Chicago Scholar. Renaissance Scholar. American Heart Association Scholar. College of Science Connects to Innovation Scholar. These are just a few of the titles Dalia Zizumbo has earned while preparing for her bachelor of science in Data Science & Behavioral Neuroscience degree this spring.

Already a first author of a poster abstract “Social Determinants of Health and Cognitive Performance: A Cross-national Study of the U.S. and Mexico” for “Alzheimer’s & Dementia” journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, Dalia has also presented at the 2025 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, the 2025 Research, Innovation, Scholarship, Entrepreneurship conference in Boston, the University of Chicago CRTEC Student Research Symposium, and theUniversity of Illinois Chicago 2023 Cancer Research Symposium in Chicago.

At Northeastern, Dalia is president of U-F1RST, a student organization dedicated to supporting first-generation

and low-income students. She conceptualized and launched the First-Generation Student

Academic Symposium and expanded the co-op clothing drive, collecting professional garments to help first-gen students confidently enter the workplace. Rebuilding U-F1RST is her proudest achievement. “I spent the summer revamping the organization from the ground up, reimagining its programming, rebuilding its community, and ensuring it could be a real resource for first-generation and low-income students at Northeastern,” she says.

Dalia was also selected to speak at Convocation, where she was able to stand before thousands of students and say, “Your story belongs here.” It also defined leadership for her. “That moment, and the organization I’ve poured myself into, represent what I believe leadership truly is—not just achieving for yourself, but creating space so others don’t have to struggle the way you did.”

In alignment with her academic studies, Dalia has continued her co-op work at the Center for Genomic Medicine at Massachusetts General Brigham as a clinical research coordinator. She is also the only undergraduate working as a trainee with the U.S Consortium of Aging, Dementia & Latino Studies (CADLAS) to advance Alzheimer’s disease research in the U.S. Latino and Hispanic populations. As an intern at the Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, she advocates for evidence-based policies that improve healthcare access and reduce health disparities for underserved communities. Having this access to so many research opportunities is something she never imagined for a first-generation student. “It is precisely because Northeastern invested in me that I feel a deep commitment to investing back into this community, ensuring that students who come after me have the support, resources, and representation I once searched for.”

Director of the Center for Intercultural Engagement (CIE) Cindy Nguyen has helped Dalia rebuild U-F1RST. “She intentionally balances the importance of community-building with the drive to create tangible change,” she says, “critically addressing the barriers that affect first-gen students’ academics and sense of self as they navigate complex systems.”

After graduation, Dalia plans plan to pursue an MD or MD-PhD, combining clinical medicine with research to address health disparities in underserved communities.

“Amelia Brooks is the kind of student who makes every room she enters better,” says Associate Director, SVP Projects Rachel Schrottman. That is exactly the type of person you want on your human resources team. After she receives her Bachelor of Science in business with a concentration in management, Amelia will move to New York City and work in human resources.

Until then, Northeastern can reap the benefits of Amelia’s active role in the community. She has been a leader for all her years here, moderating and hosting university events, supporting large-scale initiatives, including international treks and leadership summits, and creating spaces for younger students to build confidence, ask questions and grow into leadership roles.

Amelia has been a lead peer mentor in the Summer Bridge program, social media manager and assistant in the DMSB Graduate Career Center, director of operations for the Black Business Student Association, and even a podcast producer for the DMSB “Careers in Action” podcast. However, Amelia’s involvement with the Women’s Interdisciplinary Society of Entrepreneurship (WISE) has been most significant to both Northeastern and to her personally.

As the longest-standing WISE Executive Board member—and current co-president—Amelia has provided continuity and sustained leadership, expanding WISE to Northeastern’s London and Oakland campuses. “I had the opportunity to build these communities from the ground up at a time when this level of expansion was still new at Northeastern.” She visited both locations and immersed herself in the community, developing tailored programing and building leadership structures that felt authentic to those students. Amelia says, “The goal was not just to grow WISE geographically, but to create spaces where more students could feel a sense of belonging, confidence, and opportunity.”

Amelia has proven her commitment to inclusion time and again. In 2024, she received the Impact Award, DMSB, presented to students who make a positive impact to the Office of Student Engagement, Affinity and Inclusion’s mission to cultivate an inclusive culture in the school.

Amelia has demonstrated the same commitment to academic excellence. She participated in a global purpose and inclusion co-op at Wayfair. She transformed the end-to-end new-hire orientation process and designed and implemented a new onboarding structure for a co-op with Immuta. Most recently, she was a talent management and organizational development intern at Dow Jones in New York. During her 10 weeks there, she developed a talent strategy workshop for People Business Partners, built an end-to-end, scalable global skills taxonomy and career mapping framework across all Dow Jones job families, and designed a proprietary AI-enabled workflow using Gemini to generate skills taxonomies and career maps in as few as 15 minutes per job family.

“We can always count on her to share her positivity and help make an impact,” Rachel Schrottman says. Undoubtedly, Amelia will do the same in her future career.

“Our Bioengineering Department, the College of Engineering, and the whole of Northeastern are lucky to have Kiley York for her leadership and service,” says Teaching Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs in Bioengineering Timothy Lannin. “She is a force for good, and her merits are well-aligned with those of the Compass Award.”

Professor Lannin is one of many lauding the achievements of Kiley York, a bachelor of science in bioengineering candidate with concentration in medical devices with honors distinction. Her praise is well deserved. During Kiley’s years at Northeastern, she has held several leadership roles, including President of the NU Biomedical Engineering Society, Vice President of NU Engineers Without Borders, and Honors Ambassador and Honors Living Learning Assistant Presidential Ambassador for the John Martinson Honors Program. Lydia Bird, Kiley’s mentor in the Honors Mentorship Program, says, “Kiley puts her all into everything she does and leads with dedication and kindness.”

Maintaining a 3.87 GPA is no easy feat, but Kiley has done that while masterfully, balancing club participation, ambassador programs, and volunteer opportunities—and exceling in all.  She considers her most significant achievement to be organizing fall and spring co-op career fairs for undergraduate engineering students for the past three years. “The change in planning structure that I have implemented has caused for growth of the

event,” she says. “The number of companies and undergraduate students has increased, as well as we have expanded the event to be held in two spaces—the McLeod Suited and Curry Ballroom—as opposed to just one (Curry Ballroom).”

In addition to her extensive accomplishments on campus, Kiley has participated in notable global experiences. During the Honors Dialogue of Civilizations program in Chile, she completed interdisciplinary coursework combining microbiology research and landscape photography, gaining scientific and cultural perspectives through community-based volunteering. Her second global experience was part of the John Martinson Honors Program (JMHP) Self-Directed Global Experience (SDGE)—one of JMHP’s more demanding academic opportunities. In this, Kiley explored South Africa’s history, culture, and landscapes through photography. 

In terms of professional development, Kiley participated in a bioengineering co-op at Sage Product Development—engineering consulting for medical devices—where she supported multisite clinical trials and prototyped fixtures and part stand-ins for testing. While doing an R&D engineering co-op at Fresenius Medical Care North America, she designed and debugged reliability improvements for existing products and those under development.

“Across all contexts, Kiley stands out for her steadiness, compassion, and quiet but impactful leadership,” says Nancy Watkins, former assistant director for community service and civic engagement and honors living learning coordinator. “Her presence consistently elevates the experiences of her peers and the communities she serves.”

Kiley plans to pursue a Masters of Mechanical Engineering in the Northeastern PlusOne program.

Haley Schwanz, soloist dancer with Boston Ballet, knows the limitations of a dancing career. That is why she has prepared for career part deux by earning a bachelor of science in Psychology from Northeastern University—along with a 3.79 GPA. After her performing days end, she plans to pursue a career in movement therapy, as well as both teach and advocate for psychologically sustainable coaching practices within the dance world. 

Before she takes on those new challenges, she can revel in the memories of being an outstanding dancer. After graduating from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 2010, Haley performed with Staatsballet Berlin for five years, touring in Thailand, Taiwan, China, and throughout Germany.  

Since joining Boston Ballet in 2017, Haley served as a member of the Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Council and was one of two nominated representatives on Boston Ballet’s Dancer/Board Caucus, providing dancer insights to the board. As a member of AGMA Union Negotiating Committee, she successfully negotiated major wins, including industry-leading parental leave benefits, pay equity, reinstatement of benefits following the COVID 19 pandemic, and safe and sustainable working conditions. 

As a performing member of the ballet, Haley originated roles in new choreography and productions, including world premieres by William Forsythe and Jorma Elo. She performed in Paris, Los Angeles, Ottawa, and at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, MA. Additionally, she showcased her skills to choreograph ballets performed by the troupe during the 2018/2019 and 2020 virtual seasons.  

Haley has taught dance, as well, at the Academy of Russian Classical Ballet in Novi, MI, the Brookline Ballet, Jose Mateo Ballet Theater in Cambridge, the online streaming service Dancio, and more. She has also amassed considerable volunteer experience. She was a teaching assistant for children and young adults with Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder at United Dance. As a teaching assistant in Boston Ballet’s Adaptive Dance program, she taught dance to students with disabilities.  

“Haley has been perfecting her craft for nearly her entire life and is currently one of the best in the world at what she does for a living,” says College of Professional Studies Dean Jared Auclair. She has embraced every opportunity she has been given. “Having delayed a formal education to pursue a career in dance, I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to earn a degree in my own time,” Haley says. “My studies gave form and structure to my thoughts, inspiring new ways to engage with my art form and share it with others.” 

Assistant Director for Boston Ballet Russell Kaise says, “Haley exemplifies what it means to be a leader in our art form and beyond. A true force both on stage and in the studio, her constant sense of curiosity, passion, and humanity make her an inspiration to all that share the privilege of working with her.” 

Soon to graduate with a bachelor of science in Data Science and Mathematics—and a 3.95 GPA—Emeline Donovan is an innovator and proven leader. Khoury Senior Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Student Experience Benjamin Hescott says, “Emeline’s leadership abilities shine through in every endeavor she undertakes.” She transformed NU’s fencing club from a modest group of 20 members into a three-time national champion. She also spearheaded collaborative events such as Hora de Café with the LatinX Center and Queer Prom with the LGBTQ+ Resource Center.

Emeline received The Inclusive Husky award for her role as a resident assistant. When assigned to 60 Belvidere, a residence hall located a 10 to 15-minute walk from campus during her fourth year, she soon discovered the physical distance from campus had turned into an emotional distance for many students. “Wanting to bridge that gap, I proposed a collaboration between ResLife and the LatinX Student Cultural Center (LSCC) to host a Hora de Cafe event at 60 Belvidere.” A huge success, the event even drew residents and staff from neighboring dorms to celebrate Latin culture, comingle, and share food.

As an RA, she has shown “exceptional interpersonal skills, crisis management abilities, and the capacity to support students through their most challenging moments.” This is no surprise, as Emeline says, “A driving force within me is to help others through things I have struggled with myself.” Getting the visa, finding an apartment, and setting things up for her study abroad program in Spain at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid were challenging. However, after that semester, Emeline signed up to be a student alumni contact so that she could help others through the same process.

Emeline faced another challenge—trying to find a co-op. After several rejections, she decided to secure a summer internship. “I leveraged my network and landed an informational interview with a data scientist at HITE Hedge Asset Management, an energy hedge fund in Quincy.” Emeline discovered they were interested in technology she had recently used in her coursework and after demonstrating her capabilities, HITE offered her a paid summer internship. Because of Emeline, HITE joined Northeastern’s co-op program. HITE was so pleased with her that they offered her co-op and even a full-time job as a data scientist after graduation.

Most recently, Emeline was one of 10 students nationwide selected from 6,000 applicants for Deutsche Bank’s summer internship program in New York City. “I capitalized on Northeastern’s resources—securing housing through Educational Housing Services—and gained further experience at the intersection of technology and finance.”

Her proudest achievement? It’s a tie. Emeline says, “[LSCC] taught me that when you intentionally create spaces where everyone feels welcome, people show up.” Molding the co-op set her up for success. “It made me feel as though I had leveraged all the resources NEU provides to their fullest capacity and truly embodied a Northeastern student.”

To call Helena D’Alessandro a multi-tasker is an understatement. She balances her role as a DMSB co-op peer mentor with on-campus leadership responsibilities, her own active job search, taking a full course load—all while working 20 hours per week. In addition, she has been on the Dean’s list every semester and maintains a 3.84 GPA.

Wait. There’s more. Helena has already begun her first post-college job even before graduation—a sustainability analyst for Sustainable Fitch, part of Fitch Group, in New York City. “I hope to deepen my expertise in sustainable finance, ESG analysis, entity ratings, second-party opinions (SPOs), and green bond market assessments,” she says. In two years, her plan is to pursue a master’s degree focused on climate finance or sustainable business.

Helena has been a powerhouse at Northeastern, both on campus and in the broader community. As a co-op peer mentor, she supported more than 40 students per semester with resume development, interview preparation, networking strategies, and navigating the co-op search process. She began as a junior investment analyst and is now co-director of venture advisory for NUImpact, Northeastern University’s impact investment fund. She and her co-director designed a Venture Advisory program to support Northeastern students building impact-driven startup companies connect to venture capital funding opportunities. Through this work, she says, “I combined my interests in sustainability, entrepreneurship, and finance while contributing to a growing ecosystem of student-led impact investing on campus.” She considers it her most significant achievement and says, “It was not simply about holding a leadership title but also about helping build something new that could have a lasting impact beyond my own time at the university.”

Even with her multiple responsibilities, Helena says, “I was involved in organizations that supported my personal and creative interests, including CHAARG and No Limits Dance Crew, which gave me community through fitness and dance.” In the community, Helena participated in service initiatives such as the Prison Project, working with a team of students to design and deliver a workshop on AI and entrepreneurship for incarcerated individuals at the South Bay House of Correction. She also regularly volunteered at Council for University Programs (CUP) events.

Helena participated in two co-ops, including one at the European Public Law Organization (EPLO), Institute for Sustainable Development, in Legrena, Sounion, Greece. While there, she produced content to promote involvement in EU Missions, the Earthshot Prize, South3E Project, and UN SDGs. “I developed an enormous sense of independence, adaptability and cultural agility, while gaining firsthand exposure to sustainability initiatives, impact-oriented work, and international collaboration.” More recently, Helena took part in a sustainable investing co-op at Wellington Management in Boston.

DMSB Co-op Coordinators Erin Salomon and Jen Guillemin say, “Students like Helena who lead with integrity, give back to their community, and do so with consistency and grace are exactly the kind of people this award was created to recognize.”

Don’t be surprised if you see the name “Grayson Bunting” on the national political stage before long. A member of the John Martinson Honors Program with a 3.76 GPA, Grayson is carving his path in politics and international affairs.

Grayson is a semifinalist for the U.S. ETA Fullbright Scholarship to Bosnia and Herzegovina and hopes to return to
the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York as a paralegal before attending law school. In 2024, he completed a co-op there and served on the national security prosecution team aiding assistant U.S. attorneys in preparing for—and trying—high-profile criminal cases. These required close collaboration with several U.S. government agencies, including the FBI, the DEA, and the Department of State. His later co-op was with Ropes & Gray LLP, where he produced the firm’s daily “In the News” communication that is distributed to more than 800 recipients.

During his time at Northeastern, Grayson has contributed to many events and organizations. He has been a Northeastern presidential ambassador, a 2025 Dialogue of Civilization program assistant, CSSH ambassador, lead peer mentor and peer mentor, CSSH co-op teaching assistant, and more. Additionally, Grayson was on the founding e-board of NU’s Alexander Hamilton Society chapter, the nation’s preeminent nonpartisan organization that promotes constructive debate on basic American principles and contemporary issues in economic, statecraft, foreign policy, and national security. 

Grayson is a Huntington 100 honoree, named Beta Theta Pi fraternity Brother of the Year 2025, and won first place—raising nearly $20,000—in the Take it to the Floor Charity Team Dance Competition. He also volunteered for the United Nations Association of Greater Boston

As a bachelor of science in International Affairs and International Business candidate, Grayson has had the opportunity to study in his field internationally. He participated in “Balkan War and Peace” in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Greece, as well as “The Old and New Middle East” in Egypt, Jordan, and UAE, and NU in London.

Grayson says his greatest achievement has been serving as the lead peer mentor for the International Affairs department, supporting new students as they navigate their way. “It has been incredibly meaningful to contribute to the same department that shaped my own academic journey,” he says, “and to play a small part in fostering the next generation of globally minded students.”

Associate Director, Undergraduate Recruitment Programs Krissy Maloney says, “He is the perfect student to have talk about our college and what we can offer to prospective and admitted students because he has taken advantage of just about every opportunity we have.”

Undoubtedly, countless doors of opportunity will open for Grayson during his career.

