Liberal Arts Major: Letters, Arts, and Sciences
Liberal Arts Minor: Philosophy
Other Minor: Biology
Hometown: Fleetwood, PA
Current Location: Boston, MA
What enrichment activities did you participated in as a student?
One summer internship that was particularly interesting for me was with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, where I spent a summer working with their innovation and outreach team. It was my first experience in a professional environment and it was an excellent one. I was immersed in the work from day one and benefited from learning not only about how state government worked, but also about the nature of the business for the various companies with which we were partnering. And, that understanding of how government interacts with regulated industry is something still relevant to what I do today.
What was your first job after graduating from Penn State?
I went straight from Penn State to law school at Boston University, so my first "real" job was not until three years after Penn State when I graduated law school and started as an associate in the Healthcare and Life Sciences Group at the global law firm Holland & Knight.
What was your favorite class?
I really enjoyed Symbolic Logic. It sat at this unique intersection of disciplines by combining mathematical-style equations, syntax, logic, and argumentative structure. It may sound esoteric, but it is actually very practical and highly relevant to many professional careers.
How did your liberal arts education and skills prepare you for life after graduation?
Multi-disciplinary exposure and broad expertise. Success in all of my professional roles has required cross-functional and multi-disciplinary work. A liberal arts education impresses the importance of this from an early stage and seeds your ability to shift quickly between subject matters, topics, and analytical approaches.
What networking advice would you share with current students?
Networking has been an important part for my career. But, my approach isn't "networking" in the sense of meeting lots of random people. I focus on spending my time with people I truly like, forming genuine relationships with them, and not thinking too much about any immediate pay-off from that.
What role have mentors played in your career progression?
Mentoring has been essential to my career progression. I have been lucky to benefit from mentors at all stages of my career and they have played various roles (large and small) in my development and advancement. On the flip side, I truly enjoy paying that forward through mentoring others—there is really no better way to feel like you are adding tangible value through your experience!