Lori Torrini ‘24

Why did you choose Unity for your degree? 

The highly specialized animal-focused degrees, fully online learning, accelerated terms, course availability, and especially how streamlined and accessible the entire experience was. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I was accepted into a master’s program in animal welfare and behavior at another university. I was excited about the program, but prerequisite courses were already full. Meaning there was a chance I couldn’t start until the following fall. Unity allowed me to continue my education immediately. Allowing me to complete my master’s at Unity only months after what would have been my first semester in the other program.

What made your Unity experience special to you?

My experience showed me how differently higher education can operate. Unity felt like a 21st-century university. It’s fast, accessible, technologically streamlined, and flexible, while still providing a rigorous academic experience. After experiencing Unity’s model, I can’t imagine going back to long traditional semesters, difficulty accessing courses, and administrative barriers that slow students’ progress.

Where are you currently working? 

I serve as Director of Spirit Keeper Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit organization that provides lifelong care for retired, elderly, and special-needs horses and other animals. I also own Behavior Education LLC, where I provide animal behavior education, training, and consulting. I am also pursuing a PhD in General Psychology. My doctoral research focuses on relational congruence and incongruence among companion snake keepers, in relation to social support.

What did you learn through Unity that prepared you for your career?

My coursework taught me more than what was current in the field at the time; it strengthened my ability to find, critically evaluate, synthesize, and apply new scientific literature as the field continues to change. Unity also gave me the freedom to direct projects toward my professional interests. I could take what I was learning and apply it directly to my work.

What advice would you give current Unity students as they prepare to enter the workforce?

You get out of your education what you put into it. Unity’s online format offers tremendous flexibility, but flexibility should not be mistaken for easy. If you want to excel academically and make your coursework useful beyond earning a grade, it takes drive, self-motivation, and hard work.

I would encourage students to pursue the subjects that genuinely interest them, read beyond what is required, and whenever possible, choose assignments and projects that have real-world relevance to what they want to do. Don’t think of an assignment as something that ends when you submit it. Some of my coursework developed into research and professional projects that continued long after the course was over.