When and how did you choose your major?

I chose to double major in studio art and art history and minor in religion during my sophomore year at Rochester. Throughout my life I have been drawn to art (no pun intended), but because I was always so focused on over achieving some of my true desires were compromised, such as making art. During college I finally realized it would be more advantageous to concentrate on a subject and discipline that I was truly passionate about than graduate with skills in a field I didn’t have interest in pursuing. Art continues to fascinate me because within it are infinite ways of viewing the world, since each individual perceives the world differently and therefore expresses art with uniqueness. I also believe that art of all kinds manifests the essence of what it means to be human.

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

I moved to Los Angeles because I felt chilled to the bone after four years in Rochester and also because LA has a thriving contemporary art scene. For a year and a half I was the assistant director of Sandroni Rey Contemporary Art Gallery, which I directly applied skills and knowledge I gained from my studies at Rochester. I decided to pursue fine art administration because I wanted to work within the field while building my own artistic portfolio and gain some life experience before pursuing an MFA.

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

Seven years ago my own personal path hijacked my professional path, which forced me to take a new route all together. Although I loved making art and still am passionate about viewing art, the work of the fine art industry did not stimulate me as I had anticipated it would. I began missing the original reasons I was attracted to art, which was the connection I felt to each artist’s unique perspective on the world. Probably I felt detached from myself and consequently couldn’t feel attached to art.

I moved back to Denver, CO (where I grew up) to reflect and decide what was next. This led me back to very young interests of mine relating to counseling and psychology. I realized I needed to work with people on a deep and vulnerable level, but I needed to do so in a way that was not “analytical;” subsequently, I pursued an MA in transpersonal counseling psychology at Naropa University in Boulder, CO. Naropa was founded on the Buddhist belief, that it is not possible to learn if one’s mind is all ready full. Therefore their education is rooted in contemplation and all majors are required to maintain a meditation practice and receive training in mindfulness. This program is uniquely suited for therapists because as a psychotherapist/counselor/psychologist we use ourselves as vehicles for healing and insight, so it is essential that we build personal awareness and cultivate a practice for grounding and reflection so we’re better able to present and serve our clients.

How do you balance your work and personal life?

I stopped watching television seven years ago, which gave me lots of extra time even though I am very busy. It’s essential to have tools for self-care in place (exercise, socializing) built into my schedule so I have the energy to keep working hard professionally and giving to my family. When I notice I feel overwhelmed or over-extended I know it’s time to take a look at what’s happening in my world and make some changes.

What advice do you have for current students?

Find a path of study you are passionate about and realize that the way in which you manifest it in your future may change and that’s okay. This is one step in hopefully a long journey and the more you realize that, the less stressful the need to choose a path will be. If you’re the kind of person who has always known what you want to do with your life then congratulations it will be easier for you, but it will still benefit you to stay open to how your path unfolds and accept the subtle changes that will arise.

It’s okay to change, but whatever you choose commit to it and work hard because truly the personal reward you receive will be equal to the effort you invest

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.

When and how did you choose your major?

I was thoroughly undecided when I started at UR. My freshman year I took classes in each of the three divisions to figure out what I liked best. My sophomore year I decided to major in both geology and German – the former I wanted to pursue as a career path and the latter because I had always wanted to learn a foreign language and to study abroad.

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

I lived on the Music Interest Floor, sang in Chamber Singers and Madrigal Singers, and formed a renaissance quartet with friends (Matt Hall ’04, Nils Klinkenberg, ’05, Erin (Sigmund) Kurup ’05). I participated in study abroad (I spent one summer in Berlin taking German classes and spent my junior year abroad at the University of Cologne) to become fluent in German. Serendipitously, it turns out there is a wealth of classic literature in my field (geology/paleontology) in German.

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

I spent a summer in South Florida doing research and a year in Germany on a Fulbright Fellowship in part to figure out whether I liked research and whether I wanted to pursue graduate school. Afterwards, I enrolled in the PhD program in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Southern California.

How do you balance your work and personal life?

Balancing work and personal life is still a work-in-progress for me. In academia there is constant pressure to publish and get funding. Job security is scarce and you may need to move (multiple times) before you find a tenure-track job (if you ever do). Having a spouse or a family complicates this even more – will they move with you or will you restrict your job search geographically? Many of my female colleagues struggle to figure out if and when they can have children without sacrificing their careers. For now, I have created some balance by doing my best to leave my work at work and setting aside time for the things I enjoy (singing, hiking, cooking, and gardening).

