CLAS Career Night Series

A liberal arts and sciences degree prepares students with the tools they need to excel across a wide range of careers. Given the number of options available to you, it can be overwhelming to narrow down career choices. Attending CLAS Career Night will provide you exposure to career opportunities for CLAS students.

Each event in this series features a number of UConn CLAS alumni who were once in your shoes and have since led successful careers in a variety of industries. Attending CLAS Career Night will involve opportunities for you to engage with these alumni, learn in-depth about various occupations, and gain insight about how to best prepare for your future career.

Fall 2024: Navigating New Frontiers in Tech & Innovation

Monday, October 28, 5:00 – 6:30

Alumni Center, Storrs Campus

Join us for a panel discussion to hear CLAS alumni talk about their successful – and perhaps unexpected – career journeys. If you have ever wondered what you can do with your major, and especially if you are interested in technology and innovation, this is a great opportunity to gain insight from industry professionals (who were once in your shoes!). Come prepared to listen, ask questions, and learn about how your major can prepare you for a diverse array of career paths.

Register for CLAS Career Night: Navigating New Frontiers in Tech & Innovation!

Past Events:

Featured Alumni:

  • Jonathan Costa, ’04 English, Senior Editor – Audience Engagement, ESPN
  • Amanda Driscoll, ’03 Communication, Senior Content Director, Adams & Knight
  • Kathleen McWilliams, ’15 English & Journalism, Director of Communications, Senator Richard Blumenthal
  • Chelsea Osei, ’22 HDFS, ’24 MPA, Research Analyst Intern, Jobs for the Future
  • Alexander Peterkin, ’22 Communication, Data Analyst, WWE
  • Edgardo Rossetti, ’09 Communication, Senior Marketing Director, Adams & Knight
  • Anthony Sacco, ’20 M.S., Statistics, Senior Associate Data Scientist, Travelers
  • Anthony Tyson, ’16 Communication & Political Science, Post Production Editor, ESPN
  • Clare Wieduwilt, ’21 Mathematics-Statistics & Economics, ULDP Underwriting Senior Analyst, Aetna/CVS Health

Featured Alumni:

  • Cristian Aviles-Martin, Ph.D. Candidate Chemistry – R&D Chemist IlI at MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions
  • Akeia de Barros Gomes, Ph.D. ’08 Anthropology – Senior Curator of Maritime Social Histories at Mystic Seaport Museum; Visiting Scholar at Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice, Brown University
  • Darlene Burckson, ’22 Biological Sciences – Post Graduate Fellow at Yale School of Medicine
  • Zbigniew Grabowski, ’08 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology – Research Associate at the New School
  • Aileen Keays, ’00) Psychology & Criminal Justice – Project Manager at Children with Incarcerated Parents Initiative
  • Qasim Malik, ’21 Cognitive Science, Speech Language and Hearing Sciences – Clinical Research Assistant at UConn Health
  • Genevieve Nuttall, ’17 Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, ’18 MS Conservation Biology & Biodiversity – Environmental Specialist at AECOM
  • Susan Smith,Ph.D. ’20 Marine Sciences – Marine Research Scientist at Mystic Aquarium
  • Taylor Stewart, ’09 Statistics – People Analytics Director at Gartner
  • Douglas Wardlaw, ’21 Economics – Equity Research Analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
  • Madison Zuckerman, ’22 Psychological Sciences, Minor: Hebrew & Judaic Studies – Researcher at UConn Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy

CLAS Career Night: Government, Law, & Policy
Wednesday, November 16, 2022 – 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm in the Alumni Center (Storrs Campus)

Featured Alumni:

  • Don Bell, Vice Chair of the East Hartford Town Council and Assistant Director at the UConn Law Center for Career Development
  • Nancy Brouillet, Assistant Attorney General – Employment Rights Department at the State of Connecticut Office of the Attorney General and Adjunct Professor at UConn
  • Julio Concepcion, Vice President of Hartford Partnerships at MetroHartford Alliance
  • Max Gigle, Program Manager for CT Digital Service at the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services
  • Megan Handau, J.D. Candidate at Yale Law School
  • Gus Marks-Hamilton, Campaign Manager at ACLU of Connecticut
  • Bryan Pollard, Associate General Counsel at Raytheon Technologies
  • Marla Romash, Business Owner at Romash Communications
  • Regina Rush-Kittle, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of New Haven

