PHOTO ABOVE: January 2020 Networking Event
Interactive Mentor Directory
Nearly 90 alum and parent mentors will be participating in Sophomore Career Connections! Select an industry or major of interest and then scroll down to see the mentors who participating the 2023 program.
Tushar Agarwal ’14 (he/him)
Product Manager, Johnson & Johnson
Redwood City, CA
Redwood City, CA
- BA, Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College
- Master of Biomedical Innovation and Development (MBID), Georgia Institute of Technology
- Assigned Industry: Health/Medicine
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship, Management Consulting, Technology
- LinkedIn Profile
Tushar Agarwal is a Product Manager at Johnson & Johnson for MONARCH™—the first flexible robotics platform cleared for use in bronchoscopy and urology procedures. He leads feature development and design, AR/VR/mobile simulation, and various commercial launch activities for urology products. He also serves as the Flexible Robotics Culture Ambassador dedicated to promoting, addressing, and shaping the culture of robotics and digital solutions within the organization. Prior to J&J, Tushar was a consultant at PwC focused on healthcare organizations and pharmaceutical companies. His professional experience includes academic research in nanoparticles, university medical technology commercialization, nonprofits, and startups in the fashion and medical device industries. Tushar earned his Master of Biomedical Innovation and Development (MBID) from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2018.
Advice to Students:
Be a connector and always lend a helping hand. Every experience we have is unique, so share and collaborate with others.
David Allison ’85 P’22 (he/him)
Dean, Distinguished Professor, and Provost Professor, Indiana University School of Public Health–Bloomington
Bloomington, IN
Bloomington, IN
- BA, Psychology, Vassar College
- MA, Clinical and School Psychology, Hofstra University
- PhD, Clinical and School Psychology, Hofstra University
- Assigned Industry: Education
- Additional Industry Expertise: Scientific Research
- LinkedIn Profile
David B. Allison, PhD, is Dean and Distinguished Professor at Indiana University–Bloomington School of Public Health. Continuously NIH-funded as a PI for over 25 years, he has authored more than 600 scientific publications. Awards include the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (2006); the Friends of Albert (Mickey) Stunkard Lifetime Achievement Award (The Obesity Society, 2021); and the Harry V. Roberts Statistical Advocate of the Year Award (American Statistical Association, 2018). In 2022, he was named a Distinguished Lecturer by Sigma Xi and received the Hoebel Prize for Creativity (Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior). Elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2012, he also serves as co-chair of the National Academy of Sciences’ Strategic Council on Research Excellence, Integrity and Trust. David is a staunch advocate for rigor in research methods and the uncompromisingly truthful communication of research findings.
Advice to Students:
Set a goal that is meaningful to you and has a chance at making the world a better place. Then pick a method that could plausibly achieve that goal and involves doing something you love—science, art, music, helping others, campaigning for positive policy change—and then work your tail off. There is no substitute for steady, perseverant, sustained, dedicated work. Do well and do good together.
Charlotte Andrews ’14 (she/her)
Senior Policy Advisor, Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, French & Francophone Studies and International Studies, Vassar College
- MPhil, Peace and Conflict Studies, University of St. Andrews
- Assigned Industry: International Affairs/Global Careers
- AAdditional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service, Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Charlotte Andrews is an international peace and security expert who specializes in armed conflict and human rights. She currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor at the Permanent Mission of the UK to the United Nations, a diplomatic post delivering the UK’s multilateral policy. In her current role, she negotiates and advises on UN Security Council files to shape the international response to global crises. Charlotte’s geographic focus is the Middle East, though she also works on insecurity and transitional justice in Latin America and the Caribbean. Her thematic portfolio centers on women, peace and security, and sexual violence in conflict—an area she gained experience in while doing gender-responsive security fieldwork in post-conflict settings. Her previous roles in the UK Parliament and the Department for International Development involved fieldwork managing security and governance programs in South Asia, East Africa, and the Pacific Islands. Before returning to London, she developed human rights advocacy strategies for unrepresented and marginalized peoples at the European Parliament and the UN.
Advice to Students:
If you take a class that fundamentally changes the way you think, or even turns your worldview upside down, and you really enjoy it—take the hint. Keep going down the rabbit hole. It’s either the specific topic or the critical thinking that has you hooked. If it’s the former, talk to people in that field and see where it takes you. If it’s the latter, talk to people you disagree with and then go further—talk to people who are focused on the things that never cross your mind. Take the Ring, though you do not know the way.
Olivia Arguinzoni ’11 (she/her)
Managing Consultant, Guidehouse
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, International Studies, Vassar College
- MS, International Management–Economic & Political Development, Columbia University
- Assigned Industry: Management Consulting
- Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service; International Affairs/Global Careers
- LinkedIn Profile
Olivia Arguinzoni is a Managing Consultant in Guidehouse’s State and Local Government practice. She helps New York City and State government agencies solve tough issues so they can better provide public services. Her areas of expertise include disaster recovery grant administration, public/affordable housing, and government procurement. Olivia has participated in and led various projects during her time as a consultant—from back office function assessments to policy development to department reorganizations. Before her time as a consultant, she worked in an international education nonprofit and taught English to university students in Brazil. Her pivot from the international to the local surprised her, but she is very happy to be helping her home city and state better serve citizens.
Advice to Students:
1. While at Vassar, don’t get too caught up in planning for your life after it. Your college years are a time to explore. The experience you are having now—having access to so much knowledge and being able to prioritize learning—is rare and special.
2. Don’t let the enemy of good be perfection. Learn this and get comfortable with applying it. It will help you maintain your well-being and avoid burnout.
Paige Auerbach ’18 (she/her)
Sales Assistant / Archivist, Anton Kern Gallery
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Studio Art, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Visual Arts/Arts Administration
- LinkedIn Profile
In the year following her graduation from Vassar, Paige Auerbach completed internships with Garth Greenan Gallery and Hauser & Wirth, helping to archive the works of contemporary artists. She applied her experience to an archival and administrative role at the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, a nonprofit founded by the late artist. Since 2021, Paige has been at Anton Kern Gallery. As Sales Assistant/Archivist, she maintains gallery relationships with artists and collectors and assists in preparing and overseeing exhibitions.
Advice to Students:
When you are starting out in your career, most jobs you find will be temporary and are steps on your way. They don’t need to be perfect to help you build your career. As an intern or assistant, try to be available and helpful to colleagues. If you can make their lives easier, they will start to trust you and want to advocate for you.
Amreen Bhasin ’16 (she/her)
Staff Attorney, The Sikh Coalition
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Greek and Roman Studies, Vassar College
- JD, Lewis & Clark Law School
- Assigned Industry: Law/Legal Services
- Additional Industry Expertise: TBD
- LinkedIn Profile
Amreen Partap Singh Bhasin was promoted to Staff Attorney in July 2022 after joining the Sikh Coalition in March 2022 as a Legal Fellow. In her role, she provides assistance to the Sikh Coalition’s legal team in the course of on behalf of Sikhs who have been discriminated against or subject to bias upon their religious beliefs or Sikh identity in areas like hate crimes, bullying, profiling, employment discrimination, and religious rights cases.
Prior to joining the Sikh Coalition, Amreen was in law school at Lewis & Clark Law School, where she focused on international human rights and humanitarian law issues and the ways in which domestic legislation and courts shaped these important topics. She also conducted research on the topic of citizenship revocation and denaturalization with a focus on the U.K. and U.S. approaches. Before law school, Amreen worked at Patterson, Buchanan, Fobes & Leitch, P.S. in Seattle, Washington, where her focus was primarily on school law-related cases and other complex litigation matters.
In addition to earning her J.D. at Lewis & Clark, Amreen received her Bachelor’s Degree from Vassar College, where she concentrated in Greek and Roman Studies, Chinese, and Political Science with an international focus. In her spare time, Amreen can be found backpacking and hiking anywhere with a subalpine lake and old growth forests, camping every chance she gets, or crocheting up a storm.
Richard Bi ’06 (he/him)
Founder, Plaeris LLC
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Physics, Vassar College
- Master of Engineering Science, Dartmouth College
- MBA, Harvard Business School
- Assigned Industry: Financial Services
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship
- LinkedIn Profile
Richard Bi is the founder of Plaeris, a private investment firm through which he acquires founder- or family-owned businesses in the U.S. 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, distribution, 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:
1. Always be humble!
2. Be willing to take risks and deal with uncertainty.
3. While “follow your passion” is an oft-given advice, it doesn’t always come easily; be prepared to put real effort into developing your passion over time.
4. 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.
Peter Breuer ’92 (he/him)
Advisor and Senior Mission Chief, International Monetary Fund
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
- BA, Economics, Vassar College
- MSc, Economics, University of London–School of Economics and Political Science
- PhD, Finance and Economics, Brown University
- Assigned Industry: International Affairs/Global Careers
- Additional Industry Expertise: Financial Services; Government/Public Service
- LinkedIn Profile
Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief at the International Monetary Fund, oversees the team responsible for managing the relationship with Sri Lanka, including the prospective IMF-supported program. Most recently, as Chief of the Debt Capital Markets Division, he managed a team analyzing sovereign debt risks and providing advice on sovereign debt management, the development of local capital markets, and on sovereign debt restructurings, bilateral and multilateral surveillance, and technical assistance. Peter previously jointly managed a team that analyzed risks to global financial stability and authored the flagship Global Financial Stability Report. He led or co-led the Financial Sector Stability Assessments for the United States of America, Luxembourg, and Finland. Peter headed the IMF’s office in Ireland as Resident Representative during the EU-IMF program in 2011-14. In previous roles, he worked on a wide range of policy issues in international finance and countries in Latin America.
Advice to Students:
To be influential, it’s important to be informed.
Mariah Caballero ’19 (she/her)
Doctoral Student, Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Nashville, TN
- BA, Biology and Geography, Vassar College
- Pending Doctorate, Community Research and Action, Vanderbilt University–Peabody College
- Assigned Industry: Scientific Research
- Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service; Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Mariah Caballero is a third-year Doctoral Student in Vanderbilt University’s Community Research and Action (CRA) program. Her research interests include equitable water and energy systems for rural and Tribal communities, energy sovereignty, and environmental justice. She enjoys multi-methods research approaches, data visualization, and highly interdisciplinary collaborations. In addition to her work at Vanderbilt, Mariah contributes research to the Drinking Water Justice Lab and serves as a Research and Development Intern for Sandia National Laboratories.
Previous to her time at Vanderbilt, Mariah received bachelor’s degrees in biology and geography from Vassar College. Upon graduation, Mariah was employed as a data analyst for the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD), in the Drinking Water Management Branch (DWMB).
Advice to Students:
Never shy away from a cold email; some of my favorite collaborations were the result of emailing strangers I looked up to professionally.
Michael Clyne ’04 (he/him)
Executive Director, Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, International Studies, Vassar College
- MPA, International Affairs, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
- Assigned Industry: Nonprofit/Social Justice
- Additional Industry Expertise: International Affairs/Global Careers
- LinkedIn Profile
Michael Clyne is Executive Director of the Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism, leading the nonprofit’s unique coalitions and initiatives to integrate more inclusive and sustainable practices into the business practices and public-private partnerships which drive our economy. From the Middle East to Africa to Asia, he has also worked across foreign and public affairs with The Rothkopf Group, Drum Cussac Group, and International Labour Organization, among others. As Deputy Director with risk management consultancy Drum Cussac, he was based in Nigeria, supporting such partners as Adam Smith International, Save the Children and RTI in the international development sector. Michael’s work and commentary have been featured in broadcast, print, and digital. He is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Truman National Security Project fellow. In his volunteer time, Michael works with SAGE to provide services to LGBTQ seniors and served as an EMT on his local ambulance squad in New Jersey.
Advice to Students:
Vassar is a great time to take a breadth of coursework. Looking back, I think it is less important to focus on a specific academic subject than building the general analytic, communication, and organization skills which are foundational to most careers, no matter the subject area. Also, the campus, life, and extracurriculars of college are not as easy to find after college—and can be the most important part.
Elias Contrubis ’20 (he/him)
Consultant, Deloitte
Arlington, VA
Arlington, VA
- BA, Computer Science, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Management Consulting
- Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service
- LinkedIn Profile
Elias Contrubis is a Consultant in Deloitte’s Government and Public Services practice, where he provides population health analytics work for the Federal Government. At Vassar, Elias studied computer science and completed pre-med requirements, which was a perfect segue into his current role. In his two and a half years at Deloitte, Elias was able to grow from an entry level role into a team leader and main point of contact for his clients. His daily responsibilities include a mix of client interactions, technical work, and mentorship. Prior to joining Deloitte, Elias worked as a summer intern at a New York City law firm. While the legal work didn’t exactly translate to his career in consulting, he learned valuable skills related to professionalism and communication.
Advice to Students:
Look into summer internships leading into your professional career. Vassar life can be drastically different and a big jump to working/corporate life, and an internship can provide a valuable test run. After a summer internship, if you decide that’s the path you’d like to choose, the experience you’ve gained in the summer will be an excellent jumping point.
Jennifer Cope ’91 P’26 (she/her)
Physician, Neurology Group at Bergen County
Ridgewood, NJ
Ridgewood, NJ
- BA, Biopsychology, Vassar College
- MD, SUNY Downstate Medical School
- Assigned Industry: Health/Medicine
Jennifer Cope is a pediatric neurologist in private practice and an attending pediatric neurologist at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey. She trained in pediatrics at LIJ and in neurology at Mt. Sinai Medical Center and completed a fellowship in neurophysiology at NYU. She runs the pediatric epilepsy unit at Valley Hospital and cares for children with a wide range of neurologic disorders in her busy out-patient practice. These include epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, migraines, tic disorders, concussions, and ADHD. Jennifer started her own LLC to see patients with Medicaid. She is also 1st Vice Chair for Children’s Aid and Family Services, a social services organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable families. The nonprofit has an adoption and foster care division, runs community residences and a day-habilitation program for adults with intellectual disorders, and has a drug and alcohol prevention and treatment program.
