Sports Enthusiast Aims for Broadcast Journalism Career
Take a good look at this face and remember it. Then, someday in the not-so-distant future, when you see Michael Counos ’13 (journalism) giving the daily sports wrap-up on a major television station, you’ll remember seeing him here first! “I dream of getting a job at a big sports network after graduation,” Counos says, noting that he intends to make that happen by using all of the contacts he’s made while at UMass and continuing to hone his skills both in the classroom and through internships. Read more...

Energized by Economics
“I knew if I went to the University of Rhode Island, I would hang out with my friends from high school,” says Laura Molyneaux ’12 (economics) of North Kingstown, RI. “I wanted to meet new people and experience new things. Visiting UMass Amherst the first time, I got the vibe that it was right for me. As it turns out, I was correct.” Read more...

Cross-Cutting Political Research Motivates Grad Student
“The events of 9/11 were a formative experience for my generation,” says Melinda R. Tarsi (political science), a fifth year PhD student. Since 9/11, Tarsi has watched many friends enter and serve in the military. Once their terms were up, Tarsi watched them leave the military and start to utilize many of the benefits designed to support veterans. “I quickly became interested in what appeared to be a parallel welfare state,” Tarsi reflects. “I wanted to understand how it developed alongside our traditional ‘welfare’ system, how it was framed and discussed, and how it influenced civil-military relations.” Read more...

Senior Touts UMass Experience
“I was skeptical about attending UMass Amherst because it’s a state school,” says Mello Barros ’12 (political science/accounting). “It didn’t take long for me to realize that I’d made a great decision. Internationally, UMass has an outstanding reputation—and I know this firsthand from my study abroad experience. Amherst has been ranked the best college town in the US, and anyone who lives here will see why. UMass has been a terrific experience at a price that really can’t be beat.” Read more...

Cultural Immersion Satisfies Student Leader
“UMass is a big place, and it’s true you can get lost in the crowd,” says Abel Ortiz ’11 (anthropology/Spanish), who will be graduating after the fall semester. “But as soon as you find that balance between classes and extracurricular activities, that’s when you really love being on campus. It’s great to be at one of the best schools in the United States and still be only two hours from my home in South Boston. It’s enough distance, giving me more space to be independent.” Read more...