Why did you choose to attend the University of Rochester?

During my junior year of high school, I was assigned to write a paper for English class in which I researched three different colleges and selected the one that seemed to be the best fit for me. The college I chose was the University of Rochester, which at that time appealed to me for its strengths as a research institution, because I intended to study biology and ultimately pursue a career in genetic research (you’ll notice from my profile information that I wound up on a rather different path!). As a high school senior, I visited the U of R for the first time, and the moment I set foot on campus, I knew it was the place for me. That knowledge wasn’t based on any amount of earlier research or facts of any sort; it was simply an intuition based on the way I felt walking the grounds and touring the buildings. The only way I can describe it is to say I immediately felt at home. I still feel that way about the U of R to this day.

When and how did you choose your major?

In the end, I graduated with a double major in religion and psychology, but I changed my mind more times than I can count. Before I started at the U of R, I planned on majoring in biology. But I’ll never forget when the course catalogue arrived in the mail, the summer before my freshman year. I remember poring over the catalogue and realizing what a wide world had just opened to me. So many interesting subjects – anthropology, psychology, music, religion, philosophy, brain and cognitive sciences – I suddenly felt I had to try them all. I nearly did! By the time I graduated, I had dabbled in every subject listed above, and I had even declared majors that I later “undeclared.” (For those of you who are currently struggling with the decision of a major, rest assured that there is nothing wrong with changing your mind. I’m living proof!) Psychology was one of the subjects I gravitated towards early on, and I wound up sticking with it mainly as an interest (but not a professional pursuit). My introduction to the religion and classics department came through a course taught by Douglas Brooks, The Asian Search for Self. I like to jokingly say that was the course that “converted” me to being a religion major. It inspired me not only to pursue studies of South Asian religions and the Sanskrit language, but also to teach those subjects one day myself (again, you’ll note I wound up doing something a little different).

Who were your mentors while you were on campus? Have you continued those relationships?

The professors at the U of R, in my mind, are all exemplary teachers and mentors. Their passion for teaching and their investment in us as students is something that impresses me to this day. It’s what made me want to be a teacher myself, and although I wound up in a different career, I will always treasure the important relationships I formed with U of R faculty. In particular, Jonathan Geen, who at the time taught Sanskrit in the religion and classics department, became a very close mentor and dear friend over the course of my studies. We remain in contact over email, even though he now teaches at King’s University College in Ontario, Canada. Additionally, I am also still in touch with Daniel Harrison, who taught music theory, which I studied as part of my Take Five Scholars program. Dr. Harrison has also since left the U of R and currently teaches at Yale University.

What do you do now and why did you choose this career?

Currently I am Exhibition Coordinator for the Cleveland Museum of Art. I have held this position since September 2011; prior to that, I was Exhibits Coordinator for the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University for nearly five years. I discovered the Peabody Museum while studying at Harvard Divinity School; I met with a curator there while researching for a paper, and that conversation got me thinking about a museum career for the first time. That same curator later gave me a work study job in her department, followed by a temporary job after I graduated. My foot now in the door, I floated from one temporary appointment to the next, until the Exhibits Coordinator position was posted, and my boss at the time encouraged me to apply. I knew nothing about exhibition planning and very little about museum procedures in general, but I learned very quickly on the job and had a blast in the process. The position at the CMA was the ideal next step for me, because it represented the opportunity to advance in the museum world as well as cross over into the arts. Additionally, I am originally from the Cleveland area, so I have always admired this museum, and I am also glad to be near family again.

What advice do you have for current students?

Savor every moment! Honestly, you won’t believe how quickly time goes by. My decision to attend the University of Rochester is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and at the risk of sounding cliché, it truly changed my life. There is so much to appreciate about the U of R – the incredible faculty, the beautiful campus, your friendships with fellow students, all of the available programs and resources – and my best advice is really just to take advantage of as much as you can. You won’t regret it.

Why did you choose to attend the University of Rochester?

