It’s not hard to understand why students and alumni love UB. From our faculty to our undergraduates, University of Bridgeport’s community is a diverse family of passionate, creative, and innovative individuals. Throughout your time as a UB student, you will grow both personally and professionally.

One way that UB embraces self-growth is by offering undergraduate students leadership opportunities. For some, these opportunities have even turned into careers. Among UB’s faculty and staff, many are alumni themselves!

Rebecca Ciullo, Alexandra Pisco, and Jessica DePalmer all share this in common — after earning their degrees at UB, these women advanced in their positions and now play integral roles in shaping and leading our UB community. Learn why these three alumni fell in love with University of Bridgeport!

Rebecca Ciullo Loves UB’s Diversity

Rebecca Ciullo didn’t expect that she would earn three degrees and a career in higher education at UB. In fact, when Rebecca was introduced to the University in 2011, it was because she planned to study Fashion Merchandising. As a junior in high school, Rebecca’s English teacher recommended UB’s program to her.

Having grown up in a small town, Rebecca immediately appreciated University of Bridgeport’s diversity, which exposed her to new cultures, different viewpoints and a world of opportunity. Throughout her studies, Rebecca made meaningful connections with friends from all over the world.

“I grew up in a small town that wasn’t very diverse. Making friends with people from Cyprus, Latvia, Scotland, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Italy, Egypt, and Serbia to name a few, allowed me to experience things I would have never imagined and really helped me grow as a person.”

– Rebecca Ciullo, Ed.D.

In 2015, Rebecca earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing. After completing her BS, Rebecca pursued a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Analytics Intelligence and Marketing. Rebecca completed this degree in 2017 but it wouldn’t be her final UB diploma — last year, she earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.).

Throughout her experiences as a student, Rebecca also remained active as a UB employee. She worked in the Ernest C. Trefz School of Business as a student worker and graduate assistant. In these roles, she developed a passion for educational equity.

Rebecca now serves as the Manager of Enrollment Communications for UB’s Office of Admissions. She loves that her job allows her to be creative and collaborative, all while doing her part to promote student success — the same type of success she was able to achieve at UB.

“What I love most about working at UB is the people! We’re a very family-oriented community which is what makes working at UB so special.”

– Rebecca Ciullo, Ed.D.

Alexandra Pisco Loves UB’s Welcoming Community

Alexandra Pisco is currently a Human Resources (HR) Specialist at University of Bridgeport. Her relationship with UB began over a decade ago when she discovered the school with the help of her high school guidance counselor. As an undergraduate, she chose to study Criminal Justice and Human Security. Alexandra fell in love with UB’s scenic campus — she would often explore the grounds between classes and enjoyed walking on Long Island Sound.

During her undergraduate career, Alexandra was not just studying at University of Bridgeport — she was also working here. It was her experiences as a student worker that made Alexandra love UB the most. She worked part-time for the duration of her undergraduate studies before becoming a full-time employee in 2016.

“As a staff member, I think what I love the most about UB is our culture and how we all mesh. I think we’re a tight-knit community!”

– Alexandra Pisco, HR Specialist

Today, Alexandra is still a UB student currently working toward a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and Human Security. As a full-time HR specialist, Alexandra proudly works alongside her team to help UB’s faculty and staff. Her favorite thing about being an HR specialist is having the opportunity to make somebody else’s day better.

Jessica DePalmer Loves Opportunities to Make a Difference

Jessica DePalmer is UB’s Manager of Admissions Events and Campus Visits. She first discovered UB at a college fair – funny enough, the very type of event she supports at the school today! Jessica chose to apply to UB during her senior year of high school and was accepted. Thanks to our convenient location and financial aid services, UB quickly became Jessica’s first choice school.

As an undergraduate, Jessica chose to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Human Services. Like Rebecca, Jessica quickly fell in love with the diversity that makes UB the strong community it is today.

Jessica also enjoyed UB’s leadership opportunities. During her sophomore year, she became a Resident Assistant (RA). She advanced as a Residential Life professional and eventually became the Resident Director (RD). As an RD, she opened University Hall and oversaw four different buildings. She loved having the ability to shape the future of the Residential Life program and provide guidance to current students. Above all, she loved having the ability to make a difference.

“I loved creating programming ideas for our students and taking the lead during any incidents while I was on call. I’ve had several residents tell me that I saved their lives, which is something that will always resonate with me.”

– Jessica DePalmer, M.Ed. 2014, BS 2012

Aside from continuing her role as an RD, Jessica eventually completed her Master’s in Elementary Education. Her experiences at UB seamlessly paved the way for her career in higher education; Jessica is now in her fourth professional position at UB. As the Manager of Admissions Events and Campus Visits, she organizes major events, helps with the front desk and campus tours, and oversees UB’s student ambassadors.

Jessica considers herself lucky to have the “best ‘job’ on campus.” She loves serving the UB community with the Admissions team, whom she describes as funny, passionate, and creative professionals. Her favorite thing about working at UB is the people — her supervisor gives her creative freedom to “do her thing” and the student ambassadors make her laugh and “keep her young by sharing their Gen-Z lingo!”

Love Your Time at UB

UB students make unforgettable memories and enjoy endless opportunities to grow. Learn more about why you’ll love the UB student experience today!