Where would you like to be in five years?

I am currently employed as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol in the UK. I hope this is a stepping stone to a faculty position at some point in the next few years so that I can continue doing research. I also love teaching and hope to find a job which involves teaching geology at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.

What advice do you have for current students?

No matter which major you pick, try to find time to study abroad! You won’t regret it.

When I was a student at UR, I was a resident assistant, which took up much of my time, and I was involved with the Protestant chapel. One year I was also involved with Amnesty International, which was working on a campaign against sweatshops at the time. This really opened my eyes to issues around globalization, poverty, the consumer economy, and human rights — all issues that I am still thinking about now. I graduated with a degree in English, and completed a Take Five in women and religion. I went on to earn a master’s in education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and began teaching in the New York City public schools as an English teacher, in Manhattan at an all-girls school, and then in the South Bronx.

After I got married, my husband and I saved up, quit our jobs, and took a “gap year.” We backpacked around Asia, Australia/New Zealand, India, and Egypt. We also taught in a Buddhist monastery in Nepal for a month. When we returned to the US, we resettled in the Philadelphia area near my in-laws, and I entered a doctoral program in Urban Education at Temple University. I also taught English 101 at a community college for a few semesters.

UR definitely prepared me to do research, especially the honors English program. My involvement with Amnesty and a religion course I took with Curt Cadorette awakened a passion for social justice. I am still wrestling with the intersection between education (particularly in cities) and “globalization” (a term that means many different things) in my doctoral studies. I was not as prepared to teach in an inner city, but the disconnect between the academy and the “real” world is perhaps what has led me to where I am now. Balancing parenthood with doctoral studies is definitely challenging, but I get a lot of support from my husband and family. I’m home with my nine-month old most of the day, and attend school part time — not much time left for anything else these days!

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

I was a part of many different student groups. I participated in Grassroots and Students for Social Justice, where I learned about consensus decision making and organizing and really developed the political perspective that I have now. I also participated in Outside Speaker Committee—now a part of Campus Activities Board, where I met many famous and interesting people from Desmond Tutu to Michael Moore.

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

I stayed in Rochester. I wanted to get more involved in the community of the Southwest Area of the City. I decided to continue living in the EcoHouse and worked for Sector 4 Community Development Corporation. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the area, support community organizations, and really participate in Rochester.

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

I run an organization called the Responsible Endowments Coalition. We work with students and administrators on college campuses who want their colleges to invest their money more responsibly with a focus on society and the environment. When I realized that UR had $1.7 billion and that colleges in total have $400 billion, I also realized they could do much better things with their money then just simply invest without thinking about its effects. I want to have a positive impact on the world and think that we can leverage the money of colleges to do that in a dramatic way.

How do you balance your work and personal life?

As an Executive Director of a non-profit this is a great challenge. I work a lot of hours and am very dedicated to my job- I love it, but it is important to have a life outside of work. I make sure that I see my friends, many of who are other UR alumni, and also make sure to schedule activities. I sail regularly, and make sure that I commit to sailing at least once a week over the summer. At the end of the day, I think it is important to build a wide variety of activities into your life.

What advice do you have for current students?

The best advice I can give to a current student is that you will be a lot happier if you spend some time thinking about what you value in life before you take a first step into your career. Think about whether you will be happy working at a bank or a big company or whether you would rather work for social change or to protect the environment. Also keep your values in mind not just when picking a career but also throughout your work and your life. You will sleep better at night knowing that no matter what you are doing you are helping people and creating a better world.

When and how did you choose your major?

I wanted an extra class my sophomore year, and my friend suggested I take ASL 101. Since I knew a few signs and most of the alphabet, I figured there was no reason not to. I almost immediately fell in love with ASL—both as a language and as a large part of Deaf culture—and it evolved into a major from there.

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

I knew quite a few professors and staff on campus when I was there because I worked on campus. All of the ASL professors were very helpful, and they were definitely my strongest mentors. Unfortunately, because of things at home, I lost contact with them after graduation, but I wish I kept in contact.

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

I learned so much from the University of Rochester, and so much of it is still in play and useful in my life. I’d say that the most important of them, since I don’t want to list all the things I learned and still use, is the interpersonal skills and cultural knowledge I learned from all of my ASL classes and teachers. The Deaf community is very different from how I grew up, but a lot of things from my education are applicable, even outside of the Deaf community.

What advice do you have for current students?

