PHOTO ABOVE: January 2020 Keynote Speaker Torrey Maldonado ’96, Linking the Chapters of Life

2021 (Virtual Program)

Speaker: Steve Hatfield ’88

Principal, Deloitte Consulting, Global Future of Work Leader
More about Steve

Work Transformed: Thriving in the New Future of Work
Video: Watch Keynote
Date/Time: Thur, Jan 28, 8–9 p.m. EST
Location: Livestream
Audiences: Students, Alums, Parents

Speaker: Natalie Nixon ’91

PhD, President, Figure 8 Thinking, LLC
More about Natalie

YOUR Creativity L.E.A.P
Video: Watch Interactive Talk
Time: Wed, Jan 27, 4–5 p.m. EST
Location: Zoom
Audience: SCC Students

2021 VIDEOS

Enjoy these selected talks from the 2021 event

Student Schedule At-a-Glance

Note: All student participants will access the events they are registered for through Handshake.

Mon, January 25

5:00–6:00 p.m.

SCC Orientation & Introduction to Networking Online

Get ready to make the most of virtual SCC! Attend this session or the encore on Tuesday at 12 noon.

7:00–8:00 p.m.

Identity at Work: Student-Athletes in the Workplace

A meet-up offering students and mentors who identify as student-athletes the opportunity to convene in a small group setting. Hosted by Corey Holton, Assistant Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Welfare and Head Coach, Women’s Soccer; Lucia Robinson-Griggs, Head Coach, Women’s Basketball; and Michelle Walsh, Director of Athletics.

8:00–9:00 p.m.

Identity at Work: Internationals in the Workplace

A meet-up offering students and mentors who identify as internationals the opportunity to convene in a small group setting. Hosted by Yousra Khan, Office Specialist in the Office of International Services; and Srashta Maharjan ’23, Winter Intern in the Office of International Services.

Tues, January 26

12:00–1:00 p.m.

SCC Orientation & Introduction to Networking Online Encore

Attend this session if you missed the one on Monday.

7:00–8:00 p.m.

Identity at Work: BIPOC in the Workplace

A meet-up offering students and mentors who identify as BIPOC (Black and Indigenous and People of Color) the opportunity to convene in a small group setting. Hosted by Kevin Collins, Director of the Jeh Vincent Johnson ALANA Cultural Center; and Ivanna Guerra ’20, Administrative Fellow for ALANA/Transitions.

8:00–9:00 p.m.

Identity at Work: Women in the Workplace

A meet-up offering students and mentors who identify as women, including but not limited to cisgender, non-binary/genderqueer, trans, and/or intersex, the opportunity to convene in a small group setting. Hosted by Danushi Fernando, Director of LGBTQ and Gender Resources.

Wed, January 27

4:00–5:00 p.m.

YOUR Creativity L.E.A.P. with Natalie Nixon ’91 (Interactive Workshop)

In this interactive talk, Natalie Nixon will help you map out 4 basic mindset shifts so that you are best prepared for the road ahead with optimism and confidence. Introduction by Carlos Alamo, Dean of the College.

7:00–8:00 p.m.

Identity at Work: LGBTQIA+ in the Workplace

A meet-up offering students and mentors who identify as LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual + Identities) the opportunity to convene in a small group setting. Hosted by Danushi Fernando, Director of LGBTQ and Gender Resources.

8:00–9:00 p.m.

Identity at Work: Transitions in the Workplace

A meet-up offering students and mentors who identify as first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI+) the opportunity to convene in a small group setting. Hosted by Capria Berry, Director of the Transitions Program; and Ivanna Guerra ’20, Administrative Fellow for ALANA/Transitions.

Thurs, January 28

8:00–8:30 p.m.

Work Transformed: Thriving in the New Future of Work with Steven Hatfield ’88 (Keynote)

COVID-19 has been an accelerant to trends in the future of work that had been taking shape over the past decade. To chart the path forward, we need to both understand these trends and the old mental models we bring to how we think about work, workforce, and workplace. We will take a look at how these models need to change in order for individuals, organizations, and society to thrive in the new future of work.

Fri, January 29

1:00–4:00 p.m.

Open Hours/Pre-SCC Questions

Do you have questions heading into Sophomore Career Connections weekend? The CDO staff will be on hand to offer advice and answer your questions via Zoom drop-ins and our chat feature!

Sat, January 30

1:00–2:45 p.m.

Career Cluster I with Breakout Receptions

Attend the first of two industry-based sessions which will feature a panel followed by breakout rooms offering an opportunity for additional time with the mentors. Please log on to Handshake to access the Zoom link for your assigned session. View all 17 industries and assigned mentors here.

3:15–5:00 p.m.

Career Cluster II with Breakout Receptions

Attend the second of two industry-based sessions which will feature a panel followed by breakout rooms offering an opportunity for additional time with the mentors. Please log on to Handshake to access the Zoom link for your assigned session. View all 17 industries and assigned mentors here.

Sun, January 31

1:00–2:30 p.m.

SCC Networking Reception for Sophomores

Keep the connections and conversations going on our new virtual networking platform! Students will have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one text and/or video conversations with mentors.

Mentor Schedule At-a-Glance

Note: All mentors will access the events they are registered for through calendar invites.

Mon, January 25

7:00–8:00 p.m.

Identity at Work: Student-Athletes in the Workplace

8:00–9:00 p.m.

Identity at Work: Internationals in the Workplace

Tues, January 26

7:00–8:00 p.m.

Identity at Work: BIPOC in the Workplace

8:00–9:00 p.m.

Identity at Work: Women in the Workplace

Wed, January 27

7:00–8:00 p.m.

Identity at Work: LGBTQIA+ in the Workplace

8:00–9:00 p.m.

Identity at Work: Transitions in the Workplace

Thurs, January 28

8:00–8:30 p.m.

Work Transformed: Thriving in the New Future of Work with Steven Hatfield ’88 (Keynote)

Fri, January 29

8:00–9:30 p.m.

Mentor Orientation + Conversation with President Bradley

Remarks from Steve Hankins ’85, P’13, ’17 and Carol Ostrow ’77, P ’09, ’15

Sat, January 30

1:00–2:45 p.m.

Career Cluster I with Breakout Receptions

Attend the first of two industry-based sessions which will feature a panel followed by breakout rooms offering an opportunity for additional time with the students.

3:15–5:00 p.m.

Career Cluster II with Breakout Receptions

Attend the second of two industry-based sessions which will feature a panel followed by breakout rooms offering an opportunity for additional time with the students.

Sun, January 31

1:00–2:30 p.m.

SCC Networking Reception for Sophomores

Keep the connections and conversations going on our new virtual networking platform! Mentors will have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one text and/or video conversations with SCC student participants.

3:30–5:00 p.m.

Vassar Career Connections (All Class Years Networking Reception)

Connect with more students eager to learn more about you and your work! Mentors will have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one text and/or video conversations with students from the classes of 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Mentor Directory

Select an industry or major of interest and then scroll down to see the mentors who participated in the 2021 program. Mentors for the 2022 program will be announced soon.

Anastassia Knight ’14

Creator Success Manager, Jellysmack, Los Angeles, CA

BA, Japanese and Sociology, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Advertising / Marketing / Public Relations
Additional Industry Expertise: Entertainment/Media
Linkedin Profile

From MCNs to traditional advertising and talent agencies, Anastassia has worked in almost every imaginable environment for digital, entertainment, and social media. A self-proclaimed “talent whisperer,” her specialty is working with digital talent through influencer marketing and social media management. She has worked on advertising campaigns and social media strategy for companies such as Warner Bros., Disney, California Lottery, Honda, and Olay, among others. Anastassia is currently working in Los Angeles as a Creator Success Manager, where her primary focus is on managing accounts for YouTube creators to increase their engagement across all social media platforms, while providing guidance and recommendations for growth. When she is not managing top talent on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, Anastassia enjoys commercial modeling for body-positive fashion companies. As a dual major in sociology and Japanese, she is also an avid fan of anime, manga, and finding ways to connect with others on a large scale through digital and social avenues. You may end up seeing her on a billboard in Times Square someday!

Advice to Students:

Be patient with your career growth, and don’t be afraid to explore multiple facets of the industry that you’re interested in. Always stay curious: Ask questions, network, and stay open to learning new skills no matter where you are in your career. Jobs can be temporary, but knowledge and skill sets are forever. (Translation: Enroll in that Excel class you’ve been meaning to take!!) No matter what happens, don’t give up—it only takes ONE YES to get to where you want to be!

Anne Green ’93

Principal / Managing Director, G&S Business Communications, New York, NY

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BA, English, Vassar College
MPhil (ABD), 19th Century American Literature, New York University
Assigned Industry: Advertising / Marketing / Public Relations
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Financial Services, Management Consulting
Linkedin Profile

As a business leader and communicator, Anne relies on deep reserves of curiosity, empathy, and enthusiasm for learning new things. In her role as Principal/Managing Director, Anne oversees the New York office of integrated communications agency G&S Business Communications, with responsibilities for ensuring client service excellence, talent development and business growth. A 25-year industry veteran, she also provides senior-level counsel and executive training for key accounts across multiple industries. Before assuming her current role in 2018, Anne was President and CEO of CooperKatz & Company, the award-winning independent agency she helped to grow for 22 years prior to its acquisition by G&S. She serves as an industry and community leader, with roles as a board director for the Alumnae/i Association of Vassar College and board president of LifeWay Network, a New York-based charitable organization that supports survivors of human trafficking. Anne earned a B.A in English from Vassar College, with concentrations in women’s studies and vocal performance; and an M. Phil. (A.B.D.) from New York University, with a focus on 19th century American literature.

Advice to Students:

The past 12 months have been really challenging. But the pandemic has also offered up new opportunities to connect in deeper ways. Vassar College alums are very concerned about how students today are doing. They want to hear from you and help. There has never been a better time to make connections—from getting active on VassarNet and LinkedIn, to emailing alums in fields that interest you to ask for a brief introductory call. SCC mentors, in particular, will be ready to hear from you. Don’t be shy! And please don’t be discouraged if it takes more than one email or check-in to get someone’s attention.

Chrissy Persico ’95

Director, Consumer and Multicultural Communications, Google, New York, NY

BA, Psychology, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Advertising / Marketing / Public Relations
Additional Industry Expertise: Technology
Linkedin Profile

Chrissy is a Director on Google’s communications team, overseeing consumer and multicultural comms for nearly every Google product, from Gmail and Google Maps to Pixel phones and Nest home assistants. Her team educates media on how technology can help you get things done, as well as the people behind the products, and works with outlets spanning print, digital, and broadcast including Telemundo and Univision, Buzzfeed, Vogue and Refinery29, the Grio, Complex, and many more. She is a proud mentor with a commitment to allyship and DEI. Before joining Google, Chrissy was a writer and editor with over 15 years of experience in print and digital media including the New York Daily News, ABC News, and Time Inc., and was a studio assistant to the photographer Annie Leibovitz.

Advice to Students:

1) Don't wait for someone to come to you with an opportunity for growth. Identify an area or project you can contribute to and add value, and suggest it yourself.
2) Create stretch goals: Even if you don’t hit them all, you’ll be surprised at how many you do.
3) Embrace feedback. A good manager's job is to make you successful, and that includes regularly sharing areas for improvement.

David Heller ’86 P’21

Founder, Assemble Partners LLC, New York, NY

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BA, English, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Advertising / Marketing / Public Relations
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Entertainment / Media
Linkedin Profile

After running media departments of ad agencies for many years, David founded Assemble Partners with his partner, Kimberly M. Bassett (Princeton ’88), in 2013. Assemble is an experiment. It questions whether it’s possible to build a successful company on the principles of partnership, hard work and joy. Prior to building the media resource at McGarryBowen, Heller was President of DentsuNext, and previously headed the media departments at Kirshenbaum & Bond, TMPG Media Innovation, and Colby & Partners. He has extensive experience running media for some of the world’s biggest brands, including British Airways, Qantas Airways, Northwest Airlines, Wyndham Hotels, Revlon, General Mills, Kraft, Northrop Grumman, Sharp Electronics, TiVo, Dish Network, Liberty Mutual, Citibank, CIT Group, and Credit Suisse.

Advice to Students:

For lack of a better metaphor, your job search is an ever-evolving Venn diagram. One circle is your interests and passions, one circle is your skills and talents, and the final circle is what the world needs. Spending time discovering the overlap of these three circles is time well spent and, in my experience, usually well rewarded. When I graduated, I had a lot of ambition and passion, but I must admit that my three circles were yet to be discovered. Happily, I had had the support of the Career Development Office and a network of VC alums who were very happy to help me find my way. Over the years, I’ve tried to help as many Vassar graduates as I could. If I could help one or two current sophomores start to find their way and fill in their blanks, I’d be paying back an ongoing debt of gratitude.

Louis Scaglione ’17

Talent Acquisition Partner, Horizon Media, New York, NY

a man sitting in a chair. Caption generated by GenAlt.

BA, Political Science, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Advertising / Marketing / Public Relations
Linkedin Profile

As a Talent Acquisition Partner at Horizon Media, Louis effectively manages and fosters relationships with executive leadership, company-wide, in order to develop talent acquisition strategies and programs that are grounded in diversity, equity and inclusion—first and foremost. Louis employs efficient and adaptable interview and talent selection practices in his day-to-day function as a recruitment professional, specializing in placements across various departments including Digital Activation, Search Engine Marketing/Optimization, Paid Social Media Marketing, Programmatic Advertising, and Affiliate Marketing.
In addition to the aforementioned responsibilities, Louis also contributes to and collaborates on crucial talent initiatives such as Talent & Employer Branding, Performance Mapping, Interview Process Overhauls, and Interview Skills Trainings. In 2019, Louis played an integral role in the implementation of a new competency-based interview program, aimed at placing a greater emphasis on adaptability and learning agility over trainable, “hard” skills and previous working experience as essential hiring criteria—thus, undercutting unconscious bias and minimizing hiring decisions based on those biases. The program has since accelerated and is now being implemented across the organization.
Additionally, Louis spearheaded and executed (from inception through implementation) Horizon Media’s inaugural “Fellowship Program” in 2020, partnering with organizations such as COOP and Baruch College in order to provide hands-on learning, training curriculums, as well as full-time career opportunities to diverse and underrepresented talent groups. Initially focused in Programmatic, SEM, and SEO, this first-of-its-kind program has since continued to grow in its adoption across various departments within the agency.

Advice to Students:

In career pursuit—as with many other things in life— it’s okay if you don’t know what the “thing” is yet. Instead of focusing on finding it, focus on finding the people. That group will empower you to find the right career.

Manav Dalmiya ’17

Data Analyst, Atlassian, San Francisco, CA

BA, Economics, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Advertising / Marketing / Public Relations
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Technology
Linkedin Profile

Manav grew up in the New York/New Jersey area. At Vassar, his coursework was primarily focused on economics, computer science, statistics, and urban studies. Manav currently lives in San Francisco and has worked as a Data Analyst at Atlassian (a Nasdaq-100 workplace productivity software company) since graduating from Vassar. He got the job through a Vassar connection (use the network)! As a Data Analyst, his job is to use data to provide visibility into a business and solve problems. He supports the Marketing and Sales teams by building and measuring metrics that track how customers come to the company's website, try its products, and eventually buy its products. In collaboration with Marketing and Sales managers, he collects the data, interprets it, and develops findings—and communicate those out to build a more efficient business.

Advice to Students:

First off, respect to all of you for pushing through school during a pandemic! I am sure it is a uniquely challenging experience and I admire your commitment. As a recent graduate, I am very thankful for my Vassar education. Leaving college and starting adult life is hard. It can also be very rewarding, especially when you feel like things are going well, and you can prepare for that today.

My advice to a Vassar student would be to get as much experience doing real-world things you’re passionate about during college and use those experiences to guide and enrich your education. Try to find your dream job, use the network and CDO, and see if you can do it! Also be curious to learn new technologies—everything is digital today!

Amber Hawkes ’03 (Saturday Only)

Co-Director, Here LA, Los Angeles, CA

BA, Urban Studies, Vassar College
Master of City Planning, Urban Design, University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)
Assigned Industry: Architecture / Development / Planning
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Environment/Sustainability, The Arts
Linkedin Profile

Amber co-leads Here LA as Principal and Co-Director. She oversees a diverse portfolio of projects, from large-scale open space concept design and streetscape design to strategic planning surrounding first/last mile and new mobility solutions. Many of the firm’s projects use out-of-the-box strategies to design and test urban improvements, including “tactical urbanism,” pilot projects, and art-filled community engagements. Amber has worked on vision and master planning projects for cities and clients throughout the U.S., with a focus on creative problem solving. A few examples of the projects that Amber has led include: the MyFig streetscape design overhaul of the Figueroa corridor through the heart of downtown Los Angeles, which included the city’s first cycle track; and the Transit-to-Parks Strategic Plan, a regional guiding document for Los Angeles Metro that facilitates park and open space access for disadvantaged communities. Amber was an instructor for a decade at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs in the Graduate School of Urban Planning and she speaks at conferences and forums about urban design-related topics.

