MPA graduate earns top municipal post in Easton

As the town administrator for Easton, Connor Read, G’16, oversees a municipal entity serving more than 25,000 residents. He leads a team that tackles a plethora of duties, from repairing streets to providing public health and safety services.

It’s a challenging yet rewarding job for which he felt prepared after earning a master’s degree in public administration at BSU.

“I don’t think I would have been ready to take on the role of town administrator had I not had that graduate-level education,” he said. “It helped position me to be ready for the next level of my career.”

Read has worked in Easton for most of his career, starting in 2012 as the citizen business advocate. In that role, he helped people navigate municipal permitting. His mentor encouraged him to pursue graduate school and BSU was a perfect fit.

“�����ؿ���Ƶ’s program was really attractive because it has national accreditation,” he said. “It was very close by. It was a program that was accessible, credible and affordable.”

Read appreciated how evening classes met the needs of working professionals. Faculty taught relevant theories while discussing how students could apply them in their careers. His classmates brought an array of professional experiences to class discussions.

The program’s focus on communication and group work became essential as he assumed increasing responsibility in Easton.

“Just being the technician who can make sense of something is not enough,” he said. “You need to be able to effectively communicate.”

While a graduate student, Read received a promotion to assistant town administrator. In 2017, he was named town administrator, becoming one of the youngest municipal chief executives in Massachusetts.

One of his former professors, Dr. Deniz Leuenberger, is not surprised to see Read’s success.

“Connor was and is a value-driven individual,” said Leuenberger, who is now chief of staff and vice president for planning and strategy at BSU. “One of the things I really remember about his time in my classroom was how respectful he was of others. He had that level of maturity early.”

Read also excels at interpreting complex information, a skill that is essential to being a town administrator, Leuenberger said.

Read lives in Easton and enjoys seeing the positive effects of town government on display throughout his community. One of his proudest accomplishments, he said, was being part of a team that oversaw construction of a new elementary school.

He traces his interest in public service back to middle school, when he struggled academically after losing his father to cancer.

“If it weren’t for the history teachers, guidance counselors and school resource officers who went above and beyond to pull me back from the brink, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “On a very personal level, I know how important public servants are.”

A �����ؿ���Ƶ education, he said, helps him ensure local government continues to make such a profound difference.

“I’ve been a proud product of public education, and �����ؿ���Ƶ was a big part of that,” Read said. “It has enabled me to do my job well and serve the community well.”

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I don’t think I would have been ready to take on the role of town administrator had I not had that graduate-level education. It helped position me to be ready for the next level of my career.

Alumna moves from television to successful career in public relations

Liz (Meagher) Cooper’s impressive career working in media and communications started as an undergraduate at �����ؿ���Ƶ State. 

“I was able to test out a bunch of hands-on communication classes to help me figure out which direction I wanted to go,” the 2001 �����ؿ���Ƶ graduate said. “I initially wanted to go into radio, but a professor pulled me aside and said, ‘You’d be great in TV,’ so I took a TV production class and, well, it all fell into place.”

During her senior year, Cooper landed an internship working for Boston’s WBZ-TV, Channel 4.

“It was a dream come true for me,” she said. “Here I was working with people that I had seen on TV, and now I was in the newsroom with them.”

The experience opened doors. The next leg of her journey was in the newsroom at WFXT-TV, Boston’s Fox affiliate. Working at first on the assignment desk, over the next 12 years she worked her way up to segment producer, including for the Morning Show and even booked celebrity guests such as Kevin Bacon.

After working with Fox 25 for more than a decade, Cooper decided it was time to try something new and switched gears, working for a public relations agency before moving onto communications director for the administration of former Gov. Deval Patrick. 

Since then, she’s stuck with the public relations side of the field, working at Massachusetts Bay Community College for nearly 10 years, and these days serves as the associate director of public relations. 

What does she like best about working in higher education? 

“The students, I just love working with the students. They keep me feeling younger than I am,” she said. 

More importantly she likes unearthing students’ stories and sharing them with the world. 

“I love highlighting the amazing things people are doing that you wouldn’t otherwise know about,” Cooper said. “Everybody has a story to tell. Meeting people, getting to know the students, it just excites me.”

