Some would say Southern Vermont College women’s basketball player Markeisha Mullen (Baltimore, MD/Walbrook) took the circuitous route to SVC. The psychology major is just happy to have a second chance at chasing her goals.

Yes, the junior power forward is one heck of a basketball player, but she is also a profile in perseverance. Mullen attended Baltimore City Community College and she figured basketball was in her future. Things changed though when an addition to her family came about. Five years ago she had a daughter and it sidetracked her college and changed her life.

“A child shouldn’t stop your life,” Mullen said. “You may need to rethink where you’re going and what you’re doing. Life is as good as you want it to be.”

That being said two years ago Mullen decided to embark on college life again this time with a focus: Get a degree and make life as good as possible for her daughter.

“I was raised by my grandmother so I want to be there for my daughter and getting an education is the best way,” she said.

Some people go to school with no purpose, Mullen is focused.

“I want to open up a group home for troubled kids,” she said. “Giving back to my community is very important.”

It’s that type of devotion that hasn’t gone unnoticed on the SVC campus.

“The motto I am using this semester to describe SVC also describes Markeisha: we dream, we dare, we do,” said Southern Vermont College President Karen Gross. “Markeisha dreams, dares and does. She does SVC proud on the basketball court, in the workplace and in the classroom.”

Mullen is quick to point out she has close relationships with teachers and finds Southern Vermont College to be the perfect fit. One such teacher is the Chair of Humanities Division Lynda Sinkiewich.

Markeisha is dedicated to her success,” said Sinkiewich. “She is not merely a passenger in her education but rather is one who takes charge, going those extra steps to get the most out of her educative opportunities. I’m proud to know her, and Southern Vermont College is proud to count her among our ranks.”

Mullen is having a pretty good season. She set a school record with 26 rebounds in one game. The total was the sixth most by a NCAA Division III women’s basketball player this season. She leads the team in rebounds (11.9) and is second in points (18.2).

Basketball isn’t an afterthought these days, but it’s just part of a more mature and complete person.

When asked to describe herself in one word Mullen said, “Determined.”

With that determination and a now five-year-old daughter one can only imagine how far Mullen will go in life because after all in her words, “Life is as good as you want it to be.”