UNH Graduate School

From Durham, New Hampshire, to every corner of the globe, UNH Wildcats roam everywhere. This week, #WildcatsRoam to Ireland! ?? Today we journey through Belfast and Dublin, where UNH social work students are gaining powerful insights into healing and reconciliation. Through the UNH College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) bi-annual program, 12 undergraduate and graduate students immersed themselves in Ireland's approach to trauma recovery and social services. At Belfast's Wave Trauma Center, students heard moving stories from survivors of The Troubles. "His wife was killed, but he wasn't resentful," shares Mikayla Tobin '26. "He just wanted to create a safe space for others to heal." Under the guidance of professor Trish Cox, these Wildcats are drawing meaningful parallels between Irish and U.S. social welfare systems, gaining perspectives that can't be replicated in a classroom. Thanks to scholarships from retired UNH professors, many experienced international travel for the first time – opening their eyes to global approaches in social work. "Through the program, students gain a profound understanding of the critical role relationships and people's stories play in a nation still in the process of healing," says Cox. And these Wildcats are proving that compassion and understanding know no borders. Follow along each week as we showcase Where the Wildcats Roam: UNH alumni, students and faculty who are changing the world through groundbreaking achievements and bold leadership. ?? https://lnkd.in/eym_DW49

From Durham, New Hampshire, to every corner of the globe, UNH Wildcats roam everywhere. This week, #WildcatsRoam to the British Virgin Islands! ??? Nia Jeffers ’23G completed the last semester of her UNH marine biology master’s degree in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, developing a curriculum to educate students about coastal resilience and marine biodiversity with a focus on how to care for mangrove seedlings. In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated her home in the British Virgin Islands, leaving destruction that can still be seen today. But for Jeffers, this catastrophe sparked a mission to protect her community's future. “With every mangrove that we plant and every child who is impacted by our programs, we bring our community closer to achieving a more sustainable future,” Jeffers reflects. “Mangroves are ecologically and culturally significant habitats that protect the Virgin Islands from the impacts of storms and erosion and help to sustain the fisheries industry. My research will inform policy for restoration and management in the coming years.” Jeffers plans to use her degree to develop educational programs that will encourage youth in her community to pursue careers in STEM. She is committed to ensuring that young people have the tools they need to protect their islands for generations to come. Follow along each week as we showcase Where the Wildcats Roam: UNH alumni, students and faculty who are changing the world through groundbreaking achievements and bold leadership. ??

Larry Mayer, director of UNH’s Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping, was recently named chairperson of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission! This independent federal agency advises the President and Congress on Arctic research. ?? ??? Mayer has participated in more than 100 scientific research expeditions — over 80 months at sea. He’s been chief or co-chief scientist on 10 cruises on the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy, mapping unexplored regions of the Arctic seafloor in support of the U.S. announcement of the U.S. “extended continental shelf” (ECS) outer limits in December 2023. This added a total area of approximately one million square kilometers — an area about twice the size of California — and protects long-term U.S. national interests and sovereign rights. “With growing recognition of the critical role that the Arctic plays in myriad global issues, including national security, resources and climate, it is incumbent upon us to assure that we conduct the best possible research in order to better understand this complex and fragile region,” he says. Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping / NOAA-UNH Joint Hydrographic Center

? Great minds united to foster growth in graduate enrollment management! Last week, UNH Paul College proudly hosted the NEGAP - The New England Association for Graduate Enrollment Management Fall Conference. With the theme Building Effective Enrollment Teams, the day was packed with networking, expert insights, and impactful discussions on enrollment trends, DEI, and team empowerment. ? ??Our team shined throughout the conference! ? Annie Nevells and Emma Pennewell from Paul’s Graduate Program’s Office led an important discussion about supporting diverse student populations, from inquiry to commencement. Nevells was also honored?with the Graduate Student Award for her research contributions to graduate enrollment management through her doctoral program at Plymouth State University. Nevells has been instrumental in creating a welcoming environment for international students at Paul and is a leading industry voice in addressing implicit bias in the admissions process. Bianca Nicolosi from UNH Marketing and Courtney Mulvey from UNH Graduate Admissions gave a fun presentation about how they teamed up to create a streamlined, personalized email strategy that’s boosting prospective student engagement while simplifying processes for staff. Other sessions throughout the conference focused on navigating conflict, building relationships, managing up, increasing yield and growing enrollment. Paul College Dean Lucy Gilson capped off the day with a keynote on building high-impact teams. Her insights on leadership, creativity, empowerment, and diversity encouraged attendees to invest in team growth, cultivate talent, and lead with resilience. ?? Thank you to all the schools that joined us—you were fantastic guests! And a huge shout-out to Nathaniel Hunt and the rest of our team for making this event a success! ???