When I was a senior in high school considering my options for college, I had decided on two areas of study that I was interested in majoring in: Computer Science and psychology. Due to that, the schools I looked at were split into two groups: tech schools for CS and liberal arts schools for psych. When I came to the University of Rochester, I had a meeting with the chair of the CS department, who asked me what I wanted to major in. When I explained my situation, he simply said “why don’t you come here and do both?” Aside from being in love with the culture and atmosphere of the U of R, this sealed the deal.

What activities were you involved in as a student and what did you gain from them?

I was in several dance groups, a CSUG e-board member, involved in ResLife, and a few other clubs here and there, as well as a TA/Workshop Leader. Aside from a way to get out, try new things, and meet new people, getting involved in the leadership of those clubs had an incredible impact on my growth and experience at the U of R. I still use examples from various e-board positions when interviewing for positions, and it really brought my learning out of theory in the classroom to practice in the real world. Working with students across majors/interests is an incredibly valuable lesson in teamwork.

What resources did you use on campus that you recommend current students use?

Definitely do whatever you can to get involved in something that isn’t just academics. I fully believe that the college experience is about more than just what’s taught in the classroom. Check out the Activities Fair and the various clubs and activities available on campus – they can have a huge impact on your time at the University. Also, don’t be afraid of the career center: they’re there to help. They’re an incredible resource, and can really improve your job/internship search process.

What did you do immediately after graduation? How did you decide to take that path?

I decided to go straight to work as a software developer when I graduated because I was a little tired of academia after so many years, and I also wanted to get some good real world experience in software development/the software industry. After discovering that pure software development wasn’t exactly what I wanted, I decided to leave my first job for a position as a UI Designer, which is more in line with what I focused on in college and what I am truly interested in/passionate about.

What skills, tools, or knowledge from your major have been most useful to you since graduation?

One of the greatest things you learn while at the U of R, whether you recognized it or not, is the ability to adapt (especially when it comes to computer science). We’re taught many things while in college, but not many of those things directly apply to the real world. What learning all of those things teaches us, though, is the ability to learn and to adapt yourself to a variety of tasks, and to constantly be learning and reinventing yourself. This plasticity is one of the most valuable assets in the job market today.

How are you still connected with the University?

I keep in touch with a lot of my underclassman friends that are still at the University, as well as a handful of my now-fellow-alumni friends. I usually make a trip back every semester to catch up with folks and to see the BPG show every semester, as I was heavily involved with that group in my time. I read all of the newsletters and publications that come from the U of R, and occasionally drop by the homepage/other group pages just to keep tabs on things.

What advice do you have for current students?

Get involved with something. Your education is more than what you learn in class, and getting yourself involved in something you’re really passionate about will keep you connected to the University far beyond your years there. It’s a way of leaving your mark on the University, and having something to point to and say “I did that.” The experiences you’ll gain from those challenges will be indispensable in the scope of your entire education, and you’ll enjoy school a lot more than if you just go to class and study.

When and how did you choose your major?

I was interested in a career in medicine since I was in elementary school, and it continued throughout high school. So, when looking at colleges and deciding on a major, I knew I wanted to do something in a science field. I was pleased to see the variety of courses and concentrations offered by the Biology Department, and considering I had a strong interest in the area to begin with, I decided to major in Biology. During my sophomore year, I took a few psychology classes and became very interested in the field, particularly some of the internship opportunities that existed. I took at look at my schedule and expected course load and figured out a way that I could easily complete a dual major, so at the beginning of my junior year, I declared a major in Psychology as well. As the years progressed, I realized that many of my courses provided a nice balance for one another, which I greatly appreciated.

What did you do immediately after graduation? How did you decide to take that path?

I was pre-med through the beginning of my senior year at UR – took all the requirements, took the grueling Kaplan course, took the MCATs, and even started applications for medical school. As I was completing the applications, I started to take a closer look at the past few years and began thinking more about my future and what I wanted to do with my life. Ultimately, I decided that medical school was too expensive (both in time and finances) and that if I was second guessing myself, maybe I shouldn’t be starting now. This was in the fall of my senior year, and I didn’t have much of a backup plan. I spent the summer before my senior year working as a research fellow in a hospital and met a resident who was in the process of completing her Master’s in Public Health (MPH). The courses seemed interesting and relevant, so I quickly registered to take the GRE, and before I knew it, I was applying the MPH programs. I was fortunate to be accepted into Emory University’s program, so in August 2005, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia.

