Spotlight on Social Sciences Alumni: Carl Filler
Name: Carl Filler
Age: 30
Occupation: Project Manager, Transtria, LLC
Education (UR and additional): B.A. in History, University of Rochester, 2004; M.S.W., Washington University in St. Louis
Current city/state of residence: St. Louis, MO
Community activities: Mentoring, cycling
When and how did you choose your major?
I went through several different majors during my first two years before finally settling on History. I took many English and computer science courses – all of which were highly interesting – but settled on history because of a few excellent professors in that discipline (Hauser, Kaeuper). History seemed the best fit to me as it combined an understanding reading, science, and applicability to the current state of affairs at the time (9/11 happened while I was a sophomore and a lot of conversations as to the cause of it made me look backwards to understand why).
What activities were you involved in as a student, and what did you gain from them?
I was involved the most in creating JUR (Journal of Undergraduate Research), which was instrumental in getting me into the research world. The understanding that anyone, regardless of their discipline or how advanced they may be in their research, can contribute to our understanding of science, humanities, and the human condition was eye-opening. I credit my involvement in JUR to the research position I have today.
What do you do now and why did you choose this career?
I am a project manager for a small consulting firm that specializes in the evaluation of public health programs and policies. These days, I spend most of my time working with various communities around the United States providing advice and evaluation technical assistance on their interventions for childhood obesity. I find it highly rewarding, and it stems directly from my interests and experiences doing research and learning about the historical precedents for the inequalities in health we have today.
How do you balance your work and personal life?
This is difficult – I work long hours during the week and travel frequently. But, my passion is cycling, so I try to spend my spare time working on bikes, teaching others about bicycle maintenance, or going on rides in the Midwest. I try to make sure that I spend at least a few hours a week doing what I love. Vacations are nice, but I rarely have time for them. So, cultivating friendships at work can be helpful!
What advice do you have for current students?
Try to get a combination of real world skills (internships, student clubs, jobs) and research knowledge through your experience at Rochester. While the economic situation can be bleak and it may take you a while to find your footing, you should know that as long as you are having a good experience or gaining skills, you are moving upward. I have had jobs paying between $10,000 a year and $55,000 a year since graduation, but I would not have the latter if I didn’t spend some time working at some of the former, low-paying positions. Good luck!