Warda Ahmed is leading a life dedicated to service, a quality that should serve her well in her intended career as a physician. She has been part of Project 351, a youth-centered nonprofit that selects one eighth grader from every town in Massachusetts to lead community service initiatives, since she was in middle school. She also organized large-scale food and clothing drives in her community.

Now nearing college graduation, Warda’s commitment to service has only increased. She is still working with Project 351, but now in a leadership role, supporting two major statewide events each year as the welcoming lead, who provides transportation support, handles hotline outreach, and serves on the medical team as an EMT. Additionally, as a part of the Alternative Breaks program for two years, she co-led a team of 10 volunteers to Seattle to serve with Urban ArtWorks, painting a mural honoring a Northeastern grad student who lost her life to police violence. Most recently, she co-led a trip to London to serve with Granville Community Kitchen, an organization that addresses food insecurity and community displacement due to gentrification.

Much of Warda’s service has been in the medical field. As a volunteer at Boston Community Pediatrics, she helped the Care Navigation and Administration team support patients’ needs outside the clinic, such as

enrolling them in summer camps. She was also a pediatrics surgery volunteer and front desk greeter at Massachusetts Eye & Ear.

Warda is also an outstanding academic with a 3.99 GPA in biochemistry. She has been named to the Huntington 100 and Dean’s List, recognized as an Advancing Women in Science Scholar, and is a recipient of the Condit Award. Professor Jude Matthews says, “Her intellectual ability, generosity, and professionalism set her apart, and she represents the very best of our students.”

“In each of her two co-ops, Warda demonstrated a thoughtful approach to gaining real world experience,” says College of Science Associate Director of Co-op Jacquelyn MacDonald. “She was both careful and creative as she considered opportunities alongside her goal to pursue a career in medicine.” Warda’s first co-op was as a biology researcher at Larkspur Biosciences. As a patient care technician in general and vascular surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Wanda improved comfort and recovery for patients through wound care, mobility, and post-operative monitoring.

That’s not the extent of Warda’s accomplishments. She’s also been a knack tutor, peer mentor, and teaching assistant.

“Northeastern shaped not only how Warda has studied, but who she has become,” says MacDonald. “Warda is someone who brings professionalism, warmth, humor and genuine purpose to every environment she enters.”

After a gap year for research, Warda hopes to attend medical school.

Kaitlin Bondi’s involvement at Northeastern has contributed to trends and ideas that are expected to influence the future. A senior in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences with a 4.0 GPA, she is a founding member of—and the only Bouvé student on—the Northeastern Artificial Intelligence (AI) Student Advisory Board that works with university leaders to define Northeastern’s position as a leader and innovator in the age of AI.

As an executive board member of Northeastern’s Healthcare Innovation Core, ViTAL, Kaitlin has created and led programming for networking events and professional development workshops designed to help students succeed in their future careers. Additionally, Kaitlin has served on multiple Bouvé advisory councils and has been a STEM peer tutor for the College of Science. As a Bouvé Fellow, she has been a peer mentor and student leader for first-year health students.

Kaitlin’s academic research is outstanding. As a contributor to Northeastern’s CaNCURE program—cancer nanomedicine research—at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, she explored clinical and epidemiological correlates of monoclonal gammopathies and published a peer-reviewed abstract for the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, one of the most prestigious conferences in hematology and oncology research.

She’s proudest of her capstone project, however, and says, “I am developing educational materials for patients at the Center for Early Detection and Interception of Blood Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who are diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathies, including monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and smoldering multiple myeloma.” This area of disease is relatively unknown to the general population, and Kaitlin hopes to strengthen patient understanding and lessen provider burden.

Besides being an important member of the Northeastern community, Kaitlin also contributes to the Boston community as a Playspace Activity Leader (PAL) at Horizons for Homeless Children. Previously, she was a student volunteer for Victory Programs where she assembled harm reduction kits to individuals experiencing hardships and helped in the planning and execution of the annual Mission Hill Road Race.

In recognition of her outstanding academic record, Kaitlin has been inducted into the Northeastern Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the national health pre-professional honor society. “Over the past four years, Kaitlin has grown into an impressive leader, scholar, researcher and clinician,” Bouvé Dean Carmen Sceppa says. “It is rare to see the combination of competence and humility, leadership, and intelligence that Kaitlin demonstrates.”

Before attending medical school in 2027, Kaitlin plans to travel, spend quality time with family and friends, and work in the medical field.

“[Mikhail “Misha” Ankudovych] creates memorable moments, mentors his peers, and helps shape the Northeastern community in every corner of student life,” says Adriana Garza, senior year experience officer at Northeastern. Misha makes an impact on all he does, whether it’s serving in Student Government (SGA), leading at the NU Doghouse, assisting in the classroom, or manning the suicide hotline.

Now about to graduate with a B.S. in Data Science and Economics and a 3.96 GPA, Misha is a leader among his peers. He has been on the SGA executive board for three years. His love for hockey led him to the NU Doghouse, where he helped coordinate travel and group tickets to get fans to games across Hockey East. Additionally, he is chair of the Senior Year Experience Board and prepares seniors for the transition from being students to alumni by coordinating social and professional events.

Misha’s academic life is equally impactful. He has been a research assistant on two projects. He validated a machine learning algorithm used to study gender dynamics in economic seminars for the Community 2 Community Impact Engine and completed qualitative coding for a privacy-related paper within the Khoury College Computer Science. Currently, he is exploring options to publish his undergraduate thesis, in which he created an 11.4 million-large dataset on a simulated economy studying trade interdependence and conflict onset.

His experiential learning has gone beyond research. Misha completed a Dialogue of Civilizations in Israel studying

international consulting. He participated in a co-op at Northeastern Library’s Digital Scholarship Group supporting data pipelining and visualizations with the Massachusetts Historical Society. Misha’s passion for hockey resulted in a project management internship with the National Hockey League. He also was a station management intern with Amtrak and a market risk quantitative model development intern for J.P. Morgan Chase.

Of his many achievements, Misha says working with the NU Doghouse during Matthews Arena’s final year is his most significant. “As the historic arena prepared to close, we worked to ensure it received the send-off it

deserved while maintaining the strong student atmosphere that had long defined Northeastern hockey,” he says. During the final game at the arena, Misha and other Doghouse leaders organized student crowds to hoist “Thank You Matthews” signs at puck drop. The event received considerable media attention.

Misha is a member of the University Honors Program and was a nominee for the CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award. After graduation, he will relocate to Washington, D.C., to work as a forward deployed software engineer helping government organizations and their partners use data more effectively and securely to support critical public missions.

“Misha is a connector and will help find the resource needed or lend a helping hand,” says Garza. “He will always be the first to lead by example and step up to the task at hand and engage the group to follow.”

I believe in servant leadership,” says Marcy Reyes, MS’14, with a passion so fervent that it can be felt through the phone. “Living in my authenticity is supporting my students however I can. I want to guide them and encourage them more than anything. I want them to come out with a ton of expertise and knowledge that peers in their field aren’t going to have. As they say, the juice is worth the squeeze.”

Reyes has always been the type of person who strives for what she wants in life. After a successful undergraduate career where she thrived academically and found her passion for finance, she set her sights on one of the country’s most prestigious M.S. in Finance programs at Northeastern University.

While earning her degree, Reyes was able to combine her professional interest in finance with her selfless worldview by learning teaching techniques for financial strategy. She took her first plunge into the world of education after graduation through a Northeastern alumni mentorship program. “I mentored a handful of Northeastern undergraduate students,” she explains. “I believe in giving back. It was important to me to stay involved and help some of the students after concluding my master’s program.”

Reyes makes it very clear that her career goals are rooted in servant-based leadership—an approach to leadership that focuses on serving others and empowering them to achieve their own success. She credits Northeastern with providing the tools that helped her shape these goals. “Northeastern played a really important role in my servant leadership style,” she says. “It had a huge impact. It gave me the confidence to embrace very complicated concepts, pull them apart, and build from there.”

Upon graduation, she entered the workforce and climbed the ladder at Commonwealth Care Alliance, ascending to a senior director position. Additionally, she has held adjunct professor positions at both Rhode Island College and Providence College, teaching personal finance, financial analysis, and financial concepts to undergraduate students. However, her true passion for teaching shines at Financial Literacy Youth Initiative—colloquially known as FLY—a nonprofit she founded to teach financial strategies and empower youths in underserved communities.

“My education at Northeastern led me to teaching undergraduates. Through those experiences, I began to identify gaps in access to financial literacy, which is where FLY came from,” she says. “I don’t think it’s fair that because I could afford it, I could embrace the big opportunities.”

Founded in 2017, FLY has now expanded from 300 students per year to an average of 2,500—with as many as 7,500 participating at any given time, and programming becoming available across the Northeast. Despite these large numbers, FLY still curates financial literacy curricula to reflect individuals’ personal life experiences, whether in financial planning, investing, insurance, or other related areas.

It’s very clear that Reyes is on a trajectory that will not only make a positive impact on her professional career, but also on the lives of thousands of people—and she’s only just beginning. “My confidence came from Northeastern,” she says. “It played a very important role in where FLY is today and what it is going to be. Without my education there, I don’t know if I would have been able to set up a nonprofit on my own or get it to where it is now.”

Scholar. Leader. Researcher. Innovator. Humanitarian. That’s Donté Lewis, whose major is cell and molecular biology. He might also add bookworm, food enthusiast, nature observer, and chef to the list.

Donté is deeply involved in Northeastern’s culture. He’s vice president of the College of Science Student Leadership Council; vice president of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; president of the Biology Club; treasurer of Northeastern’s National PanHellenic Council; member of the College of Science Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice Committee; community guide for the First-Gen Low-Income Office; and trip leader for two alternative Spring Break trips through the Office of Community Service and Civic Engagement.

During a sample management co-op at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Donté piloted a capability model to highlight the hindrances and cost efficiencies for in-lab quality control chemists and microbiologists. He is a dean’s research fund scholar at the Sive Laboratory at Northeastern and was a research assistant at Hope Lab of the National Institute on Drug Abuse in the National Institutes of Health.

Denise Douglas, program coordinator of the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute, says of Donté, “His academic record alone reflects an unyielding pursuit of knowledge.” His first research project explored the neurochemical interactions between gut bacteria and addictive behaviors. His second provided novel insight into hippocampal involvement in addiction relapse.

Donté was a key organizer for the 2025 Black in Science speaker series. “His leadership in this initiative has created a space for mentorship, networking, and inspiration for students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM,” Douglas says. Donté considers being a fall 2024 initiate into the Beta Alpha Chapter for Phi Beta Sigma, Inc., to be his greatest achievement. “Being able to be a part of something greater than myself while serving my community is everything I strive to stand for,” he says.

During his time at Northeastern, Donté has been honored with a PEAK Ascent Award twice, named to the Huntington 100, served as a Torch Scholar, and was a COS Science Connects to Innovation Award recipient.

After graduation, Donté plans to work for in biotechnology while pursuing a master’s in the life sciences. Later, he will apply to graduate schools to pursue a doctorate.

“He is the kind of student who brings his full self to every space, merging academic brilliance with a deep sense of purpose and community,” says Douglas.

Throughout Chinonso Morsindi’s five-year academic journey, she has achieved academic excellence, inspired leadership, and exhibited professional development. Chinonso is set to graduate from the D’Amore-McKim School of Business with a 3.77 GPA.

Chinonso is president of the Black Business Student Association (BBSA), and planned the group’s inaugural Black Professionals Conference, a landmark event that fostered connections between students and industry leaders. She has been a peer mentor for the Office of Student Engagement, Affinity, and Inclusion; a Summer Bridge leader; and a BUSN1102 mentor. As a legacy peer mentor at the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute, Chinonso helped increase retention and graduation rates for students of color by providing academic and professional mentorship.

“Establishing BBSA’s Inaugural Black Professionals Conference was one of the biggest highlights of my college career,” says Chinonso. “It dedicated a space for students from around Boston to connect with leaders that look like them, while also helping them explore various pathways to breaking into their desired profession.”

Last year, Chinonso presented her international affairs capstone research project, “Harnessing Africa’s Growing Influence on the 21st Century Global Stage,” at the RISE Expo. She received the 2024 Srinivasan Grant for Projects in Emerging Markets to develop and publish her findings. Chinonso’s global experiences include six months at the IÉSEG School of Management in Paris in 2023, and a field study on sustainable energy in Denmark in March 2025 that culminated in a presentation of a case study on CarbFix, an Icelandic carbon capture company.

Chinonso participated in a strategic tech partnership and project management co-op with Boston Consulting Group, and a case team assistant co-op with L.E.K. Consulting. She was an ESG reporting analyst for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in New York, a corporate venture capital analyst with HP Tech Ventures, and a corporate banking summer analyst for HSBC USA. Chinonso’s passion for technology and innovation led her to join the Break Through Tech AI Fellowship at MIT, where she and other students developed an algorithm for the startup hedge fund Cashew Capital. The project enabled her to bridge the gap between AI and business.

The consensus from the Dean’s Office at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business is that Chinonso’s experiences shaped her into dynamic leader, scholar, and changemaker. There is a level of confidence that upon graduating in May, she will leverage her knowledge, skills, and leadership to drive innovation and create equitable opportunities in academia, business, and society.

Before beginning her PhD program in August through the Biochemistry, Quantitative Biology, Biophysics and Structural Biology Track at Yale University, Diana Turrieta will continue to help and support minority students. This summer, she will be a TA in chemistry and algebra for high school students in the Mathematics and Science for Minority Students Program at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, a program she took part in during high school.

Diana has been active in Northeastern’s PODER (Prosperity Ownership Determination Empowerment Resilience) Early Arrival Program. She directed a five-day early arrival program that assists first-generation, Latinx and/or undocumented/DACA students for a successful transition to university life. This, Diana says, is her proudest achievement.

“I have mentored a number of students, built community, and helped students become leaders,” she shares.

Diana has also held several positions in Northeastern’s Latin American Student Organization, helping to strengthen the group through positive relationships and management. As a FUNL program assistant, she organizes events and develops resources for the Latinx community.

With all her community involvement, Diana has kept on top of her studies. She will graduate with a 3.974 GPA and has won research awards, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) in 2025; the Genetic Information Honorable Mention Poster at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Annual Conference; ASBMB’s Student Chapter Travel Award; the Huntington 100; the Princeton University 2024 MolBio Scholars; and the Northeastern University Garnet Award.

Diana participated in the AJC Merit Research Scholar co-op with the Dr. Tovah Day Laboratory at Northeastern, and the Prime Editing Platform co-op at Prime Medicine, Inc. Diana is “outstanding in the classroom, in the laboratory, and as a member of our community. She has an impressive trajectory,” says Day. “Diana has grown to operate at the level of a graduate student in my lab, and has made remarkable contributions. She’s singularly clear-headed, presents with confidence, clarity, and insight, and brings an entrepreneurial spirit,” Day adds.

Diana has also served as a biochemistry peer mentor and a Campus Crossroads information attendant.

Biochemistry Program Director Professor Kirsten Ferteck says, “Diana is a highly energetic, curious, and empathetic student who has been serving as an ideal role model for our students. She is an accomplished biochemistry researcher with an impressive academic record, and is also a recognized champion of the underserved communities that she is passionate about,” says Ferteck.

Most people go to college and then grow into their careers. Chisako Oga-Cunningham is not like most people. She already has a lucrative career as a principal dancer with the Boston Ballet, and will soon be a Northeastern University graduate.

Chisako is currently one of the best in the world in her profession. She is also a realist, aware that a career in dance has a short timeline. Her leadership in the classroom has given her a promising second career. Chisako is on track to receive a B.S. in finance and accounting management, and hopes to pursue graduate studies and earn her Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential. In the meantime, she plans to fully dedicate herself to dancing while also seeking internship opportunities to gain valuable on-the-job experience.

Chisako served as an ambassador for the partnership between the Boston Ballet and Northeastern, providing testimonials for donors, guiding prospective students, and sharing insights with dancers. Outside of Northeastern, she’s taken on leadership roles that align with her values, mentoring two ballet students through a program between the Boston Ballet and the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. She was also a union delegate for the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), advocating for safer and fairer working conditions.

“Pursuing a degree through Northeastern has been a dream realized,” Chisako says, “I’ve worked hard to ensure that my academic performance reflects the same level of commitment and discipline I bring in the studio.” She is most proud of balancing a rigorous professional ballet career with academics and assures others that it’s possible to balance a career and education.

Chisako has performed major roles in countless ballets and has been lauded for her talent. She received a bronze medal at the 2018 USA International Ballet Competition, was listed among the 25 to Watch by Dance magazine in 2018, and received a silver medal at the 2016 Shanghai International Ballet Competition.

Veronica Horne, the Boston Ballet’s company manager says, “Chisako is a textbook role model for her colleagues, making Boston Ballet proud of her continued accomplishments on and off stage.”