What do you do now and why did you choose this career?

I’m currently a Public Health Advisor working at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). I support management and operations activities for CDC’s Global Disease Detection (GDD) program. GDD works with Ministries of Health and other government partners in nine countries around the world with the goal of building laboratory and epidemiology capacity to detect and contain emerging infectious diseases. While getting my MPH at Emory University, I started working part-time at the CDC. I quickly found that I loved the work and realized that I wanted to start a career in public health. With this interest, there was no better place to work than CDC! After graduating with my MPH, I was accepted into a leadership development fellowship program and started my work in global health immediately after that. I’ve been working with GDD for two and a half years now, and I now serve as our program team lead where I’m supervising five other people. I’m afforded many opportunities to travel around the world, and I love my job!

Where would you like to be in five years?

I hope to be working overseas for CDC in the next five years. The program that I work with supports activities in nine countries, and we have several US employees assigned overseas to implement the activities on the ground with our partners. I hope that I’m able to gain the relevant experience to ultimately qualify for one of these positions.

What advice do you have for current students?

My advice for other students is to do what you’re passionate about and follow your gut. If I didn’t follow my gut and put a hold on medical school when I did, I’m not sure where I’d be right now, but I’m pretty positive that I wouldn’t be as happy and successful as I have been. I think that everything happens for a reason, so I encourage others to think hard about what you want (not what your parents or friends might want), and never look back.

When and how did you choose your major?

I, like many other students, chose to pursue two majors.  I got interested in psychology and biology through classes I took in high school, and I developed my interest further through classes as a freshman at Rochester.  I started classes for my psychology major immediately, and I began to narrow my interest in the biological sciences at the same time.  Ultimately, I chose to pursue a second major in molecular genetics.

What activities were you involved in as a student and what did you gain from them?

I was involved with the Community Service Network and was part of the first class of students to live in the Community Learning Center.  This gave me a very unique perspective on the role that undergraduate students can play in the Rochester community. Also, I was involved in the Psychology Undergraduate Council, which allowed me to be more actively involved in departmental functions and see the variety of opportunities available for a psychology major. Also, I served as business manager for the Interpres yearbook and had the opportunity to work as a teaching and research assistant.

What did you do immediately after graduation?  How did you decide to take that path?

Right after graduation, I began my first year as a medical student at Rochester.  Medicine, for me, is a natural progression of my interests in service and biomedical science.  I was particularly excited to learn in the “biopsychosocial” model of curriculum developed at Rochester. This allowed me to focus on the intersection of my interests from my undergraduate studies as they affect the individual and their health.

What do you do now and why did you choose this career?

I am currently a fellow in pediatric emergency medicine at Yale, following my training in pediatrics.  Pediatric emergency medicine gives me a unique opportunity in medicine to be at the front lines of diagnosis and resuscitation, and working in an academic setting allows me the ability to be a continuous learner and teacher.

Probably the approach to life-long learning by asking questions and thinking critically, emphasized in both of my fields of studies, has served me the best.  I had the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant in both areas, which has been very helpful for me as I work with medical students and residents.  My research project, evaluating postpartum depression in our emergency department, also brings together some of the lessons I have learned along the way.

Name: Ted Ranallo
Age: 31
Occupation: Deputy United States Marshal
Education (UR and additional):B.A. in Psychology, University of Rochester. M.A. in Criminal Justice, University of Albany
Current city/state of residence: San Antonio, TX
Family: Married

Why did you choose to attend the University of Rochester?

I did not know what I wanted to major in when I was looking at colleges. Therefore, I wanted to be accepted into the highest-ranked school by US News and World Report.  When looking at my options, U of R was one of the top ranked schools I was accepted to and it was close to my hometown of Syracuse, NY. Getting a decent amount of financial aid also helped make U of R comparable to my other options (University of Michigan and Union College).

When and how did you choose your major?