Advice to Students:
There is no right way to experience college or right path to follow after graduation. You will be happiest and most successful in pursuit of whatever career calls to you. Once you do find your path, you should work hard to make it a reality, but the work will be worth it. In medicine, regardless of specialty, there is a saying that you will spend 80% of your time seeing the same three conditions. You can keep your passion alive by branching out and periodically setting new goals for yourself.
Emilia Mendieta Córdova ’10 (she/her)
Independent Director of Photography
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
- BA, Chinese and Film, Vassar College
- MFA, Cinematography, American Film Institute
- Assigned Industry: Entertainment/Media/Performing Arts
- LinkedIn Profile
Hailing from Wichita, Kansas by the way of Quito, Ecuador, Emilia Mendieta Córdova is an Ecuadorian American cinematographer with a passion for bold visual storytelling. Emilia was named one of the 2022 Semi-Finalists for the Zeiss + Women in Media Altitude Awards for excellence in camera and lighting.
Emilia has shot numerous award-winning films including the Afro-futuristic sci-fi short Code_Switch and three feature films: To the New Girl, Hotel Refinement, and Mark S. Allen’s upcoming directorial debut, Amy’s F*ck It List. On the commercial side, she has shot 10+ award-winning music video collaborations with Charley Young, and has produced, directed, and shot a short-form food show and Promax-nominated promos for ABC10 (KXTV).
Emilia has taught cinematography and audiovisual production as a professor in the department of TV and Digital Media Production at USFQ (Universidad San Francisco de Quito), and UDLA (Universidad de las Américas). She also previously worked at the AFI Conservatory, where she helped run the 35mm Visual Essay Program and the Cinematography Intensive for Women Program. Emilia has taught workshops as a guest lecturer at the University of New Orleans and the AFI Conservatory.
While Emilia works primarily as a cinematographer, she has also recently worked as a director and cinematographer in music videos, promos, and short films and is a member of the Ecuador-based El Viaje Films Collective.
Emilia is multilingual (English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese), a classically trained cellist, amateur astrophotographer, culinary arts enthusiast, and a massive Star Wars fan. She is also a Part 107 FAA Certified Drone Pilot.
Emilia is a member of the ICFC (International Collective of Female Cinematographers), the Chicana Directors Initiative, Women In Media, and SPORAS Collective. You can also find her on Free The Work.
Advice to Students:
Don’t be afraid to explore roads that seem to lead away from your intended destinations. Sometimes something that might seem like a detour from the path you’re on ends up being a shortcut and is an experience that can enrich and inform your journey forward.
Laci Dent ’14 (she/her)
Assistant Professor of Screen Arts, Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA
Malibu, CA
- BA, English, Vassar College
- MFA, Film, University of California, Los Angeles
- Assigned Industry: Entertainment/Media/Performing Arts
- Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations; Business/Entrepreneurship; Education; Writing/Publishing
Laci Dent is an award-winning writer, director, producer, and production designer based in Los Angeles. She is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Laci is a storyteller who builds atmospheric worlds through her passion for unique tales, uncanny characters, and dark undertones.
Laci earned an MFA in directing and production from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television in 2018 after graduating from Vassar College in 2014. Her work has been supported by SFFILM, IFP, The Blacklist, Women in Film Los Angeles, the Westridge Foundation, Disney/ABC, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
Currently, Laci is developing her first feature film project—a genre-bending horror film set in Louisiana.
In addition to her filmmaking endeavors, Laci is an Assistant Professor of Screen Arts at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA.
Advice to Students:
My advice to anyone interested in pursuing a career in the arts is to first spend time cultivating your voice. What do you want to say? Who are your heroes? Your audience? How do you want to make space and create? Once you reflect honestly on those questions, you’ll be in a better place to move forward.
Ezekiel Edwards ’95 (he/him)
Vice President, Criminal Justice, Arnold Ventures
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, History, Vassar College
- JD, University of Pennsylvania School of Law
- Assigned Industry: Law/Legal Services
- Additional Industry Expertise: Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Ezekiel Edwards leads Arnold Ventures’ pretrial team, overseeing more than $80 million invested in three strategic areas: bail reform, prosecutorial practices, and public defense. The team develops strategy and investments to eliminate unjust pretrial detention and advance community safety, promote transparent, humane, and data-driven decision-making, expand access to counsel, and eliminate unfair treatment based on race. Previously Ezekiel was director of the ACLU’s Criminal Law Reform Project, where he oversaw efforts to end mass incarceration and racism in the criminal legal system through cases and campaigns focused on a range of front-end issues in the criminal-legal process from policing to sentencing. He was lead author of several reports and has been featured in numerous news outlets. Ezekiel has also worked as a staff attorney at the Innocence Project, a criminal justice fellow at the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy, a public defender at the Bronx Defenders, an investigator at the NYS Capital Defender Office, and a paralegal in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Ezekiel earned his BA with honors from Vassar College and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, where he was a Public Interest Scholar.
Advice to Students:
You do not need to have a detailed roadmap for each step of your future. Be open to different paths and always try to be guided by what you care about, your passions, whatever they are. Do not put off to tomorrow what you could do today. Seek guidance and mentors, build relationships, and offer the same to others. Work hard but also take time and care for yourself and those you care about.
Maya Enriquez ’17 (she/her)
Doctoral Student, University of Minnesota
St. Paul, MN
St. Paul, MN
- BA, Cognitive Science, Vassar College
- MS, Integrated Biosciences, University of Minnesota–Duluth
- Assigned Industry: Scientific Research
- Additional Industry Expertise: Education, Health/Medicine
- LinkedIn Profile
Maya earned her master’s in Integrated Biosciences at the University of Minnesota Duluth in January 2022 and is currently a first-year PhD student at the University of Minnesota’s Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program. She works with advisor Dr. Suzanne McGaugh and is currently focusing on acquiring skills in genetics and genomics to complement her previous work in animal behavioral systems. Her most recent publication (in review) examines the rapid divergence and plasticity of sensory systems between populations of the Mexican Tetra (Astyanax mexicanus) in recently colonized watersheds in central Texas. More recent work has focused on learning techniques using CRISPR gene editing and video-based animal behavior analysis. In addition to her research interests, Maya is committed to creating equity and inclusive environments for underrepresented minorities in the sciences as she pursues a tenure-track career in academia.
Advice to Students:
Burnout culture is prevalent in many fields, including STEM, and the way academic culture glorifies hard work comes at an additional cost to underrepresented minorities, who often have had to become trailblazers in order to achieve the same successes as some of their peers. Additionally, priorities can change as we get older, and sometimes these new responsibilities can make us feel like we are not working hard enough on our professional development. Remember that you cannot pour from an empty cup, and to make space for your personal values and necessities as they change. There is more to life than just work!
James Estrada ’13 (he/him)
Innovation Lead, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Media Studies, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Nonprofit/Social Justice
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship; Management Consulting; Technology
- LinkedIn Profile
James Estrada ’13 is an Innovation Lead at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. A design thinker, artist, strategist, and startup mentor, he develops, tests, and incubates new and impactful ideas with the organization’s healthcare, education and organizing leaders. A facilitator and workshop leader, he also teaches human-centered design and prototyping skills to foster a culture of justice-centered innovation. His work has long been centered in the values of seeing and amplifying the value of small human interactions, and using art and creativity to nurture liberatory imagination and create a more just and equitable future.
Advice to Students:
Squeeze your Vassar degree for all it’s worth!!! I still am, which is why I’m here today. In the end, your very Vassar individuality (your opinions, your writing, your confidence!) is the thing that will help you stand out as a leader and a critical thinker. The rest is life experience and a hunger to learn. The world really, really needs more eager, enthusiastic, and earnest people doing things they care about.
Brian Farkas ’10 (he/him)
Attorney, ArentFox Schiff LLP
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, History and Political Science, Vassar College
- JD, Cardozo School of Law
- MPA, Public Policy, New York University
- Assigned Industry: Law/Legal Services
- Additional Industry Expertise: Education; Government/Public Service
- LinkedIn Profile
Brian Farkas is an attorney at ArentFox Schiff LLP, a national law firm, where he focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation. He represents clients in state and federal court, as well as in arbitration and mediation proceedings. Before joining ArentFox, he served as a law clerk to a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and an associate at a midsize litigation firm. Each year from 2022–2016, he has been named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers for Business Litigation.
Outside of his law practice, Brian is passionate about higher education. He is an adjunct professor at Cardozo School of Law, where he teaches courses on arbitration, mediation, and dispute resolution. Multiple graduating classes have voted him “Best Adjunct Professor,” an award he received most recently in 2022. He is also an adjunct professor at the City University of New York (CUNY), where he teaches undergraduate courses on American law, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
Brian is a member of the New York City Bar Association, where he serves on the Board of Directors. For the City Bar, he chairs the New Lawyer Institute, which plans career development programming and mentoring to law students and recent graduates.
As a student at Vassar, Brian served as Editor-in-Chief of The Miscellany News and Vice President of the student government. As an alum, he has served as President of the Vassar Club of New York, and he now serves on the College’s Board of Trustees.
Advice to Students:
Find ways to serve Vassar every single day. That might involve picking up a piece of trash from the Quad; sending an email to your high school to offer to speak with potential applicants; connecting your roommate with a family member in an industry about which they are passionate; joining the Loeb Art Center as a student member; or making a modest gift to the Vassar Fund in honor of your favorite professor. The point is, you should do something for Vassar each and every day, from this moment forward, for the rest of your life. Vassar is central to our identities, yours and mine. Like any community, you will get from it what you give to it. If you tend to it, serve it, and advance its interests, Vassar will repay you a thousand times over—professionally, personally, and spiritually.
Hollace Francy ’15 (she/her)
A Self-Employed Scenic Artist – Local USA 829
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Drama, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Visual Arts/Arts Administration
Hollace is a freelance scenic artist painting sets for Broadway, television, and film. She is a proud member of her union, United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829. After working for Vassar College Campus Activities for two years as a post-bacc, she switched gears and went to Cobalt Studios, a specialty vocational school for scenic art and backdrops. After graduating Cobalt, she freelanced in New York City— painting sets, backdrops, pop-ups, holiday windows, and art installations.
Since being accepted into the union in 2020, Hollace has worked for Broadway, CBS, Netflix, and more. In the world of freelancing, every day is different, but each day she’s painting, sculpting, and problem solving.
Some highlight projects include:
Frozen, the Musical; To Kill a Mockingbird; Sleep no More; The Equalizer (s1, s2); Eileen (2023), The Helpsters (s2), FBI (s4, s5), as well as multiple shows for The Public Theater.
Advice to Students:
Don’t be afraid to take a risk, especially if what’s holding you back is a feeling of self-doubt. Remember that a career/job is just one part of who you are, and maintaining balance in all aspects of your life is important for your overall health and well-being. As you move along in your career journey make the time to really self-reflect: What would you be happy doing every day? What do you want your life outside of work to be like? What people, hobbies, and environments make you feel fulfilled? Use this self-reflection to determine what your goals are, and then keep working towards them.
Jeffrey Gerwin ’16 (he/him)
Senior Research Associate, Yale School of Medicine
New Haven, CT
New Haven, CT
- BA, Biology, Vassar College
- MS, Medical Sciences, Boston University School of Medicine
- Assigned Industry: Scientific Research
- Additional Industry Expertise: Health/Medicine
Jeffrey Gerwin is currently a Senior Research Associate at Yale Medical School’s Department of Emergency Medicine and the Yale Center for Medical Simulation. He is working on an AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) R01 grant focusing on improving patient and clinician safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. His experience has spanned basic, translational, and clinical biomedical research. After graduating from Vassar, Jeffrey was a Research Associate at Weill Cornell Medicine in Pediatric Neurology, working in translational medical research. He helped develop a novel treatment delivery system for pediatric medulloblastoma. He recently completed his master’s at Boston University School of Medicine. During his time at BUSM, Jeffrey completed a research thesis focusing on physician burnout in the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the co-author of multiple peer-reviewed scientific articles.
Advice to Students:
Pick a place where you will be excited to live in and work, and use this time to grow your skills. A wide range of academic and practical work experience is always welcomed by employers. Be proactive and don’t be afraid to reach out to the alumni network—we were once in your position and are always happy to help out.
Rha Goddess ’89 (she/her)
Founder & CEO, Move The Crowd
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
- BA, Independent Major, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Nonprofit/Social Justice
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship, Writing/Publishing
- LinkedIn Profile
Rha Goddess is the entrepreneurial soul coach behind hundreds of breakthrough changemakers, cultural visionaries, and social entrepreneurs. Her mission? To revolutionize the way we live, work, play, and handle our business. From multiple New York Times bestsellers to multimillion-dollar social enterprises, Rha’s unique methodology has empowered a new generation of conscious entrepreneurs and organizational leaders to stay true, get paid, and do good. From the onset of her more than 30-year career as a cultural innovator and social impact strategist, Rha has drawn on the power of creativity, culture, and community to move hearts, minds, and policy. Rha’s work has focused on issues of racial justice and equity, transformative leadership, electoral politics, offender aid and restoration, mental health and youth, and women’s empowerment—and it has contributed to initiatives that have impacted millions of lives. Her work has been featured in Time magazine, Ms. magazine, Variety, Essence, the Source, Mindbodygreen, and the Chicago Tribune, among others.
As a sought-after speaker, Rha has led the conversation around a “whole self” approach to leadership as the key to a more just and sustainable economy and world. She has presented at TEDWomen, Bioneers, SVN, Women Donors Network, Equity Now, Netroots Nation, Emerging Women, and more. As Founder & CEO of Move The Crowd and Co-Founder of nFormation, Rha has leveraged her innovative curriculum to galvanize a movement of conscious executives and entrepreneurs who are dedicated to reimagining “work” as a vehicle for creative expression, financial freedom, and societal transformation.
Rha’s best-selling book The Calling: 3 Fundamental Shifts to Stay True, Get Paid, and Do Good, published in January 2020 by St. Martin’s Press, leverages her unique methodology into a step-by-step blueprint for finding your purpose and making your most profitable contribution.
Advice to Students:
The most important relationship you are having right now is the one with yourself. Learn how to cultivate your truth, learn how to develop your instincts, seek knowledge and experiences to expand your perspective. Use all of the above to inform your path. Know that you are worthy.
