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[Music] Hello Blue Jays and welcome to the nest stories about life after Manor College. I am your host Kelly Peiffer vice president of marketing communications and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it is time for a segment of the show I like to call Did You Know? Today's Did You Know is particularly exciting because it's about one of my favorite people here at Manor College.

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So, did you know that the best coffee at Manor College isn't really found in a cafe or in the cafeteria, but it's at the front desk. For over 40 years, Anne Kiczula, or Miss Anne, as many call her, has been the warm, welcoming presence behind the front desk of our Basileiad Manor, also known as our library building. Her morning ritual is truly the stuff of legends. So, every day she comes in and she brews her signature percolated coffee, a secret blend that even includes a splash of half and half,

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and usually lays out some kind of sweet treats um with maybe school stickers or buttons or pens on the front counter for anyone to enjoy. Ann's always good for a cheerful good morning, how are you? Or how you doing honey? Um, but it's really more about that more than just the coffee. Ann started working at Manor herself in the late 1950s. Ann is an alum of the school and um back in the day and ran the bookstore and she ran the bookstore over in Help Hall when the building opened in 1961 and earned her degree at Manor in 1971.

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And so she started working for the school before she earned her degree and has worked under six college presidents, has witnessed countless transformations, and just has met thousands of people from Manor College. She seems to remember names. She seems to remember facts and information about you and your family and whatever you have going on in your life. that never ceases to amaze me. How Ann really takes the time to get to know you, ask about you, care. Um, if you ever show her pictures of your

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family or whatever's going on, she loves looking at that. So, her kindness and her devotion to Manor College and what is what truly makes an special and unique. So, it's countless to say that she embodies what I call the Brazilian spirit. Making sure that everyone feels like they belong. Whether you're a student, a professor, a delivery driver, she knows very well all of the delivery drivers, UPS, postal service, FedEx, Amazon. Many call her Manor's mom. Um my joke around about an is that she found

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her seat as a receptionist and then manor was built around her because where her area is is literally at the base in the middle of our three buildings. So to in my perspective she is truly at the heart of our campus and is the heart. So what really makes the coffee so good? It might be a little cinnamon, but mostly it's on Today's episode is sponsored by Manor College's criminal justice program. Dreaming of a law career? Manor College and Widener University Delaware Law School have partnered on a fast track to

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your success. Get your bachelor's and jurist doctorate in just six years with our 3 plus3 program, saving you time and money. Plus, guaranteed admissions win a minimum of $20,000 scholarship. Invest in your future and start planning today. Learn more at manor.edu. We have a truly special guest with us today. An alumni who attended Neshaminy High School, graduated from Manor College in 1990 with her associates degree in paralegal certificate. She then went on to earn her bachelor's in business management from University of

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Pennsylvania's Wharton School and then got her JD from Widener University Law School. Today she is a shareholder and member of Stark and Stark accident and personal injury group where she concentrates her practice in representing children and adults seriously injured or killed due to catastrophic personal injuries, construction accidents, workplace accidents, and many more. She is a trial attorney who has successfully litigated personal injury matters resulting in verdicts in excess of a million dollars.

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Please join me in welcoming Karen O'Donnell to the nest. Welcome, Karen. Oh, thank you for having me. I so appreciate Thank you so much. It's so nice to be back. Yeah. No, it's so fun. We've been um really enjoying talking to alumni this past year. Every Friday we have a new episode come out and I'm so grateful that you found time in your busy schedule to talk to us. So kind of start us off by how did you first hear about Manor College and kind of make that decision to attend. So my story is a little bit uh one of

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reluctance initially. So, um, I used to be a gymnast and so out of high school, all my friends were going to bigger schools and I wanted to go to a big school and because I was a gymnast, I ended up doing gymnastics at Westchester. Within a couple weeks, I injured my knee and that resulted in me coming home and really not being able to go back to Westchester because I needed a couple surgeries. And so, my mom always, even during high school, said to me, "You should go to Manor. you should go to

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Manor. And at that time it was Manor Junior College. So, you know, when I say I was a little bit reluctant, all my friends were going to like bigger schools and I was like, I didn't want to go to a small school. Like it just was kind of that like little bit of peer pressure. But I found myself at home and really not being able to go back to a bigger school cuz I was, you know, I had crutches at one point and I had my leg in a brace. And just hearing my mom saying that she had such a great

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experience at Manor, I was like, "Fine, I'll go." So, Manor really needed to convince me that this was a school for me. And they were able to do so like immediately. I mean, I went there, I inquired about the paralegal program and it just kind of hooked me. I mean, there was just such a personal connection. And I already had the experience of going to a big school. Um, and it wasn't like that at all. You were kind of dropped in the middle of a million people. They didn't know when you went to class, when you didn't. They

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didn't care about like what was and I I shouldn't be saying that about I'm just saying in general big schools. Understood. Of course. It was just a different experience. It matters what I'm trying uh to convey. So, so that's kind of how I ended up at Manor. And when I say reluctance because I was I uh maybe in part didn't want to listen to my mom at that point and that age like so many people do when they're young and in part, you know, did feel a little bit of a peer pressure from just my friends and my friends

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group to to be, you know, at a bigger school. And it turns out it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Well, mother certainly knows best, right? I think we can attest to that sometimes. But I think your story still really resonates with a lot of high schoolers and and and young people today and that like their parents want them to do one thing, they want to go with their friends and do another thing and then life kind of gets at them and then they end up maybe doing what their parents wanted them to do in the beginning. I

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love that your mom is an alum, too. I think that's so cool. you guys are what we call like a legacy family where multiple generations of the same family came to came to the institution. So that's really special. Um, but it's neat that you were able to have kind of both experiences in a way. Like you saw what a big school was like and you can like see yourself what that was like and what that would do for you. But then also you saw at Manor like oh this is different and and I get this attention

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and I can't really slip through the cracks because they're just not going to let me do that cuz it is so small. Um, I always say that at Manor, like not only we know our students names, but we know like at least multiple facts about them, you know, what what they got going on in their life, where they work, what their dreams are, where their hometown is, and possibly more than that, too. So, um, and it does make a difference. I mean to you just feel like you're a part of a community and you feel like you're a

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part of something and you you know I know our tagline is you belong here but that is so true at Manor and when we talk about a small school like back then it was small you know I mean Manor has come so far from I mean I was 1990 for gosh sakes you know I mean the things that we're doing here at Manor now are just on big school level with that smaller you know, personal touch and caring. So, I think it just has come so far and really gives you a combination of both. Yeah. Well, that's great to hear.

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And um yeah, definitely we want to be that like really homey atmosphere for people, but yet they still can succeed in big careers and have big dreams. And um when we were coming up with our tagline for our new brand back in 2017, one of the other taglines that we didn't go with, but we we kind of have used as kind of like secondary messaging was believing in you is our favorite thing to do. And even though we didn't pick it for our tagline because I think you belong here is just kind of a nicer,

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more succinct way to encompass who we are. I still love that believing in you is our favorite thing to do because I think it's so true. like believing in our students is truly what we're here for. Um, and trying to help them achieve whatever they're trying to achieve. So, that's so cool. So, tell us, you know, go ahead. If we if there really wasn't that belief in the school itself and that in the programs, I I really don't think that I would be where I am now. I mean, you know, next year I'll be

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the the president of the whole Commonwealth, the state trial lawyers. You know, I'm a trial lawyer. I'm a partner here at Stark and Stark. And you know, Manor really set me on that journey, you know, into law. I mean, it really captivated me with their par power par power par power par power par power par power par power par power par power par power paralegal program. Um, so somebody believed in me along the way, including Manor. Yeah, of course. So why um I guess how did you know that following a law career was something

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that you wanted to do? How did you know that that was kind of what you wanted to go into? you know, I don't know that I really knew until, you know, my second year at Manor. Um, again, I kind of went into the program a little reluctant, like I didn't really want to go here. What is this all about? You know, and to Manor's credit, at that time, paralegal's were becoming like a force in the workforce. You know, there was really like a need for paralegal's, and Manor had that program. So, you know, I

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knew I wasn't that great at math and I was like, "Okay, you know, let's try this paralegal program." And at the time, I'm going to I'm going to name drop. But Diane Pevar started that program and it was kind of in its infantile stages. Um, and it was just kind of captivating for me just the legal research and um, you know, what you could do and the program itself. I mean, we learned civil procedure, we learned the whole aspect of law in that program. And then when I I got my associates degree, I I had to get a

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bachelor's before I could go to law school, so I had to finish that. But it was kind of at that point that I knew that that's where I wanted to end up um ultimately. Oh, that's so cool. I think um and I love that you I love that you named out Diane Pevar. You certainly and when I think of like manner like legends particularly like people who really have made an impact on so many Diane Pevar is a name that certainly comes to mind. She's retired now and we're happy for her in that retirement life but she

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certainly was so influential in starting so many great programs here. Paralegal being like a one of the flagship ones. Um we now have pre like a pre-law and a public policy. We have a pre-law and a law um articulation agreement with Widener University where I know you got your um JD from and students can take three years at Manor and then go three years at Widener for that total JD um degree which uh we're still working on finding students who have completed all of that because I would love to have

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them on the show and have kind of that like alumni story. Um, but that that's so cool to hear and I think that's so special that you were able to realize like, okay, I'm good at these things. I'm not good at math. Maybe I could follow this. That's good self-awareness. And I think a lot of people really struggle with knowing like what should I do and how does, you know, XYZ lead to this? It's hard. It's a hard thing to figure out, right? I think it's so frustrating, too. And I and this

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is another reason why I think Manor was just so, you know, great for me and it is just great for for students in general. You know, people in high school, they sit down with their advisor's and they say, "What do you want to do in life?" And I just think it's such an unfair question because how do you know like you haven't had life experiences, right? And Manor kind of for me was like, well, what are you interested in? Like it was a different frame. It was framed differently when I sat and met at matter and I was like

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well you know this is something I could be interested I know I'm not interested in math because I know I'm not. So it was kind of like we ruled out things. It wasn't an approach of what do you want to do in life because how do you know right? So that investment in people and really getting to know people's interest I think is just something that Manor strives at you know it's not like I sat with an adviser and they say what do you want to do in life like I didn't know you know I I had no idea so many options

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I mean it's not just like okay doctor lawyer teacher like there's so many things right and honestly what I thought I wanted to do like when I went to my first school I thought I was going to be a psychologist like that's what I thought cuz I was like, "Okay." And turns out that's not what I ended up doing. And it probably was not going to be a strength of mine. But if I didn't end up at Manor and had the questions kind of posed to me in that way, I probably would have picked something different because like you said, you

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hear these things like, you know, marketing or right, you know what you know. You that's all you just know what you know. you need other people to come into your life and like make you either think differently or present different options or kind of like pull it out of you, you know? Yeah. Yeah. And I think that that's something and advice that I could give to students, you know, don't worry about where you're going to end up. Focus on what your interests are and you know, you'll be guided by people

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in your life and things that'll ultimately get you there. Sure. Yeah, that that's great advice. like follow your interest and then align careers will align with that and you'll be much happier frankly if you're doing something that you're interested in opposed to just kind of following a career. So true. So true. That's great. Um, so, so Karen, can you talk to us about like your career and, um, I guess what is it, what is it like being a trial attorney and kind of in your role um, that that people would find

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maybe interesting or they didn't really realize and kind of what is it like in a like a a career as a full-time lawyer? So to answer that question, I do need to give you a little bit of history because as I said, I went through the Manor paralegal program and at that time you were required to have um an internship. So as part of the program, Manor aligned me with a law firm. Um and I did my internship with the law firm and I ended up being hired there as a paralegal and worked there for several years. So that

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was kind of like my first job. Um, so ultimately, you know, I did my undergrad, I went to the Wharton School, and then I went to Widener uh to complete my JD. And because of my first internship, I became interested in personal injury. Like that's what I did for my internship at Manor. That's what I've learned. Um, and that's what I've stuck with. And so for for me, my journey as an attorney was actually founded in my paralegal experience because I learned to help victims of all different types of not

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only injuries, but like right now I do uh sexual assault cases and people don't think of that in a a criminal sense or in a civil sense. They only think of it in a criminal sense. So on a civil side, I'm able to help victims of injuries, but it's not just like a car crash, you know, people who are devastated by things that happen to them in life. So, so it's been a journey. It's always, you know, it's in every day is different. Um, you know, it's a it's always a struggle with time management and

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balancing life, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who does that in in my career um as an as an attorney. But you just got to, like I said, be focused on something that you're interested in. And, you know, I think if you can do that, you'll thrive and survive and do well in whatever area you choose. I can't believe that what you did as an internship, you know, 30 plus years ago is still, you know what I mean? What you're doing now. I think that's pretty remarkable and and really cool to show that um that interest really sparked in

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you and here you are still passionate about it. That's really neat to see. It's also neat that, you know, where I did my internship, I still talk to that firm and throughout my career, you know, if I ever needed anything or needed guidance, I would pop in or stop in and um you know, to this day, I think they'd probably take me back um as an intern as an intern or an attorney, frankly. But um you know but it just goes to say like the foundation and the work ethic that kind of Manor instilled in me um you know has kind of

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made a reputation for me you know so many years later. So um again it really did kind of change my trajectory in life by going to Manor. Oh wow that's awesome. I love I always love it when um alumni can kind of reflect back and see that like Manor was like this foundation you know it was kind of like my base my home. my foundation and then like I built things upon that. I think that's really a beautiful like picture and illustration for um perspective students and students to be like I'm living I'm

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living the college life right now and it's hard and I'm frustrated and some classes are harder than others but like it's hard to see that like you're in the foundation right now. Um but it's good to hear it from alumni who've like been there done that and now can have that reflection moment. Yeah. And for me like definitely built upon that you know I was paralegal and then I went and got my my bachelor's degree and then I got my my uh law degree and then after that you know I started working as a lawyer

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and then eventually made partner and now I'm in statewide organizations. I'm going to be president of that. So I mean you have to build on right a good foundation and definitely Manor is that for me. That's awesome. So, what's like a myth about lawyers that you want to you want to bust? What's something that um people assume from like television and like popular media that like they get wrong that's really not true about lawyers? Anything that comes to mind that's kind of interesting or fun? Um, I would like to think, you know,

