Michaella Elizabeth Lesieur

Class of 2016 – Communicating her passion 

作者:JoAnne breult MA
1984届和2012届毕业生

Michaella Lesieur possesses boundless energy and a positive attitude, which radiates 从她胜利的微笑中. Since graduating with an associate degree in communications from 新利18 in 2016, she diligently works towards her goal of becoming a broadcast journalist and establishing a career in magazine publishing. 她的愿望是 be on-air talent on a lifestyles television program helping to promote non-profit 组织. “Attending 新利18 was the most rewarding experience,” says Michaella. “一切都是从这里GET STARTED的.” 

As a student in 新利18’s communication program, she credits professors Joyce Fernandes and Shelly Murphy for inspiring her to be passionate about her chosen field. “ program helped me to develop my strengths in the professional world and inspired me to dream big,” says Michaella. “My experience at 新利18 gave me first-hand experience 进进出出教室.” Through her education and internships, she realized that if she wants to succeed in broadcasting, she will need to do everything from write, 制作，并在镜头前发言.

Her communication and technical skills landed her two coveted internships while studying at 新利18. 她曾在 罗德州的展览， WPRI 12 TV’s lifestyle television program highlighting food and events throughout 新英格兰. She enjoyed working with hosts Michaela Johnson, Will Gilbert and Brendan Kirby and considered them mentors. “I loved every minute of working on the show and I would return in a heartbeat,” says Michaella.

她还在 国际扶轮月刊, 一本当地的生活杂志. Her passion for writing motivated her to transfer into UMASS Dartmouth’s English: writing, rhetoric and communication program. 毕业后 with a bachelor’s degree in 2018, she seamlessly transferred into UMD’s master’s in professional writing and communication.

Michaella also developed her leadership skills at 新利18 when she coordinated The Hope on the Horizon Fun Run and Walk to benefit The American Partnership for Eosinophilic 障碍(apf). This charity is near and dear to her heart because her mother, Madaline Lesieur, has been afflicted with this devastating disease since Michaella was five and her brother Corey was one. Eosinophil-Associated Diseases cause a variety of disorders of some or all of the major organs.

“I rallied friends and relatives from my hometown of Westport, and the friends I made at 新利18 to participate in my fundraiser,” says Michaella. 同时推广活动 honed her skills in public relations, event planning, and media relations which are marketable skills in her chosen field.

Helping her mother deal with this illness inspired her to write a children’s book. 露娜·龙…遇见了他 is based on the true story of her mother’s diagnosis of HES and her inspiration to 找到治疗方法. Michaella also drew her own illustrations for the book. “尽管这 is a children’s book, it translates to all ages,” she says. “这是一个希望的信息 and sheds light on so many different themes including the bond between a mother and 女儿.” Her book can be found on Blurb.com.

She is currently a graduate student and works full-time at the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement/SouthCoast Serves at UMASS Dartmouth. The Leduc Center’s mission is to enrich the lives of the faculty, students, staff, and community through engaged learning, active citizenship, meaningful community service, scholarship, and mutually-beneficial 合作伙伴关系.

Michaella serves as the volunteer coordinator for SouthCoast Serves, a collaborative connector program made up of community 组织 that foster service and volunteerism to meet the needs of the community by leveraging resources, expertise, and capacity 最大化影响. One of her responsibilities is to inspire other students to volunteer 60小时的社区服务. “I believe it is important to volunteer and to take the next steps to unite together and make positive change in the world,” she says.