CLAS Career Night: Scientists
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 – 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm on Zoom

Featured Alumni:

Conner Dickes, ’18 Geography & Urban and Community StudiesPlanner/GIS Analyst at SLR Consulting
Deaneira Lakheram, ’12 Molecular and Cell BiologyAssociate Scientist III at AstraZeneca
Kellyn Patros, ’14 ChemistrySenior Scientist at Pfizer
Stephanie Scialo, ’15 History & AnthropologyArchaeologist at Archaeological and Historical Services, Inc.
Emmaris Soto, ’09 PhysicsScientist at Computational Physics Inc
Dimitri Wallace, ’18 Biological SciencesScientist at Eurofins
Katrina Wermter, ’17 Environmental StudiesProject Scientist at EBI Consulting

CLAS Career Night: Writing-Based Careers

Tuesday, November 9, 2021 – 5:30pm – 7:00pm on Zoom


Featured Alumni:

Elizabeth Charash, ’18 HistoryProject Manager at Brady
Jennifer Cox, ’90 Political ScienceAttorney, Cox & Osowiecki
Nandini D’Souza-Wolfe, ’97 EnglishVP Global Storytelling & Editorial at Tory Burch
Rebecca Hasko, ’13 SociologyGrant Writer at Economic Mobility Pathways
Dr. Melissa-Sue John, ’08 ’10 Ph.D. PsychologyCEO at Lauren Simone Publishing House
Anne McAuley Lopez, ’96 EconomicsSEO Content Writer and Content Strategist at Agency Content Writer
Paul Orzulak, ’89 History & Political ScienceFounding Partner at West Wing Writers
Soniya Assudani Patel, ’19 Ph.D. NeuroscienceSenior Medical Writer at Apothecom
Curtis Wong, ’01 Journalism & EnglishSenior Reporter at Huffington Post

Note: All position titles and organizations listed here were at the time of this event.

CLAS Career Night: Public Health
Tuesday, March 2, 2021 – 5:30pm – 7:00pm


Featured Alumni:

Chi AnakoDirector of Community Health and Wellbeing at Trinity Health of New England
Roberto HenryPublic Health Advisor at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Jennifer HoegSenior Program Officer at Jhpiego
Odia KanePolicy and Advocacy Fellow at the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance
Jessica KolisHealth Communications Specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Francesca ProvenzanoSection Chief at the Connecticut Department of Public Health
Melissa SteidlerAssociate Director of Pharmacovigilance Operations at Entasis Therapeutics
Orlando WrightDirector of Partnerships and Innovation, American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
Colby ZongolCommunications Specialist at RI Department of Public Health

Note: All position titles and organizations listed here were at the time of this event.

CLAS Career Night: Careers in Nonprofit and Service

Tuesday, November 10, 2020 – 5:30-7:00 PM on Zoom


Featured Alumni:

Ben ShaikenManager of Advocacy & Public Policy at CT Community Nonprofit Alliance
Yahaira EscribanoPartner Programs Coordinator at Foodshare
Brianna McClureVolunteer Coordinator at Center for the Integration and Advancement of New Americans (CIANA)
Riley HassonAssociate Director of Talent, External Affairs at Great Oaks Charter Schools
Brooke HirsheimerCommunications Specialist at World Wildlife Fund
Aleena SanthoshChild Development Specialist at The Village for Children & Families
Daisy OuvaCommunications Advisor at AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC)
Stephen SchirraFounder and CEO at Around the Worlds, Around the World
Nicole SancelementePolicy and Programs Associate at Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF)
Luke AndersonFoodCorps AmeriCorps Service Member, FoodCorps in Middletown Public Schools
Dieter TejadaExecutive Director at National Justice Impact Bar Association
Bilal TajildeenManager of Membership and Culture at Connecticut Council for Philanthropy

Note: All position titles and organizations listed here were at the time of this event.