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especially in personal injury, I think sometimes there's a little bit of um cynical, you know, people are cynical like, "Oh, you're an ambulance chaser." And, you know, they don't really appreciate what we do. I mean, we do change lives. Um, and we do for fight. We do fight for people that don't have voices. And it's really an honorable profession to be in. But you know there's a lot of jo lawyer jokes out there and people make fun of the profession but you know it it's some it's very empowering to be in front to

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be in court to be a trial lawyer to be able to again help someone who either didn't have a voice or didn't know how to get the help that they needed. So um so I think the myth is you know don't make so many I think the message should be don't make so many lawyer jokes right it's not a joke it's not a joke it's an empowering feel that's changing lives I mean that's that's definitely the crux of it sounds like um and as a as a female I mean I think lawyers are one of those professions where it's still

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pretty heavily male-dominated um any any things that you've observed over the years how industry is is changing for the better in that sense and how women are getting more of a voice and and just getting more there are more women attorneys. Yeah. So there definitely is a change going on. I mean I've been practicing now for seems like forever. And when I started practicing I mean I would be the only female in a room and you know I have to say frankly that still occurs. You know I'll be in a deposition and it's me versus you know

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six six men. So I do see more women coming into the field. You know I'm a trial lawyer and it's it can be grueling and you know there is statistics that a lot of women don't want to be trial lawyers because it's just a lot of time demands. So for me um I do see some change in the legal field in general but there's not a lot of trial lawyer coming through that are women just because it's just tough. It's just a lot of time. It's a lot of demand. I was lucky enough to have a husband who

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helped me balance that. Um, you know, when I couldn't be at something, he stepped up and there was never an issue. But you definitely need people. Um, it's definitely not a profession I think that you could kind of do solo. You need support for sure. So, but I am grateful to see, you know, more women getting into the field even if it's not becoming, you know, trial lawyers. um you know people women are rising in all all different kinds of areas of the law. Well that's good. That's good that more

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more women are doing that and it it takes a village certainly. Um and it's good that you had a good marriage partner who was going to kind of kind of be there for you and kind of support your career. That that's awesome. So Karen, as we kind of follow um follow up and kind of close out our episode here, what's some advice that you have for current Manor students who are in just the beginning of their their journeys? What advice would you give for them? So I think I have a couple things. I think

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time management should be an issue with all kinds of students. Um I think that's one of the biggest things that you have to learn in um business in whatever type of career. Um I just see more and more that people tend to you know procrastinate and think they can do it and you know it's just hard to manage everything. So whatever you need to implement tools you know time management for students I think should be focused on and I don't know that you can really teach that right. So, it's just something I think students need to

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be aware of. The second overall thing is, you know, your story is not going to be everybody else's story. And if your path isn't the path everyone else is taking, then that's fine because you'll find your way. And I certainly didn't take a path that everyone else did. And I would like to say that I found my way. So, when you think you're down and out or you think that, you know, this isn't the way it's supposed to be, for some reason, you will find your way out. and it is the way it's supposed to be. That's great. So,

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believe I love I love both of those. But, so for time management, what's like um something that works for you or like it's a good like tip that you've learned that like oh, this is really really helpful. So, for me, I think you have to look at yourself, right? So, for me, I'm a morning person. So, for me, like I have my to-dos in the morning. my kids, they're in college and they can work on things at seven o'clock at night where that's like where their strengths are. So, just kind of getting a

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structure that focuses on your strengths and also be able to say to people like, "No, I need to do this for me right now." Um, I think so many time students want to take on everything, you know, be involved in everything. It is okay to say no. you know, just be good at what you're doing and manage what you're doing. I always say like um finding balance is really hard, but like if you just choose to like focus on, okay, I'm going to focus on this one task for 45 minutes, that's better than you have focusing on

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like five tasks at the same time, right? you know, like really zone in, get it done opposed to like having like imagine having all those like open like window tabs in your mind like you just can't do it. Just have one tab open, focus on it, move on in the next tab, right? And it's okay when that tab is open to say, "Let me get this done right now." You know, like I will talk to you, I will get back to you, I will meet up with you, I will put the phone in a drawer or, you know, like take out the distractions. Yes.

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Yeah. And I love also what you said about like having your own story, following your own path. We find often that students at Manor are coming with all different backgrounds and stories. And we have a lot of students who come from transfer schools or community colleges. Like not no two students are the same. And that's good. That's what makes us different. And that's kind of what kind of enriches everybody with their own experience. Um, it reminded me of we just had graduation this past May and we

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had we always have two student speakers at graduation. We have one that represents our associate degrees and one that represents the bachelor degrees. And it's kind of a a newer tradition that we have that started when we had our first group of bachelor degree students. And I love this year particularly the two student speakers were so different. one student took mostly online classes, worked full-time. Um, and she said like, "I was not here involved. I was not in the cafeteria hanging out. I was working full-time,

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taking classes online, emailing professors, and like that's who I was, and I love that experience." And then the other student speaker, she was involved in lots of campus activities. She was a leader on campus. she was physically present on campus and that was her experience and she loved it. And I just I I kind of love these two different pictures of what a college student likes looks like at Manor because I think it's giving permission to others. Like you can pick your own story, what works best for you

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in your life. And that's a good thing, right? But that's exactly what Manor is. like both of those students felt like they belong so much to Manor that they're speaking at graduation and they had both completely different experiences, right? And that's okay. But I do think, you know, there's a lot of pressure for high school students to be like, here's what you have to do. Here's what you need to follow. And I think when you get to Manor and you don't have that cookie cutter student, it just opens your eyes

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to like, I'm going to be okay. like I am going to be able to do it and I may do it a different way but I'll do it. Yep. Yeah. I love that. Um well Karen, thank you so much for spending time with us today. Um it's been really just exciting to talk to you and I think really informative too. I think you've given a lot of good perspective on what your experience was like but then also encouragement for um to others. We really want this podcast to be informative and encouraging. And I think you've hit you hit both. And I always

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like to tell alumni when um I talk to them. You know, our mission at Manor College is to prepare students to graduate to serve society effectively and compassionately and hearing about your career journey and what you're doing. You certainly are doing that. So, thank you so much for um fulfilling the mission of Manor College without really even know realizing it that you're doing that and just all the great work that you're doing. It's so important and um thank you for for spreading that to others who just need

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it. Oh, well, thank you for having me and I'm grateful. Thanks for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube and stay up-to-date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram at Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of the nest, stories about life after Manor College. Remember Blue Jays, you belong here always. [Music]

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[Music] Hello Blue Jays and welcome to the nest stories about life after Manor College. I am your host Kelly Peiffer vice president of marketing communications and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it's time for a segment of the show I like to call Did You Know? where I will share some fun facts about Manor College that you may or may not know. So, did you

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know that Manor College's current president, Dr. Jonathan Peri, is the first lay person to lead the college? He has been at the helm since 2015, and under his leadership, Manor has launched bachelor degree programs, expanded humanitarian efforts, particularly in support of Ukraine, and solidified our place as a top value institution in the region. We have been mentioned in the New York Times, in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Wall Street Journal as being one of the top schools in um the Northeast region for intergenerational

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mobility, which really means bringing students and families from one socioeconomic um area or level to a higher one. So really changing that family tree through the power of education. But Dr. Perry is part of a rich legacy of leadership at Manor College. Before him, Sister Mary Cecilia Jurasinski led the college for an impressive 30 years. From 1985 to 2015, she helped transition Manor into a fully co-educational institution and expanded its many academic offerings amongst many, many other accomplishments.

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Fun fact, Sister Mary Cecilia Jurasinski was an avid Phillies fan and I remember um her having a bright red Phillies windbreaker that she would wear often around campus. So way to support the Phillies. Going back further, Sister Miriam Claire Kowal served from 1976 to 1985, introducing key programs such as Vet and paralegal studies, both still popular degrees. Before Sister Miriam Claire was Sister Olga Kish um and she welcomed the first male students and helped our growing evening course programs. Sister Jerome Roma was the

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president in the 1960s and she guided Manor to having full accreditation and oversaw the opening of our beautiful library. Each of these leaders helped shape Manor into the student centered mission-driven community that it is today. Today we've got an awesome guest on the show. I'm particularly excited for this guest because it's our first alumni who's a priest born in Ukraine coming to the United States at the age of 10. They've made their home right here in Philadelphia, graduating from Northeast High School. Our guest then

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pursued his associates degree in liberal arts with a focus in philosophy and religion, graduating from Manor College in 2015. Then they transferred to the Catholic University of America to attend seminary. Today he serves as a priest in the St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Shenandoah. Please join me in welcoming Father Bohdan. Welcome, Bohdan. Thank you so much for being on the show today. Thank you, Kelly. Thank you so much for having me. I'm very excited. It's my first official

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interview like this. Oh, well, I'm honored. I'm honored that Manor College is your first and that's so that's so special. Um, so kind of start us off. How did you hear about Manor College and why did you choose to attend Manor? Well, at that time I was attending there's a just few blocks over a St. Michael in Jenkintown Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and so every time every Sunday you would go to church we would pass by Manor College and oh boy it has a beautiful territory Manor College. So

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you always stop and you look at it. Um, and among the Ukrainians, I guess that Manor College was quite known. Everybody knew about it, but everybody knew about the sisters. Um, so I guess there wasn't much choice in deciding. I just it was Ukrainian, it was Catholic, and that's kind of where I wanted to go. And I had a beautiful experience there. Oh, that's great. So, we checked off, we were Ukrainian, we were Catholic. Easy easy decision. all of that and especially it's kind of you go where also try to see where your

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friends are going at that time my English was not that well not that good so I saw where all my friends most of them went to Manor college so I was like yeah why not oh perfect good oh that's good college as well oh good so you came in already with some familiarity to like the culture the campus and that kind kind of stuff. Yes. Yes. Oh, that's great. That's always so helpful when students can kind of start um with like a little little step ahead, you know, they're not starting from completely from zero because starting

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college is already pretty intimidating and a really big life life moment and life change. So, that's awesome to hear. So, you were a liberal arts student. Kind of what was your Manor experience like? What how were your classes? and kind of kind of take us back. What was it like being a student? I always give a big credit to Manor College because at that time before I came to Manor College, I was in Northeast High School and that's that was the time when I guess the school district lost a lot of money. You had

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the same teacher teaching different subjects because they had to lay off a lot of professors. Uh so going to Manor College it was just so beautiful classes were small uh the professor professors were able to put a lot of emphasis a lot of focus on individual students so it was much different you actually got to feel very special in Manor College and just the atmosphere itself it's a beautiful territory it's very peaceful there um oh that's great yeah and um delight in being there. Oh, that's awesome.

06:42
I love how you were saying how comparing it to your high school experience where it was maybe like crowded and congested and large, you know, and a lot of students and only one teacher, but yet Manor, it's a smaller um we call that a student student-to-teacher ratio or faculty to student ratio where it's maybe 10 or 12 students in a class and only one faculty. So, they definitely get to know you and vice versa. They still rem they still have that. But I it was something one of the biggest things that I

07:13
remember that that focus that you have that extra time you have just to speak with the professor afterwards. Definitely. I think um having like supportive faculty members and you know really getting to know the students and not just oh their name or their major but really getting to know oh he's from this town and he has this backstory and he struggles in this and really getting to know the students is definitely something that makes Manor unique and special and something that I hear a lot from alumni that really stuck out to

07:47
them as just so helpful in in getting that support that you need to maybe finish your degree or get a job or go on to another institution for another degree. So, um were you involved in any campus activities or athletics or any kind of clubs when you were a student? Unfortunately, not. I was present there. I was all over, but I never officially signed up for anything uh with my timing because my schedule was always changing. always had to do something, be somewhere. Uh, so did you work? Did you

08:23
work while you were a student as well? No, I did not work, but it was just like a family stuff and especially being the only one in a family who was able to translate to go to support uh everybody else. So, sure. I guess, you know, I never really thought about that a ton and and this is just my own ignorance, but like being the only kid maybe in a family and you're you're you know, you're a son and being the the person who has to translate for an entire family, that's that's kind of like a job right there.

09:01
Oh my goodness. Yeah. You got to go with mom or dad or siblings or other family members to be their translator. That's um has others in your family learned English since then or is that still very much um something that you help with? It seems like it's not just my family but anybody else like that older generation. They get got to the point where they can understand say basic responses but they don't speak. I mean there's a lot of now especially in Philadelphia, northeast Philadelphia, a

09:34
lot of stores, a lot of doctors, anybody that knowing the language is not so essential anymore as it used to be that you had to know in order to survive. Now it's much more I would say opened to other right there's things like online check-in and like more technology that maybe makes it less face to face. Well, even like Ukrainian stores, Russian stores, you have Ukrainian banks and everything. So, it's much easier now. You can you're able to get along now much better than how it used to be. That's good. That's a That's a cool um

10:12
I've never thought about that. Facilities like even doctors, all of them have those I don't know blue phones or what they call that. You call a translator, you have it there and now it's much it's much easier now, I think. Oh, that's great. Yeah. Well, that's that's awesome to hear that we've made those kind of strides in a society so that um people like you don't have to always be like a physical translator um because you know you got to do your own stuff in your in your day as well. Um so when you were a student at Manor, was

10:42
there any professors or staff who were particularly influential on you that you recall you had a class with and you really enjoyed their class? Anything like that? Yes. At that time uh there was a professor called uh his name was Michael Sims and he taught religion class and I think for my two years there I think every semester I had some sort of class with him. I think by last by the the last year of my my staying there in Manor College they ran out of all the classes of religion so I had one-on-one

11:22
class with him. Uh but why I'm emphasizing that religion class? Because from middle school to high school, I went to the public high school and middle school, you don't have religion class. So that was so different just to be able to express to speak about this topic. It was just you felt different. You felt um I don't know how what's the best way to describe it, but kind of relief you feel just to be able to speak about this. And we even though the Manor college was uh Catholic not everybody was Catholic we

11:59
had atheists we had other religions there as well present so there was no pressure but you express you go through the history of religion and that plays a huge impact on people how they see the world how they communicate how they live their lives sure absolutely I think it's it's so cool that you were able to realize like I never had religion classes and then I come to Manor and I have a few of them. Um, sounds like you had an independent study where you were just like the only one in the class. So, Michael Sims had