Prairie Rose Goodwin ’12 (she/her)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY
Poughkeepsie, NY
- BA, Computer Science, Vassar College
- MS, Computer Science, North Carolina State University
- PhD, Computer Science, North Carolina State University
- Assigned Industry: Technology
- Additional Industry Expertise: Education; Scientific Research
- LinkedIn Profile
Prairie Rose Goodwin is a usability expert who brings data science and quantitative analysis to questions formerly answered with qualitative data. She has published extensively on how to use the limits of human perception and cognition to make better tools and increase productivity in developer workflows. As a developer in industry, her work focused on transformative technologies like the rise of smartphones and the data everywhere framework that enabled IoT applications. She has owned her own business and worked in small start-ups all the way up to billion-dollar companies. Recently, she decided to switch her focus from building software for profit to training the next generation of developers by returning to academia. Technology continues to transform our world and how we interact with it, and Prairie Rose stresses that technology has to be designed around how people actually use technology rather than how we wished they would use it.
Advice to Students:
You don't have to know exactly what you are looking for before you find it. Likewise, don’t tie yourself too closely to a future that you have not experienced. Being prepared is the first step, but being flexible and taking advantage of opportunities is the key to living an extraordinary life.
Jesse Graff ’15 (he/him)
Independent Consultant, JSG Strategic Solutions
Sag Harbor, NY
Sag Harbor, NY
- BA, Mathematics, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Business/Entrepreneurship
- Additional Industry Expertise: Financial Services; Management Consulting; Technology
- LinkedIn Profile
After nearly eight years of experience working in the finance industry, Jesse recently founded his own consulting company, providing his clients with valuable insights to their financial and operational strategy. His company, JSG Strategic Solutions, currently provides services to four companies in industries ranging from healthcare to real estate to fintech services. Prior to consulting, Jesse worked at Compass Real Estate, the largest residential brokerage in the United States, as Chief of Staff to the CFO—acting as a trusted advisor to the CFO while helping to manage the structure and performance of the Finance Department. Prior to Compass, Jesse spent two and a half years working at Deutsche Bank as an investment banking analyst in the Consumer Group.
Advice to Students:
Even if you are only mildly interested in the job, take the interview if you get it. You can practice an interview with friends and family and teachers all you want, but there is nothing like the real thing. Every interview you take is another step towards perfecting your “bag of interview answers.” By the time you do land the interview for your ideal job, you can draw on your past experiences and absolutely nail it.
Michael Graff P’09, ’15 (he/him)
Managing Director, Warburg Pincus
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Economics, Harvard University
- MS, Finance, MIT Sloan School of Management
- Assigned Industry: Financial Services
- Additional Industry Expertise: Management Consulting
- LinkedIn Profile
Michael Graff is based in New York, joined Warburg Pincus in 2003 and is involved with the firm's Industrial and Business Services activities, focusing primarily on the Industrial sector. Prior to joining Warburg Pincus, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Bombardier Aerospace. Prior to that, Mr. Graff was a Partner at McKinsey & Company in New York, London and Pittsburgh. He is Chairman of Consolidated Precision Products and Wencor and a Director of TransDigm and Allied Universal. He is also the former Chairman of the United States Olympic Water Polo Committee and a member of the Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation. Mr. Graff received an A.B. in Economics from Harvard College and an M.S. from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Advice to Students:
Find something you love to do and try to make a living doing it. Never use more words than necessary to get your points across.
Anne Green ’93 (she/her)
Principal, Managing Director, G&S Business Communications
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, English, Vassar College
- MA, 19th Century American Literature, New York University
- ABD, 19th Century American Literature, New York University
- Assigned Industry: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship
- LinkedIn Profile
Anne Green brings 30 years of experience in integrated marketing communications to her role at G&S Business Communications. As Managing Director, Business Consulting, Anne’s responsibilities include high-level client counsel and consulting, new business, key external relationships, and co-leadership of the agency’s DE&I Task Force. She previously served as President and CEO of CooperKatz & Company, Inc., a communications agency she helped build for two decades before its acquisition by G&S. She serves as a board director for the Alumnae/i Association of Vassar College and board president of LifeWay Network, a charitable organization supporting survivors of human trafficking. Anne earned a BA in English from Vassar College, with concentrations in women’s studies and vocal performance; and an MPhil (ABD) from New York University, with a focus on 19th century American literature.
Advice to Students:
The idea of “networking” can seem really overwhelming, especially when you’re only midway through your Vassar experience. SCC offers a wonderful opportunity to start to connect with Vassar alums and realize just how much we want to help and support you. Don’t be afraid to reach out to alums in fields that interest you to ask for a little time to hear about their career journeys. And don’t be shy about checking in a second time if you don’t hear back right away!
Ivanna Guerra ’20 (she/her)
Pro Bono Administrator, The Legal Aid Society
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, History, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Law/Legal Services
- Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service; Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Ivanna Guerra currently works at The Legal Aid Society as Pro Bono Administrator for the Pro Bono Practice. At Vassar, she studied History, with minors in Art History and Philosophy. She was involved in various activities, including the Vassar Democrats, where she learned more about issues in local politics, and interned at a legal nonprofit organization, helping to advocate for the release of immigrants in ICE detention centers.
Upon graduating, Ivanna worked as an Administrative Fellow for the Jeh Vincent Johnson ALANA Cultural Center and the Transitions Program. Thanks to the experience as an Admin Fellow and training in writing as a history major, Ivanna uses the skills developed in her current job as she persuades private, partner firms to represent LAS clients in need of legal aid. Ivanna also manages various projects with partner firms and coordinates the interview and onboarding of volunteers who wish to donate their time to The Society.
Advice to Students:
Never underestimate the power of kindness! Be kind and genuine with everyone, because you never know who can help you in your career and just in life. You never know who will be willing to give you a job/internship just because they liked you. I can speak from experience! Begin practicing this now, with your peers—don’t take anyone for granted and just lend a hand occasionally. (That also means being kind to the staff working at Vassar, from administrators, staff, Deece workers, B&G workers, just everyone!)
Samuel Hammer ’17 (he/him)
Strategy Associate, Guardian Life
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Economics, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Management Consulting
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship, Financial Services
- LinkedIn Profile
As a Strategy Associate at Guardian Life, Sam Hammer works with senior leaders across the firm to identify growth opportunities, orchestrate operational enhancements, and pursue strategic transactions. Since graduating from Vassar, Sam has lived in New York City and has held roles across financial services (Goldman Sachs) and consulting (Deloitte). Sam has found immense value in the communication and critical thinking skills he developed as a Vassar student. Outside of the office, Sam enjoys playing tennis, eating out, watching television, and reading historical fiction.
Advice to Students:
Stress less about the specific classes you take, the subject you major in, and the small statistics that go onto a resume. People like to hear your story. College is not about the things you learn, but rather how you learn them. When you meet with people and ask for help, remember, they were once in your shoes too, so have a real conversation and ask the questions that matter.
Aliyah Harith ’16 (she/her)
Partnerships Manager, Builder.ai
Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City, UT
- BA, Political Science, Vassar College
- MA, Public Relations & Marketing, Hofstra University
- Assigned Industry: Technology
- Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations; Business/Entrepreneurship
- LinkedIn Profile
Aliyah Harith leads East Coast strategic partnerships at Builder.ai, an international software development platform that builds applications. Previously, Aliyah developed channel partnerships at a legal technology company and has carved a niche for herself in the tech industry building and scaling channel partnerships for SaaS companies. Prior to working in tech, Aliyah had a background in public relations working in a variety of industries including fashion/luxury lifestyle, politics, and higher ed. Alongside her career, Aliyah also runs an e-commerce consumables distribution business that she started while in grad school that generates passive income.
Aliyah believes in creating a culture of contribution and does various charity initiatives throughout the year.
Aliyah lives between New York and Miami but travels often for work and for pleasure.
Advice to Students:
Think about how you want to live before you choose a career path and think holistically about your life. Do you want to travel often? Do you want to live in one place or have multiple homes? For how long do you want to work? Do you want to work for someone else long term? What do you want your finances to look like? What kind of people do you want to surround yourself with? What kind of impact do you want to make? Your quality of life depends on more than your career. I encourage you, regardless of what you choose to major in, to think about what kind of lifestyle you want to have and what your values are. Then you can pick the path that best suits your vision for your life.
Create a Board of Directors for your life. It’s important to have mentors who can help and guide you in all of the different facets of your life.
Be open but strategic. Once you’re clear on how you want to live, you can be intentional about the decisions you make while staying open to opportunities you may not have thought of.
Fiona Hart ’18 (she/her)
R&D Specialist, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Tarrytown, NY
Tarrytown, NY
- BA, Biology, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Scientific Research
- Additional Industry Expertise: Health/Medicine; Technology
- LinkedIn Profile
Fiona Hart is currently an R&D Specialist in the Immunization Group at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. She generates monoclonal and bi-specific antibody drug candidates by immunizing humanized mice by subcutaneous/intradermal/intraperitoneal injection routes. To quantify immune response, she performs ELISA, MSD, and Flow Cytometry on immunized sera. Previously she worked in AAV-mediated gene therapy at Weill Cornell Medicine. She would insert the desired gene of interest in the AAV backbone by Gibson Assembly or blunt-end cloning. Plasmids were transfected in-vitro in human/mouse cell lines. Once constructs were validated, she would then produce AAV6, AAV8, AAV9 and/or AAVrh10 vector to test in a mouse model. In-vivo response would be quantified using ELISA, Western Blot, DNA & mRNA Taqman analysis, and enzymatic activity/ luciferase assays. Her publications include: “Gene therapy for alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency with an oxidant-resistant human alpha 1-antitrypsin,” published in JCI Insight; and her Vassar senior thesis, “Sample point variation in gastrointestinal bacteria of migrating Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) of eastern North America,” published in the Wilson Journal of Ornithology.
Advice to Students:
Beyond building your resume and landing the most prestigious internships, the simplest way to further your career is to be dependable. I have found great success in simply being accountable to my word. Build credibility and maintain open communication when you are struggling.
Peter Henne ’05
Associate Professor, University of Vermont
Burlington, VT
Burlington, VT
- BA, Political Science, Vassar College
- PhD, Government, Georgetown University
- Assigned Industry: International Affairs/Global Careers
- Additional Industry Expertise: Education, Government/Public Service, Writing/Publishing
- LinkedIn Profile
Peter S. Henne is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Vermont and Director of Middle East Studies. He researches terrorism, religious politics, and the Middle East, and teaches courses on these topics. Peter has published in numerous academic journals, has a 2017 book on Islam and counterterrorism, and a forthcoming book on religion in power politics. He has also written for popular outlets like the Washington Post’s Monkey Cage and think tanks like the Center for American Progress, and discussed Middle East politics with the media. Peter previously ran the Pew Research Center’s work on international religious freedom, and a project on domestic extremism at the University of Maryland’s START Center. He has also consulted with the federal government on counterterrorism. Additionally, he has written a historical fiction novel set in the ancient Akkadian Empire. Peter is a native of southeast Pennsylvania.
Advice to Students:
One of the most important aspects of a good career is a balance between direction and flexibility. Pick an ultimate goal and work towards it—gaining relevant work experience and academic degrees—but also be willing to explore other opportunities that arise. These may provide important expertise you had not previously considered, or may even give you a new goal to work towards. The other important element is networking, but real networking. When you meet people, show an interest in them for themselves—not what they can do for you. Develop a relationship instead of immediately asking for a favor.
Aaron Hoffman ’06 (he/him)
Chief Clinical Innovation Engineer, Atrius Health
Boston, MA
Boston, MA
- BA, Biology, Vassar College
- MPH, Health Policy and Economics, Dartmouth College
- DO, Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Assigned Industry: Health/Medicine
- Additional Industry Expertise: Education, Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Aaron Hoffman is Chief Clinical Innovation Engineer and a practicing family physician at Atrius Health in Boston. He also serves as the Co-Director of the Home for Family Medicine at the Harvard Center for Primary Care, and is an instructor of population medicine at Harvard Medical School. Additionally, he is the Medical Director of the PA Studies Program at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. He works as a surgical abortion provider at Women’s Health Services in Brookline, MA, and is a member of the board of directors of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. Aaron studied ancient societies and biology at Vassar and earned a Master of Public Health with a focus on health economics and policy at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. He completed his medical degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and his family medicine residency at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, ME, where he also served as Chief Resident.
Advice to Students:
My own career trajectory has taught me a lot about planning and career aspirations. I have learned that it is very important to work to retain the passions and the moral compass that drive us to do difficult things and to promote our vision for justice and equity in whatever we do. The details, however, are subject to change. I am not doing now what I expected that I would be when I was in college, and you may well change as well. Optimally, you can allow that life course to evolve organically, so that everything you do can continue to be influenced by the identity that brought you to Vassar and which has undoubtedly continued to develop since arriving on campus.
Jonathan Hong ’16 (he/him)
Senior Associate of Development & Acquisitions, Silverstein Properties
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Urban Studies, Vassar College
- MS, Real Estate Development, Columbia University
- Assigned Industry: Business/Entrepreneurship
- Additional Industry Expertise: Environment/Sustainability; Financial Services; Government/Public Service
- LinkedIn Profile
Jonathan Hong is a Senior Associate at Silverstein Properties responsible for equity investments through the organization’s balance sheet into development projects, existing asset acquisitions, and property repositioning.
He has closed on $750M+ of value-add and opportunistic equity investments in New York City and Los Angeles. He is responsible for creating and presenting the business plan to the Investment Committee, raising equity and debt to capitalize the projects, negotiating with the seller as well as capital partners, and running the organization-wide due diligence process.
Prior to Silverstein and graduate school, Jonathan was an economic consultant focusing on intercompany transactions between multinational entities.
At Vassar, Jonathan was an Urban Studies major and wrote his thesis on affordable housing policy in New York City; played on the baseball team; and was a tour guide.