Her storytelling skills were recently recognized by the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations who honored her with the 2024 District 1 Communicator of the Year. 

“It’s extremely meaningful to me, I was blown away, truly humbled by it all,” she said. 

As she looks back at her career, Cooper recognizes the seeds of inspiration were planted as a student at BSU. It was the support of professors and mentors like Dan Darcy, who at the time worked as assistant director of activities in Greek Life and today is director of Alumni and Student Engagement, who helped propel her. 

“Dan was always available to everyone. He helped us all navigate �����ؿ���Ƶ. He was such a cheerleader, and I found that I didn’t want to let him down,” Cooper said. “Dan made a huge impact on my life in how I lead and make myself available. He helped me become a good listener.”

If she were able to offer BSU students some of her own advice, it would be to put your best foot forward and work hard.

“Experience all that college has to offer. You’re only there for four years, maybe five, it goes by so quickly so make the most of it. Use the resources there,” Cooper said. “Make mistakes, don’t be afraid to fail. Mistakes help you grow and make you stronger. Brush it off and move forward.”

And, Cooper added, don’t forget to stay in touch with BSU post-graduation. 

“Stay invested and connected. A lot of alumni have a lot to offer and can help you get involved,” she said. “My �����ؿ���Ƶ experience was so worth it, and I donate back to BSU when I can. If you can, give back to another Bear.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

My �����ؿ���Ƶ experience was so worth it, and I donate back to BSU when I can. If you can, give back to another Bear.

 

Joe Burns, ’75, traces his career in journalism back to a story about a jazz concert he wrote for the Hard Times Press, an alternative newspaper at �����ؿ���Ƶ State that competed with the more established Campus Comment.

As a rock-and-roll fan, Burns knew little about jazz, and he had minimal experience writing news articles. But his editors at the �����ؿ���Ƶ State newspaper saw a budding reporter in the sophomore from Worcester.

“�����ؿ���Ƶ State was the perfect school for me,” said Burns, who started out studying biology, switched to education and graduated as an English major. “It was the right size. ...There were times that I struggled, but then I found my place at the Hard Times Press and felt that I belong here.”

Today, Burns is a freelance writer specializing in health care. He covers the health reform and insurance beat for the Association of Health Care Journalists and has written for many newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times and Hartford Courant.

But the Hard Times Press is where it all began.

“I remember thinking that sounds interesting,” Burns said of joining the newspaper, which published at �����ؿ���Ƶ State in the 1970s. “They were the most interesting people I met at school. They were smart, they were funny, they were very engaged in what happened.”

As a junior, he became the paper’s editor, a position that required handling all facets of publishing a newspaper. The Press maintained a friendly rivalry with the Campus Comment, which continues to this day providing BSU student-journalists with hands-on experience.

Burns also appreciated his English classes, including a course on the nuts-and-bolts of journalism. He still follows the advice of English professor Charles Fanning.

“He said that you can’t revise a blank page,” Burns recalled. “That’s so true about journalism. You’ve got to get something down on paper and revise and revise.”

After graduating, Burns worked for weekly and daily newspapers in Connecticut before eventually becoming editor-in-chief of the magazine Business & Health, which served employers who manage health care benefits. His work for the Association of Health Care Journalists helps reporters make sense of complex topics that they will cover.

“I was hooked on health care because it is just a fabulous beat,” he said. “It’s so rich and detailed and it’s very consumer oriented. You’re writing to help people.”

It’s an important and meaningful job rooted in Burns’ �����ؿ���Ƶ State experience.

“�����ؿ���Ƶ had a big, big impact on my life,” he said. “I have a soft spot in my heart for �����ؿ���Ƶ. It gave me a great start to a great career.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

�����ؿ���Ƶ State was the perfect school for me. It was the right size. ...There were times that I struggled, but then I found my place at the Hard Times Press and felt that I belong here.

Graduate alumnus follows father’s footsteps into teaching and coaching

Growing up, Brian Caffelle, G’24, watched his father work as a physical education teacher for students with disabilities and it made an impression.

“The amount of joy he was able to bring to those kids every day in a setting where they could move around, exercise and gain confidence in themselves is something that always stood out to me,” Caffelle said.

