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Today Show Brings Back Megan Zaroda ’07 in Beijing
For a second time during the Summer Olympics in Beijing, Megan Zaroda '07 appeared on the Today Show. But this time, it was a live segment. "The host has his prepared questions, but I'm just going to be holding up souvenir after souvenir, trying to sell the American public on why a kitschy Mao watch or a strand of sea pearls is their best bet to beat the ‘All I got was this lousy T-shirt’ habit," Zaroda said beforehand. "Doing that unscripted and live is a bit nerve-wracking. And besides, it gives away my Christmas present ideas!" Zaroda works in Beijing as publications manager for Our Chinese Daughters Foundation Publications. She is also a food critic for the city’s expatriate magazine and does English consulting for local businesses.
Aug 23, 2008
Suzanne Gabrielle ’06 Working for State Supreme Court Judge This Summer Suzanne Gabrielle ’06 is a third-year student at New England School of Law in Boston, where she is executive technical editor of New England Journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement as well as a mentor for incoming first-year students. She is clerking for a State Supreme Court judge. "I have the opportunity to attend and observe both criminal and civil trials and hearings," she says. "However, when I am not in court I spend the majority of my time doing legal research and writing for my judge. I also draft preliminary orders on how to potentially decide a motion that is before the court. A lot of time, research, and writing go into those orders.”
Aug 19, 2008
Amanda Alpert Knight ’99 Helps Children Get Better Education
Amanda Alpert Knight ’99 is executive director of the Chicago office of Resources for Indispensable Schools and Educators (R.I.S.E.), which partners with schools to improve faculty and develop better working environments, the key to keeping the best and brightest teachers. In her role with R.I.S.E. she’s “like a mini-CEO of the Chicago region.” A typical day consists of relationship building through one-on-one meetings with principals, teacher leaders, and R.I.S.E.-approved job applicants. In addition, she oversees recruitment, manages budgets, and ensures the purposes of R.I.S.E. continue to make a difference for schoolkids throughout her region.
Aug 12, 2008
NBC’s Today Show Features Megan Zaroda ’07 in Beijing Megan Zaroda ’07 and her thirsty friends led NBC Today show weekend anchor Lester Holt on a tour of Beijing's watering holes for an Aug. 9 segment. They went to several bars, ending the evening at the newly opened China Doll by famed Chinese actress Ai Wan. The Today crew taped the group as it chatted about the Beijing scene pre-Olympics. Zaroda works in Beijing as the publications manager for Our Chinese Daughters Foundation Publications, specializing in educational materials about Chinese culture. She is also a food critic for the city’s expatriate magazine, The Beijinger, and does English consulting for local businesses. Visit the alumni web site to read her blog about her experiences in China.
Aug 05, 2008
Ben Doremus '07 Gets Italian Children Excited about Learning
Electrical and computer engineering graduate Ben Doremus ’07 is working as a web design and information technology teacher at the International School of Trieste (IST), Italy. He teaches everything from Java programming and the basics of Microsoft Office to a sixth-grade math unit on architecture. He lends his support to an upper-level physical education class and advises the photography club after school. He is also in charge of maintaining the school’s computer lab and fixing network problems as they arise. “As difficult as the students can be, they are also the source of all the rewards,” he says. “There is no better feeling in the world than when a parent comes in to thank you for getting their child excited about learning again.”
Aug 01, 2008
Stephanie Marcon ’06 Catches Up with Old Friends and Makes New Ones Online Stephanie Marcon ’06 likes that through its alumni directory, the Alumni Online Community allows members to do more than catch up with old friends. “It helps you stay in touch not only with people you knew from Lafayette, but people you didn’t," says Marcon, head women's lacrosse coach at St. Francis University in Loretto, Pa. "It allows you to meet new alumni and share with them your common experiences.” As for her favorite feature, Marcon says it’s the online Class Notes that keep her coming back. “I look at Class Notes more than anything,” she states. “I like that it lets you know that other Lafayette graduates are doing great things. I take a lot of pride in that.”
Jul 15, 2008
Keeping Bonds Strong Neuroscience graduate Alyssa Picchini ’04 is very busy as she studies pharmacology at Columbia University. She has found the Lafayette Alumni Online Community to be a quick and easy way to remain connected with the school and alumni, including former teammates on Lafayette’s Division I track & field and cross country teams. "It is a good way to keep up with classmates," says Picchini, who attends regional alumni chapter events and has volunteered as an externship mentor. In regard to the online community, she advises, "Do it! It’s definitely worth the few minutes it takes to fill out the information."