12:33
nothing else. Right. Right. But that's but sometimes those are the best kind of scenarios you can really go at your own pace and you get really um in-depth with a topic. So that's kind of neat. So that's a great transition into. So, you graduate from Manor and you decide that you're going to go to um Catholic University and did you know at that point you wanted to go into seminary or kind of what was that decision like? Yes. Yes. Uh I already was working with the well with um at that time they already I had my

13:13
first interview with the metropolitan at that time who was Metropolitan Stefan Soroka uh and he told me stay here see if you want to still pursue that career and in little time come and talk to me again and we'll have something set up for you. So I was really considering that path of seminary when I was uh in Manor College. That's why I kind of pushed myself for the religion courses more as well. Right. Right. That seemed like a natural a natural fit. Oh. So, um, so you go to seminary and is seminary like we are setting up to

13:52
become a priest or is seminary still, um, we're we're still learning and we're not entirely sure what the career is going to be at the end. Well, a seminary is you already know what you're set for. So, the way for us it was you live in a seminary. uh you have in the morning you have divine liturgy in evening you would have vespers night prayer uh that would be pretty much every single day and right after the liturgy you'll have it I think it was 7 a.m. And after that you would go to Catholic University which is just

14:28
across the street. You'll have all the first if you enter right away from high school from not high school from college you would have four years of philosophy and then four years of theology. So with philosophy, you'll have general classes as well, language classes, but you still you pray every day, you learn something, you strive for that life as a future priest hopefully. But that's also kind of your time to get to know yourself. If this is the actually the path that you want because some people also think

15:08
that that's what they want, but they find out I feel like I've been called for something else. Maybe I feel like I can do more as this person or that person, not specifically a priest. It's kind of also way to find yourself there. So in that experience when you were in seminary, did you feel obviously you felt confirmed or what is that feeling like of like confirmation like oh no, this is what I'm supposed to do? Like can you explain that? In uh in high school, I really I loved technology. I liked working with

15:47
computers. I loved photography. I I loved something with technology, more or less, putting things together, photoshopping things. I was all over with that stuff. And I was I was quite good. Um but I didn't feel like this was enough. I felt like there was something more I want like this doesn't matter that much. I applied right after high school. I applied also to the right university. I received it was a very big scholarship from them. Uh they accepted me and everything. And then I met one priest

16:31
and he asked me so what are you doing? And I explained that to him. I love computers. I love this. I want to do that. It's like, no, you got to be a seminarian. So, he kind of and it's like I loved being in church. I felt calm. I especially later on when they asked me to serve. That was a great joy for me. I found very big peace in that. It's not something easy to explain, but it's just like you feel like when you're at home, like I like this. I like what how what I'm doing and he's like no when I

17:08
met that priest like you got to be a priest. So he took me to the metropolitan and he said this is going to be your future priest and that kind of set my goal. So all my plans changed. I never went to the ray. I went to Manor College. I went to Catholic University and then uh last I was transferred for theology to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Mhm. Isn't it amazing how like one person like that that one person said to you, "Oh, no. You're going to go to seminary and and I'm going to help you." And he's like, "I'm going to help

17:43
you get there." It sounds like and like that one person just sees something in you and it kind of changes everything. Isn't that I think that's so incredible um that that happens. And I'm so cool. I'm so glad that that happened for you. It sounds like he was the right person to to speak into that, you know, and I think that's how it is cuz a lot of people assume going to seminary it's such a big deal. Oh no, it's only if you're holy, if you're this. It's no, it's not that on your holiness. It's you work on

18:20
that. Nobody is holy right away. Something you have to fight for. I'm not holy. But it's it's a beauty when a priest can call children who they who they see are active in churches like come do you want to serve at the altar do would you want to pursue in this you look like you find interest in this and that opens up because none of us think about it I I wouldn't say a lot of people growing up I'm going to be a priest like that it's something you just come through especially with the mentality of people. It's like no, you want to be

18:59
successful, you want to make money, you want to be wealth, you want to that doesn't go well with the priesthood. So it's like nobody tell their kids you want to be a priest. So it's good when a priest can actually speak to the kids and say this is open to all of you. Anybody can enter seminary, anybody can go through this. At um especially we as Ukrainian seminary, we were very small. We were very tiny. The Roman Catholic seminary was huge. I remember meeting some of those seminarians and one of the

19:34
guys said something that really got to me. He said, "Even if we were to leave the seminary today, what we got, what we learn is going to stay with us. You cannot get rid of this." That's a dedication to God you go through. And a lot of them left because they wanted to be married. Um, but the way they still live, you see, they still have that in their heart. It's very beautiful. Mhm. Find that. Yeah. I mean, what great like discipline obviously, but also it's teaching you a closeness to God.

20:10
Regardless of if you go through and become a priest or not, it's still um and that's, you know, totally invaluable for your life and for others. Um I I love that. So, what's something about being a priest that maybe is a misconception that people think one thing and you want to like debunk it? you want to set the record straight. You know, what's something that um you want to people maybe think like, oh, priests are this is something that I thought but it's actually not true. Anything like

20:42
that? There is one thing that was very popular and the people still say, "Oh, priest doesn't do anything. He has so much free time." That's not true. He doesn't have any time. Okay. Oh, he said the liturgy. He said the mass. He prayed. He's done. He doesn't do anything. He goes home and he sleeps. No, there is so much financial. There's so many things you have to do. There's constantly work that needs to be done in the office and then constantly you're on or awareness. If somebody calls to visit, they're sick. In the hospital,

21:25
bring communion to those who are home. There's always something. Even here, I am blessed. I have two great secretaries. They're helping and we're still so busy with two parishes. And that's every single priest. It's like he barely they get any free time. So, I think that's a big miscommunication. Oh, you don't do anything. There's always so much uh that you have to prepare for, do, and set up for church even. Sure. Yeah. There's no like scheduled, you know, 9 to5 hours and it's kind of it's kind of on call.

22:05
That's a good one. Well, thanks for mythbusting that one. That's a good one. Um it's been so interesting to talk to you, father. It's really it's really just fascinating I I find to hear your story. So, kind of as we wrap up here, um two more questions. So what why would you recommend Manor College um for others? Why would you recommend it as an institution? It's a it's a it's a beautiful area and like we spoke about the student to a professor ratio. You are seen in class. You are heard in class. You get

22:44
an opportunity. Professor knows you. They give you time and they help you grow. You're not just lost in a huge classroom. In Catholic University, I know I had one classroom when I was there was like 200 students. I don't think the professor ever knew me there at all. If you stay quiet, they'll never even know about you. That's not with Manor. Manor works with you. And there are many other opportunities that you can get there. I know when I was there, it was only a two-year college. Now it's a four-year college. Mhm. I also know

23:18
they had great resources. I love to spend time in a library and anytime I needed a break, there's a beautiful park nearby. Even at Manor College, you can find nice space outside just to sit, reflect, enjoy life. Oh, that's great. I think and it's so true. like you said when you were at another institution you know a class of 200 if you just kind of hang hang back and don't make a lot of um you know noise you could totally go under the radar at Manor even if you hang back and don't make a lot of noise you're

23:52
still not going to go under the radar we're still gonna we're gonna even actually for the quieter one sometimes I feel like we know even more so um it's kind of the opposite um that's that's so true and we do have attention because I was a quiet one like how you do it, how you do it. I always get asked, right? Right. Um so the my kind of my final question here is about um what's happening in Ukraine currently? Obviously someone who was born in Ukraine and has a lot of ties to Ukraine. Um what is something

24:25
that we as you know Manor College where the we're a campus community, our our history and tradition is founded in Ukraine. We care deeply about the people of Ukraine. We also care deeply about Ukrainian Americans who are in the states right now. Um, what do you recommend that we do to help the war that's happening in Ukraine and just show support that that was not easy what happened with Ukraine. And one of the things that I would say this is how Ukraine actually became known through the war because not many

25:05
people knew where Ukraine is, what is Ukraine. But remember where the war escalated, everybody was talking only about Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine. So that was a very nice thing. And then the support that we got was incredible. It was incredible. I know uh this actually happened to me in a store. It was American store and it was me and my mom were talking at the register as we were in line and somebody just turned out are you Russian? It's like no Ukrainian. Good. Good. It's like they they seen that unfairness.

25:43
What I want to emphasize the most is the prayer for Ukraine. M you might not think it does much but in the beginning where the whole world started stop stopped and prayed for Ukraine all these spoke about this the miracles that happened there the Russian invasion when they were supposed to take over Ukraine in a week time few days they were not able to you had bombs landing in people's houses and never blowing up you had many miraculous stories that were shared with me that they say it's unbelievable that that

26:21
happened. That all happened because the whole world started to pray. Prayer is has actually very big power and significance in that for Ukrainians. A lot of miracles did happen. A lot of churches survived. People survived. Bombs did not explode. There had to be Ukraine still stands due to the prayers. That's the most important. And then donations that they received was great great support especially for for the soldiers because even Russia they're much wealthier bigger their soldiers don't have what we have we have volunteers we

26:58
have constant support sending them uh a lot of volunteers a lot of people stood up uh to help Ukraine so don't lose hope that's a thing keep praying and there's a lot of ways to help Ukraine especially donation s I I'm not sure. I'm sure Manor does its own thing as well. I know the biggest uh source that I know is actually the Archer Park of Philadelphia. They've been sending a lot of support to Ukraine and yeah, that that is great. I think I think emphasis on prayer is huge and I'm a firm believer in that as well.

27:36
And obviously finding resources to support if you can, whether it's through the Archie Parchie at church or whether it's through other humanitarian efforts. I know we have at the college, we have a a support Ukraine web page where we have a list of kind of our top ways to support and some of it's through donation, some of it's through um giving in in other ways. So, we definitely can link that in here in the show. But I think just not losing hope is really key. So, I'm glad you shared that.

28:04
Um and just keep praying because pray prayer is working and it's helping those miracles continue to happen. Um but thank you so much father for joining us today. It has been truly a joy talking to you and um I hope our conversation uh like I like to say in my intro encourages, inspires um others who are listening as well, whether they're Manor students or alumni or just Manor fans. Um, we certainly want to continue to spread the word that Manor College is a great place for people to be and to

28:36
get their education from. So, thank you for sharing and I wish you nothing but the best. Thank you so much. Thank you, Kelly. Thank you for having me. Thank you so much for doing what you do. Thank you for getting the voices back to Manor that they still speaks showing that how much Manor influenced others graduated. So, thank you. Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. And stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College

29:06
on Instagram, Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest. Stories about life after Manor College. Remember, Blue Jays, you belong here always. [Music]

00:03
[Music] Hello Blue Jays and welcome to the nest stories about life after Manor College. I am your host Kelly Peiffer vice president of marketing communications and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College you belong here always. Before we get to today's guests, it's time for a segment of the show I like to call Did You Know? Did you know the story behind Nevel's Hall? Neville's Hall is the main space on our campus where the Vet

00:38
program eats, breathes, lives, studies. Neville's Hall includes a radiology suite, a cat ward, a small animal clinical lab, a surgical suite, our faculty offices, and much more. So, our veterinary technology program at Manor College has been around and accredited since 1992. This is one of our flagship programs here at the college. This program has a three-year pass rate at 82% on the VTNE, which is the big standardized test that all vets have to take that really assesses the competency of that person. And it's a

01:18
requirement to become a licensed vet for certification. And actually last year's pass rate climbed up to more than 90%. So our Manor College vets are really prepared to go out and become vet tech. So back to the hall. So back in 2021, we dedicated the name of the Vet hallway as Neville's Hall after Jim and Lorine Neville had been really really generous to Manor College over the years and particularly they have a heart for our Vet program. A little backstory about Jim and Lorine. They are friends of the

01:56
college. Jim has been serving as a Manor College trustee on our board of trustees since 2019 and they really love animals. It is because of their love of animals and nature that they really felt drawn to Manor's Vet program that Neville's family really enjoys spending time at a at their home in Spruce Creek, Pennsylvania, where they do fly fishing and a lot of outdoors things. Loren has written a book about one of their dogs and for the last two decades. Um, Lorine has been a doesn't at the Philadelphia

02:32
Zoo. So, a really big heart for animals. So, while Neville's Hall is truly a special place and it's really cool that it's a one whole hallway that kind of encompasses everything in that Vet program, the day that we did its ribbon cutting is kind of a funny story. So, it was mid July back in 2021 and it was just one of those like summer storms where it was like super humid and you could just feel in the air that like it's going to storm. And we had a ribbon cutting ceremony planned for that afternoon with a little um little like

03:07
late afternoon reception with some appetizers and a little ceremony. and the entire campus lost power around 3:30 p.m. Guests were already here to be part of the ceremony. The Nevilles, Jim and Lorine were already here. So, with the help of some lights that were running off an extension cord from a nearby minivan and some candles, we grabbed from our chapel upstairs to provide some ambiance and so that we could see um we had a little script prepared to read. the ribbon cutting ceremony commenced

03:43
without power and it was a really kind of special day and kind of just always remembered remembered that in my mind. Today we have an awesome guest on the show. Our first Vet alumni coming from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, a graduate of Upper Maran High School. She pursued her passion for animals right here at Manor College back in 2014, having earned her associate of science degree in veterinary technology in 2016. After graduation, she started building an impressive career working at internal

04:17
medicine and anesthesia veterinary technician at Blue Pearl Langhorn. She is now back at her alma mater today as an instructor of Vet. Please give a warm welcome to Dominica Hathcock. Welcome Dominica. Thank you so much for being on the show today. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. Of course. I was so excited that we finally have a vet on the show. Um we have done about 15 or 16 of these now and it's about time we have a vet on the show I think. So, I'm really excited to have you particularly because you have

04:53
such a great story and I think it'll be one that resonates with a lot of of listeners and other alumni out there who are Vets and maybe inspire them to also want to share their story. Absolutely. If you don't mind, kind of start us off by like how did you hear about Manor? Why did you choose to come to Manor to study vet? Um I this is my second career. Um, so I had graduated uh from college and I was working in laboratory and I wanted to do um like veterinary work and I had tried doing some of that um going to vet

05:31
school and it was not for me and so I really loved what I had done in preparation for that is working as a technician. Um, a friend of mine had been here at Manor and had raved about it and I had learned about them allowing us to choose uh where we got to do our externships unlike some other programs and I was like, "Yes, that is definitely what I want." Um, so I was like, "All right, let's try this instead." And so I applied and actually really loved the program and how it went. So definitely one that uh I would recommend for anyone