To advance his career, he opted to continue his education at �����ؿ���Ƶ State University where he enrolled in the master’s in physical education program with a coaching concentration.

When he decided to come to BSU, it was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic; Caffelle felt he needed an online degree option. What sold him on �����ؿ���Ƶ was the coaching education courses the school offered.

“Both the flexibility and course catalog made choosing �����ؿ���Ƶ State an easy choice for my masters,” Caffelle said.

Despite learning remotely, he was still able to connect with like-minded educators and was exposed to professors who Caffelle said were, “not just knowledgeable but also empathetic and personable. They were more than willing to meet my needs as a student and made the learning experience invaluable.”

His advisor, Dr. Jennifer Mead, associate professor Health and Kinesiology, was particularly helpful in her guidance.

“Without her, my experience would not have been the same and I am grateful for all of her help,” Caffelle said.

Through the Thornburg Graduate Student Professional Development Scholarship fund he was also given the opportunity to attend the National Wrestling Development Coaches Association national convention held in Florida this past summer.

The experience allowed him to connect with other college and high school coaches from across the country.

“This conference had such an impact on me, hearing about other people’s personal journeys within the sport was captivating,” Caffelle said. “Without this scholarship opportunity, I never would have had the financial support to attend a conference like this.”

Following in his father’s footsteps, today he works as a physical educator at the East Middle School in Braintree and is also the head wrestling coach at Braintree High School, a sport he participated in.

“As a PE teacher, I get to connect with students in a different light compared to traditional classroom teachers...Overall I work hard to make it fun and enjoyable regardless of their athletic background or skill,” Caffelle said. “As a coach, I get to make an impact on a student-athlete’s life.

“Wrestling taught me how to be accountable, disciplined and confident. I get to pass on that knowledge and life lessons to other student-athletes.”

That includes the knowledge, resources and opportunities he gained at �����ؿ���Ƶ.

“Choosing �����ؿ���Ƶ State University was gratifying. I cannot recommend BSU enough for anyone looking to study physical education or athletic coaching, or to simply learn how to be a better teacher or coach,” Caffelle said.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

Choosing �����ؿ���Ƶ State University was gratifying. I cannot recommend BSU enough for anyone looking to study physical education or athletic coaching, or to simply learn how to be a better teacher or coach.

Jordanian alumna comes back to campus as visiting scholar 

When Dr. Buthina Alobidyeen, G’09, traveled from Jordan to the United States for graduate school, she knew she would need a welcoming environment to ease the inevitable culture shock.

Alobidyeen found that perfect place at �����ؿ���Ƶ State, a school that helped her grow and thrive.

“When I came here and started talking with people, I realized they are so nice and friendly,” said Alobidyeen, who earned a master’s degree in business administration. “I had a great experience. ... �����ؿ���Ƶ has a strong academic program and diverse campus.”

Fifteen years after graduation, Alobidyeen is thrilled to be back at BSU as a visiting international scholar for the College of Graduate Studies. Now a professor at Jordan’s Tafila Technical University and a scholar of human resource management, Alobidyeen is continuing her research on women's roles in leadership, academia and business.

She is also attending workshops and conferences and fostering connections between BSU and Jordanian universities. She spoke about Jordanian youth and women with �����ؿ���Ƶ students studying the Middle East.

“It’s great to be back,” she said. “You have plenty of opportunities. You can learn a lot here.”

Alobidyeen pursued many of those opportunities as a �����ؿ���Ƶ student. She worked as a graduate assistant in the graduate studies office and taught Arabic language courses. She even served as student commencement speaker, delivering a speech reflecting on �����ؿ���Ƶ’s welcoming atmosphere that she said defies stereotypes about America.

While Jordanian education is rooted in exams, Alobidyeen often completed group assignments at �����ؿ���Ƶ that introduced her to new ways of learning and teaching.

“I improved my skills in critical thinking, problem solving and effective communication,” she said. “All of those things I learned from here.”

Alobidyeen said she left �����ؿ���Ƶ prepared to study in the UK, where she earned a doctorate from the University of South Whales. She went on to hold numerous positions at Tafila Technical University, including director of international projects and relations.