Advice to Students:

Time flies. Take a step, any step, and soon you will be on your way. Don’t dillydally. Don’t worry about finding the exact right thing for you before you jump in. Follow your interests. Each step will take you somewhere new and each new thing will teach you more about yourself, about the world, and more about where you can best contribute. And a final piece of practical advice: Make sure to take classes with Leonard Nevarez!

Elizabeth Hixson ’06

Project Manager, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, Saint Paul, MN

BA, History, Vassar College
Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Minnesota
Assigned Industry: Architecture / Development / Planning
Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service
Linkedin Profile

As a Landscape Architect with the City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation’s Design and Construction division, Elizabeth designs public play areas, parks, and trails. Her BA in history from Vassar College lends a strong awareness of a site’s past and context to her work. With an MLA from the University of Minnesota, she has furthered her dedication to ensuring that parks are built for, represent, and adeptly serve the neighborhood in which they are located. Daily work tasks range from construction site visits to managing project budgets to digitally drafting technical construction drawings. Elizabeth has held positions at Sasaki Associates (Boston, MA) and Damon Farber Landscape Architects (Minneapolis, MN) prior to joining the City of Saint Paul.

Advice to Students:

Be bold in chasing the jobs you want. Using your connections is important, but when you reach out, always do your homework and have real questions ready.

Jeremy Shiman ’10

Architect, WRNS Studio, New York, NY

BA, Mathematics and Music, Vassar College
MArch, Architecture, University of California, Berkeley
Assigned Industry: Architecture / Development / Planning
Additional Industry Expertise: Environment/Sustainability
Linkedin Profile

After graduating Vassar with a dual degree in math and music, Jeremy proceeded to pursue a career in neither, at least not directly. His multifaceted interests drew him toward architecture and the built environment. Jeremy received his Master of Architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley, focusing on sustainable design. He currently works as an architect at WRNS Studio in New York City, where his work ranges from designing new buildings to working on interior renovations for clients ranging from major technology companies to high schools. He recently worked on the award-winning Janet Durgin Guild & Commons at Sonoma Academy. Jeremy is also part of the internal Green Team at WRNS, helping to set company-wide sustainable design goals and standards. Across these projects, he is constantly exploring the impact buildings have on the environment through their construction and operation, as well as how material and design choices affect human health and well-being.

Advice to Students:

When you aren’t sure what you should do, just keep doing something. It’s never easy to find the “perfect” thing for you to be doing, if that’s even possible, but if you keep doing things that you care about, you will continually move toward something that fits. It can be a hold-over—something to keep you busy while you are working toward a larger goal—a stepping stone, or a path that is a complete about-face. You don’t need to know where you want to end up, but if you can choose a direction to start and always find goals to work toward, no matter how small, you’re making progress even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Jonathan Hong ’16

Analyst, Development & Acquisitions, Silverstein Properties, New York, NY

BA, Urban Studies, Vassar College
MS, Real Estate Development, Columbia University
Assigned Industry: Architecture / Development / Planning
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Financial Services
Linkedin Profile

Jonathan is an Analyst on the Silverstein Properties deal team, responsible for structuring and underwriting real estate equity investments for the Silverstein portfolio, which is anchored by the World Trade Center. Specifically, Jon focuses on the development of complex, mixed-use projects as well as the acquisition and capitalization of trophy properties across the U.S. Recent deals include the $430 million acquisition of US Bank Tower in Downtown LA as well as the acquisition of a development site adjacent to Amazon’s HQ in Seattle, zoned for 400 luxury residential units. Prior to Silverstein, Jon was a Senior Associate with BDO USA, LLP’s New York practice, providing economic consulting services for multinational clients in real estate, consumer products, and various other industries. In his free time, Jon serves as the Chair of the Joint Initiatives Committee on the nonprofit board of Urban Pathways, an affordable-housing provider in New York City.

Advice to Students:

Every time you join a new company or learn a new skill, invest the time up front to learn the ins and outs of the team or project, and have a reason for everything that you do. There will always be a learning curve and the more time you invest up front, the easier it will be to navigate inevitable issues that arise. Leverage your Vassar experience to push boundaries. Be curious and take the time to question assumptions and norms while always paying attention to detail. Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

Naomi Nottingham ’96

Architect, Gensler, New York, NY

BA, Sociology and Urban Studies, Vassar College
MA, Sociology, Boston University
MA, Interior Design, Suffolk University
Assigned Industry: Architecture / Development / Planning
Linkedin Profile

Naomi is currently killing it as a Project Architect at Gensler New York, a career that, if she was asked in college, she would’ve never in a million years seen herself pursuing. She started at Gensler 13 years ago as an intern in Boston, and ultimately transferred to New York in search of bigger and badder opportunities. As her career began to take off, she quickly established herself as a well-rounded and sought after Project Architect due to her holistic approach to project process and her ability to think through design challenges across a myriad of disciplines. Her background in interior design has given her a wide range of skills that make her a strong lead on commercial interior fitouts, and enables her to jump into a project at any part of the process from schematic design all the way through construction and move-in. Though a typical day does not necessarily exist (this is particularly true during construction!), her current responsibilities include leading her project teams (internal and external to Gensler) through consultant coordination, design realization/construction documentation, and construction. She is involved every step of the way on her projects, and this has led her to earn the trust of not only her teammates but also clients, consultants, and contractors. Naomi is a licensed Architect and Interior Designer in New York. Select client list: LinkedIn, Google, EY, Latham & Watkins, and Morgan Stanley.

Advice to Students:

1) Empower yourself: Ask questions and admit when you don’t understand or have made a mistake—it’s the only way to grow and learn.
2) Be patient: It is 100% okay to not have the next 40+ years of career mapped out by the time you graduate from college. Enjoy the journey and the opportunities it can provide.
3) Celebrate your successes: If you’re doing well, own it, and acknowledge those who have helped you along the way.
4) Encourage the next generation: As you move through your career, don’t forget to help give a voice and opportunities to those who feel like they may not have a path forward just yet. It’s important to do more than network up.

Deb Macfarlan Enright ’82

Founder, The Macfarlan Group, Greater Nashville Area, TN

BA, Political Science, Vassar College
MPP, Vanderbilt University
EdD, Educational Policy, Vanderbilt University
Assigned Industry: Business / Entrepreneurship
Additional Industry Expertise: Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Deb loves anyone who seeks to improve the world through skillful disruption of the status quo. She is an acclaimed communicator and strategist adept at uncovering potential to optimize impact. Deb is the founder and CEO of The Macfarlan Group. Their work includes strategic planning, leadership development, and creating operational efficiencies in nonprofit/social impact organizations around the world. The group’s podcast, 3 a.m. What’s Keeping You Up at Night?, chose Mr. Floyd’s murder as a catalyst to our current “White to Antiracist” series featuring some Vassar alums in the conversations. Find the episodes on Spotify, Apple podcasts and www.themacfarlangroup.com. Their new blog, Blogging Out Loud NOW! provides a platform for voices discussing leadership and has featured Vassar voices. Deb’s term as Vice President of Strategic Planning on the Board of the Alumnae/i Association of Vassar College ended June 2020. On campus, she directed Matthew’s Minstrels and sang with The Raymond Avenue Ramblers. Deb was a jazz singer touring the East Coast and Caribbean. Listen to Deb perform her tune, “Tonight He’s Mine” with the James Bazen Big Band https://music.apple.com/us/album/tonight-hes-mine/5024231.

Advice to Students:

Your uniqueness is your greatest asset. Let the world know who you are and what you can do to help make things better.

Fiona Koch ’12

Client Services Director, Raw London, London, England

BA, Political Science, Vassar College
MSc, Media and Communications, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Assigned Industry: Business / Entrepreneurship
Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Fiona is Client Services Director at boutique creative agency Raw London, where she manages the Accounts team responsible for delivering on business targets for 20+ clients in the corporate and nonprofit sectors, including Twitter, Doctors Without Borders, and the International Red Cross. She joined Raw London in 2017 after completing her MSc in Media & Communications at the London School of Economics. Before that, she was Communications Manager for the Irish office of Ashoka, the leading business network for social entrepreneurs. In 2015, she was the recipient of Vassar’s Ann Cornelisen Fellowship for Language Study, for which she took a career break to study Arabic in Morocco. While at Vassar, she was Research Assistant to the President of the College and a recipient of the Tananbaum Fellowship. She is a Board Member at the London-based social enterprise Fat Macy’s and a former Board Member (and former Student President) of the Vassar Haiti Project.

Advice to Students:

I’ve been fortunate to have had a varied career path in the nine years since I graduated, and I believe that Vassar prepared me well. My advice to current students is to take full advantage of the fellowships, grants, and advice offered by Vassar’s Office of Career Services, and to think about how your non-academic hobbies and activities can help refine your career interests and experience—for example, my time at the Vassar Haiti Project taught me invaluable skills that I was able to build upon in my summer internships, which in turn helped me land my first job.

John Kremer P’22

Vice President, Business Development and Product Operations, Adobe, Inc., San Francisco, CA

BS, Business Management & Marketing, Cornell University
MBA, Business, Stanford University
Assigned Industry: Business / Entrepreneurship
Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, Financial Services, Technology
Linkedin Profile

John is a technology executive with a long career in both large, successful companies (Adobe, JPMorgan Chase, Yahoo) and startups, including ones that he founded. He has lived in Silicon Valley for almost 30 years after finding his way to Stanford Business School. He currently leads the business development and partnerships teams as well as the product operations team for Adobe’s largest ($10B+) business unit, Digital Media. They drive two product lines with some of the most iconic and impactful brands in technology: Photoshop, Acrobat, Illustrator, Premier, InDesign, and Lightroom, to name just a few. In his role, he drives partnerships with other technology companies like Samsung, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Huawei, and others. They create create partnerships that drive value to both organizations—by technology licensing and sharing as well as selling and marketing together. The other side of his organization manages the building of their products—getting the necessary approvals along the way. They have over a hundred products that have releases or updates as often as daily. One analogy that he likes to use is that his team is like one big train station—it ensures that every day, each train (product) ships with the right passengers (features) at the time.

Advice to Students:

Love what you do for your career. Love can come from many different places. It can come from the subject matter. It can come from the people. It can come from the thrill of the deal or the transaction. Regardless, a love for your career will get you up in the morning and put a smile on your face. You will work longer, be happier, cause other people to be happier, and be more productive for years. You many not know what you love before you start, but make sure you ‘check-in’ with yourself frequently to ensure you are in the right place.

Mike Ilardi ’11

Director of Client Engagement, CapShift, New York, NY

BA, History and Italian, Vassar College
MBA, University of Michigan, Ross School of Business
MS, University of Michigan, School for Environment & Sustainability (SEAS)
Assigned Industry: Business / Entrepreneurship
Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, Environment/Sustainability, Financial Services, Management Consulting
Linkedin Profile

Mike is Director of Client Engagement at CapShift, a platform that empowers philanthropic and financial institutions, along with their clients, to mobilize capital for social and environmental change. He leads efforts to help clients maximize the value and impact they generate from CapShift’s services and platform. Previously, he worked as a strategy consultant at Strategy& (PwC) and managed enterprise partnerships and sales at Unified, a marketing technology startup. In addition, he was a Fellow at ImpactAssets, a leading donor-advised fund provider focused on impact investing, and led climate tech investments for the Social Venture Fund, an early-stage impact investment fund.

Advice to Students:

To the extent you can, figure out what excites you and do more of that. This will evolve, but I’ve experienced and observed that the most fulfilled people are those who were able to identify and unapologetically pursue what was of genuine interest to them over time. I realize that this can read as quite privileged advice, in that it seems to not acknowledge the very real external pressures many of us experience to pursue certain courses of study or work. But to that point, I would say it’s even more pertinent; by first prioritizing an understanding what you want, you’ll be able to better weigh what you’re trading off every time you’re faced with a major decision in your life or career.

Damon Johnson ’02

Executive Director, Oakstop Alliance, Oakland, CA

BA, Political Science and Sociology, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Business / Entrepreneurship
Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, Entertainment / Media, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Damon is a proven marketing executive with a 20-year history of driving strategy and producing premium culture and sports marketing events for some of the biggest household brands in the world (including MTV, Red Bull, and Verizon). Via his social enterprise, Born and Raised Marketing, he consults cultural institutions on how to increase the community impact of their events via partnerships with nonprofit organizations. After consulting for a myriad of nonprofit cultural organizations (including the DeYoung Museum, youth organization Today’s Future Sound, and music collective Hieroglyphics), Damon accepted a full-time role with art/event space Oakstop in January 2020. Oakstop’s social impact mission is grounded in their ability to manage expensive commercial real estate and offer it as accessible and affordable space for historically marginalized communities, who need venues for cultural programming, local art galleries, social justice meetings, and initiatives. His first task was to found Oakstop’s space-based nonprofit, Oakstop Alliance, furthering the Oakstop mission by partnering with local creatives to produce free events, classes, and workshops for low-moderate income communities.

Advice to Students:

1) It may seem like the universe revolves around LA and NYC...but look for opportunities elsewhere too.
2) Firm handshake. Eye contact.
3) Don’t think about what you want to do when you graduate. Do it now. If you want to be a journalist, write now. If you want to be in the music industry, help a local band get famous. Be about that action.
4) Some people need structure. Some people hate routine. Learn what you prefer, then manifest your perfect situation.
5) It’s better to be broke, young, and doing something you love than young and miserable to make ends meet.

Angélica Gutierrez ’13

Coordinator for Student Leadership, University of Washington-Seattle, Seattle, WA

BA, Latin American and Latino/a Studies, Vassar College
MEd, Student Counseling, University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)
Assigned Industry: Education
Additional Industry Expertise: Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

As Coordinator for Student Leadership with the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center at the University of Washington-Seattle, the largest stand-alone cultural center in the United States, Angélica manages and leads programs for the 2,000 EOP scholars and students across all UW campuses. She also recruits industry leaders (Google, F5, Starbucks) to bring professional development opportunities to students. Previously, Angélica worked as an Assistant Director for Undergraduate Admissions for the University of Southern California (USC). In this role, she advocated for and increased the recruitment of multicultural students from the U.S. Southwest. During her undergraduate career, Angélica realized that higher education is a great space for students to explore differences. As a multi-hyphenated first (first-generation American, first in her family to graduate high school, first to earn not only a bachelor’s degree but also a master’s degree), she has focused her career on helping students find a sense of belonging across different colleges and universities. Angélica has also presented at national and regional conferences on using techniques from intergroup dialogue and conflict-resolution to unpack moments of dissonance and gain empathy for others. Outside of work, Angélica loves hanging out with her two rescue dogs, Charlie and Luna, reconnecting with her culture through indigenous cooking, and fangirling about the latest Marvel or Star Wars release.

Advice to Students:

Comparison is the thief of joy. I always come back to this quote when I feel the imposter syndrome set-in. If you identify with a marginalized community, for example being a queer student, a student of color, a first-generation college student, etc., it is going to be difficult watching your peers around you move ahead with ease. However, remember that you are here, at the same institution, in the same classroom, having overcome obstacles many don't realize are still problems in 2021. Honor your story and your triumphs despite what others are achieving because in the end, you are still here.

Joe Russell ’03

Assistant Dean of Students, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

BA, Biopsychology, Vassar College
MEd, Higher Education Administration, University of Vermont
Assigned Industry: Education

Joe is the Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Vermont, where he has worked for 12 years. He spends most of his time leading the University’s Care Team: a group of staff dedicated to supporting students who are in crisis or experiencing distress. He also serves as the Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Students and is part of the institutional response to campus crises as a member of the Emergency Operations Group. Joe’s work is highly relational, and he is actively involved in campus social justice initiatives, student leadership development, and support for the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities at UVM. Prior to his current role, Joe’s career in higher education spanned several functional areas, including residential life and enrollment management. Joe came to Vassar having grown up in Kingston, Jamaica and was involved on campus as a Student Fellow and House Intern for Raymond House and was Director of Campus Patrol.

