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Why Eastern?

The path to your future starts at eastern!

Eastern is a public university with a private college atmosphere. Our picturesque campus provides the perfect environment for learning and personal growth. Build meaningful connections with professors and forge lasting friendships. Gain practical experience in your field of study to prepare for a thriving career.

Discover the unique opportunities and programs available on our campus.

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Learn About Eastern

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Eastern is one of the top 25 public universities in the North Region (from Maine to Maryland).

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Best Colleges, US News and World Reports; Regional Universities, Public, 2025

Named one of the 224 best colleges in the Northeast according to The Princeton Review, considered from a selections of hundreds of institutions in the region.

The Princeton Review - Best Regional Colleges, Northeastern 2025

Named a Green College by Princeton Review fourteen years in a row, based on 25 criteria; only schools with scores above 80 are recognized.

The Princeton Review Top 50 Guide to Green Schools 2025

As a College of Distinction Eastern exemplifies high-impact educational practices that result in engaged students, great teaching, a vibrant campus community and successful outcomes.

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Colleges of Distinction 2024-25

Eastern was ranked one of the top four university police departments in the United States by safecampussummit.org for the University’s efforts to improve campus safety.

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Eastern Connecticut State University has been designated as a “Military Friendly” School for 2021-22.

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Find Your Place

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What Will You Study?

Find the major you want

Undergraduates can choose from 41 majors, 65 minors and more than 60 concentrations. Everything from Accounting to World Languages and Cultures. Graduate programs and continuing education opportunities are also available.

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Environmental Earth Science

People at computer

Communication, Film, and Theatre

Students in lab

Biology

Teacher and children playing

Early Childhood Education

Students drawing outside

Art

Professor and students

Mathematics

Professor speaking at podium

Social Work

Students in a lab

Biochemistry

Professor and students working in a swamp

Environmental Earth Science

Professor addressing students in an auditorium

English

Student reading ethics book

Philosophy

Lecturing in front of slideshow

Psychology

Professor in front of projection

Computer Science

Professor lecturing in front of class

Political Science

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Spanish

Professor teaching class

Accounting

Professor teaching class

Elementary Education

Professor in front of class

Criminology

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Finance

People at computer

Communication, Film, and Theatre

Students in classroom

Business Administration

Professor lecturing in front of class

Sociology

Student and child playing

Physical Education

Lecturing in front of class

Women's and Gender Studies

Student and professor at computer

Business Information Systems

Students playing piano

Music

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Liberal Studies

Teacher and children playing

Early Childhood Education

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History

Professors sitting behind microphones

Economics

Students using dissection table

Health Sciences

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Student Life

Life on a Beautiful Campus

Housing

88 percent of first-year students and 63 percent of all students live on campus. Live close to classes, the library, computing resources, and student activities — get better grades and graduate on time!

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Student Clubs

More than 90 student clubs and organizations, including co-curricular, cultural, club sports, art/music, and more. Can’t find one you like? Start your own! People to meet and things to do!

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Students in a business club

Sports and Recreation

Eastern has 19 varsity sports ranging from baseball to volleyball and competes in NCAA Division III. The Warriors have won ten national titles and six straight LEC Commissioner's Cups for best athletic performance.

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Health and Wellness

Eastern supports healthy minds and bodies with a range of fitness, wellness and recreational activities. Work out in the fitness center, participate in intramurals, practice yoga or join a club sports team.

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Students at the gym

Campus Culture

2,500 events a year include concerts, lectures, plays, etc. Gain cultural perspectives from a student-run radio station, a new arts center and programs that support women, the LGBT community and a diverse community.

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Students performing dance

Support Services

Going to college is fun yet challenging —but we will have your back! Services range from career counseling to health services and financial aid, from campus ministries to the Veterans Center.

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Next Steps

The Road to Eastern

Hands-On Learning

From Internships to Global Studies
Students snorkeling at the Bahamas
Bahamas

Undergraduate Research

Eastern undergraduates conduct faculty-mentored research in every major—everything from genetics to theater set design.

