‘Ancora imparo’
I am still learning

Beginning with a procession across campus to the strains of Celtic bagpipers, Misericordia University’s Commencement ceremony is a time-honored tradition. Graduates cross the stage amidst handshakes and speeches and turn the tassels on their mortarboard to signify the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Members of the campus community look on as students and their families celebrate the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.

With that in mind, the Spring 2012 ceremony was all the more special for Misericordia alumna Sarah Dempsey ’12, ’04, ’94, whose family had more than most to cheer about. As evident by the years of graduations that follow her name, Dempsey was no stranger to the Commencement process. Inspired by the words of Michelangelo, “Ancora imparo,” which means, “I am still learning,” the Clarks Green, Pa., graduate crossed the stage to receive her third and fourth Misericordia degrees this past May. She earned a Master of Science in special education and a dual Bachelor of Science in special education and elementary education summa cum laude, and topped it off by adding certificates in special education, elementary education and early childhood education to her already lengthy resume.

“I fell in love with the Misericordia campus the first time I saw it and it will forever hold a special place in my heart,” says the 43-year-old Dempsey. “As a high school graduate, I chose Misericordia largely because of the Alternative Learner’s Program (ALP). The ALP provided a wide range of learning strategies and individual accommodations to meet my learning needs, such as special test accommodations, alternate formats for texts and materials, assistive technology and tutors. I chose to enroll in business administration because of the broad experience it offered in understanding commerce, production and operation.”

The Dunmore native is no stranger to success in business. She is one of six children of Karen and Patrick Dempsey. Mr. Dempsey is the founder and owner of Dempsey Uniform and Linen Supply, in Jessup, Pa., a top rated company for uniform supply, linen service and healthcare laundry, serving the mid-Atlantic region, including the Baltimore and Washington D.C. metro areas. “My parents are two people who are exceedingly generous, endlessly supportive, and unfailingly loving people. They are undoubtedly my twin pillars without whom I could not stand. I am so proud to be their daughter,” she says.

Dempsey made the most of the services ALP offers on campus when she earned her first Misericordia degree in 1994, a Bachelor of Science in business administration with concentrations in management and marketing.

Her first position was with the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company as an intern. She was subsequently named acting director of Human Resources, where she administered HR policies and procedures, employee and labor relations, employees benefits and DOT/Safety compliance. She next joined the company’s Sales Distribution and Service (SDS) team where she handled high-volume recruitment and placement and helped train SDS staff to provide a competitive edge in sales techniques, communication skills and career development. Her work helping implement sales and marketing training programs to effect sales profit and margin earned her two of Coca-Cola's highest honors, the Liberty Bell and Corporate Glass Bottle.

While working full time, she continued her education, and earned her second Misericordia degree, a Master of Science in organizational management with specializations in human resources development in 2004.

In her next position, as the training and staff development director at Clarks Summit State Hospital, Dempsey served as a member of the leadership team where her responsibilities were to develop and deliver prevention programs and therapeutic interventions to strengthen the hospital’s residential, individual and organizational capabilities. She also represented the hospital in the community providing professional, medical and psychiatric training programs to local hospitals, academic institutions, advocacy agencies and other state departments.

She says that her work helping others improve themselves through education was so fulfilling that she decided to return to Misericordia to further nurture her own education and prepare herself to nurture the education of others.

“As always, I have my family to thank. As my nieces and nephews grew, I noticed the substantial amount of time I was spending with them teaching everything from reciting the alphabet to making change for a dollar,” Dempsey explains. “I finally realized it was time for a career U-turn and started my search for a program with a Master of Science in special education. The first and only place I looked was Misericordia University. From previous good experiences as a student there 20 years ago, I knew it was the right place for me.”

Matriculating toward her second master’s degree, Dempsey needed to fill in some undergraduate education courses to build a foundation for the higher-level courses that the master’s program required.  With those in hand, she completed her field experiences, course-related practicums and supervised student teaching placements, and learned she had enough credits to also receive her fourth Misericordia degree – a dual bachelor’s in special education and elementary education, summa cum laude. She also was inducted into Kappa Pi Delta international honor society and earned certifications in special education, elementary education and early childhood.

Her entire family was there for the Commencement ceremony, including her five siblings, who she says have been behind her 100 percent of the way. “I was so proud to have my family at the ceremony, including some of my nieces and nephews,” Dempsey beams. “So many people have helped me stay the course: my family, male soul mate, friends, Misericordia staff, and most importantly, God. They have all been instrumental in this lifelong learning. Everyone knows how geese help each other to fly in formation, each taking turns at the lead. All the aforementioned people have been much like that, staying with me and helping keep me on track every step of the way.”

Dempsey suggests that there might be a fifth degree on the horizon. “I embarked on this challenge, knowing that I am not finished learning. Michelangelo's words have become my personal credo, ‘Ancora imparo.’ Translated, this means, ‘I am still learning.’  Thus, my next step is to earn my doctorate. Dr. Dempsey – sounds nice, really nice!”

Caption:

The recipient of four Misericordia degrees, Sarah Dempsey ’12, ’04, ’94, is flanked by members of her family who she credits for the success of her educational journey.  Shown from left are her siblings and parents: P.J. Dempsey, Mary Frances Koester, Katharine Spanish, Karen Dempsey, mother; Sarah Dempsey’12, ’04, ’94; Patrick Dempsey, father; Michele Cunningham and Kristin O’Donnell