BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Yvrose Romulus has seen both sides of student success in her 16 years of working in the University of Bridgeport’s IDEAL Program, an adult degree completion program. She has seen students come in ambitious and excited to start, only to be derailed from their goal by life circumstances. She has also seen students who came in to the program beset with challenges who ...

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Eve Liptak enjoys reading the personal statements of students who apply to University of Bridgeport’s IDEAL Program. As the IDEAL Admissions Counselor, Liptak sees daily what motivates people to continue their education. "Something that’s common for students starting or returning to school is deciding it’s the right time in their lives," said Liptak, who has been ...

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Sarah Squatriglia describes each day as different in her role as an academic advisor for students in the University of Bridgeport’s IDEAL Program at the Waterbury Center location. Her goal, however, remains the same for each student she comes across. “My role is assisting and educating,’’ said Squatriglia, who earned her Master's degree in education from UB in ...

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Dr. Peter Umoh’s official title at the University of Bridgeport is Professor of Philosophy and Religion. However, the job description only scratches the level of his expertise. Umoh, who has worked at Bridgeport since 2006, incorporates concepts from philosophy, religion, English, social studies, history, sociology, psychology and more into his methods. He delivers ...

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Melissa Glazier’s baby daughter changed her life. Surprisingly, the youngster also changed her mother's view of education, too. Glazier returned to school and enrolled in the University of Bridgeport’s IDEAL Program about a year after giving birth to her daughter, Julissa, now 2. The impetus, she said, was her baby. “I thought how can I expect her to do well and ...

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Melissa Joseph fell into the trap that ensnares many students in Bridgeport. With her own determination and help from the University of Bridgeport’s IDEAL Program, she fought her way out of it. Joseph still has a long way to go. She started at UB last fall, and stands at least two years away from graduation. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Professional ...

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Bridgeport’s Glenda Cobo started working at New York's Lincoln Hospital 14 years ago, uncertain where her career path would take her. Now, with help from the University of Bridgeport and its IDEAL Program, she could very well end up on the hospital’s administrative team. “When I started working there I wanted to see where it could go,’’ said Cobo, who began her ...

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- When Sarah Sullivan’s youngest daughter enrolled in college three years ago, she also started taking classes in the University of Bridgeport’s IDEAL Program, an adult degree completion program. “I told her we’ll graduate at the same time,’’ Sullivan said. Now, she is about a year away from fulfilling that promise. Sullivan, who started at UB with just three ...

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Donna Phillips’ primary objective as the chairman of the Human Services Program at the University of Bridgeport is teaching undergraduates how to connect with people. Technology has made it easier to connect, but Phillips said students have a harder time developing relationships. “They’re very connected, yet very disconnected,’’ Phillips said. “You think all these ...

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Bridgeport’s Kayla Pettway already has an associate degree. She knew that to get ahead, however, she would need her bachelor’s degree. Now, 14 years after she finished high school, Pettway is less than a year away from earning a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Bridgeport’s IDEAL Program. She expects to graduate in May 2015. “I didn’t imagine ...