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State of Connecticut Judicial Branch - Adult Probation
State of Connecticut Judicial Branch - Adult Probation

Internships

Dozens of internships provide you with hands-on experiences related to your major — a stepping stone to future employment.

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Food Bank
Food Bank

Service

Gain professional experience and leadership skills volunteering for local social agencies and nonprofits, or take a service-learning course connected to your major.

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Grand Canyon with Students
Grand Canyon

Global Learning

Take a “global field course” or study for a semester in one of more than 130 countries. Or study at another U.S. university!

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Students snorkeling at the Bahamas
Bahamas

Undergraduate Research

Eastern undergraduates conduct faculty-mentored research in every major—everything from genetics to theater set design.

Learn More
State of Connecticut Judicial Branch - Adult Probation
State of Connecticut Judicial Branch - Adult Probation

Internships

Dozens of internships provide you with hands-on experiences related to your major — a stepping stone to future employment.

Learn More
Food Bank
Food Bank

Service

Gain professional experience and leadership skills volunteering for local social agencies and nonprofits, or take a service-learning course connected to your major.

Learn More
Grand Canyon with Students
Grand Canyon

Global Learning

Take a “global field course” or study for a semester in one of more than 130 countries. Or study at another U.S. university!

Learn More
Virgin Islands

Clayton Pollock ’07

Biology major Clayton Pollock is a National Park Service biologist in the U.S. Virgin Islands. “I wouldn’t be here today without the foundation I received from the Biology Department. I will never forget my experiences in Belize and San Salvador Island; those opportunities helped define my career aspirations and provided a great deal of practical experience.”

Success After Eastern

Success after Graduation

40k

Successful alumni in careers across the United States

#1

Top 4-year graduation rate among CT State Universities

Eastern students graduate with strong problem-solving, communication and teambuilding skills in dozens of career fields. They become doctors, attorneys, accountants, teachers and social workers in Connecticut and throughout the nation and the world. Eastern alumni include world- class scientists, nationally recognized artists and award-winning authors. You could be one!

Who Hires Eastern Graduates?

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Kim Ward

Faculty Spotlight

Kim Ward - Professor, Mathematical Sciences

“Working at Eastern, with its smaller class sizes, is a great fit. Getting to know my students and watching them grow, both academically and personally, over their time at Eastern and beyond is very rewarding.”

“I hope that my research and/or creative student-centered endeavors are helping our students graduate, seek out and obtain their chosen job, and find happiness and enjoyment in their current and future lives.”
Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault

Faculty Spotlight

Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault - Professor, Psychological Science

“I train lots of students in our Mental Health Counseling concentration who plan to become therapists. I tell them that to be a good therapist, they would be well-served to experience as much art as possible. There’s so much to learn about being human; art is a window into to the full experience like no other.”

“It gives me such a sense of accomplishment to hear about our alumni’s lives and to know that I was able to join them on part of that journey.”
Lora Lee

Faculty Spotlight

Lora Lee - Associate Professor, Art and Art History

“Your dedication, continuous improvement and ability to adapt will be your keys to success in the dynamic field of graphic design and art.”

“I am consistently thrilled when witnessing students’ creative expressions and their astonishment at their accomplishments with digital tools.”
Laura Rodriguez

Faculty Spotlight

Laura Rodriguez - Assistant Professor, Education

“Due to the social nature of learning, I believe that teaching must first and foremost focus on developing and nurturing relationships with and among students. Nurturing relationships is a combination of demonstrating care and respect for your students with explicit teaching of interactional norms and communicating high expectations.”

“Nurturing relationships is a combination of demonstrating care and respect for your students with explicit teaching of interactional norms and communicating high expectations.”
Madeleine Fugère

Faculty Spotlight

Madeleine Fugère - Professor, Psychological Sciences

“My favorite part of teaching is connecting with students, so my classes are very interactive.”