Advice to Students:
Every time you join a new company, start a new project, or learn a new skill, invest the time up front to learn the ins and outs of the team or project. There will always be a learning curve, and the more time you invest early on, the easier it will be to navigate inevitable issues that arise in the future. Leverage your Vassar experience to push limits. Be curious and take the time to question assumptions and norms while always paying attention to detail. Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
Janou Hooykaas ’16 (she/her)
Social Worker, New York City Health + Hospitals
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Sociology, Vassar College
- MSW, Social Work, Hunter College
- Assigned Industry: Health/Medicine
- Additional Industry Expertise: Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Janou Hooykaas is a social worker at Judson Health Center, a New York City Health + Hospitals primary care facility located in Soho that is focused on caring for the LGBTQ+ community. Judson Health Center implements an integrated care approach to serving the physical, mental, and social health needs of its patient population. In her role, Janou provides individual and group therapy to youth and emerging adults seeking substance use and mental health treatment. She also assists patients with case management and collaborates with Health + Hospitals Central Office on grant programs and developing educational materials around substance use harm reduction. Janou graduated with her Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College in 2021 and completed two clinical internships at the LGBT Center, in their youth and substance use recovery programs. At Vassar, Janou majored in sociology and acted as a student fellow and peer counselor at CARES, which directly informed her interest in pursuing a career in therapy and social justice.
Advice to Students:
Be open to trying new things, whether it’s a hobby, volunteering, or something you’re not 100% sure about. Focus less on what you think you “should” do and more on experimenting in order to learn more about yourself.
Jillian Hornbeck ’20 (she/her)
Research, Evaluation, & Learning Fellow, Children’s Health Fund
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Biology, Vassar College
- MPH Candidate, Healthcare Management, Yale School of Public Health
- Assigned Industry: Health/Medicine
- Additional Industry Expertise: Management Consulting, Nonprofit/Social Justice, Scientific Research
- LinkedIn Profile
Jillian Hornbeck is pursuing her master’s in public health in healthcare management at Yale University. Her studies span strategic thinking, health policy, economics, and the social determinants of health. While in graduate school, Jillian works as the Research, Evaluation, and Learning Fellow for Children’s Health Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides health care to children and families in mobile medical clinics throughout the United States. She also is an intern for The Krinsky Company, a boutique consulting firm focused on growth strategy and healthcare innovation. Prior to graduate school, Jillian worked for two years as a Research Associate in Systems Genetics at NYU Langone Health. During her time at Vassar, Jillian conducted research on the microbiome of amphibians with Dr. Myra Hughey; was an oncology clinical research fellow at VBMC; interned at the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health; and was highly involved with two on-campus nonprofits: The Vassar Underground and The Vassar Haiti Project. These experiences helped her discover her passion for public health and health equity.
Advice to Students:
Never be afraid to change your mind. In my freshman/sophomore year at Vassar, I created an outline of what I wanted my academic/career plans to look like—these were very different than where I ended up. When my passions and interests shifted, it was scary to let go of the ideas I had held onto for so long. Listen to yourself and be open to unexpected changes in your path forward.
Tucker Hughes ’01
Deputy Director for Studies and Analysis, Joint Staff J-8
Arlington, VA
Arlington, VA
- BA, Economics, Vassar College
- MA, Economics, George Mason University
- MMS, Master of Military Studies, Marine Corps University Command and Staff College
- Assigned Industry: Government/Public Service
- Additional Industry Expertise: International Affairs/Global Careers; Technology
- LinkedIn Profile
Tucker Hughes is a member of the Senior Executive Service and is currently the Deputy Director for Studies and Analysis (DDSA) in the Joint Staff’s Force Structure, Resources and Assessment Directorate (J-8) at the Pentagon. DDSA conducts studies, analysis, and assessments of the capability, capacity, and readiness of the Joint Force, today and in the future, to support the J-8’s efforts to evaluate defense strategy, plans, and programs for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
A career civil servant, Tucker most recently served as the Chief of the Resource Analysis Division and Chief of the Strategic Analysis and Integration Division at the U.S. Army Center for Army Analysis. He previously served as a liaison at U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, as well as in the Headquarters, Department of the Army, G-3, Strategy, Plans, and Policy Directorate, and in the Army’s Enterprise Task Force (now the Office of Business Transformation).
As both an analyst and a strategist, he has extensive experience with quantitative and qualitative analysis on resources, installations, stationing, force structure, force generation, readiness, the feasibility of plans for major conventional combat, and other topics.
Advice to Students:
How you present what you have done is at least as important as what you actually did. Learning to write and verbally present complex ideas clearly and concisely is an underrated talent, and one that will pay dividends no matter where you end up working. Take every opportunity that you can to get comfortable presenting, even if just in small group settings.
Jordan Hynes ’11 (she/her)
Program Director, Children and Families, National Governors Association
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
- BA, International Studies, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Government/Public Service
- Additional Industry Expertise: Health/Medicine, Law/Legal Services, Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Jordan Hynes leads the Children and Families Team at the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices, heading up a portfolio of issues running the gamut of human services programs up through early childhood education and care. At NGA, Jordan has built a portfolio of state-focused projects, including convenings and provision of policy guidance and technical assistance, leading a team of project managers and policy analysts in implementation of multiyear policy projects. Jordan leads policy-area foundation fundraising efforts, concept development, and rollout of human-services-focused projects that speak to the needs of governors’ offices pertaining to human services. These include safety net programs, child welfare, and wrap-around and economic supports. Jordan brings nearly a decade of experience drafting and negotiating federal policy in early childhood development, social issues, and human services. Prior to joining NGA, Jordan served under the leadership of Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. During her tenure with the Committee, she worked to secure bipartisan support and served as the lead negotiator and drafter of the Back to Work Child Care Grants Act of 2020, Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, and shepherded the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act and the CARES Act. Before joining the Committee, Jordan worked under the leadership of Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL). She advised the Senator on education and labor policy and assisted in securing passage of legislation on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Childcare Development and Block Grant Act of 2014.
Advice to Students:
When exploring a career in public policy, maintaining a robust professional network is just as important as cultivating personal subject-matter expertise. You don’t necessarily need to know all the answers, but it does pay dividends to know who does have the answer...and make sure they’ll answer your call.
Whitney Jones ’09 (she/her)
Head of Operations, Atlas Al
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, CA
- BA, Hispanic Studies, Vassar College
- MA, International Affairs, American University
- MA, Modern European Studies, Columbia University
- Assigned Industry: Technology
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship
- LinkedIn Profile
Whitney Jones leads operations at Atlas AI, a Palo Alto-based predictive analytics company that guides the deployment of investment and other resource allocation decisions in emerging markets. At Atlas AI, she is responsible for overseeing global operations, HR, finance, management systems, and processes to boost Atlas AI’s go-to-market strategy and drive profitability.
Whitney has over 10+ years of proven data-driven results building, launching, and scaling high-growth tech companies across varying industries. A former civil servant, she started her career in operations at the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology. Prior to Atlas, she led operations for a DC-based company dedicated to accelerating federal readiness of commercial technology. Her media appearances include speaking engagements and interviews with the Washington Business Journal, Executive Leaders Radio, Technical.ly, podcasts, panels, and more.
At Vassar, Whitney majored in Hispanic Studies and had a double minor in Italian and Latino(a) & Latin American Studies.
Advice to Students:
Don’t worry if you don’t have everything figured out today, tomorrow, or anytime soon—you are still young; you still have plenty of time to determine “what you want to be when you grow up.” Pursue what you love, do work that excites you, learn talents and skills that fulfill you, try different industries, take on new responsibilities, be curious and explore, ask questions… If you do these things, you’ll find your dream career.
Alexa Jordan ’17 (she/her)
Playwright and Nonprofit Executive Director, Juanita James Memorial Scholarship Foundation
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Drama, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Writing/Publishing
- Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, Entertainment/Media/Performing Arts, Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Alexa Jordan is so excited to be back mentoring at SCC for a third year! She deeply enjoys being an active alum, and took on the role of Class of 2017 Fund Chair in 2022.
Alexa has written multiple full-length and one-act plays about mental health, the gray area of the #metoo movement, reproductive justice, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Her first full-length play, Fine, was awarded the Marilyn Swartz Seven ’69 Playwriting Award right here at Vassar.
In 2020, Alexa was appointed Executive Director of the Juanita James Memorial Scholarship Foundation, her family’s nonprofit providing college students from the Bronx Housing Projects with scholarships and mentoring, in honor of her late grandmother.
Alexa’s recent play, The Flower and The Fury, was recently named a semifinalist (35 out of 655 submissions) in the Premiere Stages Play Festival this past spring. A monologue from the play appears in Smith and Kraus’ Best Women’s Monologues 2022 and Meekling Press chapbook, The Resistance is Fertile (with proceeds benefiting the Midwest Access Project, a nonprofit focused on improving access to comprehensive reproductive health care by training providers in abortion, miscarriage care, contraception, and pregnancy options counseling).
Alexa’s previous acting experience has greatly fed her creative process over the years. In spring 2018, she was featured in the New York Times for her performance in There’s Blood at the Wedding at the La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. (Set within six giant-scale pop-up book constructions, we told the stories of the lives and deaths of six victims of police violence: Sandra Bland, Sean Bell, Philando Castile, Justine Damond, Amadou Diallo, and Eric Garner.)
In addition to theater and development, Alexa has enjoyed working in marketing, arts administration, and education. She currently serves on the board of directors at CultureHub, where she was the associate producer and outreach coordinator for Turning Your Body into a Compass, a 360° livestream web story, written by her former professor, mentor, and dear friend: award-winning playwright Catherine Filloux. More at alexajuanitajordan.com
Advice to Students:
Get to know your professors, and stay in touch! My mentor and good friend, Catherine Filloux, only taught me for one semester at Vassar, but she has had an invaluable impact on my life and career.
Get curious about classes and activities outside of your major. I never would have written a play about a therapist without all of the psychology classes that I took on a whim. (Including neuroscience—which I took senior spring as an NRO!)
Take advantage of all that Vassar has to offer—not just the popular things, or the things that your friends are doing. It sounds cheesy, but there are so many ways to carve out your own unique path. I really believe that no two Vassar experiences are the same—and that’s an amazing thing in itself.
Danny Kadishson ’09 (he/him)
Speechwriter, U.S Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
- BA, Political Science, Vassar College
- MA, Strategic Management, National Defense University
- Assigned Industry: Government/Public Service
- Additional Industry Expertise: International Affairs/Global Careers
- LinkedIn Profile
Danny Kadishson is a speechwriter and policymaker who has served in federal, state, and city government, in the executive and legislative branches. Danny currently serves as Speechwriter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He was previously Senior Speechwriter to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and has written for presidential campaigns, senior appointees in the U.S. Department of Energy, the presidents of two national labor unions, and members of Congress. He founded and ran Good Speech, an initiative to write pro bono for first-time Democratic candidates for office. On the policy side, he has worked in the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Army (civilian), U.S. House of Representatives, and New York City Mayor’s Office.
Advice to Students:
If you’re interested in government and public service, jump into it—starting with an internship, if that’s possible. In your first few years, if you can, try out different functions (communications vs. policy, official vs. campaigns), think about where you would find the most fulfillment (working on new legislation vs. implementing a program), and whether you would prefer to work in your home city or state capital or in DC or abroad. Government is a place where you can do so much good, at a scale hard to replicate elsewhere, but that depends on having good people at the table… which is why I’m thrilled you’re considering public service, and why I’m happy to be helpful as you explore it.
Kentaro Kaneki ’17 (he/him)
Software Engineer, 8th Light
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College
- Certificate, Web Development, Launch Academy
- Assigned Industry: Technology
- LinkedIn Profile
Kentaro Kaneki graduated from Vassar in 2017 with a degree in Neuroscience and a minor in Asian Studies. He worked as a cancer researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) for a year where he started to teach himself some programming after work. In 2018, he moved to Boston to make a career change and attend Launch Academy, a web development bootcamp. Now he works as a software engineer at 8th Light, a software consultancy. At 8th Light, he works with clients to build new and existing systems. On a typical day, Kentaro attends two stand-up meetings, one with the client and one with 8th Light team members. Stand-ups are short meetings to update the team about any progress or blockers. He works collaboratively to complete assigned tickets. He attends bi-weekly planning meetings to discuss any future work.
Advice to Students:
If you are a sophomore interested in software engineering, I think the best thing you can do is focus on your coursework. However, here’s how you can give yourself an edge: Beautiful demos (e.g., Github projects with links) are impressive on a job application. You can start to accumulate these demos now, because projects often take months. It’s okay if they’re just simple programs to start. Most interviews will include whiteboarding, where they will present a coding challenge to solve. leetcode.com and the book Cracking the Coding Interview are good resources as you get closer to your senior year. Internships, meetups, and reaching out to people in the field (e.g., alums) can help you find your first job. Meetup.com can be a great place to find meetups where you can network and learn about your interests. Many people are willing to help if you are passionate and respectful of their time.
Shigeru Kaneki ’18 (he/him)
Medical School Student, New York Medical College
Valhalla, NY
Valhalla, NY
- BA, Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College
- MD Candidate, New York Medical School
- Assigned Industry: Scientific Research
- Additional Industry Expertise: Health/Medicine
- LinkedIn Profile
After graduating Vassar with a degree in neuroscience, Shigeru Kaneki worked as a Research Assistant at Rockefeller University examining the role of high-fat diet, immune response, and sex differences on Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Shigeru published two papers on his research. In the lab, he examined changes in protein and RNA expression through IF, IHC, western blot, and RT QPCR. After taking the MCAT in 2020, Shigeru began his medical education at New York Medical College in 2022.
Advice to Students:
Sophomore year is a great time to take advantage of all the research opportunities available on campus. I would suggest reading some of the professor’s research and joining the lab of your liking. Some Vassar students end up publishing their findings, which will look great on a resume. In addition to research on-campus, summertime is great for exposing yourself to research at different facilities. I immersed myself in both basic and clinical science during these summers. These opportunities taught me a wide range of techniques and helped me land my current job. Finally, previous exposure to mouse work can be very beneficial when applying for research assistant positions.
Charles Kim ’92 (he/him)
President and Publisher, Third State Books
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA
- BA, Asian Studies and French & Francophone Studies, Vassar College
- MA, French Literature, New York University
- Assigned Industry: Writing/Publishing
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship; Education; Management Consulting; Nonprofit/Social Justice; Visual Arts/Arts Administration
- LinkedIn Profile
Charles Kim is President and Publisher of Third State Books, the only publishing house in America focusing on Asian American voices and stories. He is also Senior Editorial Agent at Serendipity Literary, the largest literary agency in America representing BIPOC writers.