Advice to Students:

You have the joy of going through college in the middle of a global pandemic! Please take care of yourself. Make time to reflect on all the learning that is happening outside the classroom as you navigate COVID-world; find ways to understand and articulate your resilience, strength, struggle, improvisational prowess, and how you are holding individual and community well-being. You are writing this chapter of the textbook—don’t discount or discredit how much you have had to adapt and grow this year. Take this with you into your careers, your families, your communities—we will thank you for it!

Julia Schmidt ’17

Postsecondary Education Research Assistant, MDRC, New York, NY

BA, Psychological Science, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Education
Additional Industry Expertise: Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Julia is a researcher at MDRC, an education and social policy research organization. Working in the Postsecondary Education department, Julia helps to design, implement, and study large-scale programs aimed at increasing college access and graduation rates for low-income college students. Her projects focus on supporting students through the college enrollment process and increasing financial aid opportunities. Prior to joining MDRC, Julia worked as an Education Manager at an elementary charter school in New York City. In this role, she oversaw academic assessments and analyzed data on student performance to help teachers make informed decisions about classroom practices. She also managed special education at the school, including working with teachers to identify students needing special education, advocating for these students to the city Department of Education, and ensuring that teachers and special education providers were correctly implementing services. As a school leader, she worked closely with teachers and parents to ensure that all students had the resources they needed to be successful in the classroom.

Advice to Students:

The Vassar alums network is amazing. I think I talked to two dozen alums about their career paths before I graduated, and many more again when I switched jobs. Both times, Vassar alums were generous with their time, honest about their experiences, and quick to connect me with additional people in their professional network. The advice I’ve gotten from alums has helped me chart my own path. Don’t be afraid to send a cold-call email or LinkedIn message–you’ll be surprised by how many people respond!

Kyle DeAngelis ’15

Teacher, New York City Department of Education/Hamilton Heights School, New York, NY

BA, Psychology, Vassar College
MA Candidate, Curriculum and Teaching, Teachers College, Columbia University
Assigned Industry: Education

Kyle is a fourth-grade teacher at Hamilton Heights School, a public elementary school located in Manhattan. Previously, he worked as a fourth-grade mathematics teacher at P.S. 154 in the Bronx and as a lead pre-kindergarten teacher at the Sugar Hill Museum Preschool. He has also interned at the American Federation of Teachers in Washington, DC, where he worked on projects relating to a variety of issues in education. During his time at Vassar, Kyle worked as a teaching assistant at the Wimpfheimer Nursery School and participated in a number of Education Department programs, including VAST, VELLOP, and Exploring Science at Vassar Farm. In 2014, he was selected for the Ford Scholars Program, through which he collaborated with Professor Christopher Bjork to develop a new senior seminar on contemporary education reform. That same year, he was a recipient of the National Science Foundation’s Noyce Teacher Scholarship and was the 2015 recipient of Vassar’s Edith Glicksman Neisser Prize for excellence in child study and child development.

Advice to Students:

If you’re an aspiring educator, be sure to cultivate good relationships with your professors while you are still at Vassar. It is through the mentorship of the outstanding educators in our own lives that we grow into the teachers we want to be. Additionally, searching for a job in teaching, like searching for a job in any field, requires persistence and a willingness to put yourself out there. Do your research and identify schools that align with your own teaching philosophy, then reach out to principals to express your interest in their school. Even if they don’t have any vacancies, it can help to build relationships in the field and set yourself up for future opportunities.

Rebecca Bauer ’14

Family Engagement Specialist, National PTA, Alexandria, VA

BA, Psychology, Vassar College
MEd, Education Policy, University of Pennsylvania
Assigned Industry: Education
Additional Industry Expertise: Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Rebecca is currently a family engagement specialist with the Center for Family Engagement at National PTA. In this role, she produces Notes from the Backpack: a PTA podcast, designs and implements grant programs for local, district, and state PTAs, and develops a variety of resources for families and parent leaders. Prior to National PTA, Rebecca worked at Center for Inspired Teaching, and Character.org, where she managed communications efforts, and provided support to the executive directors. Rebecca spent two summers as Day Program Director at EXPLO, an academic program for rising 8th and 9th graders at Wellesley College. While at Vassar, Rebecca was involved in Hunger Action, VSA, and lived in Jewett & the SoCos.

Advice to Students:

You don’t have to have your career path figured out now… or when you graduate. I thought I had a very clear career path, and it changed a number of times in my first five years after Vassar. What’s most important is that you learn what kind of work you like to do and what types of environments you thrive in. Remember that no job is perfect and it’s important to advocate for yourself and what you want.

Britta von Schoeler ’97

President, Broadway Video, New York, NY

BA, Psychology, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Entertainment / Media
Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations
Linkedin Profile

Britta heads Broadway Video Enterprises (BVE)—the division of Broadway Video, Lorne Michaels’s global media and entertainment company, charged with creating revenue growth and amplifying the company’s portfolio of brands across all media. In her position, she helms the strategic planning and implementation of partnerships for Broadway Video Entertainment’s programming library, which includes the NBC Emmy Award-winning sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, as well as Shrill, Miracle Workers, The Other Two, Documentary Now!, and many others. Additionally, Britta conceives and executes unique business opportunities creating globally recognized brands such as Más Mejor, BVE’s comedy content studio powered by Latino voices. She is the Executive Producer of Kate McKinnon’s Heads Will Roll and Producer of HBO’s Los Espookies. Britta’s efforts extend the reach of the BVE brands globally. Her portfolio of projects ranges from global distribution of traditional media—including the production of new series and formats—to leveraging Broadway Video’s family of talent and intellectual property for experiential executions such as live tours and exhibits to the creation of product lines. In addition, Britta handles the creation of authentic premium content integrations for top brands. Prior to joining BVE in 2001, Britta worked for BBC Worldwide Americas, Inc. overseeing consumer products production and marketing for numerous popular shows, including Absolutely Fabulous. In addition, she was Manager of Business Affairs at Discovery Communications, Inc.

Advice to Students:

Consider what you want your life to be like when you’re 40 and pick a career that can help you attain that vision. In what city do you want to live? What work-life balance is right for you? Do you like to travel? Do you like the comfort of knowing what the path to success in your role is, or do you like to be more entrepreneurial and chart your own course? Knowing these answers can help point you in a specific direction. Once you know what that direction is, get out there and talk to as many people in the profession as you can.

Jessica Malanaphy ’04

Producer, CatchLight Films, Los Angeles, CA

BA, American Culture, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Entertainment / Media
Linkedin Profile

As Founding Partner of CatchLight Studios, Jessica works closely with filmmakers to tell commercial, character-driven stories for both film and television. Jessica is the producer of the upcoming films Plus/Minus for Netflix and The Devil’s Light for Lionsgate. As Vice President of Creative at Illumination Entertainment, one of the entertainment industry’s leading producers of all-audience event films, Jessica developed animated and live-action feature films, including The Grinch as well as Secret Life of Pets, and The Minions. Prior to Illumination, Jessica served as Vice President at Blumhouse Productions, where she was involved in pioneering a new model of studio filmmaking—producing high-quality, micro-budget films for wide release. During her five-year tenure, Jessica worked on a variety of the company’s projects from development through production including The Purge, The Purge: Anarchy, Ouija, the Insidious franchise, and more. Jessica worked closely with filmmakers including Jon Chu, James Wan, Leigh Whannell, Barry Levinson, Scott Derrickson, and Rob Zombie.

Advice to Students:

Say yes as much as possible. Meet as many people and have as many experiences as you can because this will expand your network and knowledge base. Be open to serendipity because you never know who or what will create a spark. And if it’s not working, don’t be afraid to change paths or start anew.

Stephanie Goldberg ’14

Brand + Project Manager, The Thread Shop, Sony Music Entertainment, New York, NY

BA, Music and Psychology, Vassar College
MA, Music Business, New York University
Assigned Industry: Entertainment / Media
Additional Industry Expertise: The Arts
Linkedin Profile

Stephanie is Brand + Project Manager for The Thread Shop, the merchandising division of Sony Music Entertainment. Previously, Stephanie spent more than three years at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, overseeing the Performing Arts Hall of Fame, the Vera List Art Project, and other special projects for the President’s Office. Stephanie also spent time working at Lincoln Center Education, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Tanglewood Music Center of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Outside of office hours, Stephanie leads the Programming Committees for the Vassar Club of New York and New York University’s Recent Alums Network. Stephanie is also a member of the AAVC Alumnae/i Recognition Committee and Class of 2014 leadership team.

Advice to Students:

1) Know your worth. It’s the best advice one of my mentors shared with me. You are bright, educated individuals with so much to contribute to society. Don’t let that stop you from asking for what you deserve (especially with regard to compensation).
2) Try new things. I’ve worked in a variety of roles and across a number of departments, and have loved every moment because the experiences were different and provided challenges that helped me to develop additional skills.
3) Lastly, remember that there is always a silver lining.

Allison Abner ’87 (Saturday Only)

Writer/Producer, Self-employed, Santa Monica, CA

BA, Independent Program, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Entertainment/ Media

Allison is a tv writer-producer-creator, whose credits include Narcos, The West Wing, and Self-Made. She has written pilots for ABC, Fox, and NBC. She's currently developing a half-hour dramedy for Apple and a legal drama for Netflix. Allison grew up in Los Angeles, has lived in NYC, and moved to DC when her husband went to work in the Obama administration. She considers her education at Vassar to be a defining experiences of her life as an independent studies major (Latin American & women’s studies), and many pursuits outside of the classroom (volunteering at Green Haven & Bedford Hills state prisons, travel programs, among many). She identifies as Black/mixed race, uses she/her pronouns, is a political junky, documentary lover, dictator hater, failed multitasker, and recently discovered UFOs might actually be real.

Advice to Students:

Explore, be flexible, challenge your belief systems, embrace humility and confidence as needed, and commit to traveling your own unique path.

Dave Tobias ’83 P’16

Director of Land Acquisition, NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection, New York, NY

BA, Biopsychology, Vassar College
MS, Conservation, Yale University
Assigned Industry: Environment / Sustainability
Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Since 1996 Dave has worked for the City of New York, responsible for oversight of a $700 million Land Acquisition Program (LAP) throughout NYC’s 2,000-square-mile watershed. LAP is part of a comprehensive long-term program to protect drinking water and public health for over 9 million people. Prior to his current role, Dave served as Assistant Director at The Nature Conservancy, where he was involved in land acquisition, conservation planning, and fund-raising throughout southern New York State.

Advice to Students:

Don’t let yourself get stressed out about the future and all the unknowns—it will just divert the energy you need to be focused and be happy, and these are two critical aspects of your life that will help to get you through anything. EVERYONE’S future is unknown! Relax, work at and do what you love, stay connected to the people you care about, and enjoy the ride!

Jennifer Baumwoll ’06

Climate Change Policy Specialist, United Nations Development Programme, New York, NY

BA, Urban Studies, Vassar College
MA, International Relations, Webster University, Vienna
Assigned Industry: Environment / Sustainability
Additional Industry Expertise: International Affairs/Global Careers, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Jennifer Baumwoll is a global Climate Change Policy Specialist at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York. She has worked with UNDP on issues of climate change and development for over 12 years, in both HQ in New York and the Africa Regional Hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Throughout her career she has provided support to developing countries on climate change policy, designed and managed grant-funded projects to support countries adapt to climate impacts, developed numerous analytic publications and products based on country experiences, and established corporate positioning on climate change, including UNDP’s global climate change strategy. Currently, she is coordinating an initiative supporting 115 countries around the world to strengthen their national pledges to the Paris Agreement on climate change. Before joining UNDP, Jennifer worked with UN International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction in Bangkok, Thailand, first as an intern right out of graduate school and then as a consultant. Her work focused on the value of indigenous knowledge for reducing risk from natural hazards, which was the topic of her award-winning master’s thesis (that she worked on with former Vassar Professor Brian McAdoo!). Jennifer is also the mother of two young children, and a strong advocate for strengthening family-friendly policies in the workplace, especially at the United Nations.

Advice to Students:

Embrace your liberal arts education. It can both set you up to provide a valuable perspective and contribution to whatever field of work you choose, and also helps to set you apart with the critical thinking, writing skills, and innovative approach that so many employers and organizations are seeking. Let your liberal arts education be your guide in setting out your new career—try different things, get inspired, be creative in envisioning the potential paths that you could take, and don’t immediately settle for the traditional route.

Kevin Lee ’14

Environmental Impact & Compliance Specialist, Dr. Bronner’s, Vista, CA

BA, Biology, Vassar College
Master of Environmental Management, Business and the Environment, Yale University
Assigned Industry: Environment / Sustainability
Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Kevin is the current Environmental Impact & Compliance Specialist at Dr. Bronner’s, the top-selling organic and fair trade body care and food company in North America. At Dr. Bronner’s, Kevin tracks the company’s environmental footprint, oversees environmental compliance, and co-chairs the Dr. Bronner’s cross-departmental Green Team. He also helps create sustainability programming, such as establishing the company’s first-ever Earth Week. Additionally, Kevin serves as a founding board member of the San Diego Queer Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and Desi American (QAPIMEDA) Coalition. He finds it an incredible privilege to work alongside other talented folx to build out programming and a sense of belonging for the queer APIMEDA community in San Diego. Before Dr. Bronner’s and QAPIMEDA, Kevin lived in San Francisco, where he was the Green Business Associate with the city’s Department of the Environment. He has also conducted environmental research at the Brookhaven National Lab, Argonne National Lab, and the Field Museum of Natural History.

Advice to Students:

Advice I wish I had received as a Vassar sophomore:
1) Create a LinkedIn profile if you haven’t already. Then start connecting with Vassar folks!
2) Don’t just be on time—be early. Make yourself memorable.
3) Use a reliable planner/calendar to keep track of your to-do’s and deadlines.
4) Go to office hours.
5) Ask questions. How else are you going to keep the conversation going?
6) Find hobbies. They keep you sane.
7) Cider donuts from Adams Fairacre Farms in the fall are also lifesavers. #NotSponsored (but maybe I should be).
8) Vote (if you can).

Rebecca Odell ’19

Greenway Trails Technician, Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, Albany, NY

BA, Earth Science and Society, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Environment / Sustainability
Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service
Linkedin Profile

Rebecca’s first professional experiences occurred during school and included Texas A&M University’s Oceanography REU in summer of 2018 and working with the Dutchess County Transportation Council her senior year. After graduation, she moved to Arizona to work at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area as a grasphic information system (GIS)and fieldwork technician. Rafting down the Grand Canyon on a vegetation monitoring trip was a particularly notable fieldwork experience for her. Today she lives in Albany, NY and works as a Greenway Trails Technician for the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. She provides all GIS support for the NYS Greenway Trails Plan, which aims to create and expand a network of greenway trails throughout the state. Her day-to-day work includes GIS analysis and database maintenance, data quality assurance, and creating interactive online maps and web apps. She is excited to participate in the 2020 Sophomore Career Connections program!

Advice to Students:

I’ve found it’s super important to apply to as many jobs as you can, even if the dates or content isn’t perfect. The more applications you have out, the more opportunities you create for yourself. Also, applying gets easier the more you do it! In addition to getting more practice, you have more cover letters and application answers that you can edit and reuse, so you don’t have to start from scratch for every application.

Taishya Adams ’97

Commissioner, Colorado Parks and Wildlife | Policy Director, Outdoor Afro, Boulder, CO

BA, Film & Political Science, Vassar College
MEd, International Education, George Washington University
Assigned Industry: Environment / Sustainability
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Education, Management Consulting, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Taishya is a servant leader laser focused on justice and liberation through community building, personal transformation, and systems change. With over 25 years of experience, Taishya serves at the intersections of education, health, workforce, science, and environment. Collaborating with multidisciplinary stakeholders to strengthen access, representation, meaningful participation, and quality, Taishya serves as the Policy Director and Colorado Co-lead for Outdoor Afro. Outdoor Afro is a nationwide network with a simple mission: to celebrate and inspire African American connections to nature and leadership in it. As Policy Director, Taishya engages with the organization's networks on education, health, and environmental policies affecting Black people, Black communities, and the plant. Taishya was also appointed by Governor Jared Polis to serve on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. Previously, Taishya worked at American Institutes for Research as a Senior Education Equity leveraging policy, research, and practice to strengthen public education. Taishya also worked with the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the DC Public Charter Schools Board, Global Classrooms Washington, DC, and the Children Defense Fund Freedom Schools. Taishya is the founding Board President of New Legacy Charter School—a public charter high school and early learning center for teen parents and their children in Aurora, Colorado. In addition to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, Taishya also sits on the Colorado Nature Areas Council, the NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries, and the Conference on World Affairs at University of Colorado Boulder.