Chisako says, “The partnership between the Boston Ballet and Northeastern has opened the opportunity for me to continue my education. Not only does it make it possible for me to earn a bachelor’s degree while working full-time as a dancer, but the scholarship helps me to do so while feeling financially stable.”

Mya Leonardo, who will graduate with a 4.0 GPA in biology, is narrowly taking a break before she starts attending Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine in July 2025. This pace is not unusual for Mya, as she has been a powerhouse on campus and in the community throughout her time on campus.

Since 2022, Mya has chaired the Student Philanthropy Council, helping educate the student body on philanthropy’s power and its role in shaping students’ experience on campus. “Mya has shown remarkable resilience and dedication,” says Director, Student Engagement + Philanthropy C. Hawkins. “She led through the natural growing pains of a new organization—navigating shifts in member engagement and leadership—while never losing sight of the council’s purpose.” She’s also proud of the way she has grown SPC. “I developed a whole new perspective on the values that encompass Northeastern and why certain things on campus are carried out the way that they are.” That helped her inform the student body of the importance of donations—and donor’s choice.

Mya has been a tutor and gala committee member for EVkids and a Husky Ambassador. For Miss America Opportunity, she has volunteered more than 600 hours at various community events. She’s committed to helping children and has tied that into her plans to become a dentist. She hosts free oral hygiene workshops for after-school programs and schools across Massachusetts. She also hosts the Smart Smiles Toothbrush Drive, collecting and donating more than 800 toothbrushes plus toothpastes for schools and shelters across the state. In addition, she also published her first children’s book, Maggie and Her Powerful Braces. “Maggie’s story has helped kids across the Commonwealth find confidence through their smile and not letting the bullies’ negative words overpower you.”

Mya has not yet begun dental school, yet she has become a licensed dental assistant, earning about 2,000 clinical hours assisting procedures in general dentistry, pediatrics, orthodontics, periodontics, and dentistry for patients with special needs. “Providing care for patients with special needs brought so much joy to me,” she says, “because it was all about having patience and being adaptable to provide for the patient in a way that was geared to their needs.”

In addition to becoming a dental assistant, Mya is certified in CPR, AED, radiology and infection control. A member of Northeastern TriBeta Biological Honor Society, Mya is a member of the ASDA Pre-Dental Advisory Committee, and debate team member, as well as the public relations chair and mentor of Northeastern University Pre-Dental Association. She is founder of EMPOWER and EMPOWER Workshops in Dartmouth,  and holds weekly “Mindsets with Mya” podcasts and blog postings to help spread inclusion and a positive mindset.

Hawkins says, “Her leadership, volunteer spirit, academic integrity, and deep commitment to Northeastern are undeniable. She is exactly the kind of student who becomes a lifelong ambassador for the university.”

“An interdisciplinary marvel” is how Senior Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Student Experience, Khoury College of Computer Sciences Ben Hescott refers to Shannen Espinosa. She has worked in labs from Boston to London—focusing on neuroendocrinology at Boston Children’s Hospital; exploring the role of quantum computing in international law at the UN office in Geneva; studying the development of universal coronavirus vaccines at Corbett-Helaire’s Harvard biomedical lab; and merging biomedical research with computational biology in a study of Alzheimer’s disease at Oxford University.

Back home in Boston, Shannen began entering computing hackathons because she wanted “to explore how quantum computing could support biomedical innovation.” She won first place at the IBM Challenge at MIT for creating an app to facilitate organ donation, leading her to receive the Social Impact Award and an invitation to represent the U.S. in April 2025 at the International Hackathon for Social Good in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

On campus, Shannen served as a teaching fellow for courses like neurobiology and advanced programming with data. She introduced young students to robotics at a local Spanish-English bilingual elementary school, and during the pandemic, she worked with the state’s COVID-19 testing and vaccination units. Further, she volunteered as a medical assistant with the Philippine Medical Association of New England, teaching English to Syrian medical students through the nonprofit Paper Airplanes.

Interning with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, she helped build a five-year plan to address the racial health equity gap in the state. Then she headed to Washington, D.C., as an intern for Congresswoman Lori Trahan, working on legislation that included the End Neglected Tropical Disease Act and topics such as the Disease X Act. Shannen was also nominated by the World Health Organization to serve as a working group leader at YOUNGA, the world’s largest global youth summit for social impact.

She is most proud of representing Northeastern in global quantum competitions. “I wouldn’t have even thought to mix quantum computing and humanitarian work if it weren’t for the United Nations DOC program I did through Northeastern two years ago,” she says. “It’s what kicked off this whole journey, and it’s what now drives my work on the XPRIZE in Quantum Applications, where our goal is to build something that could actually help solve a real-world, unsolved problem.”

A semifinalist for Fulbright Scholarship, Shannen will join the U.S. Naval Nuclear Laboratory in Switzerland as a Womanium Fellow after graduation, studying quantum benchmarking of Majorana fermion systems and exploring the implications for topological qubit architecture. She also plans to continue competing in the three-year global XPRIZE; her team is designing a fault-tolerant quantum framework capable of modeling a high-fidelity representation of the human cell.

Playwright, actor, songwriter, singer, scholar—that’s Ashley DiLorenzo in a nutshell. The multitalented, soon-to-be Northeastern grad has penned eight plays, co-produced two Off-Broadway developmental workshops of new musicals, won the 2021 Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and American Theatre Wing, and performed in front of many theatrical audiences.

Ashley has participated in various theatre department productions and capstone festivals since arriving on campus. She’s performed in six NU Stage productions and worked as mainstage assistant director and revue costume designer. Seven times she’s submitted 10-minute plays to Silver Masque, acting, designing, directing, and producing some of them. She founded Hear Your Song Northeastern, the university chapter of a national nonprofit that brings collaborative songwriting to kids and teens with severe health needs. Ashley considers it to be her most significant achievement. “Starting a club that meets the needs and standards of both the university and the national organization was no easy feat. Neither was recruiting the number of talented musicians that sit on our executive board today,” she says. “It merges my passions for music and giving back with my developing organizational leadership skills.”

Outside of Northeastern, Ashley volunteered with Disney VoluntEARS for the Warrior Games and Give Kids the World. In 2024, she was a trip services professional intern for Disney Signature Experiences, supporting high-profile guests and creating new databases for physical and digital inventory. She worked on co-op at the Huntington Theatre in Boston where she managed annual local equity principal auditions (EPA) for actors, wrote and edited character breakdowns, evaluated scripts, and more. Ashley was also a casting intern for NBCUniversal, curating casting news, compiling lists of upcoming premiere dates, representing the team at BFA acting showcases, and welcoming talent.

Academic excellence is also on Ashley’s growing list of achievements. She holds a 3.9 GPA, membership to the Huntington 100, is a National Hispanic Scholar, a two-time Communications Department Junior Scholar, and is on the Dean’s List.

“Ashley is the kind of student who not only excels in every endeavor she undertakes but also leaves a lasting impact on those around her,” says associate teaching professor Samantha Richert Boehm. “I am confident that she will continue to inspire and lead beyond her time at Northeastern and into the world as a distinguished alumna.”

After graduation, Ashley will rejoin the Disney Signature Experiences team as a rotational associate in marketing strategy.

Sebastian Caicedo has demonstrated leadership and integrity in both his native Texas, in Boston, and at Northeastern. He is devoted to making the world a better place and taking on the plight of immigrants and the underserved.

In Texas, Sebastian interned with Dia de la Mujer Latina, a community health organization, and helped inform the public about COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic. He also interned with CollegeCommunityCareer, which helps first-generation and low-income students pursue higher education.

Within the Boston community, Sebastian volunteered with Community Servings, a nonprofit that tackles food insecurity, where he packaged medically tailored meals for people with chronic conditions. He also served as a teaching assistant at Immigrant Family Services Institute, helping Haitian American immigrants practice their English language skills.

While maintaining an impressive 3.985 GPA at Northeastern, Sebastian, as an EMPOWER Student of Collective Fellow at the Social Justice Resource Center, initiated programs that address the needs of underrepresented students. As a SQUAD coordinator for EMERGE, he mentors 24 first-generation low-income students. Since starting his academic career at Northeastern, Sebastian has worked with the Center for Intercultural Engagement, maintaining its day-to-day functions and hosting events concerning student wellness. He is also a sexual violence prevention education at the Office of Prevention and Education.

Sebastian instituted a university-wide career fair for 15 Black/African American and Hispanic/Latin American students to get connected with co-op, internships, and full-time opportunities. This, he says, is his most significant achievement. Unforeseen challenges arose leading up to the event, so he had to manage the budget, supply orders and personnel logistics. “I learned how my resilience and courage enable me to persevere and confront difficult, uncertain situations head on,” he says. “I also discovered my passion for empowering others, especially those from historically marginalized backgrounds via identity-centered work dismantling access barriers.”

A recipient of many scholarships, awards, and grants, Sebastian will pursue his PlusOne Master of Public Health degree from Northeastern.

Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Program Director of Bouvé College of Health Sciences Samantha Barbers, PhD, says, “In the current complex environment, the world needs more Sebastians who are committed to doing hard work to implement and improve evidence-based practices that benefit multiple constituencies.”

“Clara Barsoum is the definition of leadership, service and volunteerism, academic integrity, and commitment to Northeastern,” says Kelliann Henry, associate director of undergraduate student engagement at CSSH. “While Clara is a student I have supervised, I also consider her a colleague in the work of social justice leadership on campus and beyond.”

Since arriving on campus, Clara has been instrumental in the work of the FUNL (First-Generation, Undocumented, Low-Income) Network at Northeastern. She researched the impact of academic probation policies on FUNL students and presented recommendations to the Persistence Advising Network, a collective of Northeastern professional advising staff. As a direct result, many of the advising teams updated their academic probation notification letters, language, and approaches to better align with research-based recommendations to best support student success.

A double major in political science and communication studies and philosophy with a 3.85 GPA, Clara is also an active member of the Politics, Philosophy and Economics Club, the Empower Student of Color Collective, and the Arab Student Association. Additionally, she has been a peer mentor in the CSSH department and a program assistant co-op in the Massachusetts Governor’s Office of Access and Opportunity. She has also held roles within the Center for Intercultural Engagement and the Social Justice Resource Center. Within the larger community, she has served as assistant director of the Boston Intercollegiate Government’s DEI Committee and has volunteered for Boston Cares and the Boston Outdoor Preschool Network.

Besides her involvement in social justice, Clara is an artist who collages, draws, and makes jewelry. She organized the creation of five murals for community organizations, hosted Northeastern’s first-ever Art Social, and collaborated with the Social Justice Resource Center and EXP Makerspace to host an Art as Resistance workshop.

Clara is also the recipient of several awards: the Dean’s List, the Political Science Honors Society, the Leaves of Growth Award, the Communication Studies Department Distinguished Scholar Award, the PEAK Award, the First-Generation Social Justice Advocacy Award, and the Huntington 100.

Henry says, “Clara’s accomplishments highlight that it is possible to excel in one’s own academic and professional development while also maintaining a commitment to serving others and advocating for social justice, representing the very best of Northeastern students.”

After graduation, Clara plans to work in the nonprofit sector for a year or two before attending graduate school.

“When I think of students who best embody the values of Northeastern and in particular the ideas of these awards, I think of [Gabrielle Bailey]” says Tim Lannin, her professor and associate chair for undergraduate affairs in BIOE. “A great purpose drives Gabi—that of helping people.”

Gabrielle has proven that countless times during her years at Northeastern. Deeply engaged in Jewish life on campus, Gabrielle is vice president of social programming of Hillel. Her initiatives have brought students together and fostered a lasting sense of community. She chaired the Tikkun Olam committee during her junior year and built partnerships with service organizations across Boston. For example, she organized cooking nights for On the Rise, a women’s shelter, and cookie baking with developmentally disabled adults. Associate Director of Hillel Jen Stone says of Gabrielle, “Her ability to seamlessly manage logistics while ensuring that all voices are heard and valued speaks to her interpersonal intelligence and leadership maturity.”

Gabrielle also volunteers at Hebrew Senior Life, where she paints residents’ nails, visits them in their homes, and helps with community events. She is particularly proud of the intergenerational dances she arranges there. “A live band consisting of Northeastern, Brandeis, and MIT students performed oldies for a dancing crowd of student volunteers and senior residents,” she says.

Academically, she also excels. Gabrielle has a 3.98 GPA and has impressive research and clinical experience. Her capstone project was to design, prototype, and evaluate processes to improve the efficiency of algae as a biofuel. She was the second author of The Influence of Experimental Environment on the Mechanical Properties of Porcine Iris Stroma Using Micro-Indentation through the Laboratory for Soft Tissue Biomechanics. Fred Sebastian, PhD, mentored Gabrielle on this project and says, “She mastered MATLAB efficiently, coding essential components with precision and initiative. Gabi was not only eager to learn but also consistently sought out new ways to contribute, often anticipating project needs before they arose.”

In 2024, Gabrielle was a research intern at the Marcus Institute for Healthy Aging Research, Hebrew Senior Life, and a full-time inpatient nursing assistant at BIDMC—Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center—in Boston. “On a bustling cardiology floor, I learned that true character is a conscious, often challenging choice,” she says. She endured log hours and physical exhaustion, still choosing “compassion over convenience.” She says, “This intense experience underscored my desire to help patients and left an indelible mark on my approach to both care and research.”

After graduation in May 2025, Gabrielle plans to take two gap years as she applies for medical school. She will work as a clinical research coordinator at a Boston lab studying delirium prevention in older patients with insomnia.

Bob Deacy, CJ’80, never imagined his Northeastern social sciences degree would eventually lead to a long career in the energy industry. “I remember standing on top of an oil rig as we were drilling, and thinking to myself, ‘How did I get on top of an oil rig when I studied criminal justice?’” he recalls. Reflecting on a successful life built on seizing unexpected opportunities, Deacy notes, “It was all very surreal.”

Deacy’s professional journey began at Medford Vocational-Technical High School in Medford, Massachusetts, where he learned the basics of drawing, diagrams, and schematics that support an electrical education. However, at Northeastern, he pivoted towards criminal justice , graduating with a degree in the program’s namesake in 1980.

Deacy’s co-op experiences exposed him to different professional environments and allowed him to develop his leadership skills. At the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department, his first co-op, he participated in everything from working in corrections to transporting alleged offenders to court. Deacy’s second co-op at First Security, a leading Boston security company, introduced him to business orientation, business development, and personnel management , which laid the foundation for his burgeoning leadership skills. “I attribute some of the jobs that I had with progressing me within my career,” he says.

Deacy developed the framework for his first postgraduate position at Stone & Webster, one of the country’s largest engineering firms, by leveraging his experience in guard service and security systems analysis. In this new role, he helped with security programs for large-scale nuclear plants—not realizing that he was beginning to transition into his next career phase. After moving to Michigan, Deacy began developing the security system for a nuclear plant, where he learned about the industry while applying his background in criminal justice and electronics. From this foundation, he hopped from plant to plant and state to state, working in a number of capacities, from fire protection systems to plant operations, before settling into a role with the Carolina Power and Light Company.

Deacy applied these accrued experiences to new projects at Carolina Power and Light, including constructing natural gas power plants and the pipelines that fed them. “I went into heavy construction for these power plants and pipelines, and then another opportunity arose, where the company wanted to get into natural gas drilling,” he says. “A couple weeks of that turned into a couple years, and the next thing you know, I found myself as the president of a company called Winchester Energy in East Texas.”

At Winchester Energy, Deacy leaned on his Northeastern curriculum and experiences to help guide the company through a buyout from legendary oilmen T. Boone Pickens and Doug Miller. “A lot of the curriculum that I recalled from the criminal justice program dealt with constitutional law, contracts, and things of that nature,” he says. “When you deal in oil and gas, you deal with a lot of leases and overall contract law. My Northeastern degree would always come into play and match up perfectly.” Even his electives in geology proved useful—specifically looking at the formations of mountain ranges to find where the highest levels of oil and gas was being produced naturally.

Now, as senior vice president of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Clinch River Project, Deacy has started building new gas turbines in the pursuit of decarbonization, overseen teams that have helped execute major destruction and demolition projects, and currently leads the development of a new small modular nuclear reactor for the nation’s largest public energy provider. Reflecting on his journey, he credits his Northeastern education for shaping the path that ultimately brought him back to nuclear energy. “I started my career with nuclear reactors, and 45 years later, I’m back working with them. Life always seems to come full circle, and a lot of it I attribute to my education at Northeastern.”

I started my career with nuclear reactors, and 45 years later, I’m back working with them. Life always seems to come full circle, and a lot of it I attribute to my education at Northeastern.”

“If I could have told myself in high school that I was going to work for the mayor of Boston, who is the first female mayor of Boston [and]….a mom whose kids go to the same school as mine…I don’t think I would have believed you. I try to remember that, and it does put a lot of things in perspective because I feel very lucky that I have the job that I have,” says Ellen Quinn ‘SSH’13, MPA’18, who serves as director of state relations for the city of Boston aside Mayor Michelle Wu. 