In college I always wanted to learn more about others and especially myself. I have always been an introspective person and was often searching for my “identity.” After taking Psychology 101 with Professor McAdam, I knew I wanted to major in Psychology.

What did you do immediately after graduation? How did you decide to take that path?

By senior year I started leaning toward a career in law enforcement. After taking several police exams, I realized it would take at least a year to get hired anywhere. Therefore, I studied for the GREs to make myself more marketable with an advanced degree more specific to my career. The following year I attended the University at Albany Master’s Program in Criminal Justice.

What do you do now and why did you choose this career?

Currently, I am a Deputy United States Marshal in San Antonio, Texas. Towards the end of undergraduate school, I started to look at professions related to Psychology. I wanted to work in a profession where I felt I could “make a difference” while feeling a sense of pride.  Also, I strongly believed in making others accountable for their actions. Before my current position, I worked for the Raleigh Police Department for five and a half years in Raleigh, North Carolina.

What skills, tools, or knowledge from your major have been most useful to you since graduation?

Overall, having a psychology background allows me to apply psychological theories and concepts to any social situation. Specifically it has allowed me to be more open-minded towards people and think more in-depth about why a person acts the way that they do. Often times, a person’s illegal actions are not easily understood. Also, being a student at the U of R prepared me for taking any written exam in graduate school and beyond.

What advice do you have for current students?

Students need to start looking for employment opportunities as soon as possible. Do not wait until senior year to start thinking about your professional career. Being psychology majors in the liberal arts field, we are not trained to perform certain “job tasks”, instead we learn about theories, concepts, and history. When I graduated, I was waiting for a “magical job” to appear. However, I had a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester and fifty thousand dollars of debt while living back at my parent’s home.

Why did I Chose the UR?

OK, my mother chose the UR for me, but she made a good choice!  It was most probably the best school I got into, it was the right size, it had a diverse student base, and it offered a wealth of majors for someone like myself who at 18 years old had absolutely no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Campus Resources

I can honestly say that I didn’t take full advantage of the resources available to me, but would strongly encourage today’s students to actively seek out everything that’s available to them.  You’ll most likely never be in another situation where there’s so many resources readily available to you at no cost.

Balance of work and personal life

This is tough!  You absolutely need to carve out time for yourself and time for your family.  They’re two distinct things.  I’m a runner, so when my kids were born I started running in the morning so that I didn’t feel guilty about not spending time with them when I came home.  I learned that it’s OK to leave work a bit early to watch a child’s sporting event.  You’re going to be hard pressed to find a boss who “dings” you for this.

Advice for current students

Use all the resources available to you, chose a major and a career that allows you in some manner to follow your passion, make wonderful friends and commit to maintaining these friendships for a long, long time.   This year will be the 10^th anniversary that a group of us (all women!) have gone away together for a long weekend.   No husband, boyfriends or kids allowed.  We have a great time and have committed to doing this for as long as we’re feasibly capable.  (Even when our choice of drink is Ensure!)

How I’m still connected with the UR

I’m lucky enough to have a niece and a cousin at the UR, so I get over there fairly frequently.  I’ve also been volunteering at the Student-Alumni Networking Sessions.  It’s a nice opportunity to keep engaged with the school and give relevant advice to current students.  I also keep tabs on different speakers that come to the school and attend as many of those events as I can.  Of course I can do all of this as I live in the Rochester community.

Name:

What activities were you involved in as a student and what did you gain from them?

Being involved with my fraternity honestly taught me a great deal about leadership and teamwork. I think you can learn a lot from being involved with any campus organization, it’s a good opportunity to be entrepreneurial and really learn how to work in a team. If you can lead and motivate a group of unpaid college students, you can do just about anything.

What did you do immediately after graduation? How did you decide to take that path?

I loved psychology as an undergrad and had originally planned to do my social PhD, but I as I was writing my honors thesis, I decided that route was not for me. I had always been interested in the nuances of people’s personality and I came to realize that I could best explore this in an applied setting of marketing/market research.

What do you do now and why did you choose this career?