Jul 15, 2008
Jonathan Ellis ’98 Leads NYC Alumni Chapter Economics and business graduate Jonathan Ellis ’98 receive the William E. Greenip ’44 Award last year in honor of his service as president of the New York City Alumni Chapter. “It’s important to give back whenever you can, as well as remain engaged with the school so as not to lose touch with the people who are important to you and helped formulate who you are today,” he says. “The relationships I cultivated with my friends, peers, and professors have made a lasting impact on me. These are relationships you can’t recreate.” Under his leadership, chapter events have included annual wine tastings, presentations and talks by Lafayette professors, and trips to Yankees and Mets games, the U.S. Tennis Open, and jazz clubs.
Jul 14, 2008
Nicole Piccione Bigg '99 Works for Public School Reform
Nicole Piccione Bigg ’99 serves as director of technology and communications for the Schlechty Center for Leadership in School Reform in Louisville, Ky. “I spend my time doing research for our associates, developing tools for clients, and developing our technology strategy,” she explains. “I continue to write, and I am also focused on developing the brand for the organization so that our name and work become more recognizable.” Founded in 1988, the center works with school districts and their leaders to improve the quality of work provided to students. "Schools have to be organized around students and the work provided to students rather than around adults and the work of teachers,” says Bigg.
Jul 10, 2008
David Wahl ’07 Manages Projects for Major Utility Chemical engineering graduate David Wahl ’07 works as a generation engineer for PSE&G, a gas and electric utility company in New Jersey. “I loved being in the plant during my first year with PSE&G. My ‘office’ was a giant playground full of motors, pumps, conveyors, and a furnace the size of Acopian [Engineering Center] flipped on its side,” he says. “I hope to continue doing this type of work: defining the scope of projects, working with vendors to obtain competitive offers, and then managing in-house and contract work crews as we work to safely and efficiently complete the job.” Wahl says he appreciates the valuable education he received at Lafayette and the benefits of studying engineering at a liberal arts school.
Jul 10, 2008
A Helping Hand for African-American Men
In 2006, Rev. Landon J. Adams '02 became director of the Triangle Lost Generation Task Force in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area. The group of community, government, nonprofit, social services, and church leaders seeks to stem the tide of black and Latino youth entering the penal system. In 2008, he became a senior associate at the Community Development Associates consulting firm, working directly with the 21st Century Foundation’s 2025 Campaign. “Black males born in 2007 will be 18 in 2025," he says. "The goal is to change many of the statistics these black males in 2007 were born into. The percentage likely to be incarcerated, to drop out of school; we want to change those statistics.”
Jul 02, 2008
Shelly Christman ’07 Works to Finish Lehigh Valley Hospital Facilities
Working as a project engineer, Shelly Christman ’07 was responsible for the finishing elements of the Lehigh Valley Hospital Tower. Starting with a concrete shell, she oversaw the addition of tile, epoxy flooring, painted corridors, and vinyl, not to mention the moveable partitions, lockers, and mirrors. Shelly believes that studying liberal arts along with engineering at Lafayette helped her become well rounded: “Aspects of engineering were covered that are overlooked in other curriculums, such as how engineering projects impact the society in which we work and live. Your perspective changes when you are cognizant of some of the impacts your work has on others, maybe even others you wouldn't initially think would be affected."
Jun 30, 2008
Lawyer Thomas Spratt ’92 Shines with Pro Bono and Charity Work
The Philadelphia Bar Association honored anthropology and sociology graduate Thomas Spratt Jr. ’92 with the annual Craig M. Perry Service Award to recognize his volunteer work with the Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project, Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program, and Support Center for Child Advocates. Lafayette’s small size and undergraduate focus made possible experiences that were instrumental in the development of Spratt, a lawyer at the Aramark food services company’s Philadelphia office. "The encouraging atmosphere of the campus inspired me to try a number of different careers before becoming a bankruptcy attorney," he says. "All these experiences, including my studies at Lafayette, have helped me get where I am today.”
Jun 20, 2008
Rawle Howard ’96 Transitioned from Law to Real Estate at Lehman Brothers
Rawle Howard ’96 spends his days having conversations with those interested in buying commercial properties in the range of $50 million and over. Once he engages a client for a loan, he works with the lawyers to close the deal. “The great thing is that the group I work in involves very complex transactions that take a lot of thinking and involve a whole lot of people,” he says. “It’s a bit of an adrenaline rush because you’re also dealing with all the other banks and teams of people across Wall Street. It’s exciting to know you came up with the best strategy to execute.” Howard says that as a middle linebacker on Lafayette’s Division I-AA football team, he learned about the power of teamwork and time management.