As a high school student in Quincy, Massachusetts, Quinn participated in local political campaigns. When it was time to apply for colleges, she had her sights on Northeastern. Aside from the campus being close to her family, the university’s co-op program and the resources the College of Social Science and Humanities offered to its students—including having former governor Michael Dukakis as a professor—prompted Quinn to apply early decision, knowing she could fully explore her interest in politics. 

Majoring in political science, Quinn quickly built her resume by taking advantage of numerous influential experiences. After completing her first co-op working at the Massachusetts State House for State Senator Michael Morrissey, she packed her bags to live in London for 12 weeks as a part of the Hansard Society Scholars program. She split her time between taking courses at the London School of Economics and interning at the United Kingdom’s Parliament, where she got assigned to Shabana Mahmood, one of the first three Muslim women elected to serve as Members of Parliament. “It was fun because, at least [in the United States], with politicians, their staffs are like 15 or 20 people. But [Mahmood] had one staffer and then me.” This meant getting to frequently interact with Mahmood while learning the administrative operations of a government office and conducting research to support the MP’s efforts of opposing budget cuts and communicating with her district at a town hall in Birmingham.  

After her experience across the pond, Quinn did not settle in Boston for too long. For her second co-op, she worked in the Chief of Staff office in The White House during President Barack Obama’s first term. Some memorable moments include giving official White House tours to visitors, attending the official welcoming ceremony for then-UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and connecting with White House senior staff. This experience helped Quinn narrow down her post-graduate career aspirations as she learned that she preferred state politics over serving in a federal institution. In her experience, “national politics didn’t feel quite as tangential…I couldn’t really feel the impact [we] were making…I liked state and local [politics] because you were a bit closer to the work you were doing.” 

With this understanding, Quinn believed working at the Massachusetts State House would be the ideal landing spot after she graduated stating that she “basically sent [her] cover letter to every single legislator [she] could think of.” Among those recipients was Speaker Robert DeLeo—whose son also happened to be Quinn’s teaching assistant in one of her American Studies courses. “In my cover letter, I was like ‘Oh, I loved my time at Northeastern. If you can do anything for a fellow Husky, that would be great,’” she recalls. That one line caught the attention of Speaker DeLeo, a proud Northeastern alumnus and University Fellow for Public Life, that he called Quinn inviting her to interview—and later be hired—for an open position. 

Quinn would spend the next nine years working in the Office of House Speaker Robert DeLeo, serving as special events coordinator and director of operations. During that time, she would plan various ceremonies in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and staff Speaker DeLeo for events across the Commonwealth. Simultaneously, Quinn obtained her master’s degree in public administration through Northeastern’s part-time program. Looking back at that time, Quinn explains, “[It] was a really great experience. I met a lot of people from across Massachusetts, and I love doing that and learning more about the state…I feel lucky that I got there, especially through a Northeastern connection.”    

When Speaker DeLeo stepped down at the end of 2020, Quinn had to figure out her next move. Acting on an interest in working for the City of Boston she developed in her urban studies courses at Northeastern, Quinn became involved with the Boston mayoral election to replace Mayor Marty Walsh. Admiring Michelle Wu’s work as a city councilor, Quinn volunteered for Wu’s campaign. She can remember her excitement when mayor Michelle Wu was elected and credits a few statehouse connections for helping her land an interview for the new administration, for which she was hired as the director of state relations. Approaching her fourth anniversary in this position, Quinn recalls some significant wins. From securing the city of Boston a seat on the MBTA board to stopping a loud Department of Transportation noise that was disturbing a school in West Roxbury, she shares that her ability to enact real change for Bostonians every day in her role is fulfilling and keeps her optimistic when facing challenges in her field. 

As Quinn expresses her gratitude for her current role, it is clear that her determination was the ultimate catalyst in achieving her professional goals throughout her career. Her advice to students interested in getting involved in politics? Quinn says, “Be willing to try anything because there are so many different aspects of the job. You could be more interested in campaigning, you could be working at a legislative [or] do executive…[Being] open and willing to try everything and do all the groundwork is important.” The next generation of policy changemakers at Northeastern should take comfort in knowing that just two short miles from Huntington Avenue, they have a fellow Husky serving as a strong role model in Boston City Hall. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-quinn-3b64b441/ 

Growing up in Bahrain, Fatema Janahi, E’22, MS’22, was always interested in environmental sustainability. Inspired by dialogues on reforming economies to be less dependent on the gas and oil industry, Janahi believed she would pursue environmental science in higher education—therefore it was a surprise when she joined her after-school robotics program. Despite not being enrolled in her high school’s sole computer science class, Janahi recalls being drawn in by the Lego Mindstorm sets available to students in the lab. “It was more [of a] curiosity to begin with [as] you did not need to have [coding] knowledge,” explains Janahi. This accessibility for beginners led Janahi to attend her first local recycling-themed competition—where she qualified for an international round—and witnessed how her new hobby intersected with her primary passion. 

This would not be the last time that Janahi’s curiosity and ambition would cause her to stray from an expected path. Despite not having any family who had studied abroad before, she chose to pursue her higher education over 6,000 miles away from home at Northeastern, without ever visiting Boston. She first heard about Northeastern when some representatives from the university visited her high school. After seeing photos of the Boston campus, she believed it resembled the colleges she saw in popular films growing up and instinctively knew Northeastern would be the ideal school for her.   

During her first semester at Northeastern, Janahi realized she did not see herself pursuing a career in a lab environment, so she switched her major from environmental science to environmental engineering. While completing her core engineering requirements, she was enrolled in a class that included a robotics project. “I really liked the creativity that came with engineering…and I actually had to learn coding properly [which] was fun. I liked to see what I was doing move around.” Reconnecting with an abandoned area of interest caused her to make her final degree change by majoring in computer engineering. Additionally, she took advantage of a BS/MS program—today called PlusOne Program—that incorporated a master’s degree in engineering management, satisfying a collaborative aspect that was missing in her higher-level computer engineering courses.    

From living in a shared space for the first time in Hastings Hall to navigating a new city, Janahi admits that she dealt with culture shock. To mitigate this, it was vital for her to find a sense of community on campus. She joined Northeastern’s Arab Student Association, which she later became president of, and the Women’s Interdisciplinary Society of Entrepreneurship, colloquially known as WISE. In WISE, she spent one semester in the WeBuild cohort. “I had an idea for a digital agency because I love marketing, and I wanted to build a platform for small businesses. Instead of people trying to find them on Instagram, I built a directory where businesses could sign up and…list their business” in a centralized place.         

After she graduated from Northeastern, Janahi had to hit pause on her venture to focus on her first post-graduate role at Google. However, recently, she rebranded it under a new name, Palm, with her Bahrain-based business partner. Today, Janahi explains that Palm is an “e-commerce website” where designers in the Middle East and North African region can sell fashion apparel with an emphasis on community building “to empower people to work together.” The benefits of having these businesses collaborate are that they “get exposure from each other’s audiences,” and consumers can buy unique clothing pieces. Janahi’s innovative venture that gives back to her community back home earned her recognition for a 2024 Women Who Empower Innovator Award.    

With two Northeastern degrees and a business certificate via the Galante Engineering Business Program, Janahi began a new chapter in New York City as a technical program manager with Google’s cybersecurity team. She believes that her two co-op experiences, one as an embedded software engineer at Emphysys—a company that develops technology for the medical, life science, and industrial equipment industries—and another as a software engineer at Motorola, enabled her to empathize and communicate with her team of engineers. “Having been a software engineer, I understand how [engineers] see things and I can relate to what [they] go through. A lot of project management is change  management [and seeing] what works for your team.”    

Janahi plans to continue her role with Google and invest in Palm for the foreseeable future. She shares that she has enjoyed her unique experiences with the tech giant. From visiting the famed Google headquarters to traveling around the world, Fatema has come a long way from the young curious student in Bahrain. As to how she juggles her jam-packed schedule? Fatema can draw on the lessons she learned from a mentor she connected with through WISE. She reflects that Tracy Fink, a proponent of mindfulness and fellow Northeastern alumna, came into her life at the right time. “She would help center me when I needed it [as well as getting] me into really good habits like journaling and just taking a breath,” says Fatema. Equipped with all these foundational tools from Northeastern, Janahi is set to continue being a trailblazer in any industry she touches.     

You may have seen their viral blush star in countless TikTok makeup tutorials, heard about their recent celebrity-studded benefit to raise money for mental health resources, or know the beauty brand’s founder, actress and singer Selena Gomez. As a social media and content assistant manager, Louise Dechelle, AMD’18, understands the gravity of working at Rare. “The messaging behind the brand…being able to express your individuality and valuing mental health…it’s super empowering to be a part of that revolution and the next generation of beauty lovers because we’re not just posing and being pretty. It’s really about playing with makeup, making it your own, and loving the way you are. Love your rare, as our latest campaign says.” 

Growing up in France, Dechelle chose to specialize in language and literature for her international baccalaureate degree, where she studied English, Spanish, and Italian. When she learned about Northeastern at a college fair in Paris, the university’s global emphasis and co-op program immediately appealed to her. “[The co-op program] was super important to me because I know that’s how you build relations.”   

Entering Northeastern with dreams of working for National Geographic, Dechelle believed that majoring in journalism would best position her to obtain a co-op at the coveted company. After realizing that many of her journalism courses centered around American sports and politics—which she wasn’t too familiar with—Dechelle praises her advisors for accommodating her evolving interests by allowing her to design her degree. “I knew what kind of companies I wanted to work with, but I didn’t know how to get there. [My advisors] made it easy for me to create my degree…I was able to mix video with communications and digital art—and this whole social media world was still developing…I changed [my major] three times, but I was able to tick the boxes and still finish in five years.”  

Despite all the changes to her undergraduate degree, Dechelle remained in the College of Arts, Media and Design. The small class sizes allowed her to take artistic risks with her classmates and have valuable one-on-one time with her professors. She gives kudos to a handful of influential professors—including David Thames, Mira Cantor, Jamal Thorne, and John Kane—for encouraging her to trust her creative abilities and their expertise being constant sources of inspiration for Dechelle. 

Moreover, in one of her CAMD classes, Northeastern professor Michelle Carr organized a trip to Toth+Co, an advertising agency in Boston’s South End neighborhood. Dechelle, who recalls being impressed by the agency’s presentation, was ecstatic when her professor informed her that the connections she met at the office admired her inquisitiveness and offered her a co-op position. Looking back at that time, Dechelle says the energy of that environment was perfect for her first co-op experience. She vividly remembers her and the creative team exchanging their most outside-of-the-box ideas with Toth+Co’s CEO in anticipation of pitching to renowned companies like Lululemon or Coca-Cola. When she returned to Northeastern after this exciting experience, she had a newfound clarity to invest her creativity in a social media advertising career. 

For her second co-op, Dechelle lived out her dream of working at National Geographic Learning, where she focused on “assets for English second language speakers” while building “digital interfaces for apps” and proofreading content from a collaboration with Ted Talk. Reflecting on her co-op experiences, Dechelle believes that gaining perspective from a startup and a Fortune 500 company equipped her with a strong foundation in her post-graduate career journey, which began with a digital production freelancing position at National Geographic.   

Further, Dechelle embraced the chance to study abroad in New Zealand, a program she envisioned taking part in when a representative from Northeastern told her about the university’s global opportunities years prior. Taking courses on art conservation, she is grateful for an eye-opening field trip to an Indigenous town where she witnessed how one community preserves their culture in their everyday lives through their meal preparations and dances. Aside from that, exploring the country’s natural beauty was one of her highlights. “I think that’s why I moved to California. I could experience New Zealand again with the national parks,” Dechelle adds with a laugh. 

Her career at Rare is the other reason she planted her roots in California. As a member of the company’s marketing team, Dechelle aims to generate excitement for product reveals with posts on their social channels. Apart from massive launches that require the entire team’s participation, Dechelle shares that her manager “empowers” each team member by delegating different makeup items to them. When this occurs Dechelle’s tasks include “brainstorming the content for the product on all of our social channels, capturing the content, helping the community [in real life] events, gathering all the assets, briefing the creators for [user-generated content] campaigns…[and] just scouring social, finding ideas.” In her day-to-day life, she curates weekly newsletters for her team, a task she carried over from her time at an influencer marketing company, that features a rundown of new products, trends on social media, and an analysis of the creator market. 

Another aspect Dechelle loves about her team at Rare is how it resembles her favorite aspect of her time at CAMD. Being in a “women-fueled environment,” reminds her of the intimate “classes where you can share ideas” with your peers and grow from their feedback. Much like the brand’s mission, Dechelle adds that they are all aligned under the company-wide goal of creating content that “reflects the values that are inclusive [and] authentic.”    

As she continues to grow in her role, Dechelle hopes to be a leader who motivates others to find inspiration on social media while leading imaginative brainstorms with her co-workers. For now, Dechelle teases that 2025 already looks like an exciting year for Rare. As the lovers of the beauty company impatiently count down the hours until the new year, they can bet that with the creative insights from Dechelle, the social promotion for Rare will be flawless. 

“It’s a phenomenal education that you’re getting at Northeastern, says Nick Fanandakis, DMSB’79. This school is now thought to be one of the premier institutions that exists today, not only academically but also because of its second to none co-op program.”

Hailing from a suburb, south of Boston, and now living in Pennsylvania, Fanandakis took a winding path to Northeastern. After spending a year and a half at a college in Connecticut, he transferred to the Boston campus, drawn by his interest in Northeastern’s signature co-op program. “I really liked the idea of having the opportunity to try out the field that I believed I wanted to engage in once I graduated”, he says.

The co-op program allowed Fanandakis to calibrate his professional trajectory and opened the door for an illustrious career. His original plan was to graduate and work for one of the Big Eight accounting firms. However, after a co-op assignment, he decided he was better suited for the Industrial Sector. Fanandakis pivoted and after graduation went to work for the DuPont Company where he would spend the next 40 years of his professional career.

“When you graduated back in 1979, you would select your top three or four companies, that were visiting the campus to conduct a 45-minute sit down interview for future employment. If the company, due to scheduling, was unable to accommodate a full session you were permitted to conduct what was called a handshake interview. Here you would introduce yourself to the recruiter, provide them with a copy of your resume and tell them you are very interested in the company and would love the opportunity to have a more formal interview.” DuPont was one of those companies for Fanandakis, and that handshake interview led to him being hired as an accountant in Wilmington, Delaware.

Fanandakis spent the next four decades advancing at DuPont. Although he started in their accounting and business analysis division, he quickly moved into operations, sales, marketing, HR, and several other business roles where he held the titles of vice president and general manager, in addition to Group Vice President. In 2009, he was appointed chief financial officer of DuPont—one of the largest corporations in the world.

“I said ‘Guys I haven’t done finance since the first year I was hired at DuPont,’” he recalls. The company was eager to select someone who had come up through the business ranks as the next CFO.” After I got the role in 2009, I kept it for 10 years until 2019 when I retired. I am proud to say I held the role as the longest seated CFO in the company’s 200-plus year history.

Fanandakis credits the co-op program with providing the foundation for his success. His advice for younger Huskies hoping to follow a similar path? “Take advantage of the co-op program while you are going through your education,” he says. Professional success, in his view, comes down to a few elements. “You’ve got to manage your own career. Don’t wait for someone else to manage it for you. After I would receive a promotion, I would right away say, ‘What do I think my next assignment should be? How can I best position myself for this next assignment? You should always be preparing yourself for your next role. Second, never have the job you took over be the same when you leave it, always be looking for ways you can improve the role and increase the scope of your responsibilities. Lastly, you have to be somewhat lucky, being in the right place at the right time. That’s not to say sit back and wait for things to happen, anything but that!”

You’ve got to manage your own career. Don’t wait for someone else to manage it for you.”

Nick Fanandakis, DMSB’79

Northeastern Alumna Antonia Sousa showcases the content creation skills she developed during her co-ops and College of Arts, Media and Design courses at NBCUniversal. 

By Brianna Mitchell

“Working in late night has been really exciting because I’m editing clips that go on social that very same day…it’s the most rewarding thing because you’re instantly seeing how that’s performing,” says Antonia Sousa, AMD’23. One of her favorite projects she recently worked on was editing “Kevin Hart and Seth Meyers Go Day Drinking,” an installment of a popular interview series on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” which amassed over a million views on YouTube.    

Whether you are looking at metrics or the occasional re-post by Kevin Hart, there is no doubt that Sousa’s talent resonates with the talk show’s audience. Sousa, a native of Peru, is currently participating in NBCUniversal’s Page Program, a competitive application-based cohort of young professionals who receive exposure to different areas of the media conglomerate. After completing her first two rotations of corporate communications with Telemundo and collaborating with the social media team on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” she is currently embarking on her final assignment with the video team on “The Today Show.” Additionally, she will assist the “Saturday Night Live” social media team by cutting and captioning videos. 

