January 31, 2025

Each month, the Office of Graduate Studies, in collaboration with its Diversity Advisory Council (DAC), will select two graduate Drexel Dragons to highlight for the community! This month's recipients are Raymond Mallari and Olivia Mitchell.

Raymond Mallari

Raymond Mallari is a first-year online doctoral student in education (Ed.D.) in the School of Education. He was born in the Philippines, lived in Virginia until graduating from high school, and has lived in the Philadelphia area for more than 20 years.

Raymond earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in music with a focus on music performance in violin and viola from West Chester University. He has been certified in the Suzuki method for violin, a mid-20th-century music curriculum and teaching method created by Japanese violinist and pedagogue Shinichi Suzuki.

Raymond chose Drexel specifically for the Ed.D. program and its online modality and flexibility which allows him to continue his career in and passion for music education and performance. His graduate work is focused on creativity and innovation in music education with a goal of contributing to music education research, scholarship and publication.

Raymond is the co-principal viola player for Berks Sinfonietta in Berks County, PA under the direction of Dr. David McConnell. "It is a fantastic group in which we aim to present works of living composers, female composers, and any others who are considered minority. We are proud to consistently debut new symphonic works along with the standard classics repertoire," he said.  This month's performance will be in collaboration with Vox Philia Chamber Choir, Kutztown University, Muhlenberg College, and Penn State Berks in which we will highlight works by Quinn Mason.

As part of his experience, Raymond attended a doctoral student colloquium where he heard doctoral students present their research and experience which provided him with a clearer outlook for his journey. He also participated in an advising hour about using AI for research analysis, including "How to Read a Book in 5 Minutes." 

Raymond would like to shout out the great team at the School of Education, including faculty members, Dr. Harriett Rasmussen and Dr. David Ferrero. "They have provided excellent guidance, input, and insight at the onset of my journey," he said. Raymond is part of the Ed.D. Mentoring and Coaching program with Dr. Obadiah Baker. He also notes that his fellow cohort members have been a great resource and source of inspiration. "It is an honor to be with them and a great pleasure to learn together," he said. 

Further, Raymond mentioned Dr. Tsz Kwok, an alum of the Ed.D. program, director of academic administration and of multicultural and equity affairs in the Office of Graduate Studies, and adjunct faculty member in the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, who has offered him a great deal of information including prior to applying to the program, and Dr. Joseph Hancock, faculty member in the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, for providing his objective perspective which has been immensely valuable. 

Raymond's advice for his fellow graduate students include two things he heard when starting his program which are often repeated: "Continue to take time for yourself" and "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

"Many of the other students and I talked about the importance of continuing to maintain balance with our health. It is a non-negotiable," he said. Raymond also emphasized the importance of teamwork and building camaraderie with Cohort members. "No one should feel alone or lonely when going through a life journey like an Ed.D. It’s been a great pleasure establishing a connection with my Cohort," he said. 

In his free time, Raymond is involved with the Greater Philadelphia Suzuki Association and the Suzuki Association of Americas. "These organizations are prestigious and offer the best in the world of Music Education. I have crossed paths with some of the best educators, performers, and students in the world because of them. I am proud to have been a Board Member and continued active member for these organizations that promote access to musical arts," he said.

Olivia Mithchell

Olivia Mitchell is a second-year online master's student in retail and merchandising in the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design. She is originally from New Jersey but has lived in Philadelphia for three years. She has an associate's degree in communication from Union County Community College and a bachelor's degree in communication from Kean University in New Jersey.

After working in retail for more than 10 years, including for Target, Whole Foods, and The Gap Factory, Olivia chose Drexel for her graduate education specifically for the retail and merchandising program as she has developed a passion for the field. "I love merchandising [because] I love creating an eye-catching display that stops a customer in their tracks," she said. Olivia's professional goal was to become a buyer. Retail buyers purchase merchandise for stores to resell to consumers. She has already achieved that goal by becoming a buyer for Burlington Coat Factory, an off-price retailer.

Olivia credits Dr. Joseph Hancock, faculty member in the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, and adjunct professor of retail and merchandising, Kimberlyne Bethea, director of business development and customer care for Cocona, Inc. and Drexel University and Fashion Institute of Technology alum, for being her biggest supporters. "They have been my biggest champions and have always believed in my success," she said. 

Olivia’s advice to her fellow graduate students is to work on time management. "Working on assignments or reading a little each day will save you the stress of staying up all night completing assignments before a deadline," she said. She also encourages her fellow online students to visit Drexel’s campus, if possible. Visiting campus and meeting peers, faculty, and professional staff can enhance your connection and help you take advantage of all of the resources available to you.

When she is not working on her degree, Olivia loves trying different restaurants in the city and going to concerts. Her favorite restaurant at the moment is SOUTH Restaurant and Jazz Club on Broad Street. She also said living in Philadelphia has turned her into a football fan and an Eagles fan. Olivia is eager to watch her team in Superbowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs. "Go Birds!"

We are thrilled to have Raymond and Olivia as members of the graduate Drexel Dragon community and can’t wait to see all they will achieve!