Previously, Charles served as Associate Publisher at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, where he oversaw the publication of 40 titles per year and established a best-selling line of children’s books. Before MoMA, he served as Editor in Chief at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, where he launched the museum’s first publishing imprint. He also served as Senior Agent at the French Publishers’ Agency, an office of France’s Ministry of Culture representing 25 leading French publishers. After graduating from Vassar, Charles was a Fulbright Scholar in Lyon, France.
Advice to Students:
No matter where you are in your academic/career journey, you can always be an advocate, mentor, and ally to others.
Elias Kim ’16 (he/him)
Bristow Fellow, Office of the Solicitor General, Department of Justice
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
- BA, Physics and Political Science, Vassar College
- JD, Harvard Law School
- Assigned Industry: Law/Legal Services
- Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service; Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Elias Kim is an attorney at the Office of the Solicitor General, which is the division of the Department of Justice that represents the United States government at the Supreme Court. In this role, he prepares briefs in Supreme Court cases, assists in the preparation of oral arguments in the Supreme Court, and makes recommendations regarding the authorization of appeals in the lower courts. Elias graduated from Harvard Law School in 2019 and previously worked as a law clerk for two federal judges, as an associate at a law firm in DC, and as a legal volunteer for President Biden’s 2020 campaign. Elias has particular expertise in civil rights, intellectual property, and antitrust law. At Vassar, Elias studied physics and political science and played on the varsity soccer team.
Advice to Students:
It’s hard to find an entry-level job that lets you do the kind of creative, intellectual work that you’re currently doing as a college student—especially one that pays well. At the same time, it’s important that you think hard before defaulting into a typical entry-level job at a big company, especially if you know that kind of work won’t make you happy. Use the next two summers to figure out what the right balance is for you, and start thinking about what kind of jobs can help you achieve that balance.
Ryan Koronowski ’04 (he/him)
Director, Special Research Projects, Center for American Progress Action Fund
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
- BA, Political Science and Psychology, Vassar College
- MS, Energy Policy and Climate Science, Johns Hopkins University
- Assigned Industry: Nonprofit/Social Justice
- Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, Environment/Sustainability, Government/Public Service, Writing/Publishing
- LinkedIn Profile
Ryan Koronowski is the Director of Special Research Projects for the Advocacy team at the Center for American Progress. He finds ways to promote progressive policy and hold politicians accountable for their votes and statements. He was the editor of Climate Progress and earned his MS in energy policy and climate at Johns Hopkins University. Previously, Ryan was the Research Director at the Climate Reality Project. He has worked on senate and presidential campaigns, doing political research and rapid response.
Advice to Students:
Kind people remember kind people. They self-attract, and they talk. You’re going to meet a lot of different kinds of people in your career: people who hire you, who you work for, who you work with, who work for you. Put your default setting at kind. I’ve known interns who became congresswomen and campaign managers who became bakers. It’s more than worth being kind to all.
Kevin Lee ’14 (he/him)
Environmental Impact and Compliance Specialist, Dr. Bronner’s
Vista, CA
Vista, CA
- BA, Biology, Vassar College
- MEM, Master of Environmental Management, Yale University
- Assigned Industry: Environment/Sustainability
- Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service; Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Kevin Lee is the Environmental Impact and Compliance Specialist at Dr. Bronner’s, a top-selling organic and fair-trade body care and food company in North America. At Dr. Bronner’s, Kevin advocates for greener initiatives and policies, tracks the company’s environmental footprint, oversees environmental compliance, and co-chairs the cross-departmental Green Team. He also helps create sustainability programming, such as establishing the company’s first-ever Earth Week. Additionally, Kevin is the Chair and a Founding Member of the San Diego Queer Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and Desi American (QAPIMEDA) Coalition, through which he builds out programming and a sense of belonging for the LGBTQ+ API community in San Diego. Before Dr. Bronner’s and QAPIMEDA, Kevin was on the Green Business team with City & County of San Francisco’s Department of the Environment.
Advice to Students:
Advice I wish I had received as a Vassar sophomore:
Create a LinkedIn profile if you haven’t already. Then start connecting with the Vassar community!
Arrive to class/events early. Make yourself memorable.
Use a reliable planner/calendar to keep track of your to-do’s and deadlines. Daily organization goes a long way.
Go to office hours.
Ask questions. Keep the conversation going.
Vote (if you can). Democracy cannot happen without participation.
Take time for naps.
Lean into your passions.
Wendy Leung ’08 (she/her)
Physician, Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx, NY
Bronx, NY
- BA, Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College
- MPH, Health Policy, Yale School of Public Health
- MD, Stony Brook University
- Assigned Industry: Health/Medicine
Wendy Leung is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Complex Family Planning in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Albert Einstein School of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center. In her current role as a physician-educator, she works with learners of different training levels, including medical students, residents, and fellow physicians. Her areas of professional interests are abortion stigma and values clarification among teams of healthcare providers. While at Vassar, Wendy majored in Neuroscience and Behavior and minored in Chinese. After graduating, she worked for two years as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Department of Anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medical College. She then went on to attend medical school at Stony Brook University and completed her residency training at Albert Einstein School of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center. Following residency, she went on to pursue fellowship training in the subspecialty of Complex Family Planning and completed a Master of Public Health at Yale University. Returning to New York, Wendy is passionate about working with patients in an underserved and high-need area in Bronx county, addressing social determinants of health and its impact on sexual and reproductive health.
Advice to Students:
Finding the right career path can seem like a daunting feat. Being a first-generation college student, I felt the pressure to find that answer in college. From many hours in the Career Development Office and my personal experiences, I’ve learned that the journey to a successful career does not have to be linear. Use your four years of college to explore your interests, learn who you are, and what excites you to get up every morning. Step out of your comfort zone and take advantage of all the opportunities that Vassar has to offer you. Strike up a conversation with someone you’ve never met; you never know where these connections may take you. These experiences will ultimately equip you with knowledge and skills that will prepare you to succeed when you settle into your career.
Robyn Lin ’18 (she/her)
Privacy and Cyber Associate, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP
Irvine, CA
Irvine, CA
- BA, International Studies, Vassar College
- JD, University of California, Irvine School of Law
- Assigned Industry: Law/Legal Services
- Additional Industry Expertise: Technology
- LinkedIn Profile
As an associate in the firm’s Privacy + Cyber Practice Group, Robyn Lin regularly assists clients with privacy-related issues, such as reviewing privacy policies, data mapping, and building privacy programs. She also assists with a variety of class action litigation. She provides ongoing commentary and analysis on developments within privacy and cybersecurity through the firm’s blog Consumer Financial Services Law Monitor.
Robyn recently earned her JD from the University of California, Irvine School of Law. She received the Pro Bono Achievement Award for three consecutive years, and was also awarded the Dean’s Award in her Education Law class. While in law school, Robyn served as a judicial extern for the Hon. Judge Salter of the Orange County Superior Court and worked for the UCI Immigrant Rights Clinic.
Advice to Students:
Take the time to find what makes you happy. Speak to other people, learn from their experiences, and surround yourself with those who will uplift and inspire you.
George Luton ’19 (he/they)
Musical Theatre Composer, Broadcast Music Incorporated
Darien, CT
Darien, CT
- BA, Drama and Music, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Entertainment/Media/Performing Arts
- Additional Industry Expertise: Education
- LinkedIn Profile
George Luton is a musical theater composer and conductor, having developed scores and launched productions for over a dozen original theater pieces to international acclaim. His music has been lauded as glorious, harmonic, rousing, singable, and memorable. The only question to be answered is which song you will be singing when you leave the theater (BWW News Desk). His works have premiered at Stage 284 (Stiltskin, Earhart, Nottingham: The Legend of Robin Hood), Island Theatre Workshop (Treasure Island, The Snow Queen, Boots), and other regional theaters across the country. At Vassar, George majored in Music and Drama, receiving both general and departmental honors. He was twice awarded the Jean Slater Edson Prize in Composition, and for his interdepartmental music direction, he was granted the Molly Thacher Kazan Memorial Prize for Distinction in Theatrical Arts. Since graduating, George has served as a music director and pianist for the York Theatre, Columbia University School of the Arts, Prospect Theatre Company, and The Tank NYC, where he recently presented a digital concert program featuring his collaborations with librettist and fellow Vassar graduate Emily Drossell (Miss March, More Than This World, The Northern Skies) followed by the New York City debut of their new operetta (Alice).
Advice to Students:
Take advantage of the opportunities Vassar provides by focusing on what you want. There is an abundance of departmental and faculty support for artistic projects, available to any students who are inspired to create—so long as they maintain a firm commitment to their goals and are ready to put in the work to realize them.
Samantha Mandor ’97 (she/her)
Co-Owner & Chief Creative Officer, TEMPTU
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, English, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Business/Entrepreneurship
- Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations
- LinkedIn Profile
Samantha Mandor is the Co-Owner and Chief Creative Officer of TEMPTU, the leading professional makeup artistry brand in the industry. TEMPTU is an award-winning, internationally renowned company, whose products you’ll find on the sets of the biggest film and television productions in the world, and in the kits of the top makeup artists. Samantha is an entrepreneur and leads a team of artists, digital strategists, salespeople, product developers, and more to create best-in-class products and lead the beauty world in innovation. She serves as the keeper of the brand, ensuring that its ethos is executed throughout every touchpoint of the organization. As an editor of commercial fiction and non-fiction at a division of Penguin Books, she developed a strength in storytelling, which she now applies to TEMPTU. As the company patented a groundbreaking airbrush innovation that became its hero product, she led the business through unprecedented growth and is excited to continue to innovate and grow this company today.
Advice to Students:
It’s a gift to know what you want to do with your life, but prepare yourself for curveballs and to embrace change. One seemingly small decision may take you down a road that you never dreamed you’d walk. Stay open and receptive to new ideas, plans, and people—you never know where your next great chapter may come from. And talk to everyone—ask questions and stay connected with people, as relationships matter.
Samantha Mignotte ’09 (she/her)
Director, Advisory Services, Social Finance
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
- BA, Economics and Political Science, Vassar College
- MPP, Public Policy: International Development, Princeton University, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
- Assigned Industry: Nonprofit/Social Justice
- Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service, Management Consulting
- LinkedIn Profile
Samantha Mignotte is a Director of Advisory Services at Social Finance, where she works with governments, nonprofits, and investors to explore outcomes-based financing opportunities. At Social Finance, her work has been concentrated in programs that support early childhood development, health, and homelessness. 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, Samantha 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.
Advice to Students:
You’ll probably be in the workforce for at least 30-40 years and during that time, your career will take a lot of twists and turns (based on industry, job title, type of work), so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to “get it right” with your very first job. Find a first role that gives you a good foundation of skills, that is interesting to you, and that matches your values.
Isabel Moore ’15 (she/her)
Associate Manager, Global Sustainable Packaging, PepsiCo
Purchase, NY
Purchase, NY
- BA, Political Science, Vassar College
- MBA, Yale School of Management
- Assigned Industry: Environment/Sustainability
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship, Visual Arts/Arts Administration
- LinkedIn Profile
Isabel Moore works on PepsiCo's Global Sustainable Packaging team, where she manages strategies to reduce virgin plastic and increase recyclability across PepsiCo’s beverage portfolio. Prior to joining PepsiCo, Isabel graduated from Yale School of Management, where she focused her MBA on the intersection of business and the environment. While in business school, she completed a fellowship with the Environmental Defense Fund, through which she managed climate risk assessments and ESG (environmental, social, governance) reporting for Etsy. Isabel launched her career in sustainability while working as a customer service specialist at Casper (her first role after Vassar) and learning about the challenges of recycling used mattresses. Over her 4.5 years at Casper, she helped to develop a corporate social responsibility program and led a team that designed solutions to mattress waste challenges.
Advice to Students:
Your first job after Vassar does not need to be a perfect fit. As a recent college grad, it’s normal to start in a role that doesn’t feel quite right or long-term. Embrace whatever opportunity comes your way and use it to figure out what you like and what you don’t like. Then, when you’re no longer growing, take steps to find something that’s better for you. Try to enjoy this journey rather than stressing about it. Also, never forget how much building personal connections matter in the workplace. These connections can show up in unexpected ways down the line.
Priya Nair ’15 (they/them)
Deputy Chief Diversity Officer, Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Psychology, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Government/Public Service
- LinkedIn Profile
Priya Nair is a strategic diversity, equity, and inclusion leader, public servant, and LGBTQ policy expert. Priya currently serves as the Deputy Chief Diversity Officer for Governor Kathy Hochul, the first woman to lead New York State. Before this position, Priya served in several roles in New York City and New York State government, including as the Associate Director of Gender Equity for NYC Health + Hospitals; as the Governor’s Inaugural Edie Windsor, Marsha P. Johnson, and Sylvia Rivera New York State LGBTQ Fellow; and as the LGBTQ Liaison for New York City Council Speakers Melissa Mark-Viverito and Corey Johnson. Priya was named on City & State’s “Pride Power 100” list in 2019, 2020, and 2022, and is a lifelong New Yorker.
Advice to Students:
The most meaningful work I did at Vassar was on myself. It was at Vassar that I came into my identities as a queer person, as a non-binary person, as a South Asian person. It was at Vassar that I first fell in love, got my heart broken, went to therapy, made mistakes, and learned about accountability. These experiences led me to where I am today, both personally and professionally. They left me with a commitment to lifelong self-growth and to helping shape a more equitable, just, and sustainable world. Remember to build a life outside of the classroom—the most transformative learning happens in the everyday.
