What brought you to Marist?  Why did you choose it?

My high school principal went to Marist, and he said it would be a great fit for me, so I took a chance and applied.  Then I visited with my mom and absolutely loved the campus.  The people I’ve met and the great relationships I’ve built have kept me here ever since.

Describe your Marist experience so far, both academics and extracurricular activities.

I came in undeclared, so I participated in the FOCUS program.  It was hard choosing between communication and business, but I felt like my personality fits business more.  I like developing business plans.  At the same time, I think it’s important to be well rounded, so that’s why I chose a minor in advertising.  Advertising has a big influence on marketing, after all.

I thrive on being busy, so outside the classroom, I have tried lots of things and gotten very involved.  I have also benefited from great mentoring, both from my peers and from staff members.  When I interviewed for the Campus Ministry board, my interviewer was Samantha Leenas ’17.  She and others provided such a strong network of support.  In fact, Sam got me my first job working for [Vice President of Enrollment, Marketing and Communication] Sean Kaylor, and I became a School of Management ambassador because of her.  This year, I’m serving as head of the annual Giving Tree project, and I’m paying it forward by mentoring the three sophomores who are working with me.  I also did mentoring for First Year Programs and the School of Management, and I help with FOCUS student interviewing.  I’ve also been very grateful for the guidance of [Director of Campus Ministry] Brother Frank Kelly.

You recently attended a School of Management Career Trek in New York City.  What was it like?

It was great.  We spent a day in New York City meeting with executives at different companies.  I was on the marketing track, so we met with two Marist alumni at SONY Music and an alumnus at Viacom.  At SONY, we heard a company overview, as well as a presentation on internship opportunities, interviewing skills, and building your resume.  At Amazon Advertising, we participated in roundtable discussions with employees who talked about their experiences and gave us professional advice.  One of the women we met with at Amazon has two kids who went to Marist, so there were so many Marist connections!  The day ended with an alumni reception, where we could mix and mingle with professionals in the field.

Are there specific faculty members who have really had an impact on you?

I work closely with [Professor of Management and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs] Joanne Gavin.  I help her with the logistics of planning and overseeing School of Management tours, lunches, and the Career Trek.  She’s been a big influence on me ever since I was a student on her short-term study program to Greece.

Tell me about your internships.

Between my sophomore and junior years, I interned at Save the Children in Fairfield, Connecticut.  The area I worked in was individual philanthropy of $10,000 and above, and I worked on stewardship and mailings.  I had the chance to attend seminars and lunches, and I learned so much about non-profits!  This past summer, I lived in New York City and was a digital marketing intern at McGraw Hill Education, which publishes textbooks.  I learned all about search engine optimization and was responsible for website imagery, meta descriptions and tagging, and social listening.  McGraw Hill’s offices are right above Madison Square Garden, so I was in the middle of everything.  I loved living in New York City, and there are so many Marist students and alumni living there. 

What do you want to do after graduation?

I would definitely like to live and work in New York City, but I’m open in terms of the type of company I’d like to work for.  Someday, I think I’d like to follow in my dad’s footsteps and open my own business.

Do you have any advice for prospective students?

Talk to everyone, ask questions, and always smile.  Also, don’t be afraid to approach your professors because they’re your greatest asset.  Find a way to stay organized – I actually use a pen-and-paper calendar.  Seek out experiences and remember that there’s always something to learn.