2008 Woodie Awards
ALUMNI CORNER
Carissa Neglia
Issue date: 3/15/05 Section: News
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Her involvement with Mercy College did not cease upon her graduation. Dr. Lynn Rosenthal referred her as a peer tutor. And when the Learning Center was created at Mercy College, she was told she had to earn a Master's degree. Gagliano continued working at Mercy College until she received her degree from Lehman College. She then became a teacher and remained at Mercy College.
Gagliano has made an impact on the students at Mercy College because she receives letters regularly from students thanking her for help. Mercy College has also made an impact on her life, because it helped her accomplish her goal of receiving a Master's degree and having a wonderful job, she said.
She added: "It's not something that I sought, it's something I fell into. I never entered in my head that I would be a teacher. Many years ago I did show business as a performer, and then I was in a stagnant period of my life. I wanted to change that, and I wasn't doing anything to change it. I decided to go to college for my degree. I stayed and I have just gone with the flow."
Gagliano's heritage comes from a variety of sources: Irish, English, Scottish, Comanche, Cherokee and Sub-Saharan African. The impact of this heritage on her life can be seen by her participation in Black Gospel choirs and her creation of unique Indian crafts.