Sohaib Nasir ’21 (they/them)
Business Analyst, McKinsey & Company
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Mathematics, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Management Consulting
- Additional Industry Expertise: Scientific Research
- LinkedIn Profile
Sohaib Nasir is a management consultant at McKinsey, and their usual day consists of solving problems, managing relationships, developing structured knowledge, and making jokes to raise team spirit. In their free time, Sohaib enjoys football (read as soccer), card games, dancing, mountaineering, and engaging with political questions. Sohaib started out at Vassar as a philosophy major; but that love for logic and problem-solving quickly led them to discover the beauty of math. For the longest time, a PhD in mathematics was all Sohaib wanted to pursue (and still might), but by pursuing a variety of research opportunities while in college they realized they wanted to start at a job that would, in addition to using their aptitude for analytical thinking, make use of their care for other people. When applying for jobs, Sohaib was inspired by how GIVING the McKinsey folks (even senior partners!!!) were with their time, and how unconditionally supportive they were of Sohaib's choices. Hopefully Sohaib and the current crop of McK consultants can do something similar for you!
Advice to Students:
Be confident but kind. Take your work seriously but don’t take yourself too seriously. Be conscious of how you impact others, and be willing to grow beyond where you start out. Try to learn lessons the first time life and others teach you, but also forgive yourself and be prepared to learn the second time round. Life is extraordinarily unfair, and not all of us start with the same means and opportunities. As such, don’t overly compare yourself to others, and set your goals in light of what your context demands. It’s okay to be upset by unfairness, but at some point you have to take steps forward. Finally, don’t be afraid to interrogate or scrutinize any piece of advice you’re given (including this one).
Caleb Northrop ’14 (he/him)
Global Sustainability Leader for Energy Industries, IBM
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, International Studies, Vassar College
- Master of Environmental Management, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies
- Assigned Industry: Environment/Sustainability
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship, International Affairs/Global Careers, Nonprofit/Social Justice, Technology
- LinkedIn Profile
As IBM’s Global Sustainability Leader for Energy Industries, Caleb Northrop supports cross-industry sales teams and global energy & utilities clients develop sustainability strategies and deploy technology to accelerate the energy transition through clean electrification of the global energy system. Caleb believes that community well-being, positive social impact, and environmental justice must always remain top of mind. Caleb has played a central role in many of IBM’s sustainability initiatives over the past four years and worked on the Corporate Strategy team that led to the development of IBM Sustainability Software and Sustainability Services. Prior to attending Vassar, Caleb was a Rotary Exchange Student in Germany. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar in 2014 with a BA in International Studies (focus areas: political science and geography). After college, he directed the Kelly Adirondack Center at Union College and served as the college president’s Special Assistant for Strategic Initiatives. In 2019, he received his master’s degree in environmental management from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (now the Yale School of the Environment), where he developed his passions for environmental justice and environmental communication, systems and strategic thinking, agricultural and water policy, and corporate social responsibility. In his free time, Caleb works with environmental justice community organizations in the Bronx or ventures into the Hudson Valley to hike and enjoy nature.
Advice to Students:
Bring your intellectual curiosity into everything you do. Be confident, yet humble. Find ways to connect people. And don’t be afraid to challenge established systems.
Michael Norton ’14 (he/him)
PhD Candidate, Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge, MA
- BA, Asian Studies and Chinese, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Visual Arts/Arts Administration
- Additional Industry Expertise: Education
Michael Norton is a fourth-year PhD student in the History of Art and Architecture department at Harvard University, where he studies early medieval Chinese Buddhist material culture. His research examines the relationship between visual depictions of the Buddhist cosmos and the physical body, exploring issues of cosmogony, soteriology, and embodiment. After graduating from Vassar in 2014, Michael studied Mandarin and Literary Chinese at the Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies in Beijing, China as an Ann Cornelisen Fellow. He received his MA in the History and Theory of Art from the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University, Beijing in 2019, completing research on sixth-century modular devotional icons. Since beginning doctoral work, Michael has expanded the scope of his research interests, investigating histories of collecting and object provenance with staff at the Harvard Art Museums and co-founding the Collective on Gender, Religion, and the Arts of Asia in 2021. Most recently, he was the Adjunct Visiting Instructor in East Asian Art History in the Vassar College Art department in Fall 2022, contributing lectures to the Art 105 curriculum. Outside of his academic work, Michael is an enthusiastic language learner currently attempting to learn Finnish, German, and Tibetan.
Advice to Students:
Career paths are never a straight line and recognizing that you do not enjoy something is just as valuable as knowing what excites you intellectually. My first year at Vassar, I thought I would study economics, and although the courses and faculty were wonderful, I realized the field did not speak to the fundamental way I think about the world. Although at the time I did not know what I would end up pursuing long-term, admitting that I was not fulfilled by one subject area freed me to explore others and find new interests. Use your time as an undergraduate to cultivate a strong sense of self-discernment.
Misa Numano ’01 (she/her)
Senior Director, Gap Inc.
Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn, NY
- BA, Political Science, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship
- LinkedIn Profile
Misa Numano is a PMO lead who makes stuff run smoothly by breaking down information silos, focusing teams on shared goals, and building robust processes through stakeholder buy-in. Misa believes that when you align individuals’ interests and empathy with business objectives, you achieve results. In her role on the Gap Inc Rewards, Loyalty and Payments team, she project-managed the migration of 10M credit card holders to Barclays US Consumer Bank and Mastercard’s global payment network. In her role at Think London, she developed a six-year engagement strategy utilizing the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games to generate investment in London. In her first job, working for the New York City Parks Department, Misa project-managed several iconic events that she visited as a child, such as the New York City Marathon, the Great Halloween Party, and AIDS Walk. Currently Misa is working on making DEI an essential element of her project management methodology. Misa grew up in New York City and has lived in Poughkeepsie, Tokyo, Boston, and London. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her partner, 9-year-old twins, and two cats.
Advice to Students:
The path to achieving your goal may not be a straight line/climb. Give yourself space and time (if you can afford it) to try different work experiences. Being in different work environments and encountering different perspectives (for-profit, non-profit, customer facing, HQ, in brand, agency, public, private, etc.) can give you a lot of insight into where you thrive and what you enjoy. Never stop being a student and learning. Support the growth and learning of your colleagues or team members. Remember that people you encounter may be in a position to hire you one day.
Roy Ochieng ’21 (he/him)
Investment Banking Analyst, Citigroup
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Economics, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Financial Services
- LinkedIn Profile
Roy Ochieng is an Investment Banking Analyst at Citi’s Clean Energy Finance Group in the Financing and Securitization Division. He joined the company shortly after graduating from Vassar in 2021. Roy primarily spends his time assisting senior bankers in providing full-service financing solutions to Citi’s alternative energy clients, including construction financing, project debt financing in the bank and bond markets, tax equity, leasing, and project equity. Roy is active in wind, solar, and geothermal power projects as well as fuel cells, biomass, and other new renewable energy technologies. He is primarily responsible for building project-specific cash flow models and assisting in the ongoing management and monitoring of existing and new deals, among other various responsibilities. Roy is also involved in Citi’s diversity programs aimed at assisting students in gaining exposure to various roles at the firm, including summer analyst and post-graduation opportunities.
Advice to Students:
Leverage Vassar’s diverse classes and opportunities to discover disciplines you might be interested in with a view of how they might shape your career growth.
Madie Oldfield ’15 (she/her)
Associate Director, Now What
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Drama and Italian, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations
- Additional Industry Expertise: Entertainment/Media/Performing Arts
- LinkedIn Profile
Madie Oldfield is a researcher, brand strategist, and design thinker. With a background in theater and the arts, she uses her storytelling expertise to take complex ideas and make them simple and actionable for brands and businesses. She has spent her career working in full-service advertising agencies and market research firms. As Associate Director of Research, Insights, & Strategy at Now What, Madie oversees the full breadth of market research, from quantitative studies to in-depth qualitative interviews, to uncover the why behind human behaviors. Her clients range from tech and apparel leaders to small CPG brands and innovative startups.
Advice to Students:
The time you spend at Vassar College is an opportunity to hone your critical thinking skills—from there, you can go anywhere. Every job will have a specific set of skills or credentials that they are looking for, but the most valuable asset you have is your ability to look at the big picture, challenge what is expected, and remain flexible as your career grows and changes. Major in what you are passionate about! The career will work out in the end.
Norah Pliss ’20 (she/her)
High Net Worth Client Representative, Vanguard
Charlotte, NC
Charlotte, NC
- BA, Anthropology, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Financial Services
- Additional Industry Expertise: Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Norah Pliss is an investment advisor representative who is savvy about connecting clients with the help they need and fostering an equitable workplace culture. In the past year, she has captured over $8 million for consolidation into Vanguard’s Personal Advisory Service through the pursuit and management of 60 cold sales leads. She holds her Series 7 and 66 licenses, the CORe certificate from Harvard Business School Online, and is currently pursuing designation as a Certified Financial Planner.
Her advocacy work around gender has been featured in VICE, Teen Vogue, the Poughkeepsie Journal, and most recently An Ordinary Age published by Harper Perennial. In November 2022, Norah was distinguished for moderating the first fireside chat between two trans women in Vanguard’s history. She began her career in financial services after realizing her desire to become more literate in finance and to help others in their journey to do the same.
Advice to Students:
Strike a balance between your introverted and extroverted tendencies. For natural extroverts, remember that deep thought and listening hold power. It will help to listen before acting—especially in the financial services industry, where there is significant risk involved in day-to-day tasks. For introverts, it’s important not to spend your career siloed at a desk. To build relationships, advance in the workplace, and affect change, you must be able to use your voice. This is especially important for women and minorities who may be underrepresented on their team. Find ways to strengthen your speaking skills and remember that your idea is worth sharing.
Estello Cisdre Raganit ’14 (he/him)
Landscape Designer, Agency Landscape & Planning
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge, MA
- BA, Biology, Vassar College
- MLA, Master in Landscape Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
- Assigned Industry: Environment/Sustainability
- LinkedIn Profile
Estello Raganit is a landscape designer at the Cambridge-based firm Agency Landscape + Planning, working on and managing the design, planning, and construction of public projects of varying scales and types across the United States. He received his Masters in Landscape Architecture from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design in 2019, where he was the University Olmsted Scholar. In addition to having projects and drawings published in many landscape journals, his academic work has been twice recognized by the Boston Society of Landscape Architecture, an organization where he now serves as Chair of the Emerging Professionals. Estello remains interested in landscape architecture’s ability to forge links between our natural/built environments and individual/collective memory of place, bringing this design ethos to his previous roles as a studio instructor and guest critic.
Advice to Students:
Embrace change as opportunities for growth during your time at Vassar, and know that your liberal arts education should be valued—not as a means to an end, but as a constellation of experiences that will challenge your career trajectory.
Logan Ragsdale ’21 (he/him)
Senior Consultant, Booz Allen Hamilton
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
- BA, Greek and Roman Studies, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Management Consulting
- Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service
- LinkedIn Profile
Logan Ragsdale is a Senior Consultant at Booz Allen’s federal consulting practice. Since joining Booz in 2021, Logan has worked to support a range of federal clients by using analytics to fuel operations improvements. He enjoys using seemingly unrelated data sets to find patterns that can be used to create more efficient business processes. Logan received an early promotion after leading an analysis that discovered an accounting error that would have resulted in the loss of tens of millions of dollars worth of funding records.
At Vassar, Logan was a member of the Posse Veterans Program. In addition to his full-time work, he works to advise prospective student veterans as they prepare to apply to undergraduate programs. He is a staunch advocate for a liberal arts education and constantly uses the skillset he developed as a Greek and Roman Studies major in his work as a consultant. He is happy to field questions on leveraging nontraditional paths to break into consulting, networking and interviewing skills, and any questions on opportunities at Booz Allen.
Advice to Students:
Don’t self-select. One of my biggest regrets during my time at Vassar was hesitating to apply for positions where I did not feel like I was a strong traditional candidate. It took me until my senior year to realize my story is an asset, not a liability. If you meet around 80 percent of the basic requirements and feel like you would enjoy the position, apply!
Carmen Reinicke ’14 (she/her)
Markets and Investing Reporter, CNBC
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
- BA, English, Vassar College
- MA, Business and Economic Reporting, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY
- Assigned Industry: Writing/Publishing
- Additional Industry Expertise: Management Consulting
- LinkedIn Profile
Carmen Reinicke is a journalist in Brooklyn, New York. Currently, she covers markets and investing for CNBC. Her reporting on personal finance, markets, and the economy has also appeared in Business Insider, Bloomberg, and Businessweek magazine. Outside of work, Carmen sings in the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus and is a member of the Prospect Park Track Club.
Advice to Students:
Don’t be afraid of pursuing additional schooling if it makes sense—I was really hesitant to go to grad school but it was the best choice I made for my career.
Jeremy Robinson-Leon ’07 (he/him)
Founder, Moonburger
Kingston, NY
Kingston, NY
- BA, Political Science, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Business/Entrepreneurship
- Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, Environment/Sustainability
- LinkedIn Profile
Jeremy Robinson-Leon loves beef but doesn't love its environmental impact. An entrepreneur with a background in brand building, he’s the founder of Moonburger, a plant-based restaurant brand “built to appeal to the majority,” in the words of the Wall Street Journal. He previously served as president of Group Gordon, the award-winning New York City-based strategic communications firm, where he led client strategy, business development, and company operations. In that role, he advised CEOs, executive directors, and boards on brand positioning, growth strategy, and reputation management. He has contributed substantial commentary on brand and strategy in the media, appearing in outlets like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg, and on CNN, ABC News, and many more.
Advice to Students:
Invest in your human connections. Your friends, family, and colleagues will be an essential part of the fabric of anything you do or build professionally. Care, support, and goodwill always come back around in spades.
Benji Rothman ’18 (he/him)
Developer Programs Engineer, Google
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Religion, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Technology
- Additional Industry Expertise: Entertainment/Media/Performing Arts; Writing/Publishing
- LinkedIn Profile
Benji Rothman is a Developer Relations Engineer at Google. He is the subject matter expert on the Content API, Google’s data ingestion and retrieval system for e-commerce product and order information. His day-to-day work involves writing code, reviewing code, writing documentation, reviewing documentation, providing support to external developers who have trouble with the Content API, and improving the overall support model for the Content API. This is Benji’s first professional job. He started work in November 2019. Before Google, Benji attended various coding bootcamps around the world to learn the various technical and social skills necessary to become a software engineer. He also worked as a freelance programmer during his seven-month job hunt. Benji likes to write short stories, essays, poems, and philosophical explorations. He also enjoys practicing the piano and guitar in his free time.