“I really enjoy the interesting class discussions which arise during our classes. I also love mentoring undergraduate students who are interested in doing research in social psychology.”
Marin Kurti

Faculty Spotlight

Marin Kurti - Assistant Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work

“I am a first-generation immigrant and grew up in the Bronx, New York City, where I was exposed to different cultures and backgrounds that taught me the value of diversity and encouraged my curiosity of the world around me.”

“My main advice to students is to embrace lifelong learning. Every year, they should be challenging themselves to learn a new skill that’s either related or unrelated to their career.”
Mark Fabrizi

Faculty Spotlight

Mark Fabrizi - Professor, Education

“Work hard, read extensively, and never settle for good enough.”

“Teaching should be purposeful and valuable to both the individual and society. I am strongly influenced by the pedagogical beliefs of Paulo Freire and John Dewey.”
Megan Stanton

Faculty Spotlight

Megan Stanton - Assistant Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work

“Work hard, read extensively, and never settle for good enough.”

“Social work students are dedicated and curious and our courses are all geared toward real-world action and social change. This makes for a dynamic and challenging (in a good way) classroom environment.”
Michèle Bacholle

Faculty Spotlight

Michèle Bacholle - Professor of French, World Languages and Cultures

“Teaching in person when most courses were online during the pandemic [was a memorable moment]. The class chemistry was just special.”

“Nurture your intellectual curiosity. Travel and exchange with people from other backgrounds.”
Okon Hwang

Faculty Spotlight

Okon Hwang - Professor, Music

“Everyone contributes to create a positive and productive learning environment. I learn from students as much as they learn from me.”

“Everyone contributes to create a positive and productive learning environment. I learn from students as much as they learn from me.”
Peter Drzewiecki

Faculty Spotlight

Peter Drzewiecki - Professor, Environmental Earth Science

“I would encourage students to find a balance in life between work, fun and family. Hopefully these are not mutually exclusive activities! I also encourage them to never stop learning about the world around them, keep asking questions and continually challenge themselves.”

“One of my ongoing research projects is to understand the climate and environments of the Jurassic rocks in the Connecticut Valley, which were deposited at the time dinosaurs roamed the planet.”
Racheal Pesta

Faculty Spotlight

Racheal Pesta - Assistant Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work

“The most rewarding experiences at Eastern are cultivating meaningful relationships with students. Whether it’s supervising an independent study or honors thesis, or having the opportunity to mentor undergraduate students towards independent thinking and scholarship is something that makes Eastern unique.”

“Receiving an email from a student who just landed their dream job or who got accepted into their top choice graduate program ranks among the most memorable and rewarding experiences I’ve had here at Eastern.”
Scott Moore

Faculty Spotlight

Scott Moore - Associate Professor, History, History and Social Sciences

“I urge students to approach history by being as open as possible to learning about time periods and places they haven’t had a lot of prior exposure to.”

“I find it rewarding to see students who have not previously engaged with history realize how much they enjoy it by the end of the semester.”
Tao Chen

Faculty Spotlight

Tao Chen - Associate Professor, Art and Art History

Tao Chen’s artwork has been exhibited in juried art shows nationally and internationally. His passion for art started when his father showed Tao early on the joy of drawing and opened up a world of artistic inspiration.

“Sharing my experience with my students and helping them grow academically and professionally is my favorite part of being a teacher and educator.”
Tom Balcerski

Faculty Spotlight

Tom Balcerski - Associate Professor, History, History and Social Sciences

“I truly enjoy engaging with students inside and outside of the classroom. Whenever possible, I bring students into the wider world around them...”

“I strive to teach students the contours of American history, to think critically about the past, and to conceptualize history as a contested terrain that we still navigate today.”
Craig Erwin

Faculty Spotlight

Craig Erwin - Associate Professor, Business Administration

“One thing that employers like most about Eastern graduates is that they are not afraid to work hard.”

