YSU is special to student speaker

This student also teaches in the university’s Department of Health Professions.

YOUNGSTOWN — Erin Bishop admits that when she came to Youngstown State University in 1995, it took her a while to become serious about her studies.

But all that changed, and Bishop has been asked to be the student speaker at this summer’s graduation ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday in Beeghly Center at YSU.

Thomas J. Cavalier, chairman, president and CEO of Butler Wick Corp. and Butler, Wick & Co., will be the commencement speaker.

Bishop said it was her encounter with Kathy Akpom, a YSU professor of health professions and Bishop’s adviser, that altered her attitude.

“Dr. Akpom helped me turn my life around — she was a defining person in my life,” said Bishop, who will join nearly 500 students getting their degrees.

Bishop will graduate with a master’s degree in public health, the first person in her family to receive a master’s degree.

Akpom, who encouraged Bishop to go for the master’s, also recommended her to be the student commencement speaker.

Her college career

Bishop received a bachelor of science degree in applied science with a concentration in community health education in 2001 from YSU and now teaches “Introduction to Healthy Life Styles” offered by the Department of Health Professions at the university.

“My students amaze me,” she said. “I require that each of them write a journal, and I read each of them. This way, I can really get to know who the student is.”

“Their stories are different, but overwhelmingly, they say they are in school to better their lives. I hope that I am helping them to do that,” she said.

She is also the strategic plan coordinator for Mahoning County Continuum of Care. Her capstone school project, “A Strategic Plan To End Homelessness In Mahoning County,” served a dual purpose — it enabled her to complete the master’s requirements and, at the same time, was adopted by Mahoning County. The county intends to unveil Bishop’s plan this October.

“When I think about it, I have been at YSU almost half of my life,” said the Youngstown native. “I am now 30 years old, and I started here when I was 18.”

As far as Bishop is concerned, that is just fine.

Love of YSU

“The No. 1 reason I selected YSU is because it is close to home. I felt that I could be away at college, but still be at home,” she said.

While an undergraduate, she was in Zeta Tau Alpha and lived at the sorority house for a year.

The Ursuline High School graduate financed her college education by working for various campus departments and at Inner Circle Pizza in Poland.

And once she decided on a major, she took internships and side jobs that pertained to the community health field.

“Any time I had an opportunity to do something in my field, I did it,” she said.

Her mother, Colleen Boyle, attended the university for almost 10 years before graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology. Bishop said they took three classes together. Her father, Thomas Boyle, also attended YSU, and her brother, Kevin, 28, is a YSU student.

Bishop and her husband, Jason, have two sons: Jack, 3, and Ethan, 1.

“I love YSU. It’s been good to me and my family,” she said.