06:08
who's looking into Vet. Oh, that's so cool. I love that you said like this is a second career and that you tried other paths maybe and they just kind of weren't working out for you and like that's okay. You know, that's part of everyone's journey. I feel like especially in college, people feel like I have to have it all figured out and no, you don't. You know, that's totally fine. Um and frankly, sometimes you're better off if you don't have it all figured out. Absolutely. So what was it like? So you came in 2014

06:37
um to be a student. What was it like being a college student and were you older? What were you like was that a different kind of sense for you and kind of what was that like? Yeah, you know, it was it was kind of the same and different from what it was before. Like this time I was a commuter student since I lived close enough and I was working to help, you know, pay bills and support. Um but it was fun because I had a great group of friends like orientation time I met these people like hey we're friends we're in the same

07:07
program um so we got to get really close and so you had that you know close friend group you could study like inside Manor and around in between classes and then outside and hang out and so it was kind of fun a little different because I again wasn't living on campus and would go home at the end of the day but it was never a you know oh you're a commuter student, so you're not the same as everyone else. It was really much different, I feel like, than any other place because everyone was so welcome no matter like what type of

07:40
student you were, right? And I think obviously because like we're not predominantly residential. Like it affects the campus culture. You know, only 10% of our campus body live in the res hall. So actually the majority are commuters. Um and you were you working full-time? Yeah, actually I was. So that's crazy to me. How do How do college kids do that? How do you work full-time and go to school and like get some sleep and like eat some food? Like that's just crazy to me. How do you guys pull that off? But

08:14
um a lot of manor students do that. About 85% of our student body are working and we believe about half of them are working full-time while they're a student. So like it's kind of the norm now. Um, I always tell people like college is not the only thing happening in our students lives anymore. Like it's just not the predominant thing anymore. Um, it's something else in addition to like raising a family, taking care of bills, and like doing other things. So, we have to keep that in mind when we

08:42
think about like student flexibility and schedules and stuff. Um, but kind of getting back to your story. So, like why animals? Why vet? where does that passion come from? Um, and kind of talk to me about like your love of animal and animal care. Yeah. Um, basically since I was born, my parents had dogs and we've always had pets and so I was like raised around all of that. Um, so it was definitely, you know, a passion in the beginning and then, you know, even from the like my earliest memories,

09:15
it's like, oh yeah, I want to be a veterinarian. I want to work with animals. I love that my dogs, you know, our pets. And as you get older and you get to experience more, you know, I started riding horses and, you know, branching out and I was like, "Wow, this is so cool." The all the different animals, all the care, everything that's involved with it. And so it was like, "Oh, yeah. This is definitely the path for me to be able to work with everything and anything out there. If it's an animal, it's like, yeah, I want

09:44
to be around it. I want to be with it. I want to touch it. I want to do stuff with it." And so it was a natural path for me I feel like. Oh, that's so cool. I I always love talking to Vet students. Um, and usually their passion is very clear to them. Like usually they're not like I don't know. Like sometimes other students in other majors aren't sure what they want to go into, but like usually vet it's like no, I love animals. And it's not just dogs and cats. It's I love all animals. I want to help all animals. Um, and

10:16
they're just they're so passionate about what they're going to do and it's it's so cool to see. So, I'm glad to hear that was kind of your experience as well. What has it been like? Um, like going from like I'm a child and I love taking care of animals in my home to like I'm a working adult and I have to take care of animals for a career. Like sometimes like when play becomes work, it's you know what I mean? It's no longer fun. What was that like for you when you started actually working with animals for a job? Did it become

10:47
less fun to have animals at home because it's like I'm just working all the time now or you know what I mean? Like is there that division of like a boundary almost? A little bit. Um and I feel like my animals test me all the time with this cuz of course you go home and it's like oh I did something stupid so now you have to take care of them. Um but you know what? I I don't mind. Um, I think I shut down the other side of it, the people side of it. Like if I'm not at work, like this is this part of it is a little different. Like when

11:19
I'm in the um in the field like in the hospital, it's like I will, you know, I'm not going to answer my email. I'm going to set that part aside and, you know, have that balance. Uh, but it's fine. I mean, I have dogs and I have horses and right now and every one of them likes to uh my horse has lots of allergies and eye problems. My dogs, you know, do silly things and so I you know, you constantly take care of them at home, too. It kind of almost never stops. But I feel like it's a little lighter of a

11:52
side. Like you're not it's not somebody else's animal that you're like, "Oh my gosh, I want to make sure that they have the best experience that they're taking care of the best." And like there it's yours. It's a little more relaxed. You're like, "Okay, it's fine." Like I'm not on edge as much, I guess, right? And you have those like instincts with your own like, "Okay, well I I kind of know what they do or don't need. What would And you're taking care of it in a clinical setting is a little different,

12:15
obviously." Um Oh, that's so cool. So, kind of what was what was the Manor Vet program like for you? It's a two-year program. It's pretty intense. Um, you know, before you joined on, I I was talking about the Vet program and how the the pass rate for the VTNE is is pretty high and that like it's a rigorous program, but that's because we want students to pass that VTNE um, you know, quickly after graduation. What was the experience like for you as a student? and then we'll talk about what it's now like being on the other

12:46
side as an instructor. Uh coming in as a student, uh you know, for me coming in as a like a secondary student, already having degrees, it wasn't too bad. Like I was used to having high class work. Uh when I graduated college, I technically have three degrees that I did in four years. Um so I was used to taking over 18, usually 21 or 22 credits a semester. So, I was very used to the workload. So, like that didn't bother me a lot. I was used to studying um and working hard, but this is also something I really

13:20
wanted to do. So, I really wanted to put in the time and effort to get that end goal and to pass. Um, but I actually found it to be like a lot of fun. So, like there was all those labs and you're touching the animals and you're doing things and you're doing it with your friends. Um, and then we did have I remember I did have one day uh one of my semesters where I had a class in the morning and a class in the evening and it's like this huge break in between, but it wasn't long enough that I could go home and do stuff. So, my

13:51
friend and I just stayed and we played games in the cafeteria and hung out. And so, like it was a lot of fun being around with my friends and being able to do this hands-on stuff and learn at the same time. Yeah, that that so helps. And I think that's a huge part of college, right? is like obviously you're here to get a degree and you're here to be serious about that and like move your career forward, but you're also here to make friends and build relationships and do all those like fun things and go to

14:17
events and that's a big part of it as well. So, um, sometimes I feel like the Vet program, the the students in those programs like get a reputation that like they are just so focused on Vet, they don't join clubs, they don't join sports, but like there is time to do that and there is time, you know, and they should they should get involved and especially with each other because you're kind of with each other so much. It's hard not to form bonds obviously with your classmates. So, I'm so glad

14:42
you got to have that experience. How cool. Um, so I saw on your Facebook when before I was doing my pre-show research, I saw there is a a picture of you in a wedding dress with a giraffe. Can you explain this? Did you have your wedding at a zoo or what was this? And I would love to hear just more about this. Yeah. So, um, we did we actually got married at the Elwood Park Zoo in Norristown. Um, oh my gosh. So, we we had rented out the zoo um to have our wedding and to have everybody have these animal

15:18
experiences and um it it unfortunately was raining and hurricaning that day. Um so, people couldn't experience as much. Um but part of the experience, they allowed us to do a giraffe feeding after the fact. Um, so we got to go behind the scenes since it was raining and go into their enclosure and feed them and interact with them and get the pictures. So that was like probably the highlight. It was so cool. Oh my gosh. Yeah, I saw the picture and I was like, I need to ask about this. That is so

15:51
cool. How many brides can say that they like fed a giraffe at their wedding? I mean, there's a lot of crazy things I think weddings nowadays can do, but that is probably one of the coolest ones. Um, so that kind of leads me into my next question. What has been like one of your craziest like animal interactions that you've had? Um, any good stories from that? Let's see. Um, you know, I did actually do a lot of my work in large animals. Um, not as much as those like now it's small, but most of it has been large animal. Um, so

16:26
I've definitely done, you know, work on some high-level expensive animals. I think the one thing that stands out to me was um I do large animal anesthesia and so I was on call and they asked me to come in um and to do this procedure. I was like, "Okay, sure." And I went in and it turned out to be an emu that I had to anesthetize that had eaten chlorine tablets. And so we had to get the chlorine tablets out um out of its throat. I was like, I I don't really do birds. I'm not sure what I'm doing here.

17:00
So, it was a little like a Oh my gosh. A little Did it work? Did you get it out? Okay, go ahead. Oh, yeah. Everything came out. The bird was fine. It was just one of those like, "Oh my gosh, now I I have to put all this knowledge that I like put way put in the back of my brain to test." I was like, "Oh gosh, what do I know about birds?" Oh my. And emus are big. Those are like bigger than you think. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Oh my gosh, that's crazy. So um so today you are a instructor for the Mayor College Vet program. Kind of

17:33
tell us how did how did that happen and what has that experience been like now being on the other side on the faculty side of things. Uh so this actually started years ago. Um I was probably at a school maybe a year or two um when I had seen I think it was on Facebook and they were asking for um TAs for the labs to help out and at the time I had been an overnight supervisor and I had been training um technicians under me and not Manor graduates you know um some of from the other programs or some that didn't have any schooling

18:15
whatsoever. And I was like, okay, we really need some consistency. And you know, the people that are coming are just not having the right amount of experience and I really want to change that. So I reached back out and I was like, "Hey, I'd love to TA." And they were like, "Yeah, great. Let's do this." Um, so I started as a TAI and then I think it was a year or two after I started TA, they're like, "Hey, do you want to start teaching classes?" Um, so then I became an adjunct and I started teaching classes. And then when this

18:51
full-time opportunity came about, I was like, "Absolutely." Like I really love being here. I love teaching these students. I like giving them the experience that they need for the real world since I've been on both sides of it. And it really helps the people on the other side who are hiring. So, I was like, "Absolutely, let's do this." Oh, that's so cool. I I love how like you saw a need in like the workforce, in the field of like, hey, these students are not as prepared as they should be and then you had a link back like to Manor

19:23
like, oh wait, I could help bridge that. Um, and have you seen that like what you did and really help getting those students prepared? Are they better in the workforce when they first start? Is that like helping out now? Yeah, I think so. Um, definitely. Right before as I was just adjunct, like I would be full-time at Blue Pearl and I would have, you know, our students on externships and I was like, I know you know this. I taught it to you. Like, come on, think about it. They're like, oh yeah, I remember. I remember. So, it

19:54
definitely, you know, it's starting to show that they are paying attention and starting to learn all this material. So, it's definitely cool, right? holding them like holding students accountable like I know you know this cuz I was the one who taught it to you or I I know the program you know I went through it myself um what's something that is like a mythbuster for like the either animal care or like as a Vet I feel like this is a field that like if you're in the animal world you know what Vets are

20:24
but if you're not you you just hear the word and maybe you don't realize um I I don't I I never knew what a Vet was personally until I started working at Manor College I just didn't grow up with animals. So, what's like a myth that you could, you know, kind of debunk for us about um being a Vet? Yeah. Uh probably I think the biggest one is like it's not just being the person who like just holds the dog and cats for vaccines. Like there's so much more to it. Um especially like when I worked overnights, I would have to um be

20:55
in the barn. I do all the treatments and care for the horses and the cows and the pigs and the things that are in the barn. Come in and do the same thing for the cats and dogs. be in the ICU doing the math and making sure that everything's okay. You do anesthesia. You do the lab work. You answer the phone calls. You deal with the clients. You know, I have to go and demonstrate um you know, medications and uh how to give and do. And there's so much more that I don't think people see behind the scenes than just, you know, oh, I'm

21:26
going to, you know, hold play with your little kitty and give it a shot. So, it's way more I think than people realize. Yeah, that that sounds like way more. And um Right. And also, I think it's a hard job for sure. It seems like a hard job and it seems like one that maybe doesn't garner as much as respect as it should. Um have you seen any of that? Is there is there work is there work being done towards that or is the industry changing at all and hopefully for the better? I would like to say yes. Um definitely a

22:00
job that demands way more respect than I think people give it. Um I mostly because I don't think people understand really what goes into it. We're definitely seeing a change now um with our doctors and like um they're definitely with the general public like oh no that's our nurse's job. They do all this like please give them respect like you don't talk to them like that. Um, and so they're really starting to utilize us more in our skills, but also like, hey, you can't just disrespect them. You know, you can't just treat

22:32
them the way that you do. Um, I know the industry is trying to, you know, get more awareness out there so that people do understand like everything that we do so that we can demand some of the same respect that people give maybe like even a human nurse. Right. Exactly. Yeah, that that's good. And I think it's good to hear that like kind of coming from like top down like it's coming from the doctors and the vets themselves saying no no no that's that's that's those are the techs and they do this and they give

22:58
the they get the credit. Um that's great. Well, thank you so much for Dominica for spending time with us today. I felt like I learned a ton about uh you and your story and also the industry as a whole. What would be some advice that you would share with Manor uh students either Vet students or just a Manor student um to kind of encourage them to continue and pursue their education? Yeah, definitely. I think the biggest thing is, you know, kind of put yourself out there. Um whether it's you want to

23:30
try something new, join a club, even just talk to somebody and become friends. Like just really putting yourself out there kind of gets you seen um not just by your peers but kind of everybody. And it also will give you a better experience. You'll have a lot more fun, discover more about yourself um and you know have a better time. I think it's the really important to just put yourself out there and go for it. If you that's what you want to do, go for it. I love that. That's great. Um I have a bonus question. As you were talking, I

24:02
was Oh, I want to ask this. Um was there anyone at Manor either when you were a student or when you were TAing or kind of now who was just really influential in your your own experience and kind of you want to give a shout out to? Yeah, definitely. I' I'd definitely say Dr. Marx. uh she was brand new to the program when I started as a student and I've kind of, you know, been with her ever since, but she really, you know, I know it comes off sometimes as being like she's very, you know, really hard

