Alumni Spotlight

English, Kate Callahan

Kate Callahan
Kate Callahan is an alum in the Department of English and the 2016-2018 Connecticut State Troubadour. This honorary position was established in 1991 by the State of Connecticut, and is recognized as an ambassador of music, song, and cultural literacy during her reign. Kate was selected as the State Troubadour "because of her captivating voice, strong musicianship, compelling personal story and love of and commitment to Connecticut" (Ct.gov, 2016).

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History and Political Science major, Michael Markowicz

The career path for alumnus Michael Markowicz was anything but straight forward! Michael grew up in Rocky Hill, CT, with his parents, a high school math teacher and a homemaker. He was not convinced at first that college was the right path for him. School had always come easily for Michael, earning As and Bs without a lot of effort. He started off at Central Connecticut State University, took a few years off, and returned to complete two bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science.

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Psychological Science, Shawn Meehan

Shawn Meehan
Shawn Meehan is not your average undergraduate student. He is a 60-year-old man with a devotion to helping others in recovery. Newly graduated with a degree in Psychological Science, Shawn promised his late wife years ago that he would complete his bachelor’s degree. This recent graduation day was truly a milestone. This was a man who dropped out of high school and completed his GED at 22. He fulfilled that promise to his wife when he walked across the stage at the XL Center in Hartford while his son and 89-year-old mother cheered him on! His mother told him, “I’ve only waited 40 years to see you graduate!”

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Public History Program, McKinley Albert

The path that we take in our career trajectories are not always obvious. This was certainly the case for McKinley Albert, a graduate from our Public History master’s program! McKinley started her academic career at the University of Pittsburgh. McKinley was from Pennsylvania and grew up in the small town of Astern. She longed for a college life within a city! At Pitt, she majored in History, because she originally wanted to be a curator of a museum.

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