Michael Hassett '11
Michael Hassett ’11 works as a Shriver Peaceworker Fellow at University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
What impact did La Roche have on you as a person?
La Roche was the first place where I realized that I was part of an international community and that I had the ability to positively influence this community.
Are you involved in any volunteer service projects?
After graduating from La Roche, I completed two terms of AmeriCorps. I worked with inner-city youth and was a Peace Corps volunteer from 2012 to 2014 in the Kingdom of Tonga, where I served as an English language facilitator.
Currently I am the Commodore to College Coordinator at the Commodore John Rodgers School in Baltimore, Md. This school is a Title 1 school, and I work on bringing resources into the school and providing college readiness support to the students.
How did activities outside of the classroom enhance your college experience?
I worked in the Writers’ Center, was a social science tutor and volunteered as a conversation partner for students in the English as a Second Language program. These activities helped me become a better reader, writer and academic, and they helped me learn about the world. These experiences also connected me to a wide variety of people, many of whom became dear friends.
What are you most proud of when you look back on your La Roche experience?
I won the Campus Ministry Spirit Award and the Lance Shaeffer Tutor of the Year Award, and I was nominated for the President’s Award for Leadership and Scholarship. I also coauthored a book titled “Gangs and Outlaws of Western Pennsylvania” with Professor Thomas White.
Describe an experience with a faculty or staff member who made a positive impact on you.
Dr. Joshua Forrest and Gabrielle Yingling are two individuals who continue to be mentors in my life. Professor Yingling sent teaching materials to me while I was a volunteer in Tonga, and Dr. Forrest guided me through the graduate school application process, helped me construct my statements of purpose and always offered the support that I needed.
What is your favorite memory of being a student at La Roche?
The 2008 Alternative Spring Break in Mississippi. It was an absolute blast!
How did your experience at La Roche help you move forward in your career?
La Roche provided me with a strong academic base, and it equipped me with solid writing and critical thinking skills.
What advice do you have for our students?
Think about joining a volunteer agency! You have so much to offer the world, and the world has so much to offer you in terms of growth, wisdom, life experience, skills and fellowship. Don’t become complacent. Always challenge yourself, and try to become your best possible self.