24:33
um on you, but it's only cuz she wants you to, you know, do better and she knows that everyone has the potential to do what they need to do. And she really did like inspire me and push me to become better and to do more. And that really I think helped me learn and to pass my testing and to be a better technician. Oh, that's great. Yeah. Dr. Mark, let's see. When did she join the program? Was it right around when you started as a student? 2015. Right. Mhm. Okay. Right. So about 10 years ago. So remember we just celebrated her 10 years

25:06
I think at the Christmas party this past year. So that's great. That's great to hear. and how cool for her to like see you as a student and then you know kind of watch your own trajectory and write as as a faculty or a staff member at a college like you want to see students kind of grow in that. So I'm sure um I'm sure she's super proud of you and just seeing your own growth in that. But thank you so much Dominica for spending time with us today and we look forward to kind of having you have an impact on

25:35
Manor Vet coming up and in the future. Oh thank you so much. It was a pleasure. Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube and stay up-to-date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram at Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of the nest stories about life after Manor College. Remember Blue Jays, you belong here always. [Music]

00:00
[Music] Hello Blue Jays and welcome to the nest stories about life after Manor College. I am your host Kelly Peiffer vice president of marketing communications and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage inform and inspire you. Making you feel like at Manor College you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest it's time for a segment of the show I like to call did you know? So, did you know that this past week we held our 72nd commencement ceremony? We

00:35
celebrated the class of 2025 with over a 100 graduates walking proudly across the stage to receive their diplomas from President Dr. Peri. But Manor's first commencement was held in 1953 where Mother Jerome Roman, who was the president at the time, awarded degrees to six graduating students. That's right. 67 years ago, Manor College held its first commencement indoors in our auditorium. So for all of those years, Manor always had graduation inside in our auditorium. But when COVID hit in March of 2020, we moved our May

01:16
2020 commencement to the parking lot. And this was one of my most favorite graduation ceremonies that we've had. Everyone came in their car. They parked like it was a drive-in movie theater. Graduates would get out of their car wearing a mask when it was time for their name to be called and they received their diploma. And we all on the planning team who, you know, were in charge of planning commencement. We were really disappointed that obviously graduation had to be in a parking lot in your car. We felt like people were going

01:47
to be like sad and like disconnected and I was really concerned that like there wouldn't be enough energy. graduation is all about like big energy and just having that like feeling. But something really cool happened when it was the COVID year during the ceremony whenever somebody would normally clap. So like after a speech or clapping for your graduates, instead of clapping because it was so spread out over this big parking lot, you really couldn't hear the clapping. Cars would honk their horns. And it was such a cool and loud

02:21
feeling to just hear all these cars horns honking crazy. All the different tones of the car horns. Um that was really really special. And I remember being on stage. Um I had to say something I think about our alumni and I remember being on stage and after I got done talking all the car horns are going and I was like wow that is really cool. So graduates got to be with their families. They got to pack as many people into their cars as they could. I remember some graduates came up with like 15 passenger vans. They decorated

02:54
the cars. They really made it special and unique. So for two years we did this outdoor kind of car parking lot ceremony. That was the COVID years. But then that made us realize how special and how grand it is to have an outdoor ceremony. So we changed to having commencement always being outside. So, for the last 5 years, we have been outside, but this past week, last Thursday. Um, we were all set to be outside. It was going to be a beautiful day, but the weather had other plans. So, we um had to pivot. We went back

03:27
inside for graduation, back into the auditorium where we used to be for so many decades. And it definitely felt a little nostalgic going back into the gym for those of us who've been here for a while and have kind of planned both different formats. Um the thing that I didn't realize that was kind of missing when we went outside is that we kind of missed the volume of cheers from the families and the audience. So in the auditorium last Thursday, it got loud. Um, I don't know if it's just because

03:58
I'm now a mother myself and my perspective on life has certainly changed, but the thing that I when I think about last Thursday and and kind of our commencement and reflection, I just can't shake how um loud and how proud the families were of the people in the audience. There was so much cheering, so much clapping and yelling. Um, one of my favorite things that someone yelled was, "She's got four kids." I just love that. Someone was just so proud that like that girl walking across the stage is a mom of

04:30
four kids getting her degree. Someone else yelled out really loud, "That's my sister." Um, I just love the pride from these family members. And it just kept reminding me that, you know, while a college degree is a huge milestone in anyone's life, um, and while it might be a singular thing for that person getting it, like yes, you can put it on your resume, you can frame it in a room, you can change your LinkedIn profile to now say, you know, I have a degree. It's also an entire family um, extension. you

05:05
know, having one person in your family obtain a college degree changes everything for that family's legacy. I think it changes um things for the parents who now like you supported your child getting a college degree for your grandparents and just and it opens up a next chapter for that family. So, it symbolizes growth and progress. So, I was just thinking like anytime you hear like those loud cheers at a graduation and you might laugh because it's funny or you might, you know, think like, "Wow, they're they're really loud." Um,

05:36
it's not just someone cheering and and kind of trying to get attention. It's a deep rooted like pride of a family tree being changed. So, that was kind of my takeaway from a really special commencement last Thursday. Today we've got a fantastic guest who truly embodies the spirit of Philadelphia. He is a Philly native through and through. Originally coming from right around the corner, Fox Chase neighborhood, having attended LaSalle College High School, he went on to Manor, earning his associates in early childhood education. Graduating

06:10
from Manor in 2006, he continued his studies at Arcadia University to get a BA in communications and he is the first in his family to earn a master's degree. Our guest currently works as a certified orientation and mobility specialist at the Overbrook School for the Blind. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Tevis Weir. Tevis, welcome to the show. Thank you for having us. Thanks for having me. I appreciate Um I'm excited to talk to you today. So kind of start us off by why did you choose Manor College? How did you find

06:45
Manor College back in um the 2000s? Um pretty much my options were even though I went to LA, I was not a good student at all. I was pretty bad. I got all right grades, but then one year I did nothing and almost failed out. So my prospects were limited. Um, the one counselor I had at LSL said, "Oh, why don't you apply to Manor and check it out?" And at the time, I didn't realize where Manor was, but a lot of my friends went to St. Basel Academy, which was right across the street. Is it anymore? Um, so I checked it out. I thought it

07:16
was neat. Thought it'd be a good step for me and yeah, I uh signed up and enrolled and started my career there. Education. Oh, that's great. Yeah. I I mean I obviously, you know, we want students who are performing well in high school, but also I think it speaks to like if you're not doing so hot in high school and you find yourself with not a lot of options, um Manor is a great stepping stone for for that, you know. Um so tell me what was your Manor experience like? What were classes like? And why did you choose to study um early

07:52
childhood education? Um well I chose education because my mother was a teacher um and a principal and I was not sure what to do but I worked summer camps at her school. I worked I volunteered at other schools and a lot of people said want to become a teacher. So I was like okay I'll go into education. Um my time at Manor was great. Um I made a lot of friends most who I still talk to. I'm best friends with two or three of them still. We hang out a couple times a year and we talk all the time because everybody's busy with life

08:18
and stuff. Um, and yeah, I mean the education classes at Manor were great. I uh met Dr. Crosby there as well. Um, yeah. Oh, that's cool. I love I love that you're still in touch with some of your um fellow classmates. That's so special when you can meet people who become like a lifelong friends and you can go through, you know, getting married and growing families together and that's really really cool and that's kind of like a a perk to college, you know what I mean? You don't always you hope for that. You don't always get

08:52
that, but you kind of hope for that. Um, I also find it really ironic how you open up by saying, "I admittedly didn't do too well in high school, but I wanted to be a teacher." Usually those two things don't go hand in hand. No, I mean it's it's it's different. I mean, I wasn't I was I was a poor student because I didn't apply myself. I didn't try. That's the main thing, right? You were unmotivated. Yeah. I got motivated and I did really well. Um, and Manor helped me get to where I'm at now because at I'm not sure

09:23
if they still do, but at the time they had a uh an agreement with some some other university so we can do two years there and transfer over and what I ended up doing um to go from Manor to Arcadia. But then at Arcadia things went sideways a little bit. So I switched majors because I wanted to be done school. Yeah. So yeah, we um those are called articulation agreements. We still have a a wide number of those and lots of different programs even though we still offer we have associate and bachelor's

09:52
degrees. So some students stay for all four years here and some you know they do two years here and they do two years at Arcadia, Chestnut Hill, Holy Family, lots of different schools we have them. So like your credits transfer seamlessly. You're not going to like lose time to like retake classes. They kind of work hand in hand which I'm glad you're able to take advantage of that. So you went to Arcadia, you switched over to communications, which that's what my um undergrad and masters are in. So I I certainly see value in that.

10:23
And then you went and got a master's in what? Uh orientation mobility therapy. So Okay. So how did we jump from those things? Yeah. When I finished at Arcadia, I was interning at Channel 10, NBC 10, and they offered me a job as a production assistant, which I applied for. Um my internship I think ended that fall and I was pretty much done at Arcadia and then the '08 bank bailouts happened. So that job disappeared. The entire uh career field for communication just dropped out. So then

10:57
I had no job prospects. Um so then I went back uh to working with at the time I was working at a daycare center and I was working as a one-on-one for behavior kids. Um, and then one of my students who was uh, you know, had behavior issues, he had low vision as well. And so I met a fellow orientation mobility therapist there and I beca became friends and I said, "I don't know what to do with my life anymore. I don't know what to do." Like I went to school, nothing's working out. What should I do?

11:26
And she said, "Why don't just do what I do?" And I was like, "What is it exactly you do?" So then I actually came here to Overbrook because she worked here at the time. Oh, how funny. Yeah. Yeah. And I fell in love with the job and the school and everything. And um so then she talked me into applying for my master's degree program at Salus and that's how it came full circle. Oh, that's so cool. I mean I I love it how sometimes people like come into your life who just like kind of give you that like next step to

11:54
that next ch you know what I mean? That's so cool. Like she entered your life and then kind of led you to this path. Um which happens to be where you are today. But also, you know, like if the door didn't close at NBCT10, it wouldn't have opened for other opportunities. So, you know, it's cliche, but you know, when a door closes, a window opens. Like, it's really cool to see um how that happened. And yeah, I mean, 2008 when the you know, financial crisis recession hit, yeah, communications jobs were were not

12:27
um were not easy to find. So, I think certainly Yeah. So, so how do you feel that um you know getting going from an associates to a bachelor's to a master's and thinking that you were going to be um on like an a teacher you know did you think you were going to be a certified teacher at some point or were you kind of not sure when I was at Manor I thought I would but I was also not sure because I went to classroom like I had student teach and things like that and I didn't really care for it that much

12:56
being a room with 30 some kids and me trying to be excited about a subject like math which I hated or you know some other English class which I hated at the time. It made it hard and I was like maybe this isn't really for me but I still did it because I didn't know what else to do. Um so it was great that I found my friend and she introduced me to this field because I love what I do. Like not everybody can say that I love my job. Oh that's great. So tell us what do you do? Um you know and and how

13:24
does it you know why do you love it so much? Um well I get to be outside pretty much all the time. That's the one thing. So, what's nice up like today, it's great. Um, I get to teach kids from, well, Edbrook, it's about three years old till up to 22 years old. So, I got a wide range of ages that I work with. And I teach the students how to use the long cane, how to travel independently on campus, how to travel apparently on SEPTA, in the city, in their home environment, at their work sites. Um, a

13:52
lot of times we'll take trips to restaurants, museums, um, things like that. Mhm. And so I get to experience a lot of things I usually don't get to do. Uh now CO kind of messed up a lot of that. But before CO I would do a lot more trips like we went to the art museum institute. U if you call and say that you have a special trip planned whether you're low vision students for blind students. They put all these special tactile things out for you to try. You get access to areas that are closed off to everybody else. Uh so

14:22
we went to Franklin one time. We got all this private um what I want to call them like just fossils and things like that that nobody that they don't they only put out for like when they have their big events. They brought those out for us to try out. We went to the uh what's it called? The Masonic Temple off Broad Street. We had private access to that the one time. That was very cool. So it's neat. I get to do a lot of different things that people don't get to do. My job is challenging at times.

14:46
It is dangerous because I'd teach someone blind across the street by themselves and hope they don't get hurt. Um, yeah. Oh my goodness. Um, but how I mean h what a great way to serve others. Like that's what I'm thinking. Like it's such a cool, neat, unique way to truly give people like independence and freedom and like confidence, you know? That's so neat that you get to do that. And also, but what a what a huge age range. You said age 3 to 22. Yeah. at Overbrook. That's what it is. But I've worked other

15:23
places from six months or nine months old up to I've had clients who are like in their 70s and 80s that needed cane training because their vision just disappeared because they got glaucoma or retinal detachment or diabetic retinopathy which the diabetes affects your eyes. Um so I've had a wide age range. I've worked at a prison with some clients before at great prison years ago. That was interesting and stressful at the same time. Sure. But it was a very unique and cool experience. Oh wow. Well, that that is so cool. I I mean I

15:55
love talking to alumni, but I I really love talking to alumni who are like giving back in a way and like through their jobs. And I feel like so many particularly of our uh ECE degree alumni like they're all serving somehow some way whether they're teachers or they're working in um you know like administrators. But this is something I I've never really heard about frankly and I've never really thought about thought about it, but it's a great resource. Um, so do you feel like thinking back to your Manor

16:28
education, like how do you see how your Manor education kind of set you up or impacted kind of what you're doing today? It showed me different ways to teach. So like Mike and Maddie, they the way they ran their classes, laidback, relaxed, talk to you as you know, personal not from a hierarchy thing. Um that's why I try to do all my lessons with most of my students. You know, just try to be more empathetic, calm voices, things like that. Um and at Manor, it taught me to, you know, embrace different people,

17:01
different ideals because I work with, you know, all these age ranges, people from all different countries, all different cultures. So Manor was good at developing that because there was, when I went there was a wide range of people from everywhere. um at Manor. So, it really opened my eyes to that. Oh, that's great. Yeah, we still we still today um you know, you graduated almost 20 years ago and today we still have um you know, definitely diversity is huge and and it's so cool to like walk it through the cafeteria and you just see

17:31
different cultures, different ethnicities, different backgrounds all over. I think we have students representing over 48 different countries um around the world. So it's really really cool that Manor you can say like it played a part in you understanding diversity and cultures and how you can have that today. That that's really special. What's like a common misconception about um working with people who are um blind and that that you want to like you know a mythbuster um they'll never ask to touch your face.