On the outside, Sousa’s academic and career trajectory may seem kismet. Especially since Sousa’s father attended Northeastern and credits NBC programs like “Saturday Night Live” and “Seinfeld” for teaching him English. However, Sousa admits that her journey to 30 Rock was riddled with uncertainty.   

After spending two years at a specialized art school in the Savannah, Georgia, Sousa transferred to Northeastern, believing she could thrive in an environment that would narrow down her academic direction. In her two years at Northeastern, Sousa acted on that belief by majoring in journalism and getting involved on campus. With intent to “contribute to something apart from [her classes]” she joined the Huntington News, Avenue Magazine, and became a CAMD Ambassador.  

Sousa credits these experiences with more than just professional development—they laid the foundation for personal growth. For example, navigating challenges like losing a re-election bid for a social media position at Huntington News made a profound impact on her. She notes that dealing with rejection taught her “to not let it sway me in the wrong direction” and to approach “opportunities with an open mind [while] never feeling entitled to anything.”    

Sousa took those lessons to heart and carried that perspective with her to two influential work opportunities—a co-op at Wayfair and an internship with Universal Music Group. Sousa recalls on her first day at Universal Music Group, the company switched her from the marketing team to the audience development department. Despite her initial hesitation to take on a data-driven role, Sousa reports that “I ended up loving it and seeing a completely different side to social and creative spaces…[this] is also why I am enjoying the Page Program as much as I am because it is such an unexpected environment that you need to be able to adjust to new things.”   

Looking back at those two experiences, she adds that it “gave me the confidence I needed” and provided “clarity in terms of what I wanted out of a work environment.” Although her second internship is where her initial interest in the entertainment business began, she prefers the hands-on role she experienced during her creative production and video marketing co-op at Wayfair.  

“Media is a really exciting medium to be in,” reflects Sousa. As much as she is interested in continuing her career in television, she adds that she is open to other sectors. “It’s more so about the work that you do and the impact you are leaving as opposed to the industry that you are in,” she says.

When she’s not staffing live-studio audiences and giving public tours of NBC studios, Sousa is focused on growing her professional network and applying her journalistic skills from Northeastern at “The Today Show.” Looking ahead, Sousa can join the Page Program’s graduate period, an optional term where the program supports participants’ journey to securing an internal or external full-time role. Whether she chooses to take advantage of that option, there is no doubt that Sousa’s expertise will shine bright in any future role she takes on. 

Double Husky Ifteda Ahmed-Syed’s Northeastern journey helped her find her dream job as a software engineer at The Walt Disney Company. 

By Brianna Mitchell

“I like to joke that I was raised by films…so it was a childhood dream to at least be adjacent to storytelling and entertainment,” says Ifteda Ahmed-Syed, Khoury’20, MS’23. The Double Husky is currently in her third year working as a software engineer for The Walt Disney Company, a reality that was once a dream. 

It makes sense that Ahmed-Syed’s favorite Disney movie is “Tangled,” a story that centers around an optimistic and empathetic heroine pursuing her dreams—as is reflected in this alumna. However, achieving her coveted professional career at Disney was never linear and, at times, challenged by self-doubt. 

“I have always, unapologetically, carried my identity with me wherever I go,” shares Ahmed-Syed. Being the eldest daughter of an immigrant household, she was influenced to double major in computer science and business, believing that this would best position her to get a practical career. In her second year at Northeastern, the Khoury College of Computer Sciences selected her to attend the Grace Hopper Conference, the world’s largest annual technology event designed for women and non-binary individuals to career-build by meeting with sponsors from leading companies, where she networked with Disney representatives for the first time. “It was my first real exposure to the function of technology within the company. But even then, I underestimated myself to an extent. [However], I think things worked out in a magical way,” recalls Ahmed-Syed. 

In the meantime, Ahmed-Syed took full advantage of the opportunities and resources provided by Northeastern. She completed two formative software developer co-ops at Voya Financial. Being drawn to the company to explore “the confluence of tech and finance,” she notes that, “learning how to navigate uncharted territory, communicate effectively, and also absorb knowledge outside of a classroom setting” are among the most significant takeaways she had from her experiential learning experience and still try to apply to her career today. 

Conversely, while she was on campus, the connections she formed with her peers were equally valuable. Specifically, a teaching assistant in a computer science fundamentals course introduced her to HackBeanpot, a nonprofit hackathon designed for young computer programmers in the Boston area. In her three-year involvement with the organization, Ahmed-Syed’s last year was the most impactful. In 2020, while most of the world was shutting down to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Ahmed-Syed was determined to find ways to serve her community. Instead of accepting the pretense that HackBeanpot may be any less well-attended than in previous years due to the pandemic, Ahmed-Syed and the outreach team worked tirelessly to successfully translate the event online and drew interest from participants outside of Massachusetts. 

In a true full-circle moment, before her last fall semester in 2020, Ahmed-Syed was contacted by Disney recruiters, who had her information from the Grace Hopper Conference’s database, urging her to apply to The Walt Disney Company. That fall, soon after she submitted her application, she got the offer to move down to Orlando in June of 2021.   

Ifteda gave a temporary goodbye to her close-knit family and left her New England roots for sunny Florida to start her first role with Disney Experiences as an associate software engineer. Some of her main responsibilities in her first role with the company included working with analysts to determine “what features would benefit schedulers and cast members in Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. Then our analysts turn those into user acceptance criteria and my job [was] to design and implement systems or features that satisfy those criteria.”   

After three years and a promotion to software engineer II, she transferred to Disney Entertainment and ESPN Technology. This transition resulted in a move home to Connecticut, where her family and ESPN headquarters are located. Now, she works primarily on Hulu, and one of her team’s main projects is to improve systems that help consumers of the streaming platform use the search function and receive suggestions for media. Ifteda credits her decision to enroll in Northeastern’s online master’s of computer science program with giving her more confidence to navigate challenging assignments and the dreaded first step in the project as an engineer. “I was really looking to expand my repertoire but do it in a way that ensures that my understanding was concrete…so that when I reach for that tool in the future, I’m reaching for something solid that can get me through that first step.”   

Today, one of the most meaningful parts of her job is how, despite the company’s size, there are opportunities to connect with others while celebrating collective interests and affiliations. Radiating joy, she explains, “It’s heartwarming to have a space where I can celebrate certain aspects of my identity.” This includes celebrating Ramadan with co-workers at Walt Disney World and meeting the writing partners behind Christina Lauren as part of the women’s book club within the company. Additionally, she gets to share the magic that she helps create with the people she loves the most by taking her family to Walt Disney World. 

Learn more about Ifteda and her work below: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ifteda/ 

Build For Black Lives Website: buildforblacklives.com 

“I still value everything that I learned at Northeastern,” says Nick Casbarro, BHS’14, while reminiscing about his time on the university’s Boston campus. “What I definitely pulled from Northeastern was a love for the sciences, and a professional network that I’ve used more than anything else in my entire life.”

Casbarro, a resident of South Florida by way of Rhode Island, is no stranger to balance. While at Northeastern, he exceled in his classes in Bouvé’s prestigious physical therapy program. To build on his academics, he found time to excel in his co-op positions at New England Baptist Hospital and Harvard Health services, all while as an accomplished pole vaulter on the track and field team.

“I learned a lot of [balancing] skills at Northeastern, and it’s probably the biggest thing I learned during my time there,” he says with a proud, yet modest inflection.

After graduation, Casbarro pursued his love of the sciences and helping others by entering the medical sales field. Today, he travels around the country selling medical-grade fish skin to hospitals to help burn victims regenerate their own skin. However, to complement his left-brained passions in the medical field, Casbarro tunes into his right brain to satisfy his creative passion: writing. After “thousands of hours” of preparation and execution, Casbarro is set to release his debut science fiction novel, “Vitalerium: Descent into the Void,” this October.

“I’ve been interested in science fiction ever since I was a kid,” Casbarro shares. “Just going back to some of the greats of the genre like Huxley, Orwell, and Asimov, there’s a lot of value to dystopian science fiction. It’s almost like it’s foreseeing humanity’s potential missteps or pitfalls as we’re approaching uncharted waters.”

Casbarro’s book rings true to his inspirations. Set in the year 2701, this 600-page sci-fi epic explores a society centered around the discovery of vitalerium, a gravity-bending blue crystal.

Casbarro recalls the process of developing the story, sharing tales of writing chapters on seemingly perpetual flights and jumping out of the shower to give life to a new character. However, one of the most important aspects that helped him cross the publishing finish line was his Northeastern network. Whether it be the professional connections he developed during his co-ops or his first-year roommate, he would “chat [with them] on the phone for hours to go back and forth on ideas.”

Casbarro’s self-guided equilibrium between his career in medical sales and moonlighting as an author perfectly encompasses what it means to be a Northeastern Husky. This is just the beginning for Casbarro, too. “Descent into the Void” is the first book of seven in the “Vitalerium” series. Already garnering critical acclaim from the science fiction community, Casbarro is on track to solidify his name among his contemporaries and create a legacy in the genre.

Order “Vitalerium: Descent into the Void” on Amazon

Amazon
Descent into the Void

What I definitely pulled from Northeastern was a love for the sciences, and a professional network that I’ve used more than anything else in my entire life.”

Nick Casbarro, BHS’14,

By Brianna Mitchell

Ali Singer, a 2012 graduate of the College of Arts, Media and Design, was a second-year student at Northeastern when her friend took her to a yoga class. Throughout that class, she felt the benefits of the practice—beyond just the physical ones. Specifically, Singer notes the positive impact it had on her mental state, citing a “greater sense of concentration.” It was that lingering effect that inspired her to continue the practice intermittently while at Northeastern. Little did she know then that she would later be founding YogaHub, a company aimed at making the sport more accessible and inclusive for interested initiates. 

Gradually, Singer gained more clarity about what kind of career she would enjoy. “I’ve always been a proponent of experiential learning…and when I was accepted to Northeastern, I realized this is the absolute perfect fit for me.” With that in mind, Singer took full advantage of the university’s opportunities by completing three co-ops and a study abroad experience in Perugia, Italy. These experiences provided her with two epiphanies—she wanted to work for herself, and she loved to travel.   

Those two truths informed her decisions as a post-graduate student. After juggling multiple side projects—including bartending and real estate—Singer took a chance to follow her true calling of seeking enlightenment through her yoga studies. In 2013, she completed her first yoga teacher certification course, and two years later, she became a full-time yoga teacher at various studios in the Boston area, including Coolidge Yoga and Equinox. In 2017, to deepen her understanding of the practice, Singer traveled to the birthplace of yoga, Rishikesh, India, which she credits with providing her with a global perspective that informs her delivery of an authentic yoga experience. 

As she was falling more in love with teaching and guiding her students through their individualized yoga journeys, she responded to a tweet that, in retrospect, was a watershed moment. The tweet was from then-mayor Marty Walsh, announcing a new mixed-use space that would be opening in Boston. When Singer inquired whether they would offer yoga there, the mayor gave Singer the owner’s contact information, to which Singer sent her proposal for a yoga studio that was eventually approved. Singer reflects, “That’s when I started officially operating my business under YogaHub, [but] it was a totally different model than it is now.” 

Today, Ali Singer’s YogaHub is a Boston-based platform that connects the corporate world with trained yoga teachers, streamlined by professional standards to ensure top quality. At first, Singer’s clients were hotels. “I started cold calling hotels because they had the physical space to host the classes,” she recalls. This strategy paid off, as the first hotel she connected with expressed interest in offering onsite yoga but was unsure of how to organize it, emphasizing the missing link in the yoga community that Singer was determined to build. This first business relationship organically designed the approach that now has become the cornerstone of the company’s success, enabling them to further develop partnerships with commercial properties and companies around the world. “It was a process of learning what that customer wanted and developing the service [based on] their needs,” explains Singer. 

Yet, as Singer points out, YogaHub has gone through many iterations and required certain levels of trust to witness the now-prosperous business. Outside of her familial support, including her husband and entrepreneurial father, Singer praises The McCarthy(s) Venture Mentoring Network for connecting her with established alumni who serve as trusted advisors to Singer. She emphasizes that those relationships are invaluable, especially in career-altering moments like her transition to running YogaHub full-time when the COVID-19 pandemic eliminated her in-person studio classes. Equipped with a strong network, Singer started that new chapter by tapping into the demand for physical and mental wellness while social distancing. 

Despite all the challenges thrown at the adaptive Singer, there have been incredible successes in YogaHub’s history that strongly indicate that her work is important and valued. She can recall her excitement when The Boston Globe covered YogaHub for the first time, and her delighted shock when she led a free outdoor yoga class of approximately 400 participants in Copley Square during the co-hosted International Day of Yoga with Yoga for Humanity. Touching on the latter experience, Singer remembers, “We were just hoping to just bring people together in celebration of the practice of yoga. It was nerve-wracking to lead the class, but it’s just yoga.” 

As for what’s next? First, Singer is embracing a new role—becoming a mom! Singer is passing down her love of yoga to her daughter by leading a baby and caregiver yoga program through the Medford Public Library. While that is her most important priority, Singer has a vision for the future of YogaHub. “I want to build the yoga brand [by] creating a balance between honoring the traditions of the practice and making it relatable in modern life,” she explains. To achieve this, Singer is utilizing technology to facilitate corporate bookings, and, eventually, she hopes to create a digital platform to connect yogis worldwide. In the meantime, Singer approaches every day grounded by her signature “good vibes” mantra.   

Learn more about Ali Singer and YogaHub below:

www.alisingeryoga.com  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisingeryoga

www.instagram.com/alisingeryoga

www.facebook.com/alisingeryoga

www.facebook.com/yogahub.life

“I wanted a computer science program that is very solid in its foundation, very well-reputed, and at the same time, provides an excellent opportunity for getting a job,” says Dipanjan Haldar, MS’19, breaking down the criteria he used to select a master’s program. “Northeastern computer science is a top-rated program here in the United States, as well as across the globe.”

After earning his undergraduate degree in India, Haldar enrolled in the Khoury College of Computer Science to pursue his goal of becoming a software engineer. While there, he was granted a research apprenticeship with professor emeritus Ken Baclawski that focused on machine learning algorithms. “That was a great experience for me,” Haldar says with a smile. “Actually, my entire tenure at Northeastern was nothing short of being exceptional, I would say.”

In addition to his impactful research apprenticeship at Northeastern, Haldar also participated in a co-op at Everbridge, a software company in Burlington, Massachusetts—a role he was able to transition into a full-time position. “The co-op program at Northeastern is one of the best in the United States,” says Haldar. “It was my first experience working with a U.S. firm…I was able to accomplish all the assigned tasks at my co-op given the kind of subjects I took in my previous semester. They were happy with my performance, and that’s why when I graduated, they offered me a full-time position.”

During his co-op and full-time roles at Everbrudge, Haldar built a strong foundation in advanced software engineering principles. From there, he trasnitioned into his current position as the principal engineer and senior manager at Fideslity Investments in New Hampshire. Today, Haldar is recognized as one of the top contributors to API development and software development. Additionally, he likes to give back to the software engineering community in greater Boston by mentoring future members of his industry at MIT’s Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program and Gordon Engeineering Institute program—as well as through judging hackathons like HackMIT and the FLL World Championship.

Haldar continues to credit Northeastern for being the catalyst that accelerated his successful career in software engineering. “Northeastern gave me insights into theoretical computer science and the intricacies of how we should develop the concept of being a computer scientist. [At Northeastern], the door is open to anyone for opportunities and research. Northeastern has helped me a lot to get into these positions.”

“My decision to pursue my Master of Science in human resource counseling with Northeastern, was driven by my interest in pursuing career advancement opportunities. I was working in human resources and recruiting at the time, and wanted to expand my knowledge” says Cheryl Haynes, MS’94 with a smile while reminiscing about her Northeastern experience. “It was quite helpful in allowing me to do that after completing my master’s degree.”

Haynes has had a long and illustrious career working in human resources—for over two decades, she held leadership positions in the corporate HR sector of prominent companies like State Street Bank, CVS, MetLife, and Citizens Bank. Currently, she runs her own coaching and consulting practice, Achievementor LLC, that specializes in CEO peer advisory mentoring in addition to leadership development content design, facilitation, and coaching executives and small groups.

After Achievementor’s launch in 2019, Haynes has developed a track record and reputation for elevating the careers of high-level executives across companies of all sizes, both public and private, through utilizing strategies in mindful leadership, team dynamics, and group coaching. However, Haynes credits her Northeastern degree as the foundation for these strategies—all of which have compounded into a success story.

