Highlighting School's Star: Emmeline Orellana Class of '24, Achiever of Master of Public Administration Degree
Blazing sunny skies grace May as Emmeline Orellana, the relentless envoy of hope, strolled the John & Wales commencement stage. As she reminisced about the ten harrowing years en route to her ceremony, it was clear that her journey was anything but picture-ideal.
Emmeline juggled two grueling jobs while pursuing a bachelor's online and later, her master's. If the universe had its own sick joke, it was delivered in 2020. As she carried the weight of anticipation, Emmeline discovered her pregnancy coincided with COVID-19's grim declaration as a pandemic. Months later, she welcomed a new life while becoming a single parent, another testament to her unwavering spirit.
Working at a new organization during these challenging times, Emmeline championed for policies aimed at enhancing family service access and economic stability—an echo of the struggle she faced while providing for her own family. Despite sharing their hardships, she persevered to carve her niche.
Ultimately, Emmeline's decision to revisit John & Wales Online was motivated by her ambition to hone her leadership skills, and most importantly, create a better life for her son. Ambition and resolve aptly describe her journey, which unfolded in phases:
A Career in Service
With burning determination, Emmeline’s eyes were set on serving her community, spending six years as a legal assistant in immigration law, simultaneously holding several part-time jobs. A brief stint with a nonprofit organization specializing in Home-Based Therapeutic Services (HBTS) for children with disabilities was just the beginning.
In her heart, Emmeline harbored dreams of becoming a police officer, but a change in direction was on the horizon as she dove deeper into direct service work through her internships and post-graduate jobs.
A Shift in Perspective on Public Service
While working with a nonprofit human services organization, the Key Program, Inc., Emmeline discovered her passion for assisting children and their families, serving as a Family Service Care Coordinator for the Family Care Community Partnership (FCCP).
Facing families teetering on the brink of child removal by Rhode Island's Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Emmeline provided intensive wraparound services with the FCCP, focusing on the needs of the entire family to maintain family unity.
Life took an unexpected turn in 2020, marked by the rampant spread of COVID-19. Emmeline navigated her new role as a mother during the chaos, determined to remain financially stable.
Evidently successful, Emmeline soon moved on to West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation, where she served as a family coach for the Dunamis Synergy program. Through her role as a counselor, she supported expectant and parenting teens, helping them achieve their post-secondary aspirations and improve their economic outcomes.
In tandem, Emmeline remained an influential voice in Rhode Island, campaigning for policies such as the CHA-RI Childcare Essential Act, striving to provide funding for children with complex medical needs or long-term disabilities.
The Path Forward: A New Chapter with John & Wales Online
Hungry for more, Emmeline set her sights on the Master of Public Administration degree to bolster her role in public service. The choice was simple for her: enroll in John & Wales Online, a reputable institution in which she had flourished in her undergraduate studies.
Luckily, fate had a hand in her journey; Harry Ryan Jr., her undergraduate professor and advisor, was assigned to guide her through this new challenge. Together, Emmeline and Harry, along with her professors, overcame obstacles and ensured her academic progress was uninterrupted.
Securing financial aid was critical to Emmeline’s educational pursuit, given her status as a single mother on a tight budget. Rayanne Enos, an instrumental financial advisor, facilitated Emmeline’s FAFSA application and financial assistance process, making her journey one step easier.
A Promising Future Bursting with Opportunities
The Master of Public Administration program offered Emmeline invaluable insights into nonprofit management and policymaking, skills she now puts to good use in her role at the Providence Housing Authority (PHA) as the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Community Safety Coordinator.
In this role, Emmeline helps domestic violence survivors and their families with Section 8 relocation, ensuring their safety in the process. Thoughtful partnerships with state agencies and shelters have been crucial to the program’s success, serving over 115 families throughout 2023 and generating new referrals daily.
Online Learning: The path to Constellating Success
Emmeline’s online education journey was unique, mirroring her values of time management, service, and leadership. While her undergraduate experience was based in a traditional classroom setting, her online graduate courses propelled her further in her career.
Although she missed the camaraderie of a conventional classroom, the online program’s flexibility allowed her to care for her son while maintaining a full-time job. Her professional growth was supported by her professors' willingness to provide assistance through discussion boards and other online resources.
After juggling work, school, and family for years, Emmeline graciously offers her wisdom to future students:
- Utilize all online resources available; they can lead to a more comprehensive learning experience.
- Cultivate time management skills to establish a healthy work-life balance.
- Trust your academic advisor; they can help structure your educational plan and ensure your success.
- Emmeline's persistence in attaining a master's degree while navigating personal challenges showcases her dedication to both education-and-self-development and personal-growth, as she aims to create a better life for her son and strengthen her leadership skills through the Master of Public Administration program.
- In her role as the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Community Safety Coordinator at the Providence Housing Authority (PHA), Emmeline leverages her education in criminal justice to provide financial aid and resources for domestic violence survivors, further demonstrating her commitment to enhancing their learning opportunities and advancing their economic stability.
