Liberal Arts Major: Administration of Justice
Minor: Business Law
Hometown: Stroudsburg, PA
Current Location: Newtown, PA
What enrichment activities did you participated in as a student?
I participated in USG Legal Affairs on-campus. I completed an internship at Monroe County Public Defender Office.
What was your first job after graduating from Penn State?
I was a loss prevention management trainee at Strawbridge & Clothier in Philadelphia, PA.
What was your favorite class?
I liked Introduction to Security with Professor William Walsh. Professor Walsh related to students in a uniquely engaging way. Eighteen years later, I met up with Professor Walsh in Louisville, KY, where he was living and working while I was in town for business, and shared a fine steak dinner and reminisced about the good old days at Penn State. I wanted to say thank you for all the lessons I learned from him during my years as a student. I also taught Introduction to Security at Penn State Abington years later.
How did your liberal arts education and skills prepare you for life after graduation?
I experienced a well-rounded education that taught me how to think, conduct research, understand theoretical concepts, and communicate — particularly in writing — a critical skill to refine through your educational and professional experience.
What networking advice would you share with current students?
Think about how you can begin meeting and engaging with people in areas where you would be interested in working. Start with your professors, career counseling staff, contacts you meet at Career Days, and alumni.
What role have mentors played in your career progression?
Significant. I have been very fortunate to have several outstanding mentors throughout my career, some direct managers, some colleagues senior to me that have taken an interest in my professional development.