“I have students develop plans for businesses they are interested in. As they flesh out these business plans, they develop a better understanding of how to build and manage organizations and people.”
David Belles

Faculty Spotlight

David Belles - Professor, Music

“Committing to excelling in any discipline, music in this case, will transfer to all aspects of life. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and you will reach heights beyond you think you are capable of.”

“We perform music from as far back as medieval times, as well as music in multiple languages. In addition, music is a vehicle for students to travel and experience cultures other than those they have experienced.”
Kwangwon Lee

Faculty Spotlight

Kwangwon Lee - Assistant Professor, Education

“After college, everyone takes a different life path, and that path may not be what we always expect. Don’t be afraid of change and be willing to take chances!”

“Through my course in Play and Development, I get the opportunity to see our candidates begin the journey of developing their teaching philosophy and competencies.”
Martin Mendoza-Botelho

Faculty Spotlight

Martin Mendoza-Botelho - Professor, Political Science, Philosophy and Geography

“Never stop learning nor be curious about the world. Value knowledge and cultures of all types and be true to yourself. Pursue careers and activities that have meaning to your life, you will not regret walking this path.”

“Our students are very motivated. I enjoy seeing them progress during their time at Eastern. Whether it’s local politics, the environment or national politics, they move from simpler understanding to a more complex perspective. Their thinking becomes more sophisticated and balanced.”
Scott Smith

Faculty Spotlight

Scott Smith - Assistant Professor, Computer Science

“Do something you like doing. More than likely, you will be doing it for a long time so you have to enjoy it!”

“I love teaching Computer Networking and Security. That is where I can best pass on what I have learned over the years.”
Caitlin Vasquez-O'Brien

Faculty Spotlight

Caitlin Vasquez-O'Brien - Assistant Professor, Psychological Science

“I believe that learning should be exciting and open to everyone. I am successful when students feel the same sense of excitement about the material that I do, and when they are able to draw connections from what we are learning to the world around them.”

“Students should feel the same sense of excitement about learning that professors do, and students should be able to engage with the material and draw connections to the world around them.”
Tanya Moorehead

Faculty Spotlight

Tanya Moorehead - Associate Professor, Education

“My goal is to give students the opportunity to get to know each other, so that they feel comfortable to take risks together and learn.”

“We have a campus environment where everyone is learning, open to conversations. I can even invite President Núñez to speak to my class.”
Sudha Swaminathan

Faculty Spotlight

Sudha Swaminathan - Professor, Education

“I tell my students to stay flexible because the education they are getting at Eastern prepares them to be teachers for sure, but it also gives them the skills to do a number of other things that they may not realize they have the capacity or interest to accomplish.”

“Seeing my students comfortable and confident in talking about their research, showcasing their capacity for reasoning and critical thinking, never fails to inspire and impress me. Those are the best moments.”
Ricardo Pérez

Faculty Spotlight

Ricardo Pérez - Professor of Anthropology, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work

“Students interested in Anthropology should hone the skills they gain at Eastern — critical thinking, problem-solving, and clear and effective written and oral communication; these will be assets to any job or future career path.”

“The most rewarding aspect about teaching at Eastern for me is getting to know and interact with a diverse group of students.”
Megan Heenehan

Faculty Spotlight

Megan Heenehan - Professor, Mathematical Sciences

“Don’t feel stuck on one path. It’s ok to try one career and then pivot to something else. Be open to learning new things and find something you enjoy doing.”

“Interactions with students inside and outside of the classroom are the best part of my job. Seeing how students grow over their four years and then hearing what they end up doing after Eastern is very rewarding.”
Kedan He

Faculty Spotlight

Kedan He - Assistant Professor, Physical Sciences

“Computers enable students to readily visualize and analyze the complex behavior of such systems, and thus present a unique and valuable tool with which they can further strengthen their intuition and solve otherwise intractable problems.”

