A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Samantha Mitchell graduated from the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics as an operations management major.
Mitchell was nominated for this series by UD Assistant Professor of Management Saleem Mistry and Senior Instructor of Operations Management Susan Murphy.
Murphy said, “I have worked closely with Samantha in three classes (BUAD306, 346, and 448), and she is an ideal student. She is attentive in class, is intellectually curious, and excellent at applying what she learns in class to her work environment. Her enthusiasm for learning is evident and she is truly excited to graduate and add value in her job at Whiting Turner (and continue learning about construction project management). If we had more students like Samantha, I suspect class discussions would be much more thought provoking!”
In this profile Mitchell shares her favorite UD memories, how she overcame challenges, and her future plans.
Lerner: How do you think you have changed from your first semester at UD to now?
Mitchell: I think college has helped me understand life a little better. I thought I was mature before college but now I think I have matured even more. No matter how much I think I can plan, my plans don’t always happen the way I thought they would. I have learned that I cannot control everything that is going to happen. Time is now my new friend to take me through my journey of life. For example, I didn’t anticipate wanting to switch from a law path to construction management after having dreamed of being an attorney my entire life. But, two classes in one semester totally shifted my outlook on careers. Sometimes the most unexpected occurrences are ones to cherish the most!
Lerner: What have been some of the challenges you have faced during your college experience and how did you overcome them?
Mitchell: A challenge that I have faced starting sometime in high school and throughout my college career is migraines. My migraines are debilitating and mainly caused by stress. My number one stressor is school. So how did I overcome that? I tried a variety of remedies such as mindful breathing, meditating, increasing my physical activity, stepping away from schoolwork, going to a therapist, and seeing a migraine specialist. The ones that I found most effective at reducing the number of times I get migraines are stepping away from schoolwork and seeing a therapist. Throughout my educational career, I have finally come to realize that taking time for myself is important and moderation is key to avoid burnout. I had to learn to discipline myself in order to achieve overcoming migraines.
Lerner: What was your favorite signature UD experience and why?
Mitchell: As a commuting student, the career fair was my favorite signature UD experience. It’s a great event to practice interpersonal skills, mainly the confidence, to walk up to tables and network while trying to land a job after graduation. The two career fairs that I attended were for the business and engineering colleges. Both are great resources offered to students. The event was super helpful for meeting people who are job searching, as well as networking with companies for interviews that could turn into job offers! On the fun side of favorite UD experiences, Main Street was always enjoyable to explore with friends. Homegrown, Roots, and Brew Haha are my favorite places to study, eat lunch, hang out with friends, and get coffee. There are lots of fun activities and places to go which can be considered a signature UD experience as a commuter! Make sure to immerse yourself in all of the fun events while you’re in college because time will fly by.
Lerner: Did you have a Lerner professor or staff member that had a big impact on your UD experience?
Mitchell: Jennifer Gregan made a big impact on my UD experience. She was my counselor going into UD and was helpful from the time I graduated high school to when I graduated college. She always reassured me that I was on the right path and what the opportunities would be after graduation. She responded quickly during times of high stress. For example, when registering for classes, switching my major, and eliminating my minor. She helped me create my first schedule, informed me of all of the business fraternities I could join at Lerner, and provided me with information for traveling abroad. I am super grateful for Dr. Gregan as she helped me find a sense of peace throughout my stressful moments at UD. My business law professor Jennifer McCloskey also had a big impact on my life in general. One day, I asked her after class if I could intern at her law firm over the summer. She welcomed me to the firm without having previous experience so I could get a feel for what it would be like. I have wanted to be an attorney since I was seven years old, and when I finally got to experience some law work, I decided it was not for me. Without her trusting me and giving me the opportunity to intern with her, I’m not sure I would’ve found what I am passionate about today. She taught me that knowing what you don’t want to do is just as important as knowing what you do want to do. Last but not least, my operations management professor Susan Murphy made a big impact on my UD experience. During my first semester at UD, I sat in the front row in her intro to operations class. I thought she was a bit intimidating. As I got to know her, I learned she is a selfless, kind hearted person who truly cares about her students. After the semester, I loved and hated the course material but there was something that sparked my interest in operations management. With her inspiration and encouragement, I switched my major from global enterprise management to operations management. She taught me outside of class material, that operations can apply to any field and that’s when I ended up in construction management!
Lerner: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Mitchell: I was in awe when I found out that two of my professors nominated me to be a Lifelong Lerner. I worked hard for the past two years at UD, and two years before that at Delaware Technical Community College, which was all online during Covid. I strive for all A’s every semester and sometimes stress so much I get a migraine! Being a Lifelong Lerner reminds me to stop and be proud of all that I’ve accomplished. When you’re feeling alone and stressed from the drudgery of nonstop deadlines, you’re really not because there are people supporting you along the way.
Lerner: What advice would you give to incoming freshmen to make the most out of their college experience?
Mitchell: I encourage you to go to class and develop relationships with other students and professors. Pay attention to the way the material from different classes relates to each other. This will be beneficial to you for better comprehension. The students you’ll see in class freshman year are the same ones in your senior capstone. It’s nice having the same team as a resource throughout your four years. Join clubs to help you meet other people and add to your resume for companies to see! Also, no matter how hard classes get… don’t give up.
Lerner: What are your plans following graduation?
Mitchell: Following graduation, I will be taking a break for a month and then start working full-time for Whiting Turner Contracting Company as a project engineer.