Advice to Students:

Change happens at the speed of relationships. —Rue Mapp, Founder, Outdoor Afro. There are three levels of change: individual, interpersonal, and systemic. Act accordingly.

Joseph Martinez ’11

Owner, Arizona MicroGreens, Phoenix, AZ

BA, Independent Program, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Environment / Sustainability
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, The Arts
Linkedin Profile

For the first few years after graduating from Vassar, Joseph traveled widely and pursued work opportunities in writing, documentary film production, exhibition design, and work with cultural institutions. This allowed him to continue exploring the interests that he just scratched the surface of while in college. Eventually, he combined these interests together and started an urban agriculture business in Arizona that he continues to operate today.

Advice to Students:

Getting rejected from a fellowship was a wake-up call: Stop waiting for other people to choose you. It is possible to choose yourself.

Joseph Schiavo ’12

Investment Banking Associate, Morgan Stanley, New York, NY

BA, International Studies, Vassar College
MS, Environmental Economics, Yale School of the Environment
MBA, Economics, Yale School of Management
Assigned Industry: Financial Services
Linkedin Profile

Joe is an Investment Banking Associate in the Global Power and Utilities Group at Morgan Stanley, where he covers clients across the renewable energy, merchant power generation, regulated utility, and clean technology sectors. Joe’s transaction experience spans mergers and acquisitions, activism defense, debt, and equity offerings. Prior to Morgan Stanley, he advised companies on business strategy and data analytics as a Senior Consultant in IBM’s Global Business Services unit. At the Yale School of Management, Joe’s research focused on the economics of regulatory policy in the power generation industry and the measurement of macroeconomic effects of climate change.

Advice to Students:

Spend as much time as you can exploring all of the different paths you can take in your career. Talk to as many Vassar almuni as you can--listen to their stories, ask lots of questions and let each conversation lead you to a new contact. You'll be surprised what you learn about yourself and where you end up. The hardest part of a job search is figuring out what you want to do.

Kathy Elsesser P’24

Partner, Goldman, Sachs & Co, New York, NY

BA, Psychology and Management, Boston College
MBA, Finance & Accounting, Kellogg School of Management
Assigned Industry: Financial Services
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship
Linkedin Profile

At Goldman Sachs, Kathy advises companies and boards of directors across the globe. She works with large, complex organizations and high-growth entrepreneurial companies. She gives them strategic advice on raising capital and on mergers & acquisitions.

Advice to Students:

Think about classes you liked and why and the type of work settings that really motivated you. Make a list of the characteristics that you enjoyed and look for a career where those elements exist.

Kwesi Sey ’11

Senior Analyst, Finance and Strategy, Nextdoor, San Francisco, CA

BA, Economics and Mathematics, Vassar College
MBA, Finance, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Assigned Industry: Financial Services
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Technology
Linkedin Profile

Kwesi is a Senior Analyst in the Finance & Strategy team at Nextdoor, the world’s leading social network for neighborhoods. Kwesi’s duties include leading analytical efforts around customer lifetime value, competitive landscape benchmarking, financial modeling, and developing company-wide metrics to generate insights for Nextdoor’s executive team. Previously Kwesi was a data analyst in Strategy & Analytics for the league office of Major League Soccer, supporting efforts to increase the profile and reach of MLS both in the U.S. and internationally. Prior to that, Kwesi was an associate at NERA Economic Consulting, the economic consulting wing of Oliver Wyman Group.

Advice to Students:

Keep going! It took several months for me to get a job after graduation, as it did for a lot of my classmates; it’s not an indictment on you or your abilities in any way. You have a lot of time—don’t feel like if you don’t absolutely nail your first job, your career will go off the rails. A lot of people switch firms, change careers, etc and that’s fine. Not everyone knows what they want to be at 22. Reach out to alums, we’re usually happy to help! But please be polite and be reliable—don’t ghost, show up late, come unprepared, or otherwise take things for granted.

Mary Talbot ’16

Financial Advisor, The Vanguard Group, Philadelphia, PA

BA, Women's Studies, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Financial Services
Linkedin Profile

As an advisor with The Vanguard Group’s Personal Advisor Services, Mary provides investment management and financial planning for individuals and families in Vanguard’s high net worth segment. Simply put, Mary helps her clients manage their money in order to achieve their financial goals, including education, retirement, and estate planning. A day in the life is a mix of working with prospective clients to learn their stories and assess their needs, meeting with existing clients via phone and video calls to discuss questions, updates, and action items, and completing ongoing maintenance on the investment portfolios she oversees. She also collaborates with her peers on department initiatives such as the introduction of new tools and products, and assists in the training and mentoring of incoming advisors. Mary joined Vanguard in a specialized client service role in 2016, shortly after graduating from Vassar with a degree in Women’s Studies. After acquiring her series 7 and 63 licenses, she applied for a development program to become an advisor and worked towards that role while completing her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, joining Personal Advisor Services in 2018. Mary is in her third year of service as a board member of Vanguard’s Toastmasters Club.

Advice to Students:

Try to strike a balance between being self-aware and self-limiting. Be willing to expand your vision of what you are capable of (I considered not going to my Vanguard interview the week of graduation because it meant missing formal and I “knew” I wouldn’t be hired for a “finance job”). Before you get the job: Practice interview questions out loud even though you really won’t want to. Once you get the job: Be respectful and kind to absolutely everyone you come across (if you do this, it frees you up to be yourself and use your own communication style). Avoid venting and gossip, even if others are doing it or it seems innocent. Ask your colleagues about their lives and their knowledge, remember the answers (even if you have to write them down), and follow up.

Michael Collins P’22

CEO, Alumni Ventures Group, Manchester, NH

BS, Engineering Science, Dartmouth College
MBA, Harvard Business School
Assigned Industry: Financial Services
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Technology
Linkedin Profile

Mike is the CEO of Alumni Ventures Group, one of the most active venture firms in the United States. He has been involved in almost every facet of entrepreneurship, from angel investing to venture capital, new business formation, and product and service innovation. He is the Founder of Alumni Ventures Group and launched AVG’s first alumni fund, Green D Ventures, in 2015. Mike is also a serial entrepreneur who has started multiple companies. He began his career at VC firm TA Associates.

Advice to Students:

Your twenties are all about maximizing your learning and your ability to learn. Ask yourself, what do you like? What are your good at? What do you want out of your career? Often this means changing jobs every couple of years.

Richard Bi ’06

Founder, Plaeris LLC, New York, NY

BA, Physics, Vassar College
BE, Dartmouth College
MEM, Dartmouth College
MBA, Harvard Business School
Assigned Industry: Financial Services
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship
Linkedin Profile

Richard is the founder of Plaeris, a private investment firm through which he acquires founder- or family-owned businesses in the US. Prior to founding Plaeris, Richard spent most of his career as a private equity investor, including at the Blackstone Group, FFL Partners, and Hellman & Friedman. He also previously worked in M&A investment banking and at a distressed debt hedge fund. Throughout his career, Richard has evaluated and executed investments across numerous industries (including B2B and B2C services, enterprise software, FinTech, healthcare, education, and industrial technology), and has served as board member or board observer for portfolio companies. In some cases, Richard takes an active management role in Plaeris’s acquisitions – currently also serving as the CEO of two recently acquired companies.

Advice to Students:

Always be humble! Be willing to take risks and deal with uncertainty, but always maintain a long-term perspective on your career. While “follow your passion” is a frequently heard advice, it doesn’t always come easily; be prepared to put real effort into developing your passion over time. In the long run, trustworthiness matters much more than intelligence. Take a genuine (not utilitarian) approach to relationship development and treat everyone you meet with respect and sincerity.

Alexandra Cawthorne Gaines ’04

Vice President for the Poverty to Prosperity Program, Center for American Progress, Washington, DC

BA, Psychology and Urban Studies, Vassar College
MA, Legislative Affairs/Political Management, The George Washington University
Assigned Industry: Government / Public Service
Additional Industry Expertise: Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Alexandra is Vice President of the Poverty to Prosperity Program at American Progress. Prior to her time at American Progress, she directed the human services program within the Economic Opportunity Division at the National Governors Association (NGA). In this capacity, she provided leadership and strategic direction to the NGA’s human services program, which focuses on state policies and programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. Prior to her time at the NGA, she served as Research Associate for the Anti-Poverty and Women’s Health and Rights programs at American Progress. Alexandra has a career distinguished by service to organizations that advocate on behalf of children and families with low incomes. She has served in advisory roles to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, Results for America, and the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities.

Advice to Students:

Be open to where life seems to be taking you. I did not conceive of my career path even a few years after graduation from Vassar. My openness to new experiences allowed me to accept a fellowship that placed me in a city I never thought I would live in and introduced me to jobs I didn't realize existed.

Brook Gesser ’95

Senior Advisor, Office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, New York, NY

BA, English, Vassar College
JD, Fordham University School of Law
Assigned Industry:Government / Public Service
Linkedin Profile

Brook has served as a Senior Advisor to United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in her New York City office since 2013. Brook’s portfolio includes education, health, aging, the LGBTQ+ community, and arts and cultural affairs. Brook’s chief responsibility is to identify problems affecting New Yorkers that require action at the federal level and then work with her colleagues in D.C. to create legislative solutions. In her capacity as Senior Advisor, Brook represents the Senator at meetings with advocates and acts as a liaison with federal, state, and local agencies. She recommends organizations and groups that the Senator should meet with and helps the Senator prepare for those meetings. Brook plans press conferences, town hall meetings, conferences, and working-group meetings and these days spends a lot of time on Zoom. Before joining Senator Gillibrand’s New York City office, Brook spent three years working for the Senator in Washington, where she primarily worked on military and defense issues.

Advice to Students:

Always do your absolute best work. Proofread like crazy, double- and triple-check your facts, and practice delivering your presentation in the mirror before the big day. People will notice if you are the one who is always prepared and who goes the extra mile to ensure your work product is excellent.

John Kane ’02

Water Policy Staff Director, United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Washington, DC

BA, Sociology, Vassar College
PhD Candidate, University of Virginia
Assigned Industry: Government / Public Service
Additional Industry Expertise: Environment/Sustainability, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

John is a senior professional U.S. Senate staff member with significant experience as a primary policy lead to multiple United States Senate committees and United States senators. His expertise lies in successfully managing strategic legislative goals and objectives over a number of years, multiple committees ranging from Appropriations to Veterans Affairs to Environment and Public Works, and for both parties in the majority and minority. Through his extensive experience with various committees and members, he has become adept at ensuring adherence to organizational goals and requirements while facilitating streamlined policy operations. Last Congress, John managed all aspects of the Water Resources Development Act legislative process, leading to the passage of America’s Water Infrastructure Act in October of 2018. This was the only major infrastructure bill to pass last Congress and it is widely considered to be a balanced bipartisan bill that delivered heavily for disadvantaged communities and created pathways to new water infrastructure investments while protecting the environment.

Advice to Students:

In any career, you have to be willing to respectfully push boundaries, be creative, and stand up for your beliefs. All this is to stay, you can never give up because it takes a lot of no responses before you get to that yes.

Juan Dominguez ’13

Public Relations Consultant, Jersey City, NJ

BA, Political Science, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Government / Public Service
Additional Industry Expertise: International Affairs/Global Careers, Law/Legal Services, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Juan is a Spanish bilingual public relations professional with eight years of experience in providing expertise in strategic communications, project management, and operational field logistics for nonprofit organizations including global NGOs, statewide and presidential campaigns, and leaders like Kamala Harris, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Pete Buttigieg, Tim Kaine, Michael Bloomberg, and Tom Steyer. After being a paralegal, Juan wanted to get out from behind a desk and see the world firsthand. He interned at the Clinton Foundation, then did Advance for Hillary for America, and has stayed involved in political and social issue campaigns since. Juan is often liaising with local stakeholders whether they are elected officials, law enforcement, activists, or local venue staff. Juan is currently seeking opportunities within the new Biden-Harris administration as well as preparing graduate school applications for international affairs programs. Juan can help those interested in getting involved in the legal field, social activism, or politics (whether that be on campaigns or in an official capacity).

Advice to Students:

Follow your passion, no matter what. While doing what you love may not be as lucrative as you’d hope at first, success and money will come naturally since you’ll enjoy doing the hard work. That’s what typically sets people apart from one another—the willingness to put in the extra effort every day. Additionally, relationships matter, so treat everyone you meet with the dignity and respect you desire. If not for altruistic reasons, simply because you actually never know who you’ll run into before and who can and will be helpful to you later on in your career.

Thomas Szymanski ’09

Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore, MD

BA, Political Science and Sociology, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Government / Public Service
Additional Industry Expertise: International Affairs/Global Careers, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Thomas is a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is part of a national security squad, and investigates matters related to international and domestic terrorism. Thomas is also on the Evidence Response Team, and processes crime scenes for the detection, preservation, and collection of evidence. Prior to joining the FBI, Thomas worked at the Department of Labor on international child labor issues, and at the USDA on value chain development projects in Africa. After graduating from Vassar, Thomas served in the Peace Corps as a Rural Community Health Volunteer in Benin.

Advice to Students:

Strive to be proactive, not perfect. Try not to fall into the trap agonizing for hours on crafting the perfect introductory email or cover letter. Rather, act quickly and confidently when reaching out to potential employers or people who are in positions that interest you. Anticipate what questions they might ask, and try to be specific about what your objective is in reaching out and what your goals are.

Alexes Hazen P’24

Medical Doctor, Alexes Hazen MD PLLC, New York, NY

BA, History, Brown University
MD, Brown University School of Medicine
Assigned Industry: Health / Medicine
Additional Industry Expertise: Scientific Research
Linkedin Profile

Alexes is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and Associate Professor at NYU Langone Health who specializes in breast reconstruction, gender-affirming surgery, and cosmetic surgery. She has a holistic approach to medicine and healing. Alexes did residency training in surgery and plastic surgery as well as specialized training in microsurgery at NYU Langone Health. Prior to medical school, she was in the United States Peace Corps in Honduras, where she volunteered in the health sector. Alexes is a radio host of the Sirius XM Doctor Radio Plastic Surgery show. She is also a board member of the AiRs foundation. She is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has research interests in outcomes in surgery.

Advice to Students:

I think college is a time to experiment in education and to find passion as well. Take risks. Try things that excite you and challenge you. Join groups and try activities that stretch you. Use all the amazing resources available to you. This is a unique time in your life where you truly have opportunity right in front of you and an abundance of resources! Use them! Find mentors and role models and talk to them. Go to office hours. Make connections. Have hard conversations. I think college and specifically Vassar is an incredible and special learning environment where you can explore and define who you are as an academic and a person. I never thought I would succeed as “pre-med” and I was wrong. So take the risks and try things that scare you and that you think you might not be good at.

John Capotorto ’81

Chief Medical Officer, RestorixHealth, White Plains, NY

BA, Biochemistry, Vassar College
MD, Università di Bologna, Italy
MBA, Healthcare, Zickler School of Business
Assigned Industry: Health / Medicine
Additional Industry: Business / Entrepreneurship, Management Consulting

After graduating Vassar as a Biochem major in 1981, John traveled to Bologna, Italy, where he obtained his medical degree in 1987. He then returned to the U.S., where he trained in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics before heading to Boston, where he completed a fellowship in both adult and pediatric endocrinology. After receiving board certification in all four areas of specialization and starting an endocrine practice, he returned to school, where he completed an MBA in healthcare administration. Soon after, he started a wound-care management company that he has been part of for 20 years—building it into a national company with over 250 Centers in 36 States.

Advice to Students:

Never accept the status quo. We can always do better.

Jonathan Weinstein ’96

Suicide Prevention Coordinator, VA Hudson Valley Health Care System, Montrose, NY

BA, History, Vassar College
MPA, New York University
PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Mississippi
Assigned Industry: Health / Medicine
Education, Government/Public Service, Scientific Research, Writing/Publishing
Linkedin Profile

Jonathan is a clinical psychologist and Suicide Prevention Coordinator at the VA Hudson Valley Health Care Service, and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at New York Medical College. In addition to co-authoring Two-for-One Teaching: Connecting Instruction to Student Values and Empower Your Students: Tools to Inspire a Meaningful School Experience, Jonathan’s publications can be found in Behavior and Social Issues, The Psychological Record, and Salud y Drogas. Jonathan and his family live in Westchester County and have two special children; one is on the autism spectrum, and the other is also amazing in ways that defy categorization.