“When I was pursuing my degree, I had been introduced to the concept of emotional intelligence. It has become the foundation of my work as an executive coach. Following my graduation, a book on the subject was published by Daniel Goleman, launching his reputation as one of the founders of emotional intelligence,” she says, beaming. “Fast forward to [2023], I was engaged by a large health insurer client to facilitate an emotional intelligence workshop for their C-suite level team. This was a major investment in leadership development for them. It was important enough that they brought in a guest speaker, Daniel Goleman himself, to speak on the topic of emotional intelligence, via Zoom!” radiates Haynes. “I was a big fan his book, and then fast forward 30 years later, I was debriefing the concept with C-Suite leaders following his presentation on Zoom.”

With her full-circle Northeastern moment in conjunction with her natural talents for coaching and elevating one’s career path, Haynes offers advice to both enrolled Huskies and young working professionals. “When uncomfortable, you’re on to something,” says Haynes with conviction. “Always make sure that you engage to get the best possible answer and to be comfortable with discomfort—as you advance your career and get to the next level of leadership, there will be things you need to learn.” Keeping that in mind, Haynes and her wisdom is a catalyst in helping the next generation of Huskies prosper.

Learn more about Achievementor, LLC

Always make sure that you engage to get the best possible answer and to be comfortable with discomfort—as you advance your career and get to the next level of leadership, there will be things you need to learn.

Cheryl Haynes, MS’94

“I loved my time in Boston,” says Steven Summer, a 1972 graduate of the D’Amore-McKim School of Business, with a smile. “I mean, a lot of things drew me to Northeastern, notwithstanding the proximity and co-op program. At that point, Northeastern was much more focused on our careers and our work.”

Summer, currently the president and CEO of the Healthcare Institute, a nonprofit organization comprised of 40 of America’s leading hospital and health system CEOs, is no stranger to the hospital administration field. He has had an illustrious career, serving as the president and CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association, and most recently, having the same title at the Colorado Hospital Association, until he retired at the end of 2019.

Summer’s work in health care has not gone unnoticed by his colleagues—this past April, he was awarded the 2024 American Hospital Association Board of Trustees Award for his lifetime of considerable and striking contributions to the AHA and hospital administration in general.

However, given all of Summer’s success, what was the catalyst that sparked his interest in health care?  “I came back to Northeastern in the summer of ‘68…I had spent the prior summer working at a state mental hospital in Rhode Island. The head of psychiatry at the Rhode Island Mental Health Center said…” you should look at a career hospital administration. It’s a new emerging profession [because] Medicare and Medicaid were just passed.”

Once back in Boston, Summer immediately began applying for co-op positions in hospitals and landed a prestigious co-op position at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey. This co-op position provided him the career direction and aspirations he had been searching for and led—through a mutual family connection—to a co-op position at the Massachusetts Hospital Association, one in which he participated in for three consecutive years until he graduated in 1972.

Summer credits his Northeastern and co-op experiences for his career success—even citing the latter in his acceptance speech for the aforementioned American Hospital Association Board of Trustees Award. “Use that co-op time wisely,” says Summer when speaking in regard to a successful and fulfilling Northeastern experience. “Use it in a way to explore opportunities, and make important connections, because they may prove valuable in the future.”

Follow Steven on LinkedIn here.

Use [the co-op] to explore opportunities, and make important connections, because they may prove valuable in the future.”

Steven Summer, DMSB’73

“He has demonstrated the core values of leadership, volunteerism, and academic integrity throughout the past four years and is a natural leader that knows what it means to give back and is empowered to be involved in activities that benefit others at Northeastern.”

-Annalisa Onnis-Hayden, Teaching Professor and Vice Chair for CEE Undergraduate Studies, and Jessica M. Ormsby, Associate Co-op Coordinator and Faculty Advisor for Engineers without Borders

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

Some of my hobbies and interests include soccer, basketball, cooking, volunteering, gardening, reading, building puzzles, listening to music, and spending time with my family and friends!

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

Within the Northeastern Community, I have been involved with a number of organizations and projects. First and foremost, I have been extensively involved with Engineers without Borders, serving as a university representative, design lead for the Uganda program, and most recently, president of the organization. I have also served as the vice president for the New England Water Environment Association at Northeastern. Other clubs that I have been involved with include the Alliance of Civically Engaged Students, the U.N. Millennium Fellowship as a campus director, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Sustainable Transportation at Northeastern club. Outside of clubs, I have participated in research on-campus throughout all four of my years at Northeastern, examining the feasibility of using sustainable, biologically-inspired solutions—plants and fungi—to remediate drinking water of the harmful contaminant PFAS. Finally, I have enjoyed playing intramural soccer, volleyball, and broomball with my friends at Northeastern as well!

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

Some achievements during my time at Northeastern would include organizing and co-leading our first trip back to our community partner in Uganda for EWB since the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving nominations for the Rhodes, Marshall, Knight-Hennessy, and Udall Scholarships from the URF department at Northeastern, having the opportunity to represent the Civil and Environmental Engineering student body at the Industrial Leadership Night for Northeastern CEE partners, and creating a manuscript for an academic journal that will hopefully be published in the coming months.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

I believe the most significant achievement from the above examples is the EWB trip to our community partners in Nakyenyi, Uganda. This trip installed a submersible pump, solar panels, tank, tap stands, and tank stand for our partner community of about 4,000 people to use. This trip re-established our connection with the community, provided an opportunity for invaluable water quality testing and land surveying to be conducted, and most importantly, included house-to-house surveys that allowed for community input to be included in the design of the final distribution system—to be installed in coming trips. Through this trip, we understand the severity of the issue of water scarcity in our community and learned that our system could directly work to save lives and prevent drowning deaths in our community from members of the community trying to collect water from dangerous nearby open sources of water.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

Some awards and honors I have received during my time as a student include being named in the 2023 Huntington 100, receiving an honorable mention for the Udall Scholarship for environmental leadership, being named to the Dean’s List, and participating in the Northeastern Honor’s Program throughout my time in college. Additionally, I was nominated for the Rhodes, Marshall, and Knight-Hennessy scholarships on behalf of Northeastern University. Some scholarships I’ve been awarded while at Northeastern include the Scranton Fund Scholarship, the Richard and Joy Gilbert Scholarship, the Vincent D. Barletta Scholarship, and some other CEE-related scholarships!

“This is an exceptional case of a student capitalizing on all the resources and paths of study that Northeastern offers, to excel, but more importantly, identify a passion of study that goes on to make real world impact.”

-Daniel Adams, Director, School of Architecture, and Sara Jensen Carr, Associate Director of Undergraduate Programs Coordinator, School of Architecture

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

[Some of my hobbies are] brewing coffee and visiting local cafés, exploring the many Boston-area green spaces and trails, watching films and listening to vinyl records, cycling and rock climbing, and Boston’s DIY hand-poked tattoo scene.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

[I am involved in the Northeastern and local Boston community through] co-leading ASLA Adept, project-managing for the Boston Society of Landscape Architects to create a Cool Black installation, serving on the School of Architecture Dean’s Advisory Board, serving on CAMD’s Dean’s Advisory Board, TAing for urban design and landscaping architecture studios for two years, and co-organizing the first coffeeshop union in Massachusetts at Pavement Coffeehouse while working as a barista and supervisor.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

[My Northeastern achievements include] co-teaching and developing materials for an anti-displacement urban planning research studio with Professor Lily Song, leading participatory mapping workshops with local youth groups to design maps that better reflect lived experiences and memories, co-writing academic journals about the importance of culturally-response mapping and planning, facilitating workshops with community organizations to advocate for increased climate resiliency, and qualitative coding/compiling visual materials to analyze community-generated data in historically underserved urban neighborhoods.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

Working in the urban planning sphere on the side of academic work—[this is my] most significant achievement because of the tactile impact of work and the ability to merge my knowledge as a lifelong Massachusetts resident, transit advocate and architecture/urban planning student, as well as the ability to expand skills in graphic design, community engagement and cartography to bolster knowledge learned in Northeastern classwork.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

[I was on the] Dean’s List and [in the] University Honors program.

“Ryan’s Northeastern story is both impressive and inspirational—precisely what it means to be a Northeastern University Husky. Hard-working, professional, high-achieving, passionate, [and] highly-successful.”

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

Spending time with my wife and kids. I also enjoy watching movies and listening to podcasts. I like helping to develop young athletes into better players and, more importantly, better people.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

I have spent years volunteering with Portsmouth, Rhode Island’s “Challenger” Little League, helping children with disabilities play the game of baseball. Additionally, when I was playing for the Red Sox, I spent time in the Dominican Repulic at orphanages, just spending time with the local children. I have been coaching baseball at the collegiate level for over four years while also running a youth developmental baseball organization, with teams aged from 11 years old to 18.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

I was recently selected to the Northeastern University Huntington 100 this past year.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

I believe my work with children with special needs has been my most significant achievement and was the most rewarding. Among many other things, I believe this shows my passion for baseball, a willingness to help others in any way I can and using my platform and past experiences to benefit people in any situation.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

I have maintained a high GPA at Northeastern and have been on the Dean’s List numerous times. As mentioned above, last year I was named to Northeastern University’s Huntington 100.

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

[Some of my hobbies and interests are] running, theater (acting), music (violin), camping, and cognitive health research.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

[At Northeastern, I was involved in] the Student Philanthropy Council, a Resident Assistant, NU Emergency Medical Services, NU Running Club, and Rehabilitation Game & Extended Reality Lab. [In Boston, I was] a Tufts Medical Center inpatient visitation volunteer and a Beth Israel Post-Anesthesia Care Unit patient assistant volunteer.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

I was one of the founding board members of NU Student Philanthropy Council which promotes and oversees philanthropic efforts towards student organization on campus. We have developed the council to work with Alumni Relations, coordinate with student organizations to publicize fundraisers, and organize unaffiliated opportunities for students and faculty to donate to a cause of their choice. As a member of the ReGame-XR lab’s Exerbike project, we published our paper “Integrated Aerobic Exercise into Adult Second Language Learning in Virtual Reality Game” in the journal IEEE. Our research centered around the potential of second language learning via a physically active VR game among older adults to slow age-related cognitive decline. We also presented our preliminary findings at Northeastern University’s RISE Expo.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

Publishing with ReGame-XR on older adult cognition is something I am incredibly proud of. With this paper, the start of a field that has had no prior research is being started. Using modern technologies such as VR is proving to offer solutions in the realm of preventative medicine to combat cognitive declines in memory, focus, and spatial visualization. Our research is a small step, but it shows potential to expand research and resources towards this field which could make event greater leaps towards combatting the saddening reality of age-related cognitive decline.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

[I was on the] Dean’s list

“Michelle’s achievements inside and outside of the classroom represent some of the best that NU has to offer, making her an excellent candidate for the Compass Award.”

-Todd M. Alessandri, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, D’Amore-McKIm Business School

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

[My hobbies are] lifting weights and working out, cooking new recipes, trying new restaurants, cafes, bakeries, etc., with friends, and reading.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

[I am the] co-director of outreach WISE Summit, the previous NUMA Consulting executive director, and the previous DMSB social media ambassador.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

[Some of my achievements include] sourcing 17 speakers with my co-Director of outreach for WISE Summit (ex: Eva Goicochea, Kati Fernandez), being one of the first DMSB social media ambassadors and featuring in the #QuestionsontheQuad video series, and sourcing the five startups as the executive director of NUMA Consulting. [I also worked] on uplifting new businesses, especially those with a focus on impact.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is sourcing the speakers for the WISE Summit, a conference for women and underrepresented genders who would like to build an innovative mindset. With my team, I secured speakers from many industries, professions, and ages while simultaneously ensuring diverse representation so all participants could find someone they resonate with. Some notable speakers include Eva Goicochea, the founder of Maude and one of only 10 Latinas in consumer goods to have raised over $10 million in venture funding, and Kati Fernandez, director of content strategy at ESPN. Besides sourcing speakers, I developed the workshops, lightning talks, and keynotes directly with speakers meaning I had an executive decision in deciding the Summit’s content. It was an incredibly fulfilling experience to watch my hard work come to life on March 23 and work with such a passionate, warm, and incredible team. It was so amazing to be able to impact over 250 participant’s lives on that Saturday.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

[I have been on the] Dean’s list for all four years [and am a member of] the Beta Sigma Gamma Honor Society.

“Jenia has the perseverance, initiative, creativity, and intellectual curiosity to be a fiercely positive force in the world.”

-Layla D. Brown, Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology, Africana Studies, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

Academically and professionally, I enjoy researching and working with Black queer life, Black feminisms, and the politics of small island states, particularly in the Caribbean islands. Personally, I love to crochet, read and collect tarot cards, and collect records! I also enjoy ‘80s to 2000s era movies, Black horror movies, reality TV—especially “Survivor”, reading fiction and Black feminist literature, and cooking with my friends.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

The most central aspect of my time at Northeastern has been my participation in the Northeastern Black Student Association, in which I served as a freshman representative my first year, secretary my second year, president my third year, and now upperclassmen representative in my fourth year. I also served on the executive board of Afrospectrum, Northeastern’s Black queer affinity group, for one year as a social media representative and secretary. In addition, I have been a Summer Bridge and International Affairs peer mentor.

I have worked for the Northeastern Africana Studies Program as a program assistant and served on the Student Advisory Council, for the Northeastern University Writing Center as a writing tutor, twice as a teaching assistant for INTL 3400 for Dr. Denise Garcia and WMNS 3100 with Dr. Layla Brown, and as an undergraduate researcher in the History Department on the 3D Black Boston team.

In the broader Boston community, I have volunteered with Sitters for Scholars and the Mission Hill After School Program, as well as creating programming through the NBSA that involves the community.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

I am definitely proud of creating NBSA’s annual kiki ball to highlight Black queer culture on campus for students who often felt underrepresented. That event had 150 attendees. I am also proud of reviving the NBSA’s tradition of traveling to Washington, D.C. for Howard Homecoming during my presidency, and we were able to bring 95 students during that time, which was a very difficult task. Being a part of the start of—serving on the second ever executive board—Afrospectrum was notable as well.

I am also very proud of speaking at and being part of the planning for bell hooks symposium hosted by the Africana Studies program. I was the undergraduate speaker for the 2023 symposium and presented a 13-minute speech. I am also proud of my two independent studies, one through a research practicum mentored by Dr. Régine Jean-Charles and one through a PEAK Summit Award with Dr. Layla Brown. I am also currently working on my Senior Capstone. Generally, I am proud of being intentionally involved in the Northeastern and Boston Black and queer communities. I’d also consider my education as a Black feminist—my minor—is an achievement to me.

Being a recipient of the 2023 Brutus “Skip” Wright Memorial Scholarship Award through JDOAAI and the 2023 Thomas I. Atkins Social Justice Award and 2024 Clara and Joseph Ford Scholarship through the Center for Student Involvement in recognition of my work with the NBSA is an achievement to me as well.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

I’d consider my presidency in the NBSA my most significant achievement. I am very proud of being involved in the Black community and being able to support my peers through that role. It was an honor to serve in such a significant position and I think that I made a lot of changes that helped rebuild the club after some struggles we experienced post-COVID-19 shut down. It also helped me grow so much as a leader and person, and I’ve met some of my favorite people through the NBSA and the institute.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

I was on the Dean’s List fall 2020, spring 2021, and fall 2023. I am in the Honors College. I am a Zandra I. Flemister ’73 Fellow through the Center for International Affairs and World Cultures. As previously mentioned, I am the recipient of the 2023 Brutus “Skip” Wright Memorial Scholarship Award through JDOAAI, as well as the 2023 Thomas I. Atkins Social Justice Award and 2024 Clara and Joseph Ford Scholarship through CSI. I received a PEAK Summit Award and the Black Alumni Scholarship.

“James has had an outsized impact on the Northeastern and Khoury community. He is always happy to volunteer for us to attend any event, serve on any panel, and talk to his fellow students about his experiences. We look forward to hearing of his exploits as an alumnus.”

