Kory Fitzpatrick ’16, M.S.

MAJORS: Sociology, Nonprofit Management
PROFESSIONAL; Marine Officer Instructor, College of the Holy Cross
Officer in Charge of Evacuation Control Center in Afghanistan
VOLUNTEER: Youth Baseball Games Umpire

Worcester State gave me the opportunity to learn about myself and the kind of person I wanted to be. I was able to meet people in all stages of their lives from all over the world. Having great classroom discussions and hearing all the different ways things can be interpreted based on everyone’s lives up to that point made me realize that everyone views things differently, and to effectively lead people you have to take all of that into account.

The most important thing in my line of work is the people. The more you foster connections with people and the more you get to know the individuals working for or with you, the better the outcome is. I have had the privilege of working with the finest people that this country has to offer and watching them return to their communities and become pillars after their military service.

In the Marine Corps you get to serve the Marines that are subordinate to you. It is the people that I have been able to lead that have continued to motivate me. I always find myself questioning if I am good enough or if I am giving enough to the Marines in my charge, because they deserve the best.