After finishing her time as a BSU visiting scholar in January, Alobidyeen plans to bring an even stronger international perspective back to Tafila.

“I like teaching and the opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives and contribute to lifelong learning,” she said. “It is really rewarding to work in higher education.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

When I came here and started talking with people, I realized they are so nice and friendly. I had a great experience. ... �����ؿ���Ƶ has a strong academic program and diverse campus.

Alumna launches directory for Africans who seek mental health care

In African culture, seeking help for mental health is not the norm, nor is it necessarily encouraged. Comfort Nyeswah-Wiafe, ’13, G’16, is looking to change that.

The �����ؿ���Ƶ State University alumna, who works as a licensed therapist, recently launched , an online directory that helps Africans across the globe find African therapists and access culturally and spiritually sensitive mental health care.

“In our community, (mental illness) is often seen as something that only happens to white people,” Nyeswah-Wiafe said. “But we know many Africans are experiencing it (mental illness), so it’s important for us to have a space to recognize it..”

Nyeswah-Wiafe studied psychology as both an undergraduate and graduate student and said �����ؿ���Ƶ helped prepare her for the work she’s currently involved in. She found inspiration from one professor in particular, Dr. Teresa King.

King’s Introduction to Psychology class was the first course Nyeswah-Wiafe took at BSU as a freshman. As an African attending a predominantly white university, she said King’s support helped her get her footing.

“She was a strong, powerful woman and really encouraging in the sense that you can do it,” Nyeswah-Wiafe said. “Not only did I get the lecture portion of the class, but the motivation for my future.”

She launched the online directory in November 2023 and has been steadily building a network of African therapists for African therapy seekers.

Why is she only including African therapists? Because often cultural and language barriers prevent Africans from seeking the help they need.

 “For Africans living in America, they come up against having to adjust an African culture into an American one,” Nyeswah-Wiafe said. “In terms of healthcare, particularly in the United States, Africans have to leave parts of who they are outside of the door,”

Many therapists and counselors are not familiar with the various African dialects or cultures, so making connections through therapy can be difficult.

Her goal by the end of the year is to have a network of 100 therapists available through the directory.

“It’s important to recognize that therapy is not one-size-fits-all to ensure all mental health needs are met.,” she said. “My overall experience at �����ؿ���Ƶ was amazing. I really feel like �����ؿ���Ƶ prepared me to do the work that I’m doing.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

My overall experience at �����ؿ���Ƶ was amazing. I really feel like �����ؿ���Ƶ prepared me to do the work that I’m doing.

Alumnus creates content for local sporting goods company

There’s no such thing as a typical day in the office for Michael “Mickey” Howard, ’09. Or even a typical office, for that matter.

As senior manager of creative for Franklin Sports, Howard will go anywhere to produce content for the sporting goods manufacturer – from the inside of Fenway Park’s Green Monster to The Edge, an observation deck 100 stories above New York City.

And Howard never shies away from an opportunity, a character trait he traces to his time as a �����ؿ���Ƶ State history major.

“What sticks out are the relationships I’ve formed,” he said of �����ؿ���Ƶ. “Every new opportunity opened the door to another opportunity.”

Early in his freshman year, Howard successfully ran for class president. That led him to fill many roles in the Student Government Association including student trustee. He also served as an orientation leader, interned for the Massachusetts governor, and joined and eventually led the Sigma Pi fraternity.

“I knew I wanted to get involved and get involved early and often,” he said.

Howard intended to become a high school teacher but discovered a passion for advising students outside of the classroom. With support from Dr. Cindy Kane, who worked in Student Life at �����ؿ���Ƶ State at that time, Howard realized he could turn that interest into a career.

“She was the one that kept putting a bug in my ear,” Howard said of Kane, who encouraged him to apply to become an orientation leader. “To this day, I still stay in contact with her pretty regularly. She gives me sound advice.”

Howard earned a master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of South Florida. He worked for a decade in student life at the University of Florida, where he took on marketing tasks that prepared him to move back to Massachusetts and a new job at Stoughton-based Franklin Sports.