-Benjamin Hescott, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Student Experience

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

I love going for long meandering walks through campus and through nature, admiring the greenery, buildings, and weather along the way. I like to hone my sushi making skills in my free time, making (and eating!) sashimi (thinly sliced raw fish), nigiri (raw fish draped over rice), maki (sushi rolls), Uramaki (inside out sushi rolls), and temaki (hand rolls). I also dabble in a bit of photography and videography now and then.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

I was a member of oSTEM and Out in Business, as well as serving as an Analyst in my first year during the inaugural year CASE—Consulting and Advisory Student Experience club—started their pro-bono consulting arm NCG—Northeastern Consulting Group. I served on Northeastern Electric Racing’s Executive Board from Fall 2019 to Fall 2022. I started as project manager before recruiting a team of project managers and stepping up to lead the business team as vice president. I served as president for three semesters before passing the torch. While on the E-Board of NER and working to emerge from COVID-19, I built collaborations among the College of Engineering clubs sharing manufacturing space. As a result, I was appointed to lead the COE Student Activities Council and worked to strengthen the COE student organization leaders community. When the opportunity arose, I passed the torch and pivoted to establishing Kaleidoscope, Khoury College’s Club Council. Much like COE SAC, Kaleidoscope works to build community and shared success among all student organizations and their leaders in Khoury College. Kaleidoscope also serves as a foundation and conduit for tighter collaborations between the college and student leaders, incubating innovative programs, and increasing access to resources. Upon the recommendation of the Student Body president, I joined the Student Government Association’s Student Involvement team after stepping down from the NER E-Board. The following semester I stepped up to serve as vice president for student involvement and spearheaded numerous initiatives to transform the student organization ecosystem and supports.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

During my time on the executive board of Northeastern Electric Racing, the team grew from about 50 members to over 200 members, expanding interdisciplinary experiential education opportunities to so many more students. I established NER’s software team to build project management software, only for it to blossom into over 80 team members within NER with multiple projects spanning web development, data analysis and visualization, and vehicle interface and controls. NER completed its first car, won 1st and 2nd place, won the Scrutineer’s Award for best preparation and documentation, and won the IEEE

Excellence in Project Management award. NER also successfully organized an event for President Aoun, Dean Beth Mynatt, and other senior leadership to drive the car and experience the power of experiential learning. As a Khoury student leading COE’s Student Activities Council, I championed inclusivity, increased participation, built structures for meaningful student advocacy, and successfully partnered with COE administrators to improve the experience for engineering student organizations. In founding Kaleidoscope, I built a highly unique student-admin partnership to enable student leaders to define and built the support systems their peers need most. I strengthened the sense of community among Khoury student leaders, more than doubled the collaborative events clubs organized with one another, and opened new avenues of funding to enable innovative projects. Through SGA, I strengthened the collaborations with staff, increased engagement with student organization leaders, improved transparency for club policies, and expanded the previously 12-member Student Involvement team to a 4-team, 25-plus member standing division which is better equipped to handle the demands of over 500 student organizations and the dynamic future of a global university ecosystem.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

I consider the establishment of NER’s software team to be one of my most significant achievements. Although somewhat comparatively small, I think it has had the largest positive impact on the Northeastern and Khoury College community. NER’s software team began as a small group of students interested in learning web development who were willing to listen to me ramble and teach for an hour each Sunday. Over time, we added an interview process that allowed interested students to gain valuable behavioral and technical interview experience before joining the team. The dedication to member learning from day zero and continuous learning via dedicated learning sessions has undoubtedly afforded hundreds of Khoury students the opportunity to learn and apply critical technical and career-preparatory skills in a judgement-free environment. As the software team has expanded beyond the first web development project, new opportunities for students to learn a wider variety of software technologies and domain applications have opened up too. In the years since I left NER, their software team has continued to grow, boasting more than 80 members each semester and almost two dozen learning sessions per semester. While the software we built was objectively mediocre in the beginning, I could not be prouder of the team, systems, and structures I built that have facilitated so many students learning the skills they’re most interested in and subsequently finding their co-ops.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

[One semester on the] Dean’s List [and a] Student Government Association Delegate of the Semester for Spring 2023.

“Given Caro’s motivation with research and outreach excellence at Northeastern, I strongly believe that she makes significant advances in science and the world.”

-Leila Deravi, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Chemical Biology

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

I love reading, I’m a big bookworm, and my current favorite book is called “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea”. I have a big passion for drawing and painting—hence my love for cosmetic science—and love to visit art museums. I know the MFA by heart and can take you to any room, painting, or sculpture because I know that place like the back of my hand! I also enjoy knitting, watching anime, and hanging out with my friends!

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

Throughout my time at Northeastern, I have been deeply involved in both the university community and the broader academic sphere. One significant aspect of my engagement has been my extensive involvement in the Biomaterials Design Group, where I have dedicated myself to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting sustainability. Within this group, I have conducted fascinating research on sustainable pigments and innovative ingredients for personal care products.

In addition to my research endeavors, I have also taken on leadership roles and actively engaged in mentoring activities that will help make a positive impact in the STEM community, hoping to get more young careerists involved in the industry. Starting as a research assistant, I have progressed to become an independent researcher and, ultimately, a mentor for fellow undergraduates. This journey reflects my commitment to personal growth and my dedication to supporting the academic and professional development of my peers. This is exemplified by my role as an undergraduate mentor, where I passionately strive to help others succeed and demonstrate my ability to inspire and guide them in their scientific pursuits.

Beyond Northeastern, I have extended my reach to the wider community through initiatives such as the Society of Cosmetic Chemists’ NextGen program, where I proudly serve as a member and volunteer, supporting young careerists in their pursuit of a career in the cosmetic science industry. The NextGen initiative focuses on educating, networking, and mentoring students and early careerists. My role has consisted of helping connect companies with young university students so that they might have more job, co-op and internship opportunities, as well as helping cosmetic science become more available to young people interested in the field. My passion and dedication to empowering others doesn’t stop there, I have also successfully spearheaded two NSF outreach programs, presented at Harvard and MIT at the Cambridge Science Festival, that promote STEM education so that young students, and people interested overall, are encouraged to join science and engineering.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

During my time at Northeastern University, I have achieved significant milestones that reflect my dedication to academic excellence, leadership, and innovation. One notable accomplishment has been my pioneering research within the Biomaterials Design Group. Through extensive experimentation and collaboration, I have made substantial contributions to the field of sustainable pigments and novel ingredients for personal care products. These efforts have not only garnered recognition within Northeastern but have also been acknowledged on a broader scale, including prestigious awards and scholarships on the national level.

Furthermore, my commitment to innovation and problem-solving is exemplified by my role in developing a new serum delivery mechanism to mitigate single-use capsule waste in consumer goods. This innovative solution has led to patent-pending, and I’m currently finalizing this project to publish a paper on this innovation. My journey researching natural pigments, studying polymer chemistry, and applying it to cosmetic science and engineering have given me numerous awards for my outstanding contributions and discoveries such as winning multiple PEAK research awards and the Provost Research Award. Moreover, my recognitions have extended beyond Northeastern, as I have been awarded by the Society of Cosmetic Chemists the Madam CJ Walker Scholarship, a very competitive, prestigious, and international scholarship, given only to underrepresented minorities in STEM that have made significant contributions to cosmetic science and engineering. Similarly, I presented my research and discoveries in Los Angeles at the SCC’s 76th Annual Showcase. Notably, my research presentation not only received acclaim but also secured a 4th place prize in a competition with more than 20 posters competing against Ph.D. students from all over the country. Having secured both honors, the poster competition and scholarship, distinguished me as the sole recipient of two awards at the entire conference, whose accolades recognize only the brightest and most accomplished people in cosmetic science.

In addition to my research achievements, I have excelled academically, maintaining a stellar 3.91 GPA and consistently earning recognition for my scholastic endeavors. Being on the Dean’s list every semester since my freshman year, receiving the NU Award for high-level academic performance and leadership, and being nominated for esteemed awards such as the Condit Award and Hodgkinson Award highlight my dedication to academic excellence and leadership within the university community.

Moreover, my involvement in extracurricular activities, such as volunteering with the Society of Cosmetic Chemists’ NextGen program and spearheading NSF outreach initiatives, underscores my commitment to serving the community and promoting STEM education.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

I am deeply proud of every single one of my achievements, but if I had to pinpoint the most significant one to date, it would undoubtedly be the journey of seeing my research evolve into a patent-pending discovery. The reason for this is that this honor is not just about the awards or the recognition, but rather the countless hours of dedication spent, the failures that turned into lessons, and the relentless pursuit of innovation that went into this endeavor, as I was the sole researcher working on this project—besides my PI who guided me throughout this process.

Witnessing my endless curiosity and ideas materialize into something tangible, with the potential to make a real-world impact, fills me with an indescribable sense of accomplishment, joy and purpose. This is the culmination of my professional growth as an engineer and scientist throughout my undergraduate studies at Northeastern, and it’s a testament to my resilience and passion, so I am extremely proud of it. This achievement is more than just a milestone on my academic journey—it’s a symbol of perseverance, creativity, and the endless possibilities that come with daring to dream big and never giving up!

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

I have been on the Dean’s list for every academic semester since my freshman year with a current GPA of 3.91. Furthermore, I’ve been awarded the “NU Award”, which recognizes upperclassmen who demonstrate high-level academic performance and leadership at the university level. I’ve also been nominated for prestigious awards such as the Hodgkinson Award, Condit Award by the chemical engineering awards selection committee. Moreover, for my outstanding scholastic accomplishments, I was invited to become a member of Tau Beta Pi, the largest and most prestigious engineering honor society. Additionally, I have been awarded one of their prestigious scholarships, the Tau Beta Pi Scholarship, that recognizes students that show promise of substantial achievement in the form of educational, research, professional activities that have prepared them for their career. My research has garnered multiple awards, including the PEAK Summit Award, the PEAK Ascent Award, and the Provost Research Award. Beyond Northeastern, I’ve received prestigious recognition like the Madam CJ Walker Scholarship from the Society of Cosmetic Chemists. Presenting my work at the SCC’s 76th Annual Showcase earned me a 4th place prize among PhD competitors nationwide. I have also received a patent pending for my discovery at the Biomaterials Lab.

“She is a fantastic asset to NU and I have absolutely no doubt that she will remain one of our highly involved alumni after graduation.”

-Kirsten Fertuck, Biochemistry Director and Teaching Professor

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

I enjoy figure skating, watching figure skating, listening to a variety of music—from jazz to EDM to classical to punk, and watching TV shows—from the terrible to the sublime—with friends. When I have time, I also enjoy both reflective and creative fantasy writing. I am also interested in social justice movements and efforts to right historical inequities.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

I joined the [Northeastern Figure Skating] team during fall 2020 when the most we could meet was for weekly virtual workouts. During my second year, I joined the executive board as the assistant vice president of competitions and shows where the whole e-board was awarded Club Sports e-board of the year. The next year, I moved up to become VP of competitions and shows and hosted our first spring show in club history. Now I am the president of the club.

During my second year, I joined an initiative to expand health humanities programming and awareness on campus [through the Northeastern University Health Humanities Club]. This led to founding the Health Humanities Club with three other students at Northeastern. I was elected to be the present and since then, we have received official CSI recognition as a club and hosted several faculty speaker and student led panels.

The fall of my second year, I was offered a position as an undergraduate teaching fellow for general chemistry for science majors. During this experience, I discovered a love for teaching. Since then, I have been an undergraduate assistant for biology project lab two times and now I am a TA for the co-requisite lab for Foundations of Microbiology.

During the summer between my third and fourth year of university, I traveled to Ghana for a dialogue on the health systems, services, and education in Ghana. During my time there, I learned from local professors and healthcare practitioners and was given options to give back to the community there by leading dental and general hygiene classes for students at different schools in the cities we visited during our time in Ghana.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

[My favorite achievement is] founding and leading the Northeastern University Health Humanities Club. [Additionally,] during my time as vice president of competitions for the Northeastern University Figure Skating Club (NUFSC), we earned our highest team placement in the program’s history [and] raised over $4,000 for NUFSC in the three shows I directed from fall 2021 – spring 2023. [I also] earned over $15,000 in research funding from several URF—undergraduate research and fellowship office—grants and Health Humanities Initiative funding, [and am] published on a bioethics paper through my second co-op.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

It is difficult to pick a most significant achievement as they vary greatly, but I am very proud of my leadership, especially as I see the next generation of leaders rise to continue the work that I have started. If I must pick a specific example of this, I would point to the shows I have directed for Northeastern University Figure Skating Club. During my tenure as assistant VP and vice president of Competitions and Shows, I expanded on the first holiday show we hosted in December 2019—before I attend the university—to include assistance creating large group numbers and a livestream. The next year, we added a spring show as an additional opportunity for our skaters to perform. This was a part of a larger reckoning on how to incorporate competitive aspirations with our desire for inclusivity on the skating team. By providing performance, and thus bonding, experiences outside of competitions, this allowed for a balance of these interests as well as more opportunities to raise funds which in turn, reduce dues and increase accessibility for skaters. Now the roles of VP/AVP of Competitions and Shows has been split into two roles because of how much I expanded on the existing shows content. The new directors ran two successful shows this past year and I feel confident that these shows will continue to be well run and an essential component of the team for many years. I look forward to watching them as an alumna.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

[I made the] Dean’s List every semester at university, [was an] Internal Admit to University Honors program, earned a University Honors Program Distinction with an anticipated graduation with Latin honors—summa cum laude. [Plus, I am a] Fulbright semi-finalist.

“Laurel Bellemore embodies the values of leadership, volunteerism, academic integrity, and a deep-seated commitment to Northeastern and the broader community.”

-Carmen Sceppa, Dean, Bouvé College of Health Sciences

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

One of the reasons I am so enamored with Boston is that it has so much to offer. In my leisure time, I enjoy being outdoors, whether it’s hiking scenic trails or strolling through the city, uncovering hidden gems. One of my favorite retreats from the city bustle is perched on a dock on the Charles, admiring views of the river and its intersecting bridges.

Although I wouldn’t consider myself a foodie, I enjoy trying new and diverse cuisines available in the neighborhoods of Greater Boston. Baking and cooking are my passions, and I find joy in expressing gratitude to friends and family through food. My “healthy” banana bread has been a real crowd-pleaser.

As an enthusiastic sports fan and a proud New Englander, I love being immersed in Boston’s passionate sports scene whether it’s singing along to “Sweet Caroline” or cheering on the Northeastern hockey teams in the Dog Pound at Matthews Arena.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

As a three-year starter on Northeastern University’s Division 1 Women’s Club Lacrosse team (with the 2020-21 season paused due to COVID-19), I not only contributed to our national ranking—as of today, we’re ranked 11th in the nation—but also served in an executive board position.

I’ve also been a member of the Northeastern University Student Nurses Association (NUSNA) for four years, where I have enjoyed mentoring undergraduate students on various aspects of their academic journey, including course sequencing, co-op placements, and the importance of self-care while navigating the rigorous demands of being a nursing student.

Beyond campus, I’ve extended my commitment to service by volunteering as a medical aid to runners during the Boston Marathon.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

Participating in a Public Health Windshield Survey video as a representative of Bouvé’s School of Nursing epitomized Northeastern’s ethos of bridging theory and practice to tackle societal issues. It was an honor to have been selected to showcase Bouvé’s commitment to addressing inequities. This experience emphasized the significance of understanding the communities we serve, not only from a medical perspective but also socio-economically, culturally, and environmentally. To provide effective healthcare, we need to consider various factors beyond medical expertise by understanding the lives of those we care for—their daily struggles, living conditions, and the obstacles hindering their access to healthcare.

During my clinical placement at the Justice Resource Institute, where I supported individuals facing HIV/AIDS and treatment adherence challenges, I wanted to explore the psychosocial elements influencing their well-being. Recognizing the impact of loneliness and despair, I sought to modernize our approach to care.

My research revealed the importance of prioritizing social connection and community integration to address mental health concerns. To facilitate communal interaction and engagement, I surveyed residents and organized a social event at Behrakis that was informed by their preferences. The event featured facilitated conversations, refreshments, games, and giveaways. Residents responded positively, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to forge genuine connections in a way that resonated with them.

I have also completed two co-ops. My first was at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, specifically on Rosenberg 6, an Acute Trauma and Surgical unit. For my second co-op, I worked at Boston Children’s Hospital on the Solid Organ Transplant and Complex Surgery Unit (10 Hale). During this placement, I was honored to receive three staff-nominated “Way To Shine” awards, acknowledging my dedication to providing exceptional care to patients and their families, as well as my commitment to supporting fellow staff members above and beyond expectations.

Considering my achievements to date, nothing surpasses the feeling of knowing that I’ve made a positive impact on someone’s life or within an organization like Northeastern that entrusted me with responsibilities. Whether it’s the simple act of brightening someone’s day with a kind gesture, providing support during challenging times, or doing more than what’s been asked, bringing pride to my school, workplace, or loved ones, fills me with a profound sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

Reflecting on my time at Northeastern, it’s difficult to pinpoint a single proudest achievement, as it’s more of a journey than a specific event. It’s woven into the fabric of my nursing education and volunteer experiences, which range from immersive clinical rotations to impactful co-op placements and everyday interactions. These opportunities have allowed me to engage deeply with individuals facing adversity or marginalization.

In nursing education, we stress the importance of empathy, the ability to understand and resonate with our patients’ experiences. While I naturally lean towards compassion, these experiences have broadened my perspective. They’ve shown me that true caregiving goes beyond empathy—it requires a genuine recognition of each person’s humanity, including their fears, vulnerabilities, and barriers.

