Dr. Hamill Shares Her Story and Opinions on U.S. Border

Photo Credit / East Stroudsburg University Dr. Hamill believes ESU students can help shape the future of the country.

Yisela Contreras

Contributing Writer

Dr. Cynthia Hamill is an instructor of introductory, senior and graduate courses in public administration.

Her course topics include public budgeting/finance, organizational behavior, management and leadership issues in public administrations, public personnel administration and administrative law.

Her education began at Saint Francis College where she received her Bachelor’s of Arts in 1982.

Dr. Hamill then went on to receive her Master’s of Business Administration in 1998 from The University of Phoenix, but she did not stop there. In 2011 Dr. Hamill received her Master’s of Science here at ESU.

“I was working at ESU as a staff member and working on my doctorate when I was asked if I wanted to teach two public administration classes. After teaching for two semesters I was asked to teach a fuller course load and left my staff position to become an instructor,” Hamill said.

In 2015 while teaching a full course load, Hamill became a doctor and received her Ph.D. from Marywood University (MU). Her dissertation from MU focused on the impact that higher education policy has on minority students.

The dissertation focused on Hispanic and first-generation students, as well as the impacts of political campaigns on Hispanic and first-generation students’ success.

Here at ESU, Hamill is the adviser for Delta Chi, a professional fraternity for law students and the College Democrats group.

“I have always been interested in government and how it should work. My first career was in the private sector and after many years of working for a corporation, I realized that there was more to life than providing people with products. I was more interested in providing citizens with services that were necessary for a better life,” Hamill said.

Hamill weighed in on some of the actions our government has been taking. Hamill spoke about President Trump declaring a national emergency at the US and Mexico border.

“All of the intelligence from the border says that there is no crisis. Reports from Homeland Security indicate that most undocumented people in the US come through airports and seaports legally, and just overstay their Visas,” Hamill said.

She stated that most undocumented immigrants don’t come through the border, and most drugs that reach the U.S. are flown in or arrive by boat. Though she admits the border needs more security, a wall is not the answer.   

“We want to keep out drugs and violence but not the people who are seeking a better life and have the potential to become great citizens and add to the economy. We can enhance security with more people, technology and screening techniques,” Hamill said.

The “emergency declaration” was a way to redirect funds to build a wall that no one along the border wants, and she believes that change starts with youth.

“As for college students, the best way to protect yourselves is to vote and get your friends to vote well. Speak out against policies you do not agree with. Remember when one group of people is singled out, it hurts all of us,” Hamill said.

Hamill suggested that ESU should host more open forums and discussions with students, faculty, and staff on campus.

“We need to bring people together to discuss these issues. We also need to inspire students to get involved in working for candidates or running for office themselves to infuse the process with new ideas and change,” Hamill said.

Hamill believes that our campus and our world are too diverse to only hear from one group of individuals.

“We need to maintain an open dialogue with many different people. Most of us do not have the same American experience in this country and we all should understand what it is like for others so we can change it for the better,” Hamill said.

Email Yisela at:

ycontreras@live.esu.edu