Advising at GSC

My name is Kate O'Neill and I began working as an Academic Advisor for the Connecticut River Valley Region of Granite State College in August of 2009.  I am enjoying the challenge of mastering the mechanics of higher education in order to help students achieve their goals.  I find that GSC students are an amazing group of talented individuals, who bring a rich variety of life experiences to the classroom and to our college.  I have been inspired by the stories of our students and their determination to improve thier lives, or attain a personal goal they have dreamed about. 

For most of my life, I have worked in experiential education for kids and young adults.   For many years I was the Education Director for the Farms for City Kids Foundation in Reading Vermont - a residential dairy farm education experience, serving children from the New York and Boston public schools.  In 2005, I came on board as the Program Director for the Farm and Wilderness Foundation, which provided extensive outdoor education opportunities to children through summer camp programs, outdoor education, and organic farming. 

I grew up in Southern New Jersey, surrounded by apple orchards, blueberry fields and peach orchards, but never actually worked on a farm.  But since moving to Vermont in 1996  farming and education have been a constant theme in my life.  I decided to go back to school in 2003 and earned my master's degree in Program Administration and Supervision from Antioch New England Graduate School.  I love to learn, and so it is hard for me to stay away from school. 

As a person who also went back to school as an adult with children, I am very familiar with intense juggle of family, work, school and life's logistics. I geniunely enjoy helping students navigate the journey to a degree, and figuring out solutions to obstacles they encounter.  
It is hard, but in the end it is so very worth it!  It may not seem like it now, but you will tangibly see results in your life. 

Two of my own kids are heading off to college, and one teenager still at home.  I am savoring the moments when we still head to the mountain together for a day of snowboarding, or find the time to enjoy a wonderful meal together.