I graduated in 2003, and initially I started in a Leadership Development program for Grainger Industrial Supply. While working at Grainger, I acquired my MBA from George Washington University. After 8 years at Grainger, I decided to pursue a career in nonprofit education and made a move to begin working at Teach For America in Las Vegas, NV.
Today I am the Director of Development at Teach For America. In my role I am responsible for securing a sustainable funding base for the growing corps of teachers we provide to Las Vegas’ Clark County School District. Additionally, my role requires me to design the external appearance of Teach For America in the Las Vegas Valley.
SMC helped prepare me for both my current and former roles because of three things: Individualized attention which allowed me to grasp difficult accounting & economics concepts, leadership opportunities that prepared me to thrive in the corporate world, and time management skills. That enabled me to handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
As a student athlete with a double major (
Accounting &
Business Administration) and minor (
Economics) it was critical that I learn how to manage my time between academics and athletics. SMC prepared me for life after college by providing not only demanding professors, who expected me to meet deadlines regardless of my extra curricular activities, but also supportive tutors and staff to help me with determine the best way to utilize my time effectively. Additionally, my professors (most notably Norm Walker & Bob Kenny) provided me with critical thinking skills that have served me well since I left Winooski Park in the spring of 2003.
I am most proud of making the MLK service award I earned my senior year as well as being named captain of the 2002-2003
Men’s Basketball team. Both awards were humbling to me because they affirmed that my dedication to both my SMC community and my athletics were noticed and valued by peers and staff. I cherish both accolades because they symbolize the growth I achieved while attending SMC from 1999 to 2003.
I would advise any prospective student to come to campus and talk with Saint Michael’s down-to-earth staff and faculty. One of the most refreshing qualities I found in staff members at SMC was their ability to be candid with current and prospective students so that the students could determine if SMC was the best community for their needs. Saint Michael’s covets students of all types, but more importantly, the college wants young men and women who are prepared to work in a demanding and enriching college environment.
I appreciate the close-knit community of Saint Michael’s. After graduating from SMC years ago, I still feel deeply connected to the people and the mission of the college. My connection is rooted not only in the life-changing experiences I had while on campus, but also the long-lasting relationships I have been able to form with students, faculty and staff. I am proud to be a Purple Knight, and I look forward to the day that my children carry on my legacy at Saint Michael’s!