Do what you love. I know it sounds kind of corny, but if there’s a class you really want to take or a club you’re really interested in, make sure to take it or join it! My biggest regret is that I didn’t take more science or art courses and didn’t participate in more clubs while I was at the U of R… and, as a college graduate, you just don’t get those kinds of opportunities to learn and experience things that you get from college. So, take the great opportunities available to you while you can!

Why did you choose to attend the University of Rochester?

Of all of the colleges, I was accepted to the only one that called.  It was Mr. Crews from the HEOP Office, and he was inviting me to the ECO program.  This is when I decided I would attend.

When and how did you choose your major?

I choose my major when I decided I was going to study abroad.  Initially, I wanted to be a math major, but I could not declare it as a major because I did not have enough classes.   African American Studies or Anthropology was the only two I could declare, and African American Studies sounded more interesting.

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

I worked with the admission office and with Mr Boone. I did some college fairs and high school programming, which made me feel like I was giving back to the community.  I did the McNair Program, which introduced me to graduate school and research.  And, I studied abroad, which opened me up to other cultures.

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

Study abroad office, the library, the OMSA office.

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

Daryl Boone, John Barker, Professor Mandela, Jackie Mendez.  Sadly, I have lost touch with all of these people.

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

I decided to go to graduate school to get a masters degree. I had a scholarship that would pay for my masters.

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

Now, I am pursuing a doctoral degree. I choose to do this because I had a scholarship that would pay for it.

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

In my major, I learned a lot about history and how what happened in the past affects us today.  The most useful skill that I have taken from my major was how to make a strong argument and argue my points.

How do you balance your work and personal life?

I just make time for everything that is important to me.

Where would you like to be in five years?

I really don’t know.

How are you still connected with the University?

I answer these surveys whenever I get them, and I read a newsletter.

What advice do you have for current students?

Do Take Five, if you’re in the social sciences; study, and get a teaching degree to use it with.  Study abroad because it will change your life, and try to take advantage of all of the resources on campus and be as active on campus as you can.

Name:

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

I would recommend that students take advantage of the greater Rochester community and procure an internship for credit. My internship with Archer provided me with a window into the real world of marketing and advertising. If at all possible, try to get an on-campus job that relates to your field of interest. I must say that my position with RED not only helped me develop leadership and professional skills, but also gave me the perfect outlet for showcasing my creativity. For the record: I have brought up both of these examples during post-graduate interviews.

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

Immediately following graduation, I wrote scores upon scores of cover letters, cold-called just about every advertising/marketing human resources department under the sun, and networked like nobody’s business. I signed up for marketing conferences, the ad club, and even passed out my business card on the subway. My best decision yet was to enroll in an advertising class at a Boston agency (which little did I know, would lead to my big break) and start compiling a body of work to shop around to employers.

For some reason, I thought I was going to land my dream job one week out of college. So when things didn’t turn out that way, I put myself in the best possible position to make it happen.

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

Now, I am a copywriter for a flash sale website (essentially my dream job). I spend my day-to-day writing copy for our upcoming sales, concepting posts for the blog, researching trends, and being inspired by magazines, newspapers, and tumblr.

I cannot imagine myself doing anything else. Here’s a job that has me writing everyday, researching trends, and pitching new ideas. What’s not to love?

Where would you like to be in five years?

I want to be writing and in Manhattan. Right now, I am not sure if that means continuing down the path of fashion copywriting or branching out into something more editorial (magazines or newspapers). I am not sure if I can manage to make it happen five years from now, but my dream is to write for the NY Times’ Style section.

What advice do you have for current students?

Firstly, make sure to enjoy your college years to the fullest. Second, landing your first job will not be as glamorous as you imagined. It’s a process and it can take time. Do whatever you can to connect with people in your industry, whether that means attending conferences, happy hours, or informational interviews. Since I was looking to break into the creative sphere, I found myself throwing out the rulebook and applying to jobs through more creative means (like writing poems or sending boxes of candy to prospective employers). Consider getting a part-time job while looking for your “real” job. It makes you feel more productive and allows you to earn some money in the mean time. And make sure to look into professional development classes in your area because you never know who you’ll meet (that’s how I got my job now).

Why did you choose to attend the University of Rochester?

I chose UR because of the availability of the combined BA/MA in Music Education with the Eastman School of Music. It was a great way to combine a liberal arts degree, which I wanted, with the quality training of a conservatory.

When and how did you choose your major?

I went to UR for a specific program, so I decided before I even arrived on campus. Of course, I could have changed my mind, but the program was exactly what I was hoping it would be.

