Dad-, mom-daughter duos make graduation family affair

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By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Today’s Youngstown State University commencement marks the culmination of much time and effort for many students, but for two Mahoning County households, it’s also family time.

Father and daughter Bob and Brooke Fusco of Beaver Township and mother and daughter Anthea and Carinda Mickens of Youngstown will all graduate during today’s ceremonies.

Bob, 56, earned his bachelor’s degree in general studies, and Brooke, 21, is getting her bachelor’s in psychology. Anthea Mickens earned her master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner, and Carinda’s bachelor’s is in social work.

“It’s exciting,” Anthea said. “I’m very happy that we’re graduating together.”

Bob Fusco said attending college at the same time as his daughter allowed him to see her more.

As part of the YSU Scholars program, Brooke lives on campus.

Unlike some young adults who believe their parents cramp their style, Brooke enjoyed taking classes with her dad.

“He’s always been the fun guy,” she said. “My friends always liked my dad. He probably made more friends in class than I did.”

They took three classes together, and although they both earned A’s, they enjoyed a friendly competition. Brooke, who graduates summa cum laude, usually edged her dad, who graduates magna cum laude, by a couple of points except in physical geography, where he did better than she did.

Bob, who is self-employed, doesn’t plan on using his degree.

“I can’t give myself a raise,” he joked.

He started at YSU in 1976 after graduating from Chaney High School, attending for a couple of years while working, but then left when he started working two jobs.

“It always bothered me that I didn’t finish,” he said.

Brooke wasn’t surprised that her father wanted to complete his education.

“He’s always been into learning,” she said, adding that her father is a voracious reader.

Brooke plans to pursue her master’s at Ball State University and hopes to ultimately earn a doctorate and work either as a clinical psychologist or in academia.

Her mother and Fusco’s wife, Lori, is a clinical-nurse educator at YSU. As a faculty member, Lori Fusco will hand out diplomas at today’s commencement.

Her mother’s career prompted Brooke to consider a career as an educator.

“I see how much she enjoys it,” she said.

Both she and her dad believe he’ll cry when both walk across the Beeghly Center stage.

“You’ve always been a big softy,” she said.

Seeing her dad cry, though, might move her to tears, too.

Anthea Mickens, 51, director of nursing with the Youngstown City Health District, isn’t sure how she’ll put her degree to work either.

“I wanted to better myself,” she said of her decision to return to school years after earning her bachelor’s degree. “And with going through the divorce, I knew I would be the breadwinner.”

The family moved to Youngstown about 10 years ago from Detroit. Her sister and brother-in-law, Karen and the Rev. Kelvin Turner, former pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church, lived in the city at the time.

Anthea said her sister provided inspiration as well as a good-natured rivalry.

“When she got her master’s degree, I had to get my master’s,” she said.

The mother of four also continued her education for her children.

“I wanted to be a role model of stick-to-it-iveness for my children,” she said.

Carinda, 23, who begins work this fall with an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship chapter at the University of Akron, said her parents instilled in her the importance of a college degree from an early age.

“I didn’t really have a choice about going to college,” she said.

That’s something she’s grateful for now. Carinda is the youngest daughter and the first to graduate from college.

“It’s just a great accomplishment to graduate from college especially for our family and for us in particular is a symbol of resilience,” she said.

Besides the divorce, the mother and daughter endured the loss of loved ones and an unexpected pregnancy for one of Carinda’s sisters.

“Things happened to our family that could have derailed us, but we stuck to the plan,” Anthea said.

Today will be an emotional day for both women.

“I look back at all my mother accomplished, going back to college while working full time, taking care of us four kids — she’s a role model,” Carinda said.