Advice to Students:
Prepare for failure. My job-hunt process involved rejection after rejection and the surprising discovery that every time the world told me “No,” there was a louder “Yes” burning inside me. Prioritize work-life balance. Take this advice with a grain of salt, as sometimes it’s worth it to work during most of your waking hours for weeks at a time. But most of the time, it’s not. Make time to rest, decompress, and do what brings you joy on a regular basis. Ask questions. It’s the only way to learn. Asking questions is scary. It’s time to face your fears. Love what you do. Tech pays a lot of money. But if you have no passion for the code, and you are only in it for the money, I guarantee that you will grow to hate your job.
Ned Rust ’91 (he/him)
Publisher, Little, Brown and Company
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, English, Vassar College
- MA, English Education, New York University
- Assigned Industry: Writing/Publishing
- Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations; Education; Entertainment/Media/Performing Arts
- LinkedIn Profile
As Vice President, Publisher for James Patterson, I direct the publishing program for the bestselling author in the world. I have been with Little, Brown since 2004. I was new to publishing at the time—I had taken some side-trips into music journalism, teaching, maritime law, biochemistry, and political consulting—and am still grateful for being in and around books, and readers, every single day.
Advice to Students:
As Andy Warhol said, work is everything. Work is the thing.
Lindsey Sample ’20 (she/her)
Data and AI Technical Specialist, IBM
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Cognitive Science and Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Business/Entrepreneurship
- Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service, Health/Medicine, Nonprofit/Social Justice, Technology
- LinkedIn Profile
Lindsey Sample is a Data and AI Technical Specialist in the Public Market at IBM. She is passionate about helping clients in healthcare, life sciences, and government use their data to optimize processes and improve decision-making. In her role, Lindsey travels throughout the U.S. to work with clients on various use cases, recently including: chronic disease risk prediction, recidivism in homeless shelters, student and teacher retention, equitable broadband expansion, electric vehicle charger placement, and scheduling optimization for judicial hearings and hospital staff. As a Data and AI Technical Specialist, Lindsey works with the sales team as the technical expert and is responsible for creating and presenting custom demos, leading proof-of-value or proof-of-technology engagements, administering software environments, uncovering new use cases, and securing the “technical win,” proving how IBM technology can help clients improve outcomes and achieve their goals. Lindsey loves the versatility of her role and is grateful for how well her Vassar experience prepared her for a career at IBM. At Vassar, Lindsey double majored in neuroscience and cognitive science and had correlates in economics and computer science. Lindsey was a member of the Vassar Night Owls, a student fellow in Main (though her first-year dorm was Raymond), and President of the Vassar Business Club. She now lives in New York City, where she serves as Young Alumnae/i Chair for the Vassar Club of New York.
Advice to Students:
Instead of “what am I doing for the rest of my life,” think, “what will I try next!” Use internships as a chance to test out different jobs you are considering, and start as early as possible. Each summer = 1 free trial of a new job/career/role/industry to find out what you’d like in a full-time opportunity post-grad.
When thinking about possible careers or jobs, think about two levels. First, the big picture: Is the overall mission of the role/ company one that you care about and are motivated by? Second, the day-to-day: Are the day-to-day tasks something that you enjoy? Do you prefer working with people? On a screen? With your hands? Look for a role that checks both the big picture and day-to-day enjoyment “boxes.”
Be proactive and take initiative. From what I’ve seen, this is the single biggest indicator of success in early career.
Gray Schweitzer ’07 (he/him)
Managing Director and Head of U.S. Financial Institutions Group, Debt Capital Markets, HSBC
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Economics, Vassar College
- MBA, University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
- Assigned Industry: Financial Services
- Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service
- LinkedIn Profile
Gray Schweitzer is a Managing Director and Head of HSBC’s U.S. Financial Institutions Group, Debt Capital Markets. In this capacity, Gray advises financial institutions on the intersection of regulatory capital, rating agencies, financial markets, and public policy. Reflecting this unique expertise, Gray was appointed to the Federal Reserve Board’s inaugural Insurance Policy Advisory Committee. A recognized industry leader across financial services and the capital markets, Gray has appeared in Bloomberg News, Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and CreditSights.
At Vassar, Gray was a member of Men’s Varsity Soccer. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Gray resides in Brooklyn Heights and is a proud member of The Economic Club of NY.
Advice to Students:
Actively manage your career by actively managing your network.
Diego Segalini ’02 (he/him)
Executive Director, Stuyvesant High School Alumni Association
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Drama and Mathematics, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Nonprofit/Social Justice
- Additional Industry Expertise: Government/Public Service; Visual Arts/Arts Administration
- LinkedIn Profile
Diego Segalini is a nonprofit leader with 20 years of experience in fundraising, financial planning, and project management for complex institutions and large capital projects. He is inspired by mission-driven organizations dedicated to fostering community and public service. As Executive Director of the Stuyvesant High School Alumni Association, Diego oversees development, communications, and event planning. He previously ran the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council supporting the artistic community in NYC by transforming hundreds of vacant spaces into artist studios; overseeing $15 million in grants to artists and community-based organizations; and producing the critically acclaimed River To River Festival. He also established the AIA award-winning Arts Center at Governors Island and the 3LD Art & Technology Center just south of the World Trade Center site. Diego is honored to serve on several boards and advisory councils, including the Greenburger Center, which advocates for reforms to the criminal justice system and is developing Hope House—an alternative to incarceration for men and women with serious mental illness. A proud son of immigrants and the first in his family to graduate college, he holds a double BA in Drama and Mathematics from Vassar College.
Advice to Students:
Success is about preparation and opportunity. It’s important to hone your skills, but equally important to put yourselves out there. Share your talent and follow your curiosity, but above all be kind and support one another. Lastly, remember the words of the great American poet, Maya Angelou: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.”
Justin Soderholm ’05 (he/him)
Teacher, Williamsburg High School for Arts and Technology
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, American Culture, Vassar College
- MSE, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Monmouth University
- Teaching Certificate, Bilingual Extension, The City College of New York
- Assigned Industry: Education
- LinkedIn Profile
Justin Soderholm has 15 years of experience in New York City public high schools teaching marginalized youth of varying income, ethnic, and language backgrounds in addition to mentoring new teachers in how to build inclusive classrooms. As a certified bilingual instructor, he has applied Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language (TESOL) strategies to close reading and writing gaps for both new and native English-speaking students. In his after-school music club, students can learn how to read music and play instruments. He regularly collaborates with administrators as a member of the School Leadership Team and United Federation of Teachers Consultation Committee. Having coached his sons’ recreational soccer teams and currently serving as co-leader of his younger son’s Cub Scout den, he remains a committed volunteer in his home community as well.
Advice to Students:
Expect that the same efforts that yielded you success in the past won’t always yield the same results going forward. For example, teaching strategies that worked with my students a decade ago (or even before COVID) don’t have the same impact now. However, just because you have to try a new approach doesn’t mean you have to create everything from scratch; look to the experts in your field and remember that borrowing their ideas is a form of flattery! Lastly, take advantage of both the formal and informal Vassar alumni networks; they helped me land a teaching position...twice!
Sabrina Stacks ’20 (she/her)
Consultant, West Monroe Partners
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Psychological Science, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Management Consulting
- LinkedIn Profile
Sabrina Stacks is aligned with the Operations Excellence practice at West Monroe, where her clients are primarily retail companies with large distribution centers. Her most recent project was with US Foods, where she traveled to California and Florida conducting on-site visits to ultimately build a new labor model that predicts staffing needs at various points of the day. She is also a member of the Starbucks Account Team, where she and her colleagues strategize about maintaining strong relationships with this client. Outside of her client-facing and business development work, Sabrina is the New York Office Lead for WMPride, the company’s national LGBT group, and the Chief of Tennis, where she captains the West Monroe team in an NYC Corporate Tennis League.
Advice to Students:
Utilize any and all connections you have; whether that be from the alum network, your family, your friends’ families... a referral goes a much longer way than your standalone resume in a general application portal.
Orion Tait ’96 (he/him)
Chief Creative Officer, BUCK
Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn, NY
- BA, Film, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship, Entertainment/Media/Performing Arts
- LinkedIn Profile
Orion Tait is Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at BUCK and Residence, an integrated collective of designers, artists, and storytellers who believe in the power of collaboration. With a background in filmmaking, fine arts, and graphic design, his award-winning work spans a variety of disciplines but is rooted in visual storytelling that pushes the boundaries of innovation and craft in the creative arts. Orion is an experienced and respected leader of teams that use animation, visual effects, and live action to collaborate with clients from concept to delivery. He has created content and experiences for a broad range of global brands in the advertising, broadcast, film, and entertainment industries including Apple, Nike, Google, Amazon, IBM, BBC, Coca-Cola, Netflix, and Sony Pictures. In 2022, Orion co-founded Residence to focus on merging in like-minded creative companies while building an equitable creative services ecosystem. Companies in Residence include BUCK, VTProDesign, Anyways Creative, Giant Ant, It’s Nice That, Creative Lives in Progress, and If You Could. Orion has lectured at numerous schools and festivals around the globe and served and chaired on several juries, including the One Show, AICP, Clios, and the Art Directors Club.
Advice to Students:
Hmmm. I don’t have any great original advice here (been staring at my phone all day), so I’ll share this nugget from Brian Collins: “Smartphoning has supplanted daydreaming. Fixated on our little, lit-up screens, dusty old thoughts no longer slip out of our brains as easily, so no new, silly, absurd thoughts slip back in. And all good ideas start out as silly, absurd thoughts. Turn off your phone. Daydream. Fart around. Ponder. Let something odd fly in that’s floating around, hoping for an open mind to land in.”
Chris Tatlock ’05 (he/him)
Director, BlackRock
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, English, Vassar College
- MS, Finance, London Business School
- Assigned Industry: Financial Services
Christopher W. Tatlock, CFA, Director, is a member of BlackRock’s Institutional Client Business, where he is responsible for providing investment management services and advisory solutions to family offices, healthcare institutions, endowments, and foundations. Prior to joining BlackRock, Chris served as a Research Analyst for four years at Franklin Templeton Investments, responsible for relative return and absolute return multi-asset strategies. He began his financial services career in institutional business development and global consultant relations most recently at Franklin Templeton Investments and Goldman Sachs Asset Management in both New York and London. Chris is a CFA Charterholder and he serves on the President’s Advisory Council of Vassar College.
Advice to Students:
Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind. —Henry James
Harrison Taylor ’20 (he/him)
Coordinator–Research, Data, & Impact, Sesame Workshop
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Educational Studies and Neuroscience & Behavior, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Education
- Additional Industry Expertise: Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Harrison Taylor has recently joined Sesame Workshop (the nonprofit behind Sesame Street) as a Coordinator for the Research, Data, and Impact Department. He provides support to the Chief Research, Data, & Impact Officer, VP of Content Research, VP of Market Research, and VP of Data and Analytics. He also supports the Workshop’s impact agenda, which aligns the work of the organization to better serve kids and families around the world with the mission to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Before stepping into this position, Harrison served as a Research Assistant at MDRC, an education and social policy research organization, within the Family Well-being and Children’s Development policy area. His projects focused on building and sustaining an early childhood education workforce and an evaluation of Child First—an evidence-based, two-generation model that works with very challenged young children and families, providing intensive, mental-health, home-visiting services.
Advice to students:
Follow your passions and don’t necessarily follow the path with the biggest dollar signs at the end of the road. In most cases, you will spend more time with your coworkers than with your family and friends! It is important to find a workplace that values you and where you can be excited, or at least enjoy going to (or logging into) every day. It’s a cliché but if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life! It’s a stretch but holds true in many cases.
Antony Tokarr ’18 (he/him)
Deployment Strategist, Palantir Technologies
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Computer Science and Economics, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Technology
- Additional Industry Expertise: Environment/Sustainability
- LinkedIn Profile
Antony Tokarr is a second-year Deployment Strategist at Palantir Technologies, having joined the firm after a three-year stint in finance. So far, Antony has been focused on commercial clients, specifically around energy and sustainability. In his role, Antony partners with clients to deploy Palantir’s platforms and develop solutions to answer their most mission-critical problems. His role is a mix of product management and data engineering, oftentimes being hands-on with coding and performing data-intensive analyses. Outside of work, Antony enjoys all things music-related (thank you to the Music Department for four years of piano lessons), entrepreneurship, and the arts.
Advice to Students:
The professional world is less like a liberal arts college where you are able to try things freely and experiment—it’s difficult to convince employers that you are capable of switching careers. That being said, experiment now as a student (with classes, internships, projects) and develop an understanding of what your passion may be. If in the end you still aren’t sure, pick a broad career to start in like consulting or something similar so you can work in different industries and hopefully uncover your passion without sacrificing your career flexibility.
Saúl Ulloa ’15 (they/he)
Latin America and Global Policy & Advocacy Officer, International Rescue Committee
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
- BA, International Studies, Vassar College
- MA, Arab Studies, Georgetown University
- Assigned Industry: International Affairs/Global Careers
- Additional Industry Expertise: Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Saúl Ulloa is a Policy and Advocacy Officer with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Washington, DC. In close collaboration with the IRC’s offices abroad, he helps deliver on an advocacy agenda that covers diverse issues such as humanitarian access, food insecurity, financing reform, decolonization of aid, and the impacts of sanctions in fragile settings. Their portfolio covers the responses to the emergencies in Yemen, Ukraine, and Venezuela, in addition to system-wide reforms. As an advocate, he leverages the IRC’s status as an operational humanitarian NGO to deliver recommendations to policymakers that make sense given conditions on the ground in service to the IRC’s clients around the world.
Advice to Students:
Never be afraid to ask for advice! Take a look at the LinkedIn profile of someone you admire. What steps did they take along the way to reach their current position? Where did they go to graduate school? What did they study? Where did they intern? Reach out to them and ask about their experiences. You certainly don’t need to follow their path to the letter, but it’s important to learn from the experiences of others who have been in your place before and are where you may want to be in the future.