“I want to alleviate the apprehensions many students have towards science. By connecting with them early, I hope to demystify the subject and transform their initial trepidation into genuine interest and enthusiasm.“
Kristen Morgan

Faculty Spotlight

Kristen Morgan - Associate Professor and Chair, Design and Media Technology

Get a liberal arts education; designers need to know about philosophy, history, literature, art, science, math, psychology and sociology, just to name a few. The larger your breadth of knowledge, the better equipped you are to analyze a script for design.

Make real, lasting connections and work to maintain them. Reach out to people in your field that you admire and invite them for a cup of coffee.
Afarin Rahmanifar

Faculty Spotlight

Afarin Rahmanifar - Associate Professor, Art and Art History

One of the most important aspects of teaching I have learned over the years is that each student is unique and that’s rewarding to me as a teacher.

Students in my Mixed Media class are encouraged to enhance their unique artistic ability, shake up their traditional studio practices and step out of their comfort zone.
Allison Speicher

Faculty Spotlight

Allison Speicher - Associate Professor, English

To quote my favorite Education professor, ‘Your students won’t remember everything you teach them, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.’

As a liberal arts true believer, a trained teacher and a first-generation college graduate, I knew Eastern’s students were the students I was meant to be teaching.
Anthony Aidoo

Faculty Spotlight

Anthony Aidoo - Professor, Mathematical Sciences

The most rewarding thing about teaching mathematics at Eastern is knowing that I have the support of my colleagues and my academic department to prepare graduating students who advance in life because of mathematics.

‘Mathematics can be studied, applied and enjoyed by all.’ This has been the premise I have always operated on as a teacher.
Anthony Cornicello

Faculty Spotlight

Anthony Cornicello - Professor, Music

I love showing students music that they most likely have not encountered — whether it’s jazz or classical.  Quite often, there is a wonderful positive reaction that makes it all so worthwhile!

“I love showing students music that they most likely have not encountered — whether it’s jazz or classical. Quite often, there is a wonderful positive reaction that makes it all so worthwhile!”
Brian Day

Faculty Spotlight

Brian Day - Assistant Professor of Film, Communication, Film and Theatre

“I really find working with students to be very rewarding. I enjoy watching them develop as young adults as they expand their skills and knowledge, which leads to them growing in confidence.”

My teaching philosophy is that we are helping each student grow as a person as they are getting an education.
Bryan Oakley

Faculty Spotlight

Bryan Oakley - Professor, Environmental Earth Science

“Get involved with fieldwork as much as possible. Be versatile. I am able to do what I do because while I am trained as a geologist I have collaborated with coastal planners and managers, biologists, soil scientists and coastal engineers.”

“Taking students into the field and showing them how to conduct research, collect and analyze data and then present the data at a research conference is a super rewarding experience.”
Caitlin Carenen

Faculty Spotlight

Caitlin Carenen - Professor, History

“History offers diverse career opportunities — there is no one career track. Skills that students learn studying history that are transferable to life after Eastern include critical thinking, analytical writing, exploring evidence and being able to make a persuasive argument.”

“Watching my students visit a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank and visit Israel’s Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem reminds me of why I teach what I teach.”
Cara Bergstrom-Lynch

Faculty Spotlight

Cara Bergstrom-Lynch - Professor of Sociology, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work

“I believe that when students feel both intellectually challenged and supported, they are better prepared to fully engage in the learning process.”

“I love staying in touch with our alumni and hearing about their lives after Eastern (families, work, graduate school) and all the amazing things they are accomplishing out in the world.”
Christopher Krebs

Faculty Spotlight

Christopher Krebs - Assistant Professor, Psychological Sciences

“Life is a marathon so don’t rush it. The work that you’ve done and connections you’ve built at Eastern will last a lifetime so don’t forget that as you begin tackling the next chapters of your life. Enjoy the adventure!”

“Eastern is a small public liberal arts college similar to that to which I attended during my undergraduate studies, and I am surrounded by colleagues who share a passion for teaching and genuinely care about our students.”
Chris Torockio

Faculty Spotlight

Chris Torockio - Professor, English

“If you want to be a writer, you have got to love the process. Writing fiction is a slow, meticulous, painstaking process, filled with infinite mistakes and false starts. Great writing never, ever, ever falls easily out of the writer fully formed, the way legend would have us believe.”

