Lisa Marie Ciampa

Lisa Marie Ciampa started college 25 years ago to pursue pre-med studies. After September 11, her trajectory shifted as her responsibilities in the Massachusetts Army National Guard intensified. In the years that followed, she navigated the demands of military service, family life and her career.

“I’ve always been connected to health care, one way or another,” says Ciampa, who earned a licensed practice nursing degree at Vermont Technical College and worked 14 years as a medical case manager supporting her fellow service members. “But I knew that I wanted to grow my understanding of the industry and expand my career focus.” 

That motivation, along with the desire to set an example for her son and three daughters, led her back to college. After being medically discharged from the military in 2021, Ciampa enrolled at UMass Lowell to pursue a bachelor’s degree in public health. 

“I knew UMass Lowell’s public health program would give me the education I needed to move forward to the next level in my career,” says Ciampa, who grew up in Shutesbury, a small rural town in western Massachusetts. “Going back to school after 20 years was intimidating, but it ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” 

Ciampa found academic support and a strong sense of community at UMass Lowell (UML) among the faculty members who mentored her and students who welcomed her. 

“I thought the students would not accept an older student, but my experience has been wonderful,” says Ciampa. 

While a student in the bachelor of science (B.S.) public health program, Ciampa took advantage of UMass Lowell’s Bachelor’s to Master’s Program. This allows her to earn the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in social and behavioral sciences in one year. 

In her MPH capstone project, a hands-on learning experience with Beth Israel Lahey Health, Ciampa was introduced to health analytics and population health work. 

“My capstone work showed me how important real-world experience is,” she says. “I learned that this was not the career for me. I would never have known that without getting a wide range of exposure across the industry, and that’s exactly what my UML education provided.” 

Instead, Ciampa decided that teaching was for her. After completing her master’s degree, she is starting a new job as a health science teacher at Alvirne High School in Hudson, New Hampshire. 

“What I really wanted was for my kids to see that you can always keep moving forward,” says Ciampa. “No matter your age or where you are in life, you can still build something new and the future you always wanted.”