Alumni Career Night 2015

Eight graduates of the Communication program at UMass Amherst returned to campus on October 22, 2015, to offer career guidance to current students.  These alumni, representing Comm graduates from four different decades, convened in the Cape Cod Lounge and shared their career narratives with dozens of Comm majors. We invite you to learn more about these terrific alums who so generously provided career counseling and support to our students:

Jasmine AbreuJasmine Abreu, '14, began her post-graduation career by working as a Business Development Representative for Oracle, a high-tech corporation focusing on simplifying and streamlining the IT experience. She serves as an Associate Sale Representative, a position that requires her to begin the initial sales cycle by prospecting customer interest. This role has served as a learning experience, providing insight into business practices at the corporate level. This time away from higher education has allowed her to define her ambition to pursue a post-graduate degree in Communication. She is presently researching various Communication programs and studying for the GRE exam.

Sean CorcoranSean Corcoran, '99, is Executive Director for Digital Media & Innovation at the award winning advertising agency Mullen Lowe in Boston. At Mullen Lowe, Sean has helped transform a 40-year-old advertising agency into a leader in the use of emerging media such as social media, mobile, programmatic media buying, and analytics for clients such as JetBlue, Bose, Acura, and National Geographic Channels. Prior to Mullen Lowe, Sean was a leading analyst for social and digital media at Forrester Research and held several other agency roles working with dozens of Fortune 500 companies in the digital space.

Laura DamesLaura Dames, '92, moved to Atlanta after graduating from UMass Amherst to work in cable television. She got her first job at Turner Broadcasting and has been climbing her way up the corporate ladder there ever since. She has recently started in a new role as the SVP and GM of Turner Studios, a production facility and creative resource hub for Turner's portfolio of brands. Prior to this role she was SVP of Business Operations for TNT, tbs, TCM, and TruTV and GM of an in-house creative agency. Laura’s experience spans the entertainment media business, including marketing, operations, inventory management, sponsorships, live events and video production.

Victoria GesarVictoria Gesar, '12, began working for a Boston e-commerce company relevant to the fashion internships she had completed during her undergraduate career. However, she soon "fell" into the staffing industry and began developing a career in recruitment. After about two and a half years with a boutique staffing firm, Victoria joined AP Staffing (formerly known as American Personnel) as a Permanent Recruiter in the Finance and Accounting Division where she places recent graduates in executive level positions at some of the top firms in Boston.

Henri HebertHenri Hebert, '94, has created, produced, cast, directed, and written nonfiction projects for print, syndication, and network and cable television for more than 20 years. Her career has included everything from producing Average Joe, Biggest Loser, and Three Wishes to working with Maria Shriver on the highly regarded documentary Siegfried & Roy: The Miracle. Henri was part of the producing team for the mega-hit The X Factor in 2011. She is currently an Executive Producer for Lifetime’s The Jacksons: Next Generation and has served as a Co-Executive Producer for many other programs. She co-produced the documentary short Dream with Me: One Year in America’s Public Schools.

Collin NortonCollin Norton, '88, is a Principal Sales Representative at Medtronic, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of implantable medical devices. He works directly with physicians supporting the implant procedures for pacemakers, defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices for treating congestive heart failure. In a sales career spanning 27 years, Collin has worked for Lanier Worldwide, G.E. Medical, Abbott Laboratories, and C.R. Bard as well as the venture capital startup firms Perclose, Cardiothoracic Systems, and LeMaitre Vascular.

Ariella PapaAriella Papa, '96, is a freelance writer-producer of television content. She has worked on everything from show launches to Comic-Con presentations for almost every major cable network. She is the author of six traditionally and independently published novels. Her most recent novel A Semester Abroad was inspired by her time at UMass Amherst. Her forthcoming novel Momfrenemies will be released in November. She lives with her family in Brooklyn and severely misses Antonio’s pizza.

Ryan TrowbridgeRyan Trowbridge, '03, is the Web Content Manager for Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM) in Springfield, MA. In this role, which he has held since 2012, he oversees, coordinates, and contributes content on the station's website, mobile app, and social media platforms. In 2013, the station's previous website - wggb.com - was honored with a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for best small market television website. Ryan joined WGGB in 2008 as Assignment Manager. Before returning to the Pioneer Valley, he worked as an assignment editor in the Hartford and Boston television markets.