Liberal Arts Major: Spanish
Other Major: World Language Education
Minors: International Relations, ESL
Hometown: Doylestown, PA
Current Location: Arlington, VA
What enrichment activities did you participate in as a student?
I completed an internship with Estée Lauder, a school in Costa Rica, and as a youth ministry intern. I participated in a research project about Twitter and the Boston bombers for my IST professor, and completed my thesis about technology and development of a second language. I studied abroad in the Dominican Republic and I took classes about the philosophy of science and media.
What was your first job after graduating from Penn State?
My first job after graduating was working as an English teacher in Colombia. I worked for a local public school.
What was your favorite class?
My favorite class was with Andrea Tapia. I had an IST class where she would have us read a book from one perspective or thought train, let us fully buy into it, then read another book that completely broke down why that first perspective was wrong. It was a great exercise in critical thinking! Amazing material, and she was very smart! Always had great comments.
How did the Paterno Fellows Program enhance your experiences and opportunities as a student?
The program greatly helped with scholarship opportunities, and provided many other resources during my undergraduate program.
How did your liberal arts education and skills prepare you for life after graduation?
The connections I made in the Liberal Arts program still are with me to this day. The variety of courses I took have also been greatly beneficial, and I have been able to use the variety of perspectives and classes in ways that make me approach teaching differently than my peers.
What networking advice would you share with current students?
The best networking I ever did at Penn State was the presidential leadership academy. I would highly recommend this to every student at Penn State.
What role have mentors played in your career progression?
My biggest mentor has been Michelle Pasterick — she helped me apply for many jobs and guide my research.