My proudest achievements aren’t crowning moments but rather a series of “little wins” that have positively impacted others’ well-being. Whether it was successfully advocating for clients at the Justice Resource Institute, Inc., offering comfort to distressed caregivers, lending a helping hand to my co-workers, or seeing the tangible impact of my fundraising efforts for the Red Sox Foundation, these moments bring me deep satisfaction. They remind me that I’ve played a part in easing others’ burdens.

Ultimately, my most significant achievement lies in the intersection of understanding and action, where compassion meets advocacy. It’s in these moments of connection and support that I find the greatest fulfillment and motivation to continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, both in my career and beyond. I am deeply grateful to Northeastern for providing me with unparalleled opportunities and I look forward to seizing each one to make this world a better place.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

[I have made the] Dean’s list every participating academic semester, [am a] candidate for Latin Honors—summa cum laude with a GPA of 3.89, [and received the] School of Nursing 50th Anniversary Scholarship Award, spring 2024.

“[Diana] is an accomplished biochemistry researcher with an impressive academic record, but also a recognized champion of the underserved communities that she is passionate about, working tirelessly to improve NU’s resources and connections within these communities.”

Kirsten Fertuck, Biochemistry Director and Teaching Professor

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

[My hobbies are] art, like painting and pottery, going on walks, crosswords and puzzles! [My interests are] activism and community-building and increasing resource accessibility.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

During my time at Northeastern, I’ve been involved in a number of organizations specifically aimed at creating more inclusive spaces for students with marginalized identities. In particular, I’ve spent a lot of time working on communities for Latine, first-generation, and low-income students. Creating and spreading resources as well as enhancing supportive communities is something I take pride in having been involved in. As the very first FUNL—First-gen, Undocumented, and Low-income—program assistant, I worked to support students of these identities by providing peer-to-peer mentoring, hosting events to build community and connect students to each other, and enhancing the FUNL Canvas page which provides resources for students. I have also worked to run the PODER Early Arrival Program for three years now to support the transition to Northeastern for Latine, first-gen, and undocumented/ DACA students. I’ve also held e-board positions for two-and-a-half years in the Latin American Student Organization and 1 year with the First-Generation Low-Income Student Union. I also served as biochemistry peer mentor for one semester to support first-semester biochemistry majors. I am also part of the Curry Student Center Staff as a crossroads attendant providing information and service to passersby at one of the busiest spots on campus.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

Some of my academic achievements at Northeastern surround my two-and-a-half year involvement at the Day Lab in the biology department. I was awarded the AJC Merit Research Scholarship in their inaugural cohort to do my first co-op at the Day Lab. Other fellowships I’ve received to continue my research include the NU URF PEAK Trail-Blazer Award and the COS Advancing Women in Science Scholarship. As a part of my research, I was also able to present at the annual conference of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Here, I was awarded an honorable mention for my poster in the Undergraduate Poster Competition for my category in genetic information. Outside of academics, my achievements include my commitment to increasing resources, community, and overall success for students of marginalized identities.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

Of the activities during my time at Northeastern, I would consider my involvement in the PODER Early Arrival Program to be the most significant. As an incoming first-year, I was a part of the 2021 PODER Cohort. The peer-to-peer mentoring and community that PODER allowed me to have a smooth transition to Northeastern and set me on a path of success during my time here. In 2022, I was a program manager for PODER serving as the lead for the first-generation workshop where the goal is to affirm student identities and capabilities as a strength rather than a deterrent to success. I also worked to compile resources that serve this population of students. In 2023, I was the lead program manager where I oversaw the four-day planning of workshops and activities and secured funding. Currently, I am serving as a co-lead for PODER to enhance community and build longevity of the program through supportive transitions from year-to-year programming. In this role, I am working on building resources that will ensure the long-term success of PODER. This includes coordinating the launch of a website and Instagram to create a campus-wide appearance and to showcase our resources. I am also working with two other co-leads to mentor them on leadership and what it means to be a good leader. I’d say being involved in PODER is my most significant achievement because I have visibly seen the positive community and long-term student success that surrounds this organization. Students always offer resources and support to each other and are eager to be involved in PODER events and to act as mentors to incoming students.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

[I have made the] Dean’s List for fall 2021, spring 2022, fall 2022, and fall 2023, [and have received the] AJC Merit Research Scholarship, URF PEAK Trail-Blazer Award, College of Science Advancing Women in Science Scholarship, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Student Chapter Travel Award, ASBMB Annual Meeting Honorable Mention in Genetic Information at the Undergraduate Poster Competition,. Root of Abundance Award at the 2023 Student Life Award, and the First-Generation Legacy Building Award.

“I know that Northeastern has a quality of learning and care, from [the university and] your professors,” says Careen Turner, CPS’18 of Savannah, Georgia, by way of Owensboro, Kentucky. “You don’t get that everywhere, and they’re going to make sure that you understand the material. It’s going to make a lot of sense, and I know that it’s going to be beneficial in the longrun.”

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communications studies, Turner moved to Hilton Head, South Carolina to become a coordinator at World Disney World, specializing in guest relations. Eventually joining the Americorps and dipping her toes in the nonprofit industry, she transitioned to a career in higher education—yet, after the pandemic, Turner longed for the inherent human connection and feeling of giving back to the community she garnered while working at Disney. As a result, she pivoted towards a permanent role in the nonprofit sector, eventually climbing the ranks to being named the director of philanthropy for the largest farmers’ market in southern Georgia, the Forsyth Farmers’ Market.

However, prior to her promotion at the Forsyth Farmers’ Market, Turner compounded her experiences and passion for the nonprofit sector by adding a master of science in nonprofit management from Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies to her resume. “The degree itself helped me [get] an overall understanding of how nonprofits work [and] what to expect when going into the field…I think it provided a well-rounded look at the industry.”

With a degree in hand, Turner was ready to tap into the power of the Northeastern global network and utilize their career services to the fullest potential. “I used the Northeastern career center a lot,” she says with emphasis, explaining the process of building a resume, applying for jobs, and taking advantage of networking connections. “Don’t forget about your university career center. They’re here for you, even years after you graduate.”

The future is bright and full of hope for Turner as she helps the Forsyth Farmers’ Market pivot towards a new philanthropic challenge of providing 12 services that support the local community for food access and security. “Philanthropy is multi-facted,” she says with a smile. “We’re looking to provide affordable food opportunities and access to fresh and local produce. Our market really [does that and] supports local producers and growers.”

Turner’s passion for philanthropy and elevating the community is a cornerstone of Northeastern University, and she is an embodiment of that spirit. If you would like to follow in her footsteps, select your favorite fund to donate to on Northeastern’s Giving Day, this coming Thursday, April 11, 2024, to help other Huskies continue to have a transformational Northeastern experience.

Follow the Forysth Farmers’ Market on Instagram @forsythfarmersmarket

Click here to donate to the Forsyth Farmers’ Market

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@forsythfarmersmarket

Website
https://www.forsythfarmersmarket.com/

I know that Northeastern has a quality of learning and care, from [the university and] your professors. You don’t get that everywhere, and they’re going to make sure that you understand the material.”

Careen Turner, CPS’18

Meet Professor Dave Hagen, CJ’80! An associate teaching professor for the College of Professional Studies, Dave wanted to return to give back to the Northeastern community by teaching at his alma mater. His research revolves around what exactly critical thinking is and its different applications in both the world and the classroom. Learn more about his undergraduate experience, what it means to think critically, and the next phase of his research!

“To my students, I always like to talk about how impactful the Northeastern community was for me,” says Marie Ganim, Ph.D.’05. “I hope you’re able to appreciate the program that you’re in and I hope you’re able to appreciate Northeastern professors, because to me, it was very significant and impactful in my life…a lot of [my career] had to do with my Ph.D. [in public affairs] from Northeastern.”

Dr. Ganim, a native of Lincoln, Rhode Island, is no stranger to serving the public sector—her leadership qualities and dedication to public service have landed her positions as Commissioner of the Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner, deputy chief of staff for the Rhode Island Senate President, her current service on an ad hoc committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and as a college instructor.

While at Northeastern, Dr. Ganim embraced the academic community, specifically through her connections with her professors, one of which being former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis. “These professors were second to none…and some are still friends and individuals that I can call. We share emails when we find things [in our field] that are of interest to each other.” 

However, Dr. Ganim’s Northeastern experience didn’t end with her doctorate—she made a transition to the other side of the classroom, teaching one class each year in urban affairs and public policy. “The way I was connected to [teach the class] was from my Ph.D. professors,” says Dr. Ganim. “When they knew that I was retiring from the state government…they reached out and said ‘we have this one class we would like you teach’…and it was perfect.” 

Dr. Ganim’s teaching style is reflective of her community-based thinking and emphasis on individualization, as shown through her effort to have one-on-one Zoom calls with her remote-learning students and to get to know them on a personal basis. This philosophy runs parallel with her worldview and the leadership style expressed in her professional career, as proven through her recent appointment to the Board of Directors for PACE-RI, a not-for-profit health plan that offers health services to Rhode Islanders above the age of 55. 

A program operating in Rhode Island for just less than two decades, the concept was created in the 1970s in California through the tradition in Asian-American culture of tending to your elders in your home opposed to in an institutional situation. With that in mind, Dr. Ganim is optimistic about her new board membership and the future of PACE-RI. Beaming, she says that …“it feels like a culmination and good use of my years of experience and advocacy [for public health].”  

Since she was a teenager, Alissa Krasner Maizes, CJ’90, has been a fan and consistent reader of Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine. This past October, every reader’s dream became a reality for her—she was published by the magazine highlighting her successful college saving strategies that paid for both of her sons’ Northeastern experiences while simultaneously allowing her and her husband to save for retirement.

Maizes is no stranger to money management, however—she is the founder and financial advisor for the Boca Raton-based financial planning firm Amplify My Wealth. “Starting Amplify My Wealth was fueled by my desire to provide fiduciary advice to help young adults and women along their financial journey, regardless of their net worth, meeting you wherever you are on your financial journey, whether living paycheck-to-paycheck or with millions in the bank,” she says.

Starting your own financial planning service is no small feat, and it is clear that entrepreneurship and perseverance seemingly run in the Maizes family. Her son, Zachary, Khoury’23, used his Northeastern experience to build a rapport with titans in his industry through a number of co-ops and hard work. According to Zachary, “the co-op culture at Northeastern provided an environment that encouraged me to focus on putting myself in the best position possible for applications early on…I restructured my course plan to better align with the application cycle and get ahead of the curve…These experiences, with companies like Amazon and Meta, were major contributors to me landing my current position at ZipRecruiter.”

Her younger son, Joshua, E’25, used his entrepreneurial instincts to take advantage of a market gap in the greater Boston area while completing co-ops to gather experience in the industrial engineering field. He states that “pivoting from Mechanical to Industrial Engineering was crucial in my academic experience, and my co-ops cemented my passions before entering the job market. As someone who has been an entrepreneur since high school, the experiential environment inspires me to continue to develop my business, Fragment Studios, and tackle entrepreneurial opportunities with classmates, like Select Markets—a local, sustainable vintage clothing market—that I founded with a fellow Husky.”

It’s no secret, however, that balancing a budget while having children in college can come with its challenges. For parents navigating this fragile territory, Maizes advises that “as a current Northeastern University parent, balancing your instinct to ‘be there for your children’ by prioritizing your financial needs is essential. Admittedly, while most people do not like having conversations about money with anyone, you and your child will likely thank you for it later.” With that in mind, not only is Maizes helping her family succeed financially, but she can help yours too.

Learn more about Amplify My Wealth on their website
Connect with Alissa on LinkedIn
Connect with Zachary on LinkedIn 
Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn

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Website
https://amplifymywealth.com/

“As a current Northeastern University parent, balancing your instinct to ‘be there for your children’ by prioritizing your financial needs is essential.”

Alissa Krasner Maizes, CJ’90

“I’m always looking around for pictures,” says Chelsea Matson, a 2011 graduate with degrees in Human Services and International Affairs. As the proprietor of her own photography business—capturing weddings, family sessions, brand photography sessions, and more—it comes as no surprise to hear that Matson has always viewed the world through a photographic lens. “With my friends, I was notorious for always having a disposable camera with me…I still have shoeboxes of developed photos,” says Matson. “Even whenever I’m driving down the highway, I’m gasping, like, ‘Oh my gosh, those wildflowers are so incredible!’”

Matson’s journey towards becoming a professional photographer was, by her admission, a rather convoluted process. At Northeastern, she began by majoring in criminal justice with a minor in business. Not finding this to be the right fit, she shifted to pre-med, then general art, and finally to a dual major in human services and international affairs. Ultimately, she decided to procure a master’s degree in special education. Her passion for photography, however, never left her.

Eventually, while working as a teacher in New York City, the thought occurred to her—“What if I got people to pay me for taking photos?” Almost immediately, she dedicated herself to learning the tricks of the trade through a photography apprenticeship—all while continuing her career as a teacher and starting her photography business. After getting married and moving to Milwaukee in 2014, she decided to spend another year honing her skills before finally taking the plunge and picking up where she left off . Her calendar has been booked ever since.

However, running a business by herself comes with its own share of difficulties. “Being my own boss is pretty amazing…and exhausting,” says Matson. “Some days, I’m just sitting here on my computer editing for eight hours straight.” According to Matson, what makes it all worth it is her investment in serving and understanding people. “I luckily have really incredible clients,” says Matson. “I love getting to know all these different people at different parts of their lives. Some people are about to have a baby, some people are getting married, some people have five kids and they’re wrangling them…I think people are super interesting, [and] I think that photography gives you an opportunity to build different communities.”

Matson expresses her gratitude to Northeastern for giving her the tools and experience to start her own business. “Being able to graduate with that [co-op] experience is so incredibly valuable,” says Matson. “I left Northeastern with four jobs on my resume…that was huge.” Beyond that, she credits her Northeastern experience with giving her the confidence to pursue her ambitions. “It’s a big deal to be able to feel like you have the tools to leave your full-time benefits-paid job and go start a business, and I think a lot of that comes from my courses and my relationships I built at Northeastern.”

Ultimately, Matson’s hard work and dedication to her craft has paid off—in fact, this year marks the conclusion of her tenth full season in the business. More so than her remarkable business success, Matson is perhaps even prouder of the strides she’s made over the years in terms of setting a manageable work-life balance. “During my first three years, I was doing 20 to 30 weddings in a season, which was beautiful and amazing, but also really grueling.” Part of her growth, she says, has been figuring out the importance of valuing her time. “[Nowadays], if I’m not doing an in-person session, then I’m with my family,” she laughs. “Know what makes you feel happy and joyful, set boundaries, learn from people who do what you want to do, and then just have fun.”

Instagram
@chelseamatsonphoto

Website
https://www.chelseamatson.com/

“Walking into a job after [graduating from Northeastern], I felt like I had all these skills: time management, people management, human interactions — without these, I would have felt way more timid.”

Chelsea Matson ssh ’11

It’s no secret that a cornerstone of the insurance industry is customer care. “In an industry like insurance where you are not selling something that is tangible to a customer, you are really selling the people and employees that we have…I’m super passionate about that piece of things” says Rachel Switchenko, MBA’15.

Beginning her career in insurance through data analytics and accounting for Liberty Mutual, Switchenko eventually gravitated towards the customer side of the business after a move to Plymouth Rock Home Assurance. “I found my home in service,” says Switchenko. “I love the customer experience. I think that they’re really what makes any company successful.” With that mindset, a great work ethic, and a resume to match, at the beginning of 2023 Switchenko was officially announced as the Vice President of Customer Solutions for Plymouth Rock.

Additionally, her Northeastern experience was a foundational piece in her ascension to the VP of Customer Solutions. According to Switchenko, the flexibility that Northeastern’s part-time MBA program offered allowed her to balance her education with her blossoming professional and personal life. “I was looking for flexibility. I was doing it part-time, and it fit really nicely into there. [Plus], it has a really good reputation and I think that also matters. Part of the reason I wanted my MBA was for external opportunities.”

Not only was flexibility a crucial part in obtaining her MBA, but her classroom experience provided her with tools that could be used for success in her career. “At that point in time…sitting in those rooms listening to professors, it gave me a greater appreciation for what was to come. It gave me a better understanding for why decisions were being made…it helped me be transparent to the level that you need to to bring people along with you,” she says in regards to applying these skills to her professional life.

Even after all of her success, Switchenko is still looking to give back to the Northeastern MBA community in any way she can. “I would soak it all in,” she says with a smile as she considers what she would say to current Northeastern MBA students. “Your MBA is a decision you make yourself. Don’t do yourself a disservice by not giving it just as much as you would give anything else that you’ve chosen to do…you’re making that investment, so get the most out of it.”

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-switchenko/

Your MBA is a decision you make yourself. Don’t do yourself a disservice by not giving it just as much as you would give anything else that you’ve chosen to do…”

Rachel Switchenko, MBA’15