“At Lynn, I wasn’t just a number, I had relationships with faculty,” said Buckle. “The personal environment at Lynn made it possible for me to finish my degree on time. The small class sizes and my close relationship with my professors helped me get through those harsh times.”

Buckle moved back home to Connecticut and went to Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, where she fortunately received life-changing care. It took three additional hip surgeries to correct the issues she encountered in her original operation.

Now came a crucial moment in Buckle’s life. A career in hospitality now seemed impossible—the extent of her injury did not allow her to keep up with the physical demands required by the job. Despite this adversity, Buckle stayed grounded and harked back to the experiences she garnered growing up with her family. She pivoted her focus to her love of art.

“I had always loved art. I took art history classes, I visited museums, galleries and art fairs,” said Buckle. “Even while I was a hospitality student at Lynn, I was doing all these things.”

What began as a hobby turned into a new career path. Buckle pursued her M.A. in art business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York City.

“I now had a real-world approach to art. You must welcome the public into your space; you must anticipate social trends, what people appreciate and what appeals to them,” said Buckle. “That knowledge came from my hospitality background at Lynn.”