Advice to Students:

Education permits the possibility of seeing the difference between your job and your work. May your time at Vassar be one where you identify, clarify, and explore the values that will become your legacy.

Lauren Shiman ’10

Director of Research and Evaluation, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY

BA, Mathematics, Vassar College
MPH, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley
Assigned Industry: Health / Medicine
Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service, Scientific Research
Linkedin Profile

Lauren is the Director of Research and Evaluation at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in the Bureau of Bronx Neighborhood Health. Through applied research and data communication, her work focuses on making injustices visible to incite action by community members, organizations, and policymakers. Working at the intersection of health and the social and economic contexts that create healthy environments, Lauren has the opportunity to work across public-health disciplines including education, sexual health, food environments, housing policy, and maternal and child health. In recent months, the NYC Department of Heath and Mental Hygiene has activated emergency structures to address the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, Lauren has been reassigned to various emergency roles to collect, analyze, and communicate information about the outbreak citywide and in the Bronx.

Advice to Students:

Talk to as many people as you can about what they do and how they got there. Informal conversations and informational interviews can be extremely important ways to explore professional fields that you might be interested in. Keep in touch with the people you connect with, and allow the relationships to develop over time if you can. You never know what you may learn about the kinds of jobs that exist and what skills and experience you need to get them. You might even be connected to internship or employment opportunities if you’re lucky!

Morgan Mako ’11

Family Nurse Practitioner & HIV Specialist, Lynn Community Health Center, Lynn, MA

BA, Religion, Vassar College
MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner, Yale University
Assigned Industry: Health / Medicine
Additional Industry Expertise: Education, Government/Public Service, Non-Profit/Social Justice, Scientific Research
Linkedin Profile

Morgan is a board-certified family nurse practitioner (AANP) and HIV specialist (AAHIVM) and an active member of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). He completed additional post-graduate nurse practitioner fellowship training (2018-2019) at The Institute for Family Health (NYC) and prepared as an FNP through the Yale University School of Nursing (2015-2018) direct-entry master's Graduate-Entry Pre-Specialty in Nursing (GEPN) program, earning a certificate of nursing and Master of Science in Nursing degree. As a practicing Zen Buddhist, his experience with meditation informs his understanding of health, illness, wellness, disease, and suffering. He is particularly interested in community health, caring for LGBTQI+ and other underserved populations, integrative behavioral healthcare in the primary care setting, and evidence-based applications of psychedelic substances for psychotherapy. He specializes in HIV treatment and prevention (PrEP), hepatitis C, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction (buprenorphine, naltrexone, naloxone), psychopharmacology of mood disorders, advanced diabetes management, men’s health/sexual health, and transgender care/HRT. He provides full-scope primary care across the lifespan, including newborn/pediatrics, women’s health, contraception, and prenatal care. He speaks Spanish fluently.

Advice to Students:

Each and every single time you assume something about another person, you will always be wrong.

Sandjida Aktar ’17

Medical Student, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA

BA, Biology, Vassar College
MD Candidate, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Assigned Industry: Health / Medicine
Additional Industry Expertise: Scientific Research
Linkedin Profile

Sandjida is a second-year medical student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania. Having been raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, she had the chance to witness widespread inequalities in access to healthcare in underprivileged communities. This was when her interest in medicine began. While working for Partners in Health Engage through ProHealth at Vassar, her desire to pursue medicine grew. Prior to medical school, she worked as a clinical research coordinator at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. In that role, she had the opportunity to work on diverse projects that included assessing lack of health literacy in underserved populations. Her interaction with patients on a day-to-day basis at Dana-Farber further solidified her passion to practice medicine. She aspires to become a doctor who works to bridge the gap in access to healthcare for the underserved.

Advice to Students:

Enjoy the process and enjoy the diverse learning experience at Vassar. Try your best to explore different classes from various disciplines that you are exposed to now. It is through exploring, learning, and working that you will stumble across a passion you want to pursue further. And when you do find what you want to do no matter how late that may be, try to make an impact through your work. And as everyone says: It’s going to be ok. Just keep going!

Amber Footman ’13

Program Manager, McManis and Monsalve Associates (U.S. State Department Contract), Arlington, VA

BA, International Studies and Russian Studies, Vassar College
MA, European and Eurasian Studies, The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs
Assigned Industry: International Affairs / Global Careers
Linkedin Profile

Amber is an international affairs professional. During her graduate years, she worked as a research assistant to professors at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, and interned with the U.S. State Department. Amber began contracting with the U.S. federal government in mid-2015 and supported the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute, DoD’s Defense Suicide Prevention Office, and the State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom. In September of 2017, Amber joined the U.S. Peace Corps in Ukraine, where she served as a Community Development volunteer in southeast Ukraine. Her Peace Corps years required her to use her Russian language skills (partly acquired at Vassar) and Ukrainian language skills (learned during the Peace Corps training period). Upon return from Ukraine in November 2019, Amber supported USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, and then moved on to support the State Departments Overseas Security Advisory Council as a Program Manager.

Advice to Students:

Create a loose plan for where you would like your career to take you. While having an end goal is very important, always allow for opportunities you did not predict in your chosen field. Where possible, be selective about which opportunities you take, and always keep a deep bench of references (both professional and personal).

Anna Horner ’00

Chief, Strategic Partnerships and Innovative Finance for Nutrition, United Nations World Food Programme, Rome, Italy

BA, French and Francophone Studies, Vassar College
MA, International Studies and Diplomacy, University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
Masters, International Development, Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris
Assigned Industry: International Affairs / Global Careers
Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Anna is a public health nutritionist with more than 17 years of experience working on international development and humanitarian programs primarily focused on the food security and nutrition sector. She has been based in West Africa for the majority of her career working with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF but has also supported other regions, including the 2010 Haiti earthquake response. She is currently the Chief of Strategic Partnerships and Innovative Financing for Nutrition at WFP’s HQ in Rome, Italy. She holds an MA in International Studies and Diplomacy from the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies, a Masters in International Development from the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, and an MSc in Public Health Nutrition from University of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Advice to Students:

My advice to students would be to think broadly when considering what you might like to do, be open to as many new and unexpected opportunities, and gather as much experience as you can through internships which allow you to really understand what different types of careers entail.

Janeen Madan Keller ’10

Senior Policy Analyst and Assistant Director of Global Health Policy, Center for Global Development, Washington, DC

BA, French and Francophone Studies and Political Science, Vassar College
MS, Public Health Nutrition and Food Security, Tufts University
Assigned Industry: International Affairs / Global Careers
Linkedin Profile

Janeen is a Senior Policy Analyst and the Assistant Director of Global Health Policy at the Center for Global Development—a nonprofit think tank in Washington, DC that works to reduce global poverty through innovative economic research. In this role, she conducts policy-oriented research on a range of topics focusing on how international organizations can improve their policies and practices to expand equitable access to high-quality health services and essential medicines in low- and middle-income countries. Previously, she was a Princeton in Africa fellow with the UN World Food Program’s Regional Office in Dakar, Senegal, where she supported nutrition and food security programs across 18 countries in the West and Central Africa region. She has also worked with UNICEF on nutrition programs in Bamako, Mali and conducted research on health behavior change in Niger. Originally from Mumbai, India, Janeen is fluent in French and Hindi.

Advice to Students:

1) Sharpen your writing skills—being a good, clear writer gets you far.
2) If you’re interested in pursuing a career in international affairs, consider learning a second language and, if possible, seek out opportunities to work internationally.
3) If you’re thinking about grad school, I’d encourage you to spend a few years working to help you narrow down on what degree to pursue.

Jeffrey Warner ’06

Senior ASEAN Affairs Officer, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC

BA, Asian Studies and Chinese, Vassar College
MA, Pacific and International Affairs, University of California, San Diego School of Global Policy Solutions
Assigned Industry: International Affairs / Global Careers
Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service
Linkedin Profile

Jeff manages all aspects of U.S. foreign policy with the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), including high-level diplomatic engagements and delivering programs that benefit the people of the United States and ASEAN. He oversees the U.S.-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership and developed the U.S.-ASEAN Health Futures to enhance public health cooperation in Southeast Asia. Jeff joined the Foreign Service in 2011 and has served in Shanghai and Rangoon and in Washington in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. As a political officer in Rangoon, he coordinated a 50-person embassy election observation mission for the 2015 elections. His next assignment will be a one-year detail to the U.S. Congress. Before joining the Foreign Service, Jeff worked as a cruise director on the Yangtze River in China and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese. He is a native of the Mojave Desert in Southern California.

Advice to Students:

Do not be afraid to take the opportunities that come your way, even if—maybe especially if—they do not fit neatly within your career path. These unique experiences give you a chance to do something you might not otherwise and, for me, became defining parts of my career trajectory. They also help you figure out what you really want out of your career.

Rob Grace ’00

Researcher, Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies, Providence, RI

BA, Drama, Vassar College
MA, Politics, New York University
PhD Candidate, Political Science, Brown University
Assigned Industry: International Affairs / Global Careers
Linkedin Profile

Rob is a researcher at the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies (CHRHS), based at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, Brown University, where he undertakes research on humanitarian-military relations. From 2011-2019, he was a researcher at Harvard University—first at the Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research (HPCR) and then at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI)—where he led research projects on humanitarian negotiation and international fact-finding. He is the co-editor of the HPCR Practitioner’s Handbook on Monitoring, Reporting, and Fact-Finding, published by Cambridge University Press in 2017. His work has also been published by Journal of Conflict & Security Law, World Health & Population, Conflict and Health, Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies, Journal of Humanitarian Affairs, and Negotiation Journal, among others. He co-teaches a graduate course on international disaster management at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. He is a doctoral candidate in political science at Brown University, where he is working on a dissertation analyzing humanitarian access negotiations.

Advice to Students:

Your career doesn’t need to look linear. Take your dreams and ambitions seriously. But don’t hesitate to continually take stock. Will your career goals actually fulfill you, allow you to use the skills that you truly value, and align with your values regarding what you hope to accomplish in this world? The answers to these questions might shift over time in ways that surprise you. Always be ready and willing to reassess and adjust based on what the world—and your heart—tell you about how your intended career path might (or might not) feed into you living a fulfilling life.

Achal Fernando-Peiris ’19

Paralegal, Federal Defenders of New York, Southern District of New York, New York, NY

BA, Biology and Political Science, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Law / Legal Services
Additional Industry Expertise: Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

As a paralegal at the Federal Defenders of New York in the Southern District of New York, Achal works with attorneys to defend clients who are unable to afford legal representation. Achal helps attorneys with many tasks including securing bail packages, interviewing clients, drafting mitigation submission, and preparing for trials and hearings. As the paralegal on a large national security case, United States v. Schulte, Achal had to obtain top-secret clearance, and conduct discovery review and trial preparation in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF). Achal sat at counsel table throughout the trial and helped the attorneys draft cross-examinations for witness impeachment. Overall, this experience confirmed his desire to become a public defender. He has applied to law school and hopes to enroll in the fall of 2021.

Advice to Students:

The one piece of advice I got, early on, was to take a diverse array of courses. Each semester, I tried to take one class that had nothing to do with my major and field of study, but rather was something I just found interesting. Often times, it was this class that energized me and taught me to approach issues from different angles!

Lauren Robinson ’86

Assistant General Counsel, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL

BA, English, Vassar College
JD, New York University School of Law
MPP, NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
Assigned Industry: Law / Legal Services
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Lauren provides legal and business advice to senior management and staff. She is experienced in corporate law and governance; corporate and real estate transactions; mergers and acquisitions; compliance and ethics; and employment law. She implements the AMA’s Code of Conduct, which addresses harassment at AMA functions. Lauren drafts and negotiates contracts and helps staff execute their programs in a way that mitigates legal and operating risk. She advises the Human Resources Department on employment law matters (EEOC matters, FMLA, ADA, performance management, etc). Lauren works on matters to implement health equity in the AMA and beyond—working on initiatives such as West Side United, which is working to eliminate the “death gap” on Chicago’s West Side. Lauren has received the Top Assistant General Counsel award from First Chair, an organization of in-house counsel and the Chicago Bar Association’s “Lawyers Lend-A-Hand” Award for her work in youth mentoring.

Advice to Students:

1) Think about how your career will fit into your life. How much time do you want to spend working? What’s important to you outside of work? How does your life mesh with your career? Rural? Urban? Traditional family? Travel? Leisure? Spiritual life?
2) Choose a career that leverages what you do well or like to do.
3) Resist social pressure from EVERYONE. This is your life. What is important to YOU?
4) Consider multiple factors in your career choice: Time spent. Location. Compensation (salary and benefits). Flexibility. Independence. Working alone or with others. What do you want each day to look like? What would be soul crushing?
5) Corporate. Nonprofit. Government. Academia. Each path has pros and cons. What’s important to you? What do you want to achieve through work? Can you choose that in other ways?
6) Be strategic. If you are considering grad school, go to a school where you plan to be vs. going to the “best” school. I’m in Chicago. They could care less about my fancy East Coast schools.
7) Don’t simply go to the “best” grad school. The higher ranked school may not be best for you. Consider location, costs, environment, and culture. Be thoughtful and strategic—just don’t follow the pack!
8) Write a letter to yourself about your life and career considering these points. Seal it in an envelope. Revisit that letter every year or so. Update it as needed. Are you being true to yourself?
9) Don’t go to law school as a default. Too much money and too much time. There are too many miserable attorneys. Also too many unemployed or underemployed ones.
10) Don’t simply go to law school to “help people.” You can do that through law school. You can also do that through other ways. Same with nonprofits. Consider the implications of going to a small, not well-funded one. Huge difference between that and working at a large nonprofit (college, hospital, cultural institution, foundation, association).
11) Leverage social media to connect to people who have jobs that interest you. Introduce yourself and do an information interview. Make it clear that you only want their insights, not a job. Ask what would they would have done differently; what they best and least like about their role; what was unexpected in good and not so good ways. We learn from our mistakes. Better to learn from others’ than your own. Ask what would you advise a younger version of yourself pursuing this career path.

Michael Weiner ’91 P’23

Senior Deputy General Counsel, Citadel, Chicago, IL

BA, History, Vassar College
JD, George Washington University
MBA, Finance/Strategy, Kellogg School of Management
Assigned Industry: Law / Legal Services
Additional Industry Expertise: Financial Services
Linkedin Profile

After graduating from Vassar, Michael spent a year teaching social studies and economics at a high school in Buenos Aires, Argentina before attending law school. After graduating from law school, he earned an MBA. Michael worked at a law firm, the CME Group, and two now-defunct internet companies before starting his job at Citadel in 2002. He has global responsibilities for all legal matters related to employment, litigation, intellectual property, real estate, strategic investments, cybersecurity, and privacy. He also provides counsel to the family office of Citadel’s Founder & CEO.

Advice to Students:

Be patient. A career takes a long time to build. Find a good mentor.

Natalie Limón ’15

Lead Paralegal, Church World Service, New York, NY

BA, Hispanic Studies, Vassar College
Certificate, Immigration Law, CUNY School of Professional Studies
Assigned Industry: Law / Legal Services
Additional Industry Expertise: Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Natalie is beginning her sixth year in immigration legal services and currently serves as the Lead Paralegal at Church World Service’s Immigration Legal Services Department in New York City. She was previously partially accredited to practice immigration law before the Department of Homeland Security, in connection with her two-year fellowship with the Immigrant Justice Corps, wherein she was selected to be part of a small team charged with launching a “low-bono” nonprofit practice in Jersey City called The Center for Immigrant Representation. She graduates this month from the CUNY School of Professional Studies Immigration Law program and is awaiting the issuance of her advanced certificate in order to apply for full accreditation from the Department of Justice, which will enable her to practice immigration law both before the Department of Homeland Security as well as the Executive Office for Immigration Review (the immigration courts). Natalie spends her days consulting with clients, preparing cases, and conducting community outreach. In her free time, she skateboards and writes rhymes.

Advice to Students:

Consider exploring a legal fellowship or legal assistant position in an area of law that interests you before going to law school (if that’s your route) to help contextualize your educational experience. It will also provide you with insight, exposure, and appreciation for different legal tasks and roles.