18:05
I know that's been in movies where they want to feel your face or that's not a thing. Okay. They don't they barely want they don't I mean they want it tactile. Most kids want to touch things but they don't want to do that and you don't want them touching you anyway. The thing is they're blind or low vision but they hear very well. So, a lot of times when we're around public, people just stand there and be all quiet and I'm like, "They can still hear you. Please say hello. Say good morning. Say something."

18:29
Right? Weird standing there looking at them, right? Um, which I'm going to tell you right now, it makes my older students very upset. People just stand there and they can tell they can tell when someone's staring at them, right? You can feel that presence. Yeah. Like, hello, I'm here. You know, if I'm in your way, please say something. I'll move over. Right. Um, and also the other thing is don't just approach them and, you know, try to help without talking to them first. Most people they're visually impaired. If

18:56
they're standing still, they could be processing, you know, trying to figure out where they are in the store or on the sidewalk like because they're trying to locate either a business or an aisle. Yeah. If they want help, they'll call out for help. I've seen people go up to some of my students who are in stores and just grab their hands, start taking them somewhere to like a counter or something and they're like, "What are you, you know, why why are you touching me for one?" Right. Right. And two, I'm an

19:19
individual. Ask me if I need your help. Don't just grow up and force yourself on me. Right. Right. Seek permission first. That that's that's good because maybe people just think, oh, like they must need help, but yeah, actually they're they're learning to not need help in some ways or to ask for it. Yeah, those are good. Those are good. um things that maybe people aren't thinking about. So, it's a good like PSA right there. Um so, so Tevis, what would be some advice that you have for current

19:48
Manor students who are kind of, you know, in their studying in their degrees and, you know, it's it's hard. It's it feels like long days, long hours and sometimes it feels like h the goal is never going to come. But as someone who's on the other side of things, what's what would be some advice you give? Don't give up. Keep trying. Um, it might seem like it's far away, but you will eventually reach your goal if you just work at it. Now, you might not always get where you want to be, which is where I was. I didn't get to where I

20:15
wanted to be, but then that means, as you said, one door closes, a window opens, whatever. Um, but keep trying. If you need help, ask for help. That's one big issue I think a lot of people don't understand. It's okay to need help. It's okay to ask for assistance. There's nothing wrong with that. Um, and just keep trying, you know. Um, goal, if you have a goal, try to reach it. you know, set a plan of some kind, right? Have a plan, have a goal, but ask for help to get there, you know? I think that's

20:42
great. And I think at Manor especially, we want to be really, really helpful for our students. Like, we want to give them resources. We want to help them. And not just in the classroom, but like for a holistic experience. So, if you need help with food, if you need help with a job, if you need help with paying a bill, if you need help with something else going on in your life, we offer counseling, um you know, you need help with your health, like we try to really embrace the whole student because we

21:11
realize like students are are busy, they work, they have families, um college is not the only thing on their on their plate right now. So, um I think I think you said that you did work when you were a student, right? Yeah, I worked non-stop. I never had I always had a job from the time I left high school till now. Even in grad school, I was working all the time, too. Yeah. Not the best idea at the time. It made it very hard. Yeah, I know. And it's hard to do. It's hard to juggle. Did you feel like any

21:41
things particularly really helped you manage and balance working and being a college student? Um, not really. Just caffeine and the drive to get it done. When when I was in grad school for my internship, I probably drank like five or six cups of coffee every day just because I was so exhausted between good driving places because I my internship wasn't center-based. We went everywhere over Montgomery County. So I had to go everywhere. Then I had to do my courses, then I had to go to work and I had to

22:11
file stuff in by deadlines every night. And yeah, so I was I was I didn't get a break till I was done and then I slept like three days straight. Oh my goodness. Well, uh, Tevis, it's been awesome hearing your story. I think it's one that talks about how like you can have maybe a rocky start and and not really not really be clear on what you want to do, but then like come to Manor and like people will support you and give you help and show you empathy and then you can go on to other things. And you know, you went from not being a

22:43
great high school student to having now three college degrees. I mean, that's pretty impressive when you kind of just like take a step back and look at it. So, major kudos to you. Um, you know, trying to follow in like your mom's footsteps with education and um and doing it in such a cool and meaningful way. And I always love trying to find alumni who are really living out our mission. You know, our the last statement in our mission says that we want to prepare students and graduates to serve society effectively and

23:13
compassionately. And it feels like you are you are doing that. So thank you so much for No, you are. I mean definitely have to be celebrated for that. And I know that you you've given back to the college in some ways by dedicating your time and talents um talking to uh Dr. Crosby week's class. So thank you so much for doing that. That's really important. Um we love it when alumni come back and visit and can kind of share their wisdom with the next generation. So thank you for doing that. And who knows, maybe we'll find

23:44
another um orientation and mobility specialist at Manor in the future. Um but thank you so much for spending time with us today and I wish you nothing but the best. Thank you very much for having me. Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube and stay up-to-date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram at Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest. Stories about life after Manor College. Remember, Blue Jays, you belong here

24:16
always. [Music]

00:00
[Music] Hello Blue Jays and welcome to the nest stories about life after Manor College. I am your host Kelly Peiffer vice president of marketing communications at Manor College and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it is time for a segment of the show I like to call Did You Know? Today is a did you know segment that I really enjoyed researching and learning

00:37
um because it is about one of our most popular programs here on campus, our dental hygiene program. So did you know that Manor College dental hygiene program went through its planning accreditation and facility construction in 1995 and then the very first class started in the fall of 1996 almost 29 years ago. A real strength of the program has that it's always had really low faculty to student ratio. So the number of faculty maybe are one or two and then the class is 12 or 14. The program is ranked in the top

01:13
five dental hygiene program in Pennsylvania. Currently we are ranked as the number three spot of the best dental hygiene programs in Pennsylvania. One of our main goals of the program since the 96 has always been for graduates to pass their dental hygiene board exams within six months of graduating. So currently the dental hygiene program has a 100% pass rate of all three board exams in that six-month time frame. So it's a really good program. um prep really prepares students for success in getting

01:50
their boards and then moving on to become a dental hygiene. Something that I really love and that's unique to Manor about the dental hygiene program is that the dental hygiene program is kind of under the umbrella of the dental health center. And the dental health center is a full on operating health clinic um that benefits the community. So, it's a great benefit that our program provides low cost and affordable preventative pre-dental procedures for the patients of the dental health center as well as

02:22
people in the local community. Anyone can walk in and get a teeth cleaning for $20. They take insurance if you need x-rays and other things. They do all sorts of work. And um it's neat because you can kind of give back to students in that way who need to work on so many different types um to complete their hours of clinical work. It might take a little bit longer than you going to a non college related health center because you have students working on you. They're being overseen by a licensed dentist and an instructor. But

02:58
for 20 bucks, you really can't can't beat the price. So today we have a truly inspiring guest hailing from Feasterville Trevose, a proud Neshaminy High School alum. Our guest journey is a testament to perseverance and a passion for helping others. She kicked off her higher education with an associates degree in dental hygiene from Manor College, graduating in 2002. A true scholar, her path included stops at the Community College of Philadelphia and even took a class at Bucks County before she found her stride at Manor

03:30
College and proving that it's never too late to pursue your dreams. She went on to earn her bachelor's degree from Waldorf University in 2019 and is currently pursuing a master's degree as well. While at Manor, she was deeply involved in a volunteer club showcasing an early commitment to service. This dedication shines through in her current roles as a dental program coordinator at the Anne Silverman Community Health Clinic and a clinical instructor at Montco County Community College where she's shaping the next generation of

04:03
dental professionals. Our guest is a proud first generation college graduate breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations in her family. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Manor College alumni and guest Crystal Esmond. Hi, Crystal. Hi. Wow, that was quite an introduction. Well, you have quite the story and we want to make sure we give it credit. How are you doing? I'm good, thanks. How are you? Yeah, good. Happy to be here. Like I was telling you a little bit when we talked in the pre-show. Um, I'm so

04:37
excited to finally have someone from our dental program on the show. We just haven't had one yet. So, I felt like it was a little bit overdue. So, I'm happy that we're doing this. Yeah. I'm glad to be here. I'm glad I get to be the one to represent. So, yes. Be the trailblazer. Yeah. For more dental hygiene to come on. So, kind of start me off by why did you choose Manor and how did you find out about Manor? So, uh in my journey as a late teenager wanting to be a dental hygienist, I kind

05:07
of had to look and see what colleges offered the program and there's not that many. you know, it was pretty select um a select few. So, I went and visited each of the campuses that were the closest by um me and I honestly I fell in love with Manor's campus. I really liked a small community feel as where Montgomery was much bigger. Um Philadelphia Community College, their campus was much bigger, a little bit more intimidating and I really liked that small family feel of Manor's campus. So, that was it for me.

05:43
Oh, that's great. Yeah, I think I think the small campus feel still to this day remains as one of our top reasons why students choose Manor. We actually just ran a graduation survey just a few weeks ago because our our commencement is next week and we want to get feedback from those who are graduating and the number one reason why they chose Manor was small classes, small um pro, you know, small program sizes and that really resonates with people. So, I'm glad to hear that that resonated with you, you

06:14
know, 20 20 years ago. So, talk to us. What was the program like and what was kind of your college experience like at Manor? Um, the program was, like I said, small. We started out with 15 students, so it was very small. Your professors, they knew us by name. They knew you really got to know your professors. They really got to know you. Um, the program's intense. You know, you're not there. You're if you are in that program, you are career bound. You are not there to have fun in college. You are there to earn a to learn a skill,

06:48
earn an education, and really get out there and work. So, it was an intense program, but it definitely prepared me for what I was going into. So, it was a great program, but it's intense. So, it's not the program that you're going into if you want to go to college, party, and have fun. you're there to learn a skill and be prepared. So, yeah, I I definitely I definitely think that's still absolutely true today. Um I think the way you phrased it that like it's a great program, but it's intense is really a

07:21
good description of it. Um it's definitely career focused and you need to have that mindset of like I'm going to get in here. I'm going to work really hard and kind of like grind it out for two years, but then I'll be prepared to have a career. Um, which is which is kind of amazing if you think about it. Like it's not not a lot of career programs are like that or even just, you know, if you study and not to knock on other programs, but if you study like business or um, you know, other degrees, it usually takes longer than two years

07:53
and they're not as like direct. Mhm. Dental hygiene is like direct like you are very um niche you know in that sense. So you you talked about how like the professors really knew you and you knew them and um were there any people in the program professors or or other um instructors that you can remember were like really kind of like a game changer for you and kind of gave you that attention and like level of care. I don't know if I would say there was a spec I mean they were all good and they all had their strengths. You know, Donna

08:31
Easterbrooks going back to years ago. Um I know she's no longer with the program, but she was very intense and almost a little bit scary. I think we were all a little afraid of her, but in clinic she re in clinic and in the classroom, you learned you learned from her. Sometimes, you know, the scarier instructors, the ones that seem the most intense are the ones that you learn the most from. Um, Dr. Caldwell, which I know she's still there, she was awesome. She was I remember her being awesome 20 years ago,

09:01
and when I talk to students now that are graduating from Manor, they're still saying the same things how great she is. She's very encouraging. She's very uplifting. She wants you to succeed. Um, Mrs. Cups, I can't even remember her first name. I know she's no longer with the program, but she was awesome, too. Just a good They were all just really good. You know, you could I remember in clinic, you could ask for help easily. Like, you weren't afraid to ask for help. You could be like, I you know, I'm

09:30
working on this. I can't figure this out. Can you help me? What am I missing? So, it was just a really good encouraging place to grow and to learn the skills that we needed. So, they were good. Yeah, that's great. Yeah, I remember Don at East Brooks and obviously Vicky Caldwell is still here um as an instructor, but that that's great to hear that they were encouraging, maybe a little scary and intimidating, but that's also kind of good sometimes, you know, to kind of Yeah. Um not everyone. It can't all be

09:59
warm and fuzzy, right? Sometimes you need someone that's going to bring you down to reality and be like, "This is what we need to do. This is what you this is where the expectation is and you need to meet it." So yeah, oftentimes those are the professors when you reflect back that actually, you know, maybe taught you the most because of that kind of experience. Yeah. So um tell us why like how did you know you wanted to be a dental hygienist and like where does that passion of yours come from and do you really love teeth that

10:28
much or is there like a story behind it? So there is a story behind it and when I tell that story people are always like wait what? So, I grew up going to a pediatric dentist and I hated going to the dentist. I used to cry every time before I went. I would beg my mom not to take me. I asked her to take me to a different dentist. It was very much run like a factory. Like they just pumped kids in and pumped kids out. I remember the hygienists and the assistants were not exactly the nicest or um yeah, it

11:00
was just a a not great experience growing up. So, as I got a little bit older, as I was like later in my childhood, like 10, 11, 12, I was like, I'm going to be a dentist and I'm going to get all the tools and do my own dentistry so I never have to go to the to the dentist again. And uh, you know, obviously the reality sets in of that doesn't work. Yeah. Yeah. It's hard to be a dentist to yourself. Yes. So, I started um looking into different career paths and dental hygiene came up. It was a great um career for women. it had a

11:33
lot of flexibility. You made decent money to survive. You know, my I came from a divorced family, so I felt like if I should end up as a single parent, you know, I'll be able to support my kids. And um so I thought I was going to work in pediatric dentistry. I thought, I'm going to make this an amazing experience for every kid that I see. They're going to love coming to the dentist. And I did a pediatric rotation while I was in the program. And I was like, "This is not for me." Like I'm like, "This really takes a

12:07
special person to work with children, you know, 10 hours a day." And I thought, "It's not me." Um, but that did not stop my love. I still love dentistry. I loved being able to work with adults that were nervous. I feel like it kind of made me a better hygienist because I understood where they were coming from. A lot of people that go into dentistry, I think they go in because they loved going to the dentist. They loved their orthodontist. They love they had such a great experience. So when they see nervous

12:34
patients, it's like what is their problem? It's not a big deal. As where I felt like, I get it. I know the anxiety that you're feeling. We're going to get through this together and you're going to you're going to turn around and you're going to like this. So that was kind of how I ended up getting into it. Oh wow. That that is a great story. And I I love how you're right. Oftentimes when I talk to even our students like why are you in this program? It's because like they love teeth. They love

13:00
cleaning that clean feeling of teeth and and they love the dentist. You rarely hear someone who had kind of the opposite. But for you that means you have such great empathy with probably the majority of people that they feel about the dentist. So that's such a like a leg up on you and I think a really unique factor. Um, and I I don't know how people work in I actually just yesterday I took my my middle child, she's four, to her pediatric dentist and they have, you know, um, fish fish on the ceilings and the big submarine, you

13:35
know, I mean, all those things. So, it looks really fun and I have to say the dentists there are fantastic. Um, so far we're still pretty pretty new in going to the practice, but and she likes it, you know, but I can certainly it would be so hard I know from a parent point of view to get your kid to go to the dentist if they didn't like it. So I'm very grateful so far so good, but um I can see how that would be really hard to like you got to you got to go. So, um, that's so cool that you were

14:06
motivated to to kind of pursue this as a career because of something that you had as a kind of a negative experience and you wanted to change it for good. What great like service-minded heart that you were coming from. So, kind of take us through um your career path and currently I know you're currently at like two different places. Can you just kind of explain what those are and kind of um kind of what your career looks like now? So, I started out in private practice. I worked at one office after I graduated.

