Ed.D. Higher Education Administration ’25
What has your journey revealed to you about yourself?
The greatest revelation is that my intellectual capacity extends beyond my self-imposed boundaries. I want to be known as a thought leader with fresh and innovative approaches to addressing some of the world’s challenges. Northeastern has assisted me in discovering my voice towards that aim.
What have been some of the opportunities and challenges you have experienced as a member of the Northeastern community?
As a graduate student in my fifties and transitioning to a new career field, I would say the challenges that I’ve both faced and am currently facing aren’t really unique, given my current position relative to family and career. However, I can choose how I respond to those challenges. While at Northeastern, I have to maintain four different households in three cities across two states. Two of those households result from assisting in the caring of two aging parents with various health challenges. Additionally, I have one child in college and will soon have a second beginning in the Fall. To say that I’m burning the candle at both ends is an understatement. Maintaining a strong sense of purpose, which to me means remaining intellectually curious, is critical. However, intellectual curiosity doesn’t always pay the bills, so adaptability is vital in overcoming some of those inherent time and money crunches. Finally, I’m eternally grateful that I have a loving and understanding wife in with we have a strong and mutually supportive relationship.
What advice do you have for others?
Intellectual curiosity is the fuel that drives discovery. Always, Always work on becoming unflappable as your current comfort zones continue to shift. Most people work hard at maintaining their current comfort zones, rarely venturing to the outer edges. This is not an admirable trait of a good leader. For the true leader, comfort zones are dynamic. Moving beyond one’s comfort zone, although stressful at times, is the order of the day. Higher education can assist in the development of the resiliency required to overcome any setback resulting from moving into unfamiliar spaces.
We know you are more than the person who shows up at Northeastern. What are some of your hobbies and other passions? Where do you find your joy?
Sailing, scuba diving, hiking, and refurbishing broken things that others see as having little to no value. Anything that requires movement.
Connect with Eugene: LinkedIn