Shari Leventhal ’85 P’24

Of Counsel, Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, NY

BA, Political Science, Vassar College
JD, Georgetown University Law Center
Assigned Industry: Law / Legal Services
Additional Industry Expertise: Financial Services
Linkedin Profile

Shari is a member of Sullivan & Cromwell’s Financial Services Group. She focuses her practice on regulatory enforcement matters, complex litigation, and external and internal investigations. Prior to joining Sullivan & Cromwell, Shari spent 18 years with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Legal Group, where she most recently served as the Deputy General Counsel and Senior Vice President responsible for the Enforcement, Litigation, and Investigations Division. In that role, Shari was involved in numerous multi-agency, cross-border enforcement investigations and resolutions relating to violations of OFAC sanctions and the Bank Secrecy Act, money laundering, consumer compliance, the FX market, LIBOR, and balance sheet manipulation. From 1992-1998, Shari served as an Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

Advice to Students:

Vassar’s lack of specific course requirements allows you to explore different subjects. Take advantage of that opportunity because you may find a new passion. Your career path may not follow the direction you expect and that’s OK. Sometimes the road less traveled is the way to go!

Stephanie Wargo ’98

Attorney, Department of Police Accountability, San Francisco, CA

BA, Mathematics and Psychology, Vassar College
JD, UCLA School of Law
Assigned Industry: Law / Legal Services
Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service
Linkedin Profile

Stephanie joined the Department of Police Accountability (DPA) in October of 2018. She joined DPA after four years in private practice doing criminal defense and plaintiff's personal injury work, including asbestos work. Stephanie spent the first 12+ years of her career at the San Francisco Public Defender’s office, where she served as a Deputy Public Defender from 2002-2014. As San Francisco Deputy Public Defender, Stephanie helped defend thousands of people who could not otherwise afford an attorney. While at the UCLA School of Law, she already showed her interest in justice as a board member and volunteer at the UCLA Free Clinic. During her law school years, she clerked at the Los Angeles Federal Public Defender’s office. She was also an extern for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Advice to Students:

Find your passion. When you love what you do, it does not feel so much like work. This is especially true in high-stress jobs that demand much of your time and energy. Do all that you can to protect some time for yourself and/or your family when you are disconnected from work, from email, from your electronic devices. Visit your happy place(s) often, wherever they may be. I wish I would have done these things more in my 20s and 30s.

Huadi Zhang ’11

Consultant, Boston Consulting Group, Washington, DC

BA, Biology, Vassar College
PhD, Medical Sciences, Harvard University
Assigned Industry: Management Consulting
Additional Industry Expertise: Scientific Research
Linkedin Profile

Huadi is a Consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he works with private- and public-sector clients to advance growth and strategic agendas. His recent engagements include developing portfolio strategy for an innovative biopharmaceuticals company, enhancing health care value for a large health system, and defining an operating model for a global NGO. Prior to joining BCG, Huadi worked in drug/medical device regulatory policy and technology commercialization. A scientist by training, he obtained a PhD in Biomedical Sciences focusing on molecular mechanisms in cancer development. While at Vassar, Huadi was a resident of Jewett and Main, and a member of VISA.

Advice to Students:

Align your career path with your interests and the impact you want to make, and re-evaluate career trajectory regularly. Carry your intellectual curiosity into the career conversation: Learn about as many career options as you can and don’t limit yourself to the preset and the typical.

Livia Dinu ’10

Senior Manager, Strategy& (PwC), Boston, MA

BA, Economics, Vassar College
MBA, Management, Harvard Business School
Assigned Industry: Management Consulting
Additional Industry Expertise: Financial Services
Linkedin Profile

Livia Dinu is a Senior Manager at PwC Strategy& with over seven years of consulting experience. During her consulting experience, she covered a variety of sectors, ranging from financial services to healthcare and energy and utilities. She has delivered over 30+ consulting engagements both focused on growth strategy (including new product assessments and pricing strategy) and operating model transformations and digitization/automation initiatives (from opportunity evaluation to defining business requirements and leading implementation). She has also completed a number of target due diligence engagements for select acquisitions. Prior to joining PwC Strategy&, Livia was a Research Analyst at The Brattle Group—an economics consulting company and an Analyst in Investment Banking—M&A Financial Institutions Group at Nomura/Lehman Brothers.

Advice to Students:

Find something that you love doing. Figure out what career path you can build around it, and learn tirelessly and enthusiastically so that you can become the best in that field.

Nick Dynin ’18

Senior Consultant, Oliver Wyman, New York, NY

BA, Economics and Russian Studies, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Management Consulting
Linkedin Profile

Nick joined Oliver Wyman right after graduating Vassar. So far, he has had the opportunity to serve clients in a variety of industries, with a recent emphasis on greenfield digital financial service business building. In his role, Nick primarily performs qualitative & quantitative analyses, synthesizes their key findings, and works with his team to effectively communicate said findings to clients. Outside of work, when time permits, Nick enjoys traveling, Soviet cinema (shout-out to the Vassar Russian Studies Department), and watching football/soccer.

Advice to Students:

No matter where you start your career, make sure that you’re always learning and surrounded by people who inspire you—everything will else will fall into place.

Samantha Mignotte ’09

Director of Advisory Services, Social Finance, Boston, MA

BA, Economics and Political Science, Vassar College
MPP, Public Affairs-International Development, Princeton University
Assigned Industry: Management Consulting
Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service
Linkedin Profile

Samantha is a Director of Advisor Services at Social Finance, where she works with governments, nonprofits, and investors to explore Pay for Success opportunities. Prior to Social Finance, she served as a manager in Deloitte’s public sector strategy practice where she worked with U.S. government agencies and NGOs on enterprise strategy, performance management, and program evaluation. Through her work, she has guided senior-level officials in the development of strategic plans and the adoption of data-driven methods of program design and evaluation. Much of her work at Deloitte focused specifically on public health challenges in the United States, including the COVID-19 response. Prior to her time at Deloitte, Samantha worked with the World Bank’s Independent Evaluation Group on project- and program-level evaluations for poverty alleviation initiatives. She has also previously served as a research associate for the Small Planet Institute.

Advice to Students:

Don’t stress about your first job too much. You’ve got another 40 years of working to get it right, so choose a role that helps you grow and figure out what you like (and what you don’t).

Steven Kauderer ’85 P’24

Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company, New York, NY

BA, American Culture, Vassar College
MBA, Management, Yale School of Management
Assigned Industry: Management Consulting
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Financial Services
Linkedin Profile

Steven helps organizations achieve breakthrough performance, which leads to profitable growth and improved customer and employee experience. He works across strategy, operations, and organization, and has a particular focus on advanced analytics and digital innovation. He works most often with financial services/insurance companies.

Advice to Students:

You are each at an amazing place in your journey. Vassar is a very special school and I encourage you to take it all in—academics, extra curricular activities, etc. Try to find your passion and spark by stretching into new areas. In terms of finding careers that excite you, please reach out to many alums and get a sense of what’s out there. Try a summer internship in an area that you’re interested in even if it’s outside your comfort zone. Experiment and have fun as you get inspired.

Eli Vargas ’16

Program Coordinator, ACLU, Washington, DC

BA, International Studies, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Non-Profit / Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Eli is a Program Coordinator for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Washington, DC. Since 2017 he has worked on issues of immigrants’ rights, environmental justice, indigenous rights, and racial justice within the ACLU’s National Political Advocacy Department. He can speak on federal, legislative, and issue advocacy as well as HR and administrative working in the nonprofit setting. In his free time, Eli volunteers with the International Mayan League, where he leads their immigration policy work on the local, national, and international level. Prior to joining the ACLU, Eli community organized in Maricopa County in the 2016 election cycle, successfully ousting Sheriff Joe Arpaio from office, as well organizing in Nashville, Denver, and Madison, WI on healthcare and consumer advocacy issues.

Advice to Students:

Don’t be afraid to reach out to anybody who is doing any interesting work that you’d love to hear more about. Informational interviews are great ways to learn more about the industry and organization you want to be a part of, hear some useful advice, and meet some amazing and inspiring people. It’s free information, so why not take advantage! And of course, always make sure to send a thank you note after any interview.

Jenna Kronenberg ’13

Engagement Manager, Physicians for Reproductive Health, New York, NY

BA, Independent Program, Vassar College
MS, Nonprofit Management, The New School
Assigned Industry: Non-Profit / Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Jenna is a proud fund-raising geek dedicated to sustainable, community-based philanthropy. While learning from a dear and beloved mentor, she shifted her mindset from “I hate talking about money” to “I love talking about organizations doing incredible work.” She now spends her time helping folks committed to social justice achieve their goals. At Physicians for Reproductive Health, Jenna is responsible for advancing the organization’s strategic fund-raising and donor relationship priorities. In addition to holding past roles at other nonprofits, she completed her master’s degree in nonprofit management in 2017, focusing her studies and career on fund-raising and health care. While at Vassar, Jenna was involved with Davison House Team as a Student Fellow and House Student Advisor, CARES, and VRDT.

Advice to Students:

Sometimes you may feel pressure to find the right career immediately. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t land the dream job right away—or if what you thought was the dream job ends up a disappointment. You’re entering the workforce at a huge advantage because you have a liberal arts degree—analytical thinking and good reading and writing skills will take you a long way. Figure out how to translate your skills into different fields. This adaptability will be one of your best assets. Ask lots of questions, develop a strong relationship with at least one mentor, and don’t forget your own unique voice.

Jennifer Dawson ’06

Co-Founder/Board Secretary, Find Your Way, Los Angeles, CA

BA, Classics: Greek, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Non-Profit / Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

After getting her start in higher education fund-raising 14 years ago, Jennifer began working for cause-based organizations, including animal welfare, early education (preschool) access, and LGBTQ services. She spent nearly four years running the major gifts program at the world’s largest LGBTQ organization, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, during their historic $67 million campaign to build the groundbreaking Anita May Rosenstein Campus. Most recently she served as Director of Development for the ONE Archives Foundation, an LGBTQ+ history, arts, and culture nonprofit that also happens to be the world’s oldest continuously-operating LGBTQ organization. In 2018, Jennifer helped to develop Find Your Way—a volunteer-led program that provides entrepreneurship and business leadership development classes for LGBTQ youth ages 18-24 in collaboration with the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Youth Services program. Jennifer is now working on incorporating Find Your Way as an official 501(c)3 and expanding their services within and outside Southern California. She serves as Board Secretary and as a coach and mentor.

Advice to Students:

Your path may be very different than you anticipate—I never imagined fund-raising as a career choice in college! Stay flexible in your search and treat your first job(s) as a chance to figure out what you like and how you want to grow. The most important soft skills I have learned are active listening (listening to understand rather than respond) and expressing sincere gratitude; practice those and you’ll go far.

Noor Mir ’12

Partner, DC Action Lab, Washington, DC

BA, Political Science, Vassar College
MPA, Public Management, Georgetown University
Assigned Industry: Non-Profit / Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Noor is a DC-based organizer and facilitator with a passion for facilitation, direct action strategy, and training and is a Partner at DC Action Lab, a worker-owned collective. Born and raised in Islamabad, Pakistan, Noor moved to the United States in 2008 to attend college at Vassar, where she interned at the African American Policy Forum to create popular education programs on structural and institutional racism. Noor became politically active through the movement to ground lethal and surveillance drones while doing research on the topic back home in northern Pakistan. Noor then led the Ground the Drones campaign at the anti-war organization CODEPINK: Women for Peace, where she organized with the families of survivors and victims of drone strikes from Yemen and Pakistan. She then worked as a field organizer and then as a national campaigner for police accountability and criminal justice at Amnesty International, focusing on state and federal advocacy on lethal force and data collection and reporting and coordinated the first international human rights observer deployments to Ferguson and Baltimore in her time at the organization. Noor has been a Partner at the worker-owned collective DC Action Lab for the past four years. She has led on campaign strategy and rapid-response design with a plethora of people-powered movements such as the No Muslim Ban Ever Campaign, the immigrant-led coalition Moving Toward Justice and Firedrill Fridays. Noor is the Co-Chair of Collective Action for Safe Spaces. Noor also serves on DC’s Mayoral Advisory Committee Against Street Harassment.

Advice to Students:

Do the unpopular thing, take the job that is a little bit strange if it meets your interests/needs, and you don’t have to go to graduate school right out of school to be successful.

Thomas Lawler ’15

Fundraiser and Political Consultant, The Worker's Lab, Oakland, CA

BA, Drama and Women's Studies, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Non-Profit / Social Justice
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Government/Public Service, Management Consulting
Linkedin Profile

Thomas is a fundraiser, political strategist, and consultant. Throughout his career in the philanthropy sector—whether at large national organizations or with small start-up political campaigns—Thomas has focused his work on sustainable and strategic power building. He previously worked at Planned Parenthood Federation of America as a fundraiser and project manager for their multimillion-dollar Action Fund and SuperPAC, fighting to ensure abortion access was protected at the state and national level. In addition to his time at PP, Thomas has worked with EMILY's List and other progressive organizations. During the 2020 election, Thomas expanded into consulting—overseeing the fundraising and finances for several different progressive candidates, campaigns, and community-led organizations. He recently joined The Worker’s Lab, a Bay-Area-based organization that is rooted in building worker power and tackling the 21st-century challenges confronting working people and the social safety net.

Advice to Students:

Do the readings! A liberal arts education is the greatest asset you can bring to a job or project or company. Being able to communicate, write, problem solve, think critically AND creatively—these are the skills to master; these are the skills that will set you apart. Don’t fixate on WHAT you are going to do (I want to work in corporate advertising)—focus on HOW you approach a problem, work on a team, and address big-picture issues with tactile day-to-day solutions. There is a reason that Vassar does not have an Intro to Marketing course; there is a reason you are at Vassar. Lean into the power of your education and the strength of a liberal arts background.

Yasmeen Silva ’15

Partnerships Manager, Beyond the Bomb, New York, NY

BA, International Studies, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Non-Profit / Social Justice
Additional Industry Expertise: International Affairs/Global Careers
Linkedin Profile

Yasmeen spends her days exposing the intersections of the nuclear system with other oppressive systems here in the United States. She is passionate specifically about ending toxic masculinity that fuels violence. Prior to organizing at Beyond the Bomb, Yasmeen worked as a field organizer across the country on issues ranging from a $15 minimum wage to reproductive justice. She also ran a voter registration office prior to the 2016 election. As Partnerships Manager, she brings issue connections to light to build strong, intersectional coalitions that fight for justice.

Advice to Students:

Be fearless about reaching out. The worst someone can say is no. People are often excited to talk about their work and offer connections, especially in this current moment. People across the country, world, and various disciplines are so much more accessible and willing to engage. So find out who you want to talk to, do your homework, and reach out.

Arick Wong ’14

Clinical Research Associate, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation, San Bruno, CA

BA, Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Scientific Research
Additional Industry Expertise: Health/Medicine, Technology
Linkedin Profile

Arick grew up in Chattanooga, TN and graduated with a BA in Neuroscience. After graduating, he worked in clinical research at a medical device startup, STD/HIV clinics in Seattle and San Francisco, and a sleep and circadian rhythms laboratory in Boston. Arick currently works at MAPS Public Benefit Corporation and executes clinical trials on MDMA-assisted therapy in eating disorder and PTSD populations. Arick hopes to understand the global regulatory framework for medical device and pharmaceuticals and strategize ways to make medicines and medical devices more accessible for all.

Advice to Students:

Figure out what you’re passionate about and don’t be afraid to try new things. In your jobs, build connections with people you admire. Having a solid team in the workplace is vital to getting the job done. Don’t overlook soft skills and emotional intelligence.

Danielle Twum ’12

Molecular Science Liaison, Caris Life Sciences, Irving, TX

BA, Biology, Vassar College
PhD, Cancer Immunology, University at Buffalo
Assigned Industry: Scientific Research
Additional Industry Expertise: Health/Medicine
Linkedin Profile

Hailing from Ghana, West Africa, Danielle studied the effects of climate change on coral bleaching at Vassar. She went on to received her PhD in Cancer Immunology from the University at Buffalo, where she studied the immunology of breast cancer metastasis. Danielle currently works as a Molecular Science Liaison at Caris Life Sciences. She is also an AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador, an initiative aimed at increasing visibility of women in STEM as role models for young girls.

Advice to Students:

You are getting a top-notch education at Vassar that will allow you to thrive in any environment. Don't be scared, apply for that opportunity that lights your fire!