He brings a sense of humor, energy, and innate leadership skills, said Kane, who is now assistant provost for strategic initiatives.

“He had a really good aptitude for meeting new people and helping new people,” she said. “I always knew he was a creative person. Now he’s putting that forward in his profession.”

As an orientation leader, Howard was among the first to welcome students to campus.

“You get to be the first person to make a difference in somebody else’s life, and that is huge,” he said, comparing it to welcoming a new employee into his company. “You get an opportunity to create culture every day.”

Today, Howard leads a team that promotes Franklin Sports’ products for games as diverse as baseball and pickleball (the latter took him to the NYC observation deck for a photo shoot). He hopes his efforts encourage kids to be physically active.

Howard lives in �����ؿ���Ƶ and often walks across campus with his wife and children while telling them stories about his college experience.

“I feel like �����ؿ���Ƶ State cares about the community,” he said. “It’s very much a feeling of being home.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

What sticks out are the relationships I’ve formed. Every new opportunity opened the door to another opportunity.

Alumnus finds his passion not in the classroom but in research

Kenneth Berthelette, ’10, transferred to �����ؿ���Ƶ State because he wanted to become a high school chemistry teacher. 

“In high school I had a chemistry teacher who had a big impact on me and I wanted to replicate that,” he said. “�����ؿ���Ƶ is really known for both education and chemistry, so it seemed like a perfect fit. That, and I’ve always had a knack of explaining things to people.” 

But after taking classes, he found research pulling him in a new direction. 

He credits the entire BSU chemistry department for influencing his decision to switch gears and pursue a degree in chemistry with a focus on research.

“Everyone impacted me in different ways…so who I am today, it was a group effort by the entire chemistry department that shaped me,” Berthelette said. 

When he had the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research, it further validated his feelings. 

“Undergraduate research helped because it gave me hands-on experience. I spent a lot of time in the lab analyzing samples, collecting data and making sure I was doing things right,” Berthelette said. 

In the spring semester of his senior year, he flew to the American Chemistry Society conference in San Francisco, where he gave a presentation. 

“That experience exposed me to conferences, how to give presentations and set me up to have scientific conversations with those in the field,” Berthelette said. “It exposed me to part of what I do now in my job.”

Today, he works as a senior scientist at Waters Corporation, a global company that designs, manufactures, sells and services analytical technologies for research and quality control labs. 

Berthelette works with a marketing team, where he runs experiments on Waters products, and gathers data to support how each performs. 

He then takes his knowledge and shares with customers how to properly and successfully use the products. 

“A big part of what I do is explain what the product is, how it can be used, what makes it different while also doing it with science,” Berthelette said. “I bring a different perspective (as a scientist). Because I ran the experiment myself, and generated the data, I can best explain it.”

While he may not be working in a traditional classroom, he’s aware that teaching is at the core of what he does for a living.

“My favorite part is when I’m explaining things to people, and they have that ‘aha’ moment. I love seeing that, it satisfies the teaching itch I have,” Berthelette said. 

He recently returned to campus to talk with students about his journey from being a student at �����ؿ���Ƶ to working as a senior scientist at Waters. 

“When I was asked to come back and talk, I said yes because I know it’s important to professors and helps students to hear (an alumni) come back and share their stories,” Berthelette said. 

He told students that if BSU hadn’t gotten him to think outside of his comfort zone, he may not be where he is today in terms of a career. 

“The fact is, �����ؿ���Ƶ sets you up in a lot of different ways to be successful even if you don’t realize it,” he said. “Where I am now? It all circles back to �����ؿ���Ƶ.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

The fact is, �����ؿ���Ƶ sets you up in a lot of different ways to be successful even if you don’t realize it. Where I am now? It all circles back to �����ؿ���Ƶ.

Alumnus credits education with preparing him for military career

During his 30-year military career, Mike Adams, ’94, traveled to places as far away as Iraq and South Korea. But he can trace his global acumen right back to �����ؿ���Ƶ State classrooms. 

“What was helpful and stood out to me then was the diversity of the faculty and diversity of the student body,” Adams said of �����ؿ���Ƶ, where he studied sociology. “You got much richer perspectives and experience through that diversity.” 