CLAS Career Night: Technology & Innovation

Wednesday, February 26, 2020 – 5:30-8:30 PM


Featured Alumni:

Ashton Beason-JonesScrum Master Sr. Advisor at Cigna
Kelly CosgroveData Engineer at The Hartford
Jean CrawfordSr. Data and Applied Scientist at Microsoft
Sarah CrothersEarly Career Leadership Development Program at The Hartford
Chris DeBenedictisVP of Technology and Operations at Budderfly LLC
Chris MosqueraAutomation Engineer at All Covered
Kalin NaidooDatabase Developer at TEKsystems
Ryan O’ConnorGlobal Impact Technology Manager at Splunk
Jonathan PattersonTechnical Consultant at DXC Technology
Francis PreliVP of Propulsion & Materials Technologies at Pratt & Whitney
Stephen SlotaAssistant Professor in Residence – Educational Technology at UConn
Nicole WagnerCEO and Founder of Lambda Vision
Julianne WinkelInformation Security & Compliance Specialist at Webster Bank

Note: All position titles and organizations listed here were at the time of this event.

CLAS Career Night: Careers in Media

Tuesday, November 12, 2019 – 5:30-8:30 PM


Featured Alumni:

Michael SivoMedia Relations Assistant | Boston Red Sox
Loretta RiversIndependent Film Producer/Director | Lojeri Productions
Virge KaskScientific Illustrator | UConn College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Mike EnrightDeputy Spokesperson, Editorial Associate | University of Connecticut
Tia MeleJunior Literary Agent | Talcott Notch Literary
John SilverCo-Founder | The UConn Daily
Amanda FalconePublic Relations Director | Middlesex Health Network
Mike SavinoReporter | WFSB TV
Ali OshinskieDevelopment Coordinator | Yale School of Nursing
Mark DupuisCommunications and Legislative Specialist | State of Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice
Kathleen McWilliamsStaff Writer | The Hartford Courant
Sara-Beth DonovanPresident of Media Only | Mintz + Hoke

Note: All position titles and organizations listed here were at the time of this event.

CLAS Career Night: Research-Based Careers

Tuesday, March 5, 2019 – 5:30-8:30 PM


Featured Alumni:

Patrick AdamsOncogenomic Liaison at Genomic Health
Bram Bergeron-SmithImmunoassay Manufacturing Scientist at EnviroLogix
Casey CamireProcess Engineer at Henkel Industries
Christopher ChapmanResearch Chemist at King Industries
Ron CiakAutomation/Project Engineer at ARBURG, Inc.
Heather ClintonResearch Assistant at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
Lizzie CollinResearch Lab Manager at University of Connecticut
Lauren LongBioinformatics Analyst II at The Jackson Laboratory
Nastassja OrtegaAssociate Director of Laboratory Operations at Charles River Laboratories
Kim RaddaDirector of Research Administration at The Institute of Community Research
Collyn SeegerScientist III at Thermo Fisher Scientific
Bethany SilverDirector of Assessment, Evaluation & Research at Bloomfield Public Schools
Justin SmithSenior Associate Scientist, Pharmacogenomics at Pfizer
Corbinian WannerResearch Associate at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
Amanda WedgeBehavior Technician at Harc Inc.
Dylan YoungArtificial Intelligence Manager at Fidelity Investments

Note: All position titles and organizations listed here were at the time of this event.

CLAS Career Night: Government, Law, & Politics

Tuesday, November 13, 2018 – 5:30-8:30 PM


Featured Alumni:

Caitlin BriodyCommunity Engagement Specialist at United Way of Southeastern Connecticut
Mike BzdyraCommissioner at Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
Tony CamillierePartner at Camilliere, Cloud & Kennedy
Justin CheneyOfficer at UConn Police Department
Eric GeorgePresident at Insurance Association of Connecticut
Andy GlassmanMember at Pullman & Comley
Mary GlassmanManager at Capitol Region Education Council
Peter KlenschManager of Policy and Government Affairs at Citizens Against Government Waste
Matt NecciPartner at Halloran Sage
Richard RobinsonChief Justice at Connecticut Supreme Court
Chelsea TurnerInterim Vice President at Connecticut Lottery Corporation
Bill WilcoxChief Compliance Officer at Prudential Advisors
Matthew YorzinskiLaw School Graduate of Vermont Law School

Note: All position titles and organizations listed here were at the time of this event.