“My favorite teaching moments are when a student who came to class having no idea that they liked to write discovers their voice and realizes that they have a passion for writing.”
Courtney Broscious

Faculty Spotlight

Courtney Broscious - Associate Professor of Political Science, Political Science, Philosophy and Geography

“Life is not a linear process. Don’t always be in a hurry to get to the next milestone, because you never know what types of opportunities you will miss in the present.”

“I believe that institutions of higher education should be agents of social mobility and should provide an education that encourages students to develop flexible skillsets that can be applied in multiple settings.”
David Stoloff

Faculty Spotlight

David Stoloff - Professor, Education

“Educators are lifelong learners. Every day brings new lessons. We learn more from our students than we teach them.”

“I believe that learners should manage and own their own learning and should find meaning in what they study.”
Emiliano Villanueva

Faculty Spotlight

Emiliano Villanueva - Professor, Business Administration

“Students see me and see that I have accomplished something; this simple acknowledgment makes my interactions with students very valuable: if I could, they can also make it.”

“I teach the evolution of globalization, the precedents of contemporary international business issues, and the building of the actual global economy.”
Fatma Pakdil

Faculty Spotlight

Fatma Pakdil - Professor, Business Administration

Professor Fatma Pakdil developed the healthcare management concentration for business administration majors and created the healthcare management minor.

Maeve Doyle

Faculty Spotlight

Maeve Doyle - Assistant Professor, Art and Art History

I had the rare fortune to spend my whole education in small, liberal arts institutions. I love the personal, hands-on learning that places like Eastern foster. I sought it out as a student, and I’m thrilled to be part of Eastern’s public liberal arts mission today.

No matter what career you pursue, and no matter where your future takes you, art history gives you skills to adapt, succeed, and thrive.
Garrett Dancik

Faculty Spotlight

Garrett Dancik - Professor, Computer Science

Professor Dancik has dedicated much of his work to teaching and developing courses in computer science, data science and bioinformatics, an interdisciplinary field that uses computational and mathematical tools to organize and analyze biological data.

James Diller

Faculty Spotlight

James Diller - Professor, Psychological Sciences

Dr. James Diller is an expert in the field of behavior analysis. He is credited with developing the concentration in behavior analysis at Eastern, which allows students to sit for national certification.

“Many students underestimate what they can do. They’re not sure they are able to present at a conference or write a paper for publication, but they see they can do those things after working closely with a faculty mentor.”
Jeff Calissi

Faculty Spotlight

Jeff Calissi - Associate Professor, Music

Being a percussionist means having proficiency in more than a singular musical instrument and teaching at a liberal arts institution is rather similar.

“My favorite percussion instrument is the marimba for several reasons. It is the most musical and accessible for both performer and audience, not to mention the sound of rosewood being unique and beautiful.”
Jenna Scisco

Faculty Spotlight

Jenna Scisco - Associate Professor, Psychological Sciences

“I went to a public liberal arts college for my undergraduate degree (The College of New Jersey). My dream was to teach psychology at a similar institution, and Eastern was a perfect fit.”

“I have taken Eastern students to study abroad in England, Ireland and Italy. It is such a rewarding experience to be able to expose students to new cultures and the experience of international travel.”
Jonathan Hulvey

Faculty Spotlight

Jonathan Hulvey - Associate Professor, Biology

“I am deeply curious about how nature works, and I believe that everyone has this innate curiosity. Some of the most rewarding moments have been to witness students begin to ask more and deeper questions or try new experiments in the lab, for the sheer joy of discovering something new and being able to see the natural world from a new angle.”

“Some of my most rewarding moments have been to witness students ask deeper questions or try new experiments in the lab, for the sheer joy of discovering something new and being able to see the natural world from a new angle.”
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