14:38
I lasted there about 10 months. Um, they were kind of just getting started into a sales driven model, which was just not for me. And I switched to a private another private practice where I stayed for 21 years. It was a great office. I loved it there. Um, I worked with great women. I worked for a great doctor. And after 21 years, I was ready for a change. It's a long time in one place. And I thought, you know what? I want to work in public health. So, I ended up getting this great position at the

15:07
Insman Community Health Clinic. We're a free clinic. We provide free dental services. There's medical services, mental health services, social services. It's just an incredible community and it totally revived my love for dentistry. I mean, the patients are just so thankful and we just get to do such great stuff for the families that come. Um, my other role is I work as a clinical instructor in Montgomery County Community College program. I started that last year and that role I mean I could not love a

15:42
position more than I love that. It's just it's so great being able to work with adult students that are there because they want to learn. They're there because they picked to learn. And I get to do the fun part. I'm in the clinic with them. So, I'm teaching them their instrumentation and all the day-to-day stuff that you do, you know, in clinic. And I I just love it. I love working with the students. It's so cool getting to see them kind of grow. You know, they come in, they don't know anything how to hold their mirror or any

16:11
of their instruments, and by the end of the year, they've seen patients, and they've really gone through the whole process, and it it's awesome. Oh, that's so cool. I love how um obviously like you stayed at the same practice for 21 years. I mean, that's such a great testament to a lot of really good things. But then you were like, you know what, I want to work in public health and I'm going to make this change and um what a brave and confident move on on your behalf from a career point, but I'm

16:39
so glad that it's kind of paying it forward um um for you and kind of like fulfillment of that. That's really cool. And I know that you currently are serving on our dental advisory board here at the college, right? what how did that come about and kind of what made you want to give back in that way and thank you so much for giving back. Yeah. So, it was it's kind of interesting what a small world it is. Stephanie Parker, who is now the director of the hygiene program there, I worked with her at Montgomery County

17:08
Community College and we didn't work in the same class, but I had met her a couple times here and there. And when Virginia Saunders had retired, I was talking to someone else and um they said, "Oh, the woman that's taking that position at Steph Parker and I went," I know Stephanie Parker. I said, "This is great." Because actually at the clinic we've been having Manor students come and do rotations at the clinic, which has just been incredible. And Stephanie had reached out one day and said, "Hey,

17:38
any chance you'd have an interest in in being a part of our board?" And absolutely put me on. So that was how that came about and I'm glad to do it. I'm excited. Yeah. Oh, I love that. I love that so much. I always love hearing stories when like the manor world and circle like kind of comes back around, you know? I feel I don't know. I always feel like especially in Montgomery County like everyone kind of knows someone connected to Manor at some point. Um especially probably in the dental world. I imagine that's that's

18:11
pretty common. Yeah. like walk into a practice and like someone some there either work went to Manor or had someone go to you know what I mean? Um so that's really cool and and tell us about I know you're pursuing a master's degree. Tell us kind of like why are you pursuing that and kind of what are you pursuing? Uh so I'm working on a master's in public health and it's interesting. I always thought I'll go back for my masters when my kids are done college because I thought I can't spend the money on myself. I have to, you know,

18:40
they're my daughter's turning 18 this actually next week and my son's 14 and I'm like, okay, nothing for me. When they're done college, I'm going back for my masters, right? The true mother the true mother me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me mentality right there, it sounds like. Well, yeah, but I took it back because now I'm in school for myself. So good. Good for you. Good for you. So yeah, um last year once I

19:02
started taking the teaching position at Montgomery and I really fell in love with it and I thought, you know what, I might want to do this full-time. I, you know, I'm loving this so much. And I know full-time teaching positions, you need a master's degree. I knew I was always going to do it. I wasn't 100% sure, do I want to go the education route? Do I want to go the public health route? And um over the last spring, last spring, I started thinking, I thought, you know what? what am I waiting for? I

19:29
can do this now, you know, let let's just jump in. We'll start it now. We'll see. I'll take one class. Let's see where it goes. So, you know, I started looking at different schools and I had to start thinking, okay, where do I want to focus? And I decided on public health and then it was last summer that I took the position in public health. So, it just kind of all came together and I liked the public health curriculum. I love learning about disease. I love learning about disaster preparedness.

19:59
I'm like a doomsdayer. I I don't quite have a basement full of water and food supplies, but that stuff, it kind of fascinates me. And I love learning about prevention and all of that is wrapped up in a public health degree. So, I I feel like I I picked the right degree and I'm about halfway through. So, it's been going good. Well, congrats. That's awesome. And how has it been being back in college? You know, is it different? Is it kind of feels the same in some ways? Kind of how

20:30
if you can compare and contrast. So, it's funny because I finished my bachelors as an adult with young children. It doesn't feel much different than that because I had done that part as an adult. Um, so yeah, it it's it's definitely I will say this, it is not as difficult as the hygiene program because that and the reason I say that is because the hygiene program has clinical hours and those clinical hours, it's a lot. I mean, at one point, I think you're up to 30 hours. So, you're doing 30 hours of clinical and

21:05
your class time. So, it's, you know, thankfully it's not like that. Um, but it's college, so it's still stressful. There's still assignments. There's big things. It's you got to be good with time management, so you know, sometimes I am up at two trying to finish stuff off and get it submitted. But make it work. You're back. You're a college student again. That's Yeah. Well, that's awesome. You know, Crystal, in hearing hearing your story and hearing kind of kind of where you started, but then also where you are are

21:37
today. I'm I'm often I'm well I'm so impressed. I'm often really impressed with our alumni and just how they have such a heart to help people and I feel like a lot of our alumni really do and they end up working in these careers where you really are service focused. But um something that I I particularly was thinking about you was that you know in our mission we have a fairly long mission statement but there's there kind of like two things that I like to kind of focus in our mission. One is that like Manor College

22:07
we believe that graduation begins a chapter of lifelong learning and we want to instill in our students that Manor is not the end of of your learning journey. we want our students to continue to learn whether it's Coned, whether it's um master's degrees and so on. So hearing that, you know, you've gone on and you've gotten a bachelor's, you've gotten you're getting a master's, um really is a testament, I think, to kind of just align with our mission. And then the last part of our mission talks about

22:36
how um matter graduates are prepared to serve society effectively and compassionately. And just hearing your story, I'm like spot on. Crystal is doing that. Um, you're serving society obviously very compassionately by your work in public health and your desire. You're giving back by being a member of our board and that's helping our own program grow and thrive. Um, and you're doing it effectively because you're doing it all. Um, so just thank you so much for being such a great like walking um, proof that like a degree at Manor

23:13
College does set you up for these things in life. And that's frankly what we want to do. So, it's really inspiring to see and I hope that people listening um feel the same. Yeah, I do too. Yeah, Matter was a great place a great place to start. It really was. Yeah, that that's great. It's great to hear. So, kind of my last question for you is what advice would you give to current Manor students whether they're in dental or or not um to kind of encourage them in in their own college experience and college

23:45
journey. Um, I guess the advice I would have is keep going. No class, you know, even if you're forced to take a class that you don't think it, you know, like dental hygienist, you have to take a course in philosophy or at least I did. You know, there's classes that I Yeah. that aren't quite related to your major, you're still going to learn stuff from that. And just keep going. Even when you have that instructor that you're like, I swear this instructor hates me. They just keep, you know, killing everything

24:11
that I turn in. You're there to learn. They're there to help you learn. and they're there to help you grow. So, just keep going. Listen, be open-minded. Take the uh the uh advice that they're giving you and don't be so quick to say, "No, that's not, you know, no, they're wrong." Like, listen, listen to what they say. They've got some life experience and just keep working hard, keep going, and you can do it. You can definitely do it. Yeah. Well, that that's great. It's great advice and very timely. our um our class of 2025

24:42
graduation is next Thursday. So, there's a lot of excitement and celebration happening for our class, but also whenever students kind of leave the nest, um you know, it's scary, too. They're going out into the real world. They're not going to have kind of the safety boundaries that we kind of have here as a college student. So, it's good advice like you can do it and keep going. Um, thank you Crystal so much for joining us today. It's been a true pleasure to talk to you and I hope that our listeners were inspired and

25:15
encouraged by you. Awesome. Thank you so much, Kelly. It was nice. It was nice meeting you. Nice to talk to you. Thank you for tuning in with us today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. Stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College on Instagram, Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest. Stories about life after Manor College. Remember, Blue Jays, you belong here always. [Music]

00:00
[Music] Hello Blue Jays and welcome to the nest stories about life after Manor College. I am your host Kelly Peiffer vice president of marketing communications and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it's time for a special segment of the show I like to call did you know? Did you know that Manor College's first athletics team competed in women's

00:36
basketball? In the late 1950s, Manor College students regularly competed on volleyball and tennis courts behind the original St. Basil's Academy on the Sisters property, which is next to our campus. Minor College's first collegiate team was in women's basketball, which debuted in the 1960s. So, Manor was playing kind of um recreational sports before it became competitive. The team played several local colleges including Holy Family, Chestnut Hill, Gwynedd Mercy, and Holy Redeemer. The team featured multiple

01:11
winning records, and women's basketball still continues to be a vital part of our Manor College athletics today. So since the 1960s when we first started bringing collegiate sports, Manor has become home to dozen a dozen sports for both men and women, men's soccer became the first male sport on campus in the fall of 1990 after Manor College became a co-ed institution in the late 80s. The team played their first games at the Tris soccer field in Horsham, which Manor still has a connection to Tris

01:45
today. And um finally the Blue Jays found a home on a field next to Mother Perpetual Help Hall where our team still plays today. After men's soccer came men's basketball soon followed that next year in 1991. The team found early success winning their conference championship just six years after starting the team. Our Blue Jays compete in the United States Collegiate Association or the USCAA and Manor College was actually a founding member of the Eastern States Athletic Conference. Recently, the Blue

02:20
Jays found success on multiple levels. Both men's soccer and men's basketball won their conference championships in recent years and entered the USCAA National Tournament. Just last month, our outdoor track team competed at the USAA Track and Field National Championships in Springfield, Massachusetts. So whether it's on the soccer pitch, on the basketball court, on the volleyball court, on the baseball diamond, or around the track, we always love to see our Blue Jays flying high and competing. Today we have a truly

02:53
special guest. He is someone who bleeds blue and white and has been a Blue Jay since 1997. Today's guest is a true pillar of the Manor College community and has been a campus staple for almost 25 years. Today, we're thrilled to have with us someone whose journey started right here in Philadelphia, graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School before finding his way to Manor. He dove head first into the college experience, earning his liberal arts associates degree in 1999 and proudly representing the Blue Jays

03:24
on the men's soccer team. from Manor College. He then continued to pursue his academics at Millersville University. And now he is a it's a fantastic full circle moment. He uh he's been back at Manor on campus leading the charge as the director of athletics and the head coach for our men's soccer team. A first generation college student himself, he knows firsthand the transformative power of higher education. And we are eager to hear about his experiences and his story. So, please give me a warm please

03:55
join me in giving a warm welcome to John JD Dempster. Hi, John. Hi, Kelly. Thanks for having me. Of course. I'm happy to have you and um it's always good to see a friendly face. So, thanks so much for talking to us today. And can you start us off by sharing how did you choose Manor and what was your college decision like? It was very different for me, Kelly. Um as you mentioned, I am a rail splitter at heart. Abraham Lincoln. Uh I was a public school kid and um I wasn't quite sure what I wanted

04:27
to do where a lot of our students are in that same category. But for me, I talked to the men's soccer coach here and uh he kind of laid it out for me and said, "Hey, we need a goaltender. I know you're looking for a place to go." And um I'll never forget it. When I pulled up to campus with my mother, I just felt like this was the place I was going to be. it. Like you said, I've been here for a long time and it's like a second home to me. Sure. Absolutely. I love how you describe that like when you pulled in um

05:00
with your mom like you just felt it. And I feel like I always tell students like trust your instincts, trust your gut. There's something about that that's really telling. If you are on a college campus and you're like this doesn't feel right, listen to that. But then on the other side, if it does feel right, listen to that. So, that's really cool to hear um that you found a home not so far away from your actual home, you know, not being that too far away. Lincoln High School is kind of right down the street. So, tell us, John, what

05:27
were you like as a student? What was campus like in the late 90s? Um kind of give us take us back a little bit. Well, I think about it all the time and Manor was a place where everybody was friendly. Um I like I said I felt like home when I was um transforming say from Lincoln High School public uh education to Manor College. Um I wasn't the best student to be honest with you. I was uh I would call myself academically lazy and uh when I got to campus I met some teachers and they were just so nice to

06:06
me. Um, one in particular was Jane Zegestowsky and uh, she just kind of made me feel comfortable and would work with me and um, from there like say practicing for a sport, the education piece for me um, I became something where I just wanted to keep doing it. I uh, got a few good grades. Well, so I wanted to get more uh, better grades, you know, I got B's, I wanted A's. Um, and so the academic part for me was um, it was great because I felt like I got my real education here at Manor College and