CLAS Career Night: Business & Analytics

Tuesday, March 6, 2018 – 6:00-8:00 PM


Featured Alumni:

Paul CarrierManager, Rates & Filings at Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co.
Jungbin HwangAssistant Professor, Department of Economics at UConn
Jennifer MacDonaldSenior Associate, Contracts & Business Management at UTC Aerospace Systems
Angelo PruittFinancial Solutions Advisor at Merrill Lynch
John SponauerVP, Marketing Communications and Philanthropic Giving at Wheeler Clinic, Inc.
Jack TompkinsEarly Career Leadership Development Program (Product Track) at The Hartford
Nigel WalkerInvestment Accounting Consultant at Mass Mutual
Steve WolfbergChief Creative and Growth Officer at Cronin

Note: All position titles and organizations listed here were at the time of this event.

CLAS Career Night: Health, Science, Education, & Technology

Tuesday, November 6, 2017 – 6:00-8:00 PM


Featured Alumni:

Payam AndalibDirector of Quality Assurance at Safe Passage Neuromonitoring
Lindsay BitontiUnderwriter III at CIRMA
Joshua DavisSenior Trainer at Mystic Aquarium
Chad FaganGovernment Relations Specialist at Macroscopic Solutions, LLC
Jason HancockAssociate Professor/Experimental Physicist at UConn
Victoria HanulikInside Sales Representative at Thor Specialties
Mina HernandezAVP – Life Sciences Practice Leader at Hanover Insurance Group
Toby LeviVP and Business Unit Leader, Technology at Hanover Insurance Group
Lynn LovelandHuman Resources Manager at Tradebe
Heather McHughTalent Acquisition Specialist at Tradebe
Marianne MuroUniversity Relations Program Manager at Hanover Insurance Group
LeeAnn ParkerPlacement Counselor at Carney, Sandoe, & Associates
Christina PhilipsTechnical Sales Specialist at Thor Specialties
Fiona PortoUnderwriting Administrative Supervisor at CIRMA
Ashley RoblesField-Based Technical Chemist at Tradebe
Matthew RogalskiOBGYN
Amit SavkarAssociate Professor in Residence/Director of Assessment and Teaching at UConn

Note: All position titles and organizations listed here were at the time of this event.

Inaugural CLAS Career Night

Tuesday, February 28, 2017 – 6:00-8:00 PM

The inaugural CLAS Career Night in spring 2017 included alumni from communications and journalism, general business, social services and healthcare, law and government, and education.


Featured Alumni:

Emily AbbateFreelance Journalist
Earl BloodworthProject Manager at Warren Kimbro Reentry Project
Dawn BuonocoreStore Team Leader at Target
Tony CamillierePartner at Camilliere, Cloud & Kennedy
Lilibeth CarrasquilloCare Coordinator at Wheeler Clinic, Inc.
William CollinsBusiness Manager at Cigna
Chet DalzellSenior Director of Comms and Industry Relations at Digital Advertising Alliance
Judge DianaSuperior Court Judge for the State of Connecticut
Jess DuganVice President at Empire Wealth Strategies
Amanda FalconeDirector of Public Relations at Middlesex Hospital
John FlorioFinancial Adviser at Northwestern Mutual
Abby JewettRegional Vice President of External and Legislative Affairs at AT&T
Gary LeBeauConsultant at Synergistic Strategic Solutions, LLC
Kim ManningCEO at Cronin
Nasreen MustafaRecruiter at American Eagle Financial Credit Unions
Ty McNameeDoctoral Student at Teachers College of Columbia University
Dennis Moynihan Jr.Middle School History Teacher at Hartford Public Schools
Victoria NimirowskiExecutive Director at Windham Area Interfaith Ministry
Maddy RahmyAlumni Relations Coordinator at The UConn Foundation
Fareed RasheedBusiness Sales Consultant at Cintas
Suzanne WatermanAcademic Advisor at UConn

Note: All position titles and organizations listed here were at the time of this event.