Natalie Mullen, Saint Anselm College Alumna, Class of 2002
For Natalie Mullen '02, creating and keeping balance in her life means having a purpose for what you're doing, knowing where you're going, and keeping life's issues in perspective. She credits her mother and father and her Catholic faith for instilling in her the ability to keep life in perspective and provide guidance for life's true issues. "Look at all your options," her mother would often say when Natalie was growing up. "Look into things first," she would reiterate.

"My mother, Linda, is multi-talented," says Mullen. "She is a great cook, an artist, and very creative. She is also very organized—everything she does is well thought out. She plans everything."

Her father, Dennis, is an electrical engineer, and currently the systems operations manager for Public Service of New Hampshire in Manchester.

"I certainly credit his engineer mindset for my desire to research and plan things out," she says. "My father is simply a great mind and my mother is his practical side. They make a great team."

Mullen learned well by example. Her thoughtfulness and skill at planning and organizing her own life have been instrumental in helping to maintain a high level of activity, balanced involvement in school, family, community service, church and work, and still pursue her love for dancing. "Dance is my passion and a gift from God," she says, "and I feel the need to share this gift."

And she has been sharing this gift for a long time; all through elementary school, high school, and college. As a senior at Trinity High School in Manchester, she traveled to Mobile, Ala., as New Hampshire Junior Miss. President of the Dance Club at Saint Anselm College, she continues to perform today in local pageants affiliated with the Miss America system.

"These scholarship pageants have afforded me the opportunity to pay off many college loans," she says, "which I always find amazing!"

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