English Bradley ’26 has “this happy, delusional optimism all the time,” as she put it, and a firm belief that everything will work out, even when hope might appear slim.
At her lowest, the Reading native was forced to drop out of college when financial aid fell through. Bradley moved to Florida with a boyfriend and held odd jobs before finding out she was pregnant.
“You’re in survival mode,” recalled Bradley, 34, who lives in West Reading with her son, Kevin McFarland, 14. “This was not how I intended things to go.”
And yet, a can-do attitude and bubbly personality helped Bradley create her comeback as a business administration and management major at Alvernia University even as she holds down a high-profile, 24/7 job as chief of staff to Reading Mayor Eddie Morán, raises her son, serves on community boards and stays active in her church.
“Some days it’s a circus,” she said. “Absolute mayhem. Thank God for Google Calendars. Other days, I have great friends saying, ‘You’re really crushing it.’”
One is Morán.
“English has immense faith,” he said, “and she’s determined to get it done. She brings a good balance of administration, social service and positive energy to my cabinet team.”
Bradley said she juggles it all thanks, in good part, to Alvernia’s online degree program, which affords her flexibility. Often, Bradley spends lunch listening to lectures or working on group projects. She also praised the university’s professors, who have worked with her on assignment due dates.
“Anytime I needed anything, personally, professionally or academically, they’ve been available,” she said.
She called Reading and Alvernia’s partnership giving city employees a discount on tuition a godsend. The city is one of numerous local employers offering a tuition discount to their workers through Alvernia’s Preferred Partnership program. Alvernia also offers a tuition discount to members of select regional chambers of commerce.
Already, Bradley’s studies have paid dividends. A business and labor relations course helped Bradley navigate labor contract agreements as the mayor’s representative.
None of this seemed likely when Bradley returned to Reading from Florida to pick up the pieces. But her unwavering faith and support of her mother, a single parent herself, buoyed her, she said. Bradley’s priority became providing for her son. A quick study, she worked a string of jobs: massage therapist; hotel front desk agent, rising to operations sales supervisor; and sales manager at a manufacturer.
In 2020, at a friend’s behest, Bradley joined Berks Community Television (BCTV) as an administrative manager, doing fundraising and outreach.
“I fell in love with nonprofits,” she said, “and helping people in authentic ways.”
An eager learner, Bradley became acting executive director in 2023. In April 2024, she joined the mayor’s office.
But even as she succeeded, Bradley dreamed of a college degree. Fortuitously, BCTV is located in Alvernia’s John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne, where frequent student sightings piqued her interest in the university. A 2022 encounter with President Glynis A. Fitzgerald assuaged any doubts.
“She bought me a coffee and gave me a hug, and said: ‘Girl, we won’t let you fail. If you want to do this, we’ve got you,’” she recalled.
That personal interaction assured her Alvernia would have her back.
Looking ahead, Bradley sees only opportunities.
“Alvernia’s really helping to change my future,” she said. “This degree, this ‘comeback’ is the open door for whatever comes next. That’s worth every penny, every sleepless night.”