Katrina Mateo ’10

Patient Innovation Lead, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY

BA, Biology, Vassar College
MPH, Public Health–Sociomedical Sciences Research, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
PhD, Public Health–Community Health & Social Sciences, CUNY School of Public Health
Assigned Industry: Scientific Research
Additional Industry Expertise: Health/Medicine, Technology
Linkedin Profile

Katrina is an applied public health researcher, interventionist, and strategist with expertise in health behavior change, digital health, and human-centered design. Her research has primarily used community-based and/or user-/patient-centered approaches, i.e., survey assessments and qualitative methods to understand the relationship between individuals and their community/environment and how this impacts their health, their potential for healthy behavior change, and their receptiveness to adopting digital health technologies and other therapeutic solutions. She currently works at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals as a Patient Innovation Lead, responsible for the assessment, validation, and implementation of novel technologies to measure digital endpoints, optimize trial implementation, and reduce burden to patients in clinical trials. In her previous research roles (spanning community-based, hospital, academic, start-up, and industry contexts), she conducted studies in the development and evaluation of digital health interventions and technologies across a diversity of therapeutic areas (i.e., obesity, pain, medication adherence, eldercare).

Advice to Students:

When taking leaps of faith, whether in your professional or personal journey, remember that every experience should lead closer to something you love, or help you move away from something you hate (or do not truly enjoy). If you look at every opportunity in this way, no experience you embark on will ever be a waste of time.

Maya Enriquez ’17

Graduate Student, University of Minnesota Duluth Integrated Biosciences Program, Duluth, MN

BA, Cognitive Science, Vassar College
MS Candidate, Integrated Biosciences, University of Minnesota Duluth
Assigned Industry: Scientific Research
Additional Industry Expertise: Health/Medicine
Linkedin Profile

Maya is currently pursuing a master’s degree in biology at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She is currently working with advisor Dr. Allen Mensinger, with a focus on the neuroethology of fish. Her latest research project investigates sensory thresholds in satellite populations of the Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus. Maya is a recipient of the University of Minnesota Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE) Fellowship and is active in community outreach in the Duluth area. Prior to graduate school, Maya worked as an EKG technician and medical scribe in Los Angeles. Though initially interested in a medical career pathway, she found her passion for biology through several fieldwork experiences at Vassar, which included tagging Northern Saw-Whet owls on Mohonk Ridge and studying animal biomechanics. While at Vassar, she was an oboist in the Vassar College Orchestra and a student mentor through the Transitions Program. Maya is dedicated to increasing diversity in science and providing support and mentorship to underrepresented minorities.

Advice to Students:

While many people change their originally intended majors or career goals throughout their time at Vassar, many more see their plans change even more drastically after graduation—and that is not a bad thing! Vassar is an incredible place to try new things and find likes, dislikes, and hopefully lifelong passions. Not everything you try will be a good fit, but that often leads you to try new directions that you haven’t considered before. Enjoy being in a place where you have so many possibilities before you, but also celebrate each time you narrow those possibilities down!

Miranda (Rose) Hulsey-Vincent ’19

Research Technician, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA

BA, Independent Program, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Scientific Research
Additional Industry Expertise: Technology
Linkedin Profile

As a research technician at Janelia Research Campus, a branch of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Ashburn, VA, Rose is working on the Mechanistic Cognitive Neuroscience pilot project studying place-learning behavior in the Drosophilid subspecies. In her spare time, she is also an officer of Janelia’s Women’s Coding Circle and volunteer fencing coach with Cardinal Fencing Academy. While at Vassar, she discovered her love of research through a joint URSI research project with Vassar’s Physics and the Neuroscience departments. Advised by Professor Magnes and Professor Susman, she majored in biophysics, an independent major, with a correlate in mathematics. She was also a captain of the Vassar women’s fencing team and a Diving Into Research mentor.

Advice to Students:

Connect with your professors! They offer great advice, and can help you turn your passion into a career.

Scott Fleming ’05

Senior Astronomical Data Scientist, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD

BA, Astronomy and Physics, Vassar College
PhD, Astronomy, University of Florida
Assigned Industry: Scientific Research
Linkedin Profile

Scott is an astrophysicist who works at the Space Telescope Science Institute. He works in the MAST archive that houses astronomical data from more than 20 missions. His research is on extrasolar planets and stellar astrophysics in the ultraviolet, optical, and infrared wavelengths. He is an author/co-author on more than 50 peer-reviewed publications. Most recently, he leads a project to provide archival astronomy data in a sonified format to increase accessibility for those who are blind/low-vision.

Advice to Students:

A liberal arts education has great value for those interested in STEM careers. Cross-disciplinary projects are increasingly valuable, so take advantage of the opportunity to learn about different subjects. If you have more than one passion, think about ways to combine them as you progress in your career. Use your breadth of education and subject matter expertise to stand out from other applicants. Finally, don't hesitate to apply to positions or locations of interest: You never know who will be reading the applications, and they are passed around within professional circles more often than you might think. I got my current job offer after interviewing for an entirely different one at the same institution.

Cindy Bishop ’92

Director of Technology, BongoMedia, Cambridge, MA

BA, Cognitive Science, Vassar College
MA, Dynamic Media, Massachusetts College of Art
Assigned Industry: Technology
Additional Industry Expertise: Entertainment / Media, Health/Medicine, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Cindy is a highly skilled technologist leveraging her experienced, savvy eye at the intersection of technology and the art of storytelling. She has created interactive installations for galleries, film festivals, and museums, as well as software for enterprise applications and social justice. Her most recent collaboration, Chomsky vs. Chomsky: a VR/AI experience, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2020, New Frontier category.

Advice to Students:

Don’t be afraid to learn and to fail!

Henry Roark ’13

UX Program Manager, Google, San Francisco, CA

BA, Science, Technology and Society, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Technology
Linkedin Profile

Henry has been working as a User Experience (UX) Program Manager at Google for over six years. He works with engineers, product managers, designers, and researchers to ship products that affect billions of people. Product managers figure out the “why” and “what” to build while program managers figure out the “how” by keeping the team aligned, on track, and running smoothly. Henry started off in academic science research and has participated in Vassar’s URSI, the CDO’s Tanenbaum Fellowship for Work and Development, and the Barry M. Goldwater scholarship, so he’s very familiar with all that Vassar has to offer to support your career. He studied abroad in Copenhagen where he learned about Design Thinking, and then interned and later worked at frog after connecting with an alum. He was also referred to Google by a classmate in the year above him. He’s received so much from Vassar and is happy to give back!

Advice to Students:

College is the time to explore! Take any class that piques your interest, and I recommend getting out of your comfort zone. I also wish I had spent more time exploring outside of the classroom. As you’re thinking about after Vassar, reach out to people who are doing things you might in the slightest be interested in. You never know what’s out there, and it can also turn out that what you think is a dream job is not at all what it seems in the day to day. Talk to as many people as you can and be clear in your questions and how they might be able to help. People usually love talking about themselves and what they do and are more than likely happy to help.

Joe Lozito ’93

Managing Director, Accenture, New York, NY

BA, Computer Science, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Technology
Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations
Linkedin Profile

Joe is Northeast Delivery Lead for Accenture Interactive, based out of New York City. In that role, Joe oversees the execution of all digital programs for Accenture Interactive, ensuring that those programs are set up for quality delivery for Accenture and its clients. Prior to Accenture, Joe spent 10 years at Publicis Groupe, first at Digitas, leading their North American Technology team, then as CTO of Rosetta, and finally as operations lead for the newly formed SapientRazorfish, creating a unified North American delivery capability that was responsible for all digital output at the agency. Earlier in his career, Joe was the first technology director at J. Walter Thompson, helping to build the “digital@JWT” capability from its infancy in 1999. Joe has over 20 years of delivery and operations experience, bringing software development to the digital marketing space at scale. Joe has watched the web grow from its early incarnations to a dominant business medium. He is fluent in most web languages, as well as a little Spanish and Italian.

Advice to Students:

1) Your first job will not be your last. Take the first step and see where it takes you
2) Do what you can to do what you love.
3) Create your own brand and then find the next you.
4) Manage up and manage down.

Kelly Yu ’17

Software Engineer II, Affirm, Inc., San Francisco, CA

BA, Computer Science and Mathematics, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Technology
Linkedin Profile

Kelly is a software engineer at a rapidly growing fintech company called Affirm. At Affirm, she drives, architects, and implements cross-functional projects and new technical artifacts for the promotional messaging team. If you’ve seen “Affirm” messaging while shopping at Peloton, Adidas, or Target, she has likely worked on that code! To this end, she has been able to dabble in both project management and technical problem solving. Additionally, Kelly is involved in various efforts across the company. She was one of the first members of the WomEng group, where she is a lead for the community-building vertical as well as a mentor in the group’s mentorship program. She also is an active interviewer and advocate for expanding hiring pipelines. Before Affirm, Kelly worked as an intern-turned-full-timer at Boomerang, a small but powerful email productivity company. At Boomerang, she played an active role in researching, architecting, and implementing new features and payment infrastructure to support the launch of Boomerang for Outlook.

Advice to Students:

Your worth is not defined by any job opportunity or interview. No one passes every interview or gets every job they apply for. There are many paths to get to where you want to go, and every opportunity will have its ups and downs that will help you hone in on what is important to you. Remember that no matter the job or your experience level, you have so much to bring to the table.

Mario Arthur-Bentil ’10

Data Scientist, Deloitte, Washington, DC

BA, Economics, Vassar College
MBA, Johns Hopkins University
Assigned Industry: Technology
Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service, Management Consulting
Linkedin Profile

Mario is a Senior Consultant/Data Scientist at Deloitte. His previous clients include the Human Resources Division at the Census Bureau, where he created a Data Science Training Plan to upskill part of the workforce, and a dashboard to keep track of HR metrics. His next client was Homeland Security Investigations, where he developed a tool to analyze email evidence for its agents. Mario is currently working with special agents at the IRS-Criminal Investigations to combat dark web and cryptocurrency crimes. His day-to-day activities include data analysis, data extraction, and dark web intelligence gathering. In addition to his MBA, Mario holds a Data Science Immersive Certificate from General Assembly.

Advice to Students:

Some students know which career they wish to pursue post-graduation and some will take a different path to get to their destined career. The journey is inconsistent, but if there is one thing that should be consistent it is the investment in yourself. Regardless of you finishing undergrad and post-grad studies, always seek out ways to sharpen your skills. It keeps you up-to-date on current trends and opens you up to new opportunities. As the saying goes, “The more you learn, the more you earn.”

Phil Tully ’10

Manager, Data Science, FireEye, Milpitas, CA

BA, Computer Science, Vassar College
PhD, Computational Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh
Assigned Industry: Technology
Additional Industry Expertise: Scientific Research
Linkedin Profile

Phil is a Manager of Data Science at FireEye, where he leads a team that applies machine learning to detect malware, fraud, platform abuse, disinformation, and other computer security threats. His day-to-day activities include a mix of software development, large-scale data analysis, and algorithm design geared towards defending users against malicious activity. After earning his BA cum laude in computer science at Vassar, he earned a joint PhD in computational neuroscience from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and the University of Edinburgh. His patented research concerning the intersection of artificial intelligence and cyber security has been presented at premier technical conferences like Black Hat, DEF CON, and NeurIPS, and has received coverage in The New York Times, BBC, TechCrunch, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal. While at Vassar, Phil was a 3x All-American, Male Athlete of the Year, and Captain of the men’s volleyball team; he continued to play afterwards in European semi-pro leagues and for fun with friends. He lives with his wife and college sweetheart, Annie Varnum ’10, and son, Leon Tully ’38 hopeful, in Northern Virginia.

Advice to Students:

Be comfortable in your own skin, cultivate curiosity, and don’t be afraid to ask questions early and often. I didn’t declare a major until the end of my sophomore year—use your time at Vassar wisely by taking classes outside your comfort zone, getting to know your professors during office hours, and joining a team, club, or campus organization that doesn’t align 100% with your career goals. It’s completely OK to take a summer off without interning somewhere or to take a semester with a lower courseload—know your limits and take steps to upkeep mental health. You have lots of time to get where you’re going.

Carlos Hernández Tellez ’14

UX Research Lead, Nubank, São Paulo, Brazil

BA, Urban Studies, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Technology
Additional Industry Expertise: Architecture / Development / Planning, Financial Services
Linkedin Profile

Carlos is a design researcher, digital strategist, and service designer. He currently works as a UX Research Lead at Nubank, Brazil's leading financial technology company. He uses design thinking and human-centered research methodologies to help people reinvent their financial lives. He is also passionate about inclusion and diversity in the design industry, creative education and the role of design in helping people better meet the demands of the 21st century. Over the last 10 years, he has lived in several cities across Asia, Europe, and North and South America. After graduating from Vassar, Carlos studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Advice to Students:

Embrace multidisciplinarity as you go out into the world. At first, it might feel nerve-wracking to not have your skills fit neatly into the boxes of the working world, but as you gain experience, especially in the creative fields, your adaptability, flexibility, and capacity to think differently are your biggest assets! As you navigate your careers, keep yourself curious and interested in other people— ask them questions, learn from their experiences, and figure out how you can contribute to their journeys. We're here to give you career advice, but the truth is, it's always about people. Don't forget that!

Matthew McCardwell ’17 (Saturday Only)

Artist Liaison, Perrotin Gallery, New York, NY

BA, Art History, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: The Arts
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship
Linkedin Profile

Matthew is an arts administrator working in New York City. In his current role as an artist liaison at Perrotin Gallery, Matthew works with a number of artists on the gallery’s program to assist with their exhibition programming and artwork production. In addition, he programs group exhibitions at the gallery and is a member of the sales team, placing artworks in private collections and museums. Previously, Matthew worked at Creative Time, a nonprofit public art organization. In his role as Programming Coordinator, he helped to produce a number of public projects and a series of symposiums in addition to leading the organization’s internship program. In addition, he held roles at artist studios, artist estates, and a number of internships at museums, including the Vassar-Dia:Beacon education internship. He was a recipient of the Weitzel Barber Art Travel Prize, which he used to investigate the arts of post-colonial Morocco.

Advice to Students:

While I was at Vassar, I tried to use the College’s many resources as much as possible. Apply to every grant and fellowship, work with professors and mentors to help find interesting extracurricular outlets, reach out to alums to ask questions and learn more about life after Vassar, and don’t forget to have fun; you have your entire life to be stressed. Internships are not just a resume builder, they are a way to start making connections and truly understand what type of career you want, who you want to surround yourself with, and where that career might take you. You will never have as nice a library as the one at Vassar—spend as many hours there as you can.

Michael Woods ’17

Singer-Songwriter, Freelance and Audit Associate, JPMorgan Chase, New York, NY

BA, Political Science, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: The Arts
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Entertainment / Media, Financial Services
Linkedin Profile

Michael is a producer, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who is passionate about delivering good, smart music to his listeners’ ears. Michael has performed in venues across NYC, London, Atlanta, San Francisco, France, etc. He was featured on the national ABC television show Duets performing with Grammy Award-winning artist Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. He continues to collaborate with artists and regularly performs at his home base in NYC. Michael is also an Audit Associate for the JPMorgan Corporate Investment Bank, where he provides coverage of the global sales, marketing, and research businesses at the firm. Michael is a member of the Grammy Recording Academy and attended the Grammys as a senior at Vassar College, a Fulbright Summer Institute Award winner, National Coca-Cola Scholar, Bill and Melinda Gates Scholar, Questbridge Scholar, and United Realty Scholar. For Junior Year Abroad, he studied at the London School of Economics (LSE). Prior to studying at the LSE, he spent a summer on a Fulbright award conducting independent research on slavery and memory at the University of Bristol.

Advice to Students:

The recent pandemic has highlighted the inequalities that exist more than ever. The job market is changing in significant ways. Find those opportunities that will allow you to remain flexible to meet the demand of a difficult moment while also working towards your passion.

Miki Garcia ’94

Director and Professor of Practice, ASU Art Museum, Tempe, AZ

BA, Art, Vassar College
MFA, Art History, UT Austin
Assigned Industry: The Arts
Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, Education, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Miki was appointed Director of the Arizona State University Art Museum (ASUAM) in December 2017. Before that, she was Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara from 2005-2017. She has worked at the Public Art Fund, NY and was a Curatorial Associate at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego. She has also worked for the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas at Austin and the San Antonio Museum of Art. Miki has worked with numerous artists and completed scholarly and professional publications as well as juried and guest lectured for arts organizations including, most recently, Artadia: The Fund for Art and Dialogue, Creative Capital, the Santo Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. As Director of ASUAM, Miki manages the staff, facilities, budget, public relations, audience development, fund-raising, programs, and exhibitions. In addition, she leads curatorial and program development and community involvement.

Advice to Students:

My advice to students is to be curious about all that you are learning. Find ways to build community and establish relationships with mentors and colleagues. Do not be afraid to ask for compensation. Follow a career that fulfills your passions.

