Senior Spotlight: Morgan Bodwell

Who are some people you feel have contributed to your success at UMass?

People who have contributed to my success at UMass are my parents, friends, and family. My roommates Mia Allie and Kate Bulger. My professors Dr. Gwyneth Rost, Dr. Jill Hoover, Dr. David Gooler, Professor Elizabeth Martin, and my academic advisor Katherine Hanson. Additionally, my fellow executive board members of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. My lab manager Emelia Ferguson and my classmates.

What is your favorite UMass memory?

My favorite memory at UMass was going to Frozen Fenway my sophomore year. I love sporting events, and Fenway Park is my favorite venue to visit. It was such a fun experience that I got to share with my family and my hometown best friend Jillian Gregory, who is also a UMass alumna. I also loved Parent Weekend every year, especially having my family and extended family visit campus. We’d tailgate together and attend football and hockey games, which made it feel like a perfect mix of school and home.

What surprised you most about your major?

What surprised me most about my major was how well I would get to know my professors, faculty, and classmates. When I first came to UMass, it was a big adjustment to a large campus feel, living away from home with so many people. When I started my freshman year, I was a kinesiology major in so many large lectures and had no idea how I would make friends or become close with my professors. In the spring semester of freshman year, I switched into speech, language, and hearing sciences and very quickly met amazing students in my major and felt very comfortable talking to professors after class or asking questions. It became clear I had found my passion and path for my future.

What’s next after UMass?

After graduation this May, I return home to Ipswich, MA, for a final summer season of waitressing. In July, I will be working at Northeastern University as a program assistant for a month-long Word Detectives Summer Program, working with children to support their reading and language skills alongside Northeastern faculty and master's students. In September I will attend Northeastern University for my master's in speech language pathology.

What made your UMass experience special or unique?

A trip that made my UMass experience unique was traveling to Ireland for a two-week study abroad program for international perspectives on disabilities. Through the Developmental Disabilities and Human Services program with Ashley Woodman, we were able to spend two weeks in Ireland in June of 2025. During these two weeks we spent one week in Dublin and one week in Galway learning about disability rights and policy but also exploring the city. On our free day in Dublin, Stay City and John Sharpson, an Irish influencer, invited my friends and me to a Gaelic football game in Crooke Park. The event was fully funded by them, and they provided us with a game ticket and a jersey. It was an unforgettable experience.