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

My biggest influence as an undergrad was Kim Kowalke, who was my advisor in addition to inviting me to TA his Musical Theater Workshop. It’s been great keeping in touch with him through email, while continuing many of the conversations (and debates!) we had when I was a student.

How do you balance your work and personal life?

It’s important (even if you love what you do) to leave work at work. You can be the most driven, motivated, career-oriented person, but what’s the point if you don’t make time for your friends? I don’t find this balance tricky, but since living in NYC, I do know you have to carve out the time to make people’s schedules work. So, maybe the best advice is to have a good calendar.

How are you still connected with the University?

I’m still friends with a lot of the people I went to UR with, and in fact, I am going to a UR alum’s wedding next weekend. Another alum once told me she felt like whenever she meets another UR graduate, she always feels like she has something in common with them…enough to feel comfortable striking up a conversation. I think that’s about right. I also talk it up big time at the school where I teach, encouraging students I think would be a good fit to make sure they visit.

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

My two main activities as a student were with the UR Polish Club and my part-time job at University Telecomm, now called University NS/IT. I ‘re-founded’ the UR Polish Club with another student, Sara Korol, and it became the center of my social life for over 3 years. Both the Club and my job helped me immensely grow beyond my ‘loner’ identity, expanded my view of the prospective social world, and taught me how to live, work, and befriend different kinds of people.

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

The Study Abroad Office, the Fellowships Office, and the Skalny Center for Polish & Central European Studies were all extraordinarily helpful for achieving my goals and allowing me to become the person I wanted to be. The Rush Rhees Library, and InterLibrary Loan in particular, were incredibly useful and really cannot be taken for granted. Finally, the Take Five Scholarship program is an exemplary example of humanism in practice, and its’ importance cannot be understated.

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

I was lucky to have some great mentors while at the UofR – Celia Applegate, Stewart Weaver, and Richard Kaeuper at the History Department, Jackie Levine and Sara Korol (a fellow student but also a mentor) at Study Abroad, and John Tomkinson, Liz Dombowski, Rose McGovern, and Mark Pierce (my bosses) at University Telecomm. Also, I should mention Jan Lencznarowicz (who will be teaching again at the UofR in Spring 2013), Krzysztof Zamorski, and Michał Galas from the Jagiellonian University, all visiting professors through the Skalny Center. I’m happy to say that I’m still in touch with most of the people on this list (Facebook has been great), and I see them when I can.

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

I began a Fulbright Fellowship at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, as a means of exploring a potential career in academia. Many undergraduate students in the humanities and social sciences choose a career in academia because they feel it’s “the natural course” after their studies, and I was no different; I was fortunate I had a chance to experience academic life without committing to it fully. I was happy I did not go for a PhD right after graduation because it gave me time to experience the world and consider other possible career choices; the Fulbright fellowship, in particular, allowed me to meet a whole host of different kinds of people I would not have been able to meet otherwise.

What do you do no,w and why did you choose this career?

I am in the 4th year of a joint PhD in European History and Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto. I specialize in Central European history from roughly 1750 – 1935, and I concentrate on conceptions of identity at the personal, societal, and political level. In my dissertation, I am using the city of Kraków from 1815 – 1846 as a case study for how urban populations in East Central Europe defined themselves in terms of self-identity. I chose a career in European history and East Central Europe in particular because I feel that questions of identity are at the heart of many of the problems facing our world, especially in the face of nationalist, trans-nationalist, and globalizing forces. I want to be a professor; to quote Professor Kaeuper, “In order to remain a student, and to continue learning (while encouraging others to do so also), for the rest of my life”.

Where would you like to be in five years?

I could use this question to make a whole host of jokes about how difficult it is for PhD students to find jobs couldn’t I? Seriously, and realistically, in five years I would like to be settled at a University teaching/researching post, having published my dissertation as a book and beginning a career teaching both undergraduate and graduate students in my areas of specialization.

What advice do you have for current students?

Always ask questions (even “stupid” ones), and be prepared to listen with an open heart and mind to what your peers and mentors have to say; both have their unique value. Conversely, be welcome to answering all questions, even those that may challenge what you believe. Never be afraid of what you might hear, nor the reactions of others based on your questions. Do not be afraid of failure, be prepared to learn from your mistakes – but also value your successes, and strive for them. Don’t beat yourself up too badly when you’re sitting in the library at 2 am the night before the paper/project is due, realizing you procrastinated for far too long.