Niya Nicholson ’14

Managing Director, MOVENYC Foundation Inc., New York, NY

BA, Psychology, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: The Arts
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Niya is a nonprofit fund-raising professional, business development strategist, and creative entrepreneur dedicated to intersectional, equitable, and sustainable social justice work within the arts and cultural sector and beyond. A native New Yorker raised in Harlem, Niya was exposed to the transformative power of the arts at a young age and honed her dance talent at the esteemed Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. Her studies at Vassar were coupled with educational, legal, and performance research in Chicago, Cuba, and South Africa. For the past five years, Niya has served the arts field as a mission-driven fund-raiser and social justice advocate. She joined MOVE|NYC| Foundation Inc. upon organization launch in 2015, first as a volunteer administrator, and has since served as Managing Director of the organization, responsible for the nonprofit’s administration, operations, revenue strategies, and strategic planning. Niya is proud to have led MOVE|NYC| to its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and establishment of the organization’s founding Board of Directors. In spring of 2019, she accepted her nomination to serve as the Chair of the Development Committee and Board of Director of MICHIYAYA Dance. Niya’s prior development positions include acting as Director of Development for the José Limón Dance Foundation, leading enhanced capitalization strategies for its 73rd Anniversary, and previously as Development Manager for Gibney. Niya’s commitment to arts advocacy continues to prove impactful as a third-year inaugural member of Dance/NYC’s Symposium Programming Committee and Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Harassment. She was previously the Co-Chair for the 2017-18 Dance/NYC Junior Committee—founding its first Mentorship Program with luminaries in the arts field and instituted annual Anti-Racism Trainings for cohort members. With her expertise, Niya provides development consultant services to national and international artists, performing arts and arts education nonprofits, in addition to racial, environmental, and wellness-based social justice entities. Niya’s other interests include travel, extreme sports, exotic animal care, and screenwriting.

Advice to Students:

1) As your passions and interests become clearer and more streamlined over time, continue to be curious and act on that curiosity with integrity and commitment. Remember, chance favors the prepared.
2) Cultivate relationships with a diversity of people, and take on as many learning opportunities (ie. internships, workshops, volunteering) as possible to support your budding aspirations.
3) Stay true to yourself and your values. Allow yourself to evolve, to elevate.
4) Should you feel uncertainty or nervousness when tapping into your ambitions, feel the fear and act on it anyway!

Scott Mendelsohn ’93

Actor, Self-Employed, New York, NY

BA, English and Women’s Studies, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: The Arts
Additional Industry Expertise: Education, Non-Profit/Social Justice
Linkedin Profile

Scott is an actor, singer, and writer based in New York City. Favorite roles include Stuart Gellman in Tony Kushner’s Caroline, or Change (Astoria Performing Arts Center, AUDELCO winning production for Best Revival of a Musical); Pete, a pregnant man, in Tumor by Sheila Callaghan; Paul in Company by Sondheim and Furth at the Philipstown Depot Theatre, and the killers in Shakespeare’s Richard II with Walking the dog Theater in Hudson, NY. Currently, he is developing Love Alone: Elegies for Rog, a solo play for World AIDS Day adapted from the poetry of Paul Monette. His writing includes a variety of poetry, and two pieces for the stage: Jonah - a choreopoem, based on the biblical story, first presented at West End Synagogue; and A Mostly Perfect Education: Things They Don't Talk about at Commencement, a one-man show about his experiences as a Women’s Study minor at Vassar College, which began development in Martin Moran's personal narrative workshop at the Barrow Group.

Advice to Students:

Upon returning to a writing/performing career after 10 years hiatus, I believe that a career in the arts is built on regular practice (a habit of doing the work for its own sake), self-trust, and finding psychological and spiritual balance in community. Avoiding debt is also key for longevity.

Anabel Graff ’09

Founder, Creative Connections Essays, New York, NY

BA, English and Film, Vassar College
MFA, Fiction, Texas State University
Assigned Industry: Writing / Publishing
Additional Industry Expertise: Education, Entertainment / Media
Linkedin Profile

Anabel is the winner of the 2014 Prada Feltrinelli Prize and The Fiction Desk’s 2015 Ghost Story Competition. Her work has appeared in Day One, Prada Journal, Joyland, Joyland Retro, The Chicago Tribune’s Printer’s Row, Story|Houston, Blue Mesa Review, Front Porch Journal, The Fiction Desk, and The Southampton Review. She has taught in colleges, communities, and high schools in Texas, New York and, most recently, Alabama as the Writer-in-Residence at a boarding school. She is the founder of Creative Connections Essays, a writing coaching service. She lives and works in New York.

Advice to Students:

Below, please find two pieces of great advice for writers (or anyone, really):
1) Things aren’t happening to you—they’re happening for you.
2) Everything’s material.

Grace Ashford ’14

Researcher/Reporter, The New York Times, New York, NY

BA, English and Women's Studies, Vassar College
MS, Journalism, Columbia University
Assigned Industry: Writing / Publishing
Additional Industry Expertise: Entertainment / Media
Linkedin Profile

Like many Vassar students, Grace didn’t know what she wanted to do when she graduated. She took the LSAT, but rather than going to law school she opted to take a job as a paralegal at a small firm in NYC. This turned out to be a lucky bet: She realized very quickly that she was not cut out for a career in the law. Instead, she started freelancing and did a master’s program in Investigative Journalism at Columbia. She was hired at The New York Times right out of the program and has spent the past three years as a member of the Investigations team. At the Times she has had the privilege of working on stories big and small—providing research and reporting as necessary (in practice this means pulling court files, combing through documents, knocking on doors, and working the phones to get cab drivers and carpenters, private eyes and lobbyists, pawn brokers, federal agents, and everyone in between to talk to her).

Advice to Students:

Don’t be afraid to try new things. There is no such thing as a perfect resume or set of experiences that you need to have to be successful. Every job and experience provides you something of value—even if it’s just the knowledge that you never want to do it again. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

Jeff Wallach ’82

Journalist / Novelist, Self-employed, Portland, OR

BA, English, Vassar College
MA, Creative Writing, Brown University
Assigned Industry: Writing / Publishing
Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, Business / Entrepreneurship, Entertainment / Media
Linkedin Profile

Following a 35-year career as a magazine journalist, Jeff’s first novel, Mr. Wizard, was published in 2020. Jeff is also the award-winning author of five books of non-fiction as well as upwards of 1,000 articles, essays, columns, and reviews in such publications as The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Men’s Journal, Men’s Health, Sports Illustrated, Hemispheres, Money Magazine, Outside, Forbes.com, and many, many others. He believes himself to be the only journalist to ever write the same story for Popular Science and Seventeen magazines. His corporate writing clients include Intel, Motorola, Microsoft Corp., Ford Motor Company, Subaru of America, Mazda, Acura, the U.S. Department of Energy, Citibank, Marriott International, The Walt Disney Company, Hachette-Filipacci Magazine Group, Sunset Publishing Corporation, and others. Jeff is also the founder of The Critical Faculty, a media/marketing and consulting firm specializing in the golf, resort, and travel industries, and The A Position, a network of golf and travel writing. He has taught fiction and magazine writing classes in high school, college, and adult education programs, and at several writers conferences.

Advice to Students:

Unless you are extremely lucky or incomparably talented, success as a writer will involve unexpected detours. Writers need to be agile, creative, and exercise the sort of entrepreneurship characteristic of the very fields you’ve entirely avoided in becoming an artist or journalist. Imagine you are riding in the back of a clown car careening down an icy mountain road at night. The other passengers are dressed crazily and wearing giant shoes. Some may be allies, others agents of chaos. Suddenly one tire goes flat and it occurs to you that the driver was slamming shots of Jägermeister before climbing behind the wheel. How do you respond? That’s what being a freelancer is like. Except the clowns get paid more.

Kayla Lightner ’18

Junior Agent / Assistant, Ayesha Pande Literary, New York, NY

BA, English, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Writing / Publishing
Additional Industry Expertise: Entertainment / Media
Linkedin Profile

Kayla is an agent and assistant at Ayesha Pande Literary (APL), a boutique literary agency based in Harlem, NY that represents renowned authors such as Ibram X. Kendi, Danielle Evans, Lisa Ko, Tiffany Jewell, and others. Along with representing her own clients, Kayla supports the work of her colleagues by selling audio rights for APL titles, working with foreign co-agents to sell translation rights for APL titles, managing the agency’s social media presence across various platforms, coordinating the agency’s internship program, and much more! Prior to joining the wonderful APL team, Kayla worked as an agency assistant at Liza Dawson Associates, a fashion market assistant at Harper’s Bazaar, and a freelance writer at Creative Loafing Atlanta. An adventurous reader, Kayla loves stories—across commercial fiction, literary fiction, and nonfiction—that masterfully straddle the line between story-telling and teaching her something new. She’s particularly enamored with speculative fiction that centers Black voices, humorous essay collections, and compelling family sagas. When Kayla’s not reading, she can be found writing, performing stand-up, and reminiscing on her rugby days.

Advice to Students:

In your pursuit of internships (and later, jobs!), one of your most valuable assets is your curiosity and desire to learn. Don’t be afraid to ask questions–to seek understanding in the work that you do. Not only will your inquisitiveness denote a level of interest that will make you stand out, but the knowledge you’ll gain from asking those questions will help you develop a robust skill set that will make you a competitive applicant to any position you apply to.

Matt Ortile ’14

Managing Editor, Catapult Magazine, New York, NY

BA, English and Media Studies, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Writing / Publishing
Additional Industry Expertise: Entertainment / Media
Linkedin Profile

Matt is the author of The Groom Will Keep His Name, an essay collection about sex, power, and the model minority myth, published by Hachette. He is the managing editor of the National Magazine Award-winning publication Catapult. He is also a contributing writer at Condé Nast Traveler and a MacDowell Fellow. Previously, Matt was the founding editor of BuzzFeed Philippines, and has written for Vogue, Out, Self, and BuzzFeed News, among others. He graduated from Vassar College, which means he now lives in Brooklyn, where he is writing his next books: a memoir of his late mother, and a novel.

Advice to Students:

Be kind. Be kind not only to your mentors or managers, but also to your peers and colleagues—and especially to your juniors. You never know who will hire you in the future, or will put in a good word for you. It never pays to be terrible to work with. Learn how to take critique gracefully and apply it to your work. Humility and compassion are, for better or for worse, rare traits in this world. Wherever you go, your kindness will always be remembered.

Nick Amphlett ’13

Editor, HarperCollins Publishers, New York, NY

BA, Political Science, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Writing / Publishing
Linkedin Profile

Nick is a book editor at William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. He joined Morrow in 2014, and edits a wide range of trade nonfiction books, with particular interest in American history and politics, narrative nonfiction, popular science, and sports. Nick works with a wide range of journalists, scientists, and public figures, helping them tailor their stories and position their books for the widest possible audience. His authors have received the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and NBA Finals MVP Award. Nick studied political science at Vassar, with a correlate in Hispanic Studies, and wrote his senior thesis on independent redistricting commissions. He lives and works (remotely, for now) in Brooklyn.

Advice to Students:

1) Keep going. It took me many, many interviews to land my first full-time gig. You only need one.
2) Be kind. Publishing is a small industry, and you never know who will sell you your next book or be your next boss. Plus, it’s just good advice for life.

Eddie Gamarra ’94

VP, Studio Development, Viacom CBS Kids & Family, Los Angeles, CA

BA, Psychology, Vassar College
MA, Cinema Studies, New York University Tisch School of the Arts
PhD, Psychoanalysis and Film, Emory University
Assigned Industry: Entertainment / Media
Additional Industry Expertise: Business / Entrepreneurship, Education, Writing / Publishing
Linkedin Profile

A former college professor, Eddie Gamarra is VP of Studio Development for a new line of business as part of ViacomCBS's Kids & Family Studio. Working across the Nickelodeon and Awesomeness TV brands, Eddie identifies, acquires, develops and sells live action films and TV shows. Prior to Nickelodeon, Eddie was most recently a Literary Manager at The Gotham Group, a multi-faceted management and production company representing some of the most creative and successful screenwriters, directors, animators, authors, illustrators, publishers, and animation studios around the world. With a primary focus on children's & family entertainment, he worked with numerous New York Times best-selling authors and illustrators as well as Oscar, Emmy, Caldecott, and Newbery award winners and nominees. He is also the Executive Producer of THE MAZE RUNNER trilogy from 20th Century Fox based on the NY Times best-selling book series, as well at Disney+'s production of Jerry Spinelliís iconic love story STARGIRL, and Henry Selick's stop motion feature collaboration with Jordan Peele WENDELL AND WILD for Netflix. Dr. Gamarra received his BA from Vassar College, a Masters from NYU and a MA/ PhD from Emory University.

Advice to Students:

Read the end credits. Keep lists of the people who make your favorite movies and TV shows. Be nice. Live a rich life. Practice articulating your opinions with passion and persuasion.

Michael Schneider '04 (Saturday Only)

Vice President, Brand & Content Marketing, Hulu, Los Angeles, CA

BA, English, Vassar College
MBA, Corporate Finance and Entertainment/Media, New York University Stern School of Business
Assigned Industry: Entertainment / Media
Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, Business/Entrepreneurship, Management Consulting, Technology
Linkedin Profile

Michael Schneider is the Vice President of Brand Marketing where he leads the teams driving Huluís overall marketing efforts across the SVOD and Live TV businesses. In his role, Schneider oversees brand strategy, brand and licensed content marketing campaigns and the day-to-day performance of Hulu + Live TV, including all sports marketing partnerships and activations.

Advice to Students:

I've always found Vassar alums to be so incredibly helpful, always willing to speak and consistently open to lending a hand when it has come to career help. The entertainment industry is changing on a daily basis and there is so much room for young, progressive thinkers. Research all of the companies out there and network as much as possible with those who work there so you can understand what each job function does and how corporate culture differs. The more people you speak with, the more you learn and the more your network grows!

Damon Ross '94 (Sunday Only)

Producer, DreamWorks Animation, Los Angeles, CA

BA, Psychology, Vassar College
Assigned Industry: Entertainment / Media
Additional Industry Expertise: Writing/Publishing
Linkedin Profile

Producer and former Senior Development Executive at DreamWorks Animation with over 25 years of experience in the family movie space. Damon began his career as a development executive at Nickelodeon Movies, where he honed his instincts for narrative storytelling and commercially viable family films. Over his career, Damon shepherded numerous live-action and animated movies from inception through to theatrical release including, among others: The Boss Baby, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Turbo, Nacho Libre, and Lemony Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events. Damon has strong ties to talent, and has worked closely in a creative capacity with some of the industry's top comedic writers and directors. He also has over 22 years of experience in the children's publishing arena, having identified and optioned numerous high-profile bestsellers. He's currently producing The Bad Guys for DreamWorks Animation based on the NY Times bestselling book series by Aaron Blabey.

Advice to Students:

1) Lean into what makes you unique: Find ways to differentiate yourself from the crowd; own a space or master a specific skill set; strive to make yourself invaluable.
2) Integrity is everything: Try to be your most authentic self, and don't be afraid to admit when you're wrong or when you don't know something.
3) Be pro-active; seek out opportunities and new doors to open.
4) Be a good person; treat others with respect.

Ralph Mamiya '00

Advisor, US Department of Defense Center of Excellence for Humanitarian Affairs, Honolulu, HI

BA, Philosophy, Vassar College
JD, Cornell Law School
Assigned Industry: International Affairs / Global Careers
Additional Industry Expertise: Law/Legal Services
Linkedin Profile

Ralph Mamiya is an advisor with CFE-DMHA focused on the protection of civilians and civil-military relations in conflict situations, with a particular emphasis on great power competition. Ralph has extensive experience working to protect civilians, serving in the UN Mission in Sudan and the UN Mission in South Sudan, as Team Leader of the Protection of Civilians Team of the United Nations Department of Peace Operations in New York, and advising US allies on protection policy and planning. He edited the volume Protection of Civilians (Oxford University Press, 2016), contributed to The Oxford Handbook on the Use of Force in International Law, and has published numerous policy reports for a variety of organizations. He graduated from Cornell Law School with a Juris Doctor and a specialization in international legal studies.

Advice to Students:

Everyone says "do what you love," but the hard part, and the important first step, is understanding what you love. That's what you need to focus on. Be honest with yourself about what you like and don't like, what makes you happy. Don't adjust your self-image for anyone. Finding something you love (or at least really like) makes it easier to commit. Don't be afraid to go all in. If you fail, if you change your mind, you have plenty of time to change course. Also, if you are even vaguely interested in international work, learn another language. Learning a new language is hard and you won't have time for it after you graduate. Do it now.