern exceeded these expectations.”

Ryan works for the Connecticut Department of Transportation as a member of the team that monitors construction projects to ensure minimal environmental impact. “I use a lot of the skills taught in my classes. My Computer Aided Drafting and Geographic Information Systems skills are critical to my job. My Coastal Geologic Hazards class taught me how to use sustainable practices to mitigate coastal flooding.”

Amanda is Quality & Compliance Specialist at Root Center for Advanced Recovery. “The skills taught (at Eastern) in clinical documentation are utilized daily as I am auditing clinical notes, knowing what should be included. My cultural competencies taught by Eastern have also given me a leg up in being able to work with a diverse team of professional individuals coming from different disciplines.”

After completing military service, many veterans return home with a desire to continue serving. An organization called Veterans Base Camp, led by Eastern alumna Cindy Archibald ’17, has been established to help veterans fulfill this sense of mission post-military.

Megan Saunders ’15, a senior producer at NBCUniversal Local in Boston, MA, has built her career through self-motivation and seizing opportunities. Her team's coverage of the 2023 Boston Pride for the People Parade earned them the award for Outstanding Special Event Coverage at the 47th Boston-New England Emmy Awards.

Sport and leisure management major Roc Rochon ’09 is the co-editor and co-author of the recently released anthology “Deconstructing the Fitness Industrial Complex: How to Resist, Disrupt, and Reclaim What It Means to Be Fit in American Culture.”

“Adversity is an opportunity to succeed.” This and other inspirational quotes grace the website of Eastern alumnus Steve Emt ’03, an author, motivational speaker, and Paralympic athlete. Steve enrolled at Eastern in 1998 and graduated in 2003 with a degree in psychology. “Eastern was a wonderful experience. I had great professors. It was a perfect situation for me — I really appreciated the staff who provided accessibility services.”

Sherri spends most of her time visiting veterans in their homes. As veterans liaison for Hartford HealthCare, she meets regularly with servicemembers planning their retirement to brief them on available benefits and services. She looks back with fondness at her time at Eastern, when she obtained a “strong academic foundation” that has served her throughout her career. She notes that her husband (1995), sister (1996) and brother (1997) also graduated from Eastern.

In his role as the commissioner of the Connecticut Office of Higher Education (OHE), Tim Larson ’81 is a strong advocate of the power of learning. “I like to say to students, ‘Learn something every day you are on Earth. … College may not be for everyone, but learning is something everyone can do.”

Barbara (Fitts) Cairns ’59 retired in 1999 after nearly 40 years of teaching around the world and serving as an elementary school principal in Canal Zone, Panama. But retired doesn’t seem like the right word to describe her life.