Medha Venkat-Ramani ’20 (she/her)
Client Analyst, Wellington Management
Boston, MA
Boston, MA
- BA, Economics and Political Science, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Financial Services
- LinkedIn Profile
Medha Venkat-Ramani works in Client Service at Wellington Management, an investment management firm in Boston, Massachusetts. She is in the Financial Intermediaries Group which specializes in sub-advisory, wealth, OCIO, and advisory client relationships. Medha and the team of USFIG Client Analysts research and respond to day-to-day client directed questions across asset classes and investment solutions, coordinate production of any materials for client meetings, and act as a point of contact for various groups within client and consultant organizations. Prior to her role as Client Analyst, she worked on the Questionnaires Team answering requests to assist in the procurement of new business and addressing complex reporting requirements of current clients. Medha hopes to continue pursuing relationship management roles and is working toward her CFA designation (Chartered Financial Analyst). At Wellington, she is a member of the Asians in Motion, Shades, and Wellington NextGen business networks and on the Leadership Team of the Pride+ Network.
As a student, Medha was involved in VSA, Davi House Team, GISTEM, the Vassar-West Point Initiative, the Econ Majors Committee, and worked in the President’s Office.
Advice to Students:
Please utilize the CDO! As a Tananbaum Fellow, I had the opportunity to work with the CDO to help me prepare for my summer internship and to help me pivot when the internship was not the right fit. It can take time to figure out what you want to do after Vassar, and you will need all the support you can get. In the finance industry, the recruiting timelines come quickly and are not open for long, so be as prepared as you can be for any opportunity that comes your way. Plan ahead, have your resume ready, and know how to put your best foot forward in an interview because you never know when a Vassar connection will find you and offer you a job.
Britta von Schoeler ’97 (she/her)
President, Broadway Video Enterprises
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Psychology, Vassar College
- Assigned Industry: Entertainment/Media/Performing Arts
- LinkedIn Profile
Britta von Schoeler is President of Broadway Video Enterprises leading global strategy and growth of Lorne Michaels’ studio, which produces Saturday Night Live and many other series and films. In her role, she develops new businesses, expands the library of intellectual property through partnerships and production, and creates robust brands from television concepts.
She launched Broadway Video’s audio division, which produces podcasts including New York Times best-selling series Heads Will Roll (Kate McKinnon) and Vulture’s Best of 2021 Podcast Hot White Heist (Bowen Yang). She leads all aspects of the business including original content development and production, as well as talent and distribution partnerships.
Britta has grown Broadway Video’s global footprint through international productions including Saturday Night Live formats around the world and Amazon’s 2022 revival of The Kids in the Hall, on which she’s an Executive Producer.
She created Más Mejor, Broadway Video’s content studio powered by Latinx voices. The studio helped diversify the SNL cast and writers’ room and spawned HBO’s Los Espookys, produced by Britta and starring Fred Armisen, Julio Torres, and Ana Fabrega.
Britta created and leads the company’s branded content business. She has formed partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and emerging brands alike, leveraging Broadway Video’s family of creators and performers to produce advertising content.
Britta oversees IP exploitation across all media. She established the digital strategy for SNL, overseeing the first programmatic mobile deal for NBC and launching the SNL YouTube channel. Her work on the SNL 40th Anniversary was nominated for a 2015 Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Program. Additionally, she has licensed SNL into over 200 countries and developed experiential executions and publishing and product lines.
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.
Veronika (Ruff) Taylor ’01 (she/her)
Senior Vice President, Content, Acast
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, International Studies, Vassar College
- Master of International Affairs, International Affairs and Journalism, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
- Assigned Industry: International Affairs/Global Careers
- Additional Industry Expertise: Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, Business/Entrepreneurship, Entertainment/Media/Performing Arts, Writing/Publishing
- LinkedIn Profile
Veronika Taylor is Senior Vice President of the Creator Network at Acast, the world’s largest independent podcast company, which has a portfolio of 88,000 podcasts. She directs the company’s strategy for attracting the biggest and best podcasts all around the globe. Prior to Acast, Veronika spent a decade at Rodale, where she oversaw 100+ international partnerships of the company’s health and wellness magazine/digital brands, including Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Prevention, and Runner’s World. Veronika lives in Brooklyn with her husband and three kids.
Advice to Students:
Rather than trying to forge a career path, follow your passions, strengths, and interests, taking note of how the path takes shape as you go. I’ve found it shocking—and gratifying—to look back and clearly see how each step makes perfect sense in retrospect, even if few of them did along the way.
Christopher Wang ’14 (he/him)
Management Analyst, National Park Service
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
- BA, Economics, Vassar College
- MBA, Business Administration, Yale School of Management
- Assigned Industry: Government/Public Service
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship; Environment/Sustainability; Management Consulting
- LinkedIn Profile
Chris Wang is a management analyst within the Business Management Group of the National Park Service. As a management analyst, he works as an internal consultant for different parks and programs across the country. His work is focused on helping leaders at all levels of the National Park Service make informed, strategic decisions that are based in data and analytics. His projects include: developing a national-level program to help parks think through large-scale investments in visitor-facing infrastructure; workforce and budget planning for small parks; and developing strategies for commercial visitor services.
Before joining the National Park Service, Chris worked as a management consultant at Keystone Strategy and an economic consultant at NERA Economic Consulting. Chris earned his MBA at the Yale School of Management, where he served as sustainability coordinator and as co-chair of the Net Impact Club. While at Vassar, he majored in economics with a correlate in mathematics, and was a member of the Vassar College Swim and Dive team.
Advice to Students:
Take care of yourself. Make sure that you are getting the care and the support that you need and identifying the resources that are available to you to help you grow and thrive. Cherish the opportunity that you have now to live in such close proximity to people who will become lifelong friends, and make sure to check in and have honest conversations about whatever it is that might be on your mind.
Jonathan Weinstein ’96 (he/him)
Staff Psychologist, Northport VA Medical Center
Northport, NY
Northport, NY
- BA, History, Vassar College
- MPA, New York University
- PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Mississippi
- Assigned Industry: Health/Medicine
- Additional Industry Expertise: Education, Government/Public Service, Scientific Research, Writing/Publishing
- LinkedIn Profile
Jonathan Weinstein is a clinical psychologist at the Northport VA Medical Center. He has had an enduring interest in a science of empowerment. Jonathan and his co-author have written three books adapting elements of Contextual Behavior Science to help teachers to empower their students. He has also applied this work to empower veterans who are at high risk for suicide. In addition to co-authoring Empower Moves for Social-Emotional Learning: Tools and Strategies to Evoke Student Values, 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 the Journal of Contextual Behavior Science, Journal of Affective Disorders, Behavior and Social Issues, The Psychological Record, and Salud y Drogas. Jonathan and his family live in Westchester County with a cat named Benedict.
Advice to Students:
Success is when you find a job that leads you to your work.
Allison Whiting ’86 (she/her)
Former Senior Museum Advisor / Head of Museum Services, Christie’s
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Art History, Vassar College
- MA, Art History, Brown University
- Assigned Industry: Visual Arts/Arts Administration
- Additional Industry Expertise: Education, Environment/Sustainability, Nonprofit/Social Justice
- LinkedIn Profile
Allison Whiting spent 28 years with Christie’s Museum Services department and was Senior Vice President and Director of the department for over two decades. During her tenure, she managed sales of over $2 billion of art sold by nonprofit institutions including museums, libraries, academic institutions, and foundations.
Prior to joining Christie’s, Allison was Assistant Director for Museum Administration at The New-York Historical Society. And before that she was a Gallerina at the Michael Rosenfeld Gallery in New York City.
She has served on the (now defunct) Board of the Friends of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar, as well as on the Board of the Friends of the Brown University Libraries. She recently joined the board of the George Rickey Foundation.
Presently, she is a tutor of English as a Second Language and also serves on the Kinderhook Memorial Library’s Committee for Sustainability.
Advice to Students:
Listen to what you know about yourself—your interests and strengths, the things that light you up—and prioritize these things in committing to a career or field of work. Because then, no matter what happens, you won’t sacrifice “yourself” in the pursuit of your livelihood. And even if you don’t end up in the most lucrative career, you will maintain your integrity and preserve your values. And I promise you, you won’t be unhappy.
Jennifer Harriton-Wilson ’90 (she/her)
Education Technology Coordinator, Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES
Yorktown Heights, NY
Yorktown Heights, NY
- BA, American Culture, Vassar College
- MS, Educational Technology, Lehigh University
- EdD, Educational Leadership, Manhattanville College
- Assigned Industry: Education
- Additional Industry Expertise: Technology
- LinkedIn Profile
In her current role, Jennifer Harriton-Wilson provides strategic and visionary leadership regarding education technology to school districts and programs serving students in various settings, including special education and career and technical education programs. She works collaboratively with leaders in 18 component school districts to help best meet the region’s needs in terms of change leadership, technology-enabled curriculum, blended learning, and assistive technology. Jennifer has presented at numerous conferences, focusing on improving student outcomes. She enjoys taking on new challenges and changes. She started her career as an elementary classroom teacher and, over the past 25 years, has served as a staff developer, college professor, chief information officer, assistant principal, principal, director of technology, and director of special education. This wide range of experiences provided her with an insider’s perspective on numerous opportunities and challenges in the field of education.
Advice to Students:
You are not the average job seeker. Your experiences at Vassar and in life have given you a unique perspective on the world. Take a deep breath and enjoy the ride. Your first job (or your third) might not be the exact match for you, but you will ultimately be a success. Make real investments in connections and relationships, both professional and personal.
Tanya Wright ’89 (she/her)
Founder, Big Hair Hairiette
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge, MA
- BA, Independent Program, Vassar College
- EdM, Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology, Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Assigned Industry: Entertainment/Media/Performing Arts
- Additional Industry Expertise: Business/Entrepreneurship, Education, Writing/Publishing
- LinkedIn Profile
Tanya Wright is a two-time SAG Award winner (Best Ensemble) for her portrayal of Crystal Burset on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. She also appeared on groundbreaking shows like True Blood, The Good Wife, Madame Secretary, 24, and NYPD Blue. Tanya made her television debut on The Cosby Show. She received her masters in learning design, innovation, and technology at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in support of her children’s brand Big Hair Hairiette (@bighairhairiette). Big Hair Hairiette is the story of a 7-year-old girl with galactic hair and her adventures with her friends Charlie the Comb and Barbara the Barrette; and her comb! At Harvard, she won the HIVE Award (Harvard Innovative Venture in Education) and was an Education Entrepreneurship Fellow. The first three Big Hair Hairiette books will debut in Target stores in May of 2024. Tanya is currently at work on the film Goodnight, Hairiette! Tanya was an independent major at Vassar; her thesis was a comparative study between Frederick Douglass’s Narrative and Henry David Thoreau’s Walden. A two-time author, Tanya went on to write several screenplays and was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Nicholl’s Screenwriting Competition.
Advice to Students:
Follow YOUR heart. You are the captain of your own ship. Who cares what anyone else thinks. Keep your eyes on your own page. Do one thing every day to advance your cause. Rest. Eat Well. Sleep. Drink plenty of water. Spend time with positive and inspiring people. Be happy spending time alone. Silence is good sometimes. Stretch your body!
Jessy Yu ’16 (he/him)
Data Scientist, Amazon
Remote
Remote
- BA, Economics and Mathematics, Vassar College
- MS, Computational Math, Johns Hopkins
- Assigned Industry: Technology
- Additional Industry Expertise: Entertainment/Media/Performing Arts
- LinkedIn Profile
Jessy Yu broke into video games by starting in a third-party market research company. Since then, he has managed to work at Rockstar Games and now currently at Amazon Games.
At Vassar, when Jessy wasn’t in his econ or math classes, you could find him playing Dark Souls or StarCraft II in his dorm and sometimes Pokemon at the CIS Help Desk during his work-study shifts.
An avid gamer at heart, Jessy got his break into video games as a career upon graduation in 2016 with his first Data Analyst job at a digital games research firm when thinking about what kinds of opportunities would align with what he enjoyed learning in class and doing outside of classes. As a Data Scientist working for game studios now, he often looks back to microeconomics (specifically the behavioral sections) and statistics classes as foundations for his approaches to projects, which includes subjects such as player segmentation, fraud/cheat detection, etc.
Outside of his job, you can still find Jessy gaming away, with competitive Apex Legends as a focus, but also baking sourdough and fiddling around with his guitar.
Advice to Students:
Demonstrable experience is the gold currency, no matter which vertical in tech you want to go into. Build a portfolio of projects and a narrative to each decision you made within the projects!
Yvonne Yu ’18 (she/her)
Middle School Science Teacher, Trinity School
New York, NY
New York, NY
- BA, Biology, Vassar College
- MEd, Educational Leadership & Policy, Boston College
- Assigned Industry: Education
- LinkedIn Profile
After graduating from Vassar in 2018 with a BA in Biology and a NY State secondary teaching license in science, Yvonne Yu began her career in education in an international school in Mexico City. There, Yvonne became familiar with the International Baccalaureate program and taught at the MYP and DP level. She then moved to New York City, where she worked at Léman Manhattan Preparatory School for three years. Throughout this time, Yvonne taught and designed curriculum for middle and high school Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Science classes. Additionally, she earned an MEd in Leadership & Policy from Boston College, along with a certification in Social Justice Leadership. In 2021, Yvonne began her role as a Middle School Science Teacher at Trinity School in New York City. She develops and teaches a rigorous 7th and 8th grade biology curriculum that emphasizes developing student lab skills, fostering collaboration and communication, and exploring interdisciplinary and personal connections. Additionally, Yvonne serves as an Equity & Inclusion Coordinator, and teaches a course on social justice issues.
Advice to Students:
My advice to students is not to minimize the importance of self-care and to be flexible with your career trajectory. As a new graduate, you can expect to work more and harder than your colleagues, but you should feel like you are supported in your work and that you are developing the necessary skills to help you progress. If not, you should feel empowered to ask for the support you need. Ultimately, if you don’t feel like your time is being spent on building a foundation for your career, or if your job is taking a toll on your physical or mental health, trust your gut and know when to walk away. It can be intimidating to make this kind of decision, especially as a recent graduate, but you’ll find that there are often many pathways to get to the same end goal. Preserving your well-being and preventing burnout is crucial in allowing you to eventually reach your career goals.