Women Who Inspire: From Saint Lucia and the Virgin Islands to Monroe and Doctorates

This Women’s History Month, we proudly shine a spotlight on two extraordinary women whose recent academic achievements reflect both unwavering determination and a deep commitment to student success.

Veralyn Gabriel, Ed.D., Director of Career Services, and Shenique Rojas-Hyman, Ed.D., Assistant Dean of Career Services, recently defended their dissertations and earned Doctor of Education degrees in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education from Gwynedd Mercy University. They began the cohort-based program together three years ago, attending every class side by side and supporting one another throughout the journey.

“She was able to be my accountability partner, and vice versa,” said Dr. Gabriel.

Their shared accomplishment is especially meaningful at Monroe, where both have devoted their careers to helping students translate education into meaningful work. Career Services at Monroe supports students and alumni through career exploration, internships, workshops, events, and personalized guidance across all campuses, with virtual programming also available. The team works to help students build confidence, achieve career readiness, and continue to support alumni throughout their professional journeys.

For Dr. Gabriel, earning a doctorate fulfilled a long-held personal goal and the dreams of her family back home in Saint Lucia. By pursuing this degree, she was honoring not only her own aspirations but also those of her grandmother, who had longed to attend school but could not afford it.

“I never took my education for granted,” she said.

Through her work in Career Services, Dr. Gabriel has found her calling in guiding and mentoring the next generation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and Dr. Rojas-Hyman were asked to teach Career Readiness and develop a three-credit course, “The Psychology of the College Student: Identity, Motivation and Resilience.”

Dr. Gabriel’s dissertation, “Seen But Not Heard: A Qualitative Study on the Perceived Career Barriers Among First-Generation Afro-Caribbean Women Working in U.S. Education,” was deeply personal. As an Afro-Caribbean woman herself, she approached the study with both passion and purpose, hoping to shed light on the challenges she observed.

“I fit the bill,” she said. “I’m first generation, I’m originally from Saint Lucia, and it was just something that I’m very passionate about.”

One of her most significant discoveries was the tension between Caribbean cultural norms, which often emphasize deference to authority, and U.S. workplace expectations, which frequently reward self-advocacy.

“I wanted to see if other Afro-Caribbean women felt those same things,” she said.

Dr. Rojas-Hyman echoed Dr. Gabriel’s observations. A Monroe alumna who earned her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University, she was recruited to Monroe from the Virgin Islands and has remained a committed member of the Career Services team ever since. Her growth within the department—from the front desk to leadership—has given her firsthand insight into every facet of the student experience.

“I’ve been able to really sit in every seat within Career Services,” she said.

Her lived experience as a Monroe alumna continues to shape her work, fueling her drive to provide highly personalized support to every student.

“Every time I see a freshman student, I’m watching myself,” she said. “Oh my goodness, here’s another Caribbean student starting off their journey.”

Dr. Rojas-Hyman’s dissertation, “Careers Don’t Have Labels: Women in Male-Dominated Industries Reflect on Visibility and Early Career Exposure in PreK–12 Education,” reflects her long-standing curiosity about academic tracking and gender. She recalls a formative middle school experience when she saw a Black woman in law enforcement—small in stature like herself—exuding authority and breaking preconceived boundaries.

“That moment really stuck with me. It reshaped how I imagined my future could look like, and that’s what I hope for my research to do – I want all women and girls to know that anything is possible for their futures,” Dr. Rojas-Hyman said.

Together, Drs. Gabriel and Rojas-Hyman embody the mission of Monroe’s Career Services: expanding access, building confidence, and helping students envision their futures. Their achievements demonstrate the power of perseverance and serve as a beacon for women aspiring to leadership.

“There’s power in your voice,” Dr. Gabriel said. “I never want women and girls to ever feel like they have to be silenced.”

Dr. Rojas-Hyman emphasized her desire to model the coexistence of advanced education, leadership, and family life.

“I want to be that example,” she said. “I want them to know that it’s possible for them, too.”

This Women’s History Month, we celebrate Dr. Gabriel and Dr. Rojas-Hyman for defending their dissertations, advancing the mission of Career Services, and inspiring a new generation of women—especially Afro-Caribbean women—to pursue their dreams with confidence and courage.