Adams credits his time at �����ؿ���Ƶ with instilling skills that formed the foundation of his extensive service in the U.S. Army. The intangible benefits of a liberal arts education, earned at an institution like �����ؿ���Ƶ which champions diversity, helped Adams adjust to serving on a tank crew in South Korea with a Hispanic soldier from New York, a Jamaican and a Samoan.

He rose to key leadership posts, including chief of staff for the 3rd Infantry Division in Fort Stewart, Georgia. There, he helped design and implement COVID-19 mitigation measures to protect more than 19,000 soldiers, civilian workers and family members.

“I served with some of the best men and women in the Army,” said Adams, who retired as a colonel and now lives in his native Massachusetts. “Being in command is probably one of the most important and rewarding jobs I’ve had.” 

Adams earned master’s degrees from the National War College and Air Force Command and Staff College, advanced educational experiences that he was ready for with a �����ؿ���Ƶ diploma. 

“I was 100 percent prepared,” he said, adding he could adapt to the Army’s direct written communication style. “You had to write a lot in sociology and the college environment.”

Adams was so impressed with �����ؿ���Ƶ that he encouraged his daughter, Sophia, '28, to come to BSU. Sophia, who is studying astrophysics, aspires to conduct research using prominent telescopes like Hubble. 

In just her first semester, she is already studying her passion through physics instructor Joseph Doyle’s Exploring the Universe course.

“I love that class so much,” she said. “It’s exactly what I want to do and the stuff I want to learn. It’s overall just a really nice opportunity to learn about the history of astronomy and do some fun labs.” 

Adams is glad – but not surprised – to see Sophia fit in at �����ؿ���Ƶ.

“It has a great climate,” he said. “It will play to her strengths. �����ؿ���Ƶ is in my mind the right place.” 

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

What was helpful and stood out to me then was the diversity of the faculty and diversity of the student body. You got much richer perspectives and experience through that diversity.

Alumna’s work centers on helping women who have faced abuse

After taking an introduction to criminal justice class at �����ؿ���Ƶ State University, Kayla Machado, ’19, knew she had discovered her path.

“I loved it, which is ultimately what made me decide to focus on criminal justice,” she said.

Kayla earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology.

The inspiration she found while taking that criminal justice class led her to working in a position where she helps others.

Today, Machado serves as the education and outreach coordinator for the Women’s Center, a nonprofit agency that works with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault located in New Bedford.

“We provide wrap-around services during some of the most traumatic and challenging times of a person’s life,” she said.

To support victims and survivors, the organization offers counseling, emergency short term shelter, transitional housing assistance, court advocacy and a youth trauma program where licensed clinicians work one-on-one with children who have been victims of abuse.

In her role, Machado’s focus is on the community and making connections, along with prevention work.

She works closely with schools and speaks to students about healthy relationships, boundaries, and how to keep yourself and loved ones safe.

“Being able to give these children the basic information about boundaries alone is huge,” Machado said. “This is not a subject that is typically discussed in schools. Having the ability to make positive connections and bring light to such heavy topics is something I’m proud of.”

Finding her calling has been rewarding. She is grateful for the professors in the criminal justice department for their knowledge and support and helping her discover her path, especially Professor Kadijha Monk.

“She was a professor who helped me during the more difficult classes. I learned a lot, and was always looking forward to her classes,” Machado said.

As she moves forward, Machado looks to continue networking and building connections, not only for the Women’s Center but professionally as well.

“I want to continue seeing the different within our communities that the prevention work was in fact able to reduce the number of people being victims of abuse, harassment or assault,” she said. 

For BSU students carving out their own paths, Machado said it’s all about finding a balance and realizing your journey may be different than others.

“If you are someone who does not have everything planned out, like I was, don’t look at your friends and compare yourself,” she said. “Everyone gets to where they are going on their own two feet, and things will fall into place.”

The �����ؿ���Ƶ chapter is all part of creating the outcome.

“You will look back one day and be proud of your achievements and your failures that helped you get there,” she said.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

If you are someone who does not have everything planned out, like I was, don’t look at your friends and compare yourself. Everyone gets to where they are going on their own two feet, and things will fall into place.