When and how did you choose your major?

I started at UR with the intention of studying biomedical engineering, but after the first semester, I switched to chemical engineering because I realized I was more interested in environmental and energy issues rather than medical ones.

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

While at UR, I worked on a campaign to make the new engineering building (what is now Goergen Hall) a green building.  It was a really interesting project, and by the time I finished my Take Five, I knew that that’s what I wanted to do.  I moved to New York City where I was fortunate enough to get a job as a green building consultant.

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

After working in green building for a few years, I came to realize I was more interested in the larger urban fabric rather than just individual buildings.  So, I changed jobs and worked for an NGO that promotes sustainable urban transportation, always knowing that I would need a master’s degree to move ahead.  I am now an urban planning graduate student at CUNY Hunter, specializing in transportation planning.

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

Basic engineering skills, like analytical thinking and being able to communicate complicated ideas, are fundamental and translate well to any job.  It may sound simple, but employers are impressed by an engineering degree, especially in fields that engineers don’t normally work in.  Having that education has definitely been an advantage, especially when you come out of college with very little real world experience.

What advice do you have for current students?

Just because you are an engineering student does not mean that you can’t study abroad.  I cannot emphasize this enough.  With some planning and maybe a course overload, it is entirely possible to get the invaluable experience of living in another country, and even learn a new language.

Why did you choose to attend the University of Rochester?

I chose the University of Rochester because as a Rochester native, I always imagined that “this” was what college was.  After traveling to several other schools and not feeling the same “college-vibe” as I did at the University of Rochester, I knew this was where I wanted to spend the next four years or my life.

When and how did you choose your major?

I choose my first major, Brain and Cognitive Science, midway through sophomore year and my second major, Studio Arts, as a second semester Junior.  I entered the University of Rochester with the intention of becoming a psychology major. After testing the water a bit and finding that I was not challenged to my full potential in the psychology field, I started taking a few BCS courses to see if they were more to my liking.  Luckily, they were, and I enjoyed my learning experience through those classes.  The second major, Studio Arts, came to me more fluidly. I always was a dancer, and the arts were an important part of my life.  After taking a few studio art courses and finding out about the “Art New York” program that would allow me to live in Manhattan for an entire semester, I was hooked.  While in New York, I interned with a dance company called Paul Taylor Dance Company, which I have admired since I was a child. From there, I was able to acquire an internship with Garth Fagan Dance once I returned to Rochester for my senior year.  After spending a year in Rochester after college, I finally secured my first “real” job in New York City with the dance company RIOULT and have been able to move up within the company since.

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

As a student, I was primarily involved with two groups, The Ballet Performance Group and Delta Gamma Fraternity.  Both organization are student run and function much like the non-profit dance companies and institutions I interned at and volunteered for during my time at the University of Rochester. I held leadership roles in both organizations as the Fundraising Chair & Social Chair of The Ballet Performance Group and as the VP of Anchor Slam for Delta Gamma Fraternity.

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

I didn’t use as many resources while on campus as I should have.  I would suggest that current students look into the career center for internships and career listings.  Also, I would recommend that current students indentify the person whose job you want most in the world and figure out what got them there.  Using your student status, interview that person (and as many other people in the field you desire to end up in) and figure out what their career trajectory was.  This will give you a better picture of what you will need to do to get there.

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

On campus, my biggest mentors were the studio arts faculty members.  They took the time to get to know me as an individual and really help me to identify what I could do to promote myself as an artist and as an arts administrator, even though, at the time, I’m not sure I realized its value.  Allen Topolski had the largest role in helping me stay focused academically.  I have the opportunity to continue this relationship and am thankful for that.

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

Immediately after graduation I moved home as most college students do and began the hunt for a job.  During the first six months of an unsuccessful job hunt, I took a part-time job at Wegmans and did a bunch of temp jobs throughout the city of Rochester.  Eventually, I wound up working at a private pre-school as their dance instructor.  Although it wasn’t part of my plan, I knew it was at least something that continued to keep dance in my life, and I knew that future employers would question my resume if it had large gaps in employment.  Finally, I decided that the only way to get the jobs that I wanted, which were all located in the New York City area, was to re-locate there no matter what the cost.  I decided the best way for me to do this was to apply to Masters programs in Arts Management in New York City.  I was successfully accepted into both programs I applied to.  After committing to Pratt Institute’s Arts and Culture Management Program, which allowed me to work full-time while attending school full-time on the weekends, I easily located my ideal job at the dance company RIOULT in New York City.

