Manor College Graduate Finds New Career Path After COVID Layoff

Mirit Falkowski (Princeton High School, Philadelphia) graduates from Manor College with her Associate’s Degree in Dental Hygiene.

When COVID forced the Philadelphia Museum of Art to lay off 20 percent of its workforce, Mirit Falkowski was blindsided. She graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History and enjoyed her work as an executive assistant at the museum.

She bounced through several jobs – a visitor services gig at another museum, the manager of a boutique in Old City, work at a local tomato factory. None seemed to fulfill her desires.

“I just kind of sat and had these jobs and was like, ‘What am I doing?’” Falkowski said.

She knew she didn’t want to own a business or work in real estate. That’s when her thoughts drifted to dental hygiene.

“I always loved going to the dentist,” Falkowski said. “I have always been the one to encourage my friends to go.”

Falkowski’s hygienist, a graduate of Manor College in 2020, recommended the institution’s Dental Hygiene program. After a year of contemplating, Falkowski made the leap. The program is known for being among the hardest at Manor College, and Falkowski met the challenge head-on.

“Her intelligence and curiosity were apparent from day one,” said Jane Hannon, a Dental Hygiene professor at Manor College. “Mirit would ask those questions that you could see she was thinking outside of the box. She is the kind of student that makes you better as a teacher.”

To get through the difficult times, Falkowski sometimes leaned on her three C’s – clothes shopping, cats and coffee – as a breath of fresh air when she needed it.

“You have to just be grateful, work hard and care about where you’re at,” Falkowski said. “It’s important to know it’s OK to take a Friday or a day off when you need it to go shopping or to bribe yourself.”

The greatest reward comes from those she’s been able to help – the tough patients who have turned around their own health. She remembered one regular at the Dental Clinic who fundamentally doesn’t brush their teeth. Falkowski explained the importance of brushing “12 ways from Sunday” and wasn’t able to get through for years.

Finally, in the home stretch of the final semester, the patient came in and showed signs of improvement.

“It’s nice to see these patients consistently and how you’ve helped them,” Falkowski said. “It’s nice to be the encouragement of change.”

Hannon praised Mirit as a leader in the classroom who made a statement, whether it was organizing the annual bake sale in new ways or raising funds for a church in Jamaica hit by Hurricane Melissa in 2025.

“I predict a bright future for Mirit far beyond Dental Hygiene,” Hannon said. “She will be running the show somewhere.”

Falkowski graduates from Manor College with her Associate’s Degree in Dental Hygiene. She will be the Student Speaker at Commencement for those receiving Associate’s Degrees. Her advice to others is to stay positive.

“If you have a foot in the door, just keep walking,” Falkowski said. “It’s hard and it’s exhausting, but this is a really fulfilling career.”