06:45
um, what I loved about the social aspect really was um, I mentioned however how nice everybody was and there was no clicks, you know, um, athletes could hang with uh, non-athletes and um, different groups could hang with different groups and it was totally cool. Um, some of my best friends are I still talk to all the time and it happened right here on Manor's campus. Uh, you mentioned that I, you know, I didn't live far away and I actually lived here too to get the full, you know, experience and I'll tell you the

07:25
resident's life was great here. Uh the education was great here and it just um it was it was a an experience that when I transferred I didn't get. So I wished at the time that I could just stay here and get the bachelor's degree but now we can. Right now we can. Um that's so cool. And I love how you are able to reflect on um someone like Jane Zegestowsky who was a longtime faculty member in math I believe and then she became like a a an associate dean or provost and kind of worked up in leadership. And today Jane is a board

08:00
member of Manor. So what a what a cool arc for her to like kind of go from faculty to administrator to now a board member and really staying with the college. felt like she believed in you. She saw something in you and then that snowballed you to get those B's, get those A's, and then get involved. And um I'm glad that you were able to have like a full college experience even though you totally could have commuted back home as well. But it's nice that you were able to kind of like get that cuz it's something that a lot of students um

08:30
either desire or you know feel like they maybe miss out on. So it's cool that Manor was able to kind of be that for you. So let's talk a little bit about what was it like like you are a graduate from the college obviously you're you're really involved as a student and then you go away for a little bit and then talk about like coming back to coach and then coming back um as an employee and kind of what was that transition like because that's pretty interesting. It it was it was amazing for me because um I

09:00
always said I wanted to give back but I just didn't know how. um you know I I have friends that are mechanics and you know they can help you with your car and I just I just didn't know how I could help and then I realized that I loved working with people and I loved sharing my experience that I had here as a student. So when I came back to Manor to work, I worked in the admissions department for 17 years and I absolutely loved it because I got to work with potential students all the time and I got to share my stories and my

09:33
experiences. Um and then with coaching, uh my former high school coach, uh Mr. Patton at Abraham Lincoln High School, we still talk to this day. um he inspired me when I was a player there and um all of the good things that he did for me and and my family. Uh I wanted to um incorporate if I ever got the chance to coach. And um he was more than a coach and that's kind of what I thrived to be. Not just an X's and O's guy, but someone that um was going to be a part of my players lives. um not just

10:13
the two to four years that they were here, but beyond that. So, when I got the opportunity to coach, um it wasn't about wins and losses for me, although I do love to win, but it was really just getting our guys from point A, you know, they're here as a freshman to mature and learn, become a good person, and uh succeed um and graduate. I mean, the ultimate goal is to get their degree. Yeah. So yeah, that's great. Yeah. I mean, you spent a lot of time in admission. So like not just recruiting athletes or recruiting soccer players,

10:49
but just recruiting students to come in come into the the door and share your story. And I like how you said you wanted to give back. You just didn't know how. But um obviously working for the college is a great way to give back cuz I mean it's we are a nonprofit and we are I feel like we all are serving students and each other frankly in some some way. Um is there any particular stories or years where you remember um you know students maybe like reminded them of yourself and you saw yourself in

11:24
a lot of students or a lot of players and then you saw them get motivated and they weren't maybe the best academically but then they turned it around and like do you kind of have any any stories about that? I mean, honestly, Kelly, every year there's someone like that and um it's great to see them grow. Um as a again, as a coach, you see these players come in or you see these students come in and they just don't know. Uh they're they're a lot of them are just clueless about college and and and and why

11:55
they're going to college, but they know they should go to college, right? So I was in the same situation where hey I was lazy in high school. I had a lot of fun. I played a lot of sports. I had a lot of friends. But the academic piece was the one where if it wasn't for teachers like Jany and Mike Landis and John Stora um you know we we just wouldn't know and and you might drop out or you might not get that full experience. So, what I try to do, Kelly, is share that story and say, "Listen, I've been there. I've been right where

12:35
you are. There's tons of help here. There's teachers here that'll help you. I will help you." And I think me being here full-time and letting them know that it's not just all about sports that that I'm here for you. And and there's other coaches that are here for their players as well, but um yeah, I have students that come and go all the time. that are in the same situation and it's just so cool to see them just mature and and and get through it, you know. Um our one of our seniors

13:05
this year, uh Maximo Chavez, Maximo Chavez was in the same situation and it's just so cool to see him through his personal battles, his educational battles, his social battles, just get through it. I mean, he would come in and we'd talk and uh you know, we we'd actually um we'd pray together, too. And um it it was just great to see him just become that man that he is. And now he's going to get his bachelor's degree from Manor College. So, I'm really happy about that. Yeah, that's awesome. I

13:40
mean, I I have an inside look and and inside scoop on what, you know, what John Dempster means to an institution just because I've worked here for a long time alongside of you and I I know um you can't you can't ask students like if if you ask students, you know, randomly pull a few in the cafeteria like who's someone here that really impacted you? There's a really really high chance John Dempster's name comes up. I mean, almost every single athlete for sure, but then other non-athletes, too. Oh, JD is

14:14
awesome. You know, I know that you you help your students and athletes in so many ways than just being a coach, giving them rides to airports, doing all sorts of things on the weekends and just like being I know people have used um like father figure or um you know, uncle and brother and like different kind of familial terms to describe you. So, I think you're certainly leaving you're leaving a mark on these these people um every year in in big and small ways that you might not even realize, but it's

14:45
really cool. And I think that that talks to the greater like purpose we all have here at Manor is that like we're not just here to give you an education. Here's your degree. See you. It's really a lot more about connection, relationships, and serving. I always kind of go back to like servant leadership and service to our students um through their education while they're alumni. You know, I love it when alumni come back and they like connect with us or they ask us for help with something and we can be those

15:15
connectors and advocates for them. And I see that you do a lot of that in your work and these are all the things that are not like in a job description, but they are just the things that we all do to help, you know, these people that we we love. So, thanks for all that you do on that front, John. I know it's time and effort, um, but it really means a lot and leaves an impact. So, let's talk a little bit about the athletic director hat that you wear, um, overseeing all 12 of our sports. Um, how have you seen

15:46
athletics at Manor College grow and change over the last couple decades? Oh, great question. Um, I it first of all, it's a dream job and I'm just so happy that I have it. Um, but when I took over the position, we had three sports. Um, and when I sat with President Perry, we talked and I said, "What do you want me to do? You know, where do you see this thing going?" And he said, "Well, I'd like to see more athletic offerings. I'd like to see our rosters expand and then I'd like to see us um to

16:19
start to win." So, um, I said, "Great. I I'm always up for a challenge. I'm ready for it." But when you backtrack, I told you about me pulling up to campus uh with my mom and I just I'm telling you, I just I knew this is where I wanted to be. But the second thing that I said was, "Do they have a baseball team?" And they didn't. They didn't have a baseball team. Um but that's just my point is so when I took over the first ad was baseball. Um it was personal for me. It was it was an ad

16:53
that I wished that we had for years and now we have it. And then I knew that um we wanted to expand our women's offerings. So we reinstituted women's soccer and volleyball. We added cross country indoor track and outdoor track for both men and women. So my goal, yeah, was to grow and to expand the rosters. And then it was if we could take part in somehow expanding from say a two-year associates degree granting institution into a four-year bachelor's degree granting institution, I would love to be a part of that. And we we we

17:28
helped with that in 2018 and 19. And now our sophomores when they graduate, I don't have to hear them say, I don't want to leave. I want to stay here. Now they can. So, so for me that is the ultimate where as a as you know we wear many hats here. So I when I put my coaching hat on I say hey we got this freshman and sophomore ready to play college level sports and now they're transferring. Now we can say no now they're ready to play. And because of those efforts and and all of our sport offerings we are now seeing the results

18:04
and now we're starting to win and get those banners um and get the recognition. And honestly, we're still probably the smallest college in the USCAA. I know we're the smallest college in our in the ESAC conference, but it that doesn't matter because even though, you know, we're we're small in numbers, we're still we're still have um like big hearts and we are just, you know, ready to win and and we've proved it. So, yeah. Yeah. So, men's basketball this year, won the first ESAC conference championship this year. That was

18:38
amazing. men's soccer did it two years ago. So, we're really starting to get the recognition. And in the past uh four years, we've had uh two teams go to the national championship tournament twice. So, total of four times. So, I'm really excited about that. Yeah. I mean, it's been exponential growth over the last really 10 years, I would say. Really exploded. What year did you start in the ad position? Do you know? It was 2018. Okay. And then co hit. Right. Right. I know. And going through athletics with COVID, it was a whole

19:10
another I mean going through it with academics was a whole another thing. Athletics and I think what you said is really true. You know, being a two-year school for 70 out of our 77 years of existence, you know, that meant you have two years of athlete. So you have and at most, you know, four year institutions, freshman normally don't play. They play their junior senior year, but you use those two years as grooming years. Here it was like, well, we got freshman and sophomores all the time. That's it.

19:37
Right. So, like you said, like we were grooming them and then they leave. So, we were never able to like reap the benefit of us grooming them. So, now we can and obviously we're seeing the results from that which is awesome. Um I I don't know. I always kind of love being like the underdog in some ways. I think it's a very Philadelphia um mantra obviously with um some of the Eagles kind of doing that. But I also think like, you know, Manor, we're small, but we're mighty. And I think our athletics really embodies that kind of

20:10
persona. So, it's really cool to see. Um, you're sitting in our gym today, and I see there's lots of banners on the on the ceiling, and I know behind you there's even more that are the newer ones. And I always find that like athletics drives campus culture. And not just for the athletes, like non-athletes like it, professors like it, parents like it, like it drives campus culture. and it really does set a tone for a campus. So, it's always good to see our athletics teams um expanding and doing well obviously is really fun. I hear

20:43
there's a bit of news to be shared in the athletics department. Um so, I wanted to give you an opportunity to share what's going on that's coming out. Yes, really excited. We are adding two new sports for spring 2026. women's flag football and men's volleyball. And I'm telling you, I could not be happier. I've been um itching to kind of add these sports for a couple years now. And now that it's approved, we're going to we're going to spearhead this and we're going to put Manor College on the map. I'm really excited

21:16
about these two new sports. Oh, that's great. I think that's so cool. So, tell me kind of why those two and kind of what's the buzz around that? Well, I'm going to start with men's volleyball first. In 2018, when I took over, it was starting to it was in it was in its infancy and was starting to gain popularity and that was kind of when we were transitioning from that two to four year um bachelor's degree granting institution and then co hit. So, I kind of tabled it for a little bit. Um but I was very interested

21:47
because it was growing within our region, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. So, that was always in the back of my mind. I wanted to get that going. So what we did instead was start volleyball club and uh here on campus and it became a really popular club. It was a co-ed club but it was an opportunity for me to see how many male uh students will come in and be you know interested in playing the sport. So, you know, I was taking names and we were talking about it and I got to the point where I was like, "Okay, um the

22:18
interest is there. Let let's move this forward." And that's what happened. And then with flag football, I mean, I think everybody I think the cat's out of the bag, so to speak. This is probably going to be the most popular sport in the near the near uh future. Um yeah, it's the PIAA have adopted it. The NCAA are about to adopt it. it's going to be an Olympic sport soon. I just wanted to get Manor College uh you know to kind of spearhead this or trailblaze it uh where when it does become an

22:50
official sport through the NCAA that we're ready to go. Yeah, I love that. I love um how you were able to kind of kind of get like a little test group together for volleyball. I um just a few episodes ago we had Kaitlyn Rampone on the podcast talking about her Manor experience and she talked about volleyball club and how that was such that sounded like that was actually a really pivotal thing for her and her experience. She she talked so fondly about it and how um helping start the club but also being a part of it just

23:20
like reignited her love for volleyball which she kind of um was dampered a little bit in high school. So that was really cool to hear. And then I didn't really realize how like that club was like a test group for what was to come. So cool foreshadowing there. Um and flag football, it certainly seems like the next sport for like America. I know um my son, he is six years old and like our town offers flag football for six-year-olds. Um, I think he's a little afraid to try it just yet, but we we

23:55
think it's cool and it's a great alternative to football, which comes with a lot of just scary possibilities. So, flag football seems like a really cool offering, and I know we already have some students talking about it on campus, and I know more things are going to come out about it in the next um few months. So, I think it's really exciting, and congratulations. It's not easy starting sports and doing all this, but major kudos to you um for really spearheading this. So So John, as we kind of wrap up here, I usually end

24:28
every episode with asking our alumni what advice that they would give to Manor students. It's kind of ironic asking you because you're someone who actually like does give advice to Manor students all the time where sometimes alumni don't feel as you know they're not as connected to our students like like you are but I'll still ask the question because I'm a creature of of habit but what advice would you give to Manor students who are currently like in their in their college days right now and um something that you think would

25:00
resonate well with them. I say this a lot and I really mean it. I always tell them, don't be invisible. Um, if you're invisible, nobody knows what you'd like to do or what you'd like to try. There there's no harm in trying something and seeing if you like it. Um, I tell my players, get involved in other things besides athletics. Get involved in student government. That was a huge part of my life when I was in high school. Um, get involved in different clubs. Do community service. it could

25:31
change your life. Um, that's probably the best advice I could give them, you know, and I I really mean it. If you're invisible, no, you're never going to get that chance. And especially at Manor College, I mean, we are a small private institution where everybody is pulling for you. So, all you really have to do is just show up and and talk. Yeah. Find your way. It's so true. And I think if there's any place not to be invisible at, it's Manor College, frankly, because as soon as you right,

26:04
just show up and and share a little bit about yourself. Be a little bit vulnerable. You'll have people coming around you to find opportunities, find internships, jobs, if you need food, if you need resources. is I mean I feel like that's what we we do really well at and that's what I think is kind of um unique about us is you know I always say like a lot of institutions in our area particularly are small and are homey um and offer the same degrees that we offer but like what makes us different is our

26:35
students and is the level of care that we have. So that's great advice. Don't be invisible. Um well thank you John so much for spending time with us today and I hope our listeners enjoyed your story. I know I had a blast talking to you and kind of hearing more about your journey and um thank you so much and thank you Kelly. Thank you for your department and all the stuff you do for athletics. Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. Stay up to date with all new

27:04
episodes by following Manor College on Instagram at Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest Stories about life after Manor College. Remember Blue Jays, you belong here always. [Music] [Applause]