Alumni spotlight: Mandi Freger
Alumni spotlight: Mandi Freger
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- Alumni Spotlight: Cameron Klos
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- SVC alumnus who authored “Masters of the Air” explains backstory of his book and the Apple TV+ series
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- Alumni Spotlight: Brianna Baum
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- Student spotlight: Julie Zhu
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- Expert to speak at Saint Vincent about the ethics of keeping partly rehabilitated birds in captivity
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- Student spotlight: Luca Rosato
- Alumni Spotlight: Meg Matich awarded National Endowment for the Arts Literary Translation Fellowship
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- Student spotlight: Austin Slye
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- Antique coverlet exhibit will open April 17 at Saint Vincent College’s McCarl Gallery
- SVC education department to host educator and author Dr. Todd Whitaker
- SVC welcomes Sr. Gabriele Vasiliauskaité as inaugural Stephans Family Visiting Benedictine Professor
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- Mr. Safin’s “From the Heart” captures filmmaking award
- Saint Vincent College extends new student commitment deadline to June 1
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- SVC reveals finalists for 50th annual President’s Award
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- SVC Concert Series continues with “(S)Heroes” from the IonSound Project
- Saint Vincent College students, faculty recognized at 2024 Spring Honors Convocation
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- Dr. Sara Lindey receives Boniface Wimmer Faculty Award
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- Alumni spotlight: Chris Golias
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- Spring 2024 commencement address by Ms. Susan Baker Shipley
- SVC engineering students cap Spring 2024 semester by presenting wind tunnel projects
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- SVC alumna Elizabeth Elin wins 2024 Clark Award for religious studies and theology
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- Trip to Portugal provided SVC students and alumni with global perspective
- Saint Vincent Summer Theatre offers special trolley trip for “Unnecessary Farce”
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- Digital art pioneer Roman Verostko, 94, dies
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- Dr. Mary Beth Yount chosen to fill SVC’s Irene S. Taylor Endowed Chair for Catholic and Family Studies
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- 200 campers work up a sweat during annual Steelers Youth Football Camp at Saint Vincent College
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- 43 Saint Vincent College graduates begin pursuits of advanced degrees
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- SVC chemistry professor authors chapter about scholarship of teaching and learning for STEM faculty
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- Saint Vincent College professor Dr. Lucas Briola to speak about Laudato Si’
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- Alumni spotlight: Kyla Hockley
- Saint Vincent College receives approval for Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing program
- Spring 2024 Dean’s List
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- Professor tends to red maple trees along Saint Vincent College’s driveway entrance
- SVC student Maggie Shero and alumna Victoria Saddler earn grand champion laurels in equestrian competition
- Alumni spotlight: Chelsea Bayko
- Saint Vincent professor’s ‘Office Hours’ TV show promotes student and professional filmmakers from across the region
- DP Harris named Saint Vincent College’s director of athletics
- Saint Vincent College earns spot on Money’s Best Colleges in America 2024 list
- Student spotlight: Valeria Hurtado
- Phineas Gage to perform free concert in Latrobe
- Fr. Justin Matro to speak at Saint Vincent Seminary as part of Benedictine spirituality series
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- Tradition, hospitality shine through as Steelers wrap up 2024 training camp at Saint Vincent College
- Ready to roll: Tesla joins Saint Vincent’s fleet of vehicles
- Strong turnout for Phineas Gage concert in Latrobe
- Alumni spotlight: Mandi Freger
LATROBE, PA – Mandi Freger, C’94, arrived at Saint Vincent College intending to study science but wound up earning a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with a concentration in biology and a minor in chemistry. Thirty years later, her unexpected change of plans turned out to be a perfect course of action.
“Everybody asked me, ‘What are you going to do with that degree? How are you going to get a job?’” Freger recalled with a laugh. “Well, here I am—it can be done. Maybe my story will help promote liberal arts degrees.”
Freger is a licensed professional counselor and behavioral specialist in private practice with more than 25 years’ experience treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and practicing energy psychology techniques. This fall, she will release her first book, “From Exhausted to Energized: A Guide for Caregivers of Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.”
After graduating from Saint Vincent, Freger earned a master’s in psychology and gained practical experience while working at various clinics. While director of an affiliate of the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, Freger became involved with a school-based program for children with ASD. That’s when her career came into focus.
According to 2020 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 36 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. That’s a dramatic increase from 1995, when the ASD rate was one in 500 children. ASD occurs in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Parents and guardians who try to help their children often feel swamped as they realize there in no single or easy solution.
“I had a lot of interaction with the parents when they dropped off their kids every day,” Freger said. “I saw how intense the work is. I had a lot of stressed-out parents on my hands and thought, ‘It’s time we pay some attention to the caregivers.’”
Freger organized a pilot study in which the caregivers were taught to use a breathing exercise to cope with stress. “I didn’t intend to publish [the study results] or anything; I just wanted to try to give them some relief,” she said. “When we saw that their quality of life improved, we knew we were onto something.”
Encouraged by the results, Freger began thinking of ways to expand and publicize her work. That was the genesis of her book, which be released Oct. 15.
“The book is about the techniques and skills parents need to work with their kids and how they can apply energy psychology techniques to themselves to become more resilient caregivers,” Freger said.
First popularized in the 1980s, energy psychology combines the traditional approach of exposure therapy with holistic techniques of healing and spiritual development. Among the different treatments are acupressure therapy, thought field therapy and emotional freedom technique.
“Energy psychology embraces a lot of different mind-body modalities,” Freger said. “One of the most common techniques is mindfulness. Yoga also falls under the umbrella in a practical sense of what I practice.”
Freger has taught Zumba, cycling, yoga and group fitness classes. At Saint Vincent, she teaches one-credit courses in dance and gymnastics.