Carpenter received her Bachelor of Science in psychology, after which she states that she wasn’t ready to leave Winchester.
So, she decided to stay at Shenandoah and pursue an associate’s in nursing, which “has taken [her] so much further than [she] could have ever expected.”
I received an excellent education at Shenandoah. I think that spending four
years on my bachelor’s degree gave me the maturity, educational background and focus to make the decision to go into nursing. If you told me when I was in high school that I would be a nurse in an influential position one day, I probably would have laughed at you.”
Beginning as a hospital staff registered nurse, Carpenter then began working for a private physician where she specialized in ophthalmic surgery, suturing corneas after cataract surgery. Carpenter’s most influential work experience occurred when she worked as a research nurse, conducting clinical trials for new drugs needing FDA approval.
My varied background from the clinical ‘hands on’ and research work made me a big draw to the medical malpractice (defense) field which I work in today and truly enjoy.”
Currently a claims analyst for a London-based insurance company, Carpenter handles health care professional liability, general liability, and excess insurance claims.
Carpenter says one of her fondest memories at Shenandoah was meeting her husband, Jeffrey Carpenter ’86, in the dish room of the cafeteria. Jeffrey graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz performance and then went on to law school at St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y. He is currently the chief court attorney for Nassau County Family Court on Long Island.
She also remembers attending parties at the old pit and making very special friends, with whom she is still friends to this day. “Going to Shenandoah and living in Winchester were seven of the best years of my life.”
The Carpenters have two sons, Shenandoah graduates Matthew ’12, ’13 and Evan ‘16. “I have seen the amazing changes that have occurred in the school, the campus and the city itself, which led to both of my sons wanting to attend SU. Honestly, there was no pressure put on them. They fell in love with SU and the city. Shenandoah was good to me, to my husband and both of my kids.”
Matthew received his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and his master’s in business administration. Matthew lives in Nashville with his family, which includes his two daughters ages five and three. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in biology, Evan moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia, and is currently studying veterinary technology at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, Virginia.
The Carpenters currently live in New York, volunteer with Boy Scouts of America and a local
greyhound rescue organization, and love to travel. This year, Carpenter looks forward to
engaging with alumni and encouraging those who have not visited Shenandoah in some time
to return to Winchester to see all of the amazing changes to the campus and the surrounding
area.