Jun 17, 2008
Professors Shaped Career Path of Child Welfare Scholar Angela Neal '01
"Today, I am studying for my MSW [master’s in social work] at the University of Minnesota," writes Angela Neal '01. "I am a child welfare scholar and my interest lies in working with children who have experienced abuse or neglect. When I decided to make a career change from law to social work, I was terrified. I emailed eight of my professors from Lafayette. I was surprised by the responses I received. Deciding to change paths in life is a scary experience. Having the support of people I trust and admire was the nudge I needed to gear myself up for two more years of graduate school. Deciding to pursue a career in social work is one of the best decisions I ever made. I could not have done it without my professors' support.
Jun 16, 2008
Efrem Stanley ’07 Learns Accounting at Commerce Insurance Services
Math-economics graduate Efrem Stanley '07 is enjoying his work as an accounting assistant for Commerce Insurance Services. One of his main jobs is preparing the management report, which includes analyzing and comparing revenues. His job also involves explaining the finances of new business, lost business, and renewing business. In addition, he is cross training with the payable and receivable departments. He says that the small size of the college community allowed him to be familiar with his fellow classmates and made him feel comfortable working in groups, which has made him more adept at working with others on the job. Thanks to the College’s focus on undergraduates, professors are very accessible and “you can communicate with them on a personal level."
Jun 12, 2008
Mateen Poonawala ’07 Enjoys Working as Business Analyst in Toronto Mateen Poonawala ’07 has spent the last year working for Deloitte Consulting. Having majored in mechanical engineering and math-economics, he says Lafayette's combination of engineering and liberal arts gave him an advantage. “I found Lafayette's Common Course of Study – VAST (Values and Science/Technology), writing requirements, etc. -- to be extremely beneficial,” he says. “Every day at work, I am able to take a holistic approach to problem solving as a result of the well rounded education I received at Lafayette.” Poonawala is a business analyst in the company’s Strategy and Operations Consulting group. While he began his career in New York City, he is excited about his recent transfer to the company’s Toronto office.
Jun 04, 2008
Shoshana Cohen Stopek ’00 Pens Scooby Doo Books
English graduate Shoshana Cohen Stopek ’00 works for Warner Bros. Global Publishing to ensure that publishers properly portray the company’s many licensed characters—including Speed Racer, Harry Potter, Bugs Bunny, and Scooby Doo. "It’s a natural progression that I ended up where I am because I'm working in the publishing business and writing on the side," she says. When a writer was needed for a series of books for children ages 2-4, Stopek’s boss recommended her for the job. Those titles, Scooby Doo! New Friends at the Zoo, Scooby Doo! Your Everyday Hero, Scooby Doo! Team Player, and Scooby Doo! A Girl’s Best Friend, help young children find their place in the world through the rhymed antics of the titular mutt.
May 16, 2008
Film Highlights Jason Burrell '98 and $74 Million ‘Green' Building As senior project manager for Bovis Lend Lease, Jason Burrell ’98 has been overseeing construction of the $74 million Macallen Building, a 140-unit condo in South Boston. For the past three-and-a-half years, Burrell has been instrumental in the development of the revolutionary “green” building. A documentary about it highlights his work. The footage, Burrell’s included, was complied into The Greening of Southie. The film asks the question, “What happens when you’re asked to build the city of tomorrow…today?” The film, an official selection for the True/False Film Festival in Columbia, Mo., and the Independent Film Festival of Boston, made its television premiere, fittingly enough, on Earth Day.
May 09, 2008
Album of Music Recorded by Dan O’Neil ’06 on Sale The friends and family of Dan O'Neil ’06, who died in the Virginia Tech shootings last year, have compiled an album of his original music. Resident Hippy includes a booklet of lyrics and photos. The CDs cost $10 each and can be purchased at www.danieloneilmemorialfund.com. Proceeds go to the Daniel O'Neil Memorial Fund, which provides scholarships to graduating seniors from Lincoln (R.I.) High School who have financial need and wish to attend college. Scholarships are awarded to students who have participated in band or chorus and have demonstrated the same passion and commitment to music that O'Neil did. Donations also are being accepted for Lafayette’s Daniel P. O’Neil ’06 Memorial Fund. at 307 Markle Hall.
May 07, 2008