I work in brand management for Campbell Soup Company and I love it. I realized what I really loved about doing research in psychology as an undergrad was the conclusion—the “So what?”, which marketing is all about. I still am very analytic and passionate about psychology, but I get to apply it to help meet consumers needs.

What skills, tools, or knowledge from your major have been most useful to you since graduation?

Understanding psychology has been a huge basis for my ability in marketing. I often times think back to basic theories and constructs as I am looking at various consumer needs. In addition, learning statistics and research methodology has been very helpful in allowing me to objectively evaluate studies and data to make good business decisions.

How are you still connected with the University?

I continue to involve myself with University when I can. When there are events in Philadelphia, I always make an effort to help out if I can. It’s a great affiliation and a network that you will carry with you for the rest of your life, you might as well make use of it.

What advice do you have for current students?

My best advice would be to network as much as you can. This does not mean ask people for jobs. Look for people who are in careers that are similar to things you want to do, reach out and set-up time to talk with them about how they got there (30 minutes is usually fine). Be genuine and you’ll be surprised how much people will want to help you.

The following graduating seniors received fellowships:

• Emilia Sola-Gracia ’12, bachelor of science in ecology and evolutionary biology
• David Kaphan ’12, bachelor of science in chemistry
• Sharese King ’12, bachelor of arts in linguistics, minor in American Sign Language
• Mark D. Levin ’12, bachelor of science in chemistry, minor in mathematics
• Susan Pratt ’12, bachelor of arts in mathematics and bachelor of science in physics

The following graduating seniors received honorable mentions:

• Chad Hunter ’12, bachelor of science in chemical engineering, minor in mathematics
• Matej Penciak ’12, bachelor of science in physics and bachelor of arts in mathematics
• Benjamin E.R. Snyder ’12, bachelor of science in chemistry and bachelor of arts in mathematics

The following graduate students received fellowships:

• Michael Baranello, doctoral degree candidate in chemical engineering
• Ellie Carrell, doctoral degree candidate in pharmacology and physiology
• Jason Inzana, doctoral degree candidate in biomedical engineering
• Vijay Jain, doctoral degree candidate in physics

The following graduate students received honorable mentions:

• Esteban Buz, doctoral degree candidate in brain and cognitive sciences
• Dev Crasta, doctoral degree candidate in clinical and social sciences in psychology
• Adam B. Johnson, doctoral degree candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology
• Patrick S. Murphy, doctoral degree candidate in microbiology & immunology
• Ian Perera, doctoral degree candidate in computer science

The following recent alumni, who are currently pursing advanced degrees elsewhere, received fellowships:

• Molly Boutin ’11, bachelor of science in biomedical engineering
• Caitlin Hilliard ’10, bachelor of arts in brain and cognitive sciences and American Sign Language
• Patrick Sheehan ’11, bachelor of science in physics & astronomy and bachelor of arts in mathematics
• Raisa Trubko ’10, bachelor of arts in physics and bachelor of science in optics
• David J. Weinberg ’11, bachelor of science in chemistry
• Hannah (Geswein) Williamson ’08, bachelor of arts in psychology

The following recent alumni, many of whom are currently pursing advanced degrees elsewhere, received honorable mentions:

• Samuel Anderson ’11, bachelor of science in chemistry
• Isthier Chaudhury ’11, bachelor of science in chemical engineering and bachelor of arts in interdepartmental programs
• Emily (Grzybowski) Dennis ’11, bachelor of science in molecular genetics and bachelor of arts in studio arts
• Aaron Gorenstein ’11, bachelor of science in computer science
• Seth Kallman ’09, bachelor of science in brain & cognitive sciences
• Kathleen Mulvaney ’10, bachelor of science in molecular genetics
• Alison Ossip-Klein ’10, bachelor of science in ecology and evolutionary biology
• Camillia Redding ’10, bachelor of arts in political science
• Maria Strangas ’10, bachelor of science in ecology & evolutionary biology
• Adam Williamson’08, bachelor of science in electrical & computer engineering and bachelor of arts in physics

Article written by Melissa Greco Lopes, editor of The Buzz and student life publicist in University Communications. Photo courtesy of  the NSF website.