Patricia “Patty” Guillaume ’07, Alumna

“My life, thus far, has been one full circle. It seems that every experience has built upon the previous one and I have happily ended where I started,” says Patricia “Patty” Guillaume ’07. “One of my first jobs while in college was in student affairs working with students and I have been working in this area for 20 years now.”

For Guillaume, college was always in the plans for her future. “My mother had become the sole provider for my sister and I near the end of my middle school years. She was adamant about us earning a college degree and getting a job that would provide us with health insurance, and put us in a position to support ourselves,” she said. “We were raised believing that you needed to be a nurse, doctor or lawyer to be financially successful. My mother was an LPN, and a nursing degree is what she planned for me.”

“In obedience to my mother and focusing on what I was told would bring me financial stability, I applied to well-regarded nursing programs,” said Guillaume. “I knew I didn’t want to attend a large institution and Bloomfield College was the perfect fit. It was close to home and offered the small setting I was accustomed to. For my elementary education, I attended a small Catholic school, and it was an environment where everyone knew each other and was where I felt most comfortable.”

Early on in her nursing studies at Bloomfield, Guillaume felt lost, and soon had strong evidence that nursing was not for her. “I did not connect with the coursework and did not do well in my classes. As I struggled, I repeatedly asked my mother if I could try something different. She strongly refused and asked that I work harder. At some point, I just couldn’t try any longer. I was flunking, and at one point was even placed on academic probation.”

After spending two and a half years as a nursing student, Guillaume was successful in getting her mother’s approval to switch her major to business with a concentration in human resources. She is thankful to her Bloomfield advisor who led her to declaring this major. “My mother worked as a nurse, but also had an entrepreneurial background. She was always selling things that she knew people needed and or enjoyed and eventually opened a convenience store,” said Guillaume. “Knowing this, my advisor was able to help me present the new major to my mother. My advisor also said that he could see that I was a “people person” and suggested human resources as a concentration.”

Once Guillaume switched her major, she grew to become successful academically and was able to graduate after seven years in college. “I made great connections with the business faculty and my new classmates,” she said. “Today, it is extremely rewarding to be able to advise students and use my work and life experience to help them avoid missteps I encountered along the way. I am now the one advising students on how to pitch their passions and desires to their parents.”

Some of Guillaume’s fondest memories while at Bloomfield include her time as a Work-Study student in the Center for Student Leadership and Engagement (CSLE). She credits the experience she gained in CSLE with establishing the foundation that would catapult her into her future career.

“Through CSLE, I gained experience in working closely with students involved in clubs and organizations, especially in administrative work, supervising and training student staff, payroll, advising, mentoring, and student affairs processes,” recalls Guillaume. “Then, in my senior year while I was still a student, I was offered a college position as an Administrative Assistant in CSLE. This further expanded my experience in advising and mentoring, and with budgets. I supported the work of my supervisor and expanded my knowledge through various student affairs projects related to student life. My responsibilities continued to grow, and I received tremendous support throughout.”

While a student, Guillaume was also a member of the Haitian Student Association, served as Secretary and Event Coordinator and joined the E-Board. She assisted with events and worked with outside businesses who came to campus to display their goods and services.

“The College exposed me to so many new experiences. I had never been to New York City, for example, or seen a Broadway show. I had never been camping. I was afforded the opportunity to experience things that I would have never done on my own,” said Guillaume. “My life previously had always been school, church and home.”

Following Bloomfield College, Guillaume went on to work at Seton Hall as an Administrative Assistant in the student affairs area. This was followed by several promotional opportunities while at Rutgers University Newark where she has held the positions of Program Coordinator for the Honors College, Academic Advisor for the School of Arts and Sciences and, her current role, Academic Advisor for the Rutgers Business School.

“Through each position, I have gained a deeper knowledge of higher education. Dr. Kinna Perry, who was the director of CSLE from 2005-2007, has continued to guide me as my mentor all these years. I am grateful for this long-lasting relationship that started at Bloomfield,” she said. “I have come full circle from being mentored as a business student, to now advising and mentoring business students at the Rutgers Business School. I was once in their shoes, and I enjoy grooming them to meet the high standards expected in the business world.”

Guillaume, who serves as a Youth Advisor for her church, Haitian Pentecostal Church & Home of Hope Worldwide Inc. in Irvington, New Jersey, is also training to become an Evangelist and is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. Recently, she was contacted by her former classmate and newly appointed Bloomfield College Alumni Association (BCAA) President, Maurice Lyle, to take on the role of BCAA Chair for Recruitment and Mentoring, bringing together her student advising experience and her ministerial work.

“I firmly believe that people need mentors for every area of life – not only for their careers and family life, but spiritually as well,” said Guillaume. “I am passionate about mentoring students, and my time and work ethic are the strongest contribution I am able to make to my alma mater. I am very excited to reconnect with the Bloomfield College campus, its students, and to give back to the BC community that gave so much to me.”