UNE student Desirae LeBlanc serves on commission of New England Board of Higher Education

Desiree LeBlanc

Desiree LeBlanc, a May 2017 graduate of the University of New England Health, Wellness, & Occupational Studies program and current student in UNE’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program, is serving on the New England Board of Higher Education’s (NEBHE) Commission on Higher Education & Employability (CHEE).

She was appointed in the fall of 2016, and is the only Maine student serving on the CHEE, along with other select students from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The majority of other members are college and university administrators, political representatives and industry professionals from across New England. 

The CHEE’s purpose is to develop actionable strategies and policy recommendations to more fully unite institutions, policymakers and industry around increasing the career readiness of graduates of New England colleges and universities. Increasing successful graduate transitions into the workplace will contribute to the well-being and competitiveness of the region. 

LeBlanc is a part of the CHEE working group titled "Targeted Higher Education/Industry Partnerships + Work-Integrated Cooperative and Internship-based Learning.” Since joining the CHEE, LeBlanc has attended commission meetings and shared her positive past experiences with UNE service learning programs and how they helped her develop employability skills. She also emphasized the importance of supporting students in seeking out opportunities beyond the classroom, such as internships and field work. 

To learn more about the University of New England’s Westbrook College of Health Professions visit www.une.edu/wchp

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.