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

Currently, I am the Manager of Institutional Giving at RIOULT dance company. I was promoted to this role after the completion of my Masters at Pratt Institute.  Previously, I held the position of Development Associate and Operations Manager.

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

The most useful tool I’ve used from both majors is the ability to write comprehensively and persuasively. As the manager of Institutional Giving, I write on a daily basis.  Without the University of Rochester’s focus on developing strong writers, I do not think I’d be able to accomplish my work on a daily basis.  Other useful skills were gained for my internship experiences.

How do you balance your work and personal life?

It’s hard. I always try to make sure I have at least three nights a week free for myself, but I am constantly attending work functions and networking events in the evenings.

Where would you like to be in five years?

I hope to still be in the non-profit dance field or in another arts related field.

How are you still connected with the University?

I am still connected to the University of Rochester through friends and family.  My younger brother is currently a student and my father works at the University. Also, I am part of a new networking group in the city that was just started in the past year, the University of Rochester’s New York Metro Women’s Group, specifically for women alumni in the city and its vicinity.

What advice do you have for current students?

My advice for current students is to take as much time as you can to intern in your field of interest. Internships during college allow you to gain real working experience that will put you ahead of the game when applying to positions after college. Also, I would tell current students to enjoy themselves and the abundance of friends and acquaintances that they currently have while in school. Developing strong bonds with other students will be beneficial to you once you are no longer a student at the University of Rochester.

Why did you choose to attend the University of Rochester?

I chose to attend the University of Rochester because of its balance of great academics and accomplished athletics. It was only one of the smaller schools which had a microbiology major, an accomplished research program, and medical center. Also, my parents forced me to only look at schools within five hours drive from my hometown near Cleveland, OH. I liked the look of the school, classy but not pretentious, and the UR’s national ranking is always near the top. I also got a reasonable aid/scholarship package, making the school affordable for me.

When and how did you choose your major?

I picked the University of Rochester because of its microbiology program. I knew I wanted to major in microbiology a year or so into high school because I excelled at science and was fascinated with the book The Hot Zone. In many respects, it was easier to start college with a defined major. With all the class requirements of the microbiology program, I don’t know if it would be possible to finish in four years if you didn’t decide until your second year. I enjoy learning and have many interests, so I think I would have been happy with any number of other majors, like political science or even music.

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

I ran varsity cross country and track throughout college and was involved in various athlete advisory committees. Also, I was active in the Protestant Chapel Community and hosted a show on WRUR radio for 2.5 years.  Frankly, I wish I had more time at UR to explore other clubs. There are so many opportunities at UR that you will probably never have again in your life, and I wish I branched out a little more.

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

Upon graduation, I started a six year career as a professional athlete. I had done triathlon for eight years previously and knew if I were to ever race at the top echelon, I had to give it a try when I was younger instead of going to graduate school first.  My goal was to make the Olympic trials, and I came very close, just missing out in 2008. Along the way, I got to live at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado and race on every continent (minus Antarctica). It was a very unorthodox path, especially when compared to the other students I graduated with in my department, but I don’t regret it, as I hoped graduate school and a career in science would always be available to me.

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

Currently I am a graduate student in microbiology/immunology at Oregon Health & Science University. I work in a tumor immunology lab at the Earl A. Chiles Institute for cancer research at Providence Portland hospital. My main projects focus around the use of tumors as vaccines, and the ability of antibodies to manipulate the immune system to fight cancerous tumors.  Throughout my athletic career, my plan was always to return to science and graduate school when I was finished racing. I love research science as it basically allows you to be a student for the rest of your life, only the things you are learning are usually things that no one else on earth has discovered yet.

How do you balance your work and personal life?

With a background in a sport, which requires you to train in three different disciplines (swimming, cycling, and running), balance has always been an absolute necessity in my life. I’ve always had a lot of interests and hobbies, and finding time for it all can be a challenge, especially with the time and emotional demands required in graduate school. Making priorities is important, but always finding time for exercise and relaxation is also just as important. You always have to remember that if you’re miserable and exhausted, you’re not going to be doing your best work.  It’s better to do shorter periods of high quality work, so learning to be efficient and focused has allowed me to live a nicely balanced life of school/work, family, and hobbies.

What advice do you have for current students?

Don’t sweat your GPA too much, good test scores (GRE, MCAT, etc.), recommendations, and experience can help you get ahead more than your GPA.  Learn concepts, and don’t just memorize facts. Get involved in all the activities you can. This will probably be the only chance you have in life to join some random clubs, so don’t waste it just hanging out in the dorms all the time. Don’t be afraid to make a crazy career move in your 20’s. The way today’s employment market is, it is unlikely you’re going to be a “lifer” at one specific company. So, take the opportunity early in your career to travel or take a job that is outside of your skill set/comfort zone. As you get older, these windows of opportunity become smaller and smaller, so enjoy them while they are available.

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

I was a member of Alpha Phi sorority and ADITI.  Also, I worked part-time as a lab assistant at the University of Rochester Medical Center.  Being a part of a variety of organizations allowed me to meet and become friends with a diverse group of people, many of whom I am still in touch with today.  It also helped me learn time management, which is such an important skill for the “real world,” and leadership skills.

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

After graduation, I worked for a year as a lab technician at the University of Rochester Medical Center.  Honestly, I wasn’t sure what path I wanted to take with my biology degree—I just knew it wasn’t the medical school route!  I liked working in a lab part-time during college, so I decided to apply to full-time lab jobs and ended up really enjoying doing bench work.

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

I am currently working at a small biotech company as a research associate.  I work in a lab doing cell culture, developing assays, and validating the company’s potential products.  Through the classes that I took and the jobs that I have held, I found that I like doing research and working in a lab, so I stuck with this career path!

How do you balance your work and personal life?

It’s not always easy, but if you don’t find a way to do it, you’ll go crazy!  I make time to take vacations, hang out with friends, and organize outings with my co-workers.

How are you still connected with the University?

I have done alumni interviews for prospective students.  Also, I keep up with the Alpha Phi chapter at the UofR through their newsletters.  I also try to give back annually through alumni donations.

What advice do you have for current students?

Take a variety of classes outside of your major—this is your chance to experience things you might not get a chance to in the future.  Get involved in academic extracurricular activities, as well as social activities—make connections with older students and professors in your future career field.

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

I’m an observational astrophysicist and Fellow in the Directorate for Science at the European Southern Observatory headquarters near Munich (ESO – www.eso.org). Using data from the Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory, I study links between star formation and supermassive black hole growth in the giant galaxies found in the center of the largest galaxy clusters in the Universe. I am also a member of the Paranal Observatory Science Operations Team, providing observing support for ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT – http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/vlt.html) in the Chilean Atacama Desert.

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

UR offers some of the best undergraduate research opportunities in the country. Take advantage of them!

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

My closest mentor was my undergraduate advisor, Prof. Alice Quillen (Associate Professor in the Dept. of Physics & Astronomy). I still actively collaborate with her today – in fact, we just published two papers together this month!

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

Immediately after graduation, I started a graduate research post at the Space Telescope Science Institute (the science operations center for the Hubble Space Telescope – www.stsci.edu). This opportunity was fostered entirely by my undergraduate advisor who had connected me with a large network of collaborators.

Where would you like to be in five years?

I love working in Astronomy and plan to stay in the field. In five years, I’ll hopefully be finishing my second postdoc and applying for longer term research positions.

How are you still connected with the University?

I still collaborate actively with my former undergraduate advisor and have returned to the campus many times since graduation. Of course, I also stay in touch with my many friends from UR. It’s a cliché, but it’s true: the friends made in college are friends for the rest of your life.

What advice do you have for current students?

If you’re interested in a Physics or Physics & Astronomy major, get involved in undergraduate research. Its importance cannot be overstated